Workouts:
Monday: Swim 1,700 yards + easy run 2.5 miles (14:31 pace)
First time exceeding a mile (1 swim mile = 1,650 yards) in a swim workout!
Tuesday: Ballet class (75 minutes)
Wednesday: Easy run 3.0 miles (14:02 pace), with a few strides in the last mile
Thursday: Swim 600 yards (in a 25-foot-long hotel pool)
Friday: Treadmill run 2.0 miles (13:30 pace)
Saturday: Rest day, only about 30 minutes walking to/from the expo and dinner
Sunday: Seattle Half Marathon in 2:52:15 (13:09 pace)
Total swimming: 2,300 yards
Total running: 20.6 miles
I was hoping to get my race recap up today, but my Garmin isn't cooperating to get my data from it. I'm actually ok with my time - it's only 3 1/2 minutes slower than my PR, and since that PR was set on a race called "the Flat", and the Seattle course is decidedly not flat, I believe I did put forth a comparable, and my best, effort.
Next, moving on to 5ks, so need to bring back the speedwork! As mentioned last week, I have a 5k on NYE (likely my last chance to get a sub-30 for my 30 Before 30 list before my birthday - although I do think I can set a PR, I'm not sure about beating it by that much), another 5k in February, and the stair climb in January.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Traveling in the Modern Age
Warning: This is definitely going to get a bit "in my day, we walked barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways, just to get to the car..."
As many of you likely did, we've been traveling this weekend for Thanksgiving. We went up to spend the holiday with my mom's family in Tacoma - which is fortunately a shorter drive for me now (about 2.5 hours) than it was coming from eastern Washington.
But when I was kid, we'd often travel to relatives' houses - about 6.5 hours across the state to Tacoma for my mom's side, and a couple hours up to Spokane for my dad's side. Our biggest vacation trips were also via car - we drove to California and to Texas on summer trips.
How did my sister and I keep busy on those long drives? We had a lot of books to read (both of us were avid readers from an early age, and eventually were big into Agatha Christie mysteries). We listened to NPR and tapes from NPR shows, specifically Car Talk and Prairie Home Companion. We played car games like the alphabet game, and had Klutz activity books and kits (in particular I remember a travel game one, that included parcheesi with little sticky cubes for the pieces that stuck to the board).
When traveling today, I'll admit to being a bit too reliant on my phone for entertainment (when not the one driving) (though, smartphones also have some important uses while traveling, too!). But I'm trying to use the time instead to be engaged in conversation with Abe, listen to the radio, and read actual books.
This got me thinking about what we'll do when we have kids. Do kids these days ever not stay occupied with electronics on road trips? I see movies playing in vans virtually all the time! I hear parents talking about ipads for their toddlers. Do these kids even know how to entertain themselves?
It seems like families focus more on not letting their kids get bored during a road trip - but what better opportunity for several hours in the car than to teach your kids how to occupy themselves and their minds? Easier said than done of course, as I have yet to have to up with a kid in a van for a day! But I'd like to think it can still happen.
As many of you likely did, we've been traveling this weekend for Thanksgiving. We went up to spend the holiday with my mom's family in Tacoma - which is fortunately a shorter drive for me now (about 2.5 hours) than it was coming from eastern Washington.
But when I was kid, we'd often travel to relatives' houses - about 6.5 hours across the state to Tacoma for my mom's side, and a couple hours up to Spokane for my dad's side. Our biggest vacation trips were also via car - we drove to California and to Texas on summer trips.
How did my sister and I keep busy on those long drives? We had a lot of books to read (both of us were avid readers from an early age, and eventually were big into Agatha Christie mysteries). We listened to NPR and tapes from NPR shows, specifically Car Talk and Prairie Home Companion. We played car games like the alphabet game, and had Klutz activity books and kits (in particular I remember a travel game one, that included parcheesi with little sticky cubes for the pieces that stuck to the board).
When traveling today, I'll admit to being a bit too reliant on my phone for entertainment (when not the one driving) (though, smartphones also have some important uses while traveling, too!). But I'm trying to use the time instead to be engaged in conversation with Abe, listen to the radio, and read actual books.
This got me thinking about what we'll do when we have kids. Do kids these days ever not stay occupied with electronics on road trips? I see movies playing in vans virtually all the time! I hear parents talking about ipads for their toddlers. Do these kids even know how to entertain themselves?
It seems like families focus more on not letting their kids get bored during a road trip - but what better opportunity for several hours in the car than to teach your kids how to occupy themselves and their minds? Easier said than done of course, as I have yet to have to up with a kid in a van for a day! But I'd like to think it can still happen.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Seattle Half Marathon: Race Goals
My most recent half marathon was the FT Flat last July; it just wasn't a good day for me, and I went over three hours, when I thought I could avoid doing that ever again, after my first half marathon (when I was just proud to have finished, regardless of time).
Before that, it was a full year back to the FT Flat the prior year, where I set my current official half PR. Though in between I ran my one and only marathon, during which I ran the first half faster than that half PR! Note: that's not a very good pacing strategy for a full marathon.
This training cycle, I started out pretty strong, but between getting lazy, some work stress, and colder-than-normal weather, that eventually petered out and I hardly did any speed training the past month, and only got up to 10 miles for my long run (though, did do that twice!).
So, I'm not sure how overly ambitious these goals might be.
A goal: 2:42:53 (12:26) - beat my unofficial PR
B goal: 2:48:42 (12:57) - beat official PR
C goal: 2:59:59 (13:43) - beat three hours
Fortunately, the weather is about as good as could be hoped for on the western side of WA or OR during the last weekend of November - very cold, probably right around 30 degrees during the race - but DRY and sunny!
The last time I ran a late fall or winter race was the Holiday Half in Portland, which is in mid-December, a couple years ago, when it was not just cold (35 - 40, I think), but also very rainy, and very windy. It was quite a miserable experience. And that's the main reason I picked the Seattle Half when I decided I wanted another longer race for the year, hoping that those couple weeks earlier in the year would keep the weather from being quite so nasty!
So I expect to be quite chilly before the race (but I'm staying at a motel just a quarter mile away from the start, so I can delay my arrival pretty late, without worrying about parking), but otherwise my biggest concern will be the hills. There are supposed to be some flat sections, but also a lot of hilly parts. (I've looked at the course map, just not familiar enough with Seattle for it to register what the terrain what will actually be like.)
Mostly, I'm hoping to run well enough to not be miserable, and remember that I actually do enjoy running and am doing this voluntarily. :)
Before that, it was a full year back to the FT Flat the prior year, where I set my current official half PR. Though in between I ran my one and only marathon, during which I ran the first half faster than that half PR! Note: that's not a very good pacing strategy for a full marathon.
This training cycle, I started out pretty strong, but between getting lazy, some work stress, and colder-than-normal weather, that eventually petered out and I hardly did any speed training the past month, and only got up to 10 miles for my long run (though, did do that twice!).
So, I'm not sure how overly ambitious these goals might be.
A goal: 2:42:53 (12:26) - beat my unofficial PR
B goal: 2:48:42 (12:57) - beat official PR
C goal: 2:59:59 (13:43) - beat three hours
Fortunately, the weather is about as good as could be hoped for on the western side of WA or OR during the last weekend of November - very cold, probably right around 30 degrees during the race - but DRY and sunny!
The last time I ran a late fall or winter race was the Holiday Half in Portland, which is in mid-December, a couple years ago, when it was not just cold (35 - 40, I think), but also very rainy, and very windy. It was quite a miserable experience. And that's the main reason I picked the Seattle Half when I decided I wanted another longer race for the year, hoping that those couple weeks earlier in the year would keep the weather from being quite so nasty!
So I expect to be quite chilly before the race (but I'm staying at a motel just a quarter mile away from the start, so I can delay my arrival pretty late, without worrying about parking), but otherwise my biggest concern will be the hills. There are supposed to be some flat sections, but also a lot of hilly parts. (I've looked at the course map, just not familiar enough with Seattle for it to register what the terrain what will actually be like.)
Mostly, I'm hoping to run well enough to not be miserable, and remember that I actually do enjoy running and am doing this voluntarily. :)
Thursday, November 27, 2014
The Introvert's Thanksgiving
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I have much to be thankful for, including a loving and supportive family, but I must say, I am thoroughly exhausted at this point, after a mere 8 hours or so in a small-ish house full of relatives. It did start out quite enjoyable, but by the end of the evening it was all I could do to keep from yelling "I don't care!" to anyone trying to show me the latest vacation book.
It actually wasn't too difficult to find my non-peopled space at family gatherings - my sister and I were both known bookworms, so curling up with a book in a corner of the living room was far from strange. Nowadays, as an adult, I think it would be a bit stranger to isolate from the group with an actual group. It does seem ok to occasionally pull out my phone, but there just wasn't much space to actually get away from the ongoing conversations even while doing so.
Fellow grown--up introverts: how do you make sure you have enough space at family events without insulting anyone?
I have much to be thankful for, including a loving and supportive family, but I must say, I am thoroughly exhausted at this point, after a mere 8 hours or so in a small-ish house full of relatives. It did start out quite enjoyable, but by the end of the evening it was all I could do to keep from yelling "I don't care!" to anyone trying to show me the latest vacation book.
It actually wasn't too difficult to find my non-peopled space at family gatherings - my sister and I were both known bookworms, so curling up with a book in a corner of the living room was far from strange. Nowadays, as an adult, I think it would be a bit stranger to isolate from the group with an actual group. It does seem ok to occasionally pull out my phone, but there just wasn't much space to actually get away from the ongoing conversations even while doing so.
Fellow grown--up introverts: how do you make sure you have enough space at family events without insulting anyone?
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
My Thanksgiving Turkey
No, I haven't changed my mind since yesterday to eat a turkey. I "adopted" a turkey!
Meet Turpentine:
Farm Sanctuary, a farm animal rescue and advocacy organization, is doing their annual "adopt a turkey" fundraiser. In exchange for your donation to the non-profit organization, you receive a cute certificate and photo of the turkey you choose to adopt.
Did you know [source]:
Meet Turpentine:
Farm Sanctuary, a farm animal rescue and advocacy organization, is doing their annual "adopt a turkey" fundraiser. In exchange for your donation to the non-profit organization, you receive a cute certificate and photo of the turkey you choose to adopt.
Did you know [source]:
- Researchers have identified 30 distinct vocal sounds in turkeys.
- Turkeys recognize each other by their unique voices.
- Turkeys form strong social bonds that can last a lifetime.
- Turkey's heads change color depending on their mood.
- Possessing superb geographic skills, turkeys can mentally map up to 1,000 acres.
- More than 46 million turkeys are killed each year for Thanksgiving alone.
You know what most of those facts remind me of? My own cats, the pets that are part of my household and my family, and whom I lovingly care for and protect. They - cats and turkeys - may not be capable of human intelligence, but they are nonetheless smart, beautiful creatures who are capable of loving and being loved.
Maybe, instead of basting a turkey tomorrow, you'll consider adopting Turpentine, Gable, Anna, Tibbott, Elsa, Cecelia, or Martha.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Thanksgiving: The Veg Entree Dilemma
In large part, I can't complain about holiday meals - especially Thanksgiving - even though I'm vegetarian. Rolls, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie. On Christmas, add in cookies of many varieties. All vegetarian, all things I love.
However, even if it's just a handful of days a year, it's not exactly ideal to have a meal totally comprised of refined carbs. So what to bring as an alternative to the main dish?
For a while, I always brought Tofurkey. My mom always had some, and even my dad would put some on his plate and at least pretend to tolerate it; but the extended family was significantly less enthusiastic. I'm actually not a a huge fan of it myself - I mean, it's ok, especially with ketchup, but it's by no means the most delicious thing ever.
I also really don't like the idea of pretending to eat meat, or something that's overtly trying to take the place of meat. I want a less-carby entree, sure, but utilizing products like a Tofurkey just makes you a party to reinforcing the concept that a main dish is "supposed" to be meat-based. I'd also really like to introduce the omnivores I love to meatless entrees that don't scream that they're vegetarian, so eventually I started branching out into other dishes to bring for my veggie contribution.
2011: A rice-stuffed squash. I can't find the exact recipe I used, but it was less a recipe than just instructions to assemble a boxed rice mix into a scooped out squash.
2012: Maple coconut baked tofu
2013: My contribution was in desserts (nanaimo bars), but we had Thanksgiving day with Abe's family which mostly leans at least flexitarian, so there was actually a Tofurkey as a main part of the meal, which more than just me partook in!
2014: We're planning to make this kale salad. I think the cranberries will make it nice and festive, and despite being kale I think most of the relatives there will at least be willing to try it. :)
What's your favorite non-meat holiday dish?
However, even if it's just a handful of days a year, it's not exactly ideal to have a meal totally comprised of refined carbs. So what to bring as an alternative to the main dish?
For a while, I always brought Tofurkey. My mom always had some, and even my dad would put some on his plate and at least pretend to tolerate it; but the extended family was significantly less enthusiastic. I'm actually not a a huge fan of it myself - I mean, it's ok, especially with ketchup, but it's by no means the most delicious thing ever.
I also really don't like the idea of pretending to eat meat, or something that's overtly trying to take the place of meat. I want a less-carby entree, sure, but utilizing products like a Tofurkey just makes you a party to reinforcing the concept that a main dish is "supposed" to be meat-based. I'd also really like to introduce the omnivores I love to meatless entrees that don't scream that they're vegetarian, so eventually I started branching out into other dishes to bring for my veggie contribution.
2011: A rice-stuffed squash. I can't find the exact recipe I used, but it was less a recipe than just instructions to assemble a boxed rice mix into a scooped out squash.
2012: Maple coconut baked tofu
2013: My contribution was in desserts (nanaimo bars), but we had Thanksgiving day with Abe's family which mostly leans at least flexitarian, so there was actually a Tofurkey as a main part of the meal, which more than just me partook in!
2014: We're planning to make this kale salad. I think the cranberries will make it nice and festive, and despite being kale I think most of the relatives there will at least be willing to try it. :)
What's your favorite non-meat holiday dish?
Monday, November 24, 2014
My History of Blogs
I have no idea how I initially came across it, but I know the first blog I ever read and subscribed to was Zen Habits. That is, now, I realize it's a blog. At the time, in my mind it was merely a "website", and it seemed pretty nifty that you could "subscribe" and get an email whenever they added new stuff to it.
Sometime after that, I also came across The Minimalists and Miss Minimalist. (Any guess where my interests lay at the time?) It was around here that I realized the concept of a "blog", and that that's what these websites were.
Eventually my interest shifted slightly, and my knowledge of the blog world started to expand, and I started subscribing to many many blogs, primarily in the arena of environmentalism and reducing plastic. One of these, My Plastic-free Life, has a challenge to follow her lead and track your own plastic trash and share it on a forum on the site.
I finally decided to start my own blog - about environmentalism, called Weighing the Waste. I enjoyed the topic, and was making connections with bloggers with similar topics, but started to feel constrained, so started a second blog to track the 30 Before 30 list I had started. (Most of those posts I've copied over to this blog with original publish dates, since I deleted the other blog - the handful of posts prior to July 2012 are originally from the 30 Before 30 blog.)
As time passed, I realized that I was more and more often reading and commenting on blogs that fit in to the genre known as "healthy living blogs" (aka HLBs) (and had taken up running as a real hobby). When I signed up for a summer "best body bootcamp" challenge, I decided to start yet another blog to document that. I chose the name "Balancing Meanderings", though, specifically to allow myself the flexibility to take it in other directions in the future.
If I had to classify it now, I guess I'd still called Balancing Meanderings an HLB/fitness/running blog, but I've definitely been enjoying using the platform to explore other things, such as feminist musings and rants, and talking about every day life.
As I'm exploring potential new niches within the blog, I wanted to get some feedback from you guys. Though in some ways this is essentially my diary (and running journal), and I'd likely enjoy and continue writing even if I didn't think I'd have any readers, it really does add a lot to try to make this a conversation and community!
With that in mind, I wold greatly appreciate if you would provide some tangible feedback by answer a short survey: here. It should only take a couple minutes - it's just ten questions, and three of those are optional comment boxes just in case you want to expand on your multiple-choice answers. Thank you in advance!
What was the first blog you ever read?
Have you answered my survey yet?
Sometime after that, I also came across The Minimalists and Miss Minimalist. (Any guess where my interests lay at the time?) It was around here that I realized the concept of a "blog", and that that's what these websites were.
Eventually my interest shifted slightly, and my knowledge of the blog world started to expand, and I started subscribing to many many blogs, primarily in the arena of environmentalism and reducing plastic. One of these, My Plastic-free Life, has a challenge to follow her lead and track your own plastic trash and share it on a forum on the site.
I finally decided to start my own blog - about environmentalism, called Weighing the Waste. I enjoyed the topic, and was making connections with bloggers with similar topics, but started to feel constrained, so started a second blog to track the 30 Before 30 list I had started. (Most of those posts I've copied over to this blog with original publish dates, since I deleted the other blog - the handful of posts prior to July 2012 are originally from the 30 Before 30 blog.)
As time passed, I realized that I was more and more often reading and commenting on blogs that fit in to the genre known as "healthy living blogs" (aka HLBs) (and had taken up running as a real hobby). When I signed up for a summer "best body bootcamp" challenge, I decided to start yet another blog to document that. I chose the name "Balancing Meanderings", though, specifically to allow myself the flexibility to take it in other directions in the future.
If I had to classify it now, I guess I'd still called Balancing Meanderings an HLB/fitness/running blog, but I've definitely been enjoying using the platform to explore other things, such as feminist musings and rants, and talking about every day life.
As I'm exploring potential new niches within the blog, I wanted to get some feedback from you guys. Though in some ways this is essentially my diary (and running journal), and I'd likely enjoy and continue writing even if I didn't think I'd have any readers, it really does add a lot to try to make this a conversation and community!
With that in mind, I wold greatly appreciate if you would provide some tangible feedback by answer a short survey: here. It should only take a couple minutes - it's just ten questions, and three of those are optional comment boxes just in case you want to expand on your multiple-choice answers. Thank you in advance!
What was the first blog you ever read?
Have you answered my survey yet?
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Seattle Half Training Week 7 (Taper)
Workouts:
Monday: Swim 1,100 yards - pyramid workout: 50 yards, 100, 200, 400, 200, 100, 50
It felt nice to be back in the pool! What with having to drive somewhere, change, shower, etc., it feels like much more of a hassle to swim than any other workout (ok, I still change and shower for other workouts, but I have the option to lounge around in the sweaty clothes afterward if I want), so it's one of the first things cut when I get busy or stressed. But it really is a super relaxing way to sweat (and pleasantly warm compared to the outdoors).
Tuesday: Ballet class (75 minutes)
Wednesday: Easy run 2.5 miles (14:02 pace)
Thursday: Bike trainer 20 minutes (est. 5 miles) + swim 1,100 (same pyramid as Monday)
What?! Back in the pool and on the bike in the same week?! Yeah, after some lackluster weeks, I finally re-found some motivation.
Friday: Rest day
Saturday: Easy run 3.1 miles (13:52 pace) + bike trainer 60 minutes (est. 15.5 miles) - modified from this workout (reduced warm-up to 15 minutes, and recovery between sets to 4.5 minutes)
Sunday: Lazy rainy day
Total swimming: 2,200 yards
Total biking: 20.5 miles
Total running: 5.35 miles
Not as much running as I should have, even considering it's taper, but a fair amount of exercise in total. Enjoyed getting back into swimming and biking (though my butt sure isn't used to sitting a bike seat for that long any more!). I don't know if I'm entirely ready for the half marathon, but to the point of what's done (or undone) is done, so all I can do is do the best I can on race day.
Also went on a bit of a race-sign-up rampage:
Monday: Swim 1,100 yards - pyramid workout: 50 yards, 100, 200, 400, 200, 100, 50
It felt nice to be back in the pool! What with having to drive somewhere, change, shower, etc., it feels like much more of a hassle to swim than any other workout (ok, I still change and shower for other workouts, but I have the option to lounge around in the sweaty clothes afterward if I want), so it's one of the first things cut when I get busy or stressed. But it really is a super relaxing way to sweat (and pleasantly warm compared to the outdoors).
Tuesday: Ballet class (75 minutes)
Wednesday: Easy run 2.5 miles (14:02 pace)
Thursday: Bike trainer 20 minutes (est. 5 miles) + swim 1,100 (same pyramid as Monday)
What?! Back in the pool and on the bike in the same week?! Yeah, after some lackluster weeks, I finally re-found some motivation.
Friday: Rest day
Saturday: Easy run 3.1 miles (13:52 pace) + bike trainer 60 minutes (est. 15.5 miles) - modified from this workout (reduced warm-up to 15 minutes, and recovery between sets to 4.5 minutes)
Sunday: Lazy rainy day
Total swimming: 2,200 yards
Total biking: 20.5 miles
Total running: 5.35 miles
Not as much running as I should have, even considering it's taper, but a fair amount of exercise in total. Enjoyed getting back into swimming and biking (though my butt sure isn't used to sitting a bike seat for that long any more!). I don't know if I'm entirely ready for the half marathon, but to the point of what's done (or undone) is done, so all I can do is do the best I can on race day.
Also went on a bit of a race-sign-up rampage:
- PRC Peacock Lane Run (December 15) - Not a race, just a sight-seeing run to see the Christmas lights
- First Run 5k (January 1) - I've done this for the past couple years, and if you're in Portland I highly recommend it! It's just the right size (small enough to not be crowded, but big enough that even at my slower pace you're not completely by yourself), and a great atmosphere.
- Fight for Air Climb 80 floors (January 25) - This will be a new challenge, not sure I really know how to train for it, but should be fun!
- PRC Winter 5k Series (February 22) - This is the third of a series on the same course (unfortunately can't do the first two - out of the town for the first, the second is the same morning as the stair climb), and is a "predict" race - no watches are allowed, but you win by accurately predicting your finish time.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Family Food Traditions
Tonight we had a pre-Thanksgiving meal with Abe's dad and his girlfriend (we have similar dinner plans with his mom for Monday), as we're spending Thanksgiving day with my family. (Our plan is alternate - each side gets one of the major holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas - each year, and alternate who gets which. His parents are divorced, but fortunately both live in the area, actually both within a 5-mile radius of us, so it's not difficult to share between them, the way it is with my family and relatives spread throughout Washington state.)
So that means his family gets Christmas, and we were discussing some details of Christmas day while at their house tonight. Abe asked what we should bring, and I piped up that I'd bring Nanaimo bars. Though my family has a handful of cookies that we tend to have for Christmas, Nanaimo bars are an absolute MUST! I thought it'd be fun to try to bring that in to my in-laws traditions.
Along with today's NaBloPoMo prompt, this got me thinking about other holiday food traditions. Since I've been vegetarian since high school, the turkey centerpiece doesn't hold much meaning for me (I ate it previously, but it wasn't ever one of my favorite things). I also have a thing with textures, especially anything along the mushy spectrum, so I've also not been a fan of stuffing. Holiday meals, to me, mostly mean three things: rolls, mashed potatoes, and desserts. For Thanksgiving, that dessert is obviously pumpkin pie (the filling's fine, but crust combined with whipped cream is amazing!* For Christmas, it's all about the cookies. Nanaimo bars, hello dollies, spritz, meringues.
*FYI, my FIL's girlfriend is gluten-free, and the pumpkin pie at tonight pre-Thanksgiving dinner included a premade gluten-free crust from Whole Foods - if I hadn't known it was gluten-free because everyone at the table was eating it, I never would have guessed. If you need a GF crust, I highly recommend it.
Almost more important to me for Thanksgiving is the day after, at least when we're with my mom's side of the family: we get pizza on the Friday after. One year I had a big disappointment, as I spend Thanksgiving with an ex's family, and we went up to join my side the next day. I'd told him about the traditional pizza, and we were both looking forward to it. Our dismay, my family was trying to be nice and held a second Thanksgiving-type dinner for us instead! I think that's probably the most disappointed I've ever been at a holiday meal.
What would be the biggest food disappointment for you on a holiday?
So that means his family gets Christmas, and we were discussing some details of Christmas day while at their house tonight. Abe asked what we should bring, and I piped up that I'd bring Nanaimo bars. Though my family has a handful of cookies that we tend to have for Christmas, Nanaimo bars are an absolute MUST! I thought it'd be fun to try to bring that in to my in-laws traditions.
Along with today's NaBloPoMo prompt, this got me thinking about other holiday food traditions. Since I've been vegetarian since high school, the turkey centerpiece doesn't hold much meaning for me (I ate it previously, but it wasn't ever one of my favorite things). I also have a thing with textures, especially anything along the mushy spectrum, so I've also not been a fan of stuffing. Holiday meals, to me, mostly mean three things: rolls, mashed potatoes, and desserts. For Thanksgiving, that dessert is obviously pumpkin pie (the filling's fine, but crust combined with whipped cream is amazing!* For Christmas, it's all about the cookies. Nanaimo bars, hello dollies, spritz, meringues.
*FYI, my FIL's girlfriend is gluten-free, and the pumpkin pie at tonight pre-Thanksgiving dinner included a premade gluten-free crust from Whole Foods - if I hadn't known it was gluten-free because everyone at the table was eating it, I never would have guessed. If you need a GF crust, I highly recommend it.
Almost more important to me for Thanksgiving is the day after, at least when we're with my mom's side of the family: we get pizza on the Friday after. One year I had a big disappointment, as I spend Thanksgiving with an ex's family, and we went up to join my side the next day. I'd told him about the traditional pizza, and we were both looking forward to it. Our dismay, my family was trying to be nice and held a second Thanksgiving-type dinner for us instead! I think that's probably the most disappointed I've ever been at a holiday meal.
What would be the biggest food disappointment for you on a holiday?
Friday, November 21, 2014
Wedding Crap: The Veil
(See introduction and disclaimer to this series here, and other posts in the series here.)
What is the tradition?
During the ceremony (but often removed for the reception), the bride's outfit includes a veil. Depending on the venue (e.g., church versus golf course), religion, family culture, and other factors such as personal preferences and style, this may range from a full, cathedral length veil, extending as a train on the floor, to a fascinator with a short mesh hanging over one's forehead, and anywhere in between.
What is the origin of the tradition?
There is a long history of women wearing veils in general society, not just at weddings, so ultimately it appears to me that the significance is one of separating women from men, as being held to higher standards of modesty, and possibly even showing ownership (i.e., only males who are related to you should see your face).
Within weddings specifically, the veil tradition evolved to take on additional meaning. In ancient times, it may have been intended to protect the bride from evil spirits. In times of arranged marriages, it may indeed have prevented the groom from seeing the bride and being disappointed while he still had an out. In times of strong Christian culture, it likely became a symbol of purity and virginity, along with the white dress.
Why do people still follow it?
Similarly to the dress, the veil has been built up in people's mind as the epitome of womanhood; the ultimate signifier that this woman is a bride. If you've ever watched a show like Say Yes to the Dress (I'll ashamedly admit to this), you know that if a shopper is hesitating, the consultants add a veil, and that often does the trick - you make you feel like a bride, and she'll buy everything that makes her look like that role.
There may also be a religious/purity aspect to it still in some cases, but fortunately I think that's becoming less and less common, in all but the most extreme subcultures.
Why is that crap?
Women wearing veils is ultimately based on separating women from society, and then the purity/virginity implications make it even worse. Even if you don't personally hold the beliefs under which the tradition developed, why unintentionally pay homage to those beliefs?
Plus, it generally covers up the pretty hairdo (and often a gorgeous back of a dress) you spend so much money and/or time on!
What am I doing with this tradition?
I had absolutely no interest in wearing a veil, so I didn't! I didn't want to feel like a "bride", but rather the dressiest/classiest version of myself. My dress was accessorized just with a pearl necklace (made by my mom) and a fancy-ish, curly hairstyle.
How did/will you handle this tradition?
I would love to have a lively debate and conversation in the comments! Please join in!
Dissenting opinions (from the post itself or other commenters) are welcome, but I reserve the right to delete any comments that personally attack me or any other commenter.
What is the tradition?
During the ceremony (but often removed for the reception), the bride's outfit includes a veil. Depending on the venue (e.g., church versus golf course), religion, family culture, and other factors such as personal preferences and style, this may range from a full, cathedral length veil, extending as a train on the floor, to a fascinator with a short mesh hanging over one's forehead, and anywhere in between.
What is the origin of the tradition?
There is a long history of women wearing veils in general society, not just at weddings, so ultimately it appears to me that the significance is one of separating women from men, as being held to higher standards of modesty, and possibly even showing ownership (i.e., only males who are related to you should see your face).
Within weddings specifically, the veil tradition evolved to take on additional meaning. In ancient times, it may have been intended to protect the bride from evil spirits. In times of arranged marriages, it may indeed have prevented the groom from seeing the bride and being disappointed while he still had an out. In times of strong Christian culture, it likely became a symbol of purity and virginity, along with the white dress.
Why do people still follow it?
Similarly to the dress, the veil has been built up in people's mind as the epitome of womanhood; the ultimate signifier that this woman is a bride. If you've ever watched a show like Say Yes to the Dress (I'll ashamedly admit to this), you know that if a shopper is hesitating, the consultants add a veil, and that often does the trick - you make you feel like a bride, and she'll buy everything that makes her look like that role.
There may also be a religious/purity aspect to it still in some cases, but fortunately I think that's becoming less and less common, in all but the most extreme subcultures.
Why is that crap?
Women wearing veils is ultimately based on separating women from society, and then the purity/virginity implications make it even worse. Even if you don't personally hold the beliefs under which the tradition developed, why unintentionally pay homage to those beliefs?
Plus, it generally covers up the pretty hairdo (and often a gorgeous back of a dress) you spend so much money and/or time on!
What am I doing with this tradition?
I had absolutely no interest in wearing a veil, so I didn't! I didn't want to feel like a "bride", but rather the dressiest/classiest version of myself. My dress was accessorized just with a pearl necklace (made by my mom) and a fancy-ish, curly hairstyle.
 |
| Photo by Stephanie Kaloi |
How did/will you handle this tradition?
I would love to have a lively debate and conversation in the comments! Please join in!
Dissenting opinions (from the post itself or other commenters) are welcome, but I reserve the right to delete any comments that personally attack me or any other commenter.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Would You Rather
From Running in Real Life - from a while ago, but it was sitting in my drafts, and I don't have much time left in the day to write something else.
1. Run a race at -10 degrees with slushy roads or 85 degrees with the sun beating down?
85 degrees for sure. I can barely handle running in 30 degrees! I'm sure one gets used to cold weather if you're in it regularly, but even though I don't enjoy running in hot weather, at least I do it often enough to have some idea of how to handle it.
2. Wear running clothes that are way too tight or running clothes that are way too loose?
Too loose, so long as it's pants and not shorts, as loose shorts would cause terrible chafing on my thighs.
3. Have really big upper body muscles or really big lower body muscles? (The kicker here is that whatever you don't choose is super puny.)
Well, since this is sort of a running survey, I guess big lower body muscles, to better facilitate running!
4. Travel to the past to meet your great, great grandparents or to the future to meet your great, great grandchildren?
Hmmm. I think to the past to meet my great, great grandparents, because it's never good to know too much about you future.
5. Watch your favorite sporting event on a nice big TV or watch your favorite sporting event in person but in really crappy seats?
Let's substitute "show" (music or theater) for "sporting event" (since I really don't have a favorite sporting event to watch), and I'd say watch it on a big TV. I'd rather be able to see more detail on the performer's face, than have the experience in person.
Your turn:
1. Run a race at -10 degrees with slushy roads or 85 degrees with the sun beating down?
2. Wear running clothes that are way too tight or running clothes that are way too loose?
3. Have really big upper body muscles or really big lower body muscles? (The kicker here is that whatever you don't choose is super puny.)
4. Travel to the past to meet your great, great grandparents or to the future to meet your great, great grandchildren?
5. Watch your favorite sporting event on a nice big TV or watch your favorite sporting event in person but in really crappy seats?
1. Run a race at -10 degrees with slushy roads or 85 degrees with the sun beating down?
85 degrees for sure. I can barely handle running in 30 degrees! I'm sure one gets used to cold weather if you're in it regularly, but even though I don't enjoy running in hot weather, at least I do it often enough to have some idea of how to handle it.
2. Wear running clothes that are way too tight or running clothes that are way too loose?
Too loose, so long as it's pants and not shorts, as loose shorts would cause terrible chafing on my thighs.
3. Have really big upper body muscles or really big lower body muscles? (The kicker here is that whatever you don't choose is super puny.)
Well, since this is sort of a running survey, I guess big lower body muscles, to better facilitate running!
4. Travel to the past to meet your great, great grandparents or to the future to meet your great, great grandchildren?
Hmmm. I think to the past to meet my great, great grandparents, because it's never good to know too much about you future.
5. Watch your favorite sporting event on a nice big TV or watch your favorite sporting event in person but in really crappy seats?
Let's substitute "show" (music or theater) for "sporting event" (since I really don't have a favorite sporting event to watch), and I'd say watch it on a big TV. I'd rather be able to see more detail on the performer's face, than have the experience in person.
Your turn:
1. Run a race at -10 degrees with slushy roads or 85 degrees with the sun beating down?
2. Wear running clothes that are way too tight or running clothes that are way too loose?
3. Have really big upper body muscles or really big lower body muscles? (The kicker here is that whatever you don't choose is super puny.)
4. Travel to the past to meet your great, great grandparents or to the future to meet your great, great grandchildren?
5. Watch your favorite sporting event on a nice big TV or watch your favorite sporting event in person but in really crappy seats?
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Toastmasters: Quote of the Day - Thanksgiving
My role for today's Toastmasters meeting was the Quote of the Day, on the theme of "Thanksgiving".
I considered going with quotes about a more traditional Thanksgiving:
I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land. - Jon Stewart
Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for - annually, not oftener - if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors, the Indians. Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side, consequently on the Lord's side; hence it was proper to thank the Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments. - Mark TwainHowever, I figured in the spirit of the holiday (regardless of its origins), I should probably go a little less snarky in public, and found a regular quote that I agree with:
Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. - W. T. Purkiser
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Brrrrr
Fortunately the 10-day forecast is currently looking more normal for this time of year (highs in the mid-40s to low-50s), but the last week has been crazy! Highs in the low-40s, with some ridiculous winds creating feels-like temps up to ten degrees colder, and lows down into the 20s! Typical winter weather, even into December and January, is more like highs in the upper-30s and lows in the low-30s, so this is ridiculous, especially for November. We usually get a week or so of a cold spell of getting down into the 20s, so I'm curious if this is it for the winter, or if it's going to be in addition to the cold spell that usually happens later on.
As I mentioned in last week's workout recap, I've had a hard time not just curling up on the couch during this cold stretch. I don't feel prepared for running in this! I know, I just said we get it every year, but only for a week, maybe two. The rest of the time it tends to get up to at least 40 during the day for most of the winter, and since I'm an afternoon/early evening runner, I get to take advantage of the warmest part of the day.
I finally, however, went and bought a pair of long running tights - previously I had some capris (which I use for perhaps an overly-broad range of temperatures - from about 40* to 70*) and one pair of fleece-lined pants. The problem with the fleece pants is that they're straight-leg, not tapered, so they let cold air in at the bottom; I bought them anyway, last year, because they came in a "short" length. And yet, I still hemmed them anyway (could have used them at the length they came in, but since cold generally equals rain, the bottoms would have touched the ground and gotten gross).
So though I might still use those if I ever get myself out the door in 20 degree weather (with knee socks underneath to prevent the draft), for the just-slightly-colder-than-typical 30s-ish I bought a standard pair of running tights - compression, tapered, etc. As I tried them on, I was pondering the best way to hem them (it's difficult, at least with my skill level and machine, to preserve a stretchy hem), as they're a few inches too long (well, probably more than that, I suspect they're supposed to be more "ankle" length; but they're about three inches too long to hit right above my shoe). But luckily they're lightweight enough to just scrunch them up at the bottom, and it's not nearly as much of a nuisance as I expected! And I don't care if it looks dorky, cause, hello, I'm already wearing skin-tight, tapered spandex pants.
I think I was going to have a point to this post, and discuss winter running clothes. Aside from the long tights - which are particularly important around here, because most of the cold is from wind, not absolute cold temperatures, so one tends to not really need fleece or additional warm layers, just something to block direct skin contact from the wind - it's all about layers. I tend to go with a tank top and long-sleeve (which I'll always push up the sleeves at some point on a run, while in sunny spots, even at freezing temperatures). Gloves, which comes off after the first ten minutes or so. Headband is crucial, as my ears are probably the first thing that feels cold and makes me miserable, even more so than my hands being cold. The headband typically stays on for the entire run, even as I'm taking off long sleeves.
Anyhow, enough rambling. What's your must-have winter running item?
I finally, however, went and bought a pair of long running tights - previously I had some capris (which I use for perhaps an overly-broad range of temperatures - from about 40* to 70*) and one pair of fleece-lined pants. The problem with the fleece pants is that they're straight-leg, not tapered, so they let cold air in at the bottom; I bought them anyway, last year, because they came in a "short" length. And yet, I still hemmed them anyway (could have used them at the length they came in, but since cold generally equals rain, the bottoms would have touched the ground and gotten gross).
So though I might still use those if I ever get myself out the door in 20 degree weather (with knee socks underneath to prevent the draft), for the just-slightly-colder-than-typical 30s-ish I bought a standard pair of running tights - compression, tapered, etc. As I tried them on, I was pondering the best way to hem them (it's difficult, at least with my skill level and machine, to preserve a stretchy hem), as they're a few inches too long (well, probably more than that, I suspect they're supposed to be more "ankle" length; but they're about three inches too long to hit right above my shoe). But luckily they're lightweight enough to just scrunch them up at the bottom, and it's not nearly as much of a nuisance as I expected! And I don't care if it looks dorky, cause, hello, I'm already wearing skin-tight, tapered spandex pants.
I think I was going to have a point to this post, and discuss winter running clothes. Aside from the long tights - which are particularly important around here, because most of the cold is from wind, not absolute cold temperatures, so one tends to not really need fleece or additional warm layers, just something to block direct skin contact from the wind - it's all about layers. I tend to go with a tank top and long-sleeve (which I'll always push up the sleeves at some point on a run, while in sunny spots, even at freezing temperatures). Gloves, which comes off after the first ten minutes or so. Headband is crucial, as my ears are probably the first thing that feels cold and makes me miserable, even more so than my hands being cold. The headband typically stays on for the entire run, even as I'm taking off long sleeves.
Anyhow, enough rambling. What's your must-have winter running item?
Monday, November 17, 2014
Wedding Crap: The Bouquet
(See introduction and disclaimer to this series here, and other posts in the series here.)
What is the tradition?
The bride carries a bouquet of flowers while walking down the aisle; as does each bridesmaid. During the ceremony, the bride generally hands hers to the maid of honor to hold during the ceremony, so she has her hands free for exchanging rings and such.
(The bouquet - or a second "toss bouquet" - is often tossed to guests during the reception, but as that goes along with the garter toss, I'll discuss it in a separate post.)
What is the origin of the tradition?
The bride's bouquet began not as bunches of flowers, but bunches of herbs and spice, including dill and garlic. The aromatic bouquets were intended to ward off evil spirits. Eventually it morphed to include flowers, and in the Victorian era each flower was selected for its meaning in the "language of flowers".
Why do people still follow it?
I think similarly to the dress, a big aspect of it is just it being an unusual extravagance, that can be justified by the Tradition of Weddings, a feeling of participating in a more luxurious existence for a day.
I've also heard it justified as necessary for the bride to have something to hold, and keep her hands occupied while walking down the aisle, and particularly for the bridesmaid to have something to hold during the ceremony.
Why is that crap?
Actually, in this case, I think it's primarily just a waste of money, more than an indication of a deep-seeded patriarchal issue. Particularly when you've already spent so much money on attire and appearance otherwise, do you really need to add yet another visual element to distract from your expensive look?
Although if women need something to keep their hands occupied - why don't the men?
What am I doing with this tradition?
Nothing whatsoever! No flowers! (Well, it was important to my MIL for the parents to have corsages, so we had those, but nothing else.) We didn't have an aisle to walk down, and during the ceremony we held hands, the microphone, and our notes with what to say. So no need for anything to carry.
How did/will you handle this tradition?
I would love to have a lively debate and conversation in the comments! Please join in!
Dissenting opinions (from the post itself or other commenters) are welcome, but I reserve the right to delete any comments that personally attack me or any other commenter.
What is the tradition?
The bride carries a bouquet of flowers while walking down the aisle; as does each bridesmaid. During the ceremony, the bride generally hands hers to the maid of honor to hold during the ceremony, so she has her hands free for exchanging rings and such.
(The bouquet - or a second "toss bouquet" - is often tossed to guests during the reception, but as that goes along with the garter toss, I'll discuss it in a separate post.)
What is the origin of the tradition?
The bride's bouquet began not as bunches of flowers, but bunches of herbs and spice, including dill and garlic. The aromatic bouquets were intended to ward off evil spirits. Eventually it morphed to include flowers, and in the Victorian era each flower was selected for its meaning in the "language of flowers".
Why do people still follow it?
I think similarly to the dress, a big aspect of it is just it being an unusual extravagance, that can be justified by the Tradition of Weddings, a feeling of participating in a more luxurious existence for a day.
I've also heard it justified as necessary for the bride to have something to hold, and keep her hands occupied while walking down the aisle, and particularly for the bridesmaid to have something to hold during the ceremony.
Why is that crap?
Actually, in this case, I think it's primarily just a waste of money, more than an indication of a deep-seeded patriarchal issue. Particularly when you've already spent so much money on attire and appearance otherwise, do you really need to add yet another visual element to distract from your expensive look?
Although if women need something to keep their hands occupied - why don't the men?
What am I doing with this tradition?
Nothing whatsoever! No flowers! (Well, it was important to my MIL for the parents to have corsages, so we had those, but nothing else.) We didn't have an aisle to walk down, and during the ceremony we held hands, the microphone, and our notes with what to say. So no need for anything to carry.
 |
| Photo by Stephanie Kaloi |
How did/will you handle this tradition?
I would love to have a lively debate and conversation in the comments! Please join in!
Dissenting opinions (from the post itself or other commenters) are welcome, but I reserve the right to delete any comments that personally attack me or any other commenter.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Seattle Half Training Week 6 (Peak Week)
Workouts:
Monday: Easy run 2.3 miles (14:03 pace)
Saturday: Run 4.25 miles (12:18) - aiming for race effort - not all out, less than tempo, but significantly harder than easy.
Sunday: Long run 10.0 miles (13:29 pace)
1- 5: 12:57, 13:13, 13:11, 12:37, 13:16
6 - 10: 14:28, 14:12, 13:43, 13:35, 13:36
Total running: 16.55 miles
Between choosing to relax hard after finishing a work project for a presentation on Tuesday, and the winter weather that's come early, I've gone into serious hibernation mode this week. It's been difficult to peel myself off the couch for anything productive, much less making myself go out into the cold, windy weather to run. I tried my best to make up for the past week during the weekend though! Haven't done anywhere near the amount of speedwork and longer long runs that I planned to do, but still feeling relatively ok about the upcoming race. Now it's taper time!
Monday: Easy run 2.3 miles (14:03 pace)
Saturday: Run 4.25 miles (12:18) - aiming for race effort - not all out, less than tempo, but significantly harder than easy.
Sunday: Long run 10.0 miles (13:29 pace)
1- 5: 12:57, 13:13, 13:11, 12:37, 13:16
6 - 10: 14:28, 14:12, 13:43, 13:35, 13:36
Total running: 16.55 miles
Between choosing to relax hard after finishing a work project for a presentation on Tuesday, and the winter weather that's come early, I've gone into serious hibernation mode this week. It's been difficult to peel myself off the couch for anything productive, much less making myself go out into the cold, windy weather to run. I tried my best to make up for the past week during the weekend though! Haven't done anywhere near the amount of speedwork and longer long runs that I planned to do, but still feeling relatively ok about the upcoming race. Now it's taper time!
Conscious Consumerism: Rimmel Mascara [Sponsored by Influenster]
I was given the Rimmel items in this post for free from Influenster for review purposes, but did not receive any additional monetary compensation. Blog posting and other sharing on social media with brand hashtags was encouraged, but not required in exchange for receiving the products. All opinions are my own. See Influenster detailed disclose post here.
I recently received my first box of goodies from Influenster - the #ModaVoxBox. A couple of the items are disposable and/or plastic products that I try not to have in my life - tissues (I do have a box around for guests or occasional extra-gross situations, but generally use handkerchiefs), single-serve hot cocoa, and the bottled water. The hair mask and lotion are things that you can rarely avoid buying in a plastic bottle, so I'm still checking them out to see if they're products I'm really interested.
The remaining items were make-up items by Rimmel: Rockin' Curves mascara, Moisture Renew lipstick, and Moisture Renew lipliner. (See me wearing all three products on Instagram here.)
I generally stay pretty loyal to my products - once I find something I work, I stick with it. I am, however, currently in the market for a new perfect mascara, so I was intrigued to have the opportunity to try this one.
Of course there are some specific factors I look for in a particular item (e.g., not clumpy for a mascara, non-sticky for a lip gloss), but summing those up in "product effectiveness", the three things I consider when buying something are:
1. Product effectiveness
2. Readily available in nearby stores (to avoid shipping costs and materials)
3. Packaging (environmental impact)
4. Company responsibility (including animal rights)
Obviously the first three are or become fairly self-evident; the last one I try to confirm on PETA's animal testing list (though the three companies discussed in this post aren't on the list either way; I'm guessing because they're UK based?), and/or on the companies' websites.
For a few years, I had the absolute best mascara: The waterproof version of the Boots maximum volume I'm now trying again - but a couple years ago they completely revamped the line and it's no longer available in waterproof. The current version is good in most other respects, but I really would love to find something equivalent that's waterproof.
I've tried at least a half dozen other mascaras in the past year. Most recently I bought this Pixi mascara, as the display indicated it was an animal-friendly, eco-friendly brand; it's water resistant, but merely ok in other respects. With this long search in mind, you can imagine I was intrigued to get a chance to try this Rimmel mascara in the Influenster box.
How do these current three options rate? Below are evaluations on the four factors mentioned above, on a scale from 1 to 10. (All are comparable in price - in the $6 - 8 range.)
Rimmel ScandelEyes Rockin' Curves:
1. Effectiveness: 7. I found the "heart shaped" brush annoying - either I have oddly shaped or sized eyelids, or I just don't know how to use these brushes, but I can't manage to apply it to my entire eyelashes in one swipe, so the marketed ability to target certain parts of the brushes for certain spots just doesn't work. Provides good volume and length. Doesn't appear to be available in a waterproof version.
2. Availability: 10. Found at both Fred Meyer and Target, both regular shopping spots for me, and most other retailers that sell make-up.
3. Packaging: 5. Comes in rigid plastic on cardboard backing. Tube is on the larger side, but it also does contain more product (0.41 oz).
4. Social responsibility: 7. No animal testing (source), but doesn't make it easy to confirm.
Overall: 7.25
Boots No. 7 Maximum Volume:
1. Effectiveness: 8. Normal brush. Moist formula. Provides reasonable amount of volume and length. Only real drawback is that it's not available in a waterproof version.
2. Availability: 6. Found only at Target, as far as I can tell (for retail stores; also available online).
3. Packaging: 8. Comes in a single plastic wrapping, no rigid plastic or box. Tube is a bit on the larger side for how much product (0.23 oz).
4. Social responsibility: 7. No animal testing (source), but doesn't make it easy to confirm.
Overall: 7.25
Pixi Lash Booster:
1. Effectiveness: 7. Normal brush. A bit dry. Provides reasonable amount of volume and length - just a smidge less than the Boots option. "Water resistant" is a good balance - stays on through watering eyes, but can be rubbed off in the shower without the hassle of actually using makeup remover.
2. Availability: 6. Found only at Target, as far as I can tell (for retail stores; also available online).
3. Packaging: 9. Comes in a cardboard box, no plastic. Smaller tube relative to others with similar amount of product (0.25 oz).
4. Social responsibility: 10 No animal testing (source), and advertise to imply this and make it easy to confirm.
Overall: 8
Overall, I think I'll be sticking with Pixi for the time being, although I definitely am not calling off the search yet for the perfect mascara.
Influenster required disclosure: I received the Rimmel products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
I recently received my first box of goodies from Influenster - the #ModaVoxBox. A couple of the items are disposable and/or plastic products that I try not to have in my life - tissues (I do have a box around for guests or occasional extra-gross situations, but generally use handkerchiefs), single-serve hot cocoa, and the bottled water. The hair mask and lotion are things that you can rarely avoid buying in a plastic bottle, so I'm still checking them out to see if they're products I'm really interested.
The remaining items were make-up items by Rimmel: Rockin' Curves mascara, Moisture Renew lipstick, and Moisture Renew lipliner. (See me wearing all three products on Instagram here.)
I generally stay pretty loyal to my products - once I find something I work, I stick with it. I am, however, currently in the market for a new perfect mascara, so I was intrigued to have the opportunity to try this one.
Of course there are some specific factors I look for in a particular item (e.g., not clumpy for a mascara, non-sticky for a lip gloss), but summing those up in "product effectiveness", the three things I consider when buying something are:
1. Product effectiveness
2. Readily available in nearby stores (to avoid shipping costs and materials)
3. Packaging (environmental impact)
4. Company responsibility (including animal rights)
Obviously the first three are or become fairly self-evident; the last one I try to confirm on PETA's animal testing list (though the three companies discussed in this post aren't on the list either way; I'm guessing because they're UK based?), and/or on the companies' websites.
For a few years, I had the absolute best mascara: The waterproof version of the Boots maximum volume I'm now trying again - but a couple years ago they completely revamped the line and it's no longer available in waterproof. The current version is good in most other respects, but I really would love to find something equivalent that's waterproof.
I've tried at least a half dozen other mascaras in the past year. Most recently I bought this Pixi mascara, as the display indicated it was an animal-friendly, eco-friendly brand; it's water resistant, but merely ok in other respects. With this long search in mind, you can imagine I was intrigued to get a chance to try this Rimmel mascara in the Influenster box.
How do these current three options rate? Below are evaluations on the four factors mentioned above, on a scale from 1 to 10. (All are comparable in price - in the $6 - 8 range.)
Rimmel ScandelEyes Rockin' Curves:
1. Effectiveness: 7. I found the "heart shaped" brush annoying - either I have oddly shaped or sized eyelids, or I just don't know how to use these brushes, but I can't manage to apply it to my entire eyelashes in one swipe, so the marketed ability to target certain parts of the brushes for certain spots just doesn't work. Provides good volume and length. Doesn't appear to be available in a waterproof version.
2. Availability: 10. Found at both Fred Meyer and Target, both regular shopping spots for me, and most other retailers that sell make-up.
3. Packaging: 5. Comes in rigid plastic on cardboard backing. Tube is on the larger side, but it also does contain more product (0.41 oz).
4. Social responsibility: 7. No animal testing (source), but doesn't make it easy to confirm.
Overall: 7.25
Boots No. 7 Maximum Volume:
1. Effectiveness: 8. Normal brush. Moist formula. Provides reasonable amount of volume and length. Only real drawback is that it's not available in a waterproof version.
2. Availability: 6. Found only at Target, as far as I can tell (for retail stores; also available online).
3. Packaging: 8. Comes in a single plastic wrapping, no rigid plastic or box. Tube is a bit on the larger side for how much product (0.23 oz).
4. Social responsibility: 7. No animal testing (source), but doesn't make it easy to confirm.
Overall: 7.25
Pixi Lash Booster:
1. Effectiveness: 7. Normal brush. A bit dry. Provides reasonable amount of volume and length - just a smidge less than the Boots option. "Water resistant" is a good balance - stays on through watering eyes, but can be rubbed off in the shower without the hassle of actually using makeup remover.
2. Availability: 6. Found only at Target, as far as I can tell (for retail stores; also available online).
3. Packaging: 9. Comes in a cardboard box, no plastic. Smaller tube relative to others with similar amount of product (0.25 oz).
4. Social responsibility: 10 No animal testing (source), and advertise to imply this and make it easy to confirm.
Overall: 8
Overall, I think I'll be sticking with Pixi for the time being, although I definitely am not calling off the search yet for the perfect mascara.
Influenster required disclosure: I received the Rimmel products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Fours
Survey taken from Erin on Sweet Sweat Life.
Four names people call me other than my real name
Meg (relatives)
Pegatha (online)
Fig (Abe)
maw (at work - we sign off workpapers with our initials)
Four jobs I've had
Store clerk at JoAnn's Fabrics
Office assistant at a mental health clinic
Office assistant at the financial aid office at my college
Tax accountant
Four movies I've watched more than once
Back to the Future
In the Land of Women
Clue
Serenity
Four books I recommend*
Absent in the Spring by Mary Westmacott (a pen name of Agatha Christie)
Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Four places I've lived
I've lived in fewer than four (three, to be precise) cities/metro areas, and many more than four dwelling units or specific towns; but I've lived in exactly four counties:
Asotin County, Washington state
Yamhill County, Oregon
Clackamas County, Oregon
Washington County, Oregon
Four places I've been
London
Moscow, Russia
NYC
Sayulita, Mexico
Four places I'd rather be right now
Well, I'm on a comfy couch with my cats and internet access, so I can't complain too much, but I would love to be anywhere that's not freezing outside:
Mexico
Florida
Hawaii
Las Vegas
Four of my favorite foods
Pizza
Ice cream
Bread
Chocolate
Four things I don't eat
Meat
Bread pudding
Avocado
Olives
Four TV shows I watch
Lots of stuff on Netflix, but currently airing shows:
The Daily Show
Bones
Brooklyn Nine Nine
Parenthood
Four things I'm looking forward to this year
New Year's First Run
Continuing triathlon training next summer
Celebrating our first anniversary
Starting TTC
Four things I always say
Non-[ ] (e.g, "Let's go out for non-coffee")
Yeppers
Perfect!
Sure
**Disclosure: This section contains Powell's Partner Program affiliate links. If you click on this link, it will place a cookie on your browser for 90 days, and if you make a purchase from Powell's within this time period, I may receive a commission from Powell's on the sale. If you wish to avoid this after clicking on the link, please clear cookies on your browser.
Four names people call me other than my real name
Meg (relatives)
Pegatha (online)
Fig (Abe)
maw (at work - we sign off workpapers with our initials)
Four jobs I've had
Store clerk at JoAnn's Fabrics
Office assistant at a mental health clinic
Office assistant at the financial aid office at my college
Tax accountant
Four movies I've watched more than once
Back to the Future
In the Land of Women
Clue
Serenity
Four books I recommend*
Absent in the Spring by Mary Westmacott (a pen name of Agatha Christie)
Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Four places I've lived
I've lived in fewer than four (three, to be precise) cities/metro areas, and many more than four dwelling units or specific towns; but I've lived in exactly four counties:
Asotin County, Washington state
Yamhill County, Oregon
Clackamas County, Oregon
Washington County, Oregon
Four places I've been
London
Moscow, Russia
NYC
Sayulita, Mexico
Four places I'd rather be right now
Well, I'm on a comfy couch with my cats and internet access, so I can't complain too much, but I would love to be anywhere that's not freezing outside:
Mexico
Florida
Hawaii
Las Vegas
Four of my favorite foods
Pizza
Ice cream
Bread
Chocolate
Four things I don't eat
Meat
Bread pudding
Avocado
Olives
Four TV shows I watch
Lots of stuff on Netflix, but currently airing shows:
The Daily Show
Bones
Brooklyn Nine Nine
Parenthood
Four things I'm looking forward to this year
New Year's First Run
Continuing triathlon training next summer
Celebrating our first anniversary
Starting TTC
Four things I always say
Non-[ ] (e.g, "Let's go out for non-coffee")
Yeppers
Perfect!
Sure
**Disclosure: This section contains Powell's Partner Program affiliate links. If you click on this link, it will place a cookie on your browser for 90 days, and if you make a purchase from Powell's within this time period, I may receive a commission from Powell's on the sale. If you wish to avoid this after clicking on the link, please clear cookies on your browser.
Friday, November 14, 2014
First Quarterly Relationship Meeting
Inspired by this post on Offbeat Home & Life (and because I'm an accountant and like lists and goals and agendas), Abe and I decided to hold quarterly shareholder meetings. Basically, the point is to resolve issues - or potential issues - before they become a big deal, and take proactive steps to be constantly improving our marriage. I'm sure this will be even more important when we're balancing our needs with kids, but right now it's really crucial too, as we're still figuring each other out and determining the best way to relate to each other.
We finally had our first meeting yesterday (as we were both at home for the "ice day"). (As this was intended to be three months from our wedding, i.e., October 27, I'm realizing we're both at least a bit prone to procrastination on things like this.)
A lot of things for this one were merely logistical things related to merging finances and such, like combining car insurance. Others were more emotionally loaded, but I think giving advance notice on the agenda, setting aside a time to talk about it, and then ending the conversation (for now) (i.e., the end of the meeting), provided a helpful venue to discuss them logically, without taking anyone by surprise or being insulted or made to feel inadequate by the topics needing to be discussed. Having a more guided, rather than open-ended, discussion helped us stay on topic and actually accomplish what needed to happen.
We started a shared Google document with agenda items a few weeks in advance, and also added to it during the meeting. I think the general categories will be fairly consistent as we continue our meetings (with "family planning" eventually just being "family" or "children"); it seems to cover the relevant aspects of life in which we need to make joint decisions or join forces on. During the meeting, we established goals for the upcoming quarter, and action items for each of us to take on items discussed.
Agenda Items
- Finances
- Determine amount to spend on charitable contributions for remainder of calendar year 2014.
- Discuss ongoing charitable contributions habits.
- Combine car insurance.
- Set up at least one joint credit card.
- Relationship
- Satisfaction with sex life.
- Set up some sort of counseling discussions. (Note: we never got around to doing any premarital counseling; we both felt we'd addressed a lot of the common issues via online dating questionnaires and ongoing discussions, so it was never prioritized. But I did want to continue such discussions, especially as we are now looking at having kids and even more important to make sure we're on the same page, or establishing agreeable compromises, in certain areas.)
- Household
- Select wedding and honeymoon photos to print.
- Evaluate division of chores. Is it working for both?
- Community
- Recurring volunteer opportunities to do together?
- Family planning
- What needs to happen/be planned prior to trying to conceive (TTC)?
- Margaret to start on prenatal vitamins
- Review timing spreadsheet with projected cycle dates. (Note: To try to schedule maternity leave as best as possible around my busy season at work, we have a small window for our first attempt at TTC, so this spreadsheet existing isn't quite as OCD is might sound.)
- Start reading books/research about pregnancy, childbirth, and babies. Consider checking out one book per month library to both read?
Goals for upcoming quarter:
- Have monthly date nights (not with a group or parents/in-laws (much of our social life is hosting game nights and dinners with his parents)).
- Attend tree-planting event in November.
- Have sex X times per week (being a blogger I suppose means one is predisposed to overshare to strangers on the internet, but the specifics of that goal isn't one I'm sharing. :) )
Action items
If you're married or in a long-term relationship, what did you find was the hardest thing in living together or merging life stuff? What's your most important tool to effectively communicate with each other?
- Abe: Look into prenatal vitamin requirements and do cost comparisons.
- Margaret: Contact AAA agent for joint insurance options. Add Abe to two specific credit cards.
- Both: Will have two pregnancy books at a time, each reading, making notes, swapping, reading the other, then discuss both.
If you're married or in a long-term relationship, what did you find was the hardest thing in living together or merging life stuff? What's your most important tool to effectively communicate with each other?
Thursday, November 13, 2014
I Don't Want to Eat to Live
Today's NaBloPoMo writing prompt was based on the concept of the micromort: a unit of risk measuring a one-in-a-million probability of death. Though more readily applied to instant death scenarios (e.g., skydiving), but can also be used to consider the risks that reduce your life expectancy.
Obviously I've never been, and still am not, living the perfect lifestyle (definitely have a tendency towards laziness and instant gratification that interferes with that!). Over the years, I have, however, increased my desire to develop healthier habits, and have made strides towards accomplishing that. A relaxing day now includes an easy run, not sitting around reading; an enjoyable meal includes a salad in addition to a donut.
As much I enjoy a bowl of ice cream, or say that my last meal would be french bread and string cheese, I know that it's a problem to "live to eat". Of course there's more to live than just the tangible pleasures of food, and you won't live very long to enjoy those foods if that's really all you focused on.
However, I have people in my life who go to the other extreme. My husband is a fan of Joel Fuhrman, author of Eat to Live*. That book recommends a lifestyle that's exactly what it sounds like: eat foods that have maximum nutrient density (nutrients per calorie). He's (Dr. Fuhrman, and Abe following his advice) all about eating cuploads of kale on a daily basis.
Now, Abe says he enjoys eating kale. And maybe that's true; maybe it always has been, maybe if you eat it you do learn to love it eventually. But the fact of the matter is that, for me, right now, I don't love eating kale. Though I try to fit it in occasionally, it's a burden, not a joy, for me.
Is it worth substituting kale for ice cream? Micromort analysis would tell me to. Not only would it increase my life expectancy in general, but I am dealing with some chronic conditions that would improved by a substantially better diet. But what's the point of increasing your life expectancy if you don't enjoy the prolonged life? Not that ice cream is the end all and be all of enjoying life, but it's certainly an aspect of it!
There's more to life than just maximizing physical health; even to the extent that physical health has an impact on mental and emotional health (absolutely a relevant factor in things I have like hypothyroidism, PCOS, and depression!), there are plenty of other factors that also affect mental and emotional health. Being able to enjoy the sensations of rich, pleasurable foods is one of them. Not feeling trapped in a box, not keeping a list of things that I have to do everyday against my desires is another.
It may be a fine line, but I don't believe that eating to live will truly produce a better life than living to eat. You can never mitigate all the risks in live, and you won't be happy while you're trying to do so. Learn to love the balance.
*Disclosure: This is a Powell's Partner Program affiliate link. If you click on this link, it will place a cookie on your browser for 90 days, and if you make a purchase from Powell's within this time period, I may receive a commission from Powell's on the sale. If you wish to avoid this after clicking on the link, please clear cookies on your browser.
Obviously I've never been, and still am not, living the perfect lifestyle (definitely have a tendency towards laziness and instant gratification that interferes with that!). Over the years, I have, however, increased my desire to develop healthier habits, and have made strides towards accomplishing that. A relaxing day now includes an easy run, not sitting around reading; an enjoyable meal includes a salad in addition to a donut.
As much I enjoy a bowl of ice cream, or say that my last meal would be french bread and string cheese, I know that it's a problem to "live to eat". Of course there's more to live than just the tangible pleasures of food, and you won't live very long to enjoy those foods if that's really all you focused on.
However, I have people in my life who go to the other extreme. My husband is a fan of Joel Fuhrman, author of Eat to Live*. That book recommends a lifestyle that's exactly what it sounds like: eat foods that have maximum nutrient density (nutrients per calorie). He's (Dr. Fuhrman, and Abe following his advice) all about eating cuploads of kale on a daily basis.
Now, Abe says he enjoys eating kale. And maybe that's true; maybe it always has been, maybe if you eat it you do learn to love it eventually. But the fact of the matter is that, for me, right now, I don't love eating kale. Though I try to fit it in occasionally, it's a burden, not a joy, for me.
Is it worth substituting kale for ice cream? Micromort analysis would tell me to. Not only would it increase my life expectancy in general, but I am dealing with some chronic conditions that would improved by a substantially better diet. But what's the point of increasing your life expectancy if you don't enjoy the prolonged life? Not that ice cream is the end all and be all of enjoying life, but it's certainly an aspect of it!
There's more to life than just maximizing physical health; even to the extent that physical health has an impact on mental and emotional health (absolutely a relevant factor in things I have like hypothyroidism, PCOS, and depression!), there are plenty of other factors that also affect mental and emotional health. Being able to enjoy the sensations of rich, pleasurable foods is one of them. Not feeling trapped in a box, not keeping a list of things that I have to do everyday against my desires is another.
It may be a fine line, but I don't believe that eating to live will truly produce a better life than living to eat. You can never mitigate all the risks in live, and you won't be happy while you're trying to do so. Learn to love the balance.
*Disclosure: This is a Powell's Partner Program affiliate link. If you click on this link, it will place a cookie on your browser for 90 days, and if you make a purchase from Powell's within this time period, I may receive a commission from Powell's on the sale. If you wish to avoid this after clicking on the link, please clear cookies on your browser.
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