Why I Bought a Carafe and a Box of Strawberries

Your bangs won't stay in place,

your kitchen sink smells like a foot, 

and all of your favorite dresses shrunk in the dryer. 

On weeks like this, 

weeks where tiny, strange problems abound, 

it's nice to have just one small thing
that makes you feel like you've got some part of your life together.

For me, this week, that small thing has been this:

I've been putting fruit in my water.

I'm not even sure what made me want to start doing this.

But I bought a carafe. 

I bought some mason jars.

I bought some fruit.

And I've just been giving my water a fruity essence.

The Internet tells me that this is called "infusing" your water.

Whatever, that sounds bougie, but I guess I'll go with it.

Infusing my water makes me feel like I am at a spa and like I'm one of those people
who has been to a spa enough times to be able to say that with authority.

While I generally believe in the idea of living honestly --
that is, being open about the things in life that are less than stellar --
there is nothing dishonest about making choices that better your situation.

For me, I made the choice to put fruit in my water.
On some level, it makes me feel like a better person.
It gives me a funny joy that probably only makes sense in my mind.
It gives me control --
not the kind of control that will make me spiral into obsession or dictatorship,
but rather, the kind of control that reminds me
that it's okay to have very little under control.
Infused water gives me a sense of ownership during weeks
where I don't feel like I'm owning it.

Do you do this?
What are some small choices you make that give you a sense of ownership?

Meet Me in St. Louis...Like, Seriously

So if you're mad at me right now, it's okay, you have every right to be. My last blog post made it seem like Avoiding Atrophy was about to just blow up with new posts, and as you might have noticed, that didn't super happen.

The thing is I've been out of town, and it's kept me pretty busy/distracted. Sorry for that.

But anyway, this past week I was in a most wondrous place! So wondrous, in fact, that Judy Garland once went there in a movie and sang some songs about it. If you're thinking I went to Oz, you're close, but I'm fairly certain this place isn't run by a fraudulent wizard (spoiler alert), though I'm not totally up to speed on their local government.

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I went to St. Louis!

And for whatever reason, I fell all kinds of in love with it. It was one of the first trips I've taken in a while, and I think I mostly loved it for the mere fact that it was just somewhere new. For as much as I love New York City, leaving it to go anywhere is like taking a breath of fresh air atop the Swiss Alps.

Anyway, here are the reasons I loved my visit to St. Louis (many of these are in respect to my current living situation, but keep in mind my deep, deep love for NYC).

1. Everything smells good. So good. Like Muffins. 

2. No traffic.

3. Pretty much everything we did was free! Holy cow. We saw a super legit production of Les Miserables -- free. We sampled a bunch of flavored liqueurs -- free. We went to a zoo where you could literally reach out and touch a penguin -- believe it or not, FREE!

I didn't pet him, but as you can tell I totally could have, and he totally would have been cool with it.

4. Every sandwich on any menu was under $10, and it was delicious.

5. Commuting anywhere took ten minutes.

6. My beautiful friend, Emily, lives there and we were practically joined at the scalp the whole time. 

By the way, this girl has a wonderful blog called Of Seeds and Thorns. You will definitely want to read it after you finish this list.

7. They brew a lot of beer there.

8. You can always find a seat on the MetroLink.

9. City Museum! This is potentially the best museum I have ever been to. It is virtually impossible to explain, but basically it's like if Jim Henson, Baz Luhrmann, Tim Burton, Picasso, and an eight-year-old boy all teamed up to make a McDonald's play place. 

10. They have a version of Little Italy called The Hill where no one screams at you to come in their restaurant.

11. My parents were there too!

12. Cheap antiques! 

I am kicking myself for not buying this glass. I'll show you more of my finds in a future post, but combined with some donations from Emily, I basically brought home enough stuff to totally redecorate our apartment.

13. It's so damn quiet there (this one ended up freaking me out at times).

14. Ted Drewes (it's a custard place, which we all know is just ice cream, but still...delicious).

Our hosts loving on some Teddy D's. 

15. Basically, you just feel like doing this all the time:

My mother, ladies and gentlemen.

Once again, when you live in New York City, going anywhere else feels like inhaling the clean air of the Swiss Alps. But truly, I don't want to live in the Swiss Alps because of bears probably and yodeling and that really boring flag they have (yeah, I said it). And I don't want to live in St. Louis right now either, but it was an absolutely wonderful place to visit, and I would go back in a heartbeat.

Just curious -- Are you from St. Louis? Yes, you. Reader. Do you live there? Have you lived there? Have you been there? What do you love about it? What do I need to see on my next visit?

Anyway, I'm back in Brooklyn. Yesterday I went to Prospect Park and ate guacamole while watching a group of guys play drums and practice Capoeira. Absence really makes the heart grow fonder. I love this town. 

A Cryptic Post About Upcoming Changes

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been doing a lot of soul-searching, meditating, and fierce doodling on the purpose of Avoiding Atrophy.

An example of one of my nonsensical, frightening brainstorm-doodles. 

While absolutely nothing in the above picture has anything to do with the vision of this blog, rest assured that I have actually had some sane thoughts about what the next steps are.

One of the things that has really hit home in my brainstorming is the idea of using this platform to engage two kinds of people (who actually happen to be the same person): The Stumbling Realist and the Sophisticated Idealist. That's you, right? You are both of those people. You have been Jekyll and Hyde-ing your way through this whole mess of life. One day you've got almost everything so figured out that you actually manage to floss and sleep for seven hours. The next day you have some inexplicable ailment like Cat Scratch Fever and you just want to watch The Babysitter's Club on Netflix for the rest of the day.

If that's you, Avoiding Atrophy is here to let you know that it is okay to be both of those things: real and aspirational. There's a part of you that needs to be happy about living in the realistic camp before you can experience the benefits of the aspirational one. I think the best and most interesting people go hard for both.

(And if none of this is sounding familiar to you, feel free to go read some other blog where perfect people hang out and talk about quinoa and engaging your core or whatever. I will not be joining you.)

Anyway, here's just a taste of what's to come. This is how I'm planning right now to restructure my tabs along with some weekly features that will go with it. See if you can decipher any of this nonsense!

Another thing that matters a lot to me is hearing what YOU, THE READER, would like to see happen on Avoiding Atrophy. After all, the plan is for all of us to avoid atrophy together. You should get a say in the matter of how we do it.

What are some things you would like to see more of on this blog? How can I reach you on the realistic-aspirational spectrum? How many pictures of baby animals can I post per week? Is 12 too many or too few? Comment on this post or shoot me an email, and I'll happily give it some thought in my next doodling session. 

Also, if you're not following yet, I'd love for you to get on that for two reasons: 1) I do a special jig every time I get a new follower, and 2) New followers makes creating community experiences far more possible. Avoiding Atrophy is a discussion, not a lecture, so get in on this! You can click "Join This Site" in the sidebar of this page if you haven't already done so.

End of a Bloggerific Week: Thoughts on the Purpose of Avoiding Atrophy

Well, guys, I made it. On Monday night, I made a sweeping declaration to blog every single day this week. It was met with such enthusiasm from you guys, and I've loved reading your comments over the last few days. I may never make good on my promise to learn to play the guitar, but I blogged the crap out of this week.

As a reward, I'm giving myself the gift of this GIF of Kevin Arnold giving me a thumbs up. Thanks, me. You're welcome, me. 

But I will be honest, it was hard sometimes. There are bloggers who churn out posts every day like it's no big deal, and I tip my writer's hat to all of those guys. For me, though, I need ideas to marinate a little bit before getting them out to the world. The same is true of how I express myself verbally. Seriously. Ask me anything. I'll get back to you in two years.

Even though I wasn't always bursting at the seams with creative energy, I really did love this last week of blogging. I feel like writing so consistently really helped me reconnect with my original intentions for Avoiding Atrophy. The more I exposed myself to daily writing, the more I became comfortable with it, and the more I truly loved it (that's called Mere Exposure Effect - look it up). I found myself itching to get cracking on my newest post. I would read and reread all of your awesome comments (shout-out to Claire for making Daniel and I laugh out loud with your comments on zombie technicalities). 

What I really gained from this week is an appreciation for the people who read and follow Avoiding Atrophy. You seriously don't have to do this, guys. You could spend your time in all kinds of great ways. You could make a sandwich. You could watch a hair tutorial. You could do work at your job, I guess. But instead you choose to spend it here listening to me talk about BB Cream, marriage, and my love for Red Lobster's cheese biscuits. I am so humbled by that. 

For you guys, I got this GIF of the incomparable Adele saying "Fanks." Fanks, y'all.

I was thinking about the joy I have for my readers and for writing in general while reading a couple of books given to me by my friend, Matt -- a man so full of wit and wisdom that his words might literally melt your face off (if you don't believe me, go read his blog, and see if you still have a face when you're done). The first is a book titled You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins. This is the book that inspired me to start considering my gift of writing as a vocation rather than a hobby. I even changed my job status on Facebook to "Writer" (but it actually says "works at writer", which is weird). The second book is titled Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt. This one is a more practical guide to promoting your message or product to an audience.  Here's an excerpt I've found particularly helpful in a section titled "Connect with the original vision" where he establishes this idea of "wow" as an intangible quality of a great product: 

King Solomon once said, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." This is also true for "wow." Before it exists, it is only an idea. The only place it exists is inside your head. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and once again become present to what it is you are trying to create.

When I read that at the top of this week, I was really inspired to reconnect with that original vision. I sat down with a sketchpad (lined paper is too constricting for me), and just started thinking of all of the reasons why I blog -- reasons that live outside of my own validation.

I ended up writing out something that seemed a lot like a statement of purpose. Maybe one day when I'm feeling brave, I'll post all of it, but here's a small, small snippet for now.

"She's a mess. What is her hope?"

This is the question I want begged of me when people read Avoiding Atrophy. I'm not someone who will ever claim to have it altogether. Ever. I cut my hair once a year, I eat things that I know are terrible for me, and I'm not sure I'll ever know what I want to be when I grow up.

But I am someone with a whole lot of hope, and with very good reason for said hope. Again, feel free to ask me about it.

When I started this blog, even though I knew I would be writing about my own experiences, my vision was to connect with people who, for whatever reason, sometimes feel like giving up. I wanted to make these people all laugh really hard and commiserate with them on how gross life can be sometimes. And then I wanted to remind them of how very valuable they are and encourage them to dream the dreams that they've stopped dreaming.

Dreaming is a hard battle, one with a lot at stake. It's the same battle I fight, and I'd love to not have to fight it alone.

Writing every day this week has inspired me to make Avoiding Atrophy a community experience. I promise to always start the conversation, and I hope you will join me in continuing it.

You'll be hearing more on what this all means for this blog in the next couple of weeks, but stay posted. I will continue to post cat GIFs because that is just how I roll, but every now and then, you might get a nugget of wisdom.

Thanks for being here. You are awesome. 

The Color Run and My Thoughts on Running

I did the Color Run this morning! 

Here's what it looked like (I want to apologize in advance for interrupting this epic instavideo with a dance break and cat sounds):

Embed Yours At InstaEmbed.com

Not featured in this video is my lovely friend Laura who my hubs, Daniel, and I ran alongside. She and I chatted about all of our hopes and dreams the whole way through, allowing me to forget for a moment the stitch in my side and the color in my teeth. Together we looked like this at the end of the race:

um NAILED IT, right?

By the way, if you've never heard of The Color Run before, it's a 5K run in which volunteers throw colorful powder on you at different stations along the way. It's SUPER fun, and there's a dance party at the end where they hand out a bunch of free swag. At the end of the day, though, it's really just a 5K with colors. Do not let the following awesome promotional video deceive you: 

According to this video, your entire life -- everything you've worked for -- has been leading up to this day. The Color Run is where you will break free from your insecurities. It's where you'll finally learn to be happy with yourself, and it's where, when you least expect it, you will find your one true love (and you will make out with him despite people throwing things at the two of you).

Unfortunately, none of these things happened to me today. Credit where credit is due though -- Color Run, I had a blast running you, and that's saying something because I am definitely not a runner.

I so badly want to be one though! I see how much people are impacted by it, and I really want to get in on that endorphin business people are always talking about. Sadly, I've got these short, little corgi legs that make me feel super unsuccessful. This is not a slight to my body type, by the way. I'm actually quite a fan of that whole situation. I just think my body was intended for something like Zumba or Prancercising.

I kind of feel like prancing is my typical mode of travel anyway.

Really though, my problem with running is all mental. My brain just doesn't stop. I am always impressed with the people who have the ability to shut their minds off. This is the most powerful quality I can imagine, and it's one that I definitely see in my husband. Sometimes I'll ask him, "Hey, what are you thinking about?" and he'll be like, "Nothing", to which I'll respond, "Okay yeah, but like, what kind of nothing?" To me, this question makes perfect sense because I am literally never thinking of nothing, but Daniel has the beautiful ability to just shut it all down and rest even when he's being active. For this reason, he could probably run a marathon tomorrow without a second thought.

For me, however, when I'm running, my brain is like: Oh God. I'm running. I. Am. Running. Don't screw this up, Christy. You. Can. Do. This. Oh no, I should have used the bathroom before I started. Whatever, I can do this. Wow, no, but wait, I sort of have to go to the restroom. Should I wait or go now? Where is the nearest restroom even if I wanted to go? Oh God, is there no restroom? Am I going to die if I don't use the restroom? Restroom restroom restroom. Also, how do I breathe? Do I breathe in through my mouth and out my nose? Or the other way around? Wait, have I even had a glass of water today? A lady pushing a stroller just passed me. That's not fair. She has a stroller to lean on. Awesome, a child just passed me. This is unnatural. I should probably stop so I can sign up for a zumba class.

As you can see, a lot of my thoughts center around where the nearest bathroom is and remembering how to breathe like a human. It's all kinds of ridiculous.

Anyway, as long as themed 5Ks exist and I keep living near Prospect Park, I probably won't ever fully give up on running. I'd like to be better at it though and I'd also like to finally, after years of searching, find that one exercise that I actually really enjoy doing. I'm fairly certain it will be a 90s Britney Spears dance class, but I've yet to find one.

Seriously though, how do I sign up for this class?

So I'm crowdsourcing this: What are some of your best tips as a runner? Also, what other workouts have you become obsessed with? 

I await your wisdom!

Beauty Product Endorsements/An Excuse For Selfies

Today I got a haircut which means I'm doing a lot of this:

I swear, this was me as a little girl.

Seriously, getting a good haircut is the best feeling. It's the one day a year (because that's seriously how often I get my hair cut, guys) that I get to feel in control of my life. For me, it's all about the blowout. Blowdrying my hair at home with a round brush is a lot like trying to make an omelet using only my elbows (believe me, I've done it). It's ridiculous, time-consuming, and it yields awful results. But when a stylist artist works her magic with a blowdryer, I am transformed. My hair becomes a light, fluffy, fragrant unicorn's mane, and I spend the rest of the day in a state of incomparable euphoria.

I. LOVE. HAIRCUTS.

Medusa Salon in Park Slope, Brooklyn. This is where the magic happens.

So because this is technically the best I will look all year (again, I cannot achieve this look at home), I've decided that this would be the perfect time to post some grainy selfies (my front-facing iPhone camera is the worst) and talk about all of my beauty tips and tricks! 

Now, be warned: my tips and tricks are far and few between. They are mostly nonsensical, such as opening your mouth as wide as possible while putting on mascara (there you go, that one's for free). 

But what I do have are a bunch of great product recommendations. This is the stuff I use to achieve this look:

Fluffy, impossible hair

If nothing about the above picture interests you, no worries, but you probably should not buy any of the following products and also, you probably should not tell me because I will cry.

MY BEAUTY PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS

1. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector

$8

How I use it: For my whole face piece

Why I love it: BB creams are seriously the best because you know you are treating your skin well while also wearing makeup. I'm not necessarily endorsing Maybelline, but rather the BB cream concept altogether. It's sunscreen, moisturizer, and flippin foundation all-in-one little tan squirt. Go getcha some.

2. Smashbox Limitless Lip Stain & Color Seal Balm (Guava)

$21 - Sephora 

How I use it: On my lip parts

Why I love it: I apparently like to lick things. I'm a licker. The second I put lipgloss on, I basically just eat it. What's wrong with me? Anyway, this stuff persists through all of that, but it also doesn't stay on so hard that I wonder whether I will need a medical professional to remove it. 

3. Benefit High Beam

$26 - Sephora (I've been using a tiny sample-size all year, and I'm still going strong)

How I use it: I do little dabs of it on my cheekbones, on my browbone, on the inside corners of my eyes, and anywhere else that it feels like an angel would naturally kiss me.

Why I love it: What methadone is for heroin addicts, High Beam is for body glitter addicts. Where my inner twelve-year-old wants to put body glitter, I instead use High Beam and it makes my face look dewy, bright, and not crazy.

4. Benefit Posie Tint 

$30 - Sephora (again, I just have a mini version, but I ran out of that much quicker than my High Beam.)

How I use it: I slap some on when I'm in a hurry for both cheek and lip color.

Why I love it: It's quick, it's pink, and it makes you look rosy without making you look like you are having an allergic reaction.

5. Prestige Liquid Eyeliner

$5.99 - Ulta

How I use it: On my eyelids...

Why I love it: I don't even remember buying this little guy, but he's been my best friend for a while now. I was a hard-and-fast pencil eyeliner girl for some time, but that is smudgy business. This liquid eyeliner never seems to run out and it makes my tiny eyes look like they belong to Sailor Moon. 

So anyway, riveting stuff. Makeup is definitely not my wheelhouse, but I like to think I do okay. Here's a close-up to prove it.

And here's one last pretty selfie for good measure. For this one, I've taken off my glasses. 

If this were the movie She's All That, this is the moment Freddie Prince Jr. would have realized that I was beautiful all along.

Now go get some BB Cream and enjoy your weekend! But before you do, drop me a comment to tell me about your favorite beauty products because if there ever were two things that were meant for each other, it would be unemployment and buying expensive makeup. 

Happy Fourth of July From All of Your Animal Friends

Happy Fourth of July to you all! Freedom is a beautiful thing!

Right now would be a very appropriate time for me to post pictures of things like fireworks and hotdogs, but I think you honestly deserve better. Surely you will get your fill of all of that on Instagram. 

Instead enjoy the following pictures of animals celebrating American independence. You're welcome.

(Here's some patriotic music, in case you need it.)

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Because babies are also animals, kind of. (Via)

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And then there's this guy who is just bumming us all out:

Hope it's been a stellar 4th, y'all!