Confessional Friday Time!!

Linking up with Leslie @ A Blonde Ambition

I confess that it has taken me all week to recover from my weekend Vegas trip.  Today is the first day that I don't feel exhausted, ragged and about to fall over.  If you read my Vegas post you know why.  The day is still young though.  Let's see if it holds.

I confess that next time I go to Vegas I will simply accept that I'm old and can't hang and I'm not even gonna try.  Something about that city makes me want to be up and out and in it all night long but realistically that kind of up all night sleepless Vegas experience is not for me.  I still can't believe my very pregnant friend outdid me.  Okay.  Maybe I can. 

I confess that when I got back from Vegas I felt positively rotund so I did my 3rd juice fast in 2 months.  I was gonna buy juice because I didn't have time or energy to make it but my sweet husband offered to do it for me.  I really needed it.  And I feel so much better now. 

I confess that I really like the word rotund.  It's different, it rolls off your tongue and sounds so much nicer then fat.

I confess that I'm more then slightly bewildered about the prospect of having to pack all over again for our Washington DC trip next week.  Yes, NEXT WEEK and I just got back from Vegas.  There is like no down time and you know how I need my down time. And naps.  We have plans on Saturday day and my busy body husband is trying to get me out of the house on Sunday but I think I need to mentally focus on packing and all that other pre vacation stuff that needs to get done.

I confess that the last time I read a book was in September when we went to Europe. That's 8 months. I used to read all the time but it's just gotten away from me. I feel like I don't have time to make the trip to the library to see what's there. And I can't just see an interesting book and say oh, I'll get that.  My reading options depend on what's at the library.  Yes, I still use the library for books. I'm old school like that. I don't have a kindle and I don't buy them because I hate having to store them when I'm done. Plus, they are super expensive. Now that I think about it maybe that's why I haven't been reading that much. I'll be heading off to the library on Sunday to see what they have for my trip.  Am I the only one still using my library card?

I confess that I want to change my blog name but I'm having a really hard time thinking of something new that I will really want to stick with forever.  For someone who has a hard time coming up with post titles this is REALLY hard.

I confess that I'm two pages under my 15 page monthly goal for my novel.  Today is the last day of May.  Can I really squeeze in two pages today?  Possibly, but not likely.

I confess that I'm terrified of speaking in public.  I've only had to do it once, I forced myself and I actually did a pretty good job but it's a very scary thing for me.  I was nominated at work for Outstanding employee of the year and I was terrified of winning just because I didn't want to have to go up there and say anything.  Not winning was kind of a relief.

I confess that I have a giveaway coming soon!  I know right?  It's been a really long time since I did one. Stay tuned.


 
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Why I Can't "Hang" in Vegas

Vegas, Vegas. Aahh...where do I begin. Well first of all it's like a black hole with lots of people and bright blinky lights.  Cell phone reception there sucks.  I don't remember it being this bad last year but text messages went unsent, calls were dropped and my access to social media was severely limited; which was actually a good thing.  When my friend Jana told me she wanted to meet up in Vegas I said sure. She lives in Alaska now, I don't get to see her often. I'm there. Then when I realized she'd be 7 1/2 months pregnant I was a little concerned. Should she even be flying? Is she really going to be able to handle hot Las Vegas at 7 1/2 months pregnant? A lot of pregnant women are waddling by then. Well...not only did she "handle" Vegas but she did it with a hell of a lot more energy then I did. She is like my pregnant mama idol! The girl did not stop from the minute her flight touched down to the moment she left.  Me, on the other hand.  Not so much.

Body Parts at the Bar at the end of the haunted house
Friday: We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel.  Our room was so cute and the beds so comfy!  Their theme color is pink which makes me love them even more.  After a five hour drive to Vegas where I wasn't even the one driving I proceeded to take a nap while Jana and my sister Dani went down to the Casino.  That night we met up with a friend that Jana and I have known since we were kids and we all went to a haunted house; Eli Roth's Goretorium on the strip.  Every time the chain saw guy came out I screamed and ran.  It was pretty fun...if a little cheesy.  We got tickets for $15 on Groupon; I would not have paid $25.  We had a drink at the bar there but then after that it was still too early to go to bed in Vegas even for us so while Jana went off to gamble the night away my sister and I walked to Fat Burger for drinks.  They play good music, have plenty of outdoor seating and always have a two for one drink coupon lady posted outside.

At the Pool

Me and my pretty preggo friend Jana

In front of the Caesar's Palace with Bellagio Hotel in background
Saturday:  We hit the pool at 9am.  If you don't get there between 8-9 am and you don't want to spend $350 on a cabana or sit on the concrete don't even bother going until 2pm or 3pm when some of the morning crowd starts to leave.  The pool gets packed quick and you have to hunt down lounge chairs.  There is the party side with the DJ and bikini clad go go dancers and the more relaxing side that allows children.  We did not choose the party side.  Every single chair on that side was already taken anyways.  After that much to my sister's annoyance I had to take another nap.  We went to the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace.  Express was having 40% off everything in the store.  I have never seen that before ever and even though I told myself I should stay away there was no way that I could miss out so I couldn't resist buying a few things. I even got an extra 10% military discount on top of that.  Score!! Then it was time for dinner because it's always time to eat when you are in Vegas.

All dolled up and sort of ready to go

Giant Margaritas at the Club

There is a very good chance that this is my last hurrah.  Getting all dolled up to go out that night was so exhausting for me that I had to take a break.  I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it.  I took a deep  breath before I put on my make up.  I had to drag my butt into my little short shorts and will my feet into those heels.  I just can't hang like I used to.  We met my sister's husband at Senor Frogs at Treasure Island and we got a buy one get one drink coupon on our way in.  When we got inside we discovered that the only option on it was a GIGANTIC margarita on the rocks and it cost $26.00.  We went with it.  My sister gets one of those suckers every time she goes but it was my first time.  I just knew I couldn't drink all of that but by the end of the night it was gone baby gone and so was I!  And I love it that it never even crossed my mind to imagine how many calories were in it.  We couldn't hang at the club for very long so the two of us left, stopped at the room and changed into flats and then walked back to our favorite hang out Fatburger.  Eating greasy delicious french fries while intoxicated is pure bliss I tell you.  We didn't get back to the hotel until 4am and Mrs pregnant lady was still out!

Getting on the Vegas Tram at Aria

New York New York Hotel and that awful roller coaster

Las Vegas City Center // Aria Express Tram

Sunday:  When we went to bed Saturday night it was basically a nap because we didn't get to bed until about 4:30am and we were at the pool by 8:45am.  Jana actually woke us up.  She was all bright eyed and bushy tailed of course.  It was hard not to hate her as I jumped out of bed in a tired haze and then felt my head pounding.  We found a perfect shaded spot and since we didn't have to sweat like pigs in the sun we were able to stay for a while.  A long while.  We didn't leave for five hours and I was able to multi task by getting my nap on at the pool.  We took the tram from Aria to Monte Carlo to cut out some walking.  It was my first time on it.  I don't do roller coasters anymore.  Especially not ones with a loopy loop on top of really big buildings but my sister wanted to try the New York New York roller coaster so I really had no choice in the matter.  It was awful!  We basically got jerked around the whole time and I couldn't stop screaming and begging to get off.  The sign said it was $7 for a re ride but they wold have to pay me to get back on that thing.  We got in our obligatory Vegas buffet that night for dinner at the MGM Grand Buffet.  There was so much to choose from and the food was delicious.  After two not even very loaded plates of food I was done.  I don't think I've ever skipped out on dessert at a buffet but after my meal I couldn't even look at it.  By the time we finished dinner it was late; for us anyways.  My sister and I weren't even trying to be out that night.  Just couldn't do it.  I love the water show at the Bellagio so we stopped to see that then just hung out in the room.  Jana was not trying to hang out with us worn out tired folks so she hit the casino while we hit the hay.

Bally's and Paris Hotel
Bellagio Hotel water show with Caesars Palace in the background
Monday:  Jana had to catch a 12 hour flight back to Alaska so she was gone by 8am but we didn't make it out until around 10:45am.  We had gotten so little sleep over the weekend that I just couldn't drag my butt out of bed and I think my sister needed to get some sleep so she could drive.  Getting breakfast was a debacle.  We thought nobody would want to eat at Denny's.  Wrong.  It was packed.  Even McDonald's was packed.  We stopped in at a buffet but the prices were jacked up to about $32 bucks for the holiday so that was out.  We ended up back at the Flamingo in one of their restaurants and it was just a short wait.  The French Toast was well  worth the trouble.  Then we hit the road.  It took us 7 freaking hours to get to my mom's house!!!  From there I had a 45 minute drive to my house so I didn't get home until 10pm.

Tuesday:  Exhausted.  Juicing.  Work.  Gym.  Boo!!!

Just pretending.  I didn't spend a single penny on gambling
I had such a good time with my sister.  We always have fun on our little sister trips and I'm so sad that this will be the last one for a while.  I think it finally hit me that she's moving in 2 months and I spontaneously burst into tears while we were eating breakfast.  Crying in public is awesome.  I'm going to miss her so much.  It was so nice to spend some time with Jana.  Even while carrying around an almost fully formed human inside of her she outdid me in Vegas.  She is that same force she was back when we were teenagers.  She hasn't changed a bit.  But I have.  We're the same age but I'm old...and there is nothing like Las Vegas to remind me of it!!

Vegas is great!  I love the energy, the lights, the beautiful buildings, the shopping, the food and the anything goes relaxed kind of vibe.  It makes me want to be out and about all night long.  You never know what you're going to see.  There was a contortionist on one corner and Chewbaca on the next.  I love seeing everyone dressed to kill as they head out for a night on the town.  Carry around a six pack of beer in the streets and drink it as you go.  Walk down the street in a bikini and high heels.  Or those awful high waisted denim shorts with the slanted cut off bottoms that are universally unflattering for every figure.  Why are people wearing these?? Drink from a gold colored bottle of champagne hanging around a chain from your neck.  Yes, they were actually selling those.  Do whatever you want, wear whatever you please because it's Vegas and anything goes.

I may not have what it takes to really "hang" in this city.  I never really did.  Everything is really expensive and I don't like to spend a lot of money.   My outfits never come close to Vegas level hoochie.  If I drink even a little bit too much one night I can't even look at alcohol for another 24 hours at least.  I don't put on make up and do my hair to go sweat at the pool in 90 degree weather. I need naps.  I barely made it out for our one club night, Roller Coasters make me ill and I can't even eat at the buffet like I used to.  But even so, I love Vegas and I know I'll be back.
photo SignaturececePink.png

I Need A Break

Packing sucks! I pretty much hate it. But traveling does not suck and I pretty much love that so packing is a necessary evil. I'm REALLY proud of myself this time for not freaking out. I'm usually such a hot mess before a trip but I think I've literally grown exhausted with stressing out over it.  You can only agonize so much.  Or maybe it's just this cute little pack this notepad my little sister got me for my Birthday.  It's been a lifesaver.  It keeps me sane.  It gives me a place to write all my little reminders and check things off because I have this overwhelming need to check things off when I feel stressed.  It has EVERYTHING you could ever want or need to bring with you on a trip so that nagging awful feeling that I've forgotten something doesn't haunt me so much.

I'm off to Vegas this weekend.  The timing couldn't be better.  I'm tired.  Burnt.  Fried.  And certainly not because I've been getting any sun.  Sitting at my desk day after day at work and being tired because I'm lame and never get myself to bed on time has taken it's toll.  I've been in this position for 3 years now and it was a grueling year.  I need a vacation.  I always need a vacation but right now I REALLY need a vacation. Not that my job isn't awesome or anything.  I mean, who doesn't love curriculum right?  Not to toot my own horn or anything because I didn't actually win but I was nominated for Outstanding Employee of the year.  This week was employee appreciation week and I got gift cards to Starbucks, i tunes and Jamba Juice.  I got green tea and a really pretty pink water bottle too.  It was like Christmas in May.  Our bosses are really nice to us, I like the laid back atmosphere and I have great co workers but I can only take so much and I need a break.

Usually when I go to Vegas it's in the 100's but it should be mostly 90's which is perfect.  The only thing I'm not looking forward to is traffic and the crowded see and be seen party vibe at the pool.  My sister will be driving us up there Friday morning and we're meeting one of my BFF's there.  She's almost 8 months pregnant and she wants to go dancing so this should be interesting.  The weird thing is that due to what I will call extenuating circumstances both of their husbands will be there.  The  three of us have our own room and it's still a girls trip as far as we are concerned.  The men are just a side thing.  And no Mj does not feel left out at all.  He gets annoyingly excited when he gets the house to himself.  He talks about all the things he's gonna get to do while I'm away like go see Hangover 3.  Like I'm some kind of jail warden or something.  Yeah, I may get on his nerves just like he does mine and there might be a little nagging on my end but for the record that man does what he wants.  I guess it's just freeing to have some alone time when you co-habitate 99% of the time.

I got my club outfit ready and my bikini packed.  Off to the land of pool parties and flip flops I go.

Magazine Musings

I subscribe to 3 magazines. Half the time they end up piled up in the backseat of my car so I can read them when I have hair appointments. When it's time for vacation I usually have a stack of them saved up.  I'm so distracted by everything else that reading magazines literally takes a back seat.  It may take me a while but I read every one cover to cover.

Here are some random things that caught my eye in the May issue of Marie Claire, which by the way I can't believe I actually got to it in May!  And even posted about it in May.  If you want to read the full article just click each link.

Second Class Soldiers?
If you are part of a same sex marriage and your spouse dies in combat under the current law the surviving spouse is not awarded the spouses Purple Heart or granted the same benefits as the surviving spouse of a straight couple.  The 1996 Federal Defense of Marriage Act defines marriage as a union between a man and woman and therefore does not include same sex couples.  It's another example of the neverending process that is updating laws to our current reality.  Our laws can't keep up.  I think that if the same sex marriage is legally recognized then they should receive those same benefits too.  I hope that gets changed.

Babies in Burkas
Islamic culture doesn't require the wearing of a Burka until puberty but in certain areas they want it to start at infancy.  Why?  Can't they just just let a baby girl be a baby girl?  Her life becomes more and more complicated and difficult the older she gets.  I don't understand what harm the sight of an innocent baby girl could bring.  It sends such a terrible message and and is such an unfair double standard.  That picture is so sad.  I think it teaches them to be ashamed of themselves.  This little girl is hiding under a blanket living in a culture where she learns from infancy that she is so inferior that she is not to be seen or heard and should basically just disappear. 

Splurge vs Steal
These always crack me up because at outrageous as the splurge price is even the steal price is out of control.  The outfit on the left is $15,010.  But if you pinch your pennies and bargain hunt you can get it for the low price of $920 purchasing the items on the right.  I can't help but wonder why are clothes so expensive?  I can buy a car for that much or less so how could something you wear on your body be so costly?  Is anyone buying this stuff?  I guess rich folks are but I wouldn't know a thing about that.  I won't be getting the splurge or the steal.  I'll stick with following my trusty fashion bloggers who shop at Forever 21, Old Navy, splurge at J Crew and could probably put this outfit together for $50 bucks.

Italian for Beginners
John and Ondine were a typical couple living in NYC until they threw caution to the wind along with a lot of money and opened a posh boutique hotel in Tuscany.  Not only was that one a success but they just opened a second one.  I loved Italy when we were there but I did not come home with any kinds of ideas of moving there let a lone starting a business there.  It's one of the few places I'd actually consider living which is probably not a good thing because I'd probably want Pizza every day.  I already want Pizza every day living here.  As cool as it sounds to live in Italy and be your own boss I can't even say I would want to.  I mean, in a faraway fantasy maybe; but in real life....I don't know.  I just wouldn't know where to start.  They felt the same way but they did it anyways.  Major guts.

Scarlett Johansson on Social Media
All of it drives me crazy.  I don't understand this need to 'share.'  We almost exploit ourselves in order to feel seen.  

She makes a good point.  I like it when I post something and it gets liked or commented on.  It means that someone paid attention.  Someone was interested in something I had to say.  Who doesn't like that?  On the other hand, I'm not gonna put out a sex tape just to see how many hits I can get on You Tube.  Not that anyone would be all that interested in my sex tape since I'm not a celebrity and all but you know what I mean.  Some people take their sharing way too far.  I felt like I was getting really caught up in posting everything all the time so I'm really trying to be conscious of it and not be so "into" it.   You start to wonder why you are so interested in what everyone else is doing and spending so much time scrolling through feed after feed on your phone. It can be fun, but when I realize it's sucking up too much time it gets annoying.

Jordana Brewster
I just love this girl!  The first movie I saw her in was The Faculty. She's such a good actress and has such a natural beauty about her.  Olive complexion, dark hair, dark eyes.  Oh, how I wanted her bangs! I wish she were in more movies.  I feel like I don't see her in all that much but she's kept her role in Fast and Furious 6 which I really can't believe took off the way it did.  I don't even know if I've seen them all because there are just too many to keep track.  I'm not the biggest fan.  They are all so phony and kind of the same thing over and over.  The car scenes are so over the top. I'm sure I'll watch it but it's not on my must see movie list.  I'm mainly interested because she's in it.  Oh, and Vin Diesel is fun to look.


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Life Lessons From The Office

The people on The Office are weird.  Only three of them are normal.  Pam, Jim and Darryl.  Okay, and maybe Erin when she's not being so dense.  There is nothing outwardly desirable or interesting about their life.  Their clothes are blah.  Their jobs are blah.  Their lives are one big blah.  They are working 9-5 stiffs at a paper company.  Could there be anything more boring then paper?  In a boring town that nobody would ever really want to visit.  And their office parties are terrible.  
 
People don't want to see that.  They like watching young beautiful people who look like they fell out of a magazine working at glamorous jobs, wearing the latest fashions and doing trendy things.

Except maybe that's not always the case.  Maybe sometimes people get tired of all that high gloss perfection.  Sometimes we just want to see normal people doing ordinary things.  Well, actually there is nothing normal about Dwight and Kevin or about Andy crapping on the hood of a car but still.  In general, they are just regular people.  Like me.  They are flawed.  Goofy.  They are not Forever 21 and they don't always make sense.  They go to work in a colorless office building, sit in the same desk and see the same people every day.  They go to meetings in the conference room.  They joke around.  They meet up for happy hour.  They become friends.  The months turn into years.  I can relate.  I get to do really fun things and I savor my weekends off but by and large because it happens five out of seven days of the week the day to day is about going to work.  It's a normal every day sometimes hum drum life and I liked seeing it on TV In all of it's embarrassingly awkward yet funny yet what the hell just happened glory.  It's way more exciting then what goes on in my office but at the same time so real. And really bizarre.

The Office figured out a way to make ordinary interesting and there is nothing ordinary about how interesting these ordinary characters could be and how they kept people wanting more for 9 seasons.  

When my husband was getting ready to delete the very last episode from our DVR I made him stop.

Why?  Because.  I just wasn't ready to let it go yet.  I have a thing for words.  I love words that make me feel something inside.  The quotes at the end of the show were so moving.  I guess I just wanted to hear them said one more time.  And I didn't want to forget.

It took me so long to do so many important things.  It's just hard to accept that I spent so many years being less happy then I could've been.  Be strong.  Trust yourself.  Love yourself.  Conquer your fears.  Just go after what you want and act fast because life just isn't that long.  -Pam

If you film anybody long enough they're going to do something stupid. It's only human natural.  (big goofy smile) -Kevin

When are we all going to be here?  Together again?  -Angela

If you are ever in the area.  You'll have a place to stay.  In my barn.  -Dwight

I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.  Someone should right a song about that. -Andy

You take something ordinary, like a piece of paper.  It's not much. But if you see it in the right way......-Oscar

How did you do it?  How did you capture what it was really like.  How we felt?  How we made each other laugh? And how we got through the day.  How did you do it?  Also, how do cameras work? -Erin

Everyday when I came to work all I wanted to do was leave.  So why in the world does it feel so hard to leave right now? -Darryl

No matter how you get there or where you end up.  Human beings have this miraculous gift to make that place home. -Creed

I worked for a paper company all these years and I never wrote anything down.  -Phyllis

Even if I didn't love every minute of it.  Everything I have I owe to this job.  This stupid, wonderful, boring, amazing job. -Jim

There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things.  Isn't that kind of the point?  -Pam

Who knew those nutty people could be so worldly and wise?  Here's my takeaway from The Office. 
  • True love will find a way.  
  • There is significant value as human beings in every single one of us.  
  • Every person we meet touches our life in some way whether you realize it or not.  
  • Don't forget to take delight in the ordinary every day joys of life.  
  • Be present and soak it all in.  
  • Life is not always perfect or what you expected but it's still yours and it has the potential to be whatever you want it to be so it's up to you to make the best of it. 

Adventures in Juicing

I'm weird and decided to to another juice fast.  Five was hard so this time I went for 3 days and then eating clean and low carb for the last two days. 
The Juice Factory//The Omega VRT350  

 I decided not to be lazy and actually make the juice instead of buying it.  If you make it all at once it's really not that bad.  You don't have to cut them into very small pieces and cleaning out the juicer parts wasn't that bad either.  If I ran out and needed some more I'd definitely just go buy it.  Instead of just tossing things into the juicer without counting everything out this time I kept track of how many vegetables it took to make how many ounces of juice.  This will help the next time I'm crazy enough to juice because I'll know exactly how much of everything to buy. 

Just in case you were wondering.

1 cucumber = 8 oz
2 apples =8 oz
4 carrots = 4 oz

3 cucumbers
29 carrots
16 apples
6 oz (4 cups) spinach
8 pieces of ginger root
Equals 148 oz (18.5 cups)

This should have given me enough juice to cover 48 oz per day for 3 days.  Or so I thought.  I counted each pour but my measurements must have been off probably because of all that foam at the top and I was about 8 oz short.   Which is about 2 Apples.  That was fine because instead of juice on Wednesday night I figured I'd just break my fast with a snack.

Nutritional Data per 16 oz
Calories 213
Total Fat  1g
Cholesterol 0
Sodium 160mg
Carb 68.5g
Fiber 0.5g
Sugar 45g
Protein 4

In order to come up with these numbers I added up the amount of Fiber in all the fruit being used and subtracted that number multiplied by calories per gram of Fiber which is 4.  I did however leave 0.5 grams of Fiber because I'm sure I'm getting a tiny fraction even through the juicing process.  I suck at math and numbers but when it comes to knowing that the calories in a piece of string cheese is 80 or that 16 oz equals= 1 pound =2.2 kilos = 14 stones or that there are 28 grams in an ounce I know it by heart.  I don't even have to look it up.  Just another mostly useless talent of mine!

The total cost was $22.  I'm still trying to figure out if that seems like a lot of money or not.  It averages out to about $7 per day.  I'm scared of Kale now because I had a really bad experience with it last time.  AFTER washing it but BEFORE I put it in the juicer I discovered a tiny caterpillar that came thisclose to making it into our juice.  The Horror!! Never again will I buy the Kale that has all the nooks and crannies in it.  It has to be the flat kind or pre washed until I'm able to get over that horrible experience.  They didn't have either at Sprouts when I went so I used spinach instead.  Pre washed spinach just to be safe.

Just like last time the first day was the hardest.  Going to bed too late and not getting enough sleep didn't help.  I don't even know how I dragged my butt to the gym on Monday and Tuesday.  On Tuesday I almost drove right past it.  I was sooo sleepy.  Day 2 and 3 were better.  All I could think about all day on Wednesday was the cheese and nuts I was gonna get to eat that night.

For the last two days I've been avoiding obvious carbs like bread, pasta or crackers and sticking to foods with high nutrition density and/or are not processed.  No snack monster allowed.  No candy.  No sweets.  I should probably eat like that every day or at least the majority of the time.  It's not that I'm eating a ton of unhealthy foods it's just that a lot of them are nutritionally void.  You don't get much in the way of nutritional value from Fat Free pringles.  I like to get my snack on and I like to eat like a 10 year old.  For dinner I like to eat Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches or a Cheese Quesadilla and I could eat the same thing every single day.  Mj practically has to wrench the PBJ right out of my fingers to get me to eat the healthy meals he cooks.

It's not a quick fix for weight loss and it's not for everybody.  My older sister won't try it and some believe it's just too extreme.  I had two other bloggers join me and like Mj one of them couldn't make it.  It's not the easiest thing to give up food for days but I've always had a high threshold for tolerating hunger.  I've never been that person that thinks they are about to die if they get a hunger pang.  Another useless talent?  I'm not sure how much of a habit I'll make it but so far it's been really good for helping rid myself of chocolate and sugar cravings and just get back on track.  Sometimes you just need a re set button.