Lex and Learn

The snooze button is my very best friend in the morning. Every time I hit it, I cut out something in my “get ready” routine. From shaving my legs to doing my hair to eating breakfast, those nine extra minutes are worth the insanity that ensues to get me out the door on time.

But ever since my friend Paige got us the most amazing Kitchenaid blender as a wedding present, I’ve cut at least one snooze round of out my routine to prepare a fruit smoothie as the perfect start to the day. Following a few tips from my mom, I keep frozen fruit on hand and have also started to add one half scoop of protein powder to keep me full longer.The result? A yummy, portable and extremely filling breakfast smoothie that usually keeps me fueled until lunch.

Personal Smoothie Recipe:

• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• Half of a fresh (or fresh frozen) banana
• 1/2 cup nonfat yogurt (sub for ice if desired)
• 1/2 cup nonfat milk
• 1/2 scoop protein or whey protein powder

Blend, pour in a cute portable cup, and enjoy!

What gets you out of the front door in the morning?

Our wedding reception was wild. Forget the drinks, the band had people of all ages on their feet all night long. We based our entire budget around having Funkiphino play at our reception, and in our opinion they were worth every single penny.

Funkiphino is a 13 piece funk band that plays everything from Justin Timberlake to the Beastie Boys to Earth Wind and Fire and Journey, and then some.

Unlike the other wedding photo blog posts I’ve done lately, I love each of these shots too much to edit them down into a collage. So, sit back and enjoy the crazy evening that was our wedding reception!

To provide some extra context, our wedding party was introduced to “Hey Ya” by Outkast and the 12 of us (plus Mike and I) went absolutely nuts. The rehearsed “entrance routines” and loud singing/screaming certainly set the stage for the evening.

Our friends also LOVE to form dance floor circles and show off ridiculous dancing antics in the middle, including sliding on their stomachs from one side to another. Finally, at about 10:15 p.m., we brought our “party accelerators,” which consisted of plastic gangster hats, feather boas, blowup microphones, colored glasses and more. Needless to say, they were a hit.

What picture is your favorite?

Yesterday I addressed how oddly difficult it can be to answer the question, “how’s married life?”

Next up is the mother of all questions…“Do you want kids?” However, this is actually a much easier question to answer in my opinion.

Our short answer is “yes, very much so.” The longer answer is “yes, very much so, but we have a lot to do before we’re ready.”

Mike and I are lucky in that we are able to spend quite a bit of time around his sister, brother in law and our twin nieces. The girls are precious, but we also get to learn about just how much goes in to having a little one. Money, time, a complete willingness to give up all selfish habits from your “single” days—everything. To be the type of parents we want to be, we need to be 100% ready to give 200% (and then some) to the little person we bring into this world.

And we’re not there yet. We need to save more money, primarily so we can put a down payment on a house. We want to travel to a few more dream destinations, like Greece, Peru and Argentina. I don’t own a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes yet, and there is no way I can justify those with a baby. Note to self…must save for ridiculous pair of shoes. And most importantly, we need to enjoy the elusive “just us” stage until we can even think about expanding our family.

But we definitely want kids. No doubt about it. (Mom and Gail, don’t panic!)

Until then…we’re available for babysitting!

Note: Mike was consulted before posting and has approved this message

Apparently, when you are a shiny, wide-grinning newlywed, people can usually only think of two questions to ask you.

#1 – How is married life?
#2 – Are you going to have kids?

May I preface this post by saying that I am in absolutely no way offended or bothered by either question in the least. They are perfectly natural questions and I know that I’ve posed them to many of my friends after their weddings. But now that I am on the receiving end of such inquiries, I’ve been surprised at how the answers don’t always flow naturally.

Answering #1…
I assume that many couples could go on and on about the changes getting married brings. Maybe it’s moving in together—that’s a big one. Perhaps they have learned a few new “surprising” habits about their mate. Or often it’s the shock of merging finances and learning that she buys more at the mall than previously thought.

Times have changed though, and more couples are waiting longer to get hitched and enjoying some of the big steps in the journey before the bling goes on the finger. We’re one of those couples.

Mike and I celebrated eight years of being together (with no break-ups) the morning after we said our vows. We have also been living together for around three years, so I already knew that he cannot close a kitchen cabinet to save his life, and he was well aware that I leave shoes everywhere. We opened a joint checking and savings account while engaged while also keeping our own accounts for when we want “our own money.” We have a child, albeit a furry one, and all the costs, responsibilities and worries that come along with him. We still rent, and are quite a ways away from being able to buy a home. He loved me through adult full-mouth (silver) braces and a bout of alopecia. I loved him through a hellacious home renovation and the overgrown sideburns he lovingly called “chops.”

I guess what I am getting at is, life post-wedding weekend really hasn’t changed that much.

Of course there have been some subtle shifts—moments that I honestly never expected. For example, when Mike first said to a stranger, “it will be my wife and I coming,” my heart skipped a beat. I smile when people overhear me say Alexis Anzalone and correct me that I’m now an Anderson (well not on paper, but I haven’t been in the mood to brave the DMV). I miss Mike more when we’re apart, and consciously work harder to soak in each other when we’re together. I sometimes giggle when saying, “my husband,” and feel an intangible sense of security that I swore was there before, but apparently not in the same way. Finally, I love his ring…and I love him wearing it. It is sexy, special and surreal all at once.

But no one wants to hear that long of an answer. My apologies for making you read through it!

So from now on when people ask, “how’s married life,” I am just going to smile and respond, “it is really wonderful.”

I’ll address #2 tomorrow!

Life is pretty hectic right now. I’ve been thinking about all sorts of blog post topics but by the time I get home I’m spent, and nothing goes up. Please tell me you’ve been in this situation too?

Today is no different, but I wanted to carve out five minutes to share a few of my favorite iPhone pictures (god bless the creators of Instagram) from my business trip to San Antonio this week.

Our agency represents the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative and through the end of September, we’re joining them in six cities to promote water safety. It is a really important cause and I am honored to be a part of the team. Did you know that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children under 14? Unacceptable.

Quick visit to The Alamo between meetings

6 a.m. event call: beat Starbucks staff to the lobby

When in Texas…

Talking about water safety to 500 elementary school children

Most crowded I’ve ever seen the DIA parking exit

Thanks for sticking with me despite the lack of posts this week. I’m hoping to get back into the kitchen tonight and tomorrow so that I can share some new recipes!

I’ve done my share of business travel, but I still learn new things every time I head out for an event, meeting or pitch that is more than a few hours drive from home. I’m currently typing from a very comfy chair in a heavily air conditioned (thank goodness) hotel room in San Antonio–playing catch up before our next meet up occurs.

But before I dive back into emails and Power Points I wanted to share a few key learnings from my recent trips while being on the road is top-of-mind:

• Marriott Hotels have been revamped (in a good way) for the business traveler. While I wish there was free WiFi, the lobbies and rooms are super functional (think 10+ outlets per room)
• A wireless card or AT&T; MiFi (see picture above) is critical for anyone who travels more than once a month. It makes logging on, especially quickly to check one email, a breeze
• Flats are a woman’s best friend on the road. No one wants to hear you complain about your feet
• Strive to have elite status and sign up for rewards programs
• Try to find an hour, if you can, to see something new if you have never been to a particular city before. Today we’re hoping to carve out just 30 or 45 minutes to visit The Alamo since it is walking distance from the hotel 
• If you really don’t think you will have time to squeeze in a workout, take the stuff out of your suitcase so that you don’t feel bad about yourself

I have three more business trips lined up through October. What are your “must follow” business travel rules and lessons?

I cannot remember when the nickname “Mew” was born for my mom, but whether you call her mom, mama or mama Judy, she embodies what the definition must be for the world’s greatest mother.

From her ability to listen to me drone on and on for hours, to her uncanny sense that my “I’m fine” response is a big fat lie, to the way she remains my biggest fan without ever getting in my way…I can only hope to be half the mother she is to our little Andersons one day.

Wishing her a VERY happy birthday today and many, many more!

Our wonderful wedding florist, Plum Sage, posted a slide show of their favorite flower arrangements and bouquet photographs from our wedding. Check out the Plum Sage blog to take a look.

I still cannot get over the color and size of the peonies Erin was able to secure. When Erin and her assistant walked into the bridal suite that afternoon carrying all of our bouquets I was absolutely blown away. I wish I could afford to have her deliver flowers to my house every week!

Maybe Mike will have my bouquet recreated for our first anniversary (hint hint)…

I hope you enjoy! What are your favorite flowers?