I never home leave without these!

Ok so it has been awhile since I have blogged but I have been super busy! I feel like things are really spinning out of control but I like it in a way. Time is flying bye and the marathon will be here before I know it!

Last weekend I was up at 6:00am to complete 18 miles and it had to be done running by 10:00am at the latest. This was by far my best long run yet! I ran 6 miles down to Hoboken and met up with two friends: Rosemary and Kristi. I did 6 with them and then we met up with the rest of the group (Hoboken Elysianette Running Society) and did my last 6 with the team! The weather is getting cooler and I did not feel fatigued at all. I think my body is getting used to running these long distances now!

After that I was in a huge rush because I had to meet lovely Jayd Gardina to shoot a wedding as a 2nd photographer! Woohoo! So I took my ice bath (burrr), showered quickly, packed up my camera gear and drove off into the city to meet her! I had a great time shooting with her and felt pretty good all day despite my early morning run! Ok and lastly I attended the MTV VMA's Red Carpet on Sunday at Radio City Music Hall! It amazing and I met so many celebs - this definitely deserves its own blog post so I will save that one for later but let's just say it was an INSANELY BUSY WEEKEND!

Anyway I thought it would be fun and helpful to blog about the items I never leave home without when going on a long run! I am obsessed with buying and trying out new running gear and have finally figured out what works best for me. Every morning when I wake up, I go through a mental checklist and make sure I have everything for my run. Here it is:

Mizuno Wave Ride 12 Running Shoes - I have been wearing these shoes for almost two years and refuse to try anything else. I dislike the current color that is out right now but beggars can't be chosers! If you are thinking about taking up running, please go to a specialty running store and be properly fitted for running shoes. Be sure to change out your running shoes every 300-500 miles!



Powerstep Insoles - These offer more support and cushion than the insoles that come with the shoe. I think these also help absorb the impact that your knees and shins take from all the pounding



Under Armour Running Socks - I pick these up at either TJ Max or Dick's Sporting Goods. They are pretty thick and offer more support and cushion than most running socks.



Nike Running Tanks - I tend to overheat so I always dress as light as possible. I have both cotton and dri-fit styles and love both.



Brooks Running Shorts - I have tried on many brands and Brooks seem to fit the best. They have a wider waist band and wont cause the muffin-top effect. I also love Nike running capris and running tights for colder months.



iFitness Running Belt - If I am going on a shorter run (1-7 miles), I will take my iFitness Running Belt which was purchased at Super Runner's Shop in Grand Central. (They can also be bought online.) This belt holds my blackberry, money, and several other small things.



Fuel Belt - I get very thirsty when I run and if I am going far (7+ miles), I take my fuel belt with me. This has 2 bottles that I can fill with water and pouches to hold my blackberry, Gu, etc. (There plenty of places where I am able to refill my bottles but if you run out in the boonies you may want to get a 4 bottle belt.) I got a size small and wear it around my waist but I know some people wear them around their hips.

I thought it would be important to note that your belt should be neoprene all the way around and velcro in the front. If it has buckles or non-stretchy fabric, chances are it won't stay in place and you will experience a lot of bouncing. Also, if I am running in a race then I usually leave this at home - anything over 15 miles and this belt becomes a big pain (literally). I purchased this at City Sports in NYC - they seem to have the largest selection!



Gu - When going on a long run I always take Gu with me. It offers carbs and a quick caffeine boost and helps you get through those lulls where you start slowing down and feeling tired. My best advice is to try these out before races to make sure your stomach can handle them. Eat them fast and take with a lot of water.



My favorite flavor is Espresso Love, it has more caffeine in it than the others - 40 grams. My second favorite flavor is Chocolate Outrage, it tastes like pudding!



Nike Watch - I do not know the make and model of this off the top of my head but I really like this watch. It is easy to use and fits very nicely on my wrist. I time my runs and and figure out my distance from my time (i.e. I consistently run a 10 minute mile.)



iPod Nano - I cannot run without music and always have this bad boy with me, even in races. I have the old 2G version of the Nano but it is still going strong after several years. If I am running with friends then I leave this behind but otherwise I love rocking out during running!



Blackberry, Money, Advil, Bandaids - I usually always bring these along for emergency purposes. You never know when you are going to need to make a phone call or pop an advil (lol that sounded funny). Also the money is important incase you need to stop an buy a water or god forbid you get injured and need to grab a cab. I have heard horror stories before and therefore have added these things in my running belt for long distance runs!



Body Glide - Last but not least you will need to lather up in Body Glide on anything longer than a 13-14 mile run. Girls: rub this all along your sports bra line, under your arms, and anywhere else you think you may chafe. I usually put it on my feet along with vaseline because I am prone to losing toe nails and blistering when it's really hot.



Finally - I would really love to add this to my running gear so if you are feeling generous please feel free to buy it for me!

GPS Garming 405 Watch



Thanks for reading and let me know if you have any questions! The above are all recommendations and not necessarily the best on the market or the best for you in particular. Definitely try things out and go from there!

Elise & PJ's Beach Wedding | Long Island, NY

My dear friend Elise was married in August and low and behold she asked me to photograph her luau themed wedding! I was so honored to do this and very excited too! The ceremony and reception were held on the north shore of Long Island at the Pavilion at Sunken Meadow. PJ is a fireman and was able to borrow the fire truck for some fun portraits! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of capturing this special day and I hope she is equally as happy with the results! These two are so in love and were all smiles the entire day. This is one of the reasons I love wedding photography - it makes me smile all day as well!

The luau theme seemed to go over very well with the guests! People were decked out in Hawaiian shirts and flip flops and really enjoyed being comfy. As a result, everyone really let their hair down and had a blast on the dance floor! The food served was buffet and let me say it was THE BEST buffet I have ever had - where else would you get full lobsters as your entree? There was also options for seconds, which my husband and I most certainly took advantage of because we love to eat - haha!

My friend Leslie was hired to shoot the reception portion of the wedding so I could relax and hang out. However I kept my camera very close because I couldn't bare to miss the fun shots that were happening all around me!

Here are a TON of my favorites from the day!























































The first dance was sizzling hot, but also flirty and romantic! Think waltz meets rumba meets cha cha meets tango! It was choreographed by the lovely Margo who was also in attendance that night and said they practiced hard they "nailed it!"





The parents of the bride were very happy with the menu!











If you have been to the Boardy Barn in Hampton Bays, you know what this is about!

I'm still standing

18 miles and I am still standing!

This past weekend my running friends and I planned an 18 mile run that started in Hoboken, headed north on River Road, crossed over the George Washington Bridge and continued down the west side of Manhattan all the way to 42nd Street! Operation GW Bridge was a success and we all made it! The weather was cool, the sun stayed behind clouds for most of the time and there were plenty of places for water and restroom breaks. The run was hard but the best reward was the delicious brunch place which was practically waiting for us at the end of the run! Well, it IS Manhattan and after all there are hundreds if not thousands of places to eat, but Andrea knew of a yummy one that served french fries with the omelets and had mimosas the size of margaritas! Yumm just what I needed to refuel! Thank you to everyone who came down: Andrea, Missy, Tiffany, Marta, Prerna and Elizabeth - you girls rock! Thanks for waiting for my slow-poke-self to catch up and finish.

Ok so I won't go into the boring details of the run but I am just so glad to have conquered this distance. I really could not picture running another 8 miles after that but let's just pretend that thought never crossed my mind. After the run I took an ice bath which I have found really helps cure the post-run aches and pains. It sounds torturous but trust me, they are GREAT!

Training is getting tough and like I have mentioned in previous posts it is wearing me down mentally and physically. I have been exhausted and going to bed much earlier. I have found myself feeling rather cranky and short tempered and feel bad that my husband has to take the wrath of it. The running is also disrupting my personal life because I cannot see friends and family when I want to. Everything single thing needs to planned around running. I also haven't had much time for photography or any photo-related blogs but please be patient, they will be back! The next two months are going to be rough but I am trying to stay positive and focus on the goal at hand - finishing the marathon and raising money for a great cause.

Fundraising is going great: $3210.56 and still climbing! Please help by making a contribution today!

https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=userHome&user_id=39924&event_id=128

A reunion in Lake George + a running update

Eight and a half years ago I ventured on to one of the most amazing experiences of my life. As a junior in college I decided to study abroad in London! Yes - I got get college credits and back-packed throughout Europe all in one shot! Not bad right?

I moved to London in January 2001 into a cute flat on the west side / Bayswater area of London. Well, I thought the flat was cute back then but when I look back at pictures I say woah and yikes! The furniture was old and drag, the kitchen was the size of a bathroom, the refrigerator was only big enough to hold 2 yogurts and 2 takeout boxes, the washer and dryer was a combined unit, yes washer and dryer all in one and could only fit 4 shirts at a time, the hot water never worked and with so many girls showering a day it was not fun getting ready. I think I shaved my legs all of two times that semester! But some how, some way I still managed to fall in love with my 3 story flat and would not trade any of my experiences for anything in this world!


Our flat, 2 The Colannades, was home to 8 American girls and right next door was another group of girls, 2 of whom we also got close with! I only knew one girl (Kerri) prior to my trip but I wasted no time of making new friends and marched myself right in to everyone else's lives. We spent countless hours together in the flat, at school (not really), out at a club, pub or restaurant, touring around London, eating jacket potatoes or crepes, shopping at Oxofrd Street, Covent Garden or Camden and BEST of all seeing other countries! During my stay in London I was able to go to various parts of England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Amsterdam, Paris, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and Austria! Yes all of that while going to school and getting 12 credits towards a Business Degree! Whew, what a whirlwind. Four months later I returned to the states a new and improved person. While in London I learned a lot about myself and even grew up a bit. I learned to actually like myself, maybe even love myself and realized being different was a good thing. It was great to be in a new place where I didn't have to worry about what other people thought and I didn't have to pretend to be something, I was just me. I am not going to get too deep into this but lets just say it was a very positive experience and my other flatmates will attest that they had similar feelings of finding themselves.

So after London, I managed to keep in touch with all 10 girls - on and off but yes we kept in touch. Every year we promised to get together and have a reunion but every year we failed. Most recently we all found each other on facebook and really put the plans in motion for a reunion! (God I love facebook!) We decided Lake George was a good meeting point as most of us live several hours away. 6 of the 10 girls were able to make it to this reunion and I felt so blessed to see them again and reminisce about our trip and crazy travel stories. We talked, laughed, shared pictures and really enjoyed our time together! We did some touristy things too: a paddle boat tour on the lake, a float tour in tubes down a river, mini golf and a lot of eating! We vowed to do this again and also decided we wanted to have a reunion trip to London one day!


I know this post is lonnnng but I had to add in a running update as well! I am lucky that 3 of my London friends offered to run with me that weekend! I only needed to log 10-12 miles and I mapped a route for us along Lakeshore Drive. It wasn't as scenic as I would have liked and was very hilly (Adirondacks, ugh) and the rain was a bummer but we persevered through! Thanks Paula, Kerri and Shara for running with me! Shara I hope your knees are ok!


It was so great to see all of you girls! Paul, Shara, Kerri, Lauren, Natasha I had so much fun with you! Rachel, Kelly, Lisa and Shelly - you were missed!

Here are a few fun pics







Running partners