Fashionista

If you saw the mountain of laundry that I do every Saturday, you could be forgiven for thinking I only ever wear leggings. I have a set for working out, and a set for sleeping. If I'm going to be home for more than an hour, I'm wearing leggings or pajamas or a nightgown. 

But sprinkled into the laundry mix, I have a lot of great clothes. When I was offered the job at my Large Suburban High School, I vowed to make jeans a Friday-only thing, though occasionally I'll wear skinny jeans and boots on a more "dressy" day of the week. I have this theory that in what I do, I need to appear put-together so the kids will take me seriously. After all, my teacher picture in the yearbook makes me look about 12, and in recent years, I've been told, "You can't be in your 30s!!"

Anyway, I've learned to have fun with my outfits and accessories, and every once in a while a student will tell me I look really nice, or that they love a particular item. I try to mix things up--for example, my green cropped pants look great with ballet flats but can be "winterized" with knee-high boots. I can wear them with my adorable floral ruffled blouse, or with solid black. The possibilities are endless.

Today, I wore a fantastic vintage dress I found on my San Diego trip with Summer. Her sister-in-law owns a great vintage shop in Carlsbad, and the first time we stopped in, I saw the dress hanging on the front door as part of a display. A couple days later, we were back, and I was all set to try it on. It was a perfect fit, and for $35, the dress was mine.

Yesterday, I finally found the perfect shoe--a white, strappy sandal with a very low heel and plenty of support for a teacher who is on her feet a lot--so, today, I wore my new-old dress and my new sandals to work. I even painted my toenails for the occasion. As I got out of my car, two drama students walked by me. I smiled at them--they're both in the musical, they know who I am, etc.--and started grabbing my backpack and purse out of my car, when one student stopped in her tracks and turned to me.

"Your outfits are always spot-on," she said. "And I just love them all!!" A grin split my face, and I thanked her. 

The kids are alright, ya know? 

P.S. Yes, there's a pic. It will be in this week's Week in Instagram post. 

Shopping Haul

On Saturday, Summer and I met up at the Factory Outlets in Vacaville, which is approximately-close-enough to halfway between Lincoln and Oakland.

I was on a mission to find some clothes for my new job--I'm absolutely determined to be the most stylishly-dressed choir teacher this school has ever seen, or something.

Since hitting goal weight last year, I have started the fun-but-pricey process of filling my closet with key staples I can wear for a long time, but when you don't work every day (or "work" is sitting next to a piano showing 6-year-olds where Middle C is), it's easy to keep the wardrobe to jeans and a few cute blouses, maybe a sundress or two.

So Saturday was all about spending--I so rarely splurge on shopping sprees anymore, but I knew, going in, that some of the money I earned in my summer job was earmarked for work clothes...and then I got to Vacaville and found some great sales.

Here's my haul...we started at Kohl's:

Sapphire Green double-pocket blouse:
$24.99

Next, it was over to the Outlets, where we started off at Van Heusen.

Royal blue eyelet blouse, button-down...
a whopping $12.80. Originally $64.00.

Ribbed cardigan, 3/4 sleeves with flower details...
breaking the bank at $12.99. Originally $70.00.

For some reason, I got it in my head that I MUST have
red pants. I will wear the hell out of these...and they
were a huge splurge at...$12.99. Originally $78.00.

Yep, three really great Van Heusen items and I spent $41.83.

Next door to Van Heusen was Ann Taylor. I love Ann Taylor. I remember shopping there with a friend back in my overweight days, and being sad I couldn't wear any of it. Well, now I can. And I will, because...

White boot-cut slacks, orginally $59.99. I got them for
$29.99.

Cropped green pants, originally $49.99, but I paid $24.99.

After Ann Taylor, the next place I spent money at was Nine West. Because SHOES.

Brown loafer with a one-inch heel. So cute, and only $29.99.

Nude ballet flats--I adore ballet flats. $19.99.

Nine West was having a "Buy One, Get One 50% off" sale, so for two pairs of adorable shoes, I spent $43.13.

Finally, we went to Loft, an Ann Taylor affiliate.

Navy blue knit top with braid detail (pictured below).
This was a bit of a splurge, as I didn't really need more
cotton tops but fell in love with it on a mannequin. $20.99

See the little coral stars? The awesome braiding? Isn't it CUTE?

Two short-sleeved cardigans, which will be cute with
camis and accessories, $14.99 each.

It was a very successful day. I'm tempted to go to New York & Co. this week, one of my favorite stores in the local mall, where I got this adorable frock upon making goal weight last year:

I was told, by a very hot dude, that I had a "banging"
body, after he saw this picture.

Shapely in Grape

I'm finally starting to realize that I can actually wear a lot of the clothes I see in stores, where previously I would pass them by, thinking, "Oh, I'd look horrid in that. No way..." Case in point--the dress below, which I saw in multiple TV and internet ads for Old Navy and thought, "Oooh, so cute!" I love sweater dresses.

So I bought it--on sale, twenty bucks!--and last night, I finally found a reason to wear it, for a holiday party. Also, a new pair of black knee-high boots. There was a time I could not find knee-high boots that would fit over my calves. Now, I can't stop wearing them.

Here's what I wore last night...

Purple sweater dress from Old Navy
Multi-colored fringe scarf from Target (I've had that thing almost 10 years)
Black tights
Black knee-high boots from Kohl's
Minimalist jewelry--just small rhinestone earrings.

Good Things

I haven't been very bloggy of late. Things have gotten a bit busy--in a good way. I guess it's easiest to lay them out in sections...

Endeavour In the Sky

On Friday, NASA's retired space shuttle Endeavour flew a victory lap of sorts over California on its way to a museum in Los Angeles where it will reside permanently. The museum paid for this tour, which is pretty classy, if you ask me. The Endeavour, mounted on a 747 and escorted by a fighter, flew over Sacramento sometime before 10:00 in the morning, circling the State Capitol and then flying south and west to San Francisco for a pass over the Golden Gate Bridge.

I had heard that it was touring, but a busy morning at Petite School had pushed it out of my mind, until, around 10:00, I noticed my 4th graders were late for music, and there was a lot of screaming going on outside. Suddenly, I heard a huge roar, and it occurred to me what was going on. I ran outside just in time to see the 747 approach--low--and roar right over my head. I mean right over it. Not half a mile off, but literally buzzing our school.

I was clapping my hands and jumping up and down, squealing along with the students of Petite School. We were all gathered in the parking lot, waving and making noise, watching a piece of history fly over our heads. It was thrilling.  

Endeavour passes the Capitol Building in Sacramento.
Photo Credit: Sacramento Bee

New Music!!

So Mumford & Sons have finally, finally released their second album, Babel, and it's fabulous. Of course, rabid fans like Maayan and myself had already heard many of the tracks on it, as the Mumford boys have been playing them live for ages now. But it's great to hear studio recordings of them, and the new material is fantastic.

My favorite, so far, is the first single, "I Will Wait," but I'm also loving "Lover Of the Light" and the cover (available on the Deluxe Edition only) of Simon and Garfunkle's "The Boxer."

M&S have to be my second-favorite band right now. Keane will always hold that top spot--they're just too awesome--but M&S have some great music and I have a lot of great memories of seeing them with Meghan, Maayan and Summer.

And, of course, of meeting Ben in 2010.

Cute British boy who is far too young for me.

Awesome Feedback

So obviously, most of my blogging in the last couple of weeks has been about reaching that elusive Goal Weight, and thanking my awesome trainer all over the place.(Not to mention those awesome after pics.)

The feedback I've been getting--a few blog comments, but mostly on Facebook and Twitter, has been amazing. Apparently, I'm inspiring. This makes me happy--I'm glad that my Odyssey proves to others that reaching a great level of fitness is possible for anyone. I started out very heavy and completely out-of-shape. Here I am, three-and-a-half years later.

So yeah, the feedback makes me happy.

Petite School Awesomeness

Let me just say this again: I love my job!!!

I gave the following assignment a couple of weeks ago...to third graders:

If I had tried this with my middle school students in Stockton, it would have been confusion and meltdowns all over the place. I barely had to help my students with this at Petite School. A few questions for clarification, and then ZOOM! They were off. The assignment was kind of fail-proof, as I had them using the pentatonic scale and easy rhythms, but still, they composed melodies. Four-bar melodies. Every single group followed every single direction.

And they adore using the lap boards.

Obviously, I'm only posting pictures that don't have the childrens' faces.

The other amazing thing? The cooperation! You can see how they take turns and no one does the bulk of the work. It's really great to watch.

I love my job!!!!

The World's Ugliest Scarf Finds a New Home

If you've been following my adventures for a few years, then you might remember Scarfapalooza. In which Yours Truly had an epic hissy fit at having to wear the World's Ugliest Scarf for a Chorale Concert in Stockton.

During a recent trip to my storage unit, I found the scarf in a box of costume stuff (I might recycle my Mini Mouse ears from Disneyland for Halloween this year) and decided it was time to let go.

Way past time.

So the World's Ugliest Scarf got listed on eBay. And it got four bids. And today, it sold.

I wish it all the best in its new home.

This pic was taken by my friend
The PurpleMagpie.

It really was ugly, right?



And there you have it. There are other exciting things happening, but those will wait for future posts. Right now, it's time for me to head to Bedfordshire. Just because I'm at goal weight doesn't mean I don't have to get up and run!

Meg At Goal

It occurred to me that in my haste to post blogs and put a video on YouTube, etc., etc., I didn't really take the time to do a Meg At Goal pic.

In the next few days, I'll get the gym's manager to take one of me for the Member Success Stories board, and one with Matt the Reasonable (now that I've used his real name on my blog once, I guess I may as well continue, eh?). But for now, I present to you one very poorly lit, self-taken, faceless iPhone picture of Meg At Goal.

To congratulate me, Dad gave me a $50 rewards card he earned through his health insurance or some such thing. You can use it anywhere (it has a Visa logo) like a gift card. So he told me to buy something nice for myself. Tonight, I went to the mall and looked around Victoria's Secret...eh. I went to Macy's. Lots of lovely things, but nothing that stood out.

As I walked back through the mall, I passed New York and Company and noticed a boat load of green clothing in their store.

I adore green.

I went in, eying a fabulous cardigan and a suit jacket...and in my wanderings around the store, I found the dress.

It was lust at first sight, seeing it hanging out on the dress rack. Then I noticed the sale sign ($39.95, regularly almost $70) and developed a huge crush. I hustled a size small off to the fitting room and promptly fell in love and asked the dress to move in with me. The dress said yes, and now we are a happy pair.

Size small. Yup.

I can't wait to wear this somewhere fun. I may have a date next week, and I'm thinking this may be just the thing. As for shoes...well, I have just the thing there, too. ; )

Meg and the Booty Shorts of Doom

Last week, I went to Sports Authority to buy a swim cap.

I've finally succumbed and become one of those people who walks into a sporting goods store and wants to BUY ALL THE THINGS!!! I drooled over shoes, coveted the bikes, and browsed through the women's workout gear, looking at the clearance racks to see if there were any good running bras.

I didn't find a bra, but I did find a pair of shorts.

They're very short shorts.

As they were on clearance, and I was high on that rush of euphoria that comes with wanting all the gear, I decided I really had to buy these shorts. Into my shopping basket they went.

When I got home, I tried them on. And indeed, they are very short shorts.

The next day, I went running in them. Before I left, I joked with a few friends on Facebook that they are the Booty Shorts of Doom. How I very well could cause a car accident out there, with people turning to stare, or being blinded by my glow-in-the-dark legs.

It's one thing to wear the BSOD (as they're being called) in my neighborhood, and another prospect entirely to wear them to the gym. My friends told me I should go for it. I shuddered, but I did it.

I wore them last Friday, to run some intervals on the treadmill. When I was finished, I had a brief chat with my trainer before ducking into the safety of the locker room to change into my swim gear.

Today, I again donned the BSOD for a trip to the gym. I planned to do more treadmill intervals, but first, I needed to spend some time with the foam roller. I sent a message to my friend Shae via Facebook for iPhone: "I feel ridiculous."

"Why?" asked Shae.

"It takes a while for the self-esteem to catch up to the weight loss."

Truth. Despite Mom telling me I look great in the shorts, and my friends agreeing, I still feel self-conscious in them; I still feel that everyone must be staring at me and thinking, "Why, WHY is she wearing those? Delusional."

It's something I'm working on.

Quote by Shakespeare. Legs by running and training.

A Story Told In Jeans

When I started my weight loss odyssey in 2009, I had a favorite pair of jeans from Old Navy. The Sweetheart provided a low waist, a stretch denim, and a boot cut that flattered and also felt super-comfortable. I liked the light blue color. My jeans were size 18.

I started training with B. the Sadist, and the jeans began to sag.

"I think it's time for some size 16s!"

 As the weight came off, I was determined to spend the minimum on new clothes, because it seemed silly and wasteful to buy a ton of new duds when more weight would be coming off and I'd just need the basics. Since I could hardly teach middle school with my jeans falling down, I decided to continue buying the same pair of jeans--that light-blue Sweetheart from Old Navy--in descending sizes as I continued on.

Sixteen...getting baggy.

Fourteen...Eighties Day at my school.

Twelve, for the first time since college.

Ten...first time since high school.

Eight...feeling pretty darned good.

Six...Wow!!!

I've documented and measured my weight loss--currently standing at 75 pounds total--through a pair of jeans, always buying the same style and color, simply watching the size go down, down, down.

A few weeks ago, I bought the sixes, and felt fantastic. I don't think I even wore a size six anything in high school...and here I am, rocking them and feeling great. Then today, I found myself near Old Navy, and my jeans were feeling a wee bit baggy, so I thought, "Why not go in and...just see?"

I grabbed a pair of size four Sweetheart jeans from the shelf and headed back to the fitting room. I was whispering under my breath the whole time, "Oh, it's probably not quite that time yet. You probably need another couple of weeks. So don't be disappointed." But the jeans slipped on, and they buttoned and zipped. They're snug, but I can see myself wearing them, comfortably, in another week, two at the most.

So I bought them.

Tomorrow, I plan to hand my current trainer, M. the Reasonable, this
tag, saying, "I have a present for you." He'll be so happy for me.

As for that original pair of size 18 jeans...I still have them.

I've held onto them as a reminder of how far I've come. And because I love the satisfaction that comes when I show them to people who didn't know me when I used to wear them, and watch the jaws drop. There's often a moment or two of silence as they figure out what to say. Maybe a quiet, "Oh, wow." In G. the Meanie's case, it was the only time I ever saw him speechless. In M. the Reasonable's, there was a quiet, "I...I can't imagine you ever fitting into those." In my own, there is a deep satisfaction in knowing that I've come this far, that I've chosen health and activity over the lethargy that used to rule my life.

Fashion Smashion...Gym Edition

I never used to pay a lot of attention to what I wore at the gym. I used to wear those almost silky-feeling loose-fitting pants (with the stripes down the sides) and a baggy old t-shirt. As the weight came off and the pants started literally falling down as I ran/lifted/whatever, I made a bold switch to leggings. I remember pairing them with a long t-shirt, until G. the Meanie told me I shouldn't hide under a huge shirt and just be comfortable.

So I did just that.

These days, I wear cotton leggings that I buy in the workout gear department at Target. They are comfortable, I don't trip on them, and I can move on them without them moving on me. I run in them. I dead lift in them. I do Turkish Get-Ups in them. I have never risked exposing my underwear in them.

For the top, I alternate between fitted t-shirts, fitted tank tops and fitted long-sleeve shirts depending on what I'm doing and what the temperature is like. Even with a heating system, my gym can get pretty cold in the winter. All of my tops are cotton--well, I have a couple of those fancy-schmancy dry-wick running tops from races, but I don't like them.

As I've become more involved in the running community on Twitter, I've noticed there is a definite hatred of cotton among my fellow runnerds...even a certain derision aimed at the "newbies" who wear it. It kind of baffles me; I am not, by any means, a "newbie" runner. I am not uninformed. And I wear cotton all the time, for all of my workouts.

In talking with others, I know that some people have some serious chafing issues when they work out in cotton. That's fair enough; I don't. As I mentioned, I run in it every day, and so long as it is fitted and not shifting around on my body as I move, I'm comfortable. Even drenched in sweat on a cold day, I am not uncomfortable in my cotton workout gear as I begin the long, mile-and-a-half "active recovery" walk home.

So I don't understand why others make fun of those of us who work out in cotton. Or popular fitness blogs that post "What NOT To Wear At the Gym" posts, as though anyone should care what someone else chooses to work out in. I don't particularly understand running skirts, or the point of wearing a skirt at all when you've basically got running leggings underneath them, too. But I'd never make fun of someone for wearing one, as I have seen done to us cotton-wearing fools on many a fitness blog or Twitter.

Anyway, I'm all about comfort and doing what works best for the individual. For me, it's cotton gear. It's inexpensive, easy to launder, and it works for me.

A week or two ago. Cotton top, cotton leggings. The bra is not cotton.

A few weeks ago. Cotton, cotton and more cotton at the gym. The
70-pound dumbbell is NOT cotton. My trainer (in the mirror) has some
cotton, too.

Going Down!

When I finished my training with G. the Meanie in July 2010, I weighed in at 158 pounds. In two months with M. the Reasonable, I've lost the 15 I gained back in a year-and-a-half and I am now back at my "fighting weight." I have more to lose, of course, but when I weighed in yesterday and the scale said 158.6, believe me, I was feeling good.

Last night I had choir rehearsal, and I always try to dress well for that. Mom thought I looked really cute last night, in my Steve Madden boots (LOVE THEM) and a top that was, when I bought it in October, too tight to wear in public. My skinny jeans are baggy.

Always, always, followed around by my cats...

So here I am, at 158. I've got three appointments left with M., so I'll be buying more. He'll help me get to my next mini-goal of 150 pounds, and even beyond that. I'm within 20 pounds of 140, which is fantastic.

People have been asking me what my goal weight is, and I'm still loosely thinking 130, but honestly, both M. and I agree that a specific number is unnecessary, and that I should really just focus on having a healthy lifestyle and achieving my optimal fitness level. I'm hoping to get to a size 6 (right now I'm a size 10) in the next few months, and I have a feeling that's where my body will be most comfortable. I'm always going to be curvy--I have hips and booty and bust--and I'm fine with this. I also have muscle and strength, and that's improving every day.

Roll on, 2012. I'm off to a great start!

Costume Drama

This conversation actually happened last night in Casa Cooper...

Me (from bedroom): Oh, GOD.

Dad (from living room): What's wrong?

Me (wandering out to living room): Good grief.

Dad (seeing me in my new choir dress): *snort* Do you have a pointed hat to wear with it?

Me (giving Dad the finger): Ha. Ha. Ha. Actually, I feel less witch and more "Anne of Green Gables in mourning." Look at the sleeves on this thing!

Dad: It's actually not that bad. You look very nice.

Me: Why can't I wear pants? You know what? If I were in charge of the world, the first thing I would do would be to ban choir dresses. Let the women wear pants and a nice black blouse.

On a scale of one to polyester body bag, this dress ranks as less horrid than the body bags but is still pretty high on the "Oh, horrors!" scale. It has puffed sleeves! Okay, maybe they're not quite as puffy as the ones that Anne of Green Gables lusted after, but they have a definite beefiness to them that is ridiculous. 

Puffed sleeves! Somehow, I don't share Anne's enthusiasm for them.

However, the neckline doesn't go up to my chin and it's not double-layer polyester (whoever thought TWO layers of the stuff had to be better than one a) has never stood under hot lights in a polyester dress trying to sing and b) needs to be tortured by being made to sing under hot lights in a polyester dress). Also, all the ladies last night were wearing their own necklaces so I can get away with wearing what I like--no more $4 pearls!

P.S. The notable absence of Mom from this conversation is due to the fact that she and three friends flew to Houston yesterday to attend the International Quilt Show--the largest one in the world. They'll be gone all week.

Fashion Smashion: Girl's Day Out

It's been a while since I've done a Fashion Smashion post...but on Saturday, I got dolled up to go see Summer. I even curled my hair! Five minutes on a windy beach made it straight again, but it was cute while it lasted, and my make-up looked pretty good, too.

I am wearing:

Jeans from Old Navy
Blue floral-print tank top from Target
White short-sleeved cardigan from Target (last year)
Glass heart necklace from Italy

As for my hair, I used my favorite curlers--they're essentially a bit of sponge with wire going through the middle, all sewn inside a cloth pouch. I take a hunk of hair, twist it, then curl it around the curler and secure the wire in place. About 6-8 of those (depending on how big or small I want the curls to be) all over my head, secured with a scarf for a couple of hours (overnight works even better), and voila! My hair has body for a change.

Fashion Smashion...Skinny Jeans and Rainbows

As blogged on Friday night, I took myself on a date to a little cafe here in town. I even curled my hair for the occasion. I was pleased with how I looked, even though I ended up keeping my coat on all evening because I was close to the door.

I wore:

Skinny jeans from Old Navy
Black long-sleeve t-shirt from Kohl's
Black Mary Janes from Kohl's
Multi-color scarf from a market in Paris
Jade bracelet from China (thank you, Mom and Dad!)
Vintage pin/brooch from my Grandma Bean's things.

Fashion Smashion...Purple People-Eater

So last week, I went to a Tuesday night Chorale rehearsal in this outfit because all of my jeans were in the laundry hamper needing to be washed. I was self-conscious because damn, the dress is short, but I was told I looked great, so...

I am wearing:

Purple sweater/tunic from Kohl's.
Black tights
Adorable felted flower pin from a craft fair.

It takes some confidence to leave the house in this outfit...and I'm getting there, I really am.

Fashion Smashion...Red Delicious

For Chorale rehearsal on Tuesday, I decided to do a simple look. I got more compliments in that evening than I have in ages. All because of my red hat and scarf. I wore both most of the evening because the old church we use for rehearsal is drafty and cold. I was told--more than once--that red is my color, and I wonder if part of the love wasn't also due to my bright purple eyeshadow. I often wear purple eyeliner--it brings out the green in my eyes--but have more recently been pairing it with shadow, too. And red lippie.

What I wore:

Skinny jeans (those again--so comfy!) from Old Navy
Black cotton t-shirt (long sleeves)
Black coat from Kohl's
Red scarf--hand made, bought at a craft faire
Red hat from Accessorize in England

Fashion Smashion...Urban Cowgirl

Last night I went out to an Episcopalean church to sing some hymns and some Bach--I was asked to help boost a church choir by some lovely Chorale people and I'm always looking for more opportunities to sing. Just because I'm Pagan Megan doesn't mean I don't appreciate the beauty of sacred music.

Anyway, because going to church and singing Bach totally makes me think "Cowgirl Up!" I wore the following outfit:

I am wearing:

Mt. Desolation t-shirt (bought at the Mt. Desolation concert a few weeks ago, and I didn't realize at the time but it's by American Apparel. Ew.)

Skinny jeans from Old Navy

Cowgirl boots by Steve Madden (if you haven't noticed, Steve and I sort of have a love affair going on).

Red gingham scarf from Target

Dragonfly earrings from Accessorize, England's (much better) answer to Claire's.

Leather band bracelet with Celtic knot design from a shop in Scotland

Beaded ring from a Himalayan gift shop in Monterey, CA

Hair: Ponytail with the tiniest of "Snooki bumps" in the front

Fashion Smashion...Feathers, Frills and Fatigues

My blog friends Britni and Alana both do fashion posts (Britni's Wardrobe Malfunctions and Alana's What I Wore, respectively) and I thought I'd give it a go from time to time, too. What I love about this is that everyone has different personal styles--mine, for example is what I think of as a California Girl Casual style. A lot of jeans.

Anyway...tonight, for Chorale rehearsal, I got a bit experimental with my style--nothing dramatic, mind you, but a little different for me.

I started with a new hair style, inspired by a post Alana did recently. I have ultra-fine hair, and it's got a lot of layers, so I modified the idea. I also have a complete lack of bobby pins, which made things a bit problematic. In the end, I secured my hair in a low ponytail below my left ear, then secured two more hair ties around it a couple of inches apart before winding it into a low chignon and securing it with a barrette and a feathered hair clip (hence the "feathers" in the title to this post). I'm just going to throw it out there that I'm well aware of the fact that I've been having a NASTY acne problem ever since going off the Pill in July so I appreciate if you pretend I have flawless skin.

Now for the outfit:

Ruffled green cotton top from Old Navy

Skinny jeans from Old Navy

Dad's old Air Force fatigue coat

Steve Madden ankle boots

Minimal jewelry--just green gem earrings

Considering I'm normally a jeans/t-shirt/ballet flats/ponytail kind of girl, this is getting a little more adventurous, wearing a military jacket, and skinny jeans! I have some other fashion ideas up my sleeves, so stay tuned.