Break the Netflix

So be honest with me, are we going to shut Netflix down this weekend with e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e watching House of Cards: Season 3?

If we are I'd rather avoid twitter and buzzfeed until a rainy afternoon and go climb up this hill instead.

Yes, that view is seriously only a 30-minute drive and a 40-60 minute hike away from where I sit right this moment. Want to come play?

But we aren't here today to talk hiking, we are here to talk favorites with our favorite newlywed, Amanda. First, did you see how her wedding day was nearly ruined because of Tyra Banks? 

My Favorites today come to you in link form so that you can pretend you clicked them and I can pretend I shared something enlightening with you. In reality we all just really want to know what the color of the dress was. Blue and black? White and gold? or nah? Don't know what I'm talking about? Even better!

:: 5 Differences between the Wrong guy and the Right guy
:: Sesame Street and Frank Underwolf do House of Cards
:: Be a Serial Honeymoon Phase Dater? Sounds intriguing.
:: Important life lessons you need to know from Leslie Knope.
:: Look how much the "ideal body type" for women has changed in 100 years #gainz.
:: But seriously, can we bring fanny packs back?

We good? Good. Happy Friday!

Who else is linking up with Amanda's Friday Favorites?

The Trouble With Sweat

It's no mystery to you by now - I'm obsessed with ClassPass. 

I finally took the plunge to join ClassPass on Valentine's Day as the ultimate "I Love Me" gift after a rough start to 2015. My excuse for not jumping in sooner was that work was too crazy, that I didn't have any free time and that I couldn't consistently make any classes. 

Ha - no joke you guys. I've had this 13 days and tonight is my 12th class. Busy? More like wasting energy on the wrong things. 

For those concerned with how obsessive this schedule sounds I can assure you that the mix of my classes has been weighted toward love-yourself, try-something-new, explore and have fun. 

+ Yoga: 4

+ Barre/Pilates: 3 (sorry, I know these aren't the same category but they feel similar!)

+ Strength: 2

+ Stretching: 1

+ Boxing: 1

I'm generally a lift weights and show your muscles girl, so I also found it surprising that I've gravitated toward the yogi, dancy, stretchy stuff - but obviously that shows me that what I'm loving so much about ClassPass is getting out of my routine and challenging myself in more ways than just physically. 

Trying new things also means there are fun stories about my shortcomings, my misunderstandings and my non-exposure to this group fitness thing. 

Last night I had my very first 'Heated Yoga' class. I guess that's not so bad considering that my entire yoga 'practice' consists of those four classes I mentioned above in the last 13 days - but this is a situation where you really should know before you go. 

I slinked into the studio, signed the usual 'yes this is my first time, no I don't want to join, my ClassPass lets me come here and go to 60+ other studios in town for less than your one month membership. Yes, even if you give me my first-week free' waiver and was on my way to class. 

I knew that 'heated yoga' meant a heated room - but had this feeling of dark and dread when I saw that the twenty students already in class had their mats laid out with some type of towel on their mat, by their mat and by the top of their mat for their faces. The severity of the situation didn't hit me until about 35 minutes into the 60-minute class when I had actual drips of sweat in my eyes and running down my legs. 

The next 25 minutes were pure torture as all my mind and body could focus on was the slip n' slide I was experiencing, no matter what pose I was trying to hold. 

Simple math, really.  

My Sweat + Flimsy Yoga mat + Warrior II Pose = Newb. 

Lesson? Next time I'm bringing a towel. 

Silver lining? I got to nap in my sweat at the end of class in this thing they call "corpse pose". 

* I am not being compensated by ClassPass - I really really love it this much. Thought I'd mention that here. 

Party Tricks

When I was announcing my road trip to see my brother this weekend I mentioned that one of my best and favorite party tricks was a Friday Night Nap. 

While that's very true, I also noticed over the weekend that I am full of aforementioned party tricks. 

They come by the dozens, really. From my witty remarks to my flexibility - if you ever have the pleasure of going out with me in person you'll get to see this side of me. You'll especially get to see this if you're a stranger that I just met at a bar and want you to think I'm the coolest...thing...ever. 

Some of these are embarrassing so they're making it into confessions - but when I've thrown a few beers back I am convinced that these are things that you MUST know about me and OHGAWDMUST know that I can do. 

1. I Regulate

My one and only karaoke song is this. I learned it a long time ago and can do the whole thing without seeing the words - which is why I love to perform it in front a crowd of unsuspecting bystanders who get all jazzed about this tall white girl rapping one of the classics from the 90's.  Then when they find out that I can hook a left on 2-1 and Lewis without hesitation? Well, they lose their minds. Then when I can do it in a setting without any music? Boom - I'm the instant coolest.

2. I ZYX

What's that even mean? No, not examine your zipper (unless I really like you!) It means I show off by saying the alphabet backwards. 

First time slowly, so that it looks like I am really trying, not just memorized.

z - y - x- w - v - u - t - s - r - q - p - o - n - m - l - k - j - i - h - g - f - e - d - c - b - a

Then, when your jaws drop over that, I hit you with it backwards faster than I could even do it forward! 

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba

I learned this one when I used to try to log on to AOL to play Disney games. Don't you dare ever say Dial-Up wasn't good for something!

3. I Backbend

I backbend or do something athletic - like push-ups or show off my pitching routine from the college days. Yes, sometimes I'll even flex the guns if I'm really trying to show off but you guys get to see that on instagram daily. 

In person, I go even deeper into this on my forearms but when I do it as a party trick it's gross because I'm hands, forearms or face on some soggy bar floor. Winner. 

What about you, do you have any party tricks like these? Or are you a normal human being when meeting other normal human beings for the first time? 

Here's some useful party tricks you can actually learn and here's a super-sweet lady you can link up with each and every Wednesday for confessions.