A new kind of AA (Anguilla Awesomeness)

There are just too many things to share, so I'm going to give the abridged version of our amazing trip to Anguilla!

First of all, thanks to my Barney, we flew first class.

An experience I'll never forget.
How will I ever fly coach again?

This was our watering hole.

 I don't think there is anything better than staring at the beautiful ocean, while enjoying a nice (non-sandy pool). 

 The ladies.

Cinty, our chef and quite possibly the sweetest woman I've ever met!

 Local fresh fish.

 Shrimp appie and secret sauce.

(there was no shortage of frying and butter, eek)

 

Lobster!!  (I only had 4)

Our hosts, Dancha and Meganza (some of our favorite people in the world) 

 

 This was the first sunset of the trip and probably the most beautiful! 

We even pilated in paradise.

Thanks Ash. 

Shoal Beach, my personal fav of the trip.

Quaint beach bars, soft white sand, crystal clear/perfect temp water...

Best Bartender of the trip.  

 

  Posing with her specialty drink, blended Mojitos.  YUM! (I only had 3 of these)

My love. 

Hil and I floating around.

This is the life.

White night. 

 Off to the Viceroy, Anguilla for dinner. 

One of the most beautiful hotels I've visited and where I'd like to stay if we return. 

Our Surprise from Danny, Amazing Race Anguilla.

 Brad and I with our goat.

Me, on a boat.

 We ended up on Sandy Island. 

Playing 20 Questions and WE WON!

On our final day we chartered a boat that took us to Prickly Pear. 

 Shane and I with Prickly Pear in the distance.

 

The AA Crew on board the Scoobifree.

I can't recommend this boat, captain and one man crew (the cutest french gal that made our day) enough.

Feeling blessed that we were able to take this trip of a lifetime with new and old friends! 

The memories will be engraved in our minds forever. 

We can't thank the Peykoffs enough for inviting us on this dream vacation. 

Back to reality.

XO,

S & S

Local Things To Do!

Each year I tell myself I'm going to try and do more of the wonderful extra curricular activities offered right in my own backyard.  Each year I do like one- FAIL.  This year/summer I hope to do more than just the usual Sunday trip to Farmers.
Tonight we're checking out a movies on the dining deck at Santa Monica Place. First we are meeting friends for HH at The Yard (looks mighty fab, food critique later). And then we'll head over with our blankets and chairs to watch an oldie but goodie Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Cause seriously, "The question isn't "what are we going to do," the question is "what aren't we going to do?"

Channeling my inner Bueller. 

Other local events I hope to check out during our upcoming warm months:

Concerts at the Pier (I've been, but not nearly enough)

Yoga near the beach

First Fridays on Abbot Kinney

More wine tasting in Malibu here and here and here...

The Getty

Explore the NEW and improved Downtown, Los Angeles (headed their Mother's Day weekend)

Cooking classes

And so much more.

Happy Hump Day!

XO, 

S

Yoga Purchases...

I've been yogaing more, in hopes of finding my inner chi and relaxing a bit, while still getting a good workout in.  So I decided to invest in a new yoga mat because I was a slippin and slidin all over the place and that is NOT COOL.  I went online to the mecca of Internet yoga stores (I am too cheap to buy one at a studio and the one I found at TJ Maxx one was not cutting it), the GAIAM site and read all the little testimonials and descriptions.  After much confusion, I chose the above mat.  It looks awfully purtty, but it's thin and upon opening my package I was extremely disappointed, but I gave it a whirl (as I hate sending things back in the mail) and I'm happy to report,  I definitely didn't slip and slide like before.  Luckily the class didn't have a lot of work on the hands and knees, so I was okay with the lack of padding. 
In addition to my mat, I also bought a fancy pants yoga mat bag! Click here  Super cute, functional and cheap!

Verdict:  I'll give the mat another try, but probably won't buy equipment online again. I think you need to test, see and feel items like a yoga mat, BUT I love my new bag.

Happy Exercising!

XO,
S

Ballin on a budget and keeping in shape!

It's actually not that hard in LA!  See the new pink is to have a gym, boutique studio for pilates, bar, cycling, circuit training, need I go... on every street corner.  The great thing about all these gyms taking over our city is NOT that everyone around me keeps getting thinner, but it is the new student introductions they all offer.  You see, I don't have a ton of dough left over after all my expenses have been paid, but I do fancy working out in these lovely facilities all over town.
For those of you in the same boat, I've found a way to work the system and keep things exciting.
Here's my workout tale...
I started with Bar Method over last summer.  I bought their new student intro, 1 month unlimited for $100.  Not bad when you go 3 or 4 times a week and classes run $21 individually, unless you can afford a crazy package. 
Then I did the two weeks unlimited at Yoga Works for $30 (this might not be the offer, they change it from time to time).  I went 6 times and totally got my bang for the buck.  Love this place.  In one class, some hottie granola bar serenaded us with his guitar while the instructor taught.  Amazing....
I supplement all this with walking around the Country Club a few times a week, which I now know is 2.5 miles from my house on Montana (thanks to Jillian's iPhone Nike Challenge App).
Then I joined Bodies N Motion.  Killer deal.  No sign up fee, $65 a month.  Great new, clean facility with a variety of classes.  Thought I'd do this for 6 months or at least the winter while I couldn't walk as much, but to my dismay they closed the Brentwood location. No promotion for them. 
So now today I'm trying cycling at  realryder cycling studio and I'm terrified.  I've never been to a cycling studio.  I tried it at the gym once a million years ago, but I hear it's hard and I will be sore.  The first class is free and I bought a package of 5 classes for $30 on www.livingsocial.com my new favorite local discount site. 
I intend to workout all over my neighborhood until I'm Giselle Bundchen or I've exhausted all my options, not sure which will come first. 

Wish me luck on my ongoing journey to stay healthy and in shape! 

XO,

S

LIFESAVERS and Finders Keepers!

Like many, Shane and I started off the New Year wanting to get back into a healthy routine, walking around the country club, him doing PT, me going to the gym/yoga/Pilates...  You get the picture.  

Day 1, Monday, I hit the gym only to find out they were closing the Brentwood location. You know that gym that's located directly across the street and is the only place I can make it to after my 40 mile commute (each way).  BOO Bodies N Motion! I was beyond bummed.  I had just joined several months ago and liked that it was affordable, all women and I could take a variety of classes in addition to use the equipment.  What now?  Luckily the Brentwood Country Club is also across the street from my house and I still have yoga and Pilate's DVDs which I can supplement with taking classes here and there. 

After finding out the disappointing news of the gym closing, I went home and did my Windsor Pilate's DVD.  With all this New Year, New Me motivation, I guess I worked out harder than I should have and pulled or pinched something in my upper back/neck. Ouch. Perfect, there is nothing like being in pain for a long drive, work and trying to get back into shape.  Pain schmain, I wasn't going to give into it.  I believe Barney suggested heat, well let me tell you, it worked.  Thank you heating pad, you are a LIFESAVER!

Day 2 of working out, Jilly came over and joined Shane and I for a walk around the CC.  Thanks to her handy dandy iPhone and the Nike Challenge, we now know that it's 2.5 miles from our front door.  I really should start doing it twice.  The walk was nice, we caught up and discussed Jill's new business, Capture, the holidays...  Towards the end of our walk, I spotted money on the ground, a $100 bill to be exact.  Of course I didn't hesitate and picked it up.  I couldn't believe it and thought it had to be fake, like an advertisement of sorts.  NOPE, it was real.  I debated on giving it to the Church I found it in front of, but I didn't.  I've found money before and have given it to the bank who's floor I found it on (yeah right they will call you if the owner doesn't come back and ask for it), or to the person who dropped it, or put it on black 7 when I found it in a casino, but this time it was Finders Keepers for lucky, lucky me...  One new mattress pad, strainer, a couple towels later and I've still got a few bucks to spare.  Woohoo!

Winter Bowling 2011 starts tonight.  Do we sandbag or bowl our hearts out?  I don't think I'm capable of sandbagging, but hope that I suck, so I have a high handicap for the season. Wink wink.  

XO,

S

Not quite a Yogini...

...but I'm workin on it.
The last few weeks I've started to introduce Yoga into my workouts.
Last night I took a class at Yogaworks in Westwood and what a treat it was!
Not only was our instructor Kia Miller fabulous, but the music was live by a guy that had the vibe and sound of Jack Johnson.
YUM, I'll take two.
Now for my body to show some results.
In due time...

Thanks for being my workout buddy Brooke!

XO,
S