Feel The Burn: Motivation & Procrastination..

Procrastination... it should be a skill... or like something you'd want to put on a resume'... I'm skilled in administrative duties, customer service and I excel in rolling over and hitting the snooze button.. For the last few weeks I've had a desire to go running... mostly because my dad used to and I think I want to give it a try.... however I've yet to put that motivation to good use and actually get myself on the road for a good run...

I'm one of those girls that gets excited about exercise because I can buy new workout gear.. I mean, I'm all about looking good and feeling good but come on? Who doesn't want another excuse for some sweet gear? That and making a good playlist... a girl can't workout without some tunes! I believe that a good workout/running mix needs to have the proper mix of good beats and embarrassing tunes from my childhood... fake cough Spice Girls... I honestly believe that if you can get out of bed in the morning then you're golden! However I've yet to master that... unless of course Starbucks is involved and then I'm out of bed with lightning speed.... for local readers if you see a 30 something woman sprinting to Starbucks you'll know I've figured out this whole procrastination thang... Oh the power of espresso & foam...

As for my "Feel the Burn" goals... well... lets just say it's still a goal and I haven't given up but it hasn't been easy... The most important thing I'm doing right now is being easy on myself.. My life has been nuts since I last posted a Feel the Burn post and I believe that in part of having a healthy lifestyle is knowing your limits... For me, I feel that maybe a good run once -twice a week is a good starting over place... Also have a healthy lifestyle is not taking yourself too seriously! And to that I'll confess that I've had this running mix for almost a year and I've yet to use it while running... there I said it... I also wonder how many of us buy yoga pants and actually use them for yoga..Deep thoughts today by yours truly...

Falling For You...

Falling For You... by hchdesigns featuring platform heel pumps

Lately I've been totally falling for anything red.. It's one of my favorite colors... and true story I wore amazing red heels for my wedding shoes.. I was so glam...but I digress... When the Phillip Lim Target collection hit stores like an idiot I thought for sure I'd have days to score one of his trademark bags...  You know that part in Pretty Woman? "Big mistake... Huge"... I went to my local Target thinking I'd obviously still have a chance in my area.. When I asked the sales associate for help, he looked at me with look of pity and said "they were gone within hours"... So, I'd accepted my fate and let the dream die and honestly I'd only seen the bag online so I wasn't so certain it was the right one for me anyways... So then a week later, I spotted one lonely bag in the Target in Montana.. I couldn't believe my luck "what? Can this be true?" and then in a moment of what I'll call fashion stupidity... I put the bag down and walked away... Granted, I wasn't in a frame of mind to really think clearly... Rule of thumb, do not make decisions on handbags that you've been wanting forever when you are in the middle of a family crisis...  so I walked away.. and all the fashion world is screaming in slow motion... "Nooooo!!!"

Sigh.. So now instead of going for the $55 one.. classic Hope.. I've got my eye on the $800 red one that I like even more.. I keep thinking there's got to be a way I can score this awesome-ness...save my money, take on a few extra jobs, sell a kidney.. Ya know the usual options.. Expensive taste.. the bane of my existence.. that and laundry.. but I want to talk about that... Between my desire for scarves, gold office supplies and my ridiculously overpriced fashion choices..Fall shopping/Christmas wish list is getting full and who can blame me when there are sweet things like an $800 bag or a $1400 Burberry Trench to dream over.. and everyone in my family says "keep dreamin Hope"... Oh I will and if all else fails there's always the whole sell a  kidney option... kidding..

Inspirational Thursday....

Today I had grand schemes of doing this wicked awesome fashionista post where we all "ooh and ahh" at all the pretties...Alas, it wasn't meant to be.. Instead this phrase was running through my head these last few days... We've all got dreams and aspirations and sometimes it just feels like the mountain of our dreams get larger and larger everyday... but don't worry... you're gonna make it.. and before you realize it, you're closer than ever before! A little Thursday inspiration for you... Keep chasing the dream!

A Tribute to My Dad- Allen Burdick...

It's a hard thing to talk about real life, real pain on a blog...  On September 27 2013 my precious Daddy, breathed his last breath of this world and started breathing the breath of heaven.... About an hour after I posted my last post, I found out that due to complications from a second stroke... I needed to rush to Montana and be by his side for his last days.... I made it, kissed his head... told him I loved him and it was ok to go.... to be free... With tears and my eyes  I just wanted him to be free of the pain and frustration of being wheelchair bound for almost 7 years. To run again, to see my brother who had passed away almost 32 years ago... To feel joy and life in deeper ways than I've ever known.... And yet, I didn't want to loose his hugs... his smile and laugh... hearing him call me "Hopie Celestial".... (my middle name is Celeste).

My dad's favorite movie was Chariot's of Fire... he watched it in 1982 soon after my brother (who was only 6 at the time) was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver... I was only about 6 weeks old... The movie  spoke to him of never giving up even when his grief was tangible and real, to run the race with purpose and conviction... I have many memories of my dad coming home after a discouraging day and putting on the movie and he was instantly encouraged.  My Dad believed in living out your dreams even if it wasn't the easiest route to take and not compromising character along the way... He an inspiration to me and his legacy is something that I cherish.... To this day the music from Chariots of Fire speaks to my heart and is a reminder of my dad... it might as well have been his story because to me he was always my hero, the one who could do anything...

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." - Eric Liddell   Chariots of Fire....

It's a surreal feeling knowing that the man who kissed your face goodnight, cheered the loudest for you at soccer, buckled you in the car, held your hand to put you down for a nap and gave you away on your wedding day.... is gone... And yet I can say with absolute assurance that even in the middle of thick grief there is a real truth and hope... I'll see him again and everything is gonna be ok.... It's not a sugar coating, the grief is real and yet the hope is real too... With tears streaming down my face, missing his smile more than I can express, there is a soft sweet hope that wiggles it's way into your heart till all of a sudden, life that is ended  is not the end but only intermission and the real story the real life is only just begun....

My Dad, Allen H. Burdick June 29 1942- September 27 2013... 

I'll miss you forever but I'll see you again...

Feel The Burn: No Pain... No Gain...

Let's be real... after squats, lunges, working the glutes and everything esle... even the most menial tasks are evaluated...Who knew that toilets are so flippin low?? Oh it's a real crisis folks....  Sitting on the couch after dinner, I want something to drink...I think,  am I really that thirsty? It's a lot of work to stand up and then sit back down again..Oh the agony...  Legs not rubbing together while walking? I'll take it... Uh... seriously evaluating the need to sit down on anything? That's a tough one...

Right now I will be honest... the whole fitness/weight loss thang is going slow.. honestly slower than I would like.. however these these take time and I'm still seeing progress.. Even though I would like to run around the block without feeling like I need an oxygen mask!  This week I did, 10 (girly) push ups with no problem! No carpet face plants for me! Mountain Climbers? Did them like a beast... however the next day I could have parked in the "Expectant Mothers" parking spot at Target and no one would have questioned me, just by the way I was walking... I've perfected the waddle...

In the pain of progress I keep telling myself it will get better... and eventually I will see my goals but until then I'll take it as a win when I can climb the two flights of stairs to my apartment in stilettos without whimpering... cuz Lord knows I'm not giving up the stilettos... Here I am working out, hitting a punching bag like a boss... Doing the lunges down the street being like "oh yeah, I work out"... "What these lunges? Oh yeah.. no big deal.." And then the next day reality hits... that you've just been beaten.. by toilet..

Final score...Toilet-1 Me-0.

Date Night Dilemma....

Tee- H&M

Jeans- American Eagle

Heels- H&M (similar)

Bag- MMS for TJ Max (similar)

Date night... ahh.. the magic...  sipping Sauvignon Blanc and laughing about about inside jokes... Last night Seth and I stepped out to a little date night to one of our favorite Thai restaurants... OMG... they had me at peanut curry sauce... I digress... 

Oh the dilemma... the epic crisis... I'm not sure what to wear... it's a moment of emptying the closet on to the bed... It's not that I don't have options, am I right ladies? It's the lack of inspiration! So when inspiration lacks... Style your look around the item your most excited about! Which for me was my new tee shirt & bag....  I wanted to wear a cute graphic tee and I wanted to have my new fall bag... what goes with both? easy... distressed jeans or pencil skirt...  I chose distressed jeans since it was a casual date.. however if you wanted to dress it up a little simply just add a pencil skirt instead of jeans, leather jacket and put your hair up in a sock bun sort of thang... and switch out the bag for a clutch..  go for a deeper color on the lips and add a statement necklace...Easy peasy.

For us curvy ladies... make sure you tuck that tee shirt in... must show that you have a waist...No one likes a moo moo... saves my bacon every day... then lastly... add a fun heel... it sophisticates your look and it creates a little balance between casual and chic... and who doesn't want that? Even if your tall.. if you are.. I'm already jealous.. don't be afraid to rock a good heel... you don't see Heidi Klum with legs that go on for days afraid to rock a stiletto.. and neither should you... and for us girls that can't reach the top shelf of anything.. well, most likely your best friend is a 5inch stiletto and a step stool... not to be used together...

In deciding what to wear here is my best advice.. be happy with who you are... yes there might be things you would like to change... Lord knows I do.. however until it happens or you wake up magically looking 30lbs lighter... if that happens let me know what you're drinking! Until that magic happens, don't waste life and happy moments wishing for things to be different.. because you're amazing right now.. and you deserve to believe it... and that awesome guy standing next you deserves to see you believe it too (it'll make his day)... woah.. deep...  Then really the clothes end up just being the frame on a really amazing piece of art!

Insta What? Life lately....

 Seth and I totally took a spontaneous day trip to the Jelly Belly Factory! We are the only ones I know who decide to "go off" sugar and then take a free tour of the Jelly Belly Factory...otherwise known as sugar heaven... and if you ask me now how the whole sugar fast is going.. I don't want to talk about it... #fail .. I mean what kind of wierdos go get a tour of the best candy known to man and not get samples! Seriously there are standards that must not be broken!

Stretched out my leopard print flats with socks? Why yes I did! Thanks Pinterest for the uber glamorous tip! You all are now super jealous of my wicked awesome style.. cuz nothin says fashionista like socks with shoes.... 

After looking through most of my Instagram photos, the thought occurred to me, wow do I like my beverages... you wouldn't want to ever get thirsty...  Between wine tasting with friends, outfit planning, a concert and trying to keep my plant alive... still going strong ..#crossingmyfingers... I've been kinda busy... so my apologies for the lack of posts...Follow me on Instagram here for more real life excitement! Otherwise more fashion posts coming soon! Happy Wednesday!