Let’s try this again.

Today I went to the gym and ran a little over 1/2 of a mile, and shaved 10 seconds off of my stationary bike time. I hurt all over and am still a little shaky, but I feel fantastic. It is hard to replicate the way your body feels and the induced high you get after you work out.

Recently, Saturday Jane posted a great debate between her many selves about excersize and working out, and her own experiences with it. This has made me reflect on my thoughts working out and what keeps me going during my sessions, and I’ve figured out what it is:

The Shower Afterwards.

Seriously. It’s the best part. I love the burn, and getting past my goals, and if I hadn’t been completely exhausted by the final push in my biking to beat my previous time, I’d have danced across the gym, regardless of any stares that might induce.

But the best part is when you can relax your weary muscles in a steady stream of hot water, and slough off the sweat and dirt and grime and stress that comes along with exersize and life.

It is the best, and I look forward to it during ever minute of every step of every lap I run every day. It’s a nice motivation. Not to mention the proud feeling afterwards, knowing I actually followed through with my goals.

My current goal is to get to the point where I can do my cycling in 4 minutes and thirty seconds (as of today, I’m six minutes and thirty seconds), and run an entire mile without bursting into tears, like I would in elementary-school PE.

What are your goals?

The beginning of 2010 marks a strange anniversary for me. 2009 was the first year ever I used a planner.

Ever.

I am generally organized, but in a vague sort of way. I know where things are located in the piles of things in my room, and I organize once every six months and then promptly abandon all organizing plans as my life turns to chaos once again. I never used a planner for high school (even though it was “mandatory”), didn’t use one for the first three years of college (even though I probably should have), and certainly never ever really felt like using one.

But times change, I discovered Kath Kidston, and I got a job where the schedule changes every week.

My planner for 2009 is worn, and kind of falling apart. It is filled with memories, like this:

January 16th, 2009: Basket full of kitties.

May 20th, 2009: Blending in with couches.

September 24th, 2009: tried on a furry hat.

One of my final entries:

December 29, 2009. Sneak attack Snow!

I am all ready for my new 2010 calendar. I’ve even done SUPER organized things like written down my measurements in the back, and made a little colour chart of the prismacolour markers that I own so I don’t buy repeats. This organized thing is really awesome, and I’d like to pass it on.

The best part about using a planner is picking one out. Here are a few to peruse:

a. City Planner. $22.
b. 2010 Weekly Planner. $25.
c. Bird art calendar. $16.
d. 2010 Mini Plaid Planner. $8.

I bet you can get organized this year! Don’t you think you can?

I have drunk the required hot chocolate and enjoyed the traditional cookies and even been given a shot of some traditional scotch (that was very, very gross).

Tomorrow, I work, but we also plan to open stockings and eat ham and maybe even watch our family’s traditional Christmas movie, Young Frankenstein. (hey man, don’t judge, don’t judge.)

What are your holiday traditions?

Are Christmas cards a thing of antiquity? It certainly seems like they are. As I wrote in my most recent letter, finals turned my brain into a special kind of mush this term. All I want to do is sit and listen to music and enjoy not doing anything.

But Christmas cards are a nice start. Handwritten letters add a special touch to any present, even if it is the gift of saying ‘hello’.

This was a nice sentiment on written letters and handwriting, I thought I’d share:

via the essential man

Give it a try this year! It is never too late for handwritten hellos.

Me: “Don’t you have some golfing to do?”

Dad: “Well, YEAH. I mean, you’re right. I need to golf every day so that I can be a pro.”

Me: “Trying to cram in a few years of training, right?”

Dad: “Well, I need to train a lot if I want to be the golf champion at Wimbleton.”

Me: (stares at my father) “…”

Dad: “Maaaaybe this is why I suck at golf.”

Golfing doesn’t run in the family, but pursuing silly things sure does. I can’t wait for this term to be over so I can increase my pokemon to sleeping ratio. Or maybe antiquing to writing essays ratio. What does ratio mean anyway? Maybe this is why I suck at them.

I know, I know, it’s been awhile. And I’ve been busy, what with school and work and actually attempting to have a social life beyond the computer in my bedroom. Fun fact: I got a call from Australia last week, commending me for focusing on my studies instead of blogging.

I’m breaking my silence this week because 1) I miss writing to y’all and 2) I had to share… of course I am still thrifting and finding neat and random things to wear. 3) Also I am tired of analyzing Renaissance poetry. REALLY.

Two weeks ago I attended a booksigning for the lovely Winona’s new book, Closet Confidential, where I got my autographed copy and enjoyed some sparkling apple cider at Mabel & Zora.

Me and my sister at the Closet Confidential party!

Shiny, right? I was ecstatic to find an appropriate party to wear my sequined dress to. The drive home in the rain-slick, lamplit dark night was super fun, as every stoplight we drove through made a mini disco-ball-fueled rave in our old car.

On the subject of sequins, they are among my new favourite things. I mean, we’ve discussed how much I like sparkles.

I am wearing my silver sequined shoes everywhere, even though my feet get wet in the rain.

And yesterday, on an unexpected Goodwill run, I found this little number:

I’m thinking: luncheon with my great-aunt, afternoon tea with The Duchess…

I am still taking outfit photos, and I am still planning on updating this blog, as I go, this is just a formal announcement that it’s going to be patchy for awhile.

This weekend I took a day off from work and was carted off to the beach my two of my favourite customers and their lovely dog, Max, who I house-sat for a few weeks this summer.

The Oregon Coast is sunny, warm and bright for about three days every summer. The rest of the year it cold, blustery, rainy and wet. Which really is how the beach is supposed to be! The Pacific ocean is freezing and the sand is puddley and the wind blows you about like a leaf.

It was a relief to take a day to just be–my weeks have turned into a frantic run-around of getting things done and What Project Is Next, which really is hard to enjoy.

I took a collective breath of fresh air and am knuckling back down to it. I’ll still be around, posting, but I do feel the need to announce: The Lemon Life is a bit crazy at the moment.

I’m making lemonade, just a bit slower than I have been this summer.

I took real ownership of this bedroom this summer. I rearranged the furniture, went through my closet (once or thrice) and started collecting objects and new ways to store my stuff.

For some reason, it makes it easier to work in my room–having the things that inspire me close at hand and organized in my own little way.

How about you? How does your room reflect your personality, or your inspirations?