{Wedding Shoes}: Something Blue

As I've mentioned before, I started planning our wedding way before we were even engaged...ha. :) I decided early on that I wanted my "something blue" to be my wedding day shoes, so I didn't waste any time trying to find the perfect pair once we were engaged! I was willing to splurge a bit on the shoes, because I knew that the shoes would always be special to me...not to mention, how perfect they'd look in our wedding photos!


I started shopping around online for a pair of pretty blue shoes, and quickly realized that I should be searching on flash sale sites like Rue La La and Bluefly for them, since I wanted designer pumps (so picky, I know...). As it turns out, I came across the perfect pair just a few days into my search, and I was almost certain that they were the ones. Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant because it was only January when I found this pair of shoes...and our wedding isn't until October. I knew I had plenty of time to find shoes. I just had this feeling that these were IT. So I went ahead and bought them...from Bluefly.com. On sale. Which made my decision even easier...because I found a pair of designer, navy blue, perfect shoes that I knew would be perfect for our wedding...on SALE. I definitely can't complain. They are Badgley Mischka Navy Satin Oliver pumps, in case you wondered. ;)

My shoes!

I have plenty of photo ideas for our photographer because of all the time I've spent on Pinterest over the past few months. I love all of the creative photo ops using wedding shoes, especially a pair of gorgeous blue shoes!

 

What I Wore...

What I Wore by worrellb featuring leather handbags

Quiksilver floral shirt, $12
Woolrich jacket, $99
Skinny jeans, $78
Diane von Fürstenberg platform heels, £164
MICHAEL Michael Kors leather handbag, $298
Ann Harvey pink scarve, £12


We've been having some very warm, very summer-like days already...so I figured, why not break out the white jeans! It almost feels like we skipped Springtime altogether, so I think I can disregard the "no white before Memorial Day" rule. Just being a trendsetter. :)

{Sneak Peek: Engagement Photos}

 

Amazing. I can't wait to see all of our photos - and we had a LOT taken, so I'm excited to see them. :)

 

{Shamrock Half Marathon}

Truthfully, I had no expectations for this year's Shamrock Half. I signed up on a whim last December, because I'd ran this race for the past 3 years and I wanted to make sure I got in before the half filled up. What I didn't do was train properly. I've also had recurring IT band issues for a while now. But I'm not here to make excuses for this year's finish time...

I had started to get a bit anxious for the impending race, but I really didn't let it bother me too much. Something I've learned since becoming part of the "real world" is that I have far greater things that consume my mind than how far I want to run when I get home from work. It's bittersweet, actually. I miss those days of making my schedule around my workout routine, but I also love my job and feel a sense of accomplishment from working! Anyways, since I was busy with work, and had recently gotten back from a business trip to California...I kind of let the race slip up on me. I had been running, just not as many miles as I had in the past with half marathon training! I even did a few "long" runs of 10 and 12 miles over the past month or so.

On race morning, I woke up to a feeling of cautiousness and also optimism. I was afraid I'd struggle, given my IT band issues over the past months...but I was also optimistic that I could pull it off. The weather was ideal, in the 50s and overcast...in my opinion, perfect running weather. After a bit of a rush to the start line, we were sent off and I started out with a decently comfortable 8:15 pace. I kept this up for the first 7 or 8 miles, and I was hoping for a finish under 1:50. Suddenly, a little after mile 8, I felt like I was hit with a ton of bricks. My IT band started hurting, which caused my stride to shorten pretty badly, and I felt like I was just limping along truthfully. It didn't help that I also started to feel nauseated and for some reason, had blisters from my shoes. It was like the perfect storm of ruining my hopes of finishing under 1:50. My new goal became to finish in under 2 hours. I was kind of disappointed, but I really just wanted to finish the race! As I neared mile 11, I was seriously not feeling it. I had to stop and stretch quickly, and I got back on the course to finish out the last 2 miles. I then decided that my goal was to finish...okay, I couldn't give up the goal thing completely, so it became an "under 2:05" goal.

As I made the turn onto the boardwalk at the Oceanfront, I gave it all the strength I had and picked up the pace to get to the finish line. It's so deceiving because you can see the finish from what seems like so far away and it seems like it takes forever to get there! I really picked my pace up here, though, and it felt good...I think because I knew that it was almost over and I could finally take a break! I crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 2 minutes - which I've come to terms with and I still feel accomplished, despite it not being my best time...in fact, almost 20 minutes longer than last year's PR at the Shamrock Half. You win some, you lose some. I remember thinking last year "hmm...now what? I've PR'd every year and this year was my best at 1:43...how am I going to feel when I don't beat my previous year's PR?" and now I know that feeling. I can honestly say that I still feel accomplished and proud that I was able to go out there again and run 13.1. And now I get to find another race to get some redemption for my 2:02 finish time. But maybe I should let myself heal first this time...? ;)

{Engagement Photo Inspiration}

Tomorrow is the big day - we finally are having our Engagement photos taken! Thanks to Pinterest, Michael and I both have plenty of fun ideas that we'd like to try during our photo session. I'm so excited that we'll be working with a fabulous photographer, who is as sweet as she can be and SO talented! Go here to see some of her work. 

Here are some photos that have provided some inspiration to us in planning our photo session...we might have even made a few Pinterest-inspired photo props to use! ;)

Our photos are being taken in Colonial Williamsburg, so I'm also very excited about all of the backdrop options we have. It's a gorgeous location, and Michael and I visit Williamsburg pretty frequently, so it's the perfect setting for us! I'm a little nervous about how they will turn out, but I know that Amanda is an amazing photographer and that she'll make us look good! ;)

Life, lately.

Today is my birthday - I can't believe I'm 23. That means I'm two years from my quarter-life crisis. ha ha. My love said he is cooking dinner tonight, and it's a "surprise"...so we'll see. As long as there's Funfetti cake with Rainbow Chip frosting, I'll call it a successful birthday. I have the same cake EVERY year...I don't even like cake, so this is the only kind I'll eat, and only on my birthday. Picky much?

If you follow me on Twitter, then you probably knew I'd been in California for the past week. It was my first trip ever to the West coast, so it was very exciting! I was actually in SoCal for a business trip - the company I work for exhibited at Natural Products Expo West, which is a HUGE show that covers the health/wellness/natural products industry...you'll find beauty products to supplements to natural foods there. It was amazing. I was in heaven. It was like walking into a Whole Foods, but on a larger scale than you could probably imagine! I brought home a few new natural foods to sample...something that I'm probably going to get hooked on and in turn, spend my paycheck on next time I go to The Fresh Market or Whole Foods. ;)

Even though I spent most of the time working at the Expo, I still found some time to enjoy the trip. For one, laying by the pool and hitting the hot tub a few evenings after working. Not to mention dinner out at some neat restaurants in the area with great people...and visiting Downtown Disney, which made me want to visit Disneyland, since it was literally right next door. I've been to Disney World a few times, but I'm pretty sure Disneyland is far superior. Just saying. Did I mention that this was also the first time I've ever been on an airplane without my family or fiance...just me, completely alone? For someone who is a nervous flyer, I'm pretty proud to say I flew across the country and back pretty much alone, stayed in a hotel alone, and took a cab alone. First time for everything, right? 

The only downside to being super busy for the past week - I didn't get to run much, and the Shamrock Half is this Sunday. Yikes! I've also been having some serious IT band issues...it seems like it always happens when I'm getting ready for the Shamrock. I don't know why only before this race.....anyways. So I'm pretty sure the results aren't going to be pretty. I had a beautiful PR last year, but I'll be happy to just finish this year's race. I've never dressed up and just enjoyed the Shamrock...I'm always so competitive with myself that I push myself to PR every year, which I have. I don't think that will happen this year...due to injury and lack of training. I just ordered a green running tank and I plan to get some green ribbon for my hair...maybe something else green...I figured I may as well be festive since this is pretty much going to be a "fun run" and no longer a chance to PR. Bittersweet....

March has been crazy-busy, as you can see...and there's even more exciting news - M and I are getting engagement pictures taken this Friday! I can't believe it's already here - but I'm super excited to get them taken so we can send our Save-The-Dates soon. :) Time is flying by!

{Things I Love}

After breaking the bank this past Christmas, I told myself I was going to ban myself from shopping as much as possible. Well, that was a fail...as I should have expected. I can't survive without spending money. It's just not me. haha. :) Here are a few things I've purchased recently:

Ray Ban Aviators - well, these were technically a Christmas gift...but I picked them out. I LOVE them. I've gone through about 4 pairs of cheap aviator sunglasses, so I wanted a nice pair that will hopefully LAST. I'm still afraid that they'll break by just holding them the wrong way because they seem fragile!

Clarisonic Mia - I've heard a lot of good things about the this, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to commit to the price of it! In fact, I went to the dermatologist first for a consultation about breakouts, and she immediately pushed prescriptions in my face without even really asking about my skincare routine. I wasn't too crazy about that, but I tried the medicine regimen out for nearly a week before deciding that I didn't want to put strong antibiotics in my body every day for months at a time. So I ditched the drugs and decided to purchase the Mia. I just started using it this week, but my skin is already noticeably smoother and brighter. The verdict is still out on if it will help get rid of breakouts! 

Murad Live Clear Face Cleansing System - I've been using this for a few months, and it does help with breakouts...better than any other products I've tried. I still haven't been able to get RID of breakouts, though, so I'm using the Clarisonic Mia in conjunction with this cleansing system. We'll see if it works! 

Moroccanoil - I also heard so many good things about this hair treatment that I decided to give it a shot. My hair tends to be dry or frizzy at times, probably because I continually damage it with flat irons and hair dryers! I really like it, and I think it's helping my hair become healthier and more shiny. It hasn't been a drastic change, but it does help, nonetheless!

Adrienne Vittadini Penn Ankle Boots - I have been wanting a pair of oxford ankle boots for a while now, and I kept searching in stores and online and couldn't find what I wanted. I finally came across these Adrienne Vittadini boots on endless.com and I snatched them up because they were sold out everywhere else! I LOVE them. They're cute, comfortable, and very versatile. I've been wearing them with jeans, tights, dresses, etc. Good investment. At least, that's what I tell myself. :)

So, now that you know I epically failed at my "no-shopping" resolution, what have you purchased lately that you love???