A change (and new blog!)

It's pretty obvious I let this blog fall to the wayside.

The last post was the end of October. Ouch.

At the beginning of November, reality hit. I had SO much to do in a short amount of time. I had tons of different papers and projects due, as well as planning for my move out to DC.

And then it happened. I graduated. And moved.

I needed a new start.

So I started a new blog: From IU to DC (you should totally check it out).

I post rather regularly over there. I'm still trying to find my blogging voice. It can be hard when there are so many amazing blogs out there...and I read about 150 regularly on Google Reader and they're all great!

But it follows my "new" life out in DC, including getting used to the area, job hunting, friends, family, food...it's a lifestyle blog more than anything. I love reading all the food and style blogs, but I feel like I can't pin down only part of my life to the blog (or I'd only post every great once in a while instead of more frequently like I do).

I'm constantly trying to improve myself (even in the blogging world). Hence the move to a new blog. And there will be changes to the new blog as well (but unfortunately I'm not an artist, so I need to find someone who is!).

So if you're visiting this blog for the first time, definitely look around! This was my first try at blogging (and I never did finish my shoe challenge...I may have to start again!). But come check out my new(ish) blog too. I'd love to have you stop by for a visit!

<3 Alyssa

Excuses Excuses

I haven't posted in a week. I keep thinking that I need to post (especially about my Dad and mine's trip to Restaurant Tallent!), but I just can't seem to find the time. Which I know is a horrible excuse. I read a TON of blogs of women who are probably much more busy than I am. But I still can't do it.

I have so much reading and paper writing this semester, it's not even funny. I thought your last semester was supposed to be easy?

I also haven't posted many photos of outfits lately. Not that I haven't been wearing different shoes and what not. But mainly because I'm embarrassed. I see all the gorgeous photos on the blogs I follow (who all own amazing cameras, of course) and I compare them to my mirror-with-cell-phone photos. I feel like they're not good enough. And without a roommate, I have no other easy way to take them.

So those are my excuses. Are they good ones? Probably not. And it doesn't help that my co-worker gave me a cold. I'll try to do better. Promise.

Weekly Wants

 Time for Weekly Wants! It's a little short this week as I've been busy doing homework and actual work (go figure!)

I would love this dress for a night out. And it's reasonably priced at $59.

Cheetah Knit Dress

You know what's sad? I actually want one of these for myself.

Construction Plate and Utensils

These are perfect and are the story of my life.

Inconvenient Kitty Tumblers

Shoe #19

We are on our third day of cold, rainy weather. I could deal with the first. I even was alright with the second. But three? Come on now. It has to let up, right? I'm losing motivation with each rainy day.

I apologize for the inordinate about of dirty laundry behind me. I'm saving up quarters, I really am.

My rain boots have been great for this grey weather. I bought them about a year and a half ago at DSW. Good idea on my part.

I love the fish on them

I wore leggings today because I just felt like being lazy with this weather. I threw on a shirt that I knew would cover my bum and some over-the-knee socks I picked up at Nordstrom's Rack when I was visiting my mom out in D.C.

They were a little high and I ended up pushing then down to right above the boots. But they did help keep part of my leg warm (warmer then they would have been).

I'm hoping that the rain holds off tomorrow. I can deal with the cold. I dislike the rain.

The Spartan Sprint

Last Saturday, I finished one of the funnest events I've ever done. The Spartan Sprint.

This one was a 4-mile obstacle course, with lots of hills, ravines, climbing, carrying and mud. It was harder than I thought, but I ran it for fun, so there was no time crunch. I ended up walking the majority of it, as the obstacles took a lot out of you.

The before picture

It was chilly, but I didn't want to wear something that would weigh me down. For the next event, I will be wearing only a sports bra and spandex shorts. Even this outfit almost fell off. I kept having to pull up my shorts because the mud added 10 pounds to them.

This was only halfway through

If you're afraid to get dirty, this is not the race for you. But if you're down to get dirty, push yourself and build amazing and instant camaraderie with those around you, then I would totally do it. We all helped each other out in the obstacles. As one of the volunteers working an obstacle put it perfectly: "It's your race." We helped each other at pulleys, climbing ropes and walls, and general encouragement and advice. It was great.

Obviously not prepared for this picture

And the medal is pretty badass. I was exhausted for the rest of the day and so hungry. It took me about 15 minutes to wash my hair out. I woke up super sore the next day, covered in tons of bruises and cuts. But I plan on doing it again next year. It was awesome.

Also, the event has a Reebok tent that collects the donated muddy shoes if you don't want to take them home to clean them - and I definitely didn't. I donated my shoes. They had a good and long life, but it was almost time to get new ones and I'd rather they do to something good than just sit in the trash.

Anyone want to join me next year?

Catch Up

If you read this (all 2 of you, I'm sure), I've skipped last Friday's Weekly Wants. And I haven't posted anything this week. Well, I'll be missing this week's Weekly Wants as well. I've been trying to play catch up on all the homework I have that I didn't do over last weekend. And I have the Spartan Sprint and Drill this coming weekend. I'll be posting pictures next week, I promise!! Stick with me!

Army 10 Miler

Today, I punished my body hardcore. I haven't ran since the beginning of August and ran 10 miles today. I impressed myself and ran the first 5 before I started to run/walk.

My mom and I got there early to try and beat the crowds on the metro.

O-dark-30

It was chilly out at 6:30 in the morning.

We dressed for the morning

However, I can't run with something tied around my waist and I'm picky about what I wear when I run, so I dropped the warmer clothes for what I'll actually run in.

That's the Pentagon in the background

I was chilly while waiting, but so thankful after the first mile. I get hot when I run and today was no different.

The crowed behind us

But I ran. And ran. And ran. I managed to convince myself to run the whole first half and a majority of mile 6 and 7. Mile 8 was my wall and I walked almost all of it. My feet were killing me, my knees ached and the asphalt was hot. Mile 9 was alluring, knowing you only have a mile left to go. But there was one last hill thrown in before the finish line. I managed to finish in (I think) about 2 hours or so.

I downed two bottles of water and two bananas as soon as I finished and made it to the end. After a while, Mom finished and joined me. We were exhausted and felt like old people.

But we both finished!! I was so proud of my Mom for running/walking and finishing her first running race.

Me with the Old Guard and Honor Guard

I'm still hurting and my lower back seized up, but I'm super proud of my Mom and I for finishing. I'm sure we'll do it again next year.

P.S. I count this as Shoe #18.

*My mom took all these pictures except the first one. I'm not coherent enough to do it that early.