Believe it or Not...

I used to be a student in her class. I studied flamenco and bellydance for many years. To think just 3 years ago, I used to be fit. 4 hours of dance classes 6 days a week does that to you. Down the line I thought being a cubicle slave was more important, I injured my back on the job, I stopped dancing and packed on the pounds. Then I moved to Belfast and now I look like something like this...



Back then, I never subscribed to an expensive gym membership. I wasn't on any fad diets and I didn't starve myself. I actually ate whatever I wanted in moderation and burned more calories than I took in. Common sense, right? Then why is it so difficult?

One Year Down!

Today marks my one year anniversary since I moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Oddly enough, I have no idea what happened that day. Neither does Craig. I think we went to Tesco to buy ingredients for making spaghetti bolognese. It is all a gray fog. You know, like a really bad car crash you don't remember happening. And don't get me started on the events that followed (ie here, here, here, and here.)

So this is me a year later, engaged to be married and many many stones heavier (notice I used stones instead of lbs. I'm getting a hang of this expat thing). My first anniversary gift should warrant a visit to Weight Watchers. Do they even hold Weight Watchers meetings here?

First things first...maybe I should stop engorging myself on chew-its...



and step away from MIL's evil snack drawer...

Today...

It was hammering outside. Grey and miserable...BUT

My friend came over and I cooked her potato w/ roasted garlic soup. She said it was nice! :)



AND THEN...Big Eva was cleaning out her jewelry box and gave me this bracelet. She said it was her favorite bracelet when she was a teenager and wore it all the time. Cool! A vintage bracelet from the 60's! I love it!



Craig said she was a mod when she was younger. I was like, "No shit?!?" He was like, "Yup, she was a cool and happening gal." Big Eva on a Vespa? That is so like awesome!

Photo courtesy of Mod Mood

Providence, Rhode Island

Today's topic has nothing to do with Belfast or San Francisco. Imagine that?

I was dumping pics from our holiday onto the computer and low and behold I found pics from Rhode Island! I was looking for these pics for a year and a half and I was going mad thinking that my trip was a figment of my imagination! Back in 2007, my work sent me there to attend a conference. Providence was a really cute and charming city. Charming in a New England way. I was in awe of the Georgian Style architecture. Anyways, here are the pics and I'm so ecstatic I found them!

It's Just a Northern Industrial Town....