Island Time

Island Time is a Carribean expression representing a carefree lifestyle where the clock truly doesn't exist. I'm a huge fan of the Carribean. In fact, I've spent a lot of time there in my earlier modeling days. It's been a little while since getting to go there, but this past week my husband's best friend got married in beautiful St. John USVI, and we were able to 1) GO - we haven't been able to make any weddings other than our own in our time together due to our former schedules and 2) ENJOY OURSELVES. Usually if we ever go anywhere we would only have 2 or 3 days there and then rush back on a 6am flight to get to a live event somewhere...less extravagant. But NOW we have the opportunity to actually vacation. That might sounds crazy to most people, but if you've ever worked for a company that doesn't do holidays? Then you might understand.   It's funny how calming doing nothing can be. We started every day of our trip off with a quick work out...our resort was fully equipped with a nice gym, beautiful 24 hour pool and unlimited access to the ocean. So gym...and then beach. The beach is amazing. Laying out under an umbrella and having drinks and food brought right to you is literally food for the soul. It's also pretty calming to just hang out in the ocean. Pools are great but the ocean is always just...something more. It seems never ending and zen. One with nature! As long as you don't run into any of its permanent dwellers that don't want you around. Like stingrays. Anyway, I could do that every single day, if it was an option. We were able to sit out there with our laptops and iPads and organize our schedules leisurely. It was just amazing!

Every evening there was something exciting to do, whether it be the rehearsal dinner, the actual wedding (which was a lot of fun) or just hanging out with friends. And the drinking...ok have you ever heard of a "Pain Killer"?? It's a drink down there. Absolutely delicious. It's pineapple juice, coconut juice and rum (I think).  Well, they should rename it a "Pain Inducer". Because you will have a great time enjoying a crap ton of them...because they are so tasty. But, you'll wake up with a headache that you never knew you hated until you met it. Still, this did not keep me from indulging in my fair share every night. Along with plenty of frozens. It's not a beach vacay without the frozen drink concoctions. Trust me, I'm a doctor. In my mind.

The moral of this story is...it's absolutely imperstive to relax for once. To live in the moment and enjoy your life. It's also important to control your life. Don't allow yourself to miss the moments you won't forget. Especially when it's not benefitting you. People ask me all of the time about having babies (still, I know it's annoying right? Imagine how I feel!) I enjoy my life so much with friends, family, my husband and those cutie dogs of mine (that I missed immensely) I just can't imagine adding anything else into that mix right now. So everyone calm down. I'm more into living the young jet setter life than I am starting a family right now and "settling down". I can't even say that out loud. When it comes to that life? I'm on island time. That means it ain't gonna happen in any hurried fashion 🌴🌴🌴

Say CHEESE!

Who doesn't love a good macaroni and cheese?! It's the ultimate comfort food! I've been making Mac and cheese since I was a kid. My mom always made a great baked 5 cheese Mac and cheese and I've always been jealous of her talents. So you know I had to go and one up her and put together a very decadent 6 cheese baked macaroni and cheese to make hers feel a tiny bit inferior 😋. It's only fair...she's been showing me up in the Mac and cheese department for about 30 years! But hey Jyll, I'm about to share it so you can steal it...enjoy!  Here's what you need:

Box of Velveta shells and cheese

1 egg

1/2 cup of butter

Cup Shredded sharp cheddar

Cup Shredded Colby Jack

2 tablespoons  of Goat Cheese

2 tablespoons Mascarpone 

Sprinkle of Parmesan

Salt & Pepper to taste 

Baked mac and cheese is pretty simple guys. Boil the shells in water for about 8 minutes, remember they will cook more in oven so do not over boil them. Then strain and put back into the pot. Add in butter and egg. The heat should melt down the butter, but be sure not to leave any chunks behind. Next add in your cheeses. They should melt down pretty easily as well.  

Into the oven it goes at 350. 20-25 min should get the top golden brown. Feel free to sprinkle a little Parmesan on top once complete. You'll have the cheesiest Mac and cheese ever. Delicious! 

Feel free to pay with your cheese amounts. I recommended that above but honestly, I don't measure anything exactly. I just taste and go! 

Can't wait to see pics and hear about your experiences making this! 

What's it like?

One of the questions I get most frequently is "so...what's it like to be married to a wrestler???"  The answer's probably going to shock you guys. It's not what you'd think. He doesn't body slam me on the bed for craps and giggles. He doesn't go around breaking things or ripping his shirt down the middle like good ol' Hulkster used to do in the ring. We don't sit around watching hours upon hours a day of wrestling footage. Well, at least I don't. He has a very strong bond to this business, he grew up in it. I did not. I just liked Koko B Ware as a kid 😊.  I am not a huge fanatic and I don't have to be, by default. So...what is it actually like? Well, here goes. When I first started dating Cody I thought the attention was cool. People coming up and telling him they were fans, kinda neat. Before working for WWE I'd get recognized here and there from some of my published shoots or commercials but that was once in a blue moon. 5 years later though, I feel a little differently. 

Check this scenario: you're in mid conversation with your husband about something rather important and basically out of nowhere a man jumps right in front of you (like you're not there) and yells "OMG YOU'RE CODY RHODES". Then the pictures start (which You often end up taking to get them to please go away so you can finish your conversation- yes, may as well add photographer to your list of many accomplishments) and then autographs, then waving the whole family over to look at you awkwardly and then FINALLY peace again (if you don't count all of the stares coming from the surrounding audience that has gathered trying to figure out who on earth you are and why you caused such a disturbance.) Anyway, back to that super important conversation you were having...dammit. Now you've completely forgotten what you were even saying! 

That's an average day guys. Most of it is me by default being treated like I'm not  a real person, because I'm with this wrestler, who is also not real. One time we were at Disney World, FULLY engaged in a moment kissing. Kissing. Yes. And a grown man came up and tapped Cody on the shoulder and asked for a picture. 🙄 Talk about romantic!  There are some amazing fan interactions though. True fans I think react very differently than casual fans do. The casual fan will get Starstruck and nearly punch me in the face to get close to Cody. Long time fans know that I'm his wife and will be nice and cordial to me, but a lot of times I keep walking when people approach to avoid...situations. So if you see me and you would like to say hello to me, that's great! You'll have to say something though because most of the time I'm high-tailing it to get out of playing photographer or getting asked a random question like "are you his manager?" Or my favorite which I tweeted about recently "are you with that wrestler guy?" 😂 No. I just wanted to have dinner with a stranger tonight and he seemed fit for the job! 

But, like I said, there are really good interactions. Like when we go to dinner and are greeted as "Mr & Mrs Rhodes" without having made a reservation. When we go to the theme parks and get the absolute royal treatment because people know us and know how big of fans we are of the different parks and rides. And when we check in for our flights (like today) and are greeted with hand shakes, professional behavior and good care taken of our bags. Or kids. Kids are great. They are always so genuine and well mannered and happy to say hello :) 

Growing up learning about the news industry I was given a good bit of advice. This was by a college professor actually. They told me that news is unlike any form of TV, in that people see news anchors faces every single day. It becomes a situation where they think they know you. Like you're a friend or a sister of theirs. They'll come up and talk to you like they've known you for years. I always thought that was very strange, but understandable. Wrestling is the same way. For 10 years my husband has been on people's screens for ATLEAST 2 nights a week, not too mention his Dad for how many years? They feel connected with him, like family. It really is quite interesting...one of the most common things that happens to both of us actually is people think they talk to us on Facebook! Other than fan pages, we don't have Facebook accounts! Still, more often than not we will meet people who say "hey Brandi its Jane from Facebook!"  I'll say "oh man, I'm sorry but I don't have a Facebook. You're communicating with someone who's impersonating me."  This bewilders people! They are more apt to believe we've been talking every single day on Facebook, than to believe someone is pretending to be me. This even happens with family members and friends. They follow fake accounts and think they are talking to us, until we clear it up. That's actually kind of scary! 

The best thing I can tell you about being married to a wrestler is that all of these random interactions aside, I am super blessed. I got married to a really good man. I never wanted to marry anyone in the sports or entertainment industry because of the things that you hear. Thank goodness I did not let that stop me. I married an honest man with the utmost morals and values. I married a man that wanted to marry me because he loved me. Not for any gain.  Someone who truly wants to be a provider and do the right things, not just as a husband, but as a person. I don't know if that's what it's like to be married to a "wrestler". I've only been married to one and it's the best thing I've ever done, saying yes when that man asked me to marry him and taking that leap of faith. Now I'm not telling anyone to go out and marry a wrestler, that's your own business. I'm saying that at the end of the day I am very fortunate. That is all! 

Wanna Beat Bobby Flay?

I titled this entry as such because after my husband had one bite of my grilled salmon he said "yep, you can do it."  I said, "do what?"  Him, "Beat Bobby Flay". 😂😂😂 Weeeell I dunno about all of that, but I do know that I can grill some fish. And today I'll be sharing the simplicity of that with you, as well as some easy side dishes that pack some punch! Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes and Cheesy Broccoli.  First up. The fish. Grilling salmon is my favorite. It cooks just right every time, and very quickly! I hate when salmon is mushy in the center. I want in cooked all the way through, and I always achieve that when I grill. So here's what you need:

Salmon Filets (preferably skinless)

Salt

Pepper

That's it folks. Heat your grill upto high heat. Prepare the filets by removing the skin (if there is any). Season both sides to taste with salt and pepper and then slap them on that grill! 4 minutes each side. You should get a nice little charring, but no burning. That's it. Pull them off and they are ready for serving or you can make a nice little sauce if you like.  I whisk together a little white wine, heavy whipping cream and butter and season with a little salt, pepper and parsley. 

On to the sides. Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes up first! I make my sides to serve 2. Here's what you need.4 large Potatoes peeled and halved

 1/2 cup Heavy whipping cream 

1/2 cup melted butter

5 cloves garlic (chopped) 

Chopped oregano

Salt 

Pepper 

Parmesan Cheese

Boil the potatoes in salted water until soft. Drain water and then mash with potato masher. Add in warm butter and whipping cream and stir well. Add all of the rest to taste and then stir and serve. Makes about 3 servings (I like a little extra, hubby usually goes for seconds)

And for the broccoli. Packaged works just fine. Boil with salted water and then strain.  Add a packet of melted Velveta cheese and stir. Ready to serve! 

And now you have a complete dinner ready in less than an hour! Unless, you drink your wine and stall around like I do 😁 That's part of the fun in cooking though I think. Taking your time and enjoying the process. 

Now you're ready to beat Bobby Flay! Or at least you can watch that show and pretend you can kick his butt on the grill. Bobby is the grill master though. So let's not get too cocky...yet. 😉

Free Yo Mind...

...and the rest will follow. I've loved that En Vogue song since I was a little girl.It just screams freedom and equality. The simple words express so much how I feel this morning heading back home to Texas.  Last night I announced my last match at Scope Arena in Norfolk, VA...trust me guys, Kevin Owens is sad as hell. Nobody's gonna hit the "Ooooooowens" like I could I mean, let's be honest 😉. He's a cool dude and I tried to express that in an announcement and you guys really got behind it. Thank you!  But a little more on the who, what, when, where and WHY?!?! 

So...honestly? I've been "leaving" for a couple of months now. The teasing tweets about the LA and NY things? Those were all very real. I have wanted to go for awhile and when I make up my mind, it's difficult to talk me out of it. What I wanted to do was finish out my contract. It was set to end in 2 months. When my husband decided to go, it seemed silly to stay somewhere for 2 more months that I was already planning on leaving. So I asked WWE if we could push up the contract end date and they obliged. We parted amicably at the end of a contract. I have come full circle. The flexibility of my new gig is pretty nice. I essentially could start whenever I wanted...and I'll begin in July. Right now I'm just going to be enjoying my life with my family as we head into the next stage. 

But...still working. In entertainment we are always working. This is actually work right now. I am now able to earn a profit as a blogger (which I wasn't able to do before with WWE).  The contract can be very restricting/limiting. I hate when a good deal floats by because someone tells me I can't do something. There's money on the table and fun to be had, and I just can't?! Just because?! That just gets my goat. I can't be limited. I followed all of the rules growing up. Now in my 30s I can't be told what to do anymore. I'm too creative and awesomely weird to hold that shit in. So anyway, I'm working. The blog, traveling for meetings. I can do multiple gigs now so I'm blood thirsty and want to do everything! I'm going "hard in the paint" as they say, and busting my tail. 

"Before you can read me you've got to learn how to see me." What does that mean to Brandi? It means I can't be Eden anymore. I admire my mother. She's a hard working, smart, smart woman who never got a break. She has so many skills and creative ideas, but they never got to be appreciated. This one is partially for her. I've got a hell of a body of work, as Dusty would say, and I cannot waste it. I cannot look back one day and say...I had all of this talent and ambition and I stood in the corner of a ring in the back, when I knew I could be in the front. I'm going up front guys. 

To my girls...I'm sure I'll miss someone and I hate that. If you're my girl you know it so don't be weird...keep that place afloat. Kick butt and take no prisoners. Be the shining stars you came here to be. Nattie keep being a beacon of light, Maryse stay sassy, Jojo tear up those anthems, Sasha stay bossy, Tamina's my BITCH forever ha! Trin & Summer stay real, Emma and Becks keep your senses of humor, Lana keep asking too many questions 😂 and Charlotte DO YOUR JOB! 😋 WWE Make up divas are some of the best in the biz! Thanks all of you fab ladies, Leslie, Jackie & Ralinda especially. 😘. Thanks to John Laurinaitis for discovering me back in 2011. He always said he thought I could be a star. Mark Carrano and Michael Cole thanks SO much for believing in me and helping me succeed as a ring announcer. 

Thanks for the memories! All of my Eden fans, my fashionistas, my shoe divas, my model chicks, my friends. Thank you for the continued support, without all of your unwavering encouragement, I wouldn't have the utmost confidence going into these next phases of my life. I hope you all stay hungry, excited about your lives and empowered! Stay true to yourselves and always do the right thing. Always. It might not get you what you want right now, but it will get you what you need. The man upstairs, he's watching when no one else is. I believe that. That's why I always throw my garbage away. I'm for real. I can't leave garbage laying around because I know he sees that laziness haha! You laugh but, Brandi does NOT litter and I'm a G For that! Until the next blog...✌🏼️

Cardio Crazy Baby

As part of my work out routine, 3 days of my week are dedicated to cardio only. I've used every type of cardio equipment under the sun because I can't resist trying something new as an active dame. So I'm breaking down my three favorite pieces of cardio equipment and how I like to use them. Warning, this blog might wanna make you get MOVING so keep your water bottle and gym clothes nearby!  First up, the love of my cardio life, the Cybex Arc Trainer. Ooooooooh I LOVE this machine. It always feels like such a full body work out. You can increase the intensity levels, as well as the arc heights. The higher the arc, the more that booty burns!  There are two versions of this machine. One where your arms stay still, and one where they move in a runners motion (kind of like a more typical elliptical machine). This trumps the other elliptical styles though, because of that ARC.  There's nothing like it. It's like running and climbing a mountain at the same time. High-knees, but running. I usually set my pace at 20, and my arc height at 11 or 12. I'm telling you, it burns, but it feels awesome. When you get off this machine you know you have PUT IN WORK! I incorporate this machine into my lift days as the cardio breaks. I start off with a 10 minute warm up, then I go lift. Come back on the Arc Trainer for 5 min, then lift. Repeat again, lift, then abs and stretching. Perfect for your full body work out, even when your lift days are area specific. 

Next, the newest addition to my work out love life, the Woodway Curve Treadmill. I have never experienced a treadmill like this before. It's the best thing since sliced bread. Ok. It's a little bit intimidating at first, but once you're in the swing of it it's as natural as walking or running. Here's why it's special. It's curved, or has an arc as well (my love for arcs continues). But the arc allows YOU to control the speed! Therefore, this machine is 100% green! Yep, it doesn't not plug in. So you get on and start walking. To quicken your pace, stay towards the front.  To slow down, move towards the back. It's that. Simple. 💁🏽 so here's how I use this machine. I like to do sprint tabatas. What that means, is I run HARD AND FAST for 20 seconds then walk for 10. I do this for 6 minutes straight. 20 fast, 10 slow.  Why I like this machine is it's easy to control my pace. These typically don't work on a normal treadmill. You have to set the pace at a sprint but for the 10 second slow down you have to totally stop and put both feet on the side steps. Lame! The Curve is the only way to get the full excercise on a treadmill. Hands down. And it rocks! 

Last, but certainly NOT least, the traditional stationary bike. People usually discount stationary bikes but I love them. They are so versatile! I can do everything on them. We've talked about tabatas, the bike is great for these! I usually do a 20 minute one, fast for 30 seconds, slow for 60 seconds. It really gets those legs burning! I can also use the bike the same way I use my arc trainer, at intervals in between lift sets. Or you can just get a great warm up and sweat going using a bike for 10-20 minutes up front, go lift, and wrap up with 10-20min bike on the end. It's easy on the knees, for those of us with all sorts of knee problems. It's a great go to when you're just not feeling it. Sore, weak, whatever. Get on the bike and just work it out. 

Hopefully this encourages you to get your cardio on in different ways! Cardio doesn't always have to be doomsday. It can actually be fun and challenging! So go to my Instagram, like some of my workout wear pics and get some new duds to wear for your next cardio day. Nothing like a good sweat baby! 💦

Q&A Answers

Hey guys! Thanks for your questions. I like doing these here because I'm not limited to 140 characters for answers for people to then misinterpret. So here we are! Feel free to comment here if you enjoy something!  My  advice for women is to become the smartest person in the room. The "glass ceiling" is a real thing. It exists in most work places no matter how diverse they try to be. Most of the time, a man is in charge and men just don't think of the women they employ as equals, unless they have a special connection to them (like family).  So be smarter. Be one step ahead and don't be a "girl" about business. It's business. It's about you first and everything else second. Trust me, every employer thinks of their business first, not you first. I've worked everywhere. Newsrooms, TV shows, Ad offices, modeling world. Doesn't matter. Be the smartest and the most prepared. And ask for what you want. People will tell you no, all the more reason to find the ones that will say yes. Be professional at all times, you can still have fun, but keep it on the up.  Be aware of your opportunities and know your worth. Confidence is worth more than you know. "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything."  

No. I don't have any desire to see what that kind of future holds. I'm an old soul. I don't enjoy much about new technologies and developments and such. I like to just live in the now and take it easy. 

I have been pretty fortunate not to have made any gleaming on air mistakes...yet. I have had to guess on the weights a couple of times and have felt like I might say the wrong thing but it usually comes out alright! Before the show starts though, sometimes we have to announce the foreign commentary teams and their names just don't come naturally to me! I don't have a German accent so I'm pretty sure I butcher Holger Boschen every time. I think he forgives me though! Haha. 

Ah, the old wrassler question. I am going to say what I've said before which is I am a trained wrestler. I trained at both FCW and NXT. In Tampa and Orlando respectively. YES I have trained with my husband. Yes. I have wrestling boots. Yes I have more gear than some of the female wrestlers that are currently on TV (the whole "always be prepared and never look anything but the part on TV"...that's in me). I was hired as a wrestling talent. Things went a different way. When I got hired in 2011 they were looking for different things. I was an athletic model...there were more of us than independent girls. Now that's changed quite a bit.  So maybe I don't fit into this current crop of talent? But I never say no, because I don't like to put my foot in my mouth. I don't make those decisions though. We all express that and people still don't seem to understand that a lot of things are not in our control as talent. All I can do is make suggestions and work really hard on ideas which I have done many times already. I am a jack of many trades. Someday maybe I'll share some on camera work with you guys. But not today. So I guess, that answer will have to do for now. Check back with me in a little while though. You never know what might happen 👀

Total Skin Cleanse

 When I entered into my 30s...I figured I wouldn't have to worry about breakouts anymore, especially since I didn't get them much as a teen. Well, that was a lie I apparently conjured up, because the older I get the more temperamental my skin seems to become and it flat out sucks! Stress sucks. Travel is not good for my skin and TV quality make up is the devil. Legit Lucifer. When times get tough I change up my regime. Recently I've come across a skin care plan that I'm really loving! So here goes my essay on my current skin care "yes" list.  So how do you fight acne and aging at the same time? Murad. That's how. They have a whole anti-aging line with gentle acne fighting formulas all in one. The key is salicylic acid, but gentle amounts. Murad's Time Release Anti-Aging Cleanser has just a tiny bit, making it ok for twice daily use. It is not drying (like Murads original cleanser can sometimes be) and its gentle formula is fine to use with a Clarisonic if you have one...more on that later. Murad is a brand I have trusted for years. It gets the job done and offers many options as you go through different stages with your skin. It also offers trial packs so you aren't spending a ton of money upfront if you aren't sure about it. Great stuff.  Now I am new to Pur Minerals, but they offer a couple of facial cleansing products that I am into. First up is In The Clear, facial cleanser. It looks like it would be gritty but it's not. It's actually non-exfoliating so if your skin is extra irritated it's a good place to start. It's a very natural formula with no harsh chemicals. The formula is very fragrant but I find its fragrance  to be very pleasant. Some might not though. Pur is very gentle and worth looking into if you're looking to make a switch...   My favorite Pur product though is the Dirty Girl mud Mask. This stuff will unclog those pores and bring blemishes to the surface in 20 minutes. It's a mud mask, so it will freeze your face, so avoid trying to eat or drink...or smile, ha, in that 20 minute time frame. You honestly won't be able to! This is my once weekly mask that I use to keep my skin on the right track...especially if it's being problematic! 

   

I just discovered Skyn Iceland  products while looking for a better way to remove makeup. As I said, the make up they use on us weekly for TV HATES MY SKIN. Or my skin hates it. Either way it's a total war zone and I have to be ready. As soon as I'm done for the day I start my cleanse process by removing that cakey crap with these wipes.  They are actually foamy on the face, which feels clean and invigorating. They get my make up off faster and more thoroughly than Olay or Neutrogena wipes, so I don't mind paying a few extra bucks for a job well done. These are also great to keep in a gym bag. You don't want to walk around (if you tend to run errands post gym like I do) with sweat clogging up your pores. I wipe with these right after my work out and feel SO much better. Seriously these wipes are the jam!      

How I have gotten along all of these years without a Clarisonic...I honestly do not know! This little gimmick is the bees knees. Talk about a deep clean. The Clarisonic provides you with a minute long power wash of your face and gets every single bit of dirt off. You can see it on the spin brush. It's both disgusting and amazing. If you think your face is clean, use a Clarisonic and be proven wrong. It's safe to use twice daily, which I do. When you buy it it comes with its own gel facial cleanser but I never used it. I just squirted my Murad on there and went to town. You can use whatever facial cleanser you like! I would NOT recommend using an exfoliating cleanser. That might be too harsh and over doing it. If you like exfoliating cleansers maybe alternate days with them and opt out for use with your Clarisonic.  That's a look at my current routine. I've also just recently joined the world of facials and I'm blown away! I am a Massage Envy member, and my location has Estheticians so I decided to capitalize and I'm so glad I did! My face needs it! The recommended is 4-6 weeks in between visits. 

If you are interested in any of these products they are available to shop via my Instagram. You guys know the drill by now. Sign up at liketoknow.it and then like the pic on my IG to have shopping links delivered right to your inbox! The shipping links come from your normal fave stores. It's very simple. Hope you find something you like! Happy Shopping! 

Hey Baby Let's Go to Vegas!

I actually had to convince my husband that we wanted to go to Vegas with our days off. He wanted to go skiing. Now I like skiing, but our schedules have been hell lately and the last thing I wanted to do on our days off was freeze, or entertain someone else (ski trips usually involve friends and I...yeah, no. Not right now). The bright lights and the warm temps of the Las Vegas Strip were calling my name. So we booked it. It was awesome. Amazing. Here's what we did and what you should try on your next trip to Sin City.  Nobu Caesars Palace. 

Caesars not only houses the world famous Nobu restaurant but also the boutique Nobu hotel. It is located inside of Caesars Palace, but separate from everything else. It has its own private front desk, it's own room service (provided by Nobu restaurant and it's AMAZING). The Japanese themed hotel had the best view I've ever had on the strip (and I've stayed in 7 or 8 different joints there over the years.). We stayed in one of the luxury suites and it was well worth it. Everything was quiet and private, all the while being moments away from the excitement.  

      Caesars palace is also home to Absinthe, a very carnivalesque Vegas show unlike any other I've ever seen. My current favorite, I won't give away too much detail but if you aren't offended by skin, very bad language and the inability to be politically correct in the slightest, well then, you'll love the show. If you're easily offended or embarrassed...pass on this one.  

    We hopped over to Luxor one night and experienced Criss Angel Believe, which was just wild and mind blowing. I also met a young lady there who said she reads my blog, so hello to you if you catch this post! 👋🏻 Anyway, I'm a fan of magic, and was so impressed with the illusions I would definitely see it again. 

Sweet eats.

We just happened upon a little joint in the Mirage called the Pantry. Go there. Breakfast served all day and a myriad of other delicious meal options. Perfect if you can't decide what you want to eat. 

Then there's my favorite burger joint in the whole world Holstein's. It's inside of the Cosmopolitan and it offers gourmet burgers and adult milkshakes. By adult I mean throw In some vodka or Jack D to your favorite flavors and WOMAN UP. Seriously, delicious. 

If you've never been to Serendipity, don't be thrown off by the thousand dollar sundae. That's only one item. The rest of the ice creams and sundaes are normally priced and simply to die for. Try the Red Velvet Cake Sundae. Sugar coma. 

And of course we had the $400 dinner at Nobu and it was such an experience. You can definitely order off of the menu and keep to a much, much tamer budget, or you can let your waiter design a custom menu for you like we did and pony up that dough! Our meal was excellent and our waiter was top tier in service. No regrets at all.

   For shopping we decided to get out of Caesars and head to the Grand Canal Shoppes in Palazzo. Great shopping there. Everything you need, and don't need...like a Christian Louboutin store. Hey it happened, don't act surprised. This is the shoe game diva you're talking to. 💁🏽👠  Cody's favorite chill spot however, lurks in the corners of the Caesars Shops and that's Casa Fuente. Just a simple cigar bar (in a mall) with the best damn mojitos (second to mine).  

 Lastly, the weather was excellent enough for a pool day. Cabanas. Drinks. Warm water. What more can you ask for? Definitely brought us the relaxation that we'd both been longing for.  I'm a sun baby. I mean skiing? Over this? Yeah, not on my calendar 👙

 Hopefully this helps if you decide to visit Vegas in the near future. It's a great place to chill, indulge and let your freak flag fly.  There's always a hidden gem to be found no matter how many times you've been. So be open minded, find it and enjoy the magic and wonder of it all.

 

Q&A Answers

If you took the time to write a question...thank you! Here are the ones I chose to answer:       I was inspired to work for WWE by WWE! They found me doing a model search and were interested in me. I tried out and absolutely loved it! 

Go to movie right now is Star Wars. We have seen it twice already in theaters. I am sure we will see it plenty of more times! Especially when it comes out on DVD/Blue Ray. 😊

   I get fashion inspiration from everywhere. Movies, television shows, books,ect. A lot of my fashion inspo tends to come from fellow bloggers that I like as well. I have many favorite designers. Currently I am wearing a lot of Haute Hippie and Free People. And then I have great people who work with me like Haute Glam Boutique to keep my looks fresh on TV. So, I have a lot of faves, and my inspo comes from everywhere! 

   Hi Brin! Thanks! Ok...so traveling and keeping a good diet and work out ethic is tough. You have to just be committed!  Make sure when you get to your town you stock up on foods that are consistent with your diet and healthy. That way you aren't tempted by fast food or high calorie things on the go. Set in advance what days of the week you are going to work out and make sure it happens!  For instance. If I have a long drive one night and am sure I won't be able to get at least 7 hours of sleep in that night, I'll opt not to work out and just adjust my schedule. Allow yourself one (or two if you're really sore or tired) days off a week to recover. And allow yourself a cheat meal once a week to help curb cravings! Hopefully this helps.

   My advice is don't start wearing a bunch of make up all of a sudden. I don't wear much make up aside from TV and that's because I have to. I fight with our make up team all the time about what they put on me and how much. I like to look like myself.  If you haven't been wearing it this long, I imagine you like to look like yourself too! So don't change your look. Just enhance it a little. You'd be surprised how far a little powder, mascara and lip gloss will go! Those are my go-tos on days off.I just try to look fresh faced. Now for a night out you can have more fun and play with an eye palette for a fun smokey look and a red lip. But don't go over board! You should always look like yourself :) 

   Starstruck is a feeling I have never known. I've worked with all sorts of celebrities on different projects before coming to WWE. When you work in entertainment it's just expected. I can be excited to work with people though. I was excited to work with Dusty when I came on board because he's the man and mighty talented. If I ever get the opportunity to creatively work with my husband, believe me I'll be excited about that! That's as close to Starstruck as I'll ever get. Unless you include when I met my favorite figure skater. I was 16 and cool as a cucumber. I did ask for a pic though. I was 16...it was acceptable 😊

NOW SINCE 800 people asked me about kids...here's my take.

Not doing it any time soon. Not opposed to it. I am a business woman. Kids don't fit into my current lifestyle. One day that will probably change. I don't know what day that is. My husband and I pretty much feel the same about this. I need to live my professional life first, or at least get it to a point where I can take a significant break.  If I do have kids you won't see them on here until they are old enough to make their own decisions about social media. I don't believe in putting baby pics (that last forever) on the Internet. If my kid becomes president he or she won't want a diaper pic accompanying their campaign I'm sure.  So, now that you guys know I won't be sharing baby pics on here, maybe you will cool it with the 20 questions!! 😁

Thanks for all of your great questions! I appreciate them and have answered a few in the thread...so you can check there to see if you got answered if not here. 

Until next time...

Penny For Your Thoughts...

Feeling particularly uninspired today, so I'd like to open us up for conversation today on the blog! As you may or may not know, I stopped doing Question and Answer sessions on Twitter because...well for many, many reasons. But I find when I do them here on the blog they are much more fulfilling for everyone involved! I can answer MUCH more in depth over here and I can control the conversations. Offensive things do not get posted here, so there are less people upset and fighting. It's just easier and far more productive so...lets have a go! If you have a burning question to ask, go right ahead and reply to this message with it. I will answer whatever I can in my next blog. Some of you I may just reply to in the comments if the response isn't too long. 

Also feel free to take this time, if you don't have a question, and let me know what you think about Eden's Style, an outfit you've seen me wear recently, something you'd like to see me cover in the future...whatever! 

Starting...NOW! 😊

My Favorite 2015 Moments

2015 was a year of highs and lows for me. The emotional roller coaster inspired me to begin writing this blog in the first place.  As we shift into another year I'm reflecting on all that happened this year past. Hope you enjoy looking back with me on some of my favorite moments. Hall of Fame 2015. I walked the red carpet with my father-in-law Dusty Rhodes. It was the first and last time I got to do this with him. It was an off year because Cody was not attending for the first time. Instead of having me do interviews, Michael Cole opted for me to be a guest with Dusty. I am very grateful for that. We had a fun night. People don't know this but Dusty did not feel well that day. I had to push him to do this interview with Maria and Michael. I knew he was mad at me but I made him do it. My mind was telling me that if I didn't get him up there I'd regret it. My intuition was right. Because it's a great moment in history. The last time the world saw Dusty be Dusty. It was the last time I got to complain with him about inductees talking for too long and the bus ride being a pain in the butt. I remember it all so fondly. I did not know at the time that Dusty was leaving us soon. Had I known, I'd have done everything just the same. It was a perfect night. This night is my second to last memory of Dusty. He and I know my very last. Again, I didn't understand that one at the time, but when he passed I knew what it all meant.  So now that I'm crying and the woman sitting next to me on the plane is giving me sympathetic looks, I must move on. 

  

We bought the Texas Rhodes House in May of 2015 and I am just elated with it. I've told the story a million times. 12 rentals until I found my true home with my true love. This gypsy wanders no more. This house represents so much for us. The first major fruits of our labor. Something to show for with all of the travel and the hard work. Something concrete. We put down roots for the first time here. Two kids who vowed to be wanderers for life found each other and changed their plans. This is one of the many steps we have taken towards our commitment to being an awesome little family. It's also a big deal that Pomeranian Colby-Jack made it to his forever home. He's a little old man and he has lived a long life with me. He deserved to finally settle into a home as well. In 2016 we will continue with plenty of more I am sure.        

My first trip to Asia took place this year. I did not want to go. Dusty passed 2 weeks before. Going meant leaving my family behind to grieve, and leaving my husband all alone. I hated myself and I hated the people who put me on it and didn't offer to take me off. But in the long run...it was the most refreshing tour. I was shown love and respect here. The fans were so amazing I couldn't believe it. At a time when I needed peace and understanding the WWE Universe of Asia provided that and I was so grateful. I cannot wait to return here again. 

      

Meeting Elijah (Drax Shadow) was a huge surprise. It happened at a time when my husband certainly wasn't himself. This witty, inspiring child and his family were a huge help in turning things around for us. Elijah was so cool and fun to be around. His contract signing on RAW was so much fun and he did such a great job delivering his lines. He allowed my husband to have fun at work again and be himself. It was such a great moment. We have become friends since, and I enjoy finding out about Elijah's progress and victories. He's a great kid with a great family behind him. 

  

Our 2 year anniversary was a superb night. We found out there was an amazing steakhouse in our area and they treated us like a Queen and King that night. We had a private table to enjoy our dinner peacefully outdoors with candles and the whole bit. We were able to slow dance together on the outdoor patio alone and retrace the steps of our wedding dance. Its a memory I will never forget. It's so awesome to be so in love, and such a great blessing to have each other through thick and thin. I adore my husband. He's one of the great ones. That makes me one of the lucky ones, indeed. 

     This year was Halloween Horror Night's 25 year anniversary. We are HHN fanatics. Have been ever since one of our first dates their. I say we fell in love there but for me, I was honestly in love immediately :) this year was the best year I've attended, and that's saying a lot. Every year that I have been has been excellent and a ton of fun but this one was surely special. Getting to stay in the Presidential suite in our favorite hotel. Getting to see Jack the clown perform live and getting toured around by the guy who makes it all happen every year. It was pretty damn awesome! Looking forward to seeing what HHN brings us in 2016! And how can you not love this art render of Jack, Stardust and I?

                

Thanksgiving was the first time we housed both of our families at once. The Texas Rhodes House is all decorated and settled into and it was just lovely to have everyone together at the same time. I enjoyed putting all of my holiday decorations together and just having that time off to spend with family. I am hoping we can host Thanksgivings for many years to come in this house. Hopefully next year the theater room will be complete and we can have one heck of a movie night with the whole fam! 

      First Christmas in the new house was excellent. We found a great place to get a Christmas Tree which I know we will use for years to come. We were able to make memories and keep up our tradition of our crazy Christmas Eve shopping game, church and dinner out. We are really enjoying where we live and all it has to offer. I enjoyed especially having a super warm Christmas! Cody wanted snow...I feel there is still PLENTY of time for all of that. After all, I am not a snow child. A relaxing Christmas at home with our dog children, however, was exactly what the doctor ordered!

      Star Wars was epically awesome. Arguably the best movie I have EVER seen. I fancy myself a huge movie buff and my top list is very good. Star Wars probably takes the cake, because it had so much to live up to and it was able to deliver. Old characters, new characters, nostalgia and things to look forward to. It was simply a bad ass movie. When you work so hard and so much, a movie like this is like a great escape. I love letting myself get lost in a great story. I saw this movie twice already. I never see anything twice in theaters. This movie was a winner and deserves every dollar earned and every accolade given. If you haven't seen it yet...GO SEE IT!

   Last but not least Eden's Style officially launched at the end of 2015. This is my labor of love. I worked for months and months to make this happen and I am very proud of it and its success so far. So many program ideas get turned down after a lot of hard work and pitching. Mine was fortunate to survive the process! Thankful to all of you for tuning in week after week and allowing it to be a success. I enjoy hearing your feedback and I promise there are exciting things coming for Eden's Style and Eden Stiles in 2016. Thank you for all of your love and support. It truly means the world to me! 

   As we move into 2016, I encourage you all to do so with open eyes, hearts and minds. Go after those dreams and attack those goals. Let's crush it together. I dream huge and it has gotten me this far. It will take me wherever I'm going with a grateful heart and spirit. Here's to a New Year guys! 🍾🍾🍾

HHN Again and Again!

Ok, so...it's October 10th...and I've already been to Halloween Horror Nights TWICE this year. No, I don't even live in Orlando. And yes, I don't have much time off. So...why is it that everytime we get a free moment we put Halloween Horror Nights over a beach getaway or a Vegas Vacay?? Read on...   HHN is a tradition for Cody and myself. In fact, our first real date (the one where loveydovey words were first spoken) was at HHN21. Since then every year we try to catch lightning in a bottle of fun again and every year we succeed! So why go anywhere else? Ok we do go elsewhere from time to time, but here's what HHN has to offer.  

 Ever stayed in a suite at Universal Loew's Royal Pacific Hotel? Oh, you need to. It's the lap of luxury. Old school luxury. Like turn down service, cocktail hours and desert hours...snacks on request. That type of thing. Loew's has it down pat. And with the help of VIP hosts like our friend Raymond...there is no guess work. The trip is seamless and our comfort is 100% guaranteed.  

 From Royal Pacific you can take a water taxi (or walk, which I never do) over to Universal. We usually go over a bit early and get dinner and drinks somewhere like Cowfish or Hard Rock Cafe. And from that point, it's party time. 

This year is Universal's 25th Anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights. And it's very spectacular. This years houses are: Monsters of Mayhem: 25 years, Freddy vs. Jason, Insidious, American Werewolf in London, Body Collectors, the Purge, RUN, Alice in Wonderland 3D and The Walking Dead. My personal favorites are Monsters of Mayhem, Freddy vs Jason and RUN. But each house is great. Not good, great. They all bring something special to the table. I'm not into spoilers so I won't go to far.  

    The scare zones are equally amazing. Very large and heavily decorated. You are never safe at HHN. Be open to being scared at all times. The scares are fair though. No one will ever touch you, they get close but they are professionals.  

    Other treats along the way include the Jack show...the original clown host of Horror Nights is back with a vengeance! His live show is awesome and very much worth a watch. Bill and Ted is great as always, although I must admit, I'm not always so familiar with the pop-culture references. But it's still pretty fun and hilarious to see. But another amazing treat is that J.K. Rowling allowed Diagon Alley to be open this year. It's separated from everything else, so it's a great time to ride Gringotts without a huge line (we waited 10minutes). And also a great place to grab a Wizard Brew or a Dragonscale Ale.  

 Horror Nights is magical. It's childlike wonder, but with blood packet Jell-O shots that taste like Sex on the Beach. It's a place to escape and allow your imagination to be captured...or your nightmares. Worth a visit for horror and non-horror fans alike. I mean...unless you're...scared.  

 🔪🔪🔪

Brandi Runnels 

Fashion for the people

This week in fashion is a mix of looks for work, evenings out, work outs and straight up playtime. As you all know I am now a part of liketoknow.it so you can log onto my Instagram and shop links to all of these fabulous looks there! But here is a quick display of the looks I chose! First up this amazing look was perfect for Texas. Southwestern in nature and taupe in color...you can't go wrong with a laid back southwest vibe 🌵    Beauty blitz this week I decided to share some of my favorite products that I like to travel with and use. You can pick any of these up by using liketoknow.it via my Instagram page!       Smackdown is the place to be on Thursday nights! My Smackdown look this week is kind of my classic look. Nothing too over the top but very feminine. If you have "twins" there's nothing wrong with showcasing them a bit. This dress was the real deal.    

Head to liketoknow.it and sign up to receive ALL of my Instagram looks straight to your email. All you have to do is like my post on Instagram! 

Always Brandi Runnels 

Friends...How Many of us Have Them?

Often times I think I'm guilty of attaching the word friend to folks that I've just known for a long time. Nostalgia won't allow me to say "hey, we just aren't as close as we once were and that's totally ok!"  Instead I (and a couple of other family members of mine) make excuses as to why so and so didn't show up for such and such or didn't call us on that important day and really deep down there's resentment over the situation, and it's kind of silly. Truly, I believe that friendships change over time. Some strengthen, some grow apart and new ones form. You have to be open to all of it to experience what you're truly intended to. For instance, my anniversary was pretty eye opening.  Some of the folks I consider myself very close with for many years didn't even think to send me a message...they just liked my Instagram post and it was like, really? I thought maybe I deserved a "happy anniversary girl!" text from someone who was there on that day ? Due to social media we really don't have to remember dates anymore (and I really don't expect people to) but when you see something like that roll by your timeline and you are a true friend...a text or call is...just way cooler! 

But then randomly that evening I get a text from the friend I'd known the least amount of time. She doesn't even have Instagram or Twitter , somehow she knew on her own. We had a quick exchange back and forth and I said "I can't believe you remembered that!"  And she said..."I'm your friend! I was there for your big day! Of course I did!" Mind. Blown. 

And then the next day at work Nattie informs me that she spoke to Cody and found me the perfect anniversary gift (an amazing Stardust make up pallet OF COURSE! Which I love) and Nattie and I weren't even buddies when I got married. But she saw that I was having a special day and she cared enough to get me a gift.  So thoughtful and generous and these days Nattie and I are a great friends but I never would have expected that from her. 

It just goes to show that sometimes pals pop up in the least expected places...and other times, maybe we expect too much from our "true blue crew".  But I don't let the past and nostalgia stand in the way of creating new bonds and new memories with new friends. There once was a time that I had no buddies at work. These days though I find myself trusting, confiding in and wanting to be a helping hand or good ear to many of my fellow ladies in the locker room...far beyond our time on the road. I think in the past my heart just wasn't open to new friends. Now I've discovered my heart has a pretty large capacity and is fuller and happier with more people to love and care for!

Always, Brandi Runnels  

(And now a buddy photomontage 😁). 

           

I Do...Every Single Day

This week is Cody and my 2 year wedding anniversary. To me...that just FLEW by! I feel like we just had our awesome wedding last month and yet, here we are married for TWO YEARS! And I can confidently say marriage suits me. Not just marriage, marriage to this incredible person that I have the privilege of sharing a lifetime with. I would like to share a few things to make you laugh, cry or maybe just think a bit about marriage in general. Hopefully something I say will have some sort of value to whomever reads this! When I was pretty young, in my early teens I'd say, I was given some bad advice but from a very good source so it's taken me sometime to kind of toss it aside. An adult friend had told me "marriage isn't about who's the hottest or who you have good sex with, it's about who you can rely on in the harder times". Now, what she said isn't completely untrue...reliability is a huge part of my marriage buuuuut, the other stuff she said? 😳 Why shouldn't you hope to have a partner that is smoking hot that you can't keep your hands off of? I think somewhere I just misunderstood the conversation. Because I married the hottest man ever and 2 years later he's somehow gotten hotter and I am just living a teenage dream over here. And somehow I feel like it's not going to change. Those butterflies I got 4 years ago when we started dating? Oh they still work for me...full-time. And...go figure, he's never dropped the ball in the reliability court. Hmm....

My husband reminds me of my dad in so many ways and our marriage reminds me of my parents a lot. I always admired their marriage. So much respect and hard work and priorities completely in check. There is so much love between them still and they always have to touch each other and be excessively sweet to one another. It's unique. My dad would do anything for my mom. Growing up I almost thought my mom was kind of bratty but in time I realized my dad was just a good old-fashioned husband who lived to make my mom happy and vis versa. My husband confided in me last night that this was his pure existence. Providing for me and making me happy. Now as a modern day woman with all of these goals and business aspirations, that completely makes my heart melt. He's always got my back, no matter what I want to do with myself. That's priceless. 

This entire past year wasn't a big family picnic though. My husband experienced the loss of a parent which is one of the most traumatic things you can go through. As his wife I've felt so helpless because no matter what I do, or don't do, say, or don't say...I cannot change what happened. All I can do is try and be strong for him and that is it. That's a daunting task. There's no book or manual on "How to be a Strong Wife In a Crisis" I've just done my best. Through the good times and bad though, we have decided to cling to each other. That's just the bottom line. There will be more rain and sunshine throughout our marriage. We will experience it all together and be better for it. 

Now, this little bit is fun. We went out for our anniversary dinner (a few days early because we are working opposite tours this week...funny how that ALWAYS seems to happen) and we found the sweetest restaurant that allowed us to sit out on the back patio alone together. And while some classy Sinatra was blaring over the speakers, my husband asked me to dance. This is one of my favorite things that's happened. It's the reason I will remember my 2nd anniversary. Genuinely dancing under the moonlight with the most charming man ever as patrons inside of the restaurant looked on. It was a cool moment in time. We tried to recall the steps of our first dance (which was taught to us by an instructor). It was simply unforgettable. 

So to Cody, my one and only true love. You inspire me everyday to be a better person. You make me so happy just to wake up every morning and consider all of the possibilities with you. You are my life, my love, my every lust and my everything. I love you to the moon and back. To the rest of our lives...

        Always,

Your Wife,

Brandi Runnels 😍

Let's Talk Part 2!

You asked and I have answered! Trying to get to as many as I can for now, some of you I have responded to within the blog itself. For readability, I cannot answer you all though I'm sorry. But let's get to the top few!      Hi Aisiha...good question. I have to alter the question a bit to answer. Most often I feel like people think or assume things about me that just simply aren't true. For instance, people think I got my job because of my husband. Not true, I was employed here before I ever met him as a wrestler and ring announcer. I left on my own and then returned on my own. Nothing to do with him at all. Another thing people seem to assume is that I was just a model. Not true. I received a full academic scholarship to U of M. SUPER hard school to get into AND I am the only person I have ever met to get a full scholarship there!! I couldn't believe it when I got that letter let me tell you! Most frequently I feel people forget some of my achievements, like friends and family. That used to really upset me. But now I don't really get bothered by it. When you set the bar high more and more is expected of you. So I may not get praised much for my achievements as of late but hey, that's ok. The person who does always recognize and remember is my husband. That's more than enough for me. 

   Well Tori, that's a privilege to hear you say that so thank you very much. It's very motivating too. It makes me want to try my hardest, do my best and be a good person. That's the long and short of it. I assure you Tori, hard work does pay off, and treating others how you would like to be treated is worth your while. Sometimes, it just takes time to see and understand it. 

   Cody and I is a fun story to share. Never get tired of it. I was working for WWE and barely knew anyone. One day he just started talking to me, picking with me it seemed. I told a friend of his this and she told me he was definitely "flirting" with me. I'm sure my cheeks burned at the thought of this but I put it out of my mind because I didn't want to expect anything. Shortly thereafter, he invited me to come to a dinner after Smackdown with a group of people. I didn't decline and I thanked him for the invite...then he just kept lingering around my car and I was thinking "is he going to ask me for my number or what??" Well, he didn't. I left for my hotel and when I arrived I got a text message from a random number asking me if I was coming to dinner. I asked who it was (even though I knew) and he said he was someone else. I said not true and he came clean. Got my number from a friend. I declined dinner for about 2 weeks until finally accepting and we have been together ever since. Still kick myself sometimes for not going to dinner sooner but I wanted to see how much he liked me...apparently I was worth the wait 😉

   Hi Juanus! I am from a suburb of Michigan called Canton. I grew up with and older brother. I am the youngest. My parents are great people and great examples. Loving marriage, hard working and God-fearing. I started figure skating at age 4. I skated competitively for 17 years. I was in love with skating. I was very good and had many friends from all over the world. Once I got into my sophomore year at Michigan I decided to hang up my skates but I missed it SO much. Nothing has ever been as fulfilling to me as cutting into that ice. But after awhile you have to grow up and move on so I did. I moved to Miami and I modeled full time. Hard to do consistently but I had good agents and a lot of drive. While I was there I was attending UMiami for a Masters Broadcast Journalism program (the BEST. If you're interested in broadcasting get GREAT GRADES ace the Grad exam and get into Miami!!! Awesome program there). That's when WWE randomly found me and decided to give me a shot. I was a wrestler first but once they learned of my broadcasting background I transitioned into hosting and announcing. That's pretty much it! 

Thank you guys for your great questions! It was fun getting to answer them in full! We will do this again for sure! And for my ladies who asked about skin care and such...I'm going to do a blog soon just for you detailing my whole regime! So I hope you will enjoy.  Always  Brandi Runnels 

Let's Talk...

I had an idea 💡  How about we do a Q&A on here? You guys ask me some of your burning questions and on here, I have the freedom to FULLY answer without the 180 character restriction! 

Leave your question as a comment on THIS BLOG (not the About Page or Twitter, but here!) and I will answer the best questions in my next blog. Be sure to keep it to one question though...us writers tend to ramble! 😋  Try to get me your questions by the end of the weekend please!

Looking forward to our upcoming chat! 

Always,

Brandi Runnels

The week in fashion...

Big fashion week over here as we had a PPV AND I went on a little holiday (YASSS!!!) So let's get right to the details!  First up this week for WWE Battleground, I decided to show a little skin. I received SO many compliments. Ladies, when you've got it you DON'T have to flaunt it all of the time. Flaunting it sometimes comes off with class, not crass...and people will appreciate it more! So this outfit features a BCBGmaxazria crop top with a cleavage "keyhole" knot. LOVE this top. So simple yet sexy. Paired with a blue BCBG mini skirt, people loved the boldness and I got a huge confidence boost! 30s are the new 20s, when you work hard on your body...it feels great to show it off! 

   On to the actual PPV! I tend to save my special dresses for these. A little class and edge delivered in this Herve Leger black bandage dress. Interesting neckline with some fun "peek-a-boo" 

cleavage. It was a daring day! 😉 

  The following day for Monday Night RAW I chose this number for my backstage interviews. A Royal blue Alice + Olivia cable knit sleeveless sweater tank. Paired with my Lush Rebel tan pencil skirt. 

   And Tuesday for my in-ring work on WWE SmackDown I chose this simple body hugging turquoise dress with side rusching by Susana Monaco. This is the first I've purchased by this brand and it delivered on quality, comfort and on-camera appeal. I will definitely be shopping Susana Monaco more often!  

  Now for some theme park looks! Classic theme park shorts by lululemon, paired with the cutest graphic burnout tank ever (because it says Brandy 😁) by my loves Chaser! It was hard to find! I fell in love with it and waited and then it sold out EVERYWHERE. I found it finally at Saks. Good luck hunting! And also let this be a lesson...impulse buy! Otherwise, it might sell out. That's probably bad advice...I take it back! 

  Always, Brandi Runnels 💛

The Dream, The Bat, The Arrow

Right outta’ the gate, thank you Brandi Runnels. Thank you for letting me utilize your groovy blog to share a few thoughts with followers of the Rhodes Family...our family, and thank you for the chance that somewhere & somehow my Father will be able to hear what I’m saying.And secondly, there is such a thing as too much death…too much melancholy…too morbid of a discussion, and for those who don’t want to engage in that; I suggest you read this no further and enjoy the rest of your day or night. No offense taken.

So where do we begin?? Why did I even want to become a professional wrestler?? Here’s something I only ever shared with my employer, not even Dad… It was a picture. …a picture that used to adorn the mantle in my parents’ bedroom at our ol’ Marietta home. The bedroom with a “king” bed that was the size of a Manhattan apartment. It’s a picture of Dusty Rhodes holding up the then WWWF Title(world wide wrestling federation). The picture was taken on September 26 1977 in the world’s most famous arena Madison Square Garden. Dad had told me about Studio54, he and Mom hanging out with Warhol and other luminaries…he told me about the cops on horseback…the broadway nights, but as far as little seven year old me was concerned, I was confused…I was confused because my Dad never was the WWWF Champion. So he told me…"champion’s advantage"…Daddy had won the contest by count-out, and the title cannot change hands on a count-out or disqualification. They took it from him. So I knew, I knew at seven years old…I knew what my job was…what the mission was.  And of course, I became obsessed with pro-wrestling, I tried to be an insufferable know-it-all when it came to the history and the holds. But the mission didn’t change. It was to win the title we now call The WWE World Heavyweight Championship. To put it on his shoulder while he sat in the front row with my Mother and Sisters, and I would tell him “we get to keep it this time and you were right…it is real” So that dream, it dies with you Dream. I didn’t get it done. As Tom Paris would say..."no hopes, no disappointments" And if I am being honest, I had gotten farther away from that goal ever since Miami. And for the very first time in my career, I was beginning to doubt if I even could get it done. The audience was starting to associate less with the Jimmy Stewart/Gable types and instead connecting more with the Seth Rogen types. Some of the disciplines I thought would lead me to the gold to the rolex, their importance was diminishing and the areas that were becoming more important perhaps I wasn't that good at. And I know you would have snapped at me for thinking that way, so angry that your voice sounds like a tree cracking apart in the wind…you would have told me that I could be or do anything. You are after all the same man that would play Garth Brooks “the river” every morning before you dropped me at school. The same man that a forty-something year old homeless man could walk up to and tell you he wanted to be an astronaut, and you would ask “where do we start?? I am sure you can accomplish that in just 3-5 years if you want it bad enough”…and you woulda’ meant that. So…when I dreamed up a potential match, a crossover affair if you will; it was my intention to sit you and Mommy in the front row surrounded by hopefully 19,000 strong…and you could see. You could see that I was special. That I could stand in your company, and stand outside of your giant shadow and not feel ashamed.  But that vision, it can't happen exactly like that anymore. You had to go. I am deeply influenced by comic books. I genuinely consider them my education since I forwent that whole wrestling-scholarship thing. I told the very talented current writer of DC Comics’ Batman, Scott Snyder, that to our family…you were Batman. Damn that sounds silly. Its true though…with all our extended mess(Godfathers, uncles, a cousin timekeeper, a gorgeous host/wife, two sons, several proteges, etc. all in the same business) we are the Batman family. And you let me be your Robin. So what do you want me to do now?? The head of the table is empty. I am not ready to let the sun go down on you. My compass just spinning madly. A few days after we lost you, I was tasked with the unfortunate duty of going through your cellphone to find various numbers, so that we could invite them to the service. And there it was… Your lock-screen. It was a picture. It was Stardust in a heated stare-down with The CW’S most valuable player Stephen “The Green Arrow” Amell. “…finish what you start Kid…” And thats why I sent you know who Monday. And I’m sure when he drew that first line of paint down his face, his throat rised and his eyes might of watered a bit. Leave it all out in the ring, my gift to you. And I know the man who secretly wanted to pit himself against Joe Frazier after Starrcade 84’ would get a real kick out of this. So Dad, I hope you like what happens next, and…I hope the fans do too. Like Paul told you, they’re not marks…they’re customers. You said about them in 1978(after you took those rose-tinted shades off to let them know you were serious…I know you) “making you happy, makes my dreams fulfilled” When I “finish”…who knows?? Maybe Aubrey Sitterson and I will actually write a comic or two that people enjoy and feel something from. Maybe I will finally take your advice and “head West young man…” and get that manager you wanted me to get. Or maybe I will put a pair of wrestling boots and trunks in a bag(I promise to carry it on the plane, 1st rule) and ride the roads and pretend to be a cowboy like you. That Stardust suit might end up in the closet next to that black&gold Midnight Rider mask(which you never told me why its even there to begin with…wait…you…no you weren’t him…were you??) I think you told me it was an Apache or Cherokee custom, that giving a knife was giving “the bonds of friendship” and giving it back was to cut them. So I have given a few from your collection to those two studs you watched your last Mania’ with, your booking friend from NXT.  I don't want to make empty promises to you, but I'd be remiss if I didn't share...that whatever area I'm weak in, I'll improve it...or that I'll do my best to bring "war games" back haha or that I will wrestle the 60 minute time-limit one day, but most importantly... I’ll take care of Mom. You have my word. It's the only guarantee I can make. I have soooo many wild memories of being your sidekick…like when at a Waffle House off Canton Road and the chef asked you “is rasslin’ fake??" and you stood up quicker than a cat and slapped him so hard his signature WH toque hat was twisted sideways and you said “was that fake?? Now…I want my hashbrowns covered and smothered...” and you sat down(and you somehow became total buds with that same chef). Or the fact that almost every kid who went to Lassiter High School and played football got to witness pep-talks that would make a master orator or war-time general shiver, and they still call you coach because of the wonders you did with a simple junior program and the motto "what's it gonna' take?? All you got". But the reason I have asked not to do the DVDs and cancelled any appearances for now that had me speaking, is because those are mine…and I want to hold onto them for a bit. Take the coming month or so as my gift to him.  Thank you for reading.