Dress to Impress. And eat some protein for goodness sake.

Hi. I hope the Single Gal kept you entertained while the Housewife family was on vacation. Everything was wonderful with a few minor annoying details. Good news is #1 started walking while we were away. I mean, I guess it's good news. Someone asked me about it and I said, "Well either she's chasing me around the house or I'm chasing her."

We vacationed with Turtle's entire family and we had decent weather for most of the week. The only storm cloud seemed to be that certain family members didn't think we feed #1 enough protein and her pajamas were too small. I JUST bought her new 9 month pajamas people. I can't help that she is a little long for them in the feet and legs. I will take you to the baby store and show you the 12 month size that frankly looks like it's meant for a small giant. They are way too long for #1 right now. While I realize these comments were meant with love in their hearts I did get tired of the protein question by the 5th time it was mentioned. AGAIN. Over and over. Then the comment "I guess there are vegetarian babies out there" comes out.  Look, #1 just won't eat a lot of meat right now and generally the pediatricians say they get most of their proteins from the formula/milk. I'm not worried about it. Peace protein.

LOVED the beach. LOVED it. 

Back to the point of this post. The first birthday party is quickly approaching and I promised a sneak peak of the birthday girls attire. Again, it's not perfect but it's not too shabby for someone who didn't know how to sew a button on anything before making it. For real. Before I started sewing I mentally made a list of all the things I knew how to do. I can cut the grass, blow the driveway off, weed eat, and drive a five speed. (Obviously I can do more than that but I was thinking more of the "life skills" that I have.) I figured I was more suited to learn how to run a tractor than figure out how to use a sewing machine. But now I can sew. I clearly need to acquire more "housewife" like skills.

Ignore my dirty front door. 

There you have it. And can I get any shout outs for it not being pink??? I think the birds are darling. It reverses to polk a dots. She will probably have to wear some little white bloomers under it because the hem is a little shorter than I would like in the back but that's okay.

The sewing machine repair man called yesterday. Looks like it will cost more than what my vintage machine is worth to get it in good working order. Please send donations for a new sewing machine.

The Housewife

"I Don't Want No Scrub..."

So, I come home the other day and I am utterly horrified and embarrassed to find this in my mailbox: 

Yeah. That's right.  I seriously got pegged with a singles flyer.  A direct mailing and not some internet ad.  So I come in the house and I am thinking to myself, "Sweet Jesus.  Is this what rock bottom feels like? How did they find me? How did I get on this list!"  Basically,  I am standing in my kitchen dying a small death on the inside... 

...And then I turn the card over.  Sweet baby Jesus it was addressed to my neighbor and clearly put in my mailbox by mistake! 

At first I was relieved, but then I was super offended. I mean, Neighbor Pete was arrested for murder last year.  Murder people! I mean, I guess it's still alleged at this time....pending trial and all. (Note: I don't live in the ghetto, this is just a weird "All My Children" story-line that seriously occurred in real life -- basic love triangle, mistress and lover [Neighbor Pete] are just trying to be together and set mistress's husband's house on fire oops her husband just happened to be found dead in his burned up house.)  Anyway, this basically ends up bringing several concerns to the forefront of the "Single Gal Worries" section of my brain: 

• Why is neighbor Pete getting this mailer instead of me? He is clearly a murdering Scrub. Or rather, a Scrub suspected of murder.
• I will obviously be doing background checks on potential mates...which could get costly.
• I need to start praying harder to Little Baby Jesus if I am going to find someone to "put a ring on it" that's worth a damn. 
• Life isn't like all those songs Taylor Swift keeps releasing. What a liar. 

I'll be pondering these questions and more this week while I am busy putting down 32 miles over 3 days for the start of another really hard training block for the marathon with The Housewife.  I would complain, but I am pretty enthusiastic about the post break-up work outs I now have time for because I love to get "revenge hot".  And this time I mean business. It's not that I wasn't completely fabulous before, but I am seriously in the throes of getting Kate-Middleton-I-Told-You-Prince-Will-That-You-Would-Come-Crawling-Back revenge hot.  I figure running 19 miles on Saturday has got to have some sort of lasting benefit. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Gear Up

Our weekly mileage is really creeping up into serious double digits these days. We will probably be looking at 30-40ish miles per week until a few weeks before the marathon. It's only right that we share some of the things we love that help us through those long (and sometimes short) workouts. I'm not going to post our specific running shoes for one reason; you need to be fit for the shoe that is good for YOU (no more picking shoes because they're pretty). We recommend going to a local running store that specializes in this and they can hook you up with shoes that are like running on clouds.

shoe that fits you

Again, everyone is different but if you're going long you need fuel. This would include a fuel belt and getting calories back into your body. I prefer a larger water bottle instead of four little tiny ones. That little bottle attached to it is to fill with gel (see below) so you don't have 400 gel packs and trash to get rid of while you are running. We certainly don't condone littering on this blog people. Save the planet. 

Nathan Elite Plus Fuel Belt

Power Bar Gel Strawberry Banana

This is our flavor of preference because I can't seem to stomach the Vanilla flavored ones at all.......or anything chocolate for that matter either. This flavor also has caffeine in it.........and who wouldn't like a hit of caffeine when you're running insane amounts of miles??? Also, when you buy these at the grocery store it never fails that the cashier will question what they are and what the heck they are for. 

Last but not least the infamous Nike Tempo Track Shorts are the go-to for us when we are out sweating to the oldies.  It's hot in Georgia most of the time and hey, you really need something that dries out fast if you sweat like we do!  These are awesome and worth the money.

And here's the PS for you. I won't explain it; I'll just let you figure it out. This is a must have product though. Trust me. 

Happy Running! What products do you love? Can't live without something? Let us know! Also, anyone know much or tried these Sweaty Bands headbands? We have read great reviews but still don't believe there is a headband out there this cute that doesn't slip!

~The Single Gal and The Housewife~

Sunday Funday = Monday Bumday

The Housewife has seriously been wearing me out with all this running! I was so tired from 17 miles on Saturday that I made a lackluster attempt at having a few cold ones on Saturday while we were watching football (Sooooo sad about The Dawgs!).  On top of that I was a little overzealous yesterday when I was @Phipps Plaza patio lunching and shopping with my bestie EBM (does it get any better?). Ok, I was really overzealous.  A bottle of wine and 1 vodka soda later we happily ate our Tavern Chips and cruised the mall for hours.  Except that I felt like utter, complete poop today at work.  Seriously--I think I drove into work with the sweats at 7 this morning. I had to put the air conditioner on full blast for my entire commute. And I am a morning person tried and true.

No joke, this was the brand of Sauv Blanc we were drinking.  Should have listened to that label -- but this could be a legitimate instance where "no means yes". 

In reality, other than the accomplishment of the longest run of my life (to date) it was really not a productive weekend for The Single Gal -- unless you count the awesome Lilly Pulitzer sale items I snagged at Belk. A lot of DVR was conquered, some laundry, and a serious day o' fun with a friend on Sunday.  But here are few things I totes meant to put up last week when I never got around to blogging. 

Found a new Essie color -- "Over the Edge"! I am seriously obsessed with all things gray and this shade is so gunmetal without being too Twilight...I think. What are your thoughts -- is it too "Sons of Anarchy"? Does my hand look fat because I cut part of it off in this photo?

Starting a new collection for the gold stack. Sure, would I love all the new Michael Kors stuff? Cha. But Hogan would be starving if I bought any of them. And me too, probably. These beauties can be found at your local Forever 21 store. I know the panthers/jaguars/whatever that is are kind of out there. Fashion is hard y'all. I'm taking some chances these days.

Also, currently reading and fairly disappointed in the following:

One Day by David Nicholls

 

Now I'm off to prep some beach necessities for The Housewife -- ironing some cover-ups for her and making a pile of goodies for her to wear while on her vacay.  Now that I am back from St. Simons and most lake days and pool days are gone with the advent of Fall it is only fitting I send them with her for one last voyage.  After all, all good things must come to an end -- even this blazing hot summer we have had in Georgia this year.  

Fall Fridays

I don't know about everyone else but I'm really enjoying the return of college football, cooler weather and seem to have a hankering to bake bake bake! I was very disappointed to discover that the grocery store wasn't stocking any canned pumpkin yet. I've been waiting to make some fabulous pumpkin bread but had to settle for banana bread.

Pumpkin Bread Courtesy of Simply Recipes 

I forgot how September is almost sports "overload" with the start of football, trying to keep up with the potential wild card teams for baseball and the US Open. I think my head was spinning from all of the activity last weekend. I know I should watch the news in the morning but it's just so depressing I have now defaulted to Mike and Mike on ESPN (Greene is so cute). 

I promise to put up #1's handmade dress soon. It's almost done. We've had some factory mechanical issues over here in the Housewife household but I'm holding strong on the winning end of them. I will be sending my beloved vintage girl off for some servicing TLC next week so she can be in tip top shape. Besides I am also itching to do a fall applique for her like this:

We need something cute to go to the pumpkin patch this year. We didn't make it last year since she was about two weeks old. I will preface this by the fact that I may have my friend help me who actually has an embroidery machine but my machine can applique too. I'm in love with my new hobby in case you didn't notice.

What's everyone else been up to? Are you enjoying the temperature dips and tailgating? Anyone running  more like the Single Gal and myself? We will be the first to tell you we are SO very glad about these awesome running temps for our early morning Saturday runs (followed by an iced coffee from Starbucks of course). I hope they stick around.

The Housewife

Write A Post, Help A Dog Campaign 2011

Hi Y'all! I saw this post go up on another blog I came across and just had to participate.  It only takes a few minutes to write a post and for each one the Pedigree Foundation will donate 20 pounds of food to a shelter.  This effort is to help raise awareness about the 4 million dogs that end up in shelters and breed rescue programs each year.   I am a late comer to this great use of social media but if you want to participate as well all blog posts are due before midnight tonight (September 3) so y'all hurry up and put down a few words. 

This post is for my sweet Hogan, who brought more love into my home than it's ever known and also for The Housewife's sweet Bailey who is no longer with us but remembered all the time. 

Hogan

Here are the deets: 

• -- For each blog post mentioning the Pedigree Foundation from now until midnight ET on September 3, Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of its new dry Pedigree recipe food for dogs — its best recipe ever — to a shelter, because every dog deserves leading nutrition.
• -- Feel free to make your post more visually appealing by using either or both of the two images seen in this post.

 -- The Pedigree Foundation — a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization is committed to helping dogs by providing grants to shelters and rescues and encouraging dog adoption. This year the Foundation has already raised more than $376,570 against its goal of $1.5 million to carry out its work to fund grants that not only help shelters operate, but to further shelter innovations.


There should be a blog hop link in here with a code that will help lists all blogs that completed their post so they can keep track of them for donations! 


Make sure you use the blog hop code thingymajig so they can keep track of your posts!

~the single gal~