I’m pleased to announce the winners from the Spa Gift Card giveaway: Kathleen (a new mama) and Bri (a soon to be new mama). Couldn’t be more fitting could it? Congratulations ladies!
And that note? It’s simple.
Life is busy. It’s always changing.
Sometimes I don’t quite know where blogging fits into my life.
Sometimes I’m too busy or tired to write.
Sometimes I’m too happy to write.
Sometimes I know what I want to say, but have no clue how to say it.
Sometimes I want to just be, living my life, not overanalyzing or sharing. Not trying to live up to others’ expectations of what my life should be.
Sometimes I need to just be me.
And in those sometimes moments? I don’t write. Not on this blog, not in my journal.
Instead I’m giving myself permission to take a break here and there, not feel obligated to post five days a week.
So right now, that’s what I’m doing.
Everything is great and sometimes during that greatness, I like to be selfish and take a little more time to absorb it all.
Things Learned on a lovely girls’ weekend in Minneapolis…
… the merits of dating older men (they die faster), that it’s possible to move your shoulders in three different directions and look awesome while doing it, and that if you want to hold a chicken, you just have to be confident.
… you are never too old to go to an all children’s bookstore. Ever.
… Lisa makes a damn good margarita. Kyla brings the tastiest treats (ketchup potato chips!!). Mandy’s laughter is totally contagious.
… Oreo ice cream is the best invention known to man. That is until you try a cheese curd and Sweet Martha’s Cookies at the State Fair. Then those become the best inventions known to man.
… French Gypsy Calypso Jazz is rather catchy.
… laughing until your sides hurt is one of the many benefits of having friends who truly get you.
… Music Bingo is a fabulous invention and probably my new favorite game.
… two-story Targets are incredibly impressive but sadly they do not have chocolate animal crackers.
… the view from the top of the Guthrie Theater is gorgeous, the Farmer’s Market smells of nature and goodness, and Minneapolis is far more progressive than STL.
… Listening to “Let It Be” performed live under the stars, standing next to three fabulous women, tears are going to fall, possibly from your own eyes. Moments like this remind you that life is really good.
… soaking up the moment and really living is so freeing, so worth it.
… the moment you get home, you’ll want to turn around and do it all over again.
Nervous stomach. Sweaty palms. I pace back and forth outside the building once, maybe twice.
This isn’t my usual for a first date- it’s my usual when I meet new people, specifically bloggers. Even more specifically bloggers that I’ve known for over a year, some I’ve just “met,” though it seems like I’ve been reading them forever, and othersstill that you meet by chance and instantly know that you want to be best friends with them and countless other fabulous women, some who blog, some who don’t, but all who are intelligent, hilarious, open, and fun.
I was greeted by hugs, handshakes, smiles and after that it was like I was hanging out with 25 of my closest best friends.
During my 36 hours of blogger meet-up in DC, I was a back-up dancer in a Rick Rolling video (just ask LiLu, she has the proof). I wore a fake mustache because it seemed like a fun idea:
I shouted across the street as Mandy showed up out of the metro. I shared a salame pizza with Maxie and company, laughed wildly with Ashley, talked about buying purses at Hallmark, what STL and the midwest is really like, randomly shouted Twitter handles as more friends appeared at the bar. (Really, it’s the only way to identify one another. My name for the evening was Nora, WalkingWithNora.)
I talked life, love, my pursuit of happiness, snapped way too many pictures and yet not enough at the same time, took a tequila shot for the first time in ages, managed to survive Chinatown in three-inch heels. Watched a girl (not in our group) throw up while walking and guys (not in our group) take photos of said throw-up. Hailed a cab in two seconds flat, and the minute I got home? Missed everyone immensely and began the process of mentally planning the next gathering.
On Saturday, I indulged in a scrumptious breakfast at Furin’s, a family owned & operated restaurant that came with a side of cute (the owner is smoking hot), indulged in a chocolate milkshake on steroids, oogled the ridiculousness that is the Twilight table at Barnes & Noble. I bought a few more books to add to my ever-growing pile of addiction, laughed like it was my job and just basked in the friendship and outpouring of love that I felt with my friends. My. Real. Life. Friends.
Special thanks to Lilu for organizing the DCAmazeballsHH (VOTE for her for MTV’s First Twitter DJ while you’re at it!), to all the women (and brave men!) who were there, to Becky for making a rad (yes, I just used the word rad) video of our day on Saturday, and to the blogging community for continually inspiring me, for being my friends and a constant reminder that anything really is possible.
Synopsis of the book from Publisher’s Weekly, as seen on Amazon:
Benjamin draws on one of the most enduring relationships in children’s literature in her excellent debut, spinning out the heartbreaking story of Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Her research into the lives of Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) and the family of Alice Liddell is apparent as she takes circumstances shrouded in mystery and colors in the spaces to reveal a vibrant and passionate Alice. Born into a Victorian family of privilege, free-spirited Alice catches the attention of family friend Dodgson and serves as the muse for both his photography and writing. Their bond, however, is misunderstood by Alice’s family, and though she is forced to sever their friendship, she is forever haunted by their connection as her life becomes something of a chain of heartbreaks. As an adult, Alice tries to escape her past, but it is only when she finally embraces it that she truly finds the happiness that eluded her. Focusing on three eras in Alice’s life, Benjamin offers a finely wrought portrait of Alice that seamlessly blends fact with fiction.
At first I was apprehensive as I’m not usually a huge fan of historical fiction but this book changed all my views of historical fiction. It’s not soley about facts and truths but about what went on behind the scenes, what caused the facts that we know to be true. This is when the author takes creative license and liberty since we have no idea what really happened between Dodgson and the Liddell family. Benjamin carefully weaves friendship and passion, responsibility and expectations, preconceived notions and the truth throughout the course of this book. Benjamin is brave in this novel; Dodgson’s character borders on being an utter creep (old dude who enjoys taking pictures of young women) yet at times he seems like a sweet doting uncle.
I walked away from this book with a better understanding of the expectations of a woman during the Victoria era in all senses: fashion, family responsibility, education, recreation, love and romance in the Victorian era. I laughed. I cried. I turned the pages of this book into the wee hours of the night, took this book everywhere I went and have it now stored safely and proudly on my bookshelves. This is one I definitely want to read again, perhaps after reading the works of Lewis Carroll.
Ever since I went to the Vegas Blogger Meet-Up last year, I had planned on going again. Until I decided to train for a race (that I can no longer run). What does this have to do with Vegas you ask? Every time I go to Vegas I get sick. Like high fever, stuck in bed, riddled with pain sick. Blame the lack of sleep, the alcohol, the second hand smoke, whatever you want, but it happens. I wasn’t about to go to Vegas to a) attempt to get in my final training run and b) come back sick and not be able to run after all that training. Not sure when I became an adult, but that last sentence proves I have (at least in some ways). Joke was on me I guess since I’m not able to run thanks to the knee situation and by the time that was evident, tickets to Vegas were over $500. So due to finances and stupid non-races, Vegas was out for me this year.
And thus a new plan was born: Indianapolis with fourotherlovelyladies, each having similar reasons for not being able to go to Vegas. A radtrip, if you will (thanks, Renee, for the term radtrip).
A radtrip which included conversations like this one:
Ashley: What would you do if you saw Justin Timberlake?
Me: Marry him.
Renee: Lick him.
Ashley: What would that taste like?
Me (without pausing): SEX.
Renee: … or strawberries and swagger.
A radtrip which included me ordering a “family of fries” at the Mug n’Bun, a fabulous drive-in root beer and food stand, with each french fry receiving it’s own characteristic: baby, liverspotted, osteoporosis. A fried food fail since we barely touched our food. The root beer was amazing and a bonus: free bumper stickers.
A radtrip where we posed with Barbie while working on our Barbie Faces, traveled to Egypt, to the land of Star Wars, and back to the Dinosaur era all thanks to the Children’s Museum. Where we fell in love with When Eddie Met Salad, a fabulous salad and wrap restaurant that I really wish we had in StL.
A radtrip that had us (accidentally) evading a security doorman, getting manicures and pedicures at Spa in the City, complete with mimosas and other beverages, laughing with the nail technicians and coming out relaxed, girlie and ready for our tapas dinner at BARcelona where we managed to enjoy tapas and sangria for less than $10 per person.
A radtrip that I was sad to see come to a close, but so thankful that we all loitered at the brunch table at Cafe Patachou this morning far too long, none of us ready to part ways and drive our four and a half hours back to our cities.
Each night we stayed up later than the last, eyes barely open, sharing, emptying our hearts, opening our minds, remembering, hoping, dreaming, planning, until we couldn’t take it anymore. We woke up six hours later each time and started it all over again.
Simply put: this weekend was just I needed and I think just what we all needed. Old fashioned slumber party style sleeping, giggles when the lights went out, eating junk food for breakfast, and laughing… a lot. This is what blogging has done for me. This is why I can’t wait for more meet-ups and trips in the future. This is the stuff friendships, bonds and memories are made of.
I’m in the throes of finals. We’re talking research papers and quizzes, complicated finance questions and other general ickiness. Fortunately it all ends on May 14th for a whole two weeks. Times like these I tend to think scattered, random thoughts, much like this post will illustrate.
* You already know I’m obsessed with Parenthood. So much so that I tracked down this video from last week’s episode which had me laughing hysterically and decided I had to share, because we all need a little mid-week laughter:
* And if that doesn’t make you smile then check out this creative, hilarious video from some of our brave soldiers covering Lady Gaga’s Telephone:
* In other news, Darling (aka my fabulous mom) has a book giveaway for you to enter as well. Check it out and enter for a chance to win more summer reading books! Her contest ends this Sunday, is open to US & Canadian residents and you have two ways to enter! So go check it out. You won’t regret it.
* Looking for creative gift ideas? Kyla launched an awesome new project today. Like seriously amazing. We’re talking about an ebook and seeds delivered to your door for a DIY herb garden. Pretty sure this will be something I need to buy for my dad since he’s a cooking fiend who loves to garden and grow a variety of plants and herbs.
* Have unwanted hair? Consider donating it to Matter of Trust, an ecological charity, to help clean up the oil spill. (I read quite about this; it’s not a hoax and really does help.) View details and donation procedures here.
Each spring, StL is fortunate to have a huge outdoor book fair. I’m talking about 10s of thousands of books: fiction, short stories, true crime, biographies, graphic novels, science fiction, mystery, comic books, memoirs, cookbooks, history, autographed books, textbooks, children’s books and other categories I’m forgetting. Rows upon rows upon rows of books.
Darling and I set out early on Saturday morning to beat the rush (this is a huge event, parking is always out of control) and started grazing through the neatly organized rows of books with the other book lovers. (Pictured below: Just an example of one row of fiction books!)
Nothing is priced over $5, though most books are $1. ONE DOLLAR. One Dollar for writers such as Jane Green, Dan Brown, E.L. Doctorow, Joyce Carol Oates, Judith Krantz, Stephen King, Sue Grafton and hundreds of other famous (and not so famous) authors. Hardback books in brand new condition for only one dollar. It’s a book addicts dream, that is, until you get home and can’t find a place to put the new books you’ve purchased.
After one hour, I had eight books for myself, two as presents and two to giveaway to my readers. It was time to go as my trusty bag was overloaded with amazing books for less than $25 which all goes to a local charity, the Crisis Nursery.
As I was perusing the book aisles, I happened upon two of my favorite books: Jemima J by Jane Green and Getting Over it by Anna Maxted in perfect condition. These authors are two of my favorites: just the right combination of whimsy and chick lit, add in some serious topics and intelligent writing and voila! Recipe for perfect summer reading. And so, dear readers let’s consider this reader appreciation week: one lucky winner will win both of these books!
The Rules:
* You must love books.
* Readers from all countries can enter.
* You must leave your comments/entries on this blog by this Friday, May 7th at midnight Central Daylight Time.
Earn up to three entries (each comment must be separate to be counted):
* Leave one comment telling me what your favorite all-time book ever is.
* Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to your blog in a separate comment. Use this link on your blog: http://tinyurl.com/2b8kxtq
* Tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment to your tweet below. Use this link in your tweet: http://tinyurl.com/2b8kxtq
About a month ago, Dove approached me and offered me an opportunity to host a workout party for me and 10 friends to help promote their Dove Visibly Smooth Clinical Protection Deodorant.
It was a no-brainer to say yes because:
A) I love to try new workouts
B) They gave each of us moisture-wicking workout tops & Dove Visbily Smooth Deodorant in Wild Rose
and C) I love an excuse to get together with the girls
Let me start by saying this: Jillian Michaels has nothing on the workout you’ll receive at the Boxing Gym. NOTHING.
So today, we (me, Darling, Liz, Rebekah, Jennifer, Jen, Jen, KH, Linda and Angela) all met at The Boxing Gym, not quite sure what to expect. All of us are working on various weight loss goals so we’re training for runs, losing weight, taking spin classes, meeting with trainers, so we figured it wouldn’t be too intense. We were wrong.
Jim, our trainer, promised us that he would “kill us,” by the time we were done with the workout. He wasn’t kidding. Good thing he was hot, otherwise we probably would have punched him and walked out. (Okay, not really, but he was tough.)
Our Trainer, Jim
45 minutes of jumping jacks, punching, kicks, crosses, jabs, squats, sit-ups, sit-ups while punching, punching while squating, jumping jacks then punching, and a variety of other combinations I’m sure I’m forgetting. The class ended with planks, side planks and fancy up and down planks. See for yourself:
(Filmed with a Flip Video Camera, courtesy of Dove. Director’s Debut by Rebekah)
I am so very glad that I used the new Dove Deodorant which boasts “clinical protection,” this morning, and let me just say that while I was dripping sweat from my face, my armpits were dry. Seriously. And they didn’t even stink when I was done. (TMI? I hope not.) Double bonus: the scent of the deodorant isn’t crazy strong. Oh, and a triple bonus, if that’s possible: the deodorant goes on smooth, doesn’t stain the clothes and helps to reduce the appearance of hair overtime. Another TMI: I’m Italian. I have dark hair. I have to shave everyday. If something can help minimize the appearance of my hair, I’m so in.
Darling, me, KH & One of the Jens Post Workout
I’m also incredibly glad I donned the moisture wicking tank from Dove because maybe, just maybe, the super cute trainer didn’t realize he was totally kicking my ass. (I’m sure the plan didn’t work, but it was worth a shot.) Both workout top and deodorant are now on my list of things I *must* take to the 10 mile race coming up over Memorial Day weekend.
We all left the party invigorated and full of energy, many of us contemplating joining this gym or at the very least adding this boxing workout to our regimes once a week, which, we all noted, we’d definitely make sure to use our new deodorant.
Now for the fun part! Dove has given me five sticks of the Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant to giveaway to five of my lovely readers.
How to Enter:
* For one entry: Leave a comment on this blog and tell me what your favorite work out of all time is.
* For a second entry: Mention this giveaway on your blog, with a link to this post. Be sure to stop back by and leave the URL in the comments section.
* For a third entry: tweet about this giveaway, making sure to leave the link to your tweet in the comments section.
Contest ends Friday April 16th at midnight. Winners will be posted on this blog & contacted via email to obtain their mailing information.
* Disclosure: Dove paid for the workout event and provided workout tops and deodorant for all guests in attendance. I also received a Flip Video Camera for being the party host. I was not paid for this review or giveaway; all opinions and commentary are my own.
* InItToGymIt. An awesome new group started by the fabulous Livit, Luvit. It’s designed to keep us motivated, give us a place to whine, moan, encourage one another and above all, stay strong. I debuted on the blog today with my “Why I Workout,” list (check it out here) and am loving the other contributors so far! Hope you’ll join us for the journey. I have a feeling the best is yet to come with this group!
* Sadly and occasionally to the detriment of my workout efforts, Easter Candy. Who can say no to a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup when it’s in the shape of an egg!? Not I.
* Parenthood. Darling and I decided to watch the pilot because it has Lauren Graham in it, who is one of our favorites thanks to her role in Gilmore Girls. (Darling = is Lorelai, I’m Rory, even though we look nothing like them. We sometimes talk that fast and collapse into a heap of laughter for no apparent reason. If you want proof as to how Gilmore we can be, read Darling’s post about our Saturday morning escapade.) Anyway, I knew I loved the show when I missed one espiode and promptly watched it on Hulu, something I rarely do.
* My Wireless Mouse (for my computer, of course). Gifted to me at Christmas time, it’s become my new best friend. Makes using a laptop oodles easier. Not sure how I survived without it for the last five years.
* Books, but I suppose this is nothing new. Confession: I went through the books I own but have not yet read and it’s a lot higher than I thought. I’m officially on a book spending freeze until further notice. The *only* books I can purchase will be those for a book club. Everything else will have to wait or be borrowed from the library.
* Twist Ice Cream, in a cup, with sprinkles. It’s a comfort food. It’s a guilty pleasure. It’s a bit of an obsession.
“I’d rather have a moment of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.” – Unknown
There are those moments when you’re curled up on your Gram’s couch, red shoes kicked off, feet tucked up underneath you on a rainy Thursday night and you’re talking. Really talking… about health insurance options. Finances. Budgets. Full disclosure. No cloak and dagger disguises or hiding things from one another. Really talking about relationships and what your dreams are for the future. Really talking about family and love. Those are the moments you realize how truly blessed you are to have your Gram in the same town as you, to have a family that’s close, to be surrounded by love.
There are those moments where you’re wrestling with a finance amortiziation problem and you know the answer and you’ve double-checked your work. Then your dad comes along and points *one* typo that when fixed, solves the whole issue. Those the are the moments you realize that yes, you can do this finance business and that if you had any doubts about your dad being a hero before? They are gone.
There are those moments where you call your best college friend on your way home from work and the traffic-filled highways aren’t so terrible anymore. You laugh. You share. You discuss. Above all, you make plans to go see one another in three weeks. Giddy with excitement and plans, the entire night is improved tenfold. Those are the moments you’re thankful for staying in touch with her for she’s one of the few people that really gets you. Those are the moments you know she’s a true friend.
There are those moments when the difficult client you’ve been trying to please for the last three weeks finally says “thank you,” in an email, the first time in over a month of communication. Those are the moments where you realize it’s not all for naught, that you are good at what you do, and that some people take time to trust a 26 year old. While it’s frustrating, it’s also ok.
There are those moments where you can disclose your feelings to a close inner circle of friends and get more support, perspective, guidance and love than you ever thought possible. Those moments remind me you why you continue to try, continue to share, continue to be you.
There are those moments when you see your life and the woman you’ve become for who you are: Everchanging but alwasy fascinating.
Sometimes we have to live for the small moments while we are busy with the mundane tasks of work or being a graduate student because these are the moments that make every ounce of stress, confusion, pain, doubt and frustration you’ve ever had about your purpose in life melt away.
These are the moments. This is your life.
Any moments that you’d like to share that remind of you have wonderful/great/amazing life is?
