Beauty Tips.

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." Audrey Hepburn.

May your day be filled with grace and beauty.

Andrea

Mistakes Were Made.

"You will pay for your sins."

You have no idea how many times this rang through my head today.  Maybe it was the red velvet cake, the eggnog cupcakes, the pumpkin pie, the sweet rolls, the multiple sodas, the fried chicken, the mountains of gravy, the chips, the dips.... *face palm*  Oh Andrea, you silly silly girl.

Today I had my first run in, well, awhile - and I was so incredibly slow, winded, cranky, and did I mention slow.  All the while I hear Joe, in his infinite wisdom, telling me "you will pay for your sins."  By that, I am pretty sure he means that if you eat a bunch of crap, you will feel like crap, and perform like crap.  I know, I know you all are saying - well, duh sweetheart- doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out!

I guess I thought I was immune.  I guess I kinda always think that... that all the negative stuff will just skip right over me.  That I, Ms. Fancy pants, will defy all scientific research and will be the one and only exception to the rule.  Wrong, wrong, wrong again.

I am determined to get back on the straight and narrow.  Step one: I got my booty out of bed, and ran today.  I got 3 honks (I think those are my fans rooting me on), and an old man that informed me the hospital was about 3 blocks away and that I was headed the right direction.  I dodged three leaping deer (and so did the blue jeep they leaped in front of), and mounds of deer poop.  I am feeling a little better about my "sins" and am going to prove to myself that I will do better.

Now, I am off to rid the Farmer House of treats.

May your day be full of encouraging honks.

Andrea

12 Days of Christmas

Someone usually sends this email to me around the holidays, and no matter what it ALWAYS makes me laugh.  Enjoy.

Dearest John:
I went to the door today and the postman delivered a partridge in a pear tree. What a delightful gift. I couldn't have been more surprised.
With dearest love and affection, Agnes
 
***
December 15th
Dearest John:
Today the postman brought your very sweet gift. Just imagine, two turtle doves.... I'm just delighted at your very thoughtful gift. They are just adorable.
All my love, Agnes
 
***
December 16th
Dear John:
Oh, aren't you the extravagant one! Now I must protest. I don't deserve such generosity. Three french hens. They are just darling but I must insist.... you're just too kind.
Love Agnes
 
***
December 17th
Today the postman delivered four calling birds. Now really! They are beautiful, but don't you think enough is enough? You're being too romantic.
Affectionately, Agnes
 
***
December 18th
Dearest John:
What a surprise! Today the postman delivered five golden rings. One for each finger. You're just impossible, but I love it. Frankly, John, all those squawking birds were beginning to get on my nerves.
All my love, Agnes
 
***
December 19th
Dear John:
When I opened the door there were actually six geese-a-laying on my front steps. So you're back to the birds again, huh? Those geese are huge. Where will I ever keep them? The neighbors are complaining and I can't sleep through the racket. PLEASE STOP!
Cordially, Agnes
 
***
December 20th
John:
What's with you and those birds???? Seven swans-a-swimming. What kind of joke is this? There's bird do-do all over the house and they never stop the racket. I'm a nervous wreck and I can't sleep all night. IT'S NOT FUNNY.......So stop with those birds.
Sincerely, Agnes
 
***
December 21st
OK Buster:
I think I prefer the birds. What am I going to do with eight maids-a-milking? It's not enough with all those birds and eight maids-a-milking, but they had to bring their own cows. There is poop all over the lawn and I can't move into my own house. Just lay off me. .
Ag
 
***
December 22nd
Hey:
What are you? Some kind of sadist? Now there's nine pipers playing. And do they play! They never stopped chasing those maids since they got here yesterday morning. The cows are upset and are stepping all over those screeching birds. No wonder they screech. What am I going to do? The neighbors have started a petition to evict me. You'll get yours.
From Ag
 
***
December 23rd
You Creep!
Now there's ten ladies dancing - I don't know why I call them ladies. Now the cows can't sleep and they've got diarrhea. My living room is a river of poop. The commissioner of buildings has subpoenaed me to give cause why the building shouldn't be condemned. I'm sicking the police on you.
One who means it, Ag
 
***
December 24th
Listen Idiot:
What's with the eleven lords a-leaping? All 234 of the birds are dead. I hope you're satisfied, you rotten swine.
Your sworn enemy, Miss Agnes McCallister
 
***
December 25th (From the law offices Taeker, Spedar, and Baegar)
Dear Sir:
This is to acknowledge your latest gift of twelve fiddlers fiddling, which you have seen fit to inflict on our client, Miss Agnes McCallister. The destruction, of course, was total. All correspondence should come to our attention. If you should attempt to reach Miss McCallister at Happy Dale Sanitarium, the attendants have instructions to shoot you on sight. With this letter, please find attached a warrant for your arrest.

May you day be filled with Fa La La's and Ho Ho Ho's,

Andrea

Icicles in Your Eyelashes.

Yesterday was a test for me; on so many different levels.

I had a huge track work out that I knew I needed to accomplish; I was sore, it was cold and snowing outside, but I bundled up in my gear and ventured out anyhow.

By the time I made it to the track, the snow was really coming down.  I laced my sneaks up tight, and began the warm up: 20 minutes.  Upon taking my very first turn – I realized just how slick the snow and track were.  I had to slow it down, and really watch my footing.  So, you know, I didn’t end up ass over tea kettle.

Karly got there just in time to help with the timed laps, or pure torture in those conditions.  (Thank you so much my dear!)  My timed laps looked a little something like this: run a lap, walk ½ a lap, repeat to the tune of 9 times.  The snow was coming down, the wind was blowing, water and tears were running down my face, my feel were wet, snow/sleet was building up along my arms and chest, and I had icicles in my eyelashes.  But I succeeded.  I did it!!  Mission accomplished.  I was pretty darn proud of myself.  My average lap time was about 2:11 – which, I feel, was pretty good considering the conditions.

Just goes to show you: you are tougher than you imagine, where there’s a will there’s a way, with good friends anything is possible, and YOU GOTTA WANT IT!!

See y’all at the New Year’s Race!

May your days be filled with warmth and icicle free eyelashes.

Andrea

Umbrellas in Your Drink.

You only live once.  Life is short.  Make the most of what you have.

Just in case you forgot – here are a couple rules from “curly girl” and others to make you smile!

1.       “Life is far too short not to have a little umbrella in your drink” – Curly Girl

2.       “Do one thing every day that scares you” – Eleanor Roosevelt

3.       “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Emerson.

4.       “Shake the tree of life and bring down fruits unheard of!” – Edwin Arlington Robinson

5.       “Life is tough.  I recommend getting a manicure and a cute helmet.” – Curly Girl

6.       “Any given moment can change your life; you just have to be there.” – Curly Girl

7.       “Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping-they called it opportunity.” – Bill Gates

8.       “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” —Wayne Gretzky

9.       “Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.” - André Gide

10.    “When in doubt, dance it out.”

“The world is full of people who will live their whole lives, and not actually live one day.  I do not intend on being one of them!”

May your day be filled with moments of skipping with delight!

Andrea

Better Than??

We all have them.  Those friends and family members who are "better than you," smarter, faster, busier, more tired, have the most, know everything, do more, read more, eat the healthiest, work out the most, and on, and on, and on.  If you don't smack them first, a conversation usually goes:  You - "Man, I am tired."  Them, "Oh, me too!  I did this, that, and the other thing, and was up until 3:00am saving the world - then got up at 4:00am because I just had things to do."  AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!  Sorry Charlie, but that doesn't make me any less tired.

These people used to make me mad, frustrated, sad, and left me feeling so very bad - and guilty for even mentioning that I might be tired or busy - in the face of their mountain of tasks.  But then it dawned on me - they must be so miserable if they feel that they need to compete with someone on who can be the most tired.  It also showed me that I can't feel bad enough, sad enough, or guilty enough - to make them feel better.  So, why even bring myself down at all.  My feelings are authentic, and they're not going away.

I recently came across a quote:  "You can't be better than anyone else, but you can be better than you used to be."  I LOVE that.  I would like a shirt that says that, to wear around these ultra competitive people.

I promise you, that you will never be able to be a better Andrea than I already am.  (You see, I have had years of practice.)  But you can be a better you.  Listen to what others are telling you - instead of thinking of a comeback, or how their thoughts aren't valid because you are soooooo much more (fill in the blank) than them, or how you already know what they're telling you.  Maybe by listening, and not waiting to make your next move, you can be a better you.  Now, wouldn't that be something.

May your day be filled with patience,
Andrea

Shoe Gallery.

They are beautiful and they are mine!!  I figure if I'm gonna partly name the blog "cute shoes" I better pony up, and show you.  I got these little beauties from Anne Taylor, they were a tad pricey, but hey they were 40% off AND Merry Christmas to me!  Don't you just love em?

May your day be filled with cute shoes,

Andrea

Can't Stop Reading.

Good Evening Folks -

I am sitting up here at the computer - in the dark.  This is because Shiloh doesn't mind, and I am too lazy to find the ladder to change the light bulb.  Plus, I am kind of having a non-violent, one woman march against not changing the light bulb.  It's what I do.  (Please note that after weeks of not having light up here - I will eventually change the damn thing, cause injury to myself, and blog about it.  You have been warned.)

I am also waiting for the laundry to dry. 

It dawned on me, that in moments like this - where I have a spare second or two, and I have sufficiently read everyone's post on facebook, I turn to Jen.  Thanks to my book club (love you ladies) I was introduced to Jen Lancaster, and I have never looked back.  She is my FAVORITE blogger.  She writes the stuff I love to read - silly mishaps, the days little adventures, dissections of twilight and jersey shore, and angry letters to people she may or may not have met.  She is funny, smart, cynical and I adore her.  She has also written some pretty great memoirs. (Might I recommend "Bitter is the New Black.")

So - if you need a laugh, or just have a moment to let your brain rest - check her out.  She is hysterical!!

http://www.jennsylvania.com/

May your evening be filled with belly laughs,
Andrea

You had me at flibbertigibbet.

Oh, how I love the English language!!

I was reading this very interesting book the other day, "What the Dog Saw," and stumbled across "flibbertigibbet."  I thought, yes, this - this right here is a great word!!  Which of course led me to start thinking of all those other great words we know and never use: kerfuffle, discombobulate, persnickety, brouhaha, bamboozle, cantankerous, obsequious... and on, and on, and on.

I think it is time to step the vocab up a notch, and begin to incorporate these fun-sounding words into our everyday language.  I'm bringing flibbertigibbet back!!

May your day be marvelous and free of the supercilious.

Andrea

Branching Out.

Good Morning Sunshines!!

This is the first post of my new blog - yes, I know, stating the obvious.  This is the place where I will be sharing my ponderings, rants, recipes, journeys, and yes - really cute shoes :)  Don't worry, "Lives" fans - I will also still be posting on there too.  I just didn't think it was fair to post recipes of cupcakes, and my musing on the world, on a blog meant for fitness.  So, I am branching out. (Thank you Karly, for your blessing.)

I hope you enjoy it!  Please feel free to follow me, or share this blog with your friends.  The more the merrier. My goal is to post every couple of days - feel free to send me a nudge when I need one.

May your day be filled with inspiration!

Andrea