2 More From the 101 in 1001!

This weekend I checked off two more items from my 101 in 1001 list.  The first up was being fit, by an actual professional, to find out my real bra size. Like many women out there I had been wearing the wrong size since I was 14. 16 years people!

The second item was my half marathon. I ran 13.1 miles yesterday morning and have the medal to prove it!  You can read about my experience HERE.

I'm slightly sore, as in I'll be taking the elevator to go up one floor at work, not the stairs, sore. But I made it out alive!

Random Musings Friday

Friends, I have to say my new schedule makes for some insane days. Working 7am-5:30 or 6:00 and then going from work to a meeting, or training run, leaves me with about 4-8 hours of non-sleeping time in my home each week. I miss you, I miss writing here, but other priorities took over. Please accept my apologies.  Today, I'm linking up with Shana for some Random Musings from the past week(ish)

• How is flyering cars not illegal by now? It's the same thing as littering. Of course, I'm the type who feels guilty about throwing shit on the ground, so instead I get annoyed. The annoyance is doubled when I'm on the road and hear flapping only to see they've hit the passenger side of the windshield too. But, don't worry, I show them by just crumpling up the paper before reading and tossing it on top of my car trash pile (usually includes such things as starbucks napkins, gum wrappers and parking meter stickers), which doesn't get thrown out until I hit a gas station.  These days I want to cry when I visit one of those, unless I see this:

All I could hear was the Wicked Witch theme music...

•  I seriously hate election years. I think it brings out the absolute worst in some people. I have good friends from both extremes who are now hidden on my facebook news feed because I'm tried of being slammed with reasons why the other side is the devil.  I'm glad we live in a country with free speech, but I love even more that I can choose not to listen.

• I skipped out on giving something up for lent this year thanks to Ally, Shana and Kallay. I realized by not eating sweets and other crap foods, I was trying to achieve a fitness goal and there was no relation to religious significance.  BTW, those girl scout cookies taste great when you get to eat them right away!   
  

• 9 weeks of training (and really more like 5 months if you count the fall prepping me for the last couple of months) all culminate this Sunday as I put on my green dry fit Nike shirt and head out for 13.1 miles of Shamrock'n fun.  My nerves were doing ok until I looked at the course again last night and watched the numbers increase as I followed the path.  Holy shit I'm running 13 miles, on purpose!

 Happy Friday! 

Hopefully, I'm still walking next week

Where in the World is #AwesomeAustin?

I've always wanted to travel the world, and to experience new places with my twitter better-half, Amanda? Even better!  Looks like we'll be going on a new adventure each month.  This month, we left all our troubles behind, slapped on some sunscreen and hit the beach...

I don't know about you, but I always wear flannel to the white sand beaches on exotic islands!  How great did Amanda's hair look that day? And her make-up? Gorgeous, right?!  We spent the day solving blind riddles, sipping umbrella drinks and getting our tans on (for me that's also known as a darker shade of pale).

I really wish I didn't have to come back to work, but such is life.  I can't wait to see where our travels take us next month!  Deep Sea Fishing? Cloud bouncing like Care-Bears?  So many options!

Be sure to follow our travels on twitter at #AwesomeAustin (name credited to Ian) and Amanda at It's Blogworthy.

You're How Old?!

Revealing my age is often followed with a look of shock. It's one of my favorite looks.  Yes, I'm 30, and I will gladly smile and engulf you in a gigantic hug (usually more of a mental hug because that might be awkward with co-workers or strangers) when you guess 25 maaaaaybe 26.

After hitting 30, I wanted to make sure I continued to see this look.  It was time to really take care of the skin. I loved my Aveeno, but definitely didn't notice much difference with their product lines. Sure it kept my skin clear, but could there be more?  I've spent the last 11 months making an investment in my face.  Below are the list of products I have fallen for.

KINERASE: PhotoFacials Sun Damage Reversal System Daily Exfoliating Cleanser (daily)

I don't have Sun Damage yet (and hope to never), but this has helped tremendously with my uneven skin tone. I have lots of red undertones and could never quite get that even color look.  There's weekends where I go completely make-up-less now and I think this product is a huge reason why.

 
KINERASE: Intensive Eye Cream (daily)

I follow up the cleanser with the under eye cream. Hello miracle worker!  I used a sample of this many years back and loved it, but the wallet couldn't take it. Now the eyes demand it. After a couple months the skin is so soft and there's definitely a difference! I also use the day and night moisturizers. I had no idea there was a reason to use separate moisturizers, now I get it!



Mary Kay: Microdermabrasion Set (2-3 times/week)

Other than participating as a "face model" for a friend at one of her classes I haven't fully used this product. However, I ordered immediately and should have it next week. I will never pay for the spa microdermabrasion treatments after this!


Eyedews (weekly)

If you follow me on twitter you hear me talk about Eyedews constantly!  These are my weekly pamper treat (and I really should use them more).  My typical Saturday morning consists of waking up, working out, shower, coffee, Eyedews.  15 minutes of pure relaxation and, like magic, my puffiness from a week of insanity is diminished. If you're in need, make sure to check out Semper Fi Momma's blog today (after 7am)!


 What are your facial product must haves?

The Social Experiment

I decided to test myself this week and spent all of yesterday free of social media (FB, Twitter, Instagram, etc), for many reasons.

1. To prepare for my week of no Facebook from my 101 in 1001 list. Also, I go through phases and have found myself on there a lot lately, many times annoyed by people's ridiculous posts. Instead of blocking slash hiding the annoyers, I'm slowly weaning myself of the addiction.

2. To avoid all the gag inducing nonsense couples decide to spew. I get it your hubs is the best, ohhhh pretty flowers, yes your jewelry is gorgeous. I'd probably be posting pics too, another addiction of which I have no plans of breaking, so I'm not judging, just choosing not to engage. Sometimes it's too much, even for the strong independent types. *Stepping up on Soapbox* In, or out of, a relationship, I've never been one to use V's Day to validate my relationship (note the "v" stands for Valentine not Validation). I feel bad for those who put so much stock in one day. The pressure to perform (heh) is almost ridiculous, glad I'm not a dude. Pretty sure how your significant other treats you the other 364(5) days of the year is what you should focus on. *Off Soapbox*

3. To work on not being THIS PERSON. With some new developments happening around these parts, I need to let go of the past. No, I'm not being vague to have you ask me about the guy I'm seeing. He currently doesn't exist. It's more of a cleansing. What those in my past are doing today has no bearing on my life.  They're in the past for a reason and if I want them to be part of the present I can make that decision when the time comes.

4. I like a good challenge.

How did the experiment go? 

You might all be shocked by my answer, but...as you're reading this the world is still turning! Time hasn't stopped. I actually had quite the productive work/event prep day.  Basically, I got shit done, worked out, talked to friends, and still had time to enjoy a glass, or more, of wine!

I won't lie though, I missed some of the interaction with my favorite twits, but loved what I saw when I checked in this morning!  Maybe there is a little validation in the day after all.

101 in 1001 Update

After yesterday's ruling about Prop 8, I knew the 101 in 1001 list needed an update! Glad to see I've made some progress!

1. Complete a 5K
2. Complete a 10K
3. Complete a Half Marathon (Registered for the Shamrockin on March 11th)
4. Learn how to "roll-out" my IT band properly aka Trigger Point
5. Allow myself to fall again (the idea still scares the shit out of me)
6. Visit a foreign country outside of North America (Costa Rica flight is booked for July)
7. Take a tour of, or watch a game at, Fenway
8. Visit Chicago (and have a Grilled-Cheese off with KLZ)
9. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
10. Finally go to Hawaii
11. Save enough to travel the world or buy a house
12. Get a dog
13. Learn how to cook lamb
14. Meet more blog friends
15. Keep in touch with the blog friends I've met (so far so good)
    
16. Get a professional bra fitting
17. Visit the Smithsonian
18. Attend a Syracuse BBall game in the Garden
19. Treat both sets of my parents to dinner at a "fancy" restaurant
20. Finish the Agony and the Ecstasy (I've tried 3 times)
21. Improve my golf skillzzz
22. Delete 1 current TV series for every new series I add on the DVR (I got ahead of this knowing Smash and the voice was coming up, so long Pretty Little Liars and CSI: NY, I'll miss you Tag)
    
23. Hike Half Dome
24. Camp in a tent (I'll be doing this at Stagecoach this year)
25. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge (bridges terrify me)
26. Pay off my credit card debt
27. Learn more about how cars work
28. Grow From the Sidelines readership
29. See California (and how about the entire U.S.) get it right by ending discrimination and legalizing marriage for everyone (I know not in my control but a girl can dream). I know there are appeals coming, and that could even lead to the entire U.S., but I'm on a high right now!
30. Make something with my ridiculous collection of corks
31. Complete the 26 books in 1 year challenge (I know it's 52, but I'm trying to be realistic here)
32. Make a pie crust from scratch
33. Meet Peanut's little brother
34. Make onesies of a longer lasting quality
35. Figure out how to turn onesie creations into a business, maybe via etsy
36. See a therapist to work through the childhood issues I still can't let go of
37. Bake 5 goodies from pinterest (Blue Moon Cupcakes done and I think some others but not to 5 yet)
38. Snowboard down an intermediate run
39. Learn more about wine and food pairings
40. Spoil my "nieces" and "nephews" like crazy
41. Get a single serve coffee maker
42. Add pilates back in to my weekly routine
43. Write thank you notes for all birthday and Christmas gifts
44. Increase my 401K contribution %
45. Make an item of clothing
46. Go an entire week without checking facebook
47. See a ballet at Lincoln Center
48. Watch the Star Wars Trilogy
49. Learn 3 new Line Dances
50. Attend a Niners playoff game I'm not sure I completely grasped the possibility when I wrote the list, but Niners-Saints will be one I'll talk about FOR-EV-ER
51. Play "Keep It or Toss It" twice a year
52. Continue with my sports curse reversal and help another city
53. Organize my junk "drawers"
54. Learn how to Dougie
55. Divorce blogger and switch to wordpress
56. Learn how to use Wordpress
57. Learn basic html
58. Visit 3 new sports stadiums
59. Plan and make running night meals in advance so they can be reheated on the night of (for an entire month) (Using Shakeology for running and meeting nights so I can make sure to get the proper nutrients when I don't have time to cook.)
60. Make my lunch for an entire week
61. Get back to a size 2/4 and maintain it!
62. Feel confident in a swimsuit
63. Complete P90X2
64. Get monthly massages on a consistent basis
65. Write at least one blog post in advance each week for a month
66. Design a piece of jewelry
67. Watch more "news"
68. Make tomato soup from scratch, well pre-peeled tomatoes are acceptable (I would like to point out that spell check does not like pre-peeled, but pee-peeled is a suggestion)
69. Complete a month long photo challenge (working on FebPhotoADay)
70. Cook 10 new recipes
71. Make Butterbeer
72. Reread my favorite book, Little Women
73. Finish re-watching my favorite TV Show of all time, West Wing
74. Re-Watch my 2nd favorite TV show, Friday Night Lights, when I'm emotionally ready (Bought the DVD set, still not ready)
    
75. Attempt something new and fun with my hair color (low-lights or maybe a touch of red) Strawberry Blonde Lowlights!
76. Have a real home office (aka not my kitchen table)
77. Buy from the farmers market at least one weekend a month during the summer
78. Carve a pumpkin
79. Die Easter eggs
80. Make Chammy's ribs
81. Make a habit out of drinking a full glass of water when I wake up
82. Get professionally fit for a pair of running shoes
83. Finish Arrested Development before the movie comes out
84. Get an @reply back from someone fames on Twitter (after Joey Lawrence followed me with no initiation on my part, this shouldn't be too difficult right?) Matt Maoicco (Niners writer for CSN Bay Area and other outlets) replied to me DURING the Niners-Giants game, for me that's fames.
85. Review more books on Be Awesome Instead
86. Make a donation to one of my former university programs
87. Do something touristy in NYC that I never did while living there (should be easy, only thing I did was the Empire State Building)
88. Pass the CISA (work related exam/certification)
89. Get my PMP (Big Pimpin...another work cert)
90. Participate in another Warrior Dash (Does registering for the Tough Mudder instead count?)
91. Have FTS mentioned by a larger sports outlet
92. Continue to try foods I don't like in hopes my taste buds change (they have for sushi and ham, so there really is hope)
93. Figure out who the mom is on HIMYM
94. See a Cirque show
95. Try 5 new restaurants in Sacramento
96. Go to The Kitchen
97. Learn how to whistle
98. Go to a museum
99. Work on my posture, especially while sitting at a desk
100. Figure out who to contact on The Mentalist to let them know how off their Sacramento "locations" are (56th St is not in downtown), and let them know I'd gladly consult for the show.
101. Trade a pin with someone at Disneyland or World.

A Sporting Event I Didn't Care About?

I know, I'm as shocked as you all are. The Super Bowl just didn't do it for me this year. The commercials and the food sure did though! We had quite the spread, including my treats.

Read about what I made and my favorite commercials HERE