Well this is embarrassing...

So the last time I wrote in this blog, I was a single gal looking for a bachelorette pad and gearing up for a half marathon...wow a LOT has changed. I have since gotten married and completed two half marathons and a full! I did finally find an apartment but moved out to live with my husband, Jon, and I am happiest I've ever been!

Jon & me after I finished the 2012 Chicago Marathon

As always, I am on a new diet/exercise kick but this time it is for my April 2013 wedding! Jon and I did the courthouse wedding thing in August -- our celebration in April will be a more traditional ceremony and celebration.

After our courthouse ceremony.

My wedding dress is gorgeous and it fits great  (just tried it on Monday) but I am hoping to tone up before the big day! I guess my plan is to use this blog to track my progress and share things that are working for me. Here's to keeping this thing up!

93 days until the big day!

tha worst.

WOW. I really suck at this...like badly.

UPDATE: Half marathon training is going really well--we are 3 weeks out! I will run 9 miles this weekend and that will be my longest training run before the big day! I'm still in love with my nike+iPod thang. It still rules hard. and that's basically it. Super pumped for all my running buddies--my bff's Molly & Julia are running plus a handful of other friends. I'm thinking a pasta party is in order.

In other news I'm apartment shopping...think the one I am seeing tonight is the winner! Here's hoping because I am real sick of looking and I have only seen 2 other apartments..

Once I get my apartment situation in order I plan to do another big diet/exercise push. Think I'm ready to re-committ and get these last 10ish lbs off..just have to get my life in order and finish this half marathon. I'll have more material for you then.

Sorryyyyyy

RunningggggZ.

Half marathon training is underway! Thankfully, my rockstar trainer, Jodi, knows how to train people for (half) marathons and hooked a sister up with a running schedule. The plan is to focus on speed and not so much on distance soo we shall see how that goes.

In this last week, I have fallen in love....my my Nike + iPod app...shit is AMAZING! It talks to you, tells you your pace and distance and logs it for you! Only downside is I am running with my iPhone, getting it all sweaty..probably not good for it but whatever!

Going to Kansas City this weekend and plan to run 5 miles with my gurl, Julia. Maybe a run through the woods? It's funny because us hanging out used to revolve around where we were gonna eat/who's couch we were gonna sit on--if only our chubby 15 year old selves could see us now :) (but seriously where are we eating after..?)

hi...yiiikes..sorry

Ok so I think we all expected this to happen..all 2 of us that actually read this (thanks, Julia). It's been over a month since my last blog post and I feel like a real shit head. Here is my attempt to revive Skinny[Party]Girl.

Since we last spoke my fitness goals and aspirations have changed dramatically. A month ago I still had plans to squeeze my ass into a pair of booty shorts and a half top for the Chicago Bulls dance team tryouts in August. This little pipe dream has since bursted because a) panty hose and split sole jazz sneakers were part of the required tryout uniform (ew.) and b) even if I dropped the lbs and made the team I wouldn't really be able to be on the team because I have this weird thing called a job (boo).

SO once I made this decision I made another hasty/spastic/impulsive decision to sign up for the 2011 Chicago Half Marathon on September 11. I was mostly peer pressured into signing up but now that I have I am totally jacked. I rushed out to Fleet Feet to get fitted for new running shoes, bought the Nike + iPod sensor and some new fancy socks...I am set! (and broke).

Check out my new Nike Lunarssss <3


This goal is actually attainable because it doesn't really matter how flabby my abs are when I cross the finishline! Plus my bff Julia (http://www.theboskyblog.com/) is going to come to Chicago and run with meee :)

I promise to update on my 8 week half marathon training adventure extravaganza. 

"There are leftovers in the kitchen..."

If I get one more email from the receptionist at my office that there is leftover sandwiches, pizza, cake, cookies, cupcakes, whatever in the kitchen I'm going to flip out! I swear there is a different catered lunch everyday for various meetings and brainstorms. I get the email from the receptionist and my fat girl instinct is to sprint to the kitchen before the rest of the office eats all the good shit but chances are I have just finished my own delicious healthy lunch and do not need a second lunch. Ugh. I wish my office would stop trying to sabotage me.

Another fun game my office plays is "let's have 20 candy jars scattered through the office". This game is the worst; I can't escape the temptation when it's literally everywhere I go. Recently a few of us banded together to end the candy jars. The jars have been replaced with fruit baskets and candy jars only come out for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries..I can handle that I guess..

I want some peanut M&Ms.

Fave Skinny Girl Foodz

I'm kind of rainman-ish when it comes to the food I buy, make and eat...I have a set list in my mind when I go to the grocery store and tend not to stray too far from it (otherwise I would come home with oreos, dr. pepper and the latest issue of US Weekly). Here are some of my favorites brands and products I cannot live with out...


Quinoa
High in protien and a complex starchy carb plus the texture is to die for. I like to use it in stirfry or in place of pasta or rice. LOVE.

Greek Yogurt
I put greek yogurt in and on everything. It is a great replacement for sour cream on a taco salad or in turkey chili. Also works nicely as a sub for mayo in chicken or tuna salad. I put it in smoothies or mix fruit in to it. I am not super picky about the brand--I have been digging Athenos but they are all great!



Cascadian Farms Hearty Morning
Yummiest cereal ever! High in fiber and protein; low in sugar. The honey clusters are my boo. I love adding berries or banana slices. You can find it in the organic cereal isle at your local grocery store.


Jennie O Extra Lean Ground Turkey
I use this shit for EVERYTHING. I use it for tacos, meat balls, turkery burgers, stirfry, chili...great lean protein and you can season it and add it to any dish!


2% Cottage Cheese
Fat free cottage cheese is very high in sodium so I stick to 2% cottage cheese--it is perfect for a mid morining or afternoon snack paired with some raw veggies or fruit.




Starbucks Unsweetened Iced Passion Tea
Calorie free and so sweet and delicious it feels like you're cheating--plus it's hot pink! I add one splenda if I'm feeling sassy but it is pretty good without.

What are your favorite healthy foods?

gym weirdies.

Today I am going to tell you about freaks that go to my gym...

First, a little context. I am in the gym by 6:45-7AM Monday through Wednesday & Friday. I like to work out before work because after work I want nothing more than to be laying on my couch watching Lifetime.  My gym is in the business district so a lot people hit the gym before work. In the last 6 months I have really taken notice of my morning gym buds and have grown fond of a few of the real weird ones. Keeps the morning interesting as I silently judge them.

You have your typical meat heads that are screaming and grunting as they bench press 90lb dumbells or the super skinny girl that should probably get off the treadmill and jog right into the nearest McDonald's...I enjoy watching and judging these people but they lack that special spark that the real gym weirdies have.

My favorite gym weirdy is this older man--probably 65..I'm guessing his name is Buck. He is bald and thin. He typically rocks knee length jean cut offs, a multi-colored t-shirt that he has cut into a tank top, tall white socks and colorful Pumas (today he had on those toe-shoe things--hate those). He struts around the weight room like he owns the joint and will stare at you until you get freaked out and walk away from equipment he wants to use. After an intense set of 10lb bicep curls he takes a swig of his can of diet coke.

Guy is a freak. I seriously wonder what he is like in real life, does he have a family? Friends? 50 cats? Who knows! I did see him once in my office buidling shaking his head in fury at people who were not going through a revolving door fast enough for him.

It's weirdys like Buck that keep me coming to the gym each morning...thanks, Buck.