Random Ramble

I have been feeling so uninspired lately to write.  I feel like I used to have so much to say and some pretty pressing things but lately life has just been flying by.  Between the kids in school, trying to keep up with the endless laundry, dishes, & house cleaning, serving at church, & trying to get in shape it seems like I never have time to really just think.  So I thought I would just post some fun random pictures.  And see what comes out of my mind! Oh dear!

The other day I posted about going to a local coffee shop in an old house.  I said to Mr. J, HEY! Take my picture.  So this was my best pose and he said "Are you going to blog that?"  Or actually he says B-(like the letter) then log.  He thinks he's so funny!  

This was my best "artsy" picture from the coffee shop.  They had couches and different tables and chairs.  But for some reason this old radio with the cute plant and old style folding chair spoke to me.  And look at those floors!!  Seriously!!  They were AMAZING!!  I kind of want to go back just to take pictures of the woodwork and flooring.  I can't even explain how gorgeous this house was. Old radios like this make me wonder who had it in their house? What programs did they listen to? Was it a family and they gathered around it each night to listen to the news? Did the kids sit down after school and listen to their favorite program, ala "A Christmas Story" and little orphan Annie? And those AMAZING floors, who has walked on those floors?  How many babies took their first steps there? Did anyone get married there? What's the story?

So let's talk about the elephant in the room for a min. My messy house.  It's not the end of the world, it's not hoarders status but like I said, some times you just don't have time to pick up before you take a quick OOTD (outfit of the day) picture before running out the door to dinner! But other than that!  Here is my OOTD from my birthday dinner.  The shoes are from JLo (Khols) and are at least 9 years old! The jeans are Vera Wang (Khols) they are the skinny style.  The top is Apt 9 (Khols) I just got this so if you are looking for a cute silky blouse go now!  The necklace is from ebay and the clutch is by Candies and I found it at a thrift store for a few bucks!  I loved this outfit.  I felt sophisticated and sexy all in one.  I always say my style icons are Jackie Kennedy Onassis & Audrey Hepburn.  I think I channeled a little of each in this one. 

After my birthday dinner Mr. J and I hit up a local bar.  It was nothing fancy, in fact we were probably over dressed but the music between the band sets was good, good drink specials, & so much people watching.  I love people watching.  I love to try to figure out the relationships between people and just generally watch.  I come by this honestly.  My grandmother used to love for us to go to the mall so she could sit and people watch.  My mom and I people watch all the time. One of my best friends is a people watcher too.  We love talking about the people around us and what we think their story is.  I'm not sure we ever get it right but it's fun. 

And lastly I got a birthday card from my daddy.  My mom had sent one to me in the mail but my dad felt like he needed to send his baby girl a special one I guess.  I do book work for my dad's business. I'm the only employee but shh don't tell anyone.  I kind of like being employee of the year! Although the Christmas parties aren't very big. I'm so thankful I can help my dad out, work from home, and have a little extra play money. Plus seeing the words "Love, Dad" never gets old.

Love, Lacey

Favorite Bloggers

I LOVE reading blogs. I also LOVE watching vlogs. I guess I just like to see what other people's lives are like and how different they are from mine. I thought it would be fun to tell you some of my favorite blogs!

First up is an awesome blog from a girl named Jillian! She is the author of ReFashionista. She refashions clothes.  What does that mean?  It means that she goes to her local thrift stores and buys clothes that no one else would probably buy.  She then takes them home and completely changes them into something really cool that you WANT to wear!

Would you wear this?  Go see what she does with this dress!  I promise you WILL want to wear it when she is done!

Next up is a running blog I follow religiously (and have mentioned here before) by an amazing runner named Janae! She writes The Hungry Runner Girl. She is an awesome runner and mommy!  She loves to eat (one reason I follow her) & always shows the amazing food she is eating.  She is really funny and I think we would be BFFs if we lived closer and she knew I existed. LOL

See!  Running clothes & food! How can you NOT love that?!?

Next is someone I actually know in real life!!  Ryan is a friend of a friend that I have met and hung out with a couple of times.  He decided a few years ago to sell everything, quit his job, & hike the Appalachian Trail.  He did the whole thing and has gone on a few other AMAZING adventures. Like hitchhiking across America?! But his latest adventure is him hiking across Ireland & now the UK.  I LOVE reading his blog and seeing his pictures.  He is REALLY talented and has a knack for meeting the most interesting people!   You can find him at A Backpacker's Life List.   

Because who doesn't want to see pictures like this as often as possible?!

I think that's it for now!  I have some other bloggers that I like and follow but these have to be some of my absolute favorites!  I'm not sure how you can feel like you know a person from their blog but I definitely feel like I know each of these people!  Go and check them all out!! You will NOT be sorry!!

Love, Lacey

My New Running Shoes

In the last few weeks it has become apparent that one pair of my running shoes is nearing the end of its life.  In case you don't know, running shoes are good for around 300 miles and then they start to break down and can start to cause you pain and injuries.  I have never been good about writing down my mileage so I usually just go on how my legs are feeling.  And while I haven't had any injuries yet (knock on wood!) my knee has been giving me fits when I wear a certain pair of shoes so I'm guessing they are just about at the end of their life. I knew I would have to pick up a new pair of shoes sooner or later but I wasn't expecting to get ones last week!  I went into our local running shop to look around and say hi to everyone.  I happened to look at the shoes and then someone mentioned that I got a discount and that was all the excuse I needed! I tried on my normal shoes and bought them!

I introduce you to the Asics GT-1000. I absolutely LOVE the color combo!  I'm a sucker for pink but I think the orange really makes them look nice! I always run these shoes. I have tried other brands from time to time but just always seem to end up with the Asics GT1000 or 2000.

But it's not about the looks it's about the running.  And about the laces!  I ALWAYS use Bungee laces! These aren't the exact same but pretty similar.  There are a few different brands out there depending on what you want.  I had one race where my shoes came untied 3 different times and I vowed I would NEVER use laces again.  I know, I'm a bit dramatic!  My local running store sells these so I grabbed a pair while I was there.

What do you think? I love them! They are REALLY comfy and just from the quick 4 miler I did the other night I can tell how worn out my old shoes are.  These felt like a dream to run in! 

So my best tips when buying new running shoes? 

1. Go to your local running store.  I'm not talking about your big box do it all sports store.  I'm talking your local running store.  A store that specializes in running and triathlons. They know their stuff and will help you find the right shoe for you.  I'm convinced many people get injured or have unnecessary aches and pains because they try to run in the wrong shoes.  I can't tell you the pain I had with shin splints because I tried to run in cheap "running" shoes when I first started. I bawked at paying $100+ for shoes just to run in, but I GUARANTEE they are worth every penny!  Go to a store that will watch you run!  Our local store has treadmills they will watch you run and can point you to the best shoes for you.  Then you can try them on, take a quick run, and see what you think.  My running store even has a great return policy because some times you don't know how a shoe will run, until you run it! So go to those who know running and running shoes! 

2. Get a pair that feels good not looks good! This has been the hardest for me to understand.  I still try to go with a shoe I like the looks of but I will go for comfort over looks.  I even bought a pair of plain white ones once.  Not my style but they got the job done and are now retired! 

3. Go in with an open mind! If you are a runner and like a certain brand of shoes then by all means stick with them, but don't just pick a brand based on a friends pick or someone you know runs a certain brand.  Every runner is different and likes a different shoe.  Even if you think you don't like a certain brand, try them!  They might be your new favorite!

Question of the day

How many pair of running shoes do you own?

I actually own 6 but 3 are currently retired! So I still have 3 in normal rotation!

Love, Lacey 

Mother/Daughter Weekend May 2014 - Part 1

WARNING!  This will be a picture heavy post!

Some time around Christmas I decided that I wanted to take a weekend away with my mom. We don't get enough time together just the two of us and I wanted to take her to my favorite B&B in Michigan because I knew she would LOVE it.  We decided that the weekend after mother's day would be a great time to get away.  I booked the room and we set off for the mitten!

My mom busted out the Rand McNally (insert Miranda Lambert song here) even though I knew where we were going it's always fun to look it up the old fashion way!

Our first stop was a quaint little town called Saugatuck. This place is adorable! Lots of art galleries, clothes stores, a wonderful coffee shop and SO much more! And all the streets look like this! Tree lined streets with shops on both sides of the street. A great place to wander for hours on end!

We found a fun little shoe store called "For the Love of Shoes". How could I NOT go in?! They had some of the most unique shoes. These were a healthy $200 or they would have come home with me. and I would have worn then every day forever!  LOVED them!

While we were walking around we stopped into one of my favorite vineyard's tasting rooms. Fenn Valley Winery is a gorgeous little winery in Fennville, MI. Each year they put on a great summer festival in June. Mr. J and I went last year and it was WELL worth the $10 entry fee.  You can get more information here. If you are in the area or are going to be near it is a great time!  Food, music, and a tour of the most beautiful vineyard! So my mom and I stopped in their tasting room in Saugatuck and had a little sample.  I only bought 2 bottles so I don't think that is TOO bad!

This picture does NOT do this piece of art justice.  The "leaves" are made of copper and the flower itself is a hand shaped piece of glass.  The artist had so many of these in a garden. They were absolutely stunning.  I tried to take pictures but the pictures don't even come close! The artist had names for each one and told us stories of where she gets her glass and how each is formed.  It was VERY interesting!

Lunch was at a place called "Mermaid Bar & Grill"

I was hungry but didn't really know what I wanted so I went for a burger! It was just a cheese burger with pepper jack cheese but it was pretty tasty! Obviously I had to get mine with no bun but a knife & fork worked just the same! 

 

And the view from my our table!!  We were right on the water. We got to see people kayaking (even though it was 60 and a bit breezy!) and this GORGEOUS house across the way.  I tried to get Mr. J to move but he said no! 

Posted outside the restaurant!

And then my FAVORITE store that we found in Saugatuck! It is called the Pink Patio! Find them here on Facebook.  This store is like a little bit of everything for your yard.  It had decor, kitchen stuff, coffee, food, you name it, it might be in there. They had lots and lots of cast iron little yard art. They also had a sign that says "PARTY!!!"  The guys that run this store are the BEST! They are super funny and nice.  This is a definite must visit! 

After a fun day in Saugatuck my mom and I headed down to our B&B. Just a preview for Part 2 my mom and I go to South Haven! Get ready for even more pictures and a review of THE BEST B & B around!

Fashion Friday! 05-23-14

I'd better get this fashion Friday up before it's too hot outside to wear it any more!  You girls that are going into fall might be able to get some good use out of this! 

Earlier in the year I bought a chambray shirt similar to this one and while I really loved it with my black leggings I had NO idea how to wear it with jeans without looking like a complete crazy person! So I turned to the one place that I KNEW would show me the way . . . PINTEREST!!! I found the image below and thought I can do that!!

It looked simple enough.  A simple chambray shirt with dark wash jeans! Throw on a scarf of your choice and you are good to go! I even have similar sunglasses and large bag.  Mr. J and I were going out on a date so I thought I'd try it out!

What do you think? I added a long black tank top underneath the shirt (you can just see if poking out!) and my Union Jack scarf (told you I have an issue!) and off we went.  Mr. J took this picture for me and neglected to get my shoes (just a nude pair of wedges) but you could totally put anything with this outfit.  I thought this was a super easy way to wear a chambray top with jeans! 

Question of the day!

How do you wear your chambray shirt?

Love, Lacey

Review: RokBAND Headband

For those of you that don't know, Today is the Boston Marathon.  The Boston Marathon was established in 1897 and is the oldest continuously running marathon. When I searched for statistics on Boston I found this really cool page.  It gives you all the statistic by the numbers.  How many people, course info, medical tent, & even office supplies.  It's really neat to see everything that goes into this amazing race by the numbers, if you get a minute go check it out! 

So in honor of Boston I thought I would review something running related!  I recently got this headband from gone for a run.  I saw this saying "This Princess wears running shoes" on a shirt and thought it was so cute!  I HAD to have it!

When I originally bought the headband I thought oh it's cute and I'll wear it just for fun but I doubt I'll be able to wear it while I run.  But when I was getting ready for my long run on Saturday, I needed something to cover my ears.  The headband is really more than a headband, I would describe it more like the sleeve of a shirt. It is like a tube of soft cotton material.  It can be unrolled to cover your face, cover your ears, it can be rolled up and used on your wrist or to hold your ponytail, there are a bunch of different ways to wear it.  So when it was windy and chilly out Saturday I thought this would be a great chance to give it a try!  I unrolled it so it covered my ears and off I went.  I worried it would shift and roll while I ran, I figured I would be pulling at it the whole time.  But I am happy to report I didn't touch the headband at all!!  It stayed right where I put it!  I was highly impressed because my experience with headbands and running has resulted in some serious frustration.  

Here is the link for the website to order them.  They come in a bunch of different colors and patterns.  You can even customize it with your own saying!  They range in price from $9.99 - $17.99 depending on the pattern you want.  I am really happy with this headband!  I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for something that is light weight, could cover your ears, or are looking for something versatile to have in your collection.  

Questions of the day!

Do you wear a headband when you run or workout? Do you have a certain headband you love?

Love, Lacey

Chambray Outfit Remake

I love looking through Pinterest and trying to find new outfits to make with the clothes I already have. Recently I bought a this  chambray (jean) shirt from Forever 21. I have seen them on other girls and they looked so cute so I thought I would grab one with a gift card Mr. J got me for Christmas.  It came in the mail and when I tried it on I loved it!  But then I thought What do I wear this with?!?!? So I went to my trusty Pinterest account and started to look around!


So I found THIS picture . . .

http://imgur.com/a/s76bE

I have black leggings, brown boots, a scarf and a tank for under the shirt.  Well I had all the pieces and I was going shopping with my mom and Miss V so I put it all together!  Here they are side by side.  What do you think?

My picture is a little blurry but I suppose that is what I get for trying to take a full length selfie in the shoe department of Kohls.  So I decided that since I didn't used a patterned scarf I needed the tank to have some color and pattern so I went with a cheapy owl cami from Walmart. I also didn't need the sweater she is wearing as we were shopping inside so I left that off.  I was pretty happy with this outfit!  I felt good and thought I looked pretty good!  

Is there a look you want me to recreate? Have you ever done the look for less?  

Love, Lacey

Random Fact Time

Welcome to random fact time!  I don't know that I will make this a regular thing but I found this picture and thought it would be fun to share a little more about myself so you can get to know me. 

So the random fact for this week?  I have an obsession LOVE England. Not just England really but basically the entire UK.  I have a serious case of wanderlust and often think that if I wasn't married and didn't have kids I would just travel the world. There are so many amazing things to see out there that it's a shame that we have to spend our lives stuck in one place. Or at least that is how I feel.  SO I do love the UK.  I was lucky enough to visit Scotland 3 years ago and it was one of the most amazing vacations I have EVER had!  Any time I see anything with the Union Jack I almost have to buy it!  I found these socks at Forever 21 for something like $3 a piece.  You KNOW I had to have them. I also bought a shirt that says London.  They had a really cute sweater that I may go back and get because I just feel like it would go with my socks so well!

What is a random fact about you? 

Love, Lacey

Thanksgiving Recap

K & I at our Thanksgiving Morning Run

What a GREAT Thanksgiving!  K & I started our day off with our annual Galloping Gobbler race.  It was a balmy 23 degrees, with 8 mile an hr wind & a 30% chance of snow! Our local running company had a promotion that if you got your picture with the live turkey in front of their banner you got a special offer! So obviously we had to do that!   I even pet the hen after we got done!  By the way she was soft and sweet! Although she looked a little creepy at first! I worried about the safety of my eyes!  So after our party with the turkey, K & I got ready to run.  And run we did!  We both got a PR (personal record!).  I was VERY happy with 44:30 on a hilly 4 miles.  I'm not a fast runner but I do love it!

My outfit of the day!

So after our race I came home and got ready to head to my in-laws!  I wore some black leggings from Walmart ($8!), a burgundy bat wing top also from Walmart ($5 on clearance!), a brown & gold scarf from who knows where cause I've owned it so long.  And some brown riding boots from Kohls ($60 about 2 years ago!) For hair and make up I went minimal.  I was so comfy but looked great! So I asked Mr. J to take a picture & then we were off!

View from my in-laws house

Normally I would now insert a picture of my food but I have two problems.  One, my food was not that exciting!  Being gluten free & dairy free there wasn't a lot of the normal Thanksgiving food.  And Two, I just completely forgot!  By the time we ate I was STARVING!! But I did include a picture of the field behind my in-laws.  If you look on the left side of the picture by those bushes, those little dots are actually black Angus cows!  I just love the country.  I love taking a walk around their property because it's so quiet and the view is great!

All in all it was a successful Thanksgiving!  We all ate till we were stuffed!  A few even took naps (wish I was one!).  And at the end of the night we came home, put the kids to bed, and then Mr. J and I watched "Christmas Vacation".  We love that movie and it's always our first Christmas movie of the season!

And just in case you were wondering I didn't really go black Friday shopping.  I woke up not feeling so well so I slept in a bit and then headed to our local running store for some good deals!  I'll try to post tomorrow my super cute jacket! But for now it's time to put up the tree!!

Love, Lacey