Road Warrior

I've been on the road... A LOT. With my new position came a new territory to market our program to, including Ventura County, Kern County, Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, and parts of Los Angeles County. I'm basically driving all over these counties trying to find new business. It's been a challenge, but I get to meet some cool people and discover more of Southern California. I also found out our Chatsworth office is about 20 minutes away from April's house (a.k.a potential sleepover location in the future...thanks Brill!).

Anyways, being on the road so much has opened the door to some weird/interesting sightings on my way to meetings or while stuck in traffic. For example, on my way to Edwards AFB (the same day I discovered that California has a 14 freeway), I saw a dog that looked like a mini horse, or maybe it was a mini horse that looked like a dog. Whatever it was, it was weird. I wish I had the guts to pull over and take a picture of it, but I was in the middle of nowhere and afraid I would be captured by some mutant freak out of a horror movie.

Last Friday while on my way to Pasadena, I saw some more interesting things on the road. And, since I was stuck in morning rush hour traffic, I decided to be reckless and snap a couple pictures for you:

I know I should have zoomed in a bit, but I was driving 30mph so it was tricky. You can kinda see it in this picture...the lady in the car has a face mask AND gloves on. Not to mention, she also has her seats covered by some linen (I'm assuming it's anti-allergen/anti-bacteria fabric or something). I felt bad for her because she doesn't even trust the air in her personal vehicle. Maybe she's sick and doesn't want to spread her germs, but I like the idea of someone out there being (WAY) more afraid of bacteria than I am - makes me look like less of a freak :)

Okay, when I saw this one, I immediately thought of Albert because he likes Math and I think if he were into tagging he would spray paint math equations.This picture is of a freight truck with a math equation scribbled on the side of it in white. I kinda wanna keep a piece of chalk with me from now on and write random equations on trucks. It's not vandalism if it's taught in school, right? Hahaha.

That's all I got for now, but I have quite a bit of road trips happening this week so I hope I have more to share with you. I may not have the most glamorous job, but it does have its perks :)

Hip Fractures Suck

...no, I don't have one. But Frank Gore does, which is why I was horrified watching the game the other night. This also means I'm without my star Running Back going into "qualifying" weekend for our fantasy football league (aka I need a significant win to clinch a spot in the playoffs next weekend). Sad Face. Major Sad Face. I'm a bit anxious going into this weekend's game, especially since I'm matched up against Albert, who apparently has been rooting against me the whole season (thanks for that beb :P).

In any case, the following is long overdue...

To: bestniner2010@yahoo.com
From: OCWordSlinger
Re: Until Next Season

Dear Frank,
I've only heard the nicest, most respectful things about you - how you're a great team player, how you're going to be one of the best RBs of all time, how you work hard and love what you do. So, I can only imagine how much you must HATE finishing this season on the sidelines. Although the injury has ended your season, it's not the end of your career. That's one silver lining. The team does have a chance to win the division this season, but it's going to be tough and most of the fans want a coaching change so maybe it's a good thing for you to have a chance to observe the rest of the team. Basically I want to say, yeah it sucks you got injured but there's next year to look forward to. I'm sure you've already heard that a hundred times today, so I'll stop there.


I also want to thank you for being the most consistent player on my Fantasy team. I know I don't have the best record in the league, but I could always count on you to get me points and give my opponents a run for their money. You were one of the main reasons that I kept up with the 49ers  this season even though the team fell short of fan expectations. Although I am biased toward quarterbacks, you've made an argument that I need to watch other players - not just for looks but talent as well. You've made a fan out of me.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

P.S. You may want to suggest that the team draft a sexy QB. My theory is, if a team has a well-mannered, handsome quarterback with a sense of humor, then they're gonna win games. Just a theory, but look at the top teams in the league...QBs are pretty good looking and/or have a great personality that makes them wildly popular which can also be perceived as "sexy".

Countdown to Monday

I have never looked forward to a Monday because of sports so much in my life...

For the record, I don't know who these guys are and I don't know if they still play for their respective teams. I just needed a picture that illustrated the rivalry and this worked.

Well, I was looking forward to the 49ers playing Arizona too, but the 49ers aren't doing that great this season and the Cards are doing worse so I lost some of my interest in that game mid-season. I still watched...and was horrified. I'll explain that later.

Anyway...the Jets play the Patriots this coming Monday! AND they play at Gillette Stadium (aka Patriots' field). It doesn't help that I keep SportsCenter on in the background while I'm at home and listen to sports talk radio any time I'm in my car. They are hyping this game up like crazy and I'm TOTALLY buying into it. Besides, it's Tom Brady going head-to-head against Mark Sanchez - how can I NOT be into it?!

For those of you who don't follow football, The Patriots and The Jets are division rivals. The Head Coach on each team have wildly different coaching philosophies from the other and its reflected in their players. Both teams have a 9-2 record. And, let's not forget, they arguably have the hottest QBs in the league. This week's game is basically a battle for first place in the division and spot in the playoffs. The two teams have already played each other once this season (in September) and the Jets won.

In case you're wondering who I'm going to be cheering for...

...I've loved him longer :) Beat the Jets!

False Start

Definitely didn't want to get out of bed and go to work this morning. My alarm went off at 4:45am. Snoozed all the way until 5:25am. Finally dragged myself out of bed to get ready for the day. Finished getting ready, feeding Pepper (my pet rabbit), letting my mom know about all the goodies from Albert's family, and was out the door by 6:25am. Being quite proud of myself for getting ready and getting all my morning chores done in record time, I decided to reward myself with some Starbucks for breakfast.

I arrived at the Starbucks near my work at precisely 6:55am (beat rush hour traffic!). As I stepped out of my car, I made a mental note that I should check my Starbucks Rewards Membership account once I get into the office...that's when I realized that I had left home without my work laptop. I sat in my car with my head hung low and sighed to myself, "What a fucking idiot!"

I passed on the Starbucks and went straight to the office. Dropped all my other stuff off and told the other manager what had happened and said I had to go back home to get my laptop. Unfortunately, rush hour traffic was well underway and the commute that took me 30 minutes to do less than an hour before turned into a 45-minute commute both ways.

Monday Morning: 1

Michelle: 0

Done with designing...

...so it seems all I've been wanting to do with this blog is change the design. There's a lot I've been wanting to write about for this blog, but I've been writing posts for our corporate blog at work so that's kept me pretty busy. Now, I'm having writer's block for the other blog so I'm back here, where I can just write whatever without having to worry about being "corporate" or not. Plus, I think I've finally found a design that suits me.

Fantasy Football Update: I'm sucking. I've officially dropped to 8th place (4th place in the other league, but that one doesn't have money involved). I do want to give a shout out to Steve Johnson of the Buffalo Bills.

I have no idea who this guy is, but he scored me 34 freakin' fantasy points this past weekend. I still lost my game, BUT I'm glad I picked this guy up because Hakeem Nicks got injured during his game against the Eagles and will be out for a couple weeks.

I also cheated on Tom Brady by playing Mark Sanchez one week. Both QBs are punishing me. Brady does fantastic the week I play Sanchez, then Sanchez does awesome the following week when I play Brady. It's like they both know. It'd be crazy if they are actually reading this and coordinating when the other one plays well. It's highly unlikely since Tom Brady could give two shits about what the Jets do, but it's just a thought. Well, since there are no more Bye Weeks, it's Tom Brady all the way (sorry Mark!) until the season is finished. 

Work Update: Good news, I was promoted last month. My new title is REALLY fancy: Business Development Executive. Unfortunately, I do NOT make an executive salary BUT it'll be really pretty on a resume (hahah). Bad news, one of my favorite coworkers of all time, Pam,  resigned from the company and move back to her home town of New Iberia in Louisiana. Luckily, she got a Facebook account so we've been keeping in touch that way. With those two changes, work has been VERY different from what it was just two months ago. New boss, new project office to work with, new territory - all of which I'm trying to get used to without Pam to provide the comic relief or a lunchtime bitching session. I'll write more about all of that in separate blogs, but that's a quick summary of what's been going on at work.

Home Update: My mom and brother moved back into the condo in Diamond Bar. For a while my grandpa and his wife were staying with us too, but they moved in with other relatives in Garden Grove. So, in a matter of weeks I've went from living by myself, to living with four other people, to now living with two other people. It's been quite a challenge for all of us to get used to each other and the living habits we've developed over the past year and a half. I do think about moving our EVERY day, but I figure I have to stay put for now and try to save a down payment for something. It'd be nice to move into a place I own instead of one that I'm renting.

Well, that's all I've got for now. I hope to post more stuff up soon. Thanks for reading!!

Saved By A Giant

I've been trying to avoid writing this particular post, but after this week in football it's unavoidable and well-deserved...and since he was drafted by the Giants in 2009, I'm a little more okay with doing this.

To: ItsMyNicksInABox@gmail.com
From: OCWordSlinger
Subject: Diamond in the Rough


Dear Hakeem,
There have been very few bright spots to look to this season in football. All the teams and players that I thought would be doing amazing have been falling short of expectations or a bit lackluster. You, however, have been the saving grace of my Fantasy Team and I thought it would only be fair to write my first Fan Email of the season to you.


This past week I was down about 18 points going into Monday's game and you were the last player to get on the field for me. It was a pretty important game to me because I was playing against Victor who had the same record as I did (3-3-0), so I needed a win to have any kind of hope of getting to the playoffs and it all relied on you. Victor has also had MONSTER games, where a lot of his players put up double-digit numbers, so I was nervous. Did you buckle under pressure or decide to take a vacation day?? 9 receptions, 112 yards, and 2 touchdowns tells me, "Nope!"


Anyways, thanks for being my awesome player this week! I know this is long overdue since you also saved me in more than a couple games so far this season, but you're a New York Giant and as a Tom Brady fan it's hard for me to be thankful for a Giant. I've tried to delay it as much as possible, but you've been really stellar when it matters. Keep up the great work!

Toilet paper isn't the only thing lacking in there...

Maybe I'm old school when it comes to bathroom etiquette, but people really need to learn proper manners for a public bathroom. There are some things that are obvious: replacing toilet paper or notifying the next girl coming in if toilet paper is out, avoid drenching the counter with excess water while washing your hands, courtesy flushes, etc. Others aren't so obvious, but this one should be:

If you're already on the pot and your phone rings, DON'T ANSWER.

Last week, I went to use the restroom which is shared by other tenants in our building. After I did my business, I went to go wash my hands. While I was singing the ABCs in my head (because that IS how long you should be soaping your hands), I heard a cell phone start to ring from one of the occupied stalls. I fully expected it to keep ringing so you can imagine my surprise when SHE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND ANSWERED, "HELLO?" EWW. There are several things wrong with that situation since I'm a germ-a-phobe, but isn't there some kind of rule or commandment where you are not supposed to answer the phone while you're sitting on the pot? I guess it would be okay in the privacy of your own home (I don't do it because it's just too weird for me), but in the public restroom of an office building? She even picked up the phone mid-stream. I know she was sitting there literally butt-naked talking on the phone about her plans for the night.  It obviously wasn't anything urgent. She could have simply finished what she was doing, wiped, washed her hands, and called the person back. FUCKING EW.

This one is a little bit different, but still has to do with cell phone/bathroom etiquette. This morning, I was in the restroom again. Just as I was finishing, one of my coworkers comes in while she was ON THE PHONE already. She gets in her stall, sits, and starts peeing all while advising her friend on the phone about what she should do about some lame ass she went out on a date with this past weekend. OMG people...is it that serious that you need to talk to people while relieving yourself?! FUCKING EW. I flushed the toilet with the hopes of it being overheard by the person she was talking to and maybe that person would have enough decency to ask my coworker to call her back. My coworker actually stopped talking and started again once the flush was done. So I guess whoever she was talking to was okay with the whole thing.

I know people use their phone to have reading material or play games while in the bathroom. For some reason, that's more okay in my head than actually having a conversation while you're peeing. But, to pick up the phone while in the act of using the bathroom or continue your conversation while using the bathroom is dirrty, dirrty , dirrty! Being drunk and doing the above is more excusable because your judgment is impaired and people might be calling to look for your drunk ass, but my coworker and the other lady have no excuse.  I'm going to say it one more time so you know how truly grossed out I am by people carrying on  phone conversations while sitting on a toilet in a public bathroom...FUCKING EW!

News Flash: T.J. gets Michelle on water rides...multiple times!

I took a day off the other week to spend some time with T.J. (my brother). Since I didn’t get him an actual birthday present and he isn’t working yet, I thought it would be fun for us to head to Knott’s Berry Farm for the day. I invited my mom and Albert to join us, but they were both swamped at work so, it was just the two of us and it worked out great in the end. T.J. and I have loved riding roller coasters together since he was finally tall enough to ride them. Knott’s was the perfect place for us to spend the day because they have pretty decent coasters, it’s not a long drive, and the tickets are pretty cheap ($30 a pop). I was really looking forward to getting on some coasters and yelling until my voice was gone. I was especially looking forward to riding Supreme Scream.

We got to the park a couple minutes after it had opened and the first ride we got on is Silver Bullet – it’s probably one of the premier coasters at Knott’s. I was a little apprehensive about taking T.J. on such a “daring” coaster for the first ride, but he handled it like a champ and I think it set a good energy for him to keep riding throughout the day.  After a couple more rides we decided to grab lunch. As we sat and ate our lunch, I pulled out the map of the park and showed him what our last ride was going to be…Supreme Scream. I was so excited about it and thought he would be too, but I think I did too good of a job describing the drop/free fall that he stopped me and said, “No, I’m too tired.” That should have been my first sign, but I didn’t think anything of it and said we’ll go on more rides before Supreme Scream. Well, we went on every coaster in the park (except for Accelerator because it was closed)…twice. We found ourselves in front of the entrance to Supreme Scream and I figured now was a better time than any to ride it. I told T.J. to follow me as I practically ran to get in line (yes, I was running, that was how much I wanted to ride this thing. I reached back to grab T.J.’s hand so we can be in line together and that’s when I noticed he was about 15 steps away from me. He wouldn’t budge and just kept shaking his head. Turns out, my brother doesn’t like rides with really high free falls, which is one of my favorites (of course). After spending 15 minutes trying to convince him to get on the ride with me, he won. I figured it’s his day, so I should do whatever he wants to do. 

Do you want to know what T.J.’s favorite ride is? Water rides…icky, wet, bacteria-ridden water rides. Do you know that you can contract Legionnaires’ Disease from inhaling particles of the bacteria that originate from infected WATER sources?? ICK. Yeah, I realize this is my mysophobia getting the best of me, but that’s really all I think of when it comes to water rides. And, I’m sure Knott’s does a great job of making sure the water is clean, but still. Regardless of my little quirk with water rides, I am happy to say I rode the Log Ride 3 times and Perilous Plunge twice, all thanks to my brother…who doesn’t seem to care about the potential bacteria on those rides (I even tried to explain it to him, but I think he stopped listening to me). T.J. was happy, so I was happy…soaked in water ride water (makes me shudder thinking about it).

The day ended with him passing out on the ride back to Corona. I may have been covered in sweat, dirty water, and who knows what else, but it was worth it to spend some quality time with T.J. (aka “Butthead”).

On a side note, I highly recommend ditching work to go to an amusement park. Spending the day outside while everyone else is in an office…eating funnel cake at 3pm instead of heading to the office kitchen to search for a little pick-me-up….screaming your head off on roller coasters instead of catering to customers all day long…it felt more liberating that I thought it would be. Plus, the longest we had to wait in line for a ride was 10 minutes. I don’t know if it’s because of the recession or because Halloween Haunt was opening the following week, but it was perfect timing and we definitely got our money’s worth.

I heart football...

Football is finally back in session! We're about to enter Week 4 of the regular season and Tom Brady is 2-1, while the Niners are 0-3. It's off to a bit of a rocky start for me being a Brady fan and a Niner fan, but it's still early in the season. If the 2007 Patriots taught me anything, winning in the post-season is what matters the most.

The beginning of football season also means the start of Fantasy Football. I'm in 2 leagues this year, but one has money involved, so that's the one I'm paying really close attention to and I'm currently ranked 2nd in that league (yay!). The other league is just for fun with Albert's cousins. I'm ranked 9th in that league (boo!), but it's okay since Tom Brady was snatched from me (double boo!) - No Brady, No Point. I'm still playing actively, but it's just so that I don't finish last. I'll be starting Fan Emails to my best players from my Fantasy teams in the next week or so...and I promise they won't all be to Mr. Brady.

Speaking of which, the above-mentioned Quarterback has been in the league for 11 years so his retirement is something I have to consider. Not now, of course, but eventually. After watching HBO's Hard Knocks and being somewhat familiar with his college career, I'm considering Mark Sanchez as my replacement for Tom Brady when Brady retires. Sanchez went to USC (a school I've always wanted to go to despite the alleged corruption that goes on), he's from Orange County, and, if you've watched Hard Knocks, he's a funny guy. I don't think he's as hot as Tom Brady, but he's only 24 so maybe he'll get hotter with age. Thanks to Wikipedia, I also know that Sanchez is a Scorpio...I almost always get along with any Scorpio I meet! It's almost a match made in heaven....almost. Well, at least I have my eyes on him, so I can try to establish that I have dibs on him in the future. LOL!

Anyways, I'm just super excited the season is here and in full swing! There's something about watching football and the fall weather (once it actually gets here) that is irresistible to me! Hoping to watch the Niners when they come down to face the Chargers, but we'll see...YAY FOOTBALL!

So Bad, But SO good.

One Friday afternoon, while winding down after a busy work week I stumbled upon a crazy little show on TLC called Four Weddings.

The show is a competition between 4 soon-to-be brides. The prize is an exotic honeymoon vacation for the couple that wins the competition. Each bride is scored by the other three brides based on food, venue, dress, originality, and overall experience. If you're thinking there's no point to this show because each bride is going to think her wedding was the best and sabotage her scores for the other brides' weddings, then you're partially right. The winning score for the episode I watched was 69%...that's an "F", if I remember correctly. And, the stereotypical brides are always contenders: over-the-top bride, drunk/ghetto bride, trying-too-hard-to-be-different bride, low-budget bride, etc. But, there is a point to the show and it's what pretty much reeled me in...

Personal touches always makes the difference. The winner in the episode was the one that had the best overall experience and originality. For example, instead of having a regular guest book, the couple made a wooden sign post and painted the cities of where their guests were coming from. Guests were then invited to leave a message on their sign and that was going to be something the bride and group would use as decor at their own house. The most common factor among the losers was that it was too "cookie-cutter".

Moral of the story: each couple has its own personality and that should show at the wedding...because it'll win you a honeymoon on a private island in Tahiti...hahah! That last part is if you're on Four Weddings, of course. It wasn't until I saw that show that I realized how important it is to know your "couple personality" when it comes to wedding planning. In retrospect, all the best weddings I've been to have been for couples that truly wanted to celebrate who they were as a couple and successfully combined their individual personalities.

Playing Catch Up

I created this blog so that I would have something to do during my down time at work. Ironically, September has been INSANELY busy...and I've been a little bit uninspired/lazy in the way of what to blog about. I have a couple posts that I started during the month, but haven't had a chance to finish them. I do want to keep up with my goal of writing at least 4 posts a month (a.k.a. 1 post a week), so get ready for a rapid fire of posts that I've been working on this month just so I can keep up with that goal.

Here are teasers for upcoming posts (hahah!):

* Reunited and it feels so good...the return of FOOTBALL!

* 4 weeks, 3 weddings, GREAT examples of couple personalities

* Indulging in lame reality TV

* Ditch day with my brother :)

* Ongoing experimentation in fashion/makeup (might not make it for September, cuz I really need a camera for this one, but yeah...I'm really digging retro looks and LOVE, LOVE pearl necklaces to tie it all together).

Okay...that's all I've got for now. Rapid fire of posts begins in T minus 16 hours....

Greetings from Palm Springs!

My company has sent me to Palm Springs for a transportation conference. Normally, this is my FAVORITE part of the job - traveling, learning about Transportation Demand Management and its relation to the environment, and networking/socializing with people outside of my company. This time around is off to a rocky start :\

First off, location. Last year's conference was in Washington, D.C. The year before that, my company sent me to Austin, Texas, for a conference on facility management. This year, it's Palm Springs. The weather is in triple digits and we have to walk past a scintillating pool to get to our workshops - that's a little tortuous. Add that it is tough to get around because of easily the area lacks accessible public transit and, if we could get around, there would be nowhere to go besides Moronogo and Cabazon outlets. Palms Springs just pales in comparison to the other places.

Second, and more important, my boss is here with me. Last year she didn't join me in DC, so I had a BLAST. Not that she isn't cool, because she is, but it's added pressure to perform and be "on point" when the boss is around. There's no down time to relax and really enjoy the conference because you always have to check-in with the boss, at least that's how I feel. There were so many times today where I wanted to go up to my room and chill out, but I felt obligated to stay and chat with our clients because she was.

Finally, I TOTALLY screwed up this morning by not turning on my work cell phone. I am adamant about not doing work on the weekends. I'm okay with checking emails on Sunday night just to get an idea of what to expect on Monday morning, but that's it. My laptop stays in its bag all weekend and I only use it on Sunday night before I got to bed, if at all. My work cell phone is turned off the minute I walk out of the office on Friday afternoon and not turned on until I get to the office on Monday morning. Well, after today's opening session, I go into the Exhibit Hall to check-in with the boss only to find out she had left me 6 messages about bringing more brochures from the office because the original shipment was lost in transit. Needless to say, when I showed up without the brochures and table display, I was questioned about why I hadn't been checking my messages and why I didn't have my phone on me at all times. There's a legitimate argument for both sides, but when it comes down to it I absolutely dropped the ball today. I felt horrible. I still feel horrible.

Hopefully, the rest of the conference goes smoothly and I have a chance to redeem myself. Lately, I've been feeling less and less enthusiastic about my job and it's made me very lazy at work. After today though, I've been given a swift kick in the ass because I really hate to let people down, especially if it's an authority figure like my boss. The real question is, once I redeem myself for fucking up this morning, will I still be motivated to do the best I can or will I go back to just do enough to cruise by?

In Desperate Need of a Stylist

One of the cool things about graduating from college and earning your own money is that you get to splurge on what you want. I read a looooong time ago that every woman needs a good hair stylist and should be willing to pay the money for it. I totally agree with this and ever since I chopped my hair (back in 2005), I've realized just how important it is to have a good stylist, but I'm also learning just how difficult finding a new stylist can be.

Just to give you some background on my hair and finding a stylist....I have very fine hair and a round face. This means the only cuts that really look good on me is a bob (or any variation of that style) at chin-length or shorter. I found my dream stylist, Shannon back in 2005 at Salon 5150 in Brea. Shannon had short hair herself and always gave me the cut I wanted. I would bring in pictures of what I was looking for and she would get it at about 90% accuracy - which is pretty damn good considering they always tell you not to expect your cut to look exactly like the picture. At some point, I stopped bringing in pictures for her and just asked for the usual cut. Unfortunately, she started cutting my hair differently. Instead of giving me the asymmetrical bob I requested, I would get a blunt bob that was the same length all around (I usually like my front way longer than my back). I would have to ask her to redo my hair and it still wasn't right. It was as if she had lost her touch or my hair just stopped liking her. The last stellar cut I got from Shannon was back in August 2006. I went to her a couple times after that, but was never as satisfied with the result as I was before.

Fast forward to this past Friday. I've become quite the Yelp enthusiast lately. I read the reviews on there so I have an idea of what to expect and will occasionally write a review if I think it's worth mentioning (positive or negative). I found a "salon" near my place in Diamond Bar that received pretty good reviews and was at the price range I was looking for, so I made an appointment for Friday at 5pm. I was SO excited to get my haircut and printed out pictures of the cut I was looking for. I arrived at the salon at 4:40pm and no one really greeted me (minus points right there). I went up to the counter and the Hair Washer Girl asked if I was here for a haircut. I said that I was and that I had an appointment at 5pm. She said to have a seat and while the stylist finished up. I noticed that the stylist was working on 2 other women at the same time, but I wasn't too worried since I made an appointment so I got comfortable with a magazine. At about 5pm, they washed my hair and I was told to have a seat again because the stylist still wasn't finished with the other 2 ladies. At this point, a third lady was now waiting for her because her dye job was done and now she needed her cut. I started shifting around, shuffling magazines, sneezing and coughing loudly to get her attention. I asked the Assistant how much longer she would be and she said another 10 minutes. Finally, at 5:30pm, I got up, took the towel off my head, left it on the counter and left - wet hair and all :\

I was so frustrated and disappointed, almost to the point of tears. You don't understand - I was REALLY REALLY looking forward to getting a haircut. Completely, in panicked mode, I dashed for the closest Fantastic Sam's-ish place to just get an asymmetrical bob and gave up on finding a dream stylist for the day. I found a place called The Haircutters and just went in. The first lady who took me passed me off to someone else once she saw the cut I wanted. The lady she wanted to pass me to couldn't take me because she was in the middle of another cut. Finally, I got some lady named Luz. My heart never beat so hard over a hair cut - that's how nervous I was once she greeted me (she reminded me of a Latina version of Gimli from Lord of the Rings minus the beard). I sat in the chair and prayed she wouldn't butcher my hair. I showed her the cut I wanted and the first thing she says is that she can't give me the asymmetrical cut because I'm not a celebrity and it wouldn't look good on me. If I could have smacked her without getting in trouble, I would have. I knew I should have just given up on getting a haircut at that point, but I was in the ugly phase of growing it out and just wanted the back of my hair off my neck.

Double FAIL: 1) Luz hairsprays my baby hairs and leaves a crooked hairline. 2) I let her.

I was so happy to be out of Luz's chair. She kept trying to talk to me about my life and I was just so nervous about my hair. I wanted her to shut the fuck up and focus on the cut. She told me that the reason salons charge $50+ for a haircut is because they use a blow dryer on me. Is that true? Or was she just saying that so that I would tip her more for drying my hair for free? She asked me if I wanted to put some volumizer on the crown of my head to add volume and I said, "Yes, please." She proceeds to spay half that shit on my arm and rub it into my hair like it was lotion. Then, she puts down the baby hairs I have in front with hair spray and pats my head (much like you would do to a pet, but worse). I take a look at her work in the mirror. I'm satisfied with how she cut the back, but there was no volume and, even after patting down the baby hairs, my hairline part was severely crooked. I sat there looking at myself for a minute and started re-styling it myself . It took all I had not to break out in tears or scream. But, I took a deep breath, considered myself lucky for not getting a super fucked up 'do, but decided never to come back to Luz again - ever. I only paid $28 for the cut, but the lack of style, hair product knowledge, and customer service dwarfed the financial benefit. I went home and washed out my hair in defeat.

So I'm still at square one - in search of a hair stylist I can call my own - 4 years and counting. If you know of anyone who gives amazing short haircuts and is located within 25-30 miles of Diamond Bar or Orange, please help a girl out.

Summer Reading

I LOVE reading books. I'm a total bookworm and summer is when I like to kick back with a good book rather than watch T.V. I've read a couple books this summer, but none worth mentioning until now. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, by Seth Grahame-Smith (SGS), is definitely something worth passing on. The novel is considered part of the "literary mash-up" genre, where two unlikely genres are mixed into one interesting story. In this story, U.S. History is mashed together with vampire folklore to make for a creative take on Abe Lincoln.

I love vampires and I liked studying history back in high school, so I was curious about this book early on. After finishing the book last night, I have to admit it's one of the better vampire novels out there. It's very well-written and just the right mix of history and fantasy to keep you engaged. I like European History over U.S. History, but this novel earned some points for the subject. I mean, it was able to connect vampire uprisings to slavery...it is that creative and convincing. I had to keep reminding myself that this didn't actually happen, although I think a part of me will always see Abe Lincoln as a vampire hunter from now on. What can I say, I really get into my books.

If you're looking for something different and creative, give this one a read. I read SGS's first literary mash-up, Pride Prejudice and Zombies and thought Vampire Hunter was MUCH, MUCH better. Also, I'm on the hunt for a new book to read, any suggestions are much appreciated :)

Vegas Vacation Part 2 of 2

This past weekend in Vegas reminded me of the family vacations we used to take before I turned 21. Those were vacations where I had enough freedom to roam on my own and my mom was so concerned about me being bored that she would give me money to go out...hahah! We drove up on Thursday night and headed back home on Saturday afternoon. It felt like a really short trip, but I am thankful for the time we got to spend with my family. I feel like I don't do that enough. They're a rowdy bunch that likes to have a good time and they remind me of why I miss being a kid.

There was a lot to celebrate over the weekend: my brother (T.J.) turned 22, it was my uncle Vic's birthday earlier in the week, and my cousin (D.J.) proposed to his girlfriend of 8 years (Christina)! It was also the second trip in a row that Albert and I experienced a different kind of Vegas (a.k.a. no strip club and no nightclub). First major difference: we stayed with my family in their timeshare at The Grandview Resort. It's a great place, but the major downside was it was WAY OFF THE STRIP. We had to wait till the sun cooled off a bit to go anywhere and, even then, I got lazy to drive around because it was still triple digit heat. Albert and I were also able to save some money on food because my family would cook breakfast AND lunch...can't beat "home-cooked" Filipino food! We also went bowling (of all things!) until 2am. It may sound boring to you, but Albert and I are people-watchers and there were A LOT of locals there so it was fun to just watch them. I always wondered what Vegas locals do. Apparently, some of them bowl. LOL. 

We had a chance to check out Downtown Las Vegas, well, just the Golden Nugget because Downtown looks too shady to just stroll along at night. My mom and my aunt treated the family to a buffet dinner and comedy show at The Golden Nugget on Friday night for T.J.'s birthday. Buffets are kind of a waste on me and Albert because we can't really stuff ourselves anymore - we're all about frequency of meals rather than volume - but we tried our best. The food was pretty good and my family definitely took advantage of the endless crab legs. My favorite part: dessert, specifically the macaroons and pecan pie bites. You can bet I packed some up in my purse for later :) The comedy show featured Gordie Brown, who made me laugh a couple times but a lot of the humor went over my head since it was based on stuff before I was born. Luckily, I had a drink in hand, so it was a good time for me to sit and chill. Something new I learned came from D.J. and Christina. They were telling us about how Golden Nugget's Pool was featured on the Travel Channel because there is a water slide that goes through a shark tank. I have to admit, I'm curious about the pool because there's nothing like it on The Strip. However, the chances of us staying in Downtown in the future are slim. Check out the link though...it's a really nicely decorated pool (you can tell they put some effort into the rennovation), it's just too bad it's in Downtown.

Finally, I got to introduce Albert to Bachi Burger! He loved it and I loved it, so it's officially on our list of foodie destinations in Las Vegas. If you're into fusion food and are looking for a tasty burger, you got to check out Bachi Burger...mmm, so delicious!

July was all about the travel: Simi Valley for April & Victor's Wedding (hahaha, it's practically NorCal for me), Cruise to Ensenada, Vegas, and Vegas. I think the rest of the year will be about weddings - we have 3 to go to in the next two months and then one more in November. At least they're all in SoCal, so we can fit in other things in between the weddings. I've been wanting to ride some roller coasters, so hopefully a trip to Magic Mountain or Disneyland, or Knott's or all 3, is in store.

Vegas Vacation: Part 1 of 2

This past weekend, I found out that there's more to Vegas than looking like a hooker and going to strip clubs! Albert's family invited me to come along on their family trip to Las Vegas. We stayed at MGM (a first for me) Saturday through Monday. This was the first time (post turning 21) that I've been to Vegas without going to a club, going to a strip club, and/or gambling. Still plenty of drinking, but not to the point of throwing up or blacking out.

On the first night in town, Albert and I watched Team USA's Exhibition game. Jello made the drive up that evening to join us at the game too. A lot of the players I was looking forward to watching (actually, just Kobe), ended up not playing, but it was still fun to watch. It was definitely different from watching a Lakers game because I was a lot more easily distracted. Khloe Kardashian was there (our seats were closer to the court than hers was!) but left during halftime because she got mobbed for pictures. I think the white team won, but I honestly wasn't paying attention. There was a tequila station there and I was busy yelling "Hi!" to the players in an attempt to get them to wave or nod.

I got to introduce Aloha Kitchen to Jenny, Kristen, Albert, and Jello...2 Local plates, one kalua & katsu plate, one kalbi plate, and one adobo fried rice omelet later, I think I convinced them to make this restaurant a must-do whenever we come to Vegas. The food is pretty delicious, but I'd argue that it's even better the morning after a night of drinking :) After dinner, the girls turned in for the night and we hung out with Albert's cousin from Wisconsin (Bernard) for a little bit. It was Bernard's first trip to Vegas so he was ready to party hearty...unfortunately, it was our first night after driving in, so we were ready to call it a night at 2am.

Jello had to drive back to LA on Sunday, but we had a full day ahead of us. The itinerary: eat, pool, eat, drink, midway, movie, eat, and sleep...hahah! The pool was packed for a Sunday, but that didn't stop us from getting in and walking the lazy river. The pool is so refreshing in the middle of the desert and great for people-watching, one of mine and Albert's favorite things to do together. That evening, Albert introduced us to a new restaurant: Metro Pizza. OMG...I LOVED it! Best pizza place in Vegas hands down. Between the 4 of us (Jenny, Kristen, Albert, and me) we shared Fried Calamari, Garlic Romano Fries, and a small stuffed pizza called The Stockyard. Do you think we finished all of it? NOPE. I wanted to, but there was no more room in my stomach. The Stockyard pizza was so delicious. The pizza packed with pepperoni, sausage, and ground beef, then covered with another layer of dough, baked, and topped off with tomato sauce. If you're looking for a solid place for pizza, on or off The Strip, it's Metro Pizza. You gotta give it a try.

Yesterday, we took a Greyhound bus home. Albert thought his parents were coming back to LA on Monday, but they moved their departure date to Tuesday so we were scrambling for a way to get home in time for work on Tuesday (today). I remembered that my mom and dad used to take the bus to Vegas all the time when they first started dating, so I suggested that as our way home. It was definitely cheaper than flying home ($50 for a bus ticket vs. $161 for a plane ticket). Turns out, Albert and his mom used to use the bus to get to Vegas too when his Dad lived out there. The bus ride is about 5 hours long with a stop for food in Barstow. It's a nice ride and great for taking naps while someone else worries about the traffic. This year seems to be the year I'm traveling to Vegas in all modes of transportation!

Albert and I are headed out to Vegas again...this time with my family. It's also T.J.'s 22nd birthday on Friday, so we're hoping we can take him out on a couple of the roller coasters out there. He loves his roller coasters :) T.J.'s been there since Sunday and won't be leaving until this coming Sunday...lucky guy is definitely enjoying his summer break! Definitely going to try to hit up Metro Pizza again and fit in Bachi Burger! Stay tuned for Part 2!

Cruising...

I recently took a 3-day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, with friends aboard the Carnival Paradise ship. The ship sets sail from the Port of Long Beach, docks at a port in Ensenada for about 8 hours, spends a day at sea, then heads back to Long Beach. When in Ensenada, you have the option of doing excursions (e.g., tours/activities around the city offered by the cruise line) or exploring on your own. It was my second time taking this particular cruise, and my third cruise overall.

During my first time taking the Ensenada cruise, my family and I spent the day taking tours but this time around my friends and I spent the day exploring Ensenada's "downtown" area on our own. Once we got off the boat and took the shuttle into town ($2 each way), we found tour guides offering us a $20 All-You-Can-Drink special at Mango Mango Restaurant and Bar. It was a 15 minute walk through Primera Street from the shuttle stop to the bar  (that was the extent of our sightseeing in Ensenada..hahah!).

Mango Mango is located just across the street from Papas&Beer, which seemed to be the more popular of the two. Unfortunately, Papas&Beer didn't have the All-You-Can-Drink special, so Mango Mango was the better value. It was less crowded which made getting drinks and bathroom access a whole lot easier. Our group was the first one in, so we had prime seating and could people watch, not to mention we had a GREAT view of all the debauchery happening at Papas&Beer without being surrounded by d-bags. The D.J. was pretty good and took requests.The mixed drinks weren't super strong, but it didn't matter after 5 hours. Plus shots were included in the drink special so I'd say I definitely got my $20 worth and then some. We did end up checking out Papas&Beer before we headed back to the boat. By then all of us were drunk as skunks. We didn't spend too much time there because we wanted to do some drunk eating before getting back on the ship. We found a local taco shop and chowed down on freshly made tacos (YUM!). Somehow, we managed to get our drunk asses back on the boat in time for dinner.

The last day before getting back to Long Beach was spent at sea. Albert and I made an appointment for a Couples Massage (more details to follow on that experience in a separate post) and then met up with the rest of the group. Coincidentally, this was the same day as the Finals match of the World Cup: Spain vs. Netherlands. Neither team had ever won the World Cup, so it was a historic match either way. Albert was determined to watch it while we were on the cruise and luckily it was on all the TVs in every bar. I wasn't following the World Cup very closely, so I lounged at the pool with the girls and Albert watched with the boys. I was definitely cheering for Spain though (David Villa rocks!) and they ended up winning!

Word to the wise, this cruise isn't really ideal for families. The 3-day cruise to Ensenada is basically a booze cruise. Yes, there were families there and I've been on it with my family, but it's very much a party boat for 3 days. There were several bachelor/bachelorette parties on board as well as friends going on a mini-vacation (like us) to cut loose for a couple days. It's loud, it's rowdy, and a little (okay, maybe a lot) inappropriate. Would you expect anything less from a bunch of twenty-somethings on a boat surrounded by several full bars for 3 days? Nope :)

Oh July!

Although it doesn't look like it, Summer is definitely in full swing for me! 

This past weekend was 4th of July weekend but, more importantly, it was April & Victor's wedding. The wedding took place on Sunday at The Vineyards in Simi Valley and you couldn't have asked for a more perfect day: great weather, great friends, great food, and plenty of alcohol (courtesy of April and Victor...they definitely know how to throw a party!). I did manage to get to my pre-Bacherlorette Party in Vegas weight, so I felt at ease wearing a bright yellow dress :) I love, love, love darker colors, but seeing how everything was pulled together for the wedding, yellow and red make is a beautiful color combination. I think April and Victor did a great job with their sunset theme..one of the prettiest weddings I've bee to. If you want to see what I'm talking about, just look at facbook, pictures galore on there!

Next weekend is the cruise to Ensenada. I've been on this cruise before, but with my mom, my dad, T.J. and my cousin Ian. I was excited to spend the time with family and it was my first cruise ever so I was curious to see how I would do on a boat. Turns out cruises are pretty relaxing and 3 days on a boat is perfect for me. We also took a tour of La Bufadora and a local winery. However, this time around definitely promises to be a little bit different since I'm headed out there with friends. There's a kayak excursion that I kinda want to do, but I'll be happy just chillin' on the beach with a drink in hand and friends beside me...it's guaranteed to be a good time as long as we're together!

After the cruise, it's one open weekend then back-to-back-to-back trips to Vegas. July is definitely going to keep me busy!

What a lame-ass

This post is 2 weeks late...in more ways than one.

The above results were achieved by doing about 90% of the prescribed strength workouts and nutrition. I do admit that I completed only about 25% of the cardio sessions, so I assume my results would have been better if I kept up with the cardio.  Regardless of how I did with exercise and nutrition, I am genuinely happy with the results and would recommend the Xtremem Fat Loss Diet to anyone wanting to jump start their fat loss.

Now, the reason why this post is too late (other than me saying I would post this two weeks ago) is I've MAJORLY slacked off since then. In the last two weeks, I've worked out twice (once if you don't count this morning's session to get me back on track) and my healthy diet has gone to shit! I weighed myself this morning and I've gained about half of what I lost during XFLD. The good news is that it's only half the weight and it might be a little off because it's close to that "time of the month." The bad news is April's wedding is next weekend and the cruise to Ensenada is the weekend after that. I'm freaking out a little bit and I hear a little voice in my head that says, "This isn't going to go over very well." All I can do now is channel that freaking out energy into working out as hard as I can on top of eating right until the cruise. Alcohol is pretty much out of the question again (key words: pretty much).

After much consideration, I decided to go with the Cheat Your Way Thin (CYWT) meal plans and Truth About 6-Pack Abs (TA6PA) workouts. Albert is doing the same thing, which is what swayed me to follow. It's just easier when we're eating the same things and are on the same workout regimen. I have someone to keep me in check and push me to the limit. I hope to be back at 138lbs by the cruise and eventually get to 125lbs. - that's where I ultimately want to be and what I want to maintain. I know, I know, weight is not the ideal marker for your fitness goals because lean muscle weighs more than fat. According to TA6PA, women will show their defined abs (a.k.a. 6-pack abs) as long as they are under 20% body fat. So, I'm also shooting for 19% body fat by the end of the year.

I feel SO lame for not keeping up with everything this past two weeks...definitely have to step it up a notch if I want to FEEL good in a swimsuit for the cruise. I doubt I'll actually LOOK good (hahaha), but one can hope.

Spending two weeks eating whatever I want has obviously taken it's toll physically, but there is a silver lining! There are two places I HIGHLY recommend to visit in Las Vegas if you are looking to indulge in some sinfully delicious grubbin':

Aloha Kitchen: I went with the girls during April's Bachelorette Weekend and had the Adobo Fried Rice Omelette. It's a HUGE serving, so be sure to share. BUT, if you don't, it's perfect the next morning :) A nice added bonus: karaoke bar that's open until 4am!

Bachi Burger: Bev (my Alpha Phi Lil' Sis) and her boyfriend introduced me to this place just before I left town. I had the Kalbi Burger and we all shared the Truffle Parmesan Fries. So far, I'd have to say, it's the tastiest burger I've ever had (yes, moreso than Five Guys). And the fries...well, first off, truffles = special mushroom from France, not chocolate...didn't think it would be good combo, but I was pleasantly surprised and found myself craving it ever since then.

So yeah, if you're ever in Las Vegas and want something a little different from what The Strip has to offer...you gotta give those two a try.

Day 25 of 25

Xtreme Fat Loss Diet program - completed. I know the day isn't completely over, but I'm not doing the cardio session today and it's my protein-only day so the menu until I go to sleep tonight is protein shakes, tuna, and sardines. It's safe to say, I'm pretty much done with the program. Tomorrow would have been Cheat Day, so I'm going to take my final measurements then and post up the results.

Did I lose 25 pounds in 25 days? No. Is it possible to lose 25 pounds in 25 days? Mathematically, yes. I've read more of everyone's results posted on the Facebook forum and no one has achieved the 25 pound mark, which makes me feel good about what I've achieved. I know for sure I've lost inches and weight, so I'm really happy about that. Plus this is the first fitness program I've finished - EVER. I know I didn't do everything by the book and half-assed certain exercises, but the thought never crossed my mind to quit early - which is an achievement in itself since I usually give up when it comes to working out.

A nice little accomplishment I didn't expect was the change in attitude. I feel healthy and a little more confident about my body. It's not where I want it to look, but it's a reasonable start. I have a pretty good idea of what works for me, gets me motivated, and what I am willing to follow - apparently, I really like having structured workouts and am somewhat more willing to do cardio if it takes less than 30 minutes. I've learned to appreciate the gym more. I still absolutely hate it from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, but it turns into some kind of temple of health that my body can't resist at 5:00am (it probably has something to do with all the equipment being readily available and not having to suffer through douchebags/douche-ettes being, well, douches). As for the nutrition part, the Fast Days remained the worst part of the program but 24 hours of fasting every 5 days is doable for me. I have learned a little bit more of what I should be eating and when. I also know that (deliciously) bad food can be helpful in the whole process of getting in shape, but I just need to eat it at the right times and in the right portions.

I'd say a BIG part of what got me through the program was having Albert right there alongside me. To start off, this whole thing was his idea and he took the initiative to get all the supplements we needed for 25 days. Next, I know he HATES waking up early, but he was at the gym at 5:00am (sometimes earlier) ready to go over the exercises with me and make sure I did them right (actually, I'd say we did that for each other). Plus, I liked doing the lunges next to him because he HATED them while I LOVED them. I also tried to hold planks longer than he would. Sometimes I won, sometimes I didn't, but trying to beat Albert is always a good way to get me going. Lastly, there were a ton of times where I wanted to stuff my face with horrible food on non-Cheat Days. But on our second Fast Day, he went to poker night with our friends and had to eat 97 BCAA pills while everyone else ate fresh pizza from Masa. That showed me he was pretty committed to doing to the diet, so I decided to match it.

What's Next...
After the measurements tomorrow, I'm taking a break until Monday. It's April's Bachelorette Party in Vegas, so there's no way I'm going to turn down the food and alcohol. The creator of XFLD has a follow up program called Cheat Your Way Thin (CYWT). I've skimmed through the diet and workouts and I'm still undecided about whether to follow it or not. I'm going to go through it in more detail over the next couple of days and see what I come up with. If anything, I've already been through some of another program (The Truth About Six Pack Abs) and will stick with that if CYWT isn't what I'm looking for.

Day 23 of 25

Only 2 more days to go! We started the last cycle of the program this past Saturday. It was also the same day as my grandpa's 90th birthday party. Luckily each cycle BEGINS with a Cheat Day, so Albert and I were able to eat during the party. The indulgences for our last Cheat Day included Habit Burger (for Breakfast), Hooters (for Lunch), lots of Filipino food/desserts (at my grandpa's party), carne asada burrito from Mocha Salsa (late-evening snack), and Butterfinger and Peanuttles whenever possible.

Sadly, I could only eat 6 wings at Hooters and only a third of my burrito from Mocha Salsa :( It's probably a sign of progress that I can no longer eat as much as I used to, but it's kinda sad at the same time. My mind is telling me I should eat more, but my stomach is clearly saying its stuffed.

As we do at the beginning of each cycle, we took measurements to see how we've been doing. My bust, waist, and hips have gotten smaller, but my thigh and calf got bigger. I think those lunges have something to do with the increase in lower body measurements. Basically, I hope my thighs and calves are bigger because of muscle, not because of fat! I've lost a total of 10 pounds so far and I'm happy with that. I'm probably not going to hit my weight loss goal, but it's okay as long as I've built some muscle. I  haven't been able to peruse the Facebook Group for XFLD as much as I wanted to, but Albert says the most he's seen a person lose with this program is 17 pounds. Albert and I still have to take body fat measurements (which is a little more complicated), but I expect/hope to see a decrease there too. I'll post up the final measurements at the end of the program so you can see the actual results.

This weekend was also April's Bridal Shower. There was SO much food to eat: puff pastries, finger sandwiches, meatballs, chicken, fruit salad, cheese rolls from Porto's, red velvet cake, and homemade pistachio cake to name a few. Unfortunately, it landed on my Fast Day, so I couldn't have any of it. But you can bet I brought a bunch of it home for me to eat in a couple days. Some of it may not be as good by then, but I'm Ilocano so I'm going to eat it anyway...hahaha!

The good news is I finally feel comfortable in the bridesmaid's dress. I'm not able to zip it by myself, but I realize the zipper doesn't have a very good grip so no one can zip it themselves. April also wants to have them shortened, so it's going to look extra cute after everything is said and done. I do have a little over 3 weeks between when this program ends and the wedding (which is on July 4th). I have the next couple of days to figure out what I'm going to do to maintain what I've achieved so far. If anything, I can go back to the program I was on before but I'm still undecided on that one. If you have any recommendations, let me know!

Day 16 of 25

In case you've been living under a rock, the Lakers made it to the Finals and will be playing against the Celtics - hence the change in blog colors :)

I'm currently sitting in bed writing this post with an ice cold glass of milk and red velvet cake. Yes, it's a Cheat Day, so this is perfectly allowed on the XFLD program. And, yes, I'm savoring every bite.

I've come to realize that Cheat Days are cock teases. There are no restrictions on these days. You can eat WHATEVER you want, but what you don't know is that your stomach can no longer pack in what it used to. I spend most of the previous cycle dreaming of what I'm going to eat on my Cheat Day. So you can imagine my disappointment when Cheat Day is finally here and I can only eat half of what I wanted to eat. Sometimes, I can't even eat what I want because it gives me a stomach ache - I think my body is basically rejecting crappy food at this point. 

Today's indulgences consisted of:

Brunch @ IHOP: International Passport with Swedish pancakes, a side of hash browns, and o.j.

Post-Work Out Meal: Lasagna and Albertson's Honey Chicken Wings (fresh from the Deli!)

Dinner @ Masa: Bacon & Mushroom thin crust pizza, French Fries, and Lotsa Meat Deep Dish Pizza

As you can see, even though I may not be able to eat everything I want, I definitely try my best to pack in as much as I can. To top it off, I started my day with Butterfinger fun size bars and had it as my dessert after dinner. My post-dessert snack is the cake...although I've only eaten a fourth of it and probably won't finish it.

The XFLD program has a Cheat Day built into each cycle in order to have this hormone (leptin) kick in and get the fat burning process jump started at the beginning of each cycle. Regardless of whether this is actually the case or not, it definitely helps motivate me during the cycle. As I'm swallowing 90 BCAA pills on a Fast Day, or doing a second workout session for the day, all I'm thinking about is what I'm going to indulge in once Cheat Day gets here. I spend so much time planning and thinking about that day, that I hardly realize I've completed another cycle. This Cheat Day marks the beginning of the Fourth Cycle, which means I only have one more cycle to go after this!

I'm not sure I'm going to hit my weight goal at the end of this, but I have lost some weight and my body measurements have already slimmed down more than I expected. All this working out has definitely made me a little stronger (I'm able to do dumbbell rows at 25lbs on each arm for a couple of reps...something I would have never thought possible before) and I think my body looks different in a good way - but that could just be my mind playing tricks on me since I've been living in the gym the past couple of weeks.

Tomorrow (actually today since it's past midnight ) is Fast Day - ugh! The first part of the day isn't so bad, but once the afternoon hits, I get pretty sick of eating pills all day and the crankiness comes out. I just want to get to bed as fast as possible so that I can wake up and start the Shake Day. We're trying something different for this Fast Day though - working out after work instead of before. I'm hoping this will turn the crankiness into fatigue.

Anyways...only 9 more days to go! Looking forward to finishing the program on a strong note :)

P.S. I'm planning to try on the bridesmaids dress this coming Saturday (a.k.a. Cheat Day = First Day of Last Cycle)! Hopefully, it'll zip up all the way...stay tuned!

Day 10 of 25

Today is the last day of the second cycle; only 3 more cycles to go! 

I can definitely say this program is a roller coaster. The Fast Days are the WORST. It's tough only having water and 90 pills of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) on top of doing an intense workout. The BCAAs work to keep your muscle in tact while you're fasting to create a calorie deficit. It was the first time we had to do a Fast Day on a weekend and that was killer because it's usually the time we spend with family and friends - mainly eating and/or drinking. I'm cranky on those days too, so it wasn't ideal for some quality time with my brother and my mom. But it had been so long since I've hung out with them, I figured I should go (cranky or not) instead of putting it off again. Luckily, I gave my mom the heads up about the program and she took us to the movies. I don't have try that hard to be pleasant when we're sitting in the dark.

The BEST day of the cycle is the Cheat Day. I played hookie to go to Magic Wok and feast on some crispy pata, lumpia, pancit canton, rice, and sago at gulaman (basically a brown sugar drink). That night Albert and I planned to go to Curry House, but we didn't make it in time. Where did we end up? Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. MMMM. My mouth is watering thinking of all that yummy food! We also had to do a workout on this day, but it isn't as intense as the other days so it wasn't a big deal.

I've learned A LOT of new exercises because of XFLD. I've also learned that my lower body is a bit stronger than my upper body (not that my lower body is super strong or anything). I absolutely LOVE any of the lunge exercises, especially the swing lunge. I'm also diggin' the Bulgarian Split Squat. They hurt, but I love 'em because they keep my ass from being saggy...and we all know, no one loves a saggy ass. The hardest exercises for me to do usually involve any kind of push-up. I just suck at those.

I took my measurements after the first cycle and I've lost half an inch here and there. I've also lost some weight, but I'm thinking some of it is water weight too so my end weight after all the cycles will probably be more accurate. I'm happy with my progress so far and it's keeping me motivated. Albert has been a great motivator too, especially when I get too lazy to do the follow up cardio session (we usually have to do a cardio workout in the afternoons). With the exception of Fast Days, I have tons of energy throughout the day. I think this is freaking out my coworkers because I'm so chatty now - I'm usually really quiet in the office and don't speak unless someone starts the convo. I do ramp down a little bit by early evening, but that's normal for me (unless I'm in Vegas).

Tomorrow is the beginning of the third cycle, which means it's a Cheat Day!! Curry House, here I come...don't be closed, don't be closed....

Day 4 of 25

I joined the Facebook group for Xtreme Fat Loss Diet (XFLD) today. It's nice to see that everyone else on this  program has a love-hate relationship with it too!

Our first day on the program was this past Sunday (not Saturday like I planned because we were too hungover from our drinking binge the night before). The first day was a Cheat Day, where we could eat whatever we wanted, but we had to take initial body measurements, record body fat percentage, and start the workouts.  Albert remeasured my body fat percentage for me and it ranged anywhere from 26% to 32%, so  we went with 29% body fat to calculate how many calories and macronutrients I'd need for the 25 days. The exercises seemed really simple, but they've made me sweat the most so far out of all the workouts - and yes, we work out EVERY DAY.

The Cheat Day is followed by a Fast Day and a Shake day. It's basically 48 hours without solid food. The Fast Day means no food at all - just water and supplements. The Shake Day is a little easier because we get to have shakes instead of pills all day. Either way, my stomach was pretty miserable, especially on the Fast Day. We also have to work out on those days and we've been getting to the gym by 5:00am to do the recommended workouts. Despite how miserable my stomach feels, the rest of my body feels pretty fantastic! I'm completely energized throughout the  work day even though I haven't had any real food. My body is sore, but I like it - no pain, no gain, right? Today, we finally got to eat solid food- I don't think I've ever looked forward to eating a cup of tuna so bad in my life!

It feels different being on this program. I don't feel like I'm dieting because I'm not really denying myself anything. I feel like I'm just pacing myself. I guess that's a good thing because I have no intention of quitting or "slipping up" and eating junk. Trust me, it's tough opening the fridge and seeing the pizzas, the fried chicken, and whatever yummy goodness is in there. But, I just remind myself I can eat it - all of it - in a couple days, then it becomes no biggie!

Tomorrow is a protein only day. Chicken and Broccoli - ALL DAY. That was my usual lunch when I was on the other fitness program and I was sick of it toward the end, but it sounds SO good right now...especially when it's been heavily powdered with cayenne pepper - YUM! The next Cheat Day is Friday...what to eat, what to eat? Any suggestions???

...And We're Back

Wow...a whole month and a half has passed since my last post. So much for my resolution of writing in here at least once a week. Maybe I'll just calculate it by an average, especially with the new endeavor I'm planning to take on.

Albert found this new workout program: Xtreme Fat Loss Diet. It claims that you will lose 25lbs in 25 days, none of which will result in muscle loss. I don't consider it a "fad" diet because the program requires you to work out every day (sometimes 3 times a day) to build muscle, pig out during each cycle and fast only once during each cycle. Needless to say, I'm going to do the program...Day 1 is tomorrow. Albert will be doing the program also, so we're in it together - it's easier that way and we can keep each other honest.

The Motivation: My dear friend, April, is getting married in July and asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. Of course, I accepted in a heart beat! The bridesmaids dress has been chosen and, unfortunately, I can only zip it halfway up my back. April assures me it's fine and that it'll probably zip up all the way if I had someone help me. She's probably right, but I decided to make it a personal goal to be able to zip it up myself. Secondly, since Albert and I decided not to go to Thailand this year (mainly my fault for not having enough vacation days), we're joining our friends for a weekend cruise to Baja a couple days after April's wedding. Essentially, this means 3 days of walking around in a bikini to fit in with everyone the boat. So, I have a dress and a swimsuit to fit into in essentially 7 weeks. 

The Preparation: The beautiful thing about this new fitness program is that it actually STARTS with a cheat day and you get a cheat day every 5 days after that. The not-so-beautiful thing about it is it says the alcohol is counterproductive to what we're trying to do: lose fat. Also, I will have to be in the gym EVERY day. That's neither a good thing or a bad thing, really. It's more of a challenge. I am okay with going to gym...it's not my favorite thing to do, but it's necessary since I enjoy food and drink...A LOT. What I hate about the gym is when it's busy and the equipment or weights aren't readily available. But, I've come up with a schedule for the program where I can go during non-peak times, so I'm looking forward to completing 100% of the required work out time...or at least, giving it my best shot.

Surprisingly, I'm really excited about the new program. I think I may have plateaued on the old program, so this may be just the surge my body needs.

The Goal: Albert and I have been preparing for the program all week. We've figured out our calories and macronutrients, printed out workout logs, calendared our first cycle of the program (there are 5 cycles total and we adjust accordingly). He ordered all the supplements (Thanks Beb!) and they're coming in this weekend. I do have to figure out my menu for the first cycle, which I'll probably take care of at work today (haha...gotta love corporate time robbing...but c'mon, it's Friday, what do they expect?!) . We're taking our starting body measurements tomorrow morning. I took my body fat percentage this morning...it's a dismal 32%. Sadly, I think that's right, but I'm going to have Albert remeasure it tomorrow morning just to be sure. I'd list my weight here too, but I'm too embarrassed :\ I weighed 117lbs as a freshman in college...WTF happened?!?! Hahah!  If anything, if this program works, then I'll list my before and after weight at the end. Deal? Deal. 

A lot of self-help books say it's a good idea to have a visual goal, so for good measure...here are my visual goals:

...although, I doubt April will let me wear something that short during her wedding (hehehe).

If you can't already tell, Penelope Cruz is one of my body icons. She's not a waif and she's curvy - so I think she's a reasonable goal for me to try for. Now, if i can get her boobies and a sexy Spaniard accent, I'd be set!

I'll be logging my progress on the blog...hopefully, on a daily basis until it's over, but at least at the end of each cycle.

In TOTALLY UNRELATED news: NBC says they will be canceling Law & Order (one of my favorite shows). First Conan, now this?! This network totally blows.

March Madness: Part 3 (Last One)

This is a day late, since it's already April. I had this long post about Las Vegas and the difference between going with a bunch of girls and going with a bunch of guys. I looked at it and thought, it's freakin Vegas, no matter how many times you go and who you're with, you're gonna have a good time. 

I will say that I went to Vegas on back-to-back weekends. One weekend was with my cousin and her girlfriends and the following weekend was with Albert, Jello, and Phil. I had an INSANE time during both weekends and was quite happy that I didn't break the bank on either weekend (these people are pretty thrifty when they want to be). I'm lucky to have adventurous friends and family. It's also nice that the above mentioned friends and family know how to work it to get it HOOKED UP (e.g. getting into night/strip clubs gratis, packing enough yummy food and alcohol to last all weekend, getting the nicest rooms, etc.).

You would think that back-to-back weekends in Vegas would result in me being sick of the place, but I'm not. I actually love it even more and can't wait until the next time I'm over there. I love that city so much, I've been semi-seriously looking for jobs out there (NOT an April Fool's Joke). It's hard to picture myself anywhere else other than SoCal, but Las Vegas is SO tempting...and much more affordable. 

Anyways, I LOVE VEGAS...one of the best cities in the world (mainly because you're encouraged to walk around drunk and look like a hooker....hahah)

By the way, it was our 3-year anniversary this past St. Patrick's Day. Our first date was in Las Vegas. It was a wild and fun weekend then and has only gotten better since ;) He rocks my world.

March Madness: Part 2

I live in a condo and toward the beginning of this month I was doing little home improvement projects. These were things I had been putting off for a while and finally got my ass in gear to complete: 

Moved into the bigger room: I was supposed to do this when my mom moved out, but got lazy. I finally made the move and like having the extra space. However, more space does not necessarily mean more storage. Half my closet is taken up by the stairway underneath it so I lost a bit of storage space there. I still have a bunch of crap laying around. I should give it away to the Salvation Army, but you know what's going to happen??? I'm going to need it 2 weeks later. I think I may be a bit of a Hoarder, but it's not terrible. I can still see the floor of my room. I just need to get some plastic bins and organize the chaos. 

Installed a lock on my old room: These are the parts that come with a door knob and lock:

Since the installation instructions were really more of a step-by-step picture guide, I got the gist of it and proceeded to install the lock. After screwing in the strike plate quite easily, I moved on to installing the deadlatch. It was a little tougher than the strike plate (I installed it the wrong way on the first try), but I still managed to get that done. I was so excited, that I wanted to test the latch out. Well, it worked perfectly...then I realized there were no knobs to pull back the latch and open the door. 

Naturally, I freaked out because I had locked myself in a room with a door that doesn't have knobs and without a cell phone. I started pulling hard at the door in hopes of breaking the latch or the door. That didn't work. I looked out the window and considered climbing out of the 2nd story window on top of the patio shade and jumping down to the back yard, but I would still have no phone or keys to get in, not to mention I was in my pajamas. I went back to trying to break the door and the latch and could feel the tears forming (I have bad memories of being locked in rooms thanks to being a mischievous little kid). Finally a took a deep breath and started looking at the latch. There was a release for the latch and the door opened up. I felt like a dumbass and supreme being at the same time. 

Installed wifi: Unfortunately, I don't have a personal laptop or computer. I have a laptop provided by my work, but I don't like using it too much because it reminds me of work. BUT, I can use my iTouch. I think I might have been a cavewoman in a past life because I'd be totally fine without a computer/laptop/gadgets that use wifi. I didn't say life would be as convenient or fun, but I would survive just the same. 

Added another lamp in the living room: I had my Christmas tree up until February. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, the tree looked decent (even though it was plastic) and it provided a lot of light in the living room. Then my mom said that I looked like a crazy woman with a Christmas tree still up in February so she made me take it down. It was pretty dark in the living room after that, especially since part of the living room is painted a dark plum color and Ikea lamps don't really cut it after a while. I finally found a lamp with enough light as the Christmas tree. The tree was funner to look at, but this lamp will do...until December.

I've done a little more stuff to the place, but there's still lots to be done - it's a work in progress. Home improvement/home decor is endless, that's fer sure. Anyways, doing all that stuff was part of the madness know as March 2010.