Shmiggity Biggity

It's Tax Free Weekend.  What are you scooping up sans tax??  I plan to shop at my own store.  New yoga mat, new bag, new run crops.

It's a sad addiction.

You guys know I have talked a billion times about As Our Own (formerly Charasia).  They pull young girls out of the red light district and educate them, love on them, teach them.  Here, watch this.  Seems like every time I hear from them, they pull at a different string on my heart, and now they have added running to the mix.  Sigh.  You can sign up for one of the races listed on their site and run for 1 of 10 girls at the home in India.  Or you can just watch their cool run video and tell someone else about it.  They are working with races all over the country, but 3 in Texas.  Will you run for her?

And speaking of running, marathon training is in full force as of next week.  6 am hill workouts.  6 am speed work outs.  6 am long runs.  Goodbye social life for the next 5 months.  Hello new friends at Kenyan Way!

Delta sent us some flight vouchers for my venting.  We're on good terms.  For now.

Have I mentioned I love my job?  Yes?  Ok well yesterday as I was scootin' around town lookin' for fun people to hire (anyone?) and meeting some fitness entrepreneurs, I hopped over to Quality Life Fitness for a little tour.  Guys...if you hate big smelly gyms, if you hate the crowds, if you want some seriously beautiful views out of massive windows while you do your thing, please please go try this place!  If you live in Houston.  Obvi.  He is the first to open a certified green gym in Houston.  If you don't know what that means, google it...it's a lot of work to have a green business.  And it was hands down the cleanest gym I've ever been in.  I'll be around in there next week!

I get to see my best friend in 6 days.  Unfortunately, I have to make the worst drive in Texas to do so.

I'm obsessed with this.  They don't have it on netflix, so we're gonna have to watch them all online.  My dear British friend, Tom, gave me one of his cookbooks to use for a bit.  I'm stoked for that.

I'm reading this.  It's a tough one to tackle, but seriously seriously good.  I hate reading long books though, because my to-read list gets super long and I just want to move on to the next book.  Like Harry Potter.

Here's the buzz, I'll tell ya what's a happenin' (name the mediocre broadway song/show that I just butchered for a catchy blog title)

1.  Today when Devin got up and moved around for work, I channeled my inner Postal Service because I was in fact sleeping in.  Please, please have some grace with my Gong-show worthy humor.  I slept in today for the first time in who knows how long.  Dig it.

2.  She is coming this summer.  I am going.

3.  They are also coming.  I have my tickets already.

4.  And sweet moses the biggest one is him.  I will sell my kidney for that show.

5.  Moving on.  I miss you guys and reading my favorite bliggity blogs.  Guys, I finally have a steadier schedule and time and I will be back with lots of fun stuff.

6.  I have been catching up on Glee.  We don't have TV, so I have missed so much.  Hulu, you are the apple of my eye.  The cream in my coffee.  Glee inspires me to go for my dreams: back up dancer for Britney.

7.  We are getting a puppy by this summer.  So there's that!  Probably not one as cool as this one, but we'll work on it.

8.  I bought this jacket and lost it within 2 days.  I am thinking of putting up signs in my neighborhood.  Devastated.  And I looked better than the model.

9.  Speaking of, our lululemon is rockin at the Galleria and I am LOVING my job.  I learn so much every day about owning a business and it's incredible how much I didn't know I knew how to do.  So blessed.  Come see us June 2 from 7-10 for our grand opening party!  Mechanical bull, BBQ, beer and margs...should be a good time.  Oh and come see us before then too.

10.  The ironman is this weekend in The Woodlands.  Doing an Ironman is one of Devin's BHAGs (big hairy audacious goal), so we're going to watch with lululemon Woodlands at their inspiration station so he can get inspired and make me a nervous wreck someday when he does it.  Good luck to anyone doing it!!!

11.  I need a big fat massage.  Anyone know anyone good in H-town?  And I mean seriously unbelievably good.  Massages are a gamble with me.  I once had a migraine and went in for one only to be put with a blind therapist who could only use one hand.  This is typical of my life.

12.  Artie in a wheelchair could sing a song about a baby to me any day.  Kid has a voice!  Yes, still watching Glee.

13.  Can I ask a question?  Where do you shop?  I have been to every store in America and can't seem to walk out with anything.  This is a problem for me.  I purged my closet of all of my frumpy businessy clothes the other night and am desperate for new clothes

14.  Tell me about Paleo anyone who knows.  Tell me!  And how do you live without CHEESE?!

15.  Did you like your prom?  Sometimes I think I have dimentia.  I don't think it was anything great for me, but I kind of don't remember.  Oh but I do know that I have never been asked to a dance in my life.  This makes Devin so sad.  But really if you think about it, it was a huge advantage because I didn't have to say yes to someone and not really want to go with them; I got to pick.  Ok by now Devin is really sad reading this.  We'll move on.

15.  I went in for new running shoes the other day and was informed that my shoes were the culprit for my knee pain and it was in fact my shoes that kept me from running my marathon.  So, I plan to run my next one barefoot.

So how are you?!?!

A Friday List for You.

1.  Word of advice.  Do not under and circumstances watch PS I Love You while your man is not home.  Never. cried. so. much. ever.  Worst movie in history for my emotions.

2.  Trying a run this weekend.  I've rested it forever and Jackie and Jillian have killed me enough to crave a run to loosen up those sore muscles.  Note:  if you are injured, do NOT run on your injury.  It will make it so much more long term.  Lesson learned.

3.  I also may or may not but mostly may be picking up my new road bike from here this weekend.  Swoon.  I need a name for her.  She will soon be friends with Ruby.  And any other bikes who want to play.

4.  On Tuesday, I get to start a new chapter of my life.  Excited to wrap this one up.  Here's to the meantime.

5.  My next cookbook purchase

6.  This morning, the man and I discussed this year's apartment garden over breakfast.  It's about that time!  For whatever reason, our tomato plant made it all the way through winter and is thriving as we speak.  Planning to try some herbs again, maybe some peppers.  Oh that I would have my own plot of land for digging.  Someday.  In the meantime, I know just who I can live vicariously through.

7.  2011 seems to be the year of the babies!  I am so happy for all of you sweet friends who will be blessed with a little.  How very exciting!  I have lots of gifts picked out.

Happy weekend, friends.

Hey

Tuesday.

The husband arranged our breakfast fruit in a smiley face yesterday to prepare me for a happy day.  It was a happy day indeed.  One of the best ever.


I am a wee bit behind here as you can tell by the January banner.  But I'll get a good one up soon.  I'm very particular about those.  Sorry the blog has been lame-sauce.

I went to a Superbowl party and didn't watch one minute of the game, nor a commercial.  I am absolutely fine with this.  I did eat my face off though.

Been brainstorming some travel ideas with the mom.  Excited for that.

One of my favorite authors is doing a book reading in Austin in March.  Anyone want to come because I'm 137% sure that is Devin's idea of torture.


The other day I asked Devin 129347 either or questions while we searched for an open ice cream place in the middle of an ice storm.  He had to choose which profession I would be best at (I.e. Professional traveling BBQ cook-off competitor or Bodybuilder).  Let's just say my dreams (SWAT team, bounty hunter, Minnie Mouse at Disney World, stay at home wife (not mom)) never made the cut.

Things that made the cut:  Welder, bodybuilder, restaurant cook.  Awesome.

I feel like, if you are committed to someone, say via marriage, you don't necessarily have to let them know that they are your Valentine.  I figure that is assumed?  No?

I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is we did a bike fit on my road bike to fix my numb arms problem and found that I am mutated the bike may be too big.  The good news is this may mean a new bike is in my future.

I am running the best 10k I have ever heard of with my pen pal in April.  Bluebonnets and Bluebell?  I'll limp the race if I have to.

Post o junk

I got nothin today.

This is a lie.  I have lots for you, but none of it is finished and ready to post.  So, today it's just all a bunch of hubbub.

Living Social is rockin' a deal that I am in love with today.
50% off an Amazon giftcard.  Check it out.

I found 3 new book stores that I can't wait to go loiter in for a while.
Lift and Brazos and Kaboom.

I had dinner with 2 old high school / new blogger friends.  Her and her.  As my grandma, Goggle, would say, I was tickled to death.  I'm thankful for new friends.  The 3 of us have dreams of planning an awesomehoustonbloggerstalkernewfriendconventionmeetup.  Soon.
Holler if you're in.

LOVING our new Bible study format.  Loving those girls.  Loving Psalms.

Still needing a miracle for our marathon a week from Sunday.  It's not lookin' good, folks.  We'll probably leave the city that weekend and the words "marathon", "running", "knee", "Achilles", and the likes will be banned from the vocabulary.  It's been disappointing.  This whole month sort of has.  Anyway.  Moving on. 

We're ready for February and feeling good and hitting the bikes.  Shiner ride, anyone?

We made this yesterday / last night.  It's not tex mex.  It's Mexican.  Y to the U to the M.

I had a minor (some* would say major) freak out last night regarding our shrinking apartment.  This weekend, I will be pulling out all of my real simples for help.

Lance.  I have no words.

Valentine's is coming up!  Love it, or hate it?  Etsy has some way cute valentines.

Would love to see Blue Valentine.  I love both of the leads.  And the trailer.  But, too bad I don't like to watch R rated movies.  Someone let me know how it is.

*some = Devin.  and I'm sorry.

Desperate Measures

This is completely necessary when SOMEONE* forgets to clean out their lunchbox for six days due to the holiday.

As my mother would say, "Gag a maggot!"

*Only 2 of us live here, so there is a 50% chance that this was me.

Some word vomit to start off the year OR January you are my death wish

1. Have you seen this?  Gah!  We watched it a few days ago and before it started I reminded D that most documentaries are VERY one sided.  Yyyyeah if that's the case, I'm on their side.  I highly recommend that you find out where your food is coming from.  Because it's gross.  And sad.  And mostly gross.

2.  What are your resolutions?  I forgot mine already.  But we did get rid of our cable!  We're both really happy to save that money and go back to the way things were when we first got married- lots of reading, lots of bike rides, lots of talks on the patio.  We love no TV!

3.  Looking for some small space gardening tips.  We need to plan early this year!  Meaning we need to buy a stake for our tomato plant tonight because it thinks it's Spring right now.

4. I am sewing my first thing since 7th grade this week.  Prayers please.

5.  We are happy to be back in routine again.  By routine I mean I ran a fever all day yesterday and in turn forgot to go to work or plan any meals or do anything productive and instead watched 4 movies.

6.  I have to run 26.2 miles at the end of this month.  My knee still hurts.  A lot of words come to mind when I say those 2 things together, but none that I should write on here, so...crap.  And pray.  Crap and pray.

Holiday Hubbub, in list format, of course.

1. Between today and Sunday night, I / we have 4 Christmas parties to go to.  A cookie exchange, a Mexican feast a la Darnell, a tacky Christmas sweater party / light tour, and a church white elephant.  That's a lot of holiday outfits to put together.  More importantly, that's a lot of eating which I happen to be a man professional at.

2.  I was making cookies this morning at 6:30am.  I'm okay with this because our dinner last night with Dr. Huff was the bees knees.

3.  After deep thought and discussion, Devin and I have decided that we do, in fact, desperately need a vacation.

4.  Have you finished your Christmas shopping?  I haven't, so I am taking a day off Friday to finish.  Naturally, I will need my mother's assistance.  None of this makes sense to my husband.

5.  School of Rock is my favorite movie*.  I quote it at least a few times a week.  My baby brother does the best Jack Black dancing (from that movie).  I'll work on getting you a clip of that over the holidays.

6.  Devin says his favorite movie is Gladiator.  I think it's really You've Got Mail.  Sort of like Rachel.  This is my favorite episode ever.  Ever.**

7.  My baby brother also just got JUNIOR FRIGGIN EDITOR on a new History Channel show!!!

8.  My excitement to see this movie makes me cry when I watch the trailer.  It's entirely pathetic.

9.  I also want to see this.  If you're thinking, "Sweet Moses, who is singing?!", I am thinking the same thing.

10.  The Texans are at work signing autographs today.  Neat.

11.  We have 7 weeks until the marathon and oh, all of the sudden, my knee decides you know I don't really care for this, so, uh, I'm bailing.  Hoping that will recover, like, now.  I'm also having weird cramping up around my lungs.  And blue hands post run ( am talking THIS BLUE) which Dr. Huff did not seem to be concerned with.  Like, not at all.

12.  Um, watch this.  I want to cuddle her and then have her tell me a story.  That's not creepy, right?


*Obvi I can't actually say this is my favorite movie because I don't think anyone really has a favorite movie.  It's not like you can pick just one.
** duh.

If you can name 4 shows that were on TGIF, you win a high five.

I had this great post planned about how Devin and I went on our first date again last night, sort of, complete with iPhone pictures that were naturally a little blurry but that’s ok because the blur takes away the harshness of the neon trim around the place just a little (yeah.) but then I walked into work where I don’t have cell service and forgot to send the pictures to myself first therefore I don’t have them, so there goes that post for today.

So there’s that.

Maybe next week.

In the mean time, I guess I will fill your minds with anything random going on.

1.  Today someone asked me what I love most about fall.  Fall, for Houston citizens, is about a 10 day period, if that.  But don’t worry, it’s 94 outside and a gazill percent humidity and I wore a scarf today.  Scarves.  What I love most about fall is: scarves.  I could be featured on scarf hoarders.  Gong.

2.  I do not get fashion.  Like this.  Someone explain.

3.  I need a good dip recipe to take to a BBQ with some chips.  PS I need to make it for tomorrow, so, like…

4.  What are you reading?  Everything I pick up lately leaves me snoozing.

5.  What are you going to be for Halloween?  I think the most popular costumes this year will be Jersey Shore.  I will probably be Mike the Situation because our abs are identical.

6.  For the runners- favorite bar and/or gelish substance.  As in clif, luna, powerbar, etc etc.  I like to try new ones.  Also, favorite socks because all of mine are bunk except two that I save for my long runs.

7.  Who is your favorite Muppet?

8.  Things I see at work that you most likely do not see at work (I really feel as though this could be a set of 10 posts in itself): When leaving the other day, there was a man sitting on the edge of his wheelchair at the door of my place of employment and he was peeing all over the sidewalk.  No one was alarmed.

Happy Weekend, party people.

Some Girls Get "Just Because" Flowers.

I get a "Just Because" road bike.

DC brought this home for me last night totally out of the blue.  I am WAY excited about it.  I have big dreams for her...lots of things to change, but plenty we will leave on her.  DC is going to teach me about bike maintenance as we fix her up, an I'll probably chronicle that a little on here.

I think I see a duathlon in our future together, you sweet ride, you.

My husband rules.