WIW 5/20-5/22: Shamrock and flowers x3

I ended up doing shamrock green and flowers three days in a row! With some caterpillars and butterflies sprinkled in. Nothing like bright green and flowers in the springtime! Which version is your favorite? Thanks for looking and commenting!

1-3. Ann Taylor Loft green sweater and green and yellow floral top (old, a gift from my mom)
Halogen yellow pencil skirt
Dooney & Bourke yellow satchel
DSW nude pumps
Kate Spade butterly necklace
Yellow gold leaf bracelet (old, gift from mom)
Burberry watch
(That evening we went on a walk with the kids...pics in this thread)

4-5. Anthro green cropped blazer
Anthro floral skirt (with butterflies on it too)
Halogen lace trimmed tank
Stella and Dot Jacinthe bracelet (looks like a caterpillar to me!)
"Leaves" gold necklace--for the caterpillar to nibble on (hospital jewelry sale)
Born bronze ballet flats
Kate Spade kelly green purse
Burberry watch

6-8. Theory Lanai black leather trim blazer
Ann Taylor black and white laser cut floral tank
Halogen emerald green pencil skirt
WHBM black flats
Karl Lagerfield watch
Stella and Dot Renegade bracelet and Urbane bracelet
Kate Spade floral satchel

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Couch potato needs running/workout gear recs! (ETA Kid pics!)

I am embarrassed to admit that I am a total couch potato. I haven't exercised at all in at least two or three years--didn't exercise at all during pregnancy or this past year because I have been too exhausted with the three kids including the baby. In fact I still have two pregnancy workout DVDs that are still in the cellophane packaging! I am finally slowly starting to emerge from the post-newborn haze 14 months later (though DS2 STILL wakes up at least twice a night!) and really want to start focusing on my own health and getting fit. DH has been motivated to exercise because he has been going on a diving trip alone each of the past three summers (I let him because I want him to be motivated to stay fit)--this year he is learning dry suit diving and going diving in Alaska. I don't have anything like that to motivate me, so I'm thinking of doing the Couch to 5K program and finding a 5K race to enter in this summer. Has anyone done this before? And has anyone tried running/jogging with kids? (Mine are 6, 4 and 1).

This morning I ran one mile on a trail near our house and it took me 18 minutes at a slow pace. It felt good to have some time all to myself and to do something good for myself. But I do realize I need some new gear. I was wearing sneakers that are over 15 years old, so I'm not sure they are the best for my feet. I do have some Zella pants and a jacket but not much for warm weather. Does anyone have any recommendations for running shoes (I'd mostly be running on the dirt trail and sometimes roads), jogging bra/underwear, and tops and shorts/pants? Any brands and/or specific items that hold up well? Also, what do you do to hold your keys/phone/water? It was a little awkward running with my hands full. Also, any recs for workout DVDs? Preferably short ones, 20-30 min max (I've used 30 Min Shred in the past).

I'm doing this to get fit, not to lose weight. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've gone back to my pre-baby weight without any exercise at all, just by nursing and being so busy at work that sometimes I don't even have time to eat breakfast or lunch (I know, I know, not healthy!). Also I have to avoid dairy, eggs, soy and shellfish because DS2 is allergic and I'm still nursing, so that cuts out a lot of sweets and food options automatically. I'm trying to cut down on sugar (which is not easy because I love candy!) and white carbs, but I have to avoid dairy, soy, eggs and shellfish because of DS2's allergies, so I can't go
on super restrictive diets like paleo or gluten free because there would be nothing left to eat! ;)

I'm a total newbie to regular exercise so I figured I'd post here to keep myself accountable to stick with it. Any advice and/or encouragement appreciated! Thanks! :)

PS I wasn't sure whether I should post this in Off Topic, but since I mainly want help with buying gear I picked Shopping!

PPS I couldn't resist adding some kid pics! More pics of the trail near our house. This is from a recent hike we took with the kids. Piggy and Llama D. Llama (DS1 came up with that name!) came along for the ride.

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WIW: Camo twins, Flora Mortis, Stella and Dot

Two casual outfits, one each with my two new watches. The first one was for a day off; I was volunteering at DS1's school. We wore matching camo pants (I usually do matchy matchy with DD, so it's fun to do matchy matchy with DS1 too)! The other one was with my Allsaints Flora Mortis tee and my black watch.  For both of them I wore my new necklace and bracelets from Stella and Dot. It's a direct sales company. I really like their jewelry and handbags and am thinking about joining as a stylist. I would get a discount on their jewelry and credits based on how much was purchased at trunk shows. Does anyone have any experience with this company, or other direct sales companies? I'm pretty busy with work and the kids, but this would be fun as a side hobby as long as it doesn't take too much time. Kind of like my Dress for Success volunteering. I can't quit my job and become a stylist like Rae, but this is the next best thing. What do you think? Thanks for your advice!

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Salvador Dali and a tale of two new watches

I have been wearing this Tissot silver watch every single day for many years, but over the last few weeks the numbers started falling off the dial. It felt very Salvador Dali (#2). First the 10, then the 11. The numbers were floating all around the dial and disappearing. I finally decided enough was enough and started looking online for a new watch. I narrowed it down, but I couldn't decide on a style. I was very drawn to silver watches with a blue face, and also the studded dark bracelet style. I went downtown to try on the watches.

When I walked into the watch shop, the salesperson looked at my outfit (#5) and suggested the Karl Lagerfield line, especially since it seemed to match my pyramid stud Forever 21 bracelet exactly (#1/4)! Those were actually the watches I had come to see! So I ended up getting the slim black one with the white hands (easier to read than the other ones). The funny thing was that the other woman in the store (a tourist from Australia) bought the same exact watch as me at the same time!

I went to Nordstrom to try on the Burberry watch. The Burberry watches were on sale for 20% off so I bit. I think the watch looked bigger than I thought given my slender wrists, but the blue was only available in the 38 mm size (they had a 34 mm but only with a silver dial). I really liked the look of the blue one. Very streamlined and polished, but still unique. I love classics with a twist. So I ended up with two watches, one for my primary polished ladylike style and one for my edgier shadow style.  I wore the new watch with a very preppy outfit--DH said I looked like a Ralph Lauren ad. Hard to believe that #12 and #5 are the same person--I guess my style is very schizophrenic! Which is why having two watches is perfect!

I included pics of the runner ups, including the Fossil Cecile with a Pacific blue dial (#10), which had just come out. It is very pretty, but I thought that it was too busy looking for me. I can't find it on the Fossil website any more--maybe it sold out in a flash!

Thanks for looking and commenting!

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