Ides of March

Boy have we been slipping when it comes to movie watching. This weekend we watched The Ides of March. I will readily admit I only rented this so I could stare at the man candy that is Ryan Gosling and George Clooney. I could pretend it was because of the nice things the good people at Entertainment Weekly had to say about it but why lie? The timing of this viewing was particularly nice because of the presidential election coming up. See, Ryan Gosling is a campaign staffer for George Clooney's presidential candidate and he is determined that his man will win. Unfortunately, he makes a couple bad choices and takes up some not-so-good company and it ends up being a little bit of a scandal. However, he takes that scandal and turns it in his favor. So there's that nice little summary. This movie was a bit slow going at first but I waited patiently for the twist. The twist was nice and juicy and had me really excited to see where we were headed. And then? The movie ended and I saw the credits start rolling and I thought to myself "That's it?" So that's how it ends. With you sort of just wanting more. Husband liked it though. My family thinks I'm too hard on movies.

MORAL OF THAT STORY: I said hard on.

Three Day Weekend Haiku Friday

Betty spayed today

Poor puppy. No lady parts.

Hope it calms her down

***

No plans this weekend

Riding bikes. A barbecue.

Take it real easy

***

If the weather's nice

Maybe work on the front yard

A trip to the pool

Curvatures

So I kind of mentioned yesterday that I'm in the 211 range clothed. I'm super stoked about that but I have been slacking a bit about going to Curves. My goal this month was to go 20 times but it's just not going to happen, sadly. I took Monday off to spend with the boy and recover from Disney weekend so I didn't go work out. Tuesday I was playing catchup at work so I didn't go. Yesterday we went out for an indulgent dinner right after I got off work so I didn't want to get all sweaty at the gym and I didn't go. Next thing I know, it's today and I haven't been to the gym in a week.
My gym partner Jangles hurt her ankle so she hasn't been going and I simply couldn't seem to find my motivation. My leg started bothering me today and I was going to use that as an excuse to not go again today. Lo and behold, BFF gently urged me to go in that special way she has. Then another friend said his mom would say that you just have to go. So go I did. Today is the 13th time I've gone to Curves this month. 14th if you count the 3rd when I went twice: once for the regular circuit half hour and then again for the Zumba half hour. Since they'll be closed Monday for Memorial Day, the most I can go is 18 times so that is my revised goal. A little late in the game, but good nonetheless.
I noticed for the first time this week that my 16s are feeling loose. I have two other pair of different cut 16s that I've been nervous about wearing but I think it might be time. I wore one of them on my birthday and it was fine. I'm really excited to think 14s might be on the horizon. My in-laws will be here after 4th of July and it sure would be nice if I could get down to 200 by then so that's my next goal even though I'm not entirely sure how realistic that is. I have noticed that I spend a lot less time sitting down at home. I'm either cleaning or chasing after a child or working in the yard and I'm proud of that. I think this "lifestyle change" is really working out well.

Humpday numbers

• This past weekend we went to Disneyland. Over a hundred pictures can be found here. The boy child did quite well but he's still a bit too young for the whole experience. I wish he could have been strapped into his stroller during the lines but no. That was really the hardest part for him... not being able to run freely at all times.
• Today is my three-year wedding anniversary. We have plans to go out to dinner tonight at a delicious restaurant called Suzanne's Cuisine in Ojai. We have gone to dinner there at least once a year since we got engaged so it's very special to us in addition to being lovely and delicious.
• Since year three is "leather" I bought husband a leather lined valet and he got me white leather Chucks. We're silly.
• So last week I had a stye in my eye and got put on antibiotics that wrecked my stomach so I was able maintain my weight at 211 although I ate a lot of things at Disneyland over the weekend and I haven't been to Curves since last Thursday. I'll get back on that horse tomorrow.
• I'm super stoked about the three-day weekend this weekend even though I totally just had one because I took Monday off to recover from our weekend away. It would be super fantastic if I didn't have another plan until like 2013. I want to be a hermit and look at my new fireplace all the time.

MORAL OF THAT STORY: Dear Lord, how can I be this busy and yet this boring?

National Backyard Games Week Haiku Friday

I've got lots to do

Work, Curves, laundry, walk the dog

Clean up, do dishes

***

Leaving real early

For Disneyland tomorrow

A whole weekend there

***

The whole damn family

I sure hope Capood loves it

No crying allowed! 

Birthday Fun Timez

This is the restaurant we went to to have a fancy grown-up dinner the night before I turned 35. It's called Kristy's Wood Oven & Wine Bar.

It's on top of a hill overlooking Zuma beach located near a cutesy old fashioned hotel. It's got a beautiful garden and a pool area where you can sit and enjoy the view. The inside of the restaurant was equally adorable.

We started off our meal with a bottle of champagne followed by this fancy spinach blue cheese soup and a prosciutto salad. BFF & Babe got pizzas. I got the halibut and Husband got the surf & turf. We washed it down with a couple bottles of lovely red wine from Laetitia winery. Needless to say, we were pretty happy by the time dessert came around. I got the chocolate covered ice cream ball complete with birthday candle and a song. BFF & Babe split their famous coconut cake. Divine. Our waiter, Connor, was a total charmer and smart-ass. Perfectly attentive. It was a lovely dinner.

Since we can't leave well enough alone, we headed out to Café Habana in Malibu for some post-dinner drinks. I proceeded to top off my champagne and wine with two Cadillac margaritas because I have never had alcohol before and had no idea the consequences of my actions. Yeah. The bar was cute enough and the staff was great but I've never heard a worse play list. Um, it's a Cuban them, why am I listening to emo, cut-yourself music?

This is just a closing shot of Husband and Babe gazing at a cool aquarium outside of the bar. I should have been dancing or doing calisthenics to work off my drunk but instead I took pictures. All the way home I was drunk and asking Husband "What did I do?" Know how I know I was drunk? I totally grubbed Casey's secret stash of fruit snacks we keep in the glove box. Wow. All in all? A fantastically fun night.

Humpday Numbers

• I've been 35 for 4 days now and I've got 1 more gift coming tonight that should wrap up the celebration.
• My weigh-in on Monday was 211.5 which is down 1.5 lbs. from the Monday before and a total of 9.5 lost since the beginning of my Curves journey. I'm not sure how this is possible as I have been eating and drinking like a fool thanks to birthday celebrations but I'll take it.
• The scale actually said 211 on Friday which was exactly 10 pounds down right before my birthday. It's very close to the 210 goal I had. All these numbers are clothed numbers so I'm quite pleased with my progress.
• I have been to Curves 10 times already this month so hitting my goal of 20 should actually happen.
• In 3 days I'm going to Disneyland for the weekend with 8 other people: mom, dad, husband, son, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew. We'll have 3 kids under the age of 6 so it should be an adventure. We get to spend 1 night in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Awesome!