Friday Things

Somehow -- I don't know how -- but we got both girls napping at the same time. (I know I said we ended naps for Ada, but if we're around, sometimes she'll take a snooze.) Anyway, I wanted to hop on and just share a few fun things I've discovered lately. I miss these kinds of posts and hope to bring them back regularly!

// 1: I need to do more strength training. Enter Kettletoning! This workout is a blend of yoga and toning exercises using kettlebells! I have a 10 pound kettlebell and a 30 pound kettlebell. I'd like to get a 15 or 20 pound kettlebell for this kind of work.

I did this video yesterday in my garage. Feel the burn!



// 2: Holy leggings. I plan to do a dedicated mommy style post soon, but I'm really into leggings. Which means I am really into LuLaRoe. Which means I need to watch my wallet. I actually came across these paisley beauties on Amazon of all places . . . and they're only $12. PLUS, they feel like exactly the same material AND ship PRIME.

They are "one size" and if you're familiar with OS from LuLaRoe, I'd say I'd fit between a OS (0-10) and TC (12-22) in that brand. These leggings in one size are actually perfect for me because I feel like they'd be best for sizes 4-12. I fall around a size 6-8 these days and am just about 5'7".

My top five print picks:

• Field of Dreams (paisley)
• Rose Noir (floral on black background)
• Atlantis (blue symmetrical print)
• Volcanic Rose (another floral perfect for fall)
• Chocolate Paisley (just like it sounds)

// 3: I want to start using the slow cooker more, and I think I'll try out some Ethiopian recipes. (Some of our favorite farmers market food is Ethiopian, and I'd love to figure it out!) To start, I think we'll make this 1-Day Flatbread or Injera. You just need teff flour, baking powder, salt, water, and time.

// 4: Stranger Things. If you haven't caught this show yet on Netflix -- do it. Now. This weekend is the perfect time to binge watch. It's Stephen King-inspired, has tons of awesome synth music, and you'll think the star -- Eleven -- is the most adorable (and powerful) girl ever!

// 5: Our new favorite app is called My Singing Monsters. And I mean OUR because I think Stephen and I like playing it as much as Ada does. You'll get all the songs and beats stuck in your head and it's FREE as the wind. Check it out.

// 6: Otherwise, I've been listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers basically all the time lately.



// 7: Have any of you tried this Magic Sleepsuit? Eloise is nearing the next stage of sleeping (sans swaddle), but I think she needs something to help dull her startle reflex. We kept Ada swaddled for a long time, but Eloise isn't a fan of it and fights and fights and fights. I know eventually we have to just wean her off it, but figured that might be a good solution in the meantime?

Alright, everyone. Apparently nap time is over. It was a nice 30 minutes while it lasted.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Read more...

snu:mee baby 3-in-1 music box // review

While we're on all things baby, I have a review for you guys today. The folks at Baby Stars - rock2sleep recently contacted me to see if I wanted to review their baby monitor + music box + mp3 player called snu:mee. This product has gained some real popularity among music-loving parents in Europe. Now? It's soon making its debut in the United States.

Take a look:

The very first thing I discovered after I charged mine up is that the sound on this thing is amazing. The tones come through crystal clear, so apart from any baby monitor functionality, it truly is a great music player. The pre-loaded songs are soothing versions of rock + pop hits, very similar to those Rockabye Baby! CDs that Stephen and I love. My favorite pre-load is actually the sound of a hairdryer -- it's the perfect white noise.

You can also transfer songs from your own music library onto the device along with audiobooks. Another cool feature? You can even record your own voice. So, if you are going on a business trip or just want to do something personal, your baby will be able to hear your voice. (And speaking of that, you can also talk real-time through the device to coax your child back in to bed!)

What else I like: You can place your snu:mee in a bunch of adorable sleeves that coordinate with your nursery décor.


Some features:

• Baby monitor with up to 300m signal range
• Feature packed MP3 player
• Free app for iOS and Android
• 60 decibel volume limiter for babies' sensitive hearing
• Headphone connector
• Sleep timer allowing you to decide how long the music plays
• Wi-Fi music streaming
• Secure connection
• Variety of cuddly sleeves to choose from
• 4GB memory, enough for more than 500 songs

Here you can see it in action:



My only critique is that I wish snu:mee came with a dedicated listening device for the monitor portion. Using my iPhone -- while convenient at times -- doesn't make me feel entirely comfortable, especially for overnights. I'm old school in that way, I suppose. I am the kind of mom who wants to hear absolutely everything going on in my baby's room at all times. I think I would use this as a monitor for an older baby or toddler and a more traditional one for a newborn.

That being said, the free app for controlling the device is easy to use and lets you connect with your home wifi or a dedicated wifi just with the device. You can do anything from load songs to listen in with ease.

Oh! And Ada enjoys listening to the tunes, so the monitor can grow with older kids like her, too. She could use it as an mp3 player in her room to play her favorite music (which right now is garage rock like Ty Segall, thanks to Stephen). Definitely a baby monitor for the modern age.

// Again, snu:mee is launching soon in the United States via crowdsourcing campaign on Indiegogo. If this kind of device looks cool to you -- you can get it now at a special early bird price (just $79 with April delivery!) through the campaign.

Thanks to Baby Stars for providing the snu:mee. Opinions on this product are my own.

Read more...

I've never really ever met a normal person...

Major kitchen flop yesterday. I have this delicious recipe in my head and my execution failed me. So, the last part of the Thanksgiving Brunch will have to wait for another day or two. I want to get it right for both you AND me AND also get good photos. I know you understand how that goes. Sometimes mistakes are good . . . and sometimes horrible.

I spent the majority of my weekend becoming utterly obsessed with Arcade Fire's new album. Stephen bought it while I was away at my spa weekend, so he's two weeks deep in love already. I've been a big fan for years and years -- way back in 2004 they played a small show at Cornell, but I was only just getting into them, so I skipped out. If I had only known they'd turn into my favorite!

Have you seen/heard this? It's pretty much the best thing ever. "Normal Person" is my favorite song right now (third song on this video, but the whole thing is well worth watching).

And this one just makes me cry.


Anyway, I got some running done in there. Stephen and I headed to the gym Friday night and I did 100 burpees with kettlebell swings mixed in after every 25. Then 6 miles with a friend on Saturday. We had planned to do 13.1 on Sunday, but the weather was absolutely brutal. 15 degrees that "felt like" 1 degree with 35MPH gusting winds and snow. I'm just not that hardcore yet. I'll get there as the season rolls on.

So, I settled for 8 on Sunday -- 6 with Stephen at a fast clip and 2 to cool down.


My running buddy and I plan to do our half marathon long run on Wednesday sun or snow, as we're expecting a storm mid-week. Feeling pretty good about running lately. Enough that I might sign up for a spring marathon, but let's not get ahead of ourselves!

I've also been having these insanely productive work sessions at Wegmans of all places. My in-laws were up visiting this weekend and allowed me to venture out on a Monday and get two glorious hours of uniterrupted work finished.


If you work from home, you really do need to get out if you haven't already. I'll take the laptop there during Ada's nap on a weekend and get all sorts of work done while sipping soy chai. Then I'll do the grocery shopping. I even got a flu shot today. Hmm. I might just move into Wegmans.

What else?

Well, I wrote about it on Writing Chapter Three, but Stephen and I are in the process of becoming a one-car family. Not really by choice, though it's something we've certainly wanted to do in the past. So, if you're interested in why and the thought process and also why I might be whining about it a bit as we transition, you can check out that post.

I don't do a ton of "what's going on with me" sorts of writeups, so I hope you enjoyed the change of pace. But enough about me.

What'd you do this weekend?
What are you listening to these days?
What's your favorite cafe drink?
Is it frigid where you live, too?

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Blogtastic "Open Mic" and Friday Style

One of my goals this year is to be more creative. To develop my inner-artist -- which, for me, is mostly through music. I'm auditioning for our campus's community chorus next week. So, that's a start -- and I'm super excited about it. I've also been playing guitar/singing for at least 15 minutes per day.

I'm not great, but I'm slowly re-gaining my range. Re-learning chords. Re-discovering my voice. My brother is even going to teach me some fingerpicking (I never really learned). Which leads me to something scary: I really want to do an open mic night . . . like: A LOT. I've wanted to do one pretty much since . . . forever.

BUT I'm absolutely terrified to sing alone in public.

It's not that I can't do it (I was in musicals, had solos in chorus concerts, and performed in a variety of other events throughout the years, including some karaoke hits). It's just extremely, extremely difficult for me.

Lights shining in my eyes.
Mic in front of me.
Crowd hushed.
FROZEN. Forgetting words and chords.
Suck-y singing. Ahh!

SOLUTION: The Blogtastic "Open Mic" event!

S.e.r.i.o.u.s.l.y. I haven't hammered out all the details yet, but I'm completely dedicated to making this happen. Many of you expressed your own desires to grow your creative sides this year. And here's your chance to showcase your progress!

• Anyone can participate. Singers. Instrument players. Poets. Fiction and other writers. Painters. Photographers. Crafters. Style gurus. If it's creative and can be shown online -- you're in.
• It's a Date: Friday, February 25th. This give y'all an entire month to create your piece and figure out a way to share. (Video is best -- even if you're just holding up your painting, for example, and briefly explaining it -- because we're at our most vulnerable . . . In other words: I challenge you to go outside your comfort zone. However, video isn't required to participate. Photos will do the trick, too.).
• What I need from you is a promise that you'll participate. A virtual pinky swear. A promise that you'll post your submission on Thursday, February 24th by midnight. That way, everyone can have the weekend to check out all the "performances" -- how fun!
• I'll also need your first name, blog name, and link to your blog -- in advance (you can just email us), please -- so I may create a list of stops on the Open Mic circuit. As well, it'd be nice if you could include the title or type of "performance" you are going to give.
• First round of folks will need to let us know by February 15th if they plan to participate. If all goes well, we'll host another event in March!
• Am I forgetting anything? Probably. If you have questions -- just email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

I guess at this point I'm looking to see if there's any interest in this type of thing. (Comment if you are!) If no one else wants to -- I may just post a video of myself singing and playing guitar. (Yikes! You've been warned.) Mostly for me, I guess. I can already hear you all laughing and turning down your speaker volume. Hah!

FRIDAY STYLE


Less than a week after I challenge myself to dress up more -- to stop wearing my active wear to work -- I'm sporting Luon again. But I figure it's Friday. The day after a minor snow storm. I've been prettied up all week.

Go easy on me!



Hoodie: Lululemon -- I know. I know!
Shirt (underneath) and jeans: Gap
Boots: Keen
If you'd like to catch up on my style transformation, just click these links:

• Post 1: Fleece and Luon -- No More!
• Post 2: Weekend Happenings -- Style Edition.
• Post 3: Yet Another Belted Shirt
• Post 4: Resisting the Belt. For Today.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

fotografia e musica

One of my most favorite x-mas gifts this year came from my parents. (Well, I got a lot of great presents this year, but more on those another time.) This gift? A 50mm lens for my D90.

Hi!!! Julie got one, too. And she and I will both tell you it's a relatively inexpensive gadget with magical powers.

Depth of field. Oh, it's glorious.



I've written it before and will most certainly write it again: I'm no expert at taking photos. Goodness no. Half of what I shoot . . . I like. The other half is pretty piss-poor. So, with no formal photography education . . . and only limited time to learn, I do the best I can.

I practice on Stephen.



I practice some more.



And even more.


In the new year, I want to learn more technically. About settings. ISO. Aperture (I shoot mostly in aperture priority out of habit). The best lighting. Moreso, I want to develop myself artistically. I feel a lot of people dwell on the mechanics of it. But you don't need a DSLR to take good photos. Even if you have one and you can't seem shoot a "perfect" fuzz-free photo, sometimes those imperfect ones with a great eye behind them are way better. (At least in my armature opinion.)

We (the collective "we") talk a lot about goals, especially at this time of year. Accomplishing things. Stuff that's measurable. Deadline-driven. I challenge you to dig deeper this year: What's something you want to develop or grow within your self? For me, it's -- don't laugh at how pretentious this sounds -- my inner artist.

OK. You can laugh. That statement sounds somewhat incredibly ridiculous.


I have the tattoo "aria" on my left wrist and people often ask me what it means. "Is it someone's name?" No. "Well, what the hell is it?" (I explained it in this post.)

"Oh . . ." is the response I usually get when I explain. Most of my current friends just can't see it. But art (music, specifically and foremost) used to be a huge part of my life. No. It WAS my life until age 18. Then I went to college and took up this self-made athlete thing and never looked back.

Sure, I sing in my car. I fuss with my guitar every couple of weeks . . . but my muscle memory is ever-dwindling. So, this year -- along with developing my photography as an art -- I want to beef up that musician within myself that's atrophied. Shriveled up to make room for my strong calves and buff biceps.


How about you? Feel free to leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Weekend Happenings and Peanut Butter

Yes. For the first time EVER, I successfully made peanut butter this weekend. Well -- actually, it was this morning, truth be told. But we'll get back to this topic in a moment. This weekend was great. It began with a dinner out Friday night (we usually cook at home on Fridays because we like what we make better than most restaurants around here). Our favorite place in town has expanded its menu to include a variety of new dishes, appetizers, and drinks!

We spent the rest of the night watching TV in bed (I have like 3,000 pillows and 10,000 blankets). Because we had nothing better to do. And it was glorious.

Saturday, we each began the day with a large serving of the banana-stuffed faux crepes. Yum! Then, a run! I did an easy 5.5 miles and Stephen completed a 4 mile pace workout. I'm still not feeling like I want to run. But I'm also getting excited for the race. It's only two weeks away! After that, we met up again with our friends Lindsey and John.


Lindsey and I went shopping -- she got some awesome maternity clothes she needed . . . and I got a ton of stuff I probably DON'T need, but still enjoy. I'm curious -- because I bought for colors of the same shirt, and I am thinking about going back for more. Does anyone else have this habit? I tend to find a cut/style I like, and I stick with it. I just end up with different colors of the same thing. If it works, it works. At least that's how I feel!


John and Stephen stayed back at the house and brewed another batch of beer. This time, they mixed up a kit for Hopnog. And though I can't yet attest to the nogginess, the hops are DEFINITELY there. They also experimented with a new method that might help save water and more effectively cool the batch faster for the future.

Sunday, though we're in our taper, is still long run day. We each had 12 miles ahead of us. I planned to run part of my 20-miler route -- out and back -- but I couldn't because there were several road closures. Thankfully these closures were THIS week and not last. It's difficult to change up your route when you're 5 miles from home and have 15 to go. With only another 7, it was no big deal. I finished my run in 1:45:00 -- 8:45 pace. Basically, this is my "ultimate goal" marathon pace, so we'll see if I can maintain it at the race (would mean a finish around 3:49:30). If not, that's OK, too!


Stephen ran a half marathon distance, finishing in 1:26:00 -- or 6:28 pace. (Sick, right?) We're both feeling confident and ready to hit the pavement. But I think we're both nervous about the weather. October is a tricky month up in the Northeast. It could be cold and cloudy . . . or it could be hot and sunny. There's really no telling -- and the temperature, etc., certainly impacts performance. For example, yesterday was much warmer than it first seemed . . . and I ended up getting pretty dehydrated by the end of the run.


I'm also happy to report that we've added a new appliance to our kitchen family. Yup -- I caved and bought a new food processor last night. It's awesome. Specifically, it's the Cuisinart 11-cup Pro Custom model. I'm not entirely sure if it's the same one that Ashley has, but I think it's the same one that Julie just picked up last weekend.

Let's just say . . . I don't feel like I'm just playing around anymore. This baby has POWER. And I'm starting to understand that all my failed attempts at making peanut butter weren't failed because I'm deficient in some way. No. I just didn't have the right tools . . .


Major difference, correct? The new processor has no trouble at all transforming peanuts into peanut butter (we used Ashley's recipe). It's as easy as . . .

1.)


2.)


3.)


More about the food processor (and peanut butter) another day, though. I still need to play around with it more. It even came with a DVD and special slicing plates for fancier cuts, like julienne!


Seen any good movies lately? Why, yes. Yes, we have! This sort of gets us back on our music discussion from the other day (with our video post). Stephen and I both love this band called Joy Division. You may or may not have heard of them. They're late 1970s post-punk out of England. Anyway, there's a movie that was produced about the lead singer, Ian Curtis, that came out in 2008. It's one of those movies we meant to see when it was released, and then forgot about.

Then we FINALLY remembered. It's called Control. I highly recommend it.

After watching it, we spent Saturday and Sunday listening to Joy Division and a band that grew out of them, New Order. We also found some cool covers that we like almost as much as the originals!





So, that's pretty much everything. What did YOU do this weekend? Craft any new recipes? See any good films? Rock out any workouts? Let us know -- just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Graham Crackers and Video Posts

As you'll see in a moment, I wrote up an entire post this morning and watched it -- in an instant -- vanish. I need to keep better track of my battery power. On like everything. My phone is basically dead right now (and as I told Tina on Twitter this morning, my ringer is always off . . . so I guess it doesn't matter anyway!). My camera has another 20 shots left in her -- maybe. My iPod Touch is on low battery, too (and I have a gazillion Words With Friends games to catch up on -- sorry, friends!).

Here's what I would have posted in words, but had to -- instead -- record as an awkward video:




(Please, please click and watch . . . with the freeze-frame, I look so ridiculous!)
OK. Please settle something for me. Is it Vibram with an "i" as it "fish" . . . or Vibram with an "i" as it "eye-ball" . . . Stephen thinks it's fish. I want it to be eyeball, but I think Stephen's right. I don't know. I just think it sounds better with the word "vibe" in there. If I pronounced it wrong, I apologize to the Five Fingers folks.

If you missed our "geeking out" post, check it out here -- and reveal to us your inner dork.

And here are the grahams I'm referring to. They are amazing. So good, in fact, that I ate them in place of a healthy breakfast. I won't post the recipe yet (and it's not my own recipe anyway -- I found it on Ashley's site. And she found it on Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World). I tweaked it a bit, used some different ratios of flour (as per our flour discussion the other day), and added some more spices. Since they are so thick, I figure I should give it another go before sharing.



I can't seem to cut them evenly . . . reminds me a bit of Tetris:


Also, I can't stop listening to:


What songs are you currently obsessed with? I've got a TON more, including this rare version of "The Killing Moon" by Echo & the Bunnymen that Stephen burned onto a CD for me. Stephen basically spends whole evenings trolling around for music.

We're going to two concerts soon-ish: Broken Social Scene later this month and Phoenix in October. While we're on the topic -- what music are you not too keen on? Stephen thinks I'm crazy because Springsteen doesn't float my boat. Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

GUEST POST: Music to Your Feet by Erin

As a person who exercises for health benefit more than fun, finding the right workout playlist directly corresponds with my enjoyment while running. Trust me, there’s nothing like the Black Eyed Peas to help get my heart pumping, but I’ve found plenty of songs that aren’t on the Ryan Seacrest Top 40 that really are music to my feet. As in, they get me moving in different ways and help me keep my workout exciting. Here are some of the songs I use and how they help me move through my run.

1. So What by Pink – This is almost always the first song I listen to. It immediately gets me in “the zone” and it’s slow enough that it’s a good warm-up song.
2. Rosalita by Bruce Springsteen – Once I’m warmed up, this song helps me move to a faster beat. The song is 7+ minutes and it picks up the pace throughout. So, by the end of the song I am moving in full swing.
3. Tenderness by General Public – To keep the fast pace going and have some fun, I switch to this song, which literally makes me want to swing my arms around and sing along.
4. Caught up in You by .38 Special – I’m an 80s girl at heart, so this song makes me smile and it slows my pace down a bit. By the end of the 4 minutes I’m ready to pick it up again!
5. Let it Rock by Kevin Rudolf – As I bump up the speed on the treadmill I fall quickly into step with this song. Its steady beat moves me through and I swear it makes me want to go faster.
6. Untouched by The Veronicas – Now is the time for me to keep the pace fast, and this song keeps the motivation strong. Be like me and sing along, even if you get strange looks from your treadmill neighbors.
7. Don’t Get Me Wrong by The Pretenders – Although this song has a peppy beat, the slower lyrics help remind me to bring my heart rate down a bit before pushing through the end of my workout.
8. You Wreck Me by Tom Petty – I don’t know about you, but I love me all kinds of Tom Petty. This song, followed by the next, helps me push myself to the upper limits.
9. Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty – This is my absolute favorite last workout song to play. At a solid 4+ minutes it holds me strong, and the lyrics are motivational. If you’re like me, you might actually trick your legs into thinking that you are indeed running down a dream!
10. Bottle It Up by Sara Bareilles – Need to cool down and still have fun? Throughout this 3-minute song, I slowly get my heart and feet to follow the steady beat and before I know it, I feel relaxed and refreshed.

So, there you have it. When you’re all said and done with this list, you will have run just over 40 minutes. A nice thing about a playlist like this is that you can use it for any level runner. If you’re a beginner, “pushing yourself” might mean something totally different than if you’re a hard core runner. Either way, the changes in the music will help remind you to speed up or slow down, and keep your workout interesting.

Erin believes that you should be able to make your cake and eat it, too. That’s why she writes Domestic Adventure (http://www.domesticadventure.com) , a blog that follows her pursuit of domestic happiness as she juggles life, love and her career. By day Erin is a fundraising and PR professional for a nonprofit organization. She lives near Bar Harbor, Maine, with her husband Chris and their dog Frankie.



And thanks to Erin (from Domestic Adventure) for sharing with us her awesome list of tunes. If YOU'D like to write a guest post or be featured on (never home)maker, just head over to our Reader Spotlight page for all the gooey details!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

How to Suit up to Set Out (And other FAQs)

Hey, everyone! We've discovered that our running post really inspired a lot of you to either start your own running programs, get moving a little more each day, or to at least think about the whole process. We're thrilled! We even got some great questions via email about how to dress for cold weather running, when to sign up for races, etc. So, this is a FAQ post specifically about running.

Not into the whole athletic thing? You can head over to get this morning's healthy muffin top recipe or enter our first giveaway. But we hope you'll stick around :)

Question #1: It's cold outside. You guys are crazy to be out running! But, I don't have a gym membership . . . and I want to start my own program. How should I dress for chilly temps?

Answer: Just because the temps are low doesn't mean you need to stay inside. In fact, being outside for a bit each day is good for not only your physical, but also mental health. Now, confession time: I was an indoor-treadmill runner for most winters. However, I often got a bad case of treadmill-madness and -- more times than not -- felt like my favorite sport was more of a chore. Ugh! And I only went outside if the temps were about 25. This year is different. I don't know exactly how . . . but I think it's because I invested in a few key pieces of outdoor running gear.

• Cold weather running tights. I've had the same Under Armor cold weather tights since 2003. I wear just this layer on bottom if the temps are above 20 degrees F. Cost: $60 (mine are similar to this pair), but -- again -- I've had them for over 6 years now and they're still going strong.
• Fleece running pants. I wear these either alone (again, if the temps are above 20 degrees F). However, if it's colder . . . I layer by wearing my running tights under them. Cost? $60. (Mine are similar to this pair) Just like above, they last forever if you treat 'em right. So it's a good investment.
• A good base layer. I actually mostly wear the technical shirt we got for free at the Philly Marathon. But you can score one for about $40 (like this one). I wear this on warmer days with just the vest (warmer meaning above 32 degrees F). On colder days I wear it under my coat.
• A vest. As I mentioned above, throw it over a base layer in warmer temps, and it'll keep your core warm while not allowing you to overheat. On colder days, throw it over both the base layer and running coat for added wind protection and core warmth. You can get a good one for about $60.
• A warm, but breathable jacket. I prefer a fleece, but others like ones that shield the body from wind. Just don't get something too bulky. You'll be layering! Here are some good examples of running jackets for women. Prices vary wildly.
• Head and neck gear. Either some kind of warm fleece hat or a headband. And one of those fleece wraparound scarves. You'll need them when the temps dip below 20 degree F. And the wind kicks up. Cold ears aren't any fun. Can be as little as $5.

As you can see, the key to winter running wear is layering. A good rule of thumb is that you should be slightly chilled when you head outside. It'll take you about 10 minutes to get warmed up by jogging. If you step outside and still feel toasty . . . that's bad news. You'll likely be sweating like crazy within 10 minutes and need to turn around and peel off something.

Rightly so, you might be thinking now: How the hell can I afford all that gear? Here's what I didn't tell you . . . DO NOT. I repeat DO NOT buy anything at full price! I find most of my running stuff at places like TJ Max and Marshall's. The clearance rack at Dick's Sporting Goods. Outlet stores. You can wear last season's vest -- at least for me, running doesn't have to be this crazy fashionable affair. Wear what makes sense and makes you comfortable. Again: Don't pay full price.

Question #2: I am just starting the whole running thing. How long before I can sign up for a race?

Answer: Anytime! Yesterday, even. I waited an entire year before signing up for a race because I was scared people wouldn't think I wasn't a "serious" enough runner. Or scared I'd come in last place. Or just scared in general that I wouldn't be able to complete the distance (for whatever reason, I don't know). What I found at my first race (a small-ish, local 5K) were a TON of supportive runners of all ages and abilities. It was a completely different experience than I had imagined. Complete strangers chatted me up about my running and offered helpful tips and tricks for training and racing. Others just impressed me with, for example, how long they had been running. In fact, I got my butt kicked by some awesome runners ages 60+. Overall, my first race got me totally motivated to keep at it and train not harder, but smarter.

You'll find that runners in general are a friendly group of folks. A little eccentric at times -- but, hey -- who isn't???

Question #3: What kind of shoes do you wear? I looked up some "running shoes" -- but they're super expensive. Do you really have to spend the big bucks?

Answer: Now here's a place that you really should invest your money. Shoes are basically the most important part to running. Barefoot enthusiasts may disagree . . . but this girl has had enough tendon issues, sesamoid flair-ups, and other foot injuries to even think of going naked. I personally like Brooks (Glycerin, in particular). But I've also run in Mizuno, Asics, and Adidas shoes. My best advice is for you to draft up your budget (because you really can find good shoes to meet any budget) . . . and then go to a specialty running store. Have the sales associate chat with you about your foot problems. He or she may also check out your tootsies (to see if you have high arches, flat feet, etc.) and even let you try the shoes out on a treadmill.

If you don't have a running specialty shop, do your research. Runner's World routinely publishes shoe reviews in the categories: Cushioned, Stability, Trail, Racing, and more. They have much of this information online, as well as detailed explanations for each category. The best part is that they have real people try out what they've reviewed and report back the good and bad.

As far as $$$ -- you can figure out which shoe is right for you and then check Zappos.com or Road Runner Sports. Often you can find a good deal. However, beware: models may change significantly from year to year. So what fits/works from 2010 might not be exactly like what was made in 2009. I made that mistake once and had two black toenails to show for it. Ouch!

Question #4: Do you listen to music when you run? If I do, does it make me less of a runner?

Answer: I do indeed rock out during my workouts. I would say probably 60% of the time. There's this divide between runners that I've picked up on throughout the years. Those who think running needs to be this solitary, meditative experience -- the soundtrack only foot-strikes and breath. And those who just want to bust out a good workout and get 'er done. Either way, you're still a runner! The key is to enjoy your workouts. So do what you want.

Here's some of my current favorite running tunes:

So, I hope we answered some of your burning questions. We'd be happy to cover more, just leave a comment or shoot us an email at neverhomemaker@gmail.com. No questions is too silly . . . seriously. And if you're looking for a great place to read through what other people have asked, visit the Runner's World Forums. I frequent those pages almost daily for anything from training and nutrition advice to plain-Jane motivation.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever <3

Read more...