First Day of School

Yay! It’s the first day of school.

I don’t think I’ve ever said that before. Ever. But here we are, it’s the first day of school and I’m so excited to be starting this journey. Add it to the list of journeys that I am currently on: spiritual journey, hair journey, fitness journey and now my educational journey.

I’ve got a lot going on. I keep wondering how this week is going to turn out. Out of the house three nights a week and working from home one day a week. My schedule is all shaken up.

I tried to relax over the weekend in preparation. I only ran eight miles. I made a trip to Target and picked up the weirdest combination of items: tea kettle, meat tenderizer, accent table, spritz, Tostitos and herbal tea. There is a chair in my living room that I have designated as the “reading” chair. But it’s kind of in the corner and there is nowhere to put my cup of tea so I got the accent table. Then I realized that if I’m actually going to have a special table for my tea I should get a kettle and some fancy tea. Chicken breasts were on sale this weekend and my old meat tenderizer had seen better days so I needed to replace that. The spritz was for my daughter. I picked up the Tostitos at the register because I remembered that I had an entire jar of salsa at the house but no chips.

Weird. Enough rambling. It’s the first day of school!

Treats

Today marks the end of a huge project that I’ve been working on since the summer. I am so glad it’s over, you just don’t know. It’s also an anniversary of sorts so I’ve decided to really treat myself this weekend. I know I talk about treating myself often and how important it is, but I don’t actually do it as much as I’d like. Most of my weekends are spent running, doing my hair, going to church and making a meal. Besides going to church, the rest of those things are chores. Chores that I love to do, but chores nonetheless. This weekend I’m going to throw some real treats into the mix.

So in addition to running ten miles and spending four hours on my hair, here's what's on tap:

I need some new accessories so I’m going shoe shopping (wait, are shoes considered an accessory?) and a girlfriend of mine designs jewelry so I’m going to pick up a few pairs of earrings from her. I honestly can’t remember the last time I bought a new pair of shoes. I’m so excited! I'm thinking a really sexy heel. I think I may need a new suit as well ...

I also haven’t written a restaurant review since October. I’ve gone out to eat but I haven’t been anywhere new. So I think I’ll treat myself to a nice lunch or dinner after shopping.

Denzel has a new movie coming out this weekend and it looks like it’s worth seeing. Isn't Denzel always worth seeing? So a matinee may be in order.

I’ve also decided to give myself Monday off.

I’m going to have a great weekend and I hope you do too. Remember to do something special for yourself or for someone that you love.

Leave the Gun ... Take the Cannoli

I had to post something because I was tired of looking at my evil face every time I pulled up the blog.

I completed Week 1 of C25K and tonight starts Week 2. It's a beautiful day to run and can't wait to get out there after work. I had a wonderful weekend.

Friday night was game night with the life group. We ate pizza and played this game called "Imagine If ..." Are you familiar? Neither was I but it was a very interesting way to get to know each other a little better. You have to draw a card and read the "Imagine If" statement about the person that is next to you. Then everyone else chooses an answer from the list of choices. Here's what mine said: "If Michele were a tool, which tool would she be?" (1) sledge hammer (2) pruning shears (3) level ... and I cannot remember what the other choices were. My answer? Sledge hammer. Definitely sledge hammer. I think one of the other ladies guessed correctly.

After my run on Saturday my daughter and I went shopping and found some lovely things. Check out the video to the right for the details. It was a blast but after a few hours we were worn out. On the way home I stopped at one of my favorite Italian places and picked up a slice of carrot cake for my daughter and a cannoli for myself and my son. I love a good cannoli and this one was spectacular.

I got up on Sunday and went to the gym and got reacquainted with the treadmill. I did 30 minutes of intervals and then ran another mile for good measure. Actually, after the intervals I didn't feel as though I had done anything so I ran the extra mile so I could work up a good sweat. After the workout came the shower and shampoo and then I grabbed the Princess again and we went to lunch at this El Salvadorian restaurant. Check out the review over at Delicious! Yummy!

I noticed that I discuss food a lot on this blog. That probably explains my inability to get my weight lower than 141. The good news is, it's also not any higher than 141.

I hope you all had a good weekend as well. It's Monday again ... make the most of it.

TMI

I know this is TMI but it’s really on my mind and the only way to get it off my mind is to put it on the screen.

Over the weekend, my daughter and I went to a fancy bra salon. I was tired of guessing what size my daughter was and the customer service at VS is horrible. So we go to the fancy store and the customer service was fantastic. We were put in separate curtained rooms and the process was explained and the salesgirl really took her time with us. My only issue is that the bras are in European sizing. Which means bands can start at 28 inches and cup sizes can go up to K.

Yes, K.

I won’t tell you what my daughter measured because that’s just creepy. (Joe Simpson). But I measured a 30F. That makes me giggle because it just sounds ridiculous. But here’s the thing: most bras in regular (i.e. American) department stores do not carry a 30F. Bands usually start at 32 and cup sizes stop at D, DD or DDD. So, if my “true” size is 30F, what am I supposed to do? Go back to the fancy store? I could and I know you have to pay for quality. I get that. But come on, I shop fancy sometimes but I’m not fancy, for real. And I’m not trying to pretend like I am either.

It was a nice experience but I told my daughter that it is one that will probably not be repeated.

The Wish List

I don't want much. Not really.

I have been trying to put a swing in my backyard for the past few years. What's stopping me? I'm lazy. I am getting this swing before the end of the month.

I have got to go get this camera before I leave for vacation next month. I am not taking a disposable camera to the beach. I know I'm probably the last person on the planet to buy a digital camera. What's stopping me? I told you ... I'm lazy!

I just wish I had a personal shopper. You know, someone who enjoys looking for bargains and comparing features and all that jazz. Someone who just loves the thrill of parking, standing in lines and dealing with salespeople. Unfortunately, that is so not me and I just don't warrant having someone to do it for me. So, over the next few weeks I will be out there with the rest of you shoppers getting the little things I need in order put a smile on my face and bring me into the 21st century.

Wish me luck.

Actually, I'm 5'7"

What in the heck is wrong with people? I was shopping at Kohl's earlier this evening looking for the perfect bra. I had alreay picked out two dresses and two pair of shoes but nothing will look right without the perfect foundation garment. Know what I mean? So, I'm in lingerie minding my business searching the fifteenth rack of bras trying to find the perfect 36C push-up. (Two kids and 15 months of nursing have taken their toll.) I think I may have found what I'm looking for. I'm on my knees going through the bottom rack and I notice in my peripheral a man looking at me. I look up and he walks on by. He circles the rack and ends up next to me.

"I saw you from the aisle and I thought to myself that's a pretty cute midget so I came around to this side ... What the hell? I'm speechless. A pretty cute midget? So he went out of his way to check out the pretty cute midget. Wow. That's just ... wow.

I hadn't planned on shopping today but my guy has decided to spring a last minute trip on me and I thought I'd get some new gear for the occasion. Ain't that sweet? Not really. We've been fighting all week and this is his way of making it all better. I haven't decided if it's going to work or not but I can't turn down a weekend away.

I don't have a very extensive blogroll. Much like my real life circle of friends ... very small. I read the people that I do because at one time or another they have written something that resonated with me. Either I felt the exact same way or they wrote something that I wished I had written but didn't have the courage. Just this week while reading my folks, I found myself saying, "She gets lonely just like me" or "He hates his job just like me" or "She's secretly making her dreams come true just like me". It's comforting to know that I'm not alone with my feelings. Although most times it seems that way. I'm probably not the only one who cries more than anyone would ever guess because I only do it in my car or alone in my bed at night.

Love you guys.