I am both happy and sad.

Friday Favorites 5.8.15

Hi everyone! I hope you made it through the week unscathed - I mostly did. Working two..er, three jobs is tiring me out, but thankfully I have today and tomorrow off so I can rest up.

Let's get right to it, shall we?

1// This verse:

As a Christian, I've heard this verse a lot. A lot a lot a lot. Whenever you're going through something, it seems to be the big pump up verse - and it's true, it totally pumps me up. But I fell in love with it again this week after reading the Message's version. It seems more like a prayer over me, instead of just something I say. I don't know, it's more healing that way.

2// Graduation!

No, I didn't graduate again - but Cinco de Mayo will always remind me of the day that I did (the first time from college) - and this week marked THREE years since that day! Time has stinkin' flown by. Wow. I feel old.

3// Speaking of Cinco de Mayo..

I might have walked around calling myself Carlos and greeting everyone with an "hola!" when they walked in the door. Some people thought I was truly funny, others just stared. They don't have a sense of humor though, and we judge them for that ;)

4// MOVING!

I posted this to my Snapchat yesterday and got one reply - it said "you do that a lot". 

Yup, I do. Shit happens. *shrugs shoulders*

And while I was packing yesterday, I found a bunch of CDs that I had made in high school and college - and boy, was I emo! All of these slow, sad songs came on. It was weird. I laughed pretty hard at myself for that..and then turned them up louder :)

5// But these girls ARE GRADUATING!

Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR of my cousins are graduating this month! One from college and three from high school. I'm so excited to celebrate with (and in spirit with!) them this month. It's such an exciting time, and I hope it's just the best for them! New chapters are fun, my friends - don't forget that.

C

MOVING!

I'm moving back into the solo existence here in a week (yay for my own space!) again, and I could not be more excited! Living with my roommate has been nice to have someone around, but it's time for another change! 

I've been looking around Pinterest and trying to find some interesting ideas for my new space - it has these like 20 ft vaulted ceilings (oh the possibilities!), a long staircase and a tiny kitchen..which I'm totally okay with because I've never been a cook. Ha. 

So, here are some ideas I'm throwing around - just for fun :)

I love, love, love lists and having a giant one near the kitchen sounds like the best idea! 

I - like so many - love a good image wall. And this take with the wooden slats is different and unique. I also super love the orange couch for some reason.

I really want a fun door mat - and this one just might be it!

I have a cork board that I like, but it always seems super messy - this take with it's different inspirations and pictures might be the clean wall above my desk that I've been looking for! 

P.s. I really want that photograph of the woman in the cock pit. 

This is BY FAR the thing I want most in my house. It probably won't happen in my new apartment, but seriously - I loooove.

Exactly what I want in my living room. A gnarly leather couch, a herringbone floor and a Texas flag above it all. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Any other ideas I should consider? Shoot me a message.

- C

(images: via, via, via, via)

Runners World Read and Review: The Fear Factor by Peter Sagal

Every month when my Runner's World magazine comes in the mail, I get a little more excited than normal! It's like a bunch of nerds like me got together and created this place where we can talk about our favorite pastime. It's a community. Everyone needs community - that's why I love running so much. 

This month there was an article called "The Fear Factor", in which the writer, Peter Segal chatted with Katie Prout, a runner and writer from Chicago. 

Peter writes "She has brown hair, an upturned smile, and a tiny gold hoop in one nostril. She is afraid. And she is furious." And at first I wasn't sure where the article was going. At first I thought it was a feminist piece. Some little girl is mad at some man, and it'll make me feel uncomfortable. The hardcore feminists make me feel weird.

"The catcalls and shouts and whistles and "compliments" came all the time, she says, from all kinds of people - black, white, Latino, old and young. She's been harassed by old men in wheelchairs and young boys she guessed were 8 or 9 years old. Once, to her astonishment, she spun at the sound of some particularly obscene language and found it coming from an obese woman sitting on a porch, grinning at her."

And I sat there wanting to say "PREACH GIRL, PREACH". I've had countless times where I've been honked at. I've been catcalled. I've overheard "niceee" and "hey baby lookin' good!" before, after and during runs. 

It's uncomfortable. It's not appreciated.

But men (and women in Katie's case) think it's acceptable. Think that I want their "praise" - their feedback. 

I don't. I didn't ask for it. 

I brought this up to a runner friend, who shared my sentiments (about being uncomfortable, nervous, annoyed) about the subject and once said that her significant other told her "well, that just means I have what others want". But really, it's all fun and games until someone does get hurt. Mentally, physically, emotionally - and this HAS to STOP.

Peter, the writer of the piece, goes on to say "one of the reasons I run is I want to look good. And if a woman were to shout a compliment at me - not that it's ever happened - I'd be thrilled. I guess, in the end, it might be hard for that reason for some men to understand why this is so upsetting to you." And my new best friend Katie replies with such fire - she says "Men," she said evenly, "are in danger of, at worst, being laughed at by a woman. Women are in danger of being killed by men."

Again, this is met with a "PREACH GIRL, PREACH" mentality by me. They don't realize there's violence in those words. The disgust. The lust. The hate. They are taking something that is for me and ruining it. The time when I can relax, push myself, and focus on nothing by the stretch of road ahead of me - you take that from me. 

And I don't like it.

Katie echoes my thoughts by saying, "when I run, I inhabit myself to the very edges, and then I spill out and inhabit space in a way I struggle to do in my daily, less Under-Armoured way. I move with power and purpose - not like I can never be hurt, but like I am truly alive and free, in sync with my own heart beat. How dare you - father with a stroller, two businessmen out to lunch, man in a group, boy alone - how dare you take my running, this thing that has put me back into my body again, and use it to try and claim my body as yours?"

Next time you see a woman runner on the road and want to "compliment" her, don't. If you feel the need, tell her she has a nice stride or she's fast. No one ever gets tired of hearing how fast others think they are. But I don't recommend any of it, unless you know the feedback will be received graciously. 

No woman, man, child - no one wants to feel uncomfortable or made to feel ungracious because of an off handed compliment or gesture - so why would that be any different on a track? Or in a race? Or on a trail?

And like my friend Katie says, "don't be a douche. I'm not here for you."

Amen sister. Amen,

C

Met Gala 2015 : Cuz I Wanna Talk About It.

Seriously though, if I was able to attend a celebrity filled event it would definitely be the Met Gala. (also the Super Bowl..but that's only if the Broncos were playing..) 

It's couture upon couture, dress upon dress, style risk upon style risk - and I L.O.V.E it. Let's talk about some of it then, okay? Okay.

1// Kate Hudson in Michael Kors

CRUSHED IT. The end. Her dress is perfection, her face is gorgeous..her hair, well, it is pretty, but there's this weird braid thing - but other than that, killed it. 

2// Rihanna in Guo Pei

You've no doubt, by now, seen this dress. While I think it's a tad gaudy and icky, she chose a huge risk (as only she can do!) and it paid off. It's a show stopper.

3// Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka in Ermenegildo Zegna

If you looked up "dapper" in the dictionary, these two would be there. I love that they wore tails - it makes me very giddy.

4// Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne in Vallentino

My other favorite couple from the night. Her dress is simple, chic yet totally fashion forward - and Eddie, well, the man can pull of a suit. Amen and amen!

5// Joshua Jackson (in Alexander McQueen) and Diane Kruger (in Chanel)

Her dress - well, pant suit (yes, it's pants) is terrible - but he's flawless. Joshua, I love you.

6// Kristen Wiig in Prabal Gurung

This may not be a Met Gala risk, but whatever Kristen is doing lately, I like.

7// Sarah Jessica Parker in H&M

I give SJP passes for whatever she wants to do because she's SJP..and she's the queen. BUT, the headpiece is a bit much, my friend. (plz don't hate me SJP!)

8// Gabrielle Union in Zac Posen

The color is beautiful on her - go Gabrielle!

9// Jennifer Lawrence in Dior

She got slammed for this in multiple articles that I read, but I like it. The back is cool too:

It's different and a risk. The make up and hair are impeccable. So, bye haters.

10// Elizabeth Banks in Michael Kors

I've decided, I want whoever is dressing Elizabeth lately to dress me! She is on fire! The color is great, it shows off her killer body and everything else is just icing on the cake.

11// Hailee Steinfeld in Michael Kors

She got ripped for this too! For not being a risk - whatever, I love it. It fits her perfectly and it's a great color on her. AND her hair is beautiful.

12// Beyonce in Givenchy

 

If you got it, flaunt it. And then crush it, because..you're Beyonce.

(Images: via, via, via, via, via, via, via, via, via, via, via, via)

- C

Monday's Mixtape : 5.4.15

I'm exhausted today and really can't don't want to think past giving you some new tunes..so I'm not going to. Without further ado:

1// Gibberish by MAX (ft Hoodie Allen)

I'm posting it again - because it's so worth it! 

AND - it's FREE on iTunes right now..go go! You won't regret it.

2// Time Will Wait by Kristin Diable

If you wanted to listen to someone who sounds a tad bit like Janis Joplin..here you go. Janis Joplin and Emmy Lou Harris..yes. (if you haven't heard of either of those women, I feel bad for you and your musical education. Your parents failed you!)

3// Chrissie Hynde by Butch Walker

A good one.

He also sings a song called "Mixtape" that I love. 

You should listen to that too.

4// God of Ages Past by Shane & Shane

I met these guys when I was a sophomore or a junior in college - they're very cool, very very talented, and are worth listening to!

5// 'Til it Does by Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen

From their "Hold My Beer, Vol. 1" album (which is definitely on my list to get!) - funny and talented guys. Love this combination!

May the Fourth Be With You,

C

Friday Favorites..on Saturday!

..on Saturday!

Yesterday was a busy day and I couldn't update. But I'm here on the first morning in a long, long time that I haven't gotten up for my long run (boo) so I can update!

Here are some of my favorites from this week:

1// Kathryn's essay on BODY ACCEPTANCE!

Kathryn is a fit yoga teacher, who, like everyone else I know (me included!) struggles with body acceptance. I like her take on loving who you are and how to show it when you don't feel like it all the time!

2// THIS HOUSE TOUR on Coco Kelly.com!

I l.o.v.e everything about John Henry's home! It's Andy Warhol (obviously) meets Professor Sprout, and I wish..oh I wish I lived there!

3// So..I'm watching a new show:

I know, I know - I just told you about "Younger", but it's currently on TV - and you know my love for Netflix. House is snarky, unapologetic, and different from any other medical show. I'm into it.

4// "Gibberish" by MAX ft Hoodie Allen

I can't wait til Monday to give you this song! It's so super catchy! 

5// Go Fug Yourself's take on the NFL DRAFT!

My favorite from the first rounders has to be Bud Dupree (an outside linebacker who ended up with Pittsburg!). That red suit jacket is everything - and his mama is gorgeous!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

C