Thursday, February 26, 2009

An Image for Today - Thursday

Golden and Sun Kissed...



How incredibly gorgeous is this picture?  It just makes me long for spring to get here and fast!  I can't wait to take a pleasant walk at dusk without bundleing up!

Oh the same note...have you seen the engagement pictures Jessica Lynn posted yesterday?  They are amazing and makes me impatient for spring!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

This Time Last Year

This is where our journey to being more healthy began...


{Husband will probably be irate at me for posting this but...}

Now for the few of you who have known Husband pre-college, you can attest, he is not looking like himself!  He had gained 50 lbs since high school.  While Husband looked unhealthy on the outside, I mirrored him on the inside.  I was tired and sick too often.  We needed a change!

Around this time last year that change started to take place.  While I do not want to go into what that 'change' was, but suffice it to say, it was pretty big and pretty awesome.

We started eating healthy, not dieting, just healthy.  


We felt better!  Can you tell how much weight he's lost?  We were really happy with how we felt after the first 3 months and decided to go out and find a gym to join.

I'll post some pictures of us from recently and complete our story in another post!  {after I find a picture...}

What has motivated you to get healthy?  Was it a life event? a general feeling of being unhealthy? or did you just get fed up and motivated yourself? 

Almost everyone I know thinks that they are unhealthy and/or needs to get into shape...you're not alone!  I just takes the desire and a little motivation.  So, 

Let's all get motivated!

 I would like you to be motivated by my Fit of It post!  Fill me in, my lovely readers...What movitates you?  When do you have problems staying motivated?  What helps you get back to the gym?  What are your goals?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Why Thank You!

Thank you very much!

This little gem was given to me by the wonderful Sara at Unwrap Life.  I stumbled upon her delightful blog just a few days ago and quickly added her blog to my reader!  So thank you Sara.  I'm sure we will be great friends!




The "Love ya" award:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award!"

And who would I like to pass this on to?  Definitely...





 Jessica Lynn at Tying the Knot and Penned and Pretty

Well its not eight, but these ladies are the best and their blogs are wonderful!  Congratulations ladies!

Friday, February 20, 2009

An Image for Today - Friday

Oh he's not so big...I can take him!


Image by: Dave Beckerman

Look at the little dogs!  They're just boxing in the street!  You know that they probably think that they're really mean and vicious, but the little ones are always adorable.

Yeah, so...I didn't do so well on the posting this week, but there's lots that happened that I will be posting about as soon as I can find the time and I'm not dead tired!  {I've been sleeping a ton and I'm STILL tired!}  And I'm not going to catch up on sleep any time soon!

Husband and I have a full weekend ahead of us...Games all weekend with a couple of really good friends and hopefully make a few new friends in the process!

What are your plans for this weekend?  Are you going to get to rest?

I will be working hard on posting too!  Here's what you can look forward to in the near future!

*I went on a little exploratory photo shoot last Sunday and took a couple of rolls of film {film?  really?  yeah I'm behind the times.  I'm working on it!} and finally got around to getting them processed.  I will be posting some of the images.
*Remember those hundreds {ok maybe not hundreds, but still a lot!} of cupcakes?  I've got some pictures to post from that event!

*All about our exciting weekend of nerdy amazing game night.  I'm not sure about what games that will be played, but the people will be amazing!

*A new post from The Fit of It to get you all motivated to head out to the gym!

*Also from The Fit of It...Where our stories began.  A look at were Husband and I were this time last year in our journey to get healthy!

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

What's in My Bag - Bag Tag

A while ago Miss Lemonade from Making Lemonade from Lemons tagged me in the bag tag.  So here it is...

My axcess Coco Satchel that I found from Kohl's for maybe $20?  It nothing spectacular, but its purple {my seasonal favorite color!} and the right size {meaning my phone won't fall out of it}. 

And what's inside you ask?...


The staples - my note book; a new yellow clutch/wallet; Vera Bradely wristlet/camera case; COACH medicine case

On current rotation - my current take with me book "Guilty" by Ann Coulter {hilarious!}; the book club book for tonight "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman {wonderful}; and my new favorite lotion "Optimisim - Bright Blossoms" from Bath & Body Works

The phone, a teal Samsung Juke, is safely tucked in the front pocket with my gym axcess card so that I can't lose them AGAIN!

They say you can tell a lot about a woman by looking at the contents of her purse...Does this give you any insight into who I am?  I hope so!

What gorgeous bags are you lovely ladies carrying?  And what so the contents say about you?  I can't wait to see!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Follow the yellow lined road?




Image by: Neil Creek

I am loving this golden, yellow field on this cloudy day and am dreaming of the warmer, sunnier days ahead. 

Weekend Recap

Friday - We went to a vow renewal for one of the guys at work.  It was the first time Husband has gotten to meet anyone from my work place and I was excited for him to be able to put faces with the names that I talk about.  It went well!  I was terrible and didn't get any pictures, but I will post more detail about it later!

Saturday - The Husband and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day on the grounds that if you need one day out of the year to show your spouse that you love them, you are not doing very good job the rest of the year.  So, instead we went to the bookstore. (Which happens to be a weekly trip for us!)  We ordered a few books and they should be here today!! 

Sunday - I made A TON of cupcakes.  I'm talking over 150 to the suckers!  I will tell you more about why later this week!

It was a pretty good weekend and ended abruptly with the arrival of Monday which seemed to never end!  And to top it all off I had to track down the escapees.

You might remember this post from when the Little One got loose.  Well this time it was BOTH of them (and Fluffy is a runner!), on their brand new chains, and Husband was not at home!  The neighbors called to let us know that our puppies were wagging their tails at their back door (thank you).  Luckily they hadn't gotten far and I caught them, but I was definitely out of breath! 

I think we will be getting, yet some more, new tie-out chains...

Sorry.  I haven't been a very good poster the last few days (I have lots of things to post) and this was a really random post.  It will get better, I promise!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Let the Healing Begin with Silk

My wardrobe is in the healing process from what had been done to it during graduate school.  Organic chemicals can be nasty things!  Almost every article of clothing that was worn into the lab came out with chemical burns and stains.  And for these practical reasons, my wardrobe consisted of jeans and tee shirts.

Then what do I do?  I graduate.  I find a job and I need new clothes for work.  I have been slowly replenishing my closet with nicer work clothes.  (Very, painfully, slowly...we're still on a student loan budget after all!)  I'm just thankful that my wonderful job allows me to look nice and do the science that I love.

So a girl friend and I went shopping the other day and I feel in love with this silk chateau peasant top from White House Black Market...



Yes its was pricey, yes it fit me perfectly.  Husband was so kind when I showed it to him and gave him the i'm-sorry-we-can't-go-out-to-eat-this-weekend-but-I-love-it look he said how wonderful it looked on me and didn't even ask how much I spent!  

Yes I worn it to work today and only felt minorly guilty as I put on my goggles and slipped my lab coat over the new shirt.

I could get use to the shopping and not feeling guilty thing, but it might have to wait until wanna-be-doctor Husband becomes actual-real-doctor Husband in like 8 years...

So, if I'm going to keep this shopping thing up I'm going to need some input.  We're are your favorite places to shop?  Where do you go when you want to buy your self something special?

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Shoes can be a Religious Experience

Wasn't Husband's post yesterday a great rant?  Maybe I'll convince him to pay the bloggy a visit every once in a while...Ok maybe I can't be that persuasive, but thanks Husband for the post!

Previously I shared with all of you how important shoes are when you are working out and running and I promised to share with you my recent trip to the shoe store.  So let's get started!

While at Home-Town this weekend {to do our taxes...yuck} Dad-in-law commented that his ankle and hip were hurting, so we took a look at his shoes.  We found the problem...his shoes had little to no cushion and the sole was more heavily worn on the outside on the shoes.  The shoes were causing both of his pains.  Dad-in-law said 'alright lets go to the shoe store'.  

We took him to a specialty shop where they watch you run and analyze what kind of shoes will be best for you.  They picked out some shoes for him to try and he immediatly noticed the difference.  Then, and here's the good part...

Dad-in-law tunred to us and said 'ok now your turn!  Pick out some shoes!
I heart Dad-in-law!  Shoes are a great way to a woman's heart!  I have been putting of buy a new pair of running shoes for a very long time and was going to have to break down and get some soon.  not only that, but this shop only carries the high end running shoe, the good stuff!  

The sales associate pulled some shoes for me that fit my requests - ones I can get the most miles out, were light weight, and has the highest arch in the store.  I have extremely high arches and I have never found a part of shoes that I didn't have to stuff with more arch supports which makes them a lot heavier.  

{Now bear this is the religious experience part}  

When he handed me the first pair he said 'this is the highest arch in the store' so i was ready to be disappointed...I put them on...the arch support actually touched my foot!  I almost cried!  They  said you should have seen my face when I slipped them on.  I bet it was hilarious!  
I am now a proud owner of the Mizuno Wave Creation shoes!
And how have they been?  They are amazing!  The difference staggering.  Lesson learned.

So go to a good shoe store and bring your old shoes with you.  The new shoes could change how you feel about running!

Have you had running pains?  Were your shoes causing you to dread a work out?  What is your favorite running shoe?  

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Stimulus Healthcare Add-on

Hi everybody, this is the Husband, and this is my stress-relieving frustrated rant.  I am basing this rant on information provided at the following link, plus the actual report that can be found from the article.  

Regardless on how each of us may feel about the economic benefit of the current "stimulus" plan, there is a glaring health care addendum that could very well destroy health care in America.  The first reform tacked on is actually one I have supported in past years, and continue to support today, the addition of electronic medical records such as the one the VA (veterans association) currently uses.  As it is set up, this would allow any doctor currently giving a patient care to access their FULL medical records, no matter where they have gotten care in the past.  Currently, a physician can only see records that were performed in the same system that they are using, limiting the information to only a few hospitals.  This allows for significant errors to be made due to lack of information, such as drug interactions, previous medical history, and results from previous tests.  For example, say my grandfather (who has had a few heart attacks in his current residence) was in another state on vacation and had another heart attack.  Under the current system, the hospital serving him would be unable to see any of his old records, his current meds, and his baseline ecg to see if he is actually having a heart attack and how best to treat him.  A national health care DATABASE would give them all of his pertinent medical history, allowing for better care.  
Notice how I wrote database there.  I am NOT an advocate for national health care, just a national database.  If you want national health care, move to Canada, England, or France and ask them how it is.  Each of these countries is currently moving away from these systems, something that we should take note of since we seem to be attempting to move towards it.  We have three great models of failed systems, yet are arrogant enough to believe that we can do it better.  I digress, back to the new addendum.  So... good:  national healthcare database.  Bad...they couldn't stop there.  Tom Daschle (you remember him, he was going to be in charge of Health and Human Services until it was discovered he "accidently" forgot to pay over $100,000 in back taxes?) got involved.  Using $6 BILLION, they would set up the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, an oversight committee set up to look over nurses and doctors shoulders to ensure they are doing what the federal government thinks is cost effective and medically appropriate.  Interestingly, only 1/2 of the committee members would be health care people, so the people determining if your doctor was giving you appropriate care wouldn't be doctors.  Since they would be politicians, I assume they would be lawyers, one reason I feel like I'm having an aneurism while thinking about it.  So on the surface, this committee would be trying to get doctors on the same updated treatments, to ensure that everybody knew the correct new drugs/treatment options available.  But this is sadly not the case.  

Daschle wrote a book in 2008 aout how to fix healthcare, including ideas to use an appointed body (I wonder what committee that could be...) to slow development of new treatments and medications, because they are driving up the cost of healthcare.  Let me be clear:  without these new technologies, we would be treating patients with blood-letting, penicillin, and amputations, not to mention the iron lung for polio that is now eradicated (thanks to the hated new technology.  I hate being able to breath on my own, damn those stupid scientists.)  He stated that we as Americans need to accept life, somethings can't be fixed.  True, so if a patient with terminal cancer is in pain, do we not give them painkillers since they are going to die anyways?  This would significantly impact elderly patients, who will bear the brunt of the brutality.  Since the committtee (now referred to as the Nazi Americans for Health, or NAH as in "nah, you'll just have to live with it) would determine medical coverage from using a "cost-effective" treatment plan instead of what is safe and effective, the formula is cost divided by the number of years a patient gets the benefit.  This means older patients get less treatment than younger, because an 85 year old woman with heart failure isn't going to get as much benefit as a 2 day old with a heart defect.  Even if the treatment for heart failure is a few fairly cheap pills, we can't give it to you because it isn't worth it. That's premeditated murder, a felony last time I checked.  

Ok Mr. Daschle, if that's how its going to be, its time to put Ted Kennedy out to pasture.  Look at his risk factors:  he's 77, has atherosclerosis enough to prompt a carotid scraping (which increases his risk of stroke, heart attack, and other stuff), he has had multiple strokes, multiple seizurres, and was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.  Yet he had the audacity to undergo an EXPERIMENTAL surgery (gasp!) to try and prolong his life a few months.  At the Democratic National Convention he was hailed as a hero.  Under the new guidelines, he would be a waste of money.  Under the new plan, he wouldn't have even gotten the original carotid scraping because he's too old.  Don't think that I'm callous, I'm a conservative and I support operating on Kennedy's brain...even if it does just extend his life a few months.  Another example:  Ruth Bader Ginsburg, supreme court justice was diagnosed last week with pancreatic cancer.  Surviving % at 5 years:  5%.  Yet 24 hours after diagnosis she was under the knife, selfishly trying to stay alive.  It will be interesting to see if members of Congress are put into the same treatment paradigm as us regular folk.  

As a future MD, I wonder if Daschle has the stones to talk to a patient and that patients family, to tell the patient that the life-saving surgery isn't cost-effective enough, so here's a coupon for a cheap funeral home.  They haven't taught me that conversation yet, so I think I'll need him to show me how to tell someone they need to die.  

Slipping these provisions into the bill is effectively making Americans swallow national health care, but without the FREE healthcare!  Daschle has actually found a way to combine the worst of our current system (its expensive) and the national varient (horrible patient care).  Whether you believe we need the stimulus package or not, watch out for the long term health implications.  They may be more than America can handle.  

An Image for Today - Tuesday {and a Surprise for Later!}

I'm not touch you.  I'm not touching you...

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Image by: bobbi + mike

I just love how these two capture the emotions and actions of their subject!  How many times do siblings play the game 'I'm not touching you'?  Or play the game ' Let's poke big brother with a stick until he gets mad'?  I know Brother and I did it all the time!  Well it happens between grown-ups too, only with different rules.

Husband {being the future doctor that he is} has become feed up with the debates and threats about national health care.  He feels very strongly that the patient care of socialist health systems is not adequate and says he wants to be able to treat patients with the speed and standards that have become expected of the American health system.  {Did you know you could wait several months for an MRI of your injured knee under a national health system?}

And the surprise for you all later this evening?

Husband will be ranting about his views on the health care changes found in the Stimulus Bill from the Senate.
You may not care about the bill or Husband opinions on it or health care, but health care effects us all and I think that is important.  So look for his post after he gets out of class tonight!

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Right Shoes to get Fit

Shoe are a very important tool for runners.  The right pair can keep you safe and prevent injury {it can also help your motivation...who doesn't want to break out that new pair of shoes!}.
It can be difficult to find the right pair of shoes for your activities, the shape of your feet, and the way that you run.  

The article found here is a pretty good overview of the things that need to be considered when buying a good shoe.  I have also found it helpful to have an idea of kind of shoes that you are going to be looking at before you go to the store.  The high end brand websites like Mizuno are a good resource for explaining some of the different shoe types.


So make sure you get your self a good pair of shoes!  

What is your favorite brand of athletic shoes?  Where do you find them?  Do you have any stories about how shoes changed your work out experience?

I'll share my own shoe religious experience story a little later!

Introducing - The Fit of IT

I have decided to decided to add another love to my little bloggy! An the new love is...

Pour l'Amour de...the Fit of It
{to read more posts on the Fit of It click here}

I am going to journal my path back to a '5 mile a day runner' along with exercise and health tips.

To start here is my story about how I have made it to were I am today...

I have always had a love of exerciseing and was surrounded with sports for as long as I can remeber. Mother is/was a Coach for everything from basketball to cross-country and now DECA {an academic 'sport'}. I can remember playing on the track or in the high school gym while she held practice. She was really hoping for her children to get involved and play all of the sports she loved. Sadly she had to be disappointed. Brother does NOT play sports. I loved gymnastics and to run, but I refuse to play anything that involves catching, throwing, or hitting a ball.

I was a gymnast when I was young and I sucked at it! But I didn't care.

In high school Mother encrouaged me to run cross-country {more like bribed me because I could letter as a freshman!} and I fell in love with running even though it hated me.

I had a love, hate relationship with running. {Have you seen those commercials?}



Running hurt me {I have cried}, its cold most of the year, and it can be lonely. But I wouldn't/couldn't stop! And then college happend and studying took all of my time. While I have never gained the infamous college/marriage 15, I have never felt as good and would be sick and tired most of the time.

Husband and I decided to change our habits! Husband has a lot of goals for weight and muscle tone. I just want to feel better.

I hope you enjoy following along. I hope I help inspire you to be active and stay motivated. I hope I can give you some great advice and tips!

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{Mother and me at USA Track and Field National Championships 2007!  Its a terrible picture of me, but there it is}

Friday, February 6, 2009

Have You Gone Red?

Today is National Wear Red Day 


The American Heart Association has started the Go Red for Women campaign to wipe out heart disease and strokes among women.  Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women {yes, more than breast cancer} and the signs and symptoms are not the same as those for men.  

Wear red today to support the fight!

If you want to donate or need would like some Red accessories take a look at the Go Red Shop. I want to get myself this brooch...

Hey, its for a great cause!

What have you done lately to love your heart?

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Big Thaw

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Image by: Elaine Vallet

It has been frigidly cold the last couple of days, but it is all changing.  Its supposed to reach 50 degrees this weekend! All of the snow and ice will melt away.

And I say good riddance!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Oh what a wonderful start to the day!  Well, not really, but here is a letter from me to the city...enjoy.

Dear 'Big Town' Mid-west,

I would like to thank you for the icy streets that you left me this morning for my morning comute.  Most of the streets were clean, but you left me two super slick.  The on ramp to the highway and the four lane major road connecting to major highway through the wonderful city were just delightful this morning.  So, thank you for the chance to test my amazing driving on ice skills this morning.  

With lots of thanks,

Your residents
Seriously!  I understand that there are alot of roads and that everyone wants their's plowed and salted, but these are major areas I'm talking about!  Grr!  I normally love winter and snow, but I'm ready to move on to spring and pretty scenes like this one!

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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Rubber ducky, you’re the one!


Image by: bobbi + mike

What a very unique ring shot!

What is you favorite wedding ring shot? I know you’ve blogged about it yourself and I would love to see/read about it! Leave me a comment and link back to your post! And while you’re here remember to become a follower of my little blogity here! {I’d feel really sad if you didn’t!}

Oh and say a little prayer for all those people in the huge accident in Indianapolis!

Happy Tuesday!

Monday, February 2, 2009

An Image for Today - Monday

There's a fungus among us!



Image by: lifelovepaper entitled Woodland Mushroom Ttv

Ok, I know, bad plant biology joke that EVERYONE has heard. Oh well, I'm sure you'll all forgive me!

lifelovepaper has these adorable prints for sale at her Etsy shop. You should definitely hope over there and check them out!