Reality Check!

It seems to me that after a great weekend, Life likes to hit me with a reality check to keep me humble. As much as this seems unfair, I actually find it very refreshing because I think that everyone needs to have a little dose of humility in their lives in order to remain human in this day and age. More on that later.

Sunday

Despite a late Saturday night, Marcin and I manage to roll out of bed and head to my parent's to celebrate Father's Day.  We brought the cake (a trial Mocha Cake from our wedding baker) and our tired selves to the house.  Unfortunately, I was soooo tired, I forgot to take pictures of the scumptious food.  My dad made Sinigang - my favorite Filipino dish. It's a stew/soup with poached pork, spinach, radish, green beans, okram and tomato.  It's so light and delicious wtih rice!  My goal is to learn how to make it one day! 

Thank you Google Images and Filipino Food Lovers for the picture!

After spending QT time with the family, we headed to Marcin's mom for some QT time with her.  We were all in a sleepy haze, so it was pretty chill-lax hour.  After that, we went for a quick grocery trip, then headed home.  We went back and forth on whether or not we should put our guest bedroom curtain up.  In end, it was decided to just DO IT!  Our guest bedroom is the coldest room in the house during the winter and the hottest room in the house during the summer.  The sun shines through the window (see below) all day and heats up the room and the entire upstairs!  We bought thermal curtains to absorb some of the heat from the sun so that (hopefully) the room will not be so hot!  In the winter, the curtains will insulate the draft from the windows so that the heat can stay in the room longer.

Before

  

After

We have them close for today, so I can't wait to get home and see if the room is cooler or not! One window down, 6 more to go.  Anyone want to send me their Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons?  That is of couse, if you are not using them.  :)

Dinner

Completely random.  While at the grocery store, I say frozen butterfly shrimp and wanted them.  So we split the box between us.

8 butterfly shrimp enjoyed with cocktail sauce

For dessert:

On chunk of watermelon (giving to us by my parents) and a small slice of Entenmanns Coffee Crumble Cake.  Yummy Yum yum yum!

Took full advantage of my laziness and read while Marcin watched TV.  Not so early bedtime, but was so zonked, I passed out!

Thus concludes my weekend!

On the healthy living front

Need to get back into the swing of things.  It was a nice break to relax, enjoy some beer, and get my sweets on, but now it's time to jump back on the good eating wagon.  This week will feature sandwhichs and perhaps salads.  Marcin just called me to say that he is working from home and will be grilling vegetables for dinner tonight!  

On the fashion front

I decided to take advantage of the huge crowd of people on Saturday and play Purse Paparazzi.  Lately, when I'm out and about, I like to look at the types of purses other ladies are wearing.  Saturday was a field day!  Here are my Top 4 Festival Purses I saw at Founders Fest:

#4

Beige drawstring shoulder bag - I've seen this type of bag in stores, but always white or black.  This is the first that I have seen that is beige.  This would make a great spring/beach purse! The one strap allows for free hands. 

#3

Burnt Orange slouchy hobo bag - It was the color that first caught my eye.  I love this color and I think it goes well for Summer and Fall.  Great transition bag.  The style is also a throwback to the 80's which on trend right now.  I like hobos sometimes for day trips or fesitvals because it keeps the purse close to you in a crowd, but frees up both hands.

#2

Green crossbody should bag - I kept seeing this purse throughout the evening.  I almost went up to the girl to ask where she got it from, but she always had that "Don't even think about talking to me" look on her face.  I'm pretty sure that she wouldn't have mind later in the evening (when everyone has had a few beers), but at that point, I was a dancing machine!  Anways, this purse looks very similar to my Coach purse, but is a bit more structured.  Green is my favorite color, and this shade makes this purse a little bit more versatile.  Definitely one I would sport of St. Patty's day!  I love purses that are multi - functional.  If I want my purse closer to me, use the shoulder strap.  If I want to have it hang a little to give my shoulder a break, switch up to the longer strap and wear it as a crosssbody.

#1

Tasha's crossbody canvas bag - Now before everyone gets all up in arms, I didn't select this bag because it belongs to my friend.  I picked it because it's the perfect bag for such a setting.  The color matches any outfit one.  The shape makes it spacious for just about anything you could possibly need for a day trip or festival outting.  The strap is long enough to free up your hands or search through the bag.  The outer pocket gives you easy access to esstenitals - phone, lip gloss, spare change and cash..  Of course, I felt more comfortable asking her where she got her purse.  No surprise, it came from her friend Nadia who I believe is my purse soulmate!  Ever purse that Tasha owns that I have liked came from Nadia!

Nadia and Tasha

Wondering where the bag came from? Nadia got it at a Japanese Flea Market for $0.50!!!!  Of course!  Of course it would be some obscure, one of a kind bag that wins the top slot! 

Also, check out my Founders Fest outfit:

I'm second on the right.  I know, I realize I look more like I am ready to play tennis, but hey, this outfit was light and it was comfortable!  This picture is a little sneak peak of July's purse too!

On the active living front:

This weekend was a three day rest tmie from my training schedule.  However, despite the bad eats on Saturday, I burned some major calories from walking around and dancing like a maniac not only with Tasha's dad, but also in the impromptu dance party that our group started in the middle of the festival!  I heart dancing!  Now it's time to get back on the fitness saddle as well.  Tonight, tennis!

************************************

So I started this post mentioning Life's Reality Checks.  Well today (Monday morning), I was humming along, walking into my building, smiling over the great weekend I had.  I jump on the elevator, ready to get to my office and start my work day.  The doors close, the elevator car moves up, and then . . stops!  Yep, that's right folks, I got stuck in the elevator!  I pressed the emergency button and got a hold of Campus Police.  10 minutes later I was freed (and in desperate need of a bathroom!).  I had to laugh.  It was a humbling experience. 

Last month, after my fanastic birthday weekend, I went into work and wiped out in front of the elevators (hmmm, maybe I should stay away from elevators after an awesome weekend).  Anyways, I bruised my knees and lost part of my office keys in the elevator shaft when I fell!  Again, I just had to chuckle because, again, it's a humbling experience.  As embarassed as I was for both falling down and then next month getting stuck in the elevator, I feel that situations like that keeps me grounded.  As blessed as I am in my life, I know that I shouldn't let it go to my head because then I would turn into a snobbish Bia and who wants to live life like that.  I also shouldn't let the negative get to me too.  So what, I got stuck in an elevator?  At least I was able to contact someone to get me out.  My cell phone was charged, so I had amusement during the 10 minutes I was stuck (because you know that I tweeted and updated my facebook status to note that I was stuck in an elevator!).  So why dwell on the negative? 

There's my philosophical speil of the day.  Feel free to dicuss!