Struggle Meals

When we found out that my pay would be only 53% of what it was last year, we started scrambling to see how we could cut $2800 from our monthly bills.

I used the feature of our banking app to see how our monthly spending broke down by category and I saw that we were spending $2800 per month on Target, Amazon, and McDonald's. Roughly.

So I thought, this will be easy. Cut out unnecessary purchases AND going out to eat, and we'll be good. Turns out that we buy a good deal of necessities from Target and Amazon. Boring stuff like toilet paper, tampons, and shampoo, among other things. And our kid was not a big fan of giving up McDonald's completely.

So we cut other things. Our zoo membership, our arboretum membership, our aquarium membership, our Disneyland magic key, our children's museum membership. It's not the cost of the membership that gets us, it's the fact that every time we go, we end up buying lunch, souvenirs, and snacks. It's not fun to go if we can't enjoy ourselves.

We cut any subscriptions we aren't loving. I haven't had a haircut in months. I started using shampoo and conditioner that I had in storage rather than buying new. 

We decided to limit McDonald's to three times per month. Our child decided it would be on the 9th, 19th, and 29th. We go to the store without our child, meaning one parent stays home with the child while the other parent shops from a shopping list and only buys what is on the list.

Now that my pay *might* be similar to what it was... More will be revealed on that by the end of this week ...we have started relaxing some of these restrictions. We also found that our local Chick-fil-A has a "kids eat free" night with purchase of an adult meal. It helped to know that we would get one night out every week guaranteed.

Another thing I did was eat at Costco food court once or twice a week. $2 Pizza or $1.50 hot dog. I tripped across the concept of a Struggle Meal. It's the intersection of many factors: low budget, few ingredients, quick to prepare, low skill, low energy, and with common (not rare) ingredients. I love this idea for working parents as well as college students. My favorite is spaghetti with butter and Parmesan cheese. Super simple, quick and easy.

Now I can reveal that my pay is only $200 less than it was last year. But remember prices of EVERYTHING have nearly doubled. And our rent increased 6% this month. Mike was scheduled to get a cost of living adjustment, which the CSU calls the "steps" program, but they flagged him for having an already inflated salary according to his years of service. So he didn't get a raise.

What will history say about this time? The government is shutting down, firing federal employees by the thousands, canceling programs that compromise our social safety net. While building a gold ballroom and giving subsidies to other countries that suck up to us. Are we heading for an economic crisis a la great depression? Who knows?

For now, we will be okay. But I do think that the use of #strugglemeal and #recessioncore are indicative of the true lived experience for people in our country. We are still working SO hard. But our daily lives are filled with fewer treats because our buying power is getting ever weaker.

Mission Inn Run 2025 Race Report

We had a blast at the 2025 Mission Inn Run. I met all my goals. My husband didn't get to run his race, but he seems okay with that. We got two nights in the hotel without our kid, since he stayed the night at his grandma's house. That was a first!

The event itself: Where? How long? When? Weather?

This event benefits a historic landmark that has been a hotel for over a century. It was restored 30 years ago, but needs constant maintenance to remain a cultural landmark. It's been a stop for travelers for 150 years. It even served as dormitories for UC Riverside at one point in the mid-20th century. Nixon was married there, so was Bette Davis, Reagan honeymooned there. My husband and I spent our wedding night there and all of our out-of-town guests stayed there for the wedding weekend. The weather on race day was ideal. Sunday, October 19th, 2025. Mostly Sunny. Low: 54℉ High: 79℉.

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

The 10k course goes through Fairmount Park, along the Santa Ana River Bike Trail (SART), around Mt Rubidoux and re-joins the half marathoners at Ryan Bonaminio Park. You climb Palm Ave, adjacent to Evergreen Memorial Park, go over the Buena Vista bridge. Then it's mostly flat or downhill through the Eastside neighborhood, which is one of Riverside's oldest residential neighborhoods. Founded in 1870, the Eastside was originally home to many workers in Riverside's citrus industry. It is known for being one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city. Large trees, wide boulevards, lots of gardens and shade. At 3rd Street, the 5k merged with the 10k and half marathon. It re-energized me for the last mile.

How did you train for the event?

The training that helped me most was beach miles with valley runners Los Angeles x Goodr. I changed my split from 2 min run / 1 min walk to 2 min run / 30 sec walk and I did practice that on my last long run before the race (8 miles). I'm following the LA Road Runners level 3 plan for the Los Angeles Marathon. This was supposed to be a taper week. We have 20 more weeks until the full marathon.

Gear and Nutrition

I carried very little with me. I knew roughly where the water stops would be. The 10k had four water stations. I also knew where the photographer would be. 😉 I wore my new Crowned Athletic flow top, red Arabian Nights. People called me "red dragon" or just "red." One guy said it looked like a troll threw up on me, since I had glitter on my face and a sequin headband. Sorry, I passed you, on the right, going up a hill, LOL.

I drank an electrolyte drink (325 mL) electrolit during my warm-up walk. I probably drank 2 cups of coffee with one packet of collagen in the hotel room. I ate one Rx bar 1 hour prior to the race start. I ate two fruit strips about 15 minutes prior to race start. I waited until I passed the 3 mile mark to take my Gu Raspberry Lemonade flavor. I took the Gu much earlier last year and got tired in mile 5. I felt strong and powerful throughout the race all the way into the finish line. My heart was pounding but I stayed in zone 4.

Specific experiences

My goal was to make it to the kids race. I did make it. But it felt like my mouth was totally dry. I couldn't run with my son, he's definitely faster than me on a good day. But that cottonmouth feeling was so bizarre. I ate two bananas and drank about 16 oz of water between my race and his. I had to speed walk from the finish line back to the start line to catch him in time. I had about 10 minutes to spare.

I had a profound thought between miles 1 and 2. This was my first 10k race as a marathoner. Even though I had already done the Bimbo Global race this season, I didn't feel that it was as important as the Mission Inn Run. I felt the sense of pride that I have experienced a marathon build and now racing a 10k seems like no big deal, just a stepping stone during a taper week, on my way to training for the full marathon. It gave me a sense of peace and allowed me to settle in to the race.

Finish and associated emotions

I was happy when I finished. I wasn't looking at my watch while running. I was just looking at my Gym Boss. I told myself not to worry the whole race about finish time. But I knew from my playlist and from the time on the clock at the finish line that I was going to make it. We ran past the start line and I saw my son and husband there. It was so cute to hear them cheering. My son wanted a hug but I gave him 2 high fives instead.

Overall evaluation of the event

Overall, I loved this event. Really enjoyed my time in Riverside. There were enough port-a-potties to use before all the races. Enough people were milling about starting very early, like 5am, so if you want to walk to warm up like we did, you wouldn't have to feel unsafe. The weather was great. By the race start at 7:45am, the sun was up and very bright.

Budget

$900 for three nights

$139.24 for parking & incidentals

$129.70 for race registration

$59.78 for gas

$284.28 for Crowned Athletic stuff from 70% off sale

$291.95 for food & dining

$1804.95 for the race weekend

trade-offs

The trade-offs in life that I'm talking about is when you get back from a run you have three choices: eat, shower, stretch. It seems like I generally do two out of the three but never all three. But more broadly than that it's like the choice between healthy food and junk food. You can choose healthy food but it takes a lot more time and effort. You can choose junk food but it's going to make you feel like crap. Another one that's related to Mom guilt: you can let your kid eat candy, but then you're going to have to pay when they go to the dentist to have their cavities fixed. Or you can have a daily struggle to start brushing their teeth when they're 6 months old. You can drink enough water to be hydrated, but then you have to go pee every hour. Or you can drink less, but then every cell in your body will suffer because you're dehydrated. We have these daily small choices that add up to have a big impact. 

I was listening to a podcast this morning about Mom guilt. We're heading out for a racecation this week. As I was training this morning, I was thinking about what food to send for my kid. He is staying two nights at his grandma's house for the first time. The podcast said you can bend over backwards to map out every detail for your Mother-in-law or you can just drop them off and go, and let Grandma and Grandpa figure it out. It's not that I don't trust MIL, it's more like I just want everything to go smoothly and for them all to part ways with good memories, not stress.

I guess I'm just thinking about the whole concept of "having it all." Being a working mom, you do have trade-offs. You're going to let somebody else watch your child, spend time with your child, while you work. And when you are together, you're stressed about work. Not to mention housework like dishes, vacuuming, and laundry. But working more and having more money means you are less stressed financially, so you can buy higher quality food and then feel better.

Let me not forget, you can work on your phone while you're in the waiting room at the tire repair shop. You'll have your tire repaired, and you'll get work done, but you'll have carpal tunnel in your wrist from working on your phone.

Goodbye free time

This is a brief post to discuss a last-minute schedule change. I was awarded more units, which means I will have less free time. I enjoyed the work-free Tuesday and Wednesday while they lasted, and I completed some tasks around the house that needed to be done. Or didn't need to get done, but I wanted to spruce up the place and complete some things that were left unfinished.

• 📝 Attach ladder to bunk beds
• 😄Setup new modem Charter
• 📝 Upgrade phone T-Mobile
• 😄Finish setting up new phone
• 🧽Mop floor of office

Crowned Athletics had a 70% off sale sitewide, and I ended up purchasing a number of items. I also bought some things secondhand from the Facebook BST group. The first thing I got was the Arabian Nights mint skort and bra. I knew I loved the AN red bra that I've had for a while. Then I got the Barbara Girl Pink and Blue Bra, Biker Shorts, and Reversible Jacket. Arabian Nights red flow top. I loved it so much I decided to get more from Facebook. Like me, people jumped on the 70% off sale, and some ended up with sizes that didn't work for them, so they let them go for a low price, around $28, when they're usually priced at $52 or more. So that's how I got the Changed Fate Flow and Solstice Sister Flow top.

I got one Golden Dreamer athletic cap (purple) and liked it enough to get another, the Poisoned Heart athletic cap (red). I organized all my caps in a rainbow and realized that I now have enough hats to cover the entire spectrum. I promised myself I wouldn't buy any more athletic wear this season, but the sale was too good to miss. I got to try some pieces that I wouldn't have otherwise bought. Now I am more aware of what sizes I like.





Given my new work situation, I don't feel so bad about buying these items. I was having some guilt. But after wearing the cotton Color Run shirt, I realized I can't run in cotton. The Flow tops are just so breezy, I can't wait to train in them more. I don't know what to do with my hair besides just letting it grow out. Therefore, the hats with the high ponytail holes are just right. It's turning cool in the mornings, in the 50s, and I'm grateful to be able to enjoy wearing pants and even long sleeves again. I registered for the Clueless and Breathless half-marathon race on Dec 20th, it was only $35. I might also register for the third race in the Run Riverside County Challenge series, the Palm Desert Half Marathon & 5K in February 2026. We were considering skipping it due to my pay drop, but now that I'm making more, I want to do it.

Also, probably because of the Bimbo race and the stress of adding two more classes to my week, I got sick. My symptoms started on Wednesday and got worse on Thursday and Friday. It was congestion and sinus pressure, then on Saturday, it felt like there were razor blades or sand in my eyes. Very uncomfortable. On Sunday, I tried to run, and my heart rate immediately increased into zone 5. It felt like the congestion was trying to push into my ears, so I just walked and covered fewer miles. I haven't run since last Tuesday (a week ago), but it's the best course of action to rest and focus on hydrating. The Mission Inn run is two weeks away, and I bet I'll be healthy by then. I just have to trust my training and enjoy it no matter how I feel on race day.

Bimbo Global 10k Race Report

The event itself: How long? When?

This event had two race distances. Both registrations were free, but they "sold out" in a short amount of time. They had a 5-hour window for bib pickup on Saturday, September 27th. And then they had day-of-race bib pickup starting at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 28th. In our observation, the lines for the bib pick-up never got too long.  

Course description and evaluation of event logistics 

The 10K started first at 8:30. You had to complete the first loop before the 5K start at 9:30. The start line was in front of the Rose Bowl stadium, The course went clockwise around close to the stadium, then out on a road, up and around a golf course, then a nice gradual downhill, a little out & back that was a steep hill, and then a little jaunt over a pedestrian bridge returning to the front of the stadium. We had a slightly late start, so I was rushing to complete the first loop before 9:30. The race organizers had stated that if you couldn't run a 15-minute mile, you would not be allowed to complete the second loop of the 10k. There were fewer than 8,000 participants, so this event had a hometown race feel.  

How did you train for the event? 

The training that helped me the most was running with VRLA from Venice Beach to Santa Monica every weekend in August. Running those beach miles, even though they were flat, gave me the chance to practice my intervals, fueling, race-day kit, and pacing. I followed the training plan for Every Woman's Marathon throughout the summer. Additionally, the Fit4Mom 10k training plan. Most recently, over the last two weeks, I switched to the LARR 2026 marathon training plan. 

Gear and Nutrition 

Initially, the race organizers announced that there would only be one water stop, so I decided to bring my Nathan Trail Mix hydration belt. I added a buddy pouch with an additional 6oz to the built-in 2 x 10oz bottles. The race ended up having two water stops, one at the back of the loop, and another one at the front of the loop. Carrying 26 oz was a bit extra, but it was just right for me. It helped me stay cool, as I would squirt water on my head whenever I needed it. I ate four egg bites at 5 a.m. I ate four pumpkin muffins with cream cheese at 7 a.m. I drank electrolytes prior to the race, I even skipped my second cup of coffee to focus on being hydrated.  I brought one Gu. Vanilla bean with aminos, electrolytes, and caffeine. I took that at 9 am, about 1.5 miles into the race. My calves were really hurting, and it did help. 

The night before the event, I ate a lentil and rice meal that contained avocado and turkey kielbasa. I started with the New Orleans Style Dirty Rice Mix from Aldi. Then I added an onion and mushrooms. I added 1 cup of dried lentils and about 5.5 cups of water. I simmered for about 30 minutes. It's mushy and not particularly attractive, but it packs a good amount of nutrition. You can serve with sour cream, yogurt, or Alfredo sauce. You can change the flavor with garlic or ginger. You can add other fruits and vegetables, such as peppers, tomatoes, spinach, celery, carrots, turnips, and fennel, or whatever you have on hand. Whatever you do, avoid adding more salt, and refrain from using bullion instead of water, as this can make the dish too salty. 

Specific experiences 

Before the race started, a large staging area was set up in the parking lot, where all the run clubs assembled. It was so fun to see all the friends and family members. There was a DJ. The music was good. The vibes were good. After the race, participants enjoyed a free massage, complimentary food, food trucks, giveaways, and yoga. The DJ was still spinning. Everyone was dancing, having a great time. The weather was perfect, with temperatures in the '60s and an overcast sky. At no time did I feel like I was overheating or getting a sunburn, and I didn't even need to wear a hat. 

Finish and associated emotions 

The finish was enjoyable for this race because there was a little out-and-back steep hill. As I was running down the hill for the second time, my playlist landed on "Go the Distance" from Hercules. I almost started crying because I was so happy; I knew the finish line was within reach. My playlist was only 1 hour and 33 minutes long, so since my music hadn't run out, I knew I would finish the race within the time I had wanted. Going through the finish line when they were handing out medals, the person who handed me my medal said all the medals were the same, but some medals said 10k on on the ribbon, and other medals said 5k on the ribbon. I ended up getting a 5k ribbon, but I know I completed the 10k. The medal itself was the same for both. The only difference was the color of the ribbon and the distance printed on the ribbon. 

Overall evaluation of the event  

Overall, I really enjoyed this event. I would totally do it again. I completely forgot to take photos near the flags of all the different host countries. This race is called Bimbo Global because it is in a different host city each year:  Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Bogota. It felt really fun to be a part of something even larger than the race that we participated in. You can even see how your results stack up internationally.  The first-place finisher for the men's and women's division won an all-expenses-paid trip for two to next year's race, wherever that may be. The sponsor, Bimbo, donates 20 slices of bread for each participant. They gave us a jersey, a headband, and a wristband with a small zipper to conceal a house or car key, or stash your earbuds. It was a lot of swag for a free event. 10/10 would do it again. 🏅🌍

perimenopause or not?

I have been having such pain in my feet lately. I don't know if it's perimenopause or not. Maybe I did too many miles too quickly. But what I wonder about is my mom and my aunt saying that they stayed active until a certain age until their feet and lower joints hurt too much. Then they put on weight until they lost most all of their mobility. I feel scared that this will happen to me now that I am approaching midlife. I can't help but wonder if HRT would fix this.

My doctor suspects that I am now sensitive to high salt. I don't know about that.

OKAY I can confirm that my hormones were officially completely jacked up this cycle. It's been 6 days since my predicted day 1 of my period and nothing so far. It felt like my body tried to ovulate on cycle day 24 or 25. Now it's cycle day 32 and I'm crying for no reason, very emotional like PMS. I don't know if and when I will menstruate this cycle. I also don't know how to count the cycle days unless I just assume this period skipped and just count cycle day 1 from the fitbit app's prediction of September 12.

June 27-July 2 brown blood and very light flow / spotting whole menstruation

July 22-27 normal period

August 17-22 normal period

September 12-17 skipped (or very late period)

August 2025 in Review

It's only a few days into September, but it's been a whirlwind the past couple weeks. I have to pause and remind myself that Albert has only been in Kindergarten for three weeks (as he reminded me today is day 14). I have only had one week of school so far. Since I'm teaching labs, there are no class meetings this week since it is the week of a Monday holiday (Labor Day), so that no sections fall behind. When I look back at what we did during August, I can see why I feel so whirly.

The month kicked off with the Dopey Strong 7 Dwarves Challenge. Each day, we were supposed to dress up like a different dwarf and add a few strength moves into our running plan. Then on the 7th day we were supposed to do all the strength moves. I'm not a big fan of run streaking but there were only three days in the month that I didn't at least walk a mile (Aug 8, 10, 12). Sometimes I wonder why I track everything, but then I remember that tracking helps me make sense of the pain I'm in when I can't understand or remember why my feet hurt so much.

  

There was also a collaboration between Valley Runners and the Goodr Cabana. A group of us from Glendale, Sherman Oaks, Northridge, Winnetka, Burbank (all over the 818) met in Venice Beach every Saturday throughout August.

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A post shared by VRLA| ValleyRunnersLA Est. 2014 (@valleyrunnersla)

And to end the month, Crowned Athletics inspired us to dress up for World Princess Week.

I had fun with the challenge, and it got me to do some micro-blogging reflecting on what the Disney princesses mean to me.

CREATIVITY. As a mom, I get creative with my son as we paint, build, dance, cook, sing, and play. As a teacher, I find creative ways to incorporate all that into a college environment. Keeping everyone's spirits up while still enforcing safety rules and regulations. Chemistry doesn't have to be boring! I've got a dream. I want to make chemistry accessible to all students, allowing them to enjoy and learn. 👩‍🔬🥼🥽🧪 Rebel princess 👸✊ My first thought of creativity was Rapunzel, who had to pass away the hours locked away in a tower. But I think I'm a rebel princess at heart. Every day, finding creative ways to resist the empire. @crownedathletics #spacebuns #onebadmotherrunner

STRENGTH in motherhood is sometimes carrying your child, carrying your 50 lb folded stroller as you board the bus, bringing in the entire load of groceries from the car to the house in one haul. 🛒🛍️ Sometimes strength in motherhood is breaking generational trauma, escaping the unreasonable expectations of society, and giving other women a leg up. We all show our strength in different ways, and sometimes just showing up as the best version of you takes strength. 🥂 🙌 Here's a high five to celebrate all of the invisible unpaid domestic labor. Sometimes we carry the weight of the family on our shoulders, And even though every day isn't a ball, We still find big and small ways to sparkle and shine through. Thank you for being a part of my family, And thank you for helping to keep me inspired! #gratitude #strengthinmotherhood If I could add one piece to my Powerful Hermana set, it would be the Force Fighter flow tank top. 🛸💫🚀 I recently introduced my son to the Star Wars movies, and I was so inspired by Rey Skywalker. I'm not sure if she is considered a princess, but she is definitely a role model of strength. She never stopped fighting for freedom, and she never lost hope. No family is perfect, but finding your identity and drawing strength from your ancestors has always been a powerful force for me.

KINDNESS. The story of The Little Mermaid reminds us to practice kindness with our own bodies. There may be some part of your body that you wish were different. #bodypositive Ariel is doomed to want something she cannot have. She is willing to gamble her voice in exchange for the opportunity to experience her heart's desire, but only for 3 days. And if she is unable to achieve a nearly impossible task, she loses everything. The mermaid princess reminds us to appreciate everything our bodies can do. Today I am grateful for my legs. 🦵🧜‍♀️ 🐚🐠 Thank you, legs, for being my favorite form of transportation. Today I am thankful for my voice. 🎵🎶👩‍🎤 Thank you, voice, for allowing me to express myself. Staying inspired is sometimes a challenge. I have to do whatever motivates me to get out there and stick to my training plan. 

BELLA IN SELLA. is a phrase that I learned from the cycling community 🚴‍♀️ #cyclomania. It means riding a horse or bicycle and looking good while doing it. Often, I wear bright colors while riding or running for safety purposes. If you're seen, so much the better, because it lowers the risk of getting into a collision. And a close family member of mine was killed while running because she was hit by a minivan. But sometimes, like this week, I enjoy dressing up just for the fun of it. I find inspiration in the stories I grew up listening to. I wanted to represent Belle today, who didn't start out as a princess, but through her kindness, she came to love the Beast. I identified with Belle because she loved books and was a gorgeous brunette, like me. And, like her, I fell in love with a man who had a great bookshelf. 📚 # Bibliophile: I get to refresh my memory on Disney princesses, villains, and heroines by telling bedtime stories to my son as he falls asleep. He doesn't consciously remember every story, but I know he hears me. He puts princess figurines all around our bedroom for protection. Loving the energy from @fit4mom_west_sfv this morning. Showing up and being surrounded by kindness, moms supporting other moms, makes the journey of motherhood so much better. #communityinmotherhood #raisekindhumans #momssupportmoms #ourvillage #motherhoodsisterhood #worldprincessweek

GRACE. If you are newly postpartum or raising small children, you've got to give yourself grace. It's going to take time to get your energy back. Motherhood has been a powerful motivator for me. I want to be able to keep up with my son, so I keep pushing myself to stay strong and ready. Initially, when I thought of grace, I thought of Mulan. I'm not sure Princess is part of her back story, but she was a strong influence in my childhood. I was a tomboy. I ended up in a male-dominated career field. I've always tried to keep up with men and fit in among them. To be just as smart, fast, and strong. Mulan did what she did to protect her father and bring honor to her family. She was an epic failure at being a #tradwife but an epic success at leading an army. She exceeded her family's expectations and ended up with an even better match than any matchmaker would have found for her. Mulan reminds us to gracefully pursue our destiny, even if it doesn't fit with society's expectations for us. I thought about the graceful movements of a swords(wo)man. I realize that the modern military is different than the fighting style depicted in Mulan. I feel grateful for our military service men and women. Thanks to our veterans and first responders as well. ⚔️ Finally, I thought about how some workouts are tough. You have to give yourself the grace to suck sometimes. The law of averages will balance it out eventually with a workout that kicks ass in a good way. Today I felt so strong, graceful, and fast. ⚖️ Keep showing up. #ownthecrown #stronglooksdifferent

BRAVE. The brave thing I did today was bring my kid to work. His school has a holiday but my school did not. Today's theme got me thinking about various times in my life where I took a leap of faith. One of the biggest leaps I took was when I moved to California. I knew the cost of living was going to be really high. But I also knew that ultimately it was where I wanted to be. I wasn't sure how it was going to work out, but I was brave enough to go for it with the faith that I would figure it out. The second biggest leap of faith that I took was going through IVF. It was so expensive with no guarantees. It was like going through puberty again at 39 years old. I had to confront some of my biggest fears and misconceptions about becoming a mother. Thankfully for us, it only took one round. I'm so grateful that I was brave enough to take these leaps of faith. Finishing my PhD at UC Riverside was such a significant moment in my life. Training for and completing the LA Marathon (while wearing my Changed Fate set) was no big deal after becoming a doctor and then becoming a mother. If you're thinking about chasing a big goal or taking a leap of faith in the direction of your dreams, consider this a gentle push in that direction. Be brave.

STROLLER MILES. On my way to inspire the next generation of chemistry and biochemistry graduate students with my stroller and kindergartner, I dictated a lot of these microblogs while walking to and from school. Thanks to my bestie, Mykel for reminding me that it's okay to parent in public and that allowing students to see the joys and challenges of having children is a good thing. It's essential to make the work-life balancing act more visible. And this is also a post of appreciation for @bobgearus. I brought all the necessary items for my child and myself, as well as the supplies for my students. We had a fun day on campus. I love this stroller so much. I'll forever remember this as the vehicle that made all of our Disneyland dreams come true. BOB is an acronym for Beast of Burden, which is also a great song by the Rolling Stones. My Changed Fate set gives me powerful mama bear vibes when I need to remember how being a mom is my superpower. I also love how Merida was the shot caller in her story. She repairs the strained relationship with her mother and learns how to be more selfless. Even though Fit4Mom now pairs with Thule as their official stroller, I will never forget the BOB as my favorite part of strolling with my mini-me. My stroller model is BOB Revolution CE = City Edition which weighs ONLY 23 lbs.

I tried my darndest to get through August without overdosing on ibuprofen. However, on August 31st, I finally took some ibuprofen, which relieved the pain in my feet. It was an increase in miles, too much, too soon. I forgot how school drop-off adds extra mileage to the week. But as I say, we're trying to ease into the school year, and it's okay if there are some growing pains. Albert asked me to make him a social battery indicator so that he can have time to recharge without us bothering him too much. He's always had a high emotional intelligence, and this just shows that he can ask for a way to communicate with us.

   

Another thing Albert did recently was create two paintings contrasting a poor person's house, which was small, only one story high, and made of reclaimed materials. Versus a rich person's home, which he called the Eiffel Tower, which was multilevel, taller than trees, and made of gold. And for some reason, the poor person is during the day, and the rich person is painted at night, surrounded by stars. This is likely due to my lighter teaching load, which results in less income, and we often discuss this. We tell Albert that we can't afford some things because mommy won't be bringing home as much money. We discuss how we'll need to acquire more items on Buy Nothing, as we can't purchase them. September was a "normal" paycheck, but it will probably be the last "big" one for the next 6 months.

I saw the hashtag #RecessionCore and others, such as #economytok or #costofliving, to express a theme of economic hardship and austerity. We're not the only ones affected by this change in lifestyle. #budgetfriendly #economicanxiety #savingmoney #thrift #tariffs I've never been overly concerned with being trendy, and I know I'm talking about budget here, but here are some things I did buy this summer (or last summer) that I (still) love. 

• ENERBLOOM Women's Yoga Jumpsuits Workout One Piece Rompers with Pockets Bodycon Backless Bodysuits Padded Berry Red X-Large. I wore this on a run, and someone told me I was a whole vibe. I had a SheFit bra underneath and my sequin headband. $19.99 I also wore it to the pool as a swimsuit. I don't know why they don't make more swimsuits like this.
• Neely Gracey, the mom and running coach, recommended this product as the most comfortable item for summer, and I wholeheartedly agree. I bought one of each color and walked out paying around $50. I like them a lot. I'm glad I bought them when I did. This athletic all-in-one dress trend reached Crowned Athletics, and they sold each one for $118. I know, girl math, but I feel like I saved over $300. https://www.costco.com/elle-sport-women's-active-tank-dress.product.4000293912.html
• WEBGGER 12 Pack Sequin Headbands Elastic Stretch Sparkly Fashion Headband for Teens Girls Women Hairband Sport Head Band Party Favors Multicolored now $5.94, usually $9.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Z2TH288 Honestly, these are the best for summer. The airflow through the sequins is peak performance, and the sparklyness and color choices in this variety pack make my heart happy. I didn't bring one on my trip to Nebraska this year, but thankfully, I had left one the previous summer, and it was still there for me to use while I was visiting. Honestly, lifesaver. Somehow, the sequins are a great way to keep baby hairs from straying. I can't stand when my hair tickles my neck.
• IDALOP 20 Pairs Cute & Colorful Striped Quarter Crew Women's Colored Socks, Size 9-11 $19.99 So I'm midlife. I have mostly ankle socks. But I noticed when I wear a short skirt, it looks like SO MUCH LEG all the way down to the ankle. People nowadays say that ankle socks are out. So I got these crew socks. I wouldn't care fashion-wise but I do teach college-age students and I don't want to appear too out of touch.

I also found three pairs of jeggings at ALDI this week. Light blue, dark blue, and light grey. I have some Levi's jeggings that I purchased in the Spring 2023 semester for $27 each. They're finally starting to show daylight in the inner-thigh area after 5 semesters (2.5 years). So these ALDI ones are about half the price. I can't comment yet to their durability since I haven't even washed them yet, but I will use them to teach in for several years probably. I tried on XL and L and the large I couldn't even button / zip. There was a gap in the back of the XL but I guess I can wear a belt. https://www.aldi.us/product/serra-ladies-premium-light-blue-jeggings-m-0000000000072022 $12.99

My aunt noticed my Instagram is looking more colorful these days. I appreciate all the people who inspire me to keep being expressive. I'm glad summer is over, but is it really? We just had our AC fixed today, thank goodness. I know we're in for a few more months of heat. Sometimes it's in triple digits even through the end of October. Albert and I decorated the house yesterday for fall. He was insisting that it be fall but not spooky. Which means leaves and pumpkins, but not haunted houses and jack-o-lanterns.

Albert is dedicated to being a ghost for Halloween, and I've got 3 costumes already, so that the whole family can participate. I'm not sure we're doing the Boo at the Zoo or the Enchanted Halloweekends at the Discovery Cube. We've let all our memberships go. So we need to find a trick-or-treat thing we can do for free. I'm trying my best not to buy the Bath & Body Works Disney Villains collection. I know it will sell out quickly, but do I really need more lotion and hand soap?

It's the weekend of the Santa Monica Classic and the Disneyland Halloween Half-marathon. I'll be sitting these races out and preparing for the Bimbo Global 10k on September 28th. I haven't done that one before, but registration was free, and it's closer to our house. I received a free sample of Ever&Eden Premium Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, but I'm not impressed with it so far. These are more of my favorites that I buy again and again and use daily.

• Sun Bum Baby Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick - Hawaii 104 Act Compliant (Without Octinoxate & Oxybenzone) - UVA/UVB Face and Body Protection - Unscented for Sensitive Skin - Travel Size 0.45 Oz $12.50
• Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 with Zinc Oxide Protection, Hypoallergenic Mineral Sunscreen for Babies, Tear Free and Fragrance Free, 4 Fl Oz Tube $20
• Banana Boat Kids MAX Protect & Play Sunscreen Spray SPF 100, 6oz | Clear Spray Sunscreen, Kids Sunscreen Spray, Kids Sunblock Spray, Kids Spray Sunscreen, Kids Sunscreen SPF 100, 6oz $14
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 & Zinc Oxide, Water-Resistant, Hypoallergenic & Tear-Free Baby Sunscreen, 3 fl. oz, 3 pk $37
• https://thinksun.com/products/think-everyday-face-sunscreen-2oz-naturally-tinted  $16.50

In my efforts to save money, I also cleaned out my cabinets and put all my backstock of personal care products in rotation. Our good friend used to work at Paul Mitchell and would always gift us products whenever we visited him. So I have some shampoos, conditioners, and gels that will be on our bathroom shelves until they're gone. I lived so frugally when I started this blog, while in grad school. I know how to do it, I just wish I didn't have to.

Finally, I realized we're only six weeks away from the Mission Inn Run. I'm totally looking forward to that. I haven't thought about my outfits for race day. But I have time to come up with something.