Life and Stuff

How I Spent My Summer

~ reallifesparkle ~ Leave a comment

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White Pants | Shoes | Purse | Earrings | Bracelet 1 | Bracelet 2 | Lipstick

Good news, guys, I’m still around! My Labor Day weekend has kicked off with a trip to the Minute Clinic to find out my husband has a sinus infection and bronchitis, so I thought it might be a good time to explain my absence while he hopefully sleeps those antibiotics into his system. You may notice a bit of a change of scenery there in the background there, as we’ve started redoing our bedroom this summer! I’m obsessed with the changes so far, but that’s a post for another day.

I said awhile back that I needed to press pause, and at the time, it was because I was just too overwhelmed with work, training for the half-marathon, and just general life stuff. Although my training ended, work didn’t start to slow down until very recently. I was so exhausted by late nights (the kind where your husband asks if he was dreaming or were you actually on the phone with your coworker at 1 a.m. – yikes), deadlines, and everything else we had going on this summer, that the idea of getting back on my computer and blogging was just too much. I missed it and still took lots of pics though; my phone is basically an “I should blog about this” graveyard.

I’m excited to say that things have finally slowed down enough that I think I’m finally able to make my return. I’m ready to share outfits, recipes, and all of the other stuff I’m excited about again. To make up for a complete lack of posting all summer, and in honor of the time-honored tradition of starting the school year by sharing all of the details of your summer break. I figured why not finally share some of my photos, so get ready to scroll!

Run 317 Circle

My cousin and I ran a 5k through downtown Indy less than 2 weeks after the Mini Marathon. The Run 317 series goes through Indianapolis neighborhoods, supports local charities, and comes with two beers at the end from Thr3eWiseMen! This one started and ended on Monument Circle – so fun!

Indy 500

We went to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. It was an awesome day with our friends and family. It was also HOT, so this one is me in all of my sweaty, unfiltered glory.

Colin-Liza Wedding

We celebrated the wedding of one of our oldest friends (Colin, my chili-adoring bestie)…and thought we were still young enough to close down the bars in Bloomington like college kids (we’re not). If you’re ever in B-town, check out The Big Cheeze! True love is your husband surprising you with a grilled cheese at 2 a.m.

Happy Camper

We spent a weekend in Chicago catching up with old friends and celebrating one of my best friend’s baby shower. The picture is a little blurry, but the look of pure joy on my face is because the Happy Camper is a bar with tire swings. Beers with friends from high school, pizza, and tire swings made it basically the best thing ever.

Run 317 Mass Ave

We did another Run 317 in the Mass Ave area of downtown Indy, and this time my sister joined us for her first ever 5k! It was the kind of ridiculously hot and humid day where you sweat just standing still, so they had to turn it into a non-timed “fun run,” which was just fine for us. We have one more Run 317 left in October, so hopefully my sister will be joining us again!

My very favorite weekend of the year every year is Dave Matthews Band weekend with my husband, brother-in-law, and our friends. Dave plays two shows in Indy, and each night is a totally different show and setlist, so we go both nights. Our first night was up-close and personal in the pit so you can really see the band, and then the second night is on the lawn and dancing barefoot on our blanket (although that part is more just me…). It was SO HOT – are you noticing a theme here for this summer in Indianapolis?

Alyssa Wedding

August kicked off with my cousin’s wedding and an after-party at our house that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. I have a lot of cousins, and I LOVE hanging out with all of them. It was so much fun, and will definitely be a night we remember for a long time.

First Anniversary

Speaking of weddings, we celebrated our first anniversary on August 15th! I cannot believe it’s been a year already, time truly does fly when you’re having fun. I honestly planned to do so many wedding-related posts about how I got ready for our big days (we had two weddings: one on 8/15 at a church with just our family, and one that was a great big party with our family and friends on 8/21), but we’ve already been over my lack of posts. Now that we’re getting ready to ramp up planning my sister’s wedding, I fully plan to share my tips, tricks, lessons, and memories from ours as we go, so stay tuned!

Speaking of our anniversary, Kendra Scott just happened to open a store in Indianapolis the weekend before. My sweet husband knew I’ve been lusting after this necklace forever, so he played detective to find out when exactly they’d be opening, and he even figured out that if we went on opening day, I’d get this (perfectly Colts blue) bracelet for free! Isn’t he the best? Did you know that if you go to Kendra Scott during your birthday month and show your ID, you get 50% off of a piece of jewelry? August just happens to be his birthday month, so it was even more of a bargain. You can guess where I’ll be heading in October!

So that was our summer in a nutshell. Can you believe it’s already September? I love summer, and it’s my favorite season, even when it gets ridiculously hot. I have to say though, I’m ready for the calm that comes with fall. Fall means calmer schedules, bonfire and chili nights with our friends, football Sundays (and the snacks that go with them!), and so many other great things. I love my sundresses, but I also love the fashion that comes with the cooler temperatures.

Thanks for bearing with me while I took some time to re-group, and I promise to be a much better blogger in the weeks and months to come.

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Indianapolis Mini Marathon!

~ reallifesparkle ~ 1 Comment

My cousin and I after the race.

Top | Crops | Headband | Shoes

Although I’ve been MIA for a bit, I had to share an update on my half-marathon experience. We did it! And lived to tell about it!

After 12 weeks of training, lots of miles logged, and sore muscles, we officially crossed the finish line of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. It was hard, but we ran almost the entire thing (our walking breaks were definitely less than a mile total). Our time was 2 hours and 41 minutes, so only 11 minutes over our goal of 2:30, and still pretty respectable for our first go (and not running at all prior to mid-February). We ran through sun, light sprinkles, and a straight-up downpour at various times, and although my body was aching by the end and my feet were KILLING me, I’ll definitely be back for more.

In case you’re wondering what I wore – because let’s be honest, picking out what to wear for the big day was pretty fun too – I EARNED my Lululemon reward. This mint top is described as “light support,” but I can tell you it was very secure and way better than any other “light support” sports bra I’ve ever worn. I’ve also learned I have to have a (moisture-wicking) headband of some sort, otherwise sweat drips in my eyes and I hate everything. This one from Lululemon was great and never felt like it was about to slip off, plus it’s reversible. My leggings were a find at the Gap outlet on our way back from Garth Brooks. These are similar, but if you want the contrast stitching and don’t mind a different color combo, these are $11. I’m also still completely in love with my Mizunos. You may have also noticed that I matched my outfit to my shoes, because of course. (There was also a jacket from Lululemon in the perfect berry color that would’ve really completed the ensemble, but Husband heard the price and it became a “we’ll think about it.” Sigh.)

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Waiting to start.

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Kissing the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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About to cross the finish line and finally seeing my husband and sister waiting for me at the end. My cousin was long gone – she decided to end her suffering and took off for the finish line around mile 11. I couldn’t blame her, I totally would’ve too.

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After we crossed the finish line! 

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Toasting our accomplishment and recovering (right before we ate sooo much pizza).

The biggest surprise out of all of this has been that I’ve found myself looking forward to running. When I was growing up, people always asked me if I was a runner, just like my dad was. I remember my mom telling me that he had planned to have me start running with him before he got sick, and I laughed because I’ve NEVER been a runner – it’s always sounded more like torture than anything enjoyable. I won’t miss the “homework”aspect of knowing I have to get a certain number of miles in each week, but I’ve come to enjoy the clearheadedness that comes from putting in a few miles after a stressful day. Plus, I’ve never felt stronger than when I realized I could go 6 miles without having to walk at all, a feeling that’s grown after completing the 13.1 – walking bits and all. I’m not going to lie, that final half mile or so was absolutely brutal. While the encouragement of the other girls helped me when my feet were screaming at me at the end, the thing that really got me through was thinking of my dad running it so many years before, and fighting through to cross the finish line just like he did. I’m not sure I’d ever thought I’d find myself becoming a runner like he’d always hoped, but better late than never, I suppose.

Dad Running

My dad running track in high school. He’s the one with the long, flowing, 1970s hair who’s receiving the baton. 

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Adventures in Courage

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This may come as a surprise, but dipping my toes into the blogosphere has been, well, pretty scary. It’s that first day at a new school or a new job feeling. Sure, I’m here for my own personal fulfillment, but putting yourself out there to try something new never stops being nerve-wracking, – especially when you’re putting yourself out there for the whole world to see and you’ve never been much of an all-eyes-on-me kind of gal. I mean it when I say starting this took a lot of convincing from my sister and husband telling me I needed a creative outlet. Every time my sister brought it up, I fought back. 

What makes me worth reading compared to the glam fashion bloggers who have their perfectly coordinated closets/lives captured in beautiful pictures? (Not to mention the regular posts/Instagrams I can’t seem to schedule for the life of me.) What makes me so special that I could suddenly become the person saying, “Hey everyone, come see what I think is awesome!” I’m sure you’ve noticed, but the internet can be a pretty viscious place. People are mean, and I’ve never exactly been the queen of confidence. It’s hard to shut up the voice in your head wondering, “What if they hate me?” 

My very wise coworker and mentor told me the key was to think of it like no one was reading, it’s just here for me. But um, suddenly there were a whole bunch of you here too, and I have to admit, that’s pretty awesome.

I’m not writing this post to fish for compliments, believe me. If anything, I’m saying that, for those of you who think the ladies who post selfies and share their lives are all crazy narcissists, we’re not. My first instinct is to hate pretty much any picture of me, and I’m in complete awe when there’s one I like (thrilled if there’s magically more than one). It takes roughly 400 pics before I find one that doesn’t make me feel like a troll, and even then, hellooooo, editing apps. (Don’t worry, I’m not skilled enough to be a complete fraud, but a little filter here and there never hurt anyone.) It takes a lot of effort for me to not go awkward and silent when someone offers a compliment of any sort, even if it’s for something I know I’ve worked hard on. Which may actually be a lesson in itself. Why do we only see our flaws first and refuse to believe those who disagree? When did the mirror or a camera become my enemy? How did confidence in ourselves and our abilities become immediately equated with vanity and ego? And does this fear ever go away? I’m 30, not a teenager, after all.

It may say more about me than I care to share to admit how completely terrified I am to put myself out here, but well, here I am. I’m going to try to have a little more faith in myself and try to embrace my passions and abilities. I’m a people-pleasing Libra who loves pretty things like clothes, crafts, or food (you have to admit, that poached egg was a thing of beauty). I do my best to find them on a bargain…with occasional treats, of course – like I said, I’m a Libra. I try to write well and make this a blog worth reading. I promise I don’t take myself too seriously; my little corner of the Internet is still just my fun little creative outlet. I’d love it if you stuck around, and I hope you find things you like too. 

Now back to the regularly scheduled clothes, food, and pretty things.

  

One of those weeks…

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You know those weeks when you have big plans laid out, then life kicks your butt, and you’re just happy if you can pick out clothes that sort of match? Yeah, it was one of those.

Working late every night meant blogging took a serious backseat, but then again, that’s part of why this one has “real life” in the title…it’s going to happen. On weeks like this, my priority is to actually find time to have real conversations with my husband, preserve my sanity, and get some sleep. During these weeks, I try to remind myself that I’m lucky to have a job that has allowed me to pay off my car and for us to by a house, and just give myself a lot of room for grace.

I had every intention of doing a post or two this week, took pictures and everything…they just never made it up on the blog. I never really intended for OOTDs to all be on one giant post, but since I haven’t had time, this will unfortunately be another week of grouped pics.

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I was nervous about the over-the-knee boot trend at first, but when I found a pair at H&M for $60 this fall, I decided to give them a whirl. Short answer: I’m obsessed. Seriously, some OTK boots and red lipstick, and you’ll feel like you can rule the world. Pairing them with black tights, a tweed skirt, a “sweater set,” and my favorite pearls from J.Crew (they’re at J.Crew Factory now, on sale!) helps tone them down enough for the office without being too over-the-top.

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Polka dot pants are a good way to add fun to your work wear, and Old Navy’s Pixie pants are a favorite. I know, I know, another pixie pant…it must be the name! I have a few pairs from Old Navy in solid colors and these polka dot gems, but the price can’t be beat and they’re so versatile.

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The Friday of a long week meant I was ready for a comfy swing dress, faux fur vest (not sure this is my exact one from H&M, but its a steal nonetheless), my OTK boots, and another Kendra Scott favorite. My swing dress was from Old Navy this past fall and doesn’t seem to be around anymore, but I’ve seen them around from other brands/stores for pretty cheap. My outfit was intended to be a day-to-night date night outfit…but then we both worked too late and ended up at Five Guys instead. It happens.

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Our only Saturday plans were to pick up patio furniture my aunt and uncle were getting rid of (high five for free furniture!), so leggings, a boyfriend tee, comfy cable sweater, and boots were all I needed. I’m still working on not washing my hair every day, and let’s be honest, who hasn’t hid their day-two hair with a headband? This one was beaded, so it makes me feel like it at least looks like I tried. Flowers in the background courtesy of my sweet husband who knew I was having a rough week…working on actually decorating our room is a project on the agenda for this year.

Today is a slow cooker Sunday, and my sister and her fiancé are coming over for dinner, recipe to come. I’m off tomorrow thanks to a girl’s weekend that’s since been rescheduled, so here’s hoping this week benefits from a slower start thanks to a long, relaxing, and snowy weekend.

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Back to Real Life

~ reallifesparkle ~ 4 Comments

The first day back to work after a vacation is always rough. In my head, I tell myself I’ll be there bright and early now that I’m all renewed from the time off. In reality, getting up comes way too early, getting ready happens at a snail’s pace, and my brain takes a little extra time to get in gear.

Remember how exciting it used to be to plan what to wear on the first day back to class? Planning exactly what to debut from the fun new clothes you got for Christmas (or the sales after with your friends) to feel on top of your game for a whole new schedule of classes? This wasn’t it. After spending a week and a half primarily wearing various forms of leggings, the idea of putting on work clothes again was a little…foreign. How do I even do this again? Plus, winter has finally started to make an appearance in Indy, so I needed warmth and comfort to ease myself back into the swing of things. I’m also a big believer in forcing myself to feel better with something bright and sparkly. Enter fleece-lined tights, a pop of hot pink, sparkly earrings, and an embellished top…Ok, fine, it’s a fancy sweatshirt – but it does have fun beading, and I always put a collared shirt under it to dress it up for the office.

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You totally cannot tell it’s basically a sweatshirt, right? We’ll work on the photography thing.

The other thing that both got me through the day and gave me heart palpitations was the semi-annual Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale. It’s always high anxiety, from the “there are 2,500 people in line ahead of you and here’s our best guess as to how long it will be before you can even see the goods” queue page, to the high-stakes race to see how fast can you look at EVERYTHING, pray your size is left, get it in your tote, and pay to confirm it’s actually yours.

The two After Party Sales are the only time Lilly is in my budget (other than my lovely assortment of koozies and a pretty sweet insulated cooler bag), so I try to make the most of it. My general plan of attack is to try to find two main items: one nice, typically non-print, dress to wear for any occasions I know are already on the calendar (hello, wedding season), and one cotton type dress that I can dress up or down. Last After Party sale my cotton item was actually a romper, but it’s still adorable and made me look like I hadn’t stayed up until 5 a.m. when I wore it to lunch the day after our wedding, so I’ll take it. This After Party was no different, and I was thrilled to snag both an amazing halter-esque shift dress and a super cute cotton dress in a fun print for less than it’d normally cost for just one Lilly dress. I’d link to pics, but it seems the crazy Lilly crowds have done it again, and there are no hints of either dress to be found on the website. Guess we’ll just have to wait for delivery and warmer days to come.

My holiday season officially ended yesterday with our Christmas celebration with my aunt and uncle on my mom’s side. Aunt Cheryl was the relative my sister and I would stay with every summer for a week of pool days, movies, candy, and all sorts of other fun with her and my uncle, so it’s always a good time when we’re all together.

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(Left to right: Me, Aunt Cheryl, Mom, and my sister, Sarah. You can’t tell, but Cheryl is actually standing on a crate to look a little taller, so this is one of the few pictures we aren’t laughing hysterically about it.)

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We force our boys to take pics for pretty much any and every occasion, so obviously yesterday was no different. Ahem, and note my aforementioned leggings. They’re actually J.Crew’s more structured Pixie pant. I’ve had my eye on them for years, but never took the plunge because of the price tag. Let me tell you, they are worth every penny, and I’m going to wear the crap out of these. I loved them so much, I even snagged a pair of them in charcoal, because who can resist a markdown AND an extra 40% on top of that? And how cute are my sister’s boots?

Finally, because no visit with with my aunt and uncle is complete without receiving our body weight in candy, I give you the candy from the “stocking” bag. I need you to keep in mind that this is just the candy for me and my husband.

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Yes, my husband still sorts the candy like a kid on Halloween. I love it.

Happy first day back to real life!

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