Let's Run a Marathon

The last time I wrote something here was in 2014.

I'm the worst.

But for real though, here's the thing... I'm not perfect. Over the last couple years running has fallen on the wayside. In March of 2014 I ran the Georgia Publix Marathon and had a lot of residual pain from my Achilles tendon(s). I took a bit of time off and after getting back into it running just never felt the same.

I've gained a bit (cough) of  the weight I worked so hard to lose in 2012 and that makes running feel even weirder. 

But I'm done with excuses! Because now... I'm running a marathon in October! The marathon I've wanted to run since I started running long distances. I've got a lot of work to do and I'm going to need help getting there, hence the need for me to start this again.

So I hope you're ready for lots of bitchin' and lots of silly Katie antics because that's whats 'bout to happen!

-Katie

Letting Go... While I Flow!

I think everyone has had those moments or times in their life when they are absolutely wallowing in some sort of disappointment.

As a kid (ok.... and as an "adult") I found (ok, ok, find) that disappointment comes often and easy when you're a perfectionist. When I'd get an 89 instead of a 93 on a test or mess up an important play in softball, it wasn't something I could just let go of and move on from. The disappointment would fester and boil until it would spill over into some emotional outburst or a month long session of too much internet and books.

For a lot of runners I'm sure that the time spent pounding it out on the pavement or exploring the great unknown is therapy for those moments that call for it. When you're wallowing. There's no expectations in the average runner, right? I mean you're out there doin it. Who else is?! I certainly don't see a lot of other midtwenty females out there. So that place for disappointment is small, and then you just run it out. Well I guess that's how it goes, anyway. Because I really don't get that from running.

Lately I've been struggling to shake off a little slice of a disappointment, but I've recently seemed to find answers in a very sweaty room. A hot yoga room! There's a class that I like to go to on Monday nights called, "Power Yoga Basics" at my new favorite studio Thunderbolt Power Yoga. For one the instructor is great (Becky Cawood, (she's taught me so much in such a short time)), but it's also this cool melting pot of super experienced yogis and total noobs. You come on your mat, totally let go of your inhibitions and all of your daily woes and just be present. Cause if you aren't totally there, then you're totally going to fall out of that pose or give up when your legs are on FIRE. You can't think of how you messed up that stupid form or caught an attitude when you shouldn't have, because it's simply impossible to succeed that way. I am really not that flexible or balanced, but it doesn't matter. I can still be as much of yogi as the owner who practiced by my side today! I'm honestly happier and  I hope that has reflected in my work and with my friends.

So if you're feeling a little stuck, go do some sun salutations or hold a plank for a stupid amount of time. Or maybe just check out a class at my new home 😀. It's in the northern part of buck head where the outback used to be and the first month of classes is only $40!

Product Review: Victoria Secret Sport Bra

Let's be honest. Looking good while working out is a big motivator. I want my butt looking awesome as a run past lines of cars through my neighborhood during the busiest time of the day for traffic. But unfortunately just looking cute is not enough. The many different pieces of activewear I put on has to perform under extreme circumstances. I live in the south and train for races through the hottest part of the year, so not only does it need to wick away sweat but it also can't be too heavy or stick to me too much. I spend lots of money, time and effort looking for the best of gear so when Influenster asked me to participate in their new camping with Victoria Secret Sport, I said "hell yeah!!"

So they sent me a lovely Victoria Secret box (you know the one, with the pink stripes! You can spot it anywhere.) filled with coupons for friends and a pair of the The Knockout Tight (in Marl) and the Incredible Bra (in black).

I was so excited that I immediately took my new sports bra out for a trail run the next day. Plenty of bouncing around on trails, especially since I'm not the most graceful. But the bra? It's great! It has a really nice amount of padding at the shoulders that I've never experienced before. It also really gives great shape without sacrificing function. The back racerback panel has breathable mesh, and even though there is a lot of support and padding to the bra I don't notice. There's also an adjustable back closure to make the fit even more personal.

When I went into the store to shop and use that coupon I was overwhelmed by all of the colors! I had a hard time choosing but ultimately went with the same bra but in a different color an zip front. I also tried on some different sizes to see how they fit me and decided that I should go down a cup size. Of course Victoria Secret is head and tails above the rest of the retail world in customer service so the
sales team was very helpful.

"INCREDIBLE BY VICTORIAS SECRET FRONT-CLOSE SPORT BRA"

The tights are great too (duh). The waist is a little higher than I'd usually chose but they're still very comfortable and flattering. The most important thing for me is that the waistband has a drawstring! How many legging lack that?  Sooooo many. I have a big rear end and a small waist so it's very necessary. I also decided to buy a  pair of The Incredible crops too. I've been wearing them around all day!

"Knockout Leggings" in Marl and "Incredible" (front close) sport bra in Blueberry Twist Marl
  

I'll be taking the front close Incredible for a spin in my power yoga class tonight. Check in at my Instagram page to see how it goes!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored blog post. Influenster provided me with complimentary Victoria's Secret products to test and review as part of a contest. All opinions are my own.

Wednesdays

For me, Wednesdays are my most challenging days to stay active. I work 9-6 and then turn around and go to choir from 7-8:45. I often will get a Wednesday off every other week, as I work a weekend every other week (that's a whole other issue) and that can help, but otherwise I have to cram a run in and sacrifice dinner or do the opposite.

The logical explanation here is for me to just get up early and run, right? Well I do track workouts late on Tuesdays (sometimes not over until 8 or 8:30) and so I am not ready to get up and do it again at 6AM on Wednesdays. I also really suck at waking myself up, whether it's 6:30 or 8:30... like this morning =).

I've tried running to choir (it's about 2.8 miles, not far), but I got SUPER gross and sweaty and felt bad having to sit so close to other people for 2 hours. It's just impossible in the Georgia weather not to get super sweaty, even nearing sundown.

My traditional rest days are fridays, as I like to feel rested for my long run then run on tired legs on Sundays as recovery.  Since my goal is consistency for this training cycle, I've got to figure out something that works. I guess trial and error can work for the rest of June and July, but after that it's business time!

Any suggestions?

Finding My Pace

I thought going in to the last marathon that I could run between 10:30-11:00 min miles. But that was simply not the case. When I think about the last training cycle all I think about is pain and inconsistency.  I battled foot pain, blisters, and a pretty tough achillies pain (tendonitis?). Coming off the marathon the only thing that seemed to help get over all the stupid aches and pains was to just take a break. So I didn't run for about 6 weeks and now I feel like I'm starting over.

I decided to actually pay for a training plan so that I didn't just run whatever I thought would work during the week and then do a long run on the weekend. There were a lot of different requirements in my search, as I have a very inconsistent work schedule, get bored easily and am really wanting help build a strong base.

I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a plan built just for me and a lot of the plans were very structured and repetitive.  Run the Edge offered the perfect plan (Level Up Ultimate 26.2) for me as it's all time based, I can move through it at my own pace, and it's interactive and ever changing. Hopefully it will work out! 

This brings me to my original point. A lot of the weekly miles are based on effort. Today I decided to do my "long run" (I'm going to my sister's graduation this weekend and wanted to save the shortest workouts for Saturday and Sunday) and it was supposed to be done at "medium" effort. Finding a medium effort is super hard for me. Running at an easy pace (around 12:00 min/mile) is a piece of cake, and finding a hard pace (around 8:45-9:30) is not challenging, but getting somewhere in the middle and holding it is something I haven't quite mastered yet. Luckily I have another 4 or 5 weeks of "easy" or short distance running to figure it out. I still have to find what my goal marathon pace is too. I'm still at the point where just running a race that I feel I did as well as I could is my goal, not so much for time. 

As always the biggest challenge will be forcing myself to stick to a plan the whole way through. Especially once my schedule starts to interfere.

Pity

Today (ahem yesterday, as it is now 12:30AM Saturday) a coworker of mine said, "so what have you been doing besides work lately?"

"Nothing new." (It felt like an odd question to me. There was clearly a follow up coming."

"Katie, I feel bad for you. You need to make something out of your life."

--insert jaw dropping-to-the-floor-face here--

...

Pity. I get it from this particular person a lot. Why does it bother me so much? Is it because I'm not used to being pitied? I certainly haven't felt like I deserved anyone's pity in the last few years (let's call AFK for after fat Katie). Or is it because I see some truth to it? 

Is being single (and not really mingling) in your mid to late twenties pitiable? Or is it just that in the eyes of twenty something it is? Because I don't go out to eat; because I don't go to bars; because I don't spend lots of money (I don't have) on fancy cars and clothes; does that mean they pity me?

This is crazy! How have I even been brought to the point where I think I should be pitied?

Let's recap what I've done, the good and the bad, AFK.

I moved back home. I moved to Atlanta. I got a full time, regular income kind of job. I ran a marathon. Then I did it again. I ran 4 half marathons, 3 10ks, a 4 miler, and 4 5ks in 2 years. I've run hundreds of miles. I've run over a thousand miles! I learned what a chaturanga push up is. I got to the point where I could actually do one. I forgot how. I traveled to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Townsend, Vegas, Dayton and of course, Savannah. I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time. I found out in good at property management. I got a road bike. I've only road 50 or so miles on said 7 month old bike. I walk to work. I was asked to be a bridesmaid. I found a mentor, who became a friend and who is now more like an annoying older brother. I joined a choir. And then joined another. I was a member of a cast in a production of Oliver!. I learned I can run for over three and a half hours, but I usually feel like crying half way through. Running brought me back 2 friends I'd never thought I'd call friends again.  I found a roommate. I went to a funeral. Ian Somerholder offered me his tea, then got mad when I didn't drink it. I learned that letting go is so much easier than holding a grudge. Then I found another. I'm more independent then ever. I'm alone a lot. 

Being alone is not pitiable.

I'm fine being alone.

Alone.

A Year Later...

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/nikesf13/katiekerkhoff

It was a little over a year ago that I made the decision to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma society by running a half marathon. With your help I was able to raise OVER $1300. Now I'm asking for your help again, but this time I'm going a little bigger and running a FULL marathon and hope to raise $3,500. So keep an eye out for more updates on my training and fundraising efforts, I'm getting pumped to start this journey and can't wait to share it with you!

Be back soon.

Promise.

12 Miles and Other Running Things

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." 

-T. S. Eliot

This Saturday I ran 12 miles. It's a good thing I don't have to do those long runs on my own because I really don't know what I would think about for 2 hours while I run, run, run. What do I usually think about? I think about finishing. I have to convince myself to keep going (ok trick myself, is closer to the truth).

"Only one more minute; only to the end of the road; just till you've been running for an hour; think of all the skinny cow ice cream/pancakes/potato chip you can eat after burning 1100 calories...etc."

But luckily I only have to do one long run in the week by myself, so I only have to bribe my brain a few times.

So I'm going press pause and talk about how much Team In Training has changed my running.

• I went from thinking I HAD to just run all the time, and that walking was weak, but now I know walking makes me stronger. 
• Running went from a very independent, solo action for me, to a social, group activity. Don't get me wrong... I still really like running on my own. A lot of the time I prefer it, but I also love having a pace partner. Even if there is no talking, just having someone there makes a big difference when it comes to how far you can push your legs.
• I've gotten a lot faster, even though I run slower on long runs (I credit my determination + having a great training schedule on that).
• I've started to actually enjoy running.

Wait, huh? You mean to say this girl has been running for 9 months and didn't like it? Yes. Yes, that's correct. Running was torturous for the first 3 months. The only reason I've kept up with it (until recently) is because I like the way it makes me feel after and I like the results. Now? I like it a bit more. I like the people. I like the accomplishment. I like seeing my surroundings in ways I never would have before. I like pushing myself. (I like the clothes.)

The lesson here is if you hate running, maybe you should join a running group (in Savannah there are all of the C.R.E.W. groups and the Savannah Striders, but nationally check your local running stores or meetup.com) or you should raise money for cancer and join Team In Training or DetirmiNation. I mean stop being so selfish while you hate running, geez.

p.s. Check out my post over at GeekChic: The Blog! It's the first of many! And look out for more posts every once and a while from my girl, Caity.

Amazing Fall Smoothie Recipe

Hello everyone! My name is Caitlyn. Katie and I decided to do some blog collaboration. Like her, I am a member of Weight Watchers. I love cooking and have been adapting some recipes to fit my new lifestyle a little better.

One of my favorite new discoveries is an adaptation of a smoothie I found on Pinterest, the Pumpkin Pie Smoothie. The original recipe calls for greek yogurt and since I try not to eat a lot of dairy I changed it a little bit.

Here's what you need:

• 1/2 a banana
• 1/3 cup pure pumpkin (canned)
• 1 cup soy/almond/hazelnut milk (preferably vanilla)
• 5 ice cubes
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

 Put all ingredients into a blender and enjoy! The best thing about this recipe is it's only 1-3 points depending on what kind of milk you use. I used original almond milk and added a few teaspoons of vanilla and it ended up being only one point!

This is just a preview of some other healthy recipes you can find on my blog, GeekChic: The Blog. I'll also be posting recipes here every now and then!

Until next time,

Caitlyn

I am a Runner.....?

I've struggled with this for a long time. I feel weird calling myself a runner! 

That probably sounds cray-cray to some of y'all. If you don't run, surely you'd look at me, a girl who runs 3-5 days a week, and say "Of course she's a runner!" But I look at all these people I've met through the running community and I just pale in comparison. They run faster, or the run longer, or they are more active in the community. 

On top of that I never in a million years thought I'd come close to calling myself a runner, so I guess it's taking longer than a few months to get used to it.

A week or so ago a customer at work (kind of creepily) said I had muscular legs (haha that's so creepy) and I said "Oh, well I'm a runner." And it felt so weird! 

When does one become a "runner"? 

Did I become a runner the moment I decided to do couch to 5k? Or was it after I ran a 5K? Or maybe it was when I got my first pair of running shoes? Or was it when I joined Team in Training... or when I actually completed C25K and then kept running without the program? 

I don't know! What are your opinions on becoming a "runner"?

Getting back on the train after having a bad week

I find it really challenging to get back to my healthy habits after having a few days of not following my plan. I end up trashing the whole week because I'm already behind. Starting over at the beginning of the week (a Wednesday for me) always seems to be the way it works for me. 

I think I live in constant fear that I will just slip back into my old ways. I've done the dieting and weight loss before. Sure, I haven't ever made it this far but I can still remember all those times I just started to forget about living a healthy life. I turned off the side of me that cares. I've done it a few times during this trip down the Weight Watchers journey but I've always restarted at the end of the week. That's the important part! I can't forget to get back into my routine.

I had a great weekend at the beach and stuck to my VEGGIETARIAN ways! I've had a few bites of meat here and there over the last two months but I've tried my hardest not too. Some days it's easy, other days it feels like all I want is a piece of bacon. Everyone seems to be really supportive of it though and that makes it easier.

It's a new month so I'm trying to come up with some new goals, but right now the only two I have are continuing to get all of my weekly miles and work on my core strength. 

Oops! I did it AGAIN!

Well once again it's been over a month since I posted. I guess I just run out of things to say for a while. But here I am again... for an update on maintenance (BTW I have a hard time spelling that word).

Beginning of August

Beginning of July

Not much changed measurement wise in July (I've switched my picture outfit to something that fits now that I'm in maintenance), my weight only changed by a pound or two so I wasn't expecting much. I'm hoping to really get back on the exercise train and see some tone start to develop. I really just want to feel stronger though, the visual aspect is an added benefit. So far I've really been at it this week, in the last 7 days I've run about 24 miles and gone to two yoga classes. I just gotta KEEP at it.

The first few weeks have been challenging for sure, but it's so freeing. I love not feeling that pressure to see the numbers go down on the scale! Since I had my week long eat-whatever-I-want-fest I haven't been above (or at) my goal weight. 

But all this is boring, and mostly for my sake. Next post I'll find something a little more interesting to blab about.

GOOAAALLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In honor of making maintenance this morning, I'm making a before and after post!

before, 2009 (I was actually at a pretty good weight here for me)

after, 2012

before, 2011

after, 2012

before, new years eve 2009

2012!

 

 2010

 2011

Race picture progression! 34 min, 30 min, 29 min!

Finding bathing suit befores are quite impossible.

In the middle, and after...there is about a twelve pound difference here.

I can't believe I made it! When I started this in January 155 seemed so far away, and now I'm sitting at 149, 40 pounds lost! I want to walk around with a t-shirt that says "I lost 40 pounds! If I can do it, anyone can!" Because I was one lazy Pansy before I started the couch to 5K program. Now I work out 5 days a week, I'm training for a half marathon, I go to yoga classes and I bought pita chips, hummus and dried fruit for my road trip! Hahahaha, that's so weird.

I'm excited to continue on though! I know that I'm only going to get stronger and leaner, even if the number doesn't change. Hopefully I'll fit WW meetings into my schedule soon so I can get to lifetime, I'm tired of paying them!

 Weight Watchers, Couch to 5K, Team in Training, bananas, splenda (yeah I still use splenda, suck it), zucchini, Subway, I love you all! You changed my life. Forever! 

I would post a big happy smiley picture here but I just got home from a 4.5 mile run and I'm look rough! Thank you for all of your support :).

A Productive Monday? Weird.

This morning I got up at 7AM and headed to a yoga class... I really didn't think I was gonna make it based off of how much I didn't want to wake up early the night before, but I got there with time to spare! The class went well. I learned a lot today about where everything goes and all that. My first class was taught by someone different and I kinda just flew threw poses, but since then the classes have really taught me a lot.

After yoga I came home and made the "heart healthy" serving of some quick oats. Let me tell you how much oatmeal that is. IT'S A WHOLE LOT! I added a bit of lite maple syrup and my normal olive oil of course. Whew it was a lot, but I ate it all. It was a lot of points too, but I worked so hard today it didn't matter much. After breakfast I started on my room... my room is in real bad shape. It hasn't been cleaned in forever! I did about 4 loads of laundry through out the day and really just picked up in my room. I've still got some work to do.

For lunch I made an over-stuffed with veggies quesodilla. It was delicious! I don't think I mentioned it here but I've been on a no meat diet this past week. I'm just trying it out, but so far it's been really easy! I haven't had meat since Wednesday at lunch! I'm going to try it out till the end of my WW week (Wednesday) and then see what happens from there while I'm on vacation.

For my first dinner I had a protein meal replacement bar right before my workout. Strides and Strength went fabulous then I picked up my second dinner on the way home! I had veggies and rice with some tofu. The tofu was alright, nothing to brag about, but the veggies were delicious!

Tomorrow I have got to finish my TNT letters, finish packing, finish cleaning my room, run a few miles and hopefully have energy to go to yoga too.

How did I forget to tell you guys I surpassed the furthest distance I've ever run this weekend?! I ran 6.8 miles (my nike + app actually said 6.94, but I don't know about that accuracy...) and DANG it was hot. And I really regretted those fried pickles I had a few hours before I ran...but I did it! Now I just got to stay motivated while I'm camping.

Camping, camping, camping. I can't stop thinking about camping.

Motivation? Maitenence?

Where has my motivation gone?! My discipline? The past two weeks have been lacking in that department... seriously lacking! I can't seem to wake up early enough to run and I always have things to do at sun down so I can't seem to get out and run during the week. Eating wise I've been doing really well this week, but I have only gone to yoga once, and I've only run once! That's no good. 

In other news, I'm seriously lacking on the fundraising portion of my summer! I've got to get some letters and emails out. So don't be shy about clicking that link over in the corner :). Any amount is better than nothing!

Also! I'm going camping next week!! Every year a group of my friends and family meet in the same campground in the middle of the smoky mountains in Tennessee for 5 days and it's something I look forward to from the moment we pull out of that little campground. 

 BUT if all goes accordingly this week I should be going into maintenance mode next week! Talk about jumping head first into maintenance for sure. I'm not sure what to expect but with Weight Watchers we have a 2lb leeway so I think I should manage. 

Are any of you out there in maintenance? Tips?

Being Bendy

Let's talk about yoga.

I've never been flexible, at least not when it comes to my body. Seriously, touching my toes has never been possible for me. But then... I lost 40 pounds. Things that were hard or impossible or uncomfortable for me then, are now a different story! I conquered running (or I'm working on it) and I conquered weight loss, so now what? When I started to think of what I wanted to conquer next the first thing that came to mind was core strength. I played softball for ten years so my arm strength seemed to bounce back once I started working on it, and my legs have been becoming stronger from running, but what about my core? It was being left out! I tried doing sit ups and planks and push ups. It just wasn't working. 

In comes yoga, something I always wanted to try, but always scared to make that leap and join a class. I looked around at a lot of studios and DVDs but it was all expensive or intimidating. Then a few of my friends suggested Savannah Power Yoga, ok they didn't just suggest, they raved about it. I decided to check it out. I was... pretty nervous, but that all went away after the first class. I told my friends that I don't think I could have done it before I started losing weight. Is that true for everyone? No, I don't think so. It's all mental! But I didn't just lose 40lbs, I lost all that inhibition that was stopping me from running and working out for fear of being inferior. And like I said before, things that were hard for me then, aren't now. I mean... crossing my legs! That was uncomfortable.

The best part of the few classes I've been to is that it's just an hour of doing yoga. You focus on nothing but the practice. An hour (or an hour and a half) of being present and not worrying about any of the other BS things floating around in your mind. An hour of me time! So for all you people that don't think you can do yoga, give it a try! You might be surprised at what you can do! And I say all this after only 3 classes, who knows what's going to happen in 3 months.

July Already?!?

I can't believe another month has gone by. That means it's time for me to recap June... and well, I'm a little ashamed at myself! Although I haven't been very bad when it comes to eating healthy and exercising I really didn't do anything I wanted to last month. 

June goals:

1. Lose 5 pounds (I've already lost 3 this month). I sort of did this one. I've lost 5.8lbs since May 30th, as of this morning but it's technically July, not June.
2. Join a fitness class (Yoga, Bootcamp, or Zumba). Nope.
   
3. Work on posture and core strength.
4. Do sprints. Did this once...
   
5. Drink my weight in water every day by ounces (literally, 150+ ounces of water a day). Not even close. Although I have been a little better by doing at leas 64 ounces the past week or so.

Now for measurements. I like to do my measurements once a month but now that I'm so close to maintenance I'm not expecting to see those drastic numbers I did when I first started. I lost an inch and a half off each thigh in the first month! But I have heard other girls lose up to two sizes after reaching maintenance. I feel like the last 10 pounds have made such a huge visual difference, but on top of that I feel like a much better runner.

Waist: -.5 in

Hips: -.5 in

Bust: -.5 in

Arms: 0.0

Thighs: -.5 in

So weird! I had the same amount of loss all over (with the exception of my arms). I'm definitely happy with it!

So now for July goals!

1. Reach maintenance!
2. Go to Yoga. 
3. Drink more water! It's so hot outside.
4. Run my furthest distance (over 5 miles).
5. Finish my TNT letters and emails.
6. Start going to WW meetings so I can get lifetime.
7. Core strength, core strength, core strength.

I'm looking forward to this month! Camping comes in a few weeks, I should reach maintenance soon, I'm going to my first yoga class today, I'm running better than ever and TNT looks to have an amazing month! Remember to donate! I need to get a lot more money by August. Just for some motivation one of the girls in our group mentioned this at our group training session this weekend: 

Every 4 minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer, so while we're out there running for 45 minutes 11 people have their lives changed.

Making Stupid Mistakes... And Then Learning to Move On

One thing I learned in the beginning of my server training way back in 2006 (wink wink, waaayy back) was that if you make a mistake with a table, ya gotta move on and forget about it. If you dwell it just keeps messing you up, over and over. Then you go home, finally fall asleep and you dream about it!! I usually don't have control over the dreaming part but if I make a mistake while I'm at work, it's gone and out of my head in minutes.  But in my real life it's a little harder to let go, especially when that mistake costs hundreds of your hard earned dollars.

Today I woke up all excited (ok, I didn't wake up, I technically never went to sleep) to go on my trip to Baltimore to see my cousins and aunts and uncles and run a 5K tomorrow. My flight was supposed to leave at 6:24AM so I left the house when it was still dark out (a typical Saturday for me now, I guess) and made my way to the airport to find out that my flight... was YESTERDAY! I totally booked the wrong day. Way to go Katie... NOT! With some help (MAJOR help) from my cousin I was able to pay for my ticket to be moved to a later flight today, but I tell you what, I sure felt defeated this morning.

Making a big mistake like that, on top of getting an email rejection from a job I really want yesterday, and not having any money, really just hit me! I haven't felt like the world was working against me like that in quite a long time. My life outlook is relatively positive, especially since I started WW in January. Today was just a little harder. Hopefully everything else goes the way it's supposed to.

Handy Dandy Nail Polish Strips

I don't usually talk about beauty products here but I had to make a little post about this! 

I've always seen the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in drug stores and Target and whatnot and have always wanted to try them, and I finally did! I was afraid they would be hard to put on but they were super easy and looked like normal polish. The best part is that they're made to last for a long period of time and come off with normal nail polish remover.

I got an air bubble in the first one, but the rest were easy peasy! So go check 'em out because I'm definitely getting more! I think they'd especially be good for a vacation so you don't have to take nail polish with you for touch ups. They come with extras in different sizes in case you mess up or one peels off (like my right pointer finger nail did, I just use it so much).

On a different note, go check out my friend Victoria's blog, @ victoriaruns.com. She has a Transformation Tuesday series on her blog and today she featured little old ME :)!