I Am A Matchbook Girl

I'm loving this new online magazine--Matchbook. Check it out for yourself.

http://matchbookmag.com/

Launched in January 2011, Matchbook is an online lifestyle publication celebrating classics - shaken and stirred. Our monthly issues cover past and present fashion, decor, the arts, travel and culture. Brimming with intriguing interviews, stately homes, captivating memoirs and swoon-worthy fashion spreads, matchbook seeks to inspire women around the globe to design a life they adore. From lipstick to letterpress, gelato to grosgrain, and Paris to Peru, consider us your field guide to a charmed life.

How Do I Love Thee?

In honor of Valentines Day, which is right around the corner...

One of my fave poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

I bought Ian a new phone as an early V-day present. Not very romantic, I know...but practical and I already gave it to him. Not sure what I'll buy for Ava cuz the little girl needs for nothing. Although, Gap has quite a few new items out that are quite cute. Much to the dismay of Ian, I can always find an excuse to buy more outfits for Ava.

I'm not sure why I even bother attempting to buy Ava coordinated outfits anymore cuz all she wants to wear is mix-matchy t-shirts, leggings and her new Sketcher Twinkle-Toes Boots. She looks ridiculous most days.

I finally took Ava to get her haircut yesterday...her hair was so long she was almost able to sit on it. Hello Rapunzel! I had 3 inches taken off and it looks so much better.

Speaking of hair, a few months back I had highlights put in my hair. I was going through a brief phase when I thought I wanted my hair to be the color of Jessica Alba's.That didn't last long (it never does). Two weeks ago, I had my hair darkened again at a salon. Today, I colored my hair again--this time jet-black. I know that sounds harsh, but it actually looks much better on me...goes with my dark mysterious features (ha ha!). Anyhoo, that's all the updates I have for now.

Have a great weekend! I plan to spend most of my weekend outside enjoying the sunshine. It's good for my soul.

P.S. my feet STILL hurt from running the half marathon. I wonder if I did some serious damage??

What a Feeling!

 Yesterday at about 11 am, I was running (slowly of course, but still moving), in the middle of a street in Phoenix. I was most likely about to reach 8.5 miles. The music was blarring in my ears, my feet were cramping, my legs were getting tired, and yet I have honestly never felt more alive in my life. I never doubted for one second that I would cross that finish line, even though at times, it felt like a million miles away.

I was in my own little world running/walking among hundreds of people (all different shapes and sizes) and feeling so overcome with emotion at times just thinking about how lucky I am. I think we all go through phases when we look at ourselves in the mirror and wish we could change things about our physical appearance. But for the first time yesterday, I didn't focus on my flaws...I was just grateful that I have legs and feet that allowed me to run and walk on such a beautiful Arizona day. As Oprah says, it was my "Ah-Ha Moment"! I knew I wasn't going to be the fastest runner out there, I just wanted to see if I could really complete 13.1 miles. And I did.

Me at the finish line. Ian telling me how proud he was of me. =)

I finished about 10 minutes after Ian.

Of course today, I can barely walk. But it's a small price to pay for that amazing feeling you get when you've accomplished a goal.

Now, I just hope that photo of me crossing the finish line is flattering! ha ha!

Ava's Dance Recital Pics

Ava's first dance recital is this Saturday. I'm going to be a stage mom, assisting backstage with the little ones. Of course I would rather be in the audience with Ian and our friends, but I figure Ava might need me to calm her nerves. And maybe when the music starts, I'll sneak out front to catch a glimpse of my little one shaking her stuff.

Anyway, she's performing a cheer/pom/dance routine to Justin Bieber's "Baby". It should be quite entertaining.

Good luck, Ava!

A Blank Slate

I love the beginning of a new year. It feels great to know that there's a blank slate with nothing written on it yet. Sure, technically there's already expectations, obligations and trips on the calendar for work, but I get to decide how I want to react to it all. So, in 2011, I'm going to choose to be more positive, happy, and energetic. I want to have more FUN this year!

I will do more to feed my soul--like reading more, attending more concerts, or even writing more on this blog.

And, I will continue on my quest to get fit and healthy! I need to worry less about what the scale says and more about how strong and healthy I feel inside and out.

I just need to keep my eyes on the prize. And I guess the prize is feeling good about life.