Do you think if I put them on and click my heels I could get some cool Autumn weather to match?

and a few cantaloupes and baseballs and I’m finally starting to feel human again.  Finally.  I still have some minor aches, but at least I’m not in constant pain. I’m up to doing some wine drinking, light gardening and in 3 weeks the running shoes come off the shelf and RS makes an appearance with her new super hero running legs. Keep your fingers crossed.

What did I do three weeks prior during my downtime?  The same thing everyone else trapped in bed and doped up on pain killers does. Shop online for shoes.  These cuties are coming this way soon:

So today I’m wearing flower shoes, flower belt, flower earrings and toting my flower handbag over my ruffliest sweater. It’s been a rough week and I’m trying really hard to beat myself into submission.

Toxic’s comment reminded me its been a while since my last wine review. Here’s one sponsored by Chie Mihara, my new obsession. (See previous post) I’m considering adding a section to my site for shoe reviews, whatcha think?

Indecisive. I know, how odd. For some reason I remember liking the wine more the last time I had it. It’s pretty woody and, I hate to say it, just okay. I have another bottle, perhaps I’ll like the next better. In-store, $35.99.

I may have gone a little crazy with the hooks, but something had to be done with the handbags. So hooks all over the world was the solution. If you have a better solution for the March 2010 Closet Reorg, I’ll be happy take suggestions. I’ve even made room for new spring shoes & bags, because I’m nice like that. I’ve also decided that I’m WAY under fashionable and I need to step it up a bit – but in a reasonable I’m not going to break the bank so the Chef won’t yell at me too much sort of way  . . .

Now, I have some packing to do 10 miles to run in my spanky new shoes. Official shoe of the NTRT! Don’t they look super-fast?!?

Coming up soon is the Runner Susan official Should I Stay or Should I Go Shoe, Bag and Clothing Fest!

On Saturday my Chef and I loaded up the car and headed to Oklahoma. The plan: drive 3 hours, run 3 hours. And it happened just as so, and it was a spectacular 50-degree sunny day. If the weather turns out like this on race day, the Martini Twins are going to kick some serious marathon ass. We ran our 17 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes – a perfect training pace for us. This is the most I’ve run in a long, long time and it made me really happy and really hungry.

After our spectacular run, our wonderful hosts, Michelle and Phillip, fixed us the most delicious meal, which I proceeded to inhale in approximately 2 seconds. Hey, I ran 17 miles, I was hungry. And I proceeded to be hungry for the next 3 days. I normally have tons of pictures from my Oklahoma trips, but this is the only one that wasn’t blurry from my shaky hands from running 17 miles. We took this on Sunday, the day after we ran 17 miles and then proceeded with 17 miles of retail therapy to recover from the 17 miles of running we did.

Did I mention that we ran 17 miles? I’m not normally a beer drinker, but I think that was the best beer I’ve ever had in my life. I needed those carbohydrates for all the shopping we were about to do. And, Internet People, you are going to be so proud: I bargained shopped. And, I got some fantastic deals – for some unknown reason my Chef keeps reminding me about some recession?!?

So, humor me while I’m in the mood to ramble.

Our first stop was at Tuesday Morning where I procured a Spiegelau wine decanter for $5.99 and another wine decanter for $16.99. Now I have a total of four wine decanters. Which is good, because they are so pretty and for some reason wine decanters don’t last very long in our house.  I also got a set of nested mixing bowls, which I need because since I’ve met Michelle, I’ve been inspired to cook stuff that tastes like real food. FYI – I’m still in training and have a long ways to go.

Our next stop was TJ Maxx where I got an adorable sofa throw and some salt scrub – I also had a really heated love-hate relationship with a gorgeous Steve Madden handbag that I reluctantly ended. I still haven’t recovered from that break-up. Then, we headed over to Ross where I found some really cute salad servers – and the most amazing thing happened as we were walking to the check out line – I found a salad serving dress. And for only $19.99. Is that not amazing? Because I totally did not own a salad serving dress of any way shape or form. Now I can toss salads with reckless abandon. I’m such a lucky girl.

(I feel a salad making picture going right here in the near future.)

I also ended up with a bread basket from Target, and a pepper grinder from a different Tuesday Morning. Do you see the trend in kitcheny stuff? I’m almost a full professional now – or, at least I look like one. I don’t think I spent much over $100, which makes the Chef me really happy. And all that after running 17 miles.

We headed back to Michelle’s house and had another better-than-gourmet meal, drank some good wine while we watched the Olympics with our husbands. Our husbands who bought us flowers for Valentine’s Day.  A lovely, lovely weekend.

You know how you can retweet? What’s the universal sign for reblog? This from Christopher McDougall’s blog – it made my morning.

Menstrual-controlled running shoes, new from Asics.
by Christopher on February 11, 2010

No, seriously. I only wish I were kidding. Just when you thought the shamelessness of running-shoe scams had reached bottom, whaddaya know — they find new depths to the cesspool. Asics is kindly offering to sell you a $190 running shoe that will magically adjust its midsole to your menstrual cycle. Read on, and marvel at how the Asics flack gets this stuff out with a straight face.

I wish Chris would open up his blog to stalkers commentators, it would make it so much easier for his fans to connect with him.

In other news, I’m loving my Nike Frees – it’s not barefoot, but I’m hoping it’s a step in the right direction. It’s the first time I’ve ever worn a shoe that didn’t set my feet on fire or give me serious blisters until I broke them in for a month or two. I’ve even run with them in the rain, and NO BLISTERS!

In other news, I’m positive my feet are going to love these and keep me blister free this summer:

Someone needs to put a lock on the Anthropologie store door and throw away the key.

So, you voted, Internet People and “Running Stuff” won by 3 votes. What is this a Running Blog or something? Seriously, is the RS shoe collection so bad that it loses by THREE whole votes to come in second? Jon, did you not vote? In third place was the “Other” category – and let me enlighten you with the interesting “other” suggestions:

• Wine! (hello, is it noon yet?)
• run, bike, rowdy all the time.
• how about a new ‘under construction’ banner with you just wearing a tool belt? (creative, if anything)
• nude can be done tastefully (and stretch marks cannot)
• Running and biking
• RS doing Cindy sessions (who doesn’t miss the paper plates?)
• All cleavage all the time? (hmmm  . . . . No)
• shoes and wine
• The Chef! (how about Chef in the nude?)
• Roses
• with a little help from her friends (awww, how sweet)
• The pretty pink you had
• Sometimes running, sometimes shoes, sometimes something else. (sometimes I think that’s what I had and maybe a good thing shouldn’t change?)
• RS in the nude x 13 that I kept deleted as fast as he or she was voting

And in fourth was “All Rowdy All the Time”.  I’m glad some of you love Master Rowdy, but I’m secretly glad you voted RS shoe collection before him, even if it was second.

So, it’s all good and well that you’ve voted, but guess what? I have the flu. I have a headache. I have a sore throat and I am partially delirious and really bored of doing nothing but staring at the ceiling. With all that in mind I decided it’s “All Unicorns All the Time” as the new masthead.  Maybe it’s the fever or perhaps I’m just feverish all the time, but let me enlighten you with my inspiration from The Magical Unicorn Collection:

If you ever had a reason to question my sanity, now you don’t. Yes, this near 40 year-old-woman sits around in front of her computer and take pictures of her  gravity-defying hair in unicorn poses. It’s a gift, I know you wish your hair could defy gravity too.

So the masthead will change with boring “Running Stuff” (maybe)  just as soon as I feel well enough to do something more creative than unicorn stuff.

Another question? Do you Internet People like it on the top or the way it was on the side? I’m undecided, so I’m doing both right now. And if you like the unicorns, maybe I’ll keep them. FOREVER!

I can’t answer that yet. Why? One, it’s been muddy and I didn’t want to get my new shoes dirty. Figure that? And two, I’ve been a lazy bum and haven’t run. Next post involves stuff like “Running with the Newtons” and “What’s up with Januaryathon?”. Until then, here are a few Newton pics to tide you over – I’m a sucker for pink shoes.

My favorite shoe designer was having a secret sale. And not just any sale – a buy three pairs and get SEVENTY PERCENT OFF each pair sale . . . and Internet People, I about had my first heart attack. I’m feeling much better about the holidays now.

Now to decide which pair should I use in my next masthead?

Michael kept asking me why it was taking me so long to pack. Well, because everyone takes pictures of their shoes before putting them in a suitcase. He thinks I’m a nutcase. And, honestly, I have so many better things to be doing right now. It’s been a weird few days and I’ll explain more on that later. But here I am, packed and ready to run.

This is what the professionals at the running store gave me.  Anyone else wear these? Are they any good?

Friday night was date night and to feel extra special I decided to wear my Donald J. Pliner Retro 70s Date Night Shoes, my new favorite pair of wedges that work perfect with my long, dark jeans! You may not like them, but damn, they do look mighty fine on my feet. I used them in my April Masthead and I heart them like I heart date night, and they heart me back.

Anyhow, for date night, we ate at a local Bistro owned by a friend of ours . . . and that friend of ours made us the best Italian Margaritas. I’m not sure if they were the best because they were the first Italian Margaritas I’ve ever had or if they were the best because she made them extra big, strong and tasty just for us. Either way, they were delicious and they made for a fabulous meal, a fabulous date night, and fabulously groggy morning after.

And why am I telling you this? Because the next morning as I was groggily doing my normal Saturday morning pool-boy duties, I saw a brown blob of something laying about in the far end of the yard and I immediately started to panic because I remembered doing something I rarely do . . . I tossed my shoes on the floor in a passionate flurry as opposed to putting them neatly back in their proper position on the closet shelf as a normal person does in a passionate flurry.

The echo of my scream . . . “NOOOOOOO, THOSE WERE MADE. IN THE MOUNTAINS. OF ITALLYYYY” . . .  is still ringing in my neighborhood.

Apparently, Miss Cherry Couture is feeling better from her patella surgery. She’s a thief, that stinking evil genius, and she is way too smart for her own good. Since there doesn’t seem to be any damage, other than a few bite marks, she isn’t requiring any additional surgery to remove my foot from her ass. All of you with puppies are warned: NO SEX FOR YOU! Because it is totally not worth the potential damage.

January 2007

I began video blogging while failing at the infamous master cleanse.

I bought my favoritest t-shirt and talked a lot about my boobs.

I declare my war on organization, which is the only one of my resolutions that stuck throughout the year. I might try the video blogging again in 2008, it was fun while it lasted

February 2007

Michael and I began what will forever be known as “The Knollie Witch Project” and the most beautiful girl in the world got braces.

March 2007

My mother gave me some old photos, and Retro posting began. I also drove all the way to Indiana to run a 5-mile St. Patrick’s Day race with Sister Runner Amy – only to find out they had no green beer.

April 2007

I discover that if you wear too much eye shadow, you’ll gain weight.

May 2007

I entered my name in the NY Marathon lottery. I never win lotteries.

My precious little girl turned ten.

I run the Indianapolis Mini Marathon completely untrained, while in the meantime, Mother Nature builds Donkey a pool in my backyard.

June 2007

I get another year closer to 40. My lottery was chosen for the NY marathon.

July 2007

It’s too hot to handle and a nice RBF meetup.

August 2007

We move into the Knollie Witch Project and I go into withdraw because I spend 15 days without internet. My baby starts 5th grade.

September 2007

Septemberathon takes place in an effort to make up not training for 3 weeks while we move. It was hot, hot, hot. I also ran the Tour de Fleurs 20k and organized my new bedroom closet.

October 2007

I buy my most favoritest pair of boots ever in the history of boots. I love them so much I want to sleep in them.

I love my husband and Kenza is darn scary.

November 2007

The guest bedroom closet becomes my running closet.

I run my fifth marathon in five hours.

I cut off the hair I had been growing out for 2 years.

December 2007

Sister Runner Amy and I run our first half marathon together. My only 5k of the year was run this month and I decide to become Strong Like Helm.

It’s shocking, but Kenza can’t stay a baby forever and I realize puberty is around the corner.

And I finish out the year with an apple and by organizing my pantry, which, actually, is more exciting than it sounds.

We’ve had one closet that I just haven’t had time to organize since we moved in. But, finally, inspired from the marathon, I got to it. It’s taken 2 days and I wish I had a before picture to show you. The guest bedroom closet is *my* closet. The only space in the house that is totally *mine* and I don’t have to share it with anyone. Except the vacuum, which is excluded from the picture for your viewing pleasure.

Suncreen, chapstick, hats, sunglasses, blinking lights, earbuds, wintery hats, socks and gloves and shoes all in their proper places. So pretty. Please excuse the wrinkles, most of the clothes have been boxed up for several months.