Day of nothing

I had a semi-meltdown yesterday. Work has been stressful, exercising/eating better has been hard, family things have been draining. I had a day of do-nothing. I literally laid on the couch all day and slept. I made myself sick from worry last week. I took a day of mental and physical break. The mail is overflowing on the countertop, but I didn't care. I felt guilty for not catching up on laundry or paying bills. But I told myself, it's just one day of rest. In the span of a year, what's one day to rest and do nothing?

Because of continually napping, I woke up at 5AM wide awake. I'm off work today, so this is my day to catch up. I'm paying those bills and doing that laundry and cleaning out my office. I needed a day to re-boot. We all do. I felt guilty at first but now I don't. Bring it on, Monday.

To give or not to give

Everybody knows the sound of Christmas. Those Salvation army bell ringers. Do you give whenever you pass one? I used to. I don't anymore for a few reasons. A couple years ago, some of the bell ringers outside our store got a lil greedy and decided to dip into the red buckets for themselves. Then our manager recognized one of the bell ringers one day and couldn't figure out how he knew that person. He later realized it was someone he had picked up for shoplifting.

Ever since those episodes, I don' t give. I want to know my dollar is going to someone worthy, not greedy.

I have started a tradition of picking an angel from the Salvation Army Angel tree each year. I like knowing that my gift giving will be going to a specific person who needs it. My kid this year asked for a coat. That puts things in perspective when a child asks for a coat.

Christmas time can get busy/stressful with gift buying and traveling. I encourage you to pick one of those angel kids and know your gift will be put to good use.

On a side note, I feel for you parents who have young daughters. Buying clothes for an 11 year old is tough! I've had a hard time finding some cute things that don't look like she'll be going to the club! Kids clothes for girls are very hoochie! Even at Target. I've been shocked.

Happy holiday shopping!

Just Do It

One of my most frequent customer questions relates to weight loss products. Some honestly don't know the side effects of the "medications" and are genuinely grateful when I speak the truth and steer them away from the hype. I've had a few people say, "Ewww. Glad I asked. I definitely don't want that. " I'm all about promoting our store and providing business, but weight loss "aids" are not products I'll push.

Let's begin with Alli. Also known as "Eat that hamburger and you're gonna shart your pants."












It's designed for those already on a reduced calorie/ exercise regimen and need help getting over that plateau. It keeps your body from absorbing fat in your diet. Buuuut that fat's gotta go somewhere. Krispy Kreme sounding good tomorrow morning? Hope your bathroom at work isn't tied up. You're gonna be knocking down the co-worker for stall #3. The brochure actually lists rectal oily discharge as a side effect. I'll take wearing elastic waistbands any day over rectal discharge, thank you very much.











Don't even get me started on these hoochies. Of course they don't have personal trainers! Could've fooled us!














HCG - The same substance that's in a pregnant woman's urine that makes the test positive. It releases the fat supplies in the body to be used as calories when combined with a restricted caloric intake (only 500?!?! calories a day). So you want me to starve myself and inject/take liquid/swallow pills that could make a pregnancy test positive??? Sounds like a bad April fool's joke for Casey.

Here's the dealio. These weight loss aids are hype. Straight up hype. I had a friend come ask me about a kit she bought. There was the morning pill, then the night pill, then the focus mid-afternoon pill. All for the value price of $150 for a month supply.

She could have saved her money and bought a case of Mountain Dew and some laxatives.

Are you ready for the magic potion in most diet aids? It's so simple it's scary. Caffeine and laxatives. So you can frantically tear that toilet paper into tiny lil shreds with your nervous jittery energy while you sit on the pooper.

I don't mind when customers ask me about the weight loss products. They need to know the truth. I do mind when they get an attitude and say "Weeeeell, if you just had to pick a product, what would you pick?" None of them. "Weeeeell, so what am I supposed to do?" Eat less and exercise. It's simple but hard at the same time. We all need to do it. It's straight up, hard core, willpower. I'm working on it. I'm still a novice. It's the truth no one wants to hear, but it's the safest. I don't want to worry about developing a heart arrhythmia from caffeine overload. Or becoming dehydrated and stressing my kidneys out from laxatives.

So the next time that one customer doesn't heed my advice and picks up Kim K's newest product, I'm going to point them in the aisle of the Depends. You're gonna need it, girlfriend.

Shopping on Black Friday? Nope.

I don't do the Black Friday. I did one time in college when we went to get a computer at Walmart. Getting up at 5 AM on a holiday break? No thank you. Sleep is more precious to me. I hate large crowds, so the "excitement" that people talk about would stress me out.

I did get one deal online - a new Chi. My old faithful Chi died about a year ago, and I've been buying those cheaper versions that aren't the same. They yank the mess out of my hair. I refuse to pay the full price of $100-$120, however. I found this beauty online at Target for $60. Mine will be a cool fuchsia color. I ordered it Thursday night and went to bed while everyone else was just getting started shopping. Plus I had to work Friday. Happy shopping!

Random tidbits

So I jogged yesterday for the first time in a lil over 3 weeks because of the weird foot issue. Then I came home and planted a crepe myrtle plant my grandmother gave me. I am sooooo sore today. I sat up in bed last night to look at the clock, and my abs cursed me. On the plus side, I have no foot pain.

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Random quote I heard at work: "I think I've filled at your pharmacy before, but I'm not sure it's the same place."

Huh?????

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If I'm giving you a flu shot, and I ask, "Are you ready?" please don't reply with "Whatever."

Did you forget I'm holding a needle???? Don't worry, I didn't hurt her.

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Sundried tomato and herb dip from the Target Archer Farms brand is delicious. Taking chips with my turkey sammich for lunch is boring. This is good stuff. I'm bringing these cheese cracker things to eat with it.

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Project Runway finale tonight. I love the show, but I hate that it's an hour and a half long. That's too long for my TV ADD. I don't normally watch movies on TV, because I can't sit there long enough. But for you, Tim Gunn, I'll watch.

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Happy Thursday!

Weekend wrap-up

Not much new going on here - I went to visit my parents this past weekend. Mom and I did some shopping and racked up on some good Kohl's deals. I got some new houseshoes (exciting!), a pair of pants for Casey, a bracelet (clearance $5), and a pair of boots (from the Junior dept - sshhhhh).

I can't wear those knee-high boots above the jeans. I look rindunkulous in them. I wanted some boots that my jeans will fit over and won't break the bank or my feet.













I scored these bad boys for a whopping $22. Thank you Kohls. They're not hooker boots, and my fat calves thank you. (They're "SO" brand, FYI.)

The running is.... not happening. I did something to my foot a few weeks ago. I sprained something and had to wrap my foot for a few days. Work was oh so fun then. But it's no longer hurting, and I'm going to give it a try tomorrow.

Work has been BUSY lately. I'm now certified to give immunizations, and we've been giving flu shots like crazy! One of the reasons I chose pharmacy was so I didn't have to give shots. Guess what ! I'm giving shots and not fainting. I'm impressed with myself that I'm not getting squeamish and puking on people. There's hope yet!

Here's my PSA: get your flu shots!!!!

This sucks

Running. Jogging. Gasping for breath. It sucks. I've been "trying" to get into running this summer. I started last fall, and then the holidays came along, and staying inside drinking hot chocolate and eating ooey gooey butter bars took precedence over jiggling my booty.

So I started up again this spring/summer. I have absolutely no stamina. Jog to the end of the street? Nope. I'm not athletic. I was in band. Yellow Big Bird feather hat plume and all. Holla to the woodwinds!

My initial goal has been to lose weight. I'm 30 and one bite of a candy bar seems to add on 5 pounds. It's rough in this new age demographic. I have lost some weight, and that's my inspiration to keep going. My second goal is to gain some stamina, so I don't have to catch my breath after walking up a flight of stairs. I'm still working on that.

I haven't gotten very far with this. I don't want to do Couch to 5K because I'll disappoint myself if I don't get better. I've looked at it and estimate that I'm around week 4 right now. I just run. I don't know distance. I just know I can run down that street corner to that one and I couldn't do that 2 months ago. (That makes me sound like a hooker.)

I'm still working on this. My goal is run a 5K eventually. I don't have a timeline. Maybe that's my problem. Maybe I need a timeline to push myself harder. I've gotten pretty sick twice this year. (Currently right now.) So I haven't run in a few weeks because I sound like a 20-year-veteran smoker at the moment hacking up my lungs.

But I've learned a few important things along the way. I'll share them now.....

1. A padded sports bra is a must. I've got cupcakes, not mountains. But the cupcakes still hurt when they jiggle too much.

2. Champion brand is awesome. From sports bras to tanks to shorts to the socks with the "handles" on the back. Thank you Target.

3. Those socks with the "handles" on the back that prevent shoes from rubbing your heels. Genius.

4. The right shoes. I've always loved New Balance brand. Until I started running . They fit my foot funny, and I end up looking like one of the those awkward running dudes.

So I found some Adidas shoes at TJ Maxx for a steal, and they fit my foot perfectly.

5. Carry a paper towel to wipe sweat out of your eyes. Burning contacts from sweat is a pain. I have a lil wristlet thing I carry when I walk the dog / run that holds my phone, keys, and pepper spray. Mom and Dad would be proud of the pepper spray. I'm packing heat.

6. Most importantly, I've found some great blogs to read that are beyond inspirational. These girls are waaaaay more advanced than me, but they inspire me to keep going. I've even gotten feedback from some of them that was extremely helpful.

http://discombobulatedrunning.blogspot.com/

http://thealmostrunner.blogspot.com/

http://www.runningoffthereeses.com/

http://www.enduranceisntonlyphysical.com/

So thank you girls for being my personal trainers.

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I think I'm going to go order several of these shirts from THIS Etsy seller ......



















And then spend a day on the couch. Coughing. Exciting Sunday y'all.