Perhaps there is hope for a new pair of jeans

Finding the perfect pair of jeans is a fashion myth. I haven't actually heard of a flesh and blood friend finding the "one" pair of jeans for them. Finding the perfect man, piece of cake, but the perfect pair of jeans... totally not going to happen.

I, myself, didn't wear jeans for nearly four long years because I grew to get so frustrated with the limited options available for curvier women (aka the jeans at JC Penny's weren't doing it for me!). I've always been a white girl with a big ol' bubble butt and in the late 90s to early 2000s that translated into jeans that didn't fit. I'd have a size 6 waist and a size 10 butt. Jeans just weren't cut for the masses to include curves. Thank goodness J.Lo and Beyonce came along! Then, it was cool to have curves. I think Nelly even came out with a line of jeans for curvier women (not that I ever purchased a pair).

Still, finding the "one" never happened for me. It's mostly because I'm a cheapo when it comes to jeans and I can't stomach to pay more than $80 for a pair of pants. Actually, that's a bit high, I don't like to spend more than $50 on a pair of jeans. Basically, I can't even shop at Express anymore for a pair of jeans and I'm too old to go in with my grandma and have her buy me a pair (man, I long for those end of summer ritual back-to-school shopping sprees thanks to a very generous grandma).

Lately, I've been rocking my Old Navy jeans because I've scored them every Black Friday for $15 the past few years. The suckers shrink in the wash and then I have to go through that jumping up and down routine post-washing to get them to fit right again. Insert massive amounts of laughter by the hubs and you can see why I avoided jeans for quite some time.

Last year, I believe it was the Gap that became the moderately-priced "go-to" jeans place. Like a lemming I went in and tried them on and left the store empty handed. The dreaded waist gap got me again. Sure, I'll take my ill-fitting ON jeans because they're $15! That's like three cups of coffee! But if I'm going to spend more than $50 on a pair of jeans well then I want them to fit. Is that too much to ask?!?!?!?

Apparently so because I'm at the point where all I have are ON jeans and a few leftover Express jeans from back when flared leg jeans were all the rage. Seriously, buying or attempting to buy jeans for me is like a Road Runner episode except I'm the darn Coyote. I know full well going in that the jeans aren't going to fit and yet I'm shocked when I come out of the fitting room and hand back the attendant a mountain of ill-fitting jeans. Okay, skinny jeans are solely responsible for my .000 batting average as of late, but that's just because my damn calves are too big. Seriously, I tried on a pair Citizens because I was willing to spend $150 on a pair of jeans if they would fit and my frickin' calves were too big! It's bad enough that my calves don't fit into Hunter boots, but now I can't even try to buy a pair of fancy trendy jeans.

Sigh....

Anyway, the original makers of jeans have apparently heard that women experience some frustration in their endless quest to find the "one." I'm a bit skeptical of the perfect pair of jeans coming to my womanly butt by a man, but whatever. I'm also skeptical that 80% of the world's women fall within three body types, but again I'm willing to suffer the humilation in effort to find a pair of jeans that fit me. I'll even slide for a pair of jeans that make my butt look bad if the suckers fit the rest of me!!!

A fellow curvy and frustrated friend sent me the video below and suggested we make a shopping date in the near future. Levi's please don't let me down!!!



Anyone else struggle to find the "one" and care to share? As soon as I try on some new Levi's I'll report on how I faired.

Third time's a charm!

The hubs and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary last night and in his typical fashion the hubs blew me away. I must confess, the hubs doesn't do those large scale, grand, romantic gestures. You know how Seal proposed to Heidi Klum in an ice castle (or igloo!)? Yeah, my hubs would never do something like that. He's never even bought me roses before!

Anyway, I digress.

I was actually running a bit late on my way home from work and he called to make sure I was alright. The silly train was running a bit tardy due to the high temperatures (something about continuous lines and the metal stretches and bends when it's ridiculously hot out. I'm not really sure, but the hubs could break it down for you.).

I walk through the front door and there's the hubs putting the finishing touches on dinner. I immediately looked confused because I thought we were going out to dinner.

There's the hubs wearing a purple collared shirt I bought him, striped tie, dress slacks and dress shoes in the kitchen. We're not really wear shoes in the house type people, so it really was the shoes (and tie) that caught me off guard. He just looked up and said, "dinner's ready!'

I sat down and realized I would trade those large romantic gestures for my hubs any day of the week. Just a simple meal for two and I'm set. Of course it helps that the hubs has a penchant for details. He bought a candle for the table and picked up a small bouquet of fresh flowers just to spice things up a bit.

I've got to say, we're really found our grove here lately. We've never been a couple that fights all the time, but we haven't even had a serious disagreement since March. Trust me, we're too opinionated people, but we really respect each other's opinions so our little banters never come across as arguments.

How bad could it be? I make him cheesecake even though I hate it and he brings me fresh cappuccino when I'm stressed out and doing work on a Saturday afternoon.




He's a keeper!

One of my worst fears almost happened

I know the more I run the more I run the risk of something happening.

A fall.

Breaking a bone.

Tearing a ligament.

Getting hit by a car.

Seeing something really gross (I almost stepped on a dead cat once and that freaked me out).

Well, I started out on my long run on Sunday morning and it should have been a nice and easy 7 miles. The weather was gorgeous and I didn't hit the road until 8am because it was so relatively cool outside.

Half-a-mile in and I had a side stitch. Okay, fine, whatever. Maybe my english muffin hadn't digested enough. Maybe I was dehydrated because I was outside in the sun from 10am to 3pm on Saturday watching the hubs play baseball. Maybe my terrible night of sleep on Thursday night was coming back to haunt me. Maybe my midnight deadline for a work project on Saturday was the final straw. Who knows what caused the stitch because I certainly don't.

I kept running because it was a simple stitch. They come and they go.

At mile one I started to get a bit lightheaded, so I slowed down a bit. I thought maybe it's too bright outside. Yes, my super pale self actually thought the sun was causing my issues. Whatever, I kept running.

At one-and-a-half miles I started salivating heavily. For the first time I realize something wasn't right. My pace was now a cross between a jog and a drunken drag.

Quickly I turned down a little side street, found a bush and lost my breakfast. For about 10 seconds I thought, "okay, I'll just go one with my run now because I got that out of my system." Then the chills came. Then the panic set in. I'm dizzy, puking, cold and not in any shape to get back to my house in any quick amount of time.

I called home. Thank GOODNESS I run with my phone now. Sure, I really run with it because I can listen to music (thanks Pandora!) and track my runs with a GPS trainer, but in that moment when I wasn't feeling well it was really nice to have a way out.

Me: Babe, I need you to come pick me up. I just threw up and I'm really dizzy.

Hubs: Where are you?

Me: Clarkville Street.

Hubs: Where?

Me: You know, the street that if you towards the train station the way you drive and not the way I drive. The big street.

Hubs: Don't sit down, I'll be there in a minute.

Three minutes later my knight in a shiny Escape came and picked me up. Dude even brought me water, which I declined until I had the opportunity to swish something and spit it back out.

Later in the day the hubs flat out demanded that he wanted to know where I was when I went running. Normally, I'm not one for demands, but the guy really had a solid point on this one so I gave in. Now, whenever I head out I'm going to leave a map up on the computer so he can see my route. In the past I usually tell him roughly how long I'll be so he knows when to start worrying.

I keep trying to tell him that he could put any fears he has of me running by myself aside if he came out with me. His response, "well who's going to come pick us up when I pass out and land on you?"

In all seriousness, I felt fine later in the day. It was just a bit scary of how that could have been a lot worse of a situation. I could have been 8 miles from home and on a crazy back road. I could have been out running and not have had my phone on me. The hubs could have been out walking the dogs or not at home at all.

It could have been a lot worse. I'm so thankful that all I lost on this run was my breakfast. Sure, I hated missing my long run, but I'm happy that I made it home safe and sound.

Do any other runners get worried something might happen to them while they're out for a run? What precautions do you take?

Come back!

Don't run away! I swear I'm still here.

Actually, I'm completely flabbergasted that I haven't posted in nearly two months. That's a really, really, really, ridiculously long time for me to go without posting. I've had multiple posts thought out in my head, but unfortunately a variety of things have kept me away from blogging.

I'm sorry about that. Plus, I'm sorry about the absolutely craptastic posts I've been putting out there in the past year or so. I'm going to shake it up and hopefully hone in a proper voice for this thing.

So come back, I swear I'll try to make you laugh a few times. It'll be good for both of us!