To Wear or Not to Wear

There are a lot of things to think about when training to walk 60 miles.

What shoes should I wear?

How about socks?

Should I carry a water bottle with me?

Where can I find a pretty pink sports bra?

You know.  Important things like that.

So my newest concern is this:  What kind of underwear do I wear to walk 20 miles a day?

Yes, I'm going to write a post about underwear.

I've been struggling to answer this question for several weeks now.  And so far all I've come up with is a pile of underwear NOT to wear. And I've only walked a maximum of 7 miles so far. 

I have a problem.

Thongs are not comfortable...and leave me looking over my shoulder in secluded neighborhoods to make sure no cars are coming so I can nonchalantly dig the material out of my butt.  I know.  It's not pretty.  And my regular underwear just gets all bunchy.  Plus I have these cute pink capri pants I wear and you can totally see right through the material giving spectators a clear view of my colorful undergarments.

I need help.  And the neighborhood children who have been scarred for life need help too.

Any suggestions??

Weekend Round Up with Recipes!

Friday:

Matt and I went to dinner with some of our friends at a Mexican restaurant. Now, this not your typical Mexican food....as it is actually called mod mex and the restaurant serves things like duck and boar taquitos, weird flavors of margaritas, and crazy types of guacamole. Excuse me for not being sophisticated enough to understand the coolness of "mod" but I really much prefer chicken soft tacos, chips and salsa, and a regular lime flavored frozen margarita...but whatever...no one asked me.

Dinner was followed by....wait for it...salsa dancing lessons. Ha! Obviously not our idea. It was...interesting...but overall pretty fun. We learned the basic moves of salsa and were given a chance to do a little dancing after the class. My dear husband, bless his heart, did such a great job. I was so proud of his effort. He was the cutest little salsa dancer I had ever seen.


Saturday:

This weekend was filled with all sorts of yumminess! Thanks to my wonderful friends Lucy and Shaina...I was introduced to the amazingness that is pumpkin. Matt and I headed out to buy some ingredients for my pumpkin baking extravaganza and also bought a few more decorations for the outside of the house which I will share later this week. They may or may not include hay stacks and pumpkins!

I whipped up some pumpkin chocolate chip bread as well as pumpkin cream cheese muffins in the afternoon. They were both delicious. I was partial to the bread...because of the chocolate of course...but Matt fell in love with the muffins and had three for breakfast the next morning :)

Sunday:

Still overflowing with apples from our apple picking adventure of '09, Matt and I made an apple pie in the morning. We also tried our hand at homemade pie crust which was oh so yummy!

Here's a before picture of the pie before it went into the oven:


And the after:


It smelled delicious. And this is coming from a girl who does not like apple pie. Matt loved it...and I loved the crumb topping...so success all the way around :)


With the leftover pie crust we made these fabulous pie crust cookies!


Baked up...they were freaking unbelievable and ruined my diet for sure.


Matt went to the Browns game with a friend Sunday afternoon...so I hit up DSW for a new pair of black boots and Old Navy where I snagged these gorgeous fall items:

source

source

I had a coupon for $50 off! Who can beat that??

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I am looking forward to getting out of work and heading to the gym to try and work off all of those devilish pie crust cookies!

XOXO

Your Questions Answered-Random Edition

Here they are...the last set of questions you asked!


Mrs. Southern Bride & JLC from French Kiss asked, "Where do you like to shop?"

Want to know a secret? I don't really shop. WAIT...please don't stop following me! Here's the thing. It's not that I don't like to shop or that I don't want new clothes or shoes or purses...I hate spending the money. I honestly would rather put my money in a savings account than buy a new dress. Sad, I know. I get e-mails from Rue La La and Shop It To Me and I haven't bought one thing. Besides my wedding dress or maybe Prom, I don't think I have ever spent over $65 for a dress in my entire life. I just don't buy clothes for no reason.

But, if I'm going to an event, I need a new pair of shoes in a different color, or something else for a specific purpose I tend to look at H&M, Target, J.Crew, Old Navy, Banana Republic, or maybe Gap. Outlet malls are my friend.


JLC also asked a few more questions!

"If you had only one day to live, what would you do?"

I would definitely spend a lot of it in prayer asking God for forgiveness from my sins and thanking Him for the time that I did get here on this earth with the people that I love...and asking for His love and care on my journey to meet Him in Heaven. I would spend the rest of the day with my husband making sure he knew just how much I loved him and how being with him has changed my life for the better.

I would not work out.

"What country would you most like to live in?"

Honestly, I'd live in the United States. I know that is not the adventurous answer you were looking for...but it's me! I do really enjoy traveling, but the language barrier makes me nervous. Also, once I'm away from home for like 3 days, I'm ready to come back. I'm also really weird about trying new foods so I would be bad in a foreign country for an extended period of time. I once went to Holland and survived on Twix bars for breakfast and lunch for a week!

But, I would love to visit France, Italy, and Greece. Anyone want to be my translator?? Ha!

"What's your fave film/book?"

Some of my favorite movies include Dirty Dancing, Juno, & School of Rock. I hesitate to say Twilight was the best book I have ever read, but it is definitely one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed The Middle Place. I'm currently forging my way through the Bible for the first time cover to cover. I'm really excited about my progress and everything I am learning!


Tasha from Biology Gal asked, "Since I'm a science person too, just curious what type of work do you do in the lab?" Angela from 20-Something Dreams also wanted to know what I did for a living.

You two are in for a treat! Not. Ha! I work for a science based products and services company. Our particular branch in Ohio manufactures parts for jet engines, mainly for the military. The lab here consists of three people and our job is to test these manufactured parts before they are shipped out to the customer. All of the parts require different tests, but mainly we do thermal analysis, acid digestions, and peel strength testing. Basically, I get to walk around all day in a lab coat with my safety glass on and my steel toed shoes playing with sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. You can usually find me sporting a bright yellow spill proof apron, a face shield, and aqua green nitrile gloves. Super. Sexy.

It gets old doing the same tests day in and day out, but it pays the bills. My degree is actually in biology and I would LOVE to get back into that field. I was planning on going to medical school for, well, forever, but then had a change of heart during my masters program and decided that I didn't want to spend my years dealing with more school. Well, what's a girl to do with a masters in biology?? I have no idea. Suggestions, please!


Angela also asked, "What are your guilty pleasures? Sweets? TV shows? Shopping items?"

I've covered my go to anti-diet foods and my shopping habits but I do have a few must see TV shows. I'm a soap opera junkie and DVR Days of Our Lives everyday...and have since I was in elementary school. I do admittedly watch Jon and Kate Plus 8, The Office, 30 Rock, Grey's, & The Biggest Loser. I've drastically cut back on my television in the last year or so, but these shows made the cut.


Mrs. Ruby from Ruby Red Slippers asked, "What is your most embarrassing moment?"

Okay. Fine.

Before Matt and I were married, his mother was talking to me about some clothes that she had made for him. Well one of the items was a pair of boxer shorts and I was like, "Oh, I've seen those before!" I tried to play it off like I had seen them when I did our laundry together one time, but I don't think she bought it. Idiot.


Krystyna Lizabeth from everything happens for a reason asked, "What is your favorite part about living in Ohio...or your least favorite!?!"

Ha! Well if you've read my blog for more than 2 days you know that I don't like much! Okay, okay. Perhaps I am being a little hasty. I do like only living one state away from my friends and family and being within driving distance. I LOVE our neighborhood and the city we live in. Although downtown Cleveland leaves much to be desired, I do appreciate that they have sports teams to watch (giving me the chance to see Chicago teams when they come to town!). I also am a huge fan of the West Side Market downtown where they offer tons of fresh meats, fruits, and veggies for cheap! Oh, the lake, I like the lake! Although we don't venture out there often, I do enjoy being able to go to the Lake Erie Islands and pretend I am on vacation for the weekend.

I won't ramble on about all the things I don't like...but my least favorite has to be the weather. Although I grew up and Indianapolis and I am completely used to having horrible winters, I am over it. I hate the snow everyday but Christmas. I hate driving in it, walking in it, being out in it at all. It is only warm like 3 months of the year. I mean, this morning it was 60. It's almost July people. I need to be somewhere where it is 80s year round! And shoveling snow blows.


Cristina from Another Day in Paradise asked, "What keeps you motivated to work out?"

My fat? Ha! Well, it's kind of true. Just looking down and seeing it everyday makes me want to hit the gym. I will say that attending Weight Watchers meetings has done wonders for me. Actually having to weigh in front of someone who knows my name keeps me accountable. I also do a fitness challenge with my best friend from Indy to see who can work out the most in a 10 week period. There a point system we use to keep track and it helps us to avoid the bad foods and hit the gym!

Also, just belonging to a gym motivates me. I know I am paying for it so I might was well go.

I also get a ton of inspiration from blogging. There are so many people I look to when I feel like giving up. Some people are just starting out like me and others are old pros who are awesome at giving advice. Here are links to some of my favorite blogs that are written by fabulous women who are always pushing me to keep going: French Kiss, Just Another Day in Paradise, Mrs. GI Joe, not all those who wander are lost, Post Smith, The Shabby Princess, & Chic Runner.


Anna from Pocket Full of Pink asked, "What is on your iPod while you run?"

Y'all will get a kick out of this answer! I am not really a fan of rap music or anything that is "in" right now. I have a mix of country, oldies, and rock on my iPod right now. Some of my favorites at the moment that really add a little pick me up to my runs include:

Mickey by Toni Basil
Party for Two by Shania Twain and Billy Currington
I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston
Settlin' by Sugarland
Bye Bye by Jo Dee Messina
Don't Stop Believin' by Journey
I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany
Bang the Drum All Day by Todd Rundgren
Gimme Some Lovin' by The Spencer Davis Group
Hot Hot Hot by Buster Poindexter and His Banshees of Blues


The Reality of Happily Ever After asked, "If you had to describe yourself as any character in a movie, what movie would it be and what character?"

This was the hardest question I had to answer! I thought long and hard about it, and you know what? They just don't make movies about girls like me.

I had the highest GPA in my class in high school, but I wasn't a nerd who didn't have any friends. I was an athlete but not good enough to play where I wanted to go to college. I wasn't unpopular, but I didn't really hang out with the popular kids outside of school. I wasn't misunderstood or always getting into trouble. In fact, I was quite the goody goody. Although I didn't have any serious boyfriends before Matt, I wasn't a girl pining away for her Prince Charming. I knew he was out there and I would find him someday.

My story would not make for an interesting movie. I'm just your average girl!


Brittany Ann from Living in the Moment asked, "What inspires you?"

This quote has always inspired me. I actually used it in my high school graduation speech. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

I am incredibly inspired in church by God and the people in the congregation to live my life for Him. My husband inspires me daily to be the best person I can be for him and our future children. And lastly, I'm inspired so much by my bloggy friends! You ladies keep my butt in the gym, keep me focused on what is really important in life, and have provided me with friendships I so desperately needed.

Whoa! Done!

Thanks again so much for your questions and for following my little blog. You all mean the world to me and I am so thankful you spend a little part of your day here!

I Could Just Eat Your Scarf

Um, although it has been the "no jacket required" weather here in Ohio for the last few days, I simply MUST HAVE this scarf! I stumbled on kellyzkreationsz on Etsy a few days ago and I fell in love! Isn't it just the cutest thing ever!




I'm partial to the cupcakes, for obvious reasons, but she also had some other awesome scarves for sale. Check these out!

Pancakes w/ syrup


Peanut Butter/Strawberry Jelly Toast



Bacon, Eggs, and Toast

I mean, how much more creative can you get??

How I landed on scarves when I intended on searching for a gift for my husband is beyond me. But...now he will know a gift for me! Bonus :)

A Little Modesty...Please!

I've taken to listening to talk radio on my way home from work. I am SO not a talk radio kind of girl, but I tuned into this program one day that happened to be on one of my Christian radio presets after work...and I became a follower. The program was called Chris Fabry Live. I was not instantly hooked, as Chris's voice kind of got on my nerves (sorry Chris!), but as I began to really listen to what he was saying, I found him to be someone I really agreed with and from whom I found great inspiration.

Yesterday's broadcast was a continuation of the previous day's discussion of Miss USA Runner-up Carrie Prejean.




You've heard this story right?? She's the girl who advocated marriage being between a man and a woman during the Miss USA pageant a little while ago?? Anyway, I'm not here to discuss that issue...but something else that was said on the program.

One of Chris's guests was a woman by the name of Constance Rhodes who is the founder and director of FINDINGbalance, an organization dedicated to eating, image, and lifestyle management issues. They were discussing the fact that some listeners had a problem with Carrie being a spokesperson for Christians while participating in a swim suit competition and wearing other types of provocative clothing. Constance's main point was that young adults Carrie's age (...my age...) seem to have an integration issue with their faith. Meaning...the beliefs and faith that they have are not practiced in their everyday lives.

This topic was mainly directed to how women dress. Of course, the Bible encourages a certain level of modesty which seems to contradict what the world views as beautiful. According to the program, boob jobs are things high school seniors are asking for as graduation gifts (um, what?).
What Constance said next truly resonated with me. She said that Christian women struggle with feelings of wanting to be desirable, but also of not wanting to be a stumbling block for others.

Okay. Confession. I've PRIDED myself on being a stumbling block for others! Turning heads is a good thing, right? I mean, I actually went to a Halloween party one year dressed as "cleavage." Yep. Not one of my finer moments. Hey, I was always under the impression that it was my best quality (for sure!) so why not show it off??

Oh my goodness...it's like this woman was talking right to me! Now, don't get me wrong, I got rid of most of my cleavage shirts after college...but dressing appropriately as to not sway the looks of men is not something I have truly ever thought about.

Now, I will.

Sure, I want my husband to think that I'm beautiful and sexy...but do I really want the creep in the office next to me thinking I have great boobs or a nice booty?? No. AND...I shouldn't be consciously putting men in the position to think about that in the first place. I'm definitely not suggesting that we, as women, can stop men from looking at us or thinking sexual thoughts (HA...NOT A CHANCE!), or that we should wear sweat shirts and sweat pants everyday, but that we have the opportunity...and an obligation...to dress modestly. And by golly...modesty can be GORGEOUS!




I mean, to me, this is beautiful. Her boobs aren't hanging out...her booty isn't at risk of revealing itself...it's fabulous.

So what are your thoughts on this ladies?? Did this hit home with anyone else? Do you not agree with it? I'm dying to know!

Tees!

Has anyone heard of Busted Tees or Threadless? They're pretty much my favorite places to buy t-shirts online. They are absolutely hilarious. I'm big on giving them as gifts but I also have two of my own:

That's not me...it's the model from Threadless...but isn't the shirt awesome!


Also from Threadless

Here are some of my current faves from Busted Tees:

What, what Full House!

I got this one for my sister for Christmas!


And this one...a shout out to Doug from Nickelodeon...did you watch that show??


Who could forget Oregon Trail....ah...elementary school

Check them out if you have time. It's good for a laugh :)

On to a meeting...blech.

Shopping!

In lieu of my first Junior League event tomorrow, I decided to hit up the stores yesterday after work to see if anything caught my eye. I must warn you though, I am entirely too frugal for my own good and never even look at anything that is not on sale. This makes shopping a tad difficult for me...but I think I had some good finds...and only spent $40.

My first stop was J. Crew. I tried on a ton of stuff, but settled on a sweater. I couldn't seem to find the exact picture of the one that I bought, but this one is similar..

c/o J. Crew

I happened to have on one of my bazillion "wife-beater" tank tops so I tried it on underneath because you could totally see through it. Any other suggestions about what to wear underneath this?? Colors??

Next I went to Express and found this super cute sweater.

c/o Express

The one I actually bought was light pink. You can see the picture of it here. I think the sleeves make the whole outfit! I can't decide if I should wear this tomorrow or not though. It's been freezing here...really, below 30...so I'm thinking I might be out of place in short sleeves. What do you think? I MAY have some sort of jacket to wear over it...but covering up the sleeves makes me sad.