The Dance Floor is My Stage

As the great Britney Spears said "There are two types of people in the world. The ones that entertain and the ones that observe. Well baby, I'm a put-on-a-show kind of girl".  While I'm not normally one to crave the spotlight, there is something about dance that all the sudden makes me a little braver, a little more bold, a little more spotlight kind of girl.

After graduating and saying goodbye to my dance team, I felt let down. It was hard to not have dance practices to look forward to and performances for that adrenaline rush. I slowly got used to it and frankly I think life got a little more dull.  While I'm not back on a dance team, I am finding ways to get my dance kicks.

On Saturdays I take an Alter Ego dance class. A Ben Gal cheerleader teaches us choreography from a different popular performance artist.  I live for these classes. It is a good test for my memory as we try to learn the choreography and be able to run it a couple of times full out before our hour class is up.  It's good cardio, and great food for my soul.  This week we did Britney's "Slave for You".  It was one of the fastest routines we have learned, but the most fun.  I probably looked like a fool as I was going full out with a big grin on my face.  There might not have been an audience (probably a good thing since I was getting sweaty ewww) but it felt good to release into dance mode.

As a bonus to the weekend, I just finished a two hour rehearsal for an upcoming performance.  It's just a small showcase at Bella Forza (the awesome fitness center and studio I work at).  I'm in a routine with 6 girls and I'm getting giddy at the idea of performing. Along with the giddiness is of course nerves, but I don't even care. I'm just so thrilled to have a few minutes performing. Of course if you know me, I'm obsessing and constantly thinking of tiny details such as hair style, outfit choice,  lipstick color etc, but I can't help it. I'm a dance high!

Now if I could only put as much concentration on my school work instead of choreography...

Domesticated Rachel

Does anyone else ever think of how Barbie got to have a different career every week? Not only did she claim the title, she also got a new outfit to match and all the accessories one would need. Sometimes when I'm in a different mood or going through a phase, I think of myself as "Working Out Rachel" or "Good Student Rachel". Oh, I'm the only one that does that? eerrr awkward. Ok moving on...

Anyways, so over the past couple of weeks I've been "Unmotivated and Lazy Rachel" (complete with a cluttered desk, untouched homework, and a lacking selection of food to eat). This weekend, however, I had a little shove to get back on track because my Dad (shout out to Dale!), Step-Mother and Sister came down for a visit and to do some manual labor. (Hey, you gotta earn your keep around here! But it's ok I rewarded them with bread pudding w/ a vanilla sauce)

Since I knew I would actually have people in my apartment I got super productive. I cleaned, I organized, I baked, and I did that ever growing pile of laundry.  I don't get company very often so I enjoyed the push to organize my life again. Plus I don't want my family to think (or realize) that I can be a slob.

Even though the fam was just here for the day, my motivation to get on back track continues.  After waking up and getting a quick workout in, I did some homework.  This was monumental people. And I didn't just stop there! Oh no, today I was "Domesticated Rachel".  I baked a pumpkin pie for a friend's birthday, prepared a roast for the crock pot tomorrow (it's the domestication that keeps on giving!), and I even practiced knitting a little bit since Patty showed me how to start yesterday. Phew! Domesticated Rachel had a good day, I think she deserves a glass of vino. (Children 21 years and up.)

Happy New Year!

New Years has come and gone and now my winter break from school officially comes to an end (womp womp).  I don't know what happened to my euphoric high when I wrote my last post, but I'm struggling to keep up my level of motivation.  Taking a couple days off to eat drink and be merry appears to have been a mistake. I need to get back on track by eating better, working out more, and keeping up on school work. It just seems so tempting to stay in my sweats drinking coffee in my apartment...(sigh).  So here's hoping that when I wake up in the morning I've got the positive attitude back and the motivation to conquer the day. (Might need to make two cups of coffee eh?)

I hope that your New Years started off with a bang and that you are already well on your way to a productive year. And if you are getting a slow start like me, welp, it's ok we still have 362 days to catch up.

Mama's Got a Brand New Name

...and by Mama I mean my blog.  After living in Cincinnati for 6 months, I felt it was finally time to update my blog by christening it with a new name to fit the location.  In the last 6 months, my blog is not the only one to get a face lift.  I have been taking some time to myself (ahem, not writing...) and really working on improving myself inside and out.

Since moving back to Ohio I have honestly felt a world of difference in my attitude.  I'm not saying Arizona was a bad place, please don't get me wrong.  I loved the sunshine, the friends and family I was blessed to spend 4 years with, and all the amazing adventures I had there.  However, there was just something that wasn't "me".  I think it was like trying to pull off an outfit that was really cool but didn't fit quite right and was the complete opposite style you usually wear.  It was great trying that outfit on for awhile, but when you come home you just want to throw on your favorite pair of jeans and that's what I've done.

I'm proud to say that I've made changes for the better. Because I like lists, here are the things I like about the new me:

1. I workout. (Do you want to read that again?) Yes, that's right. I said it. I WORK OUT. And no, not just sometimes, but pretty much every day and sometimes two or three times a day.
2. I enjoy working out. (I had to take a big breath there, my old self just died a little).  I push myself every day in my workouts to lift more weights, do more reps, pick my knees up higher and I enjoy it because I know that hard work and determination will get me to my goal. I also just feel a heck of a lot better with all those endorphins people are always talking about. Guess that wasn't just some myth. Weird.
3. Due to numbers 1 and 2, I have a slimmer figure and smaller pants size. Let me just tell you, I am so freaking happy to see my hard work pay off! 
4. I am a happy and positive person again.  Being away from the drama and stress of my old job has let me be a smiling and cheery person again with a positive outlook on life. Sometimes when I am driving around singing along to music and smiling, I just think "Dang it feels good to be happy!"
5. Although I have some frustrations with my program, I'm so happy to be pursuing a masters in something that I really believe in.  I know it is going to be a challenging career, but at least at the end of the day I can remind myself that I am helping out in the world of teenage woes that we all know can be dramatic and painful at times.
6. Sometimes, I leave the house without makeup. I know, it's a huge accomplishment for the girl that had to have thick eyeliner, mascara, and foundation on at all time. But it's amazing how the laid back lifestyle here has transformed me into a girl that isn't scared to run to the grocery store sans makeup. And to be honest I just wear way less eyeliner in general. I'm sure the makeup industry is really missing my paychecks but they will have to find another girl to boost their economy. (Oh and p.s. I don't wear heels hardly ever...it kind of makes me sad, but people just don't wear heels when they walk across campus for some reason)
7. I'm dancing again. It is amazing how a fun dance class on a Saturday can really put a pep in my step for the rest of the week. 

So there ya have it.  There is my brag list from the last 6 months while I disappeared from the world of blogging.

New Beginnings

Well Well Well, look who decided to pick up and write again? After a very looong hiatus, I feel the need to blog. I think that might be because I just experienced a lot of life changing decisions by quitting my job, saying goodbye to wonderful friends and family, driving 3 days across the country, and moving to Cincinnati where I'll start graduate school for School Counseling. I'm tired, I'm exhausted, I'm cranky and I'm homeless. Luckily I have friends willing to host me until I can find a place, but being tired and homeless is not a good feeling. So while I take a break from my constant craigslist stalking, I thought I might update you on where I am.

With that said...my blog title no longer reflects me. I'm taking suggestions on a new name for my new adventure. If anyone ever reads this, please let me know and hopefully with a fresh start I'll keep writing with gusto!

love,

your long lost blogger

Borrowed Identity

Roxie the car is in the shop (again...i swear). I got up super early to drop her off and caught a ride to work with Sarah. When I talked to my service guy today on the phone he told me that he would need to keep it overnight. Seriously? How convenient for me since the dealership is no where near my work nor my apartment. Sarah so graciously offered to help me out again, but I hate the inconvenience of not having a car. So while I was talking to the dealership I told them how I needed a car and they looked up my warranty. Low and behold the warranty covers a rental FOR FREE! Excuse me? How many times have I bummed rides off of my friends when Roxie was sick before? And this whole darn time, it wouldn't have cost me a thing to get my own rental? Ugh...I just can't....words....

Anyways, I got a ride back to the dealership with Sarah on her way home and got to the rental counter just before it closed. The nice gentleman quickly processed the paperwork, had me sign on a few dotted lines and then told me he would walk me out to the "minivan".

cricket, cricket

Um, excuse me what? "Just kidding", he says. Few, he had me for a minute. I could just imagine, no, no I can't imagine. Earlier Sarah and I were saying how anything but a PT Cruiser would be good, but I completely forgot about a minivan. Don't underestimate the swagger wagon.

Luckily he actually hooked me up with a new Dodge Avenger. Not the Charger I was so hoping for (how badass would that be? I would just drive around with my guitar in the back seat all day just for fun feeling really really cool), but it would do. Driving home was suddenly more fun than it usually is. That got me thinking. What is so fun about driving a new car? Or borrowing something from someone else? I drive my own car every day, yet it feels so different to drive another's car.

I think it all comes down to playing pretend. Having a different car felt like having a different identity. If I had the mini van it would have been a whole different vibe and character than the Avenger (That's not gonna attract the fellas...). It reminds me of playing pretend when I was little. I pretend that I'm driving my brand new car that I could easily afford without any stress. I park that new car in my parking spot and imagine what the person who owns that car would do for a living or where they would live. I'm not that person, but I still pretend for a second in my head. And for some odd reason it works. Because for a split second I feel like I'm successful and own a brand new car and have a life that is very put together...sigh...errr back to reality.

I have to drop off my pretend life tomorrow after work when I pick up Roxie. It will be sad to hand over the clean, new car smell, and sirius radio, but on the other hand Roxie represents my actual lifestyle. She may be falling apart here and there but she's cute and fun with her convertible top. So I will just have to rock the young chica who isn't financially stable with a middle of the road job and who breaks down sometimes image...but, hey we look good doing it.

Hollywood & Vine

Last Sunday, Heather and I headed West to L.A. for a quick trip. Heather needed to go to the Italian Consulate for paperwork so she can study abroad (and then so I can go visit her). She needed a copilot and I early volunteered to take a day off of work to go with her. I'm such a nice friend, I know. It was a 6 hour drive through the desert with not much to see except near Palm Springs where there a millions of windmills. How green of them.

Oh and if you ever end up making the drive from PHX to LA, just a suggestion, make sure you check where the nearest rest stop is before passing one up. We got a little worried as the desert wasn't offering many exits. Shouldn't have drank all that coffee.

LA traffic is pretty congested at any time of day. As much as I would love to live near the ocean, the first thought I had upon arrival was "I could not live here and deal with all the people and cars". Well, unless I become so rich and famous that someone drives me around everywhere, I would retract my statement if that was the case.

The Emmy's were going on and we considered crashing some after parties, but forgot our

designer gowns so we decided to forgo those tacky things and head to a pub near the beach for a burger and beer. Plus, I didn't think it would be fair to Jimmy Fallon's wife. I mean, he would

obviously fall in love with me and leave her the instant we met eyes. We would be so perfect together especially since he also enjoys playing guitar. So I was just trying to have good morals by not going. Home wrecking doesn't look good on me.

Then we walked along some streets in Santa Monica and just couldn't pass up the Pinkberry Yogurt. OK, personal confession time. Pinkberry is supposed to be soooo good and all the stars eat it so we should too! Well, Heather and I decide to do just what the stars told us and got in line. The lady ahead of us just got strawberries with hers, the guy behind us also got fruit. Heather and I? We get specialty dessert toppings. Mine was a chocolate crunch and I had them

add animal crackers. So we try to hold our heads high with our shockingly fattening decisions compared to the Hollywood crowd. We ourselves are smug because these people do not know how to live. Well as we walking along eating our pricey treats, we look at each other and admit it's not very good. I think it would have tasted much better with fruit because they do not know

how to do the unhealthy flavors well. So lesson learned, don't be the fatty at Pinkberry.

Later that night we drove through Beverly Hills and headed to Hollywood. My roommate Veronica's friend, Van, works at bar five0four (a Louisiana themed bar on Hollywood Blvd).

I had met Van before and was looking forward to seeing him again as well as drinking my

favorite beer Purple Haze on tap. Wouldn't you know it though, that darn dark cloud followed me all the way to Los Angeles because they were out of one beer, and of course it was the coveted Purple Haze. I sulked for a little bit and then tried to move on with my life.

I consoled myself with and Abita Amber and then Van told me I HAD to try his hurricane and "Van Grenade". I've heard many stories about the type of nights grenades and hurricanes create

down in Louisiana so I was a little scared. So I shared with Heather and passed off the rest to Van.

Instead of drinking the night away, I ate it. The Jambalaya and beignets were delish! (Now THEY know how to do guilty pleasures. Pinkberry take note!)

I felt guilty for being there surrounded by LSU decor and eating her homeland foods without Veronica, but she trained me well and Van was there as a stand in.

The next morning I dropped Heather off at the Italian Consulate and went back to the hotel. Yes, it's true, I drove in LA. Rachel who hates traffic and gets overwhelmed in city traffic drove a car in the scary city AND did a U-turn (I know, I know, it's pretty impressive). Well, it wasn't far or nearly that bad, but still I didn't want to do it. Here's a probably well known fact that I never considered, you have to pay a lot of money to park anywhere in LA. Even for a little bit you have to pay. So being the economic girls that we are tried to beat the system as much as possible and hence my dropping Heather off and picking her up (a few minutes later because apparently the 3 hour wait we expected didn't come hooray!). After I picked Heather up we checked out of the hotel and drove around through Calabasas (saw Dash), through the Santa Monica Mts, and then along the coast in Malibu.

We found a public beach access that was hidden and walked down the many stairs to dip our toes in the Pacific.

I had a little mishap where the waves rushed in a little faster than I thought and kind of soaked my jeans (that I was planning on wearing on the drive home...). The waves were also kind of enough to give me a complimentary leg exfoliation as it shoved sand up under the bottom of my jeans with the water. My legs immediately started burning and broke out in a rash...but really, what did I expect. That dark cloud is tricky. Luckily, I outsmarted it and changed into a dress before we stopped at a little hole in the wall seafood place across the street from the ocean.

We sat in silence eating our yummy fresh fish tacos, sipping on wine (that we provided ourselves because we are savvy like that) and watched a bunch of dolphins swimming in the ocean. I've never seen that many dolphins together at once and they were pretty active in one spot for a long time. It was a very peaceful to end our little trip. It made it difficult to leave the lovely setting and head back across the dessert. But hey, we had to get back to reality and head back to one of the "Other Desert Cities".

Maybe next time I'm back, I'll be revealing my own star.