Lulu Loves: Life

Things I Don't Like:

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:45:00 -0400

Any parking situation that is not a gigantic suburban parking lot.

Sitting on backless stools.

Things I Love:

Running outside in 70 degrees with a new friend.

Margaritas.

Wedges (not to be confused with wedgies).

I go through monk-like periods of buying absolutely nothing for...

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:44:45 -0400

I go through monk-like periods of buying absolutely nothing for myself except food and gas for the car (i.e. necessary to live) and other periods where I’m dropping Benjamins like Jay-Z.

This week, I am Jay-Z.

I bought a new bag from J. Crew (on sale!), several pairs of heavily discounted and much needed shoes from Lord & Taylor (seriously, my sandal/flat collection is mostly from Target circa 2007), but my best purchase was this.

My mom’s dog went to doggie heaven on Monday after twelve long years of happiness in her home. She’s pretty devastated so I thought she would love a custom painting of Buddy. (The Dalmatian above is not Buddy, just a sample of the artist’s work.)

I emailed back and forth with the artist this morning and I’m giddy with excitement to see the painting in person and give it to her!

Three to five days. Happy Tuesday!

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:34:13 -0400

Three to five days.

Happy Tuesday!

It has been possibly the most trying week of my life. I decided...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:08:47 -0400

It has been possibly the most trying week of my life. I decided last night that when life hands you lemons, run a marathon and thus found myself at the starting line of a local half marathon this morning.

I haven’t eaten properly all week so my energy stores were nil and my mental game was shot. I beat my worst time but it wasn’t anywhere near my best.

There are going to be good days and there are going to be bad days and you won’t always PR but you will always be glad you did it.

My kinda cocktail. Someone please bring me seven of these,...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:24:16 -0400

My kinda cocktail. Someone please bring me seven of these, ASAP.

canttuchthis:

north shore distillery // the goliath

2 oz gin

1 oz fresh lime juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

1/4 oz green chartreuse

4-5 slices cucumber

combine in shaker, and shake hard, making sure to break up the cucumber thoroughly. strain over one large ice cube in a double-rocks glass. top with soda, and garnish with cucumber slices

[via]

Please

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:29:31 -0400

Whatever god is up there, whoever you pray to, whatever you believe in, please send prayers and positive thoughts my way. Please.

I’ve spent the past three days on the verge of tears. The flags...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:07:25 -0400

I’ve spent the past three days on the verge of tears. The flags at half-mast in my work parking lot had me sobbing in my car at lunch and I’ve had nightmares the past three nights. I can’t stop thinking about the what-ifs. These feelings are almost puzzling to me because yes, I was there, just a couple blocks away but I wasn’t there like some people were. I cannot even fathom what they must be going through and I think about them all day long.

I didn’t make my fundraising goal for the Boston Marathon. Before the race, I was still about $800 short and shrugged it off. Whatever, I’m over it. Other people raised more than enough to cover my shortage.

But last night as I was reading through emails and blogs and websites about the resilience of runners and the city of Boston, I decided that NO, I’m not going to let this horrific incident take over. I’m going to make something happen.

I am going to run a marathon, start line to finish line, on May 5th. I signed up for the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati in seventeen days.

And I’m also going to stand by my commitment to raise $5,500. This is not a time to bow out, but a time to lift up your community. By raising this money, I am helping a group of under-served Boston high-schoolers serve their local and global communities and that is exactly what we all need right now.

I found strength last night and I intend to finish what I set out to do: run a marathon and raise a crap-ton of money.

Go forth and be strong!

nomadsoul: to Boston from Kabul with love (a special shout out...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:13:23 -0400

nomadsoul:

to Boston from Kabul with love

(a special shout out to the brave Stephanie, who loves Afghanistan)

I don’t know how to talk about the Boston Marathon. I am so...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:21:31 -0400

I don’t know how to talk about the Boston Marathon. I am so deeply hurt by what happened. I can’t stop thinking about what could have happened to my family and me (and almost did) and what did actually happen to many other innocent spectators of the most iconic road race in the world. It’s not fair. It’s evil. It’s scary. Tears have formed in my eyes a dozen times in the two hours I’ve been awake.

I don’t know how to talk about the events leading up to the race either. I had a really happy weekend in Boston. The energy and the buzz were palpable as usual, but I can’t feel it anymore. I want to remember it though; I want to remember the happiness of Boston before.

I didn’t get to finish the race which I am now obviously grateful for. I thank God I wasn’t faster because my (stretch) goal time had me hitting the finish line in time with the bomb. I thank God that my throbbing quads convinced me to walk through a couple water stations on the Newton hills.

The 25.7 miles that I ran were really great though. I was about to beat last year’s time by over twenty minutes and I felt good (for just having run 26 miles, of course). I was mentally strong and ready to turn it up for the last few blocks to the finish before we got stopped. I want to remember the feeling of a marathon flying by, the feeling of conquering Heartbreak Hill and talking myself through the pain. I want to remember the cheers and the smiles and the chills I got every time someone screamed my name.

I desperately want to remember my experience, but I don’t know how I can talk about the happiness and joy and accomplishment before, without being haunted by the catastrophe after.

Thank you so much to everyone who reached out yesterday about...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:43:01 -0400

Thank you so much to everyone who reached out yesterday about Mark’s and my safety. I was a few blocks from the finish line when all the runners were stopped due to the bombings. Runners were passing out from lack of water, food and blankets, but spectators stepped in to lend jackets, cell phones, anything they had. I had no phone but texted Mark from a borrowed one with my location which he received much later and eventually found me - seeing him was the happiest moment of my life. If I had just run a couple minutes faster, I would have been at the finish line, and Mark and his parents would have been right near the blast. We can’t think about it without tearing up.

It was a horrific tragedy that will change Boston and the legendary Boston Marathon forever. I am so deeply hurt by this and will proudly wear my Boston Marathon jacket today to show solidarity and respect for those killed or injured yesterday.

[This was the only photo taken of me after Mark and I found each other. It was the biggest smile I could muster for completing my second Boston Marathon. Thank god Mark had a towel in his bag because I was freezing.]

[I’ll be back later with more on my Boston Marathon. Just wanted to let you all know I’m okay. Thank you so much for your concern and emails, texts, tweets, etc. Incredibly touching.]

"In 24 short hours it’ll all be history and you will have WON the Boston marathon!!!!!!!"

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:33:33 -0400

“In 24 short hours it’ll all be history and you will have WON the Boston marathon!!!!!!!”

- Moms are the best.

Reminder! A $25 donation to my Boston Marathon fundraiser enters...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:23:00 -0400

Reminder! A $25 donation to my Boston Marathon fundraiser enters you to win a Kindle Fire HD & more! Only two more days to win - crunch time, people!

Did you know? The organization I’m raising money for also does incredible work here in the US. Our high school students contribute intensive local service – helping the homeless, seniors and children in their communities – to confront urban struggles with passion and optimism, and 94% go on to college after high school!

I know many people prefer to donate towards a cause that hits closer to home and you can’t get much closer than our programs in CT, NYC, Philly, Chicago, Detroit, and the Bay Area!

As CrowdRise says, If you don’t give back no one will like you.

Marathon Monday Mantras

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:06:20 -0400

I’ve only completed one marathon but concluded that what they say is true: a marathon is 90% mental and 10% physical (assuming you’ve done some legit training of course).

This year I plan to quiet that voice in my end that tells me to walk, that I still have so far to go with the following mantras (that could be quotes from some famous source that I don’t know):

A marathon is a journey. It’s not about every footfall that will get me from Hopkinton to Boston, it’s about absorbing my environment - the sights and sounds and feelings.
Let the road rise to meet you. Instead of of trudging up Heartbreak Hill, letting my feet drag into the pavement, I’ll envision the road propelling my feet forward with every step.
Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them. There will be a point on Monday where I will hit a wall. When I hit that wall I will acknowledge it and consciously decide to go beyond it. I’m oddly looking forward to this moment.
The fastest way to the finish is by running. When there’s only a couple miles left, I may be tired and want to stop. I may dream about taking my sneakers off and eating a lobster roll but I will simply remind myself that the quickest way to make that happen is to KEEP RUNNING.
Om mani padme hum.The Buddhist Sanskrit mantra that Mark and I chanted all the way to Everest.

I’ve recently read several running memoirs for Boston...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:53:35 -0400

I’ve recently read several running memoirs for Boston inspiration and running has come easily to everyone I’ve read about. They’ve endured some life hardship and immediately took to the streets or the trails and ran 20 miles at a 6:00 pace and became running rock stars.

My journey has been a little different. I enjoy running as a form of exercise but I’m not particularly fast. I have finished the Boston Marathon once and I can easily finish a half marathon in under two hours, but I’ve never been first or won my age group. My non-runner husband can still smoke me in sprints.

My running journey may not be memoir-worthy but it does involve a hospital visit or two. Good times.

Giveaway! You guys, today is a special day because it’s exactly...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:15:27 -0400

Giveaway!

You guys, today is a special day because it’s exactly one week from the Boston Marathon AND I’ve got an amazing giveaway happening! I’m almost to my $5,500 fundraising goal to build a school in Nicaragua but I’ve got to raise the remaining $1,425 in only seven days and this is how I’m going to do it.

Here’s the deal:

For every donation of $25 or more until Friday, you will be entered in a giveaway to win:

An Amazon Kindle Fire HD! (Like, for reals)

WE RUN BOS shirt from Boss City!

Rebecca Minkoff iPhone 5 case!

A box of highly coveted Thin Mints!

My fundraising site is here. Every penny of your donation goes towards building this school, so it’s a win-win. (Win-win-WIN if you’re the lucky winner!)

I’m closing the giveaway this Friday, April 12th at midnight and will select the winner at random on Saturday.

Go forth and donate to an AMAZING cause!

[This post was sponsored by no one except me. Come on now.]

Moved to tears. I got an email notification this morning that my...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:48:19 -0400

Moved to tears.

I got an email notification this morning that my colleague in Nepal had donated to my Boston Marathon fundraiser. I was pleasantly surprised; $25 is not pocket change for this rural region of Nepal.

Another of my colleagues is visiting Nepal right now and she told me he gave her the cash this morning and she made the donation with her credit card.

Turns out, my Nepalese colleague had been fasting every Tuesday for weeks now to save the money for his donation. He had been going without food, by his own choice, one day a week and putting away the money he would have spent on food to donate to my fundraiser.

Generosity. Sacrifice. Dedication. Love.

Moved to tears.

Gwyneth looks so perfectly SUMMERY here. The golden hair,...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:46:45 -0400

Gwyneth looks so perfectly SUMMERY here. The golden hair, freckles, sun-bronzed cheeks. I WANT. I NEED.

targetdoesitagain:

we are so excited about this book! It’s all good! // #targetdoesitagain

Less than two weeks until round two! I’m so excited for...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:22:27 -0400

Less than two weeks until round two!

I’m so excited for the expo, for the pain, for the chills at every landmark, for the merch, for the medal, for the sleepless night before, for the indigestion, for the Wellesley screams, for the bruised toes, for the Citgo sign, for the sweat, for the inability to walk for two days, for the smiles, for the sweaty high-fives, for the sports beans, for the FINISH.

Here’s an email I shot out last night to my friends, colleagues, family, anyone with a couple bucks to spare for an amazing cause:

Two weeks from tonight, I will be hobbling around and unable to walk down stairs, having crossed the finish line in downtown Boston hours earlier and officially calling myself a two-time Boston Marathoner. It’s been another incredible journey over the past couple months. My training has been much different than last year with fewer long runs (the “meat” of any marathon training plan) and a LOT of snowy roads to contend with, but I’m ready to conquer those eight towns of Massachusetts on April 15th!

Thanks to an amazing group of supporters, I’ve raised $3,125 to build a school in Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, where thousands of children go without education because they simply don’t have a school. The impact this school will make will affect not only today’s children but generations to come. I’ve also been fundraising to provide a life-changing experience for urban American youth by sending them to work hand-in-hand with the village in Nicaragua to construct that school. As CFO, I may be biased but I can’t think of a more worthy cause!

With just two weeks until race day, I still have some work ahead of me - 75 more training miles to run and $2,375 to raise. I’m confident that I can achieve both - with your help!

If you’re able to make a donation in any amount to help meet this incredible goal, please visit my fundraising website here: http://www.crowdrise.com/TeambuildOnBostonMarathon2013/fundraiser/stephanieskryzowski

This cause is so near and dear to my heart and I thank you in advance for your generosity!

Steph

And yet another unflattering photo of myself has been published...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:41:32 -0400

And yet another unflattering photo of myself has been published on the internet. I obviously have no shame.

On form: I need to improve my running form. Every photo of me running looks like I’m chugging along, standing straight up, heel-striking like nobody’s business (see above). I’ve read a few books that talk about form, smaller strides, increased footfall, etc so I’ve been trying to be conscious of my form while on the trails, hoping that will improve efficiency, endurance and speed.

But let’s be real, I just want prettier gazelle-like running photos.

On my recent training: My training is winding down with only 2.5 weeks until race day and the butterflies are starting to kick in. I ran a quick three miles with my dog-son last night and six miles on the treadmill the night before, kicking up the speed to a sub-8 minute mile.

On fast treadmill running: Whenever I crank up the speed past a 9 minute mile, I, WITHOUT FAIL, envision myself flying off the back of the treadmill, smashing my face on the end of it, my teeth flying across the gym. It’s a pleasant thought.

On fundraising: Somehow I’ve managed to bring in $2,915 to build a school in Nicaragua but the crazy part is, I’m only halfway to my goal. I’ve realized along the way that scraping together FIVE GRAND in a month’s time is no easy feat (without of course writing a check myself. If I could, I would!). I would so appreciate your support in helping me achieve this amazingly worthwhile goal.

Happy Thursday/fake Friday!

So I normally try to keep the language on my little blog...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:05:00 -0400

So I normally try to keep the language on my little blog relatively clean but Thug Kitchen is too amazing not to reblog.

These sons of bitches right here [i.e. blueberries] will lower the ever loving fuck out of your cholesterol.

Gold.

[via thugkitchen]