Candy and Quinoa

Hmmmm....new blog name?  These two words pretty much describe my diet to a T.  Half of me wants healthy goodness and the other half is like OMG GIVE ME ALL THE CHOCOLATE!

Anyway, I had to share this little story with y'all.  It's one of those classic stories that makes you laugh a leeeetle too hard and might not be funny if you weren't there, but I'll give it a try anyway.

So yesterday, after another full day of IEP writing, I went home and decided to get some cooking done before heading to the gym for spinning and weights.  Deb made daaaaalish Morocan chicken and I decided to make a quinoa tomato and corn salad as a side.  **Note to self: You actually have to have corn to make the quinoa tomato corn salad**  So it became a tomato and quinoa salad instead.

So I go to the cabinet where I usually keep the quinoa and since it's on a higher shelf I began reaching around for it and what did I find?

Plus the 4 that I ate...

My pre-Lent candy stash!  I started laughing right away.  I was searching for quinoa...trying to be healthy and all and I found some Ghiradelli's carmel and dark chocolate sea salt caramels!  Needless to say I ate 2 of the squares immediately.  This whole no sugar until the race is over thing is going seamlessly if you were wondering :)


I instantly remembered when Amanda and I bought them in Target after Valentine's Day.  The entire box (she took half and I took half) cost us $1!!  What a deal!

One of my friends told me they were Manna from God.  I couldn't agree more!  Doesn't this have sweet serindipity written all over it?


I ate two more today after my run and now they're coming to work with me.  I cannot have them here or I'll eat them all up.

I felt that it was okay to snack on them because I knew that spin was going to be a crazy event as it always is.  Thank you Carrie for kicking my chocolate loving butt.  It was a mix of 10 sprints (!) and some mountains.  She calls them hills, but they're Mt. Everest mountains.


I hope you enjoyed that little tidbit of random fun!

Happy Thursday!  One more day until the weekend!  We can do it :)

Also, shout out to my lovely friend Jaclyn!  It's her birthday today!  Welcome to 25!  Can't wait to celebrate with you tonight Princess!

This picture is us in a nutshell.  Pink, pearls, and big sunnies!

Love you girl!

xoxo,

e

Abstainers/Moderators

Happy Thursday!



What is everyone up to today?  Today is a pretty hodgepodge kinda day over here.  Last night my beloved spin class was cancelled so I decided to call it a night and curl up with a glass of wine and some DVRed Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.  Guess who I found?!

Haley and Emily!  

Ben's TWINS!  How crazy?! Also, fun fact, Melissa Rycroft also started her reality tv fame on this show!

Also, Sean Lowe appeared on this show because he was Brooke Sorenson's boyfriend in season 2.  ALSO, Brooke went on to marry Laynce Nix a Philadelphia Philly for 2.5 seasons.  Cacacacrazy!

The title of the post is something that I found inspiration on Julie's blog.  The post is based on the Happiness podcast and it deals with 2 kinds of people:  moderators and abstainers.  Moderators can have one little nibble of a treat and be fine.  Abstainers have to have it all or nothing.  

I'm definitely an abstainer.  I can't have just one piece of chocolate.  I want it all.  I can't have candy, cookies, or cake in the house because I know that in 24 hours it will be gone.  I'm the same way with grapes.  I could live on grapes.  I've always been this way.  I could NEVER be one of those girls who can just *share* dessert.  No thanks!  I need my own piece.  For example, when I prep for races, I cut all refined sugar out of the house.  I can't have any of it or I'll eat all of it.  For short races, I cut refined sugar out for a week.  For longer races, it takes a solid month.  I just find this interesting.  Everyone has different vices and it's interesting how people engage and tackle their vices.  

Yesterday I ended up running around trying to accomplish some top secret errands.  I'll post them in a few weeks when the secret is no longer under wraps.  But until then, my lips are sealed.  

I went (unsuccessfully) shoe shopping for the upcoming weddings.  I didn't find any shoes, but I did find Jaclyn's birthday presents!  

Last night I was exhausted so I called it a night at 9:30.  I did not set an alarm since the only thing on the agenda was Pilates, Barred, lifting, and a run.  I woke up at 9 today!  9!  I never sleep that late!  I kinda enjoyed it ;)

 I went on a quick 5 mile run this morning.  It was a speedy, schweaty run...just the way I like them :) I usually like running at 5 am, but when the opportunity to sleep in presents itself, THIS GIRL will take it.  There's a few differences between running at 5 am and running at 9 am.  

• PEOPLE will see you rundance.  Rundancing is something that I invented to keep me motivated to run at 5 am.  Rundancing is kind of a mix or dancing, running, and sign language. I kinda sign the lyrics while I dance a little bit and obviously run.  It's also great for the endurance!  It's totally dorky, but it's really really really fun! The cars I pass while rundancing at 5 am, I feel like we have a special bond  (who really wants to be up at 5 am?) so they don't care about what I do.  The 9 am-ers have all been up and had their coffee and they know that you are crazy.  
• It's freaking bright!  I don't wear sunglasses when I run because I usually run before the sun comes up.  Plus I hate when they slip down your face.  I ended up with a squinty face.  Mix that with the rundancing and you've got one sexayyy runner...jk.

While I was running today I was thinking, wow, it would be great finances wise to get a babysitting job this weekend.  Well, when I came home and got out of the shower I got a text asking if I could babysit this afternoon.  I then immediately said wow, it would be great if Chris Evans showed up in my life!   Still waiting on that one ;)

Tonight is going to be a great workout, then some Scandal!  So excited!  This season is really picking up and I can't wait to see where all of the story lines go.  Also, it's my last day for wine for a whole month...gotta kick it into high gear for Broad Street! 

I hope everyone has a great Thursday!  

xoxo,

E

Snow Daze

Happy Tuesday!

Raise a glass for it already being 1 day into the work week!

Does anyone else go stir crazy during snowstorms?  I can't sit still and therefore I start to get a little cabin fever after being cooped up for a day.  I know some people can binge watch Netflix for a weekend and be fine with it, but not me.  I need to move around.  P.S. SOOO happy they added Parks and Rec Season 7!  I came late to the P&R party, but I'm pumped to watch Season 7!

Snowpocalypse 2016 started on Friday around 9 and went until Saturday afternoon.  I was bored by Saturday at 7 am.

Friday night, Deb and I attended Grand Conversations.  Grand Conversations is a 2 Day PD workshop that our district offers in which educators are invited to screen a movie on Friday night and engage in a book discussion on Saturday mornings.  There are about 4-5 choices for both the movie and book.  This year I read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.  I would highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone.  It's a non-fiction text which links success to its many factors and links all of these successful outliers to events/people/times that are seemingly out of their control.  These factors all contributed to their successes and can't be overlooked.  It was a fascinating work and definitely made me think.

The theme this year was Honoring Educators.  I was on the panel that planned the event and I suggested watching Boy Meets World.  If you've never seen the show...I don't know if we can be friends anymore.  Anyway, one of the main characters is Mr. Feeny, a beloved teacher and next door neighbor to our hero Cory Matthews. Mr. Feeny ends up teaching Cory and Co. for the entire 7 seasons the show aired on ABC in the mid 90s to early 2000s.  Anyway, it passed through multiple rounds of debate and thus I was appointed "leader" of the BMW movie chat.  I picked 6 episodes from the seasons that highlight Mr. Feeny's impact on the lives of his students.  Pretty shweet gig considering BMW constantly floods my DVR.  See, Deb...I was working this summer when I spent copious hours glued to the TV rewatching a show I've seen 90,000,000 times.

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Registration began at 4 and I grabbed a bucket of popcorn, some candy, and water bottles for my viewers and headed to the designated classroom.  Luckily I had zero technical difficulties.  Then I sat and waited.  Waited/hoped people would show up.  It never crossed my mind that no one would pick my movie to view.  Finally at 4:30 I went to check to see if anyone had signed up replenish my candy stock and ran into Deb and a few other people who just so happened to be coming to BMW!  SCORE!  Not going to lie, I was getting nervous that it would be me and Deb (who would pity watch with me) viewing BMW.

We had 7 people!  The same as 3 of the other movies.  McFarland drew the biggest crowd.  Success!

We all watched the show, laughed, cried, and relived our 90s nostalgia.

After the movie we headed to the library for a yummy dinner from one of my favorite local restaurants.  If you're in the South Jersey area and have not had Vincenzo's you need to stop reading this and GO!  The best Italian food!  I rolled with a Greek salad and chicken and mushrooms.  I'm still dreaming about it :)

Since Jonas the Blizzard was on his way, we ended up nixing the movie discussions and someone from each group gave a 2 minute synopsis of the movie.  I was nominated from my group to give the synopsis.  I hate summarizing (can you tell I'm not a brevity does not befall me?) and ended up saying um and like wayyyyy more than I should have.  I also am proud of myself for not coming across as a total fangirl.


Friday night was spent cuddling up with my super hot boyfriend Chris Evans.  Just kidding, my dog.  Just kidding, these cookies!

recipe here

Giant almond meal cookies the size of my face...couldn't be happier.  Okay, maybe if Chris Evans was actually cuddled up with me whilst eating the cookies, I'd be happier :)

*Side note, I usually use 1.5 cups almond meal and 4 TBSP coconut oil because they tend to be too dry if I don't*

Cookies+Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta=perfect snowy night

Saturday was spent doing absolutely nothing.  I'm not going to lie, I was super salty about this Saturday snow storm.  Saturdays I like to spend all morning at the gym Zumbaing, Pilatesing, and Pouding.  Then, I go to Wegman's for some samples and grocery shopping.  Saturday I made fudge.  It was good, but wayyyyy too sweet.

To counter the sweetness I had some green salad.

1 Granny Smith apple

1 Cup Super Greens

sprinkle of pine nuts

goat cheese

dip of pear infused vinegar

At 10 pm I realized I had 958 Fitbit Steps so I did some half-assed Zumba.

I was in a sugar coma most of the day. Does anyone else feel like death by sugar after eating too much of the sweet stuff?  At 25 I should know when to say stop to the cookie binger.  Maybe at 26...

I don't like shoveling snow.  It's not the physical aspect of it, it's the coldness aspect of it.

I often times go back and forth with the idea of getting married. Having a house full of pink things, girlie decor, a DVR full of Real Housewives, Say Yes To The Dress, The Bachelor, and appropriately closed toilet seat covers really speak to me in a positive way. HOWEVER, when we get over 2 feet of snow and the idea of shoveling becomes a reality, I decide that yes, marriage is in the cards for me. Having someone shovel your snow is worth having one less pink picture frame. It's called compromise. I've heard that's essential to a marriage.

I am all for equality between the sexes, but I don't want to shovel.  I'll make him dinner/drinks/dessert if my future hubs promises to shovel us out.  I'm gonna put it in my vows.  You think I'm kidding?


Do you want to know what else is fun about snow daze?  When it's midnight and you're taking a shower and realize that you have NO HOT WATER!  Thanks Jonas!  I froze my little butt off in that shower.


After my Sunday gym session, I ended up having to shower at the gym.  Thank you RH&FC for not only being an amazing gym, but for having hot water :)

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Does anyone else feel totally awkward and out of sorts showering somewhere besides your own shower?  I never know how to work the shower head (consequently feeling like an idiot and giving myself a pep talk a la The Help:

Come on, Erin.  You are smart, you are kind, you are important.  You also have a freaking masters degree and should be able to work a stinking shower head!  Get it together girlfriend!  Also, all of the hooks were full of other people's shower supplies (seriously who leaves their shower supplies at the gym...on the shower caddy?) so I had to move a little bench over.  So.  Awkward.  Then there's the packing of shower supplies.  Oy vey.  I looked like a crazy bag lady walking into the gym today.  Also, I didn't want to pack my full sized shower supplies so I had to revert to the good ole fashioned travel extras leftover from my vacays this summer.  Apparently I only buy Bath and Body Works scents that make me smell exactly like an over-perfumed tween.  #lovely.  That stuff doesn't just dissipate over time, if anything it gets stronger.  Like Kelly Clarkson.  Or the plague.  I was a multi-scented perfume nightmare.


After my shower experience, I ventured to Target and Wegman's for the essentials.

Cait and I went to Farmicia for dinner.
Sunday I also spent making some Sunday sauce (in za Vitamix) with ground turkey.  I plan on pairing it with some sweet potato veghetti for din din Monday night.  I curled up with Real Housewives of Potomac and stared at all of the work I will have to do on Monday.  I also missed my 12,000 Fitbit steps by 2!  2!  I think it actually stopped working because I was at 11,998 for like 10 minutes.  I spent 3 minutes jumping just to try and win those 2 coveted steps, but alas, they didn't register.  Now I feel like a loser.  Is anyone else super competitive with their Fitbit?  I can't tell you how many times I spend wandering my house or watching Fitnessista Zumba videos on Youtube to try and hit my step goal.  If there are any other Fitbit freaks out there, I feel your (competitively neurotic) pain.


Monday.  Ahhhh, Monday.  The day to play catch up on all the laundry and schoolwork I put off.  Monday is also BACHELOR MONDAY!  Who do you all like?  I like Becca, both Ashelys, and JoJo.  My school is doing a Bachelor Pool and I can't wait to see who wins!

It's been a fun few snow daze, but I'm ready to get back to normal.  All of this sugar is killing me.  I know, I know, I could just not eat it all...but what fun is that?

XOXO,

e

*Fingers crossed that the kiddos aren't too cray cray this week*

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

It's Oxymoron Day aka Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a great weekend!  I did!  On Friday, Jess and I went to Seasons 52 for dinner.  

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In case you haven't heard of Seasons 52 (like me up until a few years ago) I'll tell ya little bit about food heaven.  It's a healthy restaurant with all natural ingredients and every item has less than 430 calories.  Right up my alley y'all!

This was my second trip to Food Heaven and I because I'm boring ordered the same thing as last time

Barbecue Chicken Salad!!  Now I'm usually not a salad orderer for dinner at restaurants, but I make a huge exception at Food Heaven.  This salad is not just a salad--it's out of this world!  Jess and I agreed that we actually missed our salads when they were gone.  

First, we ordered a goat cheese and artichoke flatbread...

It was every bit as foodgasmic as you would think!

Then, we got some salads!  I had BBQ chicken and Jess had a salmon salad.  

They were UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE!

No meal is complete in Erinland without dessert so these happened...

A mocha frappacino thingy for Jess

A S'mores mini for me

It was disgusting ;)

They are like mini desserts.  If you're super classy like me and you lerve Applebee's then you know the jyst.

Saturday was bueno.  I tutored and then went to the gym for a killer elliptical sesh.  After the gym I headed home to get ready for a graduation party!  The party was so much fun and also so weird!  I used to babysit the graduation girl and now she's graduating high school and going to college?!  So crazy!  We made the seamless transition from babysitter-babysittee to friends.  She's going to do such amazing things and I'm so proud of her!

Today's post (which I have been lacking during this whole July Blog Challenge thing) is 3 pictures.  My favorite picture that I've taken, my favorite selfie, and 1 of my favorite things.

My favorite thing?
Family Vacations!  This was taken last year in Nashville

Favorite Picture I've Taken
My Master's Degree photo!
5 long years baby and it finally paid off<3

Favorite Selfie!
This was taken last year at a Phillies game

Tonight I have a big night planned!  Cait and I are getting salads at Panera and cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory (the healthy salad negates the cheesecake, right?) and then we're having a double header Bachelorette Night.  We missed last week's episode so we will have 5 hours of Bachelorette fun planned!  So. Excited.

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 It will without a doubt be...

The.

Most.

Dramatic.

Rose.

Ceremony.

Ever.

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Happy Monday and the start of the last week of July?!  How can that be?  

xoxo,

E

                                 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!

We made it another week!  Go us!

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I have another interview Monday.  I also got rejected from a job I really wanted.  That produced

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Today's link up post is "5 Favorites".  It can be 5 favorites of your choice.  I decided to do my 5 favorite TV shows of the summer!  Get ready for some low brow entertainment people.  I picked my 5 favorite summer TV shows because I'm a pale person and burn way too easily to spend any amount of time out in the sun.  I like my TV because I don't burn or get hot and schweaty.

The struggle is very real my friends....VERY REAL!

1.) Real Housewives of New Jersey Sundays at 8 pm BRAVO.  This classic train wreck meets tanned out North Jerseyites has had me hooked since 2009.  I remember binge watching a season of it in my dorm room freshmen year of college and wondering:

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The mix of big hair, "In the Italian culture" tag line that is dropped 100 times an episode, and the shear unREAL version of the mythical land that is North Jersey simply intoxicated my 19 year old self.  I have been hooked every since.  Since then I have met the Manzo and Laurita clan, and Teresa.  I am still on a quest to meet Dina, Kathy, and Melissa.  We shall see!  I'm a SoJerz girl so the whole North Jerz thing is kind of new to me.  Honestly, I didn't even know what was up in that part of the state until I went to college and made friends from NorJerz.  They really are like that though!  It's crazy!

I'm lumping Real Housewives of Orange County Bravo Mondays 9 into this tanned out train wreck, too.  This train wreck has been chugging along since it's conception way back when (06 maybe?) and I've been loving it for 3 years.  I was tardy for the party but it's ok because I just am so hooked on it!  I think I like it because I don't actually like anyone on it.  I think all of the women are awful.  I guess the only one I like is Lizzie?  Shannon is ok, but I want to hug her and tell her everything will be ok.  I can't stand some of them, yet I can't abandon them.  Maybe it's the blonde thing?  It unifies us?

2.) Scandal sure this show has been out for a few years but thanks to my lover Netflix I just discovered it!  See in college I worked 3 jobs and therefore took mostly night classes and missed a lot of television.   Well this summer I caught up right quick!  Deb and I marathoned all three seasons and are waiting with white hats perched until September for the return of Pope and Associates.  

3.) Don't Be Tardy Thursdays 9, BRAVO.  Again, trash!  This is the worst reality show in the world but there is something so endearing and gripping about Kim Zolciak's life.  I love Kroy!  Don't we all?  He just seems to adore her and her girls.  I love this show because it is white trash chic and she owns it!  I love how she loves sweat pants, and wigs, and glitter, and all things crazy.  I'm hoooooooked!  I never watched RHOA because it never gripped me, but Kim?  Love Kim!

4.) The Bachelorette Monday 8 pm. ABC.  The best show ever!  I'm loving Andi but I do want a fresh person for the next season of Bachelor/Bachelorette.  New blood Chris Harrison.  Also, I get really sad when I look at Chris' manicured digits and don't see his titanium wedding band.  I don't see why he and Gwen couldn't work it out. I'm still rooting for the MOST.DRAMATIC.REUNION.EPISODE.EVER. when Gwen reappears and asks for him back.  Can't stop dreaming about that!  But seriously, I'm 100% still Team Chris!  I love him.  He's the best guy.  Just all around wonderful!  Now I'm team Josh because Nick is a salty little saltersen and I'm over his moody drama.  I think I also love this show because I get to watch it every week with one of my closest friends.  We gossip, dream, and joke through the episode and it makes it 1,000,000,000 times better!

5.) Homeland I know this show came out years ago, but again see #2.  Deb and I are on season 2 and we love it!  It was a slow start but now we're hooked!  We give each other crap for leaving the hosue and thus barring the other one from watching an episode.  We're crazy cool like that!

I hope you enjoyed my low brow sense of entertainment!  I think I love trashy shows because real life is hard.  Real life sucks.  Reality TV?  I don't hate it!  It's an escape and I love it!  What are your favorite shows?!

xoxo,

Er

Finish the Sentence

Hey Friends!

Welcome to Monday!  I've been a running hot mess today prepping for this week in Demo Lesson Land.  I went to 2 libraries, Staples, and Target to prep for these babies.  I'm beginning to dream up demo lessons.  Honest.  My mom came in my room to drop something off in the middle of the night and I told her all about my lesson that I came up with in my dreams!  Efficient, eh?  Dreaming up demos?!  

Anyway, today's challenge is to fill in the rest of the sentences.  Here are mine!  Enjoy!

When I open the fridge, I always hope I find...

Wegman’s Chocolate Cake, almond milk, and blueberries

My favorite article of clothing is...

My hot pink Lilly Pulizter Pearl dress and my Jessica Simpson skinnies...obviously not together ;)

Last week I was really pissed when...

It rained on my beach day with Ra and Jess L

One thing nobody understands about me is...

The amount of pressure I put on myself.  I keep myself up at night worrying.

One thing I don't understand is...

Crocs and why people where them

The world would be a better place if...

Teachers ran it

If I had a million dollars I'd...

Pay off my and my brother’s student loans, buy a house, and shop my bootay off, send an underprivileged girl to college

If I could change one thing about myself, it would be...

To tell myself to calm the eff down—everything will work out

Something that can always make me happy is...

My friends (ok they're not technically a thing but friendship is so it counts) Legally Blonde, and Real Housewives marathons

Something I'll never blog about is...

I think I’ve written about everything so far…maybe I won’t write about little spats I’d have with my future in my dreams boyfriend.  That’s private.

If I could go anywhere I would go...

On a monthlong Mediterranean cruise with the family

because...

we love cruisin’ and I could hit all of the countries I always wanted to go to—Greece, Italy, Turkey!

If I were an animal I would be a....

Pig because they just don’t care what people think and they can eat all day long!  Who wouldn’t want that?  Plus they’re pink!

A job I've always wanted is..

Olivia Pope’s on Scandal

My idea of a perfect day is...

Waking up late, going to the gym, spa day, hair and makeup done by a pro, wearing a fabulous pink sundress and meeting the girls for lunch.  Then heading to the Phils game with my family!

If I knew I'd die next week, this week I'd...

Eat everything!  Shop my heart out (gotta go in the ground in designer!), touch up my roots, spend all the time I could with my favorite people, pray, repent, and apologize.  I’d also haunt my exes from beyond the grave J

What would y'all do??

xoxo,

E

The One Thing I Can't Live Without

Hey Loves,


Happy Sunday!  I'm prepping for a big big week over here--3 interviews!!  2 demo lessons and 1 first round interview.  I'm very excited and very ready.  Ready to give my lessons, ready to get a big girl job, ready to become a full grown adult!  On top of that I have some pretty awesome things on the horizon.

Monday-Bachelorette with Cait!  Who is gonna own the Fantasy Suite?!  I don't know but she seems to have caaaraaazy chemistry with Josh!  He is yummy.  My favorite is Farmer Chris!  Isn't he just hot?!  And his clothes are perfect!  I died a small cuteness overload death when he wore that one button sweater a few weeks ago.  Yummy!

Tuesday-Pool lounging with Jess.  Then some Zumba and Pilates!  Plus a demo lesson...

Wednesday-Beach Cruisin' with Ra and Jess!!  Plus a demo lesson...

Thursday-Bruno Mars with Deb and some of our friends!  Plus a first round interview!!

Friday-Pool Day!

Saturday-Fighting Phils game with my dad

Sunday-Deb's Birthday!

Ok, so today's post is supposed to be the one thing that I can't live without.  That would be my MacBook Pro.  I love this computer--even if I have moderate feelings about Apple.  I love my computer for many reasons.

How do I love thee, let me count the ways,
I love thee because your fast internet,
My soul can reach and post pix of my pet,
For the friends and family I can reach,
From my Facebook page, I can talk to each.
I can order anything, you can bet.
From books, to clothes, to a pink child's tea set.
I can order you a cover in peach,
I can purchase myself country music,
Or look at pix from my trip to the beach.
Or locate my iPhone should I lose it.
I can practice Pilates on YouTube,
I can write about my life and blog it.
See, Mackenna Graye*, I so do love you


*My computer's name is Mackenna Graye because my Mac book is gray...get it, get it?  Corny?  Yep!!

I couldn't live without my computer.  I love her because she lets me write, listen to music, choreograph, apply for jobs, communicate with my friends and family.  I can also squeeze in a workout when I can't get to the gym!  She's perfect!

xoxo,

E

I Think I'm Alone Now...Doesn't Seem To Be Anyone Arou-ound

Happy Tuesday!

It's Day 8 in the July Blog Challenge and the topic today is Things I Do When I'm Alone. 
This might be my favorite thing ever to blog about!  I just do a lotta weird stuff when I'm alone :)

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Does anyone else remember the Full House episode where DJ and co. stay up late to watch Tiffany Live From Tokyo?  It was a classic!  Also, raise your hand if you remember the epic mall rat feud between Tiffany and her bitter rival Debbie Gibson over who was a better Playmate?  Epic stuff man.  They can throw down...never underestimate an 80s pop queen and her fluffy bangs.

--The obvious one...sing and dance like I'm in my own concert.  Yup, living room ottoman gets pushed away and voila!  My stage is ready!  I then perform choreographed routines (and sometimes random jumping...think Harry Styles) and always thank my fans (the couch and love seat love my stuff!) and then I thank God.  Then I stand a la Taylor Swift Fearless tour and just am in awe.  Of all the love I am receiving.

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If you're wondering my setlist it goes like this:

• Cowboy Take Me Away-Dixie Chicks
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-Cyndi Lauper edition (DEFFFF not the Miley %$^#show that was her version)/Single Ladies remix-Beyonce
• Money Maker-The one, only, Luda
• Friends in Low Places-Garth Brooks
• Jolene-Dolly Parton
• Love Don't Cost a Thing-J.Lo
• The Christmas Song-Nat King Cole version
• I'll Make a Man Out of You-Mulan
• With You-Jessica Simpson
• Thinking About You-Trisha Yearwood
• Only Prettier-Miranda Lambert
• Cowboy in Me-Tim McGraw
• Breathe-Faith Hill
• 2 Black Cadillacs- Carrie Underwood...however, for this concert I duet with Jennifer Nettles
• Numb/Encore (both parts)-Jay Z and Linkin Park
• Baby Got Back/Country Girl Shake it For Me remix-Sir Mix a Lot and Lukey Bear Brian
• Tim McGraw-T.Swizzle
• Irreplaceable-Beyonce

Encore

• Drunk on a Plane-Dierks Bentley
• Timber-Pitbull feat. Ke dollar sign ha 
• I Will Always Love You-sung as half Dolly and half Whitney Houston

Pretty epic I'd say :)

-I give interviews.  Not only do I talk to myself but I pretend that Diane Sawyer is interviewing me for a special 20/20 episode.  She's interviewing me about my role as First Lady (there was obviously a huge cheating scandal but we've overcome it) and now as Secretary of Education (I'm rocking the socks off it).  She loves me bee tee dubs.  Plus I also had a 100% approval rating as First Lady ;)

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My girl Diane laughing at my joke.

-Rehearse my monologue for SNL.  Obviously, I will be the first active First Lady to host SNL...duh!  My skits will include what I really do all day long (mani's, pedi's, Pilates, hanging pictures)

-Host a TV cooking show.  I have exactly 10 meals in my repetoire that don't involve picking up the phone and ordering food and I make sure to wear my cute apron and talk to the camera.  

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-Watch ghost shows.  Don't know why I do this when no one is home.  I especially like to do this when my family is in Virginia moving Dylan in/out of his dorm room.  I don't know why but for some reason all the "good ghost shows" are on when I'm alone.  

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-Cry lyrics.  Have you ever done this?  If not I highly suggest it.  You sing the lyrics to a song (any one will do) BUT you cry them.  My favorite is Colbie Callait's I Never Told You.  Do this for about a minute and it will be the best minute of your life.

-Make an Excel page about my finances.  I don't know why but I just love doing my finances.  

-Plan my wedding on Pinterest.  Not gonna lie though, I kinda do that when people are around, too...thank you Pinterest app!

So thur ya go.  I'm a goober when I'm alone.  I just love doing goofy/scary stuff.  What do you like to do?

xoxo,

E

I Love Smiling, Smiling's My Favorite

Happy Monday y'all!

Was it hard getting into the flow of life again after a mucho fabulous 3 day weekend?  I don't know about you, but I think America has the best birthday weekend!  America certainly knows how to party!


Today we're going to chatty chat about all of the things that make me smile.  I know I've done posts about this before, but today's will be a smidge different and hopefully I'll add some new stuff in.

-Babies.  Babies just make me smile because they're so stinking cute!  I worked in the baby room at a day care and I just loved it.  Those little nuggets just brighten up my day.  You can't hold a baby and be sad.

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- Baked Breakfast Cookies!  OOOOOMYYYLAWWWD are these dalish!  Baked Breakfast Cookie recipe can be found in the attached link.  I have had these every morning for the past month or so and I'm hooked!  I make mine with chocolate chips (obviously) and I am full all morning---plus(!) I crave less chocolate throughout the day because I've already had a leetle bit.  The Fitnessista (creator of the Baked Breakfast Cookie) is one of my favorite bloggies because her recipes are quick, easy, made from whole foods, and delicious!  Plus she doesn't make diety food--she indulges in wine and chocolate, too!  My kinda girl!  Plus these cookies are so good the entire famsquad eats 'em.

-Finishing a long run.  Long runs are actually my favorite.  They are where I see my hard work pay off.  Yesterday was an 8 miler as per my half marathon training plan and I ran it in 1:17:00.  Not too shabby for an unnatural runner.  I feel so victorious after my long runs.  Sure my legs hurt, my hips hurt, and my calves need some foam rollin' love, but I just feel awesome when I'm finished.  Definitely a sense of accomplishment.  

-Getting second interviews (I have 2 this week)

-Boy Meets World reruns on ABCFamily.  I'm a sad panda that Girl Meets World is set in NYC...ummmm Cory better not be a Mets fan...

-The way yoga pants make my booty look fab!

-Dancing around in my living room whilst wearing jammies

-When Nordstrom gets brand new shoes for me to look at.  Buying them costs money but looking?  That's fo free!

-When Friends is on...especially when Ross and Rachel get back together...or when Joey says something sweet or goofy

-When someone quotes Bridesmaids in public.  I've made many a friend from tv quotes

-When I get a secret sale price while shopping.  You know, when you go to the register and realize that what you thought was one price is actually a LOWER price!  

-When people bring baked goods in for work.

-Sleeping in

-Hearing a J.Lo, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, vintage Britney, vintage Christina song on the radio...and maybe dancing right where I am

-Marathoning a Bravo show

-Filling up my burrito card from Panchero's...scoring a free 'rito = good time for meeeeee

-Instaplans!  You know that magical time when you're bored and a text comes in asking if you want to do something and you're like "Um, yes!"

Happy Monday!  What are the things that make you smile?

xoxo,

E

ABCs

Happy Monday!

Today I was perusing some of my favorite blogs and found this really cool ABC post.  Since I love learning about other bloggers and their lives I figured I'd treat y'all to 26 little facts about me.

Enjoy!

A.  Age-23 and a half!  I still include the half!

B. Bed-Full size, pink and white color scheme

C. Chore You Dislike-Cleaning my room

D. Dogs-9 year old Shepherd/Lab named Cody or Diffy

E. Essential Start to Your Day-alarm clock buzzes, check my emails, facebook, instagram, texts, brush teeth, wash face, morning routine, etc.  Eat breakfast :)

F. Favorite Color-Pink!  It's more than a color it's a way of life

G. Gold or Silver?  Silver

H. Height-5' 8"

I. Instruments I play(ed)- do tap shoes count?  No?  I played saxophone for a summer.  I was terrible :)

J. Job Title-Tutor, substitute, babysitter

K. Kids?  Nada

L. Live?  Joisey Girl through and through

M. Mom's Name? DEB

N. Nickname(s)-Er, Fern, Munch

O. Overnight Hospital Stays- never...knock on wood

P. Pet Peeve-slow walkers (grrrr!), mandals, people who don't wipe the gym equipment down, boring rain boots, lateness

Q. Quote From A Movie-"Whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously disturbed" Legally Blonde

R.  Righty or Lefty-Right right right

S. Siblings-Dylan...I used to pretend Tapanga from Boy Meets World and Kelly Kapowski from Saved by the Bell were my older sisters...not out loud or anything :)

T. Time You Wake Up-Monday-Friday varies depending on what I have to do...usually no later than 10.  Saturday 8 am-tutor life.  Sunday 9 for church.

U. Underwear-I always use my VS free panty card!  Haven't paid for panties in years ;)  It pays to be a good shopper!

V. Vegetable(s) You Don't Like-Beets, (bears. beets. Battlestar Galactica.  Does anyone else think of Jim whenever anyone mentions beets?)

W. What Makes You Run Late-reading blogs.  I'm always 5 minutes early but I read blogs every am and sometimes that pushes me to the time limit

X. X-Rays You've Had-Teefers

Y. Yummy Food-anything/everything chocolate, all seafood, smoothies, breakfast cookies!

Z. Zoo Animal Favorites-Elephants.  Pigs are my fave animal but the Philly zoo only has them in the Children's Zoo section and technically they're a farm animal so....


What are your ABC's?!

hugs and kisses,
E

If I Had A Superpower

Happy Saturday!

So today we're going to another family party and then the fireworks.  Gonna be bueno!  But first this happened...

The best Pilates instructor brought us bagels!  Always a winner winner!

Today's prompt is what super powers would you have?  Well, this is an easy one for me!  I'd wish for the ability to see into the future.  I just want to know that everything is going to be ok.  I want to see where I'll be working and what the rest of my life will be like.  I want to know everything!  I'm the worst with surprises!  I always try to find my Christmas/Birthday gifts.  I am such an investigator.  I want to know what my future holds.  I don't have to know all of it just kidding yes I do-just the good stuff.  Like what will my house look like?  Am I going to get married?  Will my husband be as hot as my imaginary husband...

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Amirightladies?  So.Cute!

Will I have kids?  Will they like to dance around the living room while singing totally normal embarrassing songs like me?  

Will all of my friends be ok?  Will my family be ok?  

I would like to be able to look into my crystal ball and just go, "Ok...phew...all is good?"  

I wouldn't want to be invisible...some things I don't want to know lol

I wouldn't want to fly...Too much work...although I think it would be amazing for the core ;)

I would maybe kinda want to read people's minds but then I would know what some people were thinking and that would not be great

My super Type-A personality would really like to know that everything is okay.  I hate not knowing.  I think that's one of the hardest things about this time in my life.  That after college what is going on with everything part of my life.

What is your dream super power?

xoxo,

E