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By kilax, January 28, 2012 5:51 am

Last time I traveled I packed an overabundance of workout clothes. This time, it’s all about an overabundance of purple.

Oops?

I am going to make a wild guess that I like wearing the color purple.

This is where I would ask you guys if there is a color you wear more often than others, or what your packing methodology is, but since I have already written posts about both, I will skip it. Geez, I feel like I am really running out of material!

Oh! Here is something to ask that I really do need help with – how do you keep your things organized while you travel?

When I am in a hotel room, it’s really easy to keep my things organized because I have so much space. But when I stay in someones  homes, I feel like my things explode all over… and it makes me crazy having my stuff everywhere! I usually wear two outfits a day (exercise + street clothes) when I travel, so I just have so much extra clothes. And all the other stuff that comes along with being a runner. 

Do I just need to take the time to repack my suitcase each time I use it, to keep the mess contained? Or should I stack things up around it (like I started to in the picture above)? Or should I just shove everything back in it?

Also… how am I going to fit all of this stuff I bought at HyVee in to my suitcase?! Damn you HyVee and your awesome food selection!!!

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By kilax, January 19, 2012 4:52 pm

Boy, do I ever need to. (Hey – didn’t I just write a post about getting a grip on reality and getting over myself?)

It’s been awhile since I had such a large workload and I am not handling it well. I am a planner and can plan to get things done, but I have so many interruptions that I feel like I am never getting anywhere. I spend my days at work feeling anxious and frantic. And people can tell. 

People can tell that I don’t work with too! I am not sure how many times I told Gina how stressed I was, but she sent me these flowers!

I came out of a 2.5 hour meeting to find missed phone calls, 10 new emails, texts on my phone… and these flowers. The flowers were the first thing I tended to. What a wonderful surprise in my crazy overbooked day.

I am the type of person who is not good at balancing a lot of to-dos at once. I like to get things done right away. I get an idea in my head and I have to do it right then. Kind of like instant gratification… I can’t wait. I get too anxious. I think I need to be easier on myself. I think I need to work on my natural tendency to worry. 

But I do think I will work this weekend to get caught up.

This post is very similar to my last confidence post, so, apologies. Just stressed and needed to write.

Anyone else a big stessball like me when they get overloaded?

Let’s lighten this up with a photo. I’ve been trying to make more of an effort to look nice at work lately. I am not sure why, to tell you the truth. I guess it makes me feel good? Anyway, Erin and I went shopping yesterday during lunch and I picked up this skirt (you can’t really tell in the picture, but it’s gray):

And I should mention – even though I am crazy busy I am still planning lunch dates and getting away from my desk at work. My sanity depends on it! I had lunch with my new kickboxing friend today, and it was a lot of fun! I am excited to meet up with her again. 

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By kilax, January 19, 2012 5:08 am

Looks like this Random Thoughts Thursday has a bit of a weight loss focus. Please skip this post if you find that to be triggering!

• How does it make you feel when people comment on the fact that you have lost weight? I am always really surprised that people pay close enough attention to me to notice something like that. I see myself in a mirror each day and don’t notice it at all. And I hardly ever notice it on other people. 
• Does your Driver’s License have your weight on it? On Saturday I was telling two of my girlfriends how excited I was that my real weight matched my Driver’s License weight and they were appalled that my weight was on my Driver’s License at all! Ha ha. 
• I thought this short article, The Six Stages of Weight-Loss Grief from Shape was funny. I can relate to most of those, but especially #4, Faux Concern – when people start to say you are way too skinny. That is NOT happening to me now, but the summer I was my thinnest ever (that lasted a month, and I was a healthy weight, I just couldn’t figure out how to not eat my emotions (still can’t)) I got a few comments from people saying they thought I was way too skinny. I wasn’t. They were just used to seeing me heavier. Man, that drove me crazy!
• Last week I acquired three pairs of boots. Nice boots for work, snow boots, and rain boots! Thankfully I got some Christmas money. And of course, you know my personal shopper (ERIN!) helped me out! Do you have all of those types of boots? I have really big calves (17″ circumference) and the first pair fit me awesomely, over jeans, with room to spare. So if you have big calves too (holla!*) check out the link.

  

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By kilax, December 19, 2011 11:10 am

What do you guys think of today’s festive attire?

Much better than last year (see below)? Ha ha ha!

Do you have any cheesy festive attire? Funny earrings? Pins? A shirt that lights up?

We did a Skype Date yesterday with Gina and Steve (and Luca!!!) to exchange gifts. Don’t worry… I won’t bombard you with screenshots… except for this cute one of Luca opening his gift from us!

Anyway, I actually wore that cheesy cat shirt for our Skype date. When my grandma bought me that shirt at Kohl’s way back in the day my mom said I wouldn’t wear it more than once (in my life) so I have to make sure I wear it at least once a year. Ha. 

Gina got me the beautiful infinity scarf I have on in the first photo! I’ve been wanting one for awhile. I said to Steven last night, “I’ve been wanting an infinity scarf forever!” And he was like, “Really. Forever. Since you were born?!” And I said, “No, since [insert favorite coworker‘s name here] came in to the office wearing one a few months ago.” Ha ha. 

The infinity scarf makes the awful cat holiday skirt almost bearable!

Because it covers it up! Ha ha ha. 

Okay. I am really tired today. Hence all the “ha ha ha”s. I was so pumped yesterday night I couldn’t sleep. Does that happen to anyone else?

I have to show you guys the schweet bracelet from Gina and Steve. I am a total sentimental fool, and love jewelry, so… it’s just perfect. It says NYC and 26.2 on the top and 11-6-11 and 4:41:04 on the bottom! I don’t want to ever take it off… but apparently you aren’t supposed to shower with it on. 

Look, I lied! A few pics from our date. Luca (too cute):

I like to imagine that he could see us. And that he recognizes us.

Birthday Cupcake(s) for Steven (his birthday is 12/22):

Gina and Steve wearing the aprons we sent them:

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By kilax, December 5, 2011 5:01 am

As a thank you to my readers, I am doing one giveaway a week until Christmas. This is giveaway #3! The giveaways will all reflect different interests of mine, and this one is… fashion!

Note that I said I have an interest in fashion, not that I am fashionable. Because I surely am not! I’ve abused my best friend relationship with Erin and should probably be ashamed of the amount of clothes I had her pick out for me this year, because I trust her fashion judgment better than my own. And despite receiving InStyle in the mail, it doesn’t seem to be rubbing off on me! Hmm. But you guys know I have a few favorite fashion items, starting with… scarves! Bet you didn’t see that one coming! The first item included in this giveaway is a scarf:

The scarf included in the giveaway is new and in a plastic sleeve – I tried on the sample to show it to you guys

I love the simple pattern of this scarf! I actually bought one for myself with a gray, orange, beige and dark blue stripe. Can’t resist the orange!

The second item is earrings! I love earrings. I thought these would be fun to wear to work or out and about. And of course, I bought a pair for me too. One for me… one for you…

And lastly, the third item is not really a fashion item, but something I consider a must for the cold months… or for anyone who has cold feet* – two pairs of fuzzy warm socks (size 5-11)!

I have lots of pairs of these types of socks, and I wear them all winter long when I am bumming around the house, since we keep it at 65° or something silly like that (I actually like the cold!). 

Hmm, kind of a random assortment of things included in this giveaway, but hey – I mentioned that I am pretty random with my gifts! I do feel bad that this a gender-focused giveaway, as the first one was. Men, please feel free to enter and give these to your partner, sister, mom, that nice lady in the office… And actually, you could wear the socks, if you have smaller feet! And now that I think about it, that scarf would look really handsome on a guy! I should have got one for Steven!

Fashion Giveaway Rules

1. One reader will receive the scarf, earrings and two pairs of socks. 
2. Required to enter the giveaway:  leave me a comment letting me know what your fashion style is, or if you are as clueless as me!
3. Optional extra entry: share this link on your blog and leave an additional comment letting me know you did.
   
4. This giveaway is open until 5:00 PM CST on Friday December 9. I will use random.org to select the winner. I will announce the winner on Saturday December 10. 
5. This giveaway is open to all readers.

*The real kind, not the figurative kind.

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By kilax, November 17, 2011 6:54 am

• My biggest accomplishment this week has been not getting a headache on Wednesday, so I could go to my strength class. I got bad headaches on Monday and Tuesday and had to cancel exercise classes for both nights. So much for my big comeback in exercising. Does anyone else get regular headaches?
• I am at a new workstation in my office, with a different monitor, and I think the monitor may be causing the headaches. Or just the fact that I am back at work spending so much time looking at a monitor, after a week off from it. I was computer free most of the time we were in NYC. And loved it. Do you love taking a break from your computer from time to time?
• I am kind of upset about my work situation right now but don’t want to go in to it until I have more details. The good news is that on my new floor, I sit by the head of my organization and she asked me out for a lunch date! Now, I don’t think this is because of anything awesome I have done, but because she is from Iowa, and so am I, but hey, I am excited for the opportunity to chat with her one on one.
• I didn’t buy too many souvenirs for myself in NYC – just a few marathon related things (two tees, gloves and arm warmers), an Astoria shirt, and some scarves. I mean, come on, when the scarves are 5 for $20, I have to get some, right? The new scarves required setting up a scarf drawer when I got home though – I was hanging them up before, and now my closet is full! Fortunately I had an empty dresser. Which clothing items do you hang up, and which do you fold (and put in drawers on or shelves)?

From the top, the “York New” (ha ha), white, gray, purple (looks more blue in this picture), blue and red ones are new. The others I’ve bought this year, and the silk ones were all given to me.

• I was able to buy a few holiday gifts while we were in NYC too. I really loved shopping in Bryant Park, with all the unique little giftshops. I suppose the same people come back year after year in the shops, but I felt like I was finding a lot of little gems.
• I need more red shirts. Erin got me this really cool necklace for my birthday, and I only have one red summer shirt and one red winter sweater. Could I wear the necklace with a black top?

• What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving? We’re staying here, and having a meal with our friends. I will miss my family, but am happy we don’t have to travel.

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By kilax, October 27, 2011 4:43 pm

I know I am going to wear orange for the NYC Marathon, because it’s my favorite color and that is what my spectators are going to be wearing. And maybe it will make it easier to find me in the crowds? Probably not.

Anyway, I am not sure if I am wearing a tank or a tee yet (with arm warmers, I am not crazy). So, please help me. Which tank should I wear if I wear a tank? Which tee should I wear if I wear a tee? Vote below.

And yeah… I didn’t suck it in for these photos. This is what I look like, right now. I am going to focus on dropping weight after the marathon. (for realz)

Tanks

*Tank #3 has not arrived in the mail yet to try on.

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Tees
  

*Note, tee #3 is my NYC training shirt, which would probably be REALLY WEIRD to wear on race day. But I like its shade of orange the most, which is a bummer.

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Jen, this picture is for you!

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By kilax, October 25, 2011 6:23 am

When Erin and I were at the jewelry show on Saturday we noticed a booth that had a lot of decorative pins, and she told me how her mom used to wear holiday pins (instead of tacky holiday sweaters). I told Erin that I have somehow amassed a large collection of pins, mostly cats, of course.

(Oops – these photos aren’t really the same scale)

Do people still wear pins and buttons? Despite having so many, I have no clue what to do with them, except stick them on my winter coat, or on a sweater.

Do you know any fashionable way to wear pins/buttons? Do you have any?

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By kilax, October 24, 2011 6:30 am

The example in number 4 above describes my feelings perfectly. And that’s all I will get in to about that.

I really hope my new work detail (whenever it starts) will be a refresher for me. And the vacation to New York City should help too. And maybe the excitement of the upcoming holiday season.

In other news, Erin and I went to a fun jewelry and accesories show on Saturday. I got this necklace and earrings set for $6!

I also got two new scarves, two hats, and a few holiday gifts for people. I know a few people think I am overdoing it with the scarves, but look – I don’t have one on today!

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By kilax, October 14, 2011 11:49 am

My coworker showed me how to tie my scarf in a pretzel knot on Wednesday and I thought it was pretty cool. I made you a “how to” video, but forgot the last knot! Duh! So here are even better directions, from lisa leonard designs (I’ve never seen this blog before – just found it in a google search – but she’s a cutie!). Here’s the knot:

Can you name that Chicago public art piece? WHOA! I look tired today!

Also, since I am talking about scarves (yet again) here is a fun one I picked up at a cute little shop in Kenosha on Sunday. 

It has all these little circular punch-throughs on it.

The funny thing is, I thought I was doing the pretzel knot in this picture. In the store on Sunday, Gina and I saw instructions for the pretzel knot and couldn’t figure it out, so the sales ladies helped us. Well, they showed us wrong. I wrapped it around my neck once, then tied it, then pulled one end up and through from the bottom and one end up and through from the top. It looked cute but wasn’t the pretzel knot! I showed it to my coworker then she showed me how to do it right. Ha ha. 

Side note: This is totally unrelated, but I am really happy I got in to the NYC Marathon before they started changing their registration policy! If you click on the link, you’ll see they’re doing away with guaranteed entry for three-time declined lottery applicants, and significantly decreasing qualifying finishing times (my age group is a 3:00 marathon or 1:27 half!). I don’t think these changes are bad, I am just happy I got in for this year!

Side note 2: I saw this short article on the importance of exercise being fun. There wasn’t much to the article, but it linked to this funny French commercial, which makes me laugh! WARNING: Video may be NSFW.

Side note 3: I can run marathons, but going up the stairs leaves me out of breath every time. LAME.