I'm BAAAAACK!!!

Hello friendly blogsters! (If I even have any followers any more...mom- I know you'll be reading this!)

Sorry I have been away for so, very long! Life has been busy, but very, very good! I am sitting at my computer on this rainy, "fall" day, post labor day and I figured what better time to start re-blogging than now! (btw- I write "fall" in quotes like that because even though there are technically 2 more weeks of summer, labor day, esp. in NYC, denotes the end of summer for most people....this little delinquent blogger included!)

So, as I was saying, life in Jersey City has been non-stop craziness! We are loving living in NJ (wow- still never thought I would say that!)! We have made such wonderful friends with our neighbors and our place is really coming along! We've painted (and by "we" I mean the professional painters that had to use a hydraulic lift to get all the way up our 27 foot walls), had our shower door installed, re-arranged furniture, and ordered a new dining table! All very exciting, domestic things, I know! But really, we are having such a blast building our home together! Our weekends now regularly include trips to HomeGoods, antique stores and CB2, as well as perusing thru endless home furnishing catalogues! I know, too much to handle, this crazy life of ours! ;-)

On the work front....Physique is going amazingly! I absolutely LOVE my job and feel really lucky to go in to work every day and have such a blast! I feel like I am getting a nice little following of clients and I have finally stopped having my pulsing and squeezing anxiety dreams before I teach an early shift! I even got my mom on the band wagon....she is hooked on the DVDs and I couldn't be prouder of her! Check out her tales of physiqueing on her new blog: suziestories.blogspot.com.

Vissi is going great too! We have two big shows coming up in a couple of weeks, so its been rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal like crazy as of late! If you are in NYC on September 24th, come check us out in Jamaica, Queens! We are performing my favorite Vissi show of all time...The Hoarde! Its got something for everyone...love, death, revenge, and redemption! Plus, I'll be wearing a shell bra and grass skirt for most of the show....so we'll see how THAT goes!

Oh and if you are wondering about that handsome hubby and cute little pup of mine...well they are doing just great too! Matt and I are coming up on our 2 YEAR wedding anniversary!! Can you believe it!!??! Time just flies by! Actually, today marks our 7 year anniversary of being together and 3 years ago yesterday, he proposed! Soooo, September is a pretty exciting month for us. And Maggie Lu, well she is just a little bundle of munchkin love all wrapped in fur (well hair actually).  She is getting even more loving with age....we wake up every morning with her snuggled right between the two of us and I just absolutely love it!

Alright, friends, so there is the update! I promise to not leaving you hanging for another 6 months! And I'll leave you with some pics so you can see what we've been up to since March and just in case you forgot what we look like! ;-)

 We got our window shades installed....that was one big ladder!

 I turned 29!

 I performed in a DRA (Dancers Responding to Aids) benefit concert with my Physique 57 co-workers. Here's me and the hubs after the show! (ps, it was on my bday!)

 Mom came out for the show too....

And then she and Matt threw me a big birthday party in the Canco chill room!

 At the party Matt and I were awarded "Best Couple".....

by this little guy, LEO, and his mama, Jen!

 Lot's of friends came out to NJ on a stormy, Sunday night, just for me!

And fabulous neighbors came too....although, they didn't have quite as far of a commute!

 Then mom threw her back out and stayed an extra week and then had to be wheeled to the plane in an airport wheelchair....maybe not her shining moment, but still a photo op!

 We celebrated Chelsea's Big 28! with brunch and lots of drinks!

 Maggie Lu and Oliver started their neighborly love affair!

 We went to Cali for Jon and Steph's engagement party....and I of course gave a toast!

Less than 5 months until the BIG day!!!

 We also got to see Amanda and Logan while we were there!

 Matt turned 31!

I did a fabulous rendition of "Hotel California" at the Norma Kamali Karaoke Party....completely sober!

Matt and I went to a NASCAR race with my good friend Laura

 Woo....look at those cars zipping by! Matt LOVED it!

I saw my dance Jr. High/ High School dance teacher and her daughter while they were visiting NYC....haven't seen them in over 10 years!!!

 We celebrated Jen's Happy 29! at the same brunch place with more drinks!

And then we all went to Central Park to snooze

Matt and Briko hung out at Starbucks! (Jenn and Briko came for a visit and I made all 3 of them take my Physique class at 8:00 am on a friday morning....this pic is post pulse and squeeze....they look pretty good!)

 The Sandwich was reunited!

Backstage at a Vissi show

Maggie celebrated the 4th with a new haircut!

The CANCO park is completed and looking quite green and fresh!

Mom came back to celebrate the 4th...hung out with some neighbors on the roof to catch the fireworks

Happy 4th of July!

Canco on a pretty summer day!

We went to Michigan and helped Matt's parents have a garage sale! This was one of many "gems" we found in the pile of "for sale" items

I started using my "Jersey Girls Don't Pump Gas" travel mug for iced tea....thanks Desabarb!

Gay marriage was legalized in NY!!!

I did a taping for a segment on NY1 for Physique 57's new UWS studio!

 We had a "hurricane" and lost power and I took a nap in the lobby so I could charge my phone. (I also downloaded a picture editing app on my phone, so from here on out, my phone pics will most likely look fancy!)

 After 18 hours and lot's of candles, we finally got our power back!

Maggie Lu looked really cute and contemplative lying on our bed post "Irene"

We ordered this table from CB2! It gets delivered today!!!

Jersey City had a very beautiful sunset!

Matt and I went to the beach but couldn't go in the water because the waves were too high....but we did  get some good sun!

And that's all for now folks! Til next time!

xoxo

Oh one more thing....

So Matt has been on this kick lately of mid century modern furniture and we just recently made our first purchase of a piece that got delivered today!  Had to share! :)

Welcome to the Happy Hendricks Home, vintage Barcelona Chair.  :) We promise to love you and sit on you and keep you nice and clean.  Oh and also, we promise to find you a little side table friend to keep you company pronto!

Oh, and I thought I'd also share this super cute pic of Maggie Lu on V-Day!  Don't you just want to snuggle her up! :)

Sorry I've been away....

Hello my faithful followers....if any of you are still out there. :)  I know I have been a major blog SLACKER, and I truly apologize for that!  Life is just busy busy, but great, and time has escaped me. But, no more, I am back on the blogging train and plan to (try to) be a better blogger!

So, since it has been so long since my last post, this one is going to be a bit of a summary as to what has been going on in the Happy Hendricks Home for the last couple of months. :)  Here goes...

Well, as you all know, we are homeowners and are LOVING NJ....I know, I know, I never thought I would hear myself say that either, but I'm telling you folks, Jersey City, and CANCO specifically is where it is at!  It really is the best of both worlds!  We work in NYC everyday, the PATH train is an easy commute so it takes about the same amount of time, but then we get to come home to an awesome big space, I can do laundry any time day or night and I don't have to worry about any little critters (besides Maggie Lu) greeting me when I get in.  Plus, our neighbors are absolutely fabulous and that my friends is something that we truly cherish!  We have been trying to get our place together, and do plan on having a housewarming sometime soon, but for now, pictures will have to suffice. :)

Our living room from above

side view

Guest bedroom....ready and waiting for some visitors :)

We "elfa-ed" our laundry closet and I think its pretty awesome! :)

Kitchen side view with our island

Our bedroom....a little dark, but this is all I had for now 

November not only brought us into a new place, but it also brought me into a new job!  Yup, you are looking (well, maybe not looking, but reading about) one of the newest instructors at Physique 57!  I am officially no longer an NYC nanny (other than the odd babysitting jobs for the munchkins that I love and could not never see again) and have entered the realm of upscale, boutique fitness!  I have to say, I absolutely LOVE it!!  I think it falls right up my alley, I get to work out everyday, motivate clients on their journey to a healthier lifestyle and best of all.....I get to do all this while on a headset mic!  Oh yeah! But really, it is a great job and I feel like I am really doing what I have always wanted to do! I even started in the nic of time to be able to attend my first ever company Christmas party....and we got to bring dates!  Yes!!!  (The Limited could learn a thing or two regarding that topic ;))  

Me and Matt getting ready to party Physique style!

This is my training buddy Jessica, she got me thru some of the tough spots while we were in the midst of training/working out/wracking our brains 15 hours a week

My trainer Mandy....the one who taught me the ways of the world according to P57 :)

All of the Instructors!

The 4 newest P57 Instructors....Brigitte, Jessica, Laura and Me!

December was an exciting month not only because it was Holiday time and we had our annual Cali trip for Christmas to look forward to but also because my little bro proposed to his girlfriend!!!! Yes, you heard me!!!! Jon is engaged and I couldn't be happier!!!  Stephanie is a gem and I am so excited to have her as my sis (or SIL as she likes to call me).  She was one of my bridesmaids and has been part of the family for so long, so it was only a matter of time, but we were all so thrilled and excited none the less! And of course, as you can imagine, my mom is on cloud 9 with another wedding to help plan!

This is the spot where he proposed :)

They carved their initials in the bench....love, love it! :)

Christmas with the fam was wonderful as usual!  Even though we said we were going to keep it small this year since we had all made big purchases right around gift shopping time (our condo, Steph's ring, and my mom's new car), it ended up being the fun gift giving bonanza it is every year.  My mom still likes to shower us with gifts as though we were still 8 and 6 years old....hey, I'm not complaining ;-), I just can't even imagine what it will be like when we have kids! 

Still in NJ with our little Christmas tree from my mom :)

The newly engaged couple with their Xmas tree

Christmas morning - A sister, a brother, a husband, a brother-in-law and 3 pups....Santa was busy!

The boys and their bod....wouldn't be a Christmas without "bod" in their stockings

Me and Jon....oh yeah, we love Christmas!

Dad loving his new Polo zip up!  He's the only man I know that can get away with wearing that color :)

Mom was very excited about this little blue box :)

Tiffers and Mags ready for the ride to Grandma and Papa's in their car seat

Me and Matt at G & P's

The next generation of kiddos! Natters, Andrew, Landon and Bailey

The newly engaged couples....2 weddings coming up within the year! 

Some "Just Dance" Wii action the day after Xmas with my dad's side of the fam

Mom and Aunt Christina were really getting into it

Jon and Dad...the ultimate competition!!

Once we got back from Cali (which took a little more work than planned due to the crazy blizzard in NYC and everyone in the country's flights being cancelled, including ours) we spent the New Year with good friends of ours, Matt and Lauren Wickert, and our neighbors down in our community "chill room."  It was my perfect kind of New Year!  Didn't even have to leave our building!!

In January my mom came to visit!  She was very excited about all the recent storms that we have been having because of all the snow that was left on the ground, much different than her 70 degree Cali January.  We had a great time going out to eat, roaming around the city and playing in the snow.

Lunch with mom at Eataly

Playing in the snow in front of our building

Dinner with Mom and Matt

At Liberty State Park...great view of Lady Liberty! :)

:)

<3

Mom's snow angel

The Hendricks Fam with our new NJ plates....we're officially New Jersey drivers, please don't honk at us ;-)

Me and Magsters in the snow

Mom with her Grandpuppy :)

And that my friends brings us up to February.  Phew!  I think you are all pretty much caught up!  Matt and I had a lovely 2nd Married Valentine's Day.  We decided to fore go the expensive dinner out and cooked at home instead.  Crab stuffed Salmon with shrimp and corn on the cob was a pretty good meal made by yours truly, if I do say so myself!  We have some more fun stuff going on in the next couple of weeks, so I'll be sure to be a better blogger and keep you all filled in!  Until next time....

Happy Hump Day!

xoxox