p90x.

as you are all aware, i hate working out. i dont like sweating, exerting myself, experiencing physical pain, waking up early, not sitting with my laptop in bed, wearing a sports bra, or really anything else that one might associate with someone who works out regularly. interesting anecdote- i almost failed freshman gym class in high school because i refused to run a mile. my mom literally had to go to the school and beg my gym teacher not to fail me. try explaining that away in a college admissions essay. (thanks mom!)

anyways, returning to my story, i am currently on the 36th day of p90x. this is a ninety day video workout regimen that involves working out for about an hour and a half six days a week. it is actually miserable. the program is broken down into three phases. each phase has a one week circuit that you repeat three times and then do a fourth "relaxation" week that involves core training. everyday you do a different exercisee tape and work a different area of your body. one day is chest and back, then plyometrics (an hour of various squats), then arms and back, then yoga, then legs, then kickboxing. during each phase the muscle combinations you work each day change, but the cardio stays the same. oh, and you do ab exercises three days a week- they are the worst.

i wish i could say that i am enjoying myself, but i am not. i hate it. i am sore every single day because my body never gets used to an exercise. and everything hurts. because there is so much various i am also not getting any better at anything. except push ups. i can now do approximately two pushups. but i still use five pound hand weights.

i started p90x because esteban had already bought and subsequently quit the dvds so i was able to work out for free. go on youtube and look for p90x before and after videos-- im telling you, it really works. this discovery coincided with the six months until the wedding milestone. let me tell you, i have the fear in me. and that alone is enough to make me break a sweat.

mini survey.

sorry if i offend any of you remaining readers with some middle school nostalgia. i saw this survey in the blogosphere and thoughts id partake. anything to help get over this writers block...


if you had been born a boy, do you know what your parents planned on naming you? my mom was pretty convinced i was going to be twin girls, so she didnt put a lot of thought into boys names. my dad liked the name max though and ultimately it ended up being my younger brothers name.

what is your favorite book of all time?  a long ways gone by ishmael beah. its a memoir of a young boy in the sierra leone who was forced to become a child soldier. senior year of college i used to make weekly trips to the library for recreational reading and randomly picked up this book. i ended up reading it cover to cover in a single sitting. and then googling beah for updates on his life. im also completely obsessed with all seven harry potter books. and the movies. and the abc family harry potter weekends.

if you could have lunch with one celebrity, who would it be and why? mindy kaling. i just think that, given the opportunity, we would be the very best of friends. mindy- CALL ME

did you go greek in college? if so, which house? we are the sig kaps and we are really great. clap. clap. clap. clap. 


sweet or salty? i guess salty? i definitely prefer savory to sweet. id rather give up desserts for life than cheeseburgers or chinese food. the only dessert i ever really crave is frozen yogurt from tasti-d-lite or pinkberry. 


do you prefer to make a phone call or send a text? phone call. i really just dont have the patience for texting. and im not very good at texting, as in i constantly typo and send things to the wrong people.


what is your favorite flower? sunflowers. and my five dollar cactus from trader joes. it has been alive almost four years now and it is really thriving. last year i actually had to move it into a larger pot. 


did you have an american girl doll as a child? ugh no. i did not. but i was obsessed with the books. and obviously, samantha was my favorite. and i had all the paper dolls. 


what is your favorite white wine and favorite red wine varietal? i tend to prefer red wine, unless i am drinking outdoors and it insufferably hot out. my two favorites are malbecs and california cabernets. as far as white goes, sauvignon blanc. 


what is your favorite quote? "think higher and feel deeper." -elie wiesel

is everyone hanging out without me.

one of the best and most hilarious books i have read in quite some time (probably since tina fey's bossypants) is mindy kaling's memoir, "is everyone hanging out without me". mindy kaling is the type of girl that you want to be friends with. as i was reading her book i found myself wishing i could call her up to chat. she literally seems to be the ultimate girl's girl. she has successfully survived living in extremely cramped quarters with her best friends. not only that, but she has maintained her friendships, even bringing them with her to industry events. she has a penchant for online shopping and crash diets. she is absolutely hilarious and can find the humor in her awkward childhood. she embraces who she is and lacks any angst towards her parents. (i hate angst)  shes smart- and is not trying to pretend she isnt. she has the confidence to defend her views in the workplace.  basically, she is the type of girlfriend that everyone is searching for. bottom line- her book is laugh out loud hilarious and i wish i had her on speed dial. 

mindy-- are you out there? CALL ME!!!

ps. after finishing the book i promptly turned to twitter and reached out to mindy, complimenting her on a fabulous picture of her featured in the book. mindy tweeted back at me about five minutes later!!!! this caused me to shriek like a tween at a justin beiber concert and double high five my co-workers. what a peach. 

seriously.

i have got to say, i am sad to see twenty eleven go.  it was by far the most epic year of my life. there are so many moments that i want to go back to and recreate. esteban asking me to marry him. my dad handing me my diploma at law school graduation. touching the rocks at stone henge. finally losing the pounds i put on as i stress ate my way through law school. trying on dresses for one of my best friends weddings. waking up my family in the middle of the night to tell them i passed the bar exam.  spending thanksgiving weekend shopping and eating leftovers, and NOT studying.

however, i also know that twenty twelve will be even better. fingers crossed, i will find a full time job and actually practice law. and, most significantly, im going to marry my best friend, and celebrate with what is sure to be the greatest party of all time.  its just completely overwhelming to think that this is my life.  seriously???? 

sometimes i think that i am goal-oriented to a fault. i frequently find that i have to remind myself to look around and enjoy life instead of focusing on what my next move will be.  my only new years resolution is to slow down and enjoy every single moment.

ps. the above music video was my theme song while i studied for the bar exam. i literally listened to it on repeat whenever i wanted to quit and go open a bakery on a small tropical island. kind of catchy, no?

a moment.

there was a moment this year that i failed to document on this little blog. graduation.

my whole life i have maintained one singular goal- graduate from law school and have my dad hand me my diploma. achieving this goal proved to be challenging beyond comprehension. to say i struggled through law school is an understatement. survival involved consuming my weight in chinese take out, calling my parents crying at least twice a week, and squeezing in time with esteban whenever i could.

something many of you may not know is that for the entire two months that i studied for the bar exam esteban sat on the couch ten feet away from me and watched television on mute. some may ask why he didn't go into the other room or outside into the world. he didnt go because i didnt want him too. he sat by my side and silently watched as i studied and cried for two months straight. the man is a saint. literally.

anyways, getting back to graduation. my law school has a tradition of allowing alumni with family members graduating to stand on stage and give the graduate their diploma. over twenty years ago, i sat in the orchestra in lincoln center and watched my grandpa give my dad his diploma. it was the most incredible and empowering moment to walk across the stage and receive my diploma from my dad.

not going to lie it was pretty awesome. and kind of made all the stress and missed moments over the past three years seem worth it.

mundane mondays.

just a few quasi ordinary, quasi exceptional things about today.

1. caramel macaron from laduree. sometimes there is nothing like an overpriced cookie to put some pep in your step.

2. spotted gossip girl filming on the upper east side. for those who actively stalk the show, you know this is a real rarity. most of the scenes are filmed elsewhere in the city. sorry to say, no ed westwick sighting. that would have made today a completely exceptional day.

3. sweater season is approaching. sweater, scarf and a pair of shades. perfect weather.

4. last nights episode of the good wife was stellar. man i love will gardner. and on the topic of sunday night television, is anybody else watching pan-am. im kind of into it.

5. i started to use my pumpkin spice candle. now my apartment smells like heaven.

6. in a city of so many people im always amazed when i spot a familiar face in a crowd. today i spotted a fellow blogger. so not only did i find them on the seemingly endless interwebs, but i then found them again in a city of millions.

7. esteban brought home diet ginger ale, mini almond joy bars and a bag of candy corn. quite possibly my favorite treats ever. what a gem.

8. finalized the location for engagement pictures. now i have two weeks to find the perfect outfit. game time people.

sophia grace brownlee.

i am just absolutely so obsessed with sophia grace brownlee. a four year old from england. what a precious gem.  my home movies were absolutely nothing like this.  what a little cutie face. im always so impressed by little people with lots of talent.  i could watch this video all day.