Really, It's OK

Holllllla It's Thirsty Thursday!!

I love Thursdays since hubs has tomorrow off {squeal}

I'm slightly hungover from my Zumba workout.

Last night it was NO JOKE.

I keep chugging water, then coffee, then more water...

I even have a headache, what gives?!?

I am linking up with "It's OK"

I'm 100% OK...

...with the fact that I worked out so hard last night, I almost puked....

...that I spent a small fortune on a new bikini {but got a free beach tote woop woop}...

but then

...I bought a Groupon for a fancy pedicure, so I don't have to pay all that $$$...

...to be happy to dress up/go out Saturday for a friend's birthday hubs just told me this morning...

...that I'm stoked for the UGLY DISCO next Saturday {get down boogie!}...

...to overly excited when I save money couponing on our everyday items...

...that the scale has not budged much, but my clothes are fitting so much better,

I'm feeling fitter, and I'm feeling [emotionally] fabulous!

...to still really want to do a small weekend getaway with the hubs...

...to not know what I'm making for dinner tonight...

...that I may be getting addicted to working out again...

...must.get.on.treadmill...

...to LOVE all my blog friends & all the support out there; you girls rock!

...to be kinda sad I can't go hang out with some of you because you're a gazillion miles away...

...to be slightly annoyed with unappreciative/selfish people...

...to quickly brush them and their comments off, and focus on what's good in life...

...to have a 2 Live Crew song stuck in my head from Zumba last night...

{warning: small bishy rant ahead}

You all know my theory on Zumba.
I LOVE that everyone tries it.

In fact, I highly encourage all people to do it, it's that fun!
But is it that hard to put on deodorant and not leave your clothes

in the washer too long so they have that funky stanky smell?
Ugh.

Plus half of the girls workout the first hour to Zumba Toning 

then stay and do the regular Zumba class.

I think that may have contributed to why I wanted to throw up last night.

I have a really sensitive nose and it's just so gross.

Seriously...body splashes are cheap, buy some!

Sorry for the rant, but it really bothers me.

I guess it's ok that I'm not OK with that!

Have a great day, link up and get your workout on!

Zumbaaaa & a Pasta Bake

Happy Tuuuuuesday!
You know those annoyingly perky, bright-eyed, 

overly happy-for-no reason 

girls who had too much coffee and sleep,

so they are wide awake,

with their high ponytails bouncing around 

while doing a 9am Zumba class?
Oh yeah, that was just me.
It doesn't happen often, 

but I woke up raring to go today!
I'm sipping on a power smoothie {just add a scoop of protein powder}

and wishing I always had this determination!

I wish I could video this class...

so many old people, it is SO cute.

Here, maybe some of my motivation will rub off on you:

Source: reasonstobefit.tumblr.com via Katrina on Pinterest

I'm going to try and organize my closet...sounds like an exciting day! 

Then run some errands and figure out dinner, 

and lunch tomorrow, 

since my amazing mother-in-law will be dropping by!

Oh, have you heard about Bubble Up Pizza?
I need to try this! 

I worked out, so it's OK, right? =P

Last night was a super easy dinner and Joe loved it.

Pasta Bake:

1 box of pasta (I used ziti)

1 jar of good quality sauce (I didn't feel like making my own)

1/2 cup Parm Cheese

2 Tbs of cream cheese (I used low fat kind)

1 onion chopped

2 garlic cloves chopped

1 package of meat (I used organic beef)

3/4-1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

Italian seasoning

Salt/Pepper

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 375

Boil pasta according to directions in salted water.

Soften onion & garlic in EVOO for a few moments, don't caramelize. (Add salt to quicken)

Add meat & cook until browned.

Add Italian seasoning for taste

Stir in a little cream cheese to flavor.

Once pasta is cooked, drain and stir jar of sauce, 1/2 of Parm Cheese & meat mixture.

Pour into a greased (PAM) casserole dish and cover with remaining cheeses.

Bake 20 minutes (or until husband comes home...I turned the oven off but it still crisped up a tad)

Enjoy!

You could totally make it "healthier" with wheat pasta & ground turkey breast...

and omit some of the cheese.

But I can't guarantee it will taste as good as ours! 

I'll leave you with this cool acoustic version of "We Found Love"

Our cool down song at Zumba.

I liked it!

Have a great day!

It's OK Thursday {what a great week!}

It's OK That... 

• I am hopping on the health bandwagon: 2012--the year of the seed. 
• See here for Chia benefits!! 

Note: I think I put too many in our salad haha!

• That I added a new little Le Creuset to my {super small} collection

•  That last week I felt like I was going to die in Zumba
• Last night I felt like a Zumba Rock-star!

•  I apologize to the girl with messy hair in front of me, who did not know how to dance nor could she stay in her space, for kicking and accidentally smacking you a few times. Move forward; you had plenty of room! or go to the back because you don't know what you're doing.No really, I kid....I am so proud of anyone who is out there shakin her thang, but seriously?  I couldn't see the instructor or dance in my own space because she was in it.

• That I own about 6 aprons and haven't paid for any of them!
• This is my newest addition: I won from Ashley's Giveaway Everyday AEM

• That I think Giveaways are fun! I see so many bloggers complain about them, but I think it's all part of the blogging fun.  There are so many facets to blogging, and it's one of the many perks! I have found more cool little shops because of blog Giveaways, it truly is a great way to advertise.  
• To be even more in love with my husband & happier now than I was 4 years ago when we met

  

  So sweet of him! {Our wedding colors!}

  • And lastly, to be overly excited that my idol, Giada, tweeted a :) to me.
  Oh, you want proof you say?
  OK---

{Now, lovely readers, the odd thing is, I didn't @ or # her.

I mean, I have before, once or twice, but that was weeks ago. 

This particular photo I simply stated, 

"Yes, I pretend to be Giada."}

And attached this photo:

I was making our '4 YEARS of knowing each other dinner'

May have had a glass or two of Pinot, and took a picture of parsley on a plate.
Low and behold, my favorite Chef, or celebrity for that matter, tweeted.

To me.

How did she even know I said that?
I'm still smiling about this!

• It's Okay that I am OK that I am a huge DORK.

What are you OK with today??

Link up!

Just Dance

I love to dance.

I danced from age 3-17.
At 3, my mother saw me shaking my toddler booty to Michael Jackson's "Beat it".

Dance recitals.

Dance rehearsals.

Dance competiions.
Jazz.

Hip-hop.

Ballet.

Pointe.

Lyrical.

I love to dance.

Costumes.
Hair.
Makeup.
Shoes.
Tights.
Sore muscles.
Bloody toes.
Cracking joints.
Sweat.
Smiles.
Dance.

I also love fun dancing music!
Zumba is the closest thing dancing that I do now and it makes me so happy.

I love doing it on the Wii in my living room, even if people stop outside my window and watch.

Creepy.
But I don't care.
I just love to dance.

I still feel like a weirdo in Zumba class too because I shake my thang.

Seriously.

I'm crazy dancing around, while others barely shake their rumps.

Especially when songs like this:

 

Or even this come on:

 

 When is the last time you danced like no one's watching?
Even though everyone is!

Seriously, one time a lady watched me from her car outside on the street. 

Weird.
I dance around the house while I clean.
In the kitchen as I cook.
Around the living room with the doggies.

I still dance upstairs when I get ready. 

I'm not on a toy chest with a hairbrush singing to NKOTB or Tiffany.

But I'm still dancing.

Ok this song too..
I just can't stop!!

Good thing I like to dance around burning cals as I cook up too much food for my sister, future brother-in-law, step-bro & lil niece comin over for some football!

What makes songs make you wanna shake your groove thang??