I made a Facebook page! And scenes from the week!

January 21, 2014 | cheriarmour

Yous know I love my social media right? So it only seemed fitting that I’d make a Facebook page for the blog, and folks seem to be enjoying it. So here’s the deal, if you love me, and you’d love to interact with me a little more, do a few things for me:

Read the blog obviously.
Follow me on Bloglovin‘ if you’re a fellow blogger. (Seriously, the most useful tool for keeping me and all my blogs organized and in one place, rather than logging on to every single blog.)
And follow me on my Facebook . It’s a little more interactive, because there’s no real lag time between when you comment or ask me a question, and when you get a response, either from me, or from another informed reader.

Okay, moving right along, I hope you guys had an amazing 3-day weekend. Usually I’m a little more service-oriented and reflective on MLK Day, but since I made a little addition to my family…

…I spent a lot of the day doing laundry, straightening up, vacuuming, and using my degree in Psychology to train my little girl to make sure she only poops outside. She’s doing so well! She’s extremely clingy, and she keeps hurting Austin’s feelings, because she’s glued to me, but she could take or leave my husband-to-be. He texted me yesterday and said “I hope Coco starts to like me more.”

My shadow and I went for a run yesterday morning. She’s very tall, and her hair is long. Is that what I look like?

GoodNESS, these Raleigh hills kicked my butt. Look closely at the end of that road. Mama ran ALL of that.

The legs got to come out yesterday, and probably for the last time all week. They’re predicting snow tonight. Woo-hoo! Raleigh never gets any good snow!

And finally, look at this dinner I snagged last night! Me and the nearly-husband met with some good friends from undergrad at the Remedy Cafe, a little joint that features a lot of local, vegan, and vegetarian items. I went with friend “chicken” and some veg mac and cheese. It was awesome, and I split it in half, added a salad, and brought the rest of it for lunch today.

How was your weekend? Hope it was lovely!

I am so sick of renting.

January 20, 2014 | cheriarmour

I have horrible luck when it comes to renting.

2011, the home I lived in with my roommate and her baby was torn up by the tornadoes that ripped through Raleigh in April of 2011.

That was a nightmare. I had to find an apartment quickly at the same time that I was graduating from my Masters program.

Then there was the condo that flooded when the guy on the third floor’s washing machine exploded.

And all of this was after the manager of the property made me change all my gorgeous colors back. Didn’t matter because they had to rip all the walls out!

And then there was last night.

So last night, I was laying on the couch and eating some tortillas. I started to drift off, and my last thought before I started drifting off, was “what is that smell? I thought that the last time I lit incense was on Friday. The next thing I knew, there was a bang at the door, and a firefighter informed me that the girls downstairs, who in enjoy smoking (not cigarettes) had caught fire to the building. So I shoved the cat into the carrier, grabbed the dog and a phone charger, and left.

About an hour later, I was allowed back into my apartment, but suffice it to say, I am sick of renting, and the next time I see those girls, they’re getting a huge side-eye from me.

But shoutout to the firefighter who held/snuggled my dog while I scrambled about, trying to find the cat!

So this happened…

January 19, 2014January 19, 2014 | cheriarmour

Coco – When she came to me it was spelled Cocoa, but nah!

Friday at work, our intern called me, looking for a place for this pup to go.

She was living with a family who’d decided they couldn’t, or didn’t want to do it anymore, and she was going to the pound.

I couldn’t let it happen. She’s older, and the shelter is constantly at capacity, and as far as I know, she didn’t stand a chance against the younger dogs that so many people go for. So I contacted the co-founder of my marriage-to-be, consulted, and as a team, we decided I should take her in after discussing it with the front office at my apartment, who gave me the green light.

She’s old. She’s scared, and pretty underweight. I’m desperately working to get some weight on her, keep her from pooping in the house, and get her on a healthy schedule. She’s no running dog, but I’m thrilled to have her in my life. I know a few days ago I posted about wanting a puppy. She may not exactly be a puppy, as far as age is concerned, but it certainly is nice to have a little girl (Coco) running around here. Here’s to getting this girl healthy!

Forgiveness

January 17, 2014January 17, 2014 | cheriarmour

If you’re a runner, surely by now you’ve heard of Meg Menzies, the runner and mother of three from Virginia, who was struck and killed on a run earlier this week.

From the looks of things, it seems like she was doing everything right. She was running against traffic, wasn’t running in the street, when an allegedly intoxicated driver crossed the white line and hit her.

And on Saturday, bunches of us are running our miles and dedicating them to the mother of three, who lost her life on Monday.

It really freaked me out when I read about this and got me thinking.

A little over 2 years ago, one of my campers was killed when the driver she was riding with failed to negotiate a turn in the middle of the night. He escaped, with a .09 BAC and a broken wrist. She did not, and was consumed by flames when the BMW caught fire.

It really, really bothered me for months, and I went so far as to reach out to her mother, who seemed glad to talk and share about Remy, who was nothing short of a firecracker. She loved it when I played Beyonce in class, she wore this jangly Tiffany’s bracelet all the time, and once screamed at us for making her clean her room. So I looked up the kid who’d killed her. And found that he was still being held in a prison in Norfolk, coincidentally, an hour from where we’d camped that summer.

I thinking of writing him. I’m not still super angry. Or sad. But I do bet he doesn’t feel great in the least about what happened, and I do bet it could be interesting to talk to the guy who spent his last few moments with my girl. I totally forgive him. I already had when I realized he would have to spend the rest of his life thinking about how Remy had passed. But I want him to know that.

I want…

January 16, 2014 | cheriarmour

This list is one of those things that’s both running and non-running related. It’s one of those lists that I may be able to get to some of it this year, and maybe some of it not. But it’s that list that if the stars all aligned, the money was just a-flowing, this is what I’d want. And maybe, with the proper planning, I can make this all happen.

These boots.

I had a pair, and I wore a hole through them. I really really miss them, and I would like to get another pair. One of these paychecks….

These tights to go with my Minnetonka Fringed Boots.

These wedding bands. (I will ~~probably~~ be in possession of these August 23, 2014).

photo (9) — Two rose gold eternity bands. One on the top, one on the bottom. How pretty!!!

A Starbucks gift card with an unlimited balance. I would get a decaf latte with skin and two Splenda once every few days.
To go horseback riding. I realized today that I have not been on a horse since 2010, and I’d love to go for a trail ride.
To run this.

There are a few things standing between me and this want. One, the lottery. I haven’t entered (it’s not open yet), it’s 26.2 miles in hilly San Fran, and tickets to San Fran ain’t cheap!

To have a full-time job as a fitness blogger. Then a book. Then a line of cocktails like Bethenny Frankely had. Oh my god my heart just went a-flutter thinking of it. Can you imagine?
This computer to blog from

A nice camera for the blog so I’m not relying on my phone for your photos.
For the rooms in my apartment to be painted. I need to recruit Austin for this undertaking.
A dog. A dog a dog a dog!!! Austin says no, but I’m working on it.
Jackie Warner’s abs/friendship.

And that’s about it for now.

What’s on your wishlist?

If you were thinking natural girls don’t need maintenance, think again.

January 16, 2014 | cheriarmour

When I made the transition to natural hair, I was probably about 17-years-old. I had been traumatized by repeated trips to the salon, where, in an effort to tame my naps, the stylist would pour chemicals on my head and allow them to sit until my hair would lie in fear of the chemicals.

Safe, right?

Eventually, the chemicals took their toll and my hair was not looking too well off by middle school.

Then, I graduated to having my hair braided all the time. Which was fine, except the place where we went in Charlotte would pull our hair so violently, I ended up in her bathroom in tears once. And I was too scared to ever tell her that my head usually hurt for two days after the box braids were put in. Plus it smelled weird there.

So finally, at the tender age of 16 or 17, I got fed up with it, and I somehow decided that I was going to wear my hair in dreadlocks. My mom gave me a really hard time about it – locs were not yet super mainstream, and she associated the style with marijuana use and dirt.

But I was really persistent, and wore my hair in a short style, and nearly 10 years later, here I am!

If any of you are thinking of going natural, and you feel moved to do it, DO IT!

Locs fit my lifestyle. Most people assume I’m from California, largely due to my demeanor and the fact that I sound like Hilary Banks when I talk , and the locs fit the Cali lifestyle. I’m also semi-crunchy, and I work out a ton. But just because the locs fit my lifestyle doesn’t mean that they’re not work.

After weeks of running and working out and washing, my hair was in a state. I didn’t have a ton of time, so I made an appointment with someone local to maintain my locs, but she abruptly canceled on me. My mane couldn’t wait. It was begging for maintenance. And the fact that she abruptly canceled on me made me a little leery. I don’t normally let anyone touch my hair, and I’m not letting someone touch my hair who doesn’t show up for her appointments.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and it was time for John Frieda’s Smoothing Shampoo + Conditioner. I’d read reviews, and black women had said some good things about the way it had left their hair feeling. (Normally I go for Giovanni, but I needed heavy-duty artillery for this mess).

Post-shower + wash, the hair was already looking better, and felt a lot softer.

And I set to the task of twisting with a few clips, since my growth was so soft and not really wanting to stay, with this.

Which leaves the hair feeling light and soft. And there’s no smell really, which is good, cause I hate smelly hair stuff.

Work those clips honey!

…And ta-dahhhhh! Here is the finished product.

Soft, manageable, looking much better, and cheaper than getting it done!

Are any of you guys thinking about going natural? Why or why not?

I think I’m done being mad at Lululemon now.

January 15, 2014 | cheriarmour

I walked into Lululemon yesterday for the first time since this gem, in which the CEO and co-founder of Lululemon, a high-end specialty retail store that caters to mainly young women, yogis and runners, implied that ::ahem:: some women’s bodies were not made for his yoga pants. Read: the founder just called us too fat to wear his pants.

I mean, I don’t pay nearly $100 for your pants for you to insult me and call me fat. Plus I get all my running and yoga apparel for the most part from Fleet Feet, so it wasn’t a huge deal to quit paying Lululemon visits.

But yesterday, I decided I was over being mad at Lulu, especially since they put the gag on the co-founder, and now, former CEO, and stopped in to see what was going on. I made a few observations, that I adored! For one, the girls who work there are adorable, which I forgot. I don’t ever remember being that cute when I was working retail, so color me jealous!

These sweatpants which felt like heaven.

And I decided I need a gym bag. I real one. I’m tired of shoving my planner next to sweaty tights and sweaty pairs of underwear – it’s time (now that I’ve been working out consistently for like 4 years), that I graduate to a real gym bag with real pockets for the dirty clothes and pockets for my phone and for my sneaks and stuff.

So the iPhone went into selfie mode, and I took a selfie with my two favorite by the most glorious full-length mirror the store had to offer.

So the real question here is is…

Are you still mad at Lululemon? Why or why not?

Which gym bag do I get out of the two pictured above?

I think it’s important…

January 14, 2014January 13, 2014 | cheriarmour

To note those little things that make you happy. They can be stupid as all get out, but they’re not stupid if they’re important to you right? And here it is, my list of little things that have made me incredibly blissful as of the past few days.

This song, called the “Story of my Life” by One Direction. It kind of sounds like Phillip Phillips, and I’m not shy to admit that it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I told you guys earlier that I’d added that song to my running playlist, so you know it’s serious.
These two Redboxes I got, Behind the Candelabara and the One Direction Movie. I watched them on nights when I was doing a kind-of “Cheri” night, and it’s so nice to lay around and watch movies that you can dance and sing along to.
This cat.
This ring I found on Etsy the other day and I can’t find anywhere else. And if anyone feels inclined to buy this for me, I would love it. I’d ask Austin, but he recently bought me another ring – I think there must be some sort of statute on how long I have to wait before I ask him for more of my finds.
Clean workout clothes. None of which I have right now. I need to throw a load in, but I’m busy chatting it up with you all! But I did make a New Years Resolution to be a better housekeeper, right? ::sigh:: Being a grown-up without a housekeeper totally blows.
This brown microsuade blanket I bought when I was in college on clearance from Target. As cold as it’s been, I’ve pulled that thing out of the guest bedroom, and I love waking up with the under-blank temp between 75-80 degrees. Caliente!
And finally, this trashy television that I’ve DVRed. I’m a sommelier of fine tasty reality television, mainly anything that Andy Cohen has touched, but I really don’t have a whole lot of time to watch it during the week. Laying on the bed with the cat, with Austin puttering around while I catch up on all the bad telly I’ve missed during the week makes me so insanely blissful.

So what’s making you happy this week?

Happy Monday!

January 13, 2014 | cheriarmour

Total brain dump for you all today.

The weekend was really good, but once again, I left it feeling like I didn’t get anything that I wanted to done, in part because all day Saturday, after I finished teaching class, I was laid up with a headache, so I ended up sleeping most of the day.

Ah well, I will just have to put in a little extra work this week to make sure house gets cleaned/dinner gets made/workout gets worked etc etc.

So anyhoo, a few items of brain dumpage.

This hair. Obviously, I’ve been rockin the locs for a long time, but these, these are a feat of majesty and wonderment. I’m not sure if my hair could take the color, because I work out too much and that already stresses my hair, but I can definitely work to grow it out a few more inches and crunch/curl them so they look all wild and cool like this. I love.

I was back in the store yesterday, and trying on all the shoes. Still waiting to try on the Brooks Trascend (the new mushy model Brooks is releasing), but for yesterday, I went with the New Balance Minimus Road 10, a Minimalist shoe. One of these days, we can talk all about minimalist running, but today is not that day. All I can say is that these shoes are really cute, and I wish my right achilles would allow me to even consider running in this shoe, cause the colors are cute.

I had to drop my little boy, Martin off to get his neuter today, and I was a total wreck. The doctor said he did really well, but they said he still had a few fleas (GAH) and conjunctivitis in his right eye. Poop. So they send him home with a few medications.

And by the time I got to him, he was so out of it. But, even in his medicated state, he was really really loving, and kept nuzzling my hand.

He was back to his normal self the following morning, and had managed to break his collar within moments of us purchasing it for him. Gah what the heck.

And that is it for today’s brain dump.

How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?

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