Run ... In Your Undergarments?

This may be the season of making too many plans, but I think there are some plans that you just can't turn down scheduling in. Things with your besties? Check. Work party with your boss and boss's boss? Double check. Fun times with your fam? You know it.

Even better than all of those? Scheduling in an event that isn't happening right away. Because you all know how lame January and February can seem after this whirlwind of a holiday month. Why not pre-plan some fun to happen just when you are feeling the winter blahs?

Enter the Cupid's Undie Run. First of all, I don't think there is a more entertaining name for an event out there. Except maybe an event called "Vodka and Sex and the City." That's a whole different type of event though...

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Cupid's Undie Run is just what it sounds like. People doing a 1+ mile run. In their underwear. The best part though? It's for charity. From their site ...

"It's quite simple, actually. There are children out there suffering from a debilitating genetic disease called neurofibromatosis (NF). NF causes tumor to grow all over the nervous system and can cause blindness, deafness, learning disabilities and severe chronic pain. If these children can be so brave as to deal with the cards they have been dealt, then the least we can do is face our own fears in a manner that raises funds to help find them a cure. 

We're running for the Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF), the world's largest non-government organization dedicated to ending NF through research. Currently, there is no cure for NF and there are frighteningly few treatment options, but with the $75,000 Cupid's Undie Run has raised for CTF to date we are getting close."

I love it. Facing your own fears (um, being ridiculously under-dressed) to help those that are facing REAL fears like these kids are. How amazing. 100% of the funds raised go straight to CTF.

Still have questions? Their FAQ has some helpful tips like these ...

Is Cupid's Undie Run a race? 
The Cupid’s Undie Run is a fun run, not a race. We encourage everyone to run together as a big group (umm, body warmth, duh). If you are competitive at heart, we suggest you put some of that competitiveness to see if you have what it takes to become a top fundraiser!

You really want me to dress up in my undies? 
You know it! We're baring it all to raise awareness for a good cause. We're being brave and facing adversity, just like the children who suffer daily from neurofibromatosis. If you don't want to show too much skin, you are welcome to wear your undies over top of tights and we encourage creativity! 

And my personal favorite, haha...

Is there a restriction on what I can wear? 
Remember, this is a charity event for the kids so no nudity, no thongs and no pasties, please.

Ready to get involved, either in your skivvies or at a donor level? Here are the details. 

Race Day: February 11, 2011 at 2PM
Register: http://hope.cupidsundierun.com/
Earn points- and money-based prizes: http://cupidsundierun.com/atl/race.php
Donate: http://hope.cupidsundierun.com/cur/participants.asp

Thanks, Hannah, for sending this one along! Good luck to everyone who joins in the race!

Winter Wardrobe Staples You Gotta Have

As you might remember from my "Top Five Fashion Finds for Fall" post in October, I have been presented with the challenge of making my wardrobe work for my newer body, while also saving pennies to expand with staple items when I can. I have been putting off buying new clothes for a while now, and somehow have managed to piece together outfits each day with the random things that do fit in my closet. A cinching belt here, some layering there, and voila, I experimented and got through the Summer and Fall seasons with barely buying $100 worth of new things.

P.S. An update: I bought the flat boots mentioned in that post, along with affordable leggings from Victoria's Secret. I was also gifted with this H&M camel coat for my birthday, hooray! What do you think? I think it is FAB. I particularly love the skirted bottom.

Now winter is here, but my pants are not. Even in Atlanta, you can only get by for so many days of tights and skirts without rotating in some pants-outfits here and there. And my pants ... well, if anyone is looking for a nice size 6 or 8 slack, even a few brand-new ones, well I have a deal (read: free) for you!

Thankfully, the holidays and my birthday arrived, as did the gift cards. I am now ready for some shopping courtesy of my family and friends, thank you!

Here is what's topping my must-have list for wardrobe replenishments. Because let's be honest, buying trendy items for each season is fun, but what we really all need are the basics to help us get by -- staple items that can be the basis of any number of outfit combinations.

Winter Wardrobe Staples You Gotta Have (And I Totally Need!)

1. Black pants -- I received a lovely pinstriped pair at the holidays, but I am also in need of a plain pair. I am thinking a matchstick/skinny leg pair would be great, because they can be worn with flats OR heels (a rare commodity for a short girl like me!)

2. Brown pencil skirt -- Yes, I know I just talked about pants out the wazoo. But while I own a black version of this, a brown one would triple my day-to-day options. Even better, I have many pairs of shoes to go with a brown one that would all look dynamite.

3. Crisp button-ups -- I am on the search for the slim cut ones that would layer well under a vest or a sweater. And speaking of sweaters ...

4. Lightweight layering sweaters -- Land's End Canvas has some cute ones, but I of course also lust over the ones laid out in the JCrew catalogs :)

Longsleeve Tops by Ann Taylor
Shortsleeve Tops by Lands' End Canvas

What items are on your must-haves for replenishment this winter?