Speaking Words of Bueller, Look Around.

I was singing The Beatles' "Let It Be" as I was trying to figure out what title to give to this post. 30% cheesy, 70% clever. In all seriousness though, part of Broderick's monologue from Ferris Bueller's Day Off has popped up on multiple occasions as of late.


When I opened my Erin Condren* monthly planning notebook upon arrival, this was one of the first pages I saw:

During Super Bowl XLVI, Honda aired this commercial for their 2012 CR-V, in which Broderick pays homage to the genius John Hughes flick that helped escalate his acting career:

The quote also popped up while I was perusing the internet, trying to find the perfect quote to place on the front of my notebook (I wound up going with an excerpt from The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love").

To me, this is a simple quote that speaks volumes. We are a society of rushing. Today while driving, I saw a man eating a burger, a teenager texting while driving, and a mom talking on the phone and yelling at her kids in the back - all while attempting to operate her oversized SUV. We don't take the time to stop and look around as much as we should. When I was working and going to school, my mind would race constantly. My anxiety level was pretty high and to be honest, I didn't make enough time to enjoy my surroundings. Since losing my job six weeks ago, I've had more time to stop and look around. I am more observant, more attuned with myself. The thrice weekly panic attacks I suffered from are no longer. I am a happier person who doesn't want to miss out on life.

Today was a good day. Liz and I started week two of our 5K Runner program. I'm not going to lie, the beginning was horrible. We had two days off in a row, which definitely didn't help. By the end, it got easier, but I felt nauseous (I wasn't properly hydrated and skipped breakfast). I spoke with Niko, who is a personal trainer, to see what I should be doing on my off days, so I am excited to add those exercises into my regimen. 

Tonight was pretty laid back. I watched a few hours of NCIS and took a field trip to the grocery store for a late night snack: 

These are pretty delish and they smell heavenly.

Best Gatorade flavor, hands down.

I have to thank Ainsley from my little artichoke for filling me in on these calorie-laden sugar beasts. She posted a picture on Instagram earlier in the week, and I have been craving them since. The Oreos are pretty delicious, but I don't think they taste much different from the original Oreo. The scent that escapes the bag is mouthwatering. Too bad the flavor wasn't as powerful as the scent. Oh well, I can't complain - it kept me from devouring the whole bag! Before you ask, yes, I ate my cookies and washed them down with Gatorade. Don't knock it til you try it (plus, its not like I dunked them in it)!

Until next time...

Michele

*Erin Condren is running a sale = 40% off on 2012 Life Planners + Gift Labels (they both must be purchased in the same transaction) with the coupon code, ILOVEACOMBO. I was really bummed when I saw this, because if I would have waited a few weeks to order my planner, I could have snagged this awesome deal. Hopefully you will put this to good use!

So, I decided that I'm running a 5K.

When I had walked back to my computer yesterday evening, I had this message flashing at the bottom of Facebook:


Liz: Do you want to do Couch to 5K with me? Then do a 5K at the Bronx Zoo April 28?


This message could not be answered via social network, this required pseudo human interaction. I grabbed my phone, dialed, and when Liz picked up, I was like "What is this about a 5K?' Inquiring minds wanted to know what spurred this out of the blue request.


1. Couch to 5K = 9 week running regimen for those who haven't ran since... ever, I guess? The last time I really ran was when I was late to marching band practice in high school, and I had to do laps around the football field.


2. WCS Run for the Wild at the Bronx Zoo is a 5K that helps raise money for animals. This year, funds will be used to help WCS help animals at the zoo and around the world. The focus this year = the lion.


So, after hearing her out, and taking about thirty seconds to think about it, I said sure, what the hell. I've always wanted to run in some sort of organized event, and accomplishing this before the big 3-0 would be even cooler. We decided that training had to start this weekend, so securing proper running shoes was imperative. Sayville Running Company is a local specialty running store, which I have heard nothing but good things about.


Upon entering the store, a gentleman greeted us and asked what we needed help with. I told him we needed serious help, and told him what we had planned on doing. He told us we were in the right place and told us he would help us find the right pair for our feet. In order to do so, we had to get on a machine that assesses your feet. Unbeknownst to me, I have high arches. After the machine test, I had to walk, with my pants rolled up, so the gentleman could see how I walk. I was told that I was overpronating. I was shown which shoes are the best for my feet. All in less than four minutes.


Seconds after I was shown the shoes that best suited my needs, I had found my dream shoe. Ladies and gentleman, feast your eyes on the ASICS GEL-Noosa Tri 7.

Now, for those who know me, this shoe is an absolute given. I mean, I walked into the store wearing yellow ASICS. I own Doc Martens covered in Sanrio characters. Jeffery Campbell Litas splattered with paint. I like loud, probably because I am loud. Liz smiled and said, "Those shoes are obnoxious, just like you!" While she was teasing me, but there is a bit of truth to that statement. Within fifteen, maaaaybe twenty minutes of walking in the store, we were out the door, new running sneakers in tow. I am stoked beyond repair. How often does a gal have an actual legitimate reason to buy new shoes? I haven't had one in years. 

I signed up for the 5K last night. Between now and April, I will be collecting donations for this cause. If you have a few bucks to spare, you can donate on my page. No donation is too small and all are greatly appreciated. If you're broke, but know a family member who likes donating to worthy causes, pass the link onto them! I'm hoping to raise at least $1,500. I know that is a lot of money, but animals need us to use our voices to help them.

Now, onto other things. My obsession with Greek yogurt has gotten even more delicious. I found some local raw wildflower honey while grocery shopping the other day. Tonight, I drizzled some onto 0% Plain Chobani Greek yogurt. 

I love this wildflower honey so much, I decided to spread some onto a stoned (yes, stoned) wheat thin.

I found out that using locally sourced honey actually helps regarding colds and allergies. It has something to do with the pollen in the area where you live. Not the most technical explanation, but when I read it, it made total sense. Plus, supporting local businesses is one of my favorite ways to give back to the community. 

You might also notice those fancy fingers holding onto that honey covered stoned wheat thin. After almost a week with bare nails, I decided to water marble my nails. I stuck to colors that reminded me of the water, which is one of my favorite places to be. 

Water marble nails are time consuming, a unique way to paint your nails. YouTube has some great water marble tutorials. I would make one, but there enough videos on the subject. I'll spend my time blogging and preparing for this 5K instead!

May the force be with you,

Michele

Always a First Time for Everything.

Starting off a blog for the first time is rather awkward. Similar to the first day of school, or starting a new job. You stand there, wave awkwardly, and introduce yourself, hoping that the folks in front of you don't think you're the ultimate goober.

Hi, I'm Michele. 

There is usually a catalyst for people to embark on a new adventure or project. I have two. I am turning thirty this year, which, at the thought, is exciting and scary at the same time. The second reason was being fired from my job after nine and a half years. Believe it or not, the latter was far more traumatizing.

You are probably thinking, ooh, this should be good! In reality, its a pretty lame story. Long story short, I said something in hindsight, I probably should not have said. Even though my record was near impeccable, the customer is always right and will get what they want, no matter what. Pretty disheartening, huh? 

I am a fan of change, but only if I am prepared. I was not prepared for what happened. I cried for three days straight and didn't leave the house. When I finally left the house, it was to purchase pink semi-permanent hair dye. Odd? Kindof. Since I was a teenager, my remedy to any situation has never been to chop my hair off - it has been to dye it pink. Its not permanent and feeds my need for something outrageous.

Being fired was good thing, though. I got to spend my twenties working with friends and slowly (but surely) obtained my degree. I am a certified History teacher! Major downfall to this? I am having trouble finding a job, within my field and out in the retail world. Trying to find a job in January, after many businesses excess their holiday help, is brutal, to put it nicely.

Every day I am modifying my resume and creating cover letters. My computer desktop has been engulfed by Word documents within a matter of weeks. I wanted to start this blog weeks ago, but I was so sick of looking at the computer, that I pushed it to the wayside. 

My boyfriend, Erich, said that this was the best thing that could have happened to me. He has encouraged me to be creative and enjoy hobbies that I had put on the back burner. My creativity has consisted of nail art (which I'm pretty good at), doodling with colored pencils, playing an unhealthy amount of Scramble with Friends, experimenting in the kitchen, and spending far too much time browsing Pinterest. I must say, I did get many of my food ideas from here, so it wasn't a lost cause. Oh! I've also been taking pictures on my iPhone 4S (why carry a camera when you can do it with your phone?), which now litter my Instagram account. 

When speaking to one of my oldest friends (who also happened to shred my heart like pulled pork on more than one occasion - i'll save that for another blog entry), he told me to do something I've always wanted to do. Easier said than done. My ultimate dream job is to be a pop culture historian. I didn't major in History because I loved learning about  ancient cultures. I mean, that was a perk of the courses, but I really embarked on this degree because I love music dearly. I had wanted to pursue a job in the music industry, but a friend of mine told me that I had to be spineless to be in the industry. He was right. I was too trusting and naive for the industry.

So, to play it safe, like I always do, I decided to obtain a degree in education. I have always loved to help others, so this was a no-brainer. Teaching has been a fantastic experience. Difficult? Absolutely. Rewarding? Far greater than I ever imagined. I would love to be able to teach students and have them enjoy learning as much as I have, but there is still this part of me that wishes I could spend the rest of my days researching and interviewing individuals regarding popular culture, particularly music.

Hopes, dreams, and sob stories aside, this blog will be a conglomerate of interests - food, articles, photos, fashion, adventures, random stories and whatnot. 

Thank you for reading this rather largesse entry. Hopefully you'll stick around to see what else I have to say!

- Michele