zumba 2.0

a while ago i told you about a new love of mine, zumba. since the jump, i've only fallen deeper.

thanks to a more flexible schedule than typically desired (yay for working three days a week?) i am able to attend a class tuesday mornings. that, coupled with an awesome body blast class beforehand, is easily the best 90 minutes of my work week. i laugh, sweat my butt off and leaving feeling inspired and often grinning.

i think know the darling instructor kevin has lots to do with this - but just imagine if you felt like this everytime you left the gym? how could you have any excuse to not go? and why would you want to?!

trust me, there's nothing like 'getting low' and shaking your booty before noon. in fact, i recommend it.

BYOB(utter)

comfort food, a couch and a nap was just about all i wanted after some glorious wedding festivities a few weekends ago. alas, there was only time for lunch. so i settled for a chain restaurant and hilarious hungover recollections of the previous night with my bff. thanfully (this time) suburbia can be so dependable and since we had NO idea what we wanted, we opted for the cheesecake factory where they have a 20 plus page menu of everything. ya know 3000 calorie salads, meals large enough to feed three people and an overflowing bread basket. delectable little devil. but after shaking it on the dance floor the entire night before, we earned needed it.

the thing is, you know what you're getting yourself into the moment you set food in the place. you can pretend to watch your calorie intake, but frankly, it better be about the dining experience and/or your company cause you aren't doing your body any favors. But! that's okay. you're are there. enjoy it. order the salad minus the fixings or don't.

so we settle in, order the exact same meals (that we should have just shared) and begin to recount the night.

not long after we order, two twenty-something girls sit down, also laughing about their night. one has the most darling haircut. short, shapely, trendy. kinda like the bob's cool older sister. i considered snapping a photo, but noting the promixity of the tables - i restrained. despite their closeness, i didn't pay much more attention to the girls till their bread basket arrived and i noticed 'cute hair girl' digging in her bag and pulling out a family size bottle of 'i can't believe its not butter' spray. i stare. i look at pam. i look again to be sure. yep, homegirl brought spray butter to the cheesecake factory.

then they screw off the top and dump it on their plates. ya know, so they can dip their bread. WHAT!? how about just dont use butter?! and how long has that been in your bag? do you bring it everywhere? ahhhh. i can only imagine what my face was doing. thankfully my bff caught on and shot back an equal 'WTF?!' look.

then their meals come. what did 'cute hair girl' get? oh, a side of steamed veggies and scoop of white rice which she combined and proceeded to pour the spray butter all over it.

pam and i lock eyes, smile and simultaneously take big bites of our crispy chicken sandwich.

homegirl, it does not say BYOB(utter) on the menu.

oooh its so time to go. we take a little stroll around the mall, get some coffee and head back to her car. we look up and sitting on bench are those two spray butter dumpers...flossing their teeth!

i looked at pam and say, "get me out of this place."

my kinda town

vegas oh vegas. how i love thee. i really do wonder if the excitement buzz of that glorious place will ever wear off. friday we were sitting in the sunshine, eating lunch, sipping champagne (which most certainly tastes better there) and i couldn't wipe the silly grin off my face. that moment is exactly what life is about. friends, laughs, warmth and just soaking it all in. winter, please don't smother me and make me forget that feeling.

vegas might not be for you – but its absolutely for me.


where's your happy place?

GPOYW + bff

wedding edition:
a little sweaty and a lot happy in a very pretty borrowed dress. i've never gotten so many compliments in a single night in my life. apparently its time to bring more blue to my wardrobe. noted.

rappers delight

yeahhhhh i'm gonna go ahead and classify this under 'things you MUST watch' category. you're welcome.



{thanks kev}

i'm a flight away from...

• hangs with the lil sis
• mall-shopping
• laughs with the bff
• free time allllll to myself
• car-driving (lil sis pending...)
• 2 full nights of sleep sans puppy whining
• cheers to the bride and groom!
• celebratory bubbles
• dance floor moves
• 60+ degree weather

what are you looking forward to this weekend?

viva!

with a looming vegas trip just 14 days away and a very timely daily candy email arriving in my inbox yesterday morning...i've officially entered 'yay its almost vacation time' mode.

i simply LOVE their intro paragraph, albeit a sponsored placement.

"So you’re waiting for a good excuse to go to Vegas.
Here’s one: The champagne tastes better there.
Need more? Dry air is good for your health. You’re feeling lucky. Buffets are awesome."

what are my reasons?
let me count the ways...

• well, they stole my first one. champagne most certainly tastes better there. preferably at a circle bar that never closes.

• weather. its always at least 20 degrees warmer. i'll take sunshine and 70 over gray and 40 ANY day of the week. but keeping my fingers crossed for warmer temps! a pool day in november would be just what the doctor ordered.

• the anticipation that builds and fuels you the days leading up to your trip. and then the energetic southwest flight that gets you there! the cheering - drinks at any hour and the laughs. ahhhhhhh nothing like getting off that place and hearing the chimes of slot machines in the airport. i tend to look at my partner in crime, smile and say, "we have arrived."

• having a ritual first destination in mind as soon as things are settled at the hotel, which always involves a ridiculously potent 'rita on the rocks and a tower of nachos. cheers to health? not on this trip.

• going with friends - meeting friends - making friends!

• alllllllll of the photos

• the amazing food and the not so amazing 4am breakfasts that are completely necessary. and if not breakfast, why not "a cobb salad - hold the bacon and blue cheese." obvs watching my figure at 4am at greasy diner after i've been drinking all day.

• beer pong at one of our fave spots. oooooh blondies, thank you for falling into our lives. recession or not, $10 all you can drink daily happy hour is appreciated and applauded. generally, more than once.

• coming home with inside jokes that last for years. seriously, still talking about that one time in 2003...

see you in two weeks sin city!

happy 40th sesame street!

and google, you're darling today.

GPOYW

photobooth/fridge + suz edition!
i have a few rules, one is most certainly if i see a photobooth - i go in and use said photobooth. it only seems proper.

it was a happy halloWEENIE for all!

yes, its true. i could not help myself. this halloween, lulu was a hotdog. i mean how could i not indulge in the obvious, predictable - yet perfect costume? as a first time mommy, it would have been a crime. ummm, right?
granted, she completely hated me us all for it. but she was sorta the star of TKTC's show (next to the food, of course).

sometimes i just adore tossing the pup in my bag and heading out for the night. she loves being around people, people love having her around. i hardly see her lil face cause she's running from person to person or perhaps taking a break to eat a bowl (or two) of cat food and by the time i get her home, she's completely worn out. then, best of all, we get to sleep THROUGH the night.

awesome party TKTC. just what we all needed. also props to the mario bros gang! looks like miss lu still recognized you...
hope you had a festive one!