Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Throwback Thursday: Part Deux



The first post was pretty weak, so here's another mediocre one to make one awesome one? Probably not but still. Three years ago, the first Halloween back in the Midwest, we went to a pumpkin farm to get our pumpkins. And CLEARLY Tim's pumpkin needed a little more security than the others did....

Throwback Thursday: Do Penguins quack?


Ok, so bear with the total stretch on this one. I wanted a Halloween picture, but I have none scanned on my computer, so I have to improvise. This is a gorgeous picture of my adoring parents. My father is in a tuxedo. A tuxedo is also called a penguin suit. And this year for Halloween, Tim is dressing as a penguin.....that works, right? :)

Happy Halloween everyone! Leave me a message and tell me what you are going as this year, or what your favorite costume has been in the past! (Don't be shy, more than my mother needs to be commenting on this one!)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Pilates Predicament


Ok, the picture above, isn't EXACTLY related to the post, but it exemplifies so many things that make me beyond irritated when I go to work out. Go HERE to see my Gym Rat Rant.

Sidenote Opener Pet Peeve: Why do people push the handicap door button when going into the gym? Its like, guys, you are going to WORK OUT and you cant even open the door?!?! Lazy.

But still, this post is a rant about the gym, one class in particular. My pilates class. Now dont get me wrong, I love pilates, I have been going for quite awhile now, but my regular instructor is subbing another class for a woman on maternity leave. So therefore, there is a sub for Pilates. And good lord, this woman shouldn't be allowed near a foam mat.

On her first morning, she told us that she hadn't ever taught Pilates before (deal-able), but then proceeded to tell us that she didn't actually know any Pilates and had researched on the internet the night before. She is constantly looking at "notes" and finding crazy weird poses and exercises that are NOTHING like what we should be doing. Doing high knee kicks with twists would make Josef Pilates turn over in his grave (he is dead, right?) I mean, even wikipedia has more accurate descriptions of Pilates than what this lady does.

Its a class of mostly older (read: late 50s) women who aren't in the greatest of shape. And quite a few bigger women (read: they wear Skechers Shape Ups and think they work). I go because its a really good time for me and the regular instructor is my personal trainer, so I just make everything she has us do about 10 times harder. But with this new chick, she has us doing things (like shoulder stand leg kicks) that even I (who has been practicing yoga for four years) probably shouldn't be doing.

She is DANGEROUS! Nothing she does is with technique, its basically "Go as fast as you can" technique, which is just asking for poor framing and posture, getting less of a workout in, and a higher possibility of injury.

Also, she is always having them cross their legs for everything, which was one of the first things I ever learned. It throws your hips and IT bands of whack, you DONT cross your legs. But she claims it makes it easier to do. Which I guess I cant argue with, Im sure it does, but isn't her job as an instructor to lead you through the workout, and not make it so that you barely work, as well as NOT get messed up hips?

Maybe its just me that thinks that....not to mention that there is no warm up. And not that its a ridiculously hard workout, but at that hour in the morning, if I was lazy and didnt get up and run first, my body is cold and stiff. Going into shoulder stand cold, is NOT cool on the back.

Definitely not the brightest bulb in the box. She passed out the long weight bars (cause those are SO Pilates...) and handed me one of the smaller weighted ones, 8pounds, while she was giving out 22pound bars to the older women. Now, this makes ZERO sense to me, maybe she thought they were all the same, but they are all labeled with different NEON colored labels, and as she was passing them out, wouldnt she FEEL the difference? Apparently not.

And finally one of my biggest peeves. She can't count. She will actually skip numbers, then get confused at to how its taking so long to finish 12 counts. She needs a metronome too, because the first 10 counts will go MUCH slower than the last, like she is getting sick of it and goes faster just to get it over with. It's like, just use the clock lady, or a watch or ANYTHING, hell, let ME count for you. Or she will lie, and say that 10 more counts and then we are done, but then says she was kidding and we have abother 30 to do. I HATE THAT. Its like, I kill my last few every time knowing that they are my last ones, so when I am burnt out and find out I am only half way, I get pissed. Plus, why lie? It doesnt make it easier...it just makes me hate you more...

Monday, October 25, 2010

Sunday Funday for Me!

Reasons why yesterday was amazing:

The kitties got Martha Stewart costumes for 75% off. (Nessa really is the devil)

I found shorts perfect for underneath my Halloween costume in the juniors section (bar stools and bare butt don’t mix)

I had a killer healthy and delicious brunch with the family (finally turkey sausage is outting itself)

HyVee gained itself a HUGE bulk food item in the health food section (I will now be making granola like its my job)

HyVee ALSO now carries my line of eyeliner and such, previously only available online

I picked up my new yoga gear from my parents (yoga sandals are going to whip these toes into shape!)

I killed my hour of biking like it only took me 15 minutes

The peppermint patty brownies that I made for my grandmother’s birthday were raw and gooey, but turned out deliciously!

Finally, we finalized and worked on Christmas present ideas for this year (believe me, you WANT to be on the list of gift getting this year)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Throwback Thursday:



I've had killer workouts this week. Ate pretty well. So while the shame is still ridiculous, I feel pretty good about how far I have come.

For those that don't actually know me, cut about 60+ pounds off, and that's where I am at now, 8ish years later.

God that's gross.

Also, thats at my Uncle's plantation/manor/mansion acreage outside Philly over the 4th of July. When Adriano saw these pictures a few years ago, he said I was a cow. And I am pretty sure he was right.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Meg and Kate. Fellow Foodies.

So a few weeks ago, I signed up for the Tumblr Eat Up. Basically, they give you a person, and you bake for them and send them a tasty treat, while someone else gets your name and sends you something awesome for your tastebuds. I was getting scared as it was the last day to receive my yumyums.

AND THEN.

It turns out, that of the (at least) hundreds people that signed up for the Eat Up, my amazing college friend Meg's girlfriend Kate, got my name. She had waited to send it at the last possible time in order to space it out from my birthday (which her girlfriend had sent me the most gooey delicious portable version of smores.

Kates Oreo M&M Cookies (above) and Meg's Gooey Smore Stuff (below)

Monday, October 18, 2010

Is it Halloween yet?

New post soon. I have really sucked it up the past few months. Even worse, nearly every post says that I am going to be better about it, and never am. But I have a post in mind! How my new pilates instructor has the intellect of a pea. At least when it comes to pilates. I shall call her Peabrained Pilates Poser.

On a side note, we didn't really do Halloween as kids, I mean kinda, to our grandparents house and a few select others, but not to the degree of most. And then later, I went out once in college with a TOTAL cop out of a costume.

But tonight. TONIGHT. I bought my first Halloween costume. I would say since elementary school, but I don't think we ever bought my costume ever. It took quite the perusing at the store, and I'm pretty sure the guy that is forced to stand outside the dressing room to make sure we don't steal anything wanted to scream at me to just pick a costume and leave already, but I got it. Super cute, but not yet approaching hooker status. Love love love it. I won't say what it is quite yet, but I will tell you the rejects involved a German beer girl, a Referee, and a Eskimo.

The latter was a pretty high contender, leading Tim to try on a related costume (well, remotely related) and despite me not picking the Eskimo, he was so pumped about his costume that he ended up getting it anyway. The kid might as well be prancing on the walls about it. So even if our current plans fall through, we WILL be going out this year. I demand to be cute for Halloween in public!!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Simon's Cat.



Simon's Cat is amazing. The whole series is hilarious, catch more here: http://www.simonscat.com/films.html

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Throwback Thursday: The Elder Ones!


The back of this card says 4/21/82 "The 1st Arrival." No idea what they were arriving to, but I know that it was a week and a half before Tim was born and three and a half YEARS before I was.

But those in full 80s rock mode, are my grandparents. My grandmother's father died this week, at the crazy age of 98. It was on his 75th wedding anniversary, how poetic is that? There was no surprise, and everyone, including him, was fully ready for the end, but still, its never a happy situation.

You know what IS a happy situation though? The stache that my grandfather is sporting in this....

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

New Yoga Gear. Eeek!



Third post of the day.

I just bought this for my new chocolate brown extra thick yoga mat.

Love.

Impromptu Designs is amazing. I have two yoga bags by her.

Ryan and Bonnie, sittin in a tree.

Two weekends ago, Miss Bonnie and Mister Ryan got hitched. After a Ukrainian Orthodox ceremony in the woods (involving a crown ceremony, a three times walk around the altar, acapella singing only, and standing the whole time), we made our to the kickin reception. Absolutely gorgeous and the food....good lord, best wedding food EVER.
A woman asked if I was with catering. In my $350 dress I frickin hope not!

We don't see John very often, so when we do, its always a special and hilarious treat.

No ALPHA kids, he did not smell like chlorine....

Julie hooked Ryan up by flying in his bestest friend in the whole wide world (his heterolifemate) Lance up from Arizona. There was crying involved.

Oh Ryan.

This picture warms my heart beyond belief.


And then. Oh yes. A trip to Whole Foods. Its my Mecca.

Husky Dog Talking - " I love you "



My heart just pumped glitter through my veins...

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Throwback Thursday: Self Promotion.


Total self promotion today, my day of uterine escape. I am two hours old in this picture. My mother doesn't look too thrilled with her picture being taken at the moment. I, however, remember being super pleased to be out of my uterus jail. I mean really, it was all wet and cramped up in there. I wanted FREEDOM! That's why I was 3 weeks early. I just wanted fresh air and dryness.

Sidenote: Mom, I am not saying that your uterus wasn't more than habitable, I just, I like my space. Ya know? Those fallopian tubes were crampin my style....

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Arachnid Club Med.

A story of one of the very few reasons I dislike the fall season....

A few days ago, Nessa was guarding the front closet. A strange place for her to be, but I figured it was bug related. With the growing cold, it seems that theres a few extra sneaking in to stay warm. Got on treadmill. Run run run.

Minutes later, one of the HUGEST spiders I have ever seen scurries under the couch. Now, I really don't like spiders, but I also don't really have a fear of them. They are gross, and its not like I want to hold and play with them, but I dont run screaming either. I get a paper towel and go in for the kill. But this thing was creepily big.

I go to kill it, and I can't find it. I give up and continue my run as Nessa and Myla guard the couch like they are spider bounty hunters. As I run, I realize if I don't get it and kill it before I leave, I will never sit on the couch again without fear of that palm sized spider crawling over my lap.

I totally flip the couch over, see it, and then must race Nessa to kill it before she starts playing shuffle board with it, and it runs away, hiding again. I win the race, and it took a few stomps to kill, including a terrifying shriek when it crawled over my shoe. In my head I saw it making it all the way up my leg and into my shorts.

So we need to get these things dead. That's the third BIG one we've found in a week traipsing about our house like Club Med for Arachnids. NOT COOL.

Naughty and Nice

I have a few posts pending, but i haven't posted my lovely babies recently....so here's what the princesses have been up to! Some sweet, some very very naughty....