It was Everything I thought It would Be...

Bringing the Fun

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Right...except in our case, anything that happened in Vegas really can't be told, repeated or delivered to truly express how much fun it was.  That's not because there were scandalous deeds that went down, but rather the non-stop laughing and girl time, really cannot be expressed to give anyone a true picture of how great this trip was. 

You had to be there.

I will try, however, and tell you a little bit about it...you know the stuff I can actually tell you. Those who follow us on FB, you saw some of our pics, so you got a glimpse into the weekend. It was sunny and hot and perfect. It was jammed packed with fun sun activities.  I didn't gamble even a $1.  We slept very little and drank quite a bit of vodka. We ate gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free muffins on the same day we ate cheese filled pizza. We wore sparkles. We took as long as we wanted to get ready. We had a party room. We played loud music.  We did not have tickle fights in our underwear. We didn't get any tattoos and there were never any tigers in our rooms.  We met cowboys, brides, and bachelors.  And, we laughed pretty much the entire time.

Who doesn't like meeting real-life cowboys?



In case you were curious, he's a champion too.

 

That's us with the happy newly hitched in Vegas couple.  Salut!

 

To me, celebrating any birthday (a big one or small one) is fantastic reason to celebrate all that is good in life. Family, friends, good health, having all you need and enjoying the one thing that will always be more important than things...our relationships with each other.  The gift of our relationships is better than any gift I could ever receive. The most important things in life, aren't things.



All ready to hit Sin City.

The girls that went on this trip were the perfect ones to go.  It's not to say that we wouldn't welcome more girls into our wolf pack because we would. And, to be totally honest, our wolf pack is a darn amazing wolf pack. To quote my sister, "We bring the fun!" It's true, we do bring the fun. More than fun or more than whatever fun means to you, these girls were perfect.  Everyone got it. There wasn't anyone who didn't get it or didn't want to be a part of the fun.  It worked perfectly.  And, it was fantabulous. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I don't know if I can ever thank these girls enough for going with me!

More fun being brought.
 

2013. Well played. I had a feeling about you.  So far, so great! 

We mean serious fun.

Vegas Quick Hits:

• Robert Baker of Southwest Airlines. Simply put: You ROCK. Absolutely made our flight out the best flight ever. 

Robert brings the fun (and self-tanner) too.

• No sleep, waking up hungover and/or having a blotchy sunburn = small prices to pay for a good time.

I love the sun. She melts.  All-time BFF's anyway.

• We stayed in room Eleventy058.
• Dancing with a very little bit of bumping and grinding then jumping = the only way I will ever dance again.

Little bit of bumping and whole lot of jumping

• Super sick is a great way to describe many things...including a cabana at a rocking pool party.

Bday Cabana - why I think we will.

• Totes adorbs is a perfectly acceptable way to describe anything that is totes adorbs.

Totes adorbs, of course!

• No matter how you feel about your body, someone has a body that is "better" and someone has a body that is "worse".  Love yourself. Be healthy. And, exercise!

Be healthy!!

• The water show at the Bellagio is so freaking cool no matter how many times you see it.

Always rocks.

• At one point, I was holding 5 purses. None of which were mine.  I had a peak into the world of our boyfs..and it really wasn't that bad.

5 purses and a light stick.  Yes that's me.

• Drinking vodka with seltzer water really does help with hydration. The seltzer was free. The vodka on the other hand was $475 a bottle, perhaps that's why I was going through (I mean holding) 5 purses.  #vegasprices

 

Vodka with ice that lit up, seltzer and a splash of cran = delicious.
For $475 a bottle we took that ice light home with us. Don't you dare judge.

• Vitamin B12 smells awful.  However, its powers relative to helping with hangovers seem to be worth enduring the smell.
• Is it just us, or has the song of the summer yet TBD? Where's our Call Me Maybe 2013? For now we threw it back to Put your Hands up in the Air. Everyone's hands look super hot in the air when dance jumping.
• If I had a green thumb, I'm certain my flowers would look like just like the gardens in the Bellagio.  #nodoubtaboutit

Inviting and beautiful, exactly like mine would be.

• While there were stars in Vegas for the Billboard awards, we only saw Ed Sheeran.  He was cool and even though I had already captured his pic by taking a sassy pic of my sis, he was nice enough to actually take a pic with us.  I'm certain he realized that...we bring the fun.

He had to know about the fun we bring, just look at that face.

• Photo bombing is a favorite pass-time for one bestie. Can you guess which one?

A good photo-bomb always makes for fun!

• This past weekend was the kick-off to celebrating summer.  Let the fun continue!!!

Best. Friends. Ever.

 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Readers!! Enjoy the kickoff to summer! Play, get outside, be safe, have fun and love out loud!!!

xo~

T Minus

Here we come!!!!!!!!!

18 hours until we head off to Sin City. Seriously, I'm busting at the seams and cannot wait. 

Every year for the last 7 years (which I affectionately like to term my New Life) I've gone on a girl's trip.  For another blog and prior to 2006, I didn't go on girls trips.  #stupid. Never under estimate the power of a girls trip. No matter how long you've been married, in a relationship or paired up, a trip with your besties is needed annually.  It's one of the best things a girl can do for herself. Trips with besties make you better mama's, better partners, better workers and better friends.  If you don't already do it, do it!

We fly out tomorrow morning for a weekend in the fabulous city of Vegas. Everyone has asked why Vegas or if we will be gambling. Why Vegas, because Vegas is full of sparkle and I love sparkle and, yes, we might gamble. Our current "plan" is this...arrive at the airport, drink champagne, celebrate life, arrive in Vegas, drink more champagne, celebrate life, hit the pool and see where the day/weekend takes us.

For each of us, this trip means a little something different.  For several, it's their first time to Vegas.  For one bestie, it's her first big girl's trip since graduating college, having a Baby Kitty and working her butt off for the past 365 days starting her career.  For another bestie, it's the first girl's trip since her brand new engagement. P.S. Well played new fiance, well played. For a couple besties, it's time away from the hectic pace of jobs, kids and houses.

For me, this trip about me and my besties spending time together in a new place, having pure girl time...laughing, dressing up in sparkles, drinking girly drinks, talking girl talk and making memories that will last a lifetime. It's about us being us and enjoying every minute of it. We will be celebrating all that girls are...strong, amazing, fun, beautiful, best friends, family, mamas, career professionals, athletes and much, much more.

I'm so very grateful and blessed to have these wonderful ladies in my life. I'm often times overwhelmed by the love and support I feel daily from each and everyone of them.  Girls- thank you so much for loving me, supporting me, being silly and crazy with me and going on this trip with me. Know that I love each of you so very much and I do not take our friendship or any time we spend together for granted.  You girls ROCK!!!

A note to the the boys in our lives:

Don't ever misunderstand...we need and love you. We appreciate all that you are in our lives...husbands, fathers and one new fiance.  And, we need trips with you too. Always. Without you, our lives would not be totally complete.  Please know this. Sometimes though, we need time away from you to really enjoy each other. It takes nothing away from how we feel about you or how much we enjoy vacationing with you and our families. It's as simple as us being girls and needing to be with other girls.  It's something we need on occasion and we love you more for supporting us. Thank you to all the boys staying home taking care of the babies while we get in our girl time. We love you!

Last time in Vegas, my Favorite Friend was not exactly supportive of my piercing decision, yet she went with me anyway, because that is what Favorite Friends do. Kevin (the piercer) was not only fab (he rocked a cowboy hat) but he did a great job. And, 3 years later, I'm still rocking that piercing. It was a good decision and one that reminds me of a great time with a great person. Good memories Vegas...good memories.

That's me with Kevin...about to get pierced.

Who knows what exactly we will end up doing on this trip...but know we will be safe and smart and we will have one heck of a super great fantabulous time doing it!! We will be making memories that last our lifetime and loving every minute of it. Oh and we will post pics too..well those we can post anyway.  :-)

Up, up and away...

xo~

The Effects of Sun Worshipping & Other Random Wednesday Things

This is exactly what I have. Glad to finally know.

Happy Mid-Week!  I can see why we celebration this day...half-way through the workweek and a little bit closer to the weekend.  Well done Wednesday.

Due to my condition as described above, yesterday, I spent a little time with my new BFF, Hulya. (Hulya's Holistic Medispa) I'm healthy and so grateful to be the age I am. I really have no issue with it.  However, I'm not exactly growing old without putting up a fight. I'm going to age gracefully surrounded by an army of modern forces charged with maintaining the glow of my youth.

Don't worry, I'm not going Joan Rivers or anything. The plan is to control things I can control, like diet and exercise, and to regularly maintain items that will slow the process, keep my skin healthy and fresh and combat the mistakes of my youth. See also: endless SPF 4 sunbathing in the 90's on the beaches of OC made for great scope pics but lead to old lady skin. And, Sunset Tanning...I curse you.

Hulya is heaven sent. Call her! She's got a fix for most everything.  Be advised though, the fix isn't exactly cost-free in terms of dollars and/or immediate results and/or looks the day of treatment. You get what you pay for - always people- and it looks way worse before it gets better.  No make-up at all for 12 hours after a face treatment. OK, not awful, but certainly not something this girl does.  Not wearing make-up is NOT an option. I wear make-up to walk the dog. True story. Wearing make-up is like using the same kind of very specific gel pen daily. It is just how it is.  Accept it. I do.

Yesterday, I had laser treatments on "brown spots" (P.S. How gross is that?) caused by sun damage.  It wasn't painful but to look at me, you'd think I got in a fight with barbed wire and lost. It's not pretty. What's also not pretty? Having dinner plans with the new boy on the same day you spent time at the shop getting this work done. Not awesome. They aren't supposed to know the exact lengths we go to to look effortlessly put together and stunning. #Fail. Last night, if a beekeepers outfit was fashionable, that 's what I would have gone with. Alas, we know it's not so I wore a hat, a scarf, long sleeves, and jeans. FYI, he said he "didn't" notice and also said I looked beautiful. Aw...you have to love the courting stage, right?

In the end, I'm going to be very happy with the results.  I've read that many reformed sun-worshippers just like me have had great results and now use SPF 30 on the regular.  The spots go away and skin looks refreshed and beautiful. I'm one treatment down...so I'll be sure to provide blog updates if you are curious to see how happy I am after all 4 treatments.



New story of my new-anti-sun-worshipping-life = Regular sunscreen application.

Other randoms things for today...in random order.

• Justin Timberlake - Did you write Mirror for me?  If so, well done. I knew somewhere deep in your heart you knew of my love for you and if stupid Jessica hadn't been there, we would have a had a fighting chance.  Love that song.
• Michael Kors - I love you. I hate you. I love you. In that order. No joke. I feel these emotions each and every time I get an email from you. And, when I walk into your store filled with beautiful, young, tan, smoking hot as well as nice, helpful and adorable sales girls drenched in your fashions, I'm an emotional roller coaster.

This dress. I want it. BAD.

• Mariah Carey & Miguel - I've been down on Mariah for a while.  Aside from having the best Christmas album ever she's been a mess to me.  After the Glitter debacle, she did redeem herself (slightly) with the Emancipation of Mimi about 8 years ago . And yes, it's true, I do want to know if she and Jenny from the Block shower in Botox to maintain their age-defying youthful appearance. But I still hold her dreadful fashion choices against her and AI has done nothing to increase my love of her. Her new song with Miguel, Beautiful is pretty good though. Miguel's Sure Thing holds a special place in my heart. Mariah does have a beautiful singing voice and I give credit where credit is due. Nice job you two.
• Hootie - I've always liked you. Now that you are practically the only black person in country music I like you more. Your Pier 6 show should kill it.  However, Wagon Wheel...I'm over it. I really don't like that song, no matter how happy the theme may be.
• Mother Nature - Kindly pull your shit together. It's May 8th. April showers were to have ended and the temperature should be a warm 70+ degrees.  I'm really getting tired of asking.  Please do what we all know you can do and stat. And, thank you.
• Taylor Swift - We will see you Sunday! 5 little girls and 5 big girls are super excited. Also, your Highway Don't Care video with Tim McGraw (hello fitness God) and Keith Urban (your tattoos are so great) is fantabulous.  Very moving. Nice job trio.
• Las Vegas - We are 9 days away from what promises to be an a-mazing trip. In checking out the advance weather forecast, you are already delivering on your end of the weather deal.  Can't wait to see you in person!
• Southwest Airlines - If you wanna toss in some free bday drinks for me and my 8 friends, we won't complain at all.  To anyone on our flight next Friday, be advised, these girls get out once a year for a girls trip. Prepare for fun.
• Kenny Chesney - Adios to Jost, know the feeling well. We'll be there in a little over a month. You really know how to speak to me.  Well done my island-loving-friend-in-my-dreams-but-I-want-you-to-be-my-real-friend, friend. Hope to see you there.
• My sister - FINALLY has an iPhone and a breakfast dress.  Two things she's long desired.  Both should change her life and make it all the better. This is makes me happy for her.
• Target - I've missed you. I've spent much less time with you than I have in the past.  Not sure what that's about, but know when you move to Canton, we will be BFF's again.  I still love you, in case you were wondering or in case you missed me too.

Anyone got anything else noteworthy on this Wednesday?

Happy Happy Happy!

xo~

13.1 = Done

Nike Women's Half Marathon - Crushed!

Anyone who is FB friends with me already knows this, but I think it's post worthy, on Sunday, me and 5 friends completed the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC. And, it was an amazing experience.  In other news, we were not actually posting updates while we were running.  Nike did that for us.  :-)

I'll start by saying that I was somewhat strong armed into participating.  Everyone knows I enjoy a good workout. This is not news. Also running and I have become better friends over the years. We certainly aren't besties, but we aren't enemies like we used to be.  13.1 miles is a lot of running though.  More than I've ever done.

But this race was the first of its kind on the east coast and a portion of our race fees went to LLS, my charity partner for 2013.  The race was through DC and the course took you around the monuments.  I love DC and I've always wanted to run around Linc.  So, from the get, this one had appeal.

Really though, my FOMO (don't joke people, it's REAL) strong armed me into signing up for this race. See also: the finishers prize was a Tiffany necklace given to you by a soldier in a tux.  Ummm where do I sign?

Once we signed up, we weren't automatically in.  The selection was by lottery and we didn't know if we'd get in.  Well, we did. Last December, we were lucky, and I got an email saying that our team was in.  If you are thinking wow, that's not good luck, that's exactly what I was thinking. Yikes, It. Just. Got. Real.

I'm not one to back down from a challenge and once committed to something I do it.  So, I really had no choice.  With my eye on the little blue box and a guilt-free pasta dinner in DC the night before the race, training started in January.

And, readers, here's what I'll tell you...

1. The training wasn't horrible.  I did a mix of cross-training and running.  It wasn't so time consuming that I felt my life was dedicated to training. See also: we won the Super Bowl during this training time, so I was kinda busy.  You like how I work that in every chance I get? #stillnotold
2. Committing to this run in public (http://lifethoughtsquestionsanddreams.blogspot.com/2013/01/13.html) didn't afford me the opportunity to back out. So, knowing I had to do it helped motivate me.
3. I allowed myself to buy a few new pieces of workout apparel.  My 30% UA discount for the Nike Women's Half was well used.  And shopping always make me happy...even if it is for workout clothes and a new sports bra.
4. The team of girls I ran with, simply put, ROCKED.  We had a blast! So much so, that I'd do it again. That's right...I'd do it again.

As far as the race went, it was truly great. An amazing and super fun experience.  I will say that when we woke up at 5:00 am, I wasn't exactly thrilled to be awake and even less thrilled to be freezing my parts off waiting for the start.  But that quickly passed.

Once we got into our race corals, the magic happened.  We were standing in the early morning sun on Pennsylvania Avenue looking directly at the Capitol Building. Fun pump-up music was playing. We were surrounded by 14,999 other women and a few good men with the same goal in mind...finish this 13.1 together.  We raised over $6,000,000 for LLS.  That's right $6 million!!!  Runners had their inspiration for running plastered all over their bodies...we were running for different things and we were running for the same things.  So many of us were running for Boston. We were running for those affected by blood cancers. We were running for our mothers, sisters, brothers, friends, cousins or people we've never met.  We stood united listening to our National Anthem prepared to tackle a goal each of us had set months and months ago.  We were ready.

The start was slow because there were so many of us, but we plugged along dodging and weaving the crowds.  The signs along the entire race route, mostly made by men, (My faves- the first at about mile 4- read, "Do you believe in love at first sight or should I move to mile 12?" Another, "This is way better than match.com 15,000 hot girls to choose from.") were hysterical and totally entertaining. Our team had decided to split up if necessary as not to hold any of us back. About 4 miles in, me and my teammate were still side by side.  We didn't speak it, but mentally I think we both committed to finishing together. She, a seasoned marathoner, offered me words of encouragement, a couple of key check-ins and tips on going the distance. We celebrated each passing mile with smiles and a very spirited high-five.  We felt great and at about mile 8 we decided that we were going to air it out a bit about 1/2 a mile from the finish. We were finishing strong. We knew it.

And, that we did. We crossed the 12 mile marker knowing we crushed that race. When saw the finish line within eye-sight...it was still a 1/2 mile out (it looked a lot closer), and we turned it up a bit. We crossed the finish line with strength, determination and huge smiles!! It was a blast!!!

Really nice swag for this one!

We felt great! We felt successful, accomplished, empowered, loved and prideful.  We celebrated with our team, shared memories, feelings and funny sign sightings.  We have a common bond that we will always share.  A feeling of accomplishment and pride that we made history that day. It will be forever with us.  We then enjoyed the rest of the day in DC....sharing a few beers and a burger.  Girls Rule! I'm just sayin'!! 

Our ROCKING Team minus my sis and her bestie

I highly recommend this race to anyone who even has an inkling of wanting to do it.  Know you can do it. Know you will have the support of over 15,000 other women and you, too, will crush it.  Know that little blue box can be yours.  A well-deserved and well-earned memento that will remind you and others that you are a dedicated athlete with the perseverance to finish something you put your mind to. It's one of the best feelings ever.

Fun. Determination. Success. Happiness.

Join us next year, won't you?

xo~