What I Wear When I Travel for Work

I’ve been meaning to do a post about what I wear when I travel for work. I travel quite often these days (typical twice/month, sometimes three times) so I have gotten good at packing. I nearly exclusively wear dresses because I feel most confident in dresses and they take up less space than pants, a top, and a jacket would. I do not own business suits anymore because I hate how I feel in them! 

I should preface this post by saying that I am not super into fashion (for fashionable content, see Lag Liv’s blog! She works with a stylist and has a very large, beautiful wardrobe.) I’m pragmatic about dressing - I want something comfy that won’t wrinkle that looks professional and ‘put together’. So most of these outfits are made of a fabric that does not wrinkle and feels good on my body. I’m also a minimalist when it comes to my wardrobe. I don’t have a capsule wardrobe but my wardrobe is capsule-adjacent.

For this trip, I flew to Charlottte for some client events. I had 2 client dinner reception events and I moderated 2 panels (and also did 32 zooms that week as it was a week that sales was encouraged to book lots of meetings). 

Here is what I wore that week with pretty crappy bathroom selfies which is the best I could do.

Night #1: client dinner reception 

I flew in, checked into my hotel, and quickly freshened up to meet 2 portfolio managers for a drink/chat before the client event started. I wore a striped dress from Boden. I have this dress in 4 colors (this striped version, black, navy, red). When I find something I like, I tend to buy it in multiple colors. I love that this dress has pockets!

Day #2: moderate panel + lots of zooms

I moderated a panel with the portfolio managers fairly early in the day and then had a day of solid zooms. I wore a dress I bought at a boutique in a suburb of Minneapolis last summer. I loved this dress so much that I ordered 2 more this summer (brand is Gretchen Scott). The fabric is wrinkle-proof which is key for travel. This is my favorite of the 3 dresses - I think it’s the most flattering since the pattern is a darker color. I didn’t have any post-work client commitments so I went out for dinner with one of the portfolio managers that was on the panel (she lives in Chicago, the other PM is Charlotte-based). 

Day #3: lots of zooms + another client dinner reception

Today’s dress is the same as yesterday’s, but a different pattern. This dress is my least favorite of the 3 as I don’t wear a lot of pink but I still like the dress. 

Day #4: moderate a panel, do lots of zooms, fly home in the afternoon 

Finally, the last day of this intense trip. This dress is the same brand as the other 2 but has a different neckline + pockets! 

I look so tired in this photo because I feel so tired. If I zoomed in more, you’d see circles and bags under my eyes. This trip was intense with all the meetings and client interaction! It was TOO MUCH. I am glad I am unlikely to have a trip like this again. It was the combo of in-person client interactions plus so many zooms that really pushed me over the edge into complete exhaustion. 

Shoes and accessories: I wore the same navy blue Rothy’s each day (I typically pack one pair of work shoes + running shoes for workouts). Since getting diagnosed with RA, I stopped wearing heels for the most part as I want to be extra kind to my joints.

The necklines of these dresses had enough going on so I did not wear a necklace. If I had worn a solid pattern version of the first dress, I would have added a necklace but it looked too busy when I tried a necklace with the striped pattern. A necklace is the only accessory I add to an outfit as I am not an earrings person (and wish I had never gotten my ears pierced!). Most earrings bother my ears so that is why I don’t wear them. 

***

And there you have it! These are the kinds of dresses I wear during the warm weather months. Now that it’s getting colder, I shift to wearing dresses + tights. I can wear tights with the last dress but the other 3 dresses will be moved to the ‘summer’ section of my wardrobe and will only be worn if I travel somewhere warm like FL or CA, etc. 

What kinds of outfits do you feel best in? How do you dress for work? The outfits above are what I wear when I go to the office, too. 

Podcasts, Books, Miles and Looks of January

Oh January.  I greeted you with such excitement and you kind of let me down.  I was happy to see you go.  But I have high expectations for February as it includes my birthday, a trip to Mexico, and a visit to my parents' lake home!

Podcasts:

Modern Love Podcast, Episode 2.   I've been a long-time reader of the New York Time's weekly "Modern Love" essays, so I was thrilled when I learned that they were starting a podcast! They have a professional actor read an essay and then at the end of the podcast they interview the author of the essay. There are only 3 so far and they are about 25 minutes so you could easily catch up if you haven't started listening. My favorite of the three was episode 2 which is entitled, "Just One Last Swirl Around the Bowl." On the surface, it's about the death of a family's goldfish, but it's really about grief, mortality, and dealing with the loss of loved ones.

Books:

My reading was low in December but it bounced back big time in January, mostly due to the fact that I was not able to be as active as I normally am and I planned waaaaaay less which was glorious!  I read 9 books this month and my favorite was Kitchens of the Great Midwest, which I highly recommend! The starred ones counted towards the Read Harder Challenge.


Gratitude by Oliver Sacks* - 4 stars
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - 4 stars
A Pig in Provence by Georgeann Brennan* - 3 stars
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - 4 stars
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal - 4 stars **favorite**
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight - 3 stars
Blindness by Jose Saramago* - 3 stars
Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life by Joshua Fields Millburn - 2 stars
The Known World by Edward P. Jones* - 2 stars

Miles:

Oh boy, January was not a great month for working out due to my health issues. I really wanted to work on building my long runs but that was sidelined thanks to my RA. My total mileage for the month was 47 miles but I managed to go to yoga 12 times and did 5 other strength training workouts. Here's hoping that February is a much better month. I'm starting to question whether I will be able to train for and run this marathon given the state of my health these days... time will tell I guess.

Looks:

I guess January was the month for red as both of the looks I am sharing feature the color red! 

My first outfit features a red wool skirt that I got from J. Crew Factory during their black Friday sale which I paired with a Banana Republic button down. A girl at work had the same skirt and after I complimented her on it, she sent me the link and told me it was 50% off and said I should get it, even though that means we might be twins at work some days. I also bought it in a bright blue color.  

The second outfit features a pair of red cords that I bought at a Cabi party I attended in the fall. I paired it with a warm sweater I bought when I bought the skirt above as it was also 50% off. I wore this outfit on a double date in January when it was like -30 degrees outside with the windchill so I was all about being warm and having as little skin showing as possible!

Music, Books, Miles and Looks of September

Happy Monday!  Yikes, life has been busy lately.  I think this is the longest I have gone without blogging in quite awhile but I haven't been able to make time for it lately.  I've had lots of fun things going on lately but I am hoping that life slows down soon as the pace, at times, feels almost manic...   I need to get my act together and write some posts about San Francisco later this week!

Music:

 
Arms by Christina Perry - I love Christina Perry's voice.  I don't know much of her music, but I heard this song when I was shopping for my bike and LOVED it.  I bet she'd be great live.

Books:

This was a stronger reading month for me, mostly thanks to the long flights I had to and from California.  I read 5 books.  My favorite book by far was The Storied Life of AJ Fikry - I highly recommend it!

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - 3 stars (thought I'd like this more than I did)
The Vacationers by Emma Straub - 4 stars
The Church of Tango by Cherie Magnus - 2 stars
Thrive by Arianna Huffington - 4 stars
The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin - 5 stars

Miles:

September was a pretty strong running month for me as I ran 106 miles!  On top of that I biked 86 miles!  I also completed my 6th consecutive month of 30 workouts in 30 days, which means I worked out 183 times in the last 183 days (actually a bit more I think because I think I exceeded my goal a couple of months).  I am taking a break from this for a couple of months because I feel like I need to put less pressure on myself to fit in ALL THE THINGS but it's been a great and very motivating challenge for me.

Looks:

I really had to reach to come up with some looks to post.  It's that transitional time when you are sick of your summer wardrobe but it's not quite cool enough to pull out the fall wardrobe.  Both of these looks are things I've owned for years, but they are good staple looks.

This outfit is pretty boring but the scarf makes it a little more interesting/fashionable.

I've owned these pieces for years but I still get compliments every time I wear this outfit.  I heart the color mustard  And the condiment..

 

My 2nd Fix

Last week I received my second "Fix" from Stitch Fix.  I had provided really detailed feedback on my last fix so was excited to see how this one would turn out.  Here is what I got!

Items #1 and #2 - Top  and Cropped Pants

The first thing I saw when I opened the box from Stitch Fix was some red pants.  I  was excited as I love bright cropped pants.  I tried them on with a patterned top that they had sent me.

You can't tell in this photo, but unfortunately the pants did not fit me.  They were already a little bit loose in the waist and butt areas and I could tell they would likely stretch a bit so as much as I really loved them, I had to send them back.  But - I love the top and it fit great so I am keeping it!  I can see myself pairing it with cropped pants, jeans, or a pencil skirt so it's going to be a versatile piece for my wardrobe.

Item #3 - Tank Top

I saw that they once again sent me something with stripes which I was excited about...
 

But I wasn't crazy about the side panels which makes it flare out a bit.  I prefer more tailored looks so this was a bit of a miss for me.  Plus it's pretty casual and not really something I could see myself wearing to work so I opted to send it back.  I have a hard time spending money on clothes that I can't wear to work.  

Item #4 - Cardigan

I heart cardigans and can never seem to have too many of them as I love layered looks (and am perpetually cold) so I was happy to see a cardigan in my fix.
 

This cardigan was super comfy, but I ended up sending it back because the price point was too high for the style/fabric in my opinion.  I feel like most of what I have received from Stitch Fix is reasonably priced, but this cardigan was $78 which is just way too much for me to spend on a casual, cotton cardigan.

Item #5 - Dress

When I pulled this dress out of the box my immediate reaction was a solid two thumbs down due to the pattern...
 

After trying it on, I actually liked it more than I thought I would.  But I did not love it.  I think if I was in a situation where I liked everything else, I would have kept this dress to get the 25% off of my total order.  But, I was sending other things back so the verdict was to all send this back.  Plus I felt the price point ($148)  was too high for a thin, jersey-type fabric dress.  I spend a fraction of that on the dresses that I get at Banana Republic which are made from a sturdier fabric.

So all in all, I once again only kept 1 item - but I really like the one item I kept.  I would have kept the red pants if they had fit better and there wasn't anything I strongly disliked in this fix so I feel like my stylist is getting better.

My plan is to do at least 2 more fixes to see if I start to keep more things.  But even if I just keep one item/fix, it's actually worth it for me as it will allow me to slowly build my wardrobe over time. 

The thoughts in this review are my own and I was not compensated for Stitch Fix to post this review.  However, I will receive a $25 credit if you sign up for Stitch Fix using the referral link included in this post. 

Music, Books, Miles and Looks of January

January was a decent month for me, but an awful month for some of my closest friends so I definitely felt a sense of heaviness and sadness this month.  I am looking forward to February, though, as it includes a trip to Austin, my birthday, a visit from Kyria, and a trip home.  Yea!

Music:



Say Something by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera - This is a sad song, but I think the simplicity of the music score is beautiful.




All of Me by John Legend - To offset the sadness of the first song, here is a beautiful love song by John Legend.

Books:

It was another strong reading month for me.  This is the result of a lot of weekends in Charlotte and sparse social plans.  I read 8 books.  My favorite was The Storyteller, my least favorite was David and Goliath.


A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - 3 stars
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult - 5 stars
Defending Jacob by William Landay - 5 stars
The Cost of Love and Sanity by Jaye Cherie - 2 stars
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell - 2 stars
The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scotch- 4 stars
The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers - 3 stars
Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford - 3 stars

Miles:

My workouts for the month consisted of spin classes, hill routes on the elliptical, water aerobics and - wait for it - a run/walk combo!  Yes, I can actually say I ran.  It was for short intervals (0.5 to 0.75 miles at a time), but that is better than nothing.  I haven't ran since April 16th so it felt so good to return to it.  I am taking it easy, though, as I don't want to overdo it and need to make sure my joints can handle it, but it's definitely a step in the right direction! 


Looks:

I haven't shopped for myself since November, so feel a little bit uninspired about the options in my closet, but I did wear one new outfit that I purchased back in August.  I think it would look better with sheer tights but it was about 12 degrees when I walked to work that morning, so I had to wear tights that were a little thicker.

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of October

*insert cliche comment about how freaking fast the month went*

October was a really great month for me and I have high expectations for November!

Music:


Your Man by Five For Fighting- I really love the new album by Five for Fighting and this is definitely one of my favorite tracks from the CD.  I like that the score of this song is piano-heavy.

 
Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus - Ok, I really dislike Miley Cyrus and her attention-seeking antics.  That said, I do really like this song.  I just pretend she isn't the person singing it when I hear it so that I can continue to like it.

Books:

Well October was another strong reading month as I read 8 books.  I also hit my goal of reading 52 books this year - way ahead of schedule!  Once again, instead of recapping the books, I'll share the rating I gave them on goodreads.com.  The best book I read this month was Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.


Her Fearful Symmtry by Audrey Niffenegger - 3 stars
Life Sentences by Laura Lippman - 2 stars
Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani - 3 stars
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown - 3 stars
The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom - 3 stars
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - 4 stars
Arranged by Catherine McKenzie - 3 stars
Lean in by Sheryl Sandberg - 5 stars

Miles:

Yep, still not running.  Still no plan for when I can return to running.  I am still biking, though, and started taking spin classes at the end of the month, which I am loving!  I really hope that my RA pain is completely under control by the end of November, but I keep saying this every month and it has not happened yet, so I probably should stop saying "maybe next month" because I just set myself up for disappointment. Anyways, while I am not running any miles, I did wrack up a lot of airline miles as I flew to Minneapolis, then to Chicago, then back to Charlotte and also did a day trip to Columbus.


Looks:

I didn't wear any new outfits this month or anything I really loved, but I did buy a new coat!  I know, I know.  I don't really need more coats, but I could not resist.  I tried this on while shopping at the end of September and could not stop thinking about it.  And then Banana Republic sent me a 40% coupon which sealed the deal.  I ordered it and it arrived while I was in Chicago.  I adore it.  I know I will wear it to Paris, on trips home, and occasionally when it gets cold enough in Charlotte!

Music, Books, Miles and Looks of August

Wow.  August.  I just can't even.  It was quite the month.  The joy column holds passing the CFA, hosting Heidi, and visiting Alli.  The sorrow column holds losing my aunt, my RA diagnosis, and the passing of Phil's father (not my story to tell so I have not talked about it here, but it has been hard to not physically be there for him, as a friend, during this challenging time.  I feel helpless trying to support him from afar.).

I'm hoping the sorrow column is shorter in September.

Music:

 

















Hercules by Sara Bareilles - I'll be honest - it took awhile for Bareilles's newest album to grow on me.  Now I am obsessed.  One of my favorite songs is Hercules - it's about falling on your knees and asking for some strength so obviously it hits home with me, especially the last stanza:  "This is my darkest hour, a long road has led me out here, but I only need turn around to face the light, and decide flight or fight."  You better bet I will be choosing fight.


Eavesdrop by The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars is the newest band that I am OBSESSED with.  I was introduced to them thanks to Becky's post.  I loved the song she posted so much, I decided to buy their new album - and their old one, too.  Both albums are amazing.  Their music is just hauntingly beautiful.  I was very sad to hear that they have had a falling out recently and cancelled their tour dates.  I hope they can resolve their difference as this is a duo that I HAVE TO see live.

 
Disarm by The Civil Wars - Yep, I am posting a 2nd song by this band.  I couldn't pick between Eavesdrop and Disarm.  Plus this is a live performance so you can tell how talented they are.  You may recognize this as a cover of a Smashing Pumpkins song.  Now what are you waiting for?  Go buy this album.  

Books:

My reading was really spotty this month and with the exception of one book, I didn't really "love" most of what I read. I felt like I had a hard time focusing on books (which is understandable) but I still managed to read 4.


A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash  - I had a hard timing rating this book, but overall I would give it 3.5 stars. The first half sort of drug for me and I had a hard time getting into it, which may be because I had a lot of distractions in my personal life (I was reading this when I was home for CFA results/my aunt's funeral). But I really enjoyed the 2nd half of the book and would still recommend it to others.

The Journey Home by Michael Baron  - This was a fast, easy read but was sort of 'meh' for me. Not a bad book but not a great read for me.

Tiny Beautiful Things:  Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed - I will be the first to admit that I did not love Strayed's best seller, Wild, but I loved this book. It's a collection of her responses to advice columns and while you may not relate to the questions posed, each response contains some nugget of wisdom. I could quote several of her responses, but I will save that for blog posts as they are far too lengthy for me to do them justice here. Definitely a great great read.

Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler - This is one of my least favorite books I have read this year.  The premise is that the main character, Delia, just up and walks away from her family in the middle of their beach vacation.  She has 3 kids, 1 of which is still in high school.  I guess I just could not relate to a woman who just walks away from her family for no real, compelling reason (at least not one that she could articulate IMO).  Sometimes I can enjoy a book despite the fact that I don't like the main character - that was not the case with this one.

Miles:

Miles.  Ha.  Well, I could add up my airline miles instead of running miles.  I flew to Minneapolis, El Paso for my New Mexico trip, and NYC.


I honestly don't know when I will be logging miles on the road again, but maybe by next month I can be back in the pool swimming laps and doing water aerobics.  We will see how my body does with the drugs I will start this week.

Looks:

Once again, I'm sharing 2 looks I purchased this summer (on sale) from Banana Republic. I think they could maybe give me a stipend of some sort for the marketing I do for them.  I'm just saying.

1st look:  color blocked dress.  And the stupid boot.  And a tennis shoe on the healing foot.  I know, I am nothing but stylish.  I like this dress, but because of the placement of the color blocks, it makes me look like I have hips - which I am not used to as I have more of a 'ruler/boyish' frame.  But I do love the color combo. 

2nd look:  Casual cotton stripes dress, paired with my favorite stripey bag.  And the boot.  Woo hoo.  I said last month that I was hoping to never share another outfit pic that included the boot. I hope that is the case this time.  I do love this dress, though.  It's really comfortable and I like the different striped patterns - and the fact that it has sleeves as I tend to get cold easily. Oh and hello, Manhattan skyline in the background.

What is the latest band or musician that you've become totally obsessed with?

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of July

And just like that, we are turning the calendar to a new page today.  I'm just shy of being 1/3 of the way through my year commitment to Charlotte.  Woo hip.  July went fast, August is going to go even faster.

See also:  I FLY HOME TODAY!!!!!  Yes, ALL CAPS.  

Music:


Safe and Sound by Capital Cities - I love this song.  It has a great beat and is just a feel good kind of song. I think it speaks, in fun/upbeat way, to something we all want - someone to keep us safe and sound.



Islands by Sara Bareilles - This song is too new to have a live performance version as the album came out last month, but this is my favorite song on the album.  It's kind of a sad song, but those are the kind of songs I like best sometimes. 

Books:

It was another strong reading month for me as I read 8 books this month.  Whoa.  Clearly I am still doing A LOT of reading these days!

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett - I learned so much about WWI by reading this book. While it is historical fiction, it is apparently am accurate depiction of the time leading up to the war and the war itself. I really liked all the different characters, even though it was tough to keep them straight initially. It's a lengthy book as the ebook was just shy of 800 pages, but it was worth it. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this trilogy, which covers WWII.

Indiscretion by Charles Dubow - I really enjoyed this book - you can read my review here.

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen - This book was a light read, but the characters had enough depth to make it interesting and keep it out of what I would describe as the "chick lit" category.  It's about a 29-year old woman who makes a false move at work which sends her career to a crashing halt.  She moves back home where her fraternal twin sister (who is darn near perfect) lives, and tries to put her life back together.  She learns a lot about herself - and her sister - in the process.

My Foreign Cities by Elizabeth Scarboro - This is a NYT "modern love" column turned memoir about a young couple. The husband has cystic fibrosis and it tells the story of their relationship and the challenges they faced fighting CF. It is a major tear jerker but so well written.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen - This was my first Sarah Dessen book and I loved it! I had shied away from her books as sometimes YA character lack depth, but this was not the case with this book.  The main character, McLean is a senior in high school, dealing with the divorce of her parents. She moves around a lot due to her dad's job and is constantly reinventing herself. There were several passages that I bookmarked that I could completely relate to. Definitely a great read!

Carry On Warrior:  Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Melton - I loved this book and the message of living a live without armor - which means speaking our truth and showing people how good or not so good our lives really are.  I loved her message about life being brutal and beautiful at the same time. She has a great outlook on life and she definitely has gumption. I will eventually do a post on this book as I have too many thoughts to share in this already lengthy post.

The Last letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes - This book is set during two time periods - the 1960s and around 2003.  I really liked the story of the couple from the 1960s, but the modern day story rubbed me the wrong way.  Both couples had elements of infidelity, but I could sympathize with the couple from the past more than the modern day woman and I just couldn't relate to her plight.  But in the end, I did really enjoy the book and had a hard time putting it down.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen  - I loved the other Dessen book I read this month so much, so I decided to read another one by this author.  I am definitely officially a fan.  I just love her characters and find them easy to relate to, even if they are significantly younger than me. The main character, Macy, is dealing with the aftermath of the sudden passing of her father.  In an attempt to deal with her emotions and the situation she is in, she strives for perfection and ultimately control of everything else in her life...  She finds comfort in routines and plans, which I can relate to as that is definitely a coping skill for me. 

Miles:

Well, I am still not running, obviously.  I am walking a little bit, the most I have done so far is 3 miles.  I am just being very careful as I am completely paranoid I will end up back in the boot.  I haven't felt any pain in my foot yet, but it definitely feels very weak, so I am taking it very easy.

Looks:

Another month, another pair of colored pants!  I bought these mint green ones at Gap at the end of May when they were having a 40% off sale. Hopefully this is the last 'look' I'll ever have to post that includes das boot!

My posting will be sporadic over the next couple of weeks due to my travel schedule. If I find out that I passed the CFA, I will for sure post that day, so if I am radio silent on August 6th, it's bad news...  I hope the month gets off to a great start for everyone!

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of June

So June wasn't exactly all sunshine and roses as I went through a break-up and experienced a set back with my foot, but it was still better than May as I enjoyed the sweet freedom of not having to study!!  I'm one month closer to CFA results and the year is now officially half over!  Woo hoo!

Music:



People Like Us by Kelly Clarkson - Yes, I like Kelly Clarkson's music, don't judge.  This song is about rising above crappy situations so it isn't surprising that it's a favorite song of mine these days.

Books:

I had another strong month of reading as I finished 6 books.  Not having to study and not watching much tv means I'm reading more than ever these days, and I really enjoyed all of the books I read this month.

The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain -   I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down at night as I just HAD to know what happened next.  It's the kind of book where you want to reach through the pages and turn the course of the main character's life, as you know the decision she is making is going to have long-lasting, horrible ramifications.  In a way, it reminded me of The Light Between the Oceans as it deals with taking something that isn't yours to take.

Beach Music by Pat Conroy - I've got to be honest, this book was a bit of a struggle for me to get through as it was really long and there were SO MANY DETAILS and, in my opinion, insignificant stories shared that didn't necessarily add to the book.  But in the end I liked it enough to give it 4 stars.  I just think you could have cut at least 200 pages out of the book and it still would have been great.  But I am not a huge fan of lots and lots and lots of details...

I Remember Nothing:  And Other Reflections by Nora Ephron - This was a short, fast, fun read.  You could probably read it in the span of 2 hours.  It was fun to read about the experiences and thoughts of the mind behind two of my favorite movies, "Sleepless in Seattle" and "When Harry Met Sally." 

Making Piece:  a Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie by Beth Howard - I really loved this book and am so glad my friend Becky recommended it to me. It's a memoir written by a women who loses her husband very suddenly at a young age. To overcome her grief, she turns to her love of pie, and crust by crust, comes through the grieving process happier, healthier, and more hopeful. My favorite line was: 'you are like a trapeze artist. You have to let go of one swing in order to grab the next one. There is that moment of being airborne in between when you are holding on to nothing, and trusting that the other swing will come toward you. That 'in between' is where you are now, grasping for air.'

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple - Well I read this book in just over 24 hours so that should give some indication of how much I loved it. It is quirky and unlike any other book I've read. It's written from the perspective of Bee, who is the 15-year old daughter of a woman that suffers from a form of agoraphobia. The mom, Bernadette, is hilarious and so quirky, and also so messed up at the same time. But you can't help but love her.  It is definitely a unique read but worth checking out!!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I loved this book.  The subject-matter is heavy as the main character is a care taker for a quadriplegic and it deals with assisted suicide, but the author somehow manages to brings humor into the story and the characters are so likeable.  It's definitely a tear jerker so consider yourself warned.

Miles:

I am hoping and praying that eventually I will actually have miles to add up and report in this section but that is so not happening anytime soon unfortunately. :(


Looks:

Please ignore my hair in this photo.  All I can say is that I was not built for humidity, and it was horribly humid the day I wore this outfit.  It's one of the new outfits I bought at Banana Republic at the end of May with a 40% off coupon.  Oh and it was one of the very few days this month that I wasn't in the boot or tennis shoes.  Navy and green is my new favorite color combination.  I also bought a color-blocked dress in these exact colors.

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of May

This May recap is a little late as May got away from me.  I have to say, I am SO glad May is over and I am hopeful that June will be a better month.

Music:

 

Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips - I think this song has such a catchy beat.

Books:

I actually read A LOT this month!  7 books!  Which is far more than I expected to considering I studied about 105 hours!  I guess that is what happens when you have very few social plans on the weekends and aren't into TV.  I really liked all of the books I read this month and would recommend most of them if you are looking for a summer read!

Still Alice by Lisa Genova - I reviewed this book in this post.  This is probably one of the best books I have read this year.

The Dinner by Herman Koch - This book is being marketed by the "Gone Girl" of Europe.  It is very messed up, so I can see why they are marketing the book that way.  The entire book encompasses one dinner between two brothers and their wives, with several flashbacks to previous times. The brothers are meeting to talk about a terrible thing that their sons have done and how they should handle it.  I will warn you - this book is dark and none of the characters are likable, so if you struggle with books like that, you might want to pass on this one.  But it was well written and engaging, and I enjoyed it.

The Keeper of Secrets by Julie Thomas - I will be reviewing this book next month for a TLC tour.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - I read Kite Runner years ago for a book club and loved it so much, I promptly bought this book when it came out.  And then I never got around to reading it!  6+ years after buying it, I finally pulled it off my shelf this month and am SO glad I did!  It was such a fantastic read.  It is very, very sad, but I think it's important to read books like this so we can understand the tragedies that are happening in other countries, like in this case, Afghanistan.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading Hosseini's 3rd book, which came out last month.

My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock - I really enjoyed this book.  It tells the story of Noelle Hancock, a celebrity blogger that has recently been laid off from her job. She realizes that she has been letting her fear about various things in life hold her back, and was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt's quote of "do one thing every day that scares you."  So she spends the year leading up to her 30th birthday facing her fears head on, and learns a lot about herself in the process.  I liked how she weaved in pertinent information about Eleanor Roosevelt in each chapter of the book.  It made me think about some the of the fears I've have and how I can combat them in the future.

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen - This was another fun, light read. It is set in my new home state of NC, but in a fictional city.  My favorite quote from the book was: "Happiness is a risk. If you're not a little scared, then you're not doing it right."

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck - I would give this book 3.5 stars.  I read it because it was available for download through the Minneapolis library (I have yet to get a Charlotte library card...  I need to get on that). It tells the story of 4 different women who are connected by a wedding dress. I liked the way their stories were weaves together. There is a Christian element to the story, which I did not mind, but is something to be aware of if you plan to read this. 

Miles:
I was able to return to biking part of the way through the month, but did not keep track of my miles.  It's not the same as running but it's nice to be able to do some cardio. Here's hoping I can return to running in mid-June.

Looks:
I felt pretty uninspired when it came to outfits this month.  Having to wear the boot makes it hard to really want to put forth much effort as no matter what I wear, the boot is what draws the attention. Like it did when I wore this business suit...

I can't say I have high expectations for my outfits for this month either as it's hard to feel fashionable when you are rocking tennis shoes with work clothes...  but it is better than the boot!  Maybe by July I won't feel like fashion roadkill and will have blog-worthy outfits to post.

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of April

I'm back!

So April.  Not my best month.  It included a cross-country move, finding out I have a stress fracture and torn tendon and to top things off, the business trip home at the end of the month that I was SO looking forward to got cancelled as the client cancelled the meeting. So yah, I'm not sad that April is over.  Onwards and upwards, though.  I have low expectations for May as it's the last month before the CFA which is always a super stressful month for me. But June?  June better be freaking awesome!

Music:



Come Home by One Republic - I love any song that includes piano and strings, so I love this song.  

Books:

Well, I work longer hours now as the Charlotte office has a different approach to work/life balance...  Add in the fact that I studied 86 hours this month and spent a good part of the month unpacking/settling in and that doesn't leave much time for reading. So it was another somewhat lower reading month for me.

Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans - This was a sequel to a book I read last week.  It was a fast, easy read which was what I needed.  My brain really can not handle anything that requires a whole lot of concentration these days as CFA studying has completely fried my brain.

The Bequest of Big Daddy Jo-Ann Costa - I'll be reviewing this for a TLC book tour later this week.

The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern - I'll be reviewing this next month for a TLC book tour.

Miles:

Ha. Miles.  Um, I think I ran 8 before getting my injury diagnosis.  So that's awesome.  I'm looking forward to ditching the boot (hopefully at my follow-up a week from Friday) as I can't even walk to work right now so I am barely doing anything these days, besides some ab work and upper body strength training. I hope I get cleared to at least bike or swim so I can reintroduce cardio into my life.


Looks:

Well, there's this...

 I rocked that look at the wedding I went to last month.  The boot is clearly a classy edition to any outfit.. I mean the boot + heel combo is out of this world.  #sarcasm

Last month I wanted to share my going away party outfit, but didn't have photos yet.  I do now, so here is a photo.  I've already worn those coral pants a couple of times.  I love me some colored pants.  The other people in the photo are my 2 best local friends and their husbands - I definitely REALLY miss them!

Also, the CFA exam is 1 month from today.  In other words, in 31 days I will actually have a life again. 

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of March

And just like that, another month has come and gone.  The frantic pace of life continues for me but I am hopeful that things will slow down once the move and the CFA exam are behind me.  March was a challenging month due to the amount of traveling I did for work, but it did have it's highlights, like my going away party and celebrating Easter with my family yesterday!  I could have done without the tearful goodbyes, but such is life these days.

Music:

 

Just Give Me a Reason by Pink - I really love this song.  I imagine it is something that most married people can relate to (from what I've heard), but even if you aren't married I think the concept of being bent, not broken is something resonates with most, if not all of us.

Books:

I had another ok month of reading.  I fit in just over 74 hours of studying and managed to read 3 books on top of that.  Not too shabby.


Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe - Phil highly recommended it as he was certain I would love it.  Luckily he was right!  It was really fun to discuss this book with him.  In a way it kind of reminded me of the book "The Rules of Civility."  Long story short, it's about a Wall Street executive who makes a mistake that throws his life into a tailspin.

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe - I have wanted to read this since I first heard about it, but I patiently waited until my book fast ended to purchase it.  It is such a great book.  The author's mother finds out she has pancreatic cancer and Will begins to attend treatments with her.  They start to talk about books so decided to form a 2-person book club.  The book is a love letter to Will's mother and to the written word.  It is definitely worth checking out!

The Walk by Richard Paul Evans - I was in need of a light, easy-to-get-into book, so decided to read this book.  It is a really fast read and was just what I needed.  It's not spectacular and it's not something I'd necessarily recommend, but it was an enjoyable read.  It had one quote at the end that really resonated with me:  "we can be victims of circumstance or masters of our own fate, but make no mistake, we cannot be both."

Miles:

Not the best month for me in terms of miles.  I ran 59 miles which isn't great but is better than last month.  It doesn't help that it was wicked cold last month.  I'd like to say the number will be higher next month but I'll be dealing with unpacking/settling in, so it might be another lackluster running month.  We'll see.  I really need to get my mileage base built up again as marathon training will start in June!


Looks:

My favorite outfit of the month was actually the outfit I wore for my going away party, but I haven't gotten the pictures from my boss's wife yet as they left for Spring Break shortly after my party so maybe I will share the photos next month!


Here are 2 runner-up looks, though!

I pulled out this springy blazer for my trip to Florida as I figured the seer-sucker material was appropriate for that climate!

This top is a little bit 70s between the color and the lace, but it is springy so I wore it so I could feel like it is spring even though it's clearly not spring based upon our weather (will the snow ever melt?).

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of January

Well, the first month of year sure flew by.  I should be surprised given that it was kind of a crazy month for me.  I would like time to SLOW DOWN between now and April 8th and then GO SUPER FAST for the year after that.  Please and thank you.

Music:



93 Million Miles by Jason Mraz - Full disclosure, I cry almost every time I hear this song.  It's like the song was written for me and what I am going through.  Like the lines, "Oh my beautiful mother, she told me: son in life you're gonna go far, if you do it right you'll love where you are.  Just know, wherever you go, you can always come home" and "Oh my irrefutable father he told me: son sometimes it may seem dark, but the absence of the light is a necessary part.  Just know, you've never alone, you can always come back home."  Side note:  I wish Jason Mraz would shave off his facial hair and cut his hair while he is at it.  He was way better looking when he had more of a clean cut look, in my opinion.

Books:
 
This was a good reading month for me.  I managed to read 5 books on top of studying 66 hours - and I really liked all the books I read!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Oh how I loved this book!  I had marked it as read when I joined goodreads years ago, but I think I did so in error as I do not think I read it in its entirety.  I am so glad I did as it's such a beautiful, well-written, timeless book.

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum- I also loved this book. It was haunting and difficult to read at times, but so good. If you enjoyed Sarah's Key, you should definitely check this book out. It was partially set in Minnesota, so it was cool reading about all the Minneapolis references and knowing exactly what areas she was talking about!

All That I Am by Anna Funder - I also really enjoyed this book.  You can read my review here.

Stay by Allie Larkin  - This was such a fun, light read.  It was similar to the book "Something Borrowed" (which is a book that REALLY bothered me) in that the main character, Van, is in love with her best friend's fiance - except in this book, the main character chose the higher road and did not give into those feelings.  The relationship between Van and her dog is really sweet, funny, and endearing.  I'm not even a dog lover and I really liked that aspect of the book. 

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - this is the 3rd book I read by Green and probably my least favorite. It was good and I would give it 3.5 stars but it doesn't compare to his later books (which is to be expected). I am still glad I read it, though!  

Miles:

My mileage was decent for the month.  Most of them were ran on the dreadmill as it's been crazy cold here in Minnesota - like days where the high is in the negative range with bitterly cold wind chills (it was -25 with the windchill a couple of days).  I actually hate the treadmill a little bit less than usually do.  I am only doing 4-5 mile runs on there, so nothing substantial as I pretty much lose my mind after 5 miles.  I am training for a 10 mile race in early March so hopefully the temps warm up soon so I can do more runs outdoors.  My total mileage for the month was 71 miles.

Looks:

I am really trying to restrain myself from doing any shopping these first 3 months of the year as I know that there will be costs involved with the move and I want to use as little of the lump sum they give me as possible as I will be saving that to use to move back eventually...  So I have been resisting things like 50% off coupons from Banana Republic (sob).


I did get this sweater dress early in the month as it was on sale for $14 and that is just too cheap to resist.  Plus I have been wanting a sweater dress for years but because I am tall for my size, I have trouble finding ones that are long enough on me, and this one was!  Oh, and as you can see, I cut my hair even shorter at the end of December.  That's as short as I will go!

And my other favorite look is a new Anthropologie apron from Ray!  She sent me a little something to brighten my day after the whole shock of the relocation.  It was so incredibly thoughtful of her!  The bright, cheery colored definitely brightened my day!  I might need to wear this to the 2013 Julia Child Night (I am definitely budgeting a return trip for that event!).

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of December

Music:

 
Blessings by Laura Story - Ok I am not typically a huge fan of contemporary Christian music, but I really love this song.  Unfortunately, I was introduced to this song when I attended the memorial for the baby that my friend lost in the 24th week of her pregnancy, which was a horribly sad experience...  But I thought this was a beautiful song selection.


Little Moments by One Direction - Ok, I feel a bit lame including this in my favorite songs for the month, but I can't help it.  I love this song.  That is all.

Books:

If felt like it was another slower reading month for me, but I did manage to read 4 books, most in the 2nd half of the month.  I also started studying for the CFA (and put in 15 hours in the final days of December) so now I will have to balance that + reading for pleasure + seeing my boyfriend, so 2013 might be a slower reading year for me.  We'll see!  I ended up reading 58 books in 2012, which I am really happy about as it's the most books I have maybe ever read in a year!

We are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg - I enjoyed this book and would give it 3.5 stars if that was an option. It was a fast, engaging read, but the ending felt a little bit abrupt and far fetched which knocked my rating down to a 3 from a 4.

Off Balance:  A Memoir by Dominique Moceanu - Given my level of fascination with Olympic gymnasts, this was a fascinating read for me.  It definitely opened up my eyes to some of the politics that surround the selection of US Gymnasts, and I definitely have completely different view of the Karolyis (and not for the better).  It was an interesting book and is something I'd recommend to others who are obsessed with the sport of gymnastic, like I am.

Cascade by Maryanne O'Hara - I liked this book.  See my review here.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman - This was such a well written and engaging book.  It tells the story of a young couple that struggled to have children and one day finds a baby washed up to shore in a boat.  They decide to keep the baby and raise it as their own as they assume the mother had died.  I won't say any more as it will ruin it for the reader, but the story is so heart breaking and the author did such a great job of capturing the thoughts and emotions of the characters.  The characters were flawed and made mistakes, but they were so likeable at the same time.  Definitely one of the best books I read this year!

Miles:

Meh.  This was another so so month for running for me.  I am in maintenance mode now so I know I need to shift my mileage expectations but it's still kind of depressing to add up the miles and see how little I ran this month.  My total came to 56.  Not horrible, but nothing to write home about.  My total miles for 2012 came to 1,175, though, which I am really happy with!  I came somewhat close to averaging 100 miles/month!


Looks:

This is not the most flattering photo of this top (and I look so tired in the photo), but I really like this wrap top that I got for 50% off at Banana Republic in November.  I ended up also buying it a plum color during an after Christmas clearance sales as it was just too cheap to pass up!

And yellow strikes again!  I also got this sweater for 50% off at Banana Republic (I never pay full price for anything there, seriously).  I am still all about yellow these days!

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of October

Music:

 

Ho Hey by The Lumineers - Oh how I love this song!  I need to check out this band and see if their album is worth buying (anyone own it out there?).



Not with Haste by Mumford and Sons - Oh my gosh, the Mumford & Sons new album ROCKS.  I wasn't sure they could release something as good as their first album.  Well, they did.  This is my favorite song on the album.  I love the last line:  "And I will love with urgency but not with haste."

Books:

It was another strong reading month for me, thanks to all the plane travel I've done!


The Moment by Douglas Kennedy - Oh this book.  It was so good, read in a flurry, bookmarked in many places, thought about as I fell asleep at night. It is the story of an American man and a German woman who fall in love in Berlin during the time of the cold war, amidst the complications of living in a divided city.  He so artfully describes the beauty of falling in love. I could wax on poetically, instead I will close with one of the passages I bookmarked:  'We're all so preposterous, aren't we? Holding onto our torments, our agonies, our small dramas - and using them to sabotage that which was so want... And actually deserve.'

Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat - This was our October book club book.  It's a well-written memoir by a young woman who was imprisoned in Iran in the early 80s. It is a harrowing story but a fast an engaging read.  I highly recommend it.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Another great young adult novel that is definitely a book adults will enjoy. I thought the writing was great!!  I also had a chance to see the movie and thought they did a fantastic job turning it into a movie.  The author wrote the screen play and directed it - and that was reflected in the quality of the movie.

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio - Sarah Jio strikes again!  I read this book in the span of about 48 hours, so that should tell you how good it is!  I think this is my favorite Jio book of her 3!!  The story is engaging from the very beginning!  Such a great book!!

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom - This was a super fast read - I read it over the course of a day spent traveling. It was good but not as good as Albom's other books. I would give it 3.5 stars if that was an option.

Yes Chef by Marcus Samuelsson - I really enjoyed this book.  I fell in love with Samuelsson when he was on Top Chef Masters years ago.  If you are foodie who is interested in the restaurant industry, you will enjoy this book.  Samuelsson did a great job writing this and I especially appreciate the fact that he owns up to mistakes he made along the way.

Miles:

My mileage was on the low side this month since I spent the whole month tapering, and then ran my marathon.  I ran a total of 98.25 miles, which I am happy with!  Most importantly, I ran a strong marathon!


Looks:

Look #1 (with a horrible background) is a dress I bought at Banana Republic.  It's a very simple silhouette that is flattering for people like me that don't have curve.  Also, I love that it's navy!   I paired it with gray peep toe heels.

Look #2 is another Banana Republic outfit.  When I saw the skirt was on display in the window, I was drawn into the store like a moth to a flame.  I am STILL obsessed with mustard!!

Look #3 is my quirky shirt that I bought at the coolest t-shirt shop I've ever been to, which was in Des Moines.  I think the shirt is hilarious!

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of September

Music:

:
It's Time by Imagine Dragon - Seriously - listen to this song.  It is amazing!!  It has THE catchiest beat ever, and as you can see, this band is totally talented as they are singing this live/unplugged.  It will make you tap your feet, maybe car dance, and it is the song you put on when you are so pumped up about life and want to sing at the top of your lungs! LOVE THIS SONG.  I want to see this band live.  They look like they'd put on an amazing show!  I bought the CD and it's AWESOME.



Lifening by Snow Patrol - Oh how I adore this song.  This is a live, unedited version of the song, which shows how talented this band is. I love this song because I know we all have moments when our hearts are so full and we think - "This is all I ever wanted from life."



Books:

It was another strong reading month for me, partially because of the death virus which laid me up on the couch for several days!  I read 6 books!!


The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - I loved this book.  The writing was so engaging and enchanting.  It held my attention from the very beginning and I did not want the book to end.  It's about a boy and a girl who are engaged in a magical competition that is being played out within the tents of a circus that is held at night.  Some have complained that it moved too slowly for their liking, but I loved this book!

The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton - I LOVED this book. It was so well written and engaging. I had a hard time putting it down. The women and the relationships in this book felt real. It was neat to read about this group of women who were newly married, young mothers during the same era that my mom was embarking on marriage/motherhood (60-70s). It makes me want to ask her more about what she thought about events like Apollo 13, the Nixon era and Vietnam.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller -  I really loved this book.  It's sort of a memoir that the author writes while helping write a screen play for a different book he wrote (Blue Like Jazz).  It makes you think about the kind of story you are living and what you want your legacy to be.  One of my favorite quotes about something I think many of us struggle with is as follows:

"There is an intrinsic feeling in nearly every person that your life could be perfect if you only had such-and-such a car or such-and-such a spouse or such-and-such a job.  We believe we will be made whole by our accomplishments, our possessions, or our social status.  It’s written in the fabric of our DNA that life used to be beautiful and now it isn’t, and if only this and if only that, it would be beautiful again."
 
The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee - Ok, my judgment of this book may be clouded by the fact that I was on codeine cough syrup while reading it in the evenings, but holy moley it confused me. I don't know if it was the switching back and forth between the 40s and 50s or keeping track of everyone's ethnicities (Japanese, Chinese, English, or a mix), but I was and still am CONFUSED by this book.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - This is probably the most engaging and most difficult book to put down that I have read this year. It's a mystery novel about the disappearance of a woman on her 5th anniversary. The narration of the book switches back and forth between the husband and wife (partially through her journal in the early parts). It's so incredibly messed up, it will keep you guessing up until the very end!!

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaught -I loved this book. It's about a young woman, Victoria, who was an orphan. The author weaves together a tale of her childhood with the story of the present so seemlessly. You know Victoria has a secret from her past, but it is slowly revealed over the course of the book. It was cool learning about the meaning of different flowers, too!

Miles:


Ha.  Miles.  Not as many as I would like this month, thanks to the freaking death virus. I got 109 in, and over 80% of those came in the 2nd half of the month after I recovered from the death virus/bronchitis.  Not great, but it will have to suffice!

Looks:

First look:  I am bringing the fitted, colored pants trend into fall.  It's tough to tell in this blurry photo (sorry, cold meds make me shaky), but the pants are a lovely eggplant color!  I am all about fitted pants and they work great for my boyish (read:  no curves) body shape!

Second look: Yep, another elevator photo!  This is a new outfit that I got for a very affordable price as the skirt was on clearance at Ann Taylor, and the cami/cardigan came from target. I love that mustard color and think the red shoes are another fun pop of color.  I got a lot of compliments on this color so will look to add more of it to my wardrobe for the fall!

Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of August

Music:



Felt Good on My Lips by Tim McGraw - Yep, I am still on a summer country kick!  I love this song!  I bet it's awesome to see him perform this live.  I adore Tim McGraw and have such a crush on him.

Books:

I read a lot of books in August!!  

The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares -  I actually did not like this book when I first started it, but ended up loving it.  It tells the story of a sort-of love triangle between 2 sisters and their childhood friend, Paul.  I think Brashares is such a great writer.  One of my favorite lines from the book was, "You could spend the rest of your life longing for a single idealized moment that may not have even happened."  That quote resonates with me as I have definitely romanticized certain times from my past.

Looking for Alaska by John Green - Another great book by John Green. Having loved the book, "The Fault in Our Stars," I thought there was a good chance this book might fall short of my expectations. It did not. Green is a brilliant writer! It's classified as young adult, but I think it transcends that genre and deserves a league of its own, honestly.  

All Over the Map by Laura Fraser - This is the sequel to the book, "An Italian Affair," which I read and loved in the my 20s.  I enjoyed this book, but didn't LOVE it and it's not something I'd really recommend to others.  In this sequel, Fraser is trying to reconcile the fact that she is 40, single, and childless.  I can relate to the fact that her life is turning out differently than she imagined, and some of her thoughts mirror mine, like when she says, "... I am losing the threads of my story that have to do with disappointment, with regret, with difficulties with men.  I am happy for the wonderful men I have in my life, would be happy for a new love, and am happy either way."  But there were also many passages where I just couldn't relate to her, like when she stays in relationships where she seems to be settling.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed - I had a hard time writing my goodreads review for this book.  On one hand, I love reading about Strayed's experiences hiking over 1,100 miles of the Pacific Coast Trail.  On the other hand, it was painful to read about some of the decision she had made, such a using drugs and (repeatedly) cheating on her husband.  I sypathize with the fact that her rough childhood and the experience of losing her mom at a young age were the catalyst for some of those decisions, but it was still difficult to read...  That said, I would still recommend this book!

Bloom by Kelle Hampton - I requested this book from the library after seeing it mentioned on several blogs that I read.  It was such a great book. In this book Hampton shares the experience of unexpectedly finding out her daughter has Down Syndrome when she is born.  It's heart breaking and uplifting at the same time and is beautifully written.  It also includes many adorable pictures of Hampton's family.

Paris in Love by Eloisa James - This is memoir about an American family that moves to Paris for a year.  It's not something I would widely recommend but it was a good book that provided a 'Paris fix' for me (which is something I seem to need on a monthly basis!).  Each chapter included snippets that she has shared on twitter and FB, which initially gave the book a bit of a disjointed feel, but  grew on me by the end.

Miles:

It was another strong running month, which included my first (of 3) 20 mile runs!  Eeks, hitting that point makes the marathon seem so much more real.  I ran a total of 163.25 - I am not sure, but that might be my highest mileage month ever!!  I continue to feel really strong on my runs, which I think is due to the fact that I came in with a really strong base.

Looks:

This is my favorite casualish look of the month.  Of course it involves stripes.  Just call me the ambassador of stripes!! I got this dress half off at Gap.  When I bought this dress, the (gay) sales associate told me I will meet my husband wearing this dress (he saw me try it on).  Ha.  I think it will be a great fall dress as I can pair it with tights and boots.  I am pretty sure this will be my Julia Child night outfit!

This is my favorite "professional" look for the month.  I had a 50% coupon for Banana Republic so decided to buy some staple items for my fall wardrobe.  I will be traveling so much, I know I will need more of these type of outfits, so I am glad I got some on sale.