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

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.

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?!?!

Just like Miles, I got stuck in a rough situation.

But unlike Miles, I wasn’t stuck hanging off of the side of the couch.  My rough situation occurred when I tried to go for a run this morning.  I headed out to destroy 3 miles.  And it almost got the best of me!

I enjoyed some raspberry Chobani with Barney Butter for breakfast.  Yum!  Jared actually surprised me with this jar of Barney Butter when I got home from work last night.  I guess he was listening when I mentioned that I loved it each time I took a bite.

It took almost a mile of walking before my Garmin finally picked up satellite signal.  I started my running along the Charles River near the Esplanade, enjoying the beautiful view.  Only 0.2 miles in, I got the most side splitting cramp.  It hurt so bad that I couldn’t even walk.  I was doubled over on the side of the bike path!  Ouch!  I have never ever had a cramp that was so bad that I couldn’t walk it off.

Once I felt a little bit better, I decided to finish my 3 mile route by walking as fast as possible.  Which turned out to be pretty slow since the cramp would not go away.  I walked down Charles Street and through the Gardens and took in the scenery.  Damn it, I was going to make the best of this day!  Since I was forced to slow down, I appreciated my surroundings.  It was a beautiful day in Boston!

I made a big salad for lunch before I left for work.  Lettuce, chicken, carrots, and grape tomatoes.  Filling and healthy.

I bought dinner during my shift at work: tomato soup and grilled cheese.

When I got home, I felt like I needed to redeem myself for my morning run.  I dragged Jared out the door to run 2 miles.  I just wanted to prove to myself that the cramp was a fluke.  Sure enough…2 miles, quick and easy!  I knew I could do it. 

I grabbed a bowl of strawberries and a big glass of water.  I needed to relax and rehydrate after those 2 miles of hard work.  I’m looking forward to an evening of watching TV and lounging on the couch.

Congratulations Jenna!  She’s going to be a beautiful bride!

Jenna and Jared’s brother Bryan are getting married at the end of July.  Yesterday family and friends gathered to celebrate their upcoming wedding and shower Jenna with presents.

Happy Bridal Shower!

Bridal Shower lunch buffet.  So much delicious food!

Jenna had lots of help opening presents.  Her amazing bridal party was on hand to lend a hand taking notes and creating the ribbon bouquet.

After most of the guests went home, Miles was released.  Then I made him dress up for the special occasion. 

Bryan and Jenna hosted a Bridal Party BBQ at their apartment.  It was a great way to meet the guys and girls who will be at the wedding.  I enjoyed a cheeseburger and some very tasty pasta salad.

It started to rain just as we finished eating so we moved the party inside.  We played an exciting game of Taboo (girls won!) and laughed the night away. 

Doing anything and everything besides running cuz I’ll be doing a lot of it for the next 18 weeks.  Training hard from June 14 until race day on October 17.  I like running for fun and picking and choosing my distance, but preparing for my first marathon is going to be all about structured workouts.  So it’s nice enjoying these remaining days of random workouts, or no workouts at all.

I found a container of vanilla yogurt lost in the back of the fridge.  Woohoo.  That meant I could make my favorite breakfast, yogurt, granola and AB, rather than just having a simple bowl of cereal.

My lunchtime sandwich featured hummus, veggies, cheddar cheese, and lettuce.  Plus tortilla chips on the side.

Mmmm!  Any combo featuring hummus and vegetables is bound to taste good.

I snacked on a mini-Clif bar during my evening at work.  All of the samples that I grabbed during the Harpoon 5 Miler are really coming in handy.  My stomach started to growl around 7 pm, but I didn’t want to spend money on food.  I was able to finish my shift without giving in to my hunger.

As soon as I got home, I hurried up to fill my empty belly.  I microwaved a frozen bowl of Trader Joe’s Pesto Tortellini.  Not that tasty, but it was food… fast!

After inhaling my dinner, I snacked on some nachos.  Same type of tortilla chips as lunchtime.  I probably should’ve picked a different evening snack.  Oops!

I spent a few minutes using my new mini foam roller.  I love it’s tiny size and firmness because I can use it to pinpoint problem areas on my back and hips.  Plus the package recommended using it on your neck or feet.  Great self-massages, plus it’s a foam roller I can easily travel with.

When 9 pm rolled around, it meant it was time to pile on the couch to watch the Celtics game.

Miles took great pains to get comfy.  Though I don’t think he looks like he’s too happy.  Hmmm…

Jared and Jesse hit the grocery store and came back with TONS of food.

The guys bought ingredients for homemade guacamole.  They weren’t going to attempt to make it.  Luckily I accepted the challenge and made my first batch of guac.  The avocados weren’t ripe so I had trouble mashing them.  But overall, it was easy and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  The bowl was empty by the end of the evening.

Fresh vegetables, hummus, and Ranch dip.

The BBQ was a great chance to show off our new back yard.  We spent most of the night outside on the deck, enjoying the nice weather.  Unfortunately no one was allowed to step on the grass just yet.  Maybe in another few weeks!

Jared over-marinated the vegetables.  WAY too strong.  I think he’ll just be in charge of burgers next time.  We also grilled corn on the cob.  Mmmm!

Cheeseburger = a cookout necessity!

Good food, good friends, and good dogs.  Kilo and Hoagie had a great time at the party!  They were B-F-F the entire night.

My cranky corgi was in lock-down due to bad behavior.

Delicious Blueberry Raspberry bran muffin.

Sometimes I like to skip workouts and take a nap on the couch instead.

Sometimes I like to go overboard taking photos of the dog instead of taking photos for the blog.

And that’s the way (uh huh, uh huh) I like it.

I’ll be back tomorrow morning with a regular post.  And hopefully an informational post tomorrow afternoon.  Dream big!

This morning I continued to work on my marathon training plan.  I’m going to have to train around my work schedule, 3 weddings, 1 long weekend vacation, and 2 blog conferences.  I’ll be a Busy Bee this summer!