Keep It, Kill It, Move It, Remove It: Gardening 2012

Normally May is when I start to think about the garden and the imposing doom of future plant chaos. This year, due to the unusual warm spell, everything is several weeks ahead. Everything, that is, except me. I have a plan this year and I really hope it ends up well. I enjoy working in the yard but there is always that point where I get a little behind and then it gets crazy. In an attempt to not get overwhelmed or rather not as fast, I am trying to first set things up as Keep It, Kill It, Move It, Remove It.

KEEP IT:
The prior owners of our house, especially the woman, were serious gardeners. We lucked out that they had a good amount of perennials including daffodils, hostas, sedum, phlox and hostas. We have a few rose bushes including one that wants to climb on the roof if we don’t keep an eye on it. There are a few tulips, one peach iris, and a clematis that have kept going as well. If we can split anything to move elsewhere, it will save us money and as long as it takes, it will be less stress in the future. I don’t like matchy matchy gardens but having the same elements here and there looks really nice.

KILL IT:
Goutweed. Snow on the Mountain. Bishop’s Weed. I Hate You and I Want You to Go Away Plant. If anyone offers you this and you don’t want it to try to take over EVERYTHING, say NO!  The yearly attack on this plant is aggravating. I think it is a reason why my tulips never came back fully. This choked them out!

We also have wild violets that like to come back every year. While they are pretty, they can get HUGE and take over.

MOVE IT:
Tiger Lilies are one plant that do extremely well, sometimes too well.  I love the flowers so this puts them in the “move it” category.  If they don’t take, it isn’t that big of a deal since we have many many more to use for a second try.  I have a few places that need a pop of color and I think these bright orange flowers will work perfectly.

There is a section of our yard that is looking a bit Jurassic Park-ish with all the ferns so those will get thinned out and moved as well. Last year we even had one pop up in the grass though the little plastic dinosaur looked hilarious that was moved before it got really huge.  I never knew just how crazy big they would get. We had one last year that was almost hip height. It is safe to say that wherever they end up, they will work and eventually get moved again.

REMOVE IT:
There is one shrub that you can find at our home as well as homes of family and friends, Rose of Sharon.  We have ones with pink, white, and purple-ish flowers. I love them all. What I don’t love is all the ity bity little trees shrubs that pop up.  I do keep some if I want to make a bit thicker hedge, if there is a gap needing to be filled, or to plant elsewhere. Otherwise they get pulled while they are small and I don’t fall over trying to pull one out.

Now I just need a weekend of nice weather or a few days when I have the energy in the evening to get going.  The first serious push will be a lot of work but it will totally be worth it.

That time I joined a gym

I recently did something I never thought I’d do. I joined a gym.

I know that oodles of people join gyms, go to gyms, intend to go to gyms, blah blah blah. I had been to a gym maybe twice… ever. I kept the cliche of grunting meatheads, bad music, and that funky funk in my head for a long time. I was happy with my group classes and had no interest in going. It worked so why change it, right?

Fast forward to about a month or so ago. A friend of mine joined a gym and I ended up going with her one day as her free guest. That visit changed my opinion of  gyms. While the grunting meathead cliches were there, they were either actually working out and not strutting around sending out telepathic “LOOK AT MEEEEE” messages. The music was decent top 40 stuff and there was no funk.  We worked out partially in the women’s section and partially in the main gym. Overall we  were there a little over an hour and I left happy.

Even though I woke up sore two days later since my body loves the delayed ouch mode, I decided I was going to give this a try.  It was a decent deal. If I absolutely hated it, I could cancel. For what I was paying a month I could easily go out for a nice dinner at a semi fancy restaurant (if I actually liked semi fancy restaurants.) I just had to decide when I wanted to sign up, ended up doing so a little earlier than planned due to a really clever ad, and followed up with a celebratory shake from McDonalds since this is how I roll.

I’m not joking about the shake. It was vanilla.

So now I am a mini plastic membership card tag carrying member of a large-scale gym. While I have no plans to quit my smaller studio for my Zumba classes, this is something I can add to my plan to get my butt in gear for my June 5k and fit in those grey jeans I love. I just have another option that isn’t specifically one day. If I am in the mood to go I can go and as long as I do go, I’m not wasting money or someone elses time.

My sister-in-law joined me the last time I was there and we had a good time.  It was nice since there was no comparison, no competition, and no stress. We each popped in our headphones and got to work though my ear buds insisted on falling out on the arc trainer. Over an hour later, we were headed home and that is where things hit a roadblock, make that two.

I was all geared up to get back to the gym.  I had my clothes ready and made sure I had two of the same wicking socks. Then I ended up with giant blisters on the back of both heels from a pair of boots.  I actually ended up having to get the bandaids specifically for blisters so I could walk.  If I couldn’t walk normally, going to the gym was definitely out. Then I got sick. If I was stuck in bed, going to the gym, again, was definitely out.

While I am not happy, I know that I made the right decision for me.  The blisters would be extremely painful if they broke open and then I’d be risking delayed healing or worst case, an infection. If I am sick, the last thing I’m thinking about is working out. I need extra sleep, extra rest in general, and even more tea that I normally drink. I don’t want it to get worse or not go away. I had to deal with that over the winter when a cold turned into something worse and I was sick for way too long.

So the key word here is roadblock and not wall.  Every day I feel a bit closer to normal and every day the blisters are healing. I know that it won’t be long til I get back there. At least now I can actually put together a decent playlist.

Sorry AC/DC, I love you but you don’t work for a full trip to the gym.

Music for this post: Walk Off the Earth’s cover of Cheers(Drink to that) — (on repeat) 
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Pan the pug

I have a bad habit of taking tons of photos with my cell phone and then forgetting about them. This is one of them.

This pug is named Pan if I understood his owner correctly.  I had seen them walking around before since it is pretty hard to forget a dog wearing little orange shoes.  It totally makes sense to me since salt and whatnot can hurt a dog’s feet. (Molly was hopping around because of  rock salt once and now we only put the pet safe stuff anywhere they could possibly go.)

Since I didn’t want to scare the dog or make the owner angry, I asked if I could take the photo. Pan didn’t seem to care but at the same time I don’t know pug expressions that well.

The fitness fashion gods work in strange ways

I have a hodge podge mix of workout attire:  Reebok, Nike, Addias, UnderArmour, Champion, C9 as well as a mix mosh of random other brands that aren’t expensive/hyped/overhyped. I totally stick w sales as well as the belief that something does not need to cost a lot for it to work well. I rocked $10 capris for a stability ball/weights/resistance band class that were exceptional. I’ve read about people freaking out about $70+ pants ahem Lulumon looking at you and yes I know it is not the correct name but that is what I call it but the hype/reviews don’t have me hunting them down. Maybe someday but if I’m gonna pay $$$ it would probably be prAna since I’m always drawn to the gorgeous patterns of their stuff when Darth Husband and I are in REI.

I have learned over the years that if I go to a class in non-wicking stuff or in one case a sports shirt w a large number on the back (Sorry Buehrle! You will always be my pitcher even if you left the White Sox!) it won’t end well.  Currently, I’ve been rocking a v-neck UnderArmour shirt I found on sale for $15 and a pair capris that are several years old that fit… well, they technically do.

I say technically since they do fit but are just too small that they like to creep about. Yes, I’m talking wedgie creeping. While it isn’t a full on immediate attack, it gets annoying at least once during Zumba. I’ve been laughing it off since I know in a few weeks they will fit differently. Why should I buy new ones when these still work, right? It’s not like they don’t look good. I don’t wear workout clothes outside of working out so I don’t have to be concerned about that. Having them be a bit too small is motivation too right?

Wrong, well maybe “partially wrong” is the best response. I was catching up on some reading and what Jordan from Food, Sweat, and Beers said in #3 this post made me rethink all of this. I decided to take a new approach – let the fashion gods take over. I am a firm believer that sometimes you need to throw stuff out to the universe and you will get your answer.

My plan was one trip to a store with one trip to the dressing room. Growing up my mom, gram and I would go downtown to “Uncle Marshall’s” as we called Marshall Fields when someone had a feeling there’d be good deals. Sure enough, there would be a good deal or something perfect on sale. Since Marshall Fields is no longer (#sob), I ended up trying my luck at Marshalls since something said I should go there.  Sure enough I left the store with a stone frog, another Oxo container, tea, agave nectar and Nike capris marked down as $20 instead of $40.  They were the first I tried on and the other 5 capris I tried on did not work especially the one that made me laugh out loud.

I didn’t  attend Zumba this week since it conflicted with my once a month garden club. I’ll have to wait a bit to try them. I’m hoping they work out well and if they don’t I know I have backups.

If you buy fitness attire, are you a mix of whatever or are you a diehard person to a specific brand? 

Music for this post: Kelly Clarkson

When in Doubt, Blame the Season for a New Craft Project

Even though I have various projects already on my plate, I am itching to add another. Pinterest is like an all-you-can-eat buffet of ideas. All I need is 10 minutes and I want to do at least 5 new craft projects even though I really need to finish one I’ve been working on.

Nikabee told me about a great wreath she found via Pinterest. I did a little research hoping I could find the original post. I had a feeling it was a blogger: Monday make it: Spring Baby Grass Wreath from Capture the Details. Patty’s instructions are great and I can’t wait to get to Hobby Lobby to wander for over an hour to get the materials. (I have also added Capture the Details to my Reader since just browsing has me going “OOOH! I NEED to make that!”)

Source: pattyschaffer.typepad.com via Krista on Pinterest

APY60 yoga: What’s the deal with the deal?

Darth Husband and I  use Groupon when there is a good deal. A ways back, he found a yoga related one that he thought I might be interested in getting.  I have done yoga on and off for over ten years. When I’m not actually taking classes or doing DVDs, I try to keep up with stretching. I’m up for trying something new regarding it as long as it doesn’t include 90+ degree temperatures. (Working out in hot hot  hot temperatures leads to me feeling ill.)

The deal was APY60 for $49 which is a deal since the yoga program is much more normally. I thought it was just yoga until I read more about it being a program. Hmmm. Is this what I first expected? Nope. So I googled and looked for reviews. Since it was so new the reviews I found seemed like free copy reviews especially ones with a coupon code. Since I don’t know anything about the sites, I don’t know how they are with reviews. Sadly there are people out there that give glowing reviews when they get free stuff. HOWEVER there are honest reviews out there as well.

I waited and waited and waited. There was some issues with number of orders or filling the orders so it took a bit longer than I had anticipated. Ok, fine whatever. No big deal. I had a plan for February (veggie month) and so I decided to do this as my March challenge. Then the box came.

CUE THE HAPPY DANCING…sorta. More like cue the cat trying to steal the inspirational bracelets.

He took one and ran away. I got it before I had to pick up ity bity rubber bits covered in cat spit. (Cat momma: 1, Frankie: 0.) Then I read through the books, meal plan and what not. Then I put it all back in the box and forgot about it. Actually, it sat on the kitchen table for quite some time. Then it was moved to a chair since Frankie insisted on sleeping on it. THEN it was moved elsewhere and forgotten.

My excitement was short lived after seeing how restrictive the meal plan was and how expensive it would be to start this plan.  While I have limited specific food intake (veggie month) and have removed things from my diet to see if they were causing me problems (peanuts), it was never this extreme. While other people might think I’m crazy for calling it this, that is how it hit me. Plus cutting things so drastically puts me at risk for my migraines.

I “found” the box again recently and am debating giving it a modified try.  I cannot give an honest review of the program however since I won’t be following the meal plan part (though I didn’t find it that much of a plan since I usually think of specific meal ideas for all the days to be included not a series of recipes and ideas of how to put others together.) I would be trying the yoga portion.

Do you think a partial review of a fitness program is a real review? Do you think it would be beneficial for others?

Music for this post: Gravity Kills

3 Things: You look a little green

Being the proud owner of an original Caboodle, it is safe to say I am a fan of makeup, nail polish and the sort.  I have recently jumped headfirst started reading more beauty bloggers. While I do not plan to become one, I wanted to add a bit of it here on CSYA:  3 Things (one owned and loved, two on the wish list.)

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One of these things aren’t like the other. One of these things belong to me.

green beauty by yarnalone featuring a Lancôme eyeshadow

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The Have-it: 1. Essie in Pretty Edgy
I had been searching for a green nail polish for awhile. I wanted green. I didn’t want mint, teal, seafoam, forest, or army. I wanted green green.  I was torn between this and a green by China Glaze.  When I asked the clerk in Ulta which she preferred, I got one word answers to all my questions. Essie. Essie. Essie. I do like China Glaze however I am very happy with my color choice. (The CG had more of a spring green element to it.) I am officially part of the Essie fan club now since I am extremely hard on nail polish and this held up well. I got a lot of compliments when I wore it too. Wearing clover green polish right around St. Patrick’s Day will have that be the case. I just like green and wasn’t wearing it to not get pinched.

The Want-It: 2. Urban Decay eyeliner
This color is technically “Acid Rain” in their liquid liner which I cannot find online but something close would be perfect. They have a few colors that I think would look great with a gold/tan shimmer based eyes shadow for summer. I have hooded eyes that really love to crease eyeshadow (with or without a primer when it is warm) and so adding a pop of color with a liner and a more neutral base works extremely well for me.

The Want-It: 3. Lancôme Color Design eye shadow in Personal Style
I like this green because it is more spring green than lime or neon green. While I do have an extremely bright, but not neon, green, it doesn’t work well at times. I think this shade would really work. I have worn numerous eye shadows from Lancôme over the years. I really like that I can get almost three colors out of one of their colors depending on how much I layer and how I apply it.

The Final Verdict:
Since both of my “Want-It”s are on the higher end of my cosmetic scale, I plan to wait rather than running out to get them. I know they are worth the money but there is always the chance for a sale opportunity or one of my favorite phrases when shopping for cosmetics, “free gift with purchase.”

So that time at Zumba when she played Nickelback…

It was actually pretty awesome.

While I am not part of the “Nickelback is the worst band ever” camp or maybe it’s Creed though I think it should be Rush, I’ve never been a huge fan. Maybe I have a CD but at the same time I have so many that have been kept in storage tubs I forget what I do own. I have a tendency to get hooked on songs with a decent beat, and by beat I usually mean drumbeat.

So this was the song she kicked out butts to recently, When We Stand Together

So take the beat. Got it? Ok, then add squats to it. No, not quite, lower squat. Got it. Don’t forget slow squats too. Mix in those wide step out jumps when you land one foot then the other. (Liking my technical terms yet?) Throw in those hatchet chop/standing crunches with some “wheels on the bus” hand/arm movements. Add a bunch of other stuff and you are done!

Clearly this isn’t the exact routine since I don’t want to post routines online. It was fun and I forgot how hard I was doing some of the chop crunches. I felt it the next day though it was probably from the entire class.  Even through my minor ouch-ing, I was still happy.

One thing I love more and more about the studio is that they play a variety of music. During one class, JLo might be followed by Flo Rida followed by a latin song. I find myself doing routines when I hear one of the songs on the radio. Luckily that has happened at home and my toaster doesn’t care if I am doing side lunges and if it did I would be terrified.

If you take group classes, do they stick with a certain style or do they mix it up as well?

Wordless Wednesday