Who: My neighbor & I

What: Spamalot, the silly Monty Python musical

When: February 2019 

Where: Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA

Why: Monty Python is funnier than the Super Bowl

Thoughts: My friend mentioned she wanted to see Spamalot. I hadn't seen it either and a quick search revealed a production would be in Hershey, PA which is less than 2 hours away from us. There was a discount for the Super Bowl Sunday show, so we booked and were on our way.

OK, I know this review is supposed to be about the show, but I have to talk about the theatre for a moment. It is amazing! Not only were tickets more affordable, there was free parking directly in front of the theatre which is absolutely stunning on the inside and didn't feel crowded at all. Sight lines were fantastic, and because of the low Super Bowl attendance, we were able to scoot over to even better seats for Act II! We both agreed that we'd be happy to make the drive up for future shows.

Onto the show: It's Monty Python, so naturally, it's silly. We expected ridiculous and we got it. My friend and I loved it whereas someone like Sean who loves the film but hates most musicals would likely not appreciate it at all. The show is short, fun, and they even worked the score of the game into the script in Act II! I haven't been in a show in ages, but I told my friend that Spamalot has one ensemble I'd absolutely love to be a part of.

I had planned to share "before and after" photos at the end of my first Arbonne30, but really, I'm not finished, so there isn't a true "after" to show. I put on a lot of weight over time, and it's going to take some time for it to come off. Thankfully, it is coming off. I've been on the program for about 6 weeks now and have lost 20 lbs, 14 inches, and 1 clothing size while gaining better health (including reduced blood pressure and resting heart rate), more energy, and more confidence.

I've been getting lots of questions about how the program works, what it entails, etc. for awhile. What I can share and have been sharing is how it works for me. The choices I make are ones to ensure that I succeed with this program.



For instance, I choose lunch as my meal where many others choose dinner. I choose to prep one lunch for the entire week to ensure I don't get lazy and eat out while others who may love to cook are happy to come home and cook a different dinner every night (shout out to my husband who's taken responsibility for most of his own dinners like a champ!).

With that in mind, these are 4 tools that  have made the program a breeze for me:

1. Personal Blender

No lugging out a huge blender twice a day and cleaning a bunch of pieces. No paying crazy $$$ for systems like Magic Bullet.

There are so many affordable options on Amazon and after some digging and comparing, I opted for this $25 system as well as a second compatible bottle.   It's small, convenient, and super low-maintenance, and I love that I don't feel guilty about leaving it on the counter since it takes up so little space! I love keeping the bottles in the fridge with the liquid already measured inside so I can just grab the solids and blend in the morning. A quick rinse of the blade after and I'm good to go!

2. Water Bottle

A huge part of the program is drinking enough water—approximately half of your weight in ounces. Having a reusable cup or bottle you like makes this super easy. I know I said "bottle", but my personal favorite most days is a 24 oz. Tervis tumbler that I keep at my desk. Most days I've met my goal before the work day is over!

3. Bluetooth Scale

Every morning I step on the scale. Whether you check daily, weekly, or whenever you feellike it, I love that I don't have to write down or remember anything. This bluetooth scale costs a fraction of Fitbit's version and syncs daily to it's own app which communicates with other tracker apps including Fitbit, apple, and more! I can easily see overall progress and I love seeing a push notification congratulating me on each weight loss milestone!

4. Food Prep Containers

I pack these up once a week and grab one from the fridge each morning on my way to work. Aside from being convenient and BPA-free, they are a great visual for appropriate portion sizes as I know exactly which compartment is best for veggies, proteins, and clean carbs.  Can't get easier than that!

When I heard that one of my favorite Broadway performers, Sierra Boggess, was going to be leading a musical based on the movie Ever After, I knew I had to see it. Between the amazingly affordable seats and my Southwest points (40K free points with their credit card? Sold!), I knew I'd be making this happen.

Although I've visited most states on the East Coast, Georgia is one of the few I haven't been to, so I also knew I wanted to take advantage and enjoy Atlanta while I was in the area. Weather cut my plans short, but I still got a lot in and had a blast in the day and a half I did have:

Mary Mac's Tea Room: A famed Atlanta spot for soul food. I went around 11:30 and was able to be seated and served quickly at the bar by myself. It was a good thing I went when I did, because when I finished, the line to get in was out the door!

Alma Cocina: One of the few places downtown open late at night. Delicious sangria and out of this world fried avocado tacos!

South City Kitchen Midtown: Delicious brunch! It was hard not to laugh as a Marylander as the server tried to recommend crab dishes to us. I tried the King Biscuit—a twist on biscuits and gravy—and yum!

Tip: try to get reservations when possible. All of these places were packed and I had success either as a solo traveler sitting at the bar, or at brunch with friends who had made a reservation ahead of time.

Fox Theatre: Atlanta's spot for touring Broadway shows. They were set up for Waitress when I visited. Tour includes cool history and other trivia about the 4,000+ seat theatre and a look at some of it's other spaces. Gorgeous venue! They also offer ghost tours around Halloween.

Alliance Theatre: Local arts center with a newly refurbished Coca-Cola stage where I saw Ever After! Keep an eye out for other original shows here.

Georgia Aquarium: Whale Sharks. Manta Rays. Dolphins. Seals. Otters. All the aquatic cuteness one could want! Backstage tours and a "swim with the whale shark" (sold out, sadly) option are also available among other encounters.

World of Coca Cola: This famed soda has Atlanta roots and for a fairly low entrance fee, you can see all sorts of memorabilia, meet the polar bear, visit the vault where the secret formula is stored, and taste an international variety of Coca-Cola beverages before being released into their gift shop with every item imaginable.

Who: Me, myself, and I

What: Ever After, a musical based on the 1998 film starring Drew Barrymore

When: February 2019

Where: Alliance Theatre, Coca Cola Stage, Atlanta, Georgia

Why: A movie I love turned into a musical starring one of my favorite leading ladies, Sierra Boggess? How could I not go!?

Thoughts: This isn't the first musical production of Ever After to be performed (it premiered at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2015). It hasn't yet made it's way to Broadway, but I hope it does! I'll be the first to admit that I'd like to see more original content on the Great White Way vs. more movie adaptations, but Ever After is a valuable story that was presented well in musical form. This production was strong in all aspects with my only complaint being that the climax felt much weaker than in the film. Still, the nostalgia factor made up for that and I enjoyed the entire experience. If you're in or near Atlanta, you've got one more week to catch this amazing show before it ends!

It's never felt so good to do a Stitch Fix reveal as it does right now!

I decided not to buy any clothes during my first Arbonne 30 day challenge, but pretty quickly my favorite skinny jeans became saggy jeans and nobody needs that. I'd love to celebrate the end of my 30 days with an entire cake, but since I still have lots of progress to make, I decided to celebrate with a new round of goodies from Stitch Fix instead — in smaller sizes!

I asked my stylist to provide inexpensive capsule pieces since I plan to drop a few more sizes but

need things I feel good wearing in the in between. She did not disappoint! in fact, this is one of my favorite fixes ever!

Here's what she sent:

This is the perfect work blouse in the most gorgeous color! I love all things green. It also has a cute keyhole detail in the back. Kept.

I was thrilled to see this as I've been looking for a sweater in this shade for awhile. It's a great length and just a tad snug so it should fit throughout the rest of winter. Kept.

I had an awesome girl's night in Baltimore last year seeing the Broadway Musical Finding Neverland, and the show is back in town, this time in Washington, DC at the National Theatre!

Here's the rundown:

Directed by visionary Tony®-winner Diane Paulus and based on the critically-acclaimed Academy Award® winning film, FINDING NEVERLAND tells the incredible story behind one of the world’s most beloved characters: Peter Pan. Playwright J.M. Barrie struggles to find inspiration until he meets four young brothers and their beautiful widowed mother. Spellbound by the boys’ enchanting make-believe adventures, he sets out to write a play that will astound London theatergoers. With a little pixie dust and a lot of faith, Barrie takes a monumental leap, leaving his old world behind for Neverland, where nothing is impossible and the wonder of childhood lasts forever. The magic of Barrie’s classic tale springs spectacularly to life in this heartwarming theatrical event.

Run time: Approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes, including one intermission. Recommended for age 7 and up.

I've enjoyed the show already, so now it's your turn! I have four opening night tickets to give one winner courtesy of Allied media. Just enter below!

Finding Neverland




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