A Two-Coffee Afternoon
My beautiful morning started with a forty minute early morning walk for Nigel. It’s 40 degrees so that meant flip-flops since I’m an optimistic girl.
My energy was high today but I was having some serious coffee cravings because it was a hectic day - started with the usual, French roast black.
Hello, dark passenger.
Lunchtime was fabulous because I met up with this guy!
This sweater makes me smile because it is from that period where you’ve dated someone long enough and can slowly, start replacing all the items in their closet and hope they don’t notice. What can I say, I love my preppy boys.
We went to Sopraffina for salads and I got the Farm Stand: with Mixed greens, candied walnuts, roma tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese, and sherry raisin vinaigrette. It was okay - the vinaigrette was overpowering and sweet nuts aren’t my thing. John helped me finish it! :D
We were also getting the finger bling resized and I was nervous - I’m between a 4.5 and 5 but the girl didn’t put a string around my finger or anything (I have no clue about the process but I thought it was more precise). She assured me they would get it perfect but really?
GAZE AT MY ALIEN HANDS!
I got a Starbucks coffee with a splash of non-fat milk and also enjoyed my packed snack - a slice of Ezekiel toast with Sabra hummus n’ olives.
Today’s Workout
I was so nervous about hot yoga today - I took a C2 hot yoga class with one of my favorite hard teachers and oh my goodness, every position was a twisty position with the strap.
When you use the strap, I always think, my body will never do that. Then the magic clicks and I check myself in the mirror and I think, Wow, I look kinda sexy when I do that. ;D
Every kneeling position on my right knee went like this, “Whyeeeee! Whyyyeeeee, does this cut hurt even though I put a bandage on it? Whyyyeeeee?”
Hope everyone had a good day!
Seven Things Sunday
I am grateful for…
Promises made which surprise me still.
Our Valentine’s day dinner at Takashi, which features contemporary French-American fare with Japanese influences. I am particularly grateful for chefs who will and can make a great six-course meal for a vegetarian.
If you love restaurant reviews as much as I do, here you go!
My first ten miler for marathon training - the amazing part? I can’t believe I can run ten miles at a decent clip, and not be sore the next day. The two stupid knee ouchies however, need some attending to.
Chocolate from Vosges, forged by the angels themselves. I’m also grateful for a will-power which allowed me to save them until my weekend long run. :D
Longer and warmer days…so Nigel is loving his walks again.
{Source}
The Disney Land Half Marathon in September is the final race for Disney’s Coast-to-Coast marathon challenge. It sold out last night. I was heart broken when this happened last year too especially after the Goofy Challenge.
Guess which two crazy kids got into registration in the nick of time? California half marathon in September! ;D
Our post ten miler treat - Big Star Taco! After hearing from EVERYONE that we needed to eat here, we decided our long run day was perfect.
Two and a half page waiting list to get into the restaurant itself. Lines out the door. Is it that good? Oh. My. Goodness. If G-d ate food, he would want tacos from here. Vegetarians can enjoy the portabella mushrooms or potato tacos, and the latter was my fave!
Hope everyone has a great new week ahead of them!
He Liked it, So He Put a Ring on it
I call it a promise ring even though he says we are too old for promise rings.
John calls it a “making an honest woman out of me ring.”
I secretly always wanted a promise ring and to wear John’s varsity letter jacket. Even though we met in graduate school. :D
I love love love being John’s girlfriend. I was a humble girl, living a humble life when I was thrown into the adventure of our courtship. A promise ring means I will forever be his girlfriend even when I am a wife, and that years later we still have the memories from our first summer love.
{Please excuse the tired eyes and sweats, we returned late and I wanted to send a picture to my mama and John’s mother.}
The whole thing was sweet and romantic and when John put the ring on my finger, I was in disbelief. We’ve been having some big conversations about some upcoming adventures in Adult Land and I never, never, NEVER saw this coming.
John said he has been thinking about this and looking for a perfect ring for a long time (his creativity at measuring was amazing, but sadly, my finger shrunk a bit recently and I will need to resize for safety).
Why a pearl? I’ve always loved the history and symbolism of pearls. In Persian history, my name Mehnaz translates to “the moon’s glory.” Ancient cultures believed that the moon could make pearls grow larger, that pearls were celestial tears, and that pearls were dew collected from the moon. There are even stories about how pearls controlled the current of the oceans!
{On our second date at the Lincoln Park zoo - look at these children!}
I am overwhelmed with gratitude and love for John and I can’t believe how the most unexpected happiness comes into your life.
Bedroom Eyes + Valentine’s Day 5 Miler!
I came home to bedroom eyes. Well, almost. And yes, this is a common pose.
I had an awesome run today. It was the first where I didn’t take a Garmin and just ran.
And I ran a 5 miler in 46:34 (I kept track on my phone with a stop watch.). I am sooooo close to my goal of a 5 miler in 45 minutes! I beat my old five mile time today and since I hit a 4 miler in 35:44, my body is totally capable of this, and I just have to get there.
Sometimes when I run, I hum and sing to myself quietly. Apparently, today I was a less quiet.
As I was singing to myself, “I can’t win, I can’t reign, I will never win this game, without you…withoooouuuut you,” a guy was running next to me, laughed and waved. I’m not even embarrassed. Much.
Then he kept up with me on the other side of the street. Don’t you realize this means we’re racing? And yes, I fell twice, it is icy out there folks.
I always knew the man of my dreams would be tall, dark, strong, and handsome. I have to pinch myself because I have the John of my dreams.
I never knew the other man of my dreams would be short, with stubby legs, a paunch, a smoosh nose, and snore a little bit.
I see lots of people write that Valentine’s day is silly because you are supposed to remind each other of your love every day - well, we do that around here, sometimes a few times a day.
But Valentine’s Day lets you CELEBRATE love - something that you might not be able to do everyday. And there’s chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne involved. :D
Lunch was a delicious open-faced sammie - a slice of Ezekiel toast with pine-nut hummus, half an avocado, with a tablespoon of Maple Groves Wasabi-Dijon mustard.
Off to go home and get ready for tonight!
Valentine’s Morning
Blooms in the front room!
Mini-chocolate chip waffles from Van’s Natural Foods stuffed with peanut butter for breakfast.
With maple syrup for dipping!
Our Abs Fitness streak continues with Routine 44 and 45 inspired by Tara Stiles. I did the routine five times through and added plank pose, side planks, and crow pose.
My sweetie is on my mind while I drink my morning coffee. :D
Hope you had a great morning!
Every Pair of Black Lulu Pants is Covered with White Fur
I talk to him when I’m lonesome like;
and I’m sure he understands.
When he looks at me so attentively,
and gently licks my hands;
then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes,
but I never say naught there at.
For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes,
but never a friend like that.
~W. Dayton Wedgefarth
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Love and Smiles
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{I don’t know who snapped this photo of us at the wedding we went to over Memorial Day but I love how happy John and I look in them.}
