an ode to things I love...this may get mushy.

I can't get over how much I genuinely love things when I love them.  I write them love sonnets in my head, think about them before I go to sleep or while I'm driving or having a conversation with someone boring.  I think about them when I'm doing something that's a subpar subsitute for whatever it is I love, I think about them while I'm with/doing/eating other things I love...basically, once you worm your way into my heart, you're there for good.  That being said, here comes the list:

I love:

1) Pretzel M+M's

they're sweet. they're salty. you can crunch them or you can suck on them till you get the pretzel.  the bags are plastic-y, not paper-y, and oh by the way...a whole bag is only 150 calories!!

2) Lean Cuisines

Image Courtesy of: http://www.notmike.com

Okay, so this isn't my freezer (it basically was in college!).  Mine has one half filled with frozen dinners, and the other half filled with bags of frozen vegetables.  I love LC's for a million reasons: the assorted varieties (there are SO. MANY. and there are always new ones!), the ease and convenience, the pre-portioned calorie count-ability, and most importantly, the FLAVOR!  i feel like i'm going out to eat at every single meal, because I can eat exactly what I would order at a restaurant but not feel too full.  My only gripe with them used to be the price, which brings me to my next love:

3) The COMMISSARY

 image courtesy of: http://cache.daylife.com

No, that's not me, and I'm not even sure if it's my Commissary, but that is a great example of the ridiculous size and scope of the Commissary.  I wish I had thought to save my last receipt and scan it for you, but the prices are ludicrously low.  Bags of frozen vegetables go on sale for 2 for $5 at Ralph's, a local grocery store.  At the Commissary, they are always around $1.37.  Why do I know the exact price?  BECAUSE THE COMMISSARY DOESN'T CHARGE TAX.  i rest my case.

4) My car

It's a white 2007 VW Jetta Wolfsburg Edition...meaning it has everything I want in a car with the insurance of a much less well equipped vehicle.  Heated light-colored (a must in sunny San Diego!) leather seats, sunroof, huuuuge trunk space...this car could not make me happier if it tried.

5) Crystal Light Individual Packets + my Camelbak Water Bottle

 I know it says to mix them with a 16 oz. bottle of water, but my Camelbak is 24 oz. and those things are still crazy potent.  I drink more water (and consequently use the bathroom more - I consider it fair given how long people's smoke breaks take) than anyone I know.  I have been at work for less than three hours and I'm on my 3rd bottle.  I have four Camelbaks (in different colors, obvi) because I have ones that I don't mind carrying around in uniform (navy blue and kind of a slate gray) and ones that are way more fun for the gym and Lilly (pink and green, of course).  SO happy!

6) My Boyfriend!

Can you blame me?

xx,

alanna

Disney Princess Half-Marathon/Lilly RESORT 2011!

I cannot even tell you which I'm more excited for.  We got the Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2011 linebook in yesterday and I spent a SOLID three hours flipping through.  Every single delivery is full of GORGEOUS pieces, from dresses to Murfee scarves to wedges!  the prints are just beautiful - so many aquas and turquoises, and, of course...pink!  i can't wait until the first shipment comes in...fall, i'm so over you and it's only halfway through September!

And now, onto the Disney Princess Half Marathon...

competition begins in: 163 days, 12 hours and 20 minutes.  I, personally, have only ever completed a 5k, and that was on a treadmill, during deployment.  Regardless, I think that I can do this, especially with Trip leaving for Pakistan for a year and my work schedule being less taxing than it used to be.  therefore, i can be...this:

photo credit: http://www.disneyprincesshalfmarathon.com/

So using my trusty 'how to run a half-marathon' guide from Self magazine, I've started my 'training'.  Fortunately, it starts with 'how to run a 5k', which, frankly, is just what I need.  The good thing is that there's all sorts of different work outs - some days, it's strength training, some days, it's a Speed 1 workout (warm up for a mile, sprint half a mile, walk half a mile, sprint half a mile, cool down half a mile), and some days, it's my favorite: rest!

photo credit: http://www.nataliedee.com/

on an entirely more boring and unrelated note, i haven't lost any weight and in fact, gained two pounds because of Trip and I's Cabo vacation.  Fabulous.  Hopefully this training will help that out, because Lord knows that my coming to terms with the fact that I am really really loving this whole eating meat while sober and in front of people thing, combined with the fact that Trip has decided (get this) he is going to eat everything he may possibly miss while he is in Pakistan, I have had wayyy too much access to delicious food. 

I'm not going to post my weight, but suffice it to say that I'm getting kind of close to not being able to ride my dream water vehicle anymore:

photo credit: www.skymall.com

the SkyMall Children's Inflatable Sea Doo. 

The closest I will probably get to owning a jet-ski, this puppy maxes out at 155 pounds, but at only $199, it's a reasonable investment for a San Diego resident, concur?

speaking of reasonable investments, I've finally learned to accept the fact that there is no employee discount for this desirable land-transporter:

photo credit: www.lillypulitzer.com

Looks like it's a good thing I'm working on my running, since I won't be able to get around any other way!

jessica simpson, no0o0o0o0o... + lilly pulitzer fall

i know, i've been MIA for entirely too long.  way too much vacation + new job at public affairs + less income = less blogging.  but fear not, y'all, cause trip is leaving for pakistan and i am going to have entirely too much time on my hands very soon. 

first things first:

jessica simpson?

photo credit: http://www.wwtdd.com/

why??  and yes, i understand the other photos in the article do show off that her legs are still very toned, but that dress? with her curves?  i don't think i've seen a worse fashion misstep since...lady gaga's meat dress: 

sick.

i'm sorry i did that to your eyes.  to make up for it, i offer you my personal, full, must-buy recommendation from lilly pulitzer fall:

the adalie wrap dress.

if they made this dress in one million prints, i would buy every. single. one.  and at only $148,  i wouldn't even be in serious debt!  i am not lying, this FLEW out of our store so quickly that some of the girls that work there didn't get one!  i have worn this to an interview, to a rehearsal dinner, AND to a hail and farewell...talk about versatile! 

i also picked up this adorable (and very reasonably priced) shift:

but this is what i'm really excited for:

the shauna tunic engineered...i just looove dresses with sleeves for winter, and this one is still really fun.  we're not getting it at fashion valley, so we'll have to see if my dedication leads me to order it from another store...