Last night I made the official decision to end my marathon training.

Umm, ok I had never really started my marathon training in the first place.  Oops.

But I had considered kicking it into high gear and going full out from now until race day in mid-October.  I talked to  “Fitarella” (aka Jacqueline) both at BlogHer and last night at the Healthworks Blogger Picnic.  With her voice of reason, I decided that rushing my training and pushing through 26 miserable miles wouldn’t be a great way to tackle my first marathon.

I thought I’d have lots of free time this summer.  But between weddings, blog events, working, a few vacations, and life in general, there was no time to be found.  Whenever I thought about running, I got overwhelmed and frustrated.  I wanted to spend time with my boyfriend.  I wanted to sleep.  I didn’t want to grab my sneakers and head outside.   Or maybe I did feel like running…but not for hours at a time.  20-30 minutes is my ideal workout!

I don’t think I’ll run more than one marathon in my life.  I like Half Marathons.  They’re fun and easy.  I ran 1 in 2009 and I’ll be running my 2^nd of 2010 in early October.  Continuing to grow my numbers, I’m going to try to complete 3 Half Marathons in 2011.

I’d also like to complete my one and only full marathon.

When I finally do buckle down and train for the big “Twenty Six point Two,” I want to be prepping for a race that I feel passionate about.  Maybe a race in a fun location?  Disney World?  A race with a lot of history?  Boston?  Or a race that’s sure to be a wild time?  Any of the Rock and Roll marathons?  Once I’m emotionally invested in my race, I’ll be able to dedicate the time and energy needed to prepare my body.

I’ve prepped for athletic events my whole life.  I know that when I have a goal in mind, I will put in the hours of practice.    But I also know that big competitions involve huge time commitments.  I need to plan my life events around my training.  No parties, vacations, or weddings to get in my way. 

I like to be active.  And I really do love running.  But I have to love it on my terms.  I learned that it’s ok to have a race day dream, but then change my mind.  The dream is still there, but the schedule has just changed a little bit.  I’ll run those damn 26.2 miles someday in the near future.  But there are so many other things on my mind, so many things to be happy about, and I want running to be there to help me keep smiling.  Not contribute to stress and bring me down.

So from now until October 1^st, I’ll be training for the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon.  No formal plan.  But I’ll make sure I do 3 long runs leading up to the race (6, 8, and 10 miles).  Oh, and I’ll drag Jared on as many runs as possible so that my guy is also prepared to run around Disney World! 

New from Stonyfield Yogurt:

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“What’s better then guilt-free, organic Chocolate and Caramel Greek yogurt?”

One lucky Crunches for Cupcakes reader will win…

• 1 coupon for a free Green & Black Organic Chocolate Bar
• 1 sample of Numi Organic Chocolate tea
• 1 Dagoba/Eco Lips Organic Chocolate chapstick
• 1 Skinnyskinny real cocoa organic soap bar
• 2 free coupons for Chocolate and Caramel Oikos multipacks
• Recipe card set featuring Chocolate Cheesecake, as well Oikos spatula

To Enter:

Visit Stonyfield’s website and watch a YoTube video

Then leave a comment on this post and tell me something you learned about organics or organic farming!

You can earn additional entries by following Stonyfield on Twitter (@Stonyfield) and by following me on Twitter (@Mellie102) and then leaving additional comments to tell me that you did.

*The contest will run until mid-afternoon on 8/16/2010.  I will randomly select one winner on Monday, August 16th!  Good Luck!*

How to Take Great Pictures:  My notes from the BlogHer 2010 breakout session

• You can take great pictures whether you own a DSLR or a point-and-shoot.  You can even take great pictures with a cell phone camera!
• Use your images to tell a story.  It adds so much to your blog post.  Try writing a post entirely with pictures.
• Self-editing:  Know what makes an image stand out.  Your image should be thought provoking and create an emotional impact.
• Composition is essential!

The Rule of Thirds

• Grid, similar to a tic-tac-toe game
• Don’t center every picture
• Add visual interest
• Where you put something in the frame can give it power (or remove power)

Lines

• Look for lines in everyday life (roads, trees, etc. etc.)
• How do lines affect the feeling of a photo?
• Lines create movement
• Lines lead your eye to another point
• Use lines to compose your shot
• There are obvious lines (roads, dirt path) and subtle lines (sidewalk cracks)

Pay attention!

• Once you consciously look for things while you’re photographing, it will become natural and your pictures will become amazing.
• Simplicity
• Don’t overdo it
• Don’t over-prop your photos
• Symmetry
• Balance
• Watch your backgrounds and avoid showing a mess
• Don’t over edit.  You can go too far and ruin a decent picture
• Watch out for typical photography faux pas
• Frame within a Frame = View through fence, view through a doorway, Another way to add visual interest
• Dutch Angles aka Tilt = Cinematographers tool to create unease and tension in a shot.  Works in photos where you want to show movement, joy, energy, or create abstract art.  Always keep the horizon a straight line.  If it’s supposed to be straight in nature, you probably shouldn’t mess with it.

Learn How to Use Your Camera

• ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture (all points on the ‘Exposure Triangle’)

ISO:  How sensitive your camera is to light

• A lot of Light = a smaller ISO number
• Less Light = a higher ISO number (image may become grainy)

Shutter Speed:  How long the shutter is open to control how much light enters the camera

• Faster shutter speed = captures very fast motion as a clear photo
• Slow shutter speed = captures very fast motion as a blur, captures slower motion (ex: fireworks) as a clear photo
• Experiment: draw a heart with a flashlight as you take a photo using a very slow shutter speed and a tripod

Aperture:  How much light is hitting the camera’s sensor, controlled by opening and closing the lense

• Biggest aperture opening = smallest number setting, less of the photograph will be in focus
• Smallest aperture opening = biggest number setting, more of the photograph will be in crystal clear focus
• F2.8 = smallest number to use/largest aperture opening to use before the shutter speed becomes too slow and the picture becomes blurry

Exposure = process of capturing light with your camera to produce an image on your digital sensor (or film if you’re old school)

Achieving Proper Exposure

• It’s better to shoot underexposed photos when using a digital camera.
• You can’t fix an overexposed photo because there’s no color information where it’s blown out (aka white).  Your best way to save the photo is to convert it to B&W

Lenses

• Focal length of lens determines its angle of view
• Long lens = flatten subject, more flattering portraits
• Wide angle lens
• Purchase a new 50 mm lens
• Try out lenses and cameras before buying them

Light

• Front light = flat, very flattering, try to find diffused light
• Back light = works well if you’re ok with losing some of your background image
• Side light
• Flash modified light = bounce the flash off of a different object and use tools that can be added to a pop up flash

Be Creative!

• Take self-portraits
• Create bokeh magic
• Have a macro addiction (flower setting on a point-and-shoot)
• Look for reflections
• Have fun with shadows
• Flare it up
• Experiment with angles
• Use lens attachments
• Capture yourself (365 portraits project)
• Create your own works of art
• Be different
• Create photo flairs by allowing light to shine into lens (be careful)
• Take your camera everywhere
• Shoot from up high and down low
• Lensbaby (3 types)
• Fish eye attachment
• Challenge yourself to complete projects

*This session was jam packed with useful information and gorgeous photos.  If I misunderstood any info or you have additional photography tips and tricks, please leave a comment and let me know!*

Photographs are fun.  I wanted to share more of the laughter and good times at the BlogHer Conference 2010.

My bed covered with swag and other free goodies.  HUGE thank you to all of the sponsors

Pillsbury Cupcakes!

Bloggers dancing their way towards fitness.

Natalie during her Johnson & Johnson interview.

Natalie loves being in front of the camera.

She’s on a roll:  Natalie getting her mic for her Yahoo Shine interview.

Natalie is such a “Chatty Cathy.” 

BlogHer party on Friday night.

Feeling like a little kid while playing in the balloons.

Fashion is art.  Art is fashion. 

Fountain near our  hotel.

The Pillsbury Doughboy is tired after a long day at BlogHer.

A little wine before bed?  Why not?!?!

Fresh fruit platter.

Candid shot as I celebrated winning a Flip Cam.

Natalie is the cutest thing ever!

Even the Jimmy Dean sun likes to eat a healthy breakfast and drink milk.

I was beyond obsessed with everything Pillsbury!

Dust and Germ stuffed animals.  Too cute!  But I chose not to take any more stuffed toys home.    I already own too many.

We’re both bloggers and great friends.  Our Christmas card photo!

Guide Dog at the P&G house.

Shopping on the streets of NYC.

Just looking at all that salt is making me thirsty.

Street vendors add so much life to NYC.  They’re my favorite things to photograph while I’m in the city.

It’s no secret that I love cupcakes.  I shout it from the rooftops.  I like to eat cupcakes.  Wear items that feature cupcakes.  Smell like cupcakes.

But did you know that my all time favorite cupcake location is Magnolia Bakery?  I have been to the original Bleeker Street location multiple times while visiting NYC.

Since Magnolia’s popularity has gone went through the roof thanks to Sex and the City, they have expanded and have 3 additional New York locations and a shop in LA.

While wandering around after BlogHer, Natalie and I happened to stumble upon Magnolia’s midtown location.

It was packed with tourists and everyone was waiting in line for a cupcake.  Screw cookies, forget about cakes and pies.  Cupcakes are #1. 

Pre-sugar high, I was bouncing off the walls with excitement and anticipation of cupcake heaven.

Good thing the line moved quickly! 

Cupcake success!  A tasty treat and a t-shirt that reads “I [cupcake] NY” !!!

Mmm!  I savored the Magnolia cupcake flavor.

And I tried not to make a mess in the process. 

Natalie and I left Boston at 6 am on Thursday morning so we could attend the 2010 BlogHer Conference.  Even with a 2 hour Power Nap yesterday and almost 10 hours of sleep last night, I’m still exhausted.  Grabbing free samples, attending breakout sessions, taking notes, taking photos, and wandering around NYC really makes me tired.

I attended so many helpful sessions:

• Gen Y Passionistas: Making Your Passion “Work” For You
• This year, you’re in!  Fashion Blogging is Serious Business
• How to Take Great Pictures, Whether You Have a DSLR or Point-and Shoot
• Fitness Blogging:  Motivate Yourself and Your Readers
• Little Fish in a Big Pond:  Understanding, Accepting, and Loving Your Small Blog

I had SO much fun and learned so much.  I really do love my blog.  It’s my baby.  BlogHer came at a great time because I’ve had a crazy summer and lost a little bit of my blogging focus.  But I’m about to hit the one year mark at Crunches for Cupcakes and I have lots of great ideas that I want to turn into realities.  Some of my brainstorming will be discussed in upcoming blog posts.  Other parts will be dramatically unveiled in a blog redesign and a variety of exciting projects.

I’m such a geek.  I had so much fun spotting celebrities, both from the blog world (Pioneer Woman and Kath Eats) and the real world (Real Housewife Tamra, Padma Lakshmi from Top Chef and Bruce Jenner).

BlogHer Highs:

• Delicious food throughout the entire conference.  Yum!
• Taking lots of silly pictures with Natalie (milk mustaches, Bruce Jenner, My Little Pony, our Christmas card, the Pillsbury Dough Boy)
• Watching Natalie get interviewed at any and every camera she could find
• Winning a Flip Cam from Yahoo Shine
• Swag, swag, swag.  Lots of goodies in my bag!
• Bringing our leftover bottle of Chianti back to the hotel after dinner
• Getting my eye makeup done at the MAC counter in Saks
• CuPcAkEs from Magnolia Bakery!!!

BlogHer Lows:

• 3:30 am wakeup call to leave for the conference.  Lessons learned; never again!
• Natalie got sick on the plane
• I ALMOST got sick in the cab
• Dropping a wine bottle on my toe
• Natalie rolled over my toe with her suitcase
• My finger was so swollen from a bug bite so I couldn’t wear my favorite ring
• Not getting to meet the 3-legged Chihuahua at the P&G House
• I had to leave as soon as the last session ended this afternoon 

I have to go back to work bright and early tomorrow morning.  But really, my mind has been working all weekend.  I can’t wait to throw myself into my blog ideas and see where my newly inspired life takes me.

And hello to all of my new blog friends that I had the chance to meet this weekend!  Can’t wait to make more new friends and see old ones when I attend the Healthy Living Summit next weekend.

M.I.A…  Missing in Action!

I’ve been missing from Crunches for Cupcakes these past few days and I’ve also been in action.

New York City = LOTS of action

(I refrained from asking Bruce about any of the Kardashians.  Maybe next time we hang out…)

No matter how old I am, August will always make me think about going back to school.  And no matter how hot it is outside or how much I don’t need anything new, August will always make me want to shop for fall clothes.

(Source)

According to the Bloomingdales e-mail blast that I recently received, these are some items that will be in style this fall!

1. The color red
2. Leather jackets
3. Corduroys
4. Over-sized blouses
5. Draped dresses
6. Chunky sweaters
7. Fur (or faux fur)
8. Anoraks
9. Military details
10. Skinny bootcut jeans

My birthday is in September so I was always able to combine Back to School shopping with Birthday Presents.  I ended up with a lot of new and, looking back now, slightly ridiculous outfits.

Have you thought about what you’re going to wear this fall?

I haven’t thought about my fall wardobe because I’ve been trying to weed out summer clothes that I haven’t worn in a few years.  Time to make a donation to the Salvation Army, and to my mom’s closet!  She loves my hand-me-downs.   Then I’m going to search through the rest of my clothes and see how many items I already own from the above list.  I know I have TONS of pairs of cords.  Those were my go-to when I was working at my office job last year.  And there’s gotta be a chunky sweater or two leftover from this past winter.

I’m not sure how I can recap a whirlwind weekend filled with travel, a rehearsal dinner, a wedding, brunch, Sleepy Hollow.  And wine.  Lots and lots of wine.

But with a few photos and a few bullet points, I’m sure you’ll get the gist of things.

• Most amazing Italian food at the rehearsal dinner!
• Rehearsal gift from the Bride and Groom: a CD of all of the music that would be played at the wedding the next day.  It was great to get a preview of their 1st dance.
• Jared worked out at the hotel gym in flip flops.  He claimed I forgot to pack his sneakers.  But I wouldn’t let him weasel out of exercising.
• Limo got lost driving the groomsmen to the church.  Ooops.
• Flowers on the alter caught on fire before the ceremony.  Another oops.
• Pictures, pictures, pictures….I thought I was a professional photographer!
• Nonstop dancing.  During the appetizer, salad, dinner, and dessert.  I burned off any extra calories while twirling with Jared on the dance floor.
• Bryan and Jenna are so in love and so perfect for each other, and that’s what made the entire wedding weekend so amazing!

Eggplant Parm at the Rehearsal dinner.

Having fun at the rehearsal dinner and practicing our Middle School dancing skills.

Waiting for the ceremony to begin.

It took 50 bobby pins to hold my mane in place.  Yikes!

New husband and wife making a quick exit from the church.

My spray tan held up really well.  I had a warm glow rather than a pale white shimmer.

The very happy couple!

This is love… 

Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all
Matters the most

Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep
Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you…

He loves her.

And she loves him.

And they lived happily ever after!