party "on"

You can take the girl out of the party but not the party out of the girl.

My parents might now this little fact a little too well.  I think it's pretty "duh" to say out of the four girls in my family . . . . I may be the ones who's pushed the envelope a little further than the others.  That's what happens when you are raised with an angelic brothers and three sisters.

My so called effervescent self can take [most] any situation and make it fun.  Tonight may be a little harder though.

Tonight is my last night with Ashley before she leaves me for the Windy City bright and early Saturday morning.

So being a girl who loves clothes, works with and on behalf of clothes, sells clothes & certainly has a thing for clothes[huff.... and shoes] - - - this is all Ash & I have been able to talk about without crying.  So we've been talking/texing about it daily.

What r u wearing?
IDK what r u wearing?
IDK maybe jeans?
A fun skirt?
Heels or flats?
Dancing after?

[the pita walks in, "why is your phone blowing up? You still texting about outfits?"
Ummm, ya this will go on until Friday at noon.  Then he says, "Well, make sure it's AGE appropriate okay, work people will be there."  Oh, no, he didn't . . . oh, no, he didn't . . . .oh yes, he did say, "age appropriate" .  *&%#@ - that is writing for me slightly hitting his arm as hard as I could. ;)] 

                    *back to Ash*

yes.
Comfy heels?
Oxymoron?
u just call me a moron?
No?!
Purse?
Aren't u bringing M?
make him carry it.

So why am I still crying?  I hate it when friends leave.  Hmmmm, Chicago marathon?  Yes.

Tonight:     Mutton dressed up as lamb - you bet cha!

Happy Friday!

If it hurts - It helps ?!

Okay, so I'm probably the only one who remembers that skit from SNL like 800 years ago but it is sooooooooooo fitting for me today.

I took on 5 Miles 2 Empty's challenge.

Legs Challenge.  Yikes.  Ouch.  Help.

So here's the damage.

Here's the warning: [say one word about the right thigh being bigger and we are going to have a huge throw down].

Say one word about the daisy dukes and Allie will come and tattoo your eyelids. [me/peanut - had a swim "party"{using that term loosely} Tuesday morning {starting day of challenge}]

The challenge. . . . .

Do lunges at least 3 times a week from Aug. 10 until Sept 10.
I think I already have internal bleeding, after two days.

Treadmill Thursday - Hills on the "Mill"

YAY!  Week one of Treadmill Thursday, [Jamoosh, please try and contain yourself].

Now, you may not know it but every [every] treadmill comes with a "see results faster" button.  They are standard issue.  Press "this" button and you are guaranteed faster results, more fat burning [= better abs as per Petra's comment, love her], crank up your fitness level, enhances running economy & strengthen the legs.

This fabulous button is simply labeled, "incline".

Yes, it's easy to understand why this is the case.  A recent study at the University of Georgia found that uphill running activates nearly 10% more muscle per stride than running on a flat surface.  I know, I know, duh, Emz.  However, when it comes to treadmill running, if you are NOT pushing up the incline to 1% [hill workout or not] - congrats, you just completed your run ----- "down hill".

A 1% incline is ALWAYS needed just to try and replicate the energy requirements of running outdoors.

Now indoor hill training - that a whole other load of fun.  With treadmill training, it's as easy as pushing that fancy button. 

Here's two options for you to try.
[side note - I never listen to music or watch TV until after I have warmed up {one mile}.  I think this is important especially with all the tools we may or may not use to keep us from getting "bored" on treadmill runs.  It's important [as with any running - in or out] to tune into our BODIES during this warm up phase.....any pains, tightness, etc].

Opening workout:

Yes, this is conservative but all "first" should be, right?

1.  4 X 3minutes at 10k speed at a 4% incline
     3 minute recovery jog at 1%
     **over time you can..**
     [work up to 7-8 intervals with a 30-60 second recovery]
     [increase treadmill speed - - don't make major changes immediately.  If you
     were running at a 7.0 try running at a 7.2]

No, a 4% hill doesn't push your leg muscles to the limit - - but again, you can work up to a 8-10% incline over time.


Go hard approach:

Form is important [always].  I find it, even more important as the incline gets higher.
Try and remain as perpendicular to the treadmill as possible [yes, you will be leaning slightly forward].  Arms should be straight forward/straight back - - - - - no Irish jig' arms.

2.  An 8-11% incline which last anywhere from 30-60 seconds.
     2-3 minute recovery periods at a 2% incline
     Pace?  You will need to determine this yourself.  Push yourself but make sure your form is good throughout.  There's No point running a 10% incline at a 7.5mph pace if your form sucks.  It shouldn't feel comfortable or enjoyable - so push yourself!
Eventually, you can do as many as 18 reps X 45 second intervals or 14 x 60 second repetitions per workout.

Now just as with many races . . . . the 1/4 mile FLAT stretch of road which follows the hill [up or down] can be hell.  I heard a fellow marathoner say in Prescott last May, "the hill doesn't hurt me but the recovery from the hill does".   I didn't understand his point then [mile 6] but I sure did by mile 14.  For this reason, I have learned to stay focused during the "recovery" portions.  Check posture, form, arms, core during these mindful minutes.

Closing argument: [heee hee hee] If you are great on "mill hills" you will be DYNO-MITE on the roads.  Says ME.

Is it Friday yet? ;)

Peanut's W O R D.

A huge "thank you" to Kovas for [calling me strange ;)] and asking me what word I'd use to describe Peanut.

I knew it right when he asked it.

v a l i a n t .

1. boldly courageous; brave; stout-hearted: a valiant soldier.


2. marked by or showing bravery or valor; heroic: to make a valiant effort.

3. worthy; excellent.
 

 
Can't go into detail or I'll cry and ruin it all.  Ummm, ya, I guess she didn't learn the valiant thing from me?!
 
My Peanut & I, we've been through quite a bit together, here lately.  Together.  Thank goodness for me........I have her.
 
She's fiercely courageous - no matter who she's dealing with.
 
I adore my valiant Peanut.  Rock on baby. 
I love you --- to the moon and back.

Effer - what?

So I've been told, asked, instructed, ordered [nicely] to clean out all "my crap" in the garage.  In the "old days" [meaning pre-eBay, pre-money making days].  I was a crafty girl.  I loved making pointless [to me] crap.  Pretending I knew how to sew.  Making dinner by 11am.  Scrap booking.  Photo organizing. basket weaving. jk yadda, yadda, yadda.

Me. today. = photos stuck on memory card unless blogged about, dinner at 6/7, run, chat with Peanut, work, delete photos, work, buy clothes, work, chat with UPS lady, work.

Soooooooooo, when three boxes full of photos were placed on my office floor . . . . I about cried.  Instead I said, "seriously, just put them in a new [more hidden] place.  You and I both know I'll go through them and not throw out anything."

Door shuts.  Yep, he got it.  I'm in the clear.  Yay me.

uhhhh not so fast.  Pita walks in with three [clear] plastic not so little numbers [meaning storage boxes] from Costco.  Drops them on floor.  "Em, there you go.  Move them all in here according to age."  -------[thinking you freaking move them where the sun doesn't  . . . . . .] fine.  whatever.  they are "mine".

What happened for the next 4 hours was . . . . awesome.  Childhood.  A 98.44% fabulous childhood - revisited.  Peanut sat by me for 1/2 the time.  It was a blast.  I love the random things my Mom kept.

Oddly?!  My favorite was a huge green construction paper heart. 

Written on it was the word:  effervescent

Ohhhhh, the tears flowed.  I remember this day like it was 5 seconds ago.  I was 12.  At church.  Walked into our class to see about 30 moms sitting in the room.  I was like, "awwww crap, I'm in trouble".  Guilty conscience?  Never.

Then one by one the mom would go up and get the heart off the wall that was for their daughter.  Words like: honest, beautiful, smart, helpful, kind, athletic, etc.  I sat there wondering which one was mine.  Heck, maybe I could even have two?! ;)  [ha!]

About 12 remained.  My Mom walked up and goes to reach, "thebestover-alldaughterever" [whoa, wait, what?] . . ."effervescent".

effervescent?
effervescent?
effervescent?

What the crap does that even mean?  I honestly remember thinking, "really mom, really that's all you could think to say about me?!"
Then, for some reason my hampster wheel brain immediately went to a denture cleaner or maybe it was a "gas" commercial.  "Pop. pop. fizz. fizz. ohhhh what a relief it is." ---- later on in the commercial it would say, "the effervescent power of Alka Seltzer"

I sat there with tears running down my face.  Peanut was looking at me like, "Mom, it's just a heart.  Heart means love."

ef·fer·ves·cent/ˌefərˈvesənt/

Adjective1. (of a liquid) Giving off bubbles; fizzy.


2. (of a person or their behavior) Vivacious and enthusiastic
 
Finally, after 20 years . . . . . I get it Mom!
 
Just wanted to let you know.
 
Thanks Pita for being a Pita.  This was an effervescent/happy/grateful/ahhh-haaa moment.

good/bad & can't touch this.

Okay, so the photo below has nothing to do with my post but I found it Sunday and I love it.  It was taken in Paris [I'm guessing she is 3].  However, in this stance, I feel like she should have "hammer" pants on and be saying, "ohh ohh ohhh ohh ohh stop, hammer time".

So the last 24 hours a little nuts.  Here's the good & the bad.

Good:  I've been talking a lot to my BFF in Utah
Bad:  For all the wrong reasons.  ILY CSS.

Good:  Finished my 10 for today
Bad:  hip hurt worse than yesterday

Good:  went to Chiropractor yesterday
Bad:  See above

Good:  Went to chiropractor yesterday
Bad:  He said "thanks for keeping me in business when he saw my 4.5" heels" [whatever]

Good:  My sister [who works at Chiro] did Russian Stimulation on me.
Bad:  Am I going to be arrested for this?

Good:  Others were having "it" done RS
Bad:  I was the only patient in there under 65 & I have four new [65+ year old] boyfriends

Good:  95% of back to school shopping & supplies have been purchased
Bad: BTSS [back to school shopping] does NOT bring out the best in parents.

Good:  Peanut [finally] found the shorts we've been searching for.

Bad:  Ummmm, could they be ANY shorter?  These are a "No".

Good: School starts Monday
Bad:  I've been uninvited to go to the first day of school with Peanut.  Yep, the days of photos like this . . . . . over.  [wait she didn't even look happy posing with me back "then"?!]

Good:  Party at my place Friday .... location change.  Yippee!  White couch stays white!
Bad:  I think I'm still having to cover the "tab".  [can't be more than a new couch, right?!]

Good:  The Pita asked me to marry him 12 years ago today.
Bad:  This morning when I told him he said, "don't go expecting flowers tonight".

Good:  Tuesday is [usually] new [dinner] recipe night.
Bad [??]:  My comment, "don't go expecting dinner tonight"

Good:  I'm buying my own freaking flowers.
Bad:  I may have a bit of an attitude. 

Good:  Marathon #7 in 38 days.
Bad:  my pace partner in a "no-go"

Good:  Marathon is in 38 days.
Bad:  I'm going alone.  No crew.  Hey, maybe this could be fun?!  Jury is out.

Good:  The Pita will get a break from being my "cheerleader"
Bad:  who will tell me I could have run faster?  Seriously, he should be a trainer.

Have a terrific Tuesday, I'm out.

EASY. Ahh ahh ahhh ahh . . Easy like a Monday Mornin'

Okay, so this photo is from Friday but whatever.

25 things you may not know [or care to know about me] .....
suck it up buttercup . .... here it comes.

1.  I touch the outside of an airplane upon entering.  It's a must.  I swear I will crash & die the day, I forget.  [a huge "sorry" to all fellow passengers, if I do forget one day]

2.  Favorite color is green.  Nope, never jealous. ;)

3.  I love horror films.  The "Saw" series is my favorite.  [Ummmm, I think I just lost two followers.]

4.  I'd eat sushi everyday, if I could.

5.  I love cars.  Car shows.  Car magazines.  "Top Gear" - the best.  Watched three hours of TG Friday night.  I'm such a wild and crazy girl.

6.  Truth be told - I think, I look the same with or without make-up.  Mostly because I hate it and I barely put any on anyway.

7.  I have always wanted a Jeep Wrangler.

8.  I love the rims on my car.  I love my car [until I go in for scheduled  maintenance].  Yikes.

9.  My first car was a white Toyota Celica. 

10.  I hate playing video games [other than wii]

11.  I love my glock.  Wish I had more time to go shooting.

12.  I'm addicted to powerade zero.

13.  I wish my car was a stick-shift [and an Enzo].  I love that my dad taught me how to drive one at our church parking lot [he wasn't allowed to cuss there].  That poor Hyundai. 

14.  I remember being 15 and eating five long johns [donuts] one Sunday before church.

15.  My Mom used to let me eat butter like an apple.  Ya, my right thigh thanks you a lot Mom.

16.  My right thigh is bigger than my left.  No joke.

17.  I'd never, ever, ever get plastic surgery on my face.  Never.  Not because I don't think I could use a smaller forehead or smaller nose but because PS face - never turns out right.

18.  I made the Varsity Volleyball team as a freshman.  The first one ever in 5A [state & district] history. Who says, I live in the past?!

19.  Favorite game to play with Peanut:  Apples to Apples.  She rocks it.

20.  I wash my cell phone at least four times a day.

21.  Birds scare me.

22.  I hate black licorice.

23.  After 11.5 years of marriage, I still don't understand Rugby.  When can I give up?

24.  I have never had to go to Jury Duty.

25.  I will not/cannot eat re-heated meat.