Comp This!

Laxin' It Up

Growing up an athlete (year-round travel teams and college laxer what what), competition has always been an integral part of my life.  It’s been a driving force behind not only fitness but also personal success.  Due almost entirely to my desire to dominate the industry and out excel everyone else, I’ve been pretty successful in the travel PR scene (not to toot my own horn).   On the other hand, I’ve had such a diff time keeping motivated to stay in shape since graduating from the U.  I’ve always been so against the Miami vision of body hotness, pontificating (yup i figured i needed to use this word more in my vocab after being reminded of it on Drop Dead Diva this past Sunday) that I’m not going to deprive myself of food happiness and kill myself in the gym to look like Gisele (props to the girlies who don’t need to).  I need motivation.

A couple months ago I hadn’t heard of crossfit, thought P90X was for geek types threatened by meatheads in the gym, yoga was for those South Beach stretchers and the only competition I could find was kickball.  Needless to say, although I love it, kickball doesn’t exactly make world class athletes.

Knowing I was in a rut (aka maybe she saw I had packed on a couple lbs), mi compadre suggested I try out Crossfit.  It was the beginning of a 90 day challenge which consisted of not only crossfit but also a paleo diet plan.  After two of my other besties said I wouldn’t be able to hang, I was on a mission.  Someone telling me I can’t do something is like giving Joe Gorga a dare, thy will be done (hence crossdressing during a recent episode of RHONJ).  Well suck it non-believers, I’ve stuck with it.  Even though I’m one week away from the end of the competition, after hearing constantly how good I look (and how much weight I’ve lost), I’m hooked on crossfit and continuing this competition personally for an indefinite time to come.  Each day is a competition, not only with myself but also with my classmates (who I loveeeee) and those other crossfitters in the earlier classes (everyone posts their times/rounds depending on the WOD).

Shout out goes to the Crossfit Vida team who are competing this weekend at the Reebok 2011 Crossfit Games in Cali.  Holy s* bombs.  I’ve checked out the workouts online and they look tough as nails.

Can’t make it to Cali and want to see what Crossfit competition is all about???  On Sunday, August 28th, Crossfit Vida is hosting the 1st annual Summer Crush Games at Magic City Casino.  The event will feature over 200 crossfitters from all over the world participating in four divisions – Scaled Male, Scaled Female, Male Rx and Female Rx (scaled means less weight then RX aka prescription).  Oh yea, and if hottie mcbody guys running all over the place isn’t enough, the Miami food trucks will be there. BAM!

Beach Partayyy This Weekend

Trendy Nail Polish, Shiny Hair, Hello Kitty & Delivery! That’s a Boutique Pharmacy- oh yeah, Medicine too!

Listen up Brickgals, this past Saturday I uncovered your new best friend. After a delicious lunch at Burger & Beer Joint (Kobe Beef & Prosciutto burger to DIE for), my boyfriend and I were walking through #MBV (Mary Brickell Village for those not in the know) and stopped after a window with Moroccan Oil (a deep intense condition for dry hair that’s supposed to work magic) caught my attention. I quickly walked in to discover, the cutest, girli-est, trendiest boutique pharmacy ever! Mortar and Pestle Boutique Pharmacy is located in Mary Brickell Village, right next to the Subway on 9th St.

Mortar and Pestle Brickell Pharmacy

The owner was in the house, and she was super sweet and so helpful! She patiently walked me though the different options I had with the Moroccan Oil treatment, and helped me pick one that would be best for my super long, highlighted and processed hair. The pharmacy offers everything you’d get at your typical CVS, but with MUCH more personalized attention, and of course, all the amazing brands us Brickgals love! Essie Nail Polish – Check, OPI Crackle – Check, Moroccan Oil hair treatment – triple check! Selection of super adorable greeting cards, inspirational frames, a massive selection of the CUTEST Hello Kitty pens and collection (you are NEVER too old for Hello Kitty- EVER) and  a huge selection of facial products, organic body treatments, delicious smelling candles, a variety of hair treatments and products, the best T3 Hair Dryers and Flat Irons – uhhh yup! PLUSSSSS they accept all major insurance companies, AND they deliver! What more does a Brickgal need, (except an excuse to buy a new Essie polish every week, like me?! This week I bought “Trophy Wife” a perfect turquoise to go with the beautiful shades of the ocean!

BrickGal Megan has dreams of being a trophy wife. Big dreams.

PS. The Moroccan Oil is my new bff! Not only did I just return from a week long trip to Cancun where my hair was in salt water, chlorine and heat 24/7- but you’d never be able to tell, bc Moroccan Oil totally rocks. My hair is soft, shiny and healthy! Get your butts to Mortar & Pestle Boutique Pharmacy, I promise- you’ll thank me! 😉

Delicioso Deli

Tellin' It Straight

One of the best things about being a BrickGal (obs besides being hott and smart) is that we get to live and work in Miami’s most kick ass hood.  Brickell is (for lack of a better term) the shit, partially in part to the fact that you can walk everywhere.  It’s small enough that even in the dead heat (and I mean deadddd, as it is now), you can trek from the supermarket to the bar (to pick up your credit card from the night before) to a boutique and to Bucks all in the same hour.  On the contrary, it’s large enough that you don’t have to eat at the same place more than once a month (sooo passe, unless of course you want to!).  One place I happily frequent several times a month for lunch is Deli Lane.

Caesar Salad w/ Massive Dolphin Filet

Less than three blocks from mi trabajo, Deli Lane is a quintessential lunch option whenever I’m in a pinch (aka I don’t pack my lunch cause I’m lazy).  While I have had a couple menu items that I wasn’t a huge fan (eh em, the Deli Turkey Melt and Chicken Finger Wrap), I’m absolutely in love with the chicken salad quesadilla (when I wasn’t sticking to the Paleo) and the Caesar Salad with Blackened Dolphin (hugeeee filet).  Perf for takeout (reds in less than 20 min) or delivery (avg delivery time around 30 min), the only setback with this spot is that they close at 3 pm daily.  Get your orders in early!!

Oh yea, the salads come with a delish muffin every time!

Bam. Brickell Bar Crawl.

If you haven’t heard about this weekend’s Brickell Bar Crawl, then you’re probably living under a rock.  This may be a good idea, considering the scorching temps our good friend Julie – Durda if you’re a dud – says are in store for us this weekend.  What’s not a good idea?  Not emerging from your rock for seven hrs of the sweet nectar.  From 3-10 pm on Saturday, Miami Crawls presents the Brickell Bar Crawl to benefit Community Partnership for the Homeless.  A $20 donation gets you hooked up free beers, snacks and more (see below for the complete list).  Visit http://www.miamicrawls.com/#!brickell-bar-crawl for the full deets and registration information.

BrickGals Loves Britney

B is for the hot pink sports bra that rocked our world in Baby One More Time

R is for the smoking hot polo player in Radar

I is for the Ice that blingggged out her barely-there outfit at the 2000 MTV Awards

T is for Tyson Beckford in the amazingly orgasmic Toxic video

N is for nonexistant, which is exactly what you are if you wouldn’t have sex with her (lesbian or not) after watching I’m A Slave 4 U

E is for everyone and their mom who wishes that she was still with J Tims

Y is for the Clarissa (okkkkk, Melissa Joan Hart) cameo in You Drive Me Crazy

…………………………………..

TGIF BrickGals!!!  If you know this BrickGal at all, you are pretty f-in sure what I’ll be doing tonight.  Yup, that’s right, it’s Britney bitch.  After a grueling WOD this morning, and a walk to work that resembled somewhat of an army mud run, I’m pretty freakin syked for the Britney Spears concert at the Trip (triple A, get it?).  This mama BrickGal will most likely be watching Britney YouTube videos in anticipation of the main event tonight, so if you’ve seen any good ones recently, kick it this way.

BrickGals Giving Back

Hola BrickGals & BrickGuys!  Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!  I have a very big favor to ask everyone, so I hope you all will oblige.  Monday night, Fado is having a fundraiser for one of their own who is suffering from an aggressive form of cancer.

Regon

Regon Macinnis is a bartender/events manager in the Philadelphia Fado pub where she has been part of the Fado family for nearly 7 years.  She was diagnosed with the cancer last year and hasn’t been able to work much due to its debilitating effects.  Regon has been struggling to handle medical bills, travel expenses to costly treatment centers, and just the expense of day to day living.

Please join BrickGals on Monday night from 7 pm – close for free picklebacks (until the Jameson runs out of course), a 50/50 raffle and guest bartenders (including yours truly).  All tips from the evening will go directly to Regon.

Thank you all for your compassion.

If you can’t make it tomorrow evening to the pub, please visit Fado’s donation page to Regon and help her out in any way you can.

XOXO! Love you all!

The Road’s Ladies Night

Uh, who’s excited?! Tobacco Road has finally gotten on board for the ladies!  Tonight (and every Wednesday hereafter), the infamous T Rd (as I prefer to call it) will be offering Ladies Night specials for my bitches that include FREE WINE & Sex with the Captain dranks (as well as a hecht lot more) from 9:30 pm until you need to go home or else your boss might ring your neck.

What is Sex with the Captain (besides obs sexual relations with a BrickGuy), you ask?

2 oz. Captain Morgan spiced rum
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
1.5 oz. Cranberry
1.5 oz. Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Shaken over ice, strained into martini glass!

Because, uh yea, my BrickGals love them some Sex with the Captain!

 

 

Ladies Night!

Crossfit Tips of the Week: Keep It Short & When 2 Cheat

Recently there was a heated debate on the benefits of Crossfit & Paleo.  While some people prefer their long cardio workouts, I’m one that has thoroughly enjoyed the compressed workout that Crossfit offers.  I like it hard and fast (get your mind out of the gutter BrickGuys), and my body transformation over the past 9 weeks proves it.  I was recently in Texas* visiting a friend who told me my legs and arms were the best she’s ever seen (that includes when I was playing college lacrosse for two hours a day and even following practice up with a 3 mile run).  Bam, check it.

And, while it hasn’t been easy (nothing worth it rarely is) and sometimes I do cheat (gasp), I’ve not only converted my diet to mainly Paleo but I also got my roommate to jump on the train.   True, this is mainly in part to my delish Paleo recipes that I’ve knocked out at the BrickGals headquarters (find us on foursquare), but I’m convinced it’s also because the nutrition guidelines help make the body run like an efficient machine (I mean we all love machines… cars, taps, vibbbb… you get the pic).

Crossfit *Being* Mike O. has been giving us some thoughtful tips over the past couple weeks, so here are this week’s to keep us on the healthy track…

 

*I’ve become such a huge fan of Crossfit that I spent a huge chunk of my time in Dallas chatting with peeps on Crossfit and its benefits.  I also did a WOD at the Crossfit box close to mi compadre’s apartment, and convinced one of her friends to join me!  Finalement, a guy legit came up to me (while in a South Beach short party dress) and said I was “beautiful” — had to have been the legs!