Strong Heart, Big Feet

I'm a lucky girl. Among a few things, Jeff got me this heart rate monitor for our anniversary. I totally love it! He wanted to get me something running-related and had noticed that I had been eying this heart rate monitor. It's wireless, easy to use, keeps a continuous reading (no double buttons for a single reading), and best of all - you don't have to send it to the manufacturer for battery replacement (like quite a few other brands). Oh - and it's not so bulky that I wouldn't want to wear it like a regular watch if I wanted to. It's great to keep track of my heart rate so I can work towards staying in the "weight loss" zone... though I can't seem to keep my heart from beating like crazy. Even if I can't get it as low as I'd like, it will help me keep from getting too crazy-high.

In other news, I finally wizened up and measured my feet for size. I always knew that I had wide feet, but was so used to a bad fit, that I just bought too-big shoes so the width would be tolerable. Let's not even get into what happens to your feet after pregnancy. Now that wide width shoes are more readily available, it's all I've been buying. But there's nothing that gets you thinking about the fit of your shoes than a new running or walking program. After much thinking on the subject, I couldn't help but think that I could get an even BETTER fit. So I measured my feet. Turns out, I don't just have wide feet, but I have extra wide feet. The last few pairs of shoes I've bought were size 9 D. Turns out I'm more like an 8.5 2E. In truth, I could probably go a little wider. Good think I don't need to fit into Cinderella's shoes; I already have my own Prince Charming.

So I'll wait for my current pair of running shoes to wear out, then will buy what I think will be a proper fit. People rave about the difference that a proper shoe makes in not just their workouts, but their overall health. But I've learned it's NOT just about size. This guide was immensely helpful; everyone should identify the proper shoe for them. Turns out that I'm a supinator/overpronator with high arches AND wide feet. So not only do I need an 8.5 2E, but I need structured cushioning shoes with a performance last. This will definitely change the way I buy shoes. You better believe I'll be posting about my next pair after my current pair wears out. Who would have thought that shoes could be so complicated?

Couch to 5k: Week 2 & Running Goodies

Week two of Couch to 5k is now just a notch on my running shoes. I began the third week today, and am now in the company of my awesome sister-in-law Emily. She's much more athletic than I am, so was able to jump right into my routine without starting from week one. I'm so grateful for her company.

I love the way I feel after a good run. While I appreciate the day off in between each session, there is something inside me feels like I should be running when I'm not. I suppose that will help my heart grow fonder for it... something that I never thought would happen (but here it is... happening).

I've always had zero problems finding nice quiet, relaxing hobbies. I'm excited that I've now found an active hobby. Running (er.. jogging) isn't easy, but it's not turning out to be difficult either. I am finding little ways to reward myself through - with what else, but - shopping. I have to remind myself that these are things that help me stick to the routine. Time to bust out with that Amazon.com credit card. Really, I have made some exciting purchases, but I'm trying not to go too crazy.

Petzl Headlamp: Most days, we're out the door around 5:30 in the morning. The stars, moon, sparse street lamps, and occasional blinding car headlights are the only sources of light at that hour. I was tired of fumbling through the darkness, and this thing really does the trick. It has a few different light settings, but the best feature is that it tilts to a few different angles so I can point it in just the perfect place to see where I'm going. I just have to be careful not to blind people with it when I look up to talk to them. The only thing I didn't care for was the mark it left on my forehead for a little while, but that was only a minor annoyance.



Ultimate Direction Fastdraw Plus Hand-held Bottle: I wasn't expecting to spend more than a couple bucks on a water bottle, but this is a must-have for runners, walkers, or really anyone who exercises regularly. You hardly notice that it's stuck to your hand (thanks to the handle with an adjustable elastic band), it has a zippered mesh pocket to cram in a few necessities, and a perfect little spout to make sure you get just the right amount of water to keep hydrated during your workout. Also - it doesn't leak!!  My mom had one when she was visiting, and I had to get one too. I'm so glad I did. They have a few different versions depending on what you're looking for, and this one was just right for me.



Mueller Jumper's Knee Strap: I have knee issues, but I wasn't going to let it be an excuse to not run. People have done so much more under circumstances of extreme severity, so I knew this was no big deal. I've tried Cho-Pat, McDavid, and Mueller straps, and for me, the Mueller was by far the best of the three. I'd like to see anyone try to find a better deal than at Amazon. I got my orange one (of course I'd choose orange!) for $6.49, but only after we had gotten a black one (that Jeff uses) at Walgreens for $13.99. I wish I had known sooner.



So what's next? Next I get through at least few more weeks before I buy anything crazy. Maybe after week 9 I'll splurge on some running pants/tights. Man, those things are expensive, but I've heard they're SO worth it.

It's My Birthday Too, Yeah!

Most of you know that I adore reading. I can chew on multiple books at once, or even swallow one whole in a single day. My earliest memories of reading include winning a "Read-a-thon" in kindergarten for reading the most books. I think I got a paper certificate and a coupon for a free ice cream cone. But, I digress...

Today has been an incredible birthday. It started (at my request) with presents in bed (like breakfast in bed, but without the crumbs). Jeff brought me an amazon.com box to open, crudely assembled with scotch tape. I opened it to find a stack of DVD's that we already owned. (Ok - inside joke here between Jeff and I, which I'm too lazy at the moment to go into detail about... but trust me, it was funny.) He left the room, and returned with another gift. I then opened a (very very very nice) book light, to which Jeff attempted to make me believe was the only gift he had for me. Pfft.

He again exited the room, and returned with a third gift (which by the way, these were all wrapped with Christmas wrapping paper). Beneath the wrapping lay a cardboard packing box with a rippable seam on one end. I grabbed ahold of the seam, noting the words along the dotted line, "Once upon a time..."

Within very impressive, beautiful packaging was a case for a Kindle. What's this?! A Kindle case? Jeff then acted surprised, as if a Kindle was supposed to be included in there. "I'm seriously upset. I'm going to have to call them to see why it isn't in there." I have to give him kudos for his acting ability here, though I knew him well enough to know that he was trying to mess with me.

He left the room for the last time, holding another Christmas paper wrapped box behind his back. Underneath this paper was another cardboard box that contained beautiful packaging inside. Within that, was my very own Kindle courtesy of Jeff and my brother Greg. (Again due to laziness, I'll include stock photos, but you really should follow the link to see what it's all about.)

I've been reading on it all day. It is one of those things were you can't grasp how amazing it is until you have it in your hands. Seriously, the screen looks like paper. It's ignited that same excitement of the little 5 year old girl trying to work her way through as many books as she can. But, instead of ice cream at the end of the day, I'll have birthday cake.

S

Dexter vs. Squeaky Toys

Here's one of our first videos using the Flip. There is some slight compression so that it will play smoothly online, but doesn't look too shabby. Looks even better when played locally on the hard drive.

Dexter, our hero, is quite the dashing leading man, and as you can see, Sinister Squeaky Toy has no hope of survival. Danger! Excitement! Dexter!

J

Be Your Own Señor Spielbergo - Flip Video

We recently purchased a Flip Video-Ultra(yep, the orange one you see to the left here). We were looking for something cheap, lightweight and convenient that we could use to take quick videos of Baby 1.o when he/she arrives without worrying about about flying oatmeal dirtying up the lens of a super expensive camcorder. It's about the size of a bulky cell phone, and actually takes pretty good video(640x480). We got the Ultra version($129 on Amazon)that stores up to 60 minutes of video(runs on 2 AA), and the cool thing is that it will break them up into chapters for you. For example, if we take a 3 minute video of the dogs chewing up the furniture, and then later a 2 minute video of us chewing out the dogs, it will save them as separate videos, instead of one 5 minute video. This makes it easy to upload mini-clips. It has a built in USB connector which makes it easy to connect to your Mac or PC. Lastly, the interface on the device is incredibly easy to use. Basically there are about 4 buttons. Play, record, Trash can and then a 4 way track pad that you use to zoom or navigate stored videos. We'll upload some videos soon to show the overall quality!

One last thing, for those of you playing Mario Kart Wii, add us as a friend so we can race! Our code: 3308 5053 2476

J