Cruel Intentions

One of my all time favorite movies from the late 90's/early 2000's is Cruel Intentions. This movie stars Ryan Phillippe, Sara Michelle Gellar, and Reese Witherspoon.



At the time that this movie was made, most of the actors were fairly unknown. Well, except for maybe SMG as she was on WB's Buffy, the Vampire Slayer which Megan forced me to watch almost daily while in college...

I saw this movie once in high school and didn't watch it again until I came to college. I started dating this guy the summer between my freshman and sophomore years and we watched this movie almost weekly. We were on and off for 3 years and this movie was a constant during whatever our relationship was. I think the DVD wore out its welcome during that relationship because I have only watched it maybe 3 times since graduation. If the movie is on TV, however, I must stop all that I am doing to watch it. I don't know what the appeal is for me - the scandal in the movie or the time in my life during which I fell in love with the story. Regardless, it's nice to escape the real world that is my life, even if only for a couple of hours.

After seeing this movie for the 100th time, I found out that in real life, Reese had actually been pregnant with Ryan's child during filming. (Of course, by the time this information was brought to my attention, they were already married with another child on the way.) In some scenes, you can definitely tell that she's a little heavier than in others. I wonder if that's why she was in a one piece bathing suit during the pool scene?

At the end of the movie, Reese Witherspoon's character is driving Ryan Phillippe's character's old roadster and "Bittersweet Symphony" (performed by The Verve) is playing. Every time I hear this song, regardless of place and time, I'm always taken back to that scene. I like to pretend that it's me driving an old convertible through the French countryside.

Sure, call me a dork. But one day when it happens, you'll be begging for a ride!

shake the glitter off your... boots?

As horrible as this is probably going to sound coming from someone in her late 20's, I'm going to say it anyways: I love shopping at Forever 21. My friends and I adoringly refer to it as "Forever Til You Wash It" or simply, "XXI."

While I do feel like some of the recent trends are too young for me, there are many pieces I will purchase separately to spice up a dull work outfit. I love the delicate and romantic sleeveless shirts that can be worn under a sweater or jacket from NY&Co. or Banana Republic and paired with a simple pair of khaki pants. I love the tunics that can be worn over a pair of colored tights with a boyfriend jacket and riding boots in the fall/winter months. There are some pieces, however, that really have me questioning the XXI designers and the people who purchase their "designs." Case in point:



Now I have never purchased a pair of shoes from Forever 21 so I cannot speak to how comfortable or resilient they are. While they have had cute pairs that I have longed to purchase, I just couldn't convince myself to bite the bullet. However, I may have to purchase these babies sometime soon:



Anyways, back to the issue at hand: glittery boots. Who in their right mind would purchase those suckers?! And what exactly would they wear them with? I mean, I know what I would pair them up with if I were to purchase them for a theme party outfit or Halloween costume. I also know that there are young girls out there who will willingly pay the 30$ for those boots and wear them out on a regular Friday/Saturday night downtown. I just wonder what skanalicious outfit they have matched with them.

I bet the next time I'm out downtown, I'll see someone in those hideous boots. I will then take a picture and post for all to see, because I know you're wondering the same thing I am: Why?

It really is perfect!

When my sister visited me at the beach in May, she unknowingly left behind her Cover Girl Perfect Blend brown eyeliner. I didn't even discover this little gem laying on my floor until a week after she had left. I decided that since she hadn't called me the next day in a panic, wondering if she had left the pencil at my house, she probably wouldn't mind too much if I kept it for my own use.

Exhibit A:



Upon my return to work on whatever day it was, I decided to use the CG brown eyeliner instead of my normal Sephora brand black eyeliner. I had actually been meaning to get to the store and purchase some brown eyeliner, as I have heard that it makes brown eyes "pop" a bit. Alas, my trip was delayed because I rarely ever use eyeliner other than the Sephora brand (I always have a hefty supply of at least 3 sticks!). Sephora eyeliner has served me well for the past 8+ years and I always feel bad veering away from a trusty friend.

I really am not one to branch out and try new products. The new products I do try are usually recommendations from my sister, as she is a hair/make-up/skin product whore and will try anything new coming onto the market. I love that she does that though because then I know what to try for myself!

Anyways, I'm glad that Jenna left the CG stick at my house because it is honestly the best eyeliner I have ever used! I've been wearing eyeliner since I was 11 years old (don't judge me - it was the grunge era when I started) so I've tested a few different brands. Why I never discovered this particular line of CG is beyond me.

When I called Jenna to tell her about how amazing the eyeliner is that she left behind, her response was, "Yeah, I've been using it since seventh grade - I love it!"

Ummm, hello, how has she kept this secret from me for so long?! We're sisters. We've shared a house, a room, a bathroom, a mirror... how have I not delved into her make up bag and stolen this from her before now?! (Not that I stole it this time, but you get my drift.)

I was telling my friend Cassie this story last weekend and her response was similar: "Oh yeah, I love Cover Girl Perfect Blend. See, I'm using it now! I've used this since I was in middle school."

People - really!?!? You must share these secrets with me!

Melatonin pills

Melatonin is my new best friend. (Please do not confuse this hormone with melanin, a pigment found in skin.)

I had gone to the doctor a few months ago and as part of my check-up, she asked how I was sleeping. It was funny she asked that because it was on my mental list of things to ask her about. Truth be told, I wasn't sleeping well at all and I hadn't been for months. She suggested that since I do not like taking unnatural medications, that I try 3 mg melatonin pills. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone found in plants and animals, so it's already in my system. However, sometimes an extra dose is needed to aid in regulating one's circadian rhythm.

So, after my appointment, I drove my happy ass down to The Target and purchased some pills and immediately hopped into my bed at home, anxious to see if they would work.



Much to my surprise, they did help me have a longer and more effective REM cycle. How do I know this? Well, because I was having very vivid dreams and the REM cycle is when your dreams occur.

I am not a dreamer. If I have dreams, I don't remember them. But whenever I take these pills, I remember my dreams. They're too weird to not remember.

There are some nights when I forget to take the melatonin pills and I can feel it the next morning. My body just did not get a restful night's sleep. The thing I love about these pills the most (aside from the crazy dreams) is the fact that I don't wake up feeling groggy, since it's a natural supplement. The bottle also says that these pills can act as a dietary supplement, but what vitamins don't?! I mean really, nice marketing...

For more information on melatonin and what it can do for you (Do I sound like an advertisement or what?! I really should get paid for this.), visit this link.

Sweet dreams!

Karaoke, anyone?

Karaoke has always been a huge hit in Asia. Luckily for those too inebriated to care about how silly they look in front of dozens of people, the fad has made it's way to the good ole US of A.

Apparently, this is a pretty serious pastime in a lot of major cities. LA, of course, is leading the pack.

While karaoke is apparently all the rage, I just cannot seem to get into it. I'm not one to enjoy being the center of attention to begin with. Karaoke, dancing, and getting married aren't high on my priority list for a variety of reasons - the whole "look at me" factor being one of those reasons.

Why am I writing about karaoke if I do not enjoy it, you ask? Well, because I had a crazy dream last night in which I was at a karaoke bar with some of my friends. I was the only one from the whole group who didn't go on stage and make a fool of myself! Even my quiet friend Kristi got up on stage to sing an Oasis song. And THAT is how I knew it was a dream!

nosy co-workers

Nosy co-workers are the bane of my existence. It's already enough that my friends know the in's and out's of my daily life - I should not have to share it with people I spend 45+ hours a week with also.

I understand that sometimes you become good friends with those you work with (as you should since you spend a majority of your time at work). But there are those co-workers who are friendly just because they are nosy. Are their lives really that uninteresting that they have to muddle around in mine? Because my life really is not all that entertaining. Although, I'm not married and I don't have kids, so I can see how that aspect is appealing to everyone else in the office. But I digress.

Even though I work in a very small office, I do not feel the need to share my daily non-work stories with my co-workers. I don't want to hear about what your dog ate, what your husband said, or where you took your girlfriend for dinner - so why should you want to hear my stories about something far more boring? Are you that desperate for a juicy story that you must revert to questioning me?

I do the same thing every day - go to work, check my email, work out, talk to my parents, read a book, eat some food, and shower. Trust me, my life is not exciting. You do not need to hear about "what I did last night." Because you will hear the same thing from me: nothing much.

"My Life in France"

I have just completed Julia Child's autobiography entitled My Life in France.



As usual, this book only spurred my Parisian obsession. I also enjoyed reading about her other living adventures in Marseille and Oslo. But oh Lord, do not even get me started on her travels to Rouen and Florence! (Seriously, it's quite possible that I lived in France in the 40s in a past life as all signs point that way.)

As my aunt reminded me multiple times during our most recent trip to France, Julia Child fell in love with French cooking during her first meal as a French "resident." That meal consisted of sole meuniere, amongst other courses. Conveniently enough, when my aunt, mother, and I went to France last fall, my aunt's first meal was also sole meuniere. Julia said it was a life altering meal and Ann figured it would be the same for her. Somehow I don't think it impressed Ann all that much but she enjoyed the experience nonetheless.

In the really fancy/authentic French restaurants, the sole meuniere is brought out in the skillet in which it was prepared. The maître d' then removes the meat of the fish from the bones in one swift motion. It's quite impressive and very French.



(Here is an article from Julia's book about her experience with sole meuniere.)

A majority of the book concentrated on cooking, obviously. Julia shared of her travels with her husband Paul, the creation of multiple cook books (her first two with Simone Beck, pictured below), and her unexpected TV popularity in America. The thing that I loved the most about Julia was that she made no excuses for who she was. She was Julia McWilliams Child at all times, regardless of which country she was in. She made every effort to get to know the city and the people in the city in which she lived. Julia was not the typical American tourist; she actually made an effort to understand her surroundings. So much so that she learned to speak French and German. (A woman after my own heart!)



Julia spent a painstaking amount of time researching and editing recipes for her book. It really was a work of love, and as an avid chef and baker, I am so appreciative of her work. While Simone did contribute a lot of recipes to the book, it was Julia who took the time to edit and compose chapters, research ingredients found in America that were comparable to French ingredients, correspond with publishers, etc. She met with local chefs, bakers, butchers, etc. to figure out the best methods for housewives to use, which pots and pans to suggest, which cuts of meat to purchase, and the like. This book really was one of a kind! She set the bar high and I do feel as though it has yet to be touched.

In closing, here are two of my favorite photos from Julia's book. To me, these pictures typify French living during the 40s/50s. I so wish I could have been a friend of Julia's back then! Perhaps I was in my previous life...

hand over the Hanover's!

I have a new [food] obsession and it's surprisingly somewhat healthy! Allow me to introduce you to Snyder's of Hanover Hot Buffalo Wing Pretzel Pieces.



I stumbled upon these tasty little treats while perusing the chip/pretzel aisle for something to munch on while in VAB. I have gone through 4 bags since my trip there. That's roughly a bag a week. I definitely don't snack on one bag the whole week. I would say that the average bag lasts me 3 days.

Normally, I'm not a huge fan of pretzels. If I eat them, they definitely must be flavored. And the fact that these are bite sized really adds to their appeal. But what initially attracted me to this sparkly little bag was the word "buffalo." I will eat pretty much anything that is seasoned with buffalo sauce. If I go out to eat and buffalo chicken is on the menu, it's pretty much a given that I'll order that item.

If you haven't tested these tasty little treats yet for yourself, I highly recommend that you do. And when you grab a bag for yourself, be sure to grab one for me as well... and then deliver it to my house.

Say that again?

I hate repeating myself.

I always have and I probably always will, mainly because there always tends to be numerous individuals in my life who just don't listen. That's all it boils down to - people aren't really listening. Pay attention, dammit! I take the time out of my day to listen to every little detail that you drone on and on about, yet you can't listen when I ask you a simple question!?

I know sometimes I speak softly, but when I'm telling a story I generally do not. If I catch you off guard and ask you a question and your response is, "What did you say?" then I will gladly repeat myself. Usually I don't know when I catch you off guard and you truly didn't hear me, so please, tell me this fact.

Do not ask me how I'm doing 5 minutes into a phone call... especially because that was the first sentence to exit your mouth after "Hi!" I've been telling you stories about how I'm really doing and you have the nerve to ask me again how I'm doing?! PAY ATTENTION. If I wanted to feel like I was talking to a brick wall, then I really would go and talk to a brick wall.

You're probably asking yourself what I would like for you to take away from this blog posting. It's simple,really... pay attention.

sincere apologies

I am extending my apologies now for my lack of blog postings, both past and future. Not only has my schedule been crazy busy in my "free" time, but I am also suffering from writer's block. I could never be a full time professional writer. Not because I would run out of things to "talk" about, but because there are some days when I just don't feel like putting thoughts into coherent sentences. (See, this is another reason why I need a midget assistant!) I would much rather throw random thoughts onto a page and have you people read it. But then I guess you wouldn't understand it so that kinda defeats the purpose of a blog, now doesn't it?!?

Bottom line: bear with me, please. I'm working on it. Just for you.

Calling all [Sports] Freaks...

I have always been a huge sports fanatic. Growing up, I played basketball year round. I played during a time when women's basketball was insanely popular - Pat Summitt and her girls were leading the pack at Tennessee, Lisa Leslie was kicking butt in the Olympics, etc. - yet we lacked a professional league in the States. And then the WNBA was created and women jocks everywhere were happy (myself included). While I never even imagined myself going pro in basketball, it always has been and always will be my favorite sport to watch. Ever.

It surprised me today when I stumbled upon this article on ESPN.com. For as long as the WNBA has existed, the Mystics have been horrible. Well, not horrible, but they certainly weren't the LA Sparks. I've been out of the WNBA loop for a couple of years now but I blame that on my hectic work schedule (hence my love for ESPN.com). I'm so glad that not only are the Mystics doing well this season, but that they are also on the "front" page of ESPN.com. Way to go, girls!

Since I was old enough to remember the players during the inaugural season of the WNBA, it's been really neat watching their careers take off. One lucky lady, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, has even made her way down to Wilmington as the head coach for my alma mater! Now I actually have a reason to go watch the women's basketball games, instead of just accidentally stumbling upon them while on campus. My fingers are crossed that she can undo the past 10 years!

Growing up in D.C. allowed me the opportunity to see many a sporting event and for that I am truly grateful. I love love love live sporting events! When I'm sitting court/ringside, there is not a sport that doesn't interest me. Wrestling, boxing, baseball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, ping pong - you name it and I'll watch it. If it's bloody, that's even better!

One day, I will learn how to curl.

that's a wrap

I must share with you yet another obsession of mine: pre-wrap headbands.



I wear these headbands almost daily, whenever I exercise. If you're not familiar with soccer, volleyball, or even sports in general, then you will have no earthly idea what pre-wrap is. Pre-wrap is "supposed" to be used under athletic tape so the tape doesn't stick to your skin (like when you're wrapping your ankle or wrist). However, it has become widely popular among teenage girls for use as a headband. As you can see below, pre-wrap comes to consumers in rolls. The consumer then unrolls a piece long enough to be tied into a circle to be placed over the head for a headband.



My favorite color pre-wrap to use as a headband is pink. So much so, in fact, that I have purchased a whole case (48 rolls) from The Target online for 8$. What a steal! That case should last me until I'm too old to exercise (which hopefully will be until the day I die).

Now, you're all probably wondering why I choose to wear something that breaks easily when it becomes saturated with my sweat. Well, I must tell you that I much prefer pre-wrap over those silly other headbands for sale by Revlon or Conair. First off, my head is a weird size/shape, and those headbands always slip off. I know they advertise a "no slip grip" on those headbands, but that usually means that the "grips" latch onto pieces of my hair and then subsequently pull out those pieces of hair. I know I have more hair than the average person, but I would like for it to stay attached to my scalp. There will come a point in time when I don't have much hair, so I'd like to hang on to as much of it as possible for as long as possible.

Despite my love for pre-wrap headbands, I have tried many different varieties of the other headbands. They just don't work for me! They may work for you, but they provide nothing for me. I just want something to keep the little whispy hairs out of my face when I'm trying to work out, without gradually slipping off of my head. The only headband that is able to provide this for me is pre-wrap!

I've been using pre-wrap as a headband since I was 7 years old. It seems much more popular these days, so clearly I have set yet another trend. People need to start sending me royalty checks.

I love cupcakes!

Do you ever have a day (or three) when you're just down in the dumps? You don't know where this feeling came from and not even your favorite person in the whole wide world can cheer you up. Well, my friends, that is how I'm feeling today. It may be hormonal (sorry for all of you men who think this is TMI - get over it) but I really haven't traced these feelings long enough to figure it out. I'm a happy person 98% of the time so I always get super upset with myself when I start to feel like this. There is absolutely no reason for me to be sad! Life is great!

So, on days like this, I like to treat myself to a cupcake. But not just any cupcake. I enjoy delicious miniature cake treats from none other than Coastal Cupcakes. Not only are the two owners of this company women, but they are also UNCW alumnae and very active in the local community. They attend a lot of Alumni Association events with the brightest smiles and that makes the whole staff extremely happy!

Coastal Cupcakes offers a variety of delicious treats for customers. They have "everyday flavors" that you can find on the daily menu, but they also have "special flavors" that are available on different days of the week. One of their most popular "special flavors" is bacon (gag). Apparently these cupcakes go flying off of the shelves, and people pre-order them by the dozen. That.is.gross. I adore cupcakes, but I do not adore bacon.

Some of my personal favorite flavors include: key lime krazy, flip flop chocolate, cookies n cream, and chocolate angel food with Nutella whip cream. Now, that is not to say that I despise the other flavors. In all honestly, I'll eat anything that does not contain bacon and/or coconut. Give me a cupcake (or an entire cake) and I'm a happy girl!

I just had to share these two cupcakes with you. How cute are they!??! I think this is such a creative idea for a wedding...



Coastal Cupcakes has two locations - one in downtown Wilmington (which is convenient to my office) and another right before the drawbridge at Wrightsville Beach (which is convenient to my home). The prices are fairly reasonable too, if you don't have the time/imagination to make your own delicious cupcake concoctions. With all of that being said, there really is no reason for me to not eat cupcakes every day!

(I would also like to add that I deserve multiple cupcakes today because not only am I feeling blue, but I have to go sit in a dang staff meeting. UGH!)

My name is Tiffany and I am a book worm.

I love to read. I always have. I hope to always love to read. I will read anything - from a sales ad to a magazine to a 1,000 page novel. I will read the same things over and over again to the point of [near] memorization.

When I was a kid, I would stay with my grandmother during the summer days. At least twice a week, we'd travel to the local library to stock up on books to read that would hopefully last us until our next trip to the library. Let me remind you that I am from a very small town, so the books I had to choose from weren't of the most challenging variety. Let's just say that I was reading adult literature by the age of 6. I think this was due to the fact that I had read so much up to that age, and not due to the lack of literature available. We definitely ordered books to be shipped in from other larger libraries and they didn't do it for me either.

The librarian at school would always yell at me for choosing to read books that were too "mature" for my age group. Really!?!? You're going to discourage a child from reading and excelling? Think again, sister. That may work on the other kiddos, but not this one! I will read what I want to read whenever I want to read it. And don't you try to tell me otherwise! I even went to a private school, where you're supposed to be encouraged (read: pushed) to excel and raise above the majority. I absolutely did, don't get me wrong, but I think that librarian just had it out for me.

We would go on road trips a lot when I was a kid too. My other set of grandparents live in upstate NY, which is a 12 hour drive from my parent's house in MD, so that allowed for plenty of reading time. My mom would wrap presents for me and give one to me at certain points along the drive. Most of the time they were books; sometimes they were little trinkets or coloring books (I love coloring!). When they were books, she'd buy me a trilogy or series and give me the first one as we were leaving the house. Once she saw I was nearing the end of the book, she'd give me the next in the series. It was like Christmas in the van! Meanwhile, my baby brother proceeded to cry and spit up the whole car ride (don't even get me started on that kid).

This brings me to my recent obsession: www.goodreads.com. This fabulous website was introduced to me by none other than Gina, my wombmate. She also loves to read. This is a great way to keep track of all of the books that you are currently reading, would like to read, and have previously read. You can rate these books and suggest books to your friends. You can also follow your favorite authors and their blogs. This website posts everything on the main page and provides a feed similar to Facebook. You can set your status to show what page you are on in a certain book. It even allows you to show that you're reading multiple books at a time, which I often do.

As you are all aware, I have just completed "Open" by Andrea Agassi. I have now moved on to "My Life in France" by Julia Child (again, not helping my Parisian obsession). My current beach read is "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb (which hasn't gotten much attention lately because I've been out of town on the weekends). My work read (it's the slow season for me) is "The Funny Thing Is..." by Ellen Degeneres. I anticipate the work read to be completed by Thursday; Julia must be complete by July 14 because that is when she is due back to the library. Next on the docket: LA Candy!

Allow me speak further about my love of the library. When I was in college, I was forever in the library. But I wasn't reading books for fun. I was reading scientific journals, doing research for 50+ page papers, or studying until my brains seeped out of my ears. After college, I was so busy working, commuting, and playing volleyball, that I didn't have much time to read. Now that my adult life has slowed down a bit and I've gotten into a normal routine again, I can resume reading. Which means I can resume my weekly trips to the library! Because I work for the university, I can check out books for an entire semester!! How great is that?!?! Four months to read a dozen books? Psh, that's the easiest challenge there is. I also have a library card for the county library. I don't visit that library nearly as often as I do the campus library, mainly due to the convenience factor of the campus library. Yes, I do pass multiple county libraries on my way home from work, but they're on the other side of the road and I just don't want to deal with the traffic.

I'm a fan of reserving books online. If I can't find a book at the university library that I want to place on hold, I'd search the county library database and they usually have it. I'll place it on hold, pick it up off of the "reserved" shelf, and be on my merry way. "They" really do make it quite convenient these days.

I've always been amazed when people tell me that they don't like to read. How can you NOT enjoy reading?!?! Reading keeps your mind sharp and educates you on subjects that you wouldn't normally learn about. How does one not enjoy expanding his or her mind? I mean really... it's just baffling. So much so that I cannot express in words how baffled I am by this "feeling" that others have.

Do you know how may words the average person reads a day? No really, do you? Because I don't and I would like to know. I bet I read at least triple that number, maybe even more. Someone find the answer to that question and let me know. In the meantime, I'll be reading.

Chicken and Pastry

I love chicken & pastry (not to be confused with chicken & dumplings).

I'll be honest - I didn't discover this tasty meal until I moved down south. Yes, I'm from the country but this is one of the most underrated southern meals available. While I much prefer homemade (read: fattening) C&P, the Cracker Barrel offers an excellent substitute. And at the CB, you can also get biscuits and/or corn bread before your meal, and then fried okra, hash brown casserole, and corn as your sides!! Now how exciting is that?!?! Gosh I love to eat. You'd think I weigh 300 lbs.

I have yet to master this wonderful meal in my own kitchen. I feel as though I would need to cook this in a cast iron skillet that has never been washed and has collected 15 years of dirt and grease. Luckily, I'm a little too hygienic for that so my C&P would be slightly healthier.

One day I vow to wow dinner guests with this tasty meal!

An Excellent Specimen

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I must piggyback on the AVP subject.

While we were in VAB, I found the finest specimen of a man. In fact, he was right near perfect to the mental image I have impossibly created for what I want my future husband to look like.

His name is Austin Rester. And no, I did not speak to him. He's on the AVP website so he really is near celebrity status in my world. (Anyone who has any sort of bio online, is famous.) That would be like my boss going up and introducing himself to Megan Fox. (Ok, so maybe he isn't that famous, but you get my point.)

Allow me to explain to you why I think he is physically perfect.

1. He's tall - 6'7" to be exact. As a tall girl, I need someone who is at least 6'2". I like to feel like I'm the girl in the relationship. I want to be the little spoon, not the big spoon.

2. He played football in college, which means he has muscles. I love a good male volleyball player, but most of them are just tall and lanky. Way to make me feel less feminine by proving that I have more muscle mass than you do.

3. He's just nice to look at. I fully intend to have whoever I marry be on display for me (and only me) for at least 5 hours a day.

Now I realize that I have probably blown my shot at him proposing to me. Especially since we haven't met yet. I fully intend, however, to attend other AVP events in the future, so maybe he can propose then. I just hope he knows which ring I want.

AVP in VA Beach

The AVP held a tournament in VA Beach this past weekend, June 18-20. Being the avid sports fanatic that I am (and amazing volleyball player, at that) I jumped at the chance to go when suggested by a friend.

Gina even drove down from Baltimore for a mini-reunion! We concocted this crazy scheme to leave our respective locations around 4 a.m. in an effort to make it to VAB by 8:30 a.m. to watch the qualifying matches. Boy were we ambitious! I knew that this feat would be easily accomplished, but I also knew that I would be egg sauce ted come Sunday eve when I had to drive back home. But we accomplished our mission! We had a slight issue with check-in being so late in the afternoon, but we definitely found plenty to do to fill the time. We rode our bikes about 20 blocks away to watch some matches, rode back to lounge by the pool, rode back to watch more matches and nap in the players tent, and again rode back to the hotel to check in. Let me just tell you - a shower has never felt so amazing!

By the time we checked in and freshened up, the rest of my crew from Wilmington had made it into town. We met them at Murphy's Irish Pub where we indulged in some delish food and adult beverages. I'm not sure if it was because we hadn't really eaten all day or if the food was genuinely good, but we couldn't eat fast enough! Most of us had fish and chips while the other few had steak sammiches. The music was a little loud on the outside deck where we were sitting, and we had to ask twice to turn it down, but other than that the ambiance was great!

After dinner, Rachael and I decided to meet up with some of her friends from the DC Metro area. We met them at the bar inside of Mahi Mah's for a couple of cervesas (seriously.... they were Coronas). My friend Chris from Raleigh and his friend Matt (also our roommates for the weekend) met up with us there a little later to retrieve the room key and bask in our awesomeness. It was then that I discovered that Matt recently graduated from Duke Law School. Needless to say, the conversation turned to my hatred for that university... and his equal hatred for Maryland. I love making new friends!

Gina and I were in bed around 1:30 a.m. in anticipation of waking up early for Saturday's matches. While wandering around the sponsors tents that Saturday, we were upgraded to the Malibu Rum VIP Suite for the rest of the weekend!! Not only did we obtain a pretty sweet neon yellow wristband, but we got free Malibu swag and our own bartender! Between her friends and mine, we pretty much took over the suite. We had an awesome view of the main court and court 1, as well as a full view of the other 20 courts, the ocean, and the rest of the boardwalk. Luckily, the VIP area was also shaded and full of chairs and couches. The temps got into the mid-90's with pretty high humidity. There was a slight breeze for most of the weekend, which was only felt up in that area. The volleyball gods were on our side this weekend!

Here's our view of the other courts from our VIP seating area:

Saturday night was pretty uneventful. We waited for over an hour to get a table at Waterman's and still didn't get seated, so we walked across the street to a pizza place where we sat outside immediately. After dinner, I of course fell asleep. Needless to say, it was an early night. We caught plenty of hell from Chris and Matt about how lame we were being. I'm sorry, but being awesome takes a lot out of a girl!

Sunday games included the semi's and final matches. The women's final match between May-Treanor/Branagh and Kessy/Ross was at 1 p.m. The men's final match between Hyden/Scott and Fuerbringer/Lucena was at 4 p.m. Since we were in the Malibu tent, we were supposed to be rooting for Kessy/Ross and Fuerbringer/Lucena, all who are sponsored by Malibu, butttt how can you cheer against Olympians?!?! We were all pulling for Misty and Nicole but in the end, they fell to Kessy/Ross in 3 games. Fuerbringer/Lucena also pulled out a victory, and Nick's family was actually seated in the VIP area with us (even though they aren't sponsored by Malibu... I guess Sean Scott had given them VIP bracelets) so it was a great win to experience with them.

Here are Misty and Nicole warming up:

And these are the guys during the final match:

Gina and I headed out fairly quickly after the games were over on Sunday. Not only did we have to bike back to the hotel, but we also had to fill up our gas tanks, grab some grub, and get back on the highways. I got home around 10:30, and she got home around 10 after getting stuck in some traffic.

I'm still trying to figure out how I had the energy to bring the necessary bags up to my room without falling down the stairs from exhaustion. I'm also still trying to figure out why I was so tired all weekend because I did nothing. I didn't really sit in the sun, and I certainly didn't work out.

It was so neat to be walking next to Olympians and other professional athletes. Everyone was so nice and laid back; not at all what I was expecting. I guess I'm just used to going to NBA and MLB games where security is mandatory.

Alas, the fabulous weekend is over and I am now back to the daily grind that is life. Sigh.

"Open"

Those of you with dirty minds will completely misinterpret the title of this blog post. Those of you who are dentists will say the word of the title approximately 3984 times a day. Those of you who have read Andre Agassi's autobiography will know exactly to what I'm referring.

I picked up Open about a week and a half ago. I had finally finished reading and returning all of the borrowed books on my nightstand. Andre's book was given to me for Christmas. It is now June. JUNE! I really don't like for books to sit that long and be lonely, but I also don't like borrowing books and keeping them forever. It really is a double edged sword.

But, I digress.

I must say that this book quickly became one of my favorite reads. Other people's lives fascinate me! Especially famous people. Mainly because I know that I will never be famous, let alone be a famous athlete (it's a little late for that, but I'll accept marrying a professional athlete as a consolation). I always wished that I could be a professional athlete. Get paid to be in shape and perform a sport that I love? Sold.

I digress again.

The one thing that Andre always says in this book is that he hates tennis. Everyone he tells always asks him why and really doesn't understand how he could hate something that he is so good at doing. After reading this book, I hope they understand. I certainly do.

To put it simply, the man's father is an asshole. That's the only way to describe it. He is the epitome of someone making their children do something simply because he was never good at that something. (Does that make sense?!?!) It's like those women who put their daughters in pageants and are so mean to them and strict about their "performances" because they never got to do pageants (or if they did, they were horrible in them).

I digress yet again.

This really is an easy read. And highly entertaining. Whenever I pick up a biography or autobiography, I know it's going to be fantastic. Simply because other people fascinate me! I love people watching, so why wouldn't I love to read about people's lives?!

The digression continues.

I've zoomed through this almost 400 page book in a little under two weeks. I actually paused for about 4 days to take a long weekend vacation to Virginia Beach (post to follow at a later date) and genuinely missed reading about Andre's life. I made it my mission to finish the book the first full day back at home.

I remember when this book was released around October of 2009. There was such controversy surrounding Andre's life and tennis career. From his drug addiction (which really didn't last that long) to his hair piece to his relationship with Brooke Shields. Really, we shouldn't be surprised by any of this. I feel that anyone with any sort of fame or celebrity is going to have a screwed up life. And sadly, Andre was destined for this from the beginning, all thanks to his father.

I must say that the photo on the front of the book jacket really scares me. I actually had to remove the jacket in order to read the book. For those of you who haven't seen it, here it is...

Does anyone else feel this way? Am I being weird again? I just can't decide... sometimes seeing people that close just scares me.

I really wasn't sure how this book was going to end. Andre has always (and probably always will be) my favorite tennis player, so I definitely closely followed his career. But we all know how fuzzy my memory can be at times. The end of the book was filled more with stories about his marriage to Steffi Graf (also my other fav) and their two adorable children. Andre finally found peace both in his professional and personal life, and I am genuinely so happy for him. Because, you know, we're bff's.

If you enjoy reading, I suggest that you pick up this great read for yourself! If you are able to read, that is.... which I hope you are since you're "reading" my blog. Geeze.

the truth hurts, but so does getting hit in the face

Those I see on a daily basis should know me well enough by now to know that if you ask me a question, I will answer with the absolute honest truth. If you're feeling sensitive that day, please don't ask me if you look fat. Because I will tell you the truth. Well, I won't say that you're fat, but I might say something like, "You look a few pounds heavier in that outfit."

Sometimes I sugar coat the truth, and sometimes I don't. Just know that you're going to get the truth out of my mouth in one form or the other. (I'm like those Almond Joy and Mounds commercials - "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't!")

God forbid someone needs an honest opinion during a day when I'm in a horrible mood. Not only will they receive the truth, but they will receive it under my evil wrath. I'm sorry, but I just can't help but release words from my mouth that drip with attitude (and sometimes disdain) when I'm in a horrid mood. Y'all should know this by now!

Now I know the old saying goes something like, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." But that's just not how I was raised. Yes, that phrase was thrown out once every blue moon, but it wasn't overused in my household like it was at my friends'. I was raised to always speak my mind but to keep my lips sealed during inappropriate times. I was raised to not interrupt a conversation (especially not an adult conversation), to say "yes/no ma'am/sir," to say "please" and "thank you," and to shake hands correctly (and not like a dead fish).

So I'm really confused as to why some [weird] people don't like me (not that I care) - they say I'm too harsh or abrasive. Would you rather me lie to your face!??! That's not what I consider a friend. Call me crazy, but maybe I was given a different friendship manual growing up. In my manual, it says that YOU are crazy if you think I'd ever want to be friends with someone who is what I like to call "fake nice."

And that, my friends, is my truth telling in a nutshell. So, if I hurt your feelings, please don't take it personally. If I want to hurt your feelings, you'll know. Nine times out of ten, I'm just telling you the truth and it is being misinterpreted. Please don't cry - I love you all!

flavored water from The Target

Allow me to introduce you to Market Pantry's Sparkling Water Beverage - available in a multitude of flavorful combinations. For those of you who do not shop at the food section at The Target, please take a gander in that section next time you're in the store. This water is phenomenal!

My good friend Kristi recently introduced me to this product. We were discussing how we have issues with always having something in our mouths (keep the dirty comments to yourself, please) - gum, food, drink, etc. She said that when she's watching what she eats, she sips on this flavored water before she eats anything... kinda like tricking her brain into thinking that she's eating something when in reality she is not. There are zero calories and carbohydrates in this drink, only 5 mg of sodium, and NO caffeine. You can't beat that!

There are six different flavors available to consumers. Of course I don't remember them all, but I will list those that I favor:

- strawberry lemonade

- pomegranate cherry

- peach mango

- raspberry blackberry

I really shouldn't choose favorites because I truly have enjoyed drinking every flavor that is available. Kristi and I went to The Target together a couple of weeks ago to purchase this product. She loaded up on pomegranate cherry (her fav) and I chose one of each flavor. She has since supplied me with a couple of extra pomegranate cherry drinks for our trips to the beach since I haven't been able to get back to The Target.

(And yes, I call it "The Target." I actually pronounce "Target" like it's a French word. You'd have to hear me say it in order to understand the sentence in all it's glory, but it sounds something like "tar-jjjjay.")

I will be visiting The Target before my trip to VA Beach this weekend - gotta stock up on the flavors since I know I won't be eating much this weekend. I plan to consume all of my calories for 3 days in the form of beverages. You gotta problem with that?! Yeah, I didn't think so.