I started pregaming for this weekend’s wedding festivities.  But by pregaming, I don’t mean drinking.  I mean a while lot of fitness and beauty treatments.  Getting ready for a big party is half the fun!

You’d think I was the bride or something. 

Taking the advice of my new key chain, a gift from my cousin Chris, I’ve been hitting the gym. (The other side says “Eat Right” and I’ve been doing that too.)

I worked out last night:  25 minutes of cardio on the Elliptical followed by abs and stretching.  I’m doing an at-home workout tonight.  Lots of exercises on my yoga mat while watch TV.

I’ve been drinking TONS of water.  I want to:  be hydrated, rinse out my system   and make sure that my skin looks good.

I’m whitening my bottom teeth as I type.

And earlier this afternoon, I got my 1st spray tan!

I had a gift certificate for a spray tan at Skin Health from the Healthworks Blogger Bash.  After I finished my shift at Healthworks Chestnut Hill, I crossed the driveway and met Carmen at Skin Health for my appointment.  I was a little nervous.  Would I look orange?  Would I end up with streaks?  Would it be weird to stand topless while someone sprayed the tanning mist on me?

Luckily Carmen was super nice and made me feel comfortable right away.  I could’ve worn a pair of disposable panties, but I chose to wear my own black underwear instead.  And besides my underwear, the only other items I was instructed to wear were a blue hair net and paper flip flops.

I was instructed to stand in a shower stall with my back to Carmen.  She warned me that the spray might be a little cold, but it wasn’t too bad.  I twisted and turned while Carmen sprayed my tan on.  We chitchatted the entire time and surprisingly, it wasn’t weird at all!

When my tan was done, Carmen used a dryer to dry the tanning spray so I could get dressed again without making a huge mess.  She warned me that I might have some spots on my feet and neck, but they would go away when I showered tomorrow.  She also warned that some of the spray tan would rub off on my clothes or sheets.  It’s a good thing I put a sheet on the couch before I sat down…because she was absolutely right.  The tan streaks will come off as soon as I wash the sheet.  Much easier than cleaning my couch!

And as far as the tan goes, I’m in love with my new skin tone!  I look completely natural yet I could never achieve this color on my own without getting a few steps closer to melanoma.  I’m going to be sad when the color starts to fade.  I have to be careful not to exfoliate for the next few days so the color will remain throughout the celebrations this weekend.

My Workout!!!

15 minutes on the treadmill

• 0-5 minutes walking at 3.7 mph with a 3.0 incline
• 5-12 minutes of increasing the incline by 1 every 30 seconds until I reached a 15.0 incline
• 12-13 minutes for lowering the incline and recovering
• 13-15 minutes of running at a comfortable pace since I wasn’t wearing my running sneakers.

I covered 1 mile in 15 minutes and was sweaty and tired after my warmup.  But I was just getting started.

I did a few sets of front and side lunges on the slide board.  During one set I even lifted a weighted ball over my head as I lunged.

I used a Reebok Core Board for squats, lunges with side chops while holding a weighted ball, and abdominal work.  I went through a semi-circuit 3 times.

I thought I was done.  My legs were tired.  My hamstrings felt like they were in knots.  But Nini wasn’t finished torturing me yet.

I did several sets of plie squats with a weighed barbell across my shoulders.  I held a weight between my feet and did leg curls as I lied on my stomach on a bench.  I did a few upper body exercises while waiting for a cable machine.  Then finished with the ultimate glute move:  I clipped my feet to the cable machine and did glute presses.  Owww!  Great workout!

Nini helped me stretch out my tired muscles.  A relaxing end to a tough workout.  And the morning after, my lower body is yelling at me, but thanking her.  And I want to say thank you too.  I needed a good workout because I’ve been taking it easy on myself throughout these summer months. 

Well wishes to everyone!  Happy Sunday, and hears to a good week ahead!

July 25th is a very important day…

Last summer, on July 25th, we were in France to celebrate Matt and Natalie’s wedding.  One year later, warm wishes and congratulations to the happy couple!

Two summers ago, on July 25th, Jared met me outside of the Boston Public Library and we went on our first date, out to dinner in the South End.  Two years later, he is still by my side.  I’m so grateful to have him in my life!  Hugs and kisses to my boyfriend!

Approximately 30 summers ago , on July 25th, my mom was born.  She knows me better than anyone else in this world and I couldn’t survive without her.  Looking young and beautiful as ever, Happy Birthday to my amazing mom!

(Happy Birthday to my cousin Pat too.  Not sure if he reads the blog, but I know his sisters are avid fans.)

My life is JAM PACKED for the next month.  I hope to write a few “normal” blog posts this week, with a focus on food, exercise, and marathon training.  I’ll be busy getting ready to go to New York for another wedding.  This time Jared’s brother is getting married and Jared is serving as the best man. 

I spent a wonderful weekend in Ogunquit, Maine with my family.

Over the course of our 2 night trip, I…

• fell in love with a bottle of Chianti
• went to a wedding
• strolled through Perkins Cove
• learned some valuable photography skills
• went running along the Marginal Way
• danced the chicken dance
• pretended to fight my 4 year old cousin, but lost when he shot me with imaginary cannon balls and fire
• ate a fantastic steak dinner
• committed to hosting a party for Shark Week

My cousin Becky organized a Blogger Meetup during Providence, RI’s Restaurant Week.

The location?  Don Jose Tequilas in Federal Hill

The bloggers?  Bekah, Lauren, Lindsay, and Becky the planner extraordinaire

For $29.95, we were allowed to choose a drink, appetizer, entree, and dessert.  And we were given the freedom to choose anything from the menu!  I’ve never seen a Restaurant Week offer so many choices.

In between lively conversation, we all shared bites of tortilla chips, guacamole, and spicy salsa.

I also sipped on a delicious glass of Malbec.

I ordered Chicken Fajitas for my entree.  Sizzling and oh so good!  I’m really disappointed that I forgot my leftovers in my parents’ fridge and my brother ate them!

I was stuffed by the time dessert arrived, but we were all having so much fun discussing blogging, running, childhood memories, and everything in between.  So I found some room in my belly for a few bites of Fried Ice Cream.

I had so much fun meeting these wonderful bloggers and spending time with my cousin who is the closest thing I have to a sister.  I hope we can meet again soon (Lindsay is also going to the Healthy Living Summit in a few weeks) and plan some running dates and local races.

And the staff and diners at Don Jose’s were very tolerant of us 5 crazy food bloggers snapping photos as each course arrived at the table. 

I received a free pair of New Balance rock&tone sneakers.  Because of a shipping issue, I was able to choose my color and selected a sleek looking pair of silver and blue kicks.  Thanks New Balance!!!

I think most toning shoes look like orthopedic models so I was aiming for a pair with a little bit of style!

The curved bottom of these shoes created instability when I walked or stood.  I wore them for a 9 hour shift at work.  I read that the imbalance could cause anywhere from 11%-41% increased muscle activity.

Choosing fitness shoes

When looking for a pair of fitness shoes, the key is comfort. One expert offers these tips:

1. Regardless of the brand, seek the one that’s comfortable to you.
2. Check to see that the heel is perpendicular to the sole of the shoe.
3. The shoe should have medium firmess, not too soft or hard. It should be somewhat bendable.

Source: Dr. R. Amadeus Mason, Emory Sports Medicine Center

By the end of my workday, in between my shoulder blades was killing me.  Super sore and tired!  Almost as if I had been standing with better posture all day.  And my typically slumped shoulders were feeling the burn.  As soon as I got home and took the shoes off, whined for a shoulder rub, and relaxed, the pain went away.

I don’t think these rock&tone sneakers eliminate the need to hit the gym.  I’m taking all toning claims with a grain of salt.

But with black sweats, I thought they looked cool.  And the curved bottom added a little bit of length to my short legs, never a bad thing!  I’m really focused on improving my posture, and if these shoes make me feel like that is happening, then I’ll continue to wear them.  At least one day a week.  To work at the gym.  But not to actually work out… 

Weekends make me smile.

Sometimes I wish my life could be one very long weekend.

Oh, the dog days of summer. 

Yesterday was HOT!

A real scorcher!

I didn’t think Miles was going to survive our walk to the Copley Square Farmers Market.

After I woke up yesterday morning, I decided to do another 10 minute workout.  This time I opted for a lower body routine.  Using only my body weight for resistance, I squatted and lunged for 10 minutes straight.  Then I chose a few Disney songs from my i-tunes and had another cardio dance party.

I took Miles to meet up with a few friends and then dragged him to the Copley Square Farmers Market.  He didn’t want to walk in the heat, but after a lot of tugging on his leash, I managed to get him to go where I wanted to.

I bought a pound of peaches.

I wanted to buy flowers, but I ran out of cash so I just photographed them instead.

A beautiful and sweltering day in Copley Square!

I bought a pork sandwich and couscous from the Farmers Market.  With some leftover slaw, it was the perfect lunch.

After everyone else finished their workdays and I took a nap, my friends and I headed to Stella for dinner.  I love dining with a big group because it gives me the chance to try lots of appetizers and entrees.

We shared Parmesan Arancini with buffalo mozzarella and spicy pomodoro fondue.

And we also split the Vine Ripe Tomato and Mozzarella drizzled with basil and aged balsamic and the Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts with country mustard remoulad.

I ordered Stella Homemade Gnocchi with tomato, basil, and reggiano for my entree.  It was SO so good!

Jared was in the mood for dessert so I agreed to split some pecan pie with him.  Yum!

We headed to the Beehive for some after dinner drinks.

I kept it simple and just drank a Bee-lini, the Beehive’s version of a Bellini.  But Matt had a bit more fun: Someone bought a shot of absinthe for him.  He had to pour water over some sugar cubes to melt them into the absinthe before taking the shot.  It smelled like black licorice and, judging by the faces he made, did not taste very good.

I had a great night out with friends, and with my guy who survived his first week of work at his new job.  (Jared looks a little frazzled and overtired in this photo!)  It was a happy, happy Friday!

I had a bowl of Peanut Butter Puffins for breakfast.

At first I was disappointed that I had forgotten to buy milk at the grocery store.  Until I realized I had almond milk in the back of the fridge!  Tasted the same to me and lasts a lot longer than a gallon of regular milk! Almond milk saved the day! 

I had to go to Healthworks in Cambridge for a meeting.  It ran longer than expected and I was starving when it finally ended.

Emack and Bolio’s was right next door….

Could I realy eat ice cream for lunch?

Umm, obviously!

I didn’t choose  a waffle cone option, but was impressed by the insane things that the cones are dipped in.  I guess E&B were pioneers in the field of flavored cones?

Lots of choices…

They ran out of my Caramel Moose Prints halfway through scooping so I received my mini bowl for free.  Plus I chose a small cup of Cake Batter.  Very different than I expected (I’m obsessed with Coldstone’s cake batter), but I liked the yellow and chocolate cake swirls throughout.

Scary Story: While I was sitting in my car, setting up to take the photo, someone knocked on my window.  I turned and looked to see a toothless bum standing right next to the driver side door, demanding that I rolled down the window.  I yelled, “No!” Then I hit the lock button so there was no way he could open any of the doors.  I guess that did the trick cuz he wandered away.

Anticlimactic, yes.  But it scared the sh*t out of me and my heart was pounding for the rest of my drive home.

After my sweet treat for lunch, I kept my snack healthy and opted for a bowl of cherries.

“Life is like a bowl of cherries….”

“Life is like a box of chocolates…”  Obligatory Forest Gump quote!

Jared and I decided to go out for dinner.  We live across the street from Metropolis, but have been denied a table every time we try to visit because we don’t have reservations.  It’s always disappointing, but I just take it as a sign that the food must be pretty good.

Metropolis didn’t let me down!  Look at those beautiful cloves of garlic in the dipping oil!  That tasty olive oil reminded me that I need to go to O&Co to stock up on specialty olive oil…

Jared and I shared a bowl of gazpacho for an appetizer.  Hands down the best gazpacho I’ve ever had.  It had a thicker, chunkier consistency.  It was topped with creme fraiche mixed with a little bit of cumin and the flavor reminded me of tacos.  Not overly spicy and a few little tortilla strips to add a crunch.  Heaven!

I ordered the Risotto of the Day that contained pork, mushrooms, and tomatoes.  I didn’t realize the risotto was made to order so I spent most of my meal removing each and every mushroom from the mix.  Next time I know I can just order without!  But with each bite, I told Jared it was worth the effort of removing the dreaded mushrooms.  So tasty!  Comforting and filling without being too heavy.

I needed some after dinner exercise to aid my digestion.  So I grabbed Miles and took him with us on our walk to City Sports and back.

It’s much appreciated when dogs are allowed in stores and I can kill two birds with one stone: take the dog out for some exercise and in this case, buy Jared a backpack so he can lug all of his crap on his walk to his new job.  I’m guessing we walked almost 2 miles throughout the evening.

My guys settled down as soon as we got back from the store, but I still felt like working out.

Stretch it out!

I did a 10 minute upper body workout.  Wow, I’m sore today!  I love keeping workouts short and sweet and working really hard for those 10 minutes.  Then I did a cardio/abdominal dance party in the living room.  Unlike Lisa, I did not take any videos of my performance. 

So my 10 minute workout quickly morphed into a 25 minute sweat session!    Plus I laughed a lot and had a lot of fun while getting my heart rate up.

(My post title is also a nod to Walt Disney because as of today’s count, there are 76 days until my Disney vacation!  77 days until the Wine & Dine Half Marathon!)

I made of oatmeal using the last of my Mad Hectic Oatmeal.  I added some strawberries and my obligatory spoonful of Barney Butter.

My oatmeal may not get voted “Most Photogenic” but it tasted great.  I love the AB/berry combo!

I created a healthy and colorful wrap for lunch at work.  I filled my wrap with grilled chicken, lettuce, cucumbers, avocados, tomatoes, and a drizzle of Ranch dressing.  I also snacked on some chocolate  during the long afternoon hours.

While helping out the housekeeping staff and tidying the locker room, I found an abandoned tabloid magazine.  Immediately, my workout became centered on some quality reading to catch up on “important” news.  I climbed onto the stair master for 22 minutes of quick stepping and celeb stalking.  I finished my workout with abs on a stability ball and lots of stretching.

Post-workout, I went to the grocery store (!!! Extreme excitement cuz this never ever happens) and visited the Urban Grape to grab a few bottles of wine.

Jared and I had a romantic dinner date at home on our own couch.  We ate random leftovers.  I had some pasta with chicken and slaw from Briggs Fest.

Extreme closeup of my dinner!

After dinner, our party of 3 relaxed on the couch and watched It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  For someone who spent his day lounging around the apartment, Miles was really in the mood to take it easy.

Jared and I shared a bottle of Piazzo Barbera.  This wine is made from grapes in northwestern Italy, specifically from grapes grown in the Piedmont region.  The wine had a great nose.  It smelled like berries, blackberry jam, and had hints of butter and vanilla.  It tasted amazing!  Very much like cherries.  Also, it was medium bodied, with very mild tannins!  Very pleasant to drink during the summer with a light dinner.

A great recommendation from the Urban Grape!

Miles bumped into my glass and I sloshed red wine all over his back.  He proceeded to shake himself dry while still on my tan couch.  Yuck!  But a manageable mess that was easily cleaned with a wet towel.