Run Fat Girl Run!!!!

Photo by CharcoalArtist

Ok so I don’t really consider my self fat, just a bit curvy….ye, that’s it… curvy. But in the past year or so I have had this real nasty urge to take up jogging/running. When I first told my mother about my new found ambition, she laughed and said “our family is not cut out for running” but AHhAH!!! Sweet mother you are mistaken! I pointed out that a recent family member of ours had taken up the sport. This is my crazy beautiful cousin Ashley.


And it was THIS post on her blog recently that made me think that I actually COULD probably do this. Now granted Ashley I believe you probably are way fitter than I to begin with, but we do still have the same blood line, so I like to think that in some physical sense we may be the same…… Photo by AdamDimech

Over the past year I have tried to do a bit of jogging, usually early in the morning (think 5:30 am) with the dog in tow. And at first it hurt….it hurt BAD….. My body felt like it was taking the pounding of a lifetime, and I only did it three days a week, for 5 minutes, not what you would call marathon material. Also let me get this straight, I have no desire to run in a marathon. Right now I just want to be able to go out maybe after work or before work and get my body moving. I love those 5 minutes when I try to jog my creaky bones down to the end of the block, the freedom of almost flying, and the high I get right before I collapse into a pile of defeat on my living room floor.

I am currently trying to research some programs that could get me up to speed, and fall is the perfect time to do it considering I join the gym each October for the cold season. I have a treadmill at my disposal there, where I can hopefully slowly but surely train my body to accept its new found pavement bashing. From what I hear, the pounding feeling and joint soreness go away after awhile.

I am also hoping that this helps melt away a few minor pounds considering my eating habits aren’t real bad, I think I just need some exercise. I want to push my self to get out there and really do it, and really amaze myself. And I am not sure what has ever held me back. So at 30, I think now is the time to give it a real go. We shall see how it pans out.

Brutus and Starsky Meet

So Julia has this new pup named Brutus, and for the first time a few weeks ago they met ( that didn't go real well), last week they met for the second time and things went better, after a few good crotch sniffs, we were good to go. We went for a two hour, yes TWO hour, walk in the metro parks, it was gorgeous out, and it felt so good to soak in the last bits of summer. Here are some pics of the pair now know as "Brusky" pronounced brew-ski.
Walking down by the river.LOL Don't you just LOVE this face??Third times a charm!Starsky enjoying his day out with a new friend.

Julias big 26!

Last night was so much fun, it was Julia's 26Th birthday, and we all went out to BD's Mongolian Grill in one of my favorite cities Cleveland Heights (actually the area is known as Coventry Village) Coventry is Cleveland's personal "Greenwich Village NY" very bohemian and liberal. It is home to great places like the Cedar Lee where you can watch artsy fartsy movies you won't see every where else and the legendary Grop Shop "think almost our version of CBGB's but waaaay dirtier."

I love this damn city, and while the hubby was at his motorcycle course, I had the opportunity to go alone, something which I haven't done in years!!

Ok,ok enough gushing.......

We had a wonderful meal at BD's then Julia held me at gunpoint and forced me to help her eat a fudge brownie sunday, it was pure torture and I shall never forgive her.

Julia, at the wine cave, I know it's a dark pic but it looks cool with the light.

After dinner it was off to the Wine Cave, otherwise known as "La Cave:" for drinks, I LOVE THAT PLACE!!! It is literally in the basement of a building, and is very cave like, has little black tables with candles, red and dim lighting, lots of real neat art and very cool people, including our waiter who was a sweetie pie. This place was totally Julia, I tried a delicious wine blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Shirah, very very dry with a hint of sweet aftertaste.

Ian's $25 bottle of beer, but hey it was aged for 30 years!!! (8-9 years older than he is) in a whiskey cask.

Julia, of course got something I cannot pronounce if I tried, and the boys all had imported beers, including Ian who got a $25 bottle of beer, with its own box and bottle necklace (fancy) We all had some really great conversation, the 7 of us, and just kicked back. I drove home warm but not at all drunk, listening to Portishead, as I drove back through the city and home to my sleeping hubby. Happy b-day Julia!

Things I want on Etsy

I love the billowy playfullness of this skirt from bunnymassacare, and the sharp look with black tights
A ultra cool eyeglass case from Fieldofroses
A retro glam red pinup girl dress from missbrache
Well this just exlpains me :) Kick ass pendant from sweetheartsinner
Way kewl Blue Jay earrings from wickedminky, she also has a ton of other "tatoo look" kewl jewelry.

(LINK PROBLEMS) sorry I don't think the links work very well, if you want to see these artists you willhave to go to www.etsy.com and type in their names under user search.

Beauty Booty!!!

Here is a smattering of beauty products I have fallen loyal as hell to recently.

Almay Triple Effect Mascara:
I chose this about 1 year and a half ago when I was getting married, Almay has never irritated my eyes and I wanted something that came in water proof and really lifted and separated my lashes, THIS PRODCUT HOLDS UP!! It has a double sided brush, one with longer bristles and the other with shorter to really get into the root of your lashes. It’s a winner!

Vaseline Firming Lotion:

I am generally a lotion junky and usually switch brands routinely, but I found this one quite by accident, I picked up the wrong bottle in a hurry one day.
And didn’t realize it until I got home. It is NOT greasy at all and leaves your skin feeling really smooth like silk! It also helps to tone your tush and legs and arms as far as overall appearance is concerned, not to mention it smells great! I am a convert!


Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra Lift Daily Targeted Deep Wrinkle Treatment:- WHEW! Long name, but this little tube packs lots of punch!
Fortunately I do not really have a lot of deep wrinkles (thanks Genetics and overly oil skin!) but I do have a few areas that need firming and of course are showing slight laugh lines. This stuff really works! I got a sample in the mail a month ago and was very upset when it ran out, but much to my surprise the price wasn’t too bad around 13-15 dollars at my local CVS, it definitely keeps everything Up Up up!!! And considerably lessened my forehead lines.

V05 Extreme Style Max Hold Hairspray:
An oldie but damn goodie, this is the spray for all you beehive wearing girls; ladies who love to create volume to their fine limp hair.

It is extremely easy to work with, has a fine fine mist and hold beautifully without giving you the dreaded helmet head effect. As in your hair will actually look like you DON’T have spray in it. And when it comes to teasing my hair up all 60’s style, this shit is the cats’ pajamas!!



Hard Candy Eye Candy Eye Palette:

With 9 shades total, this eye pallet is a cant miss, I especially love the blend ability of the black, actually ALL the colors blend exceptionally well and they are all Vegan! So what’s not to love! Thanks to ReLYME for turning me on to this brand!

Benefit-Benetint:

I also picked this cosmetic for my wedding make-up as it is a stain and wouldn’t rub off during the day, the only thing is did do is streak when I had tears roll down my face but blended out quite easily! You can also use it to stain your lips, don’t let the dark red color fool you, it looks right on everyone! And is subtle! It gave me a rosy outlook!

Make-up Forever Full Cover Concealer:
This stuff is great for dark circles, red spots, and general facial afflictions. It is a thick cream, that blends easily and 1 tube will last you at least 6 months!

Now your turn….what are YOUR favorites??

Timeless Beauty

My grandmother is gorgeous, if you tell her to her face she fluffs it off as though you just told her she looked like Jayne Russel. She rolls her eye and waves her hand in the air in a “shooing” motion, and laughs.

But she is, she is 80 something years old and healthier than most of us and has weathered the death of two husbands and two bouts of cancer. One day after she fell and broke her leg, I was helping my mother get grandma into her leg brace, and I noticed, at her age, she had really nice legs! Sure they had some of the blue rivers you get with age, but as far as overall tone, they were perfect! She stated that she was known for her legs when she was younger.

Grandma, circa lete 40's

My grandmother was also slightly brazen, she told me that when she was younger, her older sister Mary worked as a hostess and wore these white high waisted pants, sort of like sailor pants, one day she decided to put them on and go for a walk around the neighborhood, much to her mothers’ dismay. Nice young ladies didn’t wear pants back then, and my grandma was perfectly comfortable showing them off as a fashion statement.

She also taught me a lot about beauty, although she may not even know it, I always remember peeking in her make up bag and seeing lipstick, powder and concealer, (all of which were Covergirl), a company that she has been and still is truthful to today, she always curled her hair in the mornings and finished it off with aqua net, and has a variety of skin lotions and fragrances.

As a child I was completely enamored with her old photos, always trying to do my hair like she did when she was my age, but of course never quite got a handle on those victory rolls till quite sometime later :)

She always tells me stories about my grandfather, whom passed away before I was born, and how he was such and artist and photographer, (must be were I get it) and how she was working in a factory and he was a manager who saw her one day and told a friend, “I am going to marry that woman someday” before they even formally met! My grandfather looking rather like Walt Disney or Clark Gable

She recently had a video made of all the old videos she made when my mother was younger, and in that mix of videos was a silent shot of my grandmother posing for pictures all pin up style on what looked like a card table. I asked her where she got the cute two piece, and she says “it was the kitchen curtains” !! My grandfather took the video about 2 months after my mother was born and it was late at night and everyone was asleep!
Uncle Jim, My mother, grandma,Kathy and Grandpa holding uncle Mike

But she also mentioned my grandfathers dislike of red nail polish, I won’t mention what he said about what it looked like, but lets just say it reminded him of a woman who had a little self indulgent fun around her time of the month. “Sorry Ashley, hope that didn’t gross you out!”

To this day I model my look somewhat off of her younger self, recently when I showed her my pinup pictures from the Madison Show, she said “Marilyn has nothing on you kid” and that made me feel good, coming from an original pinup like her self. :)

Animal Lover? Check this out!

So I have this friend of mine named Lindsay, her and I used to work togethor years ago, well she went off and started her own dog greeting card company. It is called Sincerely Fido, and you need to check it out!!

She has cards for just about every occasion and holiday that you can imagine!

And she also carries a variety of other gift items. Very reasonably priced and super customer service, check her out!! www.sincerelyfido.com