HOLY CRAP MY 400TH POST!
It’s been a great adventure…here’s to 400 more!
That’s all 
Monthly Archives: May 2009
House Fun!
1.I like the contrasting neutral patterns here, and also this is to remind myself to display cute and cozy blankets like this!
2. This was a DIY project I saw on HGTV!!! Basically you carve out all the drywall on the ceiling back to the rafters, then tile with aluminum panels…so awesome!
3. Ohmygosh I love this workspace. Drew, you don’t mind if we have this in our apartment, do you?
4.I kinda like this bedspread…
5.So bright and happy with the skylight and white walls…and I love the grass box over the glass door in the far room!
6. I just love the color palette of this room…I love that painting, the gray papered wall, those photographs with wide white backgrounds, the pretty flowers and blue lamp! Mwah!
[images via Design*Sponge, HGTV, Apartment Therapy]
This girl rocks
A few things for Saturday
It’s been a crazy week…a really crazy week. On the upside,
1. Things are going really well in one of my projects for school. I love the people I am working with and this week we had to do a lot of data work which I forgot how much I loved. We’re having a big meeting with the other half of our team on Monday and I can’t wait.
2. I have an interview for a nonprofit consulting job on Tuesday!!! In person!!! I am very excited…will let you know how it goes.
3. Yesterday morning I finally figured out what I want to write my book about. I have been writing…mostly poetry, but I think now that I have a book idea in mind I can finally get started on it.(!!!)
4. The Art Institute just opened their ginormous Modern Wing and it’s free now until next Friday. I was thinking about going today but I know it’s going to be mobbed so now I’m thinking of going Friday morning…hooray!
5. My FAVORITE 80s cover band, 16 Candles, is playing in Chicago tonight and I think Colleen, Stacey and I are going to go watch! I’m so excited! I do need something to wear though…
6. Drewie graduates from grad school on Monday!!! I’m kinda sad I won’t be able to go to the ceremony and such, but I’m happy that his mom and Mickey are down there, and in general I’m excited for him. Joe Biden is speaking at commencement, who is one of Drew’s idols, so that should be extra special.
On the downside,
1. My room is a disaster, and has been for weeks. Priority #1 today is getting laundry done, and straightening up. Also grocery shopping. I need to start eating real food again instead of the standard grilled chicken sandwich with swiss cheese and bacon that the guy knows I get every time now. I mean I love having friends at the cafeteria where I can order “the usual” and they know what that means, but seriously, it’s getting out of hand.
2. One of my family members committed suicide last night. Can’t quite process yet…
3. Lots of jobs I need to apply for still…that’s priority #3 (after grocery shopping).
Yeah, all in all, life is pretty good. I am happy where it’s going, happy to be almost done with grad school (what?? I just started!), happy to start my career, and definitely happy to be in the same city as Drew finally! Anyway, will update more a bit later, but now it’s time to tackle my room.
ps. I did run yesterday, but am thinking of taking today off and running tomorrow instead. Going to go for 5 miles, so if that’s not how much I run you better heckle me! Better to state a goal and then have to achieve it 
Later!
Stretching
Hey everyone–
Laura asked me a while back what I do for stretching before/after runs, and I thought I’d post here as well. Enjoy!
BEFORE <5 mins
-stand and lift each heel to your butt to stretch quads,
-butterfly stretch
-pike stretch
-shoulder stretches: first, fold each arm behind your head, grabbing your elbow and pulling it to the side as your palm slides down the middle of your back. second, pull each arm straight across your chest, holding it against your body with the other arm
AFTER 20-30 mins
-butterfly stretch: first, sit with your heels against your crotch; push down on your knees gently until they reach the floor. second, extend your heels out so your legs form a diamond position. then with legs in more of a diamond shape. push your knees gently to the floor, then lower your chest to the floor and extend your arms overhead to the floor.
-one leg pike stretch: sit with both legs out, then bend your left leg in. flex your right foot and reach for your toes. repeat on left leg.
-pike stretch: sit with your legs together straight out in front of you. flex your feet so that you pull your toes back toward you and push your heels out. sit up straight and support yourself from behind and lengthen your spine. then reach for your toes and pull them back toward you. gradually stretch further so that you are grabbing more and more of your shoes until you can grab the heels. if you can’t reach this far, just start at your shins and move downward.
-shoulder stretches: repeat as you did before your run.
-get into downward facing dog with straight arms and legs. push on your hands and lift your hips toward the ceiling, straightening your back. don’t worry about form too much yet, just push it a little on the top half and alternate putting your heels on the floor to stretch your calves.
-bring your hips down and move into a push up position. lower your body to the floor like a pushup, then glide forward into seal pose. try to keep your body off the floor, including your thighs in seal pose.
-push your hips back and move back into downward facing dog. lengthen your spine, push your hips toward the ceiling, straighten your legs, and try to lower your heels to the floor.
-repeat updog and downward facing dog twice more, working more on your form and deepening the stretch.
-while in downdog, lift your right leg straight toward the ceiling. push on your hands and use your back muscles to lift the leg higher. you may need to walk your hands closer to your feet as you lift higher. point your toe! hold, then return to downdog.
-repeat updog and downdog. this time lift your left leg, then return to down dog.
-repeat updog and downdog. lift your right leg again. after several seconds, bend your right leg and rotate your hips so that they are facing to your your right. let the weight of your right leg pull your hips open. hold, then return to down dog.
-repeat updog and downdog. this time lift your left leg, then rotate your hips so that they face to the left, and allow the weight of your leg to stretch your pelvis. return to downdog.
-repeat updog and downdog. push into your hands, lengthen your spine, lift your hips to the ceiling, straighten your legs, and lower your heels to the floor. hold, then exit pose.
-to end, come into bridge pose (the end of a backbend). you can also do dancer’s pose or lord of the dance pose. if you’re doing either of the latter two, make sure to do it on both sides. after any of the three, make sure to follow with back rolls to balance out the arch of the previous pose.
That’s it! As you can see, my after stretching a lot of yoga-type poses. I find this relaxes me after a run and helps me to work on my flexibility and strength in a fun way. Whatever you choose to do, don’t skip stretching, especially after your run. Your body really needs that time to recuperate (I should know–after I stopped stretching during last year’s training, I developed an ankle fracture…NOT fun). If you’re running out of time, it’s better to chop off a half mile of your run and spend 5-10 minutes stretching. Anyway, hope you find that useful, and let me know what you do as well! I’m always looking for something fun and different to do as I rock out to Backstreet Boys or Phillips, Craig and Dean.
Beautiful Garden
Well, it’s official; I’ve killed my bromeliad plant. I think I was a little (a lot) inconsistent with the watering. On the upside, it gave off a baby that I successfully repotted. On the downside, the mom plant died. I’ve stripped away the dead and rotting leaves and am praying that the roots decide to flourish again, but we’ll see. I think the lesson here is really I need an outdoor garden, where the sun and rain can do most (all) of the work.
This garden (tended to by Erin’s mom from Elements of Style) is like my dream…I just love the sitting area, like a relaxed formal garden!!! If I ever have a yard I’ll want to do something similar, although most likely on a smaller scale. So pretty!
I love seedum.
This is actually a house that Erin’s dad’s firm designed. I just love the entry path!
Pillows
Adorable People
Have had these pictures sitting on my desktop for a while and just haven’t had the right opportunity to share them. I saved this first one because the girl reminds me of the stylish chicas in Barcelona with the short bangs and fussed-over casual style. I have been thinking about cutting/highlighting my hair a bunch lately, as it’s been…well a good 6-7 months since I last had it cut. I’m thinking I might keep the length but layer it a bit more, and also do some blonde/rust highlights. But I think I’ll hold off for a while as it feels kind of good to be saving the money, and also–as I told Drew–I don’t want to waste it on all these suckers in Chicago! I might wait until the summer at least…which crazily enough, is only a few short weeks away!
This second picture, I just think that little boy is so cute! Look at his jacket!
That is all.
[images via Chicagoist; for me, for you]
More Clothes
1. Cute! pajamas from Urban Outfitters
2. I like everything about this except for the shoulders! Sorry, I’m just not a asymmetrical kind of girl.
3. I don’t normally like the cascading look for floral arrangements, but it works with the lace of this dress.
4. Yeah I love this look.
5. I love the chest embroidery on this dress!
7. Topshop outfits via Oh Happy Day
8. Forever 21 via Unruly Things
Morning News
Ran downstairs again as it was raining and I had limited time before my phone interview with Uncommon Schools. Details:
Wed 5/13 3.0 miles 29 mins stretch 10 mins
My phone interview went…okay. She asked me a bunch of “what would you do in x situation” questions instead of “tell me about a time when…” questions. So that took me a little off guard. She’s going to send my answers and application to the Director of Leadership Development and I should know in a couple weeks. We’ll see! I so hope it works out!
Laura also sent me a link to this amazing vintage site, Posh Girl Vintage, and I thought I’d share a couple pics of dresses I liked. Clearly I was born in the wrong decade since I missed the tea length wedding dress craze by about 50 years. So cute, right?
