The last hour in my 29th year....

I just finished having a pity party for 30 minutes and am so happy I have moved on to greener pastures and staying up late to blog! I hate that I have neglected keeping up with the blog as I wanted, but I've decided that this is merely the beginning, so no point of rushing a masterpiece!

I have an infinite amount of scribbles and notes of things I've wanted to start writing and neglected, but since it is merely minutes before my birthday, I will reflect on the ones I like the best.

Today I am thankful for having my hair come out fabulous from a beauty school student, for $14! And getting a bag full of free samples from the extra nice receptionist.

Thankful I didn't meet the love of my life at carrotdating.com. In addition, glad I don't take any "gifts" in exchange for dates.


Thankful I am not Kim K. & Kanye who's engagement was received like this. I wish them happiness.

Thankful I found these hot cocoa amazingness.

Thankful I don't have to work off my hot cocoa in this outfit.

Thankful that I lost 6 lbs this month, probably due to stress, hopefully due to the gym.

Thankful I found gorgeous bridesmaid dresses, although I don't officially have any bridesmaids yet.

::fingers crossed they say yes:::

Thankful that I have spent 30 years out of jail (and drug free).

Thankful that I have my health (yes, even with the extra lbs).

Thankful that I have my job, that I loved, loved, loved this last weekend, mostly because my first cardboard maze didn't fall apart. (it was our Fall Festival, check out the pics, like our page!)

Thankful that I have my crazy family, who comes to help me clean, takes care of my dog, makes me my favorite meals, says "I love you" every single day and makes my life so damn amazing.

Thankful for life, because although you get old, fat, wrinkly---you have to remember that all those things are a result of too much good food, too many good laughs and surrounding yourself with too many good people who will one day be too blind to see any of your flaws OR maybe they just love you just the way you are.

Thirty baby, I'm ready for you.

Getting old is kinda scary...

In the last 3 days I've learned that weekdays go buy way faster now than they did in my previous life. It's also made me think about kids a lot. I have a coworker going on his 4th child and another with 3, and I can barely walk my dog and get to the gym after work...let alone help another human with homework, food and baths! Christian (the hubby-to-be) has high expectations for our future family that include 3 babies. Being an hour and a half away from my mother, it really scares me to think I'll be hiring a stranger to take care of my kids....

and even worse.....

that this stranger might not even speak Spanish! :::gasp:::

It's so strange to think that my upbringing is going to be NOTHING like my kids. My mom was able to stay home, cook for us everyday, help with homework, and embarrass me to death by walking me to school until I was a Freshmen in high school. #truestory

My kids will have 2 working parents, I probably will only make dinner on the weekends, help with homework and never walk my kids to school. I don't know why that makes me so sad. The odd thing is, I love work; I love to work, I love my job, I love my paycheck.....so I would never want to be a stay at home mom. But, thinking about how close I am to my mom now, how we call each other twice a day (in college I called her 3x a day), how I learned to cook after school - AFTER washing the dishes, how I was forced to learn Spanish from imported books...it makes me sad that I will miss out on doing that with my future spawn.

Regardless, I am so very thankful for my mom....and my dad who worked his ass off for our family.

As for the rest of the list, I'm thankful for:



1. Seltzer Water - I don't understand people who don't like it. It's like soda, but not deadly! Try a lime one...or better a Wegmans Berry one!

2. In-house washer/dryer - God I'm old, I just said I'm thankful for being able to do laundry at home. Once upon a time, I swore to never to my own laundry again. And Goldman Sach's agrees. <<< read the entire list

3. Spin class - although it feels like death, I feel a huge sense of accomplishment finishing a class and not falling off the bike.

4. Google Hangout - So I can dress shop with my mom who is far away - who's been dress shopping on her own.

5. I don't live in the quiet zone West Virginia. How would I feed my social media addiction?!

6. Having overdraft protection.

7. Having a Fiance to bail me out when overdraft protection is not enough.

8. Having this list: Names that sound good in English and Spanish - no I'm not knocked up, I swear. No more baby talk.

9. Finally deciding on a date for my fabulous 30th Birthday.

10. And finally mornings that start like these with my boo:

Weekends...why must you be so short?

Day #6 -

I've decided that keeping up with a daily blog is no joke! How do you bloggers find the time?! This was a jam packed weekend of work, the King of Prussia Beerfest, Dancing, church, food shopping and house work. I even slipped in a manicure in there! You know what I didn't slip in? The gym. Friday I did do 2 miles and 200 squats, but Sat & Sun I have done nothing. Not only did I not do anything, but I went out drinking, had cupcakes and Mexican food. So instead of complaining about how I'm like every other fat chick out there, know that tomorrow there is Zumba! And today I will write my blog AROUND my thank you list for the weekend...so yes it's a little longer.

I'm thankful for:

1. "All About Us" book I bought at a flea market for .50 cents - I bought this a long time before getting engaged, and thought it would be something Christian would hate, but it has been so fun so far.
2. Mariachi Mexican Grill in Ewing, NJ - I can NEVER go in here without being treated like straight royalty. We went to get dinner on Sat and they not only gave us our 2 entrees for free, but an appetizer, dessert and 2 drinks and a "new" entree to taste. I love being yelp elite and I love Mexicans, they are so damn friendly.
3. King of Prussia Beerfest - I am not one for beer on a regular, I'm a vodka girl for life....but this was so much fun! They had national and international beers and I found Fruiili beer that tastes like strawberries and Blanc belgium beer that tastes like amazingness.

4. Nail Polish - seriously I"m obsessed with painting my nails, now that they grow.
5. My Dish Washer - I never thought I would use one as much as I do lately, but I love it.
6. My first follower on blogger - who also happens to be my friend Renata, I don't care, I'm counting it.
7. Olga Pacheco - who has been my friend since freshman year of college and now we are planning our weddings on the same year....so through a lot of good and bad. lol
8. Marc Anthony's "WAWR" - because it is not the most fabulous inside joke for Christian and I
9. Girl Code on MTV - which inevitably makes me laugh

10. Comfortable high heels - from Target that allowed me to go out dancing for 4 hrs without pain! #winning
11. Tom Bonner - who I had a dinner date that included conversations about immigration and strippers.
12. Tres Leches Cake - Revert back to reasaon #2, Mariachi makes the BEST cake.
13. Dresses - that always make a girl feel pretty, even when you are wearing one because you're being lazy.
14. Sleeping in - Sunday I woke up at 9 am. It was a beautiful thing.
15. Volunteers - I'm builind an amazing maze for our school's Fall Festival, and I am so glad people are just going with the madness that I have stored in my head.
16. Being bilingual - Something I had no real decision behind NOT being, and so thankful that my parents forced it since it has been invaluable in my life....AND contributes to #3 and other successful restaurant outings.
17. For not needing one of these. Ever. Yuck.

18. That my tattoos are not on my face. I saw a young girl who decided to shave the side of her head to put a cheetah pattern on her scalp and cheek. Seriously....I'm so thankful.

Today I have my eye on the prize.

I have to plan a wedding, be a maid of honor, celebrate Christmas, have a 30th birthday party and still pay my mortgage this year. So this week, but mainly today I have my eye on the prize. I've officially signed up for 20 different restaurant savings clubs (free birthday meals and appetizers) and have began to read blogs like "Budget Savvy Bride" and "Broke Ass Bride" to figure out pretty much the next 8 months of my life. So far, I'm making my own bouquet and my wedding video will be on YouTube!

Either ways, I am thankful that I can be resourceful in doing some of the stuff I love like going out to eat, have a drink or just generally celebrate my birthday on a very tight budget. This weekend I"m kicking off my October Birthday festivities with FREE tickets to the King of Prussia Beerfest! :::reason #6,973 why I love Yelp:::

Regardless I'm sharing with you here an awesome list of restaurants you should sign up for their loyalty programs and get some free stuff on your birthday or the rest of the year!! I personally loved this list and just ran down the names and clicked on my favorite restaurants. Seriously go sign up...here are some of my favorites:

Applebee's - Free Appetizer
Chevys - Free Entree!
Chili's - Free Brownie Sundae #BOOM
Hooters - 10 Free Wings
Joe's Crab Shack - Free Appetizer
Old Navy - 25% off coupon
Texas Roadhouse - Free Side of Ribs!
Sephora - Free goodie bag - highlighter, mascara, lip liner
Uno's Pizzeria - Free Appetizer and today a $5 off coupon!

As usual, here's my thankful list of the day:

Today I'm thankful for:
1. Jessica Arias - who allows me to push my educational goals on her daughter
2. Xiomara Parra - who shares my love of apple cider donuts, wine and budgeting.
3. My mom - yes again, who today was on a quest to find my bridesmaid dresses.
4. Blogs - because I feel awesome writing again.
5. Pinterest - which I can get drowned in for hours with all it's crafty things I will probably never attempt
6. #tbt (throw back thursdays) - to remind me of some fcking amazing times I've had
7. Sunny afternoon - it looked like rain, and I hate walking Alana in the rain, so I'm glad it held up.
8. Clothes - I have two baskets filled with laundry and 3 closets filled with clothes, I must go donate
9. Sally Hansen Hard as Wraps Nail Polish - bc sh*t my nails have NEVER been this long!
10. Suave Mousse - who has significantly improved since I was a teenager!

Death by Fitness Challenge...

It's been nearly two full hours since returning from my spin class and I just realized how out of shape I am - as the soreness begins to creep up to the tips of my fingers! I've also succumbed to the pressures of instagram's #transformationtuesday and have taken body shots of myself (no I will not be posting them - UNLESS I get skinny). But I did decide that added to this 23 days of thankfulness, I should add 23 days of fitness to stop the aging process!

Maybe you, like I, keep saying I'll eat less carbs....

I won't drink anymore..

ok I won't drink during the week...

ok I won't drink alone.....f*ck it, pass the wine.

So instead of cutting all the things I love cold turkey, I will start with at least committing to the gym and more activity. Join me internet friends!  :::in Spartan commander voice::: 

Although in reality, all I want is some cake right now.

Anyway, I am attending an awesome gym (Urge fitness - Ewing, NJ) and 3x a week, I know I will be there for an amazing Zumba, Spin or Dance Party class, but the weekends are the hardest for me to get in some fitness and not reach for a cupcake or a glass of wine.....or both.  So I'm working on this Power of Three thing and since yesterday started the 30 day squat challenge AND 3 mile a day challenge. Now before I get all Richard Simmons on you, let's stay positive.

FYI, youngin's this is Richard Simmons aka god of spandex shorts.

And here is the squat challenge! P.s. the 3 mile challenge can be walking/running.

Hope some of you get started, if not here's my list of the day.

Day #2 - I am thankful for:

1. You- All of 149 of you that bothered to read my first post yesterday. Thank you, you rock.

2. My sister, Madeleine - who without I would have no one to compete against for the most awesome Velez family member. AND who I contemplated leaving off the list again so she'd continue to read posts. 

3. Visine - which I've been addicted to since I started using contacts but now more than ever.

4. My boss - who is really trying to make me a better person.

5. Dinner Service - I'm so blessed to work where they provide me with dinner. I get to go to the gym and come home and scarf a delicious FREE meal.

6. Nic Campbell - Who was the first person to shout me out on my road rage during my first job recruiting. I saw this video yesterday about this crazy road rage battle and have not been able to stop thinking about it. 

7. Avocados - They make my life better. Try these.

8. Makaya Jackson - who despite our distance, always manages to check in with me and make me smile.

9. Renata Ruiz - who unexpectedly came to visit today a midst her busy schedule.

10. Orange is the New Black - which ignited an odd obsession with prison life in me. Yes, I follow her on Twitter and Facebook now. lol

Never did I ever....

Never did I ever, think I'd start blogging again. 

After an entirely too long of hiatus, here I am....starting this up again.

 :::waits for parade::::

It is October 1st and my 30th birthday is 23 days away. And for the last 29 years of my life, I have been so ridiculously spoiled with costume parties, pinatas, hangovers and lots of cake...this year though is it's own beast. I don't know what it is about 30, I actually thought it was going to skip me, but I do feel a slight mid-life crisis approaching.

Suddenly, I'm mourning all the things I didn't do like living abroad in Europe (at 23 I was determined to make that happen) or finishing my Master's (I've been "starting" grad school since age 22) or maybe missing my high school reunion (nah, I never actually thought I'd go to that).

Nevertheless, I realized that work stress, wedding planning stress, money stress, being fat stress could easily make 30 even more daunting. So, I've decided that for the next 23 days, I will not throw a pity party, instead I will be ridiculously thankful for all that has been my last 29 years...and maybe just maybe attempt some good deeds. So because I'm still on an endorphin high from the gym, I'll start with a list.

Day #1 - I am thankful for:

1. Netflix - which is has become my haven.
2. Dance Parties - at my new gym, to remind me how I miss my past life as a Zumba instructor.
3. My Mom - who has learned to pet Alana...a lot.
4. My Fiance, Christian - that I wonder daily if he really knows what he got himself into.
5. My dog, Alana - who is the happiest in the world when u utter the word "walk".
6. My coworker, Ivy - who is planning my wedding for me.
7. My cellphone - which is probably radiating cancer to me, but for now, I can't live without
8. Yelp - because it makes me feel like a VIP.
9. Dove Conditioner - Best smelling and softest hair product ever, especially after the gym.
10. My Dad - who taught me how to put air in a tire via phone yesterday