Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A LOT (continued)

RUNNING...



Turns out I'm not the only one who has a slightly ridiculous amount of running shoes and/or attire. After recently admitting to my shoe problem (click to read post), I happily took comfort in learning that many other runners both understand my problem and struggle with a similar issue.  Thanks to them, I no longer feel too bad about my shoe purchasing habits, which, it turns out, is pretty tame compared to a few others out there (eh-hmm, Ms. Ritz).  Oddly, a lot of other people are blogging about their obsession with running attire and shoes at the moment or, I should say, sharing their running wardrobes with pride.  Go check out Pavement Runner's closet.  Looking at these pics makes me feel, not only like I have a much smaller collection than I thought I did, but also that I could use a few more pieces to freshen up my wardrobe.  Just a few. (insert eye roll from husband here)  Or check out all these duds from iheartrunning's closet.  Are you kidding me with this organization and color coordination...wait, Abercrombie & Fitch sells running shirts?  I digress.  The responses I got from my own post about my shoe collection and what it means to me are fantastic and worth sharing (my own comments in orange).  Yes, I'm a little nuts, but as WestCoastRunner115  replied, "live your life the way you want it."  I have a lot of shoes, dammit, and I want it that way!  

TOP 10 READER RESPONSES TO MY "A LOT" POST (though I loved them all)

1. I have been accused of too much Dri-Fit and Denim...I normally ignore the haters...Ha Ha Ha. Well, ignorance IS bliss, right?

2. Cool pic.  You should see how many different words you can spell with running shoes. - I did not do this but I thought about it.  Check out what Happy Fit Mama did with hers.

TRUE LOVE
3. I'm thankful I don't have a shoe problem like so many other Loopsters (you!).  Fair enough.  But, I'm still ok with it.

4. I have a little bit of a shoe problem as well.  And I don't typically buy "regular" shoes either, although I do need them for work.  I fought an achilles problem for a while last year, so catching me in heels now is like seeing a unicorn in real life.  I can't add anything to make this one more awesome than it already is.

5. Well, if you don't have running shoes, what would you spend your time with and money on? We all understand... I think last time I counted I had over 200 pairs of running shoes. They're all my babies!  Ok, that's an insane amount of shoes, Ms. Ritz.  But, I'm not judging.  And, I have no idea what else I would spend my time and money on.  Thank goodness I don't have to think about it.

6. Trying to kick my habit. I have more shoes than a centipede has feet.  I wear running clothes all of the time too, sometimes even to really inappropriate places, like fine dining restaurants.  I, too, am guilty of this.  I often get some serious "looks", particularly from my own family members, when I do it.

7. They really are the comfiest type of shoes and pretty much go with everything.  Might as well stock up!  Exactly.  Comfort is key.  I will stock up, thank you.

8. Everybody needs a hobby. Right??

9. If I could wear running clothes 24/7 I would.  Yes! I would, too. Oh wait, I kind of already do that.

10. I loveeeee my running shoe collection. It may possibly be one of the things I'd grab in a fire. I spend the majority of my time in running/workout clothes - my closet has a severe lack of "fashion sense".  I'm trying though!  Keep trying, girl.  I'm right there with you.

...AND MUSIC

Listen to this:
Life's a Beach - Django Django  Life's a Beach - Django Django

Monday, March 25, 2013

'DEVINE' MUSIC: A Story & Playlist

RUNNING...

Recently I connected with fellow athlete and music enthusiast Nicole Devine through Twitter.  Rarely do I find someone who loves music and is as motivated and inspired by it as I am.  Clearly, I have met my match.  Nicole is a wife, a mother, a runner, a sports fanatic and playlist junkie.  Her music keeps her motivated to run, walk, hike....basically to be a healthy, happy person.  And at this point her in her life she is "exactly where I want to be."  Amen to that!  Today I am thrilled to turn RWM over to Nicole who writes about her love for sports and music and then shares one of her recently created playlists.  Her playlist includes some of her all time favorites as well as some music suited for her current workouts.  Modest Mouse, Motley Crue, & My Morning Jacket...oh my!!  I will be spending the rest of the day with this bad boy.  I hope you enjoy her story AND her music as much as I do.  Rock on, Nicole. And thanks for sharing.





USED TO MAKE QUITE THE MIX TAPE. NOW I MAKE A SWEET PLAYLIST
By Nicole Devine

Hi, I’m Nicole. I’m a wife and a mom.  I love my family and the experiences we are all having along the way.  I also absolutely go crazy for music and sports. As for team sports, I played softball for 10 years, played basketball and ran cross country track in grade school.  I still love watching most sports (and have an unfortunate love of teams that haven't been very good recently), but now my own athletic activities are focused upon an actual fitness routine.  A little weight training, an even mix of walking and running, with the occasional hike thrown in for good measure, this has been working for me.  I’m doing my best to try to keep healthy for my kids, my husband, and of course, myself.  While that’s my strongest motivation, it hasn’t always been easy for me to stick to it.  Excuses are easy.  Hard work is, well, hard.  This is where my outsized lifelong love of music comes in.  I favor most types of rock – classic rock, hard rock, alternative, indie, you name it, but I’ve also got many favorites in genres from electronic to hip hop, rap to freestyle to pop, there may even be some Baby Einstein lullabies in between.  I’ve ended up with a pretty expansive collection.  My attic is filled with shoe boxes of cassettes, racks of CDs, even the occasional record album.  Thankfully, digital media came along and it’s made it easy to maintain and keep up with all of it.  Of course, digital media also means…playlists. I’ve got ever changing ones, set in stone ones, I created the actual playlist on my iPod for our wedding reception, which was held at our favorite steakhouse.  That was pretty special.  But I'll also make them for most any occasion.  I can be inspired by something as simple as the fact that it’s a Tuesday at 9:37 p.m.  I’ve come a long way from the hundreds of mix tapes and CDs I’ve made and I'm the resident playlist maker among my family and friends, even picking up the nickname "DJ Tash" in college.  I find it enjoyable, relaxing and sometimes even a little challenging.  I’ve always had fun in my quest to find new songs and new bands that I really, really like.  It’s how I discovered this site a few days ago.  In my aim to remain on track fitness wise, I’m helped by my love of music.  I know I’m not alone when I tell you different playlists push me to my finish line, whatever that may be on a given day.  My songs make me want to keep going, even if the tank is empty, sometimes just so I can listen to more music.  And yes, I’ll admit, working out gives me an excuse to create and update playlists.  Different things click for different people.  Music has always been a big part of my life.  It inspires me to keep going, to listen to “just one more song”, when my body is telling me to stop.  Fitness-wise, this is benefitting me and my family.  I’ll make a playlist to that!

...AND MUSIC

LISTEN TO THIS:  An (Epic) Playlist by Nicole Devine
Rolling In the Deep - Adele  Rolling in the Deep - 21
Neighborhood #3 - Arcade Fire  Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - Funeral
Teddy Picker - Arctic Monkeys  Teddy Picker - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Electric - Atlas Genius  Electric - When It Was Now (Deluxe Version)
I Know What I Am - Band Of Skulls  I Know What I Am - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
Root Down - Beastie Boys  Root Down - Solid Gold Hits
Strange Times - Black Keys  Strange Times - Attack & Release
Gangs In The Garden - Black Moth Super Rainbow  Gangs in the Garden - Cobra Juicy
Step Out Of The Car (Live in Tennessee) - Boxer Rebellion  Step Out of the Car (Live In Tennessee) - Live In Tennessee
Feel Like Taking You Home - Brendan Benson  Feel Like Taking You Home - My Old, Familiar Friend
Everything Moves - Bronze Radio Return  Everything Moves - Shake! Shake! Shake!
Jerk It Out - Caesars  Jerk It Out - 39 Minutes of Bliss (In an Otherwise Meaningless World)
Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris, featuring Florence Welch  Sweet Nothing (feat. Florence Welch) - 18 Months
Break - Cinematics  Break - A Strange Education
A City In Florida - Deadmau5  City In Florida - 4x4=12
Munich - Editors  Munich - The Back Room
Good Feeling - Flo Rida  Good Feeling - Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42
The Pretender - Foo Fighters  The Pretender - Single - Foo Fighters
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand  Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
Freedom - Gemini  Freedom - Mercury - EP
Sale City - Generationals  Sale City - Lucky Numbers - Single
The Queen and I - Gym Class Heroes  The Queen and I - As Cruel As School Children (Bonus Track Version)
All We Want, Baby, Is Everything - Handsome Furs  All We Want, Baby, Is Everything - Face Control
Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger  Flagpole Sitta - Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
We Run The Night - Havana Brown, featuring Pitbull  We Run the Night (feat. Pitbull) - Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42
The Heinrich Maneuver - Interpol  The Heinrich Maneuver - Our Love to Admire
Sour Cherry - The Kills  Sour Cherry - Midnight Boom (Bonus Track Version)
Four Kicks - Kings of Leon  Four Kicks - Aha Shake Heartbreak
My Delirium - Ladyhawke  My Delirium - Ladyhawke
Daft Punk is Playing At My House - LCD Soundsystem  Daft Punk Is Playing At My House - LCD Soundsystem
Bang, Bang, Bang - Mark Ronson & The Business Intl  Bang Bang Bang - Record Collection (Deluxe Version)
Tiger - Maximum Balloon, featuring Aku  Tiger - Maximum Balloon (Deluxe Version)
Gold, Guns, Girls - Metric  Gold Guns Girls - Fantasies
Paddling Out - Miike Snow  Paddling Out - Happy to You (Deluxe Version)
Dashboard - Modest Mouse  Dashboard - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Live Wire - Motley Crue  Live Wire - Too Fast for Love
Anytime - My Morning Jacket  Anytime - Z
Abel - The National  Abel - Alligator
Girls and Boys In School - Neon Trees  Girls and Boys In School - Habits (Bonus Track Version)
Starry Eyed Surprise - Oakenfold  Starry Eyed Surprise - Bunkka
Folds In Your Hands - Passion Pit  Folds In Your Hands - Manners (Bonus Track Version)
Rearviewmirror - Pearl Jam  Rearviewmirror - Rearviewmirror - Greatest Hits 1991-2003
Testify - Rage Against the Machine  Testify - The Battle of Los Angeles
Factory of Faith  - Red Hot Chili Peppers  Factory of Faith - I'm With You
Darling Girl - Rifles  Darling Girl - Great Escape (EP)
Run Like Hell - Rock Kills Kid  Run Like Hell - Are You Nervous?
Sort Of - Silversun Pickups  Sort Of - Swoon
Like A Vibration - The Whigs  Like a Vibration - Mission Control
Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes  Seven Nation Army - Elephant
Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs  Heads Will Roll - It's Blitz! (Deluxe Edition)