What I Wore {post 62}

Dudes.  It is mid January.  I cannot even believe it.  And a long weekend! Here are a handful of recent outfits that I wore to work.  If I am being honest, if I did a weekend What I Wore, those posts would involve all forms of yoga pants, leggings, UGG boots and very soft long-sleeved cotton tee shirts.  :)

* Fuchsia Knit Dress *

I stumbled upon this dress thanks to a fellow blogger, Cassie at Hi Sugarplum!, who posted about its grey sister.  The pink was perfect for me and I absolutely love it.  I wore it with black hose and my black patent Mary Janes.  I love the "fit and flare" style.  It is super comfortable too, and even though Junior sizing, I found it true to size.

* Maroon Top & Charcoal Pants *

Ahhh, another Anthropologie find.  This is a lovely little peasanty top from Anthropologie.  The top is sheer and it's nice and flowy.  I wore it to work with my charcoal pants and black heels.  Very simple.

* Cream & Black Tunic & Skinny Jeans *

I blogged about this top awhile ago. It's a nice and long tunic that I got from Nordstrom last year.  I wore it with a cream cami and my skinny jeans and brown riding boots.  Unfortunately, I spilled a little orange juice on my shirt so it's at the cleaners where I hope hope hope she is working her magic and getting the stain out. 

Avast me hearties!  Weekend ahead!  Enjoy.  Not sure why I turned into a pirate, but there you go.

See you swoon,

Redone Dining Room Table

Hello! Good morning!  I feel like this blog post needs a little fanfare and trumpets!  I redid my dining room table!  I know!  Every sentence in this paragraph is punctuated by an exclamation point so you know this one is good!  I'm going to show you the finished product right now because no one can wait!

Calming down ... this was another one of those why didn't I do this sooner, this completely changed the look of the room with very little time and money things.  My dining room table is about 10 years old.  The original chairs are long gone, but I really do like the size and design of the table itself.  It has a leaf, which I keep in it all the time, and a farmhouse-table kind of look.  The thing I do not like about it was the finish, as seen in this older picture:

In fact, I've never liked the finish.  It was a compromise on my part and it's just never been my taste at all and ended up being, well, compromising.  Every time I looked at it I would instantly think "gah - red wood - don't like - gah".  So now's the time to fix it.  

I was inspired by an Ethan Allen table.  I loved the two tone - the distressed wood top and the white legs.  It really got my heart racing.

My initial plan was to strip the top, stain it a weathered oak, and then poly the top.  Then once the top was done, I'd paint the legs white.  Things, as usual, did not quite go according to plan.

I started off with the stripper (that's what she said).  I used Citristrip and followed the package instructions.  I let it sit for about 45 minutes and then stripped off the varnish with the little stripper bucket tools.

I ended up having to do two coats of the Citristrip.  Once that was done, I used an orbital sander (on loan from Bill - thanks Bill!) to strip off the rest of the finish.  The sides were very tricky.  For whatever reason, they were coated in some really funky stuff that was impossible to get off. I finally was able to strip them nice and smooth by using mineral spirits applied with steel wool.

I did not enjoy this process.  It was messy and disgusting and tedious and difficult. But once I was done, it looked pretty darn beautiful.

Even with the red legs, I was pleased with the top.   So, a few days later, it was time to tackle the finish on top.  I used one final swipe of really fine sandpaper and then used some tack cloth to get the top super clean.  And then I applied my stain: Minwax's Weathered Oak finish.  I was so excited and applied a kind of small spot and then ... THE TABLE TOP TURNED RED AGAIN.   The table top turned red.  Again.  I said some really bad words and may have thrown the stain rag down hard and then said more bad words.  It was pretty clear that stain wasn't going to work, and any stain applied to the top would just bring out that red wood.  So ... I sanded again and got all of the new stain off.

I needed to make the finish more grey in order to get the distressed l wanted.  I decided to try a liming wax for the finish, which was the perfect distressed wood look that I had in mind.  I saw the finish on I Heart Organizing, which is a blog that I follow and loooooooove, and I figured I would use that same product on the table and it just might work.   It did!  The liming wax made the finish more grey and muted.  It was a bit too grey and too muted, but I knew as soon as I applied the Poly, it would be the exact look I wanted.  And it was!

Once the wax was done, I applied my Polycrilic to seal.  I used a satin finish for a more matte look.  It took four coats, which I thought was a good call given the use the table would get.  While I did that, I started the legs.  I got out my oil based primer and brushed on two coats over the legs.

Once the primer was dry, we added two coats of white latex.  I went with my favorite Dover White (Sherwin Williams) that I often use.  Once the paint was dry, I added  two coats of Poly to them to protect.

And here she is!

Yes and yay and all of those things!  I'll add a natural fiber rug under the table soon - something like a jute or a sisal.  I want to break up the [horrible] grey carpet and make the room look more neutral.  And I would love new chairs, but that's not in the budget.  However, recovering the current chairs *is* in the budget.  Now I just need an excuse to host a fun, yummy dinner party to break in the space!  hmmmmm.

See you swoon,

Race Recap: 2015 Athletes Closet January 5K & 2015 Training Recap - weeks 1-2

Happy Monday.  One more week until we have a day off.  It's funny how hard it is to get back into the swing of things every January.  But here we are. 

I have a two-fer today - a little race recap for a pretty tough race and a recap of my training thus far into 2015.  

1.  Race Recap:  2015 Athletes Closet Winter Series January 5K.  

I like to start off the year with a race, and this was the one I chose:  the Athletes Closet Winter Series January 5K.  It was on January 3 and was hosted by a local running company.  It was a very small field - about 70 people or so.  And the course was super hilly - just constant up or down and nothing really in between.  My race plan was to hit the first mile at my current 5K PR pace (which was about 7:30/mile) and then just race the remaining two miles.  

For the first time in a long time, I didn't PR at this race.  My 5K PR is 23:15 from the 2013 Medford Lakes Turkey Trot.  My time at this race was 23:49 (7:40 pace).  Given the fact that this course was so challenging and the turkey trot was pancake flat, I am still pretty psyched with my time.  Oh, and hey, it always helps when you get an award! That time was good enough for me to nab 2nd place in my age group.  I got a medal! 

I was the 15th runner to finish overall and the 6th woman.  Not too shabby.  Bill also ran and got 2nd in his age group and was the 5th to finish overall.  yay!

I was thisclose to getting 1st in my age group, but right before the finish, a girl in my age group passed me.  She was cooking and I was spent.  Bill was trying to cheer me and warn me that it was happening, but I didn't appreciate it because I had my headphones in and I was also just done and completely beat.  However, as I got closer to the chute, I heard heavy footfalls behind me and was not about to let someone else pass me.  I literally body checked the guy behind me and prevented him from passing me in the chute.  Turns out, he paced off of me the entire race.  What a jerk move to try to pass me at the very last second ... dude.  Anyway, here's a picture to show how close it was.  The girl finished in 23:47, I finished in 23:49 and the dude finished in 23:50.  A real nail biter.  

2.  2015 Training Recap: weeks 1-2

Training has been going pretty well.  I run about 5-6 days per week and have 1-2 rest days, swim days or bike days (my coach schedules my "rest" day but says I can either swim 1400 yards or bike 30 minutes endurance pace on those days).  Here's what I've been up to:

January 1-11:  7:18:76 hours

Swam: 1400 yards/32:50 minutes

Biked: 1:00:03 hours (all on trainer)

Ran:  38.33 miles/5:46:23 hours

As you can see, it's all about the run.   The first week in January, I had a long run on New Years Day, which was great.  Then an easy recovery run, the 5K race and a "rest" day where I biked.  The New Years Day run was 90 minutes, which for me was 10.2 miles.  I warmed up with my typical long run breakfast: oatmeal with mashed bananas, diluted Gatorade and a plain mini bagel.  Bland as hell.  But it works.  

The second week was about the same: an easy run, a walk/run, a day of speedwork, a "rest" day, a long run, another rest day and then a combo endurance/tempo run.

The notable things in this week: (1) I had to hop on the treadmill again and (2) I made it back to the pool!  First, it has been really cold lately.  I don't mind the cold - at all - but there comes a point where the cold is just too cold for running.  So this happened instead:

I promised myself that come hell or highwater, I would get my butt in the pool this week, and I did.  I swam and it felt really good. I need to ask my coach to just schedule a day of swimming so that I can't opt out.  Swimming is good for me in every way.   My runs were good too!  My long run was supposed to be 90 minutes, but it was snowing pretty hard, so I only made it about 75.  Yesterday, my endurance/tempo run was really cold.  We are talking 18 degrees at the start and a balmy 21 degrees when I finished.  So cold that I had to use my face cover thing for half the run to cover my nose and mouth and at the end of the run it had ice on it.  It was a really tough run: 30 minutes at endurance pace and then 3 miles at 8:00 pace.  I hit 8:00, 7:58 and then that last mile was all uphill, so I could only push to 8:25 or so.  Still, when the temp looks like the below, any run outside is a win in my book.  

Onward to next week!  I can't wait to share my big project on Wednesday.  Let's just say it rhymes with ... bining boom bable.  

See you swoon,

What I Wore {post 61}

Ahhhh .... the first full week in 2015 is in the books.  I hope your week was pretty amazing and somehow involved unicorns or kittens.  Or both.  Or both!  How about we cap off the week of kittens unicorns and all of the things with three new outfits? Don't mind if I do (in fact, there are four outfits today!).  

* New Years' Eve Outfit!  Black & Gold Tunic & Jimmy Choos *

When other than New Year's Eve can you get away with a black and gold lame kind of snakeskin printed top?  I found it at Cache, and oddly enough, I don't see it on the website anymore.  It's a fun, very form fitting, top with a lovely scoop back (my only complaint is that it tended to shed gold sparkles everywhere, but I guess New Year's Eve is as good a time as any to have that happen).  I wore it with my dark skinny jeans and my gold Jimmy Choo shoes.  I also curled my hair and did a very dark smokey eye.

* Blush Velvet Jacket & Pencil Skirt *

I was and am OBSESSED with this jacket.  All caps.  I had to all caps.  I saw it in early December in the Princeton, New Jersey Anthropologie and it stopped me in my tracks. It was so soft and beautiful and unique, and I could instantly envision so many outfits: jeans, pencil skirts, pants, dresses.  I love it.  I wore it to work with my tan pencil skirt and sheer ivory blouse.  You want to pet it, don't you.

* NINJA with red shoes and a sparkly necklace *

Really do I need to say more? I wore black pants, a black fitted sweater and then added my red pumps and sparkly necklace.  I kinda love this outfit.  Peace ninja out. 

* Teal Ruffly Top & Navy Pencil Skirt *

I found this top at the NY & Co outlet a few months ago.  To be honest (ashamed) I forgot I owned it until I found it in my closet.  I grabbed it like a wild deer.  I thought it looked pretty good with a navy pencil skirt instead of black.  My turquoise bubble necklace topped off the look.

Have a great weekend!

See you swoon,

2015 Home Resolutions

Hello and good morning!  

Last week I posted my recap of my 2014 home resolutions.  And as promised, here's my list of what's on tap for 2015.  Most of the list involves finishing up those loose ends from the year before.  

1.  Finish the Playroom

While I got a ton accomplished in 2014, there is still some work to do.  I need to hang art on the wall, paint furniture and just put those last little finishing touches on the space.  I should really I go bold and paint the furniture first and foremost.  That's the biggest bear in the room and I want to take care of it first.

2.  Work on Big Kid's Room

Poor Big Kid.  He has the smallest bedroom.  I felt really bad when I moved in because of the three bedrooms, his was by far the littlest one.  I've done my best to make it special for him.  But now that he's getting bigger, we need to make some changes to his space.  I need to bring in some more storage, we need to go through his books because some are too young for him and we need to do a little decorating and organizing.  He wants a desk, so I think I will make one out of a large shelf and brackets for him.  Since his room is so little on space, I don't want to buy a tiny desk for this room, especially given my plans to move in the relative near term.

3.  Paint Dining Room Table

This one has been on the list for a long time and this year I will do it.  I am definitely painting the legs white.  I'd like to strip the finish on the top and refinish it.  I am going to test it out with the table leaf first.  Worst case: I paint the whole thing white and distress it.

4.  Tweak the Half Bath & Master Bath

There isn't much left to do in the half bath.  I added new art and accessories.  I'd really like to add a few more, including a new hand towel, and possibly a removable frame for the mirror.  

The Master Bath is in pretty good shape.  There are some cracks in the wall though and I'm noticing some wallpaper glue that has sort of bubbled up under the paint (recall the room used to be swathed in horrendous wallpaper that I removed).  So I might want to address those things.  I am also toying with the idea of adding a shelf over the tub. 

5.  Organize Storage Room - labels

I made a huge push last year to organize and tidy up my storage room downstairs.  All that's left to do is to add labels to the different bins and drawers.  Yay.

6.  Paint Kitchen

This one has gone off and on my list a few times.  It's back on.  I really think adding a deep moody grey (Sherwin Williams Peppercorn) will make such a huge difference in my kitchen.  But I am mindful that I am renting and my time here is somewhat limited.  

7.  Restain Banisters

I kind of hate the handrails/banisters in my house.  They scream 1980s.  I was thinking if I strip the wood and stain them either a dark walnut or a lighter color that it might make them seem a bit more  current.

8.  Organize Kitchen Cabinets

About half of my kitchen cabinets are beautifully organized.  The other half are just OK and could be better.  So I want to take those "OK" cabinets and make them beautiful.  

9. Paint Laundry Room Closet

Eh ... I'm still not sold on this, but I like the concept so it's back on the list.  The laundry closet would be so cute in a fun color.  But painting around the machines and shelves would not be fun.

10.  Redo Living Room Shelves

I painted the backs of my living room shelves a lovely coral color.  Now that I've gone with a softer palate in that space, the coral isn't working.  I would like to get some grasscloth and cover foam board with it and use that on the backs of the bookshelves.  Or maybe use a dark grey instead.  

11.  Organize Little Kid's Room

I made a huge push in Little Kid's room last year.  It's in pretty good shape, but I want to go through her toys (with her, of course) and cull through things she no longer plays with and work on storage for the things that she does.  I have a little upholstered bench that used to be in my living room that I'd like to recover in her headboard fabric and add to the foot of her bed.

12. Finally ... Redo the Blog!

Yes!  I plan to do a major blog redesign in 2015.  We are talking almost total control-alt-delete and a new look and feel and everything!  I have started the process, but I doubt it will be live for a few months.  I cannot wait.  

What about you? Do you have any home goals for this new year? Let's swap lists and resolutions!

See you swoon,