We Made St. Joe & Chicago Proud

This past weekend was MJ’s bachelorette party! It was a long and amazing weekend. If there is one thing I learned it’s that I can’t hang like I used to. Did you know that certain bars in Chicago are open until 5am?? Yeah, neither did I! Who knows if any of us will ever catch up on sleep, but the food, the dancing, the people, the city. It was all worth it. And one day soon, when I’m fully recovered, I’m sure I’ll wish I could relive it all over again!

Circuit Training – Session 9

For this month’s installment of Circuit Training, I thought it would be appropriate to use one of the P90X dvd’s that give ya some nice guns! Given that it’s wedding season the upper body is a very important area to focus on (probably the most important!) for long dresses.

Make sure you visit here to break it all down.

Needed:

Dumbells (I usually use 10lbs-ers but occasionally get crazy and use 15)

Elastic band

8-12; 12-15 rep rules (sometimes 20)

Oh yeah, and when you’re all done… DO IT AGAIN! At least that’s what the DVD requires. HAVE FUN!

Standard Push Ups

Wide Front Pull Ups

Military Push Ups

Reverse Grip Chin Ups (with elastic band)

Wide Front Fly Push Up

Closed Grip Overhand Pull Up (with elastic band)

Decline Push Up

Heavy Pants (with dumbbells)

Diamond Push Ups

Lawnmower (with dumbbells)

Dive Bomber Push Up

Back Fly (with dumbbells)

NOLA Cafes: The Reservoir Cafe

I stayed a bit closer to home for my second installment of this coffee shop tour. For those of you who have visited me, or know the landscape of the Lower Garden District of New Orleans, this cafe is on Magazine Street (just like Cafe Luna ) however, this one is much, MUCH further down river. 

The Reservoir Cafe is located across the street from the Lower Garden District location of Juan's Flying Burrito (one of my favorite spots to eat Mexican Food.)

View from my table was very New Orleans. 

I'd like to say, a cappuccino is a cappuccino...but this one didn't do it for me like the one at Cafe Luna did. 

TURN OFF: It was hard to enjoy my cap and banana bc there were tons of FLIES buzzing around me! I actually closed the laptop early bc the nagging bugs wouldn't quit. GROSS.

They'll use anything to furnish the place. Very creative. I considered working at this desk, but really preferred to look outside.

Local art. Check.

This one earns them a few points. Loads of things to read. 

They obviously want you to settle in and stay for awhile. 

Location: VERY Close to my house. And to one of the schools I work at.  Maybe too close for a Friday work session.

Service: Not bad. The guy wasn't UNfriendly, but he didn't do a lot to personalize the visit. Maybe he was tired. Or mad that he had flies buzzing around his joint.

Atmosphere/Decor: Dark (which isn't a bad thing). The outdoor seating looked cute, but on the day of my visit, it was about 98 degrees. Also, the eclectic garage sale style furnishings were admirable, but that doesn't impress me enough to want to come running back.

Beverages: Cappuccino just wasn't what I hoped it would be.

Food: I only got a banana, but they did have LOADS of amazing options. That may make me return...even if it's just for carry out quiche....or homemade banana walnut bread (I love baking w/ bananas). They offer other homemade pastries (scones that look good enough to...well...eat), breakfast tacos & sandwiches. Add any of those to a non-coffee drink and I think you've got a (to-go) date! This feature takes the prize over Cafe Luna, but the rest just isn't enough to convince me that it's my new "regular" spot.

Score (1-5 cups):  Reservoir Cafe gets 2 cups :/

Friday Five!

{saw this and both decided we HAD to have it for our entrance – we are definitely learning to compromise on the décor – CONFESSION: If Max was able to engrave his ring we were TOTALLY going to have this on each of our wedding bands... judge us}

Happy Friday the 13^th!

Another short week for me!! It’s definitely showing in my work load, woof.

Oh well. The week went by extremely fast and I love that. Days were jam packed with meetings (putting out fires… always putting out fires) and beginning to plan for our end of fiscal presentation, and nights were filled with a combination of preparing for the upcoming weekend and hangin’ with the fiancé (since we no longer have our weekends together – both completely booked, with opposite plans, every weekend, until the wedding… TEAR). 

MJ’s bachelorette is this weekend! So excitedddddd! In just a few minutes, I’ll be Kalamazoo bound, Pumpkin Spice Latte (#PSL!) in hand, to catch my ride to the first destination and start the celebration off with brunch! Since it’s all a surprise for the bride, mum’s the word J but I assure you it will be extremely memorable! I’ll be back next week with pics, so don’t you even worry!!

Friday Forte: FemaleRobbery – The Neighborhood (this band always reminds me of the beginning of Fall… Sweater Weather!)

{BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS!}

{burning brush turned into a mini bonfire + time to catch up on magazines}

{impromptu happy hour celebrating a co-workers potential promotion!}

{cool clipboards holding the menu at Harmony}

Fall Wishlist 2013

Tis the season… to drink captain & cider and cider mimosas (anything cider really)… to frolic in pumpkin patches and meander through corn fields… to cozy up by the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket, drinking hot cocoa… to go on a haunted hayride… to whip out the “heavier” blankets… to day drink watching college football (just like every other year, I’m hopeful THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR Michigan State will make it to the Rose Bowl)… to eat tons of homemade chili and butternut squash soup… to eat CANDY… TO BE MARRIED! That’s right, tis’ the season to be married (for me… and many others). Can’t wait.

Oh yeah, here’s my Fall wishlist J (P.S. Can you tell, I LOVE ETSY?!)

1)       Seasonal throwpillows – this one would be perfection

2)      Farm wood Table! Secret: This is in the process of being built for us!

3)       Chairs to go with the table? Hmm… maybe more extravagant chairs for the ends…

4)       Scarves… all the time! On the lookout for some good new beanies too…

5)      Boots boots boots… cause a girl can never have too many boots! If only I could afford Tory Burch

6)       Leather is always a good idea

7)       I’m sorry, but you can never go wrong with Aztec print in the Fall

8)       Oversized sweaters… seriously thinking about ordering a mystery sweater from the Bearded Bee

Monday Motivators!

[HAPPY BIRTHDAY, APPLE! She turns 1 this Thursday!]

Just another manic Monday...

I am so lucky for the life I have & the people who fill it. No matter how much the day-to-day tries to rule, I have so much that keeps me smiling! 

The following motivators are charging me up this week: 

[Family photos taped to the inside of my planner]

[Me time: Reading a trashy novel on the bike at home...and watching my babies play--or kiss each other]

[Meggie isn't my only music source. Thank you, Starbucks!]

[Apple is finally calming down. She found her spot on the new couch]

[Pretty view from the bike. This is how I've been starting most Friday mornings]

[Internet connection at the gym means Netflix while I work out]

Keep on movin', everyone! Make it a great week.

Links... Lately

I read a lot of blogs, which in turn means that I search the web… a lot. I’m reading one blog, it links to another that links to another that links to a store that links to a store blog that links to something else… and on and on and on. There is a lot of interesting stuff out there! Whether that be articles, new clothes I feel like I have to have (but can’t), new music… and the list continues. So, with that being said, I will be posting my “Links… Lately” on a random basis. With everything going on I don’t think I search the web enough to have this a weekly installment to the blog, but I’ll probably do it more than once a month (maybe not this upcoming month, not a lot of time to search). This will end up being a completely random list of things that I’ve found interesting or inspiring lately. It could be an awesome online store, a cool blog, an awesome source for more music, a funny article, a helpful article. You name it. It could be anything. This will also serve as a place that I can document and revisit if I ever feel like it J

Hint Hint: Court, maybe you want to get in on this action?

1) How happiness changes with age

2) I keep picturing this tray atop our bar cart! I don’t know how much longer I can say no! Also, this is an AWESOME online store for home shopping (update… I BOUGHT ONE):

3) What does your birthday mean.

4) Bubbly Can Boostbrain power: damn straight

5) These articles are always so interesting to read… 1 and 2