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~

Bringing a Happy Spirit to New and Different Things

Happy spirit and fun!

2013 has been amazing so far.  We won the Super Bowl (still not tired of saying it).  I'm not sure I will ever get tired of saying it. And, as time goes on, when reflecting on the experience, it gets better and better.  The feeling of teamwork, togetherness, family and becoming a champion brings a smile to my face daily.

Since that time, work has been insanely busy.  Most companies have all year to run their HR programs.  Boring I know, but bare with me...most companies have HR projects annually, compensation increases, performance reviews, hiring/recruiting, organization alignment, benefits open enrollment, etc.  They have 12 months to spread these projects out.  I have just about 5.  Thanks to the Super Bowl, these projects were on hold.  I'm certainly not complaining.  But they still need to be done by July when football starts again.  So, I'm busy at work. It's great to be needed too.

Personally and probably what more of this post is supposed to be about, I've had a goal for 2013 to try new and different things.  In doing so, some of those new and different things well, didn't exactly go the way we would have wanted new and different things to go.  But in the fantabulous twists and turns of life, they make for excellent stories and have given me a few laughs along the way.

2013 New and Different Things Bloopers and Lessons:

Blooper

One Saturday afternoon, we decided to meet a friend at the Inner Harbor and do some day drinking.  It was a nice day, so we arrived early to have a drink at one of our favorite Irish establishments.  Bestie and I sit at the back bar to enjoy our Guinness, NCAA basketball and the view of the Harbor.  We are there for 10 minutes and in walks...

Per our new zombie friends, some make-up application took over 2 hours.  Talk about high maintenance!!

 



Yep, that's right...a HUGE group of zombies came in and took over our Irish pub.  They were out and about on a Zombie Pub Crawl.  I do love a good pub crawl, but zombies?  Pub crawling?  It's true.  Now you know.  And, certainly we were not out trolling for dudes, but the idea of running into some like-minded fellow bball lovers and sharing a pint wasn't totally out of the realm of possibility, or so we thought. Turns out, not so much.  

Truly and to be perfectly honest, the zombies were very friendly. They even encouraged us to join their zombie pack next year. 

Tempting...but no.

Lesson

Exes are exes for a reason. We all know that. Historically, I've been pretty good at keeping a good relationship with my exes. They are good people and just because it didn't work out for us, doesn't mean we don't care about each other. It also doesn't mean that we can't be there for each other in times of need in friendship.  Being a good friend is important.

My philosophy and practice of being nice and friendly is currently under review. Let's just say that when you remain friends with people (an ex or just a plain ole "friend") who clearly are not making good choices, it's not a good idea. Many times you can't save them and you are only bringing yourself down in trying to do so.  A friend I'll always be...an idiot, no thanks.  We all control our own happiness and control our choices.  If someone chooses to stay in a life of unhappiness, constant arguments and unhealthy craziness, I can't help them. They have to help themselves.  Last but certainly not least, this girl will never be a participant on an episode Jerry Springer. Yes, I'm saying never.

Blooper & Lesson

Many of you know, I'm somewhat of a fashionista.  I like fashion and clothes and style. I can be this way because I'm only responsible for myself and my fashionista dog. I also realize that not everyone is as fashion forward as I am. It's not a crime...or is it?  Any who, I went out last week with a swell dude.  He took me to dinner at nice restaurant.  In my fashion conscious mind, I wondered what I would wear for the days leading up to the dinner.  I decided on a casual dress and sassy peep toe heels.  I asked him (a question I'm sure every man hates as much as does this make me look fat?) what he was going to wear and he said jeans and a button down. Cool...we were on the same page...

Except that his jeans while neat and clean...were carpenter jeans. This begs the questions...do they still make those? Or are those his original circa 1998 Gap carpenter jeans? If so, how on earth has he kept them this long? Does he never shop? And, is he perhaps, an actual carpenter on the side?

We had a lovely time and enjoyed dinner and the O's game...but the jeans have not left my memory.  He didn't eat his peas one at a time, he's not a close talker and his hands are perfectly appropriate for his body. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV8pNfeAGVc  And, in talking with a friend a lunch on Tuesday, jeans can be changed - easily.  Why am I so jeans snobby???  Get over it...it's what's in the jeans that matters (and don't go there...we have gone no where near there).  Plus I'm a Buckle Black Member, if there is another outing, a stop at the mall is likely in order.

Lesson

O's Opening Day ~ The Monday before the game 100% chance of rain.  The day of the game 0% chance of rain, 65 degrees and sunny. Amazing day!
Lesson- don't trust the weather. Ever.


One of the best days of the year in Charm City.
See also: A day of photo bombs



We bring the fun and grand slams.

 

But that's not the lesson from this day...a friend and I were walking along the concourse.  A random dude stops us and starts chatting.  He wasn't wearing zombie make-up or carpenter jeans, so I gave him a chance.  We chatted a bit and he asks our names (those of you who really know me know what I said) and he asks what we are doing later. We really have no idea and we tell him such.  He asks for my phone number and for whatever random reason, I give it to him.  I don't think about him the rest of the day and never expect to hear from him again.

He texts me a few days later. I respond.  He responds.  I respond again.  He asks me to get drinks.  I say OK. I have nothing to lose. I really don't even remember what he looks like. We meet for drinks...at a place where I know people and he can't dismember me in a basement.  He admits that he really didn't remember what I looked like either.  We shared a few drinks. I told him my real name and my real job.  He did the same.  He likes sports and country music.  I like sports and country music.  He had on good jeans and he mentioned he was wearing them because he knows girls like good jeans on guys.  It's then I realize, we can be friends.  We had a fun time.  Not sure I'll ever see him again, but it was new and different and it wasn't awful.  #it'sabouttime

Lesson: you never know, you never know.

My Meeting Randoms Partner in Crime

Love

One of my dear friends is deploying for the 3rd time to Afghanistan.  He's a stud, a warrior, a ninja, an amazing friend and an all around super cool good person. His sister had a beautiful baby this week too, so now he adds best uncle ever to the list great things he is.  He will be meeting his beautiful niece next weekend and leaving soon after.  I expect to get lots of pictures!!!  I wanted to include a message of love and thank you to him in this post. We all will be anxiously awaiting his return (he's promised to take me to THB when he gets back and I'm holding him to it) and I'm hopeful he can communicate while over there.  Be safe my friend. Love you tons!!  Hurry home!! Thank you for protecting us!

Have a great weekend everyone! Thanks for reading about my soap opera life...I still have hopes of making it  onto GH. P.S. Anyone watching the 50th anniversary episodes, reruns and the Nurses Ball?  LOVE!

xo~

It's Ok Thursday

It’s been a while since I’ve done an It’s OK Thursday post and this is a great idea…so here goes.

It’s okay…

To have a box of white in your fridge and a box of red on your counter.

To not want to attend your BBF’s children’s Christenings, birthday parties, dance recitals, soccer games, or any other child-centered social event.  It’s not that you don’t absolutely love and support your BFF(s) and her children…you are simply not in the same place. Best BFF’s totally understand this and they do not invite you to such things….not because they don’t want you there, but because they get it.

To charge gum, mints, Starbucks, dinner at Panera and any other small purchases because you are less than 500 points away from a free flight.

To get the extra callous remover (a la cheese grater) during your pedi in the dog days of summer.  Ladies who get this, no further explanation needed. If you don’t, well yeah for you and your naturally smooth, soft feet. Whatever. 

To be irritated with the amount of mail that comes from a good charity that you donated to and will likely continue to provide a donation. Toys for Tots I'm talking about you.  It's the mailers that come every few months with “gifts” of return address labels, sample pads of paper, wrapping paper or stories of success from donations such as mine.  I know it’s a good cause, I already made a donation.  Perhaps it would save the charity money on supplies and postage if they’d stop sending me mailers. It’s doubtful that those return address labels (with my work address btw) will push me over the edge to make another donation.

To keep pinning unhealthy recipes that you (a) really want to make, (b) pin under the guise of football foods that you will only make to take to parties but in reality (c) you will make them (possibly alone) and you will eat them with a smile, and dessert.

To buy cowboy boots with the intention of wearing them probably no more than 3 times per year to country concerts.

To be super super excited about the Olympics! The athletes, the dedication and the hope are amazing!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sya66z4mCiA  or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiYfWU4POsg (I also wouldn't mind being able to rock that leotard either.)  **Note to friends and family, don’t invite me anywhere in the next 2 weeks where there isn’t a TV or a way for me to follow the games.

To be mildly bothered (and by mildly I mean ridiculously upset) with the rumor that FB is potentially going to reveal stalkers. http://jezebel.com/5925597/facebook-determined-to-ruin-the-last-fun-thing-about-facebook-stalking  Not that I have anything to be concerned with though.  I'm just really upset for any of my friends who use FB to check out, learn or look into others.  I'm a woman of the people you know. I feel for others.

To drag your boyfriend, husband, kids or friends along with you to various farmers’ markets.  It’s July.  It’s prime time summer fruit and vegetable season.  It’s warm and sunny.  They almost always have fresh squeezed lemonade. You can make a meal off of the samples.  It’s a no brainer.

To be freshly back vacation and still try to finagle your schedule to get just a few more days off…at the beach.  I know I know! I was away for 3 weeks.  It was great and fantastic.  But it’s still July and there is more time to be at the beach.  It seems like a waste of good weather to not be there.  And, we shouldn’t be wasteful.

That's all I've got for today...What do y'all think is okay??

xo~

Elizabeth

Vacation State of Mind

Most everyone has been there...it's the week before you leave for vacation and you're at work wanting to be anywhere else but at work. You find yourself day dreaming about all of the wonderful vacation things that you will be doing in exactly 2, 4 or 7 days. Your mind is filled with all of the things you need to do before you can go on vacation. You have a a never-ending "To Do" list of work projects you must complete (even though you've put them off for 6 months) prior to being gone for vacation. You bounce from those must-do projects and tasks to your last minute shopping list, packing list and house list. New flip-flops (even though you have 30 pairs you need just one more), stopping the mail, getting the plants watered, you need a doggie sitter, not to mention the kids and everything that comes with them...clothes, food, toys, sleeping arrangements, etc.

You still have to focus on the task at hand, yet get all of the vacation to do's checked off of your list.  100% of the time, everything gets done and if it doesn't, well it didn't need to get done.  Nearly 100% of the time, wherever you are going sells whatever it is you must have or forgot.  So relax..day dream when you can, check off what you can and know, vacation is right around the corner, everything is going to be alright.

Vacation is super important to me.  It's the time of year where you can do whatever you want...go to the beach, the mountains, read books, staycation, do a service project, recharge your batteries doing whatever you want.  You can shape your year, your life, your family and your future all around vacations.  It's pretty powerful.

Vacation has always been important to our family.   Each year my mom would take us to the beach for a week. For one week each year, we'd go down the ocean, Hon. I have the circa 1985 telescope pics to prove it too. She would save money all year for 2 things...a vacation to the beach and Christmas. No wonder I really love both, right? Blame her for my sun and sparkle worshipping, I do.  But, I digress. 

We would spend one wonderful week at the beach doing all kinds of fun things.  Looking back, a great majority of those fun things were kid focused.  My mom loves the beach, so that part for her was great.  But the parts where we went to the water slides for a day, Jolly Rogers at night, mini-golfing or the Boardwalk rides, not so much.  While I'm sure she enjoyed them because we loved them, she wasn't exactly lounging around, being served frosty drinks and napping.  She got one week of vacation each year and she spent it doing things for her kids.  And, since she was practically a single mom who worked full-time, she didn't get any help with the lists and lists of things (see above) she had to get done before being able to "relax".

I certainly didn't understand the effort, sacrifice or the cost it took for her to get us there.  She did a great job making it look easy, fun and like there was no where else in the world she wanted to be.  We did everything we wanted...from eating out A LOT (anyone ever go to the Mighty Minnow and have the chocolate chip pancakes or the have the coconut muffins from Marina Deck?? Delish!!) to doing all kinds of kid-centered things that cost lots of money to getting many Boardwalk souvenirs, airbrush tee, anyone?   We did it all and had a blast.  Many of those beach vacation memories are some of my all-time faves still to this day.

So as I prepare for my 2 week vacation (yay, WAHOO, can't wait) and I'm stressing over my "To Do" list in between daydreaming of crystal clear water and white sand beaches, I'd like to thank my mama for teaching me the value of vacation, making it look easy and loving us enough to make those sacrifices all in the name of love, fun and memories. The memories are life-long, the value and tradition of great vacations continues in us and now we can truly understand your motivation and feel your love.

If you're not an annual vacationer, you should be.  Life should be enjoyed with those you love, preferably in the fresh air, away from a desk.  Do something you love at least once per year with someone you love.  Take the time and make it happen.  I don't think you will regret it. 

Oh, and, try not to take your smart phone.   I'll be the first to admit it's hard to leave our daily lives behind...that includes work, FB, sports, or whatever your into, but it can be done.  My mom did it every year.  And, I'm pretty sure that the memories you will make on vacation will last much longer than the memory of the random FB status of someone you barely remember. Just sayin'...get out, live life and enjoy!

I'm off for a few weeks. Chat with you when I get back.

xo~Elizabeth