8 Miles & Hot Yoga

This morning I woke up and ran 8 miles in Central Park.  Who am I?

It was beautiful.  I haven't been to the Park since the blizzard and the snow day on Friday.  I couldn't believe how much snow was still there.  The Park looked completely different.

I wish I could say my run went smoothly, but of course it didn't.  It all started with the subway ride...  I waited FORTY-FIVE MINUTES for the right train to come.  By the time I got to the Park, it was 10:45 am, I was freezing and I had to tinkle really, really badly.  But of course I got off at 72nd to do two of the 4-mile loop, and the only public bathroom I'm aware of is closer to the Columbus Circle entrance so I held it.  And it was uncomfortable. 

I was also uncomfortable b/c I was so cold.  It took me forever to warm up, and by the time I did, I finally got to the bathroom and so I stopped.  Back out in the cold, I felt stiff again.  I took my first Gu this run (vanilla bean - really does taste like vanilla pudding) around mile 4.6 , and I think it went well.  Didn't upset my stomach, but I definitely had to take it with water. 

At 5.5, my left bra strap came unhooked.  Yup.  I was wearing a Lululemon bra that strangely is no longer on their website.  It has maximum support, and so I like to wear it on my long runs.  I do not, however, like that the straps come so easily unhooked.  I mean, what up with that, Lululemon??  When I pay more than $50 for a bra, I expect more than that.  The annoying thing was is that in order for me to fix my bra, I would've had to stop, find another bathroom (or return to the one I know), take off ALL my top layers and the bra and fix it.  At mile 5.5, I was not having that.  So I spent the rest of the run awkwardly trying to, um, hold/support my left breast.  It was not fun.  I was super annoyed.  People looked at me.

But I did it.  I finished the 8 miles, caught the subway in good time and went home to a very, VERY hot shower.  I've not been able to get warm all day.  Definitely sleeping with a very hot water bottle tonight.  :D

Not only did I complete my 8 mile run, but I had a pretty easy 4.5 mile on Friday night AND went to hot yoga on Saturday.  Hot yoga does not equal bikram.  I've never taken a bikram class, and I have no desire to.  I don't think I'd like it.  Hot yoga for me equals heated vinyasa, which I LOVE.  The amount of sweat that exited my body during that 75 minutes is kind of unbelievable.  My tank top was completely soaked through (much to my roomie's dismay) so I took it off and just wore my Nike pullover back home.  SMART move considering it was 30 degrees outside.  Brr!  Winter is officially here, my friends!  I'm feeling PUMPED about the fact that I did all my training this weekend.  I plan to tackle this week with the same fervor and determination. 

The rest of my Sunday was pretty productive as well.  After my run I had brunch with my gorgeous friend David, and then we met up with other friends who are also participating in NaNoWriMo.  We spent next couple hours at the Barnes & Noble in Tribeca attempting to write.  It went... okay.  I couldn't really get into the zone, and I find it incredibly hard to believe that I'm going to be able to write 50,000 words by February 3.  But um... here's to trying!

Few questions for ya...

1. Any tips on how to get into the writing zone??  I haven't written lengthy papers in so long that I can't quite remember how I did it.
2. I stopped for a pretty substantial time today during my run to go to the bathroom, get my water and take my Gu, etc.  Do you think that stopping like that negates the point of a long run?  In other words, is it really an 8 mile run if I don't run it nonstop?

Day 4... Bonjour, Brooklyn!

I had a FABULOUS day! My sleeping schedule is way off so my day began rather late (okay... close to noon if I'm going to be honest), and I quickly got up, got ready and headed out to meet my new friend Noel at brunch.


The Organic Grill is a darling (read: tiny) joint in the East Village, and I just adored it. I ordered the "Indecisive Sampler" or something along those lines which included blueberry pancakes, tofu scramble, and your choice of tempeh bacon or soy sausage. I opted for yukon gold home fries instead of the bacon or sausage option, but I'm eager to try them in the future. The pancakes were yummy, and the tofu scramble was PHENOM! I don't know how they season and cook their tofu, but it's fantastic! Not soggy or tofu-y or anything. Really great flavor with super fresh veggies. I was tres impressed. And Noel? Well, she's just fabulous. We hit it off immediately, and I'm so grateful to my friend Lindsay for setting us up (THANK YOU, LINDS!!!).

After brunch, we took the L train over to Williamsburg and walked to McCarren Park where the Renegade Craft Fair was happening. What fun! TONS of booths and lots of hip people (and pregnant women for some reason). We perused booth after booth. Naturally, all the letterpress/paperproducts were my faves, and yes, I may have purchased a couple things but not nearly as many as I wanted. I also got an amazing pair of earrings which I'll photograph next time I wear them. They're... interesting. ;)


After hours of walking, we headed back to Bedford Avenue and met up with one of Noel's friends from HS. He has a sweet (and huge) loft, and he treated us to lemonade/vodka cocktails upon arrival. It was so hot and sticky outside, so the drink was ideal. After finishing our beverages, we headed back to Manhatten, and Noel and I parted ways with promises of lots of future dates (including the Brooklyn Flea - can't wait for that!).

Later tonight I met my friend Steph and her two gal pals for dinner at Bobo. The restaurant was nice, but we were seated outside so we spent the entire meal sweating. Nonetheless conversation was good and the food was tasty, but not fantastic. After dinner, we frequented a couple bars in the Village, and I remembered all too well how much I can't stand overcrowded bars full of singles trying to pick each other up. My friend Steph said I need an attitude adjustment, and she's absolutely right. But I just do not see myself meeting anyone worth meeting at a bar... is that wrong of me? I mean, who knows who you can meet? It's NYC, right? Hmm, I don't know. It really got me thinking... when will I be ready and willing to "meet" people again? (And by people, I obviously mean men.) Je ne said pas. More on that later...

All in all, I had a beautiful Saturday. And despite my multiple showers today, I still love love love walking around this incredible city. But now? It's time for sleep. Bon nuit.

Inspired by: Pam Garrison

I subscribe to PaPaYa's blog and today's post features an incredibly creative woman - Pam Garrison. Pam makes the most BEAUTIFUL journals! She is an artist in every sense of the word, but what I like most about her work, is that it seems somewhat doable. Not that I could create anything remotely as lovely as her work, BUT, I can put my own spin on it. The point is that she uses everyday items to create something gorgeously unique and personal on paper, and I love that.





Find more of Pam's work here.

Gettin' Crafty & Project Paper

I kind of hate the word "crafty" because I think it denotes a sort of youarealame20somethingwhohasnothinginyourlifebutcrafts tone (although, HELLO, let's be honest - that kind of attitude is only held by those loser20somethingswhodonothingbutdrinkatbarsandactafool peeps... am I right??) ANYway, I haven't found another way to phrase it besides "being creative" so alas, here I go. I got CRAFTY last night (instead of SHRED-ing...) and beautified my planner pad. Voila my results! Sorry the pics are bad, but they were taken with my crackberry. :P


I made a little pocket with some scrapbook paper to hold my stickers and mini collages/vision cards, and on the other side, I just layered some pretty pictures and quotes over that fabulous wrapping paper Maryam used on my blogger holiday exchange prezzie (see here).



Also made some cute monthly tabs with leftover scrap paper (was inspired by what KW learned from Lisa Sonora Beam). Fun, huh?


Honestly, I'm not a very artistic person. So being "crafty" or "creative" or "artsy" or whatever usually just means putting fun things together to make something more beautiful. Even if it's just magazine clippings or silly stickers, I think these fun little extras make life more sparkly. And I'm all about the sparkle, yo!

Oh and what is Project Paper you ask? Well, I'm not going to tell you yet! But it's coming soon (nothing epic, just need more time to explain), and I'm really pleased with it. Stay tuned, mes amies!

Dreamboard: Full Harvest Moon

I got so busy last month that I wasn't able to do my September Full Corn Moon Dreamboard. BUT I made it a point to make time to create my October Full Harvest Moon Dreamboard, even in the midst of ACL madness. Voila!



For moi, collaging is such a fun, creative and peaceful activity. I get lost in it for hours and consider myself quite the expert. ;-) My tips for a great collage? Anytime you're flipping through a magazine, tear out images or words that speak to you and put them in a folder for later. When it comes time to collage, get them all out and start arranging. Layering images on top of each other is fun, and I always recommend using more images than you think will fit. Also, I try not to leave a lot of blank space and will often go hunting for more size-appropriate images in the middle of collaging. I also love to add extras - glitter glue, stickers, and ribbons galore! The most important thing is to HAVE FUN WITH IT! There are no bad collages, after all. :)

Ideal Job Description

Last week, Jennifer asked me to write my "ideal job description." After telling her that would be near impossible (I have no idea!), she told me to write a completely ridiculous fun one. Oh well... that was easy. :)

"Seeking an energetic, creative and passionate individual who wants variety everyday! This job involves personal blogging, developing relationships with other fabulous women, finding and playing with beautiful paper/stationary/journals/stickers/crafts/books/etc, and oodles of other exciting activities! Dress how you please (the funkier and funner, the better!), tease your crazily highlighted hair, paint your nails any and every color you can imagine, and never EVER be boring. Within this position, you have the ability to work from home or from a fabulous studio that you can design in any way you wish! Listen to music, dance, sing, practice yoga, take a nap, indulge in a massage, and do whatever you can to get your creative and happy juices flowing!! Position also includes attending wonderful women/creativity/yoga retreats ALL around the globe, all expenses paid (of course). This job pays you to become the best possible you. :)

Tell me, what would your ideal job description be??

{Photo credit: flickr pink sherbert}

Journal + Crafts

As a child I began journal after journal (normally of the Sanrio variety avec adorable locks and keys and maybe 6 lines per page), but usually abandoned them after a couple of days. My intentions were sincere, but well, as a kid I preferred riding my bike and playing with barbies.

I didn't take another serious stab at journaling until my 2nd year of law school. It was the Spring of 2007, and I just had recently returned to school after a semester of withdrawal. I thought, what better time than now, as a recovering depression-holic to start a journal? Looking back I'm pretty unimpressed with my first choice - a boring black spiral-bound one from Barnes & Noble that had a tree and quote on the cover. Since then my journals have gotten prettier, and I've amassed quite an interesting collection. There have been ebbs and flows, naturally, but I've been an avid and consistent journaler since that Spring. I'm hooked.

Recently I've taken my journal in new and (exciting to moi) directions. I've started collaging, painting un peu, and even doodling in them (je suis a terrible artist). Today I stumbled across this journal on etsy and kicked myself for having missed out on the chance to purchase it for myself.



But as I looked at it, I realized hey, this is something I could sort of attempt to make my own. I mean, I'm a smart gal. And avec the magic that is the google search engine, I could make a pretty fun and fab and customized journal! Then a fellow Tweeter tweeted about this fab etsy shop and got even MORE ideas! I mean check out this fun French Market Vintage Journal kit -

Isn't it sooo fun? I adore all her petit embellishments, and I think I might indulge in some. :)

Anyhoo, have you guys ever tried something like this? How hard is it to, um, punch holes in bookcovers?? And what other fun (and EASY) bookbinding techniques are there? I know there are some that involve sewing, and I gotta say, that's not my cup of tea (yet). I'd love any ideas/suggestions you have, my darlings!!

Oh and speaking of gorgeous things, how much do you adore PaPaYa Art? I LOVE all their stuff!!! And they have a gorgeous workspace and warehouse which you can see here at decor8. Enjoy!

Thursday Friday Musings

First - The lovely Revisionista taught me how to do the strike-out thing. Fun, huh?? I've always wanted to know. ;-) Anyway the reason this post is entitled "Friday Musings" is because this is Friday to moi as far as work is concerned!! I'm off to Little Rock, AR (exciting, i know) tomorrow for what's bound to be a super fun wedding weekend. It's the closest thing i'll have to a vacay in a long time...

Second - I actually have work today - hooray! For this reason (and b/c i'm out tomorrow and need 2 leave early today to pick up my dress 4 aforementioned wedding from the alteration place) i am "working" through lunch and slurped a bowl of instant korean ramen noodles to satiate my neverending hunger. I have the, um, broth splotches all over my skirt to prove it. Oops...

Third - I love fabulous gals who rock sexy one-pieces avec tremendous style. I'm constantly bombarded by pics of women in bikinis, friends in bikinis, celebs in bikinis... Enough with all the skin! Naomi rocks her suits in a sexy, chic way that i hope i can one day adopt.

Fourth - Bienvenue to those of you who are new to Hang On Little Tomato!! J'adore having you here.

Fifth - I'm thinking i need a food processor, a big one. I have one of those cute mini cuisinart's, but it (obviously) has limited capacity. Can you recommend a nice big one that doesn't cost a fortune? I really want to make things like PESTO!

Sixth - Merci for your lovely comments & tweets re: my decisions. :)

Seventh - I had a million things to do when i got home last night. Instead i opened up my fun snail mail package from this sweet gal and immediately began crafting it UP. First i did a couple pages in my journal with my new goodies. Then i busted out some scrapbook paper and made two collages. They're pretty good, if i say so myself, and i will be sure to post some pics later. Someone at the HTC Retreat i attended in NY back in 2008 jokingly told me i should start collaging classes. I wish i could! How fun would that be? Would you come??

Here's a tip - collaging is way more fun if you have beaucoup glitter glue, don fun knee-socks or sparkly tees, and SURROUND yourself with inspirational goodies. Voila moi at Kimberly's Costa Rica Retreat in September 2007. I'm *SO* in my element...



Eighth - I too LOVE gift giving. Read all about Kimberly Wilson's enthusiasm for it here.

Ninth - If i sent you an Artist Date package and you haven't already, pleeease email me pics of what you create! I am constantly inspired by all of you and am hungry for more.

Tenth - C'est tout. Love y'all!!

Eleventh - I lied!! For those of you who have Netflix, did you know you can instantly watch episode after episode, season after season of Law & Order (reg, CI and SVU)?? Yeah. Blame my total lack of sleep and inability to get out of the apt in the mornings on that fantastic feature!!

D-I-Y

Bonjour, mes amies!! I'm in a delightful mood, despite my face's slight resemblance to a marshmallow (still un peu puffy from this morning's dentist visit). The sun is SHINING, work email is DOWN which means i can't stress about anything @ work, and i am pleasantly sore from my workout yesterday with Deb (my kickass friend/trainer). Plus it's hump day, which means this work week is mostly over. ;-)

How are you guys doing? Cannot believe it's already April (Happy April Fool's!) and officially Spring. Where has 2009 gone? Am hoping to spend some time revisiting my 2009 intentions/goals/resolutions tonight and perhaps create new ones (tennis lessons? french classes? oui and oui!). Also want to start one of my many DIY projects. Here's an idea of what i hope to create...

1. STUD-MANIA - In case you haven't heard, i. love. studs. And so does the fashion world right now b/c they are EVERYWHERE. I am (patiently) awaiting my stud order from studsandspikes so i can stud the following: faded denim shorts (also plan to distress via razors and sandpaper), vest, white hobo handbag, purple AA "laptop bag" which i intend to use as a sporty handbag, and the list will go on and on... Voila some of my inspiration!

*Studded bag by: Park & Cube*


*Studded denim shorts from: Urban Outfitters*


*Studded chuck taylors by: Karen from Where Did U Get That*


*Studded black blazer by: Gennie from Maison des Reveries*


2. LE SHREDDED TEE - Um... i tried this on some white Hanes t-shirts over the weekend and failed miserably. Juley suggested i try with a 50% cotton 50% stretch material. I have the perfect Mossimo tank and will be attempting le shredded tee part deux tonight!

*Shredded White Tee (that i couldn't master) by: Camille from Childhood Flames*

P.S. Camille's tutorial rocks! i think i just suck... this is also why i don't know how to sew a button.

*Shredded Scarf by: Juley from Swank Heights*


I've done fairly well mastering some DIY design projects so i'm convinced that i too can become a studding/shredding queen. We shall see...

3. CRAFTING - Am also planning to FINALLY start my Bar Trip 2008 Scrapbook chronicling my adventures in the South of France, Lyon, Paris, and London! I'm pretty good at scrapbooking, if i do say so, and have boxes of stickers/embellishments/goodies at my disposal. Will definitely show upon completion :-)


Happy Hump Day!!

DIY Earring Holder

Bonjour, friends! It's Monday yet again... can you believe it? My weekend was a flurry of activities, one of which involved a fun DIY project that was SO incredibly easy that i had to share. Back when i first moved into my apartment, i bought some vintage frames from an antique flea market here in Austin. I planned to make a collage of empty frames on a wall in my bedroom, but it never really worked the way i intended. So instead, they've been collecting dust in my closet. I decided to make good use of them by adding some wire mesh and turning them into chic earring holders! (Forgive the poor quality of the pics.. my cam sucks and i'm a bad photographer - more on this later.) Et voila my finished product!



SO EASY. All you need are empty frames, a roll of wire mesh (used for window screens and found at Home Depot. btw is it just me or are the salespeople @ Home Depot ridiculously helpful?? love them.), a hot glue gun and scissors. I just cut a piece of wire mesh to fit the frame (doesn't have to be perfect), hot glued it to the back of the frame and trimmed the excess mesh. I must confess i didn't do a great job as the back of my frames are not pretty (couldn't sell these babies on Etsy or anything), but who cares? They look fantastic hanging, n'est ce pas?

P.S. Only watched Twilight ONCE this weekend (i know.. impressive) but fully intend on future viewings throughout the week. Rob Pattinson (as Edward) looks mighty FINE on bluray!!

P.P.S. Could someone please explain to me why this leather cuff is $225??

The SEED Manifesto

Love Lynne Franks, and although i haven't made it completely through the SEED Handbook, i love this Manifesto. I want a huge poster of it made and plastered on my wall!

SEED Manifesto
*

I …………, affirm that I will


Constantly plants seeds as well as pick the blooms

Keep the space and time to stay in tune with my higher self

Never let go of the big vision

Put my values, including integrity, compassion and love, at the centre of my enterprise

Remember the three R’s: respect for self, respect for others, responsibility for all my actions

Believe in myself so others will too

Keep humour and laughter as vital ingredients of my business plan

Get up early in the morning

Not neglect my personal relationships, loved ones, and friends in any way

Manifest abundance in all areas of my life

Keep clutter to a minimum

Recognize my gifts and delegate the rest

Look at difficult situations from all perspectives

Welcome in mentors and mentor others in return

Light candles every day and surround myself with fresh flowers

Give people more than they expect

Talk slowly but think quickly

When I lose, don’t lose the lesson

Know my industry

Keep improving my technology skills

Smile when picking up the phone

Remember my body is my most important tool – stretch, exercise, breathe, go for a walk, dance

Every day try and read a poem, listen to an inspiring piece of music, look at a wonderful painting or go into nature

Drink six to eight glasses of pure water every day

Listen as well as talk

Learn the rules then break some

Know there is nothing more sexy than confidence

Remember that no-one, not even I am perfect, but I’m doing the best I can



SIGNED ……

DATE ……

Reconnecting

I've said this all semester, and basically since i've been in London, i feel disconnected with my creative side. Sure i let a little bit play out while i was decorating the apartment, but as far as really digging deeper within myself, playing with my writing and reading my huge stack of self-help-esque books, i've done nada. I've gotten a little back into my journaling lately, which has been great. But tonight i found myself missing that side of myself, but the sad thing is, i wasn't sure how to get back to it. I immediately opened my iTunes and listened to one of my favorite HTC podcasts.. that definitely helped! I have since washed the dishes, cleaned up, brushed my teeth, and am now snuggled into my comfy bed with Lola, my macbook, my journal, and "The Artist's Way." Maybe it's foolish to think now is a good time to start my creative journey led by the one and only Julia Cameron, but eh, when is it ever the right time? My life from here on out will always be filled with oodles of work, commitments, meetings, and daily life-isms that i just can't get rid of. If i can't squeeze in an hour of creativity into my everyday life, how will i ever survive?

Creativity To-Go

There's me in the midst of my collaging madness! Glitter glue, ribbons, stickers, and magazines galore. Kimberly (and everyone else haha) found it so entertaining (and tres ridiculous i'm sure) that she just had to take a picture. :-)

Ribbons, Stickers, & Glitter Glue!!

I've rediscovered my love for crafts!! I've never been an artistic person per se (did i spell that correctly? i don't think i've ever written that phrase..), but as a child and young girl, i've always adored "crafting." I love taking ordinary things and making them more.. me! Having been inspired by the Tranquil Space studio and TranquiliT Boutique, i've spent the last week crafting away. Ribbons, stickers, transfers, scrapbook papers, and even glitter glue. Gosh i haven't used glitter glue since who KNOWS when. My skills are a little rusty, but hey, at least i tried. I must remind myself not to go overboard (yeah right) because while a sheet of stickers and a spool of ribbon may only be a couple of bucks here and there, it adds up my friends. I had to literally drive in the opposite direction of Hobby Lobby while running my errands this afternoon because i could seriously lose hours (and lots of $$) in that creative paradise.

Anyway, i've just spent the last 45 minutes making good use of my new pink lapdesk (that's right! LAPDESKS R KEWL!!) dressing up a boring yellow folder into a fabulous and fun PURA VIDA (Costa Rica retreat) masterpiece. Can't wait to show KW in September!!!