Fashion Clean Out and Clean Up

I'm not sure whose song I prefer: Fashion, David Bowie style ("We are the goon squad and we're coming to town!"), or Fashion, Lady GaGa version ("I need some new stilettos, can't walk down the street in those!").

Doesn't matter though. I do love me some fashion. Not that I show it. I don't have the cash to spend on the designer labels, or rather I'd prefer to spend it on sporting goods, cars, and home accessories (and a OB/GYN labor and delivery bill).

Well, tonight is the night where I preform my semi-annual closet clean out. I do this about once every year to two years. Usually it's tossing ratty pieces or things I don't love anymore. Often times I hang on to t-shirts and jeans that I really don't wear but think I might again. Since I have a higher purpose of this clean out- to rid the spare room (AKA my giant walk in closet) of all things (seriously, this will be the baby's room so I have to get EVERYTHING gone), I am doing what I am considering a Holistic Cleanse.

Cleanses are usually done with foods or supplements to rid your system of toxins and waste. Well, this closet and dresser seriously need some ex-lax to get things going.

I will pair down a rather large closet filled to the brim of items that are poorly placed and rarely worn, and a huge dresser filled with size 30-32 men's board shorts (OMG, I used to wear those!?) and race t-shirts to the bare necessities.

I am using Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Elements to lay the base of my wardrobe, well, what's left of it. This will pretty much outline my work and dress clothing. I'll keep the majority of my workout clothes, and the 2 pairs of pre-pregnancy jeans I like the best.

As for the rest, we'll, that shit's gotta go. I'm going to need to do some shopping, which my husband so graciously agreed to do with me. I need to buy one nice pair of preggo jeans and a pair of work slacks. I can make do with a couple pairs of yoga pants and a top or two. I truly LOVE spring and summer dresses, especially long flowing ones, so I can pick up a couple that I can sport now and post baby belly.

I really won't have much left for when I get back to a normal size (which better be by November), so I will need to purchase items that fit as I go. Really, I have a lot of clothes that were great when I bought them... two or three years ago, and now I need to toss them, knocked up or not.

What I will NOT be doing, however, is spending $165.00 on maternity cut off jean shorts. Seriously? WTF?

If I Were a Rich Girl

If I Were a Rich Girl, where would I live? I had some time to kill this afternoon, and decided to browse listings of homes in the Kansas City metro area, and out toward my home in Eastern Jackson County.

Here's my parameters: Must be $1,000,000 or more. I have to have ran or rode past it (or on lakefront properties swam by it), and be able to recognize the home as one I have seen on such trainings. Finally, it must currently be on the market (ya know, in case I happen to be the only survivor to a distant realitive somewhere that is a prince or something... and like tomorrow).

If you click on the price of each home, you'll find a link to the realtor's site.

What I found:




Price: $1,075,000 WHY? Heeelllllo Old Money

5011 Sunset Drive Kansas City, MO 64112 Subdivision: Sunset Hill County: Jackson
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4 Full/2 Half
Square Feet: 4,590

One of Kansas City's most prestigious houses, designed by Mary Rockwell Hook. Fashioned in the Italian Villa Revival style, the house is located in a secluded cul-de-sac, shared by two other Hook houses, and is just a few hundred yards above the Plaza and down from Loose Park. An unusually solid stone house, in remarkable condition for its age.


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Price: $2,499,000 WHY? Has a LAP pool.
5100 Sunset Dr Kansas City, MO 64112 Subdivision: Sunset Hill County: Jackson
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3 Full/2 Half

Spectacularly renovated in 2002, this multi-level contemporary has highest level of finishes found in KC: African lacewood panelling and built-ins, mahogany and honed marble flooring, granite/marble counters, etc...the list goes on and on. Main floor master w/ amazing master bath and closets.

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Price: $1,675,000 WHY? Because my husband dreams to live in a log home, and this is the only I have found that I would truly like to live in.

1515 NE Lake Shore Drive Lee's Summit, MO 64086 Subdivision: Ritter Sub County: Jackson
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3 Full
Square Feet: 5,600 (approx)

"GREEN BUILDER" Design Award 2009*Colorado Logs*Absolutely gorgeous home with breathtaking water frontage*Extremely well built high efficiency, comfort & beauty. Enjoy all the benefits of Lake Living without that 3 hour drive. Amenities everywhere. Heated floors, dumb waiter Kit to Garage, extensive insulation, extensive details provided in docs.

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Price: $2,595,000 WHY? The outdoor entertaining area.
10 K lake shore Drive Lake Lotawana, MO 64086 Subdivision: Lake Lotawana County: Jackson
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 5 Full/1 Half

A rare opportunity high on a hilltop overlooking Lake Lotawana w/170 ft of shore line, space for 5 docks + 2 boat lifts on deep water location of main channel. Incredibly designed home includes granite & stainless kit, vaulted + beamed ceilings w/4 stone firepls, Grt room of pine logs w/frpl+wetbar,fam rm w/birch bark wall cov. All new marble.
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Price: $2,500,000 WHY? This is only half a mile from my current home, and there's 9 toilets. Nine!
2505 Sw 19th Street, Blue Springs MO 64015
4 br,5 ba,4-½ ba


AMAZING EXECUTIVE ESTATE ON APPROX 6+ BEAUTIFUL PARK-LIKE ACRES BACKING CORP OF ENGINEER'S PROPERTY. THIS ONE OF A KIND MANSION HAS 4 BRS,7 FIREPLACES,5 FULL & 4 HALF BATHS,TROPHY ROOM COULD CONVERT TO INDOOR BASKETBALL COURT, 2ND FULL KITCHEN ON LOWER LEVEL, HOME THEATRE RM, REC RM, FINISHED ROOM UNDER 3 CAR GARAGE, INGROUND POOL W/HOT TUB, LAKE

What's All This Training For?

Really, I'm training for something, or the cause is lost. Why else do I swim, bike and run? What fun is there, if it's not a competition?



No, I'm not looking for an age group win, or a faster split. However, if all I'm doing is "working on fitness" there's nothing to focus on. I need a tangible goal. A race date. In this case, a delivery date, but it's all the same.



I missed both Tuesday and Thursday of KMA last week. Work and out of town visitors kind of got in the way. However, I did make my runs and swims.



Since I actually did sign up for a race , I have devised a training plan to keep me moving. Mostly very short runs of 2-4 miles, and a few "builds" of 5-6. I mean, it's a 10k.


Yesterday morning started out with a little 2 mile run on the treadmill, strike that, DREADmill. I despise this thing. But, my long winter run tights are now a smidge (okay, WAY) too small and I really don't want to run in sub freezing temps. It was supposed to be a 2.5 mile run, but considering I always get the wobbly treadmill (Damn you, #9!) I gave up and got off. I always feel like I have to work so much harder to run on treadmill. Maybe it's focus, but it never feels relaxing.


After I got pissed enough to quit the black conveyor belt of death, I headed to the pool. My usual swim partner Benny wasnt around (I swim with a 13 year old kid, seriously.), so I just put in some time on my own. I wore my HR monitor in the water for the first time this season, or whatever you want to call it, and was sorely disappointed with the results. I usually warm up with 10 x 100's on the 1:30. Easy swim and about 10 seconds rest. Mix in some backstroke. Well, after the first three easy 100's touch about the 1:18-1:20, I looked at my watch. My eyes probably bulged out of my head. 156!? One. Fifty. Six!? No effing way. I'm swimming easy. I could carry on a conversation with lane mates if needed. What the Fvck, Chuck? So, I back down a bit. The next three were 1:20, 1:21, 1:23. Check the watch. One-Five-Oh heeellll no.


Remember this little piece of advise from the doc? "Stay under 145." Looky here, it wasn't easy for me to do while on the dreadmill, but at a whopping pace of 12:35 I could keept my HR at 143. On the bike, I spin easy. Very easy. But I can still modify where I need to. Now, I'm in the water. MY place. Where things come very very easily. I'm practically in a LAYING posistion. How the hell is my HR creeping like that? Whatever. Of course, when I get mad, I want to swim harder. Faster. Pull stronger. Not the answer. I gave up on my warm up, and went into what would be the pussiest main set ever.


Pull a 500. Look at hr about every fifth flip turn. See HR around 150. Get pissed.
5 x 100 IM. Give up on 3rd one because breastroke makes me tired.
Sit on side of pool deck with belly looking up laughing at me.
Roll eyes.
Exit pool.


Remind myself what I'm training for.


For a the best damn delivery the OB/GYN has ever seen, duh. And the healthiest baby. And fastest postpartum weight loss.


And to get my ass back.

Decade in Review

I'm a member of an online women's forum- kind of like the Knot, but way cooler- and the decade in review came up. I thought I'd add mine here.

2000- Finished my Freshman year in High School! Dyed my hair purple for the first time. Became a cheerleader (omg, seriously!?). Buried a close friend from suicide. Had a crazy summer cheeering and traveling my little brother around from state to state for moto racing. Turned 15. Met my future husband!

2001- Won conference in Humorous Interpretation for Forensics in school, somebody found my storytelling funny. Stopped cheerleading, it never would have worked out, anyway. What I would consider my Swan Song year in swimming- did fantastic at state, and had two relays win gold at nationals (NSG's). Watched future husband and brother race motorcycles.

2002- Swam, but not well. Got distracted by a boy (oh that scoundrel). Started taking college credit courses while still in HS. Husband graduated HS. Became a car hop at Sonic. I wore roller skates and black booty shorts. Seriously, easiest job ever. Look cute, don't fall, smile. Made bank. Started Senior year.

2003- Kept working. Went to school only in early AM's for college credit. First time purchasing a vehicle. My dad thought I was crazy buying a new car when they got me a perfectly good one the year before. Future husband bought a boat. Started wake boarding, well struggled at it. Graduated HS. Started college full time.

2004- Paid off said new car. Between sonic and the bar, I made money. Not kidding! Started getting kind of good at wake boarding, began competing. The boat thing caught on. Started working at future husbands boat dealership. Decided I missed swimming. Went back to club swimming at age of 19. Had to start all over.

2005- Finally requalified for swimming nationals. Tore labrum in right shoulder. Cried a lot. Retired again at age 19. Started getting really good at wake boarding. Earned world ranking of 45 in women's open cable wake boarding. Began looking at homes with future husband.

2006- Bought home with future husband. Started big girl job at hell hole law firm. Graduated college. Thought about attempting triathlon. Purchased bicycle. Did first triathlon. Met some new best friends for life. Did a few more triathlons. Turned 21. Did a half ironman triathlon. Won my age group. Qualified for Triathlon Long Course World Championships. Signed up for Ironman.

2007- Devoted life to training for first Ironman. Busted my ass. Began to worry weather I would ever get married to future husband. Had terriffic year in triathlon. Hated my job. Got engaged- on the beach, at Ironman. Completed Ironman.

2008- Began planning wedding. On cloud nine. Got fired (or, as they so nicely put it, "position is being terminated, and you will be eligible for state unemployment") 7 weeks before wedding. Best thing that EVER happened to me. Got married to WONDERFUL at dream Halloween Wedding, 8 years to the day of our first date. Went on AWESOME honeymoon to Mexico. Came back to job offers waiting for me. Started at new job.

2009- Excelled at new job. Did first stand alone marathon. Got pregnant.

2010- Finally got new car. Had the mustang the whole time. Planning on baby date of July 24. Turn 25 in August. Probably going back to school part time. Maybe new house? Going to have a great life. On to the next decade!

Preggo and The Heart Rate

Okay, my previous post brought up the 145bpm HR bar that my Doc set. I've had a few responses to it, and I've started doing some research online. I'd like to open this up as a forum if any are interested, to discuss heart rates in pregnancy.

To start, I have fall into the "Fit" category by exercise frequency, duration, and intensity, however my BMI throws me in the "Overweight/Sedentary" category. I'm by far a skinny woman, but I also do my best to avoid sitting on my ass stuffing Cheetos in my mouth while watching reruns of For the Love of RayJ (usually).

I'm looking for information, both pro's and con's of exercising at a higher HR for a duration of no more than and hour at a time. I feel like working in the 155-165 range is more adequate. For example, my HR during the Kansas City Marathon (which I was right around the old date o' conception) averaged 163 for just over 5 hours. This is a very comfortable HR for me to hold for any given time (duh). Well, it was 12 weeks ago. Now, as I am about 14 weeks I can feel HR spikes and understand that I will have a higher HR at lower intensity, and open myself up for greater cardiac drift after any bursts (climbing on the bike, for instance).

I found this article, via FitPregnancy.com, which is more up to date than several dating back over 15 years ago. Thoughts?

Should I monitor my heart rate when exercising?
That may depend on your exercise intensity and workout goals.
By Carole Anderson Lucia

Q: Should I monitor my heart rate when exercising?
A: That may depend on your exercise intensity and workout goals. As long as you have a low-risk pregnancy with no contraindications, such as high blood pressure or symptoms of premature labor, exercise is good for you, and aiming for a target heart rate can help you work out at an appropriate level. While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women use the "talk test" when exercising (if you can talk normally, your heart rate is acceptable), in 2002 Canadian experts suggested utilizing target heart rates. But since those rates were based solely on age, they are inappropriate for some women, including those who are sedentary or very fit, says Michelle F. Mottola, Ph.D., director of the Exercise and Pregnancy Lab at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. The new guidelines establish target rates according to age and fitness level."Women can still use the talk test to stay in the correct range, but now they can be even more precise with their workout goals," Mottola says. The best way to determine your heart rate is to wear a monitor, or you can measure your pulse for six seconds and multiply by 10.

Fitness Level
Target heart rate: ages 20-29

Unfit (sedentary and/or overweight)
129-144

Active (exercise occasionally)
132-152

Fit (exercise regularly at high intensity)
145-160

February/March 2007

Hold Up, Heeeyy

Hold tight, I have a lot of random thoughts flying around in my brain.

Sticking Stuff Up My Nose
After doing most of KMA Spin last night with a tissue stuffed in one nostril, I decided I had to do something today.
Have you ever tried a NettiPot or Sinus Rinse? I'm having a cold/allergey thing that is apparently preggo related. Doctor and pharmacist agreed, use a high volume sinus rinse, whatever that means. Okay, I just thought that it was like a nasal spray. Right? Wrong! Let me walk you through this. First of all, I purchased the sinus rinse bottle from NeilMed. The pot thing was just a little too weird for me. It's an 8oz bottle that you fill with the packet of solution (pretty much Ph Balanced salt water) and warm water. Then, you bend over a sink and put the bottle against one nostril. Squeeze lightly. Guess what happens next! The stream runs out of your OTHER nostril AND your mouth! This is pretty much what happens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWVTuZ8AEf0
I'm not fully breathing yet, but I'm incredibly congested. It's suggested to do this 2-4 times a day, so hopefully by tonight, I'll be breathing better.


Kick My A-Spin Class
Definitely deserving of the name last night. There were several rounds of speed squats, isosquats and leg cranks (these are all things that you do very quickly off the bike before getting back on the pedal away again). My ass is screaming today. Guess that means it's working.


Mustang Sally is Now at a New Home
Sadly, I said my goodbye's to my beloved Mustang this week. After much talk about whether to just keep her or sell her, we decided there just wasnt enough room in the garage, and she could be a great car for someone else. We pretty much had a bidding war (because she's just that awesome), and my ideal buyer got her- a 20 year old girl who starting crying she was so excited. Perfect! So, I bid you adieu my beloved.
However, to add to that, my adoring husband did buy me a new car about a week away. It's a Volkswagon Jetta. SO much fun to drive, and just a beautifully made car (Thank you German engineering and Mexican labor). She's black, so I have thus dubbed her Joan Jetta. Get it? Get it! Damn, I am sooo funny.

I WILL race in 2010: Rock the Parkway!
There's a new 5k/10k/Half in KC! It's a beautiful course the goes along scenic Ward Parkway this spring. I'm so pumped. I can't wait. I'll be 20 weeks and some change, so I won't be too big for it to be painful to train or race. The difficult thing in my training has been following doctor's orders: Keep hr under 145 (!?) and take a short walking or active break every 30 minutes. I mean seriously, 145? That's like not even 70% of a maximum heart rate! But, okay, whatever. I don't want to overcook the munchkin thing.

Tagged?!

Like the case of H1N1 that finally got me last week, I've been hit. This time, it's just blog tag. Trish (AKA Womanof1000blogs) tagged me in her latest blog.



So, here we go.




7 things about me.



7. I hate running. I know, weird. I do triathlons, marathons, every distance from zero and up. Still, running isn't a favorite. What I do love, however, is competing. Usually this is just with myself (can anyone say 18 mile run by myself AFTER work? No? Then read this. ) So why do I run, when there are so many things I can compete in? Well, underwater basket weaving is kind of tedious, and really, running requires the least amount of technical gear. Sure, I have a lot of the fancy schmancy stuff, but really it requires two working legs. Thank God, I have that.



6. My hair changes color faster than my uncle's veiled chameleon. I don't know what it is, but when I'm platinum blonde, I'd rather be a redhead. When I'm deep brunette, I want pink streaks. Currently, I am two platinum chunks and a pile of strawberry champagne. Your guess is as good as mine.



5. I know something you don't know. And I'm not telling for at least another month or more.



4. I am a Twitter fiend. It's ridiculous. Social networking be damned, I can't help it. Follow me on Twitter at TriathleteBride (Duh). Don't have Twitter? It's connected to my Facebook status. We're not friends? Well, looky here ---> It all feeds into the right side of my blog. Perfect.



3. I once quipped, "I'd rather give birth to a litter of puppies than have a baby." Please, please, please, do NOT tell my child this when it's old enough to be scared by it.


2. My husband has, on several occasions, been confused for Travis Barker. View Husband. View Barker.


1. I like to have fun. It can be out drinking with the girls, on the lake with best friends, dinner at Grandmas. I love to have fun. Fun at work, fun at home. I try to be upbeat and happy when possible. I do have some Negative Nelly, but I really try to be happy and fun (this does not read as wild-and-crazy). I enjoy life. So should you.












PS
I have to tag someone, so Tim, Julie, Andrea, and Moto Michele, you're up.