This Weekend!

Lots of fun activities are planned for this weekend. Here's my list o' fun:

1) Dallas Race for the Cure
2) Dance Practice in Plano
3) My Nephews Soccer Game
4) SPA week massage
5) Dinner at the Keg to celebrate MB's Promotion
6) Appearance in Austin
7) R&R (maybe)

I can't wait!! :)

SPA WEEK!

Dallas- it's spa week! $50 specials on spa services until October 16th- where are you going, and what services are you enjoying?

I'm going to the Spa at Saks and getting a swedish massage on Saturday. I'll post a report after! :)

Choices..

I have WAY overdone it on my fall wardrobe, so I MUST reduce. Here are the outfits I have purchased:

Please tell me you hate something so I can return it!!?

I'm finally ready to admit...

...That I have a small case of OCD. Especially regarding "exercise credit". Let me explain...

I do a few things to stay in shape/challenge myself including:

• Dance practice 3x/week and games every couple weeks
• Dance Team Session with GinJer (our trainer)
• Running training for a half marathon
• Gym visits to either 24 fitness or Gold's Gym (they have tv's on the cardio equipment so I can read my magazine, watch e! and exercise all at once!!!)

I have a health club membership to both 24hr and Golds via my health insurance provider. When I scan my membership card at either place, I get "points" to buy goodies once I reach a certain number of gym visits per week (4 is ideal). Naturally, this entices me to go to the gym to do my workouts. Since my dance practice is at a studio, I have been known to drop by the gym on the way to practice to scan my card to get exercise credit, then go to the studio. :)

I am also a member of Virgin Healthmiles through my employer. I wear a pedometer, upload steps and log my exercise to earn healthmiles- which add up to a potential 36,000 miles per year. You can cash in your healthmiles for heart rate monitors, gift cards, or cash. Up to $300/year.

I also belong to RunKeeper- our local councilman does a monthly challenge where if you log 10 workouts of 30 min+ each month, he buys breakfast at a local health-conscious restaurant. Very nice gesture.

Obviously, my optimal workout for free goodies would be to wear my pedometer to the gym to earn both "points" and healthmiles, then log those exercises on RunKeeper.

The last factor I consider is my Garmin watch, which uses GPS to log my run routes, time, lap splits, etc.  

Before I work out, I make sure I have on both my healthmiles pedometer and my garmin watch.

HEAVEN FORBID I workout without getting credit for it!! 

Moral of the story- I have a routine I stick to, but If I let myself totally succumb to "goodie gluttony", I would run to they gym each day (logging the run on my Garmin watch), then check in at the gym, watch tv, and run back home. I would then "Sync" my Garmin, upload my run activity to both the Garmin Site (the to facebook if I wanted to brag), sync to RunKeeper (for my free breakfast), then upload my steps on the healthmiles website, and end with reporting my activity to my health insurance company. 

Both healthmiles and my insurance company have a time limit on how far back you can log activities,so I try to do it weekly (on Mondays). I know a lot of people would NOT waste time to get $300/year and a few other goodies along the way, but I CAN NOT have some award available to me and not try to win it. Call it OCD, call it coveting, call it what you want, just don't call me on this obsession- I'll be at the bank cashing my Healthmiles checks :) 

In addition to OCD- I also have exercise ADD. I can't just stick to one workout plan. I have a food journal (to keep track of weight watcher points) where I also log my exercise. In that journal, I have the class schedules for Pure Barre (a dance workout), Sunstone (Hatha Yoga), Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training Guide, the Insanity workout program, and my 3 favorite 24 hour fitness class schedules. The sad part of all this is that I work out 5 days per week (3 of those are dance days), so I have these schedules for only 2 days of working out per week. Clearly, I've convinced myself that if I have the options at my fingertips, I will never miss a workout (not true at all). 

I'd like to offer my thanks to the following for putting up with me and keeping me in check: 

• Weight watchers
• 24 hour & Gold's Gyms
• Virgin Healthmiles
• RunKeeper
• Personal Health Manager
• GinJer
• DCR&B

Fall Wardrobe!!

I didn't buy the first outfit (just the elephant belt), but I have the rest- whatcha think mama?

I can't believe it's over!!

Matt was kind enough to go see the final Harry Potter with me a few weeks ago, and of course, I took a (very close up) picture to document the momentous occasion. I loved he movie, and loved date night with MB!! :)

Pure Barre

I LOVE to exercise, and I love when my friends get excited about a new workout! Tristan just signed up for a month's membership at Pure Barre, a ballet/yoga/toning hybrid workout (about an hour) that does a lot of isometric work. I've been told I need to work on keeping my weight in my toes for dance, so I figured this was a good way to practice. The workout uses a small ball, toning band, and light weights (you have your choice of 2,3, or 5 lb. weights to choose from) to tone the following (female problem) areas:

• Abs
• Thighs
• Seat 
• Arms

One aspect of the class I loved was, after each target area training, you stretch that area.. I sweat just a little (but I sweat VERY EASILY), and feel like I got my $20 worth.
You have the option of $20/class, $100/month (for your first month), class cards that offer discounts starting at 10 classes, or monthly memberships. I liked the workout, enjoyed the instructor, and LOVED laughing with Tristan throughout the class (a lot of the moves involve hip thrusting/butt clenching, and I'm very giggly when I get embarrassed). Part of the reason I was embarrassed was that I realized when you perform a "Tuck" (butt clench), you can see EVERY ounce of cellulite through your black yoga pants (oh, and everyone wears black yoga pants)..

Next time I go I would push myself a little harder (the class went by very fast), I would buy the gripper socks they sell because I slipped on the carpet quite a bit, and I would try to relax while stretching.

YEA Tristan & Cess!! PROOF!!!

I'm official!

I received my first paycheck from the Cowboys today!! So exciting!!

I cropped out my address to keep the stalkers away (jk).. :) 

OBSESSED!

I made a serious investment last week.. In a Chi Orbit... I did a lot of research on curling wands after one of my teammates (with fabulous hair) told me about hers. They range in price from $20-$100+. All of the wands had mixed reviews, and I decided on the Chi (honestly because I knew an Employee at Beauty Brands, and she told me it was the best). I paid $99.98, but had beauty brands coupons, so I saved a bit. It comes with a glove (Silver, totally MJ style), and after burning myself (twice) I realized it was pretty necessary. The issue with the glove is that it's hard to separate your hair with the glove on. Here are the steps I followed (and results I got):

1) Spray root booster on wet hair, and blow it dry (make sure to lift and straighten roots)
2) Separate hair into 5 sections (front top, crown, right side, left side, back)
3) Position the wand where the smallest part faces the ground, wrap a section of hair around the wand (roots start at the largest part of the wand), count to 30, release.
4) Repeat on other sections
5) Run fingers through curls, finger curl a few sections to your taste
6) Tease crown
7) Spray!!

I seriously feel like the people who wrote negative reviews just didn't know how to use the wand- it's called a wand because it works magic, seriously.. For more tutorials on how to use it, check youtube! :)

Quite the week..

We had the first preseason game for the Cowboys this week and it was INCREDIBLE!!! It felt great to dance, and I can't wait to see what the other games have in store!

We had Friday off of practice, and MB and I enjoyed every minute of the weekend. We ate at Matt's Rancho Martinez, the Keg, and Jake's..

Today, I went and saw the Help with two of my girlfriends. It followed the book closely, and made all of us very emotional.  After the movie, I had to scat from the mall, mainly because it was tax free weekend, and crowds that size make me crazy, but also because I have a self-imposed shopping ban for the month of August. After leaving the mall, we indulged my craving (at In N Out Burger). As a result of that decision, I needed to go work out (I LOVE Gold's Gym)- I ran for the first time in a while, which felt great, then went over a few dances, while smiling (instead of making a stink face, which I have on my face in like every picture from the last game)..  Lessons learned.. Now MB is cooking dinner- which to me, is a great ending to a great weekend!

The next game is a week from today! Let the countdown begin!

Shopping!!

MB likes me to list the stores we will visit before we go to the mall. He thinks it limits my shopping time (it doesn't). I told him we were going to:

1) Zara- to look for blazers for work. I like wearing dresses to work, but need blazers to dress them up enough to have them considered "Business Professional". I was slightly inspired by the Middleton sisters...

The first one I found was on sale for $49. It's a shade between being and light pink.

I desperately needed a blue blazer, so I splurged a little on this one. 

2) The second stop was Lululemon. I have heard great things about their running shorts, and found a great running outfit to give a shot!

We did wind up making 2 unscheduled stops (one at Victoria's Secret) to look at a cotton romper I've had my eye on (I didn't buy it), and the other was at Nordstrom (where we parked) and I bought some MAC Plastique lipstick to replace the tube I lost at T's wedding shower.

I really love when MB shops with me!! Little does he know that I'm planning to take him to Cool River Cafe for dinner (he proposed to me after we had dinner there July 3rd of last year). It's going to be delicious. We are celebrating being together, and MB's new job!

Fab 5 (and maybe a few more)..

I wanted to post my 5 favorite outfits for the Summer, but I'm terrible at making decisions regarding absolutes like "FAVORITES", so I've included a few extra (I don't want any of the clothes feeling left out). :)

First is my July 4th outfit!! :0) The top is from the Impeccable Pig, the shorts are from XXI, and silver shoes are from XXI as well.

Now, on to the top outfits for the Summer!

1) Maxi dress. The maxi dress is from Target, the tank is from XXI, gold sandals are Tahari (I ordered them from Piperlime), and the belt is from Francesca's. 

2) Dresses- Coral dress is from XXI, long necklace is from Impeccable Pig, gold sandals are Tahari and the watch is Michael Kors (via Macy's).

The brown dress is Collective Concepts (ordered from Piperlime), the silver sandals are from XXI, the necklace is from Francesca's, and the bracelet is from Express. 

3) Rompers :) The grey is from C&C California (I found it on a post on People.com that Kristin Cavallari was wearing, and ordered it from Piperlime). The bracelets are from Charming Charlie, and the tennis bracelet was a gift from MB. The sandals are Tory Burch and were purchased at Nordstrom. 

                                                

The coral romper is from Impeccable Pig, the shoes are Nine West.

                                                

4) Shorts Combo's!! The grey top is from the Banana Republic Outlet, the red shorts are XXI, and the shoes are Audrey Brooke and they were purchased from DSW.  

The green top & black lace shorts are both from Impeccable Pig, and the black shoes are Tory Burch.

The coral top and brown print shorts are both from Impeccable Pig (notice a shopping pattern here?), and the shoes are Steve Madden (purchased from Piperlime), and once again the MK watch. 

The top is Levi's (purchased at Urban Outfitters), and the shorts are Black Orchid (found on People.com, once again on Kristin Cavallari, purchased from Revolve Clothing on-line). The boots are from Get Noticed, and the belt is from the Gap outlet. This is my country dancing outfit. :)

 5) White pants- At the beginning of the Summer, I had my heart set on white skinny jeans, but they are completely wrong for my body type. Luckily, I found these white sailor inspired pants on sale at Express. The blue top is from the Impeccable Pig. The gold sandals are Tahari.

I did some on-line shopping at Asos, which turned out to be an Epic failure. These are the dresses I purchased, but they will be returned shortly, 

Last but not least, here is what I'm wearing today.. To go shopping, with MB!!!

Hey blog.. It's been awhile, hope it's not awkward...

A LOT has happened since my last post.. Here's a quick list for the sake of time:
 1) April 16th- One of my very best friends got married. The wedding was AMAZING, and her pictures are stunning.

2) April 29th- I made the team for the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & blue hip hop dancers. I've danced for as long as I can remember, and have always wanted to do something like this. Not only has it been great exercise, it's a challenge in so many ways, and I feel like it's really making me grow!

3) May 5th- First photo shoot for Miller Lite (the are a sponsor of DCRB). HELLO HAIR EXTENSIONS!!! One of the best days ever. Seriously.

4) May 7th- I got to take the plunge! I married MB, and we loved every minute of the wedding, although it absolutely flew by! I'll post wedding pics later.. :) Another one of the best days ever. :)

5) May 9-14- MB and I honeymooned in Costa Rica. We snorkeled, ziplined, and found a great restaurant (with GREAT sangria) on Coco Beach.

6) May 21- Wildrun! I started 2011 with the goal of running one half marathon per quarter. That goal changed to one competitive race per quarter (mainly because I have dance practice 3 days/week, and can't fit the necessary running training in my workout schedule). Wildrun is a 5k. I am training for the "Too Hot to Handle" 15k on July 15th.

7) One of my besties had a "Flirty @ 30" birthday party. The festivities included a pool day, makeup party at Laura Mercier, blowouts at drybar, and a night on the town. Girls only! :)

8) June 11- One of Matt's best friends got married in Fort Worth- fun couple, and beautiful ceremony/reception..

9) June 18th- Took a trip to Houston for my best friend's baby shower (she is having triplets!!), and Father's day..

10) July 1-2- "Stay & Play"cation at the Gaylord Texan. Great workout room, new pool with a lazy river (where you can have drinks), zipline, and water slide!