another love story and lots of other stuff…

I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS! to my dear friends Raf and Malyn on their nuptials this weekend. Yes. I did the bride’s makeup and with assistance of Miss Margaret, we did the mothers and the officiant. It was a lovely backyard wedding complete with all the Berkeley touches: compostable ware, vegan Filipino food (yes, it does exist!), and home-made center pieces. It was lovely and very Raf & Malyn. Cheers to my favorite quackers!

On to some non-wedding news…

First off, some articles I thought you would enjoy:
Making Up for Bad Health Habits It should be noted that I think some of the points the article makes are kind of stupid. For example, the author lists being overweight as a “bad health habit.” Is it me, or do you also see the stupidity in that declaration? I can see that eating too much junk food would make the list but being overweight? Isn’t that a health condition as opposed to a bad health habit? Sometimes I think I should start a special “stupid shit people do” section to this blog. Bleh!

My dear friend John W. posted this link from Hyperbole and a Half on my facebook. He seems to think that my recent tirades on grammar are related to my anger issues. For the record, I do not have anger issues. I have “I think stupid people are dumb” issues.

My next announcement has to do with BOOBIES! Now that I have your full attention, I would like to let you know that it’s that time of year again. Nordstrom is sponsoring their Nordstrom Fits America event. In case you haven’t guessed, I’m a total freak about getting fitted for the right bra. Need proof? Check out these classic fathlete entries:
get fitted
get your bra on!

If you haven’t had a proper bra fitting, this is the perfect event to go to. Even if you don’t plan on purchasing, at least go in and get to know your correct bra size. Bra fittings are one of many complimentary services that Nordstrom provides. Did you know that 80% of women are wearing the WRONG bra size? Yeah. That includes YOU! Also, did you know that you should get fitted for a bra every six months? You don’t necessarily have to buy a new bra then. However, if you’re losing or gaining weight (even if you’re not), it’s a good idea to get fitted (or at least have someone adjust your straps to make sure you’re locked and loaded). Here is some info from the Nordstrom Fits America website:

Whether you’re being properly fitted for a bra for the first time, or want to double-check your size (which we recommend—especially if you’ve lost or gained weight), get a complimentary bra fitting from one of our certified fit experts. They’ve been specially trained over several months to identify the perfect bras for a variety of sizes and shapes.

For every bra purchased, Nordstrom and participating lingerie brands together will donate $2 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Affiliate in your area.

Participating Brands: Amoena, Betsey Johnson Intimates, Calvin Klein Underwear, Chantelle Intimates, DKNY, Donna Karan Intimates, Elle Macpherson Intimates, Elomi, Fantasie, Felina, Freya, Le Mystère, Natori, On Gossamer, Panache, Simone Perele, SPANX® and Wacoal.  

In 2010, Nordstrom is proud to make a combined minimum contribution of $200,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® for Nordstrom Fits America events and selected local Komen Race for the Cure® sponsorships.

If you’re interested in participating in Nordstrom Fits America, the nationwide list can be found here. Below is a list of the bay area stores and their event dates. Feel free to call your local store of choice and make an appointment for a bra fitting. I tell you, it will change your life!

Nordstrom Hillsdale Shopping Center
130 Hillsdale Shopping Center
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 570-5111
September 9

Nordstrom Broadway Plaza
1200 Broadway Plaza
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 930-7959
September 10 and 11

Nordstrom Stonestown Galleria
285 Winston Drive
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 753-1344
September 16

Nordstrom Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton
1600 Stoneridge Mall Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 463-5050
September 9

Nordstrom Arden Fair
1651 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 646-2400
September 25

Nordstrom Galleria at Roseville
1131 Galleria Boulevard
Roseville, CA 95678
(916) 780-7300
September 24

Nordstrom Stanford Shopping Center
550 Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 323-5111
September 18

Nordstrom Valley Fair
2400 Forest Avenue
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 248-2180
September 11

Nordstrom San Francisco Centre
865 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 243-8500
September 17

My final announcement is that One World will be doing another Look Better Naked Challenge. This time, my dear friend Alex C. will be handling the details of the challenge. For now, click here for Alex C.’s latest article and upcoming info on the Challenge. 

get your bra on!

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that I’m a HUGE proponent of getting a proper bra fitting and wearing appropriate support gear. You just need to. In fact, when people sign up for gym memberships (yes, CrossFit included), I strongly believe that there should be a conversation about gear – especially about sports bras. Granted, I’m sure the guys LOVE watching the ladies bounce around in all sorts of ways. However, I’m talking about sports bras as a health issue. Proper support is important. I urge ALL WOMEN to get a bra fitting and find out what bras are best for you and your workouts.

With that, I wanted to let you know that Nordstrom in Valley Fair is hosting a Komen event this Friday and Saturday. All you have to do is come in and get a professional bra fitting. I swear by the Nordstrom specialists! When you decide to buy a bra from a participating brand, Nordstrom will donate $2 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every bra you buy! Some of the brands include: Calvin Klein, Chantelle, DKNY, Wacoal, and a slew of others! For more information, call the lingerie department at Nordstrom Valley fair at (408) 248-2180 ext 1240. Please note that different stores have different dates for this event. If you can’t make it to Valley Fair, I suggest calling your local Nordstrom to find out when their Komen event is.

Here is what’s going on in some fashion news… as always, the fat vs. thin debate is always heating up – especially with Fashion Week around. It looks like Paris has done some interesting things in trying to diversify. I have lots to say, but I’ll keep this rant short and sweet. Unless I see women of different sizes (and I’m talking in the double digits, like size 10 and up) and racial and ethnic backgrounds, please don’t bother talking about embracing diversity. Thin is not the new thin, folks! And here is another reason why I hate the fashion world. Oh Mr. Lagerfeld, it’s not that no one wants to see round women, it’s that ignorant people like have no idea what women actually look like.

Today’s Workout
Run/walk 5k

Notes (to myself) about this workout: I’ve been out of commission because I’ve been nursing some major congestion and trying to catch up on some work. My last workout was last week Friday when I did an hour of yoga. Today was my first day back. The run was difficult, but we started off at a faster pace than normal, which felt good. However, by the time we reached our half way mark, it just felt better to walk it. I’m totally looking forward to training this week!

get fitted

If talking about women’s breasts bothers you, I recommend that you skip reading this entry. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a big believer in breast health. Boobs are no laughing matter. So ladies, do go to your annual appointments. Do have a healthcare specialist examine your boobs. Do engage in monthly self-examinations. In short, do the things you need to do to ensure good breast health. I don’t care if you’re a AAA cup or a DDD cup. Take care of your boobs.

Lately I’ve been feeling out of my body. Like things don’t feel right or fit right. I’m sure it has to do with needing some new support gear. Every year I go for a bra fitting. I heard somewhere that you should do this because our bodies are constantly changing. For me, the best place to get fitted for a bra is Nordstrom. They definitely know what they’re doing! Note: The key to a good fitting is don’t be shy. Yes, a stranger may end up seeing your boobs. But they’re professionals. There’s nothing you have that they haven’t seen already!

After years of wearing the same bra size, I discovered that I had to switch gears. (I’ll spare details. But this is more tragic than I care to admit.) I must say that the right bra makes a difference. You don’t have to go pricey, you just have to find ones that fit. For the past few months I’ve been feeling like I’ve been having back problems and during the fitting, I realized it was my bra! On average, depending on how much you use them and how busty you are, it’s best to replace your bras every six to twelve months. Also, it’s good to have three to four bras on hand to rotate. That way, you don’t have to switch them so often. I also learned that it’s best to hand wash your bras and lay them flat when storing so that the wires don’t go crazy.

So there you have it. For more info on bras, see below. Enjoy!

The Breast Chronicles
Breast Advice
Buying the Right Bra
Are You Wearing the Right Sports Bra?

Warm-up
Row 500 meters
Prep for WOD

CrossFit One World WOD: Michael
Complete three rounds for time of:
800m run
50 back extensions (as per the board, not the site)
50 sit-ups Abmat

Joanne’s Final Time – 39:25

Notes (to myself) about this workout: The first time I did this WOD I did it in over 45 minutes. Today, I shaved off two seconds from my previous performance. Note: my fastest on this is a little under 39 minutes. Today was tough. Running at night sucks. My body is sore and I’m upset with all the overhead work we have to do tomorrow. Bleh.