Confessions of a Skinny Girl

"It's not what you look at that matters,

it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau

Morning:
10:25 - Alarm goes off, hit snooze. Roll over because meh I don't wanna get up.

10:28 - Roll back over, turn the alarm off before it has a chance to annoy me again.

10:29 - No, forget it, there's no way I'm getting up right now.

10:30 - Brain goes crazy. You had a few vodka sodas last night and you have to work tonight so there's no chance you're going to do it later. FINE! I'll effing get up and go to yoga.

10:45 - Coffee, apple, Facebook. More coffee. See who's teaching the yoga class and sign up online.

10:50 - Get moving. Ugh, I can't. I'll take the bus, that will give me an extra few minutes.

11:05 - How did I get dressed so fast? Stall a few minutes before walking to the bus stop.

11:10 - I'm bored. I might have a few french fries tonight. FINE! I'll walk to yoga.

11:12-11:45 - Walk, speed walk rather, from Dupont to Georgetown.

Afternoon:
12:00-1:00 - Yoga. Downward facing dog. Inhale. Exhale. Chaturunga. Upward facing dog.

1:15 - Wait 15 minutes for the bus or....FINE! I'll walk home.

1:20-1:55 - Walk home. Chug water. Stop for a G2 Gatorade because I'm still shaking.

2:00 - Get out the plate and fill it with lettuce. Wash the lettuce. Get the cutting board. Cut up zucchini, squash, and cucumber. Tomatoes. Garbanzo beans. Break up pieces of turkey. Slice up a string cheese. A dash of salt, no dressing. Mange.

2:20 - Google the nutritional facts for buffalo sauce. I'm addicted.

2:30 - Shower.

2:45-4:45 - Blog. Facebook. Twitter. Repeat. Make phone calls. Get hungry again. Eat a yogurt.

Evening:
5:00 - Leave a few minutes early for work.

5:05-:5:10 - Internal struggle: to buy candy at CVS or not.

5:11 - Enter CVS. Look at the candy. Read the labels. Decide a few Mike & Ikes won't kill you. Besides, you're in shape now.

5:14 - FINE! I'll at least walk to work while I'm eating them.

5:16-5:45 - Walk to work from Dupont to Georgetown.

6:30 - Eat a carrot stick from the bowl.

6:45 - Eat a few french fries.

7:00 - STOP EATING FRIES...but dipping them in buffalo sauce is SO GOOD. New tab: "Christie" / Order: "Grilled chicken pleaseee, Simo"

7:25 - Eat one piece of grilled chicken. Dip each piece, ever so slightly, in mild buffalo sauce.

8:00 - Finish off the Mike & Ikes.

9:00 - Brittany: "Are you hungry? If I get something will you have some?" Internal debate: you already ate, you don't need whatever she wants to order but it's slow and I'm bored.

9:01 - Me: "Sure! Get whatever, I'll have a bite or two."

9:02 - New tab: "We like to party" / Order: "Eight BBQ Wings, thanks Dad"

9:30 - Only eat 3 wings.

11:15 - To drink or not to drink?

11:25 - To drink it is. Stoli-O and water.

Early morning:
Midnight - One more drink.

1:00 - Head home, hungry. Reflect on what I ate and drank that day. Ehh, not horrible.

1:15 - Yay, I get another work out in...have se...oh wait, not anymore. Have water, popcorn, and salsa instead.

1:17-2:00 - Watch Gilmore Girls. More water and G2 Gatorade.

2:00-4:00 - Toss and turn.

4:05 - Pass out.

4:06-10:24 - Sleep.

10:25 in the morning - start all over.

If you know me at all you know that I'm not naturally thin. I'm curvy, I'm a lil bit thicker, there's something to grab onto. However, at my best I am on the smaller side. If you know me at all you know that my weight goes up and down like crazy. I like DC because I get into a routine that does not include Nonna's twice a week, 10 boxes of cereal at my disposal in the cabinet, and late-night pizza. Here in DC, in my fridge you'll find only what I just listed so any "bad eating" I do, I have to purchase. Having to purchase "bad food" more often than not, stops me from doing it.

The skinny girl mentality is one that forces you to get up and work out. It makes me feel guilty if I don't. The skinny girl mentality is one that makes you aware of just about everything you eat. What's funny, however, is once I'm in this mentality, it is so nice to know that not every bite is going to send me over the edge. When I'm unhappy with my weight, I'm absolutely convinced that every drink, every taste, or every snack is going to "make me so fat." I think that my favorite part about the skinny girl mentality is that you understand that you can have some Mike & Ikes without it being the end of the world. I can have three BBQ wings and not cry over it. The skinny girl understand proportions. The skinny girl understands how to splurge on one meal without killing her whole day....or her whole week, as I used to do. The skinny girl buys a turkey sandwich with cheese (big splurge on the cheese), gummy bears, and a G2 Gatorade from 7-11 at 4am instead of Dominoes pizza and cheesy bread, as I used to do.

The skinny girl allows herself to have a "free day." My "free day" is Sunday. At that point, I've been working four days in a row of long hours, exhausted, on my way to being drunk, and conveniently it's the day I have the most cash to spend on "bad food." The skinny girl allows herself to have a "free day" because she knows that because she's got the skinny girl mentality that "free day" doesn't mean what it used to. It used to mean eat the most crap you can in multiple sittings. Now, the "free day" might mean having a slice of thin crust pizza a work, three BBQ wings, and splitting a turkey wrap and fries with Brittany at The Whale...of course while sipping a Stoli-O and water.

If you know me at all, you know I'm not doing this to brag or to make you feel badly about yourself if you haven't quite reached the skinny girl mentality but to remind myself that I can do it. I can keep it up. I never have a problem getting to a "happy place" when living in Washington, DC every fall, however, some alter-ego seems to take over as I enter the holiday / winter season. This post is a reminder to Sassarella to keep it the eff up! If it encourages you to do the same, well then mazel! My job is done.

Sassarella Says...

DJ CFabb: Team #GymSwag

There was once a time when Lauren and I literally could not be at the gym at the same time. We would immediately start gabbing about nonsense and completely forget about working out. Now that only happens on occasion and we've somehow been able to get work done together at the gym. Do work. This week we're calling our running, zumba-ing, and ab crunching duo, "Team #GymSwag." To be on Team #GymSwag you have to be in either all black or in black and white attire and black sneakers with a popping neon color somewhere on them. If you're going to wear a color, it should match the poppin neon color, and if it doesn't match, it should certainly not clash. For example, my teal blue undies matched the teal blue on my kicks and Lauren's yellow neon sports bra matched the yellow neon in her sneaks. You get my drift.

To be on Team #GymSwag you must also have motivation to support the workout. Like for us this week, it's D'Jais. We have semi-serious plans on going to the juice head and Snooki look-a-like filled bar this weekend down the shore so obviously we have to look fresh-2-death. So whether your motivation is for a guy, for revenge, or for like health or whatever, ya just gotta have a target. When Pauly yells, "taxis sono qui" you'll be good to go.

Coming off of a fabulous weekend, including lots of tequila at Sona and lots of Nonna's Grandma pizza I needed a little boost to get my workout going. And part of Team #GymSwag is the music. Gotta have the beats. I know I just posted a bunch but I have so many new ones that I just have to share...enjoy!

"Turn Me On" by David Guetta & Nicki Minaj

"Night of Your Life" by David Guetta & Jennifer Hudson

"Give Me Everything" (Sex Ray Vision Remix) by Pitbull

"The Killer Satisfaction" (mashup) by Yoni

"Just A Little More Love" (Big Room Remix) by David Guetta

"Accidents Happen" by Zoe Badwi

"Stay Awake" by Example

"Sunshine" by David Guetta & Avicii

"Rolling Joints" by 5 & A Dime

"Let's Play" by Kristina Maria

"Wonderland" by Natalia Kills

Sassarella Says...work it, Team #GymSwag, work it!

Runnin' Around: How to Impress a Guy in 3 Seconds

So the gym is kind of like the Mean Girls cafeteria.

First you've got the meat heads aka juiceheads or gorillas. The guys that walk, excuse me, strut around with their arms moving from side to side instead of from front to back because their muscles get in the way of normal movement. They usually have a sidekick, ya know someone to make sure the 500 pounds they are lifting above their bodies don't come crashing down on them. Hey, the zoo called and you're all due back by 8pm.

Then you've got the girls who I think I should hate. These women are always perfectly outfitted, don't shed a drop of sweat, but are somehow in perfect shape. Isn't it always the way? You decide someone is awful until you're forced to talk to her or you hear her talking to someone else and you realize how ridiculous it was that you hated her. Wow, she seems nice. However, there is one woman I truly cannot stand and I think she knows it. She talks to all the guys but in a way that she's trying too hard to be one of them or to get in with the in crowd. News flash: just because you lift with them does not mean they like you. Oh and your hat is ugly and distracting.

There are the dads that look like Olympic athletes. They were probably stud track runners back in the day that refuse to be out of shape. They eat to win, they run to win, they work to win, and they are currently raising young boys and girls who play sweet lax...to win. Mozel.

I sometimes come across the guys who seem to have a dysfunction of the eyes. I think they call it, "My Eyes are Glued to Your A$S and/or Breasts Syndrome." They're like little boys seeing boobies for the first time on television. However instead of pretending like they weren't when mom walks in the door, I swear they don't even care if you catch 'em in the act! Luckily, there is a treatment plan for this condition...I hear it involves a dirty magazine and Jergens #sorryimnotsorry

I love the older women who are still rockin' a legit sweat band across the middle of their foreheads.

I could go on and on about the kids lifting weights who don't even look old enough to see a PG-13 movie, the former classmates that you pretend not to notice, and the chauvinistic man with his trophy wife bopping around together in matching outfits but I won't. I'll turn to another important group: the trainers. Back in the day the trainers were the people who got me there half the time! They were good-looking, charming, and buff but now I think my gym put a height requirement on new hires because the majority of them are 5'5" on a tall day!

So anyway, then there's me, a group of my own. Well I shouldn't say that exactly because I'm sure Lauren falls under this category for sharing the same gym tendencies as I have. For starters, I look around all the time. I must drive the people on the treadmills next to me absolutely bonkers because I'm constantly invading their space. I wish I could tell them that I'm not looking at them or at how fast they are running but I'm usually just checking things out. On occasion though I am looking for someone specific.

Gym Crush Numero Uno: I'd guess he's in his early thirties, brown hair, tall enough, and generally accepted good-looking. He's kind of pissing me off lately because either he's not coming to the gym a lot or he's changed his schedule. I noticed yesterday that he came in as I was walking into a class so maybe he's coming later now or something...whatever. I've been waiting for a convenient meet-up, walk-by, or water fountain rendezvous to occur so I can talk to him but it never works out. I'm not willing to miss a class or even be late for one to try and force this issue. I'm also not pushing it because I have yet to receive any sorta vibe from him. At first I always think that it's me who gives out the b!tchy vibe, especially at the gym, but after yesterday's incident I think I have to adjust my thinking and get over Gym Crush Numero Uno.

What happened yesterday you ask? I got a vibe regardless of my attitude. So there's Gym Crush Numero Dos, who I guess is now Gym Crush Uno y Solo. I still can't really figure out what he does at the gym but he works there for sure. As far as I can tell he's not a trainer but he's always on the main floor testing out the equipment. He's deceivingly built and I say deceivingly in that he still has a neck. He's tall. He's tan. He's my type especially because he's a bit older. I'm hoping not older enough to run for the hills if he ever finds out how old I am. I digress...

So yesterday I'm running on my usual treadmill and I see him come out of an office door. I stare. I stare longer than one should stare. He stared back. The game has started. He fiddles around with some new machine, still a decent distance away from me but when he stands up he's looking at me....and I'm still staring. God forbid I actually smile at him! No instead I have to play it cool which could come off as the b!tchiness I spoke of earlier. So then he takes a gander through the aisle in front of my treadmill. He's not looking at me as he's approaching so I don't look at him. I can't do this omg I'm such a loser. Stare at your iPod. So I do and I have no idea if he looked at me or not. What a wuss. Then I go into my Zumba class (she was no Allison J but I'll take it) and forget about the whole thing.

I left the class early and headed down the stairs to leave. As I'm turning onto the main hallway of my gym, I see him walking towards the staircase. He's not looking at me, but I'm obvs looking at him. I go to walk by thinking the staring game was just in my head but then that horribly awkward thing happens. We were already kind of passed each other but I sorta slow motioned around as he says, "Have a great day." I've seen him around enough to know that he doesn't normally say things like that to customers, it's not in his job description. I also know it because other people walked by him before I approached that he didn't say a word to!

However unlike the pig at the water fountain incident a few months back, the quick-witted words did not come to me. First of all, I was practically mid-sip on my water bottle which made it even more terrible. I tried to stop mid-pour and after a weird pause all I could come up with was, "thank...you." In theory, this seems reasonable enough (minus the awkward pause between the two words) but if only you could have heard the baby voice that came outta my normally sass pot mouth. UGH. I'm already worried about this guy thinking I'm a kid and here I am all "thank you" (in a higher than normal pitch, very blahh and uninviting tone). It wasn't even like a baby-ish, sex kitten, cutesy sorta thing...it was just miserable. As I walked away, still processing what just happened and biting aggressively on my water bottle, I dropped my headphones and bent down twice before successfully picking them up. Oh yeah, baby! Let me tell you, in those three seconds, hook line and sinker! Thankfully, I don't think irrecoverable damages have been done but first impressions are like wowzaaa and mine sucked. Hopefully he'll remember the staring.

Sassarella Says...to impress a guy in 3 seconds, just smile and be confident. Take a lesson from me and utilize the opportunities you are given. In this case, I'm now going to have to make an opportunity in order to redeem myself with Gym Crush Uno y Solo. Great, now if anyone I know sees me there looking around they are going to know just who I'm looking for. Put in a good word for me and I promise to use my normally very grown-up and hot voice ;-)

Runnin' Around: Rome Wasn't Built in a G.D. Day, Capisce?

Alright, alright, alright (Dazed and Confused style). So first of all, please notice the nice box above this post that asks you to submit your email address. If you'd like to be notified by email (and I don't know why you wouldn't) when I write a new post, type in your email address and !VOiLA! you will receive email notifications. Also, I'm hearing feedback that some people are not aware that any text that is underlined and in a different color is a link, so click on them :-)

I learned how to add that feature from a certain New Mexican soon to be in South Beach on his way to becoming another Jewish lawyer, so thank you. This future Jewish lawyer also started writing a blog today and I am SO EXCITED about it! Read it if ya know what's good for ya (this is a link to his blog). I'm very demanding today, sorry but I'm not sorry. Anyway in his first post, primarily about "hope and promise," he also makes a very good point about relationships. To quote him, "Without strong relationships life becomes much harder to survive." Plain and simple. I am going to take his sentiment in a similar yet different approach.

This past week I have been running outside in my little town of "Flo Po." At first, I am immediately struck by how much I prefer running in DC than I do in the 'burbs of NJ. In DC there is so much to look at and a variety of routes to take. I can admire the city from the waterfront, explore new neighborhoods, and feed off of the energy of the hustle and bustle of city life. I am also considering the social aspect. I had a community of people at my fingertips and because I was covering so much ground, I would run by all the pockets of places that I know people. I miss waving to the many police officers, classmates, and co-workers while I was out on the streets in my Nike sneaks (someone put that in a rap song). In FP, I am usually the only pedestrian which leaves me straining my eyes trying to see into car windows looking for someone I might know.

I got a little worried about this situation but as the week continued, I realized that I may have been too quick to judge my hometown. I remember two summers ago I was running on Brooklake Road and out of no where BOOM torrential rain. One of the delivery guys at Nonna's drove around looking for me, another minivan pulled up next to me and the woman inside said, "Hey, you're the Nonna's girl aren't you? Do you want a ride?" and even my neighbors stopped to make sure I would get home safely. Now I'm back and what I thought would be the difficult task of re-building my community is proving not to be so difficult. First of all, just being back at Nonna's to eat I am reminded of how much I love the small town feel....I saw my Butthead Friend who is, whatever, I guess no longer a butthead (for the time being), Gabbie was there, all of the waitresses and pizza guys are still there, and a funny thing happened while I was trying to find parking. I was blasting "Lights" by Ellie Goulding (obviously) when I pull up (topless lol) to a group of guys yelling at me and the one says ,"Great song!" I asked him if he was being serious or sarcastic and he says, "No I'm so serious. Ellie Goulding! I love it and no one knows it yet. You gotta get the "Bassnectar Remix!" [Like I don't have it already, yeah right]. I told him it was coming on next and as I pulled away I heard him yell, "And she's driving a BMW, I think I might love her, I LOVE YOU!" And today I received a text message from a middle school friend saying, "I just saw you running, go girl!"

Ya see, my community is still here I just have to re-build it. I like being a townie and knowing people around me. In relation to life in general, my idol Kelly Cutrone, phrases it as "finding your tribe." To quote her book, If You Have to Cry Go Outside, "Your tribe members, whether people gifted to you by the universe or people you seek out and pay, will not only add something unique and essential to your journey but make it much more colorful and fun" (25). They are like-minded people who have similar interests or connections to people who do. They offer advice and they bring out those "Ah-ha!" moments. I'm building my tribe. I have my Ya-Ya's of course, but I am also finding those people who will guide and support me throughout the journey. They can be friends, co-workers, bosses, or the stranger sitting next to me on a random train.

P.S. I want Kelly Cutrone in my tribe because Lord knows I'd do anything in 

my power to positively contribute to hers.

And speaking of journey, please stop asking me what I'm doing now that I've graduated. I am helping my parents at their office for awhile, then spending some time in California with a tribe member who is going to hone in on my skills and interests, and then I'm going to come back here and apply to jobs in NJ, NYC, etc. I know I'm being sassy because the people who ask me if I have a job are only asking out of interest and because if I was, oh I don't know, say going to the University of Miami for law school, interning at AOL, or deferring a job at PWC while I finish graduate school then obviously I'd want to tell them that.....but I'm not. What am I doing? I'm building my g.d. tribe! So lay off me. I'm seeking out and stumbling upon the people who are going to help make my life abso-effing-lutely fantastic. I didn't try and fail so don't shake your head or roll your eyes or look at me sympathetically when I say I haven't started a CAREER yet, big deal. I didn't apply nor did I want to. I'm letting my brain relax and I have no doubt that in a few short months when I do get a "real job" that it will kick your job's butt ;-) Ok, maybe that was being dramatic, but it will kick butt none-the-less.

ANYWAY, the point of all of this ranting and raving is that it is so necessary to hold on tightly to the people you want in your tribe. Who is going to help elevate you to the next level? Who is going to keep your focus and who is going to let you forget your focus from time to time? Who are the people you can call upon when you need to pick their brain for wisdom and knowledge? Who makes up the group of people, your tribe, that positively affects your life? I'm telling you now though, it's a two-way street. Expect that the members of your tribe will need or want you to contribute in some way to their journey as well so get ready. I'm amped up and ready to go so let's do this shizz called life.

 Sassarella says...it's time to build my tribe. Who's in yours?

Runnin' Around: "GTI: Gym, Tan, I'm Not Buying It" - Pauly D

[Before I dive into this post, I'd just like to say for the record that I'm NOT crazy because they are all HAUNTING ME this week. I was walking around in Georgetown the day after the post hook-up encounter shpiel and bumped into #4! UCK!!!!!]

So now on to today's issue. Last week I got on the scale and was NOT a fan of the number I saw staring back at me. Anytime I bring this up most people respond with, "You're nuts! You look fine!" but it's that layer of winter, holiday season schmutz that I have yet to get rid of that's driving me crazy! It's those pounds that an outsider probably doesn't notice but you notice every time you try to get dressed...piece of crap little pounds, I could KILL YOU! I digress.

Last week I finally decided to seriously do something about it because for the last month or so I've been "getting serious" but it was a fake serious (you know what I'm talking about, I'm sure). So to define "seriously getting serious" I worked out six out of seven days this week, consciously took notice and wrote down everything that I ate, and even got back into the habit of drinking industrial size bottled water all week.

Ain't it the truth?

As the days went by I started noticing a difference in my face and booty. When gauging my weight loss or gain, there are certain spots on my body that I notice fluctuate first. In the shower, the one place I notice is the spot on the back of my arm right above my elbow. (Am I sounding crazy yet? Meghan likes to jokingly ask me from time to time if I notice any change in my ear lobe?! She's funny). Anyway so I'm in the shower this week: "Ohhh yeah I'm coming back! The arms are skinnier, feeling good, yada yada". WOOT!

Then I was putting make-up on and noticed less of that "side face" BS that happens. My sister and I have expressed a severe dislike for this fun side effect of Christmas lasagna and post-Sona Cluck-U chicken. We get this little crease on the side of our cheeks when we smile. Uck, gross. This week I saw that all going away. YAY!

And finally I put "the uniform" on to take a walk before LuAnn arrived to take me home to Jersey. "The uniform" is leggings and a t-shirt and by golly oh my the butt is definitely smaller! I was walking around and check this out, when I was walking, I could actually feel less ass pop out. WOO HOO!

So I'm feeling like a new woman. I'm super excited that I'm going into Easter weekend in a good groove. My butt, the spot above my elbow, and the side cheek are all fading fast...even my g.d. ear lobe felt smaller! On my way to the scale, which I only get on once a week like all the books and diets say, I was anxious to see just how many pounds I had lost. I step up and saw that I lost a whole 0.2 pounds! COME AGAIN?! No way. Come on. I step off and step back on hoping some mechanical error occurred on the scale... -0.2. I could feel my blood boiling, the frustration building, and on top of it all my allergies kicked in from the skinny girl walk I had just taken outside. There's no way, there's just no way that I didn't even lose a pound! I mean 0.2 is the difference that a good pee could make! I didn't even have Tuscany pizza on the corner with George at 3am all weekend...this is NOT POSSIBLE! For the first time in my entire life, and I kid you not, I have "seriously gotten serious" and not lost somewhere between 3 and 5 pounds in one week. Gaaarrrreeeeaaaaaat.

I walked away from the scale and for the rest of the day, my face felt gross, my butt felt HUGE, and the spot on the back of my arms was back! In a split second I went from skinny girl heaven to chubby kid hell. I was telling my mom about the ordeal and as she's cracking up she says, "Ok, you really are crazy! That's all in your head!" Since I've never been naturally thin and have always had to consciously be aware of my eating and running habits to stay in shape, I know how this goes. There are some weeks that it just doesn't happen for ya. My body is retaining a lot of water right now and my buhbies are on the bigger side...awesome, my arms are skinnier but my buhbies are watermelons. Fantastic (can you hear the sarcasm?)

The moral of the story is that I'm not buying it. I really and truly see and feel differences in my body. I'm more toned from running all week and there's definitely less ass to grab on! Good grief. I'm home in Jersey for the next few days and here's my plan...GTI: Gym, Tan, I'm Not Buying It because I know the scale is effed up and I'm not going to let it bring me down. I'm going to GTD: Gym, Tan, Drink all weekend with my best girly girls and impatiently wait for Wednesday to come so I can get back on the scale to see that horrible number go down. I'm also going to secretly wish I was a boy so I could eat whatever I want, but cut out soda, and lose ten pounds in an hour. Whatever, I'm not bitter or anything....

I know there's gotta be a least one of you feeling my pain and are currently trying to drop some. If that's the case then all I have to say is....godspeed, my friend, godspeed!

Currently on the "seriously get serious" playlist:

"TNT - Invasion Over Berlin" - by The Fabulous Beatmashers (AC/DC vs.
Spencer & Hill vs. Three 6 Mafia vs. Black Eyed Peas
vs. Run DMC vs. Ying Yang Twins)

Runnin' Around: Awake My Soul

"I love to travel" is one of those things I say when someone asks me about my interests. However, in the last few years, I cannot say that I've really exercised that interest. This week I was told that it might be (I know it would definitely be) a great experience for me to do some traveling on my own. As much as I adore DC, NJ, NY, and all of the wonderful people and places that exist in those places....I keep thinking about how I really would love to get away from my routine. I need a breath of fresh air.

However, I understand that in reality because of time, $, and life, taking an extended period of time after I graduate to travel around is not exactly realistic. I did get to thinking about where I would go if I could....so, I got out "the list". Yes, I keep a running list in one of my many notebooks noting all the places I want to go. It includes the following countries and/or specific cities: Egypt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Fiji, Brazil, London, Portugal, New Orleans, California (again), Paris (again), Cuba, Rome and Milan (again), Dallas, Czech Republic, St. Barts, Jamaica, Germany (again, and more of it!), Dubai, IBIZA (thank you, Best DJ Ever, for reminding me)..........etc, etc, etc.

Since that list is a wee bit ambitious, I decided to narrow it down. Realistically, what could I do? I'm thinking about all this while out on a run today and since every other song on the playlist is by the same band, it smacked me in the face! FOLLOW MUMFORD & SONS AROUND ON TOUR! They hardly ever play in the US, so I could go all over Europe, get cheap concert tickets, and love life. I've shown them love on my blog before, and you all know, that their music is the kind that makes me get that feeling all over. Lauren does a great impression of my reaction when a song comes on that I'm absolutely infatuated with...ask her to show you. Like Joshua Radin, these guys can really sing and holy smokes can they play instruments. Hopefully you caught them at the Grammy awards this year, it gave me chills.



I got all excited running around P Street, Wisconsin Ave, and finally onto M Street but then I thought, yeah that isn't so realistic either. I need a job, I need to make dolla dolla bills, I need to start real life. And now that I'm sitting at my computer I see that Mumford & Sons is on tour NOW and that the European part of the tour ENDS in March. Feh! By the way, of course they are playing at Coachella and I've said this before but whoever decided that Coachella would be an exclusively west coast concert is a silly, stupid, little person...KILL HIM.

But wait! Why don't I just go to California to see them?! That stupid, silly, little person is still stupid and silly but that doesn't mean that I have to be too. I don't have to just sit on my butt over here on the east coast staring jealously over in the west coast direction.

....Too bad it's sold out. There's always their Vegas show, Friday April 15th, 2011, just in case anyone was wondering. They're also playing in Santa Barbara, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, and Tennessee! Although, I have this awfully sick feeling that they are probably sold out already. However, the June 30th show with Arcade Fire in London isn't.....not that I've spent the last 20 minutes looking into all of this or anything.

Plan B. Hmm what's Plan B? Where could I realistically go after I graduate but before I start working? I'm thinking a San Fransisco trip is in order. FINALLY, I'd be able to see my brother and sister-in-law, the Balenciaga and Spain Exhibit at de Young, and hopefully extend the trip to LA (since I think I'll have a much greater appreciation for the city this time around). And while I'm out there, I might as well make a Vegas trip with the Nigara and Florio clan (Lauren, I'm considering you a Nigara at this point).

Neither of those "realistic" trips would really be considered "on my own" but hey, I'll take it! Get me outta here. No, really, get me out of here.

To conclude, on a serious note, I'd like to take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to my Uncle Warren. He passed away yesterday. You are so loved and we are missing you already. To the greatest Hoya I've ever known, you are an inspiration. I'm sorry you won't be here to see me graduate but I will be thinking of you the entire time. You are a legend. Rest in peace & Hoya Saxa.

"Awake My Soul" by Mumford & Sons

"How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes

I struggle to find any truth in your lies

And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know

My weakness I feel I must finally show

Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all

But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall

Lend me your eyes I can change what you see

But your soul you must keep totally free"

"AWULL: All Ways Us Living Love"
Love to the California Clan

Runnin' Around: What a Pig

While at home, I work out at the fabulous Lifetime Fitness in Florham Park. I go on the same treadmill every time and if someone is on it, it throws off my entire workout. I like this treadmill because it is in an awesome people watching spot. When Lauren and I go to the gym together, we almost fall off the g.d. machines because we're so busy looking around at everyone else and at each other. If particular trainers, "the guy in the Under Armour body suit", or "the guy that's really cute with the blah blah" is there, we look at each other and giggle like little girls. The gym is more of a "see who's there" experience as opposed to a "get sweaty and shed pounds" experience.

So today I was on my usual treadmill checking things out. I should also mention that I tend to get really into certain songs and dance a little with my hands while I'm running (don't judge, it's what gets me through!). Anyway, I went at a weird time so not many people were there but I did notice a meathead looking dude in all black (me likey) and thought "hmm how you doin'?" I usually walk around with my ipod on, which is an indication that I don't want to be spoken to, however today my ipod died in the last minute of my workout. I walked over to the water fountain, ipod less, to get a quick drink before going to shower. Meathead dude comes up to the water fountain next to me and says, "So, treadmill is your thing, huh?" I replied, "Uhh yeah, I guess so." I fiddled with my water bottle to give him another few seconds to come up with something better to say when he says, "I saw you rockin' out..." wait for it....."I also saw your ass." BOOM. There it was. He actually just said "I also saw your ass".

Now there could be days or phases in my life that I would think his comment is disgusting, but kinda hot, and I would totally go with it and say something saucy like "Really? Well let me see yours." Or something way less lame than that. But that day was not today. I turned to him and said, "Oh yeah? And what's your thing? Pig-headed pick up lines at the water fountain?" SASS-A-RELL-A. Meathead dude muttered something along the lines of "woah whatever" and we went our separate ways.

I'm not trying to put meatheads down, trust me, I have a weird thing for them, but this was like WTF?! Was he expecting me to fall weak at the knees or strip my clothes off right there? Whatever.

He was cute so if he followed up my sass comment with a clever, Logan Huntzberger response we might have walked away from a bickering match thinking "that was kinda fun, let's do that again sometime". Or better yet, couldn't he have just said, "Hi. My name is something other than Chris, Tom, Rob, or anything starting with the letter J (please, give me a new name for goodness sake). I live in the area, I have a great job, I'm in my late 20s to early 30s, I'm not married, and I'd love to take you out to Nobu tonight by private jet....oh, and I'll give you my AMEX so you can go get a DVF dress and LV bag to wear tonight." I mean, is that too much to ask? Couldn't he have just said that instead of "I also saw your ass". I kid, I kid he didn't need to say awwwllll of that but "I saw you rockin' out....I'm (blank) what's your name" would have worked just fine. I kinda want to see him there again. I have to come up with something funny and fabulous to say to him. Any ideas?!

So I'm about to get the family, holiday stuff started
but I leave you with the words of Carrie Bradshaw, 

"Is it true? Are all men freaks?!"

Runnin' Around: Witch with a B

No music. Yup, that's right, I went for a run without music. It was a very strange experience. First of all, I moved at about half speed. Secondly, I was very aware of my surroundings and even felt a little awkward running by people. Was it obvious to everyone that I was running for exercise and not just running for the sake of running to get somewhere? Me so nakey without headphones.

Anyway, I took careful notice of the people on the streets and to put it delicately, there are some unique people in this world. I had this same thought in Penn Station yesterday. Except, who am I to call the girl that looks like she hasn't showered in a week or the grown man with a bright orange backpack and dress pants hemmed up to his ankles unique? Especially when the first thing I look for on them is whether or not they have a wedding band on their left ring finger. Is that not one of the most shallow things you've ever heard? Think how I feel, I'm the one who said it! Honestly though, I look for the rings to see if there is someone out there who declared to the world that despite his ankle length pants she loves him until the end of the time. Not to say that if the person in question isn't loved if he or she isn't married but still, I feel better knowing for sure that someone loves her despite her greasy hair. In a society so focused on appearance, what the heck did those people on the street think when they saw me run by? I could care less but I was thinking about it yesterday and today because coming back to DC means coming back to "The DC Christie."

Last week, a friend commented on how happy I am while I'm working at Rhino and my overall persona the last three months. She remarked on how I carry myself as such a fun, strong, positive, upbeat, and friendly person. She jokingly followed it up by asking: "Aren't you exhausted?" YES, good God, YES. Being happy is fantastic and I've loved it but I'm taking a break for a few days.

Example A: Over the weekend, I ripped into a friend, excuse me I mean ex-friend, via BBM. No more Miss Nicey Pants. Don't get me wrong, this person deserved it and it was a long time coming but it felt great to let out some rage. Rage that's been bottled up inside from week after week of: "Yes, of course, let me pick up those half eaten wings you dropped on the floor and bring you 3 more pitchers of beer while I'm at it....no fricken problem."

Example B: I let my professor who has pissed me off all semester have it this morning. He dared to question my PSU term paper topic. I fought back the lump in my throat and the tears welling behind my eyes and it came out as straight frustration. (Poor Prof Mashi. I told him I'm exhausted and apologized for getting so excited. We talked it out, he's chill.)

When and how is it socially acceptable to be a witch with a b? I don't always want to be strong and happy. I finally let it go and allowed myself to "witch it out" at my friend, let myself be vulnerable, even a little sad, and a whole lotta frustrated with my professor and I gotta say, I feel relieved. I just asked you when and how it's okay to do all of that? For me, it's for the next 2 days in DC. I don't feel like being nice for a day or two, so pick up your own g.d. wings. What I'm saying is let it go every now and then because it feels good. I'm choosing to believe that it's totally acceptable for a person to take a short vacay from her usual persona.

The Queen B: Lily Allen.

"Not Fair"

"The Fear"

Her ability to bitch it out without actually being a bitch is incredible. The combination of her wit, her charm, her lyrics, and her videos is genius.

Anyway, this started because I ran today for the first time in days. My butt should be back to normal size already, right? Let's check. (Checking myself out right now) Hmm, k so see ya for Detox Day 2 tomorrow. Ugh.

Runnin' Around: Mumford & Sons

Running in DC is freedom.  Freedom from school work, freedom from people, freedom from daily crap.  It's my daily breath of fresh air.  Sometimes I pick a new place in the city, like a restaurant, monument, or neighborhood to run to, take a lil looksie, and run back.  Or sometimes I run in the M Street and Wisconsin Avenue areas.  These streets to me are like vodka, they never let me down.

This fall, I'm really digging the neighborhoody streets of Georgetown and Dupont.  Volta, Q, R, P, and Connecticut Ave are where it's at.  The combination of pedestrian-free, tree-filled back roads and the cute coffee shop vibe of a Dupont lunch time is heavenly.  What I love about these streets, and city running in general, is that I rarely need the music to keep me moving.  At the gym, on the tredmill, I need my girl Rihanna and some Urrrrshherr to make it that extra mile.  But on the streets, I can listen to anything.

Today, like most days for the past month or so, I listened to this song at least 6 times over the course of a 40 minute run.

White Blank Page by Mumford & Sons 

Oh this song. Where do I even begin? It has the ability to change my whole day in any direction.  It can make me feel happy, relieved, free, and motivated OR sad, mad, and gloomy (in the best way possible, of course).  If you like that, and I don't know how you couldn't, check out Little Lion Man by Munford & Sons and The Cave by Mumford & Sons.  And if nothing else, HOW CUTE ARE THEY?!

Yummy. Their Bookshop Sessions are pretty amazing too.  Ok, blah blah, I'm done lovin' on Mumford & the boys...for now, at least.  Happy running & promiseee me that you won't ruin these songs by taking them to the g.d. gym! Peace out.