Runner's high

Shades: Party City | Necklace: J.Crew Factory | Top: J.Crew Factory | Skirt: this one from Modcloth | Wedges: Target | Lips: NARS Funny Face

I ran (like legit ran, except for a few walks) my second 5k on Saturday, and managed to not die! My only goal was to make it in less than an hour, and my time ended up being 45:48! I'm really pleased, because I'm generally a pretty slow runner. If I had known I was so close to under 45, I would have pushed it a little harder--but regardless, I'm happy. I loved the race I ran (it's a small one in Cardiganland), and now I have a legit 3.1 mile course fairly close to where I live that I can train on! I'm already aiming for a 5k in January and I'm hoping to shave my time down to sub-40 by then. Ultimately, my official year long goal is to run the Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon on September 10th, 2016. I might be insane, and I might have to walk parts of it, but I'm doing it. And I'm really excited. Doing the math, it makes sense--I can spend the rest of this year focusing on my 5k work, then start nailing down a 10k training program. The half marathon training program I've found is a 16 week program, and that leaves me with the first five months of 2016 to really get ready for that. I have no delusions of grandeur here; I know I'm in for pain and misery and torture and long nights at the gym and a lot of hours on my sneakers, but I'm kind of looking forward to it.

I mean, I'm going to hate myself immensely while I'm running. But I'm still going to do it.

Evander Holyfield

Top: J.Crew | Skirt: Target | Wedges: Target | Cat: Lily

As I have steadily clawed my way to completing this month's small goal #1, I have encountered some needs. Most recently, I decided to change a shade of metallic thread in the pattern from copper to purple. I didn't want to buy it online and pay for shipping and wait a week for a three dollar spool of thread, so I found a shop on the outer edges of Cardiganland that sells the thread and decided to drive out on my day off to buy the thread.

On the way there, the guy in front of me on the interstate hit a shred of tire, which went airborne and slammed into my headlight, skidded across the hood of my car, then slid off at the windshield, but not before wailing into my side view mirror and ripping it from the body of my car, leaving it hanging by a strip of wiring. My poor car lost an ear!

I've been driving around ever since with only one side mirror. I used to make fun of people with only one mirror and now I am one. Shame on me. But hopefully my car's ear will return by the end of this week--the body shop is getting a replacement--and I think I've found a way to file a claim to make the state pay for it, since they aren't cleaning up the roads. It's better than nothing, right? And now I have a spool of thread that cost only $350.

Cash

Top: Target | Pants: Old Navy via Dani at DIYFATSHION | Wedges: Target | Shades: Party City | Lips: NARS Annabella

I have been enjoying wearing all black--or a lot of black--lately. I've never been an all black kind of gal, and even when I only liked gray and navy and olive, I never really wore black. It felt really harsh to me. But after Dani gifted me these black ponte pants, which filled a need I didn't know I had, things changed. I wear these pants at least once a week. And it's so easy to just wear a bunch of black, especially on a Sunday when I have to work. The only problem is the cat hair and lint. I wonder if Johnny Cash ever had that issue.

Rhinestone shades

Top: J.Crew Factory | Skirt: Old Navy | Wedges: Target | Shades: Party City (of all places)

My coworker and I went to Party City last week to pick up prizes for a library party, and I ended up with cheap sunglasses. I don't wear sunglasses almost ever, because I can't see very well without my glasses, but these shades are basically perfect for loafing in the sun and/or looking really cool in blog posts. You know. Whatever it takes.

Two nine

Top: J.Crew | Skirt: JCPenney | Heels: DSW

I've made the leap (amble? inevitable drag?) into another age, from 28 to 29. I really like prime numbers, so I'm pretty enthused about being 29. I don't have any significant life plans for 29, except maybe probably moving in with my boyfriend, who very patiently listened to my strongarming ("I can't wait to get flowers for my birthday!"), and spending a likely very humid week with him in New Orleans in August. Lots of painting walls and decorating and gardening and all that cute crap that comes with living with the person you love. Maybe a couple more 5K races, if my knees can hold up (more on my first ever 5K later this week, I promise). Other than that: more work, more money, more (fewer?!) problems. One can hope. One can always hope.

Walking billboard

Top: Gap Outlet | Skirt: J.Crew Factory | Wedges: Payless | Lips: NARS Schiap

I received a compliment of the highest order today.

"You look like you shop at ModCloth."

Nailed it!

The master

Top: J.Crew Factory | Skirt: J.Crew Factory | Wedges: Payless

One of my main, constantly repeating memories of my grandfather is from Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the summer when I was a kid. My grandfather--Pop Pop--absolutely loved golf. And despite living a five minute walk from the ocean, he committed his weekends to watching golf in his recliner. I can remember coming back from a long day at the beach and taking a shower either in the one bathroom in the house or outside under the outdoor shower, and getting changed and then coming to watch golf with him in the living room while I ate either Goldfish or cottage cheese. I don't know why this is so memorable to me; it's a tiny memory of my grandfather, compared to the things he did while I was alive. But every time The Masters rolls around and golf begins in earnest, I'm reminded of Pop Pop and his blue recliner and the taste of salt water and even saltier Goldfish.

And I'm quite thankful for that.

The return

Necklace: JCPenney | Sweater: Ann Taylor | Skirt: Target | Wedges: Target | Lips: Sonia Kashuk Poppy Nude

I'm baaaaaaaack! Today marks my very first outfit photos since surgery (not including the outfit I managed to pull on specifically for SIA a few weeks ago), and it feels good, even if my lens is busted and my remote is dying and my tripod crushed my finger. And perfect timing, too, since today is an SIA based on Parade, by Charles and Ray Eames. Jen is hosting SIA this week, so definitely check out her blog tomorrow to see all the inspired outfits!

HGTV or bust

Cardigan: Target | Camisole: JCPenney | Skirt: made by me | Wedges: Target | Hospital nails: butter London All Hail the Queen & Wallis and China Glaze Choo Choo Choose You

I only wore this outfit for about long enough to take photos, I'm not going to lie. I've been almost exclusively in tee shirts and pajama pants since I got home from the hospital last week, and I'll probably continue to do so until the 10th, when my stitches come out. I'm really looking forward to Monday--I am SO itchy! I'm not even in pain anymore, but between the healing scar and the gauze tape on my back, I am practically rolling in my chair to scratch everything. Oof. My boyfriend helped me downstairs today so I could raid my closet for SIA, and when I got back upstairs I was huffing and puffing like I had just run a 5k. It sucks to feel THAT out of shape, but I know it's temporary. I've been keeping myself busy with lots of cross stitch and reading and watching HGTV, because that is my jam. I can't wait to get all better so I can break out my table saw and cut some wood. (Not a euphemism.)

Pick your poison

Top: ASOS via Dani at DIYFATSHION | Skirt: Talbots | Wedges: Target | Lips: NARS Schiap

Air quotes or Richard Nixon? You decide.

Omaha

Necklace: made by T. | Dress: Ann Taylor Factory Store | Wedges: Target

HELLO FOOTBALL SEASON! I get derpy around this time every single year and my blinders go on and all I see is footballfootballfootball. I told my boyfriend that if he survives this fall with me, we'll be in good shape. I don't think he understands what I mean when I say 12pm-12am every single Sunday. Let's see how long he lasts before he snaps.

Oui

Barrette: Target | Shirt: Target | Belt: Target | Skirt: via Dani at DIYFATSHION | Shoes: Payless

Happy Bastille Day, y'all! For more outfits based on today's Style Imitating Art piece, check out Salazar's blog!