Today’s workout was pretty simple. I haven’t been feeling well; a cold has been stirring up in my lungs. I wanted something low key so I did a balance ball pilates tape. Unfortunately, Exercise Ball Workout Video: Pilates with Denise Druce is way too simplistic. It is about 16 minutes long between review of each exercise and actually doing the workout. It only covers six total exercises. I had to repeat the circuit from memory to actually make it worth my while.

The tape features basic and good core exercises, but I’d never use a tape; I couldn’t even skip over the introductory part to get to the workout (well, I could fast forward, but I missed my DVD player). This is the first tape to be pitched.

I bought some new shoes this weekend. I needed to go shopping for bridesmaids shoes, however luck also was on my side. These Not Rated Chunk of Change pumps were a pair I couldn’t pass up. I love them so much and they were the very last pair. I thought I was getting a deal when they were on sale for $39, but when the cashier rang them up, they were $14! That’s right, $14. Nordstrom currently sells these for $59.95.

These Caparros Elisa shoes in silver are really comfortable heels. I like the simplicity of the straps and the rhinestone clasp on the side. I wanted to buy a pair that would last for a long time and that I could wear with formal wear. I have another wedding this year that I intend to wear these at as well.

A pair of Merona sandals also made it home with me after I went to a swap party. They look barely worn and are really comfortable.

I came across a version of Kathy Kaelher Fitness: Total Body Workout and Get Fit Class at Target in the dollar bin. It includes two 60-minute workout DVDs.

Last week, I did the Total Body Workout that uses free weights, a chair and a mat. It has six 10-minute segments covering cardio, arms, legs and ab exercises. The cardio was kind of hard since you have to move and jump around, and my apartment floor makes a variety of lovely creaking noises. I was worried I’d bother my neighbor so I wasn’t as into it as I should’ve been.

The muscle group exercise were cool though, employing free weights. I have 1-, 2- and 5-pound weights, so I’d like to challenge myself to increase my strength there.

I also need to do the Get Fit Class.

(This isn’t the cover of my disc but must be the same DVDs.)

Today’s workout included Total Body Crosstrain and Simply Yoga. I really wanted to feel the burn, and last time’s run through of the crosstraining DVD, I was hurting for a few days. But I also wanted to run through one of the DVDs I hadn’t tried yet. So I put in the Simply Yoga DVD I got years ago. This is a simpler, more relaxed routine then the MTV Yoga or Power Yoga DVDs. Yolanda Pettinato runs through a variety of stretching and relaxation poses that takes 30 minutes. After a hard workout, this DVD was ideal and could potentially become part of my rotation after rigorous activity. I have the book somewhere but I didn’t refer to it today.

I have three more yoga tapes, a pilates tape and a get fit class to still run through. I’ll probably try to the pilates tape tomorrow.

Reading Memoirs of a Geisha was a real delight. I had seen the movie before, so I was looking forward to reading the original story. I enjoyed it as much as I had expected to. Some of the abrupt scenes in the movie made a lot more sense with the full story laid out. As always, a story in full detail is better than one missing some key points. Memoirs book versus movie was just that way.

I also enjoyed Arthur Golden’s eloquent language. The story was very beautiful and little details were often highlighted, such as the details of each kimono. I thought that was pretty amazing considering how many different kimono were worn and how each one was different from the last. It’s a shame that Sayuri wasn’t a real geisha, but the research involved to craft the book definitely paid off to paint a realistic and amazing story.

Books of 2010 total: 2

The other day I was driving over to a friend’s to pick them up and I came across this car. It says Kates Detective Agency! How cool is that! It was established in 1995 by a guy with the last name Kates.

You wouldn’t think an aloe plant would cause such disarray in a home, but this little plant has become quite the problem child. It’s long fleshy leaves have spread out so much that the shelf in the kitchen can no longer house it. I have tried a number of other places for it, but nowhere seemed suitable. I finally concluded that it should make it’s home next to the Jenn plant in the living room. But I didn’t like it sitting on the ground because Ethan likes to dig in the dirt of plants and nothing I had in the house seemed to work.

I swung over to Home Goods and found this perfect little stand. It sits about four inches off the ground and I got it for $8! It was by luck I found it at all since it was stashed away in the clearance section and nothing else came close.

Look how cute it is!