Confessions and Back That Azz Up

I confess....

- my shopping/ spending has been a bit out of control lately

- I don't exercise. Ever. I have done Zumba and Cycling classes, but only because I was shamed into it 

- If you write a post about exercising and/or dieting, I will skip it, even if I love everything else you write

- I'm really superstitious, and today is Friday the 13th. I am convinced something horrible will happen by the end of the day, but I'm trying not to think about it

- I scream at my TV during football games (as noted last Monday night)

Ok, I confess that I do exercise- with Mystikal's workout plan.
Hope you all have an ass-shaking good weekend!

The Happiness Report #39

- my friend had her baby!!! Gabriel Joseph, weighing in at 9 lbs, 3 oz!

- weekend mornings lounging on my porch with coffee

- being able to hear the local high school marching band practice

- my new neighborhood

- catching up at a local bar with my girlfriend who I haven't seen all summer

- being able to go back to work... and a short week!

- sharing books

- my new housewarming present double candle

- sleeping in

- celebrating happy occasions with my friends

Book Club Friday and Back That Azz Up!

This week I'm reading...

From Goodreads:
"Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she's ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family's vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there's some great scenery there….

Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief—and best friend of her former fiancé. There's a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it's not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she's having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle."

My Thoughts:

I got this book in a book swap, but it's one I would have picked out myself. This was a good, fluffy chick-lit. Though I didn't love Levi Cooper for most of the book, and Faith Holland was a bit too goody-two-shoes for my liking, and it was rather predictable, I really enjoyed the ending and how they just seemed to "fit." If you are looking for something light and breezy, I would definitely recommend this one!

"Some people talk about ya

Like they know all about ya

When you get down they doubt ya

And when you tippin on the scene

Yeah they talkin' bout it

Cause they can't tip all on the scene with ya

Talk about it

T-t-t-talk bout it

When you get elevated,

They love it or they hate it

You dance up on them haters

Keep getting funky on the scene

While they jumpin' round ya

They trying to take all your dreams

But you can't allow it"

A Day At The Racetrack

A few weeks ago, I was minding my own business, when my friend called inviting me to Yonkers. She wanted to go, but her bf didn't want her to go alone (and he didn't want to go). Never having been there before, I agreed. I'm not a huge gambler (actually I'm not a gambler at all, I like holding on to my money when possible), but it was a nice day, and seemed interesting enough, so why not?

When my friend invited me, she invited me to the casino, Empire City. I walked around the slot machines for awhile, mainly following her, until I got bored and wandered off. I found myself outside, and there was a racetrack. So while she was slotting it up, I was mostly outside, watching the races. 

It brought me right back to being 8 years old, going to the Meadowlands racetrack with my grandpa (except this time I got to have a beer too). He loved betting on the horses. When he wasn't physically at the racetrack, he was either at the OTB or at home listening to the races on the radio. The last time I went with him, I told him I wanted to bet on a horse too. There was one named "My Little Danielle," so of course, that's the one I bet on. No one else bet on her. My grandpa laughed a little when placing the bet, but he did it anyway. And ya know what? She won!! I think I won $48, which is a whole lot to an 8 year old! That might be my favorite memory with him. It was something we could bond over, which is probably why I remember it so well. 

I didn't bet on any this time around, maybe next time. But it was definitely a fun time!

where I be

And they're off!

Got a $10 voucher just for being a first timer- woop!

The one slot machine I played- I liked it because you could literally tap the screen to smash the pigs!

Hot dogs + beer = racetrack perfection

OOTD
glitter gray tank- Express
chambray + necklace- Wet Seal
coral pants- Strawberry's

sunset

OHP: Apartment Ideas

So in the past week I have spent a LOT of time in my new little apartment. And also a lot of time on Pinterest (no judging!). Mostly I'm just trying to pick color themes for the rooms, since I've never had the opportunity to before, but I also found some cute home decor items that would be perfect additions as well!

I like this color palette for the kitchen
via design-seeds.com

Love this combo
via 2asinapod.blogspot.com

via roomsinteriordesign.blogspot.com

Wow- this is so organized! Something to strive for!
via homeideamaker.com

via Nordstrom

via re-nest.com

via onekingslane.com

via Joss and Main

Recovery and Goodbye Summer// Afropunk Music Festival

All of last week I was sick. 

I wrote about it on Monday. Tuesday, I finally went to the doctor.

I had a fever of 104. 

He was surprised I was even sitting upright.

He gave me a shot, and some pills, and took blood because he didn't know what was wrong with me. 

He also wrote me a note saying that I couldn't go back to work for the week, which I had immediately faxed to my office.

I had a follow up on Thursday (which I found out once I got there was his "Emergencies Only" day... yippee). They knew who I was immediately... guess word gets around fast when you're a new patient who walks in with a 104 fever. He told me my bloodwork came back normal (as in, he still didn't know what was wrong with me). My fever was going down gradually though, so that was good. But now he wanted me to get a chest X-Ray. Awesome.

The next day was the third day I took the pills- and the second day in a row that they made me sick. I called him and told him, so he changed me to a Z Pack. It's been working much better.

Saturday a friend took me to get the X Ray. I fill out my paperwork and am waiting for the nice receptionist to get through them and tell me what to do next. And then this guy walks in:

Except ya know, he wasn't in uniform, and he just looked like a normal (albeit somewhat large) guy who was all banged up. Whatever dude- get in line. Except no, the nice receptionist is all smiling and pushing her boobs up, and buzzes him right in. 

What.

I guess the look I gave her said that, because she hastily whispered "Celebrity status." So obviously I asked who he was, but then she snapped "Confidentiality clause." 

WhatEVER.

She had me standing there long enough to overhear that he is Kyle Bosworth, of the NY Giants-- so that was kind of cool. Except he was released from the Giants later that day. But he's okay- yesterday he got picked up by the Cowboys. 

So. That has been my entire week. Staying in my apartment, eating, sleeping, and recovering. Repeat. I'm actually looking forward to going to work tomorrow, after another follow up of course. But before I was quarantined, I had an awesome day. These are from last Saturday, at the AfroPunk Festival at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn. The music at the stage I was near wasn't that great, but the atmosphere, weather, and company was perfect! There were food trucks galore, cute little stands with more jewelry/Tshirts/ tchotchkes (yeah I Googled that) than you could imagine, and beer gardens. And some pretty epic people watching (but I decided not to be a total creeper and take their pics... this time).

Summer Goal #11: Go to a concert/music festival- check!

This was the main stage- there was at least one other stage of about the same size at the other end of the park

lawn seating= best seating

there was a LOT of food- this guy was serving either chicken, lamb, or veggie curry in a breadbowl- absolutely delicious!

dulce de leche deliciousness- so freakin good

the lovely couple

My Booty Buddy (BB) and me

What was your favorite experience this summer?

The Happiness Report #38

So, it's Labor Day Weekend. 

And I am stuck home, in quarantine, still trying to recovery from the mystery virus/infection/whatever that has taken over my body. Yayyyy Yawn. I wish I was out enjoying the last little bit of summer with my friends, but alas... I cannot. So here are a few things that have made me happy in the last week, because you gotta look on the bright side, right?

- donuts (mine was actually chocolate frosted, but I ate it before I remembered to take a pic... oops)

- nice doctors close to where I live

- a very lenient sick leave policy at work {thanks for not firing me for being out the entire week!}

- raptors

- direct deposit

- pandas on slides

- Paperback Swap

- this kind of weather

-DVR

-This video (I've had a bit of free time on my hands lately...)

- and since I missed #BackThatAzzUp on Friday, and because Labor Day signifies the end of summer, this song: