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. 

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.

Yup, back home from vacation.  Back to work.  Back on the run!

I had a busy day at work and a day of delicious meals.

Oatmeal for breakfast, a big salad for lunch, a Mojo bar for a snack, and a peanut butter and banana smoothie for a 2nd snack.

Since it was warm and muggy in my apartment, I wanted another salad for dinner.

A Mexican Fiesta salad with lettuce, chicken, salsa, avocados, onions, black olives, and sour cream.

The salsa was way too spicy for me.  I had to chug water in between each bite.  I’m such a wimp!  But it was a fresh and delicious salad never the less!

I convinced Jared to go for a 20 minute jog to the Public Gardens.  I was actually sad when the 20 minutes were up and we started walking home.  I enjoyed being out in the fresh air.  There was a nice cool breeze and it was such a pleasant evening to be out and about.  Jared and I also scouted out 2 restaurants for potential dinner dates later this week.

Miles visited my parents while I was in PA, but now his vacation is over.  I’m so happy to have my pup back at home.  He must’ve had a good time in Blackstone because he’s passed out right now.  Oh, those Dog Days of Summer… 

Here are some of the things I’ve ordered recently:

A fruit and yogurt parfait!

A turkey, cranberry, spinach, and goat cheese quesadilla!

A salad with chicken and lots of vegetables!

A wrap with chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and avocados!

A panini with hummus, spinach, tomatoes, and avocados!

With food like this readily available, I look forward to going to work each day.

After my haircut yesterday, I took advantage of the beautiful day and shopped my way down Newbury Street.  Then I wandered back down the Comm Ave Mall and snapped some photos.

Women’s Statue on the Comm Ave Mall.

I grabbed lunch from b. good.  I ordered a chicken sandwich with tomato, avocado, and salsa.  I added my own lettuce and some blue corn chips when I got back to my apartment.

During my Hair Cut photo shoot, I made sure to get some shots of my handsome little corgi.

When Jared got home from work, we crossed the street for some Indian cuisine at Mela.  We were given a tiny cup of soup when we first sat down.

Jared and I split an Meat Samosas for an appetizer.

Mela’s decor.  I love the art deco style of the lights mixed with some Indian flair.  (iPhone photo doesn’t truly capture the atmosphere.)

I ordered the Tandori Chicken and Jared ordered spicy Lamb Vindaloo.  We also shared some garlic Naan.

Last time I went to Mela, it was on a weekend and the place was packed.  We waited 2 hours for our table!  Last night was was much better dining experience.  We were seated right away, the staff was attentive, and the food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. 

Even though we didn’t run with the SEAC run club last night, Jared and I still decided to pay everyone a visit.  We arrived at SEAC around 8:30 amd the post-run festivities were still going strong.  Everyone loves a beer after a workout!

I asked Dan for advice on a new pair of running sneakers.  He recommended a few different styles of neutral shoes in my price range.  I decided to buy another pair of Asics since that brand worked well for this past Half Marathon.  I can’t wait to break them in for my marathon training.

I also tried on a pair of Vibram 5 Fingers.  I couldn’t get my fat little toes into each individual toe hole.    I’ve heard that putting these shoes on gets easier once you own a pair and break them in.  But I wasn’t ready to break down and buy a pair just yet.  Maybe after my marathon, I’ll give barefoot running a try?!?!

And the pm workouts are going well so far!

And since marathon training MY way is going well, I’m going to try posting my way.

In fairly chronological order, here are some enjoyable eats over the past 2 days.

I made a hummus sandwich before I left for work yesterday.  I spread Spinach and Artichoke hummus onto wheat bread and added lettuce and pickles.  Plus some Wheat Thin crisps on the side.  Not too shabby for a meal made form random items I found in the fridge!

I enjoyed a cup of Mediterranean Eggplant Soup at work last night.  I really enjoy ordering food from the Healthworks Cafe.  Sometimes I think it’s worth it to spend a bit more money on food so I can save time not preparing stuff at home and enjoy fresh and healthy foods.

I also enjoyed a salad filled with vegetables and topped with chicken.  Yum!

I ran 2 quick miles on the treadmill when I clocked out of work last night.  I set the treadmill at 7.1 mph (8:27 mile) and let myself go.  When I finished, I took a few minutes to stretch out.  I swapped my usual foam roller stretching for some old school moves: lunges, forward bends, and all that good stuff.  I tried out lots of different moves to loosen up my quads and glutes because they’re always my tightest muscles after a run.

This morning I ate a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios with fresh blueberries.  This cereal reminds me of my dad because he used to eat a HUGE bowl of Cheerios every morning while I was growing up.  I don’t eat Cheerios very often, but Jared bought a box and I figured I’d help out before they’re stale.

Because it was the last day of the month, it was a crazy day for gym membership sign ups.  Busy gym, a few cranky members, and thankfully laughter and good times with my coworkers.

I declared that today was a Rest Day and went right home after work instead of going for a run.  I used my evening as personal time:  manicure, reading Breaking Dawn, pasta for dinner, and 2 episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. 

I have the day off tomorrow and while it won’t be the most exciting day ever, I have a few VERY important things to do.  Haircut!  Studying nutrition!

Since both my brother and I were at home last night, my entire family decided to go out to dinner for a belated Father’s Day celebration.

We went to Trattoria Romana in Lincoln, RI.

I ordered a bottle of Montepulciano (Italian red wine) for my family to share.  We had a nice toast and everyone was happy with my wine selection.

My dad ordered Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms and Calamari Fritti, tender calamari rings pan-fried & topped with hot cherry peppers served with cocktail sauce & lemon.

I’m always craving fresh mozzarella so the Mozzarella Caprese  was the perfect salad for me to order.  Fresh sliced Buffalo mozzarella & vine-ripened tomatoes with Vidalia onions & fresh basil finished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

It was tough to choose an entree because there were so many delicious options on the menu.

After careful consideration, I picked the Pollo Fiorintina which was Chicken breast sautéed in a sweet Marsala wine sauce topped with imported Prosciutto di Parma & fresh mozzarella served over a bed of sautéed spinach & capellini pasta.

Amazing!

I was up bright and early for work this morning.  Typical early am breakfast, raspberry Chobani with fresh blueberries and some Barney Butter.

I ate leftovers for lunch (from Giacomo’s last week) and dinner (from last night) and snacked on a few things throughout the day.  Unfortunately not the freshest and healthiest foods.  But at least I know good vegetables will be in my future.

More garden growth.  I know it will be a while before I can actually pick vegetables.  But I think watching the growing process is half the fun.  I can’t believe my little seed packets have turned into healthy plants.

Extreme closeup of my garden, with the vegetables thriving in my rocky soil.  Impressive!

Since it was a nice evening, I did a quick workout on my deck.  I jumped rope, did push ups, squats with weights, and bicep curls.  After I got my heart rate up, I took my workout indoors and cleaned my bedroom.  I worked up a sweat!  More likely because of my stuffy apartment and not so much from my frantic cleaning.

Even though it’s a Sunday night, it feels like a Monday to me.  It was a long day, but overall a decent start to my work week.

Tomorrow marks week #3 of marathon training.  And time for me to get serious!!! More crunches, less cupcakes.  Umm, I mean lots of running! 

I had a delicious breakfast.  I added fresh strawberries to strawberry Chobani.  Plus Barney Butter.  When I have a jar in the house, I can’t resist!

My workday included a delicious salad loaded with fresh vegetables and a trip to Legacy Place in Dedham, MA to drop off flyers at lululemon and lucy.  Okkk, so some minor shopping also occurred.  There’s no way I can walk away from a sale at lululemon!

Our friends Drew and Nicki invited us to eat dinner at their apartment.  Nicki is a great cook!  Jared and I shared a stuffed artichoke.  My first real artichoke that I had to peel.  It was so tasty, especially the cheese and olive stuffing.

Nicki also made a baked pasta dish.  It had mushrooms, which I don’t usually eat.  But I devoured tonight’s meal without a second thought.  Nicki really is a great cook, especially when it comes to vegetarian dishes!

I thought about running this evening, but decided against it.  I have plenty of time during the rest of week #2 of training to complete each of the scheduled runs.  So as usual, I’m switching things up a bit!  Thank you for the support after my crappy, crampy run and my tough decision to skip out on cheerleading.  Melissa was on-point when she commented that it seems like I enjoy cheerleading more than I like running.  However running is MUCH easier to fit into my schedule and I am really committed to running this marathon.  So for summer/fall 2010, I’ll be pounding the pavement and/or treadmill until I can accomplish my 26.2 mile goal.

I’m looking forward to waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning so I can wait in line at the Apple Store and purchase my new i-phone.  The first time I’ll own a phone with internet!  Then my mom and cousin Jenna are coming to spend the day in Boston.

Quick announcement:

Women in the Boston area, grab a partner and sign up for…

Fiona’s Challenge III: Partner Edition!

• Teams of 2 women apply online. (Applications will only be accepted from complete teams).  If you are in need of a partner, you can recruit other members by leaving comments on Fiona Fit’s blog.
• Applications must be submitted before the end of the day on Friday, July 9th.
• Members and non-members are invited to compete. (at least 1 non-member per team)
  
• At each club, twelve teams will be chosen based on the testimonials — make them as funny or serious as you would like!
• The chosen teams will be announced at a kickoff party on July 12th from 5-8pm at The Beehive in the South End.
• The final fitness challenge will take place on August 8, 2010, and winners will be announced on August 17th.
• Chosen teams at each club compete against each other for the grand prize!
• Any teams that are not chosen will receive two week trials for non-members.

Visit the Healthworks website for more information!

No room for marathon training.

I’m promising myself that week #2 will be more successful, training wise.  Even though week #1 was not good for training, it was definitely good for fun and laughter.

My backyard flowers are flourishing.

I finally planted my little vegetable garden.  Cucumbers, squash, 2 types of lettuce, green beans, and herbs.

Miles really loves being outside!

I knew wanted to spend Friday night outside evening the nice weather.  My friends headed to the Liberty Hotel.  We walked all the way from our apartment to the Liberty, evening exercise before a night of partying.

Thanks to my friend Jesse, we sat at a table outside on Alibi’s patio and enjoyed drink service all night.  Our server went above and beyond to make sure we were having fun.  He ended created a makeshift mojitos for us to enjoy.  (I tried to convince Jared to eat a mint leaf so he would have fresh breath.)

I really enjoyed the evening at Alibi with friends and my boyfriend who desperately needs a haircut.

It was tough to get moving this morning.  But I got it together with plenty of time left to enjoy the day.  Jared, Mark, and I packed up the car to head to Rockport to hit the beach.

But before the beach, ice coffee was essential to help me perk up.

Long Beach in Rockport, MA

It was a perfect day at the beach.  Not too hot and not too crowded.  Plus, by being very diligent with the sunscreen, I avoided turning lobster red.  Our party 3 of met Mark’s girlfriend Maggie and Maggie’s sister and her fiancee at the beach.

Several games of ladders, a round of catch with a football, tanning, and a power nap occurred.

When we had had enough of the beach, we packed up and headed to Gloucester, MA.

We decided to get dinner in Rocky Neck.

There was an impromptu concert.  People were dancing in the street!

The Studio had a gigantic outdoor patio overlooking the water.

What a great view while dining!  I picked out my future sailboat.

I tried one littleneck clam.  It didn’t taste too bad, but I’m just not into seafood.  I’ll sample a bite every now and then, but I can’t bring myself to order it.

While everyone else indulged in chowder, lobster, steamers, and more, I stuck with a burger and fries.

“Summer days drifting, to uh-oh those summer nights…”