Monday, Fun Day: Weekend Edition

While I couldn't get out of D-Vegas (Danville to those not up on the slang) fast enough when I was younger, I enjoy heading back every now and then to reunite with the people and places I love most in my hometown. This weekend, I did just that and it was the perfect mini getaway from suburbia. Roll the highlights:

1) Family time all weekend. I loved having three days with mom, Kelli and Bogey all to myself. Also, enjoyed spending time with the rest of the family and family friends. Bands, boats, babies, and beer! A unique combination, but wonderful time with the fam!

2) Custard Cup, of course! A must-go every trip home, March through October that is. Key Lime Pie snowstorm is seriously the best thing ever. This trip we managed to go twice. 3 minutes before closing time and a little rain won't stop us from another go the Custard Cup. Love that place.

3) Dance camp! The Devillete dance team was holding camp at the high school over the weekend and I had the honor of leading a Zumba class for them to close out the camp. It was an absolute blast!

Until next time D-Vegas!

Party time, excellent!

Its the weekend lovers and I am signing off! Half day in the home office and now its time to head downstate for the weekend. Custard Cup (and, mom & Bogey:)) I'll be seeing ya!

Where will you be November 6th?

I'll be at the Willis Tower (let's be real, Sears Tower) for the Third Annual SkyRise Chicago. That's right, I've signed up again! SkyRise Chicago is a stair climb up the Willis Tower to benefit the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). Its the worlds largest indoor, urban stair climb - 103 flights of stairs, 2,109 steps total to the top!

This event is so motivating to be a part of. While the majority of participants are climbing to the top, there is an option for those unable to climb to complete the feat by hand. The category gives those competitors the option of testing their upper body strength using hand cycle to complete the feat. Participants that have spent time in RIC are in attendance and complete the climb along side everyone else. Firefighters also climb to the top in their full gear -talk about strength and endurance!

2011 marks my third year participating in the climb and I am pumped! I've already recruited a couple SkyRise newbies. Soon enough I'll be hitting the stairs to start training. My goal is to beat last year's time and hopefully finish in less than 30 minutes!

Tower up!

Summatime is here!

Here are two of my favorite summerly products in honor of the solstice!

1) Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisterizer

I'm a ginger and while I love being out in the sun, I don't tan. Underneath millions of freckles is very pale skin and if I'm out for loo long, my skin might catch on fire. After years of trying to 'tan', I finally accepted my fate and sought out the perfect product to help me cope. I lather up every morning after I shower and within a week developed a nice little glow. Continuous use enhances the color and now I actually look tan! Even friends and coworkers have noticed. This bronzed ginger is turning heads.

2) Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Sun Tan Lotion

While the Jergens makes me appear tan, I've still got to cover up my pale skin to avoid those scorching rays. This new product from Hawaiian tropic is wonderful! The added shimmer highlights and enhances my fake lotion tan to perfection. The coconut scent actually smells good too! And, just in case you do feel the burn, there is an after sun lotion available too.

The only thing left to do now is lather up and hit the pool!

Monday, Fun Day.

It's always tough to start the work week when its dark and gloomy. What I'd really love to do is spend the day in the basement with a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream watching a Real Housewives marathon, but instead I'm here in the office plugging away on this week's projects.

That said, I think its time for another rendition of Monday, Fun Day!! Here are a few things that I am loving about today:

1) I am 4 days closer to spending a weekend in my hometown! Kelli and I are heading home this weekend to visit Mom. On Saturday, I am leading a Zumba class at my former high school. The Devilettes (dance team) are holding camp this week and I've been asked to come back and lead a Zumba class. We'll get to see Cooper Wilson, my cousin's baby girl, who is just the cutest little babe! Oh, and Custard Cup!

2) New opportunities at work. Excited for a lunch meeting to start figuring things out. Stay tuned...

3) Bachelorette. Guilty pleasure. I never used to watch the show, but everyone at work always talked about it and I wanted to fit in at the water cooler. I've already read the blogs and know who 'wins' but I still love to watch the drama unfold every Monday night. Team JP!

What tops your Monday Fun Day list?

All work and now play...

...makes the AK's very happy!

Only because I'll probably be too busy tomorrow to write, today's post goes out to my husband Jake. He'll be graduating with a 4.0, yeah 4.0!! from the MSIT program tomorrow at Northwestern University!!!! It was a short, long two years, but tomorrow it will all be worth it. And, I will finally get to hang out with him again on weeknights and Saturdays! What could be better?! Well, winning the lotto...maybe. But, in all honesty I'm so proud of him! This is a huge accomplishment.

Congrats babe!!!

I'm royalty.

Ok, that might be stretching it. But I am the owner of a shiny new crown, dental crown that is. Happy to have wrapped up my 5 trip tour de dentists this month. Not so happy that in order to complete the work today, the dentist had to burn away part of my gums. Burn, that's right BURN away my gums to put on the crown. The bright red tip of that scorching tool meant business. Holy moly, my mouth hurts!!! Please, please let the pain subside soon. I've got important things to do, important people to see. I am royal afterall.