Friday, August 27, 2010

Friday Mishmash

Thanks for all of the support regarding my decision to stop my workouts - it was not an easy one to make and I certainly agonized over it for quite a while. Based on how freakin' sore I was on Thursday and still today, I'm doubly certain that I have made the right choice...I couldn't have run yesterday or today very well, and that is not good for someone who is supposed to be training for a half marathon!

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Am I the only one who forgets about certain foods? Back when my kids were younger, I used to keep a list of meals on hand so I'd remember to cook them...otherwise, it might be years before I'd think about making something. The other day I had some zucchini in the fridge and remembered about the zucchini "pasta" that Biz makes - boy this is good! Zucchini peeled with my julienne peeler, steamed for about a minute, and tossed with salt, pepper and some Parmesan cheese - yum!
This entire bowl probably has 50 calories total, and most of it comes from the cheese!

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It's official - I have completely lost my mind when it comes to the latest round of songs that I downloaded from iTunes. I blame Sirius radio - mostly the 70's station. While driving around, I keep hearing songs that I used to love, and if I can remember what they were long enough, when I get home I hit up iTunes. Funny thing - I am still working off of gift cards that my boys gave me about two years ago...those 99 cent downloads take quite a while to use up! I've made a new running playlist that really gets me going:
  1. Bandstand Boogie - Barry Manilow
  2. That Thing You Do! - from the movie
  3. Sin Wagon - Dixie Chicks (ok, not from the '70s but fast)
  4. Buddy Holly - Weezer
  5. My Life Would Suck Without You - Glee cast
  6. Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti
  7. White Trash Wedding - Dixie Chicks (can you tell I uploaded my Dixie Chicks CD's?)
  8. Hair - The Cowsills
  9. Wedding Bell Blues - The Fifth Dimension
  10. Please Mr. Postman - The Carpenters
  11. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do - Neil Sedaka
  12. Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka
  13. Smile - Uncle Kracker
  14. Long Time Gone - Dixie Chicks
What gets you moving? Any older songs that I'm missing?

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Pretty and pink!

I been eating a lot of watermelon lately, and at the suggestion of Laurie, I tried freezing some pieces and then blending them with water to make a homemade Jamba Juice-type drink. OK, first try was in my little pseudo-Magic Bullet blender (that I got free from my bank for opening a checking account - how funny, they've replaced the toaster with a smoothie maker!). The chunks of watermelon jammed the blade, so I opened it up and dumped everything into my big blender and set it to blend. And almost immediately noticed blue bits being blended with the fruit - oops! I realized that the blue rubber ring that helps to seal my little blender had fallen into the big blender and was being chopped (quite nicely, I might add) to pieces. I fished out what I could find with my now frozen fingers, and then poured my drink. It was good, but I'll probably stick to just eating the watermelon fresh and leave the smoothie making to Jamba Juice. FYI, three more little blue ring bits came up through the straw...apparently I should not be allowed near certain kitchen appliances!

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And in a bit of caveat interviewer, I'm in another issue of Woman's World. But I'm not as thrilled this time, as I only said the last sentence...everything else that looks like it came from me did not.
For the record, I have high arches, and wouldn't promote a shoe based on its performance for flat feet - how would I know anything about that? I realize that there is always a bit of a trust issue when it comes to being interviewed, but in this case it was via email, so it's pretty clear what I said. In case you're curious, this is what I wrote:
"The best sneakers for stability are Brooks Addictions - when I first started running, I had my feet measured and analyzed at a running store and these shoes were chosen for me. I now have several hundred miles on them, and have never had so much as a blister or any kind of foot pain while wearing my wonderful Brooks!"
I was just going to file this one under "live and learn" - really, there was no harm done and I'm sure the reporter's intent was good, but in an act that is extremely foreign to me, I actually emailed the reporter with my concerns. And get this - she was contrite and apologized...I was so surprised, simply because I never very rarely confront anyone when something is bothering me. But I only fretted about it for a day before sending the email, which, if you knew me, shows real growth. So huh. I really did "live and learn" - wow!

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Fashion Friday - and I have to say that I loved my outfit! From the shoes (LOVE) to the Merona Fit skirt (LOVE) to the Ann Taylor Loft shirt (LOVE LOVE LOVE), I was very happy with every aspect of it! I especially love how long my legs look when I wear these platform wedge shoes - as a vertically-challenged person, it just amazes me how a bit of a heel can change the look of my legs so much!
Feeling good in this outfit!Close up of the neckline on the shirt...and the belt that worked as a great "diet" reminder all day - by being tight on my waist, I kept thinking I had eaten too much and wasn't tempted to snack, lol!
True confession time: I succumbed to advertising and tried Almay's "anti-aging" makeup - it's their Smart Shade line, which changes from white to your skin tone when you put it on. I have to say that I really like it and notice a difference - my skin looks a lot smoother. The wrinkles are still there, but hey, this is what 47 looks like. I also bought their Smart Shade blush, and their eye shadow trio for blue eyes. Thanks to Ulta's $3.50 coupon and a "buy two, get one free" I didn't blow a lot of money to entertain myself...I'm definitely having fun being a girly girl!

Alright everybody, hope you have a wonderful weekend!

26 comments:

  1. YAY MY POST!! :)
    and sadly I can totally entirely relate to the "looks like it was said by me and was not"

    thats happened to me myriad times in books and mags.

    'nuff said.

    for now :)

    HAPPPPY FRIDAY!

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  2. First of all, great music! I might have to investigate my oldies to add to my workout mix. Second of all, LOL on the blender...I am cursed when it comes to anything that plugs in and killed our blender a couple of weeks ago. Third of all, you added several inches of height with that lovely outfit. You look so tall! Happy Friday!

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  3. You look fantastic Shelley, I love, love, love it too! Very female!

    I do the same as you concerning music: I hear something on the radio and then download it from itunes :) You should download theme of Rocky, it's a great motivator by the end of a run. It helped me cross the finish line at my first 10K.

    That zucchini dish I'm going to remember. I got one in my fridge right now and ain't going to use it completely so I can use this recipe for it.

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  4. First off, gorgeous close up photo, Shelley. You are beautiful.

    Ah, the wonders of a bit of heel. I don't know that I will ever be able to let them go. While technically I am not short, I grew up in a family of Amazonians (sister is, as she puts it, 5 foot 12, so I've always worn heels to keep "up" - and not to look stubby. I've got tree trunks for legs.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  5. How cute are you!? Great picture, really. Your music list is fun. I have a few oldies on my ipod too but it's great workout music: Updown Girl by Billy Joel, Valerie by the Monkees and, OK, here goes, The Stripper by David Rose and the Orchestra. All available on itunes!

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  6. I loved the clothes, and the makeup looks great. Thanks for the tip about Almay. I'm sensitive to so many makeups, but that one I can usually tolerate. You look so good, and I can tell that you're enjoying wearing new clothes. I think weight loss allows us to be ourselves with confidence. When we're struggling with being overweight, especially significantly overweight (more than 20-30 pounds), we hide who we are and just try to get along the best we can. We don't want too much attention called to ourselves. Do you feel like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon? You look wonderful.

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  7. I have started to wear more make-up since I loss soem weight. It does feel good to be kind of a girlie girl.

    You look awesome. You are rockin that shirt. Really cute!

    Breaking up is hard to do....I loved that song. Good times!

    Have a great weekend

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  8. I didn't realize Brooks were even still around until I went to have that fitting. Best shoe purchase ever and not a single blister since. I'm glad to know I wear the same brand of shoe as my personal hero :)

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  9. I LOVE THAT SHIRT!

    Okay, I'll stop shouting now. But guess what? I julienned up some zucchini last night, too! I'm going to make some raw spaghetti sauce tonight to put over it. Whiz up some of my garden tomatoes, onion, garlic oregano and basil with olive oil in a blender and pour it over. It's amazing stuff. I kinda love raw food sometimes.

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  10. Oh, and I vote for My Sharona. It makes me smile whenever I hear it.

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  11. you look beautiful Shelley, love that color on you.
    I love 80 music in particular bizarre love triangle and anything by Eminem. I don't like him but he's AMAZING to run to ;-)
    Have a great weekend!

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  12. Hooray for Glee songs! Can't wait for that show to come back.

    I love, love your outfit too! Once I am as skinny as you, I will wear skirts again!

    And now you've reminded me about the zucchini pasta - I haven't made it in a long time too.

    Happy Friday!

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  13. I love that color on you. And still digging that haircut ... sure is growing out fast! Vee at http://veegettinghealthy.blogspot.com

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  14. Darling, you look mahvelous in those photos.
    And please stay away from eating rubber rings. I think they can cause problemos.

    Do you suppose that makeup would just sit in the cracks and crevasses on my face? I'm at the age where when I put on make-up, I forget that I put it on so that my blush is in huge stripes on the side of my face and any eyeshadow looks like TEAL and then I go out in public and see all these people starring at me and I'm thinking I must look pretty hot but when I get home and look in the mirror (hours later), I understand why they were starring. It's sure a lot of fun getting older.

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  15. I wear those brooks shoes too and love them! You are looking fabulous and sassy! Keep it up!
    Murn

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  16. Sorry the watermelon wasn't a hit. Might be better without the blue chewies. I have put it in a mini food processor (that I bought, no freebie from the bank) and made more of an icy/ice than a smoothie. Whatever.
    Need I say how gorgeous you look? I really like that pink on you, oh, that reminds me, I was running the other day and saw a woman in a pink running shirt and pink had and my first thought was "that could be Shelley" although, we are quite far from Texas.

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  17. That's funny. I was just thinking about how I forget about certain foods. That's one thing I like about food blogs. They remind me of food I haven't had in a while.

    Oh I can definitely relate to some of those tunes. Not a Bee Gee's fan? What about Captain and Tenille? although they didn't do too many speedy songs that I can think of. Oh, I used to LOVE Neil Sedaka. Some of the songs from Grease would be good. Oh, and I love some of the songs from the movie A Star is Born, with Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristopherson. That was the first 'grown-up movie that I went to. What about Helen Reddy? Okay. enough with the music reminiscing.

    You know, I think it is because you are so balanced that I think of you as being pretty tall. You look great in all the pics. Your hair looks gorgeous. And Almay make-up...that is the only mascara I can use. Maybe I'll give their makeup one more try.

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  18. I love running to the oldies. Wedding Bell Blues--I love it. I played it over and over my freshman year of college--1969. I discovered Time Life Classic Love Songs of the 60s and bought mine a couple years ago. It's out of print right now, but you can find it used. Every song is great. Fun to run to, also. Pretty Woman, Lady Willpower, Come Back when you Grow up Girl, Under the Boardwalk, California Girls . . . I love every single one.
    Love your outfit. The top is you color, girl. I'll have to check out that smart shade line--sounds great.

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  19. Hi--
    I just wanted to say I just finished reading your whole blog. I began it last night and have spent all today, with some breaks, reading it. I could just cry because of what a magnificent job you have done turning around your life. I need to do the same though I'll follow a different path to get there. You are an inspiration for those of use who have a lot of weight to lose.
    Thanks for all the hours of blogging. It does wonders for us readers.
    Kat

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  20. Like Debby said earlier, I never realised that you weren't tall, and I've looked at quite a few pictures of you over the last months. You must be really well proportioned! I think the belt is very flattering, and better still, sort of, if it kept reminding of of its presence!

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  21. I love zucchini "pasta"! When I need a little indulgence I melt a wedge of Lite Laughing Cow cheese into it for a faux Fettuccine Alfredo. Great with salmon!

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  22. Just look at that girl rocking her little hip action there for the photo. Rawr.

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  23. Favorite "oldies" songs for running:

    -Good Vibrations by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
    -You Should Be Dancing by the Bee Gees


    LOVE LOVE LOVE that top on you!! I got it in pink and in white, but OMG that purple-pink (fuschia?) is awesome on you.

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  24. You are the proud owner of a blog award from yours truly. See my post.

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  25. Shelley, you look fabulous in that outfit. And your hair looks beautiful too!!

    ((HUGS)) I'm really proud of you.

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  26. Gorgeous! I've got the same exact shirt and love it. I love Ann Taylor Loft.

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