Best Buys

There is something very satisfying about going out and finding a good bargain. While running errands today, I found several. Here are the ones I am most proud of:

1. Swimsuit at Target: $7.50 total



2. Necklaces at Von Maur: $3 a piece

¡Cuatro Dias!

The Mexican getaway is fast approaching, T-4 days. I am picturing a white, sandy beach, bluest of blue waters, a drink in one hand, a book in the other, all while being blanketed by the warm rays of the sun and surrounded by 3 of my closest friends. If that's not close to perfection, I don't know what is.

As I patiently await this much needed vacacion, I've put together a mini "I'm Going to Mexico Bitches!" playlist:

1.

• Looking for paradise by Alejandro Sanz

More Alejandro Sanz music on iLike

2.

3.

• Gasolina by Daddy Yankee

More Daddy Yankee music on iLike

5 Down, 5 To Go

Saturday L and I ran in the Drake Relays On-the-Roads 8K race. It turned out to a be lovely morning for a run - the sun was out and temps in the lower 60's. This was a more than pleasant surprise, after we had mentally prepared ourselves for the less than desirable cool and rainy conditions that had been forecasted all week.

L and I both improved our overall times - L coming in at 47:57 and I finished with a time of 41:07. (All results for both the half marathon and 8K here.) I'm pretty sure it was the power of our matching "uniforms" that led us to our improved times.

A Friend-ly Lesson

After getting a tip from L that Scheels was having a killer sale on sports bras and shorts, I hopped in the car and drove to JC. I picked out a few things and headed towards the checkout. As the cashier, Ashley, was ringing up my goods, she looked at the price of one and said, "wow, what a good buy." I replied, "Yeah, my friend texted me to tell me about this sale, so here I am." Ashley then said, "What a good friend - good friends are hard to find." My first reaction was to laugh. She then insistently said, "well, they are." Two things came to mind at this point: 1. Ashley must not have many friends and 2. Ashley is right. I'm lucky to have such a stellar group of friends. I guess I take for granted the little things my friends do, such as text me to tell me about a sale - lesson learned.

While driving home, I thought more about what she said. Two more things came to mind. A. I should've hugged Ash (using the nickname felt right) and told her my friends and I would adopt her, and B. I really am truly blessed to have Grade A friends. I know I have blogged many times about how important my friends are to me and how "kick ass" they are (see previous posting), but this incident was yet another reminder of this. I may not have a ton of friends, but I'm okay with that. I'd rather have quality over quantity any day of the week when it comes to friends.

5 Facts For Today

Fact: Although going to work at 6:30 blows, it does guarantee a good parking spot.

Fact:Non-work related emails help get me through a long day like today.

Fact: Dancing in the car like an idiot will never get old.

Fact: Neither will pretending to find the right key to sing in. "love, love, loovveee"

Fact: I have some of the greatest friends a girl could ever ask for - they pretty much kick ass.

Unforgettable Emotions

While talking to my dad tonight on the phone, as he gave the weekly update on my grandpa, I remembered an article I read last week about Alzheimer's patients and their emotions. With having two grandparents currently living in nursing homes - both suffering from different stages of what I'll lovingly call memory loss - this article truly touched me and brought a little hope and a little peace into my life.

There's nothing good I can think to say about having two grandparents suffering from such a devastatingly deplorable disease, but when reflecting on the findings of the study this article talks about, there is a little sliver of a silver lining. My grandpa and my grandma may not remember 5 minutes after I left that I was there visiting, but this article does gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, I've lifted up their spirits. It doesn't matter if they can't explain their elevated moods - in what little quality of life they have left, being in good spirits has become the important part.

Warning: This One's For the Ladies

One thing I'm not a big fan of is women's health commercials - tampons/pads, birth control, etc. They are so unrealistic and give the most inaccurate view of how women communicate with one another regarding these 'health' issues.

Example # 1: The Midol commercial where they are all at the beach and the one girl cannot believe the other has her period - because why on earth would you want to be on a beach during that time. Then the girl expresses her desire for a brownie, to which the other responds with, "Oh yeah, she's menstrual." Um, I've never heard any of my friends say, "I'm menstrual." It's more like, "Ugh, I'm on the rag dude" or "I hate being a girl"

Example #2: Birth control commercials - it's always "girls night out" or the "ladies luncheon" and what else do they talk about but birth control, and not only birth control but how effective it is and what the side effects are. Again, so unrealistic. Girls do not talk like this...it's more like, "crap, forgot to take my pill this morning"

I like Kotex's response with their new marketing campaign, U by Kotex:



and




Well done Kotex, well done.

Pomplamoose

My co-worker Mike told me about the group Pomplamoose this morning. He had heard their interview on NPR and was telling me he almost likes their version of Single Ladies more than Beyonce's. That's quite a statement so, of course, I had to check them out. They are pretty fantastic. I love their "do it yourself attitude." Jack and Nataly have such a hip sound and style and I dig Nataly's voice - it's like Regina Spektor meets Adele. I loved what she said at the end of the article, "People think that all of these things have to be done by geniuses behind huge desks or at the top of skyscrapers, but you can just go online and do it yourself." What a positive and hopeful message. I highly recommend checking out more of their stuff on YouTube (if you haven't already) - Beat It, If You Think You Need Some Lovin, September - it's all so good!

F for Pandas

I had to read this article after seeing the title - a title that reminded me a lot of the Panda's indoor volleyball season.

One Day Without Shoes

Today the people from TOMS have asked that people try going without shoes for the day or just part of the day to bring attention to all those who have to go without shoes day in and day out.

This is something I know I definitely take for granted. When getting ready to go somewhere, I don't even think about the fact that I should count my blessings that I have shoes to wear. My attention is strictly focused not on A pair of shoes, but which pair - with the deciding factors being type, style, color, etc. How sad that something I find so common, like shoes, can be thought of as a luxury to somebody else.

I posted about TOMS before, and I'm happy to do so again. I love what this organization is doing and love love LOVE my TOMS, so definitely check out their website and consider buying a pair. A cute/unique pair of shoes for you, and a pair for a child in need!

New Kicks

After about a year of half-hearted attempts at looking for a new pair of running shoes, I finally made a purchase last night. It was a long, overdue purchase. I've had my current pair of shoes for nearly 2 years now, and after getting back into the running game, and with the much anticipated Dam to Dam race nearing, I knew it was time to get serious.

So without further ado....

These were really the only ones that caught my eye enough to want to try them on. They are super light and comfortable (for the 2 minutes I wore them around the store). And the reviews I've read online are mostly positive.

Speaking of reviews, a few personal ones I've gotten thus far:

*Super fantastic

*Snappy and Snazzy

*"I dig"

Easter Weekend Highlights

I spent this past weekend celebrating Easter with my family at home...here are a few highlights:

Friday:
* My tunes blaring, a phone call, and rainy conditions on and off to keep me from getting too bored on the drive home.
*Cheese pizza and a nice cold Bud Light for supper
*Testing my piano-playing skills. It all was coming back to me - just like riding a bicycle. I played a little Lion King, 90's hits including Four Non Blondes', "What's Up", and my favorite beginner songs, "Swans on the Lake", "Moon Man", and "The Party".

Saturday:
*Running 8 miles with Katie and Erin along the riverfront.
*Lunch at Yen Cheng with my mom, best friend Sarah, her fiancee, and her mom
*Visiting my Grandma
*Grilling Steak and vegetables for supper
*Playing Ring Around the Rosey and No More Monkeys Jumping On the Bed with Regan

Sunday:
*Easter Sunday Mass
*A delicious brunch at home
*Pizza and movie night hosted by LW and JW

All in all, a great weekend!