Clockwork Orange Show & Weekend Recap!

My weekend was a whirlwind! By the time I got home last night, I could hardly believe that I had to go to work the next day and it was already Monday! Admittedly, I spent about 9 hours of my weekend driving, but it was worth it to go home and see my little brother's band, Clockwork Orange. The show was awesome and I'm so proud of my brother and his bad ass drum skills. Seriously, check him out! Special shout out to Joe on vocals and Kelby on bass!



It was wonderful to be home and spend some quality time with my family. My mom and I got to hang out and we even bonded over clothes and make-up, which was a first for us! (Love you, Mom!) There was even karaoke to Achy Breaky Heart at one point, but I won't post that video, ha!

All in all it was a fantastic weekend. Although, I do not want to sit in my car for hours anytime soon.

Peace, love & singing in front of strangers,
♥LisaJennea♥

TiLT ~ Radical Self Love, Brilliant Ideas & Cannonballs!

Current crushes:

♥Fully embracing Radical Self Love. I am strong, I am intelligent, I am empowered, I am creative, I am beautiful. I am a force to be reckoned with and I can accomplish anything! Constantly reminding myself of all the reasons I am amazing helps me kick the (bad) habit of negative self talk.

♥Having brilliant ideas in the shower and then immediately texting them to the people they involve so I won't forget.

♥Kettlebells! Okay, so they aren't really "cannonballs," but they totes look like them, but with handles! My 25lb KB is arriving tomorrow and I am so excited to get started! I want to be ripped and lean and awesome and fierce!

♥Making P90x Plyometrics my bitch! I totally rocked the face off that horrible abomination of torture. It was AWESOME! Thanks Rebekah for doing it with me!

♥Quitting coffee! I truly love my morning ritual of drinking coffee, but the caffeine and it's effects are not good for me. Check out this Nasa study that shows what caffeine does to spiders! I am replacing coffee with green tea, and will eventually try to cut back on the tea as well. I am on day three and so far I'm doing great. I have felt a little bit extra tired, but I'm fixing that with some extra sleep. Also, when I feel a need for coffee coming on at work, I will get up and walk around a bit to get my body moving and my brain working. Previously, I would have relied on an extra shot of caffeine. I feel amazing, which is pretty good motivation to continue!

♥Listening to my Outkast Pandora station in the morning while getting ready for work. Going to work is just more fun when you've already gotten down! So what if it's while you were putting on mascara!

What do you love this week? Tell me in the comments! 

Peace, love & booty shaking,

♥LisaJennea♥

Ten on Tuesday - Foodie Edition

This week's Ten on Tuesday is all about food. Thanks to Chelsea for hosting! 
1.  What condiments are always, always in your fridge?
Salsa, Sriracha sauce, mayo, deli mustard, and roasted red peppers.
2.   How do you like your steak cooked?  Your burgers?
Steak: medium rare. Burgers: medium.
3.  What’s your favorite use for fresh tomatoes?
When they are exceptionally delicious, caprese salad. If they aren't exceptionally delicious, I pretty much won't eat them, fresh or otherwise. 
4.  What’s your go-to dinner when you haven’t planned anything in advance and you don’t feel like going out?
Eggs in some form or another. It's just so easy!
5.  What’s your favorite snack food lately?
Almonds.
6.  What’s your favorite weekend breakfast to make at home? 
Steel cut oatmeal from scratch. It takes awhile, so it's nice to make it on the weekends.
7.  What’s your favorite thing to grill?  How do you do it? 
I don't actually grill, but my favorite grilled thing is tri tip with onions as a close second. Yum!
8.  What’s your favorite wine for under $10? If you’re not a wine person, what brand of beer is your favorite?
To me it seems more like wine, but it's technically a beer - Lindeman's Framboise. It's a fruit lambic, which makes it raspberry beer. It is tart and kinda bubbly and seriously good.
9.  Give us your most delicious cocktail recipe.
Malibu and Coke. Simple but enjoyable and smooth!
10.  How do you like your eggs?
I don't discriminate against eggs - I'll eat them scrambled, poached, overeasy, fried, hardboiled, etc. My cooking method depends on what I'm going to be serving them with. I love eggs!

Rainy and Relaxing Weekend

So, this weekend it rained and rained and rained and rained in LA. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's still raining. Luckily there was a break in the weather on Saturday, which I used as an opportunity to take my new beach cruiser for a spin. It was still kinda chilly and overcast, but it was nice to be outside and feel the wind on my face. 

Please excuse the dorky expression. Also, my arm was not long enough to get me AND the bike.  Sad face.

Hot Dog on A Stick FTW! Not pictured, attractive people playing beach volleyball. 

Saturday night was spent on an epic Ikea outing in Burbank. Never go to Burbank on a Saturday night if you are hungry and want to eat dinner without waiting for about 2 hours. Also, parking sucks. It took 28 minutes (!) just to go through two garages and not find a single spot.

Sunday I went to brunch at Auntie Em's Kitchen with some fabulous people and braved the crazy rain and LA freeways. I ordered the French Toast - it was tasty and also came with the most incredibly delicious strawberries I've had in a long while.

After brunch, I went home and thanked my lucky stars that I made it  in one piece. I must need new tires, because I was not doing too hot on the flooded freeways! I did my taxes (and so early, go me!) and then I had an amazingly wonderful and lazy Sunday night.

So yes, rain has many drawbacks, such as making it more difficult to get places and making you wet and making you curse the fact that you are from California and don't have appropriate waterproof clothing. At the same time, I can't think of anything better than to be indoors catching up on much needed rest and relaxation with pouring rain as your soundtrack. 

And if that doesn't do it for you, here's some Peter, Bjorn and John:

Have a good week my lovelies.

Peace, love and puddle splashes,
♥LisaJennea♥

TiLT ~ Taking Risks, Jump Lunges & Windblown Hair

What's got my heart all a flutter this week:

♥ Conversations about the importance of risk and coming to the following conclusion: Letting go is hard but is essentially what makes life worth living. If you always knew the outcome in any given situation, than what would be the point?

♥ Driving around with my windows down and my music blasting! So simple yet freeing and exhilarating.

♥ My daddy. After last week I'm so happy he is home and healthy and not scaring me anymore. 

♥ Doing this insane workout with my brother, calling him up right after, so out of breath I can hardly speak, and dishing about how far we got and how many t-pushups we were able to do!

♥ Shoedazzle - Such a fantastic idea but very, very dangerous for me. Swoon.

What's got you twitterpated this week? Tell me in the comments! 

Peace, love & tan left arms,

♥LisaJennea♥  

Ten on Tuesday - The Ides of March Edition

I just got back into town, and I'm feeling pretty mentally drained. In lieu of my normal Tuesday Tips, I'm going the route of Ten on Tuesday, borrowed from Nora and hosted by Chelsea.

Here goes! Also, beware the Ides of March!

1. What is your cleaning style like?
I tend to let cleaning pile up, and then go into a cleaning frenzy. Also, I'm a company cleaner - meaning I am willing to let things slide unless I know someone is going to come over! Then, I clean clean clean!

2. What is your favorite thing to add to an outfit to take it from casual to classy?
Heels, hands down. Also, I have one really pretty necklace my grandma gave me that makes everything look better.

3. Do you like stormy weather?
I love it, as long as I get to stay inside! Rain and lightning and thunder and snuggling on a couch with a blanket, a cuppa tea and a good book, yes please!

4. What is your favorite cold treat on a hot day?
Venti green iced tea, with NO sweetener and extra ice from Starbucks!

5. What is your favorite warm treat on a cold day?
Lady Grey tea.

6. Who is your favorite animated character?
My favorite animated character has to be Spanish Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story 3. So hilarious!


7. What do you keep your jewelry in?
I have one of those hanging jewelry files. It changed my life! Before everything was crammed into a too small jewelry box and it was all tangled and a mess.

8. Do any of the rooms in your house have a theme?
No, I like so many things I actually think having a theme would be difficult for me!

9. Do you watch any interior design TV shows – if so, what is your favorite?
I don't have cable, so I really don't follow any design shows. However, I absolutely LOVE Apartment Therapy, an interior design and home blog.

10. When was the last time you did something risk-taking?
Hmmmm, risk taking is sort of my motto right now. Nothing major, but I am trying to take lots of little risks in everything I do, from work to my personal life. I'll let you know later how it's working for me :)

Perspective

One of the most terrible things in life is when you answer what should be a normal phone call, and as soon as the person on the other end of the line starts speaking, your stomach drops out of you and your heart starts racing. You've just been told someone you love is hurt. You go into a shock of sorts, and your brain barely processes the information because it is so out of the ordinary. 

I have been blessed to not have many phone calls like this, but on Thursday afternoon I was not so lucky.  My little brother called me while I was at work, and I assumed he wanted to ask me questions about colleges or exercise, his two favorite subjects to discuss with me at the moment. Instead, he told me that our dad had just been rushed to the hospital because he passed out and was suspected to have internal bleeding.

I felt sick, dizzy and shaken but tried to mask the panic in my voice while I encouraged my brother to stay calm and be strong for my mom. I hung up the phone and tried to get my bearings. My coworkers noticed I was upset, and asked me what was wrong. I managed to not break down into full on hysterical crying while I explained the situation, but it was only with great effort on my part. Without my work family, I probably would have hopped in my car immediately and started driving the 300 miles to get to my hometown to be with my dad.

The good thing is that they were able to talk me down from the ledge and helped me understand that presently there was nothing I could do to help the situation. Better to sit tight and wait to hear exactly what was happening rather than freak out and wonder about all the "what ifs." So I waited for what felt like forever, and went on with my evening as planned but with my cell phone clutched in my anxious grip.

After several hours I learned that my dad had was experiencing a complication from a recent surgery which had caused him to develop a bleeding ulcer. Having  lost a significant amount of blood, he needed a blood transfusion as well as treatment for the ulcer. After being hospitalized for two days while the doctors stabilized him, he was released to go home.

He still doesn't feel 100% but is getting better every hour. My family is so thankful to have him back home alive and well. It is terrifying to think about what might have been if my mom hadn't reacted immediately and called 911 like she did. I am happy I was able to come home and be with my family, and enjoyed spending time with them despite the circumstances. 

Experiences like this really put your life in perspective. Right now, I am less concerned with all the mundane problems that have a way of dampening my spirits. It is awful to think that an emergency was the catalyst for this way of thinking, but I am going to work even harder at living consciously in the moment. I want to fully appreciate what is important - family, friends, love and actually living life - and let go of what doesn't really matter. 

Have you gone through something like this? How did it affect you and/or change your perspective?

Peace and love,

♥LisaJennea♥

TiLT: Beach Cruisers, Sunshine & My Little Brother!

Not my beach cruiser

What is making my heart do cartwheels this week:

♥ My new beach cruiser - and that I had to buy a "girls" bike instead of an "adult" bike because I am so miniature! I was at first disappointed I couldn't get the color I wanted, but now I'm looking forward to many weekend beach bike rides, so I'm over it! Now to get a basket and a bell . . .
♥ This website I found through Sarah Wilson. See, everybody rides a bike!
♥ Sunshine! I love that it is finally warming up and I can work on my tan and shed some layers and wear pretty sun dresses. I am so lucky to live in Southern California.
♥ My "little" brother is growing up and thinking about where to go to college and what he wants to do with his life. It makes me ridiculously happy when he calls me to talk about it!
♥ White Russians on a Monday for no particular reason.
♥ Coming to terms with what I want and what I do not want. This is extremely difficult, but necessary if I want to truly live the life I envision for myself.
♥ Mini bottles of champagne - they just make me smile.
♥ The feeling I get when I help people, and how there are so many ways to do something small that will make a huge impact for someone in your life.

Peace, love and SPF 4,
♥LisaJennea♥

Tuesday Tipsss ~ Tequila, Pub Quiz and Sunscreen

Okay, so my tips for this fine Fat Tuesday are as follows:

• Tequila is best served from a shot glass, not from a bartender pouring straight from the bottle while you may or may not be laying on said bar. Just trust me on this one. 
• While at Pub Quiz, do not triumphantly shout out your answer unless you are quite sure you are correct. Otherwise your friends will look at you in stunned disbelief as they realize you aren't quite as intelligent as you appear to be, at least when it comes to kid movies. Don't worry, they still love you, but now they will make fun of you. 
• Sunscreen works best when you reapply every so often, who knew? If you enjoy the reverse raccoon tan/burn look, total hotness, I know, then feel free to ignore my warning. 

Today's tips are brought you by the letter "A," as in Alcohol. If I was Catholic, I would definitely have to give it up for Lent, but then where would all my bad decisions come from? ;) 

Peace, love and body shots,

♥LisaJennea♥

Music Monday and Letting Go of Fear

I have a difficult time stepping out of my comfort zone. I am getting better about it, but it's still a struggle for me to agree to try something I'm not quite sure I will be successful at.

My tendency to exhibit certain type-A personality traits, such as being highly competitive and fear of failure, often freezes me in my tracks. Not being good at something or failing sucks, and I just don't want to deal with it. Better not to even try, than try and fail, right?

In my mission to fully embrace life and all it has to offer, I have decided that it's time to let go of that thought pattern. Sometimes you fail, and it's no big deal. Sometimes you fail, it's still fun and you learn something about yourself in the process.

This weekend I stepped out of my comfort zone big time. After constantly saying no to snowboarding, my friend FINALLY convinced me to go with her. I have been snowboarding before but a considerable amount of time has passed since the last time I went. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to grasp the skills necessary to stay upright and not kill myself.

I had an amazing time on the mountain, and it didn't matter at all that I was learning. There is no shame in being a beginner. I fell down a lot, but I was having fun the entire time! It helped that my awesome BFF stayed with all day on the easy stuff, teaching me the basics and offering encouragement!

After we were exhausted and couldn't possibly go on another run, we went back to the car, gazed at the mountain and sang this song at the top of our lungs:



It was a beautiful day, and I am proud of myself for not giving in to fear. What motivates you to step outside your comfort zone and embrace new experiences?

Peace, love and sore muscles,
♥LisaJennea♥

The ABCs of LisaJennea

Happy Friday! Since I'm new to this whole blogging thing, I decided I would copy Nora and put a little bit more about myself out there.

Age: 25, just shy of 26.  
Bed size: Queen. I love my bed so much. I'm petite but I like to stretch out!
Chore you dislike: Dishes, haha. I've spoken about this before. 
Dogs: Yes! I have a wonderfully grumpy old dog named Cleo. She's scruffy and I love her. 
Essential start to your day: Coffee, but not before I hit the snooze button a gazillion times. My upstairs neighbors must love me.  
Favorite color: Poppy pink. Although usually I wear black, haha.
Gold or silver: Silver. I hate gold. Makes me feel funny like I'm wearing my grandma's jewelry. 
Height: 5 foot and a half inch. Every little bit counts! :) 
Instruments you play(ed): Clarinet and tenor sax. Does Rockband count? 
Job title: Development Coordinator. I handle fundraising and events for a private independent school. I absolutely love it, most of the time. 
Kids: Nope but maybe someday. 
Live: LA!
Mom’s name: Not sure she would be comfortable having it published on the blog, so for these purposes it can be "Mom."
Nicknames: LP, LisaLouLou (that one comes from my mom), LilPop.
Overnight hospital stays: Nope. 
Pet peeve: When people clip their fingernails in public places. Ick. Ick. Ick. 
Quote from a movie: I'm already pregnant, what other shenanigans can I get into? - Juno
Righty or Lefty: Righty!
Siblings: Older sister and little brother. I ♥ them like whoa. 
Time you wake up: Wishful thinking? 5 AM so I can work out. Reality? 6:30, sometimes 7. 
Underwear: Ummm, what about them? I like them? Hahaha. 
Vegetables you don’t like: I actually like most every veggie. 
What makes you run late: Taking too long in the shower. 
X-Rays you’ve had: Left knee and right foot.
Yummy food you make: Pork tenderloin and chocolate chip cookies.
Zoo animal favorite: Polar bears. They just look so cute!

Have a great weekend my lovelies! I hope you relax and get some rest. I know I need it!

Peace, love and 123's,
♥LisaJennea♥

TiLT: Anthropologie, Summer Concerts & Wabi Sabi

♥ What I'm currently crushing on this week:

♥ Sale items at Anthropologie. I mean seriously, how can you not love these??? I would not complain if some nice person just snapped them up and sent them to me, thankyouverymuch :)

♥ Loving the fact that despite feeling spazzy the last few weeks and spilling coffee on just about everything, including my laptop, I feel so incredibly happy and excited it's not getting me down.

♥ 20sb - they have been an awesomely welcoming community and I've already made a few friends as I get into this whole blogging thing. Which I love, in case you couldn't tell :)

♥ Lusting over summer concerts and wishing I could go to all of them. Florence and the Machine, Katy Perry, and Bruno Mars are all on the short list right now. I love Flo, I want to be friends with her! Does anyone else think she looks kinda like Bridget Fonda? It's the eyes, I swear.


♥ Calling a friend you haven't spoken to in like, forever, and having an epic chat sesh about how hard it is to grow up, how amazing going to therapy can be and how much we've all changed (for the better) since college. ♥♥♥

♥ Thinking about trying to live a more wabi sabi life, the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection. Check out Sarah's article on the subject - it's a good read and makes you think!

Tuesday Tipsss

Okay, so, this is my attempt to offer some (unsolicited) advice to my readers every Tuesday. It may or may not be practical. You are warned.

Tip #1: Letting dishes fester for one week while you are lazy/busy/watching Buffy (see tip #3) - will ultimately result in a super nasty dish washing experience. Ick. Just do the damn dishes already.

Tip #2: If you have a dog and get your yoga on, they will think you are trying to play. Also, when you shoo them away so you can focus on your downward dog (ironic, I know!), they will be depressed. Make amends by taking them on a walk after you get your zen fix.

Tip #3: Starting a season of Buffy on netflix is pretty much the equivalent of saying farewell to 22 consecutive hours of your life. This would be useful if you had the luxury of being independently wealthy, but, if you are like me, it will cut into your sleeping hours, and you will show up to work looking like a cracked out zombie that Buffy would kill. Not cool.

Peace, love and dish soap,
♥LisaJennea♥