We started with crunches on the trapeze which I could not do. You point your legs in a V and then bring them up and over like you’re going to hook them over the bar. Not so easy. I need to get my pull-up bar installed ASAP!

We learned the Dragonfly…

And the Dragonfly Catcher, which is really a terribly unattractive pose.
I’m laughing because he kept telling me to smile and move as I was straining to stay in the pose.

Here’s Ria getting out of a foot lock.
She rocks - I can only get the foot lock on the ground.

We love the strain and pain so much that we’ve all signed up for another 8 week course, along with Jenni!

I listed a bunch of headbands on Etsy. They are made from vintage jewelry on black elastic bands.

1. Mermaid 2. All On Black 3. Carousel 4. Peppermint

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First, I’ve been winked at by a whole lot of weird dudes. “Winking” is the equivalent of poking someone on Facebook. A super creepster move if you ask me. I don’t want to be winked at in real life and I especially don’t want to be winked at online. Grow some balls and send me a damn message!

Then, I was notified by OkCupid that my brother and I are a match. I received a message from him saying “…. this is totally not awkward at all…. good luck out there champ.” His profile is kind of awesome and hilarious, so I’ve decided I want to hook him up with Jenni. If you didn’t know I’m a fantastic matchmaker having hooked up my sister and her boyfriend of 2 years.

I’ve been a member for all of four hours and have already been asked out by a very cute guy with tattoos and a CAREER who promised to sing me Alkaline Trio songs. I Googled him, so I’m quite sure he’s a real person. I’ve also been messaged by two other interesting prospects.

I’d say this is starting off very well.

I wore a cheap pink Wet N Wild lipstick, which I had tried before, but found that it sort of slid off my lips. This time it stayed on really well, so I wore it to work.

My car in the parking lot at work is always a good spot to take pictures.

After we had enough dancing we hopped over to another bar for last call and met a paranormal researcher who created a blog for his cat and a drunk guy who kept squeezing into the booth next to me and talking about random nonsense.

I’ve been thinking about joining a dating site, but every time I look through the profiles I find someone I know and get nervous. There has been a real lack of hot guys at the bars I frequent and frankly I need some entertainment here.  I think it could be a fun experiment. Has anyone done it before? Recommendations?

I’ve been thinking about my year-long happiness goal - my plan to have a smile of my face and a song in my heart for at least 99 percent of the year. 99 percent seems like a lot, doesn’t it? But who wouldn’t want to be that happy? If you were happy 99 percent of the time, in a few years you’d be a glowing ball of positivity, lighting up others with just a glance and a smile.

I’ve made it through the first month with only a few hours of sadness during a night of self-made negativity. Plans got changed, I went out anyway and then drudging up old wounds, decided I’d rather be home in bed with my dog. But the next day I was over it and the happy was back.

I’ve started to make happiness part of my daily routine. Whenever I’m not a shiny, happy bubble of radiance, I look for something to turn on the positivity. I play with Slayer, make plans with a friend, put on music and sing my heart out, revel in the tiniest things to make sure my mood stays light.

I never leave work without a plan. Going out is easy, being around my friends means laughing and laughing means happy. Staying in is where I used to get in trouble.

Throughout my day I think about what will make me happy and content, whether it’s trying a new recipe, getting some chores out of the way, taking Slayer for a walk, reading a few chapters of a book, or watching a movie. I make goals and then I go home and accomplish them because I know accomplishing goals makes me happy.

Last night I made fried zucchini and udon noodles, watched three hours of Lost with Slayer and then finished my night with yoga and MCS on Jimmy Fallon. It was a perfect night in and everything I did made me happy.

I’ve also been working through bigger goals on the weekend. I attended a blogger meet-up and made a bunch of new girl friends, I went shopping with my sister, and I’m taking a class.

I know that only I can make my own happiness. Over the past year this has been proven to me time and time again. If you’re not part of my positive, awesome time then I’m just not going to keep you around. Family, friends, bloggers, it goes for everyone.

All of this stuff seems like a big giant DUH, right? It never occurred to me to be happy all the time because my mind would just remind me that bad stuff happens, so it’s impossible. But if I decide to take control of my happiness and adjust my attitude when life hands me a pile of shit then it is actually possible.

I’m just going to be crazy happy all the time. No question about it. Shiny, bright, happy, radiant, positive, full of fireworks and sparkles.

Images via WeHeartIt

What to do while waiting for Jessica to get ready?
Take pictures of myself of course!

And hang out on the couch, watching TV with Bean.

I decided to hack up a pair of really thick/warm tights so I could wear my lace tights too. Also wearing my Bakers boots and my favorite favorite favorite trapeze dress from Soprano. I’ve worn it so much the seams are coming out all over the place.

You’ve heard about Double Trouble - this is what we call Triple Threat. It’s DT + Angie with even more rhinestones and leather and bigger hair.

Kevin should look a little more happy to be surrounded by such hotties.

Jessica and I playing in the fun house mirror at Coney. We meant to get ice cream, but ended up with fries, eggs, pancakes, chicken rice soup, and Bosco sticks instead.

Ria and I were in different groups this week, but I snapped a picture of her doing the dirty dreadlock.

My arms are getting a lot stronger - I was able to do a Russian descent (where you kick your legs out in a V as you lower yourself down the fabric) and get on the trapeze a bit faster.

In the car while waiting for a train to pass. I say “I’m gonna take a picture,”
Jessica says “Ooo I want pizza!”

I picked up up Jessica and headed up Woodward to Clutch Cargos for the Swellers/Set Your Goals/Motion City Soundtrack show. I used my amazing navigation skills to keep us from getting stuck in the loop (the six lane road that runs around the city) and Jessica used her amazing skills to help me parallel park while a bum stood outside the car trying to talk to us. It was absolutely freezing out, so we ran to the venue, clinging to each other for stability, and arrived just after The Swellers took the stage.

After their set we met up with B and went downstairs where a bunch of friends were hanging out. The Swellers are from MI, so it was a little reunion and I got to see some people I hadn’t hung out with in a while. The room was red with curvy black leather couches - I wanted to take everything home.

We wandered through the maze of tiny halls and stairwells and finally found the main stage where we watched Set Your Goals. After their set, everyone else went back downstairs or pushed through the crowd to the bar, but I found a spot on the floor at the side of the stage and stayed there. I think most of our posse was there to watch The Swellers or hang out with B, but I came to dance. I must have looked like a moron rocking out all by myself, but it was so fun. I had the perfect view, no one crammed next to me, no one pushing or blocking my view.

I was very entertained by the mass of photographers in front of the stage.
It looked like a fake music video photo shoot.

At one point Anto, The Swellers bass player, showed up and I told him if he was going to stand next to me he’d better dance, so we had a little dance off complete with robot arms and the running man. He claims to have won and I’ll let him think that, but we all know who the better dancer is.

After the show Jessica and I decided we were starving and headed back toward home for Coney and girl talk. We were sitting across from each other, both texting away, laughing and showing each other the messages we were receiving. Who they were from is not terribly important as it will be someone else in a week or two anyway. We have started referring to ourselves as Double Trouble because 1. we attract a lot of attention when we go out and 2. we get ourselves into very entertaining situations, which make us laugh non-stop. DT will steal your boyfriend while applying lip gloss, eating pizza and dancing our asses off! Watch out!!

Happy Friday! I’m rocking lots of blue eye shadow today from Jane and Nars and dreaming of coloring my hair blue like Amy from Shrinkle. I’ve done it before and I have to say, I look damn good!

I’m very excited for Double Trouble hangs tonight with Jessica.
We’re going to see The Swellers and Motion City Soundtrack!