2013 In & Out List

Every year on January 1st the Washington Post publishes an In & Out List. It is a comprehensive survey of what WP writers think we should leave behind in the previous year & embrace anew in the new year! I have decided to create my own In & Out List and post it here for your reading pleasure...

Out: Road Races
In: Trail Races

I ran a half-marathon and a full marathon in 2012, both of which were road races. They were amazing experiences but were also hard on my old-lady hips. To soften the blow, I have signed up for a TRAIL race half-marathon this June called the North Face Endurance Challenge. Bring on the mud, grass & softer ground!

Out: Whole Foods
In: Trader Joe's

For those of you who still shop at Whole Foods for everyday groceries... STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING! The store is great for specialty heath foods, (ex. coconut oil & weird grains you can't pronounce), but Trader Joe's is where it's at in 2013. Their food is delicious & original, their staff is so friendly & the prices are unbeatable!

Out: Cute Baby Seals
In: Cute Baby Hedgehogs

OK... ALL baby animals are precious. But the baby seal phase has run its course. It's time to OOH and AAH over the adorableness of baby Hedgehogs!

Out: Watching movies in 3D
In: Watching movies @ the new AMC luxury theaters

Movies in 3D not only cost 4-5 dollars more, but they also give you a headache and make you want to barf. Instead, visit one of AMC's new luxury theaters equipped with large, red leather chairs that you can adjust to rest your feet. It feels like you're watching a movie in the comfort of your favorite Lazy-Boy chair.

Out: IPAs (super hoppy beers)
In: Collaboration beers!

IPAs were THE THING in 2012. Breweries competed over making the bitterest brews w/ the highest ABVs possible! In 2013, grab a collaboration beer instead. Breweries are coming together to create unique, delicious beers with interesting flavors. A plus- most collaboration beers are brewed to raise money for charitable causes!

Out: Green Teas
In: London Fogs

Green Tea is still a great option for all of it's health benefits. But an even COOLER drink to try is a London Fog. It's an Earl Grey latte made with your choice of milk and a dash of vanilla syrup. So delicious and way more interesting than ordering a plain "Green Tea."

Out: Sexy Vampires
In: Sexy Dwarfs

Unfortunately, the Twilight films are over and there will be no more adventures with our hot vampire friends. Fortunately, The Hobbit has given us some new creates to obsess over!

Out: Retail Therapy
In: Pinterest Therapy

Yes, Pinterest has been around for awhile. But in 2013- you should embrace it as a means of relaxation & comfort. Instead of going to the mall and spending hundreds of dollars to ease your troubles, pin cute pictures of baby hedgehogs, delicious recipes & your dream home all for free!

Les Miserables... (according to Hilary)

If it's not obvious by the name of my blog, there are few things in life I love more than musicals. I listen to musical soundtracks while working out, frequently re-enact my role as Liesl in Longfellow Middle School's 8th grade production of "The Sound of Music," and often dream about people breaking out into song & performing choreographed dances in public!

For those of you with similar passions, I HOPE you have seen Les Miserables in theaters! If not, shame on you. But here is all you need to know in order to discuss the film with your fellow theater nerds...

1) Hugh Jackman should win an Oscar. BAD-ASS singing, acting, & walking through poop while saving Marius.

2) Anne Hathaway should win an Oscar. Her performance was emotional & inspiring with perfectly pitched singing. Plus she had to lose a bunch of weight and chop off all of her hair.

3) Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were perfectly casted. I ask you...Who else is more fit to run a corrupt B&B than Borat & Bellatrix Lestrange?

4) Russell Crowe can't sing and should not have been casted as Javert. Apparently he begged for the role. (They should have turned him down).

5) Eddie Redmayne did a GREAT job as Marius. His freckles are kind of weird & his voice is too high, but he's totally hot. I have such a weakness for that European look. Brian- you know what I'm talking about ;)

6) The actor who played Enjolras, (head of the rebels), played Tripp on Gossip Girl during season 3!

Overall synopsis- it is definitely worth seeing! I cried several times. You will leave the theater feeling melancholy yet inspired/impacted by the epic, EPIC nature of the film.

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Why Christmas Eve is the BEST day of the year...

 

1) The house is full of enough cookies to give you diabetes.

2) My mom takes me for a manicure every year... and pays.

3) I have to go to church to celebrate Jesus's birthday. But after it's over I don't have to go again for another 365 days.

4) The excitement of Christmas morning presents builds in your heart all day long!

5) You actually have an excuse to watch Christmas movies in your pajamas... for several hours. TBS airs "A Chrismas Story" for 24 straight hours every year. GO THERE!

6) Everyone gathers for a fun-filled family dinner... sure to be followed by an amusing & slightly disastrous family game: (Charades, Apples to Apples, Boggle, Taboo, etc.)

7) To can make last-minute donations to charities & give hope to those who need a little help this Christmas. (St. Judes Children's Hospital, Toys for Tots, ASPCA, So Others May Eat)

8) You can get tipsy on Peppermint Schnapps, rip off your clothes & go "Christmas Light Streaking"... A fun, innovative way to enjoy your neighbors' light displays.

Whatever your traditions may be, have a Merry, Merry Christmas!!

Deck the Halls!

FALALALALA LALALALA!! Tis the Season, my jolly readers! I hope you are sporting your sexiest Christmas gear to all of your festive gatherings! (Just like Brian... he knows how to wear a Christmas tree).

Bake some cookies, hang that mistletoe, trim the Christmas tree and visit Pinterest to get awesome holiday craft ideas like these adorable Rein-beers. (These will be the party favors for my holiday cookie swap next week!)

Happy Holidays from everyone here at Life's A Musical! (And by everyone... I mean me)... HO HO HO!

Etsy: Your one-stop shop for Holiday gifts!

How's that Christmas "to-buy" list looking right about now? It's December 9th, people! Have you tried to go to the mall lately? No? Well... it's a mad house! If you haven't started shopping yet, check-out these easy yet thoughtful gift ideas from Etsy.com. The site literally has something for everyone on your list... and you don't even have to put on pants to buy them!

1) For your caffeine-addicted boyfriend: This classy coffee mug will tickle his funny bone & make him think of you whenever he uses it. Because of his addiction, that will likely be every morning.

2) For your sibling who just got their first smartphone: Who wouldn't love this Harry Potter themed iPhone case? From the back, it looks just like a ticket to the Hogwarts Express. ALL ABOARD!

 

3) For your nerdy dad who likes to "experiment" in the kitchen: Make your dad feel like a real chef, (or chemist), the next time he tries to make your family dinner. This handy-dandy apron will keep all the ingredients off his shirt! (Therefore limiting the amount of cursing involved with the cooking process).

 

4) For your single gal-pal who loves her wine & chocolate: This clever wall-decor can go in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or wherever your friend likes to binge on Hershey's. Because we all know that chocolate really DOES understand...

5) For your festive, bird-loving mother: Most moms love Christmas and most moms love gardening. ERGO- the perfect gift! This gingerbread man bird-seed cake can be hung right outside your mom's favorite window so she can watch all of the cardinals & finches destroy enjoy it.

6) For your creepy, ultra-Conservative co-worker: For reasons unknown, co-workers think it is necessary to buy you holiday gifts. Actually be prepared this year when Ed from accounting hands you a batch of his wife's homemade peanut brittle. Ed, your gun-loving & homophobic co-worker, will probably throw on this t-shirt every day after work!

 

7) For your preppy aunt or cousin who secretly loves beer: Your aunt or cousin, (who only shops at Lilly Pulitzer), probably feels embarrassed drinking anything but martinis or cosmos. Allow her to give-in to her hoppy needs with these chic, girly monogrammed beer glasses. Drinking beer just got girly!

 

8) For your grandma who still can't get the hang of email: Old Grandma Ethel tried AOL a few years back but refuses to try again. She still insists on writing hand-written notes to all her friends and family. Help her write in style with this beautiful stationary that will impress all her addressees!

Hogwarts Awaits!

For my birthday this year, I finally received my acceptance letter from Hogwarts! (I have been waiting for my letter since 1999 when I first read The Sorcerer's Stone). It was hidden amongst other letters in Brian's mailbox. I wonder which owl delivered it to his apartment. Maybe Hedwig, or Pigwidgeon!?

The letter is "technically" an invitation to visit Harry Potter World in Orlando, FL. But I know Albus-D is totally waiting there to help me side-apparate over the Atlantic to Hogwarts & start my training. I can't wait to get my wand from Ollivanders!

Dear Ms. Leister,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Please inform your nerdy boyfriend of the date on which you would like to attend and he will surely accompany you. We await your owl no later than November 30th.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Marine Corps Marthon... CHECK!

Last Sunday I woke up at 5:00am, safety-pinned a bib to my t-shirt and stuffed my face w/ a peanut butter sandwich in preparation to run the Marine Corps Marathon! Nearly 30,000 runners came out despite the threats of Sandy to run 26.2 miles on a pleasant yet overcast morning.

It was my FIRST marathon and I finished in 4:43:15! My goal, of course, was to beat Oprah's 1994 time of 4:29:15 but there were a few obstacles along the way that held me back. 1) The five minute porta-potty line at mile 4... 2) The mad mob of people I couldn't get past for the first 10 miles... 3) My legs turned to lead at mile 19 and I had to push through the final 7 miles.

Overall, it was a great experience that I can now brag about forever. I kind of felt like I was gonna hurl for half the race & all of my bodily organs were messed up for 3 days. But despite all that, I'd TOTALLY do another one!

Click HERE to see a bunch of photos!

Here were my stats...

- I ran the race in 4:43:15
- I finished 11,933 out of 23,532 finishers, (AKA- In the top 50.7% of all finishers)
- I finished 4,099 out of all 10,005 female finishers, (AKA- In the top 40% of all female finishers)

ROCK ON! Now... which race should I sign up for next? :)