Light up Night Violence?

Good Morning everyone!!

First off let me say that I am so excited because this week is a three day work week because of the holidays! Short work weeks are the best.. its like the work week itself is a mini vacation because everyone seems to move at a slower pace, some people are gone.. and no one( well mostly no one) will bother getting angry about anything because their week is almost over and then they get 5 days off : )

I am also excited because I get to see my other half this week. (YIPPEE!!!) I love that we get to spend the holidays together.. I think its sharing something special and this year he is even venturing back to my hometown with me for the day to hang out with my family. I am so excited to be with all my favorite people at one time!

I am getting nervous because my gym will be closed thursday through Monday and I will be surrounded by amazingly good food and I minute amount of time and ability to exercise. Do the holidays make anyone else feel out of your healthy routine? My solution is going to be to work out as hard as I can Monday through Wednesday and then try to keep the pies and cookies to just Thanksgiving day in moderation and not take any leftovers. Although my family is Italian so that may not be a possability.

This weekend was awesome because it was full of friends and good food. Friday was "Light up Night" and for those of you who may be reading as non Pittsburgh Natives... Light up Night is the one weekend a year where they close off downtown and everyone can wander around seeing Christmas festivities and see the unvieling of the displays in the Macys windows. My friends Marlee,Sarah and I went down to check it out..

Sarah is on the left, Marlee Right

The crowds were crazy!! But the Christmas trees everywhere were amazing!

Inside PNC Plaza

Market Square



PNC Plaza



PPG Place

We did a ton of walking around (which was not helped by the fact that my legs were sore) and at the end of the night got to see some fireworks : )

Apparently what we missed was the gang violence and riots that broke out on Sixth and Wood Street? I had no idea this even happened until the next morning when people were commenting on my facebook page. Can you believe that we have lost so much respect for ourselves and any sense of morality that some punk kid would open fire in a public place where children were coming to meet Santa Clause? It really makes me sick..

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Quick Routines

Good Morning Everyone!!

Normally I blog on Mondays but yesterday was just crazy!! I feel like this whole week is going to be a real stresser only because every second of every day is filled with something and if it isnt.. than its going to be filled with sleep because I dont always get enough : )

First let me start off by saying that I have the most amazing job in the world. I have truly been blessed to work with some very kind people, who really want to see young people succeed which is so refreshing! Especially refreshing to me since I had a boss through college that was a little angry jerk with a napoleon complex the size of Montana. The whole staff (especially me for some reason I have yet to figure out) was screamed at, manhandled and degraded every night by our piece of crap manager who was nothing more than a glorified host. Note to all readers: The Duquense Club = Amazing Tips but sometimes money isnt worth the piece of shit you have to work for ( I think he was jealous that we were young and just starting our lives and his had already gone to hell in a handbasket bc he was such an a** hole)... buuuut I digress hahaha That experience makes me truly appreciate the wonderful people I work for now and because they are so wonderful, they are letting me pick up some extra hours in the office to make up for money I have to pay to the University to finish my MBA.

This also means that I have to work later than usual which is screwing up my gym routine. Usually I would go to the gym at 4 when I was off of work and now I go at 5. I have class 2 nights a week at 6 which doesnt leave me much time.. I have been trying to go and at least run a few miles because I feel like a complete lump sitting in my office all day and then sitting in a classroom all night.. but hey you gotta do what you gotta do!

I would love some tips or routines that anyone has tried that are quick but an effective work out : ) Let me know if you have any thoughts on something I can complete in 30-40 minutes.

THANKS!!