I'M ALIVE!!!!!

Tonight, for at least a good 30 minutes I thought I was going to die...yep, no joke.

I tried Corepower Yoga. I mistakenly went to an "intermediate heat session" where the room is 106 degrees and ALL the participants looked like pros...all but me. I went all by myself, and had to uncomfortably sweat in a room full of fit California blondes (no offense, to my lovely blonde readers). I endure the full hour.

What did I learn? I am totally, utterly out-of-shape (note: my pics below). How did Mike "reward" me? A treat of frozen yogurt from Golden Spoon (for my east coast friends, it is basically Tasti D-Lite).

Will I return to Corepower? You bet. But, I am opening my wallet for some private lessons first ;)

Procrastination Pause

Today work is really busy, so what better way to get things done by blog? I almost NEVER take breaks, but this lunch is filled with reading my favorite blogs, and blogging as well.

For those of you who have wondered...here are some pics of my office and view of the hills of Newport :) In September, I am re-locating though to a similar office on a different floor of the building. Any ideas on how to decorate?

You may notice beautiful flowers from my co-workers garden!





p.s. sorry for the pic quality, they were taken with my Blackberry!

Lula Mae's Product Review

Okay, so I was actually home sick today, still "fighting off" whatever it is I have (probably the flu...). It gave me PLENTY of time to do a lot of nothing (as mentioned below). It also gave me time to enjoy a few of my favorite products right now, and so I figured I should share (some may have already been reviewed by me last time, I apologize for any duplications!).

1) La Mer Tonic
The tonic works wonders, and really has started to help firm up my skin. It also doesn't leave a sticky residue as others often do. The only con of this product: the price. 6.7fl oz is $60...use sparingly :)

2) Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Hand Creme It is very rich, so it leaves your hands very well moisturized and smelling wonderful. The line also has a fantastic scrub as well...I typically only use this product during the winter (for some odd reason, it reminds me of Christmas in California--don't ask). Also note this is a strong scented hand-cream, so only use on occasion...

3) Origin's Sensory Therapy Collection "Peace of Mind" Literally, I love everything from the stress-relieving gumballs (which I have at home and work) to the "On-The-Spot Relief" which I use every morning, and every evening when I get home. You get a slight tingle sensation and then vapors add to the calming...

4) Dr. Andrew Weil for Origin's Night Health Bedtime Balm AMAZING. Please, if anything, try it once (they have samples you can ask for!). Rub a little behind your ears, temples, neck and wrists, and then jump into your bed, with the lights off, and drift asleep.

Lula Mae's Product Reviews by uclabelle on Polyvore.com

Monday

I woke up to get to work, and I was just too sick. So, I am waiting to see if anything starts to look up, and then I will reluctantly head to work...Mike is home today too.

As I browse through my the internet world, I came across the new collections from Lilly. What am I lusting for?

Philadelphia

I am spending my evening with an Origins candle and my new Cartier box nearby (I promise to post pics for you, my dear readers, especially Teddi), while multitasking. I am watching Sex and the City: The Movie (again!) and searching homes and apartments in Philadelphia. For some reason, I really have a feeling that in a short time, I will be there. Oh, of all the places I could move...

As Mae West said "I'd like to see Paris before I die. Philadelphia will do."

Early Birthday Surprise!

Ah, I don't have many friends, but the select few I have are priceless. Many of you probably don't know, but my birthday is almost NEVER really celebrated. Never had a big birthday since 13. Even 21 was just with my parents, brother and Mike. Really. So, why should 24 be any different (well, I am turning 24, on the 24th, hehe).

But, on Tuesday night, a friend told me to come over for a late night dinner. Mike drives me to this strange place, and I find a beautifully lighted (with white Christmas lights and candles!) dinner with me and a few close friends. It was fantastic. Until the ants moved the party a few blocks away inside her place ;)

So, here are some pics to share :) And this birthday, I am actually getting snail mail cards too! Once again, I never get snail mail. Things are looking up!

A Nice Weekend!

Aside from Friday night which started a little rough due to some work-related issues, I enjoyed a nice weekend. Friday evening, Mike bought me a bouquet of sunflowers, and some more pink champagne (yes, I am officially addicted and now know why Grace Kelly always kept a bottle on ice!)...then Saturday morning we laid around and watched "Property Ladder" on TLC, for a few hours (it was fantastic, I love laying around, and hadn't watched TV in a while). After which, we went to Disneyland with my parents to enjoy a dinner at ESPN Zone (I had a great sauteed salmon and a mixed drink) and then we enjoyed a few rides in the park prior to saying farewell. Today, we watched Harry Potter (personally, I was disappointed) went shopping at South Coast Plaza (I tried to stay in budget, but did buy my father a few shirts at Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale and panties for me at GAP during their sale). Finally, I got a few t-shirts, magazines and some more Bumble & Bumble shampoo at the more budget-friendly tTarget, and happily headed for home.

I am now blogging from my warm bed, with some great wine and a "stress relieving" candle from Origins. Here is to a "positive" and "happy" week at work...and of course, gearing up for my birthday Friday and our 1st anniversary on Saturday!!!!!

In honor of our 1st anniversary, I FINALLY got around to making a semi-decent slideshow, which of course, I am sharing we with all of you!

Where to Start...

So much is going on, it is hard to focus.

1) My job is in jeopardy. We were given our salary reductions and furloughs, which is 6%. It is only a problem because my job switch last April (which I SOUGHT and was at the time happy with) was a 5% reduction already. Layoffs may be starting, and I am the most recent hire :( I guess I will have to beef up my recessionista efforts.

2) My birthday is next Friday, and our 1st anniversary is that Saturday. I am a little in the blue, so it is hard to want to celebrate...but I will try. The plans for Friday? BBQ with the family and that new Gerard Butler movie, The Ugly Truth (been waiting a while for it!).

3) What do I buy Mike for his birthday August 1st?!!?!??! He LOVES baseball and so I was trying to think creatively, but I already bought him more of the "cute" gifts (like those baseball cufflinks). He loves Ken Griffey Jr. but I know very little about baseball and hear he hasn't played many games. I would hate to get good tickets to the Angels game against them in September, only to find he doesn't play :(

4) We are thinking of moving in to my parents new home (it is huge) in order to save another down payment (we own our current condo) and buy another in a few years (since we lost 100K in our current condo with the housing crash)...back east. Yes, it is the plan. Moving back to the Philadelphia-area in 2-3 years. With our sales tax at nearly 10% and income tax in the state significantly higher too, California seems to be loosing it's luster. And single-family homes are just too expensive as well.

5) My Mom is sick, and they are finding out what is wrong now. With all this stress I already have, in the back of my mind I always fear the worst...

I hate to post a mini-negative blog (heck, that is no fun!) but I needed to get this off my chest (so to speak ;).

I do get to look forward to some new cashmere ts coming from J.Crew soon!!! I love J.Crew sales :) I used my J.Crew gift card I got from Mickey Drexler...

Mid-Week Update

Well, I remember I owe you all pics of the Indian wedding...I changed outfits last minute :( and didn't likey...

As for today, work SUCKED. It was AWFUL. I have decided someday in the next few years, I am moving back east. I just want a small NYC apartment, of Philly row house, a nice job, and go back to school to get that darn PhD.

3rd Times A Charm...UPDATE!

Okay, I missed you all so much! So, I am back and well rested from my tip to the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island. It was fantastic and included an upgraded room (courtesy of my parents) to the Gold Floor, had an ocean front message with Mike, and enjoyed countless drinks, including the "Pearl Diver" as pictured below!

Hope all of you are well, and I will do better (now that I feel totally relaxed and rejuvenated) at posting, because I really missed my blogging friends.

p.s. excuse the one where Mike isn't smiling!