What to Wear

My room last night was like an episode of What Not to Wear.  Except instead of Stacy and Clinton ridiculing me for my horrid clothes, I had the fabulous April of A Little of This and That pairing up outfits for me and telling me what worked.

It was exactly what I needed.

I have long followed a few basic rules when it comes to fashion. I must be comfortable.  There must be one solid and one patterned piece (ie if the skirt is patterned, the top should be solid and vice versa.).  There must be one color and one neutral (usually black). I'm not very adventurous, to say the least.

April came in and revolutionized my closet.  She put colors together that I never would've thought of, and basically showed me a whole new wardrobe with the clothes I already had.  Look at this, I have eight colorful outfits paired up and ready to march out!

 

An unexpected benefit to losing weight has been becoming more interested in what I'm wearing.  While I don't expect to have a great fashion sense spring up overnight, I do hope to continue experimenting and having fun with my new(ish) figure this summer.

If only I had a fantastic 80s song playing in the background, I could've had my very own movie montage wardrobe makeover sequence, which is my dream (and most people's).

Do you have a fashion philosophy? Please share if you do! I could always use the help!

Week's End

It's the end of another week, and what a great one it's been.  I mentioned that I was prepped mentally last Sunday.  It's like a switch was flipped. The last two weeks I was eating whatever I wanted, overeating, and eating out a lot. And it's not like I wanted to behave this way. It was almost as if I had no control over my eating.

But this week, I have hardly been tempted.  I was able to stick to my plans, eating healthily and working out five days this week.

I've been surprised how tough working out has been this week.  I wasn't as diligent with it in the last few weeks, so getting back into running and weight lifting has left me sore and tired, but feeling good about myself.  The running has not come back easily.  It looks like I can run a mile to a mile and half with ease and after that I have to walk/run in intervals.  I've kept up my cycling on the stationary bike, but today I was able to ride about 8 miles at the park. I had my first wipeout today, thanks to my shaky steering. I ran off the edge of the paved path, which was a pretty steep drop off. I lost control of the bike and fell over.  I was shaken up, but after a minute or so, I realized I was okay and got back on, completing two more miles after that.

I've officially registered for my first triathlon, which is May 21. I feel like I'll be ready, if I can just back into running  shape.

Today was such a gorgeous day here.  I took advantage of it by getting out on the bike, eating lunch outside and doing a little yardwork.  What'd you do?

Beauty at all Ages

Last weekend I spent time with two of my nieces.  One is almost three months old and the other just turned five. Watching children learn and grow can be fascinating. It just so happened that I got to watch as both explored their own beauty.  That sounds weird, but I can't think of another way to say it.  Let me explain.

First, Natalie (almost three months) and I were playing on the floor. We enjoyed some tummy time, but when she got tired of holding her head up, I rolled her over to her back.  It just so happened that she was lined up so that she could see herself easily in the mirror.  She was captivated by herself.  She would not take her eyes off of that mirror.  Now maybe I'm taking what is a simple developmental stage and extrapolating too much from it, but I loved that she loved herself so much.  She was not looking in that mirror wishing she had straighter hair or smaller nose. She was looking and loving what she saw.

Julia (age 5) and I went to the park later.  She and her brother darted off when we got there, clambering over all of the playground equipment. I sat on a bench and watched their fun from afar.  The park was full of children, and these kids don't have trouble making friends.  However, after we'd been there for awhile, Julia came walking over to me. I could tell something was wrong, her shoulders were slumped forward and her lip was sticking out.  I said "What's wrong?"  She said, "That girl over there told me I was ugly."

My first thought was, "What is wrong with that six year old that she would tell some girl she had just met that she is ugly?" (Especially when Julia is just as cute as a button.)

Of course I tried to comfort Julia and make her feel better, but her whole demeanor was already altered.  She sat next to me sadly for about 10 minutes (which is a really long time for a kid to sit still at a park).  She eventually went back to playing, but she didn't forget what that girl said to her.  When we got home, the first thing she told her mom was what the girl had said to her.

I've been thinking about both of these instances ever since. It's made me wonder a couple of things. First, when do we lose that uncomplicated appreciation of our amazing bodies that Natalie showed me by being transfixed by the mirror? Again, maybe I'm trying to pull too much out of it, but I think it's a reminder we all need -- to love ourselves as we are. We are wonderfully made.

Julia's experience made me start thinking about how people can be so mean to each other.  There was no reason for that girl to be so blatantly rude. Maybe as adults, we're not quite as blunt, but we can still be pretty vicious. And on the flip side of that, why do we let other people's hurtful words affect us so much?

Is this too serious a post?  I'd like your thoughts, if you have any, on the topic.  In the meantime, here's my two beautiful nieces.

Taken with my phone, so sorry for the quality.

Product Review: Skinny Cow

I thought I could share with you, from time to time, my thoughts on a light or healthy product on the market.   Today's feature is Skinny Cow.

Skinny Cow has a full lineup of healthier ice cream treats.  Some are bars, like the one I've tried this week, and some are cones, ice cream sandwiches or ice cream. I've seen them in the freezer section for a long time, but I've avoided them because "diet" ice cream is usually no fun.  Also, they are a little expensive.

A few weeks ago, I brought home my first box. I was pleasantly surprised at how good these bars, which were only 100 calorie, 2.5 grams of fat bar, were.  They are so creamy and chocolately and deliciously good. They are just chocolate ice cream drizzled with  fudge, but, man, it hits the spot. Also, They're big enough that you don't (usually) feel like you immediately need to go grab another one.  In short, they a great way to satisfy an ice cream craving. I highly recommend!

The Domino Effect

People tell me, from time to time, that I am an inspiration.  Sometimes it is said idly, sometimes it is said because the person speaking has been empowered to change because of something they read on this blog.  Either way it is a great honor for me. I never set out to be an inspiration, but I am glad if you feel that way.

But today I want you to know that I'm not the only one who can be an inspiration.  Each of us has the power to inspire, encourage and impact those around us. People are always watching, seeing the example you set as you lead your life.  Most of the time you never know how your actions have affected another.  I'm lucky enough that because I'm pretty open and honest on the blog, people feel open enough to tell me things like this directly.

My friend Nancy sent me an email a few months ago to tell me about the domino effect.  She said that the changes she has seen me make has helped her get into the gym after her doctor recommended it.  But the cool part of this email was that her sister looked at the changes Nancy had made to be healthier and was inspired to start walking again to try and lose some extra weight.

I haven't asked Nancy lately how her sister is doing with that, but can you imagine how the chain could just keep going and going?  That's what the domino effect is all about.  And it doesn't just apply to weight loss and healthy eating. Maybe if we each try to be more loving and less self-focused, that will inspire others around us to adopt similar attitudes.  And that chain could just keep going and going.

The domino effect is what's inspiring me lately.  How can you affect those around you?

PS The first Lost and Not Found Walking Club was a lot of fun.  If you live local, I hope to see you out there next week! Same time, same place!

CSA

Exciting news! I've joined a CSA Farm for the early summer.  What's a CSA Farm, you say?  A Community Supported Agriculture Farm.  It's a great way to get locally-grown fresh vegetables, which are good for you, and at the same time support your local farmer.

I became a member this week, and paid money up front to get 12 weeks of seasonal fruits and vegetables delivered to me.  Each week, the CSA will drop off a box for me and other members at my work (there are numerous drop off locations all over the state. I'm just lucky one of them happens to be where I work). This helps them because they have guaranteed sales for the produce they grow.

I won't know what I'm getting with each delivery until I go to pick up the box.  This makes it even more exciting. (The website says "It's like Christmas!")  Some of you have noted that I don't seem to have experience with a lot of fruits and vegetables, so each week I'll have the opportunity to try new items.

Locally-grown seems to be a big buzzword these days.  It's better for the environment, because they don't have to transport the food around the world just so you can eat it. It's also better for the local economy.  While both of these things are great, they're not exactly why I decided to do it.  Mainly, I just wanted access to a great variety of fresh produce.

Check out the Gruber Farm Website, if you'd like more information.

Have any of you ever been part of a CSA?  Do you believe locally grown produce is important?

Annoucing: the Walking Club

Hello!  I think we, the Lost and Not Found Blog Family, should start a walking club.  Here's why:

1) Getting out to exercise is not always easy, but it's a lot easier if you're doing it with others.

2) We (as a society) often gather to be social over a meal.  Being social while walking keeps us from consuming calories, while also helping us burn calories. Bonus!

3) It's spring, which is really the most beautiful season and the most amenable to outdoor exercise. Plus, the days are longer, which gives us more time to enjoy the outdoors.

4) If you live in Rock Hill, we have the Riverwalk, a most beautiful, paved trail that runs along the wild Catawba River.  It's also not far from those of you in Fort Mill and Charlotte, as it's right on the northern edge of Rock Hill.

So, here's the plan, as I see it (although feel free to share any thoughts or modifications you'd suggest in the comments section below).  I plan to be in the parking lot of the Riverwalk each Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.  I'll wait a few minutes and see who shows up.  You can come every week or you can come whenever you feel like it.  No need to RSVP.  If no one shows up, I'll just take a stroll by myself and enjoy the scenery.  

Here's a map, if you need it.

Let me know if you have any thoughts/comments/suggestions!  I hope those of you in the Charlotte area are as excited about this as I am!