Top Tracks of 2014

Way back when, when I was young and used to blog daily, every week I would put together a playlist of my favorite tunes of the moment. It's been a little while since I have done that for you guys, but it doesn't mean I haven't been listening to great music. The end of the year is always my favorite because it is full of top lists from the year we just finished up, as well as great new tunes and artists that will be making a name for themselves in the coming year.

Now before you get too excited - I didn't make a playlist myself. Ain't nobody got time for that. What I did do for all of you though, is compile a list of other playlists. I wonder how many more times I can say the word list in this post today?

Some of those lists (there it is again) are below....

// Spotify's List (is anyone keeping a tally?) Of Who To Watch In 2015. Keep an eye on Houndmouth for sure. One of the members is friends with Brad.

// NPR's Songs We Love 2014  

//This new single from Pablo Nutini just slays me.

//5 Artists To Watch In December of 2014

So yeah, cheers to music :)

<3 BB

Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Via Pinterest

Want to know all the reasons why it is the most wonderful time of the year?! It is because .....

//It is sitting by the fire time - time of the year

//It is listening to the top songs of the year lists time- time of the year

//It is only 20 days until Christmas Eve time - time of the year

//It is eating and drinking all of the pumpkin and peppermint treats (but not together) time - time of the year

//It is not forgetting to commit to your health and wellness during the hectic holidays time - time of year (especially after having one too many of the above yummies)

//It is curl up with a good book (by said fire) time - time of the year

//It is trying on wedding dresses time - time of the year. Eek. More on that experience to come later. 

//It is finishing up (or just starting) Christmas shopping for others and maybe a few things for yourself too time - time of the year

//It is listening to all of the Christmas music time - time of the year

//It is getting to spend as much time as possible with your friends and family time - time of the year

SO yeah, just a few reasons I love this time of year even if it is cold and rainy....

Cheers!

<3 BB

ps. Hi Guys! Glad you're sticking around even though I am not around nearly as often as I would like to be :)

warby parker home try on

You know what isn't fun.... turning 26 and falling off your parents' insurance. Especially when they have legit vision coverage. So now that I am stuck with my own insurance that barely covers the cost of my contacts, I decided to test out Warby Parker's home try on and dabble in new glasses for the first time in 3 years.

They give you the option to try 5 of their frames at home for free - not to mention they ship them back for free as well. Then to order the glasses they are 95 dollars total. If you are at all familiar with buying glasses from the eye doctor you will know they are often a few hundred more than that. Not to mention they have the same business model as Tom's, where when you buy a pair, they give a pair to a person in need. 

Here are the 5 I picked. 

//Welty in Plum Marblewood 

//Burke in Sugar Maple 

//Vaughan in Eastern Blue Fade

//Durand in Whiskey Tortoise 

//Chamberlain in Saddle Sage 

Lots of thoughts were to be had during my home try on. 

//I really wanted to love the Vaughan ones (bottom right corner) until Brad said they looked like 80s mom glasses. So those got vetoed. 

//They all started to look the same the more I kept trying them on. 

//My face shape does not look good in round glasses. 

//All of the glasses I picked looked very similar.
//I can't even pick out new glasses - how am I going to pick out a wedding dress? 

//One of the pairs I picked were more or less identical to the previous glasses I already owned. 

//Taking selfies in glasses is hard. Glare off the glasses is a real thing and it is hard to deal with.

All in all I think I want the upper left corner ones. The Chamberlains - unless you guys think otherwise? Let me know your thoughts and go check out Warby Parker. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

currently

Ok more like the last few days this is what I have been up to.

making made // these banana nut muffins (minus the nuts) from the Skinny Taste Cookbook I recently ordered. 

drinking // Coffee. Coffee and more coffee. 

reading // What To Eat. It is fascinating and at the same time makes me not want to buy produce from the grocery store anymore. 

wanting // more sleep. more free time. and to be over this cold already. My sniffles need to check themselves at the door. 

watching // Ok, ok... I confess, I have been watching a lot of Gilmore Girls lately. For the record - Dean is the worst. 

listening // to this band. You Me & Apollo. They are legit. 

eating // Banana Nut Muffins. Duh.

enjoying enjoyed // My weekend with my family. My sister's birthday was on Saturday and I got to spend a lot of time with them. I might have also fallen asleep on them too - but I blame the cold for that and at least I was still in the room with them while I napped? 

loving // that holidays are in full swing. I may or may not have put up some twinkle lights yesterday and burned one too many spruce scented candles. Which by the way, who knew there was such a thing as burning too many scented candles at once? Word to the wise - don't over do the number of candles you burn at one time. You will get a headache. 

feeling // stuffy. Really though, this cold. I am going to keep complaining about it because I can. Also, I am starting to feel strong, too. I have been slowing working on my heavy lifting. Well I wouldn't call it heavy yet, but I am making progress on the bigger lifts like back squats and overhead squats, and snatches, and cleans, etc. It is hard, but fun! 

laughing // at the price of wedding details. It is ridiculous and laughable. Probably should have gotten married at a courthouse.... oh well! I suppose it will be worth it? ;) I kind of like Brad or something. 

noticing // that I never blog any more. It just isn't a priority in my life. I miss it, but I also can't commit either. 

bookmarking // your blogs I should be reading; wedding ideas I think are pretty -but probably can't afford; foods I want to make and bake from my new cookbook; workout ideas for myself and my clients; you know the usual.... 

So yeah, that is what my life looks like currently. What have you guys been up to?! 

<3 BB 

Life Lately.

Hmmm blog? what's that? Do I actually have one? You're probably getting tired of that introduction every time I actually show up to this space, which is like once a week, if we're lucky....

Here are some things that have been happening in my life as of late.

//Brad was gone for the first half of the week for work, which meant my bedtime on Tuesday night was no joke, 8:30 pm. Lights out. Sorry, not sorry. It was so fabulous. 

//Last weekend I decided to make a quick trip to DC... Douglas County that is - let's not get crazy - to visit my family, as well as help my friends Anne and Courtney with a styled wedding photo shoot.

What I thought was going to be an inexpensive weekend turned into me accidentally popping a tire and then having to replace not one, but all four ties. See ya never, wedding flower budget. That just went to new tires. Maybe I can just roll a tire down the isle with me instead of carrying flowers? Seems reasonable and beast mode like.

Word to the wise: look for concrete blocks that might be sticking out farther than you realize. Also, my car didn't even have a spare tire or a jack! WTF. come on people, what am I supposed to do in case of emergencies?!? Dumb. 

//As for the styled photo shoot. It was beautiful. There were 2 attractive models, Courtney killed the hair and makeup, and Anne documented it all flawlessly like she always does. Oh and did I mention chocolates?! There were beautiful, handmade chocolates from a local shop called Cabruca Chocolates. I can't wait to see the film when Anne is done with it. I know all the images will be pin worthy. Now to get our company ABC Design Co. up and running. We will take the world by storm. Or something....

//When it comers to my actual wedding... not much planning has been happening lately. I figure I have a year and no need to put too much effort into anything. Just working with Kailyn on our Save The Dates. Which, funny story, I think Brad may be more picky than I when it comes to fonts and such for these Save The Dates. Kailyn might be regretting her choice to help us :) 

Anyway, that is all I have. Happy Halloween, people.... is it Christmas yet? PS. don't tell Brad but Saturday I am totally putting up twinkle lights. Post Halloween is fair game for twinkle lights in my book.

<3 

BB 

Engagement Photos Teaser

You.Guys.

If I was a basic white girl which I am I would say something along the lines of...

'I literally can't even' 

when it comes to how much I love the preview of our engagement photos. Anne only sent us a few photos as a teaser while she works on editing the rest. Honestly though, these first few are so fantastic I would be happy with only these... With that being said, Annie - please send the rest!!!!!! 

Anne's photography business has grown so much in the last year and I am so proud of my bestie. She shoots mostly film and the painting like feel of her work just makes my heart melt. I can't wait for the rest... Until then check these out

 <3 

On A Scale of Rocking Leggings With Uggs

How Basic were you this weekend? Let's a take a quiz and find out.....

//Did you make your way to a pumpkin patch?

//Did you drink a pumpkin spiced latte on the way to said patch?

//Did you have a caramel apple at the pumpkin patch? 

//Did you wear a combination of fall scarf and Hunter rain boots? 

//Did you take way too long picking out the perfect pumpkin? 

//Do you plan on spray painting that pumpkin, instead of carving it?

If you answered yes to at least 3 of these, you're about as basic as a white girl drinking a venti PSL while rocking a top knot. If you said yes to all - consider yourself as Basic as Babbling Brookelyn. Congrats to the winners! 

Cheers to the best season ever! 

<3 BB 

Dear Friday

Dear Friday, 

Thank you for gracing me with your presence. 7 Days was far too long. Dear Blog, sorry I suck. The end. Dear Wedding planning, you're not as fun as just pinning pretty pictures on pinterest. Dear Wedding Flowers - who the hell do you think you are? Being so expensive and ish. Not cool, bro. Not cool. 

Dear Wedding Expo I went to this past weekend, you were not good and I knew that going in. You were tacky and everything I don't want in my wedding.... BUT thanks for giving Justine and I a good laugh. Also thanks for the free cake tasting. Speaking of, dear Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake you were spot on.  Dear Girls That Modeled In the Wedding Fashion Show - slow down. You walked far too quickly, I was afraid for your ankles. How can a person see details in the dress if you're sprinting?  Not that it really mattered the wedding dresses in the fashion show ere not cute. People have horrible taste I tell you. 

Dear Anne, thank you for taking our engagement photos. I know they will be beyond what I am imagining. I heart you, I heart Cape Kiwanda, and I suppose I heart the guy I took the photos with too. Dear Place Where The Film Is Being Developed - hurry up! This is worse than waiting for Christmas. I just want to look at all the pretty pictures!!!! I don't think I am asking too much.

Speaking of Christmas, Dear Bradley - why won't you let me put twinkle lights up yet?! I asked nicely. I even gave you my puppy dog eyes and still no dice. You're such a meanie head. Is this the stuff I am going to have to put up with now that we are getting married?!  There better be a good smelling pine candle when I get home from work today like you promised to make up for this. #compromise. 

And finally... Dear Pumpkin Patch - can't wait for our date this weekend. Bout to get real #basicbitch up in here this weekend :) 

Oh and enjoy this song. I can't stop listening to it. 

Cheers!

<3 BB

Trillium Lake

It's not news that I work a lot of hours these days, which usually makes for early bedtimes and not much free time for other activities - but this past weekend I had Sunday off and I made sure we made the most of it. Even with all the football on, I still convinced Brad and a few friends to head out to Trillium Lake for the day. The way I see it football will be here all winter when the weather is crappy. I want to get out and enjoy the last few days of sun and fall goodness, before the grey and rain are here to stay. 

Sunday's weather was perfect, the picnic was enjoyable, our friend's puppy was the cutest, the company was lovely, and the view couldn't be beat. We even got our Florida girl to hike a little, even though it wasn't originally on the agenda. If you're in the Portland area, make sure you venture out towards Mount Hood and check out all the hiking and lakes in the area. 

Know Before You Go: Suavie Island

Hello, Hello! 

Happy Monday, folks. Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was busy, productive, and restful all at the same time if that is even possible? Friday evening was spent making boozey margarita cupcakes similar to these guys right here and falling asleep while watching the Lego Movie. Saturday was spent working at the gym and Sunday was a good mix of productivity and rest. I went to yoga. Got my hair done. Went to brunch at Olympic Provisions and had a bomb Bloody Mary. Lastly, we ventured out to Sauvie Island, where we quickly learned a few things to know for our next outing. I figured I would be a good Portlander and share with you all:  

//You have to pay for parking in order to enjoy the beach 

//You can only pay for parking with cash. 

//You should make sure you bring cash with you.

//If you happen to forget cash, you should stop at the first you-pick farmers market at the beginning of the island to see if they have an ATM before you drive 15-20mins, get all the way out to the end of the island, and realize you have no cash and can't pay for parking. 

//It might also be wise to start your trip out to Sauvie Island before 4pm, especially if you struggle like we might have with the whole no cash situation. 

Either way it was still a pleasant evening even if we didn't ever make it to the beach. I still got to enjoy the farmers market with Bradley. We shared a peach iced tea, which I always forget how refreshing peach iced tea is. We listened to country music with the windows rolled down, because it is mandatory when you're among fields of corn that you listen to country music.  And I took a few pictures too. Now if only I would take the time to put them on my computer.

Cheers!

<3 BB

Ps. How good does Bradley's Stache look in the above photo? #CreepsvilleUSA

things that are my jam

//The fact that there was rain this morning. Which makes me the most typical Oregonian ever. I am not ready for dreaded winter grey and rain, but I have to admit the free car wash and the smell of rain on the pavement was quite enjoyable. Also, Oregonians are weird. One second we complain about rain, the next we are complaining that it is too hot and we want the rain back. You can't have it both ways., people!! 

//This song:

Well, actually, if we're being honest, anything by James Bay is my jam right now. Maybe it's because he has the voice of a 65 year old smoker with that seductive growl when he sings. Maybe it's his 13 year old looking face...or maybe it's the fact that he has better hair than I do? Maybe it's because he looks like he could be the 4th brother of Hanson? Whatever the case, James Bay, you're killing it.

//These little to-go pouches of applesauce. Costco had organic ones in bulk and they are perfect for when I am rushing from one job to the next. 

//This dress from Madewell. I want it for myself. I kind of want it for my bridesmaids. I kind of want it in every color. Then again I want everything from Madewell in every color. But mostly, I kind of want it to not cost 148 dollars though. 

//I am getting my hair done this weekend. It makes me happy every time I have an appointment to look forward to. Thinking about maybe going a little more blonde? We'll see. Also why can't my hair look like Kate Mara's every day?! It probably has something to do with the fact that I hardly brush it - let alone take the time to style it. In fact, right now it is at the perfect length where the ends hit the top of my shoulders and curl out, but everything else is straight. Just like in middle school where I would take the time to actually use a curling iron to create the same look. What was 7th grade Brooke thinking?! This is the same middle school child that also wore pukka shell necklaces because I thought they were cute. The horror. 

Ok, that is all, I have an applesauce to-go calling my name. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

Tuesdays, ugh.

So you know how everyone says that Monday blows and is the worst day of the week? Those people have obviously never met Tuesday. Tuesdays are the worst. Want to hear how my Tuesday has gone so far and it's not even 8:00 am.... 

//Alarm goes off at 4:30 (which I did get to sleep in a bit so hooray to that?) 

//Zombie walk through my routine and slowly get ready to go work at the gym. 

//Realize my zombie like state has no left me running behind. 

//Quickly go make coffee in the Keurig only to realize I have hit the BREW button before I have even grabbed a coffee mug out of the cupboard. 

//Coffee starts pouring out of the machine making a mess everywhere. 

//Frantically run to the cupboard and get my situation under control. 

//Finally make it to my car and while struggling to open my car door (because I can never leave the house without 3 bags, my cellphone in hand, my coffee mug, my keys, etc.) proceed to pour out my coffee from my travel mug all down my arm, all over my jacket, and onto my garage floor. 

Basically, what I am saying is sorry I smell like a crappy Starbucks location all day, coworkers. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

move over style me pretty

Today let's discuss more wedding and engagement talk....because my blog will obviously only be a wedding blog from now on. Move over Style Me Pretty... Oh, speaking of Style Me Pretty, check out my bestie making it on the website with her photography. So, so proud of Anne Blodgett and her photography. I am also super excited to do our engagement photos wither her.

Now let's talk about how people thought I was crazy to start looking for wedding venues less than a week after getting engaged, but it turns out I am not the crazy one, seeing how the original weekend we wanted to have our wedding next year was already booked at every venue we have looked into. October is over a year a way people. Why is it filling up so fast? Did you women start booking venues before you even had a ring? Why is wedding planning so intense?! 

Good news is our second date is available and I think we have found our venue. We haven't officially decided, but Castaway, right in downtown Portland, is looking pretty perfect for an October wedding.

Also, can we talk about how Brad's sister and her hubs sent me the cutest gift for our engagement and it is perfect for my forgetful self. Now, I can't promise Bradley that I won't forget to put my ring back on after I take it off from time to time, but at least I will know where to find it when I do.

In other wedding talk, keep the words Country and Chic out of my wedding. I don't want them anywhere near it. Rustic might even be a little too pinterest perfect for my simple, un-country taste. Don't get me wrong, I can't stop looking at Pinterest for wedding ideas and I am for sure balling on a budget here - but the last thing I want is to have my wedding look like Pinterest threw up burlap and country chic all over my special day. Some of the DIY ideas are just horrible. 

Give me modern, give me natural colors, and give me all the pretty flowers, please. Also, give me good music too! 

Speaking of good music... last weekend Bradley and I met up with a few friends for the Avett Brothers concert at Edgefield. First off, it was really nice not going alone this time. Secondly, we had the most hipster couple of all time scold us for talking during the show. Um, hello, why don't you yell at the loud children that are to your right and get out of my life. Ugh. I don't like people. 

Other than that the concert was perfection. I heart those Avett Brothers more than most. Ok, maybe not as much as Alissa and Kelsey, but I try to keep up. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

just call me snooklyn

Well guys,

Big news here on Babbling Snooklyn Brookelyn...I got engaged over Labor Day weekend. Eeeeeek. I will officially be Brooke Snook after the wedding. Yes, you read that right. Brooke. Snook. It's comical, you can chuckle. 

So yeah, last week I was debating back and forth about whether or not I wanted to make the long drive down to my parents' house this past holiday weekend and couldn't figure out why Bradley was so overzealous about the idea - even though we would not even be there for 48 hours. 

Turns out he had a plan up his sleeve the whole time. I, of course, tried to ruin the plan multiple times throughout the weekend. That should not surprise anyone though. 

There is this beautiful hike called Watson Falls 45 mins from my parents' home where I grew up that I had taken Bradley on over 3 years ago. Well, rumor has it, that first time I took him on the hike he knew that it is where he would want to ask me to marry him. Fast forward a few years and he asks if we want to go on this hike during the jam packed Labor Day weekend. 

Let me list the ways I tried to ruin this day for him. (This is how you know I was not expecting a proposal anytime soon) 

//I refused to shower before we went on the hike, even though he asked multiple times if I wanted to get ready and look presentable. but no really, who showers before hiking?! 

//I did not wear any makeup.

//My nails had chipped polish, from over a month ago, on them. 

//I tried to talk him out of going on this specific hike - multiple times. 

//I invited EVERYONE in my family to go with us. Luckily they all knew what was going on.

//I took him to two other falls before the one he actually wanted to ask me at. 

//I kept wasting time by taking photos of said waterfalls that he didn't care about.

//I rolled my ankle pretty badly during the week and the thought of hiking uphill did not sound pleasant. Hence part of the reason I didn't feel like hiking to begin with. 

But good news... he was able to overcome all these obstacles and still wanted to ask me to marry him. Not sure if that was smart on his part or not. Then again if he hasn't figured out I am a struggle after almost 4 years of dating, then maybe he isn't all that bright and I should be questioning why I said yes.... 

So yeah, moral of the story....we're getting mawwwwwied and the thought of planning a wedding is daunting, but I am excited none the less. Anyone want to send money to my non-existent wedding fund?! 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

real talk on a friday

You...Guys....

If this song and video does not make your heart swell and want to be a better person and do the right thing you probably need to reevaluate your life. just sayin'

Not to mention this fabulous band, Ages and Ages, is from Portland, which makes them extra cool.

I am starting to find my groove and get in the flow of my new life with its new schedule of balancing two jobs and a life outside work. With the added extra hours and extra stress, it definitely makes me evaluate what the right things are. 

What is the right thing to do with my free time?

What is the right thing to do for my clients?

What is the right thing to do for my family and friends?

What is the right thing to do for my own health and well being?

Naturally, after the first crazy, busy week at the gym, I got a cold. I think it was my body's way of telling me that if I want to be successful and sustain this new schedule I am going to have to make some changes and that is ok - I just have to figure out what the right changes are going to be. 

One of those right choices for me will be heading home to visit my family for the Holiday weekend. Even though it is a short trip and a long drive I am excited to surround myself with good people and have some much needed family time. 

Hope you enjoy your Holiday weekend :) 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

Gains Friday...Or Something Like that

GUYS!

I made it through week one of the gym. Well, almost I have work again this afternoon and tomorrow...but still! Week one in da books more or less. I definitely have a lot to learn and get comfortable with when it comes to getting in front of potential clients, selling personal training, and getting people excited to work with me - but I have been killing the 5 am open a few days a week, so I've got that going for me. It's nice and quiet that early in the morning, plus I am always impressed that people show up that early to get sweaty. They get extra points in my book.

Since it's Friday and my attention span is about at a nonexistent, I wanted to provide you with fun things that make me happy on the interwebs this week.

::First, my girl, Grace Helbig now has a podcast. My life can't have enough Grace Helbig. 

::Next, we have this video of Grace and Mamire hanging out in Portland, it makes me wish I stalked and met them when they were there. 

::You should try out #tablessthursday.

::Here are 19 things that are cheaper than raising a kid. Kids are ugh, expensive. \

::Benedict Cumberbatch did the ice bucket challenge. HEYO! Also, John Krasinski also did it and he is too cute. 

Cheers, 

Betches. 

shake it off

Oh helllllllllllllllooooo,

Fancy seeing you here, especially since I hardly come around these parts anymore. Summer, you're rough on the blog. Be more gentle would you? Anyway, here are some things going on in my life the past week and a half.

//The gym is officially open as of yesterday. It was a mad house. Over 2,200 members came on the first day and they are expecting even more today. Here we gooooo. On Saturdays I even get to teach an Adventure Racing Conditioning class. How cool does that sound? So far I love the gym and I love the people I work with. Plus, the facilities are beautiful. Now I just need clients who will want to train with me! 

//Highlight of my weekend was two fold - for the few hours I wasn't working at the gym I got to spend time with not only my college roommates, but also a special blog friend of mine came to visit Jessi and I. I think after this weekend we have convinced her to officially move to Portland. Our plan is working. Soon Jessi and I will take over the blog world. I have been blog crushing hard on Mackensie for a hot while now and I am so happy she finally came to visit. Now if we can just find her a job here in Portland, her and her puppy will be good to go. 

ps. can you spy the creeper in the background of this picture? 

//Today I had a Naked Green Smoothie after my morning workout and I didn't realize it had garlic in it. It is kind of weirding me out. Not a lot of garlic, but definitely enough to notice and it's too much for me before 8am, I think... I don't know why I just felt the need to tell you that, but I am currently trying to finish the drink and it's throwing me off.

//This little league coach almost made me cry, in a good way. 

Lastly, I hate myself for liking this song as much as I do. I am a TSwift hater for the most part, but I can't quit this song. 

Who am I? Where has my good taste in music gone? I must be sleep deprived....


Cheers!!

<3 BB

passion changes everything

So, Monday is the official opening day of VillaSport, the gym I recently started working at. For over a month we have been busy getting the brand new facility ready to open. We have hauled dumbbells and weight plates. We've moved large squat racks and motion cages. We have scrubbed walls and learned a not so user friendly computer system.... And yet I still feel so unprepared. I don't feel like I am ready enough to make a positive impact with my clients. 

Here is the thing with me. I hate being unprepared. I hate not feeling ready. and I especially hate when people can tell I am unprepared. Sometimes I get paralyzed with fear right before I try something new. Paralyzed to the point where I choose not to start something, because I am afraid I will not be as successful as I think I should be. What kind of life is that? And this, this personal training thing is new and scary for me. Being held accountable for someone else's progress and success is a lot of pressure. I feel like I still have so much to learn before I can truly help someone. I still feel like I lack the knowledge and experience that veteran trainers around me have. My problem is I don't have time to feel this way and it's too late to back out now. So how does one gain the confidence needed to be successful at something new and frightening but rewarding?

I've gotten certified. I have had the new hire training at the gym. I know this is what I want to do and I know I will eventually be great at it. I guess the only thing left to do is buckle up and get ready, because the gym is opening whether I am ready or not and I want nothing more than to do well. 

So wish me luck, and maybe throw some confidence my way, I am lacking it a bit.

Cheers!

<3 BB

Very Important Person

Well guys, I made it through the week and I have come to the realization that I can never attend another event without VIP status. You get spoiled with free drinks and catered food. You get better seats and on field access during warm ups. You get to mingle with other very important people, including executives and pro athletes.  Basically what I am saying is, I can never be among the unimportant again. I cannot associate myself with such low brow standards. kiddddding.

Oh and in other news, I went to bed at 8:15 last night, because I am actually a big baby and pretending to be VIP and attend after parties 3 nights in a row is really hard. Grandma status for the win.

Overall the experience was great, the MLS All-Stars beat the Nazis Bayern Munich, and I have Bradley to thank for using his soccer knowledge to win us the experience.

Now I will plan on sleeping this whole weekend.... syyyyyyke, I have more training at the gym this weekend before we officially open on the 18th!!!! Weeeee. Cheers to Friday!

<3 BB

MLS All-Star Updates

Today is my last day getting to be a very important person in the world of Major League Soccer. The actual All-Star game is this evening and the weather is supposed to be perfect for it.  So far, Brad and I have gotten to hit up two parties and attend a taping of the Men In Blazers podcast. Not to mention stay in a pretttttty nice hotel in downtown Portland which makes getting to and from very important people places quite convenient. I wanted to share a few things I have learned so far in the world of All-Star.

//I am taller than a lot of male soccer players.

//They will still flirt with you even if you are taller than them.

//My feet are not conditioned to wear tall wedges two nights in a row.

//I am also taller than Brad when I wear wedges. Then again he too was a soccer player...

//That was a lot of talls just used. 

//Pro Athletes are much better at staying up late than I am.

//2 am is a horrible time to fall asleep on a week night when you have to be up at 5:30 the next morning.

//Staying up late 3 nights in a row might be the most horrible thing I could do to my body, but here goes nothing! 

//The world of pro soccer in the US is quite small. Everyone knows everyone, including Brad since he used to work for DC United.

//Hotel robes will forever be a favorite.


//The Men In Blazers are super entertaining and funny, even if I don't know the majority of soccer players they are talking about.

//If you make nice with the chef at Grassa that is rolling out the fresh pasta he will give you pasta dough to nibble on just because.

 Definitely took a creeper pic of him when he wasn't looking!

//Cold War Kids put on a better read: less weird free concert than The Flaming Lips.

//I really like this photo below even though it's grainy as furk. 

//If you yell from your car to the nice construction worker at 6 am to grab the coffee you left on the smart park pay station, he will be confused but will bring you your almost 5 dollar coffee you just purchased and  left sitting there after you paid for your parking. 

//Portland will always be my happy place. 

//I will be ready to go to bed at 5pm on Thursday night.

Cheers to soccer! 

<3 BB