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“learn every day new ways to love yourself”
-JH Hard
Happy Friday! It’s a good day because Taylor Swift dropped her new song “Lover” and it is so good! I currently have it on repeat. But besides Tay Tay dropping this amazing jam, my parents are in town this weekend to celebrate my birthday! My actual birthday is not until next week, but my parents have a wedding to attend on the day of my birthday so could not be here to celebrate. My sister, however, will be in town next week to celebrate! I am excited for two full weekends of family time!
This week was another one filled with mostly admin days. These past few weeks have been quiet in terms of events. I assume everyone is gearing up for New York Fashion Week that is less than a month away. I spent most of this week prepping and sending my pitch to PR companies and brands for fashion week invitations. I have already been invited to one show (yay!!!!); NYFW is off to a good start so far! Most replies are your typical “received your email, will get back to you closer to the show date”. The thing about NYFW is you can get invited a day or two before or a month before the show, it depends on how the brand/PR company that is representing the brand operates. There are a few brands I am on the edge of my seat waiting to hear back from, but the one I did get invited to I am beyond excited for!!
Last week I was having back pain to the point I could barely move. I am feeling much better but am still doing my recovery routine. I should continue my recovery routine- ice pack, heating pad, foam rolling, stretching, massage ball- even without an injury. Probably why I got injured in the first place. I usually foam roll a few times a week and stretch daily, but maybe my body needs more. Anyway, I am feeling better, thank goodness. Acupuncture really works!!
Since my back is no longer feeling pain I started working out again. I tried a few new classes this week and changed up my workout a little bit. Sunday I went to P.Volve— formally known as Bodies by P (why the name change, I haven’t a clue). I went to Bodies by P a little over 2 years ago, so I consider this a new class; especially since the name changed and all. Anyway, I really enjoyed P.Volve and can’t wait to go back. It’s a low impact class where you use light free weights (2 lbs), resistance bands, and a p.ball. Wearing the p.ball feels like wearing a diaper almost. It’s strange but found it to be very effective. Wouldn’t mind getting one to use for at-home workouts. You use the equipment at a slow pace, this way you are engaging your muscles. When you do movements fast, it’s usually for cardio not necessarily for muscle strength. The next workout I tried was Solidcore…… I.died. I thought I was in pretty good shape until I went to this class. Megareformers are no joke! I’ll say this– megareformers are the hardest workouts to do, harder than HIIT. And I’ll stand by that comment. The last time I took a megareformer class was over 2 years ago, I knew what I was getting myself into. Oh and if you are not sure what a megareformer is, it’s a traditional Pilates reformer on steroids. You are basically maneuvering this machinery with your muscles. It’s no walk in the park. I thought since I take Pilates once a week– traditional reformer and Cadillac- that I wouldn’t be that weak. I was wrong, I wanted to die within the first 5 mins. My abs are still sore….can’t wait to go back! Is this how I finally get abs?
Last night I had an event… well sorta. Outdoor Voices launched a new product line called the exercise dress. They were hosting an event at Lincoln Center where if we RSVP’d we would get a dress for free then take a Zumba class. They said check-in would start at 5pm and the class would start at 6:30pm. I was torn as to what time I wanted to go, I mean what was I going to do for an hour and a half. I ended up getting to the event at 5:15pm…. and the line was already wrapped around the building. I should have gotten there at 4pm. Anyway, I waited in line for an HOUR when Outdoor Voices said they ran out of the dress, but invited us to still take class and then afterwards would receive a discount code to shop. At this point I had had enough and left. I had already taken dance cardio in the morning at Dancebody, I didn’t need to take a Zumba class. If I had gotten the dress I would have taken the class, but I wasn’t planning on staying the entire time as I had a lot of work to finished up. I also thought giving us a discount code, that ultimately was only $10 off, was not justifiable. On the invite it does say “while supplies last”, so I knew going into it there was a chance I wouldn’t get a dress. I mean how much inventory are they willing to give out for free? But for getting there at 5:15pm, waiting an hour, and then given only a $10 off coupon. I felt more could be done. AND I found out later that evening a friend of mine was there and she received a dress. I asked her what time she got there and she said 6:15pm! THERE WERE TWO LINES. The fact that I got there at 5:15pm and didn’t get a dress, while my friend got there at 6:15pm and waited in a line that didn’t exist when I originally got there and was provided a dress….doesn’t seem fair to me or to the other girls that waited in line. I love Outdoor Voices and I don’t blame them for any of it. It’s a tale of unfortunate events.
I also left early because I wanted to get home to watch a few episodes of Fosse/ Verdon that is now on Hulu. For those of you who may not know, Bob Fosse was a famous choreographer for broadway and movies in the 70’s. Mostly famous for Cabaret, Chicago, Pippin, Sweet Charity, etc. Bob Fosse is my favorite choreographer- his movements are small and precise. Cabaret and Chicago are my favorite broadway musicals. Cabaret, the movie, stars Liza Minelli– what more could you ask for! Anyway, Gwen Verdon was Fosse’s wife for 20 years. She was an actor/dancer in movies like Damn Yankees and the original cast of Chicago on broadway. I knew Fosse was a product of his generation. At a time when the only way a woman in showbiz could move up or stay in the show is by sleeping with the director/choreographer. If you did not sleep with the director you were either kicked out, demoted, or given an extremely hard time. This was true to Hollywood, ballet companies, broadway, etc. It is, unfortunately, still going on. If Fosse was alive today the #MeToo movement would not be kind to him. As it shouldn’t be. The man was a terrible person– a genius choreographer and visionary– but a terrible person; rude, narcissistic, sexual predator, serial cheater. The little jazz dancer inside of me that always got so excited when learning Fosse choreography is sad to know the man is a monster. Although I knew going into series the sexual predatory nature of his actions, I didn’t know details of his life and his marriage to Gwen. It’s very interesting to watch. The mini-series is really good and highly suggest watching! Michelle Williams and Sam Rockwell better win an Emmy for their portrayal.
As I mentioned this weekend my parents are in town! We are going to a Yankees game tonight. This will be my (and my parents) first ever Yankees game. I know, I know. I have been in NYC for almost 7 years and I have never been to a game. I wouldn’t say baseball is my favorite sport or a sport that I have to go see every season. I have been to a Cubs game a few times in my life, and have seen the Columbus Clippers numerous times. I even played softball as a kid. But baseball is definitely not my favorite sport. I am, however, pretty excited to see the game tonight! It’s an experience and it’s the Yankees!! Home of some of baseball’s biggest, legendary names. It should be a good time! They are playing Cleveland Indians– adds a little extra layer of excitement as we are from Ohio. Anyway, I will be wearing my Yankees hat that I got in high school while on vacation here in NYC. Sorry Ohio but GO YANKEES!
Besides seeing baseball’s finest play, we are heading over to the Statue of Liberty to go up into the crown (also for the first time ever). Basically being a tourist this weekend. I can’t wait! Should be a fun weekend and I am excited to see my parents!
Have a wonderful weekend! xo
1. Celebrating Woodstock 50 years later
5. The ultimate end-of-summer NYC bucket list
6. Dying over Jenn’s family room redesign
8. Katie Couric’s new Docu-Series “Timelines”
9. What to splurge on when you move into a new home
10. Diana the musical heads to broadway