A Mile or More in My [Running] Shoes

• Color: Until recently, I didn’t have the confidence or slightest clue how to wear pants that were anything but denim. (I’m not the most fashion savvy person in the world and the oft well-dressed New Yorkers — I swear it’s a requirement for living here or something — would be embarrassed to name me as one of their own.) BUT, I got with the program and lately I have loved these green, cropped chinos from Ann Taylor LOFT. 

• Espadrilles: This kind of piggybacks off of the previous favorite thing. I picked these (pictured above) colorful espadrilles up at Les Toiles du Soleil last year. It was the happiest stumble into a store I’ve ever encountered. Seriously, color everywhere you look. Anyway, these shoes are the most comfortable, fun shoes I’ve ever owned. I can’t even begin to explain the depths of my love for them. I will be going back to pick up another pair or two as these, at a year old, are probably reaching the end of their acceptable use. 
• Vornado Fan: The lack of A/C in my apartment has reached its breaking point… Up until now though, this little fan has worked overtime to keep me cool. For being as small as it is, it does some serious work. After gutting it out with Shaun T and Insanity, I like to park myself in front of this bad boy until I’ve cooled down and I leave it sitting in my window to help circulate cooler air at night. Lifesaver and sleep-giver…

• Of Monsters and Men: I am all kinds of in love with this album. Every so often I stumble upon a new album and fall head over heels in love with it and I listen to it non-stop. (Exhibit A: Lana Del Rey) Some people (myself included) can listen to the same album ad nauseam… This album has been on repeat since Tuesday and I don’t see it stopping any time soon.

• Dressing Up: Because my work environment is very casual on the dress code side of things, any excuse to dress up is cause enough for excitement. This weekend I’m going to a wedding and while I found the dress shopping process stressful, I’m really excited to wear the one I got. Every so often it’s nice to ditch my standard jean + cardigan combo to throw on something pretty and feminine. (And I’ll even be wearing heels this weekend!)

• Wandering in NYC: With the arrival of warm, sunny days (and the current lack of A/C in my apartment) my need to get out-and-about has increased exponentially. There are so many things to see in New York. This past Sunday I wandered to nowhere in particular for a good 4 hours and stumbled upon some cute little stores and more street fairs than I care to count. My journey ended with a stroll up the Highline on the newly opened pieces and parts that I walked for the first time when Rob was here the other week. I even managed to unplug my headphones for most of it to fully take in the sights and sounds and I’m glad I did.

 (Photo by Iwan Baan)

• American Apparel Hoodies: I have two American Apparel zip up hoodies (a blue one and a purple one) and I adore them. This morning I woke to a gray New York City sky and knew immediately that today was a laid-back jeans and hoodie day. I’m fortunate that working in a lab means that an official dress code is non-existent. That being said, I try not to abuse it. I do enjoy having the option to occasionally wear something so cozy to work though.

• Spotify for iPad App: I really like Spotify and was excited when I discovered an update for the iPad app yesterday. I had been using the iPhone/mobile app but wondered when they might make one available for use on the iPad. I only played with it for a little while, as I had a bunch of stuff going on last night, but what I noticed immediately is that it’s easier to use and I really like it so far.

• Hours Spent Catching Up: This week I’ve had two separate Skype dates spent laughing and talking with Lindsay and my sister. Yesterday, I gchatted at length with my darling Kate. This weekend I get another chance to catch up with a friend I haven’t seen since she moved to Chicago! No matter the distance, or the time we’ve spent out of the loop, my best and closest friends and I always pick right back up where we left off. 

• Game of Thrones: After catching up on Mad Men (I still have to watch episodes from this newest season) I decided it was time to give Game of Thrones a chance. Everyone I know who watches it loves it and after watching my first episode earlier this week, I know why. I have a feeling I will be spending an inordinate amount of time watching this show and catching up on rest days…

• Sperry Top-Siders: Now that spring is in full swing, it’s time to break out some of my favorite shoes. I love my Sperrys. They’re comfortable, practical and cute! My Sperrys are pretty standard (they’re like the ones in the picture below) but I think I may need to get a little adventurous this spring and get a colorful pair.

• NYC Marathon “Season”: I’m trying not to get ahead of myself, but I’m so excited for the 2012 NYC Marathon! I’ve already taken a look at a few different training plans and I’m going to get some new shoes while I’m home. I’m also excited about the break I will have between the 25k and the start of training. I’m looking forward to getting myself patched up and ready to train!

• The Return of Baseball: Baseball is back! My Tigers are off to a good start so far and I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds. (Cabrera and Fielder have already provided plenty of excitement.) Listening to Rod and Mario call the Tigs like only they can has really kicked my excitement for long, warm days and their impending return into high gear. (This Sunday it is supposed to be almost 80 in NYC!) To me, baseball means summer, and while watching my Tigers and newly-adopted NL team, the Milwaukee Brewers, on MLB.tv is great (thanks RB), I’m looking forward to going to the ballpark in a few weeks to catch both of New York’s teams in action.

• Amazon Prime: Free 2-day shipping? Yes please! I order a lot of stuff off of Amazon (probably too much…) and if I can get it faster than usual for no additional cost, why not?! The Prime membership does have an annual fee of $79 but at this point, it’s already paid for itself. Plus, I get streaming videos and the Kindle Lending Library. (Certainly comes in handy as I don’t have a tv or cable…) What’s not to love?

• Clif Shot Bloks: I know I mentioned these in a previous post, but I’m excited that I’ve found something that works for me. (I liked the orange flavor so much that I used the aforementioned Amazon Prime membership to buy a pack of 18.) I like these because they aren’t the strange consistency of Gu, I actually have to chew them - something one doesn’t do with Gu and perhaps the reason I have such an aversion to it - and because I notice a difference after using them. 

• Maui Jim Punchbowl Sunglasses: I got these sunglasses as a birthday gift from RB and they’ve already gotten a lot of mileage. (Thanks for looking out for my eyeballs RB!) From sunny New York days spent wandering the city to sunbathing by the pool or on the beach in Tampa, I’ve worn these babies almost every day. The lenses are amazing and I love the blue accent inside the frames!
• Signing Up For Races: (See my previous post…) There’s something so satisfying about receiving a race registration confirmation email. Spring and summer are just not as exciting without a few Saturday and Sunday mornings devoted to running around with a few hundred — and in some cases, a few thousand — like-minded individuals. 

•  Direct Flights to Grand Rapids: When I fly home I generally fly into Detroit because it’s less expensive, but I’ve been fortunate enough to find reasonably priced nonstop flights from New York into Grand Rapids. (Just booked flights for the River Bank Run, in fact!) This shaves a good 8 hours of drive time off for my parents and means I have 4 more hours to spend with family and friends in West Michigan. 

• Bare Legs in March: Spring decided to grace New York City with its presence prior to my vacation and after ditching jeans for shorts and skirts and dresses for about a week, my legs were really digging the fresh air. Today is supposed to be another beautiful day so I thought, “Why not?! Get those gams back out and wear a dress to work.” You will never hear me complain about getting to wear a sundress, and certainly not when it’s in March. 

• dfl Travel Mugs: My mom (because she’s awesome) sends me the occasional box of odds and ends. One of her more recent deliveries included 3 dfl travel mugs. Knowing me as she does, she knows I like my coffee, and thought these cute little mugs would meet my caffeine-addict needs nicely. They’re nice because they don’t leak or spill on the train and the lids stay on nice and tight. Thanks, Mom! (And no, I was not paid to write this…)

• Apples and Peanut Butter: Honestly, this is one of my favorite snacks. Two things I love that pair so nicely. Great pre or post-run or as a little snack. (I don’t really think there’s any time that this combination isn’t good…) *Note: I don’t usually include chocolate chips or oats, but I just remembered that this combination exists and that I must try it soon…

• Work: (Shhh… I know, I know. “Favorite” may be a bit of a stretch, but bear with me…) My job is awesome. It is. It’s hard to explain to people what it is that I do on a day-to-day basis, and sometimes I feel like it still sounds so entry-level, but that’s just me projecting. I have no reason to complain about anything. (Yet, I still always find something to complain about…) It’s easy to get frustrated when you don’t see yourself doing exactly what it is you want to do, but why not make the most of what you are doing? I just need to remind myself how awesome it is to work in a great lab and to have such awesome, understanding bosses. I’m lucky. (Seeing all of your hard work and data come together in a great lab meeting never hurts either.)

Lana Del Rey’s Born To Die: I really like this album. It took me a few listens to really get into it, but now it’s on heavy rotation while I’m busying myself at work, or around the apartment, or on the train… You get the picture. 

Memory Foam Mattress Topper: My new bed was a magnificent (and extremely necessary) addition to the apartment, but this memory foam topper I got for the bed was just as necessary. I sleep like a baby (when I’m not melting into a puddle). 

Nike Pro Combat Capri Leggings: These have been one of my favorite things for a while now, but one of my best friends (who I miss dearly all the time, but especially now after spending last Friday-Monday with her) brought me the most awesome gift. Knowing me as well as she does, she knew that these leggings were high on my list of coveted items (I would seriously live in these things if society deemed them appropriate everyday wear) and that my favorite color is purple. Two favorite things in one piece of clothing!? And I can run in them?! YES PLEASE. Plus, she made a shirt with my two favorite running mantras. (Did I mention she’s one of the best people I know?) Thank you, Woo. I love you!

Brunch: New Yorkers brunch. It’s a thing. Seriously, don’t believe me? Come here and we will brunch. This weekend I got to spend brunch with 3 awesome visitors at one of my most favorite low-key brunch places (I mean, board games and all you can drink mimosas?) on my 26th birthday. Pretty much the best way to spend a momentous day.

Having a vacation on my calendar in the month of March: Mid-March in Tampa, FL with a cute boy? Don’t mind if I do! Heyyyo!

• Downton Abbey: I love this show… I heard a lot about this show on twitter (@pattonoswalt is a diehard fan) and when I discovered that season 1 was on Netflix Instant Streaming I dove right in and never looked back. Because I don’t have cable (yeah, you read that correctly) I succeeded in watching season 1 in its entirety (about 7 episodes) in a weekend while getting a start on the season 2 episodes on PBS.org. Needless to say, I’m hopelessly addicted to the show and I may have succeeded in getting my mom into it as well. *Also, major bonus that it’s a PBS show! Wooo public broadcasting!

• Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Care Hand Cream: ‘Tis the season for dry, cracked hands. The constant glove application, removal, and subsequent hand washing I do at work really wreaks havoc on my already dry skin. This lotion is the solution to my problems. (Unfortunately I fly through it and find that I’m constantly having to restock.)

• e-Textbooks for Rent: Space in NYC (and in my apartment) is at a premium. When I discovered that my Anatomy and Physiology textbook was available in ebook format I got really excited. When I discovered that I could rent said textbook from Amazon for a fraction of the price of the actual text book, I just about died. This set-up works wonders for me because it’s cheaper and I can take my book with me wherever I go. An iPad is much easier to toss in my bag and carry around than a 7 pound monster of a book. Yay technology!

• Insanity Workout: Ok, so I guess favorite is a bit strong. These workouts generally kick my ass and to distract myself from the ever increasing burn in my quads and core, I find myself speculating about the mysterious and not-so-subtle affinity Shaun T seems to have for Tonya, but that’s beside the point… The reason this falls into my favorite things is because of what the workouts have done for me. My 10k PR last weekend was no accident, and I attribute much of my success to the introduction of a more steady strength and conditioning regimen to my training. These workouts are simple enough to do in my living room (I’m sure my neighbors love all of the jumping around) when I don’t have time for a run and they force me to work muscle groups I often neglect.

**Note: Any and all opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. I am not being compensated in any way for anything that appears on my blog. (Though should Eucerin decide to send me enough intensive repair hand lotion to bathe in, I wouldn’t say no.)

• Google Hangout: I have been a fan of Skype for a while now, but it wasn’t until recently that I actually used Google Hangout. I love it! I found that I have fewer problems with it when it comes to both image and sound. Yay for seeing friends’ faces and hearing their voices!

• Le Pen pens: I have a strange fondness for office supplies and planners… I like to think of these pens as the adult equivalent of Gelly Roll pens. (C’mon ladies, you know what I’m talking about.) All of the same pretty colors in a more adult package and sans sparkles. Something tells me it would be hard to take someone like me seriously if I sat down to schedule experiments, opened my planner and the pages were covered in sparkly pink pen, BUT the chic sage green pen allows me to be fun and still semi-grown up. 

• My new running shoes: I love these shoes so far. I’ve found that I have IT band trouble, but with these shoes (many thanks to Gazelle Sports in Grand Rapids for helping me find the right fit) I haven’t had a single issue. They’re a little more girly than my previous pair of Asics and I’m ok with that. Girly is just fine when my legs aren’t screaming. 

• Pandora Radio: This isn’t anything new, but with my purple iPod nano’s departure to the great Apple Store in the Sky, I have resorted to using the Pandora app on my phone for tuneage while running. I’m happy to report my mourning period is over and that I’ve run back to the loving arms of Pandora. I appreciate the mix of songs and artists on each of my stations and I really like that the music is based on my history of “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” votes for each song or artist. It’s also great for at-work listening and for finding new music. 

What are some of your favorite things at the moment?