I'm a Shred Head!

I mentioned in one of my Ten on Tuesday posts (which I need to get back into - next week, yeah, next week....) that I started the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels. It was working really well until I went on vacation and forgot my dvd. That in combination with too much southern cooking equals falling off the wagon. Something I know oh too well. (Remember when I tried to be a runner with Rachael. Ha! I quickly found out running is NOT my thing.) Anyway, this was a workout that I really looked forward to doing. I prefer "fun," upbeat workouts like Zumba or quick get right down to business and make me sweat workouts like this one. So, I've decided to get back on track.



Today was Day 2.1 of the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels. (I say 2.1, because this is my second attempt and day one). I highly recommend the video and if you'd like to get in on this, let me know in the comments section or by posting on your blog. I'd love to have workout blog buddies. It's always more motivating when you have someone to check in with and someone to push you on those lazy days.

I warn you, though. You will get really tired of this line: "If you think you're going to die, stick with Anita." I've been known to shout profanities at Anita and Jill. ;)

Finally Home.

Frank and I have been back and forth to Michigan twice, in Canada for a week and down to Nashville for another week... all in the past month. Let me just say it feels good to be sleeping in my own bed again! It's taken me a few days to "recover" from vacation. After loads of laundry, catching up on my sleep, cleaning out the fridge and restocking it, as well as miscellaneous other household chores, I'm finally feeling settled again.

Thank you to those of you who said prayers and sent positive thoughts our way for my Grandfather. He has pulled through miraculously and we're all so relieved. I was actually able to have a nice visit with him while we were in Tennessee.

Funny story: Everyone at the hospital thought I was a doctor. I was mortified to find out that my Grandpa had been telling them I had just graduated from med school. After several corrections, I think most of them understood that he had confused my white coat ceremony (finishing Basic Sciences - years one and two out of four) as an actual graduation. Most of them thought it as quite humorous and said how wonderful it is that I have someone who is so proud of my accomplishments. I'm sure, however, there were others that were thinking "crazy old man" or "thank God we don't have to deal with a "real" doctor." (Several of them told me horror stories about physicians who were very difficult to deal with while their loved ones were under going surgeries.) Vanderbilt was like a well oiled machine and I enjoyed the professional side of things, as well as the advice many of the physicians gave me for residency and clinical rotations. It was stressful, but overall a really interesting and (dare I say) enjoyable experience. Not at all what I had prepared myself for ahead of time.

I have lots of pictures and fun stories about our trips, so I'll be playing catch up for the next few posts.

Chit Chat 4

My answer:

I'm sure many of you will find this one as difficult to narrow down as picking your free pair of BOGO at Payless I did. When I think of school/studying, the theme song would be Eye of the Tiger. It keeps me going up the seemingly endless set of stairs (read: exams) on this "journey." (tee hee - get it... the band... nevermind!)

Maybe a more appropriate choice would be "How to save a life" by the Fray. ;)

But, my life in general would be "Adore Her" by Mandy Moore. (Just to clarify - not because I think everyone should adore me, rather the lyrics remind me of myself.)


Your turn!

twi-nerd.

So have you seen it? If you have to ask what then you are clearly not a twi-nerd living in a twi-universe. Let me clue you in:



So what did you think?

My thoughts are:

1. Kiss me scene - Why does Kristen Stewart have to play Bella so intensely? The eyebrow raise when she asks Edward to kiss her is just obnoxious to me.

2. Robert Pattinson just morphs into Edward Cullen. He is exactly like my vision from reading the book. Such a good actor. (And I prefer him with the American accent to his real, British accent.)

3. The Cullens - People all over the web are freaking out about Jasper's new hair. I think it looks much better and much more like an old fashioned, soldier in this film. Rosalie is still ugly compared to her description in the book. I will never understand why they picked a Hispanic girl to play a pale, blonde. She does play a good b!tch, though. Carlisle looks MUCH better in this movie. He was just too pale in Twilight. Emmett looks good, as always. Alice is too cute! Love love her! Perfect casting!!

4. Papercut scene - Here we go again! Seriously bad acting. I'm having flashbacks to Kristen Stewart's horrible hospital bed scene in Twilight. Let me add this commentary from a fellow blogger, who knew just how to describe her feelings on this subject:

And then there's Bella. Or, I should say, Kristen Stewart, because she is the one cast member who continually reminds us that this is just a movie and she's just an "actress" and none of this is real. Which, unfortunately, is exactly the opposite of how Iwant to feel when I think of anything Twilight-related. So, thanks for that, Kristen Stewart, and thank you for your continued attempts to ruin the Twi-universe for me. Let me ask you this, have you ever had a papercut? Did you ever toss aside the offending materials and exclaim "ouch! a papercut!" while drip-dropping blood on your hosts' white carpet? I hate you more with every passing day. I pray for a miracle in which you are fired post-haste and all of the New Moon footage is re-shoot using your long-lost identical twin sister who knows what a goddamn papercut looks like and is able to recite lines AND insert the proper emotional responses. Hint: proper emotional responses do not equal lots of blinking.

Couldn't have said it better myself! I would add that people who are going to see this movie probably already know she gets a papercut and if not, they could have figured it out without her having to exclaim so. I also find it ridiculous that none of the other actors (read: Cullens) have a reaction while Jasper is slow motion running towards Bella and Edward is throwing them both across the room. That would get a reaction out of me... not sure about you, but I'm guessing it might.

5. Woods scene - Exactly like I imagined. Heart wrenching. Bring your Kleenexes girls.

5. Jacob and wolf scene - Okay this is clearly two different parts of the book. When Laurent attacks, the whole wolf pack saves her. When Jake first morphs, he is protecting her from Paul. It must be said that wow. Let me repeat, WOW. Taylor got buff. He's a beef cake now. The wolf was better than I expected. Could definitely be more realistic, but considering what it could have looked like (thinking Lady of the Water movie) I'm satisfied.

6. Things I'm looking forward to seeing... Dakota Fanning as Jane. The Volturi and Italy in general. Motorcycles, Cliff Diving and what I'm sure will be like nails-on-a-chalk-board: Bella almost drowning. Finally, the scene where Bella stops Edward from revealing himself in the sunlight. (Cried over this part while I was reading it and I'm embarrassed to admit I cried watching the clip below on YouTube.)



Can not wait for this movie!!

Home is where the ♥ is.

I'm spending the week in MI with family, while Frank is fishing in Canada with his best friend, Jason. It's been very nice coming home and having time to get back to the way things were a few years ago. I miss Frank, of course, but I've enjoyed doing some of my old favorites.

I had lunch from the hotdog stand and ran to the mall with my Mom. I drove through town in my parent's car with my radio blasting fun summer songs. I went to the movies and ate Sour Patch Kids. I ran errands with my Nana and had breakfast at Coney Island with my Dad. It reminds me of being a kid. I think all I need now is a Slurpee! It's a welcome break from studying for my boards right now.

Some things are new here, too. When I was younger there were no quick stops at Starbucks or massive Qdoba burritos. My Dad didn't have his fun little Mercedes to tool around in (sure wish he would have though - haha!) I certainly didn't have a mother-in-law to enjoy lunching with back then. And I didn't have two step sisters to go cheer on at swim meets or cuddle up to watch movies with in the basement.

Whether it's reliving old memories or making new ones, it feels good to be home.

Chit Chat 3

my answer:

My last meal would be a SMORGASBORD bc I looooooove food. So maybe this is more like an entire day's worth of feast... It would have to include some Qdoba (probably the Chicken Queso burrito), some sort of shrimp and lobster pasta in one of those really fattening creamy garlic butter sauces, definitely some mashed potatoes, my Nana's goulash, and then desserts... blueberry pie & strawberry rhubarb pie (both ala mode). Oh wait! I'd have to have one of those Cinna-buns, too. Yes, I would then proceed to spontaneously combust, but hey it's a good way to go! ;)

your turn!!!!

"Practically Perfect" Anniversary

So Frank spoiled me for our anniversary.

First he took me to a delicious Asian dinner at a place downtown, where they cook your meals behind this big glass wall. Think lots of fire and steam. Yes, I'm still talking about dinner. ;) Dessert was my favorite - Cold Stone. This was a real treat because I've been counting calories and working out pretty hard the last few weeks.

The real spoiling happened after we stuffed ourselves when Frank took me to see Mary Poppins on Broadway! (Chicago style, of course.) Let me just say, Frank is not a huge musical fan. He goes occasionally, but this was REALLY a girlie show. I mean, really, what man would be dying to sign along to "Just a Spoon Full of Sugar" or watch soft shoeing chimney sweeps? If you loved this movie as a child or are a fan of great muscials, I HIGHLY recommend seeing this show.

The set opens up like a story book or doll house. Very cool! The beginning was a little slow, but the second half more than made up for it. I literally had chills at a few points (Mary Poppins flying over the audience, the star scene, tap dancing to Step in Time). The children in this show were unbelievably talented, the mother had a beautiful voice and the actor who plays Bert was perfection! Mary Poppins, of course, was witty and very similar to Julie Andrews' version! (She was the same one who did the original in NY Broadway). All of that aside, the message is so relevant for today's world. Basically, the importance of family spending time together. I love, love, loved it!! Frank actually did, too, in the end.


*If you didn't get the "practically perfect" title you need to refresh your Mary Poppins knowledge... you know you want to... go watch it!*