Mama's New Shoes & What Not to Wear

I've been searching for about a month for my perfect pair of red flats. I can't believe how cute these are. I want to wear them all the time. I feel so flirty in them. I purchased them yesterday while shopping with my sister.

I was able today to pretend to be my heroes Stacey and Clinton of TLC's What Not to Wear. Before children I had been pursuing a career in retail buying for a department store and personal shopping. Sometimes I wonder if I missed my calling! Dear Sister was in much need of a wardrobe update. She is the boss of about 60 people, but wears khakis and t-shirts most days. We had such a great time selecting a few key pieces of clothing and two fabulous new pairs of shoes to help her wardrobe project authority and confidence befitting her job. It was wonderful to see the joy on her face and how she held herself taller when she was wearing the new outfits.

Triathlon Update~ I was benched!

I was benched 2 weeks ago. I started to develop shin splints mostly due I believe to increasing mileage too quickly and old shoes. I knew it was time for shoes, but as it's a bit of an investment I tend to wait until impending injury to purchase. I branched out from my decades long Nike rut to try New Balance (not pink :( ) on the recommendation of the marathon running sales associate. Wow, what a difference the right shoe makes! I ended up taking about 5 days off, and then stepping back my running to 3.5 miles a session with plans to build back up more incrementally to 5 miles a session. I'm happy to report I've been pain free this week!

Skip to my Lou

Oh to be this free. :) Coordinating bracelet to be listed on ebay tomorrow.

Becky is a Rockstar / Triathlon Progress

I am so happy that Becky encouraged me to try triathlon training. Now I admit I have not added swimming to my repetoire, but I have issues with messing up my hair and make-up! I was quite a fish in my youth, so I am not concerned about that portion of the training.

That said I have been focusing on the biking and running portions of the race. After a rather spectacular bike wipe out at age 14 I vowed to never ride a bike again. I did not ride again until my mid twenties and even then no more than a handful of times. I am pleased to report that I am really enjoying my rides! I find myself even contemplating replacing my $5 garage sale (PINK!) Schwinn for a faster model...I have increased my mileage to 10 miles 2x a week, with 4-5 mile runs and two weight lifting classes a week. I have not added in brick workouts yet, but I plan to soon. That is the scariest part of training for me.

But back to Becky. She has long told me how my body was too used the forms of exercise I was doing and I needed to change it up. How right she was! I am so happy to report that I went shopping this week and I am a full jeans size smaller! YIPPEE! I probably would have bought anything the sales girl brought me with that smaller tag that day, but I was content to leave with a pair of jeans and a denim pencil skirt.

Gold Filled Mother's Name Necklace

This new Mother's Stamped Name necklace will be available on ebay tonight. It features two stamped pendants and a sweet freshwater pearl charm. They swing from a gold filled chain. Click the link to the right to visit my auctions.

Funky Sassitude

I admit it, I love school picture day. It is just too much fun choosing an outfit for them to wear. Gymboree's current Equestrian line did not disappoint. This sweater dress and matching hat suited her to a "T". The strange thing about it all is I really don't care for posed studio photos and much prefer to take my own natural shots. The sun was a bit harsh this morning before school, but I still snapped a couple cuties. :)

Cute Sport Jewelry~Not an Oxymoron

Yes! You can still be cute and stylish while you train. I have added new sport styles to my etsy shop. They will be on my website later this week. You will find a yoga inspired "breathe" necklace, as well as triathlon and running styles. On ebay this week I have added a Princess necklace complete with tiara charm and pink leather cording. To go to my etsy shop either click the title to this post, or click the link to the right. To go to ebay please click the link to the right.

The Road Less Traveled

This bracelet is now available on ebay. Click the title to be taken to the auction. It is inspired by Robert Frost. I just want to wallow in this poem today.

The Road Not Taken ~ Robert Frost


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20

Party Like it's the Last Day...

...of summer.