A new 'do

I'm really lucky. I have awesome wavy hair. My hair beauty routine is almost too embarrassing to write, but here it goes:

I wash my hair with Aveda Dry Remedy shampoo and conditioner, about twice a week. My hair is super thick, doesn't get greasy really, and over-washing makes it poof-y.

Towel dry, spritz some Aveda Volumizing Tonic (can you see this Aveda trend? I don't particularly love the smell, but the products work oh so well on my hair! Then some Aveda Men Per-formance liquid pomade. It works so much better than any gels/mousse/cream I've ever found! Then Aussie's Sprunch Spray. I've been using Sprunch Spray since I was about 15, and I love its grape-y smell, how it keeps my hair from getting afro-like, and how its absolutely perfect! I don't know what I'll ever do if it gets discontinued.

And then? I let it air-dry until it's ready. Maybe run a flat iron on my bangs to smooth them out.

I don't know what I'd do if I had straight hair!

So yesterday, I had a haircut, and decided my hair was way too long. It was down past my shoulder blades. I walked out of the salon with hair barely at my shoulders, a lot lighter than usual, and I love it. Its just long enough to pull into a ponytail for the gym or to sleep. I slept with it up in a pony-tail last night, took it out this morning and my hair still was great.

I'm bad at blogging.

Whew.

There. I said it. I read blogs faithfully everyday, but when it comes for me to blog? I'm pretty awful. I don't think anyone actually reads my blog, so I don't feel too badly about my lack of content.

Let's try a daily recap? Yeah! Let's do that.

This is Friday:

I took at trip to the Grove City Outlets in search of some cute sundresses and anything else that caught my eye. I've had that shopping itch that I tried so hard to ignore. While I was driving there, there were black, ominous looking clouds that could seriously cut into my outdoor shopping spree I was about to have. I went to the Gap outlet, and got some great sundresses for $8.99! What a steal! I've been on the search for shorts too, for about two years now. I've found it super hard to find shorts that aren't too short and hoochie, or alternatively, too mom-ish. Oh yeah, and make my butt look good. The shopping gods must have been in my favor, since I found a great pair of white shorts that are the perfect length, not too loose, not too tight, oh, and they cost $9.99! And, of course, as soon as I stepped out of the store, it started to pour, so my new digs and I drove back home to get ready for date night.

Can I just say this? I LOVE DATE NIGHT!!

I've always loved dates. I love the idea of planning something exciting, be it with my darling husband (who hates date nights, but humors me) or shopping dates with my friends. Since there is no where to get any ethnic food at all around Sharon, we decided to go to Cleveland to our favorite Indian place. Mmmmm! Veggie samosas are really one of the most delicious things on the planet. I really need to learn how to cook Indian. I'll put that on my cooking to-do, right after I've baked my way to perfection.

We went to Legacy Village afterwards. Legacy is my absolute favorite place to shop. Adam wanted to get a keyboard from Apple, so we fought our way through the ever-present crowds at the Apple store, got that, and decided we needed a trip to Nordstrom Rack. Now, if you've never been to Nordstrom Rack, you're missing out in life! I wear size 11 shoes, and many places only carry up to size 10 in stores. Not Nordstrom Rack! They have an entire, wonderful aisle of size 11 shoes. Oh goodness, I get so excited just thinking about it. I got these in brown, which are the most comfortable pair of heels I have ever owned. I think they will get used well into fall with skinny jeans and cardigans as well.

Date night ended with us, snuggled in bed with the dogs, playing the Oregon Trail. Yep. You heard me!

which way to the gun show?

I did over 100 push-ups tonight during Insanity. I'm so proud of myself!

chocolate-y peanut butter-y goodness

Its no big secret that I love to cook.

I love grocery shopping. I always manage to lose an hour of my day wandering around getting things that will be delicious for dinner. It makes me happy getting my bright yellow cutting board out to chop fresh veggies. The smell of onions sauteing in butter might be one of my favorite smells of all time. When I bake, I get giddy with the prospect of putting on my floral/polka dotted apron. I love new recipes. I'm dying to try out the twice baked potato recipe I got from Phillip last night. New, interesting food makes me happy.

However...


A big bowl of Reese's Puffs cereal with vanilla soy milk never fails to disappoint! I'm so happy it caught my eye at the grocery store. I'm also so happy that I stumbled across this while searching for Reese's Puffs. Reese's Puffs cupcakes!! Chocolate and peanut butter cake with puffs baked in with a peanut butter frosting. I think I just found my next baking endeavor!

take me out to the ballgame

I went to my first Pirates game in a decade last night.



Adam called me (which never happens, he'd rather communicate with me via smoke signal, carrier pigeon, pretty much anything but a phone) giddy with excitement. He asked if I wanted to go to the Pirates game on Saturday. Giggling. I knew there was some ulterior motives, and promptly dragged out of him that Collective Soul was playing after the game since it was fireworks night. Yes, this Collective Soul. So, we bought some cheap bleacher seats and were set!

We headed down to Pittsburgh yesterday around noon. I was on a new brown sandal mission, as Jack decided my favorite sandals would be a perfect midnight snack. Jack = my Norwegian Elkhound. So we stopped in Robinson, and I grabbed another pair of not-so-perfect brown sandals, but they'll do.

After that we wanted to go down to the Mellon Arena to visit it for the last time, and check the Pens store, since everything was discounted. When we got there, we saw there was an equipment sale so we popped into that as well. It probably would have been really awesome the day before, when Pens that actually played things' were there. There was a lot of old Pens things, and players from the Baby Pens. I did get an awesome Pens shirt at the sale though!

We went to Lulu's Noodles to grab a quick lunch of Schezwan Noodles and bubble tea. I got regular milk tea, and Adam got peach tea. Bubble tea might be one of my favorite all-time things!

After an hour of visiting Adam's gram, we headed downtown. We forgot the Arts Fest was going on downtown, so we walked around there, and got an awesome print entitled "1 Zombie and 11 Penguins" Its going to make an awesome addition in our kitchen!


Then the game! They actually won, and we had a blast. The firework display was one of the best I've ever seen. Collective Soul was, well, Collective Soul. His voice was considerably less 90s grunge, which disappointed Adam a tad, as his favorite pass-time is singing like an awful 90s grunge singer. He has gigantic Eddie Vedder envy.

sweet tea

sometimes songs just get it.

Hey, waitress, what you got for me?
I sure hope it's something sweet
It's getting too hot outside
Too hot for anybody civilized
Tell you exactly what I need

I'll tell you what I drink when I'm way back home
I don't have to ask cause they already know
So, can you help me out?
I need some sugar and I need it right now

So, pour me out a cup of that sweet tea, baby
It makes me smile
Just thinking about those long summer days down south
When the sun comes out
Pour me out a cup of that sweet tea, honey
But don't lick your lips
So I can get a taste from the sweetness of your kiss
Of your kiss

Hey waitress, have you ever been way down south
And heard it with some Dixie all around?
They pour sugar in an empty cup
And then they add some tea until they fill it up
Uh, tell me, how sweet does that sound?

A tune

Enjoy! Even if punk rock is not your thing, he is quite nice to look at.

Lazy days

I just love a lazy day now and then.

Generally, I live by the philosophy, "the busier, the better." Today was not one of those days. I lounged in my pajamas, read Self, snuggled with my puppies until about 11:30. Grabbed a quick lunch of a delicious salad with pecans, strawberries, chicken, feta cheese, and mandarin oranges with my mom. Yum! After that, I ran to TJ Maxx for some new workout clothes. I was in dire need of sports bras and some new workout shirts for Insanity. Other than that, I've been cleaning, sorting dirty laundry, relaxing at home.

It's been a nice lackadaisical sort of day.

Insanity

Whew! I just got home from my first Insanity class. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but it was definitely a great workout. It's a muscle confusion class, remaining at high intensity, and having short 30 rest breaks. I've never done a class that was so intense, or that was 4 days a week. I'll be doing this class until June 26th. Right in time to go to the beach! I was talking to my friend Debby, and she is on day 15 of Insanity, and lost 8 inches already.

I need to take a before picture, and do measurements. I'm really curious to see how my body changes after the 2 months of class!

Exercise always makes me happy. Today was a chilly, rainy gray day and I was pretty blah all day. If you'll excuse me, I need a snack to refuel

a slice of deli heaven

Adam and I decided to grab a quick brunch before my busy day. We headed over towards Boardman, Ohio with intentions to go to The Flaming Ice Cube, which is an awesome vegan deli/restaurant. I'm by no means vegan nor vegetarian, but their food is great and their muffins are to die for. On the way there, Adam suggested we should go to a place closer - an equally awesome Jewish deli called Kravitz.

They have the very best bagels I have ever eaten as well as the best corned beef. I was in the mood to deviate from my usual Reuben, and ordered corned beef hash instead. Now, let me tell you, I've never had corned beef hash before. I've seen it, but never given it much thought. Oh my goodness! That might have been one of the dumbest things I have ever done. It was absolutely delicious, and I have no idea how I lasted the last 25 years of my life without such deliciousness.

Needless to say, my mind was blown.

For the last two years, I have been in a local dinner theatre group, and today was the auditions for the third musical I'll be in. I do the choreography for the plays, so I already had the music and script, and was 99% sure of my part. Today confirmed it, and holy cow do I have a lot of work in front of me. I need to figure how to Irish step dance and get my jig on. It'll be fun though!

a day of firsts

Today, I did my very first 5k. I really am not a running lover, but I jogged a good amount and finished in 42:50. I probably could have finished under 40:00 had I not had a blister the size of a Peep on my left arch.

Needless to say, I'm extremely proud of myself. Adam and I woke up at an extremely early hour, and headed to Amanda's house in Carnegie. We went down to the downtown area, and signed up. I thought 310 was a perfect first 5k number! Adam and Amanda both ran most of the way, and finished at 32:49, and 36:00ish.
It was about 50 degrees, and slightly drizzling most of the run, but it was a great temperature. Not too hot, not too cold.

When we got home, I hopped in the shower and replaced workout clothes with a skirt and heels, and headed to my piano student's talent show. It was my very first talent show, and I was so proud how well Abi played, and our duet sounded perfect!

The rest of my evening? Lounge in my new 5k tee shirt, eat chili Adam made, and watch the Pens!

april twenty-third

Hello! I'm Anna Marie. My life is really nice, and I'm in that married, twenty-something mindset. No wild & crazy lifestyle for me anymore - actually, I don't believe I've ever had that wild & crazy lifestyle.

Things that made me happy today:

• Dinner date with my husband, Adam. I had black pepper bourbon glazed salmon and a salad with walnut vinaigrette. Yum!
• Walking outdoors. We signed up for a 5k tomorrow in Pittsburgh with our friend Amanda and I'm still trying to convince myself that running isn't the most awful thing possible. It's not working, and running is down there with going to the dentist and large groups of fluttering birds on things I hate. I like walking in the park and saying hello to passers by. I don't usually use the word passers by, but it went well there!
• 99.33% on an exam.
  
• The fact that it's Friday. need I say more?
• The new Real Simple I picked up at Target today. I can think of at least two things in that last sentence that made me happy.
  
• Being in a middle school talent show. Okay, let me explain. One of my favorite piano students (I know, I know, I shouldn't pick favorites, but it happens) asked me to be in her school's talent show and play a duet with her. I happily said yes, and today was the rehearsal. Man, do middle school girls like awful music!
• Picking up the Polar Bear Club record. I needed some punk rock in my life today.
• Wearing this:
  

4.23 by am1032 featuring Michael Stars t shirts