So I got this really pretty swimming teacher and her name is Jessica. She gave me some pointers on freestyle and now it's up to me to build up my endurance. eek. I know it will happen!! It must or I'll be a sunk duck on race day. ha ha
After the lesson I felt sure of what I needed to do, so I gave my last three private lessons to my little boy 3 years old who doesn't know how to swim at all. :) Getting him ready to take his Minnow class next month.
I love swimming! It's really nice to be physically exhausted but simultaneously...you are already taking a dip in the pool! Sometimes the water is icky at the Y, but I guess that's only a small taste of what might be lurking in the big ocean. heeby geebs. I think swimming is the biggest challenge, but also really a lovely sport.
Really, I adore all these sports, partly because none of them involve a ball. I've never understood the concept of running towards something that has been thrust through the air towards you at great speed. My inclination is always to get away. OK...just had some bad memories of not being picked for kickball.
aaahh..well, today I'm an awesome triathlete in the making.
Goodnight dear diary. :)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Helena
So I realized I needed to work harder on my bicycle because I was going so slow! My friend Dave said the caliber of bike may help up to 10%, but the caliber of athlete is what is important. I'd seen him ride circles around our friend with an $800 bike. I started timing myself and, yea...SLOW! It couldn't be my bike, it's a fine bike. I think it retails for about $400. The kind of bike you can take on land or trails...I was assured when I got it tuned up it was much quicker than a mountain bike would be for my purposes, though I would not be competitive. I tried timing myself going all out on a short distance. Hmm...if I did the race at my top sprint speed...it would STILL be a pretty sucky time to spend in the bike section of the tri. I might be closing down the race after all. :( I found myself wishing for the bike I had in the 80's. I knew my old 10 speed so well. I could kick my feet up on the handlebars and cruise down the hill where I grew up. I rode it like it was a car to friends houses on the other side of town and up completely different sets of hills. I was 98 pounds then. So was I really longing for my old bike...or my old metabolism?
It kept bugging me. had to find out. I craigslisted "Schwinn World Tourist" after the name finally dawned on me. There was my old bike, like three times! Restoring old Schwinn's is all en vogue right now. If anyone can understand a yen for times gone by, its me. The only one in my frame size was an even OLDER version. Maybe as old as my dress styles...I can't know. All I know is it was cute. It was mint green. It was my size and it was really far away and like $180. With the notion that I would resell it again (maybe for half the price) the man delivered me my vintage sweetheart.
She was really dinged up and rusty, but really sweet and cute. What was I thinking? I'm training for a triathlon and bought about a 50 year old bike with fenders and a spiffy little chain guard. I rode her around the block and couldn't erase my smile. Interesting...it was a still night, but wind was in my hair the entire time? Could it REALLY be faster?
The next day I circled my block 23 times to equal the course of the race. I did this on my other bike, riding as hard as I could and it took 50 minutes...I had to stop for water. On the vintage Schwinn...
33 MINUTES!!!
So much for a better bike shaving off 10%...a rusty old bike was what I needed and I shaved off...what? 17 minutes??? HOLY CROW! I THINK that's about 34% Probably the skinny wheels, or my training kicked in or magic or something. WOW, what a big difference. While there is NO WAY I can kick my feet up on the handlebars anymore (there is much more of me now), I still found I could ride it between tight spaces and maneuver the bike just as if I were on my old bike from the 80s. WONDERFUL. This one has three speeds, which I find perfectly adequate and less confusing. You might just see me race on this bike, Helena. Her name came to me on a beautiful ride up in the hills today. Luckily the bike leg is in the middle, so I wouldn't have to embarrass my family when they see me off or run passed the finish line.
I'm thinking of painting her white with red and blue racing stripes and naming her Herbie. :) Here she is...
It kept bugging me. had to find out. I craigslisted "Schwinn World Tourist" after the name finally dawned on me. There was my old bike, like three times! Restoring old Schwinn's is all en vogue right now. If anyone can understand a yen for times gone by, its me. The only one in my frame size was an even OLDER version. Maybe as old as my dress styles...I can't know. All I know is it was cute. It was mint green. It was my size and it was really far away and like $180. With the notion that I would resell it again (maybe for half the price) the man delivered me my vintage sweetheart.
She was really dinged up and rusty, but really sweet and cute. What was I thinking? I'm training for a triathlon and bought about a 50 year old bike with fenders and a spiffy little chain guard. I rode her around the block and couldn't erase my smile. Interesting...it was a still night, but wind was in my hair the entire time? Could it REALLY be faster?
The next day I circled my block 23 times to equal the course of the race. I did this on my other bike, riding as hard as I could and it took 50 minutes...I had to stop for water. On the vintage Schwinn...
33 MINUTES!!!
So much for a better bike shaving off 10%...a rusty old bike was what I needed and I shaved off...what? 17 minutes??? HOLY CROW! I THINK that's about 34% Probably the skinny wheels, or my training kicked in or magic or something. WOW, what a big difference. While there is NO WAY I can kick my feet up on the handlebars anymore (there is much more of me now), I still found I could ride it between tight spaces and maneuver the bike just as if I were on my old bike from the 80s. WONDERFUL. This one has three speeds, which I find perfectly adequate and less confusing. You might just see me race on this bike, Helena. Her name came to me on a beautiful ride up in the hills today. Luckily the bike leg is in the middle, so I wouldn't have to embarrass my family when they see me off or run passed the finish line.
I'm thinking of painting her white with red and blue racing stripes and naming her Herbie. :) Here she is...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Compartmentalizing
Being utterly and completely obsessed over three things instead of just two is quite new for me!
When I became a young (well youngish) mom with a thriving business, this was nothing I'd ever expected. If I'm being honest, I think I'd have contented myself very nicely being wife and mother exclusively. Still, I'm quite taken with the amazing journey life has bestowed on me. I know I've been so Pollyanna up to this point that maybe nobody would care to read the life of someone so utterly optimistic. Bear with me. I have to say, when my baby was born and my business was thriving, I felt COMPLETELY fulfilled. Now, before you throw a pie at me...please imagine if you haven't already experienced it what it is LIKE, to be COMPLETELY FULFILLED....ALL THE TIME! Not a moment to feel longing or interest in anything very intellectual. Never searching gayly about for something interesting to do. Or maybe someONE interesting... haaa no. But I'd me amiss not to suggest that while being single was tough, the possibility and hope of a new love entering your life was really fun. Not something on the table when you are happily married, but up to your elbows in newborn diapers. ;)
I ever found myself with a free moment...I'd use it to sleep. That was HARD! But, yes, completely fulfilling in every uphill moment. I'm not sure I'd change any of it...I'm not sure I could. I was the only one able to really feed my little one for the first nine months, so I was pretty well reigned in...and I did it all typing away at the computer building what is on it's way to being a million dollar business! Hooray for Dolly Couture. It was a whirlwind and learning to multitask was not easy for me. The fact that I have attention problems is a secret to nobody.
So now Tyler is in his little school much of the day, and I've indulged in this wonderfully selfish activity, signing up and training for a sprint triathlon. Hopefully, this will leave me to be healthier and stronger. Hopefully, I'll be an all around better mom and clear my mind for the summer to come back full-force with lots of new dresses and ideas in the fall. I worry while I'm training that work will take me away from my son when he comes home from his little preschool. While I work, I worry that my training is taking me away from work and that I'm leaving too much responsibility on the shoulders of my associates. When I'm with Tyler and his Daddy I'm pretty good at being there, but I still sneak over to my computer to browse phrases like "Can you do sidestroke in a triathlon," "do I need a new bike for my first triathlon," "what is the worst time anyone ever got in a triathlon?".
My son doesn't want to get out of diapers even though he knows how to do everything and how it works. I was thinking that if I were more focused I'd be able to take more time to work on this with him. I feel that it is best not to push him, on the other hand I wonder if that is an excuse for not wanting to do the work.
So I think I need to compartmentalize!!! I had one woman friend who put aside time in her day JUST for worrying! She only had to worry twenty minutes a day and the rest of her day was free because she knew she could worry later. I don't think that's a half bad idea! A little personal inventory? hmmm. Anyway, I haven't figured out how to compartmentalize. I know men do it a lot. I like to let my day go the way it goes, but since I have three such precious things I'm working on...I need to let my training be an hour of my day...another half hour to blog or research and then be at work when I'm working and with family when I'm with family being an all-important mommy. I hope that by taking on a physical challenge, this will help little Tyler learn perseverance and sportsmanship along with balance in life. Here's HOPING! I'd really way rather screw up some race than anything else meaningful in my life. I feel this is a good thing, but I need to keep it at bay. After my husband and little baby, other family and closest friends...those brides who are getting married in our dresses are most dear to me.
So I'm going to train hard but force myself to be willing to put that aside whenever I need to. Nice that it wont be because I want to. I read somewhere on one of these triathlete websites "a day without sweat is like a day without sunshine." I'd have balked at that until about two weeks ago!
Hooray for a busy life!
When I became a young (well youngish) mom with a thriving business, this was nothing I'd ever expected. If I'm being honest, I think I'd have contented myself very nicely being wife and mother exclusively. Still, I'm quite taken with the amazing journey life has bestowed on me. I know I've been so Pollyanna up to this point that maybe nobody would care to read the life of someone so utterly optimistic. Bear with me. I have to say, when my baby was born and my business was thriving, I felt COMPLETELY fulfilled. Now, before you throw a pie at me...please imagine if you haven't already experienced it what it is LIKE, to be COMPLETELY FULFILLED....ALL THE TIME! Not a moment to feel longing or interest in anything very intellectual. Never searching gayly about for something interesting to do. Or maybe someONE interesting... haaa no. But I'd me amiss not to suggest that while being single was tough, the possibility and hope of a new love entering your life was really fun. Not something on the table when you are happily married, but up to your elbows in newborn diapers. ;)
I ever found myself with a free moment...I'd use it to sleep. That was HARD! But, yes, completely fulfilling in every uphill moment. I'm not sure I'd change any of it...I'm not sure I could. I was the only one able to really feed my little one for the first nine months, so I was pretty well reigned in...and I did it all typing away at the computer building what is on it's way to being a million dollar business! Hooray for Dolly Couture. It was a whirlwind and learning to multitask was not easy for me. The fact that I have attention problems is a secret to nobody.
So now Tyler is in his little school much of the day, and I've indulged in this wonderfully selfish activity, signing up and training for a sprint triathlon. Hopefully, this will leave me to be healthier and stronger. Hopefully, I'll be an all around better mom and clear my mind for the summer to come back full-force with lots of new dresses and ideas in the fall. I worry while I'm training that work will take me away from my son when he comes home from his little preschool. While I work, I worry that my training is taking me away from work and that I'm leaving too much responsibility on the shoulders of my associates. When I'm with Tyler and his Daddy I'm pretty good at being there, but I still sneak over to my computer to browse phrases like "Can you do sidestroke in a triathlon," "do I need a new bike for my first triathlon," "what is the worst time anyone ever got in a triathlon?".
My son doesn't want to get out of diapers even though he knows how to do everything and how it works. I was thinking that if I were more focused I'd be able to take more time to work on this with him. I feel that it is best not to push him, on the other hand I wonder if that is an excuse for not wanting to do the work.
So I think I need to compartmentalize!!! I had one woman friend who put aside time in her day JUST for worrying! She only had to worry twenty minutes a day and the rest of her day was free because she knew she could worry later. I don't think that's a half bad idea! A little personal inventory? hmmm. Anyway, I haven't figured out how to compartmentalize. I know men do it a lot. I like to let my day go the way it goes, but since I have three such precious things I'm working on...I need to let my training be an hour of my day...another half hour to blog or research and then be at work when I'm working and with family when I'm with family being an all-important mommy. I hope that by taking on a physical challenge, this will help little Tyler learn perseverance and sportsmanship along with balance in life. Here's HOPING! I'd really way rather screw up some race than anything else meaningful in my life. I feel this is a good thing, but I need to keep it at bay. After my husband and little baby, other family and closest friends...those brides who are getting married in our dresses are most dear to me.
So I'm going to train hard but force myself to be willing to put that aside whenever I need to. Nice that it wont be because I want to. I read somewhere on one of these triathlete websites "a day without sweat is like a day without sunshine." I'd have balked at that until about two weeks ago!
Hooray for a busy life!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
New dress coming out, my birthday but STILL DID A WORK OUT! WHOOPIE
So today I had THE most amazing birthday! I did an impromptu private yoga class with my AMAZING mother-in-law, Gloria Loring (certified Yoga Instructor, singer, soap star and mom extrraordinaire) who later took me to lunch. Got in a quick 2 mile bikeride and later a 20 minute work out with my hubby at the Yyyyy eM C yAaaay! Not until super mom-in-law took me for a beautiful lunch. Had a very fancy dinner with hubby Brennan (who treated me sooo nicely with gifts from both he and my 3 year old...mostly SPORTSWEAR...much needed) and a cake party with friends. Do you like my hat??
Dress is by Stop Staring and I think you can find it on Unique Vintage along with sometimes discounted black label Dolly Couture dresses! :)
I'm afraid my blog so far lacks luster because I'm so happy all the time. To quote Legally Blonde "Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make people happy." :) I'd rather have a boring blog than a not so happy birthday, so I'll content myself to be perpetually one note for now :)
Oh...one not so good thing...I figured out yesterday that I swim like this \ Yes, that's a slash. I concentrate so hard on what I'm doing with my arms and other important things like...Idonno BREATHING, that I forget to kick very well. Well, I have until September 25 to get a little more - . :)
Other good news, I'm getting preliminary pics of our nod to Princess Kate's royal wedding dress. We still need to do some work, but it should be out by July. It is a total Dolly Couture spin on the lovely gown, and should come out in July. Will keep you posted....it's looking REALLY, REALLY GOOD! :) Sorry it didn't come out 5 minutes after the wedding, but this isn't how we roll. ;) Thank you for all the billions of facebook posts making this an especially happy day for me. Much love! :)
XOXOXXX,
Dolly
Dress is by Stop Staring and I think you can find it on Unique Vintage along with sometimes discounted black label Dolly Couture dresses! :)
I'm afraid my blog so far lacks luster because I'm so happy all the time. To quote Legally Blonde "Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make people happy." :) I'd rather have a boring blog than a not so happy birthday, so I'll content myself to be perpetually one note for now :)
Oh...one not so good thing...I figured out yesterday that I swim like this \ Yes, that's a slash. I concentrate so hard on what I'm doing with my arms and other important things like...Idonno BREATHING, that I forget to kick very well. Well, I have until September 25 to get a little more - . :)
Other good news, I'm getting preliminary pics of our nod to Princess Kate's royal wedding dress. We still need to do some work, but it should be out by July. It is a total Dolly Couture spin on the lovely gown, and should come out in July. Will keep you posted....it's looking REALLY, REALLY GOOD! :) Sorry it didn't come out 5 minutes after the wedding, but this isn't how we roll. ;) Thank you for all the billions of facebook posts making this an especially happy day for me. Much love! :)
XOXOXXX,
Dolly
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Nay Sayers
Well, this nay sayer, happened to have been my sweet, and all too honest Sagitarian husband. I was lamenting about how everyone would have their number one game on in the race and stressing over how I just want to have fun but wont be able to help push myself, you know...so I wont be dead last. I followed up by saying that if I were the very last person who happens to be finishing the course out of all 900 entrants, I would happily crawl across the finish line and relish the applause of the four or five people still standing there. Brennan made a face I didn't understand as if he were surprised I didn't expect to come in last.
I'm like..."you think that"??
Brennan "well...." long pause
You think that out of 900 people there wont be a single slacker that might turn in a lower time than me?
another pause....oh well if people start later than your group than no...no you might not be last. Just the scores, the look at your time after.
Last?
Well, maybe, it's a triathlon.
After 4 months of training? You expect that I'll be only newb and the slowest person, not just in my own heat, but in every category?
You'll be in heat, ha ha! Noo...you might not be the very last, but probably among that small group of people who come it at the very end...but it's still great you are doing it.
Great.
ha ha. Actually, being last would be a decent story to tell and very funny, but I am a little more motivated to try harder now.
30 minutes of yoga and 10 mile bike ride today! :)
I'm like..."you think that"??
Brennan "well...." long pause
You think that out of 900 people there wont be a single slacker that might turn in a lower time than me?
another pause....oh well if people start later than your group than no...no you might not be last. Just the scores, the look at your time after.
Last?
Well, maybe, it's a triathlon.
After 4 months of training? You expect that I'll be only newb and the slowest person, not just in my own heat, but in every category?
You'll be in heat, ha ha! Noo...you might not be the very last, but probably among that small group of people who come it at the very end...but it's still great you are doing it.
Great.
ha ha. Actually, being last would be a decent story to tell and very funny, but I am a little more motivated to try harder now.
30 minutes of yoga and 10 mile bike ride today! :)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Going for it
Hey! Thanks for reading. I'm so excited to be starting training for a sprint triathlon! It's been so much fun I thought I should start a DIARY! I don't think they make those anymore. So here I am!! EEE!! I'm SO excited.
About a week ago I was thinking about what would be a good activity for SOMEONE ELSE...something that would motivate THEM to get in shape. And I'm fit to give advice, why? hmmm What do I do to stay in shape? mmm. not so much. Between running the now world-famous 50's wedding dress line, Dolly Couture and chasing my 3 year old everywhere it seems I do a lot of everything for everyone, but not a lot of fun things just for me, which is what the Carpinteria Sprint Triathalon, 2011 Dolly Couture Team will be all about!
A little about me...
When I was planning my own wedding I noticed that there weren't any wedding dresses that looked like my mom's cocktail length wedding dress, so I made one for myself and ultimately, starting through the wonders of ebay, thousands more for girls all over the world. Please check out my website if you like adorable dresses...well...I think they're pretty cute :) http://www.DollyCouture.com Here is a pic of my mom to give you an idea where I drew my inspiration.
When all-day preschool is through I pick up my 3 year old who starts me on my only real exercise that really isn't much exercise, but it can be exhausting. I love him SO MUCH, the things he says and does make my heart skip a beat. Here he is in his school picture :) He's just 2 here...
<3 <3 <3
I have a wonderful husband and lots of family and friends that require time and attention, too. Still, I think I can make it all work and take some time for me this summer. OH TO BE EXCITED ABOUT SUMMER AGAIN!!! A summer of swimming, biking and doing stuff at the YMCA again! Midlife crises are so much FUN! I knew that bike trailer for Tyler would be a good investment!
So back to when I was musing about what my friend should do. Maybe mini-triathlon would be just the thing, because it sounds so extreme and diverse and so fun and challenging and... All of the sudden I was like, wait a second....holy crow (explitive stolen from the Twilight books) I WANT TO DO THAT! My friend from high school did, she told me about it right after Tyler was born. She looked so beautiful! Well proportioned and her muscles had muscles. I was encouraged since I knew that she too, had once carried baby weight...but, a mini-triathlon was surely an impossibility for me at the time. So for three years I did pretty much nothing in the way of physical fitness. Now that Tyler is school full-time and I have so much amazing help running my business, I'm so happy I can, and I'm dragging at least a couple Dolly Couture associates with me!!! My number one Sales Associate Nickie is on board and I know our bookkeeper, Abby wont be far behind. Signing up for a race is so invigorating.
Had I known three years ago...the Y offers trustworthy babysitting for up to an hour and a half. Membership is VERY affordable and they offer a sliding scale if you can't afford it! Consider joining if you are looking for some respice. ;)
I know I sound extremely optimistic and I know I'll have some bad times, but I must say. It feels so good to have a GOAL. If I don't train, I may not finish because I didn't put in the effort. Also fear of drowning, or at least needing to get pulled out of the water is incentive. Even just winding up sitting on the curb waiting for someone to come get me...that would not be too good either.
So...I got my bike tuned up, joined the Y and worked out about twice in each area. I'd like to document the whole experience, but I'll have to catch up later on. Work calls.
Anyone interested in joining the Dolly Couture Team in Carpinteria September 25 is welcome. We are trying to figure out a way to involve a charity and I will surely keep you posted on this! Again, so excited to be starting what I've heard from a couple people is one of lifes' greatest experiences. Swimming in the ocean, which was NOT appealing until 7 days ago but IS NOW (what a great challenge). Immediately jumping out of the great ocean and onto a bike, that part sounds cool. Then, trudge a few miles. I used to be a great runner...now...not so much. ha ha. But even that part sounds wonderfully challenging. Here is a photo of me looking terrific in one of my own dresses, so you would never know my BMI is above the average level ;)...
And a wonderfully unattractive BEFORE picture. I tried to look as miserable as I could. I wont be too sad to see some of that tummy go! :)
Until next time!
About a week ago I was thinking about what would be a good activity for SOMEONE ELSE...something that would motivate THEM to get in shape. And I'm fit to give advice, why? hmmm What do I do to stay in shape? mmm. not so much. Between running the now world-famous 50's wedding dress line, Dolly Couture and chasing my 3 year old everywhere it seems I do a lot of everything for everyone, but not a lot of fun things just for me, which is what the Carpinteria Sprint Triathalon, 2011 Dolly Couture Team will be all about!
A little about me...
When I was planning my own wedding I noticed that there weren't any wedding dresses that looked like my mom's cocktail length wedding dress, so I made one for myself and ultimately, starting through the wonders of ebay, thousands more for girls all over the world. Please check out my website if you like adorable dresses...well...I think they're pretty cute :) http://www.DollyCouture.com Here is a pic of my mom to give you an idea where I drew my inspiration.
When all-day preschool is through I pick up my 3 year old who starts me on my only real exercise that really isn't much exercise, but it can be exhausting. I love him SO MUCH, the things he says and does make my heart skip a beat. Here he is in his school picture :) He's just 2 here...
<3 <3 <3
I have a wonderful husband and lots of family and friends that require time and attention, too. Still, I think I can make it all work and take some time for me this summer. OH TO BE EXCITED ABOUT SUMMER AGAIN!!! A summer of swimming, biking and doing stuff at the YMCA again! Midlife crises are so much FUN! I knew that bike trailer for Tyler would be a good investment!
So back to when I was musing about what my friend should do. Maybe mini-triathlon would be just the thing, because it sounds so extreme and diverse and so fun and challenging and... All of the sudden I was like, wait a second....holy crow (explitive stolen from the Twilight books) I WANT TO DO THAT! My friend from high school did, she told me about it right after Tyler was born. She looked so beautiful! Well proportioned and her muscles had muscles. I was encouraged since I knew that she too, had once carried baby weight...but, a mini-triathlon was surely an impossibility for me at the time. So for three years I did pretty much nothing in the way of physical fitness. Now that Tyler is school full-time and I have so much amazing help running my business, I'm so happy I can, and I'm dragging at least a couple Dolly Couture associates with me!!! My number one Sales Associate Nickie is on board and I know our bookkeeper, Abby wont be far behind. Signing up for a race is so invigorating.
Had I known three years ago...the Y offers trustworthy babysitting for up to an hour and a half. Membership is VERY affordable and they offer a sliding scale if you can't afford it! Consider joining if you are looking for some respice. ;)
I know I sound extremely optimistic and I know I'll have some bad times, but I must say. It feels so good to have a GOAL. If I don't train, I may not finish because I didn't put in the effort. Also fear of drowning, or at least needing to get pulled out of the water is incentive. Even just winding up sitting on the curb waiting for someone to come get me...that would not be too good either.
So...I got my bike tuned up, joined the Y and worked out about twice in each area. I'd like to document the whole experience, but I'll have to catch up later on. Work calls.
Anyone interested in joining the Dolly Couture Team in Carpinteria September 25 is welcome. We are trying to figure out a way to involve a charity and I will surely keep you posted on this! Again, so excited to be starting what I've heard from a couple people is one of lifes' greatest experiences. Swimming in the ocean, which was NOT appealing until 7 days ago but IS NOW (what a great challenge). Immediately jumping out of the great ocean and onto a bike, that part sounds cool. Then, trudge a few miles. I used to be a great runner...now...not so much. ha ha. But even that part sounds wonderfully challenging. Here is a photo of me looking terrific in one of my own dresses, so you would never know my BMI is above the average level ;)...
And a wonderfully unattractive BEFORE picture. I tried to look as miserable as I could. I wont be too sad to see some of that tummy go! :)
Until next time!
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