Time to Get Creative. AKA What I Wore v1.0

Ooh!  A new feature! 

Well, technically the first and only feature on this blog.

Let's call it What I Wore.  Creative, no?

For the first edition of What I Wore, I put together a collection of my outfits over the past two weeks or so.  Not sure if this is how I'll continue to do it but it's kinda fun to see them all side by side. 

'Cause I have this problem.

Husband will concur.

I wear a variation of the same damn thing every single day.

This winter, that variation has included skinny jeans, skinny pants or leggings, a tank top, something to throw over said tank top and a pair of boots.  The other wardrobe of choice that you'll notice is my at-home attire... you know, fun pants and a hoodie.  Not sure why I felt the need to include these.  Maybe to see what my husband sees 90% of the time?*  Also of note is the world's cutest apron at the bottom center.  It's fun to look cute while cooking! 

What's even funnier than the matchy-matchiness of my day to day attire?  I just looked down and realized I'm wearing the. exact. same. thing. as picture #5.  I need more variation in my life. 

And also?  I swear I didn't pose for these.  Apparently I just REALLY like to stand with one knee bent and a hand on my hip.  And tilt my head.  Oy.

*Probably the reason I got a surprise package full of silky pretties from Victoria's Secret a few months ago. 

VDay in the Kitchen

Valentine's Day 2011 was celebrated on February 13th in my house. 

He's sad because we're about to pop the bottle of Cristal bubbly gifted to us over 2 years ago at our engagement party.  You know, Cristal.  The staple of every rapper or basketball player's fridge, according to MTV cribs. 

So classy.  Drinking $400 champagne out of a $100 Tiffany flute* while sporting $10 fun pants and unwashed hair. 

V-day was the perfect day to finally enjoy the bottle but I will admit that it's a little sad to open the fridge now and not see the pretty gold bottle in it's spot next to the 40 of Colt 45**. 

Husband, I mean Chef, kept careful eye on his well-thought-out meal.

I played Sous Chef.  And I made these delicious little balls of bacon-wrapped cipollini onions.

 

Quick pause to ooh and aww over the cuteness that is Bella.  And little Miles down there on the floor.  They are physically incapable of being anyplace other than the kitchen while we create culinary masterpieces.  Or microwave leftovers for that matter.  They're not picky.

Counterclockwise from top left:  Bacon Vinaigrette for the salad.  4 hour Syrah Reduction for the beef.   Um, beef... no idea what kind.  Err, cut.  Mushroom Risotto.

Bacon-wrapped cipollinis over Boston bibb lettuce with bacon vinaigrette. 

F-ing delicious.  I'm proud of this one.  All me, baby.

The finished product.  I, unfortunately, can take no credit for any of this.  Chef Husband is incredible.  Homemade mushroom risotto?  Amazing.  Beef with Syrah reduction?  Let's just say that I don't eat beef.  I ate beef this night.  Every last bite. 

So.  Spending a quiet Valentine's Day at home with my husband was quite lovely.  Cooking a meal together is one of our favorite activities.  As is drinking bottle after bottle of wine.  And tearing the living room apart looking for the shirt that mysteriously disappeared after being torn off during a certain amorous Valentine's Day act. 

Wait, what?  That's a story for another day ;)

*Another gift. If we had that kind of money to throw around I most likely wouldn't be sharing photos of myself in aforementioned $10 fun pants.

**I wish I was kidding about the 40. But you know, that's how we do it at Turner Lane.

The day I pulled a muscle blowing my nose.

Isn't that a lovely title for my 100th post?

100.  100!  Let's see... accomplishment or failure?  Accomplishment as in I've actually written 100 posts.  Failure as in it's taken over a year and I still have next to no readers.  Oh well. 

Back to the topic at hand. 

I really wish I was making this up.  I seriously pulled (strained?) a stomach muscle yesterday during a violent coughing, nose blowing extravaganza.  I walked around most of the evening holding my side.  And you know how when it hurts to laugh, all you want to do is laugh?  Yeah.  That happened.  Thankfully it doesn't hurt nearly as bad today. 

And ooh!  Today!  Boot camp started again today.  Much to husband's chagrin.  I compromised though... I'm only going to be going once a week this session.  Hopefully it will be enough to make my soft parts hard again (take that however you'd like) and motivate me to get to spin class and/or the gym two or three times a week.  I need to sign up for a few races.  That should get me moving.  I like having a goal... working out for the sole purpose of working out doesn't do it for me.  Knowing I could embarrass myself at a race I haven't prepared for?  All the motivation I need.

How's that for a completely random and utterly pointless 100th post?

ha.

Happy Two Thousand Eleven

If you read* last year's New Year's Eve post, you'll recall that I'm not a fan of the so-called appropriate way to pronounce the years of the new decade we've entered.  Twenty-ten drove me nuts and twenty-eleven makes me even crazier.  It just sounds silly.  So I'm gonna stick with my way of saying it til probably two-thousand-eighty-nine** or so.

Moving on.

My NYE celebration took place, once again, at Husband's fantastic restaurant.  'Cause you know, I'm kind of a fan of spending holidays with him and he kinda has to be there.  This year, however, I roped several friends into joining me and we had an amazing time.  Show-girl feather headpieces and all!

I think we make 'em work.  Next stop, the Bellagio.

Mr. & Mrs. P.  Note the champagne sabre in my hand.  Husband is pretty talented with that thing.

So.  Good friends, great food, a full restaurant, lots of bubbly (maybe too much, as my hangover was not pretty the next day) and I managed to stay up well past the ball-drop, til 3am.  I'd say that NYE 2011 was a success.  Or is it NYE 2010?  It's the eve of the new year, ie 2011, but NYE is technically still in 2010.  Ugh.  I think too much.



*Who am I kidding.  I have almost no followers.  After 15 months.  Sad.
**'Cause I'm anticipating super-advanced medical procedures and strong drugs to be a part of keeping me alive til I'm 109.  At least.

What's that winter-blah-disorder thing?

Seasonal Affective Disorder. S.A.D. Seems appropriate.

I'm in serious need of an entertaining post here.  Too bad I'm la-zy.  Again, I blame winter. 

But I am LOVING all the pretty white fluffy snow that's been falling!  (And am so thankful to the neighbor who plows our driveway everytime it snows more than a dusting.)

So, in place of a meaningless post about my phenomenal life, how 'bout we just look at a few pictures instead?

My pretty snow covered lane.

And my not so pretty snow covered trash receptacle.

 Silly Bella.  She seriously loves the snow.  Must get it from her momma.

Hard to tell, but Miles was running through the snow like a wild-man.

And that's Bella in the background, um, pooping.  

Regular posting shall resume shortly.  Or next month.  Is February too late to put up my Christmas and NYE posts?  ha.

The downside of losing weight.

There is one, I promise.

I bought new bras today.

Not just any new bras. Bras that are a full size smaller than the ones I previously owned. Sorry husband.

It was only 15 damn pounds, people! I seriously think most of it came from my boobs. Ugh.

What I've learned:

Getting smaller around my middle? Awesome.

The fact that my thighs almost don't meet in the middle anymore? Outstanding.

Watching my once-prided larger than average fun bags recede into my chest cavity? Le suck.

At least I have fancy new bras to stick 'em in ;)

Winter makes me lazy...

Pretty sure I posted almost this exact same thing last year. 

I'm having a problem keeping up with my workout routine.  Boot camp ended the week before Christmas and I'm embarrassed to admit that I've only worked out twice since.  Ugh. 

Granted, the holidays definitely got in the way.  It's kinda hard to find time to workout when you're running yourself ragged shopping, cooking, decorating, baking, cleaning, entertaining, etc. 

"But Carolyn, why don't you just get up at the ass-crack of dawn like you're used to and go to the gym before starting your day?  What's that?  Oh.  Right."  WINTER MAKES ME LAZY.

Here's the problem.  I despise the gym.  And avoid it at all costs.  Running on a treadmill is about as fun as being punched in the face.  Or so I imagine, as I've never been punched in the face. 

I really tried to pry my butt off the couch last night but failed miserably.  I even found myself doing laundry to distract myself.  And laundry is seriously my least favorite chore.  Alas, laundry beat out going to the gym.  Things must be pretty bad.

I really, truly just want to go outside for a run, dammit!!  That's what makes me happy.  That's what I enjoy.  What I do not enjoy, however, is cold weather.  (But I love snow.  Figure that one out.)  I'm not a fan of freezing my face off for the first 10 minutes of a run only to find myself sweating, wishing I hadn't worn so many layers.

And it's dark pretty much all the time now.  And my neighborhood has no street lights.  And lots of traffic.  This does not bode well for a relaxing run.  'Cause you know, I'd prefer not to be run down by the speeding teenagers on my street. 

And yes, I've considered purchasing appropriate cold weather running gear.  But I'm cheap.  If I'm gonna spend money on clothing, I want it to be cute clothing that I can wear out.  Not semi-attractive spandex-type stuff that I can't wear for anything but running.

Ah, complaining.  I'm pretty good at it, no? 

Moving on.  I think the plan will be to give myself a break through the end of the year and then jump back into my routine.  Boot camp starts on January 18th and I bought a spin class membership.  I can tell you with 100% certainty that I will NOT be at the gym in January though... need to give all those resolution-makers out there a chance to lose motivation.