Eye feel the burn!

After having eye issues for the last week I had to break down and FO to the eye Dr. It turnaround out I have an infection and I can't wear my contacts till at least Tuesday. Fortunately she gave me these super stylish sun shields since the sun is bright enough to blind you without proper eye protection.

I understand if you mo longer want to be seen with me..

And $20 later for a bottle (steroids and antibiotics) the size of a thimble that make you feel like you have poured bleach in your eyes I am feeling like I would rather be stuck with hot pokers than use that stuff again.

What luck...10 days till I leave for Europe and this happens.

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I must have learned something yesterday

Breakfast a la Brie - She got me hooked!

At least I am starting off on a better note. Kashi crunch with light and fit yogurt. Yum!

I have been feeling yuck lately. I feel like my body doesn't want to move and the laziness is really starting to annoy me. But not so much that I am doing anything about it. Hopefully this is rock bottom because I don't want to have to go buy bigger clothes! Especially with summer right around the corner.

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Katy Perry...

Katy Perry Collection in Teenage Dream

Really makes some great nail polish colors. I finally got my hands on some at the grocery store of all places. Teenage Dream is so pretty and girly and sparkly. I just love it. I also picked up the new Shatter polish and can't wait to use it. I have looked everywhere!

Update: Look how fun! I love it!

Shatter over Teenage Dream - OPI

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Why

So I have thought of at least a handful of things that I would blog about today but I had to stop myself and think- Why on earth would I blog that?

I thought about the Twinkie I had for a snack today- and how I thought it was funny that the Mr. and I saw a tv show Friday night on the travel channel that showed the factory where they made Twinkies and all of a sudden we decided we just had to have them. Honestly though, it wasn't as good as I remember them. Although it did take me back.

Then I thought about the beautiful sunset Friday night that we saw on the way to dinner. I could literally see the individuals rays shining between the clouds. It took my breath away.

Then perhaps I would blog about the newest shawl I am working on. It's completely stunning and I am in love with it. So much so that in only 2 days I have quite a bit done and it could be ready for blocking this weekend. It's an amazing golden color and the pattern is delightfully challenging and gorgeous.

I've hit a roadblock and I'm only 8 days in to this 28 days of blogging. Now perhaps I'm just having one of those weeks and blogging for the sake of blogging is just irritating or maybe I've got to rethink the focus and what I want to do. Either way, it just keeps flashing the question "WHY" in front of me.

Hopefully I will figure it out soon.

Why do you blog?

Commuting

Tuesday was a slight off day for me. I was just having one of those days where everything felt off. You know the day I'm talking about- where all you want to do is just sit there and have an ugly cry. But you don't. You just feel dumpy and out of control. Yes, Tuesday was one of those days for me.

Luckily for me though, I got out of the house on Wednesday and made my way into the office. I'm still trying to adjust my routine now that I'm partially working remote from home- the whole getting up and getting showered and dressed when you have no where to go but down the hall to your office is challenging. I've done okay so far but again, Tuesday was one of those days.

One of the bad parts about driving into the office is the location. Sure, we are 2buckeyesinCinci... but in reality, we are northwest of the city... and I work south of the city. Which makes for a brutal commute on one of the worst highways in the country. Seriously- # 36 on the list of America's 75 Worst Commutes is the route I'm talking about. The number of weekly hours of bottleneck congestion? 86! It is the absolute most frustrating feeling to get into my car in the morning knowing that I will be sitting, literally sitting in traffic and that a couple of miles will take me at least 15 minutes and then the heavens open and the traffic is gone. It's just brutal and it blows my mind every single day.

Now Wednesday the traffic guru's must have been watching out for me because I had a great commute not once, but twice! The commute actually took the expected 45 minutes that it should be every day. Hallelujah!

But the potholes. I need to lodge a formal complaint with the city because holy hell they are everywhere. Potholes every quarter mile in all sections of the lanes in all lanes. Big ones, small ones, cracks, craters. I swear some are turning into sinkholes.

It's going to be a looong winter till they can repair the highway although that Punk Phil didn't see his shadow so come March 20, I'll expect perfect highways and no more potholes.

2010 Wrap-Up

Well, once again another year has come and gone in a flash.

And since I am just at a wall in terms of how to wrap up the year, I'm going Brie's way and answering a series of questions. This should about sum it up!

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
We finished our basement!
I ran a half marathon.
I actually knit a sweater I can wear. as well as my first triangular shawl that resulted in 2 more!
I participated in my first knitting olympics- and medaled twice!
I played my first ever round of golf.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't actually make any formal resolutions, but getting active and running the half marathon was something I always WANTED to do and finally went through with it. I'll be making a couple formal resolutions this year though so I can track progress for 2012.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two of my WC girls gave birth to beautiful baby girls over the summer and My BFF Steph gave birth to a handsome young man in November!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
We lost my cousin Adele to Cystic Fibrosis on 3/15/10

5. What countries did you visit?Sadly we stayed domestic in 2010, though we hope to take vacation this year! We did, however make it to the west coast to celebrate our friend's big 3-0!

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
This is a tough one, I don't feel like there is really anything missing. Perhaps that vacation I was talking about earlier.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 17- the date I ran my first half marathon.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This would be a 3 way tie. We finished our basement in the spring, I ran my half marathon in the fall, and we refinanced our house in the winter.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not taking time to enjoy each and every moment. This is a personal flaw of mine that I'm desperately trying to adjust. I get so wrapped up in the process and wondering about details that I don't enjoy things as much as I could... and should.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major. I did end up with Bursa in my knee earlier in the spring due to a bad training schedule and pushing too hard without building up. Other than that I was healthy... until Dec 29th when I became a leaky faucet and am still fighting this darn sinus infection cold thing. It's not so fun.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
All the stuff for the basement- Bar, Kegerator, TV, Entertainment Center, Pool Table, etc.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Basement and refinancing took a HUGE chunk of our savings. But luckily with the refinancing and my new job we will bounce back quickly, we are already moving along nicely. I'm lucky in that we save smartly and were able to finish the basement and refinance with absolutely NO credit card debt (save for the TV- But that doesn't count because it is no interest and will be paid off with the tax return)

13. What did you get really excited about?
The basement, Josh and Katie's Wedding, The Half Marathon

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Supermassive Black Hole by Muse from the Twilight Soundtrack. This song was the single largest motivator during my running. As soon as I heard the opening guitar riffs I would get moving.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder?  Happier.
– thinner or fatter? Thinner but fatter than I was 2 months ago which I'm not happy about.
– richer or poorer? Poorer- refer to basement and refinancing investment above.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I read as much as I wanted to. I still managed to read 21 books so I guess it isn't all that bad. And I wish I did more sewing. Luckily I have a little station set up in my new office so that it will entice me to do so.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Getting involved in drama. Eating crappy fast food. Procrastinating.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
We had 5 Christmas celebrations. 3 in Cinci, 1 in Columbus, 1 in Canton. I'm exhausted.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
This was definitely the year of trashy reality tv for me. I can't get enough of the Jersey Shore. Although my nights are equally consumed by the Monday night sitcoms, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and others. It's a sickness how much tv I watch.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Of the 21 that I read, I really enjoyed the Girl With th Dragon Tattoo and Girl Who Played with Fire, as well as The Hunger Games. Dismantled was another off the wall book for me but I was completely consumed till I could finish it.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
I absolutely LOVE Rihanna's song Only Girl in the World, and I'm loving Mumford & Sons

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Harry Potter of course and I can't forget Eclipse... I'm pretty much a 12 year old. I did like Inception too.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27 this year. Here is what we did.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I could have won a million dollars. I'm pretty sure that would be quite satisfying. Realistically, I would like to have made progress on the house other than the basement. It's been 4 years and I still don't have rooms in order. It's on my goal list for 2011!

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I've always been on the classic/preppy side of fashion, I did end the year a little more on trend with some tall knee-high boots (though they are traditional equestrian boots :) )

26. What kept you sane?
Patrick had to deal with me a lot last year. I'm pretty sure I would have lost my mind without having him there as a sounding board. Along with my long saturday runs. They were a great time to get out and not think.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Tell them Yes.

What up Oprah!

You can't accomplish anything worthwhile if you inhibit yourself.

 

If life teaches you nothing else, know this for sure: When you get the chance, go for it.

 

~ Oprah Winfrey

These buckeyes

Have been super busy!

Hope to catch up soon!

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

At the wedding this weekend, the bride and groom chose to have the above poem by Mother Teresa read instead of a more traditional wedding reading. I'd never heard it before and absolutely loved it. So much so that I immediately returned home to 'Nati and bookmarked it. I read it again now and it literally brings tears to my eyes, though I'm not quite sure why. They are amazing words and can literally translate and apply to almost any situation I'd encounter.

And I read it again as I sat here earlier dreading going to the gym and just wanting to sit on my butt all night. My legs were sore and I didn't think I'd be able to do it all the way to the end, but I went out and ran anyway. And you know what? I made it to the end. 4 miles later I stepped off the treadmill a happy girl.

Dinner and a Movie

That's how we spent my birthday night. I managed to stay up past midnight so I can't be THAT old right???

Mr Buckeye made reservations at Grand Finale. A favorite restaurant of some of our friends but we had never had a chance to eat there. It was delightful. It's in an old house and is decorated very vintage and fancy grandma-y. Old music and draped ceilings, fancy but not too fancy. (we wore jeans) I had an Oranj Cosmo and he had his usual Stella. For entrees I had the chicken duo (I couldn't decide between the chicken ginger and the chicken and spinach.) Both were excellent but the chicken ginger was OMG delicious! Dessert was of course, the grand finale!, and we chose the "Puff". I could go on and on about this thing. A pastry puff with vanilla ice cream, homemade fudge, whip cream, and a mix of berries- strawberries, blueberries, raspberries- Don't worry those were on the side so Mr Buckeye would be able to share the dessert with me. It was an amazing way to end the meal. Truly delightful and we will be going back again!


Apres dinner, we went to the movies. My pick of course but I went easy on him and instead of Toy Story 3D or Despicable Me, I chose something a bit more age appropriate. Inception. This movie blew my mind. The first 30 minutes he leaned over and was like... you have no clue what's going on do you? of course, I definitely didn't know what was going on. But I trooped along and finally caught up. It was a great movie! One that you need to pay attention to though. I'll not go into details but I definitely recommend this movie! I'm sure we'll see it again at some point once it's out on DVD.

As for the goods, We had gone the weekend before and picked up my running loot!

Alessa at the Glendale store fitted me with a lovely pair of Adidas Supernova Glide 2 shoes and I got some new socks. Super exciting. No really. what a change from running in 100% cotton!

The new kicks! Aren't they purty? (The Nike Pegasus were even cuter but didn't feel as great as these guys) Not sure if you can see the laces but she also taught me a lacing trick called the heel lock. I always feel like my heels are slipping out of my shoes and she said she has the same issue. Heel lock FTW!

As for running. I'm still at it. I'm in Week 7- 28 minute sessions. I finished up Week 6 strong after that really rough start last weekend. I seem to be having a good run, and okay run, and a horrible run... repeat. My run on Wednesday was great. But Thursday was an epic fail. Only 15 minutes before I literally thought my leg would fall off and I would have an accident. But I consider the 15 minutes still a win but it's still a bummer because it should have been 28 minutes. I'm still on target for the half in October but I've really got to push through these last 2 weeks and get to my distance running. It scares me half to death but I'm excited to push myself.

Speaking of distance running, I got a Nike + Sportband for the birthday as well! (Thanks Mom!)

I can't wait to take this baby outside and track my progress as I transition from treadmill to outdoor running. If I want to do the half in october, I've got to learn and train to run outside and not on the perfect temp controlled treadmill!

I think I'm still going to take today off, the leg is still a bit sore so maybe a light walk just to loosen up but I think if I try to pound out 28 minutes I'll regret it and be icing and elevating all night.

Happy Weekend everyone!

Happy Birthday

To:

Stephanie Seymour

Marlon Wayans

Omar Epps

Monica Lewinsky

Michelle Williams

Daniel Radcliffe

and me.

Another year has gone by.
Who knows what's in store for my 27th year.
Let's hope it's good.

The pink stuff

Yeah it pretty much saved my life yesterday. For the last 3 days or so I've had.... erm... issues. Yeah, lets just leave it at that. And I partially blame the disaster of a run on Sunday on that. So a bottle of the pink stuff later, and my hiney was on a treadmill yesterday pounding on Week 7, Day 2. I've found that cursing really helps. I'm not a runner yet. And it kills me. I did the full 25 minutes but I didn't like it.

But I'm glad I did it.

In other news, work is hellacious. I return from a long weekend (wedding recap and photos to come soon) to find 5! (are you kidding me?! 5!) people out from work. Then 3 out again today.

Hoping and praying for the week to chill out and give me a break so I can get caught up.

I want to sew tonight. Like bad.

So I'm going to.

That is all.

Challenge? GAME ON!

So I was going to have an awesome day filled with a trip to Ikea, grocery store, pool time, Knit night...

Instead I was smacked with this:



What? Just me? I'm the only one who thinks that is a problem? Click the photo if you don't see the issue.

1 hour later, a google lookup, phone call to husband, car jacked up and down 3 times, tire iron jumped on 5 times, flat spare tire filled up... Car was fixed. BY ME!

Have no fear, I'll have a full tutorial on how to change a tire tomorrow.

Yes of course, I saw it as a blogging opportunity and took pictures along the way.

I know. Only me. I'm awesome like that.

You're welcome.

Cough Hack Spit EEEEW

I pretty much feel like a freight train is running through my chest. (Yes, my chest, not my neck- as thanks to Steph and her mom I have found out that coughing is indeed not in your neck as I had originally mentioned.) I've been coughing like crazy for the last 3 days. 3 days off of running, 3 days of Mucinex and cough drops, and last night was so ugly that Mr Buckeye had to bring me cough medicine without me asking and make me drink it.

It's been a nice long weekend and I'm super bummed to see it go. Friday night was spent watching She's out of My League (hilarious!) and Saturday was spent at the pool for me and golfing for the hubs. Finishing the night out watching fireworks and having drinks on a patio under the stars. Last night was hanging out with some friends and we had dinner at a cute little restaurant in Hyde Park- Arthurs. Cute, small, good food, good company. it was a nice time.

Today I'm trying to battle my will to run. I don't want to make it worse. But I don't want to fall off schedule, I'm already 1 run behind. It's a battle of wills, who knows what will win?

I do know that I'll be spending the rest of the day doing a myriad of things- possibly a grocery store run, some pool time, and of course Monday Knit Night!

Mr Buckeye is heading to the golf course again only this time with my dad, uncle, and grandpa. Should be interesting since it's approx one million degrees outside.

Suckers.

Sex and the Sippy Cup

So over the weekend the girls and I headed out for a little girls night. Enough of our husbands getting together 2+ times a week for golf. It was our turn. We decided to have a nice dinner at PF Changs (Orange Peel Chicken? NOM!) With girly beverages (The Pink Bellinis were super yummy!) followed with a night at the movies. Of course we chose to see Sex and the City 2. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m not a die-hard, seen every episode, kind of girl and I liked it better than the first one. Perhaps because it was a bit more theatrical? And the rugby?polo? players didn’t hurt much either!

But one of my favorite parts of the movie (don’t worry, no spoilers here, was during a particularly steamy scene. During which the 4 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL sitting right behind me started yelling “I CAN’T SEE! I CAN’T SEE!” Seriously? I kid you not. There was a little girl in the theater. Brought by her (I assume) parents, and sister. 4 years old (I’m guessing here… but I was with 2 friends that are moms and they said she was probably only like 3 or 4 years old) and they thought taking her to see SEX and the City was a good idea? She was yelling because Like the good mom that she was, she was covering the girl’s eyes. WTF?!?!

This particular favorite was only topped by another where I became completely distracted by the fact she was prancing in the aisle and kept hitting my seat, jarring me forwards and backwards. But rest assured, there is more. During one of the said gallops across the seats she proceeds to knock over a pop- spilling it alover and I assume losing her balance. Well, it was only natural then that she would GRAB. MY. HEAD! Hello? Anyone else see a problem here?

Overall she was very well behanved and only had a few breakout moments, but knowing that there was an inappropriately aged little girl behind me, made the whole experience a bit uncomfortable.

Parenting: FAIL.

Keep on Keepin' on

I've continued to feel better about everything.

I still have random moments where I'm down but not nearly as often and intense as they were the past few weeks.

To add to the up and up, we got our new hot water heater. I took my first HOT! shower in over a week this morning. Mr Buckeye did warn me it was hotter than the old one. YIKES! He was not kidding. But I lurve hot hot showers so it was all good news to me.

Add to that the fact that I not only have the back done on my Hey Teach Cardigan. But I now have the left front done as well. And modifying it to be a v-neck worked! I'm knitting on the right front now so at this rate I'll definitely have a cardi to wear by the end of June if not sooner!

And I may as well spill the beans while I'm at it. I've started running again. Well, you can't really call it running since I'm walking more than running. We all remember the disaster that was my last attempt. But I've modified a marathon schedule into what I believe will be a truly successful program for me. 21 weeks till Half Marathon time. Oct 17th. Write it down. I'll be there with bells and whistles! Maybe I can get Britt to make a fun button or something and hopefully join me! Even though she would totally rock my world right now and run circles around me since she can pound out solid 30 min runs like they are nothing right now!

But I'm not discouraged. We all have to start somewhere. And my program has me starting with 20 min walks that evolve to Walk/Runs that evolve to Runs that evole to MILES. 21 weeks seems like an eternity away but I'm confident that as long as I don't let me motivation slip away, I'll be a runner like the rest of them! And I won't get hurt this time!

Debbie Downer

Apologies for the lack of regular posts around these parts. I’m not myself. But hopefully I will be soon. I’ve just been in the dumps. For no reason at all. we had a great (but too quick) weekend celebrating our niece and nephews birthday. (They are 3?! OMFG!) And went to a bridal shower on Sunday. But you know what? I can’t really enjoy much these days. It’s no ones fault. It’s just the way it is. I’m not depressed, I’m not unhappy. I’m just… dumpy? I don’t even know how to describe it. It seems like when not so favorable things happen it is the end of the world for me.

Even though it’s not.

And I received another blow today. That super awesome amazing leather couch that took way too long to decide on and pick that is supposed to be delivered some time at the end of May that we have already been waiting 5 weeks for? Oh that one? Yeah, I call today to check on it and guess what- new couch won’t even come in from the supplier till the END. OF. JUNE! Are you effing kidding me? I was finally so thrilled that we made a commitment to a big piece of furniture and was so looking forward to actually making the brand new basement useable and now this setback. Sure it isn’t the end of the world but it’s just dragged me further down.

I’ll pick up my bootstraps soon. If you see me IRL (That is in real life) don’t take it personal that I’m not my normal bubbly self. I’m good at faking it, but I’m also not so good at hiding it. I wear my emotions like a giant marquee on Broadway.

It’ll pass.

And we will find a damn couch if it kills us.

Buckeye Love

I am, and always will be proud to be a Buckeye!

And yet one more reason why:

Timeout

That's what I need.

I'm taking a break from knicroblo week for the day. I'll catch up soon though, I promise.

I'm just breaking down. I think I'm terribly stressed (though I don't FEEL incredibly stressed) and it's wearing me down. My body is revolting on me. I've had an eye twitch since yesterday around 10:30am. Thought perhaps a good night's sleep would help. But what do you know, I wake up and it's twitching.

I just need to take deep breaths and remember that only 2 more days of work then off for a week for vacation. But then that adds whole new levels of stress imagining myself in a bathing suit frying under the Nevada sun. I'll get over it. I swear.

But take a few deep breaths for me and send some zen my way.

The next 2 days are pretty stressful and if i can survive I'll definitely be enjoying that sweet sweet reward of rest and relaxation next week.

I haz a hotdog!

So that moodiness continued for most of the day yesterday. Especially considering I walked in the door at approx 7:00pm. But alas, we will chalk it up to a bad day. Though I still have questions. And I hope to get answers.

But on a lighter note Today is friday!

And guess what- I got my hotdog! Remember me mentioning Jaclyn and her brother Joey?

Well, I had to have one of these adorable necklaces for a good cause. Jaclyn has raised over $100 for Autism Speaks this month so far and she is still ready for more! 25% of all purchases from her etsy shop during the month of April will be donated to Autism Speaks. And $5 from every Joey's hot dog goes right to Autism Speaks as well!



Not a hot dog person? Check her shop out anyway for some beautiful jewelry and help support a great cause. Click my photo above to go directly to Jaclyn's Joey's Hot Dog section- and take a look around the shop!

(And that hotdog, totally put a smile on my face even after a terrible horrible no good very bad day. Thank you Jacy! I picked red because I wear quite a bit of red... and I like ketchup on my hotdogs. and relish- but there was no green bead option :) )