MIMM: Jill's wedding

My cousin Jill tied the knot with her boyfriend of 10+ years this weekend. This is one of the first non-super Asian or traditional weddings I've attended, mostly because none of my friends are married yet.

MARVELOUS nail stickers for my aunt

MARVELOUS outfit of the day for my cousin's wedding

With one of my more MARVELOUS cousins on her special day.

MARVELOUS favors.

Spent time with my MARVELOUS mom...

...and my cousin.

MARVELOUS centerpiece with a beta fish!

MARVELOUS first dance

MARVELOUS photo booth pictures with my cousin...

...and my mom & aunt.

Asian food that wasn't too bad except this taro paste dessert... weird.

MARVELOUS wedding

Tips to a successful wedding: only invite close family members, have a candy bar even a simple one, & of course, have an open bar. Except I was too hungover to take advantage beyond red wine and champagne.

What's the best wedding you've been to and why?

Friday date night & Sunday Funday

 Made the Fitnessista's apple pie smoothie for breakfast on Friday to celebrate fall.

First time trying this flavor - didn't love it. The lemon flavor was too artificial.

I still love these nail stickers - they didn't come off all week!

Friday date night in my favorite dress

We ate 4 plates of Korean BBQ, drank this soju, and then headed to dive bars for beers, pool, and shuffleboard - I, of course, made new friends while there. :)

Sunday funday errands:

No nail polish stickers at the swap meet this week. Bought magnetic polish instead.*

*Should've read the instructions first.

Yogurtland had both pumpkin pie AND peanut butter yogurt! Those are my favorites!

Meal plan got done too:

• Monday-Friday breakfast: Shakeology w/ 1/2 banana & frozen cherries, slice of toast w/ almond butter or Laughing Cow
• Monday-Thursday lunch: no-butter butter chicken and steamed broccoli
• Monday-Thursday dinner: shrimp spring rolls (no noodles) w/ avocado
• Monday snack: key lime Chobani
• Tuesday-Friday snack: homemade pumpkin pie yogurt
• Friday lunch: haven't figured that out yet

What are you making this week? I only cook for myself so there are tons of repeats.

Thursday Thoughts: We deserve, 3 parts

Part 1
One of my favorite apps recently is Flipboard. I choose the types of news I want, including tweets, and it shows me all the top stories.

It has helped me find the best articles to read such as, JillFit's 13 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself:

3) Stop saying ‘yes’ to everyone and everything.

As women, this is often our natural default. We say yes to things we don’t want to do for fear of hurting someone’s feelings or out of obligation. We feel like if we put up boundaries that we are being bitchy or unkind, when, if you think about it, isn’t saying ‘yes’ to someone when you really want to say ‘no’ unkind to the other person?? I know for me, when I agree to things I don’t want to do, I end up resentful and bitter. And then, in that sense, not only am I now miserable but it’s doing a disservice to the person I said yes to, also. Practice those honest ‘no’s, as Byron Katie says. And if a friend is upset that you are doing what’s best for you, might you ask how good a friend they really are? 

I remembered this message as I got texts and messages, saying "I take back what I said to you last week." Exact words. Even if I didn't have some sort of prospect right now, I would still have said no. Yes, it's unkind to the other person, but more so, it's unkind to myself. I don't deserve it.

We deserve:

• to be comfortable. I'm not a mess when I'm at home, but I felt pressure to be "perfect" whenever I went to hang out.
• quality time and attention. I wasn't a fan of driving in traffic. I also didn't enjoy sitting around doing nothing for 21 hours (once). This might have been okay with someone else, like my former roommate - we used to sit in the same room and do our own thing. Quality time is definitely my love language.
• to surround ourselves with positivity. I learned to listen, to give support and advice. I learned in the process that I love helping people and making them feel good about themselves.

Part 2
I've peeped tons of fall bucket lists and wanted to make one. I haven't had a ton of time to sit down to make a definitive list so here's a draft:

• Zip line
• Go to a pumpkin patch and carve a pumpkin
• Make a Halloween costume
• Go to a fall festival
• Go to a Oktoberfest
• See a roller derby match
• Hike at night 
• Watch a football game
• Watch "Hocus Pocus"
• Make caramel apples
  

  

  Idea from Downtown Disney this evening

• Bake a pumpkin pie
• Read a book
• Visit Asheville or somewhere with leaves and a pretty lake
• Do a 5K (can be done by winter)

Other cool fall bucket lists: Back to Her Roots and Tres Sugar.

Part 3
Other going-ons in life:

Basic almond butter & banana on toast

The best "How A Bill Becomes A Law" board game. I particularly love the game pieces.

Left on my prep to get "Robin Hood" and popcorn for the last 30 minutes of class:

Stopped by Trader Joe's and saw the plethora of pumpkin.

I bought the pumpkin toaster pastries. My students have already eaten most of them!

 I didn't bring lunch today and ate the Thursday lunch our foods class makes. 

This week was chicken lettuce wraps so I was all for it:

What have you said no to lately?

WIAW: Something new and something old

It's that time of the year, and Trader Joe's is feeding my addiction.*

*I still haven't found the pumpkin spice almonds though. :(

I finally tried some new beverages:

There's a hint of chai flavor but still tastes like regular kombucha.

No butter butter chicken

Banana oatmeal protein shake - essentially a protein shake blended with oats.*

*Oatmeal is going to make a comeback!

Tuesday night outfit

Dive bars in Long Beach? Why not?

*The drinks helped me fall asleep and I was up and ready to go.

How a bill becomes a law.

MIMM: The beginning of fall

Today's MIMM is significant - it's the first of a new season [of my life]. I've looked forward to the fall after a crazy summer of parties, making friends, and miscellaneous adventures. It's not all going away, but it'll be calmer.

I updated to the MARVELOUS iOS 7. I like it. :)

My weekend kicked off with MARVELOUS pole dancing class on Friday night. I could climb the pole, even for a little bit. The only awkward part was the "free dance" during the last 5 minutes of class when everyone seemed to have something prepared.

Saturday morning, I met up with Rebecca for a MARVELOUS hike.

Turnbull Canyon was just down the road from her and we could see all the way to the ocean and parts of Downtown L.A.

Part of the hike gives a view of Rose Hills, a extravagant... cemetery?

The hike was an easy 3.5 miles and ended with a tagged up water tower.

I went to The Hat for the first time. I had no idea what it was, and when it was mentioned, I thought they were wanting to buy a real hat...

I got the pastrami sandwich on wheat, ate half and saved the rest.

Saturday night, I finally ventured to Newport Beach and the MARVELOUS SOL Cocina. I cannot believe this was my first time. Their drinks were fresh and really good - I had a farm fresh margarita (pictured) and a vanilla bean infused pineapple martini. I also shared a MARVELOUS hot & raw tropical ceviche that came with sweet potato chips... because wow, how could I resist??!

This was my outfit of the night. I committed to buying this dress and figure I should wear it more. It's a tough one to pull off with the stripes though.

First MARVELOUS day of fall was quite sunny here:

First stop, the swap meet for some nail polish strips.

Then MARVELOUS Sunday morning yoga and an attempt at pumpkin oatmeal protein pancakes. I came out with just one pancake intact though.

I went to the World Market because I wanted some fall inspiration and chocolate.

I've baked a bit more lately and force have my students try them. I made garbanzo bean blondies from Chocolate Covered Katie/Kitchen Queen Eats Clean's challenge on Facebook. The batter was thick but came out good. I still like these tofu brownies better.

I also made Elana's Pantry's Paleo bread that the Fitnessista was raving about. This was easy to make and delicious!

Sunday Funday concluded with doing my cousin and my nails. We used those MARVELOUS nail polish strips. My pattern choice doesn't look as nice... I hope these are better for my nails than gel nails.

And "Dexter." Goodbye friend. :(

What are you looking forward to this fall? Have you made your fall bucket list?