coral stripes & mint & running

this is my "paparazzi shot" - "No pictures, please, just walking my dogs" ;)

juggling these 2 leashes can be pretty challenging...they like to criss-cross & trip us up...

Unrelated to my above outfit (do ya like?)...

So, I'm running another half-marathon with my Dad on the 22nd of September. Another 13.1 miles on a Colorado Sunday morning. I've been slacking on my training (sorry, Pops) but have picked it up again this past week. And I have to be honest with you, I'm really bad at running. I'm slow, and it hurts, and I'm really slow, and did I mention it hurts? It hurts my hips, my knees, my calves, my shins, and my feet, especially. My foam-roller and I have become besties, and I'm constantly asking D to rub out my legs or my feet or help me stretch. And, for some reason, I get constant blisters on my feet: on the balls of my feet, on my heels, on  my arches, BETWEEN my toes (I know, I didn't think it was possible, either), just about everywhere. It's no fun, my friends. And for whatever reason, my feet won't toughen up.

However, this is something I'm going to keep doing to get ready for my race with my Dad. Running has kind of become "our thing." By that, I mean we do races together, but my Dad can ACTUALLY run circles around me (and no, I'm NOT joking). The man can lap me and still hold a conversation and sing songs, while I'm gasping for breath and asking to slow down. He talks, and I respond with thumbs-up or thumbs-down, and when he's got extra energy (which is often), he runs backwards, or grapevines next to me. But he still runs the race with me - we finished our last half-marathon (which was our first) holding hands. Now that's love.

So, here's to buckling down and taking my training seriously until our race. Because then I've got two more races lined up after that...a 15k with a friend, and a half-marathon relay with my Mr.

Wish me luck!

tank: Target

chambray: thrifted

jeans: Kohl's

sandals: Trends

Bulldog Shirts are the Best Shirts

SO excited to finally have a bulldog shirt!

I FINALLY got a bulldog shirt! After months of looking, wishing & sighing, sending emails with links to my Mr., and asking friends to keep their eyes open for me, I found one! This is cause for celebration, my friends! I found it at a J.Crew Factory store when I went shopping in Wisconsin (can't find it online). I debated buying more than one so that when I wear the first one out, I'll have another one to wear, but then I thought "Show some restraint, woman!" and only came home with one.

Some people (my friends & family) think my obsession with bulldogs is weird. But I beg to differ. I love those little nuggets, and why not wear them on my shirt? It's a nod (albeit as subtle as a train wreck) to my affinity for bullies, and a wee bit funny, like "Hey, I've got a wrinkley dog on my shirt. Neato, huh?"

How is this different than wearing camo if you're a hunter, having cat items if you love the felines, or wearing dinosaurs/fish/birds/pineapples/the logo of your favorite team or band? I love my dogs, and I love wearing them on my shirt. Plus, they lend their wrinkled selves to being put on clothing/decor items (we have several...). So, I'll happily wear what I LOVE and if you ask me about my shirt, I'll tell you about my shirt & how I have 2 great pups. Cool? Cool.

Also also, my sandals are from Life Is Good circa 2006 from my sweetheart. I love the brand, and what they stand for, because yes, life IS good! Check them out, if you like to wear happy things :)

Happy Monday! Stay cool out there, we've been hit with another heat wave - slowly melting...

linking up over here today!

30 for 30: Day 7

I told one of my friends who reads my blog that my 30 for 30 is going fine. So far. I told her I'm putting together the "gimme outfits," to which she replied "I'm excited - can't wait to see them!" This isn't the end of my "gimme outfits," but pretty close! We'll see what I can come up with for the rest of the month! I'm excited as well, and a bit nervous. It has made getting dressed pretty easy everyday, since there's a lot less items to choose from. Something for me to keep in mind for the future.

Any fun plans for the weekend? My Mr. is going golfing, and I'm doing bridesmaid stuff with a friend, as well as sleeping in and lots of reading. And laying out at the pool. While reading. And napping. And the usual weekend chores: groceries, laundry, bulldog baths, you know.

Aaaand, 1 year ago Sunday, the 9th, we adopted our Cali girl! We're thinking an extra special treat and lots of loving are in store.

30 for 30: Day 1

just a nice, refreshing glass of Riesling on a sunny Colorado afternoon

jumping for joy - we've been married for one whole year! best year of my life :D

We're celebrating our first wedding anniversary in the mountains of Colorado. My lovely parents have a condo that they rent out, and they graciously agreed to let us stay for our anniversary. Fitting, since we stayed here for a few days right after our wedding for our "mini-honeymoon" (we went on our cruisin' honeymoon over last Christmas).

Packing for this wee getaway was a snap, since I only had so many items to choose from, and it is always cooler in the mountains than where we live, so pants and layers it was. Hooray for easier packing (I HATE packing, and it takes me forever - trust me)!

I like this outfit I put together, except for the shoes. Or if I just did the chambray, pants & shoes, then I think I'd like the pastel colors on bottom. Oh well, these were the best walking shoes I chose for this challenge, and we planned to do lots of walking, so, pastel pink shoes it is.

30 for 30

linking up here today!

Optical Illusions

 

My Mr. wasn't available to take my pictures, so, mirror pics are what I've got for ya today.

I had no intention of looking cute today (simply because I hit the snooze button 878 times), but I saw my mint jeans in the closet and thought "I like those. They're cute. They make me happy. I will wear them." Then the gray shirt. And I needed another layer for the sub-arctic climate of my office. I was skeptical about this polka dot chambray on top, but I think it worked! Tell me for real, did it?

I got the polka dot top at a thrift store - I spotted the dotted denim from across the store and made a beeline for it (I avoided eye contact, and might have hopped over a rack of shirts, ninja-style). I love the print and the color, the only issue is that the shirt is a little boxy on me. It's cute tucked in, under something, or over something, but buttoned up by itself I think it adds a few unwanted pounds to my frame. Occasionally, I battle this by

flailingmyarmsreallyfastsoyoucantseethatmyshirtisaweebitboxy.

I also use this technique with shoes, other articles of clothing & accessories that might look better under the guise of an optical illusion. Maybe I'll show you a video of it. Someday. Maybe. Don't hold me to that.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend, and remember to remember the men and women who have served our great country. I'll be thanking my two favorite veterans: Mom & Dad.

Shirt: Target

Chambray: thrifted

Mint Jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

Sandals: Born Concept

Linking up HERE today - my first one!

Minty Fresh

lovin' on my Pretty Girl

LOVE this jacket, but I've had a hard time styling it, so today is its first appearance on Sweet Bananie!

Without the jacket, this outfit looks colorblock-esque. With the jacket, monochromatic-esque. With, without, with, without. Tricky, huh? ;) Either way, I like it! Perfect for having brunch with a friend before hitting up a thrift store on a beautiful spring day. 

I've been wanting to put together a monochromatic look for a few weeks. This outfit was a way to dip my toes into the monochromatic-outfit-pool without diving in headfirst. I'm afraid of putting something together that is just TOO much. But, this has given me the confidence to try this again with a different color scheme - hooray! Hooray for confidence building exercises in outfit choosing! (Was that nerdy? I think it was - oh dear...) Any other suggestions/ideas for my next monochromatic look?

These mint jeans are part of my purchase from Kohl's last week. I just couldn't wait to wear all my new finds - I was thinking up ways to wear them before I had even left the store. Does anyone else do that, or is it just me?

Also, Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there! We celebrated Mother's Day with my sweet mama last weekend, and are spending today with my mother-in-law, feasting on seafood and going to a movie. Be sure to tell your mom how much you love & appreciate her!

Shirt: Kohl's

Pants: Lauren Conrad - Kohl's

Jacket: local boutique

Sandals: Sears

Earrings & matching necklace: gift from my brother when I got my ears pierced ;)

Other necklace: gift from my Mama