Slowly But Surely

So you want to live in New York?

2012-03-01T16:26:00.001-05:00

A reader asked me if I would write about the financial life of an entry level job in New York City.

It's true what Mr. Sinatra said, "If you can make it here you can make it anywhere!"

I've never been shy about admitting my salary, my expenses, or any other financial details of my life so here goes nothing.

I get $870/paycheck at my entry-level, full-time job. This is on the lower end for my industry but I also only have a 35-hour work week. I take out half of my monthly expenses from each paycheck so here's how it breaks down per paycheck:
$500-rent
$20-utilities
$40-credit card payment
$15-Express credit card payment
$25-phone bill
$10-gym membership
$150-spending money for food, fun, shopping, necessities, etc. (Almost always a challenge!)
I save the rest, typically $100.

I also babysit as much as possible, at least 3 times a week. I make a minimum of $400 which pays for my student loans. Any extra income from babysitting gets saved. This savings doesn't always stay saved but it helps for bigger/unexpected purchases that arise...and they ALWAYS arise!

After 6 months of job hunting, I was so thrilled to have a job in my favorite city that the teeny tiny salary they told me sounded like angels singing. When I finally broke it down to cover my expenses, it was pretty sobering but trust me, if I can do it most people can.

It's not always glamorous or exciting and I can be a big pile of struggle some days,

but even on a budget you can still do some pretty cool things and have a lot of fun!

I think New York is different for everyone, since obviously everyone's salaries, expenses, and lifestyles are different. If you have any specific questions, feel free to e-mail me! (specialkap32 at gmail.com)

Slowly But Surely

2012-02-29T12:03:00.001-05:00

When I made this blog I wanted to document my progress of a few goals of mine. Simple as that. I expected to be slow, hence the blog name. Somewhere along the way I got it in my brain that I needed to post every day at 8:30am and I always had to have progress to show for each post. I wanted to accomplish everything as quickly as possible and as perfectly as possible. I completely lost my mind with the pressure I put on myself and every goal of mine became ridden with anxiety because I felt like a failure. The negativity was unhealthy. I had a few reality checks and I worked my way out of it. Blah. Dunzo with that nonsense. As much as I like to be an over-achiever, I found my limits and learned my lessons.

I'm not going to claim from this day forward I'll be much better about posting, about saving money or about running. Yes, today is a fresh start but I'm not going to go nuts trying to accomplish everything. I will post when I want to, not because I have to. It will be an outlet but it won't be my diary. I like to include pictures in posts but I won't always be as entertaining. I'm just barely afloat financially but there are big and small opportunities to improve that soon. Training for the 1/2 marathon has taken a back seat and it is now a fun walk/run. That is perfectly ok with me and I'm looking forward to seeing progress as the ~~days~~ YEARS go on. My progress is different than I expected but that doesn't mean I failed. It means I have still made improvements and that's all that matters.

I'm excited for a positive March. Between tax returns, receiving 3 paychecks instead of 2, and spending an entire weekend babysitting, I'll be in a better situation financially. It's the month I will do my first half marathon. It's the month I get to spend some quality time with my sister in Denver. It's the month I get to meet my favorite financial blogger. I will make progress but I will enjoy my favorite parts of life more. Simple as that. Goals are great but a slower pace sounds pretty darn good to me!

So that's where I'm at. I hope you tune in to my story (say "hey" if you do!) but if not, that's ok too. The support is wonderful but this blog is not meant to be a form of validation from others and I can't forget that.

Oh, and happy leap day! Go do something out of the ordinary!

Hello from vacation!

2012-02-27T08:30:00.003-05:00

I'm mentally joining my family on their cruise today. They won't be back until next week but it's undetermined when I'll return to the blog. I need to get my priorities straight and I know that blogging daily is just not high up on my list right now. It's a helpful outlet for some things so I'm not ending the blog but it needs to take a bit of a back seat in my life until it gets back on track.

Ta ta for now.

Fun Fact Friday

2012-02-24T08:30:00.000-05:00

I paid over $5,000 in student loan interest last year. YIKES!

I bet you're checking that right now, aren't you?

I saw a homeless man's hoo-haa yesterday. I was walking to lunch and he was sitting on the sidewalk. As he got up, his pants did not come up with him. Simply delightful...or something.

Gross, huh? Happy Friday everyone!

Don't Sweat It

2012-02-23T08:30:00.133-05:00

Thank you for the comments of support and encouragement from yesterday's post. Logically it makes total sense to know I'm lucky, life is good, etc. But sometimes it's hard to get my emotions to catch up with the obvious. I'm working on it.

So between piling on too many activities and piling on the pressure to be perfect, life feels like this:

but if I can calm down, adjust my expectations, remain positive, and relax a little bit, it might look a lot more like this:

or even this:

I did not participate in either book clubs this month. I wish I could have had that social opportunity to meet new people and discuss some pretty interesting books but I needed to focus on priorities. I can always meet up next month and if I don't, it's OK.

I toned down the intensity for the rest of my race training. Being so exhausted and frustrated before a run was making the runs worse and then I would get even more frustrated for not having a good run. I need running and working out to be a positive experience for me and I need to just do what I can. I will run when I want to for a distance that works for me (I won't be lazy about it) and I will make it a priority but I threw out my training plan. Currently, I plan to run 1 mile, walk .5 and rotate for the race. It's less running than I wanted to but that's OK. I might not finish in the 3 hour time limit and that's OK too. "Do Not Finish" is better than "Do Not Start" so I have to be proud of that. I put a lot of pressure on this race but just because I don't run this whole race, doesn't mean I can't ever run a full race. I can continue to try and I can continue to improve, I just need more time. It's difficult to adjust my expectations but it's necessary and instantly lifts a huge weight off my shoulders.

I took a night off. No running, no homework, no babysitting, no social commitments, no internet, nothing. I allowed myself to clean out junk in my room and read my book. I let myself cry if I wanted to and I let myself just have a few moments to lay down and enjoy peace and quiet.

I scheduled a trip to visit my aunt and uncle this weekend to get out of this crazy, hectic city.

I turned my iPod off. As much as I love music, all that added noise in my ears was just too much.

I started focusing on the present rather than stress about the future. Rather than stressing about doing my taxes before I even have all my documents, I started to focus on what I can do in the current moment. I can get homework finished, I can make my lunches for the week, I can get some reading done, I can make progress in career planning. That helped me take a few deep breaths.

I'm feeling better and I'm still happy with my accomplishments. I'm learning the hard way that I can't do it all but that's OK.

Amen.

Highs and Lows

2012-02-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

Growing up, our family would share our "highs and lows" of the day while we ate dinner together. Here are the highs and lows of my "long" weekend.

Highs:

Surpassing $2000 for my fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society thanks to a great fundraiser Friday night.
Meeting Megan's new boyfriend and seeing my friend so happy.
Catching up on homework and school stuff.
Finally taking a little bit of time to relax, have fun, and be lazy.
Picking up an extra babysitting job for a cute kid.

Lows:

Trying to run 6.5 miles hungover and after eating junk food. Legs and lungs were great, stomach not so much. It wasn't awful though!
Getting ripped off by a cab driver on my way home from a night out.
Having to work on President's Day.
Being too busy to blog yesterday.Hope you didn't miss me too much!
Missing Matt. The weekend following a visit is almost always the hardest.

Babysitting Q&A

2012-02-17T08:30:00.001-05:00

I've had a few people ask me about how to get involved with babysitting. It has been such a rewarding experience (both educationally and financially) that I figured I would share my details with everyone! I know babysitting isn't for everyone (Megan wouldn't be caught dead playing with children voluntarily) but I enjoy working with kids so it's a great fit for me.

You know you read the books!

How did I get started babysitting?
A second income is crucial for me to pay my student loans. I used to be a waitress but I worked late hours after a full day at work and the management was not very nice. I heard about SitterCity and quickly changed my second job to "babysitter". It is very easy to make a profile and search for jobs. Families started calling me within a few days. Similar sites are Care, Sitters, and Craigslist. I have tried a few but SitterCity is still my favorite.

What did I include in my profile to be hired so quickly?
I definitely included a picture and a background check. I hesitated on the background check at first because I worried it was a scam. At least for Sitter City, it just gave parents a better piece of mind about letting an internet stranger come hang with their kids. A background check paid for itself within one hour of babysitting so it's more than worth the investment.

Since there are some weirdos out there, I did not include my reference's contact info. I simply stated that references are available upon request. Be prepared to have roughly 3 references and notify them so they are prepared to talk to potential families.

I did not get CPR certified (classes were $80 minimum!) but that was ok with most families.

I was honest about my availability (evenings and weekends). I loved this feature because you can make your own schedule and families could check your availability before asking you for a job.

In my bio I was bubbly, highlighted my experience and what makes me qualified for watching their kids (responsible, fun, patient etc) and said that I keep my schedule flexible for babysitting jobs (music to parents' ears). I kept it short and ended with "I look forward to hearing from you!"

How did I determine an hourly rate?
Babysitting rates vary by city and state BIG time! Growing up in Minnesota, it was a big deal to get $10/hour. In NYC, $15 is the norm for one kid. Setting a rate is daunting because you don't want to shortchange yourself but if you ask too much you'll miss out on a job. Care.com has a great pay calculator that factors in your location, your experience and how many kids. I have over 10 years experience so I make $15/1 kid, $18/2 kids in New York.

How many families to you juggle working for?
Usually about 4, which can be a lot. Some weeks are completely booked and you turn down jobs left and right and other times I have a whole week free. Some families have regular weekly dates and others are more sporadic. The worst are the late notice jobs but being flexible is really valuable for getting called again.

Have you had any bad experiences?
I've been really lucky and all the families I work for are great. There are the occasional days that the kids are bratty or crabby and sometimes just downright awful, but that's kids for you. Waitressing has customers like that too. Sometimes I feel like the "help" and sometimes I feel like I'm at these families beck and call but most of the time I have good relationships with all of the families I have met so far.

I have been notified on Sitter City that some "parent profiles" looking for babysitters have been deleted due to misconduct. I can only imagine the horror stories that happen to some people. I always tell people when I'm going to meet a new family, just to be safe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have any questions that I haven't answered, please don't hesitate to ask! I wish I could post pictures of the cute kiddos I get to hang out with but I have a feeling parents wouldn't appreciate their kids' faces plastered on the internet without their permission.

Three Things Thursday

2012-02-16T08:30:00.001-05:00

1. The Spending Diet has become a bit of a joke. Not on purpose by any means but even if I stick to necessities, some weeks it's just impossible to stick to my limits, especially in New York. When healthy groceries cost $35/week, replacing my busted headphones cost $30 (2 year warranty at least!), Basics like shampoo and razors cost $25, an additional textbook that we just found out about, having to take a cab home from the airport since the bus was taking over 2 hours at midnight, my $150 flew out the window faster than I can say "Spending Diet". My parents even generously voided my cell phone payment to them for Feb but add in a busy schedule and not always having time to grocery shop or meal plan, that money is gone already. Not pleased. Payday on Friday can't come soon enough. I haven't given up but it has been much harder than expected.

2. Ricky Martin on Glee singing "Sexy and I Know It" in Spanish?? Um what?! How old is he now? I went to his concert in 5th grade. Not sure I'm a fan.

AND I would really love to know WHO thought it would be cool for NeNe Leakes from the Real Housewives of Atlanta to be on Glee too! WTF?! She's trashy as a "housewife" and she absolutely won't be any better on Glee. That show is being downgraded big time.

3. P90X is no joke. Matt and I did 30 min of the core disc on Monday and my thighs and bum are still sore! I'm not quite sure how that works since I thought the core was more your back and stomach but I'm not complaining. I can only imagine how I would feel after a week of regular P90X workouts and running!

The over-achiever sydrome

2012-02-15T08:30:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I get delusional and think I'm Queen of the World and that I can take on everything at once.

When looking at my schedule, I rarely account for downtime, sleep, or spontaneity. When I see open gaps I immediately look for ways to fill my time.

That's how I've ended up with trying to pack in:

A full-time job
Babysitting 2-4 times a week
1/2 marathon training (as a rookie)
Fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
2 Book Clubs
Trying to make new friends in this huge city
Trying to eat healthier (i.e. planning/shopping for/cooking healthier meals)
A 3 credit online class
Maintaining a daily blog
A long distance relationship
Career planning/advancement
Long distance friendships and family
A spending diet
Exploring my favorite city while I still live here
A social life
Traveling for work or for fun (I can't help it!)

It's likely I'm certifiably insane. Take me away, officer. I need a few padded walls.

To make matters worse, when the 1/2 marathon happens in a month, I've been saying to myself, "oh! I'll finally have time to volunteer with Girls on the Run and study for the Praxis test and babysit more to boost my savings AND relax some." Again, delusional. Realistically I can replace training with only one activity since I still plan on being active after the race and will need time for that too.

It is really really hard to make time for everything and everything on the list makes me happy/proud/accomplished etc. And I'm not good at enjoying laziness. However, I can't continue at this pace. A few times a week I find myself gasping for breath to keep up with this schedule of mine. I know that the more I pile on, the less I'm putting into each activity and the less I'm getting out of it.

For example, yesterday I worked and had to leave early to babysit until 10pm. I finally grabbed Subway on my way home for dinner, typed up a blog post, and had a quick Valentine's Day skype date with Matt. That means tonight I'll have to make time for everything else after another babysitting gig (run, grocery shop, finally unpack from the weekend, clean my room and do homework). It's exhausting just to type all that!

I've been this way my whole adult life. I spent most of my college career in a daze.

Not even drunk.

I chose to graduate in 3 years with a major and two minors and work 2 part time jobs at 20 hours a week each and rock an internship and maintain all of my relationships.

How do I learn how to slow down, and find a pace that is still accomplished but more manageable? If I'm not able to do it all, I know I'll struggle with feeling unproductive. Some things I have no choice to keep (babysitting, spending diet, homework). How do I determine what activities to cut, which are important to add, and how to get a little bit of everything? I guess we can now add prioritizing my life to my to-do list too.

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

I was finally able to peel myself away from my favorite fella to return to New York last night. Trust me, it wasn't easy! Although he's now far far away on Valentine's Day, I think we did the holiday justice this weekend, starting with a date at Dave and Busters.

Mini burgers on Hawaiian rolls are amazing!

"Look like you're so excited to see me!"

We had a deal that with the tickets we won we would buy the other the weirdest present we could afford.

After much deliberation...

Matt got me a ring

that lights up!

My parents visited us Saturday for lunch and bowling.

My dad tried guacamole for the first time!

It was a hit!
I got second place in bowling, which is pretty fab considering my Dad is in a weekly league and Matt took a bowling class in college.

A good time was had by all :)

The rest of the weekend I got breakfast in bed, Matt and I played games, got a run in, tried some fabulous Mexican and watched the Grammy's.

Bonus points for breakfast in bed including Starbucks! How cute are their Valentine's Day cups?!

That taco salad was no joke!

Now I'm back to reality and although I don't like to wish time away, Matt's visit to New York in March can't come fast enough! I hope you all are able to share the love today!

Help!

2012-02-13T08:30:00.000-05:00

I'm being held captive in Wisconsin, not at all against my will :)

I'll be back to blog tomorrow if I can peel myself away from this fella! Hope you all had a great weekend!

I'm so excited!

2012-02-10T08:30:00.002-05:00

I'm leaving tonight to spend a whole weekend with this guy!

Peace out ya'll!

Running Playlist!

2012-02-09T08:30:00.002-05:00

Music gets me through every single run. If I could hear my feet shuffling and my lungs wheezing, I don't think I would be able to run for 2 minutes, let alone 3 miles. Music not only blocks out my noise but it pumps me up and keeps me motivated.

I have about 120 songs I keep on a playlist that I shuffle through. Different songs work better on different days but I love them all.

Here's a list of my 20 favorites:
"Dog Days Are Over" - Florence + The Machine
"Down On Me" - Jeremih & 50 Cent
"Faster" - Matt Nathanson
"Fat Bottomed Girls" - Glee (Queen version is better)
"Ni**as in Paris" - Kanye & Jay-Z
"Good Feeling" - Flo Rida
"Gunpowder & Lead" - Miranda Lambert
"Home" - Edward Sharpe
"Footloose" - Kenny Loggins
"How Low" - Ludacris (also good for the embarrassing moment of dancing around your kitchen while you make dinner until your roommate catches you)
"I Like How It Feels" - Enrique Iglasias
"Little Lion Man" - Mumford & Sons
"Marchin On" - One Republic
"Misery Business" - Paramore
"More" - Usher
"Party Rock Anthem" - LMFAO
"Send Me On My Way" - Rusted Root
"Sexy and I Know It" - LMFAO
"Ass Back Home" - Gym Class Heroes
"Wild Ones" - Flo Rida feat. Sia

Variety is the spice of ~~life~~ runs so I'm always on the hunt for new songs. What are you favorites? Any suggestions?

Rise and Shine!

2012-02-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

New York City never sleeps. It often times looks a lot like this:

It's true, you can find people out and about at all hours of the day and night, one thing I kind of love about the city. In the rare moments you can find some space and quiet while you wander the city, it's a welcome change of pace.

It turns out if you wake up early to go to they gym, you get the major perk of avoiding the rush hour madness and enjoying a very peaceful commute to work/the gym. The subways are not busy nor crowded, the construction noise has not started yet, and being in a sleepy stupor makes you not even realize you're up before the sun and about to go workout.

Once you get to the gym, the rewards continue. The locker rooms aren't crowded, there are a lot of machines available with no line, and I can actually catch some quality time with Matt Lauer since we don't have TV at our apartment.

Now, it's not easy to leave the house 1.5 hours earlier. I am certainly not a morning person! With my schedule though with babysitting and homework, it has become a necessary part of my training program 2 days a week.

When the alarm goes off at 5:45, it's a total mental battle with the snooze button. But once I'm up, I'm up for the day. I turn on some music, roll out of bed in my workout clothes (yup, I sleep in them to make it even easier), grab the bag I packed the night before, and head out the door. I eat half a Cliff bar as I walk to the subway and I spend 30 minutes knocking out my cardio cross-training or my easy run while I read on my nook. That 30 minutes of quiet "me" time with a book and endorphins is always a great way to start the day and it's absolutely worth the early wake-up call.

Lastly, if you workout in the morning, you have the rest of the day for everything else. You have more time in the evening to babysit, do homework, go to dinner with friends, read, go to bed early, whatever you want!

Just don't forget to bring different work shoes or you'll end up like me yesterday!

Oops! They're more comfortable than heels though and my boss didn't care!

"Marching On" - One Republic

2012-02-07T08:30:00.000-05:00

For those days we felt like a mistake,

Those times when love's what you hate,

Somehow,

We keep marching on.

There's so many wars we fought,

There's so many things we're not,

But with what we have,

I promise you that,

We're marching on

We'll have the days we break,

And we'll have the scars to prove it,

We'll have the bonds that we save,

But we'll have the heart not to lose it.

We put one foot in front of the other,

We move like we ain't got no other,

We go when we go,

We're marching on.

I ran 3 miles straight last night (6 miles total). I'm simply blown away at my hard work and seeing the progress I make, despite challenges. "Marching On" by One Republic is one of the many songs on my running playlist and it ALWAYS keeps me running and determined to finish strong. I wish I had more pictures to document my progress but that will come with time.

No matter what your goal, keep marchin' on!

Thank you, Captain Obvious

2012-02-06T08:30:00.002-05:00

There are 42 days until I run the NYC 1/2 Marathon. Really? Uh oh. That seems like no time at all to increase my mileage! Especially since I have felt like a big tub of lazy on my last few runs.

It's not always easy but I enjoy making time for running because it's my chunk of time to think about everything I've piled on my schedule this spring or to zone out and think about nothing. I love being left alone with some of my favorite music and my thoughts.

But one factor of training I haven't really considered is nutrition. With my spending diet and busy schedule, I usually eat what is easy, inexpensive, and will keep me full so I can make $20 last for a week of groceries. While I was ~~struggling through~~ running my 3.5 miles on Saturday, I finally realized that maybe I should think about how I fuel myself so I have more energy and I don't feel like a sloth when I run. Countless meals of mac & cheese and leftover chicken fingers with ranch and french fries are probably less-than-stellar pre-workout foods. Seems obvious, right? I know, I'm shaking my head at myself.

So in addition to making time to actually run and take care of the basics, I will now be making time to find and prepare efficient (and still delicious and cheap) meals to help my body perform at it's best. 13.1 miles is hard enough without expecting to run well on junk food.

Fewer carbs, more veggies.

My plan for today is apple and pb for breakfast and a salad for lunch. That's as far as I got so I'm asking you

What are healthy, inexpensive, delicious meals that are easy and quick to make and can be transported to work without having to bring my whole kitchen??

I am grocery shopping tonight and need to make a list. I'll take all the ideas you have and I'll be doing some research of my own, thanks to Pinterest. This is all pretty new to me and I need your help!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The giveaway winner is...Lisa. Well, she's the only one that entered! Really? No one else likes to scrapbook? Oh well, congrats Lisa! E-mail me at specialkap32@gmail.com and I'll give you the details!

For those who forgot to enter or want to give MyMemories Suite as a gift, I do have a discount for you! At checkout, use this code STMMMS62679 for $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

Firm Fridays

2012-02-03T08:30:00.001-05:00

Well it's that time of the week again!

If I remember correctly, I'm finally back to the weight I was before I moved down to South Carolina after college. Being super broke and eating a lot of fried and fast food did terrible, evil things to my body and I finally learned what it felt like to have stomach rolls. Having a shrinking waistline feels great and I'm so much more comfortable in my clothes!

Here's how my week went down:

Sunday: Force myself on a long run. I was under the impression I had to do 5 miles. I settled for 4 and took it easy as my ITB and knee get back into shape. I alternated running and walking based on songs and I enjoyed breaking in my new shoes. All health benefits were counter-acted as I chowed down on french toast and drank unlimited mimosas at brunch. Oops.

Monday: 6 miles were on the docket. I had been reading my training schedule incorrectly so when it says 2/2/2, I tried to run 2/walk2/run 2. It's really the other way around. Whatever, I ran 4 miles total anyway since I hadn't yet realized my mistake. The difficult part was the gym. I usually work until roughly 4:30 and am mere steps away from my gym so I beat the "rush hour" after work. Well 6 miles on a treadmill is certainly going to take me longer than the 30 minute limit but by the time I hit 45 minutes there was a long line of impatient exercisers breathing down my neck so I hopped off after only 3.5 miles. I went home frustrated and content on calling it a day. Megan came home shortly after me ready to run and she dragged my butt out the door with her so I could squeeze in my last 2 miles. I love having a runner roomie!

Tuesday: I was supposed to get up early before work and cross-train. I didn't. After work I babysat. Not beating myself up over it.

Wednesday: I actually got up early and elliptical-ed for 30 minutes. Leaving that early for the gym is actually quite pleasant! Subways, locker rooms and cardio machines are not crowded at all. It's quiet and I felt great the rest of the day. After work and babysitting I did my scheduled Wed run of 2 miles, again thanks to Megan's encouragement.

Thursday: my day off and I happily rested my tired legs.

Today I'm off to lunchtime yoga and will run 2/2/2 (the right way) after work before a book launch party.

"Giving up's not an option. Gotta get it in" - Florida "Good Feelin"

My diet has been less than stellar. Babysitting most nights after work without a planned menu of easy-to-prepare meals has lead to a lot of mac & cheese. I'll plan better next week. The increase in my spending diet will improve the list of healthy foods I can afford too.

Three Things Thursday - Spending Diet Month 1

2012-02-02T08:30:00.001-05:00

1. After a month on my spending diet, I caved. Definitely not as badly as I used to spend but spend I did. Matt even said he saw it coming a few days before it happened. What gave it away? It couldn't possibly be posts like this, could it? Of course not.

It happened pretty innocently. If you recall, I had $30 left as of Friday. After shoe shopping on Saturday, I couldn't possibly head back indoors and not appreciate the beautiful weather we were having. That would just be plain stupid. So Megan met me for a little innocent window shopping. A cute pair of dress pants on clearance at the Gap was the amount of my gift card. Then I remembered all the sale signs at H&M and figured, "it's a beautiful day out, we might as well walk on over there, right?" I bought a shirt dress without even trying it on (because I really should try it on with all the matching accessories I have at home...or some excuse like that). It's really ugly on. Like really, really ugly. It's still sitting in it's bag on my floor to be returned.

After all of our walking around, we worked up an appetite and Megan happened to leave our cake pan at the local bar from my fundraising event so we stopped in for some lunch, naturally. Despite befriending the bartender/waiter who brought us complimentary drinks and chips & guac, we still ended up spending $15. Not the best decision but it wasn't that bad for dining out.

I babysat Saturday night so I was safe from my evil spending demon, temporarily. Sunday rolled around and I forgot about brunch plans. It would be rude of my to cancel so off I went to brunch after a 4 mile run. I was so proud of myself for getting up early to run that I took advantage of the $15 unlimited mimosa deal and seriously enjoyed some delicious French Toast. $32 later, I was full and not thinking clearly. Megan and I wandered over to Express and did more damage to my spending diet. Damn Express and their super effective marketing strategies! I unsubscribed to their e-mails, I stopped going on their website and into their stores and I cut up their credit card. And then a pesky $15 off coupon comes floating in the mail and well of course it would be a shame to just throw it away and it's so easy for them to look up your account information. $60 later, Express temporarily won my battle. Not proud but at least I'm honest.

To make matters worse, I still had to get groceries for the week, which required roughly $23. Womp womp. It sounds worse than it is because I had enough extra babysitting money to cover this stupid spending spree so it's not like I'm unable to pay rent this month because of it. ~~But I do sometimes panic that I won't be able to.~~ I haven't spent anything this week, thank goodness. Payday tomorrow really just can't come soon enough so I can start fresh.

2. The spending diet is getting adjusted to avoid binge shopping, just as any dieter would do. I know that $100 is possible to live on without being a hermit but I need a little more cushion so I feel comfortable and not deprived. After a month of feeling deprived I clearly freak out a bit and pretend I can roll with the best of them. So now I get $150 to spend each month to cover everything. So basically I get $100 but it doesn't include food. I feel better about this because if I want to visit my aunt and uncle one weekend, I don't have to spend 1/5 of my entire spending money for the next 2 weeks. If I want to spend $50 out with friends one weekend, I can without it completely jeopardizing the next 2 weeks.

But the $150 is a hard number set in stone. The minute that money is gone, it doesn't matter what my urges are or how much food I have left in my cabinets, it's gone. My savings will be more secure if I make this adjustment and ultimately that is the most important aspect of this spending diet.

Now, if I come to you in another month and try to say "oh, it got adjusted again and now it's $200 a paycheck", slap my across the face. Then it's no spending diet at all. No changes will have been made and my efforts will have gone to waste.

I feel really confident about $150. It's enough where I certainly still have to be smart about every dollar but it allows me to save for bigger purchases if I want/need to, it allows me to afford a few more groceries each week (I'm actually sick of carbs!), and I still have the choice to save it if I want to.

3. All that extra babysitting money I earned to boost my savings back up? Yeah, that didn't happen. I babysat but the money covered my spending spree. Overall, I have saved roughly $80.

However, I found my babysitting mojo because just today 3 different families asked me for future jobs. This week started my regular bi-weekly babysitting job that brings in enough to pay my loans each month. Additionally, I will babysit most Thursdays and Saturdays so there will definitely be money at the end of each month to add to savings.

It's not always easy going from my full-time job to hanging with kiddos, especially with 1/2 marathon training and an online class but hey, it pays the bills and it's usually a pretty great job. I'm really thankful to have found good families to work for and that keep asking me back.

Just because it's Wednesday...Giveaway!

2012-02-01T08:30:00.003-05:00

Ever since I was little, I've been big on scrapbooking. My mom was an independent consultant for Creative Memories and she taught me how to personalize a scrapbook to really make it a work of art. When I graduated from high school, she made me a huge book of my life.

That baby weighs a lot!

Yes, and each page is artfully crafted.

When I nannied for a year in New Jersey, I made a scrapbook of my own.

It took a while and cost a lot but it really captures that fun year in my life. I would love to have one for college, one for South Carolina and one for New York.

So when Liz Gardner from My Memories contacted me about trying their digital scrapbooking software, I was so excited! My spending diet doesn't exactly allow me to print out my pictures, buy all the fancy stickers, paper and cutouts to make a great album but I have plenty to scrapbook about!

**Disclaimer, I did receive a free copy of the software but I am not obligated to or compensated for positive reviews. All opinions are completely my own.**

I used My Memories Suite to easily create this scrapbook page:

I started by using one of their templates but I ended up customizing it so much that you wouldn't recognize the template. It was really easy to be creative and I'll be able to create a full album in no time.

I still have a lot of exploring to do with the software but it seems like there is a lot of room for creativity but if you're a busy bee you can also create an adorable page in just a few clicks.

Here's a video that explains more about it. Yes, it sounds pretty infomercial-y but I promise it's helpful to get an idea of the product.

My favorite thing about this is that you can still export your photo album (or whatever product you make) to have an actual scrapbook to keep in your home. There's something about keeping it on your coffee table and looking at it on a rainy day to enjoy the memories.

Lucky for you, My Memories is offering a lucky winner a copy of their software for free (a $40 value)!

Here's how you can enter:
1. Go to Mymemories.com and tell me what layout or digital paper pack you would use to design your album.
2. Follow My Memories on Twitter
3. Like My Memories on Facebook

Leave a comment for each entry and I'll use the random generator to pick a winner. Contest ends this Friday at noon EST and winner will be announced Monday morning. Good luck!!

Just do it...A Cinderella Story

2012-01-31T08:30:00.000-05:00

Like most girls, I love my shoes. I take most excuses to get a new pair and they make me happy, blisters and all. So last year when Matt and I weren't together and a guy I liked bailed on me, I returned his Christmas/Birthday presents and bought myself some shoes with that money.

Smart move, self, smart move.

When you are newly single, running and working out is a great hobby to pickup and I learned to love my new shoes. Obviously I loved them, you saw how grubby they are, right?

I was in Boston last spring and was fitted for running shoes (because when in Rome, right?) and they recommended the Saucony Progrid Ride 3's for me but I was too broke to buy them. A few months later, I completely ignored the advice from Boston and fell in love with these bad boys. The Nike Frees.

My parents got them for me as a birthday present and I loved them. They weighed next to nothing and I felt pretty badass. Sure enough though, the lack of support brought ankle pain pretty quickly and I had to give them up.

Back to my breakup shoes. But after a year of wear and tear, it turns out the shoes don't love me so much. Enter Runners Knee and ITB Syndrome. Bummer. They were perfectly worn in and always comfortable but they weren't right for my stride.

When I discovered two weeks ago that new shoes were imperative to me finishing marathon training, I cashed in my savings and looked online for Sauconys. Apparently a 9.5 is a popular size because they were nowhere to be found. They did, however, have the Progrid Ride 4's in my size so I figured "same difference". Nope, certainly not.

So after a trip to Jack Rabbit this weekend, I found the perfect shoes for me.

Amber, the helpful sales woman at Jack Rabbit, helped me for a solid hour by testing out 4 kinds of shoes on the treadmill. Ultimately that Nike Zoom Structures won for comfort, stability and I hate to say it, looks. With the added hot pink shoe laces, I'm in love. It didn't hurt that Jack Rabbit was offering 15% off for all Team In Training members that day :)

After 2 solid runs in them, I know they're keepers. One step closer to 13.1!!

My weekend in pictures

2012-01-30T08:30:00.002-05:00

A few things Friday

2012-01-27T08:30:00.005-05:00

*Fit Friday:

Lost 8 lbs. Mostly flu related but I'll take it. I have yoga during lunch today and my new shoes are getting their first run tonight as I continue my training plan. Run 2 miles, walk 1, run 2.

*I'm building my savings back up with babysitting. Tuesday I finally earned enough money to cover my Feb. loans. That means any babysitting I do between then and the 31st goes straight to savings. ~~Fortunately~~ I babysat last night and am scheduled for Saturday, Monday and Tuesday night. It feels great to get that number back up! But man, sometimes babysitting is the hardest job I've ever had. For the first time in my 10 years babysitting, I had a kid (who I've been watching for months and is normally nice and sweet) literally try to beat me up (using a plastic sword which he thought would really hurt me) and tell me he hates me and he never wanted me to come back. Birth control at its best.

*Spending diet update. $30 left until payday. I want to go to brunch with the Megans since I haven't been out to eat in ages, I want to see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close ($6 before noon), and I want to still be able to buy groceries for the week.We'll see how things go. I'm still happy with the diet so can't complain too much.

*Watched MoneyBall on Wednesday evening.

I'm such a sucker for a good sport's movie. That Brad Pitt is one attractive man, both his looks and confidence. And Jonah Hill's character is fascinating! Blockbuster Express raised their prices from $1 to $3. Not a big fan of that but it's still cheaper than a lot of options.

On the docket for tonight along with wine and a Crumbs cupcake:

I just discovered that Blockbuster Express has a promotion for a free DVD rental today only by using the code: LOVE2RENT. Nice!

*BIC Bands. $20 spent. They should be in the mail next week and apparently my hair will never bug me during a workout again. Worth the splurge. Profits go to charity and this month specifically they go to Team Gabby. I'm a sucker for a good cause. Even if that means I now have $30 to last me a week.

*So many books to read, so little time!

The trouble with libraries is you put books on hold and while you wait you start a book of your own. Once you start really enjoying your current book, two books are ready at the library at the same time and you have two weeks until you have to return them. Do you ditch the current book you're reading for the time-sensitive books you have or do you just keep trying to renew them until you have time for them? And now I have to add readings for school. If only I were a faster reader! By the way, really enjoying Pride & Prejudice!

Happy Friday!

If I still had my credit card in my wallet I would...

2012-01-26T16:03:00.000-05:00

...Allow myself to browse H&M and Forever21 on my way home from work and buy whatever good deals looked good. While I'm at it, I would use my $15 Express rewards card and not limit myself to what I can buy with it. And I would use my Gap gift card from Christmas and not worry about what I can afford to spend it on. And when all was said and done I would have a few new cozy winter outfits, new accessories to spice up the outfits I already have, and I would have super cute new outfits to bring on a secret vacation getaway Matt and I are planning.

...Get a new pair of brown boots since mine are 3 years old and pretty worn and torn. They would look nice with all the cute clothes I would buy.

...Go wherever I want for brunch this weekend with my girlfriends. I would order what sounded good rather than what was cheapest or gave me the most for my money. I would enjoy a $9 mimosa or two without a care in the world.

...Make an appointment to get my hair done. I would love fresh blonde highlights, get my bangs trimmed, re-do my layers. I miss my old hair.

...Buy a foam roller. $25 for a piece of foam is a little much when that's 1/4 of my spending money.

...Grocery shop to make amazing looking meals I see on pinterest.

Pesto pasta with chicken sausage and roasted brussels sprouts

...Buy some workout clothes from Lululemon.

It's a really really really good thing I cut up my credit card!

I have a plan!

2012-01-26T08:30:00.048-05:00

After a lot of research, I managed to find an 8-week 1/2 marathon training plan for beginners in Fitness Magazine. Conveniently the race is 8 weeks away. It is still possible!

Based on my babysitting schedule, I've slightly rearranged the days of the week to make it work for me. Basically the week starts on Sundays with a rest day and running starts on a Monday etc. In my ideal world, I would also switch Tuesdays and Wednesdays and I think I probably will. Tuesdays I babysit until 7:30 and it would be easier to do an easy run afterward than to cross train in my small apartment with creaky floors. The world won't end if it's slightly out of order.

I will obviously continue with strength training and stretching, resting and icing etc. It's ok with me if I have to walk part of the race but if it's possible to still run strong, I'm going to try!

I started this plan last night and so far, it's going well. I did Tuesday and Wednesday together to catch up a bit but took it easy. I did a 12 minute mile (no pain!! I was one happy kid on that treadmill!) and did a 30 minute ab class for cross training. Then resting, stretching and icing afterward!

I really like that the plan incorporates running and walking even though the end goal is running. There's not much room to slack off but that will keep me motivated I guess! March 18th, I'm still comin for ya!

via

ITB Syndrome

2012-01-25T08:45:00.001-05:00

The majority of my pain is in my knee. Although I can attribute part of that to Runners Knee, it is important not to ignore the ITB Syndrome (Iliotibial Band Syndrome).
According to ITBSyndrome.com (yes, there is a whole forum/blog for this common injury!), it can be classified as:

Excessive friction between your Iliotibial Band and your knee joint or hip bone
This causes pain at either the side of your knee or the side of your hip (the outside of the knee joint)
It’s usually caused by increasing your running or cycling and building up too fast and/or with bad technique
ITBS can be associated with other activities such as hiking or weight-lifting (especially squats) but is normally caused by the repetitive action of running/biking
Most commonly occurs in the knees (one or both knees), but can also appear at the hip joint. This is not uncommon at pregnancy, where the tendons can loosen a bit and the weight distribution shifts.

Umm remember that time I tripled my mileage? Well that was just plain stupid. Don't do it. Duh.

So when I first read about ITBS, I read, "As a general rule – if you feel pain on the outside of your knee – stop running immediately." Hence my crying, pouting, worrying etc. However, they meant literally while you're running. Duh, again. I talked to my physical therapist and he said yes, I can still run and continue training, especially since the band is not actually torn. I just have to be smart about it. Whew. Ok. I can handle that.

Other things they recommend?

Check your shoes and get new ones if yours are worn out or not supporting your stride correctly. Check! They should be arriving in the mail any day now!
Stretch and strengthen. Check!

My bedroom floor is officially converted into my yoga mat until further notice.

Here are two stretches I have found helpful so far:

(above image) Cross one foot in front of the other and bend the front knee. Then stretch your upper body to the side that your front foot is crossed to. (If your left foot is in front, stretch to the right) I struggled with this one at first but eventually learned that to really feel the stretch you have to stretch your front foot across your body even further and bend your knee deeper until you feel it.

Sorry for the weird angle, taking self portraits of weird positions is difficult!

(above image) Lay on your back with your knees bent. Lean both legs to one side and rest your outer foot on top of the other knee. Gently push down towards the floor with your foot.

Even if you have ITBS in one side, make sure to do these exercises in both legs to even it out. It is also suggested you ice your ITB regularly, especially after running or exercise. I'm icing as I write this post, in fact :)

Again, when I find more stretches and exercises that help me, I will be sure to post about them. I'm really counting on a dedicated regimen of healing techniques to prevent further injury and to help the rest of training continue smoothly.

Thankfully, I discovered all of this with enough time to combat it easily enough. It's much better than a broken femur the week or day before the race, right? See what a good night's rest has done to my attitude? I'm much calmer, more positive, and happier. Whew :)

Happy Hump Day Everyone!

Runners Knee

2012-01-25T08:30:00.074-05:00

I did some research to have a better understanding of my injuries and how to treat them, especially if I want to race in 8 weeks.

See, glasses mean I'm serious, obviously.

After looking at WebMD and Runner's World, here's a breakdown of injury #1 that currently grace my left leg:

Runner's Knee
"The stress of running can cause irritation where the kneecap (patella) rests on the thighbone. The resulting pain can be sharp and sudden or dull and chronic, and it may disappear while you're running, only to return again afterward. While biomechanical issues may be to blame, the cause can often be traced back to poorly conditioned quadriceps and tight hamstrings." - Runner's World

WebMD says, "Runner's knee isn't really a condition itself. It's a loose term for several specific disorders with different causes. Runner's knee can result from:

Overuse. Repeated bending of the knee can irritate the nerves of the kneecap. Overstretched tendons may also cause the pain of runner's knee.
Direct trauma to the knee, like a fall or blow.
Misalignment. If any of the bones are slightly out of their correct position -- or misaligned -- physical stress won't be evenly distributed through your body. Certain parts of your body may bear too much weight. This can cause pain and damage to the joints. Sometimes, the kneecap itself is slightly out of position.
Problems with the feet. Runner's knee can result from flat feet, also called fallen arches or overpronation. This is a condition in which the impact of a step causes the arches of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons.
Weak thigh muscles."

I think my problem stems from a little bit of overuse, a little bit of misalignment and weak thigh muscles. I keep my knees bent for hours on end at work, and at home I like to sit cross-legged. I'm working on not crossing my legs at work and finding new positions to sit in at home. I bought new shoes to help support my alignment and I'm trying not to shift my weight very much.

"Treatment of Runner's Knee includes:

Rest the knee. As much as possible, try to avoid putting weight on your knee.
Ice your knee to reduce pain and swelling. Do it for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days, or until the pain is gone.
Compress your knee. Use an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves to give your knee extra support.
Elevate your knee on a pillow when you're sitting or lying down.
Take anti-inflammatory painkillers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like Advil, Aleve, or Motrin, will help with pain and swelling. However, these drugs can have side effects, like an increased risk of bleeding and ulcers. They should be used only occasionally, unless your doctor specifically says otherwise.
Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor recommends them.
Get arch supports for your shoes. These orthotics -- which can be custom-made or bought off the shelf -- may help with flat feet."

Resting, icing & elevating. Boom!

Last week my Physical Therapist suggested a few stretches and strengthening exercises.

A basic hamstring and calf stretch. Wrap the towel around the arch of your foot, lay down and make your leg perpendicular to the floor. If you're not flexible like me, this should be a tight stretch. It hurts so good!!

A good leg strengthener is doing simple leg lifts. Lay down

and SLOWLY lift one leg at a time to about a 45 degree angle and SLOWLY set it back down. I do 2 sets of 20 reps for each leg.

It's not always easy to find the time and it's not always comfortable but for me, it's mandatory to completing my goals so it's worth it.

I will be exploring more stretches and exercises that will help my progress and I will be to share the good ones I find!

Stay tuned for the low down on IT Band Syndrome!

The calm before the storm

2012-01-24T08:30:00.061-05:00

Man, Monday was tough. Still not 100% recovered from the flu, an irritated knee and the daunting task of a 1/2 marathon in less than 2 months made me one crabby peach.

I was going to have a big post on my plan of attack for the next few weeks of how I'm going to master these goals and be super woman but that will have to wait for another day. Maybe as early as tomorrow. But last night, I gave myself a break.

I let myself recoup, pout and worry a ~~little bit~~ lot, and rest up before "the storm" that will be coming. Between a training plan, fundraising, an online class, picking up extra babysitting shifts, trying to stay on budget and make ends meet and keep all of my important relationships in tact, my life is about to get pretty hectic.

Instead of going into it already stressed, I let myself calm down. I cozy'd up and listened to the rain. I forced myself to block out the people telling me I can't or I shouldn't. I blocked out the part of my brain that was angry for wasting another night not running. I researched how to handle my injuries and got a better grip on what lies ahead of me. I readjusted my goals and tried to make peace with whatever outcome I can give on March 18, as long as I give it my all. I got a handle on my finances to know exactly where I'm at and how I will proceed.

I played some Amos Lee and Bon Iver. I read some Pride and Prejudice. I cooked a healthy dinner. I took a long hot shower. I went to bed early.

And although I'm not 100% sure I can do it all, I feel better and I'm willing to give it another try. Today is a new day.

Brick Walls

2012-01-23T08:30:00.129-05:00

Whew. I am still recovering from the past few days and I'm hoping to be a normal, functioning human being once again soon.

By bedtime on Thursday I was knocking on Heaven's door with potentially the worst flu I've ever had. I missed work, my fundraising event (thank goodness I have amazing friends to cover for me!), and I didn't even worry about not running for 2 whole days.

With my week-long absence from running, it crossed my mind that I might have too many challenges in front of me and it might be time to reevaluate my goals. Maybe a half marathon later in the spring or maybe even the fall is more doable. BUT...

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.”- Randy Pausch

Hey brick walls? You can suck it! I'm not giving up just yet.

Yes, I now have to add bi-weekly physical therapy appointments to my schedule. Yes, I have to learn how to run a mile again. Yes, I need to alter my training plan to help me catch up in time for March 18. I don't know if it's still possible but it certainly isn't if I don't try.

As much as I love to buy new shoes, it's hard to fork over $70 on shoes because of my spending diet. But to keep my motivation strong and to prevent further injury, I caved.

That's not my only brick wall these days.

Payday was Friday and I was going to be able to save $100. How motivating, right? Well, with this online class I'm taking (that starts today!), we need to buy a textbook. And of course that book costs $60. And of course the teacher didn't tell his online students that they would need to have the book for Monday's class until 2 days before (trust me, I checked!). So of course they have to pay for extra shipping and it will still be a few days late. So $72 later, I'm already behind in that class.

And, after paying for last week's fundraiser materials, I'm out of my entire savings. Ouch.

But ya know what's kinda cool? If I hadn't done the spending diet so far, I wouldn't have been able to buy these bigger purchases and ultimately I would have to give up or postpone two big goals of mine.

I'm starting this week a little worse for the ware. Regardless, I'm not giving up. I've picked up more babysitting shifts and I'm going to keep running. Slowly but surely, right?

Fundraising & Firm Fridays

2012-01-20T08:30:00.007-05:00

Attention all New Yorkers!! Come drink for a great cause tonight! I'm hosting a fundraiser tonight for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that I'm running the 1/2 marathon for. I will be guest bartending at The Bullpen on the Upper East Side (1st between 87th & 88th). From 8-11 it's $30 for unlimited well drinks and domestic drafts. Even if you want to just stop by for a drink on your way home from work or on your way out on the town, all tips will be donated to the cause as well. Please stop by, I would love to see/meet you all!!

Here's my connection to the cause if you're interested!

Moving on.

It's the freakin' weekend baby! Time for another week of Firm Fridays (yup, I called it Fit Fridays originally but I had the name wrong).

Before my meltdown-inducing run last week, I remembered to weigh myself at the gym. Since I started running, I've lost 6 lbs! Between working out regularly and reducing my snacking thanks to my spending diet, I suppose I shouldn't be that surprised but it's a lovely reward :) My pants almost always zip up and don't feel like sausage casings anymore. Awesome!

Yoga last week was a challenge but I was able to hold crow pose for about 1 second. I'm going to chalk that up as a win.

via

After finally dragging myself out of bed on Monday, I had a great 6-mile run through Central Park. I was planning on running 1 song, walking 1 song but when I started I just couldn't stop running (I know, right?!). I ran for 4 songs until I started to feel tired. At that point I started alternating running and walking. Despite some IT band discomfort afterward, it felt great and I was really happy with my improvement.

Sadly that IT Band issue became worse and I had added pain in my knee.

I took it easy on Tuesday while I babysat but the pain did not improve by Wednesday, when I was planning on cross-training with a few sculpting classes at my gym. Instead I used my gym time to pop my foam rolling cherry and to stretch/stengthen my knee, with little success.

I came home and rotated between heat and ice and tried hard not to get discouraged.

Thursday I saw the Physical Therapist and it turns out I have ITB syndrome and Runner's Knee. I'll have a post on that next week after I've learned more about it.

So basically I have done very little to get fit this week. Despite injury, I won't give up and as long as I'm careful, I'll be back at it next week. For me, not giving up is challenge enough for me right now.

Reminding Myself

2012-01-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

Dear Katie,
This is a reminder to not give up. No matter what the physical therapist says tonight about the constant ache in your hip and knee, do not give up. You might have to work even harder to keep your muscles strong and to catch up with the running days you've missed. Do it. Make time for it. It will be worth it, even if it's uncomfortable and difficult. If the doctor says you are still fine to race, give it your all. Your first running experience can still be a great one.

It might sideline you and you will be devastated. Your heartbreak after all your hard work will make you want to lose momentum. Don't let it. Ok, well maybe allow yourself a night to pout with a bottle of wine and maybe some cheesecake. But after that, no pity parties.

You love running, even when it's hard. You love the little victories and the confidence it has given you. You love that you feel better about your body because you're seeing how much you're capable of. You love strutting down the street after an especially successful run. You want to continue to form this habit and you want to be a great role model for your family. If you quit when you're feeling down, you will be throwing that all away. Don't let it get you down. Unless your legs literally have to be amputated, you can recover and you can get back out there one day. And umm actually, EVEN if they ever have to be amputated, you can STILL run so really, there are NO excuses. The harder you work at it, the sooner you can be back.

Even Olympian Kara Goucher has had awful injuries and now she's on her way to the London Olympics.

You might need a few extra rest days but just because you're joining people on the couch in front of the TV, don't get too comfortable with that. Don't forget that you don't want to spend the rest of your life that way.

Read this when you want to give up. Just because you have a set back, always start again. You love running and it will change your life for the better.

You are worth it.

Love,
Yourself

Three Things Thursday: Spending Diet Week 2

2012-01-19T08:30:00.003-05:00

Payday is tomorrow!! That means I made it a whole pay period on my new spending diet. My savings account is happier and I really wasn't that limited. Well, sometimes it felt tight but honestly it wasn't terrible. Here's how this past week has gone down:

1. Grocery shopping: $27 got me all this

My meals were: Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast (work supplies milk in our break room for coffee etc., pb & j and carrots (already had pb & j and carrots) for lunch and honey BBQ chicken drumsticks and baked potatos for dinner. There were so many good deals that it allowed me to even treat myself to cheesecake stuffed strawberries (had half the ingredients already but strawberries get so expensive out of season!) and I was able to stock up on a few extra items. Not too shabby at all.

2. Continuing to take advantage of the free. I went to the Vivian Maier Photography Exhibit in Midtown on Saturday. It was small but really enjoyable. Her story and photographs are incredible. These two are my favorites.

via

On Sunday I took some friends to Lincoln Center for a free concert, thanks to MyFreeConcert.

The architecture was pretty cool!

We attended Psalms and Songs for the New Year with both choir and orchestra performances.

It was beautiful and a fun opportunity to see the famous venue for free.

Don't worry, we couldn't stay sophisticated for too long. Directly afterwards we got rowdy watching the Giants beat the Packers in the playoffs (not for free but more on that later)!

This week's entertainment also included Netflix dates with Matt, TV dates with friends, reading, cooking and running. Unexpectedly, I'm not just passing the time until I can spend money again. There was so much to do it actually had me craving a few nights of doing nothing!

3. A confession. This weekend, Matt sent me a check. After I freaked out and told him I didn't need or want donations, that I wanted to do this all on my own, he explained that it was money he would have spent on buying me flowers but he figured it might be more fun for me to to treat myself to something else. He knew how hard I have been working and he wanted to reward me because he's proud of me. Awww. It was $30 and it was really nice of him.

I shouldn't have spent it all right away, but I did. Oops. I was able to spend a few extra dollars on groceries, go out with friends to watch the NFL playoffs last weekend ($10), buy Subway for dinner on my way to babysitting since I didn't have time to go home to grab food, and enjoy some pizza after my long run on Monday. Umm yeah, I wish I didn't spend all my money on food. Reason #37 why I needed to take up running!! Those were all extra treats that I could have done without if I needed to in order to stick to my diet but they were nice. I certainly won't get used to that happening every paycheck :)

I'm very proud that I have stayed within my means and so far rarely feel deprived. It helped that I took out $100 when I got the paycheck and immediately moved the rest into savings. I didn't even let it be an option for me. It would have been an extra hassle to transfer that money back over if I wanted to spend it mindlessly. I only saved $30 this paycheck but seeing my bank account grow is reward enough to keep going. Since I'm not behind on bills anymore, next paycheck should be much better.

Savings Account Total: $71

Things I've learned from running - so far

2012-01-18T08:30:00.002-05:00

I've been running for almost 2 months now. There's a decent sized learning curve when you're just getting started and I wanted to share what I've learned so far. I am absolutely not an expert and running is different for everyone so ya know, keep that all in mind.

> Kick your ego to the curb.
Whether it's day 1 or day 20, you will have some bad runs and it will be hard. Running can be a great confidence booster but it can also quickly put you in your place when you try to do too much too quickly or sometimes for no reason at all. You might trip and fall flat on your face (figuratively or literally!)

But even on these tough days, I've learned that it doesn't make me a bad runner. In fact, the next run will almost always be better. Dust yourself off, laugh a little and keep going tomorrow.

> There is an "I" in Running. It's not a team sport and your accomplishments are completely isolated from everyone else. That means if the person on the treadmill next to you is sprinting along at a 7.5 and you're puffing along at a 5.0, don't sweat it! Who cares?! Good for them. Let it motivate you, not make you feel unaccomplished. Easier said than done but if you can think this way, it really helps. As long as you're not being completely obnoxious, it's OK to be panting while you run, as long as you're running! For a long while, I was paranoid to run at the gym because I was convinced everyone would stare at how slowly I was going and how out-of-shape I looked. One day I threw in the towel with that thinking and the added confidence has done wonders to improving!

~~Dance~~ run like no one's watching!

> That being said, don't feel like you're in this alone. Just because your individual accomplishments are personal, runners are everywhere and most of them love to chat and encourage each other. Put yourself out there, maybe find a running group or buddy, or even blog about it. These people have been in your shoes and can offer great advice and support. Even if you e-mail your parents (hi Mom & Dad!) about your accomplishments, you will almost always get a lot of praise and encouragement. I can't imagine telling someone "I just ran 6 miles" and them not smiling and telling me how great that is. It's a wonderful world out there so let it help you! Although still fairly new, this blog has been a great help for me, so thank you all you readers and commentators! Your comments make my day and your words of support help me so much!

Power in numbers!

> Stretch and strengthen religiously.
Not only do you feel less sore the next day after a tough workout, stretching before and after a run/workout will help prevent injury. I'm genetically prone to having bad knees. I also started running with regular shin splints. I knew that if running were a painful experience for me, I would never turn it into a habit or lifestyle. So I did some research. I watched videos and looked at images of stretches and strength exercises the help my specific areas (Google is a wonderful thing!). I'm not always great at keeping up with this but I'm quickly reminded the day after a run if I forgot to stretch or if I haven't strengthened my legs in a while. I'm trying everything in my power to make my first race a great running experience and if I get sidelined with an injury, I know I probably won't have the motivation to start up again later. Ultimately, knowing how to fine tune your body to keep it happy, whatever that might mean for you, is really important.

> Get out of your comfort zone and sign up for a challenging race. I still can't believe that in just 2 short months (from today exactly!!) I will be running 13.1 miles! I'm so excited because I know it's possible. However, I know it's only possible if I stick to my training. That is a huge motivator to get my runs in each week and it's starting to form a great habit for hopefully the rest of my life. I don't suggest you rush any training plan but don't start too early and become lax about it either.

> Hold on to your keys while you run! Tie them to your shoe lace, zip them in a pocket, whatever you gotta do. Don't put them in an open pocket of your fleece zip up, let this happen

and then your keys fall out and you're locked out and owe your landlord $100 for losing the electronic key thingy. My learning is your benefit my friends.

What has running taught you? Do you have any running "rules"?

iPod Nano and Nike + review

2012-01-17T08:30:00.001-05:00

Remember when I thought I got a ring but it turned out to be an iPod nano?

I also got the Nike+ attachment. If you're thinking of getting one for tracking your workouts, I would definitely read this first.

The iPod itself is great for me because I lost my old one so really any iPod a lovely addition to each day. It's cute and I named him Jack and we get along mostly great. It's a major upgrade from my shuffle. I love that it comes with a built-in clip but it's a bit heavy to hang on some of my running outfits.

I do miss the scrolling wheel and the larger screen. The tiny screen of the nano is not very suitable for a touch screen. If you don't like a song or need to quickly pause it, you have to wake it up, scroll a few times and finally switch it up. I finally learned how to program the on/off button to change songs when I double press it but it's just kind of awkward.

I love that it has radio capabilities. Without a car, I rarely listen to the radio, even though it's nice sometimes. But my favorite thing about music in the car was singing along. Sorry to bum you out but I don't sing along on my runs, unlike the lady next to me on the treadmill last week, no joke.

The Nike+ came already installed on the nano so I'm not sure what the point is in buying the attachment. I wish I would have known so I didn't ask for it (thanks anyway Matt!) Maybe it provides more accuracy with the additional shoe chip? I'm really not quite sure. The piece you plug into the iPod while you run is small and I lose things easily so that's a terrible combination.

Speaking of accuracy, who made this thing?! It is the least accurate tracking device I've ever seen. Yesterday, for example, I ran the 6.03 mile loop in Central Park. It tried to tell me I actually ran 7.06 miles. I think the time is accurate though, which is kind of nice but then you think you're running much faster than you really are. So that 8:54/mile I did last week was absolutely false. I had no idea I was deceiving the blog when I wrote it, I swear!

I do enjoy that there is a voice that speaks to you occasionally while you run, signifying your distance, time, pace etc. It's kind of helpful and motivating and prevents you from continually looking at the time. Sometimes, though, the updates are ridiculous and tell me I'm currently running a pace of a 40 minute mile or similar outrageous things. I assure you, no matter how slowly I'm going, I am not THAT slow by a long shot. Rude.

If the tracking was more accurate, I would appreciate the online tracking more. Whenever I plug my iPod in to sync with iTunes, a screen like this pops up:

So far though, I have not found the site very detailed or helpful because I can't find any descriptions of how my run went.

Ultimately, if you're considering a way to track your running, I would not use the Nike+ reliably. I do not have a Garmin (yet) but I can only imagine that they're much more useful, although they don't speak to you mid-run.

And if you're in the market for a new iPod, I'd skip this generation of the nano. I'm happy to have mine but I'm sure there are more user-friendly options available, especially for running.

What music device to you have? Do you run with a tracking device? If so, which one?

Spa on a budget and other goodies

2012-01-16T08:30:00.004-05:00

I ran after work on Friday evening. I had big plans. 4 miles was on the docket and I was going to run 1, walk 1/2, run 1, walk 1/2, run 1. My first time running 3 miles in a session. I went into it with an awesome attitude, much better than Thursday's. I was going to kick its ass!

However, after mile 1 I got a side ache right below my left rib. I've shrugged these off before but this one kept getting worse. So bad in fact that it started to hurt to breathe. I ended my session and went home.

And.I.Had.A.Total.Meltdown.

I'm normally confident and proud of my "slow but sure" accomplishments with running but not last Friday. With 13.1 just over 2 months away I started to panic that I wouldn't be ready in time if I wasn't getting in better quality training runs. After a lazy Thursday and a terrible attempt on Friday, I thought my set backs would add up too quickly and there would be no way I would finish this race. I freaked out.

After trying to relax and to enjoy a quiet night in with more 30 Rock and a few home spa treatments (more on that in a minute) I was still a ball of tears. Thankfully Matt listened to me blubber on for an hour and managed to psych me up to get back out there on Saturday and try again. He gave me a new strategy and magically calmed me down, like only he can do.

Saturday I ran my first 1.5 miles straight with no breaks. I ran the entire reservoir without stopping. My goal was to slow way down and slowly pump out 3 miles but my cold-induced asthma took a beating from the 18 degree weather. It was a little victory nonetheless.

Now here are a few ideas on treating yourself to an at-home, nearly-free pamper session (if you're in your right mind you will probably enjoy it much more than I did):

DIY Face Mask: similar to Bioré pore strips.
1 Tbsp of unflavored gelatin
1.5 Tbsp milk (any kind)

Heat for 15 seconds in the microwave (stove worked for me, damn tiny NYC apartment!) and apply immediately to any area on your recently-washed face.

Forehead, nose, chin. Sorry ladies, you can't buy those dark, under-eye circles at the makeup counter. All natural baby!

Leave it sit for 15 minutes and slowly peel it all off. I wasn't able to get all the tiny pieces but they easily washed off with a hot wash cloth. Your skin will/should feel amazingly smooth and clean afterward!

Paint Nails - simple and easy :)

Shave legs with lotion
-I don't know about you but in the winter, and especially in a long distance relationship, my legs don't get much lovin. As simple as it sounds, I took an extra long shower and shaved them with a fresh razor and applied warm lotion afterward (warm regular lotion by setting it in front your heater in the bathroom while you shower.)

Try a new hairstyle.
I kept seeing the sock curls pin on pinterest:

So I gave it a try.

The curls became a big poofball. Maybe my hair is not long enough. It was super easy to do the bun part so if it would have worked it would have been amazing but oh well. I'll stick to my natural curls or a curling iron for now.

If you have the day off today, like I do (YAY!), why not treat yourself to a bit of free pampering?

As for myself, I'm going to curl up in bed with a cup of coffee and my copy of Pride & Prejudice (yup, reading 1 of 3 classics this year! New Years Resolution baby!) for a little more R&R.

The winner of the Chris Powell Choose to Lose giveaway is Amanda at Investing In Fitness! E-mail me at specialkap32@gmail.com with your address and I'll get in the mail tomorrow!

I loved reading everyone's answers about what makes them work hard! Thanks for all who participated!

Fit Friday

2012-01-13T08:30:00.006-05:00

Nearly everyday I'm scheduled to run I have a mental battle as to reasons I shouldn't run. "I'm tired." "I need a rest day." "I don't want to." I'm sure Matt's sick of getting texts about my lack of motivation! It's all mental because the minute I get out there, I am so glad I did. Even if I'm not leaving right away, I put my workout clothes on the minute I walk in the door from work so I get in the mindset.

I won the battle on Tuesday and did 3 miles around the reservoir (ran 1, walked half, ran 1, walked the rest). It felt pretty great! I finally remembered to time myself to see how fast I can run a mile. I was SHOCKED to see an 8:54 mile!!

Side Story: My previous fastest mile was 9:54 in 6th grade when we had to run the mile for gym. I was running slowly and was the last one on the track. Two of my crushes came out on the track and ran the last quarter mile with me and encouraged me the whole way. When I finished I was so thrilled to have run a mile under 10 minutes. I don't think I'll ever forget how nice that was for them to run with me.

On Wednesday I joined Megan M. for a free Power/Vinyasa class at Yoga to the People.

It wasn't my favorite but I'm glad I tried something new. It was crowded and hot (meaning very smelly) and I prefer Hatha yoga and love my regular teacher at my gym. It was Megan M.'s first yoga class and I think she's hooked!

Thursday was a rare day that I lost my mental battle with running and stayed in for a 30 Rock marathon. I figured not exercising was very Liz Lemon of me. I woke up late and didn't bring clothes for the gym. After work it was rainy and chilly and I was tired. I didn't have new, motivating music. Yup, all terrible excuses but I'm not going to beat myself up over it. I'll get back out there today and keep going.

I'll hit up my usual yoga class over lunch and then after work I'll knock out those 4 miles that I should have done last night.

Although my spending diet doesn't allow me to always buy fresh, organic vegetables, it certainly limits the amount of take-out and fast food I can buy. Since getting healthier is more about your diet than how much you workout, I guess being broke has its advantages.

I wanted nothing more than to go out to eat for a delicious burger or order in Chinese last night but I knew that would be most of my money for next week's groceries. Instead I ate my low-carb taco lettuce wraps, which were really quite good anyway.

I'm hoping one day I get used to eating in and I won't crave burgers or Chinese (or any of the many many delicious foods I love) as much so it's not such a battle. One can dream, can't they? So far I've found it helps to think of and cook meals I'm looking forward to so it's not a downgrade in taste.

So that's week 2 of Fit Friday. I doubt it's entirely motivating but it's the truth. I don't have an updated weight, mostly because I haven't seen my gym's scale all week but also because I'm not desperately trying to lose weight. I would like to fit into my clothes comfortably, tone up and be in great shape.

Happy Friday the 13th!

**Your chance to win a free copy of Chris Powell's Choose to Lose, ends TODAY at noon (EST) so get your comments in here! Winners will be announced on Monday!

Three Things Thursday: Spending Diet Week 1

2012-01-12T08:30:00.007-05:00

There have been three areas of financial improvement that have helped me so far with this spending diet:

1. Minor tweaks to the social life
We planned a ladies night Saturday night.

I allowed myself $20 and stuck to it perfectly, with specific strategy. I made sure I was going to either split a cab ($5 each way) or take the subway. I drank before we went out and avoided buying drinks out by 1) sticking to water 2) keeping a flask in my purse (hush you...I know it's wrong...but so is charging $64 for a pitcher of margaritas - not an exaggeration at all!). I did splurge on the best taco salad ever at San Loco after the bars, but it's normally out of the way. It was $9.95 so I stuck to my $20 limit regardless.

Additionally, instead of joining Megan in ordering take-out Friday night, I made my own meal with food I had around the house. I didn't miss out on anything, had an equally yummy meal and didn't spend money (except I did buy a cheap bottle of wine...whatevs).

2. Grocery Shopping
I grocery shopped with $20 and it has me covered for the whole week, plus some. How I did it:

Our grocery store has a website where you can make a shopping list of weekly sales! Took a quick Google search to discover that helpful tool!

My shopping list with estimated prices.

$19.94 baby!!

PLAN! Check out weekly ads at the grocery store and plan around what's on sale, in addition to items you have on hand already. Make a list and price out roughly what you expect each item to be before you get to the store. That way there are no major surprises at checkout. If you guess wrong, you can see it right away as you're selecting items. I like to over-estimate beforehand so I have a little extra to play with if I want to stock up on an especially good deal.
Pick three affordable meals that you can make a big batch of. Use one as your breakfasts, one as your lunches and one as your dinners.

Apples for breakfast, whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce for lunches, taco lettuce wraps for dinner.

Think outside the box. If 1lb. of ground turkey costs $6 but 1lb. of ground turkey burger patties cost $5, get the patties and mash them up, just like you would with ground turkey. It's the exact same thing, just a different shape. I needed to buy 2 so that switch saved me 1/10th of my bill already.

3. Take advantage of FREE!
My new blogger friend Liz recently told me, "If I were to be broke in any city, I would want it to be New York". I think I looked at her like she was crazy. With the high rent, outrageous prices for restaurants, bars, groceries etc, it is easy to go broke here. But she was still right. The number of free opportunities is astronomical in this city.

I recently discovered a website called MyFreeConcertNYC, where there are constant free events. I started following them on Twitter and participated in one of their contests to win free tickets to a Snow Patrol concert. I found out I won and on Monday night Liz and I enjoyed a wonderful show at the Ed Sullivan Theater (where they film Letterman) without spending a dime!

Lead singer, Gary Lightbody, is simply wonderful, both his vocals and personality.

We had a great time! Thanks for joining me Liz!

Additionally, my friend, Megan M, (yes, it's very confusing to have 2 friends named Megan) heard about free classes at Yoga to the People and we enjoyed a crowded, sweaty class on Wednesday night.

I have a 3-day weekend coming up and I can't wait to tell you about all the free things I have planned! I really am very lucky to have so many resources and opportunities in this city, even with my tiny budget. It just takes a little research, an open mind and a little planning.

**If you want to take advantage of the free and win a copy of Chris Powell's Choose to Lose, don't forget to enter my giveaway by tomorrow at noon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ultimately? So far, the spending diet is not always easy but it's doable. I currently have $25.82 left for the next 7 days. I made a few splurges over the weekend (wine, Papa Johns, taco salad) but I'm confident I will learn to manage those better as well. I have a decent amount of food in my cabinets and a few more free plans over the weekend so I think I'll be able to make it work. As the weeks go on, I'll learn how to save a little for bigger purchases (such as Catching Fire! I just finished the Hunger Games last night and I almost spent half my money on the next book!) without being completely depleted.

Since I had a little bit of catching up to do with my bills this last paycheck, I only managed to save $30 so far. However, that's $30 I would have normally spent. It's true what they say, every little bit counts. I'm committed to this plan more than ever and I'm excited to see the progress.

Book Review: Run Like a Mother

2012-01-11T08:30:00.002-05:00

I am not a mother, nor will I be one anytime soon. I promise! However, Run Like a Mother by Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell had some great running inspiration for any female runner.

Yes, there were many references to having kids, families, birthing etc. but I was able to apply their tips to my busy schedule, even if my "busy" is a little bit different than theirs. I found myself craving a run while reading, even during my 6am flight to surprise Matt for his birthday. It might be the only reason I stuck with my training all through Christmas break. Whatever does it for ya, right?

I really enjoyed how each chapter covered a different aspect of being a runner, for beginners to advanced. Additionally each chapter was scattered with segments that were brief extras, such as their favorite running playlists, quick quotes from real running mothers on a variety of topics, etc. I really enjoyed these segments, but I did not enjoy their placement. Sometimes they would pop up right in the middle of a story by Sarah or Dimity and it was distracting.

They surveyed over 100 women who run and did a great job of incorporating their experiences, since running is different for everyone. They were very blunt and had a lot of real talk, which I loved.

Part of my motivation to run now is so that it becomes a habit for the rest of my life. Once it becomes a habit, I know how to get in shape for when I become a whale when babies enter the picture (years and years from now!). If I wait, I'll be a new mother and a new runner and knowing myself, I would push running to the side if I didn't already love it. Yup, I'm a planner. I found myself thinking about my future as I read. I definitely want to be an active mom as a role model to my kids and this book helped me think about what to expect wayyyyy down the road.

No one associated with Run Like a Mother asked me to do this review, I simply rented it from the library and wanted to share my thoughts. Unfortunately I do not have a copy to giveaway but...

If you're looking for a great book about fitness, be sure to enter yesterday's giveaway for Chris Powell's new book Choose to Lose! Contest ends Friday!

It pays to know people and it pays to know me!

2012-01-10T08:30:00.002-05:00

Megan's company is publishing Chris Powell's new book, Choose to Lose and Megan is in charge of the PR. So when she partnered with Google Places to set up a promotional workout with Chris last Friday, it didn't take much for me to say yes to her invite.

It took place at 24-Hour Fitness in SoHo, which made me feel like my gym was a bit ghetto in comparison but I suppose you get what you pay for. Chris showed up with his wife, Heidi. Both of them were the two genuinely nicest people I've ever encountered. So nice, in fact, that I couldn't even hate Heidi for looking AMAZING after recently popping out her third kid!

Yup, that's her! Photo via Melissa

Although it was obvious Chris typically tailors his workouts for the significantly obese, I was able to work on a valuable lesson: Find your "panic breathing" and stay there. Don't quit when it gets tough.

I'm the queen of thinking I can't do something if I'm breathing too hard. I blamed YEARS of poor workouts and lack of exercise on "asthma" when it turns out I just needed to keep working on it.

Liz even attested to my excuse in her Tumblr earlier this week.

Yes, I'm beyond flattered Liz posted about me specifically! Even if it is that embarrassing quote.

Chris' workout was tough as teams of 5 rotated through these exercises:

75 High Knees
Burpees with push ups and claps overhead
Sit ups
Squat with overhead press
Rest and cheer

I kept going despite being out of breath and it was one of the first times I pushed through discomfort. He was right, there's something beautiful about being in that situation because that's the point where you can choose to keep going and see how much you're really capable of. 13.1 here I come!

It turns out a few fellow NYC bloggers were there, such as Melissa and Ashley. I wish I would have known to say hi! Imagine my surprise when I saw myself on their blogs the next day!

I promise it's not the robot! I tried to be coordinated!

Afterward Chris signed my copy of his book and was nice enough to let me grab a picture.

Definitely glad I went, despite my now-sore muscles that continue to make me feel like a premature grandma.

His diet plan, the 7-day carb cycle solution, sounds very doable and I plan to follow it as best I can afford to. Sometimes the spending diet and a real diet don't really mesh well but with all of the options he provides, it just might work. Basically you rotate high-carb and low-carb diet days so your body is never deprived of anything but you're almost always choosing healthier options.

Lucky for you, I have a copy of his book to give away!

If you would like a copy, there are three ways to enter:
1. Be a follower and leave a comment saying you are.
2. Leave an additional comment telling me about a workout that really forced you to push through your "panic breathing" so you could improve.
3. Share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or your Blog/Tumblr and leave a comment to let me know you did.

Winners will be chosen at random by that random number generator thingy.

Contest ends this Friday at noon (EST) and the winner will be announced on Monday! Good luck!

A rest day never felt so good

2012-01-09T08:30:00.017-05:00

Whew, what a weekend! I mentioned Friday I had a workout with Chris Powell. I sure did and I'm still sore! Here's a sneak peak:

Photo from Ashley

However, my camera battery died (of course it did!) so I'm still gathering pictures before I post about it. You'll see it tomorrow though I promise!

After Megan and I worked out Friday, we came back and watched the award-winning movie True Grit.

Maybe it's just me but I'm rarely into movies that get tons of awards. It wasn't bad, just kind of predictable. I'm glad we mixed it up and I can cross it off my list though.

Instead of joining Team In Training for our long run at 8:30am (on the other side of town so I would have had to get up at 7!) on Saturday I slept until noon. I still don't feel badly about it. Not one bit. Megan crawled into my bed saying "I have an ambitious idea for us." Despite our sore bodies from the night before, she suggested we run the perimeter of Central Park. Considering it was 50 degrees out in January, I really couldn't say no.

I wish I could make it bigger but it says the outer Park Drive loop is 6.03 miles. When you add in walking there and back, it's 7 miles. I ran one song, walked one song and rotated nearly the whole time. Whew! I wish I brought my camera, it was seriously a gorgeous day and it was fun to see new parts of the park.

I won't lie, I was/am pretty paranoid about injury since you're not supposed to increase your mileage that quickly. I spent most of Sunday horizontally and I stretched like it was my best friend all weekend so I think I'm safe **knock on wood**. I'm just looking forward to the day when I don't feel like this when I walk up and down the stairs:

I also managed to babysit twice (and by babysit I mean put the kids to bed easily and get paid to read and watch TV) and have a very affordable ladies night so I'd call that a successful weekend!

The spending diet is still on track, despite some tough temptations. Nevermind that it's only been 3 days; so far so good! More to come on that later.

Happy Monday!

Firm Fridays

2012-01-06T08:30:00.008-05:00

Kristen, a sassy blogger over at First Name Smith, is hosting the first ever Firm Friday.

Instead of the Freshman 15, I gained the Nanny 15. Then I got to college and gained the sophomore 15. Then I graduated and gained the post-grad, broke-as-a-joke 15. I lost about 5lbs over the summer but I still would like to lose at least 20 at some point.

I didn't really sign up for this 1/2 marathon to lose weight but after a bit of toning up and hearing compliments on my trip home for Christmas, it will surely keep me motivated to keep training. Plus, there's the fact that Kristen recently popped out a kid and is still far tinnier than I am and will probably ever be!

Here are my stats:

Height: 5'9
Weight: 165
Size: 10 pants/ M tops

My lower half is where most of the weight is. Sorry you can't see!

So here's what's been going on this week:

I skipped 3 days in a row between New Years Eve-Jan 2. I don't feel too badly about it since it's the only time I missed over the whole 2 week span I was gone.
I got back into it on Tuesday and it was awesome. I was nervous after my break and Matt simply texted me "kick ass babe". So I did.
I read blogs where runners say "the miles just flew by!" and I think to myself...umm, there's no way it could just fly by! But at least for me, on Tuesday, the minutes flew by! I ran 5 min, walked 3, ran 8, walked 3, ran 5 and it wasn't too difficult. I remember when running 1.5 min was really hard and I stared at the clock wishing away seconds. This time, I would glance at the clock and a full 1.5 min had passed. It's minor but it's definitely a victory for me!
I also rocked a 30 min abs class for some cross-training. Ya know what helped? Knowing I was going to meet marathon-runner Liz afterward.
Despite having a book club meeting and a babysitting job last night, I still hauled ass to the gym after work and got in a 30 min run. Trust me, I tried to talk myself out of it. Warmup, ran 10, walked 3, ran 10, cooldown. The 2nd running portion was hard and became more of a run/walk thing but whatever. I'm impressed I went.
And after work today I'm headed to go workout with Chris Powell from Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. No big deal.

Details to come on Monday...if I survive!

Make it happen

2012-01-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

I work in marketing. Somehow that makes me feel entitled to critique commercials and it happens pretty often. But every once in a while I see a commercial that moves me. It is powerful for both the brand and the user and makes me happy that some people in marketing and advertising really know their stuff. I saw such a commercial on Monday while watching Hulu and it might just be my favorite of all time.

No matter what your goal is, you can do it. Make it happen. How inspiring is that?

That is the message I really need to hear as I'm about to tackle my biggest goal yet: get out of debt. I've taken running a bit more seriously than getting out of debt but it's time for that to change, starting today.

I refuse to start 2013 in this same broke, shoe-string budgeted way.

Some people start New Year's Day but I'm starting fresh with payday tomorrow. I am making a declaration, inspired by And Then She Saved, to go on a spending diet. I am allowed $100 from each paycheck to cover anything I want/need to buy outside of my bills. These sorts of things range from food and shampoo to shoes and drinks. I have the power to decide accordingly what I will spend that $100 on each bi-weekly paycheck and when it's gone it's gone.

In case of emergencies, I will wait until the end of each pay period to pay off credit cards just in case I really actually do need a cushion at times. But seriously, that is for real emergencies only! I will learn to make do with what I have and I will get creative with ways to stretch $100 so I don't feel deprived. I will try to keep busy with running and babysitting (both free activities) to curb my boredom/spending. And the best part is, I will be able to watch the numbers on my credit card bills shrink and the number in my savings account will finally start going up.

This is hard to do, even if you don't live in New York. I'm nervous. This won't be easy and at times it will be really really hard. My biggest fear is that I will feel deprived and stressed and then binge shop and blow all my progress, much like a diet. But if I make payments every two weeks, the money won't be there to binge on.

Ultimately, I know the sacrifices are worth it in the end. And when I see a $0 balance on my credit card statements, it will be because I made it happen.

My first ever blog meetup!

2012-01-04T08:30:00.003-05:00

One of the first blogs I started to read nearly religiously was Running Off the Reeses, which led me to Liz at One-Twenty-Five. She quickly became another favorite of mine as she has accomplished so much in the short time that I've been reading her posts. She inspires me and cracks me up regularly, and for that I am grateful.

So last week she posts that she will be in NYC on Tuesday (last night) and is willing to do a blogger meetup thingy. On top of that, she picks a location that is probably the most convenient to me in all of the city, probably just for me. Thanks Liz, I can tell we will get along famously already!

I won't lie, I was a bit nervous since umm I only know Liz from stalking her and certainly no one there knew me since umm my blog is not exactly read by the masses. What if she's actually an ax murderer or what if no one shows up or what if everyone is so cool and accomplished that I look like a total turd??? Turns out, she is not an ax murderer, a great group showed up and everyone had different accomplishments, all of which to be proud of.

It was wonderful and I stayed out past my bedtime to hear about all sorts of interesting bloggers, obviously including some fascinating stories/gossip from Liz herself. And and and! Two girls (the two across from me up there) are from Minnesota and one is even named Katie! Get out! Small freaking world. For a group of strangers, it sure was enjoyable!

Some of the people that came don't have blogs and it was too late last night to track down the ones that do but I'll find them soon (today even I'm sure). Apparently there are blogger meetups quite often, especially in NYC, so maybe I'll attend another one one day!

Holy Frustrated Batman!

2012-01-03T14:55:00.001-05:00

Long distance relationships are difficult and expensive. For real.

I booked a flight on Sunday for a trip to visit Matt in February for $250, which we thought was a relatively good deal since earlier in the week flights were well over $300.

Today I get an e-mail from BookBuddy with a notification that there are cheap flights from LGA to MKE for $98 total for that same weekend! That's roundtrip, with taxes/fees, great flight times AND non-stop, the whole shebang! ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?!?!?!?

With my goal to get out of debt, pay tuition, pay for this little race I'm doing etc, that extra $150 would have been especially nice! Not to mention the extra time from less traveling since I have at least one layover with my current flight.

Lesson learned. BE PATIENT! If I would have waited 2 days to book my flight, I would have been a really happy camper. We could have planned two weekend trips for less money than my current trip.

Yes, this is entirely a White Girl Problem but I'm frustrated nonetheless. Thank you for your time. Please continue on with your day.

Still recovering

2012-01-03T08:33:00.002-05:00

New York is the city that never sleeps but Minnesota sure gave it a run for it's money. New Years was a blast!

Good drinks and great friends!

My favorite date!

And a hot dog vendor inside the bar!

Is anyone else still recovering from their New Years celebrations? I'm not talking about a hangover, I'm really just recovering from lack of sleep!!

I guess that will happen when you stay up after the bars until 4am playing "Things" with the funniest people alive, and then have to fly back to New York and wait for your roommate to land 6 hours later so you can go home because you're an idiot that loses their keys when they run. And then you're one of a small handful of people that actually worked yesterday.

Yeah, I spent almost 5 hours at LaGuardia airport on Sunday since Megan's flight didn't get in until 11pm. Plenty of time to look at scholarship options, babysitting jobs and to get caught up on some reading, right?

Messy hair from the night before and no make up - you are welcome!

Totally worth the awesome 2 weeks home! Time to dive into one of the busiest springs of my life! Lots of running, working, schooling for me! Hope your 2012 is off to a great start so far!

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-02T08:30:00.004-05:00

Am I the only one that has to work today?! Both Matt and Megan are sound asleep and get to relax all day and I'm back at my desk. Anyway, that's not what this post is about!

I kind of really like to set goals. Ya know, I made a whole blog about them so it has to be important, right? New Years Resolutions are always fun for me. I rarely take them seriously but it's fun to think of where I want to be in a year and how I want to get there. Here's my official list for 2011.

Run 2 Half-marathons.
-NYC 1/2 March 18th and the Fox Cities 1/2 on Sept 23.
-Stick to my training plans, maintain asthma treatments to stay healthy and cross-train to prevent injuries.
-Get into the habit of regularly working out and maybe actually start liking workouts and making big improvements!

Find a face wash that works for my face and my wallet.
- I was blessed with great skin all through my teens but with additional workouts, my face isn't a fan of all this extra sweat.

Get rid of all credit card debt.
- LIVE WITHIN MY MEANS! If that means staying some nights, fine. If that means unsubscribing to ALL retail e-mails I receive to avoid mindlessly shopping online, fine. If that means eating ramen when my paycheck runs out, fine. Even if that means not getting highlights ALL year, fine. I WILL DO IT AND IT WILL BE WORTH IT.
- With each paycheck, I will use any money left over to make a payment on my credit cards. When I babysit, any money I earn after loan payments/bills are made will be split in 2. I will save half and I will pay my credit card with the other half.
- I will not touch my savings unless it is an ABSOLUTE emergency. For real.

Read at least 3 classics.
-I used Spark Notes or my imagination through most of high school. Fortunately my grades didn't even notice. I do wish I knew the plot of a lot of these stories now though so it's time to go back and read. Here are the 3 I'm thinking of, but of course this is a flexible list:

Pride and Predjudice
The Great Gatsby
The Scarlet Letter

Do you have any suggestions for me?

Eat healthier.
-Eat at least 3 servings of veggies a day.
-Use SparkPeople to track my eating habits and typically stick within my guidelines.
-Generate a list of healthy, affordable meals and snacks I can rotate regularly.
-Take time to prepare healthy meals and snacks instead of buying my food out of convenience.
-Stop baking desserts from Pinterest unless it's necessary!!

Don't let comparison steal my joy.
-Simple in it's meaning but harder than it looks!

What I did right this year

2011-12-30T08:30:00.005-05:00

2010 was an eventful year and I was hoping 2011 would calm down a little. Here's a look back at the highlights of 2011.

On January 9th, I packed up my little car and drove from South Carolina to New York. I was fortunate enough to stay with my aunt, uncle and cousins for 6 months while I looked for a job and learned to land on my feet after unemployment.
I started really enjoying vegetables, thanks to my aunt's and uncle's great cooking skills.
After many interviews and many boring days, I got a full-time job in March in New York City for a great company!
Also in March, I got to fly home for a weekend to surprise my parents and celebrate Amanda's birthday and engagement, thanks to Matt.

April I saw my all time favorite artist, Amos Lee, in concert. One of my favorite NYC nights for sure.

I flew to California to visit my good friend Laura and her baby daughter Morgan. It was so nice to reconnect and see the amazing mother she has become!

Megan and I met Lenka in Philly for a pretty funny weekend trip.

Matt visited for Memorial Day Weekend and we had a blast. It was his first time in New York and we went all out with a boat cruise and lots of touristy things. So fun!

I found an apartment in the city to sublease for the summer and officially moved on June 1st. I also sold my car since it's not necessary in the city.
I got my first waitressing job at Mason Jar. It was great money at first and experience I can fall back on if needed. Fortunately, I no longer work there.
I started working out and eating healthy. It lasted about a month and felt great.
My parents came for a visit in June. We had such a great weekend exploring the city and having some wonderful quality time together.
I cut up my credit cards.
I flew to South Carolina for 4th of July weekend and got a wonderful tan. I wish I could go back more often!

In July I also flew home to visit my family since my sister would be home. She's in the Air Force and her trips home are few and far between. We surprised my mom because she didn't think I was coming. It was wonderful having time together and seeing old friends. (Thanks for the Birthday present Matt!)

I tried Match.com and went on my first blind date. It wasn't a bad experience but we never talked again.
In August, Megan and I found our apartment and we moved in Sept 1st. I was thrilled to be living with her again and to finally feel like I had a little sliver of NYC all to myself.
I started babysitting regularly for a few families. A great source of income to pay my loans and typically pretty fun.
Matt and I got back together officially in September :) He surprised me with a spontaneous visit to make it official.
I was assigned to go on a business trip to Minneapolis so I had a paid vacation home in October. It was action packed full of seeing everyone but it was a great time, as usual.
I stayed in New York for Thanksgiving weekend but I got to see both my extended families (aunt/uncle/cousins + Godmother's family). I also got to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in real life. A bit crowded but glad I can check it off my list. I'll be watching in my pajamas next year!

I signed up for Team In Training on a somewhat spontaneous whim. I've been training for my first 1/2 marathon and fundraising ever since.
Despite moving multiple times, being unemployed for 3 months, and living in one of the most expensive cities on a non-profit, entry level salary, I paid every single one of my bills on time and even managed to pay extra some months. I was also able to afford the security deposit, credit check, and first month's rent when finding a place with Megan. Thank goodness we didn't have a broker's fee!
I flew home for Christmas and surprised Matt for his birthday. I had nearly 2 weeks home and it felt great!
I read 23 books. My goal was 20 so I accomplished at least one resolution this year.
I invested a lot of love into the relationships that matter most to me.

Yes, this is the mostly shinny, happy, rose-colored version of the year but I'm ok with that. There was a lot of stress, a lot of lessons learned, and a lot of tears along the way but overall, I think 2011 gets a point for the winning column. What a nice relief after 2010!

If I had a song to sum up my year, it would be "Learned A Lot" by Amos Lee.

How was your year? What song would you pick?

Three Things Thursday

2011-12-29T08:30:00.025-05:00

1. You guys. I RAN A FULL MILE YESTERDAY!!! No stops, just full on running. I have never done that in my entire life. I didn't really keep track of timing but I'm so happy I was able to do one. Only 12 more to go for the March race...no big deal, right? It was 15 degrees so running felt nearly impossible but I did it and I'm thrilled!I took a much needed toasty bath to warm my numb legs afterward!

BRRRRR!!

2. Matt and I have had a long-distance relationship (off and on) for the past year and a half. Even when we weren't dating, we made an effort to see each other but it was always only for a weekend or a few days. Over Christmas break, we have 5 full days together with additional half days before and after. In the midst of all our family time, we had a great date last night with a yummy steak dinner, wine and a friendly competition with Xbox Kinect! It's been so long since we've had this much time together and it's going to be so hard to leave!

3. I have so many big purchases to make (new running shoes, a flight to see Matt this spring, tuition for a class I'm taking this spring etc.) and zero babysitting jobs lined up for January. Stressed is an understatement! You can find me looking up scholarships and trying to line up more babysitting jobs in all of my spare time!

Training on Vacation

2011-12-28T08:30:00.001-05:00

I have never exercised on vacation before. Wouldn't even consider it.

But with two weeks at home for Christmas and a half-marathon less than 3 months away, exercise was mandatory this year. I'm dedicated to my training plan and I strongly think that if I stray too drastically I will not run my marathon and the world will end. Dramatic, I know.

So far, I have stuck to it but it hasn't been easy. Here's what I've done so far:

Planned ahead. I have an agenda book and I write my workouts in as if they're appointments I need to keep. Before I left New York, I wrote out my workout schedule for each day I would be gone and I was able to see how my workouts would match up with my plans. I don't do well just "wingin" it.
I told my family and friends that I HAVE to workout on specific days. Letting them plan accordingly helps them support you, not discourage you.
I recruited running buddies. My sister ran and cross-trained with me most days. It's a fun way to spend time together.

I took full advantage of being able to walk downstairs to use the treadmill. It is never that simple to workout in New York!

No line, controlled temps, perfection!

Commit. I had a family gathering in the morning, the Vikings game is on in the afternoon and more family is coming over for dinner so I picked a time that works the best and committed to it. Squeeze it in when you know it just takes a bit of effort to plan. I know some days it's just not possible but I refuse to simply be lazy.

Matt and I are off to his family's house for a few days so I'm hoping I can keep this up! What helps you?!

Midwest vs. New York

2011-12-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

Moving to New York was a huge adjustment after living in Minnesota for the first 21 years of my life. I love both places but for very different reasons. Here are a few differences between the two:

Ladies Night at a bar means free drinks in Minnesota. That is UNHEARD OF in New York!

In Minnesota, there is room in your house to play with a Wii. I'm a pro at Just Dance II.

In Minnesota, you can play tennis without needing a $300 membership.

I totally won 2/3! Can you tell my phone pics apart from my new camera pics?

When running outside, there is no gorgeous Central Park reservoir to run around near my house in Minnesota.

However, there is room to have a treadmill and workout space in my basement in Minnesota, so I don't have to go to a gym if I don't want to.

We enjoy the affordable prices and my favorite burgers in the world at Red Robin in Minnesota!

Your chance of getting a flat tire in New York is much slimmer because you probably don't own a car.

Additionally, Matt and I enjoyed huge beers for only $5 in Wisconsin but I paid $26 for a very short cab ride from the bars last week. My mom bought a venti Starbucks and it was cheaper than a tall in New York. When it's 30 degrees out, it's much easier to hop into a car with heat than it is to walk nearly a mile to the subway. I have family and friends in both states so that's basically a tie.

I'm not declaring a winner between New York and Minnesota because there are too many pros and cons. A bit of my heart lies in both states and that is perfectly fine by me!

A Very Merry Christmas

2011-12-26T08:30:00.003-05:00

It was an action packed Christmas this year, continuing with a few celebrations with friends. After celebrating with Matt, I went straight to a dinner date on Wednesday with Amanda. Sadly we took no pictures but my 7th grade crush was our server. So funny how that happens in small towns!

Thursday was a reunion with Tanya and Lenka!

We adventured out to the bars and ran into my 7th grade crush again! I finally introduced myself but don't worry Matt, I no longer have a crush on him!

My sister flew in from New Mexico on Friday and it felt like the arrivals gate of Heathrow Airport :)

We also hosted our New York family and spent Christmas Eve morning with them.

We also hosted my dad's side of the family for Christmas Eve dinner.


My sister with our nieces :)

In between family visits, my sister and I squeezed in a run and her Air-Force-trained-self got tired before I did!

Our Christmas church service included all the animals from the nativity scene. A little too intense if you ask me!

We ended our celebration with a family day, just the four of us.
We opened presents

I introduced my family to Jenna Marbles videos:

Took the dogs to the dog park:

and tired them out for the rest of the day.

We played Pictionary that lasted a few hours and got a bit perverted!

Then we watched A Christmas Story and Four Christmases.

I was spoiled with a new camera so fortunately for all of you, my life will be documented even better :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T14:29:00.000-05:00

It's Christmas Eve (also known as my half-birthday :) ) and I'm about to go on a run outside. If you would have told me a year ago that I would be typing such a statement, I would have cried from laughing so hard.

However, there is no snow and it's nearly 40 degrees so I really can't pass up a good training run. My sister might even join me!

Goals for 2012

2011-12-23T08:30:00.002-05:00

Running:

Run 2 half-marathons. ~~Hopefully~~ Obviously I'm running the NYC 1/2 on March 18. I would like to run the Fox Cities 1/2 in Sept, since it's where Matt lives but September is a really busy month already with Amanda's wedding, ideally starting school (more on that later) and working.
Tone. Tone. Tone. I used to have a flat stomach and somewhat decent abs. I need them back. Additionally, my legs haven't had any definition my entire life. With all my running, I'm hoping I can get over my fear of short shorts.
Eat healthier. I don't have a set plan for this yet but since a healthy body is 70% diet and 30% fitness, I really need to improve the diet part. That won't be easy with my big financial goals.

Financial:

Pay off my Express Credit Card once and for all. Cut it up and never use it again.
Pay off my Chase Credit Card and be 100% credit card debt free. Student loans will take years but I can't focus on them until credit card debt is gone.
Have enough money to start paying for school. Yes, I'm going back to school this year for a second degree (I'll still be working too!). I refuse to have any more student loans so I will pay for the credits I can afford and go at my own pace. I'm learning people! I would like to take at least 3 classes this fall.

I have some lofty goals this year, so it will require some serious work. Look for my New Years Resolutions post on Jan. 2nd with specific plans for each goal and a few extra fun resolutions I have!

Preventing injuries already

2011-12-22T08:30:00.012-05:00

When training for a race, it's important to do more than just run in order to prevent injury, or so I've researched. I've read about terrible injuries from other bloggers and I think my Nana had 4 knee replacements in her life, I'm paranoid to no end about getting injured. It is a surefire way to let me off the hook for getting in shape and overcoming my asthma restrictions and I refuse to let that happen.

I only run about 6 miles a week but here's a little about what I've been doing so far to build strength and cross-train:

Yoga:

My gym offers a Hatha Yoga class at 12:15 every Friday. It fits nicely into my lunch hour and it's a great source of strength building, stretching and relaxing. Until recently, however, I've been doing some of the moves incorrectly (aka chaturanga-ing meant flopping to the floor to me) so I have a lot of room for improvement! This video helps:

RunnerGirl says, "Yoga will help you increase range of motion, agility, flexibility, lung capacity, endurance, and strength. The pain most runners feel is not from the running in and of itself, but from imbalances that running causes and exacerbates. If you bring your body into balance through the practice of yoga, you can run long and hard for years to come."

Strength:

Since I have knee issues, I try to strengthen the surrounding muscles to better support the knee and prevent injury. I do variations of this exercise:

via Health.com

Once a week I'll do this for each leg and then both legs together, both on my stomach and back, 3 sets of 20 reps. You can also add weights to your ankles to increase your strength. If you don't want to purchase ankle weights, a large bag of rice and a rubber band work fine.

I like to throw in a few sets of crunches or ab exercises when I do knee work but at this early in training I've been pretty slack.

What are other good moves to cross-train and prevent injury? Any advice?

Surprise!

2011-12-21T08:30:00.006-05:00

About two months ago, I was planning my trip home for Christmas. With Matt's birthday being the 20th, I wanted to be there for his big day but it was hard to beg for that much vacation. I told Matt I couldn't fly in until the 22nd, which was true at first. My boss was so gracious and approved my vacation and I just chose not to share these details with Matt. It was SO hard keeping this a secret!!

I flew in bright and early yesterday and had this delicious treat after my 3:30am wake up call.

I quickly saw my parents and puppies, ~~even squeezed in a training run(!)~~ strengthened and then rested my knee while my mom on I strolled through Target.

Since I lost my iPod on a plane a few months ago, I scrounged my old bedroom for some CDs for the 4 hour drive to Matt's. Here's what I found:

My car ride was pretty awesome to say the least and was able to surprise him right as he was getting home from work!

We headed straight out for dinner at the Charcoal Grill

Matt would like you to know he does not photograph well.

We had a pizza & pasta buffet and a lot of these


Put Cheese Curds on a menu and I will almost always order them!

Then we celebrated Matt's birthday/Christmas!

He got his birthday presents back in New York but he also got two dress shirts for Christmas and ESPN magazine.

Then it was my turn to unwrap presents and this is what fell out of the box.

After bursting into shocked happy tears thinking it was a ring, I quickly realized it was an iPod nano!! Haha awkward! Oops. At least we had a good laugh!

I also got a Nike attachment to track my runs. He spoiled me big time!! By the way, how cute are his tree and stockings?

We met up with a few new friends afterward for a birthday drink but kept it mellow since it was a work night after all.

It was a wonderful surprise evening and now I'm back to Minnesota to see my friends and family for Christmas!

Happy Birthday Matt!

2011-12-20T08:30:00.046-05:00

Happy Happy Birthday to one of my favorite men in the entire world (my dad being the other man)!

Matty Matt!

Our first picture over 4 years ago. It has been a wonderful, crazy ride ever since.

Even when we're far apart...

...or I think he is being ridiculous...

he rocks my socks and makes me one happy camper!

We already celebrated together when he visited at the beginning of the month. I even made him this cake!

But I can't wait to give him a big birthday hug and kiss when I'm home for the holidays!

Thanks for being wonderful, funny, smart, and my favorite partner in crime. I love you, babe!

The good, the bad, and the ugly

2011-12-19T20:11:00.001-05:00

The Good:

My babysitting gig cancelled so I had a free evening after work.
It was nearly 50° so I took advantage of a nice run outside.
I rocked out to the "More" Usher Pandora station, which was very fun. Somehow "Born to be Wild" was added into the mix and it was a very pleasant surprise!
The run felt great and I finally completed week 4 of C25K!

The Bad:

The back of my knee is feeling pretty darn sore so I have a hot date with a bag of frozen peas tonight. (A poor man's ice pack...I'm not eating a whole bag of frozen peas.)

The Ugly:

I lost my keys. I put them in my pocket as I left and they must have fallen out somehow. I can't imagine how that happened considering my pockets are deep and I swear I don't flop all over the place or at least enough for my keys to fly out of place.

It's $100 to replace the electronic entry key so I'm not too thrilled about this discovery! Overall though, I'm glad I ran!

23°

2011-12-19T08:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday! Can you believe that was our last weekend before Christmas? I absolutely cannot but that means I'll be home soon and I can't wait!

Friday I had the absolute pleasure of hanging out with these hooligans by babysitting Megan's niece.

So adorable!!

I don't think it gets much funnier than that!

Saturday was dedicated to a mental health day. Dec 17th is the anniversary of losing my uncle (dad's twin) to suicide and on top of a busy, hectic week I really needed to unwind. Instead of getting up and running, I slept in, got a few Christmas presents finished, ran a few errands and played scrabble with Megan for nearly 3 hours. It came down to the wire but I ultimately won *dusts shoulders off*.

Later we met up with our friends Megan and Debbie for a lady date night. Dinner was delicious although expensive (the "special" does not mean a special price!) and then we saw New Years Eve.


Worst. Movie. Ever.

I loved Valentine's Day and He's Just Not That Into You so I thought this would be equally cute with the bonus of a NYC setting. Nope. It was AWFUL. Purely awful. The script was laughable because it was so cheesy, most jokes were missed because they were so bad, and all of the love pairings were simply ridiculous. I absolutely cannot believe how poorly done it was. All four of us burst into laughter a few times at how terrible it was. Get the point yet? Ok, good. That's enough about that!

Sunday I dragged myself out of bed to get my long run in. It was 23°.

After the run.

It was so cold. For real. What was I possibly thinking training for a 1/2 marathon in the dead of winter?!?!? Seriously. The run turned into more of a walk because my pants kept sagging down, I hadn't eaten breakfast, and my lungs hated the cold. All bad excuses, I know. I just wasn't feelin' it. There will be better days though I'm sure. Warmer running clothes will help, thanks in advance Santa!

At least I came home to my wonderful coffee maker.

I finished up my Christmas shopping (online shopping is much warmer!), wrapped my presents, made treats for the office and joined the girls for a Christmas party. I brought these

but we also used lettuce cups/wraps instead of the pasta to stay low-carb.

And to wrap up the weekend, the troops were removed from Iraq and our 9-year war has ended.

I don't care what your political views are or how you feel about the war, it is great to not have that burden on our troops, their loved ones and our country. I'm proud of and thankful for those who fought but I'm glad they don't have to anymore.

Sometimes

2011-12-16T08:30:00.003-05:00

Getting into shape takes a lot of the same discipline it takes to get out of debt. Fortunately I am putting these skills to use for both goals, but it's a lot of work.

All of the pictures below were found under the fitness section of Pinterest. Despite the fitness images, every single one of the messages can be used to motivate any goal and sometimes I need just that. Sometimes getting my butt to the gym is the easier of the two goals I'm working on. Sometimes it's much harder to say "yes" to a babysitting job after a long week of work, even though I appreciate the business and I know it will help my goal of paying my student loans and increase my savings.

But then sometimes I force myself to dig down deep and apply these phrases to getting out of debt and I find the strength to psych myself up to make progress.

I didn't want to babysit last night. Not because it's a bad family or because I had anything better to do. It was purely for the same lazy reasons a lot of people don't want to go workout. After a busy 2 weeks, I was tired and just wanted to go home and relax after a hard run at the gym. I wanted to cancel and just go see a movie instead. Really anything would have been a decent substitute in my head yesterday.

But then I remembered that my goal is more important than just another night in doing nothing. Goals are not accomplished by being lazy, as convenient as that might be. Sometimes it's really hard but in the end it will be worth it.

And sometimes, after an especially trying day of making progress, you can come home and treat yourself to some pretzel hugs. I'm forever grateful to Chelsea for blogging about these last month!

Made with only leftover ingredients of course. Making money to spend money is not my goal ~~anymore~~.

Happy Friday! What goals are you working on? What keeps you motivated when you lose momentum? I would love to hear from you!

Three Things Thursday

2011-12-15T08:30:00.035-05:00

1. Tuesday I ran for 5 min straight as part of my C25K training. I've never run that for consecutively. It was hard, especially in the cold, but it felt GREAT! I didn't run with Team In Training because they were working on "arm swinging". I'm pretty sure the lesson is "don't run like Phobe or Rachel":

2. I almost spent $100 on running clothes/gear during some online browsing this week. Target has a lot of their C9 by Champion athletic wear on sale this week and I found a warm running hat with a ponytail hole. I think the goals of becoming a runner and getting out of debt are going to clash.

3. I cleaned out my gmail account this week for the first time in 3 years. There were over 1,000 e-mails just sitting in my inbox and now there are 7. I was able to delete most of them and I made folders for the rest. I've never maintained an organized e-mail account so it's weird to see. One of my many New Years Resolutions will be to keep it that way! I think I will also vow to be more selective in what e-mails I sign up for. Maybe before the new year I will also clean out my yahoo account, which is FAR worse.

It's cool (and free!) to be a bookworm!

2011-12-14T07:30:00.001-05:00

Ya know the Sex and the City movie with Carrie's big wedding?

and then she beats up Big like so:

It totally takes place at and outside my library. Yeah, only mine. It makes going to the library even cooler, right?

But for real, libraries are completely underrated if you like to read. If you're like me and low on money, it's a great resource to be able to read nearly any book you could dream of for free. The best part about libraries is the convenience of their websites (I hope all towns' libraries are as easy to use as NYC!).

Rather than going all the way to the library, looking for the book, finding out it's at a different branch or it's checked out, and going all the way home empty-handed, you can search for the title online, put it on hold and have it delivered to the branch closest to you. They e-mail you when it's ready and boom, you have some intellectual entertainment.

It's quick and easy to get a card and the selection is usually pretty big. Just don't forget to return them ;)

I wish I could browse the isles of Barnes and Nobel for hours and buy all the books I want. I wish I could have a huge library in my home with stocked shelves like this:

or even something creative like this:

but that's not realistic right now with my goal to get out of debt.

Here's what I've checked out so far:

and

I'm certainly not a mother and won't be anytime soon. Regardless, I heard this is a great book about making running a priority, even with a busy schedule.

Book reviews to come soon!

UPDATE: If you aren't already convinced the library is cool, you will after seeing this

Yum.

Makin' Lemonade

2011-12-13T07:30:00.012-05:00

When I moved into my apartment this fall, I needed to buy some dressers. I purchased two of these

May 3 Drawer Dresser from Target

They had good reviews, free shipping and were on sale. Sold. I felt so proud of myself assembling them all on my own. Unfortunately, due to both dresser quality and user error, one drawer from each of the dressers have fallen completely apart and have been deemed unusable. They now look like this:


I arranged the drawers to make the bottom a shelf instead. Works quite nicely.

Now I'm left with broken drawers, with all of the panels in tact.

I might be able to fix one drawer but I'm kind of liking the shelf idea now.

Instead of throwing these panels away, I'm determined to make something (or things) out of it, likely via pinterest.

Megan suggested I use one panel to create a shelf, and I plan to take her up on that idea. But what else can I do?

Paint a cute quote and make a wall decoration?

Make a coarkboard?

Feelin' creative this week? What other ideas do you have? I'm willing to get creative and make the most out of this unfortunate purchase!

You're never the only one!

2011-12-12T07:30:00.070-05:00

Saturday was the first training run for Team In Training. I didn't know anyone or how far we would be running. I also worried there wouldn't be anyone as slow as me that actually planned on running 13.1 miles or anyone that wanted to do a run/walk interval to build endurance. We weren't allowed to bring headphones and I've never been able to run while keeping conversation so ultimately I was a bit anxious. It wasn't a great sign that the bus never came and I ended up taking cab so I'd arrive on time, but once I got there it was affirmed that I signed up with a pretty cool organization!

For our first day, we ran the lower loop of Central Park, roughly 1.7 miles. I started jogging with Molly, who has never done this before either. She was very friendly but had much better endurance so she went off ahead while I slowed down for my first walking interval.

Not a minute later, I met my running twin, Liz. She passed me running with a buddy and I heard her say, "go on ahead, I need to walk for a bit". That's all I needed to hear! I scooted up my pace to meet her and it turns out we're in the same boat on many levels.

Neither of us have run a mile in our lives. We both want to run/walk until we have enough endurance to run. We both run about the same pace and we both have asthma! What a relief to know I already have a training buddy!

We were able to run and chat and shared some great running tips with each other. We would motivate each other to start a new running interval and to keep going until we reached a designated distance. We're both excited to have some extra support, especially as beginners! Sorry, I didn't take any pictures since I didn't want to come off as a first-impression creeper but I promise I will have some next week!

If you're thinking about joining a group or working towards a goal, just remember: you're never the only one! No matter what your circumstance, it's almost a guarantee that someone else is in your same boat. Don't let the fear of being the odd one out stop you from getting started. You never know, it might lead to even more encouragement and motivation than you thought!

Sunday was a rest day and it was gladly welcomed after a week that looked like this:

I know that might not seem like a lot, just 6 miles and yoga over a whole week. However, living in NYC means your daily life can be a workout in itself. I walked nearly 2 miles home, up 3 flights of stairs to get to my apartment (done multiple times over the day), I walked a mile to babysit, a mile back (went there and back twice on Saturday), plus walking to run general errands. You can bet I was excited to rest!

Now I'm ready to tackle a new week and a new workout schedule!

via

Merry Christmas Max!

2011-12-09T11:27:00.003-05:00

"And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say -

that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day."

I finally found the Christmas spirit. It wasn't while purchasing a tree or a venti red-cupped Starbucks. In fact, it cost me no money at all.

This morning I saw a post from Julie on facebook that read:

Hey guys! I got an email from a nursing student in West Virginia today with information about a child's Christmas wish that I though we might be able to help come true on some small level. Max, an 8-year-old boy battling leukemia who will not make it home to celebrate Christmas has one crazy, fun Christmas wish: He would like to receive 1,000,000 Christmas cards in the mail.

If you would like to send him a card and help make his Christmas wish come true, cards may be sent to:

Max c/o Hailey Remish
417 Jones Street
Belle Vernon, PA
15012

Thank you and Happy Holidays! :)

How simple and easy is that? So you can guess what I did. I went here to make a quick card for Max.

Please join me in making Max's Christmas wish come true!

I'm a Cotton-Headed Ninnymuggins!

2011-12-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

Lately I haven't been feeling the Christmas spirit. I've gone through the motions of making Christmas lists, buying presents, seeing the Rockefeller Center tree, booking my flight home, listening to Christmas music, buying Starbucks with the red cup. Ya know, typical things.

Saks 5th Avenue display. The snowflakes light up to "Carol of the Bells"

Probably the most gorgeous tree, brought in from Wisconsin each year.

But something still seems off.

Maybe it's the weather. Coming from Minnesota, I'm not used to these warm, snow-less temperatures, despite spending last December living in South Carolina. My friend Megan and I are in the same funk.

Regardless, I've decided to fake it til I make it.

At work I keep Pandora set to the Michael Buble Holiday station.

While leaving work today I saw this in our lobby:

After a difficult but good run at the gym, I stopped to pick up these goodies too:

A tiny New York apartment equals a tiny tree. Plus I'm allergic to trees (I know, right?) so nothing real for me!

I only found one stocking but I will continue my search tomorrow to complete the set.

Lastly, Megan & I are planning a Christmas party for next weekend. We'll get dressed up and festive, make cookies, and hopefully watch Elf. One day we'll snap out of it!

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer,

is singing loud for all to hear."

Cable, Netflix, Hulu, Oh my!

2011-12-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

I grew up with cable and a family that enjoyed watching it together. I probably watched way too much of it. I had a show for nearly every night of the week and wasted full days watching marathons of reality TV.

When I moved into the city, the apartment I subleased did not have cable. What a crazy concept! I quickly understood that the cost of cable is just not feasible for me with the expense of living here.

When I moved in with Megan, we also decided not to get cable so I've explored my options to get my TV fix.

At first I used Hulu.

I was able to watch a lot of shows but only the most recent ones and certainly not all of my favorites. I was hesitant to splurge on HuluPlus for $7.99 because most shows I enjoy were already free. I enjoyed Hulu but it wasn't enough to keep me entertained. I ended up additionally relying on re-watching old DVDs I own.

Next, I tried to add Redbox.

It's a great idea in theory. Since a trip to the theater is now at least $12 without popcorn, it makes sense to wait until it comes out on DVD and rent it for $1 in the comfort of your home. I loved this concept until I kept forgetting to return the DVDs! Seriously. I would put them in my purse but forget to go out of my way to drop them off. After a while I forgot I had them and I was suddenly slapped with the fee of owning the movie. That happened 5 times and I now I own some movies that I'm not proud of.

I now have to avoid Redbox unless I know for a fact I will return it the very next day or someone else is in charge of dropping it off.

Then, I tried Netflix.

I signed up for unlimited streaming + 2 DVD rentals for $19.98/month. I loved the instant streaming and have enjoyed watching many TV series from start to finish. Mad Men, I'm lookin at you! I enjoyed having the DVDs so Megan and I could watch together on our TV but ultimately it wasn't worth the extra $13 a month.

Lastly, I tried Blockbuster's Total Access plan.

It sent me 2 DVDs at a time for $14.99/month. They have a wide variety of DVDs but the service was horrible. It took a week and a half to get new DVDs after returning the ones I rented. I only had this plan for 1 month so that was just way too long for return service. When it was time to end the plan, I put my DVDs in the mail and one of them was returned to me in their self-addressed envelope! How confusing! I worried I wouldn't get them submitted on time and they were going to charge me a late fee. Fortunately I contacted customer service. They never replied to my e-mail to explain their plan of action but a few days later I received a new mailing envelope and the problem was solved.

The verdict? Computer wins.

I keep up with new shows on Hulu and I stream older shows and movies for additional entertainment. It's only $7.99 a month to stream Netflix, so I save $32 a month that I would normally spend on my half of the cable bill. There are days I really miss cable and I feel awkward when I'm clueless about popular commercials but for me, it's worth the $384/year that I save on cable.

Non-drowsy? Yeah, right.

2011-12-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

Payday is Friday and I spent nearly the rest of my money on non-drowsy cold/flu medicine (the Duane Reade brand). Although it has eased all of my cold symptoms, I quickly looked like this

Good thing I tried it tonight, instead of tomorrow at work! Regular Tylenol does this to me too. What gives?!

Now if you'll excuse me, I am still feeling a bit drowsy.

Week (level) 3 of C25k

2011-12-07T11:26:00.001-05:00

Last night I finally finally finally bumped up my running intervals to the next week of the Couch to 5K program. Since I have no intention of taking 9 weeks to be able to run a 5K, I consider each week a level that I can reach at my own pace.

I did equal run/walk intervals of 1:30 and then equal intervals of 3 min and rotated each session twice. Including the warm up walk, it was about 2 miles. The only difficult thing about running for 3 min. straight is purely mental. If I have nothing to distract my thoughts, I'll convince myself I'm tired and want to quit. If I distract myself by reading the subtitles on the TV in front of me, I can easily do the interval. Who knows what I'll do when I'm running for hours at a time!

Last night was also the Team in Training kick-off event!

I was amazed at how many first-time runners were there! It took everything I had not to cry while listening to some the survivors' stories. A few of them even participated in Team In Training just weeks after radiation treatments.

"Training is easier than chemo."

Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

Our first group run is this Saturday and I'm both excited and nervous. I have no idea how far we're running and ya know, what if no one likes me?

I will not get sick. I will not get sick.

2011-12-06T10:06:00.000-05:00

Getting a cold sucks. Getting a cold with asthma is just plain brutal. Probably TMI but any phlegm from the cold goes straight into my lungs and I can hardly breathe for days. Brutal. I woke up yesterday with my throat on fire but there's no way I'm letting this cold get the best of me!

Since I refuse to be out of training for days now that I have this big ol' race coming up, I've been downing these like a rockstar

Jamba Juice Cold Buster with extra immunity boost. YUM!

So far so good. I will not get sick! I will not get sick!

The training debate

2011-12-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

Matt (the boyfriend) was in town this weekend so I dragged him on a training run with me.

The reservoir loop in Central Park is 1.58 miles. We did a 5 minute walk to get there as a warm-up and then did intervals of run for 1:30, walk for 2 min, as per the C25K program.

I have never ran with Matt before and he let me keep the pace. He was surprised at how "fast" I was running, which nearly made me keel over from laughing so hard. He suggested I could do higher intervals of running if I ran more slowly but I feel like I'm already running slowly.

I can't decide if it's better to maintain my speed and build the distance slowly and then improve my speed after that OR build the distance at a slower pace and once I have it down, improve my speed.

Looks like I have some research and experimenting to do this week!

I'm also giving the stink eye to some phlegm rattling around in my chest. I'm not sure where it came from but it better not lead to any asthma issues! I'm doing everything precautionary to make sure this doesn't hinder my training at all!

Today is the day!

2011-12-02T16:58:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd have a running blog. Never. But the day has arrived!

I'm starting at square one with some big goals. First up, the New York City Half Marathon on March 18.

I can't even run 1 mile so I have a lot of work to do before training starts on January 2nd. I couldn't be more excited or motivated to finish the race strong!

For every challenge or goal I face, I make progress slowly but surely and running will be no different. I'm about to see what I'm capable of!