Fall Fashion

As much as we'd all like to ignore it, fallisonitsway.  I didn't just say that.  'Don't jinx us' you're thinking.  Sorry kids, it is inevitable.  In an effort to grip on to the last days of summer August always finds me still shopping for summer fashion.  That boho dress I failed to buy in June screams from the racks saying 'I'm on sale, you really wanted me a month ago. If you don't buy me now I may be gone forever.'  

And then I cave.  

But this August I'm determined to be more practical in my purchases. I'm planning to buy only those things which can be used for fall and winter.

Think edgy rocker, with a little 80s thrown in.  
There are certain fall pieces I'm looking for....

{All things Leather}
Shorts, vests, jackets, even dresses will be all over.  Be sure to pair these with more feminine items so you don't look too harsh.  Unless of course you are trying to scare people away.  

White Leather Vest / Black Leather Leggings / Leather Peplum / Leather Scalloped Shorts

TOPS

L/S High Necked Crop Top / Cosmic Tank / Lace Tank (similar) / Baseball Tee / Leopard Peplum / Tiger Tank

{L/S High-Necked Crop Tops} Straight from Ty's closet in the movie Clueless, these are back.  Pair them with high-waisted midi skirts or shorts to keep it modern.  

{Animal and Galaxy/Cosmic Prints} Once reserved for hunters and the tacky alike, somehow these printed tops have made their way to the mainstream.  Be really careful to modernize your outfit (accessorize correctly and do your hair and make up) otherwise you will look like someone out of 'Awkward Family Photos.' 

{Lace}  It's still in and I LOVE it!  Enough said.

{Baseball Tees} I'm not talking the ones that actually support a team.  These are the ones from the 70s where the sleeves are a different color than the body. Greg Brady style, who woulda thought?  

{Dressy Sweatshirts}
Elbow patches, lace details, studs, jewels -I refer to them as dress sweatshirts.  And I couldn't be happier these are "in."  So easy to throw on with skinny or boyfriend jeans yet it still looks put together and chic.  Couldn't be easier.  Sign. Me. Up.

Lace Sweatshirt / Jeweled Neck Sweatshirt

Studded Sweatshirt

I already bought the J.Crew Jeweled Neck Sweatshirt above.

{Boots/Booties}
These have been in for a while, but suede fabric in dark colors such as gray, black, and brick red will be really popular.  Hang on to brown ones (which you probably already have from previous seasons, but if not, I've linked one below) because those are a great transition piece into fall.  

Express Booties

  

Red Suede Booties

{Metallic Flats} These uniform-like shoes got an update with some serious shine.  Similar to jazz shoes these look great paired with boyfriend jeans and a sweater or with a flowy hi-low skirt and tank.  

J.Crew Oxfords

{The Color of Red Wine}  This dark, rich red is a great transition from fall to winter.  I want some skinny trousers in this color. Paired with black or cream but you can be bolder and wear coordinating jewel tones.  I've seen a lot of 'waxed' finishes on pants lately, which gives the pants a slight sheen and waxiness.  Not as shiny as satin or sateen, it's a good way to add a subtle glow to your look.  Keep the rest simple and matte though.  You don't want to blind anyone.  

Cranberry Jeggings

{Attache Bags} Square and inspired by men's briefcases, these are all the rage this fall 

Blue Attache

Attache with touch of Leopard

Now you can fall into Fall Fashion with ease.  And that, my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!

JT, Jay-Z and Me!

I've been waiting for this concert all summer and finally, finally(!) it's here.  JT and Jay-Z right in my backyard, ok, it was a stadium with thousands of other people but whatevs.  

I anxiously awaited my BFFL's arrival.  Despite the rain and her recovering from a bad cold, we were determined to have fun.  After a hectic summer of packing, unpacking, laundering, and packing again (on repeat), dancing and singing with my girl T to some sweet tunes is just what I needed. And maybe a few cocktails...or more than a few.

I settled on wearing a black satin dress, my Vince Camuto ankle cuff flats, and my Louis purse.  I even did my hair (I have become the queen of the bun as many a busy mom is).  

T and I headed off to Flemings for some pre-concert snacks and drinks.  We ordered the Stoli Bombshell Martini. A mix of muddled raspberries, vodka and lime juice it was a sweet way to begin our night. And at 99 calories you won't feel guilty eating (or drinking) more than your fair share.

Flemings has the greatest happy hour I know.  5 for $6 till 7pm, Flemings features five apps, five wines, and five cocktails all for $6 each!  We munched on complimentary handmade potato chips and sipped our on our martinis as we waited for our sweet chile calamari and burger (The Prime Burger). Ask for Mike the bartender, you won't regret it. Attentive but not over-bearing, friendly but not unprofessional he can whip up the perfect cocktail in seconds.  Even if you don't know what you want, he does. 

Our food came and we chowed down (which is why there's no food pics). But I can tell you it was delish. And so were the blueberry mojitos Mike made for us (Shockingly, sans lettuce - T I'm looking at you. I think the cocktails got to her brain,lol). 

I've frequented Flemings many times for birthday dinners and special occasions and it is equally as good as their happy hour.  The waiters are knowledgeable and friendly, the food delicious.  The manager always comes over to check on you and will take a picture of your whole party, stopping by later on to drop off the pic in a frame.  My favorite part is the box of handmade chocolate truffles, handwritten card, single standing candle and a $25 gift card you get for special occasions. If you go, try the petite filet (medium plus --> more than medium, less than medium well), baked potato and wedge salad with some Cava sparkling wine. Ok back to our girls night out.

Two martinis, two glasses of wine and one blueberry mojoto later we giggled our way out onto the street and over to the Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z concert.  

Uber let us down and said there were no cabs available so we popped on over to the Marriott, pretended we were staying there and had the doorman get us a cab.  We chatted up Mike our driver and talked excitedly about the concert. 

The concert was exploding with eager fans. And they were all on line for the ladies room. Having done our business we got ourselves a drink and headed to our seats.  

Which were amazing, check them out. Front and center and not too high or too low, just right.

As the night pressed in, the stage lit up.  JT and Jay-Z took the stage slowly, keeping the crowd tensely, breathlessly, madly and wildly awaiting their first song. ('Holy Grail' but shh, I didn't tell you that)

Sooo JT can legit sing.  Not that I ever doubted him but you never know with musicians these days  He sounds like he does on the radio which is so refreshing.  So many artists are auto tuned or 'helped' in some way, and it was a relief to know he is the real deal. Jay-Z can hold his own for sure.  But of course he can, he's a tough NY boy.  And they've got moves.  Is it hot in here??

Two very different genres and two very different groups of fans all came together to relish in music that moves you to your feet.  Bass pounding, bodies moving and hands in the air, I don't think there was a happier set of people in the city that night.  

We danced the night away, 'brushing our shoulders off' and 'taking sexy back.'  I'd tell you the set list but that takes all the fun out of it so you'll just have to go see them for yourself.  

And I almost cried during the Empire State of Mind because my heart will always belong to NY. (To think I almost missed it for the ladies room!)  

Ahhh!  Just wait until the encore. 

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G is all I can say.  Check out the tour dates here, buy yourself a ticket.  You won't regret it.

Sadly, it had to come to an end so we headed out to grab a cab but that was easier said then done. A mile or two later we found our cab and tried to take a final pic.  Too bad I struggled to operate my camera.  This is what we wound up with. 

This is embarrassing to admit but after my first unsuccessful attempt at a pic, I accidentally videoed us instead of taking a pic. I won't bore you with a vid because the whole video is this picture. We sat there, still as statues, smiling at the camera that never took a picture.  And that was a sign it was high time for bed. This is what we wound up with  

Don't we look like two girls who had a ton of fun?  I think so.  A night out talking, reminiscing, laughing, dancing (and planning the yoga studio we'll never open) was just what we needed.  T's the kind of friend who's always there when you need her (she drove 3 hours round trip to come see me  in the hospital for 30 mimutes when I had my daughter). And although we don't live near one another we pick up right where we left off. I see us being friends till we are old and gray.  We have more fun together than we probably should. We have many more memories to make.  Call your best girl and have some good old fashioned fun. And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne. 

'To, the Hamptons!'

Nothing brings me back to my childhood more than visiting the Hamptons. Many countless summers of my youth have been spent listlessly wandering the beaches, playing mini golf, running in the sprinkler and shopping around town.  I even got a summer job there once, commuting an hour to and from the office just to enjoy my beloved Hamptons.  In my opinion, there is no better place to be in the summer. 

Nestled between the Atlantic and the Shinnecock Bay, Hamptons Bays sits beckoning to beach goers and urbanites alike who are looking for summer fun.  You can find it all here - peacefulness and partying.  Lie by the water listening to the waves ebb and flow or hit the town at night to feel like one of the elite.  Drive Dune Road to see some killer homes, to visit the many clubs/bars/restaurants or just plop down at one of the many beaches.

I highly recommend Dockers.  A little pricey but totally worth it.  For my cousin's birthday some of my fav girls visited Dockers after we went SUP.  If you haven't tried SUP I highly recommend it.  An adorable father-daughter team rent kayaks and paddle boards from the parking lot of Dockers.  And for $25 an hour you really can't go wrong.  

We slipped into the bay and hopped on our boards, nervous we wouldn't be able to balance.  But lo and behold we were up and going in no time.  Ten minutes later the din of car engines on Dune Road faded in the distance as the croons of cranes, pipers, seagulls and orioles filled the salty air.  It was true peace.  Talking, bonding and joking we soaked up the sun and enjoyed nature from a different perspective than usual.  We paddled until our hands blistered and our muscles ached.  By then our tummies were rumbling so on to Dockers for some grub we went. 

A bottle of Prosecco and appetizers were in order.  We couldn't decide on just one so we ordered a bunch. 

The fried calamari was cooked to perfection, the Prosecco, cold.  The three sliders were oozing with crab, lobster and ahi tuna.  Our mouths watering, we could hardly keep ourselves contained.  The lobster slider was cold and crisp on a brioche bun which was toasted to perfection.  (There's something to be said for the perfectly toasted bun.  People seriously overlook the importance of the bun.  Pay attention to it next time, you'll see.). The crab was by far my favorite.  They didn't scrimp on the crabmeat and it was flavored to give just the right amount of kick.  Lastly, the ahi tuna blt was a divine combination of salty bacon and cold fresh tuna.  

We laughed and reminisced until we realized we were missing beach time so we paid our bill and quickly headed down the road to the beach.  

More fam was waiting for us there as the giant waves crashed onshore. 

We ditched our clothes and headed for the glistening blue green water.  It looked more like a Caribbean island then the Eastern end of Long Island.  No complaints from me!  We dove under the first crusher of a wave into the cold water and popped up refreshed and happy.  A few minutes of playing in the waves brought us goosebumps so we headed onto the warm sand to soak up the last of the day's sun.  

That is, until we heard the ice cream man.  You can't ignore a call like that!  We trudged up the dunes.  The truck was sweating in the heat and we quickly put in our order.  Three soft serve swirl cones and one Choco-Taco.  We slurped up our melting cones in about five minutes (no time for pics, kids) and our bellies were giddy in their summer happiness.  

Driving back to my aunt's house for dinner with the wind rushing through our hair and music blaring, I was reminded of the many summers I'd spent exactly like this one with these exact same family.  Nothing could be better and I'm so glad I get to initiate my daughter into this wonderful place and to the wonderful people that represent all summer has to offer.  

After dinner we head out to celebrate my cousin M's birthday.  Her and I are more like sisters than we are cousins so we were happy for the time to catch up and spend some quality time together with some family. 

We headed over to Cowfish for some drinks and then took the Rumbarge (so cool!!!) over to Rumba for some - wait for it - rum punch.  Cowfish is a modern, elegant, breezy space on the water. You can watch the sunset from your aidorondack chairs on the grass as boats come in.  Served in mason jars Rumba is well known for their rum punch.  It packs quite a punch, pun intended (!) and can really sneak up on you if you're not careful. Many laughs and much fun later we headed back home to rest after a long filled day.  

I value these times in the Hamptons and for me it represents more than simply a hot summer destination.  For me, it is quality time with my family and creating memories that truly are the essence of my beloved Hamptons.  We are re-bonded after our time here and as we all go in our different directions we always look back on our time here with fondness and moreso, love. Take some time this summer to catch up with your fam in your happy place.  It's totally worth it.  And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!  (brb Hamptons!) 

Summer Have-tos

Summer is upon us and we all want to feel fully immersed in all the season has to offer.  This is my list of things to make your summer totally cool.  

Uber cabs 

Luxury sedans at the price of a taxi.  You put in your beginning and ending destinations and watch the map as your driver approaches your door.  You pay by credit card so no need to stop at the ATM while the meter runs, you get the name and picture of your driver so you know who to expect (reassuring for late night cab rides, ladies) and you can rate the driver when all is said and done.  Just remember, he can rate you too.  So if you've had one too many cocktails and haven't got your sea legs you may wanna just flag down a good ol' yellow taxi.  
 


They've got an app for Androids and iPhones.  Uber services cities in the US and abroad.  Check them out!

Caleche eau de toilette by Hermes

A little pricey but a perfect summer scent - clean, light and airy, with a hint of florals.  I left my perfume at home on accident during my last visit to my mom's.  Mom being Mom, she told me I could borrow hers.  I'd never noticed this particular perfume before, way up on the top shelf like an old abandoned toy.  I figured since not a drop was missing (despite its having been there for a super long time), it must've smelled terrible.  Boy was I wrong.  One spritz and I was in love.  I felt transported to a heavenly smelling place of florals and freshness. ( I love my husband but at my house I always seem to be chasing the fresh clean smell I had when I lived solo.  Oh well, I traded heavenly scents for love.)  But I was drunk on Hermes and I couldn't get enough.  I spritzed after showering and when the summer sun had me glistening with sweat, that fresh flowery scent wafted from my skin, evaporating into thin air.  When it wore off I would think about it, fighting the temptation for another spray. I didn't want to waste a drop!  What if I needed that tomorrow for a nice dinner out or some happy hour drinks?!  The perfume was not mine to keep and the thought of my very own bottle tickled me silly.  (My make up brushes still smell like it so for just a wee bit longer I get my own scent of heaven each morning now that I'm home.)

We never picture our mothers as once leading the trends, with hip accessories and fashion-forward style.  This perfume solidified all I'd heard about my mom back in her 20s - stylish, trendsetting and apparently smelling like a little piece of heaven  all the while.  She was albeit...Cool.  She said I could keep it and bring it home with me but that just didn't seem right.  Stealing a piece of heaven?  Bad karma.  I'm definitely saving for some of this and you should too.  If we all wear it the world would be a lovely smelling place. ;)  Worth the splurge!  Go here to get your very own bottle of heaven.

Ice Cream

Don't know about you but nothing's better after a hot summer day than a little,  a lot of sweet, cold melting ice cream.  My go-to is chocolate soft serve, what's yours?  Does anyone else love ice cream best when it melts a little, kinda like a milkshake??  Soooo good, mmm!!

A Good Read

There's nothing like losing yourself in a good book.  Whether you like easy, mindless reads or deep, thoughtful ones choose one that will keep your interest.  Great for traveling, sitting on the beach or out in the yard grab that book (or mag) and get started.  You'll be glad you did.  

Here are some of my favs:

Love in the Time of Cholera

The Great Gatsby (and not because the movie just came out, it really is good) 

Get your tan on and read a little!

Pampelonne Sparkling Wine

When I studied abroad in Australia I was astounded at how many drinks came in cans - they also had drive through liquor stores (!) - which we frequented often.  I never dreamt drinks in cans (besides beer) would come to the U.S.  But here she is America, and just in time for summer.

Housed in pink, white and green cans, this wine is not just delicious but fashionable.  Pampelonne's Rosé Lime is set to launch any day now with Sangria and Bellini on the way for fall and winter.  About $15.00 gets you four of the prettiest little cans of sparkling wine you ever did see.   Ok so I've never tasted it, but it's wine, it has to be good!  I cannot wait to get my hands on some.  I plan on giving this as a gift to my favorite cousin in a few weeks for her birthday.  C'mon Pampelonne get those cans up and ready, summer's here and time's, ahem, wine's, a-wastin!  Once it's up and running you can place your online order here. 





Uptown Cheapskate and Plato's Closet
Need to make some room in that closet of yours so you can hit those summer sales??  Grab an hour or two, clean out your closet and bring it on down to Uptown Cheapskate and Plato's Closet. 




My newest favorite places, both stores will buy back your clothes for cash or store credit.  Take that money and buy yourself something fresh and new to fill up that newly emptied closet.  Or, scour the racks for some new digs.  Uptown is always my first stop as their clothes are usually more high-end and whatever's leftover goes to Plato's Closet which is younger in terms of style and price.  Last stop after that?  Goodwill.  Someone should get use out of all this stuff so why not share with others?  And if you can get cash for it, why not - no harm in that! The better the condition of the clothes and the more stylish they are the more they are worth. Uptown is not as widespread as Plato's Closet but you can check out their websites here and here.   

Now you've got the stuff necessary for a sweet summer, and that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne. 

*All pics from Google images

1st Birthday Party

Did anyone else begin planning their child's first birthday party months in advance?  I never thought I'd be that person, but once March rolled around I began to feel as though I was falling behind on planning.  My daughter's birthday is in June.  June(!)  That's almost four months from March.  Oh boy.

Most people believe first birthday parties are really more for the parents than they are the child.  Odds are the kid won't remember who was there, what she got, or what the theme is.  But does that stop us?  Heck no!  And I don't know about you but after carrying her for nine months, going without sleep, leaving my career, and figuring out how to be a mom I think I deserve to share in a party!  My husband has also given up a lot, so party for him too!  Luckily, we willingly made these sacrifices and we couldn't be happier we did.  Every sleepless, fussy night and day were worth the little mini-me that happily wobbles around our house spreading joy wherever she goes. I cannot believe how fast this year has passed.  And how much has changed from a year ago - mentally, physically, socially, and every other -ally there is.  

I decided to commemorate all this change and progress with a Garden Party.  My challenge was to plan this on a budget since we only have one income right now.  Browse Pinterest for just a few minutes to see the amazing first birthday parties other parents have thrown for their little ones and it's hard not to feel outdone or that your love is somehow conveyed by how coordinated, cute and how diy your party is.  It looks more like a set for a photo shoot than a baby's birthday party.  Unfortunately this realization did not stop me from pinning my little heart out - tiered ombre ruffle cakes, homemade cookies with those little edible pearls in the shape of flowers and butterflies, an explosion of flowers in antique vases, and furniture that belongs in the house out on the lawn delicately and perfectly distressed (in the correct color scheme of course).  

{Her party dress}

How am I going to do this I wondered?  Well for those of you looking for advice and ideas I will share with you what I did so perhaps your life becomes a little eensy bit easier.  

I had to pick and choose what I was willing to diy, what was just plain unnecessary and what was out of budget.  I wanted it to be a shabby chic, elegant garden party.  Did I mention this is for a one year old?  I know babies are rarely elegant.  They're more like the Michelin man covered in food.  

I wanted to diy a few things but I didn't want to be overwhelmed.  I'm not crafty so taking on too much would have been a total mistake.  

My first project was to order a bunch of photo prints of my daughter's first year and make them into the shape of a number one.  I had a coupon code from Snapfish for 300 prints at a penny each so it was perfect.  I cut a piece of oaktag into the shape of a one and then pasted the pics onto it in that shape. 

Narrowing them down....

  

I got some clothespins and clothesline and hung the rest of the pics around the yard for everyone to see how much she's grown and changed over the past year.  (It's amazing to see!)  Snapfish is also where I got the invitations for the party (which I also had a coupon code for, yay!).

I did half a diy project for the party favors.  Since a one year old doesn't really have friends yet, the only kids at the party were her cousins.  I decided it would be nice to give each kid a terra cotta pot filled and seeds to grow their own marigolds.  I got the mini pots from Lowes for $0.97 and bought some stickers from Michael's so I could put each child's name on his or her pot.  More about these later...

Almost ready

My last diy was to make signs inspired by ones I saw on Pinterest.  It took FOREVER but I'm really happy with the way they turned out.  I used MS Word for all my signs, specifically the Word Art feature.  Having a picture to model mine off of made it much easier to do.  Like I said, I'm not crafty.  So I cheated a little bit by using Pinterest.  Shh. I won't tell if you don't.  ;)

DIY is great and all, but what's a party without food, right? That's one of the most important parts! I decided finger foods served buffet style would be easiest and cheapest.  Pop the warmed food into sternos and let people pick all day.  As for apps I make a killer healthy salsa that is super easy and tasty, served with Tostitos.  Chop up some fresh tomatoes, combine with canned corn, red onion, parsley and italian dressing.  It goes great with lime flavored Tostitos but not everyone is a fan, so for the party I stuck to plain chips.  I made ants and butterflies on a log for the kids. Take celery stalks, fill with peanut butter and top with raisins to make 'ants.' For the butterflies do the same thing but add two mini twisted pretzels on either side of each raisin to create the butterfly's wings.  It's a hit with the kids every time.  (Note** Just be sure no one has a peanut allergy before you go making and serving them!!  Substitute hummus for pb if necessary)

The main dishes were chicken fingers and pulled pork sliders with corn on the cob, a green salad with veggies and chick peas, and sweet potato fries as the sides.  The chicken fingers and pulled pork were pre-cooked so I could save time and energy.  All I had to do was heat it up.  So easy.  I purchased all of the food from Costco to save some dough because the guest list was about 35 (we have a big Irish family). 

In our family there are no start or end times to parties.  You come when you want and leave when you want.  This is great for quality family fun time, but makes it difficult to plan a party.  You never know who  will be there, who will be hungry when or how many meals you will be responsible for feeding them.  This is normal to me so I planned on serving snacks throughout the day - since I'm sure this party will last well into dinner and after.  I made extra apps and used those to serve later as snacks, but in addition I had a candy jar that I filled with goldfish.  To add a little fun, the kids used a mini shovel to serve themselves into plastic cups.  The kids loved it!

Now for the crowning glory of every birthday party. Dessert.  I figured I should actually cook some of the food so I picked the thing that would be the most fun to make - cupcakes.  Instead of the ruffled, pink ombre cake I really wanted to get, I thought cupcakes would be just as fun but cheaper.  And way less messy.  Then I don't have to cringe at the exorbitant amount of money I spent on a cake as my daughter  smears it all over her face, body, and anything else within her reach.  A cupcake is cheap, one serving size and always tasty!  

A freezing cold glass of milk is a necessary accompaniment to cake of any kind, so a glass of milk it is.  Have you seen Pinterest?  A glass isn't good enough (scoff).  I saved Starbucks Frappuccino glasses, took off the stickers, and washed them.  I re-purposed them for the kids' milk and served them with these adorable retro straws I found on sale at Sur la Table.  I also made fruit skewers in the color of the rainbow (idea totally stolen from Pinterest).  A healthy option to make us feel better about the cupcakes.  

For the decor I wanted all pastel.  I saw Party City was offering 15% off your order so I went nuts.  I bought tons of fluffy paper balls in pink, white, lavender and blue.  Floral tablecloths, napkins, plates and cups really tied everything together and made it look more planned and coordinated than it really was. To save a little money I ordered plates and cups in a matching pink because printed plates cost more.  It also broke it up so it wasn't too 'matchy matchy' because I really hate when things match too much.  Is that crazy?  Does anyone else feel that way?

I usually hate party favors.  Most of the time it's just junk you don't want that the host felt obligated to provide because you took the time and effort to attend their party.  This is especially true for weddings.  Kids parties are a bit easier but still challenging if the kids vary greatly in age.  I found myself in this very scenario and eventually got a great idea.  Mini flower pots so the kids can grow their own flowers.  I chose marigolds since they are almost kill-proof.  And if mom happens to become responsible for my party favor she can pop them in her garden to keep the pests away.  I bought stickers from Michael's to place the kids' names on the pots so there would be no confusion or fighting.  I got the same pots and same seeds for that very reason.  There will be no 'She got the red one!' or 'He got the better dirt' here!  

Dirt and kids are great together, but not in the car on the way home from a party.  I put the dirt in a plastic baggie and placed it in the pot with the packet of seeds on top.  That way if it happened to tip over there wouldn't be dirt all over the car, or the kids, or mom.  Or all three!  Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I thought this party favor could teach them a little bit about responsibility and nature.  My hope is that they water it, watch it grow and feel proud of themselves for having accomplished something great.  

All in all the party was a success.  My daughter enjoyed herself and we loved watching her officially turn one.  I wish we could do this year all over again but at the same time I can't wait for what's to come and who she's going to be.  No matter what, we love her and this party was simply a celebration of that love.  

They're even more fun the day after!

We enjoyed some fun in the sun, some food and games, but most importantly we celebrated our first daughter's birthday with those closest to us.  And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!  Cheers and Happy Birthday, AB :)

"Oooo, more people came to celebrate!"

Soul Body, New Body

You guys, I have found a new workout I love!  I have about 5 pounds of baby weight left to lose and A LOT of toning left to do.  My gym was offering a new class called Soul Body Barre which combines moves from ballet, pilates and yoga.  Who doesn't want the body of a dancer or yoga teacher??  Yes, please.

Despite an overwhelming sense of nervousness I signed up for the 6pm class.  I was the second one there and sat in anticipation as the class filled up quickly.  'Am I going to be able to do this? I haven't worked out in a while.  These girls are all much younger and fitter than I am' these thoughts streamed through my mind with each successive participant that walked through the door. 

I am happy to say that once the workout started all of those thoughts vanished.  But not for the reason you might think like believing in myself or a compliment from a stranger.  You know when a workout is so hard you can't think of anything but 'How am I going to make it through this, just keep going'?  Well that is definitely this workout.  

Staci began class with a warm up that had me sweating and panting for breath. What did I get myself INTO?? I thought.  But hey, I want a dancer's body.  Gotta wok for it right?  Right.  A bunch of squats, planks, using sliding disks for lunges and mountain climbers, and then we were ready to begin the workout. 

Water break? Breathing break? You'll find none of those here.  Once the workout starts it doesn't stop until 60minutes  later.  I felt my legs becoming sore before I even walked out of class.  If that's not a sign of a workout that provides results I don't know what is.  All the movements are very small, and work those muscles we didn't even know we had.  They are the supporting, smaller fiber muscles that really make the difference in the way you look.  Judging by the looks of Staci and her assistant this is the only workout I'd need to get in shape.  

I know you're curious just what I got myself into so here's a link to watch Staci and her team in action.  http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plcp&v=CjdVGULxjL0

We did a lot of squeezing and pulsing and lifting of legs and butts.  Burning and crunching and lifting and holding.  'Now pulse. Up an inch down an inch she says' as my hamstring cramps and my standing leg shakes.  

The first half of class focuses on arms and abs.  This is no joke.  We are squatting and curling.  We are 'serving the platter,' we are doing push-ups and tricep  extensions.  I can't even remember the other exercises.  I think I went into an exhaustion coma and my mind blocked out the pain.

There was still half the class to go.  We moved quickly from one exercise to another with no break in between and Staci happily bounced around the room, talking and correcting, all the while performing the same exercises we were doing.  That woman is in shape! We moved to the barre and began lifting our legs working on hips, butt and legs.  Burning doesn't even begin to describe the pain.  And all I can think about is how I am going to make it past one more rep.  But I do.  And I feel energized and exhilarated afterward. 

 I've done something positive for myself - my mind and my body.  And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne.  Don't forget to hydrate, that class is a killer!