Cool Boo

New Year's Card

I never sent out my Christmas Cards this year, so I decided to make New Year's Cards (haven't sent them out yet either). I like them :)

Etsy Shop

So, one of the things that it on my "list" is to sell something I made.  So to that end, I created a shop on etsy today.  So far the only thing that I have listed is my Warhol-esque Pop Art prints. 

Click HERE to visit :)

What do you think of the name "blonde lawyer creative"?  Is it too weird with "lawyer" in there?  Thanks!

Gift for my hubby

So, you know I **heart** etsy...so much! So, when it was our 10th wedding anniversary...where else would I go?? I found two different rings that I loved, so I ended up getting both for the lucky husband. Here they are:

Copper Riveted Sterling Silver Ring by TammysTreasureChest:

And...Infinity by Grace Ann Hogan:

Both ladies were fabulous to work with and got the rings out super quick. I love them both and so does Gess. We both have a favorite (and are both different of course). What a lucky guy!

Under the weather

I think that I have the stomach flu. It stinks. This is day 2 and I am optimistic because I am feeling better. Oh, and did I say that Gess has it too? So we are two, sickies trying not to annoy the crap out of each other at home on a work day!

This has been a crazy month. For someone that is "healthily" I have sure had a lot of issues! I had an MRI last week to see about my shin pain. That is my immediate concern since it is messing with my training. Then I am also going to work with the doctor on some more overall, holistic health things. I want to feel more health and not always have something going on. Most of the things aren't "big" so I really shouldn't complain, but they do add up. So beware allergies, back, tummy, shins...I am coming after you! :)

My shins are annoying

The shin pain won't go away so I went to see a doctor that my coach recommended. We decided that I should get an MRI to rule out a stress fracture and too see if it can shed some light on what is happening with me. For now that means no running/walking, so this weekend I am swimming and spending some time on my bike. I am frustrated with my body, but trying to stay positive. I had the MRI this morning--it is hard to stay still for an hour!--and will hopefully get the results early next week and then we can decide on the route to go. I hope that it is something that can be fixed and not some funky thing causing my legs to be defective!

From Swissmiss

Track Workout

Track Workout tonight.  I am on a modified schedule because of my shins.  Let me just say, some of these people I run with are amazing!  I can't even tell you how many times I was lapped but you know, it didn't bother me tonight.  I was out there doing what I can given the situation and I know that it is going to improve.  I ended up doing part run, part walk and did a total of 3 miles.  I think that my shins hurt a little less than on Saturday's run, so that's something!  

You know, the crazy thing is that I enjoyed the workout tonight, even though I was hurting and on my modified schedule.  Now that is a good thing :)

I'm giving myself  a gold star for the day!

Sleep--or lack thereof

I have had sleep issues for quite some time. About two years ago, I blogged about my inability to sleep well and how tired I was and a friend of a friend responded to my blog with a sleep doctor recommendation. I called immediately as I was getting rather desperate. As you might be able to tell, I tend to keep a pretty busy schedule, so not having adequate sleep really took a toll on me. I made an appointment with the Virginia Mason Sleep Disorders Clinic. Dr. Lee was great and we talked about the possible causes of my sleep issues, which were actually quite complex. He scheduled a sleep study, where I slept at the hopstial with a million cords and electrodes stuck to me.

I can't remember the exact results, but I was waking up over a hundred times a night--no wonder I wasn't feeling rested! I had minor obstructive sleep apnea and also Restless Leg Syndrome (who knew??). He referred me to an ENT surgeron because of my large tonsils and sinus issues. I had surgery to remove the tonsils and adnoids and also to repair a deviated septum and trim my turbinates. I was amazed at how much better I could breathe, and I didn't even know I was having trouble!


I did another sleep test to see where I was post surgery, and there was still some mild sleep apnea, so he set me up with a CPAP machine. I hate that thing, but wear it sometimes (okay, not that often).


The big problem, however, was being able to fall asleep at all now--insomnia. So, I started on Ambien, and basically took it every night. I did fantastic for a few months--amazed at the amount of engery I had from getting sleep! But lately it has started to get worse again and I was having some problems with the medication.


So, I went to see Dr. Lee again and he put me in an insomnia workshop/clinic. The idea is that people can develop basically a learned response to insomnia, so even if they are not stressed or anxious, they still have sleep issue. It is a 5-6 week treatment and I went to my second session yesterday.


We are starting to try something called Sleep Restriction. The basic idea is that people with insomnia are in bed a lot longer than they actually sleep. So, you restrict the time that they are in bed and make them really tired and hopefully they will start to sleep more of the time that they are in bed. This will also help determine the amount of sleep that I need. So, I am starting that this week, and a bit scared. I am supposed to go to sleep at 11:30 pm and get up at 5:00 am. Everyday. Even on weekends. So, if you see me and I look like I haven't slept in days, you might be right :) But, I am optimistic that this will help and I will be on my road to real sleep without medication!

Marathon Training--Ouch!

So, I am doing a marathon this summer--yay!  Scared, but excited.  I decided to find a coach/team for the help and motivation.  I am so fortunate that the amazing Teresa Nelson has decided to start her own business (TN Multisports) and do specific training for MY marathon (not the official name, but probably what I will be calling it).  To learn more about Teresa and TN Multisports go here.  

Anyway, so I signed up with Teresa and went to my first workout last week. It was cold and drizzly outside, but I wouldn't let myself that as an excuse (believe me I tried!).  So, I got there and met everyone and started out.  Within about 10 minute of the warm up my shins started to hurt.  Ughh!  I haven't had much shin pain lately and was really hopeful about it.  I did about a mile and half and then Teresa sent me home.  I was bummed but tried not to let it get me down.  I went home and iced as instructed.

Apparently I have shin splints likely caused by excessive tightness in my calves and an imbalance in strength between my shin and calf muscles.  So, I am keeping impact activities to a minimum, icing my shins like crazy, getting massages, stretching, and all of that good stuff.  I am frustrated, but really working hard not to get too upset!

I decided to get new shoes just in case they were contributing to the shin problems.  The folks at Road Runner Sports were awesome!  Bruce spent about 1 1/2 hours with me and I walked out with a cute new pair of Brooks Trance Running Shoes and Superfeet Berry Premium.  I will probably go back soon for some compression socks and I need a new hat :) 

On Saturday I met with the group again for the "longer" run.  We met at Discovery Park in Magnolia, which is beautiful. I was the only slow one there, so I set out on my loop solo. I alternated between jogging and walking and my shins hurt, but don't seem to be getting any worse.  I completed the 2.8 mile loop (it took me as long as it took some others to run that loop twice--but who's comparing?).  I did my best to enjoy the scenery and be happy that I could be out there at all.  I am still frustrated with my stupid shins, but not going to let it get me down.  I mean, 2.8 miles is nothing to sneeze at!

So, the training will continue.  Track workout tomorrow night and then "long" run on Saturday.  In between I am still strength training and using the elliptical for cardio. I have to do an anaerobic threshold test this week, which seems a little scary, but I will be good.

Progress on the list...

Yesterday I crossed something off my list--I sat for boudoir photos!  I know, crazy :)  I have been thinking about it for awhile, not so much for my husband (though I am sure that he won't mind seeing the pictures), but for myself.  In doing some research on photography for a friend, I came across some really great sites, and I was struck by how fabulous and self-confident this "regular" women looking in these photographs.  Self-confidence is always one area that has been hard for me and having photographs taken seems like a form of torture at times, so this seemed like a good "test" for me and a way to push myself out of my own box. 

My great friend Steff decided to come up from Portland for the session with me and we had a great time!  I was surprised about how relaxed I felt.  I haven't been that relaxed when being photographed, ever, which is ironic, given the situation.

I haven't seen any of the photographs yet, but I am hoping that there are some that look good and that I--the relaxed me--was captured.  I am nervous about seeing them though, I will admit!

I did learn a good lesson--things that you think are super noticeable are probably not.  I said something about my scar from my recent surgery and the photographer said "what scar?"  

So, part one was a great success--let's see how part two (seeing the photos) goes!  (And no, I am not posting them on the blog :) )

Creative Everyday Challenge 2009

One of my resolutions for this year is to be more creative, so when I found the Creative Everyday Challenge, I knew that I had to sign up.  So, technically it is the 4th of January, so I am a bit behind, but I feel like I have been pretty creative this last week, so I am good :)  I will keep track of my creative pursuits on the blog as always.  

If you are interested in learning more about it, go here and join me!!

Vancouver, BC

We decided to take a semi-last minute trip to Vancouver, BC to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.  We left Seattle on Jan. 1st and had an uneventful 3 hour drive to Vancouver.  We were able to check in to our hotel early and get settled in.  We stayed at Hotel Le Soleil.  It was our first time there and we were really impressed.  

photos from Hotels.com 

The hotel was beautiful and the bed was SO comfortable!  It reminded me of why you NEED super soft sheets and also why it can be so darn hard to get out of bed sometimes!

After getting settled we took a walk down Robson Street and checked out the stores that were open.  Gess jumped on the chance to have sushi, so we had lunch at a place called Tsunami Sushi which is like the Blue C conveyor belt sushi place we have in Seattle, except this was water and boats.  It was okay, I am not crazy about sushi, but I eat it since Gess loves it so much.

Nothing too exciting that day, just wandering around and then relaxing in the hotel room.  We watched Burn After Reading on pay-per-view and ordered pasta.  It was nice to just relax.  

The next day, I slept in, which was so nice.  Gess eventually got me out of bed and we decided to have breakfast.  We ended up at a Crepe place and had a nice, simple breakfast and discussed what we wanted to do.  We did a bit of shopping and then decided to explore some places outside of downtown Vancouver.  This is really the first time we have ventured very far out.

We first drove to Lighthouse Beach and took a short hike out to see the Lighthouse.  It was a beautiful day and was nice to see the lighthouse.  I was completely unprepared for hiking and looked like one of those stupid girly girls that goes hiking carrying a purse!  Gess said the only thing that could have made me look sillier was if I had been wearing high heels instead of my danskos.  I felt silly, but enjoyed the view anyway.

It was an adventure getting out of the park as it was really snowy in the parking lot and people can't seem to drive...but we made it.

We had about 45 minutes until sunset and wanted to get to Horseshoe Bay to watch it.  Luckily we made it in plenty of time and were able to take some good pictures.  I don't know what I am doing and only click away at my point-and-shoot, while Gess has a more fancy camera and has some skill.  I will try to post some of his photos if he gets them uploaded, but for now, here are a few of mine.

It was really beautiful!

After that we went back to the hotel, changed, and then went out to dinner at a great place--The Shore Club.  Great atmosphere and delicious food!  Gess had filet and lobster and I had short ribs and some wonderful roasted beets.  A very nice dinner!

We decided to call it a night after that and went back to the hotel, watched a movie, and relaxed.  I also got quite a bit of reading done (which I will talk about in another post).

On Saturday we woke up to snow.  We decided that we would venture out for breakfast and then decide what to do.  We wandered around a bit, as Gess was looking for a place to have lunch (since we slept in).  We ended up at a tapas bar/grill called the Cactus Club.  Gess had a pasta dish and I had a very delicious cheeseburger.  Yummmm...makes me hungry just thinking about it!  The only thing that I didn't like about the place was the way the waitresses were dressed and the sleazy manager flirting with all of them!  

We decided to just walk around, so we wandered up Robson, finally ending up at a Starbucks to warm up.  After that we kept walking down Robson and then headed over to Davie Street, and walked down there, looking at shops, etc.  The snow kept getting worse and by that time we were wet and cold!  We finally made it back to the hotel and I decided to take a nap while Gess did something.  Most just lots of walking and then relaxing that day.  We had planned to go to Stanley Park and Granville Island, but alas, the snow won!

We headed back into town today--and guess what?  More frickin' snow!  Seriously! :) 

New Year's Resolutions

I sort of thing that I am always working on some sort of "resolution" but this time of year is perfect for resetting goals and thinking about changes that you want to make. I could make a huge, long list of things, but this year I am limiting myself to 5 overarching (and very important) resolutions.

1. Love Myself More. This may seem simply, but it is the most difficult thing on my list. It is going to be a daily (at least for now) pursuit and take lots of work. I can be horrible to myself. I say horribly mean things to myself. And worse yet, there are days when I truly believe them. So, I need to stop that. Now. Not tomorrow. Now. One thought at a time.

2. Stress Less. I worry too much and feel guilty too often. It is not good for me. I gotta stop.

3. Create More. I am happy when I am creating. It is good for me. I must do more. Much more.

4. Live More. I get bogged down with details and worries (like we all do from time to time). I need to stop worrying so much about the negative and focusing on and enjoying the positive. Enjoy the moments that are here, instead of constantly fretting about the moments to come.

5. Be Happy. It is a choice that I need to make. To be happy. To seek it and own it.