Run or Dye (or is it Die)!

The things I'll do for my boy!  

Grom heard about a Color Run and decided it would be a lot of fun.  I heard of one coming to our area, Surferman volunteered to join us.  Memories were made.

Here's our before picture.

My guys were great about waiting up for me.

Can you see all the runners behind them?

Run or Dye is a 5K Fun Run.  There are dye stations along the route where you get pelted with bright colored powdered dye.  So much fun.

Here's our after picture!

I can't say I did much running, but I sure had a lot of fun and completed my first "race". 

Here's some well earned wisdom in case you ever participate in a color run.

1. Get a pair of cheap sunglasses to wear.  You will get dye in your face.  My much-loved Maui Jim's will never be the same.
2.  All that dye will come out.  Don't think you'll have a great shirt after, it mostly washes out.  
3.  A snack sized ziploc bag is the perfect sized to protect your phone, and you can still take pictures through it.
4. We got a back pack when we checked in and all of us were reluctant to use it.  It would've been very handy to carry water and sunscreen.  Anyone want a brand-new Run or Dye backpack?  I don't know what to do with them now.  sheesh!
5. Leave plenty of time for parking and getting started.  There were over 9,000 runners at our race.  These are very popular events.
6. Baby wipes work for cleaning off the majority of the dye.  Bring towels for your car to keep the seats cleanish.  I was also glad that I wore a tank top under my t-shirt.  After the race, I took off my t-shirt and was able to shake off a lot of the powder.
7. Plan to go somewhere for lunch.  Wear your dye proudly.  You just finished a 5K.

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 15

Adding Coziness and Tranquility to Home Life

I used to attend a Home Group at this wonderful woman's home.  Her house exudes warmth, love, and peace.  You just feel and know that Jesus lives there with them.

I hope that people feel and know that Jesus lives at my home too.  My home is just messier and more cluttered than hers.  Mine is cluttered with more than stuff - some of my clutter is people.  She and her husband are empty nesters.

I have a 3 1/2 year old with indulgent grandparents and that means lots of toys.

I know there are things I can do to make my home more inviting, cozy and comfortable.  I especially want these things for Surferman.  I want him to be happy to be home.  I want him to long for his castle.  I want to provide him a peaceful refuge from the things of this world.

Please pray for me - for my attitude.  Often by the time Surferman gets home I am wanting to be rescued; to be taken away from it all.  I want to have dinner ready, the table set, Grom showered and ready for bed, the house picked up.  Lord, help me, please.

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 14

Going Out

or Don't go out frumpy

I ran into an old friend at the grocery store today.  She was frumpy.  I know that I have dressed as bad (if not worse) and gone to work.  YIKES!

Being fabulous is not about having lots of expensive clothes.  It's about being polished and put together.  It about being comfortable in your clothes.  

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 13

Hands

Until I was about 35, I indulged the terrible habit of nail biting.  My nails were always bit to the quick.  U G L Y!

When I was pregnant with Grom something changed.  I guess it was the hormones or whatever, but my nails started growing and I stopped biting them.  

So now I have these nails on the ends of my fingers and I generally don't know what to do with them.  They grow and I chop them off.

I've splurged for a manicure a few times.  The polish never lasts and everytime I look at my hands I get startled and wonder how I got someone elses hands.

I read Emma's recommendation of Neutrogena Instant Nail Enhancer, tried it and love it.  I don't have to be precise in it's application and it makes my nails look nicer.  Perfect.

I also like using Satin Hands from Mary Kay.  It makes my hands feel so soft.

Daily, Aveeno Moisturizing Lotion, keeps my hands hydrated.  I'm not real good at lotioning though.  I just heard that it contains petroleum products which are supposed to be really bad for us.  Hmmm... 

My biggest hand problem is that I continue to gnaw on my cuticles.  Maybe if I take better care of my hands I won't get hang nails and rough cuticles and I can stop that habit too.

555 Book Challenge

There's a book reading challenge out there.  I understand it started as 8 books of 8 different kinds in 2008.  That's 64 books.  Or over 5 books a month!  Even with overlaps (books in more than one category) I don't have a chance.  I wish I was that kind of reader.

One of my Frugal Families friends suggested a 555 Challenge.   Five books, Five categories, Five Overlaps.

I want to read more and watch less TV so I'm in.

Christian Fiction

1.  ISRAEL My Beloved - Kay Arthur

2. Leota's Garden - Francine Rivers (reading now)

3. What a Girl Wants - Kristin Billerbeck

4. (Something) by Karen Kingsbury

5. Blessed Child by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright 

Parenting / Non Fiction

1. Shepherding Your Child's Heart - Ted Tripp

2. Mommy, Teach Me - Barbara Curtis

3. Prayer for My Child - Tim A. Spilman

4. Something about container gardening - I want to grow lettuce and such

5. The Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman

Fiction / Classics / Books I Should've Read in High School

1.  A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle

2. Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis

3. Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe

4. Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne

5.  Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson

Books of the Bible 

1.  Isaiah

2.  Revelation

3.  Daniel

4.  Genesis

5.  John

Mysteries (these will be Books on Tape - maybe that's cheating?)

1.  T is for Trespass - Sue Grafton

2.  Tough Cookie - Diane Mott Davidson (listening now)

3. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers - Lillian Jackson Braun

4. Dead Heat - Dick Francis

5. Sticks and Scones - Diane Mott Davidson

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 12

Reading for Pleasure

I enjoy reading.  I go in spurts.  I'm in a spurt right now.  

There are so many great books.  I managed to miss a lot of Classics in High School and College.  I have parenting books to learn from.  Cookbooks count too, right?  I like to read fiction before bed.  

Unfortunately, I have needed to use my before bed reading time to spend some (last minute) time with God reading His Word.

But now that I'm almost fabulous, I'm getting up early and being so blessed reading the Bible.  And I have time to do some reading for pleasure.  I'd have more if I'd turn off the stinking television.

I made a list of books that I want to read.

Who are your favorite authors?  What kind of books do you like to read?

I'm on my way to being fabulous with Emma's help.

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 11

Dressing

Shopping for undergarments and pajamas brought a few new clothing pieces into my closet too.

I'm experiencing tops that a cut a little to low to wear anywhere but at home.  I found a couple of camisoles (one white, one black) that hopefully will make some of my shirts more wearable.  I think it's funny that I wear 2 shirts to be decent, but that neither of those shirts are modest alone.

Another wardrobe problem I have is tops that are too short.  I'm hopeful that the camis will help that problem too.

My closet needs a good weeding.  I have a knack of catching spilled food on my front.  I'm plagued with stains.  It's time to get rid of the ones that I can't get the stains out of.

I find that my day starts smoother if I think about what I'm going to wear the night before.  The easiest way to ruin a day is to find out that all your pants  (or at least the wearable ones) are sitting wet in a washer somewhere.  I'm not good at getting the laundry done.

Onto other fabulous news... 3 days in row of waking early and having time in the Word.  I'm looking forward to the day when I've lost count.

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 10

Face

I have more money invested in make up than I'd ever admit.  Bare Escentuals is my face paint of choice.  It makes my skin feel great and I like that it's a "natural" product.  My face is actually clearer when I wear it frequently.

If I keep getting up at 5 am, I'll have time and no excuses.

And by the way... 2 days in a row - up before 5:30 am.  YAY ROBIN!

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 9

Exercise

Walking is my exercise of choice.  

In the past, I found that if I could find someone to drag along with me that I was much better at being consistent.  I have had some great walking buddies in the past.  

I'm stuck for a little while.  Grom doesn't like to sit in the stroller and his tricycle just doesn't go fast enough.  I know it's a season.  Soon enough he'll be riding a bike and I'll be begging him to stay where I can see him while I'm walking.

For now... it looks like I'm doomed to a treadmill or getting out of the house before Surferman leaves in the morning.

I am getting up at 5 am this week to spend time with God.  I should also have time to get myself around the loop or to do some time on the treadmill.

I love to exercise.  I love to exercise.  I love to exercise.... think I can convince myself?

Emma's helping me be fabulous.  Read more HERE.

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 8

Cultivating a Meek and Quiet Spirit

I don't think I was surprised when Emma posted this as one of my steps to fabulousness.  Maybe a little overwhelmed by the idea.  Definitely stumped by what I'd write about it on my blog.

Last night I decided that I was getting up at 5 am.  That the most important thing I could do in my conversion from frumpiness is to spend time with God and in His Word.

This morning I started in 1 Peter 3.  I wandered all around the New Testament and was really blessed by the verses God took me to.  Showing me how to cultivate a meek and quiet spirit.

Thank you Jesus!

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 7

Pajamas

It looks like I'm going to have to dig into the clothing budget envelope to be fabulous.  

My "new" nightclothes were purchased before Grom was born.  He's 3 1/2.

Yay!  A good reason to do some shopping. 

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 6

Hair

Oh no!  Hair!  My hair is a problem.

I saw the same hairdresser from 1987 to 2005.  I loved Margaret because she knew me and knew my hair.  She knew what my hair could do and would do.  She also knew what I would do.  Margaret was a talented cutter, colorist and therapist.  She knew when I really wanted change and when I was acting impulsively.  I followed her from salon to salon.  And then... she stopped cutting hair.

Since then I've been a drift.  I tried a gal for awhile.  She wasn't great, but she was nice enough and she tried.  At the end of the last cut she gave me (which was super uneven and choppy - not on purpose) she said that she hoped I was happy with my cut because she felt like she didn't know what she was doing because she was pregnant.  Maybe she should have disclosed her loopiness before she started cutting my hair.

I'm still looking for a stylist.  Guess I need to find one if I want to be fabulous.

To read more about this challenge, click HERE.

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 5

Undergarments.

I'm not one to talk about my unmentionables.  Just know they'll be getting a good decluttering and an upgrade on my way to fabulousness.

To read more about this challenge, click HERE.

From Frumpy to Fabulous - Day 4

Spiritual Reading

Here's what Emma has to say about it.

A gal can't be fabulous unless she's been washed in the water of the Word.  I know this.  I've experienced this.  I want it back.

Surferman and I have been better about getting up earlier.  Now I just need to get up even a bit earlier.  

Lord, Help me.

I have been enjoying my fabulous journey.  I've had some sweet times sharing my heart with my Father.  I'm working on drinking that water.  Struggling with the skin care.  I went to an Arbonne "party" tonight.  Do you think $300 worth of skin stuff would be motivating or foolish?   I haven't decided.

From Frumpy to Fabulous in just under 3 weeks

I'm ready to be fabulous - inside and out.  

I enjoy the blogging Emma does at Charming the Birds from the Trees.  She encourages me in my role of wife and homemaker.

She's transforming herself from frumpy to fabulous in the next three weeks and I've decided to join her in the adventure.  I'm jumping in a little late - today is day three.  Fortunately I think I can catch up.

Day 1 - Prayer

I used to write the things and people I was praying for in my brain book.  I never liked my last brain and we never had the relationship I have had with other books.  Silly, I know.  I abandoned that book last week and have a new one.  So far we are getting along great.  I have a section dedicated to prayer.  I'm going to pray through that section every morning.

Day 2 - Water

I bought one of those water bottles with a straw in it for my desk at work.  I plan to fill it up when I get to work in the morning and finish it off before I leave.  It's 4 cups.  Another in the afternoon and a third between dinner and bed and I'm more than set.

I like to add Alacer Electro Mix to my water.  It makes it tasty and helps to hydrate me.  A splash of juice also helps the water go down.

Day 3 - Skin

I was doing great at washing my face.  I know that nightly washing keeps my skin clear.  I have the supplies.  Just need to do it.  Put on lotion after showering is also a must do for me.

I wonder what's in store for day 4?