A Spinning Success!

So I did it. I taught my very first spin class. And I must say, it was awesome. I had so much fun teaching. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am pretty sure the people in my class enjoyed themselves and had their asses kicked all at the same time. That was the plan after all.

Leading up to the big day I was a ball of nerves. I even practiced my routine last week at work with two of my co-workers/friends. It went really well with them and they gave me some feedback which allowed me to make some tweaks in the routine and gave me the confidence I needed for the one I taught today.

Everyone Should Def Use Abbreves

Need. This.

I love abbreviations. Or shall I say "I love abbreves." They are a great way to shortcut a convo. Oh look what I just did there! I totes just used an abbreve. Ohhhh, me. Whether I do it when I speak, when I text, or when I write an email, I often use abbreviations. They save time and still get the point across and also give them a little charm, naturally. (Obvi when I write a professional email, I spell out entire words. I am not an animal after all.)

These abbreviations I speak of are different from acronyms like OMG, LOL, TTYL, BRB, LMFAO. I actually don't use acronyms when texting, but I do sometimes find them fun to use when I speak. When I leave a room to run to the bathroom, I will be all "BRB" and giggle. Or if I'm saying goodbye to a friend in person, I'll end it with "TTYL." I love to talk in text sometimes. I crack myself up. 

Let's Hangout!

Hangouts on TV shows are sometimes another character in a show. Whether its a bar, a restaurant, a coffee shop, cafe, etc..., the "gang" usually all hang out there in every episode. They are visible in every episode and can sometimes play a big role. Relationships start and end there. Big events are held here. Daily meals and snacks are eaten here. So needless to say, they are importante. (That means important in Spanish. Ha. You're welcome for that.)

Anyway, I just read an article on hellogiggles.com entitled "5 Awesome TV Hangouts I want to Hang Out At." At first, I thought what a fun topic that would be to write about or even to just read and reminisce. But then, once I read it, I was disappointed. I only agreed with one of the five hangouts the author listed. I couldn't believe how many important ones I felt she missed. I mean, maybe we have totally different tastes in TV (seems like it), but I think she is just off. There are just so many famous TV hangout places she obviously couldn't name them all, but man, did she miss some crucial ones. I immediately felt it was my place to write my own version of this very same topic. And so I did just that. Here are my top five TV show hangouts:

1) Central Perk. Friends. The only one myself and the HelloGiggles author seem to agree on. Not only did it have a super clever name, it had a great ambiance. Although I am not a coffee drinker or one to go to cafés, the Central Perk just seemed to have a very chill vibe where people would want to hang out. Wasn't it amazing too how the couches in the middle were always available for everyone to just sit and hang? Like everyone just knew Ross, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, and Joey were on there way there and they called "dibs." 

Europe, Party of One!

OMG,  I leave for Europe in about three weeks. Ahhhh. So much to do, so little time. Research, shopping, packing. Oh my.  I still can't believe this trip is a reality. I feel super lucky. I also do not feel nearly prepared enough, but still have a bit of time to get my shit together.

As independent as I consider myself to be, there are still a lot of "firsts" that I will be experiencing on this trip. When I talk about them with other people, I feel like I sound childish but, whatevs. I know experiencing these things, even if this point in my life, will make me grow as a woman and definitely mature me. A lot of people my age have done one or all of these things, but I guess now is my time. I can handle it! I still can't believe some of these are actually "firsts" for me, but hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?

1) I have never been to Europe before. I know, right? Most people my age have been there at least one time or another. (I actually was going to go as my graduation present from college, but instead got into NYU and moved to NYC right away. I think it worked out okay. Wouldn't you say?) Almost all of my friends have been to numerous European countries. I often feel like the fact I haven't been to Europe makes me feel not very well-traveled or cultured, but better late than never, right? I've hit up Mexico and some Carribbean countries mucho times, Canada, and even Israel, but no Europe. And now here I go, across the pond. I have a feeling after this, I will really catch the travel bug even more, but that's not such a bad thing?

On an Upwards Spiral

A month ago I posted about how I had stressed myself sick. Yes, I literally caused myself so much stress and anxiety that I caused myself to get an Ulcerative Colitis flare-up. So that sucked.

Since then, I have been on four, (yes four) different meds to try and get my body back on track and it seems things are finally on the up and up. (Surprisingly enough, chill pills were not one of the prescriptions though.) It took an unsuccessful antibiotic treatment (one that has worked in the past), a moved up Remicade treatment which helped mildly, some stomach relaxers, and finally the big P to get me back in action. That's right, I had to go to the old stand-by, whom which I have a love-hate relationship with: Prednisone. As much as I hate being on that drug because of its annoying, gross side-effects, it usually does the trick. So far it has been the first thing in these 5-6 weeks that has actually helped me feel better again. I ran for the first time yesterday in five weeks and although it was a very difficult and awful run, I was glad to get going again. Just like after all my illnesses last year, I have to start from scratch and take my baby steps to build up that endurance. I've done it before and I'll do it again.