My Morning.

Can I please tell you about my day. It’s been ridiculous already.

615am my alarm goes off to get up to work out. Yeah, snooze is immediately hit.

625am my alarm goes off. Snooze.

635am my alarm goes off. Snooze. I’ll work out after work.

645am my alarm goes off. Snooze.

655am my alarm goes off and I realize I need to wake up and work out because I’m going to dinner with Prerana and Lisa later so I won’t work out after work.

So I finally wake up to do my p90x workout (ok, I jumped back on the horse and have been successfully doing it since last Monday- go me). My back is KILLING me so I suffer through the first few exercises and then once it loosens up I feel a million times better and end up feeling great. I literally think to myself ‘today’s going to be a great day’.

Since I was switching hotels today I knew I’d need a taxi. I brought a huge suitcase with me this week to make sure I get everything from my project/parents that I’ll need for awhile back up to NYC- so I knew I wasn’t going to be dragging that thing to the office and then subsequently to the hotel. Sheraton never has cabs and honestly they’re like a pain to deal with to get cabs so I call classy cab. I call and I’m a little thrown off at first because Charles always answers the phone and whoever answered today was NOT Charles. This man denies my request for a taxi to pick me up at 830. First time ever I get denied by them. WTF? So I resort to calling the front desk. I tell them I’ll need a taxi at 830 to take me to the Westin.
Alright, so I jump in the shower, get ready and pack my stuff up. Go down to the lobby only to find out that they couldn’t get me a cab and I’d have to wait for the 9am shuttle. Awesome. Well, by then I knew I was going to be late to work – what’s an extra 20 minutes. Whatever.


Shuttle comes and I recognize the shuttle driver- I’ve had him before. I’m thinking ‘Great, chatter box is the driver. He’s not going to shut up the entire ride’.

4 ladies and myself climb into the van and set off. It’s 9am mind you and these ladies are SO loud and SO ramped up- so much for being worried about the shuttle driver.

‘We’re going to the casino! We’re going to the casino! HELLL YAAAAA LADIES!!!!’ they’re yelling. It was hilarious. I start talking to them trying to find out what’s going on in their world this lovely morning. Apparently they all just met each other the night before and decided they were going to go to the casino at 9am and then go shopping all day. They kept telling me I should not go to work and come with them. It was pretty hilarious.
So the shuttle drops them off and I knew that the employees of the Rivers Casino were in for some laughs. Hope those ladies win big!!! Next stop is the Westin to drop me off. I go up to the desk to check in and I believe I got a new employee. He kept apologizing for everything he was doing (even though he wasn’t doing anything wrong?) and it took like literally 10 minutes to check in. Finally I get my keys and make my way up to the 24th floor. Walk to my assigned room, put the key in and open the door….

‘HEY! WOAH! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! GET OUT OF HERE?! ’

… yes, I opened the door and there was a lady in the room. The room was a disaster too. TV blaring, sheets everywhere. It was kinda ridiculous (I feel bad for housekeeping). So trying to apologize and run away I slam the door and run to the elevator. Um – seriously? WTF? Back down to the desk I go… again receiving about 50898 apologies. Honestly, at this point I really didn’t care. I dropped my bags off at the bell hop and started walking down to work.

As I’m walking I’m replaying the morning’s events in my head all the way up to the point of dropping off my bags at the bell hop. 1 bag I dropped off… SHIT! I left the present I had bought for my dad for father’s day at the Sheraton. So then I start to panic. What if housekeeping threw it away already? Then I started getting annoyed at the fact that I was going to have to go back over there and get the bag. I called and it just so happens that housekeeping had JUST radioed the front desk about the bag.
Awesome. So I guess I need to go back over there sometime before I leave Friday.

So yeah… that was my morning. Kinda funny if you ask me.

A Different Way of Life…

Growing up we always had a backyard to play in, lots of room to grow, places to bike, and if we wanted to go somewhere we had to have our parents drive us there. Walking around NYC I’m amazed at the completely different way of life. I’ve always realized that everyone grows up differently, but the culture and life here is almost as foreign as Paris if you compare it to growing up in Pittsburgh, PA.

I’m currently sitting on my roof deck, which overlooks the New York Harbor and an insane, ridiculously long line to get on the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty. A chair over from me is a little girl, about 6 or 7, playing with her toys and speaking in a different language. If I had to guess I’d say German or Dutch. To be able to play outside this little girl’s mom had to bring her up here and let her play outside. Contrast that to my siblings and I just running out the backdoor into our awesome tree house.

Ridiculous Line for the Ferry

As I walk around the city I’m honestly amazed at how many little parks and squares there are. I absolutely love it. All the kids playing on the jungle gyms, riding their scooters down the sidewalks and nervous parents running after them. As I’ve taken notice to these activities I’ve also noticed that when parents take their children to the park it’s a whole family activity.  Walking up in Tribeca you see so many little families playing at the park. It’s not only a social activity for the children, but it’s a social activity for the parents. Do these types of family activities bring a family closer together? When you have the weekend off and you’re spending it together going to the park, watching your children ride their bikes on the sidewalk or just taking a stroll to a local restaurant I have to wonder if the relationship impact is different.

A typical weekend for me growing up was waking up late, my dad would be outside cutting the grass or doing yard work, we’d all kind of do our own thing and then eat dinner together. We have a great family dynamic and are extremely close. I wonder if our days would have been spent completely together if it would have ended differently? Maybe we wouldn’t be as close as we are today- or maybe we’d be closer?

I wouldn’t have changed a thing about my childhood. As I sit here watching this little girl change her baby doll into a different outfit it makes me think about my future and how I want to raise my kids? Is there a ‘perfect’ way to grow up. I’m sure the definition would mean different things to different people.  My first thought of growing up in a rural town is that I would have hated it- but would I? I wouldn’t have known any better.

There was a moment I had on the subway yesterday that I think I’ll remember for my whole life. I was sitting on the A coming back from the Rockaway beachs (yes, it was a long ride) and at one of the stops a mother and her son, about 7 or 8, walked on. They were smiling and seemed very happy. After another passenger left and a seat opened up she sat down and the little boy sat on her lap. She gave the boy a huge bear hug and I could hear her whisper 'I love you' to him. He got the biggest smile on his face and said back ‘I love you a billion times more Mom’. It was so cute because you could tell that the love they had for each other was unmatched to anyone in the universe in that moment.

Life is what you make it and as long as you’re living it to your standards of happiness then who can judge if one lifestyle is better than another?

At the airport on Friday I bought a new book to read. It’s called the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She says in the book that she wasn't depressed, but she had not reached her fullest happiness potential. I believe I’m the same way. I’m happy, but I think there are things that I can do to extend that happiness and make it even better. I’m excited to read this book and possibly start on my own ‘happiness project’.

More to come on that book ;)

Throwin' it back to Gloria... I just want to be happy :)

Peace, Love and Happiness!

F YOU Chest, Shoulders and Triceps

 Yeah… I tried doing the Chest, Shoulders and Triceps video and I got about 15 minutes into it and said screw this.

I’ve really tried to make myself push through these p90x workouts, but WHAT THE HELLLLLL. SERIOUSLY? PEOPLE CAN DO THAT? I don’t know… I know Ms. Lighty,  my elementary school gym teacher, always said I had marshmallows for muscles in my arms, but holy shit.

I just put on the Shoulders and Arms video and called it a day.

For those out there that can do this video.. HELP! I need some motivation to actually attempt to do that one again.

Usually this song can motivate me to push through a hard work out, but it wasn’t helping on this video:

Peace, Love and Ridiculous Workouts.

MEANNNNNNIE

I love this.

Idina's I'll Cover You

I've been looking for this video ... I love this version... I love this song... I love her...

Update: Biggest RENTHead Contest!!!

I MADE THE TOP 10 FINALISTS TO BECOME THE BIGGEST RENTHEAD!!!

Read my original post here

I'm so excited! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEE RENT!!!!

I made a video the first time. Check it out here.

Now I need to write either a 250 character word essay or a series of 5 tweets about my love for Rent. I'm definitely doing the 5 tweets. I just keep writing tweets that I think would be good and on Sunday I'm going to pick my top 5 to submit. I'm trying to be really creative with them.

49 days until it opens on Broadway! Keep up with the count on the RENT Site and keep your fingers crossed that I get picked!!

Check out this 'you might be a renthead site'- haha LOVE IT. God, the sad thing is in high school we used to do so many of these!

Aweee I totally remember this performance from the 2008 Tony's!

Peace, Love and La Vie Boheme!

Finales

Celebrity Apprentice.
Biggest Loser.
Dancing with the Stars.
American Idol.

Oprah.

What's going on this week! All the shows are ending! At least The Voice is just starting :)

Well, I didn't watch Biggest Loser or the Apprentice. And thank you to my lovely roommate for taping Oprah's show today for me (I'll watch it this weekend). But I did watch DWTS and Idol.

As a side note, I totally want Trump to bring back the original Apprentice. I want to be on it. I think that'd be a kick ass show to be on and I know I'd do an awesome job on it. Anywaysssss....

Obviously Hines won because, as my boyfriend put it, Steelers are winners. DUH! It actually was hilarious because my mom got out her big Steeler flag and was running around the house. And yes, I made a trip home just to watch it with them. It was awesome to see how pumped all of Pittsburgh was at the win. Yay! Go Hinessssssssss!!

Idol has been interesting for me this year. If you recall last year (in this post) we had a big Idol party and were totally into it. Now I will say my family is still very in to it, but this year I really did start to lose interest. What I'm about to say may shock most of my friends- but I honestly don't care who wins. I wasn't really invested in this season and I think Pia should have won the whole thing.... soooooo yeah. I really did like Steven and JLo and I love how they had Jimmy work with the contestants every week. Will I audition this year? Hells yes... if my schedule allows. haha Of course auditions are now coming to Pittsburgh and I won't be here haha! OF COURSE!

Loving this track right now. Love love loveeeeeeee Swedish House Mafia. Seriously- if you haven't listen to their stuff check them out. They're album Until One is awesome. Def one I keep on repeat.

Peace, Love and Reality TV Love.

20.5 Carats? WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTT?

So when I walked in to work this morning I didn't realize it would be such a news filled day.
I knew it was Oprah's last show.
I knew the Hang Over 2 was opening tomorrow so people may start writing reviews.
BUT
I did not know that Kim Kardashian GOT ENGAGED?!

Over the last 6 months at work a lot of my good friends left my project and I for sure miss them everyday, but today I really missed Lisa. We used to sit and talk about the Kardashian's all the time and now that Kim was engaged she wasn't here to gossip!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh



Of course she'd break the news to People. Of course she'd have the most ridiculous ring known to man kind. Of course she'd be engaged to a basketball player... I'm just wondering how long it is until they announce she's pregnant. I for see a baby being born in about 8 months. Just a thought.

Well Kim. Good luck. Now you've caught up to your sister's and you can live your fairy tale life. How long do you think it is until she's on to the next one? JK. LOVE YOU KIM!

And as a tribute to KK let's throw it back to fall 2010 and her 'leaked' song Shake.


Peace, Love, and KK keeping up with her sisters.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

I have a very addictive personality. I hate waiting for things, and if I want something I find a way to get it ASAP. I'm always obsessed with new things and begin every other sentence with- ohhh that's my favorite or one of my favorite things is...

Back in high school and college I always had a top 5 favorite things list. I decided to revisit my top 5 favorite things the other day and came up with a new list.

My top 5 favorite things back then were:
1. Sunglasses and Earrings
2. Music- singing, listening to it, performing, everything about it!
3. Cheesecake
4. Peirogies, Pulled Pork and Zucchini Parm
5. Boys

So as it stands today, 25 years young, these are my top 5 favorite things at the moment...
1. Accessories - rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, scarves, shoes etc. I LOVE THEM (ESPECIALLY anything with animal print...)
2. Music- everything and anything to do with it
3. Traveling- airplanes, airports, everywhere (I kinda have the travel bug BAD right now)
4. Reality TV/Social Media - although they don't really go together, I combined them because I wanted them both to make my top 5 haha! kinda obsessed. in terms of social media- over sharing should be in my personal statement.
5. BBQ Sauce and Milk - I could drink a gallon of both in like 5.2 seconds

Don't discount the fact that cheesecake is still the way to my heart and my 3 favorite foods are still peirogies, pulled pork and zucchini parm...but they didn't make the top 5 this time. I'm obsessed with everything that's the color purple, the Voice, dieting and trying to be healthy, the internet, Disney, safari animals and the beach - they didn't make the list either.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite songs of the moment. Although a year old, I still love it!!


Peace, Love and 'I LOVE THAT TOO!!'

BUY MY CAR

Check out my car posting:

Vehix Car Classifieds

Peace, Love, and Seriously Buy My Car.
K, Thanks :)

Biggest RENTHead Contest!!!

I remember when I first heard the Rent soundtrack. I was in high school. And I was in LOVE.
I was so obsessed with the soundtrack. I used to hate having to go to school because it meant I couldn't listen to it.

My friends and I drove 5 hours to see our first Rent show. We missed the first 5 minutes and were kinda pissed. We actually brought candles, stood outside the theater, lit them and sang Would You Light My Candle. It was pretty awesome.

We used to have Rent parties. Make Rent memorabilia such as bags, shirts, shorts, etc. Sing the songs alllllllllllllll the time. We even tried to convince our choir director to put on Rent. Yeah, that didn't happen BUT we did get to sing Seasons of Love my Junior year. That was definitely a highlight.

I've seen the show 5 times in the theater - including one of them starring Constantine Maroulis. I went to see the movie TWICE in the theater on opening day (midnight and then later that night) and bought it the day it came out of DVD. I had 3 different cd versions of the show.

About a week ago my friend Krista, one of the original RentHeads that I hung out with in High School, tweeted me a link for this contest. What contest you ask... ohhhhh just to find the biggest RentHead to become the official blogger for the show.

Um yes. I know what you're thinking. MY DREAM JOB!

Obviously I needed to apply. So I made a video... and although it's probably not the standard 'Pick me! I'm awesome! I love Rent' video that others may enter - I'm hoping to catch attention for my creativeness. Haha we'll see if it works!!!!!!!

CROSS YOUR FINGERS!!!!!!!!!!



Peace, Love, and I wish I was latin so I could play Mimi on Broadwayyyyyy

p90x update!

A few weeks back I threw out there that I was starting p90x.
And I knew I wouldn't follow it to a T. I knew that going in.

First week = all 6 workouts
Second week = 2 workouts (Brad came home this week sooooooo woops...)
Third week = 3 workouts
Fourth week = 4 workouts

SO now that I'm in my Fifth week I'm doing the 'Week 4'.

GOTTA KEEP IT UP!!!! Ahhhh I hate it, but I definitely feel it.

I love all these new gaga songs!!!


Peace, Love and Sore Arms!!

THE VOICE

If you're my facebook friend you already know, from all my statuses, my thoughts on The Voice.

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

I love all the different rounds.
I love all the variety.
I want to be on it.
I love the drama.
I love the singing.
I love the coaching.
I love the concept.
I want to be on it.
I love Cee Lo.
I love Xtina.
I love Blake.
I love Adam.
I have great memories of TRL with Carson Daly (and also those crazy ones with Tara Reid hahaha).
I want to be on it.
I love the different songs they've sung.
I love the blind auditions.
I love the battle rounds.
I want to be on it.

And I'm lovvvvinngggg me some Javier Colon so far...

No, but in all seriousness. I love American Idol (and if you know me you know I've auditioned a few times already), but it's repetitive. It's the same week after week. Singer gets up. Sings. And is judged. This show is showing variety and I love it. I do realize it's NEW and it'll got old like Idol is, but I love it.

In other news- Idol is FINALLY coming to Pittsburgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's just hope I can make it to the auditions now that they're in my hometown! haha

Peace, Love and THE VOICE!

Insipred.

As I'm sitting here watching Dancing with The Stars (obviously rooting for Hines!! GOOOO HINESY!!!!) I've been really touched.

They just had a little girl named Tayla Kelley dance on the show who has been diagnosed with a life threatening illness - one which has given her until her 18th birthday to live.

“Tayla was born with the same disease as the boy in the bubble,” said Tayla’s mom, Jill Kelley. “She is missing the portion of her immune system that fights off bacteria so she receives weekly blood treatments in order to stay alive and healthy.”

Read more in this article

This little girl said she made a conscious decision when she was little not to be the 'sick kid' and has set out to live her life. She said she loves to dance and focuses most of her energy on dancing. She had the opportunity to dance with Chelsie and Lacey in front of millions. I'm not an expert on dancing, but I really think she did a great job. I was sooo proud of her - I can't imagine what her family was thinking! Within her 5 minute story on the show she really touched me and I hope she gets more opportunities to dance her little heart out :)

On a lighter note... I'm loving GaGa's new song

Peace, Love and live your life the best way you can!!

DJ got us fallin in love again ;)

Yup. I took these pictures... oh ya know... just 7 rows from the stage.

 7 rows from a man who can sing amazingly.

7 rows from a man who can dance his little heart out.
7 rows from a man who my mom lovingly refers to as

THE TOTAL PACKAGE

Years ago my mom got an Usher Concert on DVD and fell in love with Usher Terrence Raymond IV.

She used to ride her stationary bike in front of the TV (and also while checking emails ;) hehe love ya mom) and watched Usher bust a move. Between his dance moves, his awesome voice and the way he treated his mother (he got lots of brownie points for this one) my mom decided he was 'The Total Package'.

Being the amazing, awesome, beautiful, super, fantastic, best daughter in the world that I am, this year for Mother's day I bought my mom (and me) tickets to USHER USSSHEERRR. Now when I bought the tickets we were up in section 204, 2nd row, but still up high. After watching Akon perform (who was pretty good BTW) we spotted a row of seats down by the stage that was completely empty. Of course we ran down to the lower level and swiped the seats! Sitting 7 rows from the stage we were paranoid that the rightful seat owners were going to show up and kick us out... but it never happened! We got to watch the entire concert so close and it was A.W.E.S.O.M.E!

So happy that I got to see the total package perform with my mom :)

Love you mom!!!!

Peace, Love and the Total Package

It doesn't matter if you love men or have a fat hairy chin

I love this video. It's hilarious



Peace, Love and my love for parody videos! haha

Relationships

I actually just wrote a really long ass blog post about relationships and the different levels of emotions that you go through throughout your years of life and as I started reading it back one thing kept screaming in my head. . .

'how do you have any right to write this post?'

I'm not a relationship expert (you're shocked right? haha! jk)
I don't know anything about relationships expect for the sitautions I've been in.

Yes, I've made mistakes along the way... but it definitely has shaped me for the better.

Through good and bad, thick and thin, hot and cold, fun and boring, nice and mean times I've realized what is most important to me.

Here's a snapshot of my thought progression on relationships...

Things I've learned a long the way:

Family is everything. When you're with someone you're not only with them, but with their family.

You shouldn't ever have to compromise your family for your relationship. Don't let anyone ever make you feel bad for wanting to attend family or friend functions.

Career is important, but not when it comes before everything else.

Spending money is fine, when you have it. (I know, I know. I'm working on this one)

Faith and religion are more important than I originally thought at first.

There are people out there that bring out the best in you.

If you don't like something- change it.

Negativity is evil and will ruin any and every situation.

My current relationship is teaching me alot. Although it hasn't been long, I would honestly say I've learned so much and grown so much from it already. Patience isn't something I'm good with and having a rock to lean on is so refreshing and comforting. Not having to be the caretaker all the time and knowing that I have someone there no matter what is also amazing. It's so funny to look at the differences between us. (he'll probably kill me that I'm even writing this post about him- hehe sorry baby.) Our experience in life have given us both different perspectives.

For example- our situation kinda sucks currently.

He's been over in Africa working since January and we've been having a long distance relationship through the last few months. Now my mindset is that I hate it. I absolutely hate being away from him, that I can't just text him all the time, that I we can't be together every week,  that July 1st is sooooooooo far away, and that this is the worst thing that's ever happen. His mindset is- it's only a few months, it's a great career opportunity, that we're closer than ever and that the time we have together we make worthwhile. I feel that his experiences in life have made him so much more mature in this relationship that I currently am. My thoughts are more immature and wanting to have everything right now... now, that is my personality- I hate waiting for things, I'm a very 'in the now' type of person. I believe that I'm learning to accept things I cannot control and am gaining patience that I did not have before.

Relationships. Shamlationship. Who has all the answers? No one does... but when you find something that works and brings out the best in you (and your significant other) that can really make your heart smile. And mine is definitely smiling the biggest smile it's had in a longggggggg time.

Peace, Love and LOVE!

ps. I love you baby :-*



New David - Released today!

New David Guetta track released today... with my girl Nicki!!



Peace, Love, and David Guetta (I love himmmmmmmmm)

Happy Easter!!!

I hope everybody enjoys their candy, sweets, food, eating after 9pm or anything else you gave up for Lent today!!! :)

This Lent I really couldn't think of anything to give up that wouldn't really be benefiting me. For example- if I gave up candy it wouldn't really have been because of Lent, it would  have benefited me because it probably would have aiding in me losing weight. I was trying to think of something that would really push me to recognize the Lenten season. So that's why I made a commitment to attend church as much as I possibly could. The only time I didn't make it was when I went to Africa.

Thinking back on past Easters I realized that other than being with my Family I was with Iwona for 2 different Easters! One in Tunis, Tunisia and the other in Panama City Florida!

In Tunis they had these rabbits right outside the restaurant. Our one friend Katie swore that they kept disappearing and that they were the rabbit meat on the menu at the restaurant! haha

We had a really fun trip, but we were sad that we were missing the yummy ham and all the chocolate goodies back in the states!

 

Maggie, Jamie, Myself and Alicia sad eating our 'Easter Camel'

 
The following year a bunch of my wild and wonderful WVU friends went on spring break to Panama City, Florida. We were there during Easter so obbbbbbviously we dyed eggs! I'm pretty sure Iwona and I were the most enthusiastic about dying the eggs, but some others got in on the action. 

Laura, Jon and Ashley dying Easter eggs!



Me and Von loved it :) haha!

While we were on our way down to Florida we heard a radio station playing this song:



Wishing everyone a blessed and fun filled Easter :)
Peace, Love and Happy Easter!!!!!!

Not gonna lie.. kinda proud of myself

1 week down.
Yay! I did all 6 workouts this week!
Not gonna lie, pretty proud of myself.
And pretty sore.

So I went to Walmart to buy bands for my workouts anddddddd my car wouldn't start in the parking lot. Great right :(

On a side note... you should buy it ;) it's still for sale. hahaha! When it rains it pours right... of course something would be wrong with it when I'm trying to sell it. UGH!

This song gets stuck in my head for days....

Peace, Love and Cars that Won't Start.

for you and i

Was looking through my youtube channel tonight and realized it's been so long since I've uploaded any new videos. I love love loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee this song. Gotta love the Land Before Time :)

Don't lose your way

With each passing day

You've come so far

Don't throw it away

Live believing

Dreams are for weaving

Wonders are waiting to start

Live your story

Faith, hope & glory

Hold to the truth in your heart

If we hold on together

I know our dreams will never die

Dreams see us through to forever

Where clouds roll by

For you and I

 

See more at http://www.youtube.com/user/sweetbpgurl4u

 

Peace, Love and Little Foot.

p90x

So this morning my alarm went off and I’ll be honest… I definitely went back to bed. I’m hoping to leave work with enough time to get my workout in tonight instead.


On Monday I started doing the P90x workout videos, compliments of my lovely boyfriend. Not that he told me to do them- he gave me the videos cause I asked ;) haha (don’t take it that way lol)

I started following the ‘lean’ program and have completed 3 days so far. This morning I just really wanted to sleep so I didn’t get to jump into the 4th yet. Tonight. I’ll do it tonight.

Yesterday I was talking to Brad and he was saying that I must like it since I’ve 1. Completed the videos in their entirety and 2. Completed them for 3 days now. Let’s be real for a second. In no way shape or form do I LIKE doing these videos. I actually hate them… but I need to get something going as my daily treadmill or elliptical spells don’t seem to be cutting it. And with us on the cusp of bathing suit season I need to start getting in shape… especially after wearing my suit in Africa I definitely do not feel comfortable going to the wave pool or sandcastle after that. (thankfully no one knew me on that continent haha!)

I’m not following their diet plan for a few different reasons- the main being that since I travel I can’t cook my own food and really plan out exactly what I’m going to eat. I am, however, following a restricted calorie plan where I’m eating between 1400-1500 calories a day with hopes to loose 1 pound of fat a week (while building and defining my muscles with the workout videos).

I’ll keep you up to date with my progress ;) we’ll see how it goes… The P90x workout program is 6 days a week. And being realistic that’s probably not going to happen. I’m shooting to complete 4-5 days a week. Why lie to myself? Gotta set obtainable goals.

So far I’m pretty sore haha- I sneezed yesterday and my abs hurt. That’s always a good sign! Haha This weekend I need to go and buy a band to use. Up to this point my ‘weights’ have been the 2 water bottles that the Westin provides in their rooms. Funny right? haha! Hey it works… and since I have no upper body strength whatsoever it’s a good ease into using weights. Haha (I just re-read this paragraph and realized how pathetic it sounds) Sad but true… saaaaaaaad but true.

My music pick this post is something that you can use to help you through workouts. I’ve found this podcast from the United States of Trance Movement.



It comes out every other Monday. You can listen/download through their website, but it’s also on iTunes and I use that stay updated. Check them out: USTM - they’re usually 2 hours too, which gives you max work out tunes. Love it!

Hope everybody is being holier than thou this Holy Thursday.

Peace, Love and my imaginary 6 pack.



Update: I totally did the Kenpo video tonight. yay go me. :) haha

American Idol

So. This season of Idol hasn't really hit home with me that much just because I haven't seen a lot of the episodes due to 1. working late and 2. now that I don't live at home my mom doesn't have it dvr'd for me haha!

But the episodes that I have seen have shown me that the contestants this year are really good.

Having said that, from what I have seen, I really like JLo and Steven Tyler. I love what they've brought to the show. I love the little differences they've brought this year: bringing back kicked off contestants to perform, making the contestants more real and showing them outside of their performance, working with Jimmy and I don't know... I just feel that it's so much more personable now than it was.

It was a sad day to see Paula go... then Simon... but I actually really think Idol is doing well this year.

I was kinda bummed that I wasn't' in NYC when they had audition for the X Factor (Simon's new show), but we'll see... maybe that means that auditions for Idol this year won't be as bad as they were in the past.

Or maybe I'll go for that 'The Voice' show with Xtina... we'll see ;) Peneener- you in? haha!!

I really do miss singing... and singing contests. I love that stuff so much.

Today I heard this song as a trance remix and I totally forgot about it until I heard it. Bringing it back to 2002- Xtina with a lil Voice Within. Gonna be honest... she has one of the most amazing voices out there. Celine and Christina. Seriously. I think those 2 are so far above anyone and everything.




Peace, Love and Singing.

Central Park

Woke up this morning and it wasn't the nicest days outside. It wasn't raining yet and according to the hour by hour on weather.com I had until about noon til it was going to rain. So I decided that instead of going to the gym for my work out I was going to trek it up to Midtown and go to Central Park. I hadn't been there since I came here and even having been there before I never really explored it.

So I set off. 25-ish minute subway ride and I made it to Columbus circle. I wasn't sure exactly which way to go so I just started off walking down the paths and watching where other people were going. After about 20 or so minutes I realized I should have turned the app on that I have on my phone that tracks how far you go. After looking at the map I realized it was going to take me a longgg time to get to the other end of the park and then back to the beginning.

Down windy paths, stopping every so often to enjoy the view or looking at the map to see where things were and where I was, I made my way through Central Park.

There was a Parkinson's Walk going on today so there were many people there with signs and tee-shirts. It was about 11:30 and I reached the other side of the park and thinking about what the weather forecast had said before I left I realized I better start booking it to the other side of the park.

On my way back to the front of the park I ended up getting lost on some trails up in the north part of the park. Down one of them I saw this little waterfall that immediately took me back to walking the trails with my love in Zambia.

In the end this is what my workout ended up looking like and I got a great tour of Central Park! :)

Central Park is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy bigger than I ever remember it being. It's crazy! I look forward to more weekend workouts in the park!

Dj Tiesto's Club Life Volume One: Las Vegas album got me through my power walk sesh this morning. This is one of the great tracks on this compilation.



Peace, Love and Power Walks.

Joburg, SA

We got to spend a day in Johannesburg, South Africa before parting ways and going home. (I don't want to think about it, I'll get teary eyed again)

We stayed at a great little hotel called the Quartermain. It was so nice and quaint and totally different from Zambia! haha

So we really had absolutely no idea what to see in Joburg so we hired a private tour guide who took us around the city in the morning.

Milton first took us to see the World Cup Stadium. The World Cup of Soccer was held in South Africa last year and this stadium was used for the opening and final games.

Next Milton took us to the Mandela house in SOWETO. It was really interesting to see their old house and learn about all the events that took place. There was a brick wall they put up in their kitchen that they said the children would hide behind when people would be shooting at their house. It was really sad, but really interesting to learn about.

After our tour of the Mandela house we drove around the city center of Joburg. It actually was pretty disgusting because their garbage collectors went on strike and haven't collected trash in awhile. There was garbage everywheeeeere.

Gross- right? YUCK!!!

After driving through the city center we headed back out into the suburbs and went to see where Nelson Mandela lives today. On our way we stopped and saw a great view of the area.

As you can see, he made a little bit of an upgrade with his current house:

Check out all the rest of our Joburg pics!

We didn't really do too much in Joburg just because we didn't have a lot of time, we really didn't know everything that there was to do and we were worn out from the rest of the activities we did that week.

Felt like this song was probably appropriate ;)

Peace, Love and Soccer

Circle of Life

During one of our African Adventure days we went to Kasane, Botswana to Chobe National Park. The morning was a boat safari down the Chobe river followed by a 4 by 4 safari throughout the animal park.

We were picked up at our resort and transported to the border of Zambia/Botswana/Zimbabwe/Namibia. There's no bridge over to Botswana so we had to ride in a little boat over to Botswana.

Once over the river Mike picked us up and took us to the Chobe National Park! We arrived at the Chobe Safari Lodge and it was beautiful! Such a pretty lodge. 

Once we got to the lodge we had to check in and wait for a few other people to show up. Once everyone was ready we loaded up in the boat and set sail down the Chobe river! At first we only saw birds, but then we started seeing bigger game. Impala, TONS of hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, etc.

The boat safari was about 2 1/2 hours long and then we had a buffet lunch at the lodge. Once lunch was over we loaded into the jeeps that brought us to the lodge and we headed into the game park to see animals! We pulled into the park and immediately saw giraffes and elephants. Then Mike, our guide, was told over the radio that there was a lion spotted! He said that if they're lucky they get to see a lion about once a week. So we booked it over to where the lion was and we basically stalked the lion for about an hour hoping that it was going to attack an impala. It never did, but it was so awesome to be so close to the lion!

It was such an amazing day. Definitely a highlight of the trip. We almost didn't end up doing it just because it wasn't the cheapest activity, but it honestly was so worth every single penny that we spent.

Here was our safari group for the day: a family from South Africa, a couple from the Netherlands, and then of course the hottest couple ever ;)

Check out the rest of our pictures from our Chobe Safari!!



Peace, Love and Simba!