spa time

At what point are you an enabler because you can't stand conflict? Do you allow your partner to want for nothing at your expense? Do you cancel your own free time to pick up the slack around the house? How would your life be different if you weren't running on constant burnout? What if your body battery was charged to 80% or 100% instead of hovering around 5%? What would it feel like to put your own rest and recovery as the family's #1 priority? Welcome to spa time!

I've had a great time showing my boy what spa time means to me. We do a nice, relaxing foot bath, followed by compression boots, and then a moisturizing leg and foot massage. Sometimes we take a relaxing bath, which involves bubble bath, aromatherapy, epsom salt, soothing music, or ocean sounds, and low light.

• Epsom Salt (3 lbs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXTS6L35 $3
• Glo Pals Bath Cube Lights https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG793KCV $27
• Colorful Bath Bombs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08149KZ68 $7
• Compression Boots https://www.costco.com/p/-/sharper-image-air-compression-boots-flex-leg-recovery-system/4000392515 $159
• Sea Dreams Soother https://www.target.com/p/baby-einstein-sea-dreams-soother-musical-crib-toy-and-sound-machine/-/A-94691831 $36
• Aroma Diffuser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRSYBY56 $30
• Flameless Candles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8NBFZTY $10
• Princess Tumbler Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BZCPD9W $18
• Star Projector / Sound Machine https://www.kids2.com/products/6940-000-swaddleme-slumber-buddies-elephant $30
• See more about our aromatherapy oils https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/01/mom-rage.html 

These I gave away because I didn't like the musk smell

• Polynesian: sun-lit palms, calypso citrus, wild hibiscus, teakwood, island fruit, warm musk, and white sands
• Sea Salt + H2O: sea salt, water, lotus, wild rose, sea moss, warm musk, teakwood
• Orleans Resort: jasmine, violet, gardenia, lemon zest, dry down of vanilla

I've been incorporating more Naughty Girl fitness into my training program. I did yoga twice in the last week, and it's been nice. I feel like my body has been crying out for escape, spending money, travel, and distraction. So in response, I've been doing things to calm my nerves. Sometimes it's not about running away from your problems; it's about doing something right here at home to take care of yourself so that your problems don't seem so bad. On Mar 30, I wrote, "Running is just one part of a balanced diet. Other types of movement are good too."

I planned three dance-related events:

• Thursday, Apr 30, Party Like a Mother, Woodland Hills
• Saturday, May 2, Naughty Girl IRL, Burbank
• Saturday, May 9, Dance your way to health, Tarzana

I guess I didn't post much in late March or early April. It shows how underwater I have been feeling. I was kind of drowning. I got sick right after the marathon, and I haven't been 100% well since. Yes, my wounds have healed, but I've had a runny nose that hasn't stopped. Like when I run, I'm blowing my nose all the time. Snot rockets! Maybe that's why I am craving spa time and self-care activities now. And we're heading into Month of Mama 2026.

Finally, I can share that I've been planning and hosting a series of events for professors on using AI productively in ways that positively impact students. So far, I have completed 6 out of 8. It is taking up all of my free time and then some. On Mar 31, I wrote, "I have not worked this hard in 10 years. I haven't felt this stressed about money in 10 years. AND I haven't felt this happy and satisfied with my family life and household members in 10 years." So it's been a weird school year. To feel like I am working my fingers to the bone, yet have so little spending power, and feel so happy being a mom.

• Feb 9 - Study Skills - 0 attendees
• Feb 23 - Letters of Recommendation - 2 attendees
• Mar 9 - Active Learning - 5 attendees
• Mar 23 - Accessibility - 3 attendees
• Mar 30 - Anonymous Feedback - 3 attendees
• Apr 6 - Transparent Assignments - 2 attendees
• Apr 20 - Early Alerts
• May 4 - Student AI Panel

It's been wild planning this workshop series for the College of Science and Math. It's an interdisciplinary audience, to a certain extent, within a narrow window. I'm not sure whether the topics have resonated with the departments I'm trying to serve. I'm not sure these slides will be reusable learning objects. I know I have two participants with three-peat attendance. The content was worthwhile enough to bring them back again. I've been working nights and weekends to create it. And there hasn't been one female attendee yet.

Gratitude Season

As we transition from spooky season and into the winter months, I thought it would be a good idea to post a quick blog entry before November slips away. I've been having thoughts but not having time to write about them.

Trust Your Training

One thought that came to mind was to trust the training plan. And when you can't perfectly adhere to the training plan for whatever reason, you can trust that you've done most of the work and that's going to be enough to get you through your goal race.

What happened is that we've been getting sick (with diarrhea), and that's one reason why I will not run. The rule of thumb that I use is if it is a runny nose or sore throat, it's okay to run. But if it's below the neck (vomiting or diarrhea), then you should rest until you feel better. 

I am okay with my body 🫠

Vs my body is amazing ‼️

I wanted to say my body is amazing, but I think the statement, "I am okay with my body" resonates more truthfully. I do appreciate my body and I am ready to be filmed while teaching. And I feel like my body looks fine in clothes. But this gratitude season, I would like to work on getting closer to believing the latter. 

After spending some time thinking about it, I probably have a warped body image because I work at a university, and the majority of people that I see are in their late teens or early 20s. If I were around just women my age, I would probably feel differently. Also, since I became a mom at an older age, most of the moms that I know are younger than me. I don't idolize youth, by any means. I am trying to lean into my sage middle-age.

What are happy tits? Where can I get some? I saw an ad for a band called The Happy Fits but my brain assumed it was happy tits. My sister identified my style of movement, "shuffle running," and hypothesized that maybe I run that way to minimize bounce because of my happy tits.

I think everyone has some part of their body that causes them to feel a certain kind of way. But let me tell you, your body is amazing. You're crushing it. And I'm so glad we're doing this together

Personal austerity: The term can also describe an individual or household living a more frugal and simple lifestyle due to financial hardship. As we move beyond this era. I am buying All the Things. It's nuts. I want to stop but the austerity I felt repressed some things and now I'm reacting to that by over-buying. Or am I?

Last bit of news is very bad news. Another cousin of mine has died while running. Hit by a car. Just like the last one. I don't know how to feel. 

New Shoe New You

Our campus got a new toy, the BrandU photo booth. Mike and I went over there yesterday to take our headshots. It was my previous CSUN headshot that led me back to running, so I'm grateful for that. But I was hoping for a do-over because I feel like I have at least one less chin now. And it's subtle, but I have new glasses. They're the same frame style but a slightly different color.

FA23

FA25

I want to devote a short segment to gratitude for my shoes. Honestly, I don't know how many miles are on the current shoes I own, but I do think it's time to retire the Ariel 20s. It's also time to let go of the Ghost 13s that I got from Poshmark. The reason is that I can feel my toe hitting the end of the shoe. It's actually uncomfortable and after a day of wearing them, I feel my toenail on my big toe hurts.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/10/consumables.html

I have to be very frugal, and I hate throwing things away that aren't completely obliterated. However, I don't want a massive pile of shoes by the door that I'm afraid to throw away. 

• June 2024 grey green Ariel 20 via Amazon = $92
• November 2024 grey green Ariel 20 via Amazon = $106.33
• March 2024 black/grey/white Ariel GTS 23 via Fleet Feet Encino = $160
• August 2024 Grey/Black/Pink Ariel GTS 23 via Amazon = $119.95
• February 2025 New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 via Fleet Feet = $140.00
• April 2025 Ariel GTS 24 COCONUT / CHATEAU / PORTABELLA via Amazon = $160
• August 2025 Ariel GTS 24 EBONY / BLACK / WHITE via Fleet Feet = $160
• August 2025 Ariel GTS 24 MERCURY / EBONY / SWEET LAVENDER via Fleet Feet = $160

So I think I'm feeling okay about this now, seeing that I've had the Ariel 20s for a year and I still love them, and I had two other pairs in the intervening time, which I didn't love, probably because they were the wrong size. So I will likely want to buy more shoes around the holidays or afterwards (before the marathon). I actually hate the New Balance shoes. My feet hurt so much the day after I wear them. Like they're comfortable but not supportive. I understand that some people might want a lightweight shoe, but I prefer a supportive shoe that is heavier and more durable.

I had a really good summer. We did a lot of decluttering, and I'm preparing to sell some items at the consignment sale. I did a lot of cleaning. I didn't do a lot of running. June, especially, but also July, were light on miles. But the goal I had set for the year (2 miles per day), I have already met and surpassed.

Goal achieved!

I had an episode where my blood pressure surged. My doctor says it could be because of stress or excessive sodium. I came across the video below that discusses exactly the problem I've been having with histamine. It's so helpful to see this type of content, so I don't feel gaslighted. Gaslit?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Elevate MD (@elevatemdohio)

Looking forward to a new season with the LA Road Runners. Guessing the Santa Monica Classic (which I'm not running) is in 2 weeks.🌟 Orientation Sunday is 9/14 🌟 First Sunday of the season 9/21. I do feel like I've been doing my base building starting in July and continuing in August so I will be ready to get back in season. My run club that I oversee was a non-starter for this session. I'm not super optimistic about the Oct-Dec session either, since the holidays occupy many of those weekends, but we'll see if there's any interest.

The Disneyland Halloween half is also about 2 weeks away. I'd like to go down to Anaheim for a meet-up with the Run Fit Mama herself, Kristin Wentworth, troop 486 leader. Next week is World Princess Week, which is a holiday made up by Disney Parks. There are daily themes that have been set forth by Crowned Athletics.

https://www.runfitmama.net/trainingprograms/core-workout-plan-cinderella-royal-core-7j8s6 

https://www.crownedathletics.com/blogs/crowned-connections 

If you interact with each day's social media post, or for an extra entry, share a photo of yourself, you might win a Crowned Athletics set. Here's my loose plan for which princess goes with each day's theme. Depending on how you feel about the Disney movies, you might assign a different princess with each trait: creativity, strength, kindness, grace, and bravery.

Mon 8/25 - Creativity 

   Rapunzel / Tangled

   Tiana / Princess and the Frog

   Raya / and the Last Dragon

Tues 8/26 - Strength 

   Luisa / Encanto

   Elsa / Frozen

   Moana

Wed 8/27 - Kindness

   Snow White 

   Cinderella 

   Ariel / Little Mermaid 

Thu 8/28 - Grace

   Mulan

   Aurora / Sleeping Beauty 

   Belle / Beauty and the Beast

Fri 8/29 - Bravery

   Merida / Brave

   Jasmine / Aladdin

   Pocahontas

So I want to put together five outfits. Monday, I can wear my purple jumper and call that Tangled. Tuesday, I could wear my Powerful Hermana set. On Wednesday, I could wear my mermaid skirt / visor / tank top from Sparkle Athletic. Thursday, I teach two labs, so I'm not sure how I could represent any of those princesses, but the jumper I have to wear that isn't already taken is slate grey with a red shirt underneath. I could run in my red Arabian Nights top with the Poisoned Heart Villain athletic skort. Friday, I could wear my green jumper and my Changed Fate set. 

And finally: Monday 9/1 is Labor Day and also the kickoff to the RFF Cinderella Royal Core program. The fun thing is to go out and get a Cinderella latte, which is a pumpkin spice latte with a half pump pumpkin sauce and a half pump white mocha. In fact, I'm heading out now to pick up these sauces so that we can make it here at home.

https://athome.starbucks.com/recipe/pumpkin-spice-latte
https://athome.starbucks.com/recipe/homemade-pumpkin-spice-syrup 
I bought this but it's taking ages to arrive https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1TX4TL6

I'll end here. It feels like there's more to say. I wanted to do a quick check-in before the semester starts to have at least one post for August. I'm at peak optimism at the moment.  

Perimenopause Beauty Routine

Cleanser

Ponds Cold Cream
Facial Cleansing Wipes for sensitive skin from Target
Johnson's Head-To-Toe Baby Wash and Shampoo
Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser
Jurlique Nourishing Cleansing Oil For Face

Moisturizer

Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion+
Pond's Dry Skin Cream
Dr. Mercola's Organic Acai Night Moisturizer
Clinique Moisture Surge Intense 72H Lipid-Replenishing Hydrator Moisturizer
Jurlique - Nutri-Define Supreme Restorative Rich Cream

SPF

Sun Bum Baby SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick, Mineral Roll-On
Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 & Zinc Oxide
Think Everyday Face Sunscreen Lotion, Naturally Tinted, SPF 30+

On my 45th birthday, surrounded by loved ones, two family members that I haven't seen in awhile commented "gee your face looks red, it looks like you've gotten some sun." I was kind-of taken aback, like geez people I hardly ever see you and this is the first comment you want to say. This is what you're leading with? Well, I suppose it's just their observation, and I didn't mean to take offense. 

But when you're dealing with hormone fluctuations, you get bad skin. And then I thought about the use of face tune, filters, and skin smoothing on photos. If people are keeping up with you on social media, and you're doctoring every photo you post, then when you are greeted in person, people are going to ask you if you're okay when your skin doesn't look like it does in the photos. 

Generally, I do wear sunscreen every day and on special occasions I wear the tinted one that is kind of like foundation. But I didn't bring it. And I had gone for a difficult 6 mile run that morning so I guess I was looking flushed. And this is the best routine I can do at the moment for my aging skin. I'm seeing a dermatologist today so we'll see what they say.

I tried this at my parents' house, and it was nice:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DMW79VM4/

https://www.amazon.com/Seborrheic-Face-Cream-Dermatitis-Moisturizing/dp/B0D8RNX734/

priorities

Yep it's cycle day 20. Luteal misery. I fell on my run this morning and cut my knee and the palms of my hands. It got me thinking about my priorities. Should I have cut back the volume of today's run considering I'm a bit sick and on a difficult part of my cycle? Should I have done a shorter workout since my husband and I overslept? Was I rushing to get home and therefore not watching my footing? Was I pushing my pace too hard? Is it too soon after the marathon to be doing speed work again?

Mom

Wife

Teacher

Athlete / Coach

Dog Mom

Friend / Sister

Human Being

Woman

Artist / Gardener

The identities listed above define my priorities. Scheduling my time and doing the most important thing first is a struggle. Minute-by-minute, day-by-day, week-by-week, etc. I do count down the weeks of the semester. I count my parenthood duties as foremost in my mind. I cannot skip these. If my child is sick with a fever, I must drop everything else and take care of him until he is well again.

I guess my wife's duties are to my household and my husband. We took vows to care for each other in sickness and in health. As we strive to reach a more optimized state of health, these duties look like creating shopping lists and meal plans, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, vacuuming and wiping down common areas, cooking and transporting food, restocking important household supplies, organizing items at the house so they can be inventoried and located, purging items that are no longer used. This is a long list. I also spend many hours per week just putting stuff away, sorting trash from treasures, and resetting areas to be useable again.

Next set of duties that I cannot skip, but also are not my top priority, are the things that I get paid for. Teaching duties, lesson planning, grading, sending emails, posting announcements, following up with absent students, etc. Writing quizzes, making copies, drawing on the board, communicating with colleagues in person and online, reading emails, and scheduling things. I put these things lower on the priority list when I need to, and then higher again when things at home are settled. I work ahead when I feel healthy and balanced, but I fall behind when other higher priorities become urgent.

My duties as an athlete/coach are sometimes higher and sometimes lower, but lately, they have been pretty high. I've let my health take a back seat to parenting and work for half a decade, and now I want to put it higher so that I don't skip workouts and backslide into more significant obesity than I currently am. I spend time creating content for YouTube to educate myself and my runClub. I program and track my workouts using spreadsheets and mileage trackers on Canva. I compare the data on my Samsung Health app to Strava Athlete Intelligence to keep myself motivated and moving forward. As Coach Bennett of the Nike Running app says, You're your best coach. Talk to yourself kindly as you would want your coach to talk to you.

I have a new identity as a dog mom again, which means that I have to fit dog walks into my life. I need to do some dog training and grooming, and remember to add her food to the shopping list, refill her water dish, talk nicely to her, and watch for her under my feet when I'm carrying something large so I don't step on her. 

As a friend, this may look like hour-long phone calls to check in on the women in my life. Or it may look like sharing something funny or motivational on Instagram messages. It doesn't have to take up a lot of time when I'm busy, but it is a steady stream of back-and-forth to let those women know they are important, significant, loved, and cared for. It's similar to sisterhood. It's curating the village. This may be a separate post, but I'm leaning into paying for my village. I paid to join the run club. I paid to join the Sparkle Squad. But I get a lot out of it too.

How the "human being" tasks ended up so far down, I don't know. This is stuff like eating, sleeping and pooping. Stuff all humans do. Getting sick, getting well, breathing, digesting, the things we take for granted when it is going well. Maybe we should also put hydration in this category. Also shopping for stuff like supplements, vitamins, and tracking macros. I mean, this could also be a separate post. I've reconsidered the supplements I'm taking. After some bloodwork before my marathon, which I begrudgingly agreed to do, I briefly stopped taking all my supplements. But since then, I've started retaking most of the supplements I had paused. 

I guess I would put "woman" in here in a general way to say self-care. Beyond friendships. Stuff like pampering. Spa time. Being alone. Thinking your own thoughts. Blogging like I'm doing now. Doing something I enjoy. The other day I heard a podcast about Disney stuff and they mentioned that Bath and Body Works was doing a line of Disney Princess fragrances. I had to go to the mall and smell it for myself. I'm not sure why this resonates with me in the category of women, but I guess princesses are women and women are taught to be conscious of smelling good, not sweaty, and having soft skin, not rough. So this type of self-care is associated with femininity. It also falls under the Wife category since it involves keeping the lotions and soaps stocked. It is Woman, though, because this dry skin due to perimenopause is something else. And I'm hoping the lotions help with that.

Artist is the last, lowest, and least of my identities. But it's still there! This may be visual with crafting, or it may be kinesthetic with roller disco and dance. I had vowed that when I finished the marathon season, I would do something else in the off-season and get back into dance or rollerskating. And then I went ahead and signed up for another marathon! Yes, I'm doing the LA Marathon 2026. But I still have a lot of semester left to finish, and most of the summer will pass by before training starts again in earnest. Naughty Girl Fitness is $14.44 a month, and it's app-based. 

I'm still paying for my Fit4Mom instructor membership, which is $9.99 per month, not even covered by the amount I get paid for coaching the RunClub. After talking with my husband over the long weekend, we may have concluded that I might not continue coaching the RunClub. I might get more out of the season if I commit fully to LARR. The good discount with Fit4Mom is that you do not have to pay for the monthly membership as an instructor and you can still attend classes. I think I was paying $69 per month for Fit4Mom, and at one time, I was paying hundreds of dollars for a monthly membership and Body Well. 

People say good things about Orange Theory Fitness, and 24 Hour Fitness, but for now I've got my Planet Fitness Membership. It's $25 per month for the Black Card membership, which includes massage chairs, hydromassage, tanning and Total Body Enhancement, which I have yet to try but I might do it soon. It's vibration combined with red light therapy. Again, this could be a topic of a future blog post. What I'm looking forward to most is the end of the semester and our trip to Nebraska. What I'm not looking forward to is the Rose Bowl Half because it seems so out of place in the season, finishing up all the work of grading and submitting grades, and the weather going hotter and hotter as we approach summer. 

Maybe I could add to Artist also Gardener. And this is the lowest priority. At the moment completely dead. But it is generally in spring where I revive our garden. Albert has shown some interest in planting stuff for spring. It will be difficult to justify since we're traveling to Nebraska early in June, but maybe if I'm clear with my husband about care instructions, the garden won't be completely dead when we get back. And I really need to work on getting stuff OUT of our house. It's so overstuffed right now it's stressing me out.

self-love

What is the greatest love of all? Learning to love yourself. Whitney Houston became a mom in 1993, but recorded this song in 1984.

Katy Perry became a mom in 2020, but recorded this song in 2010 when I was doing my internship in Germany. I remember hearing it on the radio and feeling so homesick for SoCal.

Miley Cyrus recorded Party in the USA in 2009. I loved hearing this song when I was in Germany. It made me homesick for Los Angeles and I wanted to hop a flight back right away. I didn't appreciate Miley as an artist too much at the time, but now she's one of my favorite icons. Being proud of the USA doesn't ring as true for me anymore, hopefully this country will check itself before it wrecks itself.

I listen to my Disney Hits playlist and one of the songs that hypes me up the most is this one by Hannah Montana. Miley says she's not ready for motherhood, but there's still time, she's only 31. Her memoir Miles to Go was published in 2009. I really enjoyed the memoir of Jessica Simpson called Open Book. She talks about going to the Disney auditions and how messed up the whole process was.

Niki Minaj became a mother in 2020, but recorded Super Bass in 2010. Honestly, I was having a tough week and I put on this song and immediately felt better. The years I spent working on my PhD were some of the darkest times in my life but I have such a strong connection to the music from that era. 

Meghan Trainor (has two children born 2021, 2023 both via C-section). She wrote "Dear Future Mama" published in 2023 after PTSD from her first delivery. The song came out in 2023 and the video stars the ultimate momager Mrs. Kris Jenner herself. I'm wondering why Kris hasn't run for president yet. WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN POWER. And moms especially because they understand the sacrifices made to create life.

Meghan wrote "Made You Look" after her therapist asked her to stare at herself in the mirror for 5 minutes. She's always touched on themes of body positivity, but this song is truly all about it. I remember seeing this on Disney's Magical Holiday Celebration in 2022. While all the other artists were singing Christmas songs, she went ahead and dropped this song while wearing hot pink. It felt out of place for the program, but I loved it. This would have been filmed while she was pregnant with her second baby.

Britney Spears (has two children born in 2005, 2006) recorded Gimme More in 2007 and Work Bitch in 2013. Sometimes I wonder if this sexualized version of Britney was her idea or some idiot man's idea. 2007 was the year she shaved all her hair off, which I also did in 2010. I didn't do it because she did it, but it's kind of cool that I also got to experience hair-less-ness. I did it for basically for the same mental health reasons, and also I didn't need the hair at the time. I was running half marathons every weekend for fun and it was just easier not to have to wash and style my hair.

It's so hard to believe that Gimme More was recorded one year after she had two children. She would have been 24-26 years old then. She recorded Work Bitch when she was 32, the same age I was when I finished my PhD, got sober, and started working at CSUN. The Woman in Me is her memoir published on October 24, 2023. I still haven't read it yet, but I want to.

Lizzo is such an icon I would need an entire post devoted to her. I don't think I heard this song before today. She wrote it in 2015.

Tempo is the Lizzo song I have on my running playlist. Honestly, my playlist is one of the big motivators in my arsenal. The last long run, my headphones died at mile 17, and I couldn't run without my music. I had to walk the last mile.

Love this song because it was the time when people were emerging from the pandemic quarantine. Everyone was so traumatized by the isolation and uncertainty. Lizzo welcomed us back, and this video was filmed at CSUN. I remember getting hyped up watching Watch Out for the Big Grrrls in 2022.

It was so significant to me that I actually acknowledged the following artists in my PhD dissertation. I could not have survived that program without my playlist. I blocked out all the haters and did my experiments in sync.

Beyonce became a mom in 2012 and had a set of twins in 2017. Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé came out in 2019 and Beyonce did a halftime show on Christmas Day in 2024 that was epic. Run the World came out in 2011, which was during some dark times in my life. Rather than doing less after becoming a mom, it is arguable that Beyonce's best work has been done after she had children.

Lady Gaga released The Fame in 2008 and Born This Way in 2011. Her music spoke to me in a way that is not easily communicated. I would listen to the album from start to finish on my little mp3 player. It was a Sansa, and it saved my life. I don't know if I still have it or if it eventually went to e-waste. The Edge was like the climax of my PhD. I felt like I could do anything because I came through the fire. Sometimes I still wish I had the tracklist from that music player.

Rhianna has two children born in 2022 and 2023. The song I remember most is Shut Up And Drive but mostly because of RuPaul's Drag Race. The song was recorded in 2006 and released in 2007. Drag Race All Stars Season 2 Episode 5 aired in 2016, ten years later. Finally, Miss Justin aka Alyssa Edwards was crowned in 2024 the first place winner of Global All Stars, nearly another ten years later. "She's not old, she's established." I've always been obsessed with drag queens because who would willingly want to dress as a woman when you're a white man? Women have some power but we just need to learn how to flex it like men do.

Shakira released She Wolf in 2009 and then went on to have two children in 2013 and 2015. I'm so proud of the women who stepped up to the mic at the 2025 Grammy Awards and let us have it. I don't know but you might still be able to watch it on Paramount+. I really felt like these women have staying power. They have been around for a long time and are finally getting the recognition they deserve AND using their power to speak truth on behalf of more vulnerable people.

What about you? What would be on your playlist entitled: Anthems for the Resistance?

And also: Why don't we celebrate matrescence? I mean yes, we throw a baby shower, but it's somewhat of a celebration for the baby. The gifts are all for the baby. What about the mom? Where are her gifts? We as moms give up so much of ourselves, it's hard to put that in perspective. Where would our society be without moms? There would be a population crash for sure.

I feel like we really need the 4B movement and we need to speak up and act up. I feel like women are taught to sit down, be quiet, follow the rules, and basically give up our power. I think to some extent men hate us because we have the power to create life and they don't. They want to enslave us basically. And we end up hating ourselves because they hate us. That's the patriarchy. 

I've been so stuck at work, I've been thinking about all this and not able to sit down and do one bit of work. I'm sick of feeling like a raw nerve, so vulnerable. But that's the power of women also. We can be strong AND vulnerable. We can share our feelings and not be thought less of. Men keep making these rules and women keep following them. We need to step up and be leaders. The power given to women with Title IX needs to be magnified, strengthened, and flexed now. 

I know women can't do it all, it is very all-consuming to create life and raise children. But also, we need to demand the flexibility we need to parent AND work. We need to allow women to have babies AND feed them AND show up for work. Because if you're not sitting in the boardroom, your concerns and your needs and your perspective and your ideas (which have immense value) won't be taken into consideration. 

Yes I understand some of my anthems might not be your cup of tea. But maybe you want to take a moment to create your own power playlist. Listen to it, do some weightlifting. Then get out there and show up. Show up for the people in your life. Speak your truth. Be brutally honest. Be authentically yourself. We have to keep moving forward, we're not going back.

LA Big 5k 2024 Race Report

 

The LA Big 5k was great! My favorite was the last mile and the finish. It was a fast course with hills and trees. It started and ended in Dodger Stadium with views of the LA skyline at sunrise and traversed the arboretum of Elysian Park. I was grateful to a man running in front of me for the first mile who was blasting some good music. I didn't bring headphones or a speaker so I relied on the ambient noise to entertain me through the race. During the second mile, I was very aware of the uneven pavement and I was focused on not tripping. I skipped the water stop.

The event was well-organized. There were about 8000 runners in the 5k. Parking was free. The race is organized by the McCourt Foundation and Mr. Frank McCourt was the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium from 2004 to 2012. In 2008, McCourt bought the operating rights to the Los Angeles Marathon. In 2019, he donated the Los Angeles Marathon to his Foundation. The post-race expo was outside, and more than 60 vendors were present. It had big marathon energy because it was part of the LA Marathon weekend.

 
The weather was great, it felt chilly at the start but was ideal while running (48-54 deg F, partly cloudy, 1-4 mph wind). I sported my new Mama shirt and new Freya Women's Dynamic Wireless Sports Bra. I had on arm-warmers and my CRZ YOGA Women's Naked Feeling Biker Shorts - 8 Inch inseam. High Waisted Workout Yoga Gym Running Spandex Shorts Side Pockets X-Large in the color they call Savannah which is kind of a terra cotta. I love the pockets.

I had my Nathan Trail Mix running belt with only one water bottle. It was handy to have the running belt to collect the post-race snacks. They gave us fruit snacks, chips, banana, electrolyte drink, Pocky, some kind of granola bar. I felt so salty after drinking all the electrolyte samples at the race expo on Friday and the chips they gave us were super salty too. Before the race, I had french toast sticks between 4-5am and then 4 egg whites between 6-7am. I didn't drink much water before the race, but I drank about 20 oz after.

Overall, I wanted to report that I tried to do too much this weekend. I almost cried today during my cross-training workout (a group fitness class with Fit4Mom). It went by so fast, I wasn't able to be fully present for any of it. I wasn't able to accurately document all of it. I was hoping to get photos of every person who attended Albert's birthday party, but it was too hard. And I don't think anyone took a photo of me, so it kind of became a blur.

I might be crazy, but I just spent the better part of today entering in mileage for my workouts for the next year. My training buddies said they might want to run the full marathon next year, and I was wondering how that would fit with the runs I already have planned. It wasn't too difficult to fit it all in, actually. But the thought of running 15 miles continuously is very intimidating right now.

I ordered another Coast-to-Coast Bounce Back Back Travel Kit from Fluffy Fizzies because I love the sugar scrub, the body butter, the massage bar, and the massage oil. If I ordered them separately, it would be the same price or more expensive than buying the bundle. And the travel kit comes in a super-cute clear zip bag. I have yet to try the bath bombs, and that's the first thing I wanted to try when I originally placed my order. The website says that the bath bombs dissolve in hot or cold water so it could be for a bath or just a foot soak. I'm not sure I would use the compressed towels on my face, but maybe on my feet after a treatment to prevent slipping and falling.

I have yet to try the Samsung Galaxy Watch that was gifted to me by a friend. I don't know what features it has that would help my training. St. Patty's Day had me thinking I need a lime green sparkle skirt. We need to bring back the Tinkerbell half!

Thank you Rise and Run Podcast for all the training tips and motivation.

https://www.womensrunning.com/training/why-you-should-write-a-race-report/

• The event itself: Where? How long? When? Weather?
• Course description and evaluation of event logistics
• How you trained for the event
• Your gear and nutrition
• Specific experiences (this might include)
  • Thoughts at every mile
  • Mantras you may have used
  • Falls (if any—always entertaining)
  • Conversations you’ve had with others
  • Conversations you’ve had with yourself
• DNF experience (if applicable) OR
• Your finish and associated emotions
• Your overall evaluation of the event

grand plans

It's February?! A short month. I wanted to fire off a post quickly before this month is going, going, gone! School has begun and we have had a lot of excitement. A strike! A flood! Will things ever settle down? Will Albert ever stop having a fever? These are the questions that don't have answers.

This month, Albert has an IEP meeting. What will come of it? Will we continue to get services? Will they say he's cured? I can't even be at the meeting so my husband will have to handle it. I will say that I've been taking him to his appointments since school started since I don't have class on Friday.

We have two more Disneyland trips on the books for just Albert and myself before our Magic Keys expire. I know one of them will happen during the Lunar New Year festival and the other will happen during the Food and Wine festival, but I don't think we'll be buying a lanyard this year.

I can say that I've been able to lose 10 pounds and that feels amazing. I haven't been able to lose ANY weight, not one pound, since my son was born nearly 4 years ago. I kept slowly and steadly gaining. It was excruciating going to so many workouts and just seeing the pounds keep creeping on.

I'm coaching a run club. It's been so fun to have a group to facilitate, learn from, and be inspired by. On the days when I want to give up, I remember that I have to lead from the front and it's important to see this thing through at least until March. We'll see where it goes from there.

I've got to schedule Albert's 4-year pediatrician visit. I am VERY MUCH looking forward to seeing my sister in May. I need to make a budget for my runcations. Until then, let's look forward to this:

LA Big 5k Mar 16, 2024
https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/event/la-5k/

OC Marathon May 4-5, 2024
https://ocmarathon.com/

CdM Scenic 5k June 1, 2024
https://www.cdmchamber.com/events/42nd-annual-corona-del-mar-scenic-5k

Disneyland Sep 8, 2024 

https://www.rundisney.com/events/disneyland/disneyland-halloween-half-marathon-weekend/events/half-marathon

Santa Monica Classic Sep 8
https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/event/santa-monica-classic/

Long Beach Oct 5-6, 2024
https://runlongbeach.com

Mission Inn Run Oct 20, 2024
https://www.missioninnrun.org/

Holiday Half Dec 15, 2024
https://www.runholidayhalf.com/

Citrus Heritage Run Jan 2025
https://citrusheritagerun.com/

Rose Bowl 5k Jan 17, 2025
https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/event/rose-bowl-half-5k/

Palm Desert Half Feb 2025
https://www.palmdeserthalfmarathon.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Run Riverside County Challenge (Mission Inn Run, Citrus Heritage Run, Palm Desert Run)
https://www.missioninnrun.org/Race/MissionInnRun/Page-8

Triple 5k Tour of LA(Santa Monica Classic, Rose Bowl 5k, LA Big 5k)
https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/triple-5k-tour-of-la/

mom rage

I don't know if it's PMS, weaning, perimenopause or mom rage. I just can't seem to calm down. It happens any time I am transitioning to being with my kid 24/7 to going back to work. I don't have the joy of being with my kid. I have to do work, which sucks. And then when my kid gets home, he's grumpy and desparately seeking my attention, which I can't give because I have to cram in all the housework that didn't get done while I was working.

Last month, I had about 8 days of misery before my period arrived, it was bloating and irritability. I am already there and my tracker says period expected in 7 days. I feel like a crazy person. I'm so angry. I'm snapping at family members, raising my voice and inside my body feels like toxic sludge. 

It doesn't help that my Versa 4 started acting up. I really like having a watch and a fitness tracker. I had to retire the Versa 3 and I thought the Versa 4 would solve all my problems but it's having the same issue as the previous one. I'm hoping I can get a refund, but it seems unlikely as it's more than 45 days past the order date. I did use it to track my runDisney training (at least some of it) and the race, but for the price I paid, I would have thought it would have lasted longer.

I can't put my finger on why this little thing causes me so much mom rage. I think it's the timing with PMS and going back to work and this labor strike and trying to start the Fit4Mom RunClub. Maybe I just have too much energy and I should go for a run or walk.

It's confusing because I'm not sure if I am supposed to be on campus right now. I don't typically do office hours the first week of the semester, but now I'm afraid that if I don't do them, our pay will be docked. I have so many little stupid tasks to do to get my classes ready. But it's so hard to calm down and start working on it. 

My husband accused me of leaving the kitchen sink a mess, which I did, but which he does regularly. He doesn't even rinse his dishes, he doesn't even walk them over to the sink. I did a calculation about my "green juice" that I've been making. I estimate that it costs $2 per serving, which is definitely cheaper than if I bought it pre-made. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092D2DFV5/

Sept 2023

Disneyland at home (late August 2023)
https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2023/08/late-summer-or-early-autumn.html

Kitchenaid attachments (early August (2023)
https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2023/08/hungry-heart.html

Cookbook project (July 2023)
https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2023/07/i-am-creator.html

We now have three small humidifiers that are aromatherapy diffusers. I ordered Pick 4 Fragrance Oils Jul 20, Aug 14, and Nov 5, 2023. The first time I ordered just 4. The second time I ordered 8. The third time I ordered 4 but I gifted them to my sister for her birthday.

• Californian: fir needle, lavender; vetiver, patchouli, redwood, sandalwood, spicy leather, warm cedar
• Tiki Terrace: sparkling lemon, toasted coconut, orchid petals, white cedar, vanilla musk
• Pirate Life: damp ocean air, fresh rain, and salty-sea breezes
• Flying Over Orange Groves: juicy tangerine citrus bursts, fresh floral

• Banshee Flight: fresh ocean breeze, apple, melon, orange, bergamot, lavender, bois de rose, woody violet, musk
• Hocus Pocus: white peppercorn, rich spices, cinnamon stick, ground clove, sugary vanilla, warm musk and birch twigs
• Wilderness Campground: rich amber, touches of musk and sandalwood, lively top notes of jasmine, lavender and orange
• Floridian: green clover and aloe, fresh Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Ylang

• Haunted: cedar wood, classic vanilla
• Little Old Christmas Shop: crisp pine needles, sweet fir balsam, citrus, warm cedar
• Pumpkin King: creamy pumpkin puree, butter, cinnamon, vanilla cream
• Contemporary: green clover and aloe, watery green floral

The only one I really couldn't stand was Hocus Pocus because it reminded me of the cleaner that Metro Los Angeles uses in the elevators that people pee in on the subway. Little Old Christmas Shop is pretty mild, I would have loved if it were a stronger pine scent.

Aug 2023

Wilderness Campground and Californian are kind of similar and very strong. I alternate them in my husband's room because they have a kind of masculine and cologne vibe. But the ones that he actually likes are Contemporary and Floridian.

Pumpkin King was great but also very strong. It was hard to get out. Once you introduce it to a diffuser, it is hard to switch to a different aroma. I washed and washed the diffuser, but it still gave pumpkin smell when I turned it on.

I just placed another order for 8 more oils. Since they are running a Valentine's day special right now, it was 25% off. These are great for one or two or three days, but soon I go "nose blind" and can't really smell it anymore. Therefore it's good to rotate. Also I bought a cute rack for them.

• Polynesian, sun-lit palms, calypso citrus, wild hibiscus, teakwood, island fruit, warm musk and white sands
• Pineapple Whip, fresh pineapple, soft-serve ice cream
• Ice Cream on Main Street, warm waffle cone
• Bakery on Main Street, sweet confection of butter frosting, yellow cake

• Orleans Resort, jasmine, violet, gardenia, lemon zests, dry down of vanilla
• Sea Salt + H2O, sea salt, water lotus, wild rose, sea moss, warm musk, teakwood
• Walter's Office; rich, warm and spicy aroma with touches of honey, rose, violet
• French Riviera marine, jasmine, white amber, cashmere musk, weathered driftwood

Wishlist:

• Pixie Dust, sweet berries, plums, pears, strawberries, citrus, sweet sugar crystals
• Churro, delicious fried pastry, cinnamon, sugar
• Mouse Waffles, warm batter, sweet maple syrup
• Confectionery, sugary cotton candy, raspberry

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B38WWVBW/

https://www.aldireviewer.com/ambiano-led-ultrasonic-humidifier/

Disneyland Cookbook project (Summer 2023) 

Annotated .pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jhfr2eu95oogNsPoiNqkUE40jIkeKVFb/view?usp=sharing

.pdf with Hyperlinks and Photos

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13aUa6scSGGL80OBDqfk8ybWuD-rrqBYb/view?usp=sharing

Google Doc without photos and without annotations

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I78qcaA5k7xSlQMz673KaXSKH3LElTMT4ZpfmxxVkoQ/edit?usp=sharing

I also bought a cookbook of official Disneyland recipes from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1368084133/

So far, I haven't cooked anything out of it, but I enjoyed reading the history of different venues and menus that have come and gone in the park.

In conclusion, I feel my mom rage has passed now. Thank goodness. Although I did sit here and type this for 2 hours. I think the worst part about working part-time is exactly what Michelle Obama said about it. You suck at your job and you suck as a mom. You can never be fully present at either. You feel conflicted at all times by different things pulling you in different directions and it leads to madness.

Beauty Regimen for a Toddler Mom

Throughout adulthood, I've gone through many revisions to my beauty regimen. There are factors such as priority (how much do you need to care about your appearance), cost (how much money do you want to spend on products), and time (how much time do you have in the day to devote to grooming). Definitely there is an absolute minimum of things you should do for yourself and it's debatable where that minimum lies. I'm definitely trying to get on board with once or twice daily face washing, daily sunscreen, and I've gotten into the Curly Girl Method for hair care.

With all the other things one has to shop for and maintain an inventory list of (groceries, diapers, clothing, gas, etc) sometimes beauty goes to the bottom of my priority list. It's expensive and tempting to cut corners. But I have a skin condition (rosacea) that is itchy and painful if not managed. I also tend to get an itchy flaky scalp if I neglect my haircare. I live in a city that has pretty bad air quality and low humidity and lots of sun, so if I don't take care of these things, they go to shit pretty fast.

I've written detailed descriptions of what worked for me at earlier stages of life. In 2011 I was teaching at the Claremont Colleges, which meant that appearance was a high priority and I had lots of money. During pregnancy, my priority was eliminating any carcinogens that might pass to the developing fetus. The newly postpartum time was hellish. I wasn't sleeping and I was focusing so much on caring for a newborn. But finally now I think I can report on what is working for me as a mom.

Pre-Pregnancy
http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2011/10/formula.html

Pregnancy
http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2019/12/pregnancy-part-18.html

Newly Postpartum
https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2020/05/postpartum-part-10-beauty.html 

These three products together are a good haircare brand. I use the mask whenever it starts looking very dry like straw. I can find the first two at Target but  I had to order the mask on Amazon. I really thought I would use "dry shampoo" and I spent a lot of time researching it, but I never really got into it.

DevaCurl Low Poo is good between shampoos. I shampoo weekly and do a deep cleanse (Suave) once per month, according to the Curly Girl Method. In between washes, I refresh with the low-poo. Once I've washed and set the hair with the gel (below), I don't touch it. I don't brush it. I plop it onto a long-sleeved shirt and wrap it up for 15 minutes, then take it down and put in some butterfly clips to give it volume in the front. Then I take the clips out when it's dry and "scrunch out the crunch" and don't touch it after that.

I cleaned up my drawer at work and this is what all I found. I got the Surf Spray and DevaFresh spray to refresh my curls between washes. Now I had very long pandemic hair when I bought those and now I have a kind of long bob so I don't really use them now. Also I don't like the strong aroma of the DevaFresh but it does do a good job of making the curls look good again.

The think Everyday Face tinted sunscreen SPF 30 is something I can't live without anymore. I also love the think magnesium deodorant charcoal & sage is also SO GREAT. CT Organics Shea Butter Coconut Lotion is a must-have for dry skin. As well as lanolin, which is great for cracked dry skin. There are some things that I bought as a nursing mom that I still use and lanolin is one of them. I love the CT Organics natural deodorant and the company is owned by a mompreneur so I love supporting her. Degree is the antiperspirant and Tom's is another "natural" deodorant, which both have an expiration date of 2018 LOL which is definitely 5 years ago. So I'm gonna throw them away now.

Clinique redness solutions was brought to my attention when we were planning our wedding, if I'm not mistaken and I've been a loyal customer since then. But I have found that Johnson's Head-To-Toe Baby Wash and Shampoo is a good mild facial cleanser that I use from time to time. Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion + is my favorite and go-to daily lotion for the face. I did also purchase Facial Cleansing Wipes for sensitive skin from Target. I use Pond's Cold Cream first and remove it with the cleansing wipe. Then add moisture from the Clinique lotion. That seems to give me a refresh without having to put my face over the sink and splash water everywhere like some silly Neutrogena commercial. I don't have time for that. Plus our counters are really high here at work and I can't lean over the sink without using a footstool.

Likewise, just as I use the baby shampoo as a cleanser, I also borrow my kid's sunscreen. This one is the absolute best. If I don't care about looking like a washed-out ghost that is. And also I have to remember to take this mineral sunscreen off. If I don't, it really clogs my pores. Speaking of clogged pores, I have this All About Clean 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask + Scrub. I use it as a mask and it does wonders. I also have the Pacifica brand curl refreshing spray, which I leave at home. I like the smell much better, it's nice without being overpowering, and it does an okay job of making my curls look better. Some of these sprays claim to be a scalp refresh so it's possible I'm just not using it correctly, but it does give a cooling sensation if you spray near the scalp and massage it in a bit to your roots.

I bought the Pond's Dry Skin Cream on accident. I thought it was a cleanser but it's only a moisturizer. So now I use the stack here. Cleanse with the cold cream, wipe it off with a washcloth and then moisturize (slug) with the dry skin cream. I wear this after a day out, so it's more of a weekend or nighttime ritual. And you can see that I'm never far from a batch of CT Organics moisturizing lotion. It's great for a foot massage, a leg massage, a hand cream, rough elbows, you name it. I don't put it on my face though.

After I became a mom, this lotion is really the only thing I wanted to put on my face. It's hella expensive but it really soothes angry skin. And if you have angry skin, you know what I'm talking about. If you don't have angry skin, I'm happy for you. Skip this. But if you have been out in the sun for 8 hours and the wind has been blowing and your skin is angry, this cream will really help you out. You will wake up the following morning and look like you just had the best night of sleep ever. I don't know how it works but it allows my skin to repair itself and stop being angry. I don't use it every day because of the price, but when I need it, I go for it.

This brand, Jurlique, came into my life from Buy Nothing. A friend gave me a slide. I didn't want it so I gave it to another mom who wouldn't take it without giving me something in return. I said it wasn't necessary but she said that her mother (or MIL) kept pushing her to take better care of her skin and she is a twin mom so she's twice as busy as me. I wasn't so sure that this would be something helpful for me, but it is a cleansing oil which smells fantastic and botanical. Again, I like that it is something that can be used without splashing a bunch of water all around. I apply 3 pumps of it to my fingertips and then rub it all over my face. I feel like it removes salt and pollution (grit) very well and gets trapped stuff out of my pores. Then I wet a washcloth and use that to take off the cleanser. After that, I apply the cream. It's very thick and also smells like a garden. I sometimes feel like the day after using these two, my skin is a bit redder than usual but I also feel like it's better than NOT washing my face at all. Like given the choice between using this or doing nothing, using this is way better.

Honestly, I would love for a dermatologist to hand me the quick fix for my rosacea but from what I've read, there are many forms and causes and very few actual "magic bullet" treatments that work for everyone. This is where I'm at now and I do use the tinted sunscreen to cover the redness and that makes me feel a bit less insecure. If I'm very good about wearing sunscreen, it tends to not flare up as much. But sometimes I think the tinted sunscreen actually causes the flare-ups. Something in the solvent or the fragrance. It's lightly scented like in a tropical way. I am interested in trying a product with azelaic acid or metronidazole, if one were available OTC. I heard Paula's Choice is good.

New Semester, New Wardrobe

I had started making purchases for this semester before it started, so here's a list of what I bought in order of how much I love it and how much it has helped me.

Kelly Bag with matching Pumparoo $39 = new $160. This is a game-changer. I would say if you're thinking about getting a pumping bag but you don't know how long you'll be pumping, this one is awesome even for just going to work. The pump compartment is a cooler so I can put my lunch in there and not have to take a separate bag. Then when I get to work, I flatten that compartment and put all my work stuff in there and it all fits. Then at the end of the day, I put all my dirty dishes in the main compartment and it all fits. Amazing! If I were to change the design at all, I would love to have a chest clip and some reflective details, but I'll work on adding that stuff myself.

Simple Joys by Carter's Baby Everyday Diaper Backpack, I got this off Buy Nothing for Free = $50 new. This is my new fav diaper bag. I love how it clips on to the stroller. I love the wipes pocket on the side. It's a great park bag.

Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Women's Size Totally Shaping Pull-On Skinny Jeans
Levi's $111 for 4 pairs (size 20) definitely follow the size chart, do not go by what size Amazon recommends for you! I had to send the first pair back for a refund. So far I haven't put them in the dryer but husband did and it didn't seem to ruin it. The waistband wasn't exactly right, but it got into place once I put them on. I can't speak to durability at this point since it's only week 2 but I can say that I don't dread getting dressed in the morning. I throw on one of these and go.

Latched Mama Snuggle Up Nursing Sweatshirt 2x/3x $58. I am using this WAY more than I thought I would. I absolutely love it and so does Albert. I can put him in there either forward or rear facing. It's been colder than usual with some days in the 30s and I can wear him to school so he stays nice and warm and cozy and I don't have to worry about him freezing in the stroller.

I never regret anything I buy from Latched Mama. I'm already using the vest daily and I love it. I did get some holiday-specific stuff which I packed away until next year. I do feel like a crazy person for it, but also I get so many compliments on the snuggle-up.

I can't believe I almost forgot to write about these new shoes. I love them so much. I realized after a bit of shopping that it's better to know the number of this year's (latest) model and then shop specifically for last year's. That's how I found the Ghost 14 for the cheapest. The other two are "this year" models, but I couldn't find the previous year models in my size. They were sold out.

One of my colleagues asked me, "where are your crazy pants?" I guess I was becoming notorious for the LuLaRoe pants with wild prints. I don't mind, of course.

My workout pants that I love are
CRZ YOGA Women's Naked Feeling High Waisted Yoga Pants with Pockets Workout Leggings Camo - 25 Inches Camo Multi 16 25'' X-Large

They also make shorts
CRZ YOGA Women's Naked Feeling Long Biker Shorts - 10'' High Waist Workout Yoga Gym Running Spandex Shorts Side Pockets Stone-Washed Indigo X-Large

I have both 10" inseam and 8" inseam. I kind of like the shorter ones because they let my knees cool down. But both are great! People in my life keep complaining about their yoga pants and I can't say enough good things about these. I've had the pants for 2 years and I wash and dry them with all my other laundry (no special treatment) and they are so durable.