It’s only January and I’m already pumped for my birthday… which is at the end of April.
Why? Because I’m going crusin’ with a bunch of friends!
About a month before I started blogging in 2009, a big group of my friends and I went on a cruise for Ryan’s cousin’s birthday. (Daniel was also the best man in our wedding and is one of the most hysterical people I know.)
If you’ve ever been on a cruise before, you know that the cruise designates one night of the cruise as “formal night,” and guests get all gussied up in dressy attire.
Well, Daniel had the idea to have our group dress up in formal wear… ‘80s style.
Ryan and I had the best time scouring local thrift shops to find our outfits.
That little gem of a dress was only $12! It was a velvet and gold dream come true.
This year we’re hoping to do something fun for formal night again, but don’t have any amazing ideas so far.
The best idea thrown out there as of right now is “flannel formal” which I think could be pretty amazing if our entire group of 10 is decked out in head-to-toe flannel, but it’s also not quite dressy enough to really pass as formalwear.
I figured that you guys are super creative and might have some awesome ideas out there to share, so if anything pops into your head, please share! We’re all ears!
Workout
Back to the usual business…
Today’s workout was tough. It started with 20 minutes on the elliptical. I’ve come to realize that my 20-minute cardio warm up is rather crucial to a quality strength workout for me.
I find that I really wake up during a 20-minute cardio warm up and by the time my warm up is complete, I’m ready to pour more effort into my strength training.
And put forth lots of effort I did!
I completed the following leg workout:
Today I brought back the 100 squats challenge and it had my legs shakin’! I’ve been doing three minutes of non-stop squats (inspired by BodyPump!) at 50 pounds for a few weeks now, but upping my weight to 75 pounds and focusing on pounding out 100 squats with minimal resting breaks (taken when necessary) was tough.
I’ll be sore tomorrow!
The 100 squat challenge was inspired by our friend Ben Saperia who is an amazing personal trainer in Orlando. (He’s the same guy who taught the Blogger Boot Camp class I organized a year ago.) He had Ryan doing the 100 squat challenge a while ago and I would always hear Ryan talk about how hard it was and he was right. It’s no joke!
Breakfast
Breakfast today came in a cup!
A thick ‘n’ delicious smoothie!
Into the blender went:
- 3/4 cup 2 percent milk
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 1 1/2 frozen banana
- 1 1/2 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Peanut butter cup smoothies are the best!
Questions of the Morning
- What is the best theme you’ve ever heard of for a party?
- Any ideas for themed formal attire for our upcoming cruise?
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I will make out with Sadie if you guys do the “toddlers and tiaras” theme FULL GLITZ.
or if you dress up as disney princesses and princes. Bonus points if one of you brings a magic carpet.
Such a great idea!
My couple of ideas to toss around…brady bunch inspired theme or America themed.
OH MY GOSH, your America idea just had me dying thinking of possibilities!
ah you should do a Kentucky Derby style theme. Big hats, southern charm…and drink Mint Julips all night 🙂
Your peanut butter cup smoothie looks delicious! Have you ever tried a milk alternative (unsweetened almond milk or soy milk?) Thanks!
yes! i love smoothies with almond milk!
I don’t have any good ideas for your formal night, but that looks so fun!! I’ve been on a couple cruises with my parents but never with friends. I’m wanting to do it now! Well, as soon as we all have real jobs 🙂
OMG I Love this. This is totally something me and my friends would do!
This is so fun! We did color themed formal nights so everybody coordinated… BUT I think it would be fun to do a famous couples theme! You could definitely get creative with that!
You should definitely do a prom type theme! How cute would it be to dress up in a long formal, colorful gown again?
Are you scared about the cruise at all because of what just happened with the Italian captain? I find that I am now a little reluctant to try out a cruise!
Getting dressed up in formal attire is usually fun in and of itself, but it sounds even more fun with a theme. I love the 80s one! That will be hard to top.
This might be slightly innapropriate, but what about old men and gold diggers? The guys could wear super high waisted pants, and the girls hot pink spandex…
What about a “Neon Formal”… Everyone would really stand out!
AH! I suggested that idea to Ryan last week!!
We have a white trash Christmas bash every year, and the outfits are hysterical!!!
For formal nite – what about black and white theme or an animal print theme? I could see the girls loving the animal print theme, not sure what the guys could do with it.
Also, I started going the 20 min ellpticial warm up and love it.
I’ve started doing my 2mins of cross training after weights and I think I prefer it as I’m more focused on my weight training. Luckily the 10 minute walk to the gym energises me!
Sadly, I’ve never dressed 80s 🙁
In college we occasionally did birthday parties where everyone would dress up as something that started with the birthday girl’s first letter of her name…Since it’ll be your birthday you could have a J-party! Everyone has to dress up as something starting with a J. My favorite was an L party once…I was lara croft, there were lifeguards, lawyers, legos (hysterical), lakers, lance armstrong, leopards, and tons more…etc. Not sure if it would fit the formal theme but maybe for another night?? 🙂
Ohh your smoothie looks delicious! And your pictures are so fun! Looks like your last cruise was def a success! I think the eras are always fun– the 20s or the 60s would be cute! Or I like this prom idea that’s circulating! ESPECIALLY if you make it cheesy! My sorority had a formal that was brides and bachelors and so we all dressed up in fake wedding gear (much of which was from the 80s) but it was def fun!
Oh my. That dress is awesome! You should wear it to dinner one night with Ryan, just to see what kind of looks you get from people 🙂
This may be a silly question, but what do squats workout – your butt, legs, etc… ?
That 80s dress is GREAT. 😉
EVERYTHING! Legs, butts, even your core a bit!
butt not butts… unless you have two. 😉
I vote Jersey Shore – we went to a JS-themed New Years party and it was hilarious! Lots of blowouts on guys, chains, tacky dresses. My husband wore one of my juicy suits and stuffed his shirt and was JWoww 🙂
Jersey Shore theme!
My friends did a Broadway-themed party for a birthday one year. It was out of control. You’d be amazed at what people can come up with!
My suggestions are denim or medieval! Oooh! Royal wedding attire. I think the ladies would have such a great time hat shopping! 🙂
Rubik’s Cube Theme – (you would have to start in someone’s room first). Everyone should meet up wearing one item of clothing for each color on the Rubik’s cube (white, red, blue, orange, green, and yellow). Then, once everyone is there, you swap clothing items until you have an entire outfit of one solid color. Think accessories!
we did a social like that in college! so fun!
The first thing I thought of was also an ABC (anything but clothes) party! One time we cut up Abercrombie bags (you know which ones I’m talking about, with the gorgeous men on them) to make dresses and wore pumps with them. It was way fun! Maybe not that formal, but a fun theme.
The prom ideas sounds really fun, especially if you ladies could still fit into your original dresses! You could always do another decade, or a celebrity formal night – dress up as an iconic man or woman from eras past or present.
Are you on a new posting schedule? I noticed you’ve been posting only twice a day–just want to know when to check the blog!
I love that you use Ryan’s cup sometimes. At least, I am assuming any “R” cups your have are his! 🙂
haha prom idea do it!
I love it! That dress is absolutely hilarious! I think you guys should dress EXTREMELY “matchy-matchy” next time. Like make it look like you totally planned to match … to the EXTREME. Yes, you will be “that” couple! 😉
A Kentucky derby theme with big ridiculous floppy hats would be kinda funny
I was going to ask about PB2 as well. I’ve tried it and it’s awesome but “Protein Plus peanut flour” actually has more protein than PB2
I haven’t heard of that. Will have to check it out, thanks!
You’ve gotten some great suggestions for formal night!
I wanted to ask if you’ve tried PB2. I use it in my protein shakes for that pb flavor and protein, but less fat. Love it!
You should all dress up and wear these!!! http://www.amazon.com/Accoutrements-12027-Horse-Head-Mask/dp/B003G4IM4S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327604820&sr=8-1
Check out the customer images.. soo funny!!!
This is my everyday, all time favorite smoothie recipe! I also add in my leftover coffee from the morning for an afternoon boost 🙂
Great outfits! The party must have been really fun!
haha you could do Jersey Shore “formal”…I’m sure someone has alraedy said that, but just another idea! It could be funny
I looooove love the prom dress idea! ahhh that would be beyond hilarious.
Great Couples throughout history!! Isn’t that what they pick on the movie Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore?? I loved that one!
I have two ideas: High School Stereotype: dressing up as the cheerleader, band member, teacher’s pet, geek/nerd, skater, punk, stoner, etc.
Or a classic masquerade party
We did a 20’s themed formal party one year for Christmas. It was a lot of fun – I found this amazing knee length velvet dress with a bedazzled peacock design down the front. We do a formal party every year but that year really stands out because the outfits were so fun