Holidaze

Only FIVE more days till Christmas. I can hardly contain my excitement! ...... Is it Christmas yet? What about now?

Look Out Las Vegas

We are officially going to Las Vegas for Kristy's bachelorette. For most people I would say this is an uninspired cop out on the planners part. But it actually happens to be one of Kristy's favorite places. She loves poker, watching competitive sports, amazing food, staying out late dancing with her girlies, and sunbathing by pools. My last Vegas trip was also with Kristy and we definitely stayed out way past my curfew and spent all my allowance at the blackjack tables. Too much fun! I think I some hats like the ones above might be in order. Nothing says "classy" like a customized hot pink trucker hat.

Here we Go Again

2009 kicked off with me whining a lot about adjusting to new roommates. I found out today that my bestie roommate Marissa got an amazing promotion at work that will be taking her to London. My initial reaction was to jump up and down in excitement with her. There will be trips to visit her for sure filled with Harrods, high tea, and double decker buses. Emotion number two was my stomach turing over at the thought of losing my yoga pants GG marathon buddy and having to interview 500 more Craig's List hopefuls. So yes, here we go again.

NYC Marathon 2010

Holy SHIT! I just signed myself up to run the NYC marathon November 7, 2010. For some reason I have an itch to run THIS particular race. Something in my brain tripped and I thought, "gee, wouldn't it be nice to take a long leisurely run all around NYC?" Crazy right? It's up there with pregnant women wanting to eat dirt nuts.

I won't know if I actually got in until March, 25. But even submitting the application made me sweat. Running 26.2 miles is pretty insane. Training for the half last month was tough but doable. When I got to the finish line man was I glad I wasn't one of those suckers who were only half way done. Next year that will be me. So I guess it's a good thing NYC is only a full so I won't be able to turn off half way and cheat! Right now I am not sure what I want to hear on 3/25. If I do get in and cross that finish line it would be pretty amazing.

Red Cup Time

I'm not talking about the red plastic solo cups that are synonymous with bbq's and drinking games. Starbucks red holiday cups roll out tomorrow. That means gingerbread lattes (my fave), eggnog lattes, and peppermint mochas. This is very exciting shiite folks. I'm normally a straight up soy latte person the rest of the year. No sugar, no syrup, just soy milk and espresso. But during the holidays I can't seem to get enough lattes with just a touch of gingerbread. I might not be able to sleep tonight I'm so excited. Seriously.

Book Crush

I often get crushes on pretty books. This time it's on the new editions of the penguin classics. Especially the Treasure Island volume. How can you not want this book????? They look really smart all lined up in a row, but its this one that I daydream about. Bummer is it's in the half of the collection that's only available in the U.K. right now. Sigh. If a certain friend who goes to London every month for work really really loves me maybe she'll fetch me a copy?? yes? to be continued.

Home Economics

I've been on a DIY kick lately. My apartment was a mine field of paintbrushes, staple guns, sandpaper and baking pans. I repainted my hideously ugly kitchen table with chalkboard paint. It's now so much fun to sit there and doodle we fill it up every week with new designs. I recovered my desk chair with girly hot pink waffle fabric. I love I love. And I made my own vegan version of the amazing 1/4 pound chocolate cookies they make at Levain Bakery in NYC. Mmmmmm. Photos are attached to document my domestic triumphs. I cheated and added in another one of my cupcake extravaganza. This pic is soooo much better than the first one I really couldn't resist.

13.1 Miles

I DID IT! I ran 13.1 miles and it felt amazing. This was my first half marathon and a goal of mine for the past 5 years. If you asked me if I'd be able to do it even a year ago I'd probably have said "no way!" I got the itch to run a half five years back. I was at the top of my athletic game in college. I rowed on the crew team and was in the best shape of my life. My dad is a runner so I wanted to surprise him by running a half with him. My training did not go as planned and left me with horrible plantar fasciitis. Apparently rowing in boats does not translate to running :) My left heel was in so much pain I could barely walk. I was convinced I'd never run again.

My foot finally started to feel more like the old me this last January (4 years later!). So without telling anyone I secretly started working out a little bit to test it out. Man is it hard to get back into running when you haven't done it in forever. It was clear I needed some motivation to keep me going. I gifted myself a nike+ ipod system and was really amazed at how easy it was to push myself when I could track the results and join challenges. The only problem was I didn't get a lottery entry into the half marathon. Luckily Amandah was able to help me out with that. The NWM half was on!

I was equal parts excited and nervous going into race day. So nervous I woke up every hour on the hour. I knew I was prepared thanks to the Nike training runs I did every weekend, but that did not shake the jitters. I also had a race plan down to my pre-race breakfast (strawberry poptarts!) and as long as I stuck to it I knew I could make it across the finish line. Getting to the start line by 6AM was not as painful as I thought it would be. Since I was up most of the night, I was rearing to go by the time my alarm went off. And I'm glad I got there with plenty of time to wander around because it was exciting to see all the runners go through their own pre-race routines.

Nike does so much to make this race really special through out the entire experience. I crossed the start line at 11:21 on the start clock to a DJ spinning beats that made you want to sprint on through. The adrenaline was pumping and I managed to stick to my race plan even after unexpected mile 2 and 3. If the gorgeous scenery wasn't enough, every mile along the way brought something cool to keep you from thinking too much. Some of my favorites were the gospel choir, cheerleaders, and signs listing the reasons for running the race. Support along the course from friends and family was so amazing. And I was so proud of myself for running the entire race, even hill 2 and 3 which I had not expected. I was all smiles when I crossed the finish line and collected my Tiffany's finishers medal.

I got a chance to talk with my parents after I stretched out and rehydrated. They were of course happy for me. In the excitement of it all I may have committed to running 2 or 3 more half marathons next year. I start training for my next one in three weeks if anyone is interested ;)

Peak Week

I made it through peak week for the Nike Women's Marathon. Hooray! This meant lots of milage and nerves. So many nerves that I was afraid to blog about it until it was in the bag. We ran 12 miles on Saturday so now I'm confident I can make it the full 13.1 on race day. The best part about it all is that I get to start tapering now. Awesomeness.

Saturday went so well that I'm going to do everything exactly the same on race day. Whatever I did that morning must have been the magic formula. So it's poptarts with peanut butter for breakfast + pink socks + 3 skinny headbands on race day. I did manage to run through the back of my shoes on Saturday, owie, so I'll be wearing newish sneaks on race day. Not ideal. But better to have 2 weeks to break them in then 2 days riiiiiggghht?

Apologies for the running overload that's going to happen on my blog for the next two weeks. But I just can't help it. I'm on a runners high :)

It's 2009 People

My roommate does not keep her eggs or OJ in the refrigerator. This is totally weird right? I mean were not in the middle of a third world country or stuck in the 1800's.

The Green Curry Project

I had a really bad experience cooking thai food back in college. Something inspired me to try and make pad thai and at the crucial moment where you ad the fish sauce I dropped the bottle and spilled the entire contents on the floor. Fish sauce is made out of fermented sea critters and smells absolutely foul. As did my kitchen for the next 6 months. The lingering smell final went away but the memory of the catastrophe did not. Even attempting a simple stir fry would not cross my mind. That was until my corner thai take-out joint cut the portions in half and doubled their prices. You see I really had no choice if I wanted to continue my love affair with vegetarian thai curry. The green curry project begins.

Now that I was committed I needed to find a decent recipe. After some internet research I found one that met all the criteria - fish sauce was not required, heavy on the veggies, no ingredients I had to go anywhere more exotic than Whole Foods to procure. I gathered up the goodies, pulled on my big girl pants, and got to work in the kitchen. Slice, saute, simmer and wait. The whole house took on a spicy musk and everything stewed away. The final results were not exactly like what you get in a restaurant. The soup base was sweeter and thicker. And it took on the color of the vegetables a little more than I'm used to. Next time I'll try adding some broth to thin things out, and maybe saute the vegetables separately and add them at the last second. But all in all I'd deem this project a success. My fridge is stocked with enough curry to feed me for an entire week and I've regained my confidence to venture into the asian section of my cookbook collection.

Almost Vegan

So my migraine doctor had this crazy idea that I should stop eating meat to see if that will fix my migraines. Since I already can't eat dairy my sister pointed out to me that this pretty much makes me a vegan. What fun! And what do you know, it's kind of working. I'm not sure whether to be happy, or angry with my doctors trickery since I might be off burgers and chicken nuggets forever. Sigh. Although I have to admit that my doctor is one smart lady. She figured out my migraines happened to start getting worse about the same time I stopped being a vegetarian in college. So clever she is. It's been about 2 months now that I've been on this kick so I've started to get a little bit more creative with my menu repertoire. A girl cannot survive on salads and soy products along people. Like these fricken amazing cupcakes I knocked out over the weekend. They are could give Kara's a run for the money. The frosting is a lovely shade of lavender which you cannot tell from my blurry cell phone photo. Check it check it.

I Heart The 80's

I'm obsessed with hot pink nails right now. They make me feel edgy and hip. Like the 80's but actually cool. Since polished nails don't last long without chipping, for me at least, I've become a pro at doing a quick paint job first thing when I get to work. They dry by the time I grab my coffee in the kitchen. Am I a professional multitasker or what! In other news I cleaned out my closet last weekend and re-discovered lots of great stuff. Like this simple black work dress form Gap. My arms felt exposed so I threw on a scarf as I ran out the door to offset the naked effect. Tres chic.

Box of Veggie Love

I'm all about small and local. So I was really excited to find out I could get organic fruits and veggies delivered to my doorstep for half the price of the farmers market. Boo ya! My first box came today and I was pretty impressed. Check it check it. They fixed me up with pears, grapes, lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, a perfect pepper, cilantro and basil. Pretty bomb considering I only paid $20 and they dropped it off at my office for me. Just wish I was a bigger eater so I could order an even bigger box of goodies!

Stylin'

I chopped all my hair off. It hasn't been this short since I was 3 years old and rocked a bowl cut. I'm definitely still getting used to the lack of length. But so far I think I dig it.

Family

I am one of those lucky people/ wierdos that ACTUALLY love love loves my family. I would rather spend time with them than anyone else. If I could bring on thing with me to a desert island in the middle of the ocean it would be my family. For reals yo. And the older I get, the more alike we become. Especially my cousin Elizabeth and I. We are the two pale blonds in a row of tan brunettes. We are also the only ones in the family that seem to appreciate literature like OK magazine and programming like millionaire matchmaker. If it wasn't for Elizabeth I'd maybe think I was kidnapped into this family of dark beauties who read Jane Austen and watch BBC specials. But we do ALL heart enough quirky things that make us feel like family. We are kick ass croquet players, can cook/ bake with our eyes closed, love the ocean something bad, appreciate greasy mexican, and have a soft spot for Disneyland. I mean seriously folks, how could you not love these people.

I just wrapped up 2 weeks crammed in a two bedroom cottage with twelve of them. We were head to two from wall to wall and could not have been happier. We got some great photo ops most likely involving ice ream or lobster since events seemed to center around one or the other. I promise to share them soon.

I Lurve These

I love a good pair of flats. Being a tall girl a cute pair of shoes that does not increase my height are a valuable find. I'd put a good pair of flats up there on my indulgence list with strawberry poptarts and watching Big Love while reading gossip blogs. I found a new pair the other weekend that I'm crushing big time on. I heart the bow and the gold stud detailing and especially that they are the perfect shade of nude. I read somewhere once that nude shoes are supposed to elongate the leg for a slimming effect. Probably not so much true for flats, but since I won't be buying 4 inchers anytime soon these will have to do. I like to put my feet up on my desk and admire how darn stylish I am wearing my new shoes. Seriously folks, these are incredibly cute shoes. They are available in 3 other colors at nordstroms if nude is not your style. Hurry, though. They are guaranteed to fly of the shelves.

More Popsicle Than Fire Engine

I'm always on the quest for a new perfect red lip color. For a while I wanted that intense red pinpup girl pout. Then it was a sheer cherry red. It's really hard to find the right shade. When you get it right it's amazing. The wrong one is horrible and often makes you feel like a cheap hooker. Right now I'm on a quest for a look I can only describe as what your mouth looked like after you ate a cherry popsicle as a kid. A girl next door red stain that's playful and definitely noticeable. I found a red chapstick like product that gets close but doesn't have quite the va va voom I want. The hunt is on.

Back of the Bus

I alternate between two different buses to get home at the end of the day. The 1 line is a door to door service for me but stops at every single block. It's frequented by the young financial district crowd and people who grocery shop in china town with those annoying pink plastic bags. If the thought of picking up new passengers at every corner is just too much I ride the 38. I have to walk a little bit more, but this bus zips along with just a few stops before I get off. It is unfortunately also the preferred bus of homeless people and rowdy teenagers who like to drink and smoke pot on the bus. Regardless of which bus I take I usually ride up near the front. It's full by the time I get on and it keeps a nice buffer between me and the homeless person stank/ pot cloud boombox party/ pink bag suffocation factor.

Last week I ended up in the back of the bus. My chiropractor (that's a blog entry in itself) is closer to the start of the 1 bus line than where I usually get on. After my appointment I jumped on the bus and found myself in the predicament of having to go all the way to the back. I took my time walking back there since I equate that area back there with all kinds of scary things after a very unfortunate ride on the 38 my first week in SF. But it was actually very civilized back there. I sat in the very last row between to guys in suits reading the newspaper. We discussed articles we'd read that day and where I should go to lunch for my year review. I half expected a string quartet to fire up and someone to come by with passed appetizers and a selection of fine wines. Who knew there was a safe haven hiding back there from me. I might walk the extra 5 blocks in the wrong direction just to become a permanent resident of the 1 line back of the bus crew. That is maybe if it ever stops raining here in SF.

My Secret Gap Jacket

It is rainy. Again. As it has been ever Sunday for the past 6 weeks. The only good thing about the weather, besides the fact that I am all caught up on my Tivo, is my awesome black trench. It's black with camel piping and the lining is too cute for words polka dots. The best part about the coat, shhhhh, is that I found it at the Gap for $20. Everyone always oohs and awes over this coat. I get oodles of compliments and I never ever tell a sole where I found it. Every once in a while I see another one of these fab numbers out on the street and I wink at the owner after I get over the shock of remembering that I'm not the only one in the universe who has amazing coat.

Change Part Deux

I am trying really hard to keep embracing this change thing. The sectional couch in the living room is now L-shaped instead of flat against the back wall. Much cozier. I've been eating breakfast at home instead of at work. My purse is much lighter and my back thanks me. But I still can't get over that the girl at the end of the hall is neither a Kristy nor an Ashley! My mom is a big time realist. Good to have one in the family since I spend 99.9% of my life with my head up in the clouds. I'll be thoroughly disappointed the day I wake up and come to terms with the fact I will never own a closet full of couture, live in my dream beach house and marry Adrien Grenier. Anyhow, my mom reminded me again I hit the roommate jackpot big time when I met Kristy and Ash. "Roommates are not usually soulmates hun. They are people you fight over the bathroom with" she advised. But I'm not having it. I want it all. With a Valentino ball gown and a pair of Christian Leboutins on top. There are not enough nanner cream tarts from Tartine in the Universe to launch me from my mopefest. Cue three year old style temper tantrum.

Waaaaay Under Caffeinated

It's been three weeks since I've had a sip of caffeine. I hate you doctor Branstetter. Every latte, tea and cup of joe I've ordered has been of the decaf variety. And let me tell you. A decaf latte just does not taste the same. I've tried filling the void with syrups, extra foam, spices on top but nothing replaces that caffeine zing. While I have not had a single headache since I kicked that habit, thanks doc, I now give death stares to everyone at Starbucks who is not on my special diet. I feel like some kind of freak. I am the person I used to snicker at who ordered decaf at 7 in the morning. Sometimes I hate karma.

Not Quite LIke Grey's Anatomy

I spent this Saturday in the ER. Here is how it went down. My head had been hating on me migraine style for three days. Saturday was day four and it obviously was not getting better. After a lot of pouting, tears, and consulting with my parents and every person I know who has any kind of limited medical knowledge it was decided that the pain was going no where fast. And I had to bite the bullet, be a trooper, and get some professional help. So off I went to the ER in my uggs and sweats, with cute undies on underneath of course! My experience was definitely not as dramatic or glamorous as an episode of Grey's Anatomy. The doc assigned to fix me up was rather cute, but looked about 18 years old (since when did doctors start being younger than me!) and definitely did not try and make out with me let along ask me on a date. It was freezing cold so it most likely looked as though I had seizures on top of head pain. On the upside, I was introduced to some of medicines finest narcotics over the course of the 6 hours. Can't say morphine was as exciting as everyone makes it out to be, but that could be because I was already zonked out on an IV cocktail of 3 other top shelf painkillers and benadryl. Tra la la la la. So I think I am going to stick with watching ER drama on TV instead of experiencing first hand at all costs. I have new found motivation to finally curb the caffeine, chocolate, wine habits my doctors been urging me too loose for years.

The List

I have a mental list going of things I really need to learn to survive in this crazy world. Some of the items are pretty trivial but nice to know. Like master putting on false eyelashes. Then there are the biggies. I have somehow made into my 20s without knowing how to cook steak, a roast, pork, or lamb. I will never be a domestic goddess until I can cook meat without a panic attack. So this weekend with AP as my coach and handholder, I took on steak. Three lovely NY strip steaks from buyrite to be exact. The game plan was to sear them on the stovetop and finish them in the oven. My extensive online research said this is what the pros do. AP perched on a stool with a glass of wine, with a quizzical look on his face as I nervously darted around the kitchen. Half a bottle later on APs part and a few pounds of brow sweat on mine, and we had three juicy medium rare beauties. Delish.

Maybe Change is not Sooooo Horrible

I am not a big fan of change. I do not like it when my shampoo brand changes the formula, when my favorite restaurant switches up the menu, or when my facewash updates it's label forcing me to scour the shelves that much longer just to find the now unfamiliar bottle. I especially do not like it when your best friends/ roommates move out and leave you living with strangers and a blank social calendar. I have always been averse to shake-ups big and small. Routine is good. And now I find myself in a world where I no longer have a steady Monday night date have no idea what time roommates predictably take showers. It's utter chaos I tell you! Over the last week I've started to come out of my shell. New can be exciting. By coming down from my anti-change squawk box I've started to realize what I have been missing out on. Like banana pie from tartine while I read my book in Dolores park. And american chop suey night with AP. I might not be ready to do something as crazy as stop eating cheerios for breakfast every morning. But I'm quite proud of the progress I've made so far.

Casting Call

The housing market is a bit ridic in San Francisco. We have a room up on Craigslist in our 4 bedroom no drama apartment and people are treating our posting like it's a Real World casting call. Potentials are stepping up their game. Gone are the days of a three line reply about yourself. I'm getting facebook pages, blogs, resumes, credit reports, and youtube video links. Everyone is brutally honest about there freaky habits and compulsive behaviors. Stuff I'd probably NEVER find out about. I think one girl even responded in the form of a Haiku? They're desperate desperate girls. The mania is slightly entertaining - someone just offered to sing and dance (literally). But come on folks, enough already!

Sweat on Ice

I love the smell of frozen sweat.  I know it's a weird scent to find pleasing.  It's up there with gasoline and bleach.  But something there is just something about that hockey rink aroma that really does it for me.  Not sure if it's the undertones of aged perspiration escaping from the pads or the fresh sent of chilled testosterone I prefer.  Maybe it's how the two combine into a more complicated musk.  Regardless, when I step into the rink I inhale a big lungful as if I was one of those ladies in the laundry detergent commercials admiring their handiwork. If you could bottle the dirty hot scent up and sell it at cologne I'd probably buy it.  Can't be that far off considering this is on the market.