Ushering in the Holidays

{Gap top and scarf | Old Navy premium Rockstar denim leggings (awesome) | Banana Republic bag | Target necklace and flats}

I think I'm going to start lifting weights. I mean really lifting weights. The hubs shared this article with me, and I realized it's completely true. After all, the only time I've been more in shape then when at my peak running days was right before my wedding - when I was pumping some iron in grad school. Killah.

So get ready for some guns. Well, first I'll see how sore I am from today's workout. Wah - I'm weak.

On another note, I ate way too much over Thanksgiving and the weekend. But that's how it should be. We enjoyed a spectacular Friendsgiving at our place and the hubs did the turkey. (I couldn't be more proud.) Plus we relaxed a lot, went on a City Guides walking tour in Sutro Heights that was really great, and saw Henry Rollins at Yoshi's with some really awesome friends. I get what all the fuss is about. He's really an interesting and entertaining guy. He has this punk-rock anger about him that he's able to channel into being really interested in people and human nature and people who are different from him. Sure, he's political and controversial, but he's not mean. I like that.

It's obvious in all of our photos - he loves me.

I told him to do his best impression of a style blogger.

Yay to Christmas in Union Square!

Should You Watch It? Episode 3: LOLwork

Have you heard of this show?

Can we all go back to posting videos of cute puppies now?

{Gap dress (seriously stalked this one online until it came to the store) | Old Navy wedges}

My favorite thing about social media is that we can all express our opinions and change each others' minds through our Facebook statuses, Tweets and Instagrams. The power of influencing others with a quippy ecard or meme is incredible. After all, when I was in the voting booth this morning, I whipped out my phone just so I could check my "friends" statuses to make sure I was making the right decision.

None of this is true. My real favorite thing about social media is puppies and kitties and other baby animals.

So this post is dedicated to everyone who has missed puppies and kitties as much as I did during this election season. Enjoy the clickies!

Puppy loves the windshield wipers

Baby panda kisses her mom

Tiny little otter pup

This is a puppy

This is another puppy

There. don't you feel better now? I know I do. Here's to filling up our Facebooks with puppies and kitties and other adorable animals once more!

Hey! It's me.

Photos of me!!! From weeks ago! Hooray!

I won't make excuses. I'm just lazy.

And busy. Ok--I made an excuse. I've done some cool things since we last spoke. I went to a goat farm (go look at these photos, pronto). We got our new City Target, just a short walk from our apartment. It's dangerous, y'all. I carved a couple of pumpkins. I don't even really like carving pumpkins. (There. I said it.) Our visiting friend from D.C. got stranded here in SF due to Sandy. I ran a trail race and determined based on that race and last year's that I'm no trail runner. The San Francisco Giants won the World Series and we got a second round of celebrating in the city (after 2010's win). And our SC pals who are now living in Walnut Creek came for a visit and we saw "Wreck-It Ralph." Highly recommend.

I'm getting pumped about the holidays. We'll host a little sumpin' sumpin' at our apartment for Thanksgiving (per usual) and head to South Carolina for Christmas. So I am stoked.

In clothing news, I had to retire this shirt after this photo shoot. It had seen one too many outings and was starting to pill like crazy. But I've already replaced it with a vintage tee from Old Navy (seriously soft and perfectly vee'd). And these adorable little jeans have tiny little polka dots all over them.

{Old Navy jeans | Gap top | Gap scarf | Dolce Vita shoes (same in black)}

Should You Watch It? Episode 2: Top Dog Model

Aaaaaand I'm back! Talking about a reality show with dogs. And British accents. Enjoy!

Hair Anxiety: I has it.

Isn't it nice when you learn new things about yourself?

I learned something new a couple of weeks ago. You see, since I moved to San Francisco, I haven't found a hair stylist to commit to. First, I was going to the Aveda salon school because it was cheap, but a couple of years ago I graduated to real salon status. And yet I hadn't found a stylist. I went to one, and she told me I had to stop tying my hair back so tightly when I run because I have a lot of breakage.

Who wants to hear that? (Even if it's true.)

Finally, I received a recommendation from a co-worker's significant other for a stylist just down the street from my apartment. "Ok," I thought, "going on a friend's tip is a much better idea."

So I left work a few weeks ago for my lunch break haircut. As I approached the salon, my heart started racing and I felt nervous. NERVOUS?

For a haircut??

Turns out, hair anxiety is a real thing that something people have. I was nervous about getting a bad haircut, hearing I had some irreparable damage (I kinda do), and having a stylist I couldn't get along with. But Paul Laxton (my new awesome stylist) helped me get over it my hair anxiety. Sure, he noted my ponytail breakage, too, but he also suggested a solution: ribbon hairbands.

Why, I think I've found my San Francisco stylist!

Do you have hair anxiety?

Image via

Hi. I'm Bethy. And I'm an athlete.

I've never considered myself an athlete. At least, not a real athlete. Yes, I know I probably should, but everyone has their insecurities. One of mine is that I don't really think I'm athletic, no matter how many races I run.

But something happened the other day at the gym. I don't typically choose to run on the treadmill, but since I was working it out during my lunch break, it was just convenience.

I snagged a treadmill right in front of the mirrors and started warming up. Then I glanced up. And I saw an athlete.

I'm not trying to be cheesy here, folks; I'm just telling you that for the first time, I looked like an athlete to ME. It didn't hurt that I was wearing short, black compression shorts and a black tank top. I could see my leg muscles contracting as I ran--I'd never done that before. Even my arms looked strong as I swung them in rhythm with my strides. And my face looked focused and determined.

I'm an athlete.

So no matter how many times I want to give up or I feel tired. Or even if I skip a workout. I've seen myself as an athlete in the mirror. And that's what I am.

{Gap dress: exactly | NYC scarf | Banana Republic boots: Exactly | Target earrings}

Should You Watch It? Episode 1: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

In my latest online experiment, I start a video series all about the one thing everyone loves to hate: reality TV.

Be gentle--it's my first time shooting with the 50mm fixed lens and my first time editing in iMovie.



Can't see the video? Man, are you missing out. Click here.

Keeps the Doctor Away

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, will this top keep him away for a few months?

No. Because that's silly. But it is a great top. Just menswear enough to be prim, but flowy enough to be comfortable and work perfectly with a pair of skinny jeans (these I've had for years) and some flats.

Thanks once again to the Gap for providing this lovely to add to my wardrobe. I imagine it'll be getting a lot of wear this fall, probably with more skinnies and the boots in this post.

On an unrelated note, I learned how to (pretty much) use iMovie today from the miracle of YouTube tutorials and I am creating some fun new video content that is sure to blow your mind. Well, not literally. And probably not figuratively, either. I don't want literal or figurative mind-goo getting in the way of your watching my video.

Anyway, I figured a new vlogging project would do me some good and help me learn a valuable online skill. Get ready for lots of fun transitions and title screens! And sample iMovie sound effects!

{Gap top (exactly, but different print) | Target jeggings (super old, but still going) | Banana Republic bag | Target shoes (similar) }

A Tale of Two B.B. Creams

I am not a beauty blogger. I never have been, and I never will be. In fact, I keep my beauty routine pretty simple. But every now and then an affordable product comes along that promises to be the answer to all of my minimalist beauty prayers.

Most recently, it's B.B. cream. I know I'm a little behind the curve here, but I had to experiment first so that I could share my learnings with you, dear friend.

I tried two different creams:

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream

Maybelline Dream Fresh B.B. Cream



First it was the Garnier. I think because I read about it in a magazine. Yes, folks, magazine ads work on me, apparently.

I liked the Garnier cream for the coverage and cooling application, but I found it greasy. After walking a mile to work, the cream felt dewey on my face. And now a good "she's glowing" dewey, but a sticky, "wipe your face with a tissue as soon as you get to your desk" dewey.

That's when I decided to try the Maybelline cream. Just before I left for my conference in Denver, I decided to grab this little tube of wonder. And I'm glad I did. This cream doesn't cover quite as well as the Garnier, but it's light-weight and non-greasy. Even after walking around hot downtown Denver. No deweyness.

So the clear winner was the Maybelline Dream Fresh. Packaging doesn't lie. This might replace my moisturizer/powder combo on days when I'm in a rush.

Have you tried B.B. Cream? Do you like it?

How to Stand Out at a Work Conference

I'm meeting some awesome personal finance bloggers at #FinCon12 this year (last year rocked, too), and there was no way I wanted to blend into the crowd. You too, my dear reader, can learn to stand out at your next work conference with these easy tips:

1. Wear bright colors. Obviously, this top counts, but I also wore two other dresses (here and here) this weekend in fun colors. (And you guessed it, they are both a part of my great knit dress collection).

2. Wear animal prints. Oh, leopard print linen pants from J. Crew, how I love you. Plus, I scored these beauties for $20 at a great sale.

3. Wear awesome glasses. These Warby Parker specs have gotten me more compliments than any other item of apparel I have ever owned. Yes, that was quite superlative in nature, but it's also accurate. Maybe I should try the monocle next.

 Downtown Denver view is more like track view.

I have a badge and everything. Totes Offish. Ew, I hate that I typed that. But backspacing is for quitters. Oh, and I was in an infographic for the conference, c/o the awesome guys at Budgetable. Look who's a "Rising Star." Hey, girl. Hey.

Old Navy top (exactly)

J. Crew pants (exactly)

Old Navy shoes (similar)

Seeking: Polka Dot Jeggings

I've seen these all around the style blogosphere, at She Hath Done What She Could, Rose a la Mode AND Blog No5. So I'm convinced. They're pretty cool and would make a lovely addition to my wardrobe.

Particularly at $30 a pop from American Eagle.

Latest Obsession: Knit dresses

You know I'm obsessed with scarves (especially this spaced-dyed infinity scarf), but now I've found my latest love: knit dresses.

They are PERFECT.

Comfortable. (Like fat pants for your WHOLE BODY!)

Wrinkle-free.

Figure flattering (and kind).

Easy. (I like outfits that consist on one article of clothing.)

Perfect.

This one is from the Gap (where else?). In fact, I returned to the Gap the same day these photos were taken to pick up another knit dress I had tried on earlier. I should probably stop for the season after that one, though. After all, I already have the perfect knit dress in my closet.

{Gap dress (exactly) | Gap scarf (exactly) | Banana Republic boots (exactly) }

P.S. If you're hungry, go pick up some drunken goat cheese from Trader Joe's. You won't regret it.

On-Trend: The Peplum Top

{Peplum top: similar | Pants: Gap | Flats: similar | Earrings: Target }

And lace. And hot-pink pants. And leopard print. Kind of a lot of trends in one, I guess.

On a completely unrelated note: I was having a great hair day in these photos.

The Hit-On-Me Dress

Banana Republic dress (exactly)

Banana Republic boots (exactly)

Gap scarf (exactly)

TKO watch (similar)

On the way to work yesterday, wearing this dress, I thought, "I'll blog about how much I dig this dress!"

But as the day went on, I realized that THIS. DRESS. IS. AWESOME.

Y'all. Wearing this dress yesterday, I got hit on. For real. And not just a hollering cat-call, but a bonafide I'm-hitting-on-you line.

Now, I'm happily married. But even a married woman likes a little extra recognition. So this is now my hit-on-me dress. It makes me feel amazing. Sure, it's just a dress, but I think there's a few key points here. And on we go:

1. Find a dress that really (really) flatters your figure. I'm just a little hippy, and this dress hugs me perfectly so as not to emphasize my hips (I'm lookin' at you, empire waists), but to make my curves look proportionate.
2. Find a dress in a color that works. I don't think I have anything else in this color, and I don't know why. Against my fair skin, it's great. And for the Fall, it's greater.
3. Find a dress that leaves plenty to the imagination. This one hits just above the knees and has a pretty conservative neckline. It's much more Katie Couric than Kim Kardashian, and I think that's what makes it work.
4. Find a dress that shows off your best features. I dig my arms (and will dig them more as I get farther along in my race training). The only thing that would make this dress more perfect is if it showed off my shoulders.

I probably should go buy this dress in every color I can find.

Tell me about your hit-on-me dress.

How I feel at first when guys hit on me.

Then I'm all like, "That was interesting!"

Back on Track

This is the first week of my half marathon training.

I once said that I wanted to do a marathon every year for as long as I could. After having completed 2.75 marathons, I'm feeling okay with slowing down a bit, especially considering how my joints are feeling after that last race.

But I slowed down too much. I've gained a little extra poundage. I'm sure no one else has noticed, but my waist has. And so have some of my pants. Yikes.

And what I've learned about myself is that I have to have a goal in order to stay on track fitness-wise. Otherwise, I get a little sporadic in my workouts.

So I've signed up for a half marathon in Wine Country in October. And I'm using Hal Higdon's training schedule again. Bring it.

gifted jeans

Old Navy top

Old Navy cardigan

Gap scarf

Banana Republic bag

Chelsea Crew wedges

Recent Wardrobe Additions

How I'm preparing for Fall 2012...

Willow riding boot

Finally replacing my long-faithful cognac boots (see them here) with these beauties from Banana Republic.

Terry dress

Figuring out that sheath dresses are really the best for my shape, and sticking with them for every season. (See the below example, too.)

Brown leather sheath

Investing in a luxurious piece like this dress. Yes, it's leather. I know, I know. But I feel totally awesome in it.

Women's Lightweight Button-Front Sleeveless Tops

Picking up as many of these tops from Old Navy as I can. They're perfect for several reasons: They're cheap, they come in lots of fun colors, and the sleeveless factor makes them perfect for wearing under cardigans.

Women's The Rockstar Super Skinny Jeans

Sticking with some old faithfuls, like the Old Navy Rockstar jeans. I've worn my black ones so many times that I've had to replace them thrice. (Examples here and here.) And now I have a blue pair to wear into the ground.

Which Fall pieces are you stocking up on or investing in?