Around the Interwebs

Only ONE more day and it's the weekend. I am very much looking forward to this weekend because I actually don't have ANYTHING planned. How great is that? Lots of much needed R&R for this girl and I'm really excited about it. Since I was on my death bed last weekend, I feel like it's been two weeks since I had a "weekend."

So I want to try a little feature out this week, see  how I like it, see how you guys like it, called "Around the Interwebs." I browse the Internet like it's my second job and I read a lot of interesting/sad/funny things and have been thinking I would like to share some of them with you.

First up we have an article on cnn.com about emoticons. I totally disagree with this article. I happen to love emoticons. The whole point of email and text is to make things faster and simpler. Using emoticons is just a way of conveying emotion without trying to find the right words, and in a digital age when most communication is not done face to face where you can read someone's facial expressions, emoticons are important. Long live the emoticon I say ;) And yes, I really do wink at people in real life all the time.

This may be the funniest blog post I have ever read. This girl is seriously hilarious. Of course I was dumb enough to read this while I was at work, in a conference room with three other people. I had to keep biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing out loud. So if you're at work or in a library for instance, better save this one for when you get home and can enjoy a hearty laugh.

Kalamata Olive Hummus. Need I say more? This literally may be the best creation on earth. I made some myself and OH.MY.YUM.

Now onto the daily stuff. I have been really good about working out this week and have been to the gym everyday for a minimum 40 minute cardio session. I have a Bodypump class scheduled tonight. I am bringing the boy with me for the first time. I am hoping he loves it as much as I do! I haven't been to Bodypump in forever and I know I am going to be SORE tomorrow. It hurts so good!

Breakfast this morning was oatmeal (I know all you bloggers love looking at picture after picture of oatmeal on everyone's blog).

In with the oats was some protein powder, walnuts, and a two scoops of the Cranberry Apple Butter from Trader Joe's. I do love their fruit butters, but to be honest, I didn't really love this one in my oatmeal. It was a little too bitter. Some agave or honey next time should improve things. For lunch I packed a big mouth sandwich (toasting the bread so things wouldn't get soggy).

After Bodypump tonight the boy is making some pita pizzas in the oven. I have been really good with my eating this week as well except for last night when I slipped and had two oreos. Thank goodness there was only two, if there had been a whole bag in my house it would have been game over.

How do you feel about emoticons? Have you ever tried Bodypump or a weight class like it?

A Tail of Two Cats

Some people really love their pets. I try not to be one of those crazy cat ladies who is constantly posting pictures of her cats. I am making the exception today to share a little story with you.

I occasionally post pictures of my two cats, Mica and Bailey on the blog. Their back story is that they are sisters and essentially polar opposites. Mica is sweet, affectionate, and very laid back. Bailey is cranky, mischievious, and destructive. I say I love them both just like parents say they don't have a favorite, but in reality everyone knows Mica is my favorite. She was the runt of the litter and was significantly smaller than her brothers and sisters. My plan was only to take her (I felt bad for her because she was so small and didn't think anyone else would want her) but I randomly got the idea to take a second one so that they could keep each other company. Plus who can resist kittens right? They were so cute when they were little.

They are a little over 3.5 years old now and have not calmed down the least bit.

I got home last night after the gym and was sitting on the couch. Bailey came over to sit with me and we watched Gossip Girl together. Ten o'clock rolled around and it was bedtime for me. The normal bedtime routine is that as soon as the cats see me starting to turn lights off, they both run for the bedroom and hide under the bed because they don't want me to shut the door. The only way to get them out is kitty treats. So per usual, I shook the kitty treat bag and Bailey came running. But Mica didn't. Strange I thought. I started calling her and looking all around for her. She was nowhere to be found. I checked every closet, every cabinet, under the furniture, everywhere. I figured if she was trapped somewhere she would meow when I called her (Bailey frequently gets trapped in closests because she sneaks in when I'm not looking and then I shut the door) but not a peep.

At this point, panic starts to set in. I am furiously texting the boy, who was at the Pats game, that I think Mica got out. That was the only explanation because no matter where she was, she would've come out for treats. She is obsessed with treats. I hurriedly throw on my jacket and sneakers and head outside with a bag of treats, thinking if she is in fact outside, she will come when I shake the bag. So for 20 minutes I run around my neighborhood like a crazy person shaking the bag of treats and calling her. At this point I am hysterical because I think she must have gotten run over or someone stole her thinking she was a stray.

I cannot explain the fear and sadness that washed over me. I finally go back inside and start crying because I think my baby is gone. That's when I hear it. Not a meow. A cry. I try to localize it, it seems to be coming from the diningroom somewhere. I call for Mica over and over again until I found her. Apparently the boy shut her in the drawer where he keeps his Pats tickets without realizing it. She had been stuck in a drawer for almost 15 hours. I literally could have killed him. But I have never been more relieved in my life. Sometimes it takes something like that to make you realize just how much your pets mean to you.

I gave Mica the entire full bag of treats before bed.

When Mucus Attacks

When mucus attacks, this is the aftermath:

A pile of tissues on the corner of the couch.

I have been up since 5. Took some dayquil and took a 2 hour nap.

No food pictures today friends. I am too busy trying not to die.

Well, maybe I won't die. But for the last few days and probably the next few coming up, I'm going to wish I could. Being sick sucks.

I will return to my regular scheduled blogging on Monday. Have a good weekend.

Ten Things I Hate About the Gym

Hey hey! So during my sweat sesh this morning, I got to thinking. There are some really annoying things about going to the gym. And in the spirit of sharing, I decided to list my top ten for you!


1. People who wear cologne or perfume to the gym. Don't they know that as they start to sweat that smell starts to choke everyone around you?? And who are you trying to impress? This is a gym, not a bar.

2. Women who wear make up. This shows a complete lack of motivation to work out. Clearly if you were here to work out, you wouldn't be wearing makeup because the minute you started to sweat, the makeup would melt and you would look like a raccoon or a clown that got caught in the rain. Just tragic.

3. Meatheads. You know the ones. The guys that grunt as they are lifting weights. My friend Jimmy is one of these guys. Only instead of grunting, he makes this hissing sound. Clearly I understand that it takes a lot of effort to lift heavy weights and that some grunting may be necessary, but honestly, you can keep it quiet. Meatheads grunt loudly so that everyone knows that they are lifting heavy weights and are subsequently impressed. I'm not impressed, just annoyed.

4. Special classes that you have to pay extra for. I go to BSC in Waltham, which already charges me a small fortune and made me sign a contract promising I would give them my first born if I ever dared to cancel, so how is it that they can get away with offering these special extra classes and charge you $200 for an eight week class?? I already pay to go here, those classes should be free for members.

5. Sign up sheets for classes. This is irritating because if the gym's classes are filling up and sign up sheets are necessary, they aren't offering enough classes. I pay astronomical prices for gym memberships specifically for the classes. If I just wanted to run on a treadmill, I would pay $10 to join planet fitness. But I don't. I pay that money for the classes, and if I can't get into the classes because they are always full, then why the hell do I pay to be a member here??

6. Class instructors who don't actually do what they tell you to do. This drives me crazy. It happens the most during spin. The instructor will get off the bike and yell at you to keep going, or pedal faster, or increase that resistance...as they are standing there. How demotivating is that? If you as the instructor can't even keep up, how do you expect your class to be able to keep up?

7. Women who walk around the locker room buck naked. I've heard that men do this also. I understand that you are naked when you get out of the shower and then you have to walk to your locker for your clothes, but there are women who blow dry their hair, put on their make up, and chat, all while in the nude. Please. Please. Please. Put your clothes on before trying to have a conversation with me about how great Body Pump was today.

8. The "complimentary" personal training session. Any gym that has a personal training component now offers a free session. This is where they attempt to ROB YOU BLIND by selling you a personal training package. I know they rob you blind because I myself fell victim to the jazz hands routine they give you to get excited about having your own personal trainer and how cheap it is per session. What they don't tell you is that they don't actually have any personal trainers available when you have time to train (the ones that are available, beware, because there's a reason why they don't have appointments booked) and that your half hour session really only ends up being 10 minutes worth of actual work, which isn't enough to see any results. And again, you cannot get out of your personal training contract without giving them a kidney. Oh and by the way, they will HAUNT you until you schedule that complimentary session.

9. The smell. This one really doesn't an explanation. No matter how well ventilated the gym is, it always smells like an old dirty pair of socks. With a splash of cologne here and there from the jackasses who Axe it up before they work out in hopes that one of the divorced soccer moms with fake boobs will swoon.

10. People that don't wipe down their machines. If you're only on for a few minutes, ok, I can let that slide. But when you have unleashed a raining sweatstorm on your machine for the last hour, wipe that shit up. Someone has to use that after you and it's just disgusting.

What is your biggest gym pet peeve?

My Bucket List

Hi guys! Today I wanted to do something a little different. A lot of really good things have been happening to me lately, and I have barely had time to take a minute to truly appreciate them. I have a great new job that I had been trying to get for years, and cupid finally graced me with his arrow. I feel especially fortunate these days, and discussions have started between the boy and I about all the things we want to do together. Listed below (in no particular order) are ten of the things on my "bucket list." I'm sure most of you are familiar with the concept, but in case you're not, a bucket list is a list of things that you want to accomplish in your life before you die. Everyone's list is different, and I wanted to share a piece of mine with you and possibly inspire you to start your own. Life is short and should be lived to the fullest! So here goes...

1. Macchu Picchu in Peru - This is one that the boy and I have on both of ours. I have always dreamed of visiting this beautiful and mysterious place. It was built as an estate for an Incan Emperor and later abandoned during the Spanish Inquisition. It is one of the new seven wonders of the world.

2. Take a bike tour of Italy - I love most anything outside, and this would be the ideal way to explore Italy. I see ads for these all the time, and I can't wait to see the beautiful Italian countryside riding through the breeze on a bike.

3. Ride a donkey in Santorini, Greece - This is my ideal honeymoon destination. It has everything I could ask for, beautiful scenery, warm climate, delicious food, and romantic atmosphere. I actually have a painting of Santorini in my hallway at home as motivation to save my money to get there someday.

4. Climb Mt. Kilamanjaro - This would be my greatest accomplishment if I get the opportunity to do it. Hiking is a passion of mine. I hike Mt. Washington every summer, but Kilamanjaro is three times it's size. It intimidates the hell out of me, but I'm determined to tackle it and win.

5. Go on a real African Safari - I am obsessed with animals and have dreamed of going on a real safari for as long as I can remember. And the safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom doesn't count ;)

6. Drive cross country - This may be the first on my list to actually get done. With my new job, I get a lot more vacation time than I have ever had and this goal may actually be plausible next summer. The problem is deciding which way to go!

7. Write the great American novel - I wrote a book once, and it got stolen when my apartment was broken into years ago. I haven't really written much since, but I hope one day of getting reinspired and putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys in my case) and having the courage to do it all over again.

8. Run the Boston Marathon - You guys knew this one already...ever since I was bitten by the running bug, this has been my end goal. This one intimidates the hell out of me too, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that I have it in me.

9. Learn to speak another language - I took 5 years of Spanish through junior high and high school and even taught Spanish to sixth graders my senior year, but I have retained so little of it. I would like to be able to speak it fluently. The best way to accomplish that I suppose would be to go to Spain, so it looks like I have another item on my bucket list!

10. Marry the man of my dreams in a beautiful church - What little girl doesn't dream of her wedding day? As women, we pretty much dream of what our wedding will be like from the womb. It hits so much closer to home, however, when you finally meet a man that you can see waiting at the other end of the aisle for you...

What's on your bucket list?

I'm a Quitter!

Today I have no pictures of food, no recipes to post, no meals to talk about. Today I have much more important things to discuss. Today, I quit my job.

Of course I didn't quit without another job, don't get nervous! I actually landed a job that I have been trying to get for pretty much the last 5 years of my career, and it's a career-making move. I get to travel a lot, work from home a lot, get six weeks vacation, and get paid a lot more than I do now :) I feel a little bad that I just started this job that I'm at now a little over 4 months ago, but when an opportunity like this comes along, you can't let it slip away.

There are no words to describe to you guys how happy I am about this and have been dying to tell you all for weeks now and today I gave my notice so I can officially announce it to the world! For privacy reasons and all, I can't actually disclose who I am going to be working for. But it's a big important company! And now I'm big and important! (Well, sort of.)

Share your good news with me! Anyone else have good things happening in their lives?

No Officer, I Wasn't Texting While Driving

Today a new law went into effect in Massachusetts. The no texting while driving law. This also applies to phone calls for teen drivers. I can empathize with this law. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop texting while driving completely. How am I going to be able to drive 10 minutes down the road to work without asking a friend if she saw Gossip Girl last night? In all seriousness I know it's a good law, and I know that I shouldn't text while driving...but for someone who is as ATTACHED to their phone as me, how am I going to get by?? I really don't know if I will be able to deal with it. And I'm so good at it. Granted, the first accident I ever got into after I got my license 5 years ago was because I was texting (for those of you good at math, yes, I got my license at 23), but I've come a long way in my skills since then. Granted I'm not as fast as I used to be...

There was actually a story on ABC News yesterday that bans alone are not effective enough to reduce the number of texting-related traffic accidents. The problem therein lies with enforcement (which in my opinion, the law is way too heavily focused on traffic related laws than real criminals already). At first the Massachusetts police will be looking to make an example of any violators, but this too shall die down eventually and go the way of seat belt laws I feel.

Does anyone else live in a state that has a texting law? What do you think of it?