a letter to my shoes

dear mizuno wave inspire 4's,

you were good to me. we ran a lot of miles together. and you waited for me and put up with my long walks while i had bum pain.


but i'm afraid you are old news. i'll still hold on to you, in case i have to run in the mud or something (sorry, but it's true), but i've found someone new ... a very very pretty someone.


mizuno wave inspire 4's ... meet mizuno wave inspire 5.



love,




ps. this means i'm throwing out my backup mizuno wave inspire 3'a.
pps. i got a great deal at the running warehouse, even though they came from the states and i had to pay shipping AND duty - they were still significantly cheaper than the canadian running room store price.

mallrat

this morning for breakfast i tried another luna sunrise bar, this time in vanilla almond. it was good, but not as good as the strawberry. i don't like eating bars all the time like this either, but they are great for eating on the road.

last night i went for a three-mile treadmill walk. it was alright but only because i had some good magazines to read. my bum pain has been acting up a little lately. WHY ME? WHHHHYYYYYYYYY? i guess i just have to accept it. it's no where near as bad as it was so i'm just going to suck it up.

this morning i went for a 40-minute swim. i really debated waiting until tonight but tonight i just want to relax and clean up a little, take care of some business, watch the biggest loser and get to bed early. for the last two weeks in a row i have taped the biggest loser, intending to watch it later and then i never do. instead of catching up on four hours of tv i'm just going to count my losses and start on from this week. i just don't like watching tv that much. well, sometimes i do (more on that tomorrow). if i am not excited about a show then it can be really painful. tv should be enjoyable, not something you feel you have to get through. that's lame.

so last night after work i hit up the mall. oh, the mall. the one great thing about working in the burbs is all of the great suburban mall action. so spacious, so many stores... no one pushing you and crowding you... hardly any lining up for change rooms.

i bought some new boots on aldoshoes.com but they were the wrong size. i am between sizes (8.5) and they didn't have any 9's online so i ordered the 8. too small! i brought them to the dufferin mall downtown and they didn't have any 9's either, but they put a pair on hold for me at sherway gardens. by the way, cinemarie, i did check out the GNR while i was there and saw the luna sunrise bars - thanks! i picked up the right size and they are awesome! check them out... so rock n roll.


after boot exchanging, i wanted to find a simple t-shirt for business purposes. a nice bright colour to go under a blazer. i knew i could find a shirt like this at smart set or H & M but those stores weren't in the mall! bah! i went to the GAP hoping they had plain t-shirts - they did, but they were all v-necked and i only want a round neck. come on, people! i will have to go back out tonight. i did get a scarf at the GAP. it's thin and more for fashion than warmth.

i also went to the pet store to look at the puppies. i don't know how i feel about pet store pets. my cat oliver is from the humane society, but when i was growing up my family bought a bichon frise puppy from a pet store in the mall. these puppies need homes too, and there were so many cutiepies. if i were to ever get a dog, i would buy one from a breeder or the humane society, but that doesn't mean i can't appreciate the supreme cuteness of puppies in the pet store. like this chow puppy! (blackberry photo hehe)

list it up friday

another list since i'm latey mcgoo AGAIN today:

1) friday is weigh in day and it's a christmas miracle because i am down 3.6 pounds this week. can you hear the angels singing hallelujah? i can! my hard work and diligence this week paid off and now i am blissfully back in the middle of my maintenance range. my goal now is to try and not gain (too much) on the weekend, so that i can maintain this loss next friday.

2) my hair looks fab (i got my roots done last night) and my boyfriend's show was great. i am the number one dancing groupie and i love it.

3) remember those purple, blue, and gray heels i bought on aldo online? well, i bought them in size 8, and then thought maybe they were too tight. so i exchanged them (in store) for a 9. but then they were too big, so i bought some cheap sole inserts to see if that would tighten things up, but they were still too large. so back i went to aldo and luckily they had size 8 and 10 left, and i exchanged them again. three exchanges. they must think my brain is made of flip flops. this time the salesgirl told me that they will stretch, not to worry. thank you! now is only i knew this multiple returns ago.

4)oliver my cat is so naughty. santa would cross him off the list for sure. he is chewing the bows on all my wrapped presents. little bugger. and then when i covered them all up with a towel, he pounces at it and creates an even bigger ruckus. there is nothing i can do! except not display the presents of course, but what fun it that. if i have to replace the bows at christmas time, that's fine with me - they were only $2 at walmart for a big bag of assorted ones.

fashion

the snow has arrived in toronto. it really feels like winter now. i am a very cold person. not cold hearted, just cold in general. every time i go outside, it takes about five minutes before my feet turn into giant ice blocks. i'm finding it really hard to drink cold drinks (water) now that it's cold outside. i am pounding it back right now, but had to get a sweater.

my lazy streak is sort of continuing. last night after sewing i decided enough was enough and went downstairs to the condo gym. i walked on the treadmill for about 35 minutes but my bum pain suddenly returned with a vengeance and i had to stop. after that i did some sit-ups, and some weight machines for about 25 minutes more. this morning i set my alarm to swim but once again it wasn't happening! it must have something to do with the change in weather. i just need a bit of hibernation before i can resume my usual workout schedule.

in other news, this morning i made oatmeal with sugar cookie sleigh ride tea. there is something about this tea that's weird and i can't put my finger on it. maybe it's that it doesn't really taste like a sugar cookie OR a sleigh ride. it's good, but not as good as i expected. for lunch i am having another flat out wrap, this time with PB2 and a banana rolled up inside. i love bananas and peanut butter - what a combo!

last night i spent some money online. i always do this. the internet is responsible for me spending money like a drunken sailor. often i wonder how i can make roughly the same amount of money as my friends and be able to buy more stuff, and it just came to me. i rarely spend my money on "entertainment" like going out to dinner, or buying drinks in a club. i just don't want to. tonight, for example, is my book club. i'm sure some of the girls will be buying dinner, but personally, i don't want to spend $12 on a hamburger and fries. #1 i don't want to eat that stuff and #2 to me it's just a waste of money. i'd rather have things like boots and purses.

speaking of which, here is what i bought last night on aldo online. aldo is great because there is free shipping, and if you don't like what you bought, you can return it to any store.




cute stuff. i have always wanted brown boots, ever since i saw a photo of giselle wearing them online.

in other "beauty" news, i had the opportunity to try this new mascara from lancome, called oscillation. it's special because it has a button that you push that makes the wand vibrate. it sounds crazy but it's really subtle and apparently moves back and forth 7,000 times a minute. it mimics the back and forth motion you would normally use to apply mascara. it really is the best mascara i have ever tried. anyhoo, i think today is the first day you can buy it online. and they are having special sales at the bay in toronto (on yonge street) and montreal (on ste. catherine street) today. ooh la la.

finally the day has arrived

what day is that? the day i am going to see sex and the city with my girlyfriends, that's what. i wanted to avoid the crowds in the theatres on opening weekend because i can be easily bothered at the movies. and in life. people doing things like talking too loudly or hitting the back of my seat really puts me into a rage. food noises don't really bother me (at the movies haha).

i brought my dinner to work (to avoid eating a giant popcorn) and then i'm going to walk to the theatre. the show starts at 6:50, which is good because we are going to my friend's house to have a few drinks after, and i heard that the movie is 2 and a half hours long. that's long! but good... almost like 5 episodes of the show. :)

i got new running shoes in the mail yesterday. yahoo! the bad part is i had to pay $25 duty tax on them... crap! but still, even with the duty they are less than $50 than what i would have paid in store. i got the mizuno wave inspire 4's.

aren't they pretty? they are just like my mizuno wave inspire 3's, but the blue is less teal-like, and more of a dim aqua. at first i was put off by this but then i realized i was put off by the colour of my old shoes when i first got them. i love my running shoes and i have grown to think they are pretty, but really, i think running shoes in general are ugly. they are so big and bulky and not fashion. if i could give anyone fashion tips i would say (to start) the following two things: 1) unless you are doing physical activities (for example, running, any sports, even walking to work...) there is no need to wear your big, bulky, running shoes. i know they are comfortable but still, come on. what would stacey and clinton say? i know what they would say... she would be appalled and he would be horrified. and please don't wear them with jeans... oh, the horror! (it's like every dad's style... along with the jean tuxedo) and 2) no khaki pants. if i went on a date with a man who was wearing khaki pants, it would be a deal breaker. harsh? maybe.

now that i have that out of my system... this morning i went on a 4-mile run around town. it wasn't hot out but it must have been humid because when i came back i was a sweaty betty. i then turn on the tap to take a shower and realize that there is NO HOT WATER... ahhhhhhhh! this is very rare since i live in a condo and there is always hot water. i could be running the dishwasher, the laundry machine, and taking a bath and there would still be hot water. not that i wash my clothes in hot... just saying. i stuck my head under the tub tap to wash my hair... brrrr.... talk about brain freeze. i wash my hair everyday anyway, so the thought of not washing it after it's soaked with sweat isn't that appealing to me. then i did a wash-cloth wipe down everywhere else. i hope the hot water comes back soon...! although it is supposed to be 30°C tomorrow and all this weekend so maybe i need some cool refreshing showers.

yesterday i bought peanut butter and co. natural peanut butter. i've never bought natural peanut butter before. it's amazing. the only ingredients are peanuts, and salt. it's all oily at the top so it has to be stirred. for the past year or two i was using PB2 because it is only 50 calories for 2 T and regular peanut butter is 200 cals for 2 T... big difference. but i think now that i am at a pretty stable weight i can "live it up" with regular peanut butter. also i'm trying to incorporate more healthy fats into my diet. filling fats... so that i can eat less but feel more satisfied overall. and isn't the jar so cute? those kraft bears have nothing on this jar!


enough blabbing! today's menu is:

1/2 small banana with 1t natural pb

1/4 cup cheerios with 1/2 small banana and 1/4 cup unsweetened almond breeze

1/2 cup cherries

quaker weight control cinnamon oatmeal
with 1 T ground flax
1/2 pack regular oatmeal
1/4 cup wheatberries

1/2 cup plain 2% yogurt
1 t no sugar added raspberry jam
1/4 cup wheatberries

3/4 cup quinoa
1 serving red lentil curry with spinach and tomatoes
1/2 cup mashed sweet potato/cauliflower mix

and i'm bringing a rebar to the movies just in case. a rebar is " a blend of 20 different fruits and vegetables with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives - each bar is made with 2 cups organic fruit and 2 cups organic vegetables to make for the most nutritious pocket-sized snack available." and 160 calories, 6 g fibre, 2 g protein. i have never tried this before... but it sounds great!

crazy man, crazy

i should not be allowed near shopping malls. i hate shopping because i dislike crowds and people who walk too slow and get in my way (it's my german efficiency haha) but i'm really good at it. i can walk into a store and glance around and immediately know what i like/dislike in seconds. no browsing like a chump for me. i can be trying stuff on in the change room of any store just a few minutes after setting foot in the store. but anyway...i digress. i shouldn't be allowed near shopping malls because i buy too much.

i got a really cute pencil skirt at jacob. it is this skirt, but black:


i also got a red t-shirt sweater, but i might return it. so then... i went to h & m and got new skinny jeans and two (yes two) pairs of supercute retro heels. they both have cute t-straps and a little bit of a platform. one pair is white and one pair is red. i was going to return one pair because they were kind of expensive but when i brought them home i knew that was never going to happen! they are made of really soft leather and really comfortable and perfect for summer.

i have a confession to make about the jeans. i got them in the kids section! apparently i have the body of a 13/14 year old girl (this is not surprising to me by the way) :o) i really like skinny jeans because i have no hips and straight legs and they fit me really well. but i've noticed that adult stores (like smart set) are going back to the boot cut. i don't want boot cut! skinny jeans look cute with flats, heels, and fit well under boots. it's a win win win. did you know that jeans from the kids section are only $22.50? it's crazy man, crazy!

last night i asked my boyfriend, "what do you want for dinner?" and he replied, "well, i'm sure you've got something healthy all planned, so why are you even bothering to ask me?" and i say, "well, because i thought for sure you'd be pushing for poutine..." his response was just a drool, haha, so we had poutine and it was yumtastic. i had one too many alcoholic bevs and woke up in the middle of the night so hot with a thirst that couldn't be quenched. and then i couldn't get back to sleep. my mind was racing about cleaning my closet of all things! i had visions of myself sorting everything into piles, and trying on all of my pants, etc. i kept telling myself this was not the time to be thinking about this but my mind wouldn't listen. i guess i know what i'm doing tonight.

when my alarm went off at 6:45 i jumped right out of bed and went for a 5 mile run. i'm sure i'll be tired tonight so i'm happy it's out of the way. here is today's menu:

1/2 granola bar
handful of leftover popcorn from last night (this is why doing dishes before bed is a good idea...)

regular oatmeal with added ground flax and fibre one cereal
frozen mixed berries

pc blue menu shrimp whole wheat pasta frozen microwave meal
red, yellow, orange pepper strips

yogurt and grapes

whole wheat english muffin with peanut butter

dinner ?

friday good and bad

good: it's friday.

bad: weigh-in, gained one pound.

good: i couldn't give a hooping funt because i'm still in my goal range.

bad: i bought a box of melba rounds at the beginning of the week and kept it at my desk and have been mindlessly snacking on them all week.

good: i had the best run ever last night! 4 miles: 5 minutes walking, 33 minutes running at 6.2 mph, 5 minutes walking. it was so easy!

bad: my muscles are KILLING me from that carmen electra video. seriously! especially my arms and abs.

good: tap dancing last night.

bad: there was a different teacher who whizzed through the steps too fast and i was a bit confused.

good: getting up this morning and walking 80 minutes interval inclines, burning more than 450 cals - that's a lot!

bad: i have exercised every day this week... healthy or gymorexic? healthy or gymorexic?

good: pop with brains tonight at the rivoli (my boyfriend's event).

bad: my red shoes which were supposed to be ready today, won't be ready until wednesday because they have to order new heels and they aren't in yet.

good: i love watching my boyfriend's band. so cute. and rockin' too.

bad: now what am i going to wear? i had a whole outfit planned around the shoes.

good: i guess i'll have to go shopping at lunch.

bad: spending money whilst shopping at lunch.

good: it's sunny today! and i'm featured on back in skinny jeans! (see below)

bad: it's also freezing.

good: today's menu:

1/2 granola bar before workout
1/2 granola bar & tea after workout

coffee and handful (big) of cinnamon shredded wheat squares

yogurt
all bran bar

apple
leftover turkey noodle casserole and veggies

dinner?

200th post, blue monday

today is blue monday, according to the news. the associated press reads, "Bad weather, post-Christmas debts and failed New Year's resolutions are all thought to help make Monday the most depressing of 2008, with the highest number of suicides." yikes! but the article also says that by thinking negatively, your day will just get worse and worse, which of course is true. bad vibes.

so on the weekend i got an absolutely wicked pair of shoes at my favourite vintage dress store, which is called "i miss you."


i wore them one time, and look what happened!



it's ok, don't be sad for me. i'll go to the shoe repair man at lunch and see what he can do. i really like them and it would be a shame if they committed suicide on the day before the most depressing day of the year. i had a bit of an accident. i slipped down some stairs while wearing them, fell, while falling took out my boyfriend who fell on top of me, and the rest is history. i have a huge bruise and a swollen ankle. once again, don't cry for me because i'm fine, i just hope that this bruise won't affect my determination to do four yes four midweek workouts this week. one of the treadmills in my gym is out of order. this really is not cool because a) there are only three treadmills and b) there are no time limits which means that some people like to hog the treadmills during peak times. and not to mention c) i pay condo fees for this stuff... not cheap!

today's menu:
slice of sprouted grains toast
tea
blackberries
weight control oatmeal
coffee
yogurt
1/2 sandwich (leftover)
garden tomato soup to go
apple
clementine
spicy bean burger salad