fun photo friday.

seriously, how cute is my mom?
with mother's day right around the corner,
it's only necessary that fun photo Friday involves my momma.
could she be ANY cuter? i think not.

happy Friday all.

have you told your mom today you love her?
if not, stop reading this and call her.
it's always nice to get a "just because i love you" call.

bucket list... continued.

last year i made a bucket list of 100 things i wanted to do before i die.
{one day i will share them with you}
i suggest everyone do this, life changing really.
i actually only have 77 things thus far...
i am still adding when i think of fun stuff i want to do.
i have done 34 of those 77 things.
not too shabby!
tonight i crossed off 35.

i went to the taping of...
American idol.
Shania Twain was the mentor tonight (can we say beautiful..)
here is me & whit outside after the show.

we had a BLAST!!
i want to go back every week.
too much? nah!!

we were not allowed cameras or phones into the building.
however, i am kind of a ninja... and snuck one in!
shhhh don't tell anyone ;)

the contestants saying goodbye...

what a FUN evening ;)
bucket list; another check mark!

not me monday (a day late..) NEW ORLEANS STYLE

sorry ya'll (said in my best nawlin's accent) for the delay.
i was gone all last week & headed to NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana)
where my entire family is from.
we we're originally going for jazz festival (something i have ALWAYS wanted to do w/ my pops)
so in honor of him....
we went!
sadly, his mother passed away (my nana mere)...
so then we added an extra day to attend her service as well.
it was beautiful & emotional.
and now, i am BACK.

here goes!!!!

i did not love getting 5 full days with family & friends. our family rarely see's everyone at once, what a treat.
i did not love beignets, char broiled oysters, banana pudding, shrimp po' boy sandwiches... (the list could go on and on)
i also did not love gaining a few pounds.
so. worth. every. bite.
i did not love dueling piano bars where journey was played... and i definitely did not love live music all throughout the french quarter.
i did not love snowballs (it's like eating a snow cone in heaven...) nor did i love the sugar rush afterwards.
i did not love packing as if i were going away for a month.... BUT my luggage did NOT hit 50 lbs. ha! take that southwest.
i did not love room service... nor did i love snuggling in my daily robe!
i did not love our enormous rooms w/ king beds. what a perfect set up!
i did not love dance parties in the middle of the street, or for Carly, dance battles.
i did not love seeing drew brees hanging out on his front lawn.
"YO DREW!!" ha! classic.
i did not love our traditional crawfish & crab feeding frenzy. delicious!
i did not love patty o's hurricanes... oh boy.
i did not love visiting my dad, nor did i like that fact that it hit me hard this week.
i miss him more and more.
i did not love that i made so many wonderful memories, new friends, and stories to last a lifetime.
i especially did not love that most of this post was about food.

post your not me mondays!
it's so much cheaper than therapy.

not me monday (on tuesday)

here ya go!
all the things i did not do this week..
and for the newbies who don't know what this means...
just pretend it's opposite day.


i did not love that this was the BUSIEST work week AND BUSIEST fun week. is that possible?
i did not love the little sleep i did get... but i did love how worth it it was.

i did not love my impromptu middle of the day 1 1/2 hour massage.
i also did not love the masseur telling me i had the most knots she has seen. hmmmm.
i did not love finding a CUTE new hair cut place with a new hair dresser! (really miss my hair dresser friends, but sadly i can't afford to fly them out for a hair cut!)
i did not get jealous.... or a LOT jealous... my boss was photographed by annie leibovitz. can't wait for the june vanity fair to come out!
i did not love alumni game weekend with the girls. or hectors that i have missed so so so dearly.
i did not like pre game ritual with whit. katsuya & galaxy game.
delicious sushi never makes me sad! ever.
i did not love working in redlands (what what!) for 2 days. nor did i like our "new school, old school, middle school" mixes we made. amazing!
i did not love ESPN for all their hard work in making my boss's "homecoming episode" pretty darn good. can't wait until this airs.
i am happy my face will be seen by millions! NOT.
i did not love idol night with adam lambert (surprisingly a VERY good mentor) and of course GLEE!!!!!!!!!
i did not love getting my run to remember marathon tee in the mail. on the back it says "in memory of andre robin"
ps. i don't know how i am going to run a marathon with all my emotions going. oh boy.
i did not like the "calf off" between the ESPN producers. pic below to prove it.
it was HILARIOUS! you had to be there...
i did not love the taylor swift concert - nor did i love sitting in a suite with a DESSERT CART! what? amazing.
i did not love our to-go cups in redlands. 909 is a new favorite place. ha! no but seriously...
i did not love hearing about my nana's passing, however...
i am happy she has joined my dad, her husband, and all the other wonderful angels. heading to new orleans tomorrow...... where we will ALL be together.
i did not love my new starbucks special drink . it's top secret though. sorry :)



(the "calf off".... i just can't make this stuff up!)


post your not me mondays!
it's so much cheaper than therapy.

a beautiful life.

(my two beautiful angels i have to look after me)

it's crazy what can change in year,
a month,
a day,
and even a moment.

i'm learning more and more that you can't predict what will happen tomorrow.
you can't fear the change, you just need to embrace it.
things happen.
people change.
loved ones get taken from us.
it's all a part of this crazy place we called life.

i know very well i could be depressed over losing my dad.
but that's not how HE raised me.
he raised me to love the life i have, no matter what.
he raised me to be strong even in times you want to be weak.
he raised me to love big, laugh often (in his case always), and live the life you want for yourself.

i choose the life of greatness.
i want to make him proud.
i want to show my mom that we can get through anything, and how perfect i think she is.
i want my brother to realize how wonderful he is.

you see, i could be sad about things that happen in my life.
as can all of you in your own life.
and yes, i cry often.
but you know....

i am blessed with a wonderful family,
great great friends,
new blog readers who email me lovely notes,
and a perfect guardian angel (now two!)...
to look over me always.

as much as we have been through this past year.
i am at peace today.

fun photo friday.

is it sad that this is the only picture i have from Taylor Swift??

apparently, i love sugar and couldn't resist.
the suite we sat in had delicious food, drinks,
AND they brought this dessert tray
(all for free i might add)

i absolutely loved ms. swift.
in fact might have been the best concert i have been too...
or pretty darn close.

she was amazing!!!
perez hilton & katy perry were in front of us AND katy perry sang HOT N COLD w/ taylor.

it was seriously SUCH a fun night.
i am hurting today.... but SO worth it.

while you submit your taxes... i will be....

watching my girl taylor swift tonight,
in an amazing suite @ the staples center.
with some pretty cool people.

i've been listening to her CD's non stop this week.
just getting prepared.

happy tax day to all.

the one, the only...

annie leibovitz

{just some of my favorite annie photos}

my boss was photographed by her today.
can you say jealous?
ya, because i was.
she is my all time favorite photographer.
the shoot will come out in vanity fair in June.
i am so excited to see how it turned out!!!!

GLEEfulness.

are you as excited as i am ???

not me monday.

here ya go! all the things i did not do this week
(and for the newbies, if you have been living under a rock...
it's definitely the things i did do)
enjoy!!


i did not love getting muddy in the warrior dash on Saturday. boy oh boy, fun!!
pics coming soon!!
i did not love pita pit with the crew. and my 3 diet cokes. oooops!
i did not love cleaning out my closet and donating lots to goodwill! LOVE spring cleaning!!
i did not love GLEE on Oprah! i cannot wait until tomorrow!!!!
i did not love sunday lazy day! movies, take out, and naps! (i do not nap, so this was big!)
i did not love getting 6 cards "just because" in the mail from very dear friends of mine. you know who you are. i can't thank you enough.
i did not love running on the beach to clear my head. it was much needed last week!
i did not love getting all the names that are coming for our alumni game! yikes, it's gonna be fun this weekend!
i did not love hearing my nana mere is in peace. she is still breathing, in no pain. i actually loved hearing this. i am so happy she isn't in pain.
i did not love hanging out in a pimped out trailer for my boss's Gatorade shoot. amazing. i want to be famous JUST for this reason.
i did not love listening to taylor swift all weekend in preparation for this Thursday nights concert!!!!
i did not love seeing my mini cadbury egg collection slowly depleting.
i did not love making homemade lasagna!! it was delicious!
i did not love planning a special mothers day gift. i can't wait!!!
i did not love sushi for lunch followed by Mexican for dinner, it's a good think i am working out so much! or else.... well you know.
i did not love getting two hours of sleep last night, yep. bed time.

goodnight! hope your monday is going well!!

post your not me mondays!
it's so much cheaper than therapy.

sleep deprived.

i couldn't sleep a wink last night.

too much on my mind, and i am sure the heavy rain didn't help.
SO CAL weather is SO pretty, then one day all of a sudden it's raining?
i kind of like it though.
rain makes for perfect snuggle/movie days.
but not perfect when you hear the pitter patter against your window all night.

*****

i'm nervous my mini cadbury egg collection is running low.
my ass (pardon my french) will be happy though.
and i'm sorry i always talk about them.
but honestly, they are just THAT good to be mentioned all the time.

*****

i can't believe i am awake right now and getting things done.
working, blogging, and running errands.
i'm pretty impressed i am able to function after so little sleep.
i will crash tonight. i'm prepared for it.

warrior dash.

{our warrior car}

this weekend i participated in warrior dash.

check it out here

(i would suggest signing up!)

for those of you who don't know what it is it's a ultimate event for thrill-seeking athletes. This running series is held on some of the nation's most demanding and unique terrain. Participants will conquer extreme obstacles and celebrate their feat with music, beer, warrior helmets and muddy shorts.

we climbed over things, jumped over fire, crawled in mud with barbed wire above us, went in waist high water, and a few other fun obstacles.

all while wearing matching team viking jerseys, face paint, headbands, wigs, and much much more.

we looked amazing.

the pictures we took doesn't even do the event justice.
i am so sore today and it's only a 3 mile course.
yikes, i sure have A LOT of training to do before my marathon in October.

hope your weekend was adventurous too!

fun photo friday.

me, momma, and brother.
picture from last weekend at the wild animal park.
gosh i love them.

my dearest mere.

my dearest nana.
she is still in the same state.
breathing peacefully.

96 years old, and what a life she has lead.

i haven't slept much lately.

more emotions are coming, and i know it is OK.
it brings me back 8 months ago with my dad.

maybe i need to feel this.
maybe this is good for me.
either way, i feel helpless.

death is such a hard concept, but one that happens to everyone.
it doesn't matter if you have 10 years or 100 years with someone,
you still will always want more time.

my dearest mere.
i am still praying.
still thinking good thoughts.
and still hoping you aren't in any pain.
i love you with all my heart & soul.

thank you everyone for the notes.
means more than you will ever know.

you are all good friends to me.

i love you.

a big prayer.

my heart is broken.
i need some help my dear, dear friends.
for those of you who read my blog, or just merely know my family.
my mere... my dad's mom ...she isn't doing well.
she had a major stroke a few weeks back,
and it seems as if her days are limited.

please take a moment to send a big prayer to the heavens today.
my family, we need it.
the entire robin clan needs it.
it seems as if i feel the emotions my dad would feel.
it kills me.

i miss my dad. i need him right now.

we have been through too much.
i am devastated beyond words.
it's been a tough week, but i appreciate all of you.
even those i do not know.


thank you from the bottom of my heart.
and i will most definitely keep you all posted.
praying for the best....

not me monday.

here ya go!
all the things i did not do this week
{for the newbies, pretend it's opposite day...
it's all the things i did do}


i did not love idol lee's performance. i may or may not have cried a little.
i did not love sushi & galaxy game w/ whit.
i did not love San Diego with my mom & brother.
i did not love waking up at 5am for killer workouts all week.
i did not love greys & private practice. wow, they are getting really good!
i did not love the 130 feet high zip line, nor did i not need a cocktail after.
i did not love the 7.2 earthquake in Baja, Mexico. nor did i love running under a doorway when feeling it! yikes! first earthquake and hopefully my last!!
i did not love missing my dad more than ever. cry fest was definitely needed.
i did not love the last song... oh wait, i couldn't even watch the movie i was balling so hard {new rule, read about a movie before i go see it}
i did not love getting a frosting pen from Gloria! (best gift ever, thank you!!)
i did not love church on Easter. first time being in a church since my dad passed...... i definitely needed that.


post your not me mondays!
it's so much cheaper than therapy.

Easter weekend.

a picture is worth a thousand words.

top left: my brother explaining the "egg hunt" rules
top middle: our beautiful hike Saturday morning
top right: apples to apples was played this weekend. a lot.
bottom left: my brother's roomie, nick carter (yes, that's his real name) won the egg hunt
{he won $55, i was really jealous}
bottom middle: my mom finding an egg in the shrimp bag in the freezer
(nice hiding spot brother)
bottom right: carly mixing the eggs

wild animal park.

Pictures from our trip to the animal park in San Diego.

some highlights:

my brother eating a cricket.
my mom and i freaking out over the 130 feet tall zip line we took.
our 6 hour adventure through the park.
me trying to get a single butterfly on my shoulder in the exhibit.
me taking tourists pictures.
seeing all the cute animals up close & personal.
the birds attacking a little boy.
our faces in the pictures of the zip line.


it was a great way to start our Easter weekend.

Easter weekend.


I'm in San Diego all weekend with my family.
Lots of updates {and pictures} when I get back!!!
We are having a blast!!!
Hope your weekend is great too!!
Enjoy, and Happy Easter to you all!