my 35 items ...

I had quite a few requests yesterday to see what 35 pieces I decided to keep in my wardrobe. So, here it is. (Note: as a running coach, I do not need "work" clothes, so the vast majority of my items are casual.)

My Closet
My Pants DrawerMy Shirt DrawerThe items are as follows:

1. jeans
2. navy pants
3. black dress pants
4. pink shorts
5. khaki shorts
6. plaid shorts
7. black skirt
8. blue baby doll top
9. pink Nike tee
10. yellow Nike tee
11. purple Nike tee
12. black Nike tee
13. black Punk Rock Racing tee
14. blue Reebok tee
15. pink Disney Princess Half tee
16. white TMB Endurance Training tee
17. gray MTT tee
18. pink Running Skirts tank
19. polka dot tank
20. green/blue tank
21. short-sleeve white hoodie
22. Running Chics gray thermal
23. long-sleeve lime/white striped hoodie
24. NYD 10K long-sleeve tee
25. Indianapolis Marathon long-sleeve tee
26. RLAM Half Marathon long-sleeve tee
27. navy/white striped sweater
28. gray short-sleeved sweater
29. brown turtleneck sweater
30. khaki/white striped sweater
31. beige sweater
32. charcoal gray sweater
33. brown striped dress
34. blue dress
35. brown tank dress

And just in case you were wondering, I donated 44 items, which consisted of 4 pairs of dress pants, 3 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of shorts, 4 skirts, 4 dresses, 7 sweaters, 15 tee shirts, 1 tank top and 4 dress shirts. It scares me to think of the amount of money I spent on all of those excess items ...

simplifying ...

I've mentioned my OCD tendencies one or twice or a thousand times. I don't like clutter. Or excess. Or disorder. Or unfinished projects. Or spontaneity. I am far less stressed when there is structure and schedules and I know what to expect. You might say that I am lack excitement or I am boring, but I like to think of myself as well-prepared and task-oriented. It works for me. And it seems to work for my family. And recently, I have noticed that being slightly OCD can help me simplify my life.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a purger. I have no problem getting rid of the things that have lost their purpose in my life. Old clothes that don't fit, items that I no longer use. I have never really felt the need to hold on to something because I might need it some day or because I associated it to a memory I have.

Recently, I stumbled across THIS blog post and I thought it was an interesting concept. The post sets a challenge to the reader to limit their wardrobe to 33 pieces for three months. Ultimately, the project is intended to show you that you can live with less, something I think most people can benefit from.

So, I decided to accept the challenge with a few modifications.

1. My challenge was not going to last three months. It was going to be a permanent change. Anything that left, was NEVER coming back. And anything that comes in new, MUST replace another item, not "rebuild" my wardrobe.

2. My challenge limited my wardrobe to 35 items, all which have year-round versatility. Items that don't count in the 35 items are wedding ring, underwear, sleep, in-home lounge wear, and workout clothing (you can only wear your workout clothing to workout). In addition to these items, which were part of the original challenge, I also didn't include my 10 pairs of shoes (which include three pairs of running shoes currently in rotation) and accessories (i.e. my watch, my necklace and my RoadID).

And that was it. I cleared my closet and my dresser. I kept only the things that I LOVE and that FIT me properly. The rest was donated.

That was one month ago. And do you know what? I haven't missed a single item that I got rid of. I never wanted to wear something that wasn't there and I never second guessed something I kept. (It's worked out so well that I am planning on reducing my daughters' wardrobes to 35 items as well).

Plus, the challenge has come with added benefits.

• My laundry load has become lighter.
• I can ALWAYS find exactly what I am looking for.
• I don't stress about which outfit I am going to wear. There aren't enough options for that.
• Simplifying my wardrobe has motivated me to simplify other areas of my life. I've been clearing out the excess in all areas of our life, creating more space/better space management.
• Eliminating the excess items has also pushed me to cut back on the "time-suckers" (i.e. Facebook, blogging, my BlackBerry). I am trying to have a few "unplugged" hours each day. Over the Thanksgiving weekend (Thursday - Sunday), I did my best to avoid "time-suckers" all together. I left my phone at home when I went out. I didn't touch the computer. Instead, I spent time with my family and friends without the interference.
• We are managing our finances better. Eliminating the "need" for excess items has curtailed our spending and is allowing us to pay off our debts. We are more thoughtful with how we spend and we have axed our credit cards, hopefully FOREVER.

Honestly, I have yet to see a negative side to this simplicity. I only wonder why I waited so long to do it ...

giving thanks ...

It's funny to me that so many people ONLY feel the need to profess what they are thankful for at Thanksgiving. I honestly believe that appreciating and being thankful of the things in your life needs to happen on a daily basis. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. And things could ALWAYS be worse. We need to take stock in all the good and shift the focus away from the bad. Perspective is the key.

I only say this because I can remember being a child and expecting things to be handed to me on a silver platter. I didn't know or understand all that my parents did to provide for us. And now that I have my own family, I do and I hope I can impart that message to my daughters. To help them see that it is not the material things in life that matter, but rather the experiences and people that fill our days.

In the past year, I have had plenty of moments that I have been thankful for and plenty that I would like to forget. And I am stronger and wiser and better off because of all of them. I have worked to remove negativity and replace it with positive people, experiences and energy. And today, like everyday, I am feeling blessed by all the things that fill my days, including ...

• My loving and supportive husband. He encourages me to follow my passions, understands my quirks and is there for me 100%.
• My three beautiful daughters. They light up my day (even when they are driving me crazy). They give me reason to live the best life I can, to be a positive example and to cherish the moment.
• My mom and sisters. The older I get, the more I appreciate them. We don't agree on everything and we all have our moments, but in the end I love them more that I can express.
• My running solemate, G. She gets it. Good run. Bad run. And every run in between. She pushes me and lets me push her back, something that should not be underestimated.
• "The Posse." Runners first, logical thinkers second. They are all crazy enough to sacrifice sleep to run with a friend (even if they have "better" options). They know when to push the pace and when to hold back. We are united by a common love and drive with a little bit of healthy competition thrown in just to make things interesting.
• My body. No, it's not perfect. But, it has created three of the cutest creatures I have ever laid eyes on. And it proves to me everyday just how powerful it is.
• A healthy family. Enough said.
  
• Patience. My girls can prove to be a challenge. And the one thing that keeps me from complete insanity is patience. And coffee. But mostly, patience.

How are you filling your days?

10 years later ...

This Saturday is my 10 year high school reunion. I always thought I would be excited for this day, but honestly, as it gets closer, it's kind of losing it's appeal.

I think part of this stems from the fact that I had a "movie scene" reunion in my head. You know the one. The girl who everyone expected to turn out one way, shows up and shocks everyone with how she has transformed herself in the years since they last had contact. But now, with the prevalence of Facebook, I feel like I already "know" everything I want to about the people in my past. And they could just as easily find out about me, if they so desired.

And if we are being honest here, I'm not really a social person. I have a few uber-close friends and that's pretty much it. I don't really "try" when it comes to friendships. Like with love, I feel that if people are supposed to be in your life they will be. Friendships should be easy. The ones that are tend to last and those that aren't will eventually dissipate.

With that said, of all the people I went to high school with (I graduated with over 400 people), I only still speak to one person. And she's been one of my best friends since I was three. So, I'm sure Saturday night will be interesting.

But, maybe I am wrong. Maybe I will have a blast and the night will be worth the 80 dollars J and I forked over for it. You never really know.

What I do know is that you are about to be treated to a flashback.

This is my senior portrait ...


And this is me and G on Halloween ...

This is me as the quarterback for our Powder Puff Football team during the fall of senior year ...

This is proof that "the quads" (shown below) ...

are a genetic gift. I've had them all along ...

(Note: I wore those sandals to my senior prom. And I still have them.)

Was your reunion worth the trip back home?

you wanted to know, questions 56-65 ...

When I had my 1,000 mile giveaway, a requirement for entry was to ask me a question. Any question. And I promised to answer them in a series of posts. Here are questions 56-65 ...

Shelley asked, "Don't your legs get hot, running in knee socks?"

They used to. But not so much anymore. I guess I have become acclimated to them. And honestly, I just don't like to run without them. In the winter, the socks are a wardrobe lifesaver, allowing me to wear my skirts year-round. And in the summer, I look at them as UV-protection. They are the perfect combination of fashion and function.

Lish asked, "Do you stretch? Before or After? Do you have a routine?"


I have touched on this before, but in case you missed it, I don't EVER stretch. I've just never made time for it in my routine and I don't feel like I have been negatively affected by it. Some people are all about stretching, and that's cool. I'm just not into it.


With that said, if you are going to stretch - NEVER STRETCH COLD MUSCLES. Warm up before stretching. Or, better yet, stretch AFTER your run.

Shanda asked, "What's the most played song on you Ipod?"

I don't run with my iPod all that often and I only have 53 songs on it, so all of them have about the same number of plays. But, there is a winner. With 2 more plays than the rest of the songs, "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas, comes out on top.

Paige (Two Runners and a Brown Dog) asked, "Do you have any aches and pains that just won't go away? I sure do!"


Fortunately, no. I do always get the same pain in my knee (going up and down stairs) when I need to replace my shoes. Other than that, I usually feel pretty good.

Runners Fuel asked, "What is your favorite time of day to run?"

I have two times.

The first one is at 5:30 a.m. I love getting out there while most people are still sleeping. Plus, it's so nice to have my run done before my day starts. The only drawback of running at that time is that I have to force myself to get out of bed. No matter how early I go to bed, waking up at 5 a.m. is never easy.

The second time is around 9 a.m. And I'm not really sure why. I just like running then.

Jesser asked, "What is your favorite leisure thing to do aside from running?"


Easy. Watching TV. I have dubbed myself as, "The Most Active Couch Potato." J and I watch a TON of television and thanks to Tivo we never have to miss our favorites (reality TV and teenage dramas, in case you were wondering). I have never been interested in going out. I would much rather lounge in my pajamas and hang out on the couch. I know. I'm boring. But, I'm cool with it.

Nicole asked, "If there's one thing that you want your girls to learn from your running, what would it be?"

That's a tough one. I think that there is a lot that can be learned from running and I would love for them to take it all in. But, I guess if I had to choose one thing, I would hope that they would take away a love for being active. To see that, for me, running isn't about walking away with a medal, but rather walking away with pride in what you have accomplished. Yes, it would be great if they all decided that running was something they wanted to do, but I know it's not for everyone. I just hope that they can see the love I have for the sport and they can find that for something that they can feel the same way about.

Sarah asked, "What's your favorite restaurant and what do you get there?"

I have rarely found a restaurant that I didn't like. Honestly, I just LOVE food. But, the item that I most often crave is a Chicken Burrito from Chipotle. And I always order it just like this: chicken, rice, black beans, lettuce and HOT salsa (I LOVE spicy food). J says I'm missing out by not ordering the cheese, sour cream and guacamole. But, I have to disagree.

*~* *~* *~* *~* *~* Tracy asked, "When training for a very hilly half marathon, which do you think is more important - hill repeats or fartleks?"

Easy. Hills. Hill repeats are essentially a form of speed work. And if you are going to run a hilly race, training on hills is crucial.

Canadian Runner asked, "Do you have any none sporty activities that you like to do?"

Well, there's that whole TV thing I mentioned before.

But other than that, organizing. I am slightly OCD and HATE clutter. I have an incessant need to organize things and shockingly, I actually find it quite relaxing.

Zaneta asked, "What is the one non-healthy treat that you could eat TONS of?"

Well, as you are probably aware of, I am slightly obsessed with cupcakes from a local shop called Two Sweet Cupcakes. I ate so many of them last year that I set myself a quota in 2010. I capped myself at 50. I am currently at 43. And trust me, I will eat all 50 by the end of the year.

Other than that, I LOVE chocolate. So much so, that I have been known to eat chocolate chips by the handful. It's kind of sad ...

seeing pink ...

Last Wednesday, I volunteered to work Dizzle's Thanksgiving Feast. She was so excited for the party. Part of the excitement was because I was coming, but it mostly stemmed from the fact that she got to eat her first (and probably last) school lunch. All she kept saying was, "This is so cool! I get to eat off a tray!"

(I just think this picture is funny.)

Anyway, the kids were wicked cute. They all dressed as "Indian Princesses and Princes" (at least that's what Dizzle called them) and the teachers dressed as Pilgrims. It was a fun time for all and Dizzle made sure that Doodle knew what she had missed out on.

But, no worries. Doodle had a rebuttal. Her Thankgiving Feast is scheduled for today. And they get to put on a show too. Dizzle was instantly jealous. She knows how much fun an ACP Thanksgiving is (heck, she was part of the last two ACP Thanksgivings). She even asked me to take her out of school so that she could come with us. Finally, Doodle had one-upped Dizzle.

Or so we thought. Because yesterday at 4 p.m., Doodle looked like this. (Look away if you have a weak stomach ...)

Yes, you guessed it.

PINKEYE

Fan-freaking-tastic! Now, we have to miss her Thanksgiving Feast, Dizzle is no longer jealous and I have to deal with an angry three-year old (and if you've met Doodle, you know this is bad).

But, you know what? Even with a fresh batch of pinkeye attacking my house, I am thankful. Because if nothing else, Doodle's illness saved me from the 1,200+ calories I probably would have eaten this morning ...

Run Naked Winner ...

Remember last week when I told you to Run Naked? Well, thanks to random.org, we are about to find out who will get the chance to do just that. But first, here are the photo submissions I received for my "Show me your reflective gear contest."

(Note: the vast majority of you said you don't own any reflective gear. PLEASE get some. Heck, Christmas is coming. Ask for some.)

OK, back to the contest. Here are the entries ...

Lesley @ Racing It Off

Marlene @ Mission to a(nother) Marathon

Karen @ The Burrows Underground

S Club Mama @ S Club 4

Jess @ Blonde Ponytail


I had two prize packs for this contest. And since it is my blog, I make the rules. The first prize pack was awarded to my FAVORITE picture. And the winner is ...

Marlene @ Mission to a(nother) Marathon

The remaining names were put into a hat and a winner was drawn. And that winner is ...

Karen @ The Burrows Underground

Ladies, email me with your mailing address and I will send you out your prizes!

AND NOW THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR THE WINNER OF THE RUN NAKED GIVEAWAY ... (that was my announcer voice)

There were 373 entries and thanks to random.org, the winner is lucky number 112 ...

Kadie @ There She Runs

Congrats Kadie! Please email me with your shirt choice (either women's cut or unisex), size, color choice and mailing address to claim your prize.