Dress for Summer Weddings

I've been hunting and hunting for a dress that has the side-tie thing at the neck to wear to weddings this summer. I saw a pic of one in a magazine that was black with white polka dots and was super-cute! Unfortunately, like most dresses in magazines, it was around $450 and that is just insane. I typically think that a price with 3-digits for an article of clothing is over the top. The beauty of my hunt for a dress is that it was not done by shopping in stores (not that I don't like shopping, because I love shopping) but by browsing the internet. Nearly every good store has online shopping capabilities (except for Limited and H & M which seriously need to get on the ball). As mentioned earlier, I do like to shop, but this was just like "doing my homework" before hitting the stores. It was SO convenient to browse the internet looking for this particular style and then simply go and make my purchase once I found it. One stop shopping--and I never do that. I searched the internet all day while Matt got to watch TV then we went to Kansas City and stopped by Town Center to get the dress then had a fun dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise. As I browsed other store windows at Town Center it seemed like I'd already seen everything their stores had to offer just by visiting their sites online. I know Matt was thankful for my online shopping experience. Now for shoes and jewelry...

May Project on Display

May's project is...making aprons! What's better than a homemade Mother's Day gift? On a whim (just as I usually operate) I decided to buy an apron pattern at Hobby Lobby to make myself an apron. This was ignoring the fact that the pattern and supplies cost well over $20...which would have bought me a pretty nice apron. Clearly, the point was to be crafty and make it myself. So I set up my ghetto little sewing corner at the dining room table and with the help of my sewing book and a few calls to Grandmama, viola. Apron done. However, I will never be able to wear this apron anywhere but my own kitchen (and NEVER when we have company) because it turned out awful. It was really more like an engineering project of tucking and sewing and creating. So I resolved I was bad at this and would never make another apron. This is me during the project (apron #1) and I did not take a picture of the finished product to protect my self-esteem.


But then Grandmama called and asked how the apron turned out...and I told her how I messed it all up...and she told me how to fix it...so in an effort to make it worth the money I'd spent on the pattern, I tried again. And this one turned out much better. It was actually fun to make too! I had such a great sense of accomplishment when I finished my project. I was so proud. It was even good enough to give as a gift! So I gave this one to my mom. (It's reversible). Doesn't she look lovely modeling it below?





And I also made a reversible one for Matt's mom too. I think they really liked them. Or at least they were proud of me for attempting to make their gifts for Mother's Day.

Now I'm going to just have to make a new one for me...one that could be worn in front of people.

Hard-Core Runner?

I'm too lazy to take my own picture of my new shoes and running paraphernalia so I had to just steal this pic from someone else. It is NOT of me running. (I could never wear this tight of stretch pants and my running shoes are much cooler).

My newest endeavor is to be a runner. It could be a life-long hobby with tons of benefits. Have you ever seen a fat runner? I aspire to be one of those 40-something ladies who still has a great body due to the running. I've run several 5K races over the years but never been super-hard-core about it. But since the last 5K in April...I've caught the obsession. I love feeling the runner's high. For me, it's always been much more about the idea of being a runner than actually participating in the act of running. But the time has arrived, with no gym membership and my hiatus from teaching aerobics...I must find a new fitness plan! I've got new shoes, a fancy hoodie with a pocket for my iPod, my motivating playlist...I'm ready! So I've been logging 20-40 minutes of running a day and feeling pretty good about it. I even decided to buy a book about running with training tips and workout plans and such. Browsing the books was an interesting experience...seemed like there was no happy medium. They were either trying to get you to follow a 10-week training plan to work you up to running 20 minutes (which I can already do due the the sheer fact that I'm young and somewhat in shape I guess) or they were training you for a marathon. We're talking a training plan where you ran 3 1/2 hours some days! I almost fainted looking at the training plan. 3 1/2 hours!!! "Bye honey, going for a run, be back in 3 and a half hours!?!?!" Seriously, is that what it takes to be a hard-core runner? Who has that kind of time even? I don't want to run marathons...I just want a lifetime of toned muscles and a healthy heart. Is that too much to ask?
I've decided to search the internet for a manageable running plan rather than buy any of their crazy books. Maybe this is just another passing phase, but I really don't think so. The question...can I call myself a runner yet? It's all about the mindset even if I'm just starting with 20-40 minutes...that's better than nothing right?
Friday at my yearly check-up when my doctor was taking my blood pressure, listening to my heart, and pressing on my stomach she asked me if I was a runner. I replied with a huge smile, yes, yes I am.