Runners Itch

I get itchy in my fatty areas when I run once in a while, and it's always perplexed me. My dad told me once that it was my body creating new veins/arteries. I felt it today again, so I thought I would google it and I am SHOCKED at the amount of responses that have no clue. Most blame it on sweat, work out clothes, detergent, or even allergies. Allergic to exercise? Luckily there is some valid information out there and I think everyone should know that my dad was right. It basically just means you've been too dang lazy for too dang long, so keep working out regularly and it will go away. This jogger had a good description:

It usually occurs during exercise performed after a long period of inactivity. The itching is not on the skin, it’s inside the actual limbs. There are millions of tiny capillaries and arteries inside our muscles which expand rapidly due to the demand for more blood that is brought on by exercise. When fit, these capillaries remain open allowing maximum blood passage, but when unfit and inactive they tend to collapse, allowing only minimal blood passage (which is sufficient for a sedentary person however). The rapid expansion of these vessels causes adjacent nerves to send impulses back to the brain which are interpreted as an itch. That’s why after a few sessions the sensation tends to go away. Just another indication of increasing fitness levels.

Update

WOW, it's been a while (Halloween? That feels like a century ago.)

Blogs are for fun, (at least this one) so I'm not feeling guilty. Plus I've been writing in my journal often. And man, have I had a lot to write about!

Here's what I've been up to:

1. My first craft show! The Beehive Bazaar is one of the best craft fairs in Utah, and I'm happy I got to be a part of it this year. I did very well for myself too! I made planners, notebooks, and vinyl record bowls. Next time I hope to add my magnets and magnet boards. I'm slacking on the Etsy store though (see side bar) Pictures coming soon.
2. Thanksgiving. I made the sweet potatoes using a recipe from Williams-Sonoma, (which I cannot find on their website to link to), that is absolutely divine. I liked it better than the pumpkin pie! I'll add it to Our Family's Favorites, along with others, soon!
3. Christmas in Idaho. We to to go to Idaho to see my family for Christmas. It was the best Christmas I've had since I was a kid because we were ALL there. I felt like I got to know my family better (especially my sister-in-laws) and we just had a great time. We went sledding at the sand dunes for Christmas Eve, then had dinner at Kevin and Mandie's. (She makes the best egg drop soup....silky ribbons of eggs, HOW!?!) And then Kevin narrated the nativity as we all played parts (including his kids) just like when we were kids. Then Christmas was at Mom and Dad's. I miss them all already.
4. I'm pregnant! Starting my 10th week now. This is probably the biggest reason I've stopped blogging. Too busy sleeping, reading, journal writing and looking at cute nurseries online (in future posts to come) I'm probably due August 10th-12th. No Visit to the Dr. yet though. More news after January 29th.
5. ABS Diet. Jake started the abs diet, and I thought it would be good and healthy for me as well. We've been exercising regularly and cooking more often. I like my food better ON this diet than I did OFF. Probably has to do with making a conscious effort to prepare a meal. I recently had the best chicken I've ever had in my life (again, I'll add this to Our Family's Favorites very soon)
6. Looking for an apartment. And the good new is we may have found the one! It's only a block from Muse Music Cafe too! Cheaper than our last 1 bedroom apartment, and larger with 2 bedrooms. Hopefully it works out.
   

7 Random Things Tag

I was tagged by my cousin Amanda

So, I'm supposed to share 7 random/weird facts about myself, here we go.

1. I read too many magazines and rip out the pages to save. I have so many loose magazine pages in drawrs and folders. Then I forget which magazines I can throw away, so I have piles and piles.

2. I can wiggle my nose up and down like a bunny (not the nostril flair, up and down)

3. I love learning a new skill. I get very excited about picking up new hobbies that I think will become my life passion, but usually only last until I find another new hobbie to dabble in.

4. When I was a kid I secretly wished I was Asian, or had brown eyes

5. My feet and hands are usually cold

6. I generally don't read novels and stories much

7. Although I admit it is often tacky, I'm drawn to anything and everything that sparkles.

If you read this and have a blog, consider yourself tagged

England

Clockwise starting top left: Me, Amy, Sunny

My two closest friends now BOTH live in England together, and I'm left alone in Utah. I find myself wishing I was there, not for a vacation, but to be with them. When I got talking to Jake about it we started scheming a possible trip come this spring!

At first I thought it would be selfish of me to spend money on a trip abroad when we have so little. But that thought is starting to sound more and more ridiculous. Relationships are the most important thing to me and priority, and a relationship will die if you only see each other once a decade.

So I'm saving. Saving like it was a depression. I mentioned my plan to spend only what I earn through excersise on basically EVERYthing except bare essentials. That's still my plan, but I'm cutting back even more. Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.

A workout at least 1 hour every day ($6), 6 days a week would earn over $1000 by April. Plus I put all my tips in the piggy bank. It's a bit of a sacrifice, but completely worth it. And with gas going down, flights will go down, and we will even be able to spend a little on sight seeing if the tickets are low.

I miss my girls!

This is the place

I'm home! It's good to be back. Things are different here in Utah.

• My hair isn't curly
• I've got hang nails
• I am not on the Internet constantly out of boredom
• Always busy with something
• Doing horribly on my running and healthy eating
• Actually using a blanket when sleeping now
• I drive places (and it feels wierd)
• With friends and family I love (besides just Becca and Jake, whom I also love)

New York: Loves and Hates

• LOVE Free Concerts. Whether it's symphonies in Central, or rock at Battery.

St. Vincent at Battery Park

• HATE The Heat. The muggy, moist heat that makes the garbage on the streets smolder and stink and our 5th floor apartment with no AC a miserable sauna where I sweat a gallon a day, gross.
  
• LOVE Museums. I could've gone to a museum everyday all day and still not see half of everything I want to see here. (I'm not even counting galleries.) Historic stuff catches my fancy more than I thought it would. Favorites: Tenement, Cloisters, Frick, and Ellis Island.

Becca and Jake, Me at the Met

• HATE Walking, Riding. Walking all day until my feet hurt and are filthy (all I have is flip flops) and that it takes about an hour to get just about anywhere.
• LOVE Central Park. At first I thought "What's the big deal, it's a park." But it's so peaceful and fresh and has so much variety. A good escape from all the traffic and noise. Row boats, strolls, bikes, carriage rides, animals, families, lovers, remote control sailing, musicians, castles, painting, concerts.... so much to do and see. I love the running track around the reservoir.

Me, Strawberry Fields; Josh and Becca, he caught a turtle

• HATE Carrying Heavy Groceries. On the packed subway and up hill.
• LOVE Fire Flies. They make the park sparkle! It turns real life into a fairy tale!!!
• HATE Cost of Living. It is so expensive. All the food is twice or three times as much. It makes me sick, really.
• LOVE Shopping. You can really find anything you want here, in a real store. Which is great if you don't like shopping online.
• HATE Customer Service. Not everywhere, but most employees are fed up by everything and shocked and angry that you may need help or have a question.
  
• LOVE Free Yoga. I hated yoga on video, but love it in a class setting. Lululemon, a great little athletic store, puts it on three times a week, once in store and twice in Bryant Park.

Bryant Park Yoga

Visiting History

Jake's family came out and we had a great time hanging out and seeing awesome stuff. In Philadelphia I felt humbled to walk the same grounds as our founding fathers and run my hands down the same banister as George Washington, the father of our country while at Valley Forge

Liberty Bell, Philly; Jake and Vienna, Valley Forge; Jake in a soldiers bunk, Valley Forge

Then, in Palmyra, to walk the grounds of Joseph Smith and Moroni! Actually seeing where the plates were hidden and the Book of Mormon published was surreal. Then, to walk in The Sacred Grove, where God The Father and Jesus Christ had actually been, with trees who had witnessed it. I can't express how humbled and grateful I feel to all of these great men.

Print Shop of The Book of Mormon; The Sacred Grove

Sailing

Picture: Remote control sail boats in Central Park, July 22

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail and not drift, nor lie at anchor."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Why I'm blogging.

I have been thinking of starting a blog for some time. I am a believer in journaling. I believe it can be a great thing for personal growth and blogging is a superb form of journaling. But, I have a journal, a fantastic red snappy thing, that I recently bought to start fresh a new chapter in life. Who needs two journals? Yet my traditional journal has already succumb to the status of diary at times. Negative ranting. (Not so great for personal growth). With a blog there is less temptation to focus on the negative, because after all, someone might read it. Add to that the ability to add any photos I want without having to develop and paste them (quite messy) and sound capabilities!!! Holy Cow! Starting a new brand and Etsy store were the last few motivators. Red Fermata is a blog!