Pole: Spin & Teaz

I really don't know if I mentioned this in my graduation post, and I'm too lazy to look but after level 2 I decided to really push my comfort zone. I want to learn as much as I can and I need to get over my dislike for free styling. My master plan was to add in drop in classes. Since my work schedule is now 8-5 instead of 8-6, it made this goal far more attainable. Don't get me wrong, these classes are difficult, a good workout, and I usually sweat, but I don't like to give up my usual cardio love fest with Jess or body pump. With the extra hour off I'm able to get in my cardio time and get loosened up before going to the pole classes. Win win.

First up was Spin & Teaz. The website says:

Learn a new routine each class that combines aerial spins, floor work, and pole filler moves. This will help students find flow, grace, and style. Plus learn new pole spins and variations. Must have at least 2 months pole dance experience or Level 2-6.

Heck yeah! I love learning new spins, need to work on my floor work, and pole filler moves are always useful!

Amy was teaching this class and it turns out it was her second to last class to teach because she wants to spend more time with her kids. Who does that? Pole family should always come first! Kidding. I took one of my first classes with her over a year ago and she is really good. She's this petite rocker chick mom that I could honestly see rocking it in an 80s hair band video.

Anyway. I learned a few new skills! Yes! Do I have names for them? Nope. I can't remember if she said, but I'll make some up real quick.

K layout. Climb the pole about half way. Put your legs straight out and hold with one arm a little below eye level. I prefer to do single arm holds with my right since it's dominant (since I'm holding with the right, my body is going to end up slightly turning to the left). Keep your right leg straight, parallel to the floor, and keep your left leg straight, but move it down a bit. You'll be making about a 45* angle with your legs, or a 'K' with the pole being the l and your legs being the < (you can move your right up a smidge). Once you have your legs in position lay your upper body back so that it's parallel with the floor, while slightly turning it to your left.

Arabesque fall into spin. (I prefer to do this by standing on my right foot and arabesquing with my left). Stand with your feet facing the pole. Grab pole with right arm a little above your head, and grab your left food with your left hand (pull it up and extend as much as you can). Start to fall to the left and this will put you into a spinning motion. As you fall bring up your right leg to hook the pole. This one is so easy but looks bomb.

Pirouette. This is a great pole filler move. It's so easy, and yet I mess it up. As you are walking the pole, you just do a quick spin on your toe while bringing up the other leg (almost like you are making a '4' with your legs). You can get dramatic with it by pulling back as you spin, but I can't hold my balance very well.

This was such a fun class and I love that you learn something different each time. I'll def be back!

Happy National Cheesecake Day!

Yep, this is real life. I personally am always more excited for ice cream day or chocolate chip cookie day...but people love cheesecake, so let them eat cake!

 I def couldn't pass up this opportunity to help my office celebrate and guarantee our work friendship for yet another week.

I've previously brought them these (my fave) and these, but Marina requested Oreo cheesecake. Her wish is my command. I'm good like that.

I may have gone a little overboard with the amount of Oreos that I added (it basically tasted just like a big Oreo), so I'd suggest cutting that in half if you want something less aggressive.

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes (makes about 21)

2 eggs

3/4 c. Sugar

16 oz. cream cheese

2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 bag Oreos (about 27 cookies.I used double stuffed)

cupcake liners

1. Preheat oven to 375* and place liners in cupcake tin. Drop 1 Oreo into bottom of each.
2. Beat eggs with sugar.
3. Break cream cheese into pieces, add to eggs and sugar and beat until smooth (10 min) then mix in vanilla.
4. coarsely chop up 6 Oreo's (or 12 if you want to be way over the top like me) and stir them into the mix.
5. Fill liners 3/4 full with cream cheese mixtures and bake 10-12 minutes.
6. While they are baking, enjoy the leftover cookies with a glass of milk (don't hesitate to dip them!)
7. Once done let the cheesecakes cool, then keep refrigerated.

9 months

I can't believe so much time has passed. It feels like you are still here even though I know you aren't. I miss you so much. It's getting better. Well, better probably isn't the right word, but you know. Sometimes I can go a few weeks before I get really down about it, so that's progress, right?

I haven't been home since Christmas because I know there isn't even a possibility of me seeing you, which makes it all the more real. I don't want to see your picture hanging on the wall that we used in the obituary, and I don't want to know that I'm in such close proximity to your grave.

Usually when I dream about you they are nightmares of me trying to save you from who you had become. But lately they have been better - you've been trying to save me. It's weird being in dreamland and trying to sort out the reality of what's happening. Luckily I can usually remember that it's all fake and that you are gone, but sometimes I wake up thinking about what you are doing...then reality sets in.

Last night I had a dream that Marshall and I were at some family reunion with family that we didn't really know. One of our cousins (I suppose) started kind of taunting Marsh about how he didn't have a brother anymore. (In dream world Marshall is usually much younger and comes up to my shoulder). I went over to her, said some choice words, and punched her right in her face. Mom was mortified, but I think you would have been proud of my right hook.

I still talk about you often...after all I do have 20 years worth of memories. I don't always use the correct tense and people don't notice when I do because it's such a small word (like/liked, has/had, etc) to catch. The other day someone was asking about my brothers, so I told them. I prefaced it with "I did have two brothers; it's complicated. I'm about to tell you something and I don't want you to feel awkward about it." Yeah, they still felt awkward about it.

I still miss you dearly, but I guess I always will.

Awesome & Awkward Friday

What a week. Def not one of my better weeks and Matil's battery dying didn't help. It's clear that I can never have children because I cried when my car wouldn't turn on and it sounded like she was whining...she's not even alive. And the fact that I've named her and referred to her as 'she' and 'her' when talking to the dealership proves that I'm probably not mentally competent to be mingling with the general population.

But there were still some good things that happened this week. I'm linking up with From My Grey Desk and The Bargain Blonde to share my fave 5 Awesome & Awkward moments (well....I guess the awkward aren't necessarily fave moments...). Yesssssssss.

Awesome

• The Dark Knight Rises. I really liked the way Nolan wrapped up the trilogy. I know it won't happen, but I do wish that he would continue on with the story that he started at the end.
• I made these super delish (or as Bennida puts it: cookies = orgasmic) chocolate chip cookies. I'll post the recipe soon because you do not want to miss out on these!

• Jess' stamps were featured in the Bet­ter Homes & Gar­dens’ DIY Mag­a­zine: Best of Etsy fea­ture! You should def check out her Etsy shop. She made me this sweet stamp:

• Emma said my name! It was so cute!
• This song:

Awkward

• I really think the Dark Mark lives and is trying to take Houston...maybe it's time I get that tattoo removed. I swear it's been taunting us this week:

source

• Me on Friday night. There are no words.
• Mind Blown. Seems legit to me.
• Kemah Boardwalk picture people. Are you for real? This is from 3 years ago. I swear I've unsubscribed a few times, but you keep haunting me. If I didn't order this the first 20 times you emailed me, I'm probably not going to cave now that I'm not dating this person. Please stop testing my emotional stability (or lack there of).

• K.Stew, How Dare You! (Did anyone else cry when they read about #kristencheats? Nope, just me? dang it.)

How was your week? What were your most awesome and awkward moments?

Coldplay

Coldplay was in Houston for two nights. I had put off buying tickets because I really like them I'm just not obsessed.

Luckily they still had tickets for the Tuesday night show, so B and I got those about a month ahead of time.

After work we headed to Blue Fish for some happy hour sushi and to pass time before the show. We hadn't been there before, but it was recommended by some coworkers. Some coworkers whose opinions I no longer value. I'm not going to say it was bad (the worst I had was take out in NY where they had tons of lettuce in my shrimp tempura roll. Who does that?), but it's not worth going back.

The crab in the California roll tasted kinda like tuna salad. I like tuna salad, but not in my roll. The shrimp tempura was ok. I prefer mine with the rice on the outside, but it's not a big deal. It just wasn't bomb.com like RA. And I tried the vegetable tempura. Turns out I just don't like it - that's more of a personal problem. The pot stickers? I almost spit it out, but then remembered I'm 25. B really enjoyed my expression with that one. The only redeeming quality? The chocolate spring roll that B & I shared. It reminded me of the chocolate empanada (I think that's what it's called?) from Ruby Tequilas. They had three mini rolls and a scoop of ice cream. Have you ever tried eating ice cream with chop sticks? You should because 1. you'll eat less, and 2. you'll get a good laugh.

We got to the concert just in time to see Robyn open the show. I've heard 'Dancing on my Own' before, but that was it. Overall, her performance and songs didn't win me over. I feel like she stepped out of the 90s, and her music didn't seem to go with Coldplay at all. Once that assault on my ears finally ended, it was time for the big show!

Everyone was given a bracelet when they entered the Toyota Center, and they lit up throughout the show. It was so cool to see all of the lights!

Coldplay sounded so good live. I knew they would, and I'm glad they didn't disappoint.

Chris messed up 3 times. All were mistakes that I didn't even notice until he would stop and say something along the lines of "Oh I really fucked that one up. Let's do that again. Please don't post this on youtube because we don't want to ruin our reputation of professionalism." It was pretty funny.

They played almost all of my fave songs. I thought they were going to skip 'Clocks' (which would have been blasphemy), but they worked it into their encore...twice! I always liked this song, but now when I hear it I think of Andrew. He would always play it on his percussion stuff (bells?) and on the piano. Which was weird because Coldplay wasn't typically the kind of music he would listen to.

Oh, and there was tons of confetti right from the beginning. And balloons. It was such a great party!