Empty

Well its official, by the end of today we will have a new address.  We are just finishing up the final touches on things now and we will be pulling out for the last time shortly.

The place looks very empty.

Its funny to stop and think about all the joy, sorrow and change that happens when living in a place.  There is a lot of energy that's left behind.  I'm sad to be leaving a place that I spent so much time in, but I'm happy to be moving on to bigger and better things.

Change in all things is sweet.
Aristotle 


Tomorrow I'm racing and since I haven't been training I'm nervous, but its a course I know very well and even if I do it slowly and in the rain, I will have a good time!

Repourposing

Well I will be posting more details about my move later on but I wanted to quickly post something about getting rid of stuff and repurposing.  During this move I've really realized that less is more.  I can see why people have the urge to get rid of EVERYTHING and start from scratch.

Anyway, I've made it my job to repurpose items.  I've been working with free stuff, antiques, things I've found etc.  And I'm thrilled with the results.  I love the retro/vintage feel of our new place and I know what when I can, I'm going to add even more elements of times past.  Here are two photos of my handy work.

The shelves above the dressers are actually DVD racks that we no longer use since we've gone digital.  I use them to display my Starbucks mug collection.  The dressers are really old.  My grandfather found them and worked on them about 40 years ago.  Since then, my parents refinished them and they were my baby furniture.  I then refinished them again and took them to college.  I like the shabby chic look now but may refinish them again.  The lamp was a free find and the train case as also found.  I love the way it all looks together!

I really love this one.  I should take a photo of it with the doors closed too.  This is actually a vintage ice box.  It was my husband's grandfathers.
I added the small bins to hold office supplies and now its a storage closet!  The breadbox belonged to my grandfather and there are office supplies in there.  The glass blender and vintage peanut butter jar were flea market finds on Vinalhaven and the Fiesta ware pitcher is actually a newer item that was gifted to me last year.  The tray, with elephants was also gifted to me a few years ago.

So although this has nothing to do with running, moving has been my "cross training" lately and I am pleased with the results and wanted to share!  I hope I've inspired you to repurpose, recycle and redo with what you already have!  (And if you don't have any vintage items, ask family members to peek in their basements and garages!)

Moving

Well I haven't been running too much lately.  The move has me working 18 hour days, eating poorly and not sleeping at night.  However, I got a run in today.  I wasn't expecting much of myself.  I just wanted to get outside, put on my boots and breathe in the fall air.  However, I think I was so distracted and my mind was full, so I got a good run in.

I was even able to run more of a hill than I ever have before.  (There is a HUGE hill at the park that goes straight up for 1/3 of a mile).  AFter today's run, I'm not so freaked out about the race I'm running on October 1st.  I hope to get a few more runs in between now and then, but I also know that I need to get moved out as quickly as possible.  So running is on the back burner.  However, I'm hoping to return refreshed and renewed.

I also need to buy a new pair of shoes.  I've been alternating two pairs and I liked both, however, I'm torn as to what to get next.  I may be running on the road more than I have been.  Then again, I am interested in natural foot movement.  So many choices!

Fall Running

I haven't been running a lot lately.  I'm in the process of a move and a renovation and those are taking all my time and energy.  (There will be lots of posts about this later.)  However, I did make it out yesterday morning.

It was the first beautiful, crisp, cool fall day here in New England and its everything I love about fall and running all rolled into one.

I drove to my favorite trail and parked the car.  The cold took me by surprise at first but it felt good.  I had capris and a tank on, my favorite fall running outfit.

The air was cool and breathing it in was energizing!  I felt like I could go on forever.  However, I had to get back to work so it was a quick few miles.  However, in the few moments I got to spend on the trail I fell in love with running all over again.

The woods were bright and sunny and all was right with the world.  :)

Costume Swap!

Get ready for a costume swap!

It may not quite be Halloween yet, but National Costume Swap Day [link: http://www.costumeswapday.com] is right around the corner! And it’s never too early to start thinking about how to make one of the best holidays of the year more eco-friendly.

On October 8, people across the country will get together for costume swaps in their own cities and towns. Swaps are a great way to go green by exchanging gently used Halloween costumes for new-to-your-kids. You’ll save the money you would’ve spent on new costumes for your kids and help the environment. In fact, swapping half the costumes kids wear at Halloween would reduce annual landfill waste by 6,250 tons—about the weight of 2,500 midsize cars!

If you’ve got friends and neighbors or a school or community group for whom a costume swap would be a good project, I encourage you to host a swap yourself or join with others. It’s easy, fun and a great way to build community around this money-saving and planet-saving idea.

You can learn the simple steps to hosting a swap here. (Link: http://www.greenhalloween.org/CostumeSwap/howto.html).

And be sure to register your swap so everyone can find out about it. (Link: http://www.greenhalloween.org/CostumeSwap/register.html)

Many neighborhoods and towns have already begun planning their swaps. Find one near you [link: http://www.greenhalloween.org/CostumeSwap/find_2011.html], then spread the word and help make it an eek-o-fabulous success!

National Costume Swap Day is sponsored by Green Halloween [link: http://www.greenhalloween.org], KIWI magazine [link: http://www.kiwimagonline.com ], and Swap.com [link: http://www.swap.com].

Ready to get started? Find existing swaps—plus information to help you start your own at CostumeSwapDay.com. (live link)

Trail Love

My husband and I are in the moving process and soon we will be living in another town.  Its about 15-20 minutes from where we live now.  Its not far enough to change doctors, or shop at a different store.  However, it is just far enough that it will make it difficult for me to get the park where I currently run every day.

I started thinking about how my days are defined by my time at the park.  In the spring, the parking lots is full of people itching to get outside for the first time in months.  When September rolls around only the self employed and retired are left at the park during the day and it seems so quiet.

After a big rain the trails are flooded and I have to run through mud and over puddles.  After the recent hurricane, there were lots of trees down.   Last summer a big rock split in two and pinned a man underneath it.

I can think back to all the victories I celebrated mentally during a run or all of the hard times I worked out in my had during a run.  Its been a place of joy and of sorrow for me.  Its been my reflection spot.

Every day I drive there with the radio going and get to run under the sun and the trees.  No matter how bad thins may seem at the time, they always feel better after having been there.  I will go back to the park.  Most likely on weekends when I have a little bit more time, but I will dearly miss my daily runs there.

Every day, I am reminded of this quote:

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854)

Skirt Sports Wonder Girl Dress Review

I'm always on the go and I've finally found my dress to take me everywhere I want to do.
 The Wonder Girl dress by Skirt Sports is all is need for my morning run, my afternoon errands, working with clients and then out to dinner in the evening.

I first thought this was going to be just a running dress.  I received a size small in black and I didn't put it on until I was on my way out the door for a run.

I was shocked at how soft and comfy it was.  The dress has a built in bra so all I needed to throw on was a pair of small black tight running shorts.  (You can wear whatever you want underneath, however, I'm a bit overly modest.)

I am always fearful of things riding up and showing "too much" of anything.  While running, the dress really didn't move at all.  I was impressed.  I never caught a glimpse of the undershorts and I'm assuming no one else did either.

The bra was supporting but not tight.  The racerback is flattering and allows for free range of movement.

The dress itself does not fit tightly.  Its relaxed, but not loose.  Its a very flattering dress.  It hugs you in the right spots and skims over others.

Its 32 inches in length, so its not too long and not too short.

Its made of a wicking, fast drying jersey and mesh material.  My dress is black, but its comes in lots of other colors too!

When I got home from my run, I actually dove right into my errands and work without changing.  The dress was completely dry and was so comfy that I was happy to wear it all day.

I find myself wanting to wear this dress out now more than wearing it for a run.  With a cuff bracelet and a cardigan, it looks as good as any other dress I have for a night out.

Take a peek at the Wonder Girl dress on the Skirt Sports website by visiting here:
http://www.skirtsports.com/shop/product.cfm/id/1203-Wonder-Girl-Dress

Overall, this dress is worth every penny.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my husband and best friend!  I love you today and always!  

Thank you for making me smile and laugh each and every day!

Acadia National Park

With hurricane Irene having recently gone through Maine, our end of summer camping trip was disrupted.  While I was away on a business trip (see previous posts about Atlanta and Branson), he had to pack up the camp site and head home to CT to prepare our home there.

We sustained no damage to our home and after my husband picked me up at the airport, we were very excited about returning to camping.  However, the storm had other plans.  Sebago Lake state park where we stay, suffered severe damage in the storm.  They had over 60 trees down as well as live wires and broken telephone poles.  We first thought about heading home.  However, never one to give up a vacation we started using the internet and realized that Acadia National Park was only three hours away.  We'd always wanted to go so the timing was perfect.


We found another state campground to honor our reservation and we drove there right away.  It was beautiful.  Instead of a lake, we had an ocean within sight.  Our campsite didn't have any power, but it was comfy and a short walk to some very nice bathrooms.

Here is a view of our campsite

We quickly started planning our day ahead.  During the fall and winter months the sun rises in the United States first at Cadillac Mountain.  So although it wasn't during that time we wanted to see the sun rise there.  We got up at about 4:30 and headed over.  I was SHOCKED when the parking lot was filled with over 100 other cars!

The sunrise was amazing!  (We actually went back the next day, even earlier to catch the "before glow" of the sunrise.)  The second day I was prepared with blankets, a hat and gloves and MANY layers of clothing.  It wasn't that cold, but the wind was wild up there.

We did some hiking.  Because we were going to a different campground and thought we were kayaking and sitting on a beach, we didn't have a lot of climbing gear with us.  So we did some moderate hikes and left the more challenging ones for when we go back.

We did get some amazing views of the ocean, the park and wildlife.  Acadia National Park is really Maine and nature at its best.

It was great to get out and get on the trail. I haven't had a lot of time to take big hikes this summer and until I was scrambling up rocks, I didn't realize how much I missed it.

We ate some amazing food.  You work up an appetite getting up at three am and hiking all day!
Here is one of our breakfasts and some blueberry pie I had.  Its claimed to be "the best in Maine"

The last thing we did was sun set at Bass Harbor Lighthouse.  It was amazing!

I'm a Picky Eater

I was recently sent some Picky Bars to review.  I have tried a lot of bars over time.  As a matter of fact, as soon as I see a new bar come out, I check the stores to see if its in stock.  I'm always looking for something new and tasty and healthy.  (Which as we all know is super hard to find.)

Anyway, I had hoped that what I had heard about Picky Bars was true, they actually tasted good.  When my few bars arrived in the mail I was unsure.  They came in small clear bags and the contents looked like whole some food, but mushed together and put into this baggie.

Turns out that my husband and I ended up in Acadia National Park recently and had the chance to take some day hikes.   I grabbed the Picky Bars out of the bag of bars I'd packed and said aloud "They'd better be good, because I'm depending on them to get me up and down this mountain."

I got to the top of the Beehive and I pulled out my picky bar.  I started with the Mega Nuts Bar.  I took it out of the packaging and dove right in.  I loved it right away.  It was crunchy enough and mushy enough all at the same time.  The consistency of the items placed in the bar were just right.  You never went a bite without a chocolate chip or nut or something tasty.

More importantly, I felt great after eating the bar.  It looked small but it was just enough to fuel me back down the mountain and on to the rest of my day.

I have since tried all the flavors and even the "Nutless Wonder" packs a punch!  I can't decide on my favorite.

I loved the fact that the packaging on the bars was see through so you could see the contents.  I also loved the fact that a few hours in my hot pack didn't seem to make any difference at all to the bar.

They ship for free and they are available at www.PickyBars.com.  I've already placed an order for more :)

9 Years!

Happy Anniversary to my best friend and the love of my life!  9 Years Married today!

Born To Run

I was recently on vacation and for the first time in about two years (due to grad school) I was actually able to read some books, just for fun.

One of the books I read was Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  The book is non fiction.  However, the characters are so rich and you get so entwined in their story that they almost feel like fictional characters.  At the very least, they feel like friends at the end of the novel and you find yourself wanting each character to have a personal victory.

The book discusses many things.  The history of running is entwined throughout the book.  The history and development of the modern running shoe is also discussed. If you think you know where the barefoot running trend came from you're wrong!

The book also discusses a hidden tribe of Mexican runners.  (Doesn't that sound like fiction?!)  I was fascinated by the tribe mere existence, never mind their ability to run ultra marathons as a game!

Diet is also discussed and I loved the mention of chia seeds.  They are one of my staples and people always look at me as if I'm crazy and ask "Like Chia Pet?!?!".

All of these themes intertwine throughout the book to make it a fast and enjoyable read.  Some non fiction running books drag on but this one changes time, place and topic enough that you can't wait to get to the next chapter.

Overall, I think its a great book.  It discusses a lot of the hot running issues right now like barefoot running, minimalist shoes, ultra races, etc.  Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

Atlanta

Well Hurricane Irene went through the East Coast without as much damage and destruction as predicted.  I'm thrilled and happy that my family and our homes were safe.

That being said, I did not make it back home on schedule. I booked a hotel in Atlanta to not spend the whole night in the airport.

I took a WAY overpriced cab to a mall and ate the yummiest Thai Chicken Pizza and did a little shopping. I needed new headphones so I picked those up at the Apple store and I shopped Nike, Anthropologie, and a few other favorites.  I was mostly killing time.

I headed back to my hotel room and watched some TV and tried to catch up on emails and work.  Despite having a big luxurious hotel room to myself, its not as much fun as sharing it with someone.

I am flying home tonight and today I will be spending a long time in the airport waiting to leave.  I am armed with books, a charged phone and computer (and secondary phone charger!).

Despite being quite proud of myself for not having checked any luggage this whole trip, the thought of lugging it around the airport for seven hours this afternoon is daunting and I just may check it.

So this morning, I'm giving in and using the gym treadmill.  I know I say that I'm not a treadmill girl but I have stayed in locations that have not allowed me to run at all for the past two days and I'm a little desperate!

Male or Female?

Male or Female?    You might not have known this, but a lot of non-living objects are actually either male or female.  Here are some examples:   FREEZER BAGS:  They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them. PHOTOCOPIERS:  These are female, because once turned off; it takes a while to warm them up again. They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong Buttons.   TIRES:  Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated HOT AIR BALLOONS:  Also a male object, because to get them to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under their butt. SPONGES:  These are female, because they are soft, squeezable and retain water.   WEB PAGES:  Female, because they're constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.   TRAINS:  Definitely male, because they always use the same old lines for picking up people..   EGG TIMERS:  Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.   HAMMERS:  Male, because in the last 5000 years, they've hardly changed at all, and are occasionally handy to have around.   THE REMOTE CONTROL:  Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male, but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push, he just keeps trying     New Law: With the high rate of attacks on women in secluded parking lots, especially during evening hours, theMinneapolis City Council has established a 'Women Only' parking lot at the Mall of America. Even the parking lot attendants are exclusively female so that a comfortable and safe environment is created for patrons.  Below is the first picture available of this world-first women-only parking lot in Minnesota .