5 Things Not to Miss at Disneyland's 60th Anniversary

They say its your birthday, well its my birthday too yeah! No, not really it not my birthday however it is the 60th anniversary of none other than the happiest place on earth, Disneyland! 60 years of magic and counting and this is Disneyland's Diamond Anniversary! Its been said Diamonds and Disneyland... I think I'm in heaven and couldn't be more excited to spend this weekend there! I'm am sure there are much more surprises in store which I can only imagine, but lets take a look at what we know is in store... 

DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY CAKE POP

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As if any Disney cake pop wasn’t cute enough, Disney’s culinary cast members really pulled out all the stops when it come celebratory treats! I am looking forward to diamond adorned cake pop in my very near future!  

PAINT THE NIGHT PARADE

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 This is the new parade that is basically the next generation of the Main Street Electrical Parade which is really synonymous with my youth! Ok maybe not synonymous but deff some true nostalgia brought on when even thinking about it!

WORLD OF COLOR

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World of Color is still an experience I’ve yet to check off my list and plan to do so this weekend! This is a special edition of World of Color for the 60th Anniversary that will skew heavily towards Walt Disney-era films, which I know all about and with Mickey Mouse as the host who could miss this!

DIAMOND FROSTED ATTRACTIONS

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Diamond frosted anything, yes please! But Sleeping Bautys Castle frosted with diamonds and sparkles, dreams do come true! Not only is the castle decked out but Carthay Circle Theater at Disney California Adventure Park is adorned with some serious bling!

DISNEYLAND FOREVER

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A street to sky experience certainly means fireworks are in store! This can been seen from both the park and the resort and I’m sure will dazzle my night! This is the new fireworks show that will be the successor to ‘Remember… Dreams Come True’, and will be another show rooted in nostalgia by Steve Davison, “utilizing the whole park as a stage.” (source)

#TGIF Weekend Vibes

OK so I know its not Saturday, but I am really looking forward to the weekend! May was a busy busy month and I have yet to share my June goals and do a quick eval of May... I will be back on track next week as this weekend I plan to recharge. I don't have any flights to catch or weddings and baby showers to attend! My recharge will include some much need PT and I cant wait to check out the colab between Refinery 29 and SIX02 this Saturday! They are bringing it with 6 hours of sweat sessions with the SIX Hour Burn down at the 3rd Street Promenade, giving you the opportunity to test drive 6 different workout classes for FREE! You can check out the classes here, and you can catch me at the Upper Body Blast followed by the Nike Training Club Class and I cant wait! #TGIF! 

DIY - Crafts Cake & Cocktails

Its no secret I live for all things DIY so you can imagine my reaction when I found out the lovely Erica from P.S. I Made This would be hosting Cinco DIY Mayo I was all over it! Such a fun night! We made cocktails at a fresh juiced margarita station. We embellished cake servers. We knotted bracelets with the cobra stitch! It was a blast! Check out my recap of the night! I will be on the lookout for more DIY events involving crafting and cocktails in the future. I am so bummed I didn't pick up Erica's book (she could have signed it!) or even snap a pic with the talented gal... I was on serious sensory overload! Next time!

My finished projects and empty margarita glass!

Welcome Goodies!

More welcome goodies...

Work in progress

Thanks P.S, I Made This! Come back to LA again soon!

Goals - May the 4th Be With You

glitter GUIDE always an inspiring start to my day

Monthly goal setting is such a refreshing way to keep yourself accountable. By setting SMART goals you are bound to succeed. May is going to be a busy month! With each weekend packed full of events from an invite to the Junior Leagues Los Angeles, Casino Angeleno the bachelors annual Westerner to a wedding and a baby shower on consecutive weekends and both out of town... Meeting my goal this month will be a challenge, but nonetheless a challenge I am up to! May the 4th be with me! 

MAY GOALS

1.)Try 1 New Recipe a Week 

Last night I tried out the Chicken Enchilada skillet recipe from Damn Delicious and it was boyfriend approved and damn delicious! I am not a fantastical food photog, but I will see what I can muster up when it comes to coverage of the recipes I try out this May. Stay tuned...

2.)Fall In Love With Running 
Last month I set the bar high for myself with a goal of running 15-20 miles a week. This month I am going to take a step back and set a goal to fall in love with running and will let you know how it pans out. 

3.) Read Smarter 
Ever wish you could read books at a blazing speed? Me too! In order to control that dictating little voice in my head that leaves me reading every word from left to right sometimes more than once, I will dedicate a certain point in my day to zeroing in on my reading material and never read less than a chapter at a time. Simple as it may sound, this is my first step I am taking towards reading smarter.    

4.)Quench My Thirst the Right Way
With water! For the next 31 days I will abstain from ANY beverages during my day to day other than water. No diet coke! No diet ginger ale! No juice! Wine and all of the above after hours is still on the table (I will save abstaining there for another adventure).  

Going No-Chella: 5 Things to Do in L.A. This Weekend

Come for Coachella, but party at #Nochella, now that's something I can get down with! While the line up is enticing and the fashion scene is hot, I am in no way in the fast lane on a trip to Coachella. NoChella on the other hand, count me in! Better yet, NoChella here in L.A. and can I just say, my commute down Wilshire blvd. last Friday as well as this morning was simply beautiful! Brokechella, ChouchChella or Coachella itslef however you frame it up, here are 5 Things to do this weekend in LA as Cochella whisks away some of the cities finest!

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

source We Heart It

Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood and Highland, Disneyland heck Sprinkles Cupcakes! LA is your oyster this weekend!

    Take a Hike

credit Friends of Runyon Canyon

LA offers up some prime real-estate to both hike and run. However with the unfortunate downside of a fitness crazed city all locations become overwhelmingly populated during a weekend with good weather. With #NoChella in full effect, why not go for a hike this weekend without the rest of LA. Runyon Canyon, Santa Monica Stairs, Baldwin Hills Scenic Outlook… this is your time! Hike in peace!

   Host Your Own #NoChella Streaming Party

more Style Me drink recipes here 

With weekend 1 in the can, you can optimize your “steaming” efforts to include the bands of your choice. Stock your home bar, create a custom cocktail maybe a Mexican Mule subbing the vodka for Tequila. Tell guests to come dressed in their best festival attire (best dressed… wins!?) And then document it all via social media because if its not on Instagram, Snapp Chat, Twitter of Facebook it didn’t happen right?! And dont forget the hashtag #Nochella2015

   Go to The Grove

For more check out Twenty Four at Heart

Because retail therapy is never out of the question and The Grove is a great place when you can actually find a parking spot of walk without being pummeled by strollers or the trolley.

   Go For a Drive

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Hop in your car and take drive down PCH, up to the Griffith Observatory or even just across town. Drive all those places you have otherwise avoid because with a mass clearing of about 100,000 people (give or take a few) you may actually be able to drive those 7-10 beautiful miles in less than 45 minutes.    

Lost Your Waze? Blogger Reboot

This past weekend during a cross town trip headed back to the Westside, I enlisted the ever so trusted help of Waze to get us to where we needed to go when our in car guided assistant sounded off, “In 800 ft turn left on Fountain” Of all the shortcuts and all the redirect possibilities Waze could have offered, the irony of the guided navigation prompting me down Fountain to avoid Sunday drivers got me thinking… Thinking about something else in my life which could benefit from the Waze prompted trip down one of the most iconic short cuts of LA… if you guessed my blog, you are correct.

Usually people quit blogging on a site because they stop enjoying it or because they fall out of the habit… I am not sure which applies here because I don’t think I was really ever “in the habit” and there is no question as to whether or not I enjoy blogging.

I kept a journal most of my life and really I utilized a blog as the adult version of such. Whether its sharing my take on the latest jewelry trend, or musings from a recent outing with family or friends, I have always taken some small comfort in knowing that beyond the memories themselves my blog is where I can recount and share events (even if it just you reading them Mom).  A reboot of anything can seem difficult, daunting and at time even frustrating, but it’s important to remember that its almost always possible to restart, relaunch and refocus your efforts as time allows. And the excitement which follows is a rewarding feeling and who knew Waze would help me get there. This past Sunday, I took Sunset which led me Santa Monica (with a quick trip up La Brea) and I ending up Taking Fountain. 

Boot Camp: Week 5&6 Thats a Wrap!

Last Friday was the end of our first bootcamp session in 2013! We made it! The last 2 weeks festivities included circuits, stairs, running, traveling burpees (see video below) weight vests, ankle weights, weigh ins and more... Unfortunately I had to get yet another new iPhone this weekend so I lost a little of the documentation... nonetheless the below is great photo and video mashup of what weeks 5&6 were made of! Congrats to everyone who reached their goal weight and to all of us for making it through the first session of the New Year! 

 

{weight vest ready!}

{mile run around staples}

Girlfriends & Impromptu Visits

There are those you call to share a funny story, those you call to gossip {we have all done it, so you can stop pretend like you haven’t} those you call crying after a breakup and those you text fifty times a day. They’re your go-to gals and even your #1 fans when things get tough, maybe even your lifesavers, but no matter how you see them, your life wouldn’t be the same without them... because they’re your BFFs. And at one point in our lives we were seriously joined at the hips, but a little something called life has left us hundreds of miles away from each other. We all know that long-distance relationships friendships aren't easy…  but no matter the amount of distance between us there isn’t anything in this world that could keep me from forgetting about my best friends. There is nothing like a little impromptu visit to keep the spark alive and I had a blast with two of my closest gals this past weekend Jenny and Crystal you were sorely missed! Not to worry, our 4^th annual girls trip is just around the corner and Paso is calling our names {clearly seeing as the Universe has recently sent us a sign!} Always looking foward to making lasting memories with those nearest and dearest to heart! Heres to more impromptu visits in the future... cheers!    

{a little drinks and dancing with good company...}

{followed by a little love}

{everything looks better with a cherry on top... even if you don't eat it}

{we found love drinks in a hopeless place... kidding HB but really though sweat pant required}  

{you want it they got it}

{and a little r&r  with a mani pedi to end the weekend}

{like I said... I agree}

 

Boot Camp: Week 3

Week 3 Monday Morning 1/21: Step, Step, Step it Up!  

Here we are! Week 3 complete! Let me start off by apologizing for non iPhone pic documentation of Monday morning workout {I woke up late, which is precisely why I lay my clothes out the night before which i plan to discuss in a later post} With a room full of boot-campers eager to get our sweat on post Monday morning weigh in blues, 36 of us to be exact we all rushed the corners of the room to grab our steps, mats and dumbbells ready to shed some weekend lbs! Lined from wall to wall and double up were are steps, facing a partner, dumbbells hand in hand and ankle weights tightly secured for the remainder of the hour we were up and down plank to push up, on our mats legs up donkey kicks, leg extensions, mountain climbers on the step, burpees using the step... we did NOT stop!

Wed 1/23 

Things Not to Forget to Bring to Boot-Camp... Your Ankle Weights and Your Brain:

While it was clear that Wednesdays workout took some serious thought and effort to come up with, I was unfortunately a part of the unlucky few who "forgot their brains at home" Wednesday morning and was abruptly kick out kindly asked to leave the workout before we were able to launch into parts 2 and 3. Without going into elaborate details about how the morning unfolded, let me just remind everyone {myself included} of something I said about Yardo's Boot-camp Week 1: Boot-camp is a group which is based on commitment, forged by good friendships  and undoubtedly bound in camaraderie... One thing that sets this 6 am workout apart from all others is that we do things TOGETHER! I don't think this is something any of us will forget to be mindful of from here (or should I say last Wednesday) on out!


It Never Rains in Southern California 1/25:

In the words of Toni Toni Toni It Never Rains in Southern California, but when it does, what do us crazy boot-campers do? We celebrate Marks Birthday and head out for our OG Downtown Run. But not before we work up little sweat first. In can you cant see the pics clearly above, Fridays workout was broken down into 3 parts.

Part I: Adams Apology

After how Wednesday unfolded an apology was delivered but with a reminder to all of us what boot-camp is about!  

Part II:  Start with 5 burpees and then every 2 mins on the 2 min mark drop and do 5 burpees all the while working to complete completing 4 rounds of the following with 30lb Barbell

20 Thrusters 

20 Sumo Squats 

20 Push Press

20 Dead Lifts

20 Squats

{We be up in the gym just working on our fitness}

 

{Running in the Rain OG dtla run!}

And there you have week 3 concluded... 3 more to go!

Boot Camp: Week 2

 With the second week of boot camp under our belts or should I say shaved from our waistlines, I have 3 more heart pumping workouts to share. This past weeks journey included the likes of brutal uphill climbs, a trip down memory lane for boot camp veterans with a grueling day devoted to what we like to call "Old School Boot Camp" and a 6 plus mile run! So here's to week 2! Check it out!

Week 2:
Bixel  Day 4 of 18

Monday morning we set out onto the streets of Downtown LA donning our ankle weights and gripping our dumbbells. I'm not sure about the rest of my fellow boot campers, but the fact that it was about 39 degrees outside didn't make for comfortable workout conditions and made gripping my 8 lb hand weights even tougher. But I sure did warm up quick running up and down Bixel (see the Google Maps screen grab above) weights in hand only stopping at the bottom to drop and pump out 5 burpees. A major challenge of taking your running to streets are hills and as if Bixel wasn't tough enough, try 45 mins straight up and down the hill, 5 burpees at the bottom all with 13 added lbs to lug around. Killer, but in a good way!

Old School Boot Camp Day 5 of 18 

"Run up your step, get in a plank, plank to push up, hands-up knees-up, run run run!" These are just a few of the directives being yelled out during this 60 minuets of non stop pounding movement, welcome to Old School Boot camp. If you can, imagine a turbocharged workout that mixes cardio and strength training, with just an aerobic step, 8 lb dumbbells (wish I had used 5 lbs that day) and a mat for cushioning the sit-ups and plank and the music pulsing we literally don't stop moving for about 45 plus minuets. Oh wait, and let not forget... our ankle weights!The energy in the room is almost euphoric and the music hypnotizing which moves this high intensity right along! 

Echo Park Run Day 6 of 18

2 miles from the gym, 1 mile around the lake, and 2 miles back, our Echo Park run can last anywhere from 4 to 8 miles. This past Friday was our first run run of the New Year and with perfect running conditions in the air, i pods & gps rearing to go we hit pavement at a steady pace and made our way to Echo Park. Running 2 solid times around the "lake" then switching directions and running 1 additional mile the opposite way I met up with some of the group on Glendale blvd before making our way back home. All in all we ran about 7 miles (I stopped a few times to snap some iPhone pics check them out below which paused my Nike App.) I say lake quote in quote because at this moment there isn't much of a lake that exists due to it becoming very polluted ultimately not meeting the states water quality standards and being deemed by the State of California as an impaired body of water  But with its Rehabilitation process pressing forward with the park scheduled to reopen in March of this year the future of Echo Park Lake is hopeful. On a random note regarding the lake, check out this cute love story of an unlikely friendship which unfolded on the very route we ran this past Friday! Its too cute... ps once Maria was relocated, Dominic was informed that Maria wasn't a Maria... she was really a he, but their love and friendship forges on!

{the rehabilitation of Echo Park Lake with the sunrise reflection over DTLA}

{I am really looking forward to the completion of the Rehabilitation of Echo Park Lake!}

{keeping up with this bunch was a challenge, feeling motivated!}

Another successful week of boot camp and 3rd week is already underway... stay tuned, more to come!