May 29, 2012

Holiday Weekend Happy

Friday:
yummy lunch delivery from my sweet hubby
 lunchtime pedicure
[via]
gorgeous afternoon
 a few of these at a rooftop bar
fantastic concert (yep, that's Gary Sinise)
meeting Lt. Dan himself! (with my mom, stepdad, and my own Lt. Dan)
such a talented and genuinely awesome guy

Saturday:
up early for a long and hot run
refueling by the pool with one of these
practiced my acceptance speech while sweating buckets taking lunch to my working hubby
packed the car and headed for the lake, stopping for one of these mid-trip
collapsed into bed and slept like... a very sleepy kitty cat

Sunday:
woke up early again and headed out for a very hilly recovery run
sat on the deck and soaked up the morning sun while the rest of the house woke up, then enjoyed Dan's grandmother's famous breakfast (eaten too quickly for pictures)... yum
went for a long, beautiful boat ride
discovered a new-found love
enjoyed a gorgeous sunset
and a nice little fire
before some hot tub relaxation with this guy

Monday:
enjoyed sunshine and gentle waves on the floating dock
spoke to some rather cute floating friends
made a face when it was time to leave
stopped here for the first time in years for a very guilty pleasure...
ate more of these than I will admit to
and consequently spent some quality time here last night.

Hope your holiday weekend was wonderful!


   Love,

    Meg



May 25, 2012

Friday Favorites: Toes, Trips, and (Movie) Trailers

Isn't it funny how things always go a little haywire the day before a 3 day weekend? (Answer: no. not funny at all.) After Monday's ridiculousness, things quieted down enough that I was tricked into believing we could slide gracefully into the weekend. Ha. In the past few hours, my to-do list has doubled in size, I've had almost 300 pages of "suggested reading" dropped onto my desk, and we've suddenly reached a very time-intensive wedding task: the gathering of the addresses. Now I know what I will be doing while sitting out on the dock this weekend...
Despite all that, though, it's nice to slow down for a minute and talk about the happy parts of the week. Even though it wasn't all sunshine (literally), the good managed to outweigh the bad yet again and little delights like these made it a great one.

It's been quite a while since I got caught in the rain during a run (and the last time it didn't end so well), but yesterday's 8-miler was graced with about 20 minutes of downpour. Luckily I was prepared with a plastic bag for my phone, so I was able to keep on trucking and enjoy the little shower. It was a nice distraction on what turned out to be a pretty great run... although I think my brand new shoes might disagree:
not exactly the way I was hoping to break them in...
One of my poor toenails is just hanging on for dear life. I have always been a little squeamish about feet, so I'm trying not to think about it too much. But speaking of toes...

Too many pictures of my feet for one post? I promise I'm done now.
There's nothing like a lunch-time pedicure to make you feel special (and kill any chance at productivity for the rest of the afternoon). Thankfully, the poor woman who treated my toes did a great job with the aforementioned almost-casualty... you can barely tell how sad-looking it really is. I don't typically splurge like this, but I thought it would be the perfect way to get ready for:

This pic is from my very first trip to the lake with Dan: I was 18 and we had been dating for about a year. Thankfully, my choice in swimwear has come a long way since then...
We are headed to the lake this weekend for some sunshine and a visit with Dan's wonderful grandparents. We've been trying to plan a trip down for months now, and this long weekend seemed like the perfect time to sign up the dog-sitter and pack up the car. Hurray for relatives that live in gorgeous places and are sweet enough to host us... and feed us... and drive us around in the boat!

Naps. 'Nuff said.

Despite the crazy amount of work that has converged upon my cubicle today, I am quite comfortable in the assertion that my boss is the best in the world. While my previous manager was pretty great too, I am now incredibly lucky to be working with someone closer to my age who is so laid back and good at what she does. I really don't miss the days that I dreaded coming into work.

Thought I'd end on an anticipatory note: Christmas is still a lifetime away, but this is just one of many reasons I wish it would hurry up...

Happy weekend, everyone! Have a safe and fantastic holiday!

   Love,

    Meg

May 23, 2012

Humph

Someone was not too happy about getting up this morning... someone seems to take after his mother. 

If we're being honest, this has been a tough week so far. Monday was a high-stakes day at work -- not just for me, but the company in general. Luckily, everything related to my position went smoothly, and the rest I think went as well as anyone could have hoped. I am still, however, coming down from that rather dramatic spike in my stress level. I am also currently powering through day 3 of Monday's leftover stress headache. Lovely.
In addition, I discovered yesterday morning that my very favorite necklace, my "deployment gift" from Dan and most valued piece of jewelry besides my engagement and wedding rings, had mysteriously disappeared. I have turned the apartment inside out looking for it, but am afraid that there is more to it than "it fell off the hook where I always hang it and I'll find it soon." While I know that in the grand scheme of things, it is a relatively small loss and can even eventually be replaced (at a cost, of course), I am honestly devastated. The sentimental value is something that certainly can't be recovered: this is the necklace Dan gave me the night I flew into Indiana to see him, the one I wore almost every day while he was gone, the one that came to be a symbol of my strength and the strength of our relationship (the piece itself is was a tiny infinity knot, hence the cheesy symbolism). I am still hoping that it will miraculously turn up, but unfortunately circumstances make this seem unlikely.
On top of all that, the week has piled on lots of little annoyances: a sliced open and painful finger, an increasingly annoying coworker (luckily a holdover from my old position with whom I shouldn't have to deal much longer), and a dreary rain that makes things like running, dog park trips, and venturing outside with anything resembling straight hair rather difficult. There have been new shoes that don't fit, toilets that aspire to be rushing rivers, a car that seems to fall apart a bit more every day, and a few painful deductions from my wallet for those pesky necessities like electricity and gas. Dan also started his new work schedule this week, which means that Tues-Thurs he works late and I'm left rather lonely in the evenings. I know it's even harder on him, too, when he has to drive home at 10:30 after a long afternoon/evening of work.
So it's been a crummy week so far. Luckily, there's a bright and shiny three day weekend waiting for me at the end, if it would just hurry up. Meanwhile, I'm going to combat the rain clouds (the ones outside as well as the one that seems to be stuck over my head) by doing a little research...

honeymoon dreaming

Here's hoping the back half of this week is happier than the front!

   Love,

    Meg

May 21, 2012

Another Monday?

I'm not sure how it happened (goodness knows you can't plan this kind of thing), but this weekend turned out to be the perfect mix of busy and relaxing, fun and boring, accomplishment and... well, sleep. It wasn't jam-packed with excitement (although there were very exciting parts, we'll get to those), but the phrase "I'm bored" certainly never crossed my mind, either. For the first time in recent memory, the days didn't dart by at the speed of light, but seemed to linger long enough to savor the best parts. It was the kind of weekend that makes you wonder why you ever bother to plan weekends, if the unplanned could always yield such wonderful results.
Friday night, I headed back to our amazing local bridal shop to visit the two dresses that had been pulling me in different directions all week. I tried on one, tried on another, and then tried on the first one again, but after a lot of thought, many twirls to see a certain angle in the mirror, and an agreement about a few alterations that will really make the dress "mine," I made a decision. It was incredibly hard to give up on the other possibility, but the best part is that we are (hopefully) going to incorporate a part of that dress into the one I did choose. And unfortunately, those are all the details you get, since my sweet hubby also happens to read this blog... hi, dear! Afterward, my mom, stepmom, and I headed out for a drink to celebrate the purchase. We talked about wedding details forever and ironed out a few details. It's so hard to believe we are down to almost 4 months... exciting with a rather large touch of terrifying, because I know those four are going to zip right by.
Saturday poor hubs had to go to work, although luckily his shift didn't start until 10 so we were able to sleep a little late. Since I was up, I headed out for a short, hot run before braving the local university's graduation crowds to get new running shoes and pick up a well-earned recovery bagel. I spent the afternoon taking advantage of the gorgeous day by the pool, browsing through bridal magazines and even sneaking a short nap. Dan picked up dinner on his way home and we had a quiet evening in... so quiet that I may or may not have fallen asleep on the couch super early... no regrets here.
Yesterday, I hit my snooze button about a billion times before finally dragging myself out of bed and facing the reality of the day: a long run. I knew there was no way out of it, because just days ago I pledged that I would get better at following through with these dreaded weekend miles, so I laced up my new shoes and headed out. My goal for the day was 9 miles, and I made it through 6.5 before the heat got to be too much and I sought refuge in the air-conditioned gym. I finished my last 2.5 miles on the treadmill (which has never felt so wonderful), and threw in an extra mile since I know that treadmill running isn't the best substitute for pounding it out on the road. I was pretty relieved to have finished and even technically exceeded my goal, although I'm a bit nervous about the race coming up in a few weekends -- it's only a 5k, but the warmer temperatures are tough to get used to.
We were invited to dinner with Dan's family last night, so I spent yesterday afternoon in the kitchen, whipping up a new recipe to share: cookies and cream cheesecake bars. They were relatively easy to make and turned out pretty well -- not the most exciting dessert I've ever had, but everyone else seemed to really like them. Not a bad way to use up that package of Oreos that has been tempting me from the pantry for days now. I also made egg salad and spent what seemed like forever washing a sink full of dishes. It was so nice to have clear countertops before going to bed last night!
Unfortunately, that phrase "all good things must come to an end" continues to ring true. This morning came rather quickly for my tastes, and getting out of bed was even harder thanks to the rain. I would have paid good money to stay in bed, but today is a crazy day at work so I did the right thing and got myself to the gym so that I would actually be awake when I made it to work. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be hitting the pillow early tonight, though -- despite the extra sleep this weekend, I still seem to be coming up a bit short.

   Love,

    Meg

May 19, 2012

Friday Favorites

As anxiously as I have been waiting for this weekend (which brings with it not one but two opportunities to sleep late!), I was a little shocked to realize, as I was driving into work this morning, that it was Friday already. I ran my mid-week long run yesterday instead of Wednesday this week, so that threw me off a bit, but honestly the days have just flown by. Work has gotten busier and busier as I learn and take on more responsibility, and  between runs, family time, wedding stuff, and the enduring crusade to keep our apartment clean (some weeks we win, some weeks we lose), my afternoons always fill up before I can blink. I have been falling into bed at night and struggling to pull myself out in the mornings, and I have a strong feeling that this morning's cup of coffee is the only reason I'm still awake right now. Needless to say, my weekend priorities look something like this: sleep late, long run, nap by the pool, nap on the couch, go to bed early. I'm also hoping we can squeeze in a cheap date one night... it's been so long since Dan and I got to go out by ourselves!
I am short on time today -- we are down to crunch time on that pesky decision I've been trying to make all week -- so this week's favorites are a bit condensed.
(Edited to add: I am finally uploading this picture after no less than 2.5 hours spent fighting with the once-lovely Photobucket. They managed to "upgrade" their collage process recently, and seem to have instead ruined it. So frustrating and disappointing. Does anyone have tips for other websites to make picture collages?)


1. I've been wanting this beauty for almost a year now, and the other day I finally caved in and clicked "purchase." It should be waiting at my doorstep tonight! 2. I am loving this book, by this fantastic blogger. I'm not even quite done reading yet, and I've already given copies to two of my favorite mothers (my own and my friend N) in hopes they will love it too. 3. A few nights ago, I made the easiest, most delicious apple crisp ever. Apples, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and oatmeal... super simple but so yummy. 4. These are adorable! Hard to tell in the picture, but the "bride" card has a string of pearls and the "groom" has a little bow tie. 5. Gorgeous, if only I had a few hundred dollars just lying around. 6. Love this so much. 7. This movie has been in my queue forever and I finally watched it a few nights ago. Not the best I've ever seen, but still pretty good. 8. How amazing are these? I will be addressing upwards of 125 save the dates in the next few weeks and I so wish they could look this incredible. 9. I have a serious weakness when it comes to this stuff. Note to self: no more until after the wedding... neither of those dresses would look good on a blimp.


Happy weekend, everyone!



   Love,

    Meg

May 15, 2012

Disciplinary

Lately my running has been all over the place. I've been working on increasing my mileage, and was happy to hit 37.5(-ish) miles last week, and just over 40 the two weeks before that. I'd really like to get that number closer to 50, but lately I've been feeling intimidated by the idea of longer runs. For the past month or so, I've managed a decent 7-8 miler mid-week, but I've completely wimped out on plans for a long run each weekend. Other runs during the week, meanwhile, have also felt a little wimpy -- I've gotten through a couple over 5 miles that felt ok, but too often I find myself mentally struggling with the motivation for anything but 3-4. Combining that kind of mental state with an overall goal of increasing my weekly mileage has been tough to say the least, and I've resorted to multiple short runs a day. That's certainly not the worst thing in the world, but with the craziness of the past few weeks, it's becoming increasingly hard to fit in not just one but two runs every day.
The other challenge I'm facing is pace: I find it extremely hard to hold myself to a specific pace during many of my daily runs. When I'm on the treadmill, I can obviously maintain a certain pace easily, and I usually feel pretty satisfied at the paces I'm hitting. Most of my runs on the treadmill end up as progression runs: I start out just over 8:00 miles and gradually bring it down to 7:30 or even a bit quicker. Outside, however, is a totally different story. I struggle like crazy to get myself moving in the beginning, and am usually dismayed to find my pace hovering around 8:20. For a slower/recovery run, that's great, but I know that I shouldn't be doing all my runs at the same (rather slow) pace. I really want to speed up for some of my shorter days, but most of the time I still find myself clocking in above where I'd ideally like to be. When I was just starting to run, and I wasn't concerned about pace but mileage, I got used to going out with a specific distance in mind and just focusing on getting to the end, no matter how long that took. Every once in a while I would surprise myself with an especially fast day, but not because I'd planned it that way -- just because I happened to be feeling good. I do still have faster days (probably more often now), but they are still unplanned and typically depend on my location -- certain places I run are much faster, while others are consistently, painfully s.l.o.w. I can rarely start out with a pace in mind and manage to stick to that pace for the whole run.
All of this to say: it's time for a little tough love. Now that I've been running for over a year, I think it's time for me to step up my game. I have several shorter races coming up in the next few months, and I'd like to continue getting faster and hitting PR's for them all. Even though many of my training runs have felt sluggish, I've been happy with the races I've run lately... but I know with the right training I could be faster. Before too long, I'd also like to start ramping up the mileage again for some longer races. Ideally, the next several months would look a bit like this: PR like crazy in a few 5-10k's, continue placing well in my division (or beyond?), conquer some quality long runs along the way, run a few more half marathons this fall (and hopefully cut a significant chunk off my original time), continue increasing my weekly/long run mileage over the winter, and be super-prepared for a full marathon next spring. (Important to note: if you ask me to my face about that last goal, I will vehemently deny that I am even considering it right up until the moment that I actually register for one. You've been warned.)
So it's time to set a few goals:
1. reinstate the weekend long run: It's time to suck it up and stop being such a wimp about these. Sure, not every one is going to be fun, but they are essential... and they're really never as bad as I build up in my head beforehand.
2. continue the mid-week medium-distance run: Last summer (and since I started again this year), this was by far my favorite run of the week. I loved heading over to my favorite running spot after work, smiling through 7 or 8 or even 9 miles, and feeling incredibly accomplished on a Wednesday or Thursday night.
3. work some structured runs into my weekly schedule: I have got to start pushing myself towards faster paces during some of my weekly runs. It's time to stop running according to how I feel on a given day, and run according to plan -- goal paces, tempo runs, progression runs, and pre-planned mileage goals. I've got to stop relying on the treadmill to teach me speed and consistency, and really get out there and struggle through it on my own.
4. become friends with the track: I've never done speedwork on a track, but I think it may be time. I'd like to try some 800's and 400's and really see how fast I can go, so that I can get a better idea of goal paces and how fast I should be running my other workouts.
5. cross train and take care of my poor legs: I was really good at foam rolling for a while, but since my leg pain has gotten so much better (knock on wood) I've slacked off a lot. I was feeling tight last night and pulled out my old friend, and immediately regretted all the time we've spent apart... boy was it painful. It's time for us to get reacquainted, and I'd also really like to squeeze in some yoga here and there. I'm looking into some options for classes at various gyms, but cheap me will probably end up opting for an online alternative. Either way, I think it would be good for my legs, and it's also just about time to start thinking about core strengthening/toning because of another little goal: looking damn good in a bikini by our honeymoon.
Now for the hard part -- being my own motivator, coach, and critic. It's tough to stick with it when I know there's no one exactly checking up behind me, but hopefully now that it's out in the blog-universe I'll feel a bit more accountable. Feel free to bug me about how it's going!

   Love,

    Meg
May 14, 2012

Monday Again?

A very busy weekend, a long-for-a-Monday-morning run, and a gloomy day outside have left me exhausted and unmotivated today, even though I have so much to do that I don't think I'll ever catch up. Luckily, my to-do lists for work and life seem to mirror each other: I have emails to send, meetings to set, and a ton of events to plan. (The best part of my new job is that it justifies hours I would be spending on Pinterest anyway, browsing not just inspiration for a wedding, but now a company Christmas party too.) If nothing else, I'm going to get really good at juggling in the next few months, as I try to keep track of three photographers, two florists, two DJ's, upwards of three hundred guests, thousands of dollars worth of food, and case upon case of wine that I will need to drink to stay calm through all of this. By the end of this year, I'm fairly sure either I'll be an expert at this or you'll be able to find my crazed ghost roaming the halls of a certain local venue, a crumpled guest list clutched in its hands, muttering things like "I don't care how you do it, just make the people dance!"
Speaking of wedding planning, I was lucky enough to be able to steal my beautiful matron of honor away from her fiance this weekend so that we could do some more wedding dress shopping! I drove to pick her up Friday after work, which made for a late but enjoyable evening. It was nice to have a few hours in the car to myself, and then to catch up on our lives on the way back home. Saturday, we went with my mom to meet N (another bridesmaid) and check out a few shops in a nearby town. That afternoon, we headed back to my hometown for one more appointment before meeting up with Dan and treating my mom to a early Mother's Day dinner. Then yesterday we headed back up to DC to take M home and swing by Ikea (always a good time). Thank goodness my Sunday night urge to clean kicked in last night for the first time in a few weeks, so our poor apartment got a little TLC. It could still use quite a bit more, but at least last night was a big step in the right direction.
As for the wedding dress status, I've got some thinking to do (soon) and a decision to make (quickly). Without giving too much away (hi, hubby!), I am completely torn. I am in love with a certain material and found one dress that, with a few alterations, I believe would be gorgeous, but I also found a dress in a different material that is exactly the style I want.... so that's a bit problematic. I'm not going to lie, I was waiting for the movie moment when I stepped out of the dressing room and there were trumpets and birds singing and everyone just immediately knew. If anything, I was a little scared that I would try on dress after dress and that moment would never come. I don't think it ever crossed my mind that I would love more than one dress and be forced to make such a difficult decision.
(my favorite Garfield strip ever -- this comic is my life in a nutshell)
So there you have it, several reasons why my brain hurts this Monday morning. This week is going to be another crazy one, but I am looking forward to a weekend which, for the first time in months, has nothing planned. I'm hoping to finally get in that long run I've been putting off for the past few weeks, finish a few projects around the apartment, and spend some much needed time catching up on sleep. If only Friday weren't so darn far away still...
Happy Monday, all!

   Love,

    Meg



May 11, 2012

Friday Favorites: Bridesmaids Edition!

TGIF! This week's Friday Favorites comes with a bit of a twist. Wedding planning is rolling along (mostly) smoothly, and a few weeks ago, I finally got to what may have been the best part yet: I had the pleasure of asking six of my very favorite girls in the world to be my bridesmaids. Although I left our final number of bridesmaids/groomsmen up to Dan, I was more than a little concerned that he would go with five, and there's no way I could have done this without any of the six girls who I chose. These friends are each so amazing and have been more like sisters to me since I've known them. They have gotten me through some tough stuff in the past few years, and I can't imagine anything better than to celebrate our (re)marriage with them by my side. I am so thrilled and lucky that all six of them said yes and will be (getting ready with me and keeping me sane and making my wedding day fabulous and) standing with me on September 28. I am practically beside myself with excitement to have the perfect excuse to spend extra time with all of them in the next few months!

While I do love each and every one of these girls like sisters, I am lucky that one actually is! This is Dan's older sister T, the only sister in a family of four brothers and a wonderful mama to our two cute nephews and beautiful niece. She is so sweet and I'm excited that even though she lives far away in Florida, she will spending most of the summer in our hometown with her kiddos, while she and her hubby are building a new house. I can't wait to see her more often and spend some time being a sister and an aunt!

It's a little tough to get past this terribly old-school picture (taken on a bus somewhere in the state of Texas, I believe), but this is my high school bff (isn't that what they were called in those days?) L. She and I met as freshmen and bonded over late night swim practices, long bus rides to swim meets and choir competitions, doing everything but paying attention in AP physics, countless sleepovers in her basements with friends, and lots of classic teenage angst over boys. She was the artist behind some of the best birthday cards I ever received (and I've kept every one), a few fantastic mix CDs, and several pillowcases, t-shirts, and Lucky Charms boxes overflowing with swim team spirit. I am so thankful we have stayed in touch since graduation, even though she has spent many of the past few years living in Germany and can now be found in the great (but far away) state of California.

This lovely lady is a wonderful friend from college with whom I share not just an alma mater, but a name! M is also a fraternity brother of mine, has the best shoe collection I've ever seen, spends her days being a super-smart scientist, and emits the cutest hiccups known to mankind. She is one tough cookie and a fiercely loyal friend who I know I can call at any hour of the day. Even though she, too, lives entirely too far away (are you sensing a very sad pattern here?), we stay in as close touch as our crazy schedules will allow, and I get so excited to see her every time she makes it back to the east coast.

While I am very much in love with the little one in this picture, my next bridesmaid is her mama, my fellow military wife N. I have known her for the shortest time out of all these ladies, but we have become fast friends, and I couldn't be more grateful. This girl is the best of role models in every way: she's an amazing mother, a supportive and strong military spouse, and somehow manages to have it all together. I am so lucky our husbands found each other and introduced us, and that she and I have been able to share so much in the past year. Perhaps best of all, N will be almost 8 months pregnant with Little #2 on our wedding day!

When I met this gorgeous girl my senior year of college, I believe my first thought was "So that's where the other half of my brain has been all these years!" A can finish my sentences thoughts like nobody's business, shares so many of my passions and values, and always knows exactly what I need to hear. She is the best kind of wild and crazy and fun, the most incredible photographer I know (seriously, check her out), and not only does she understand me better than I understand myself, but she absolutely "gets" my sweet husband's sense of humor as well. I have not seen her in far too long (are you keeping track? You can check Rhode Island off the list for this one!) but absolutely cannot wait until we are reunited.

Last but never least, a girl you have heard about constantly on this little blog of mine... my maid-but-soon-to-be-matron of honor M. I am not sure there are enough words to describe how lucky I've been to have this amazing girl by my side for the past several years. We actually met my freshman year of college, but didn't get to know each other well until we were reintroduced two years later. Since then, I can safely say that I owe this lady my life -- she has held me up and kept me sane through the past few years and I am absolutely serious that I have no idea what I would do without her. She knows me like no one else (not even my hubby!), gives the very best advice, and always knows how to make me smile. She was my one and only bridesmaid when Dan and I first got married, and I can't imagine doing it again without her right next to me... although first, I am so excited to focus on HER wedding in July!

I am beyond lucky to have each of these girls in my life, and I cannot wait for all seven of us to be together -- that alone is going to make September 28 a day to remember!
Happy Friday everyone!

   Love,

    Meg



May 8, 2012

A Brief Musical Interlude

The downside to spending 14+ hours in a car over three days? You start to hear a lot of the same songs over and over... and over... and over. We listened to a nice mix of Pandora, XM radio, iTunes libraries, and regular old radio, but there was still quite a bit of overlap. The perk, though? I got to hear this awesome new duet several times:
I can't get over how great this is. Call me old (it's ok, my husband did), but I loved the original of this song, and Darius Rucker just adds all kinds of amazing. I loved him as Hootie (although he maintains that he was not actually Hootie), and I am a big fan of the new solo/country thing he has going on now.

Happy Tuesday!

   Love,

    Meg

May 7, 2012

Weekending

Nothing like a little dose of Monday to kill that nice three-day-weekend feeling, right? 

I seem to have taken a little unintended blogging vacation, but am working hard on getting caught up today so that I don't spend the whole week behind. Adjusting to a different type of workday is definitely a challenge, but I hope that as I start to take on more individual tasks in the new position it will be easier to get things done.
This long weekend actually felt shorter than most, thanks to all the driving, lots of events, and a few too many cocktails. Since my cup of coffee is the only thing standing between my head and my desk right now, I'm going to stick to just a few highlights.
 -- Our weekend was bookended by two 7-ish hour drives. We left home super early Friday morning and arrived in SC by mid-afternoon, and didn't get home until almost midnight last night. I'm sure it would have been a different story had I been the one actually driving all that time (thanks to my wonderful hubby for getting us down and back safely), but I actually love long car rides like this. It was nice to read, nap, talk with the hubs, and just enjoy the scenery. I had been craving a long drive recently anyway, so the timing was perfect.
 -- Our hotel was fabulous, which was lucky considering the small fortune I spent for two nights there. The room was excellent, the service was great, and most importantly, the treadmill was fantastic. Running outside just wasn't a option, which normally makes for a miserable morning workout, but even I am a sucker for a treadmill with its own personal TV. How I Met Your Mother and Friends distracted me so well that I made it through almost 15 miles on that thing (over two mornings) without hating that I was stuck inside.
 -- Although we didn't get much of a chance to explore Charleston while we were there, we were able to enjoy some of their excellent foods and beverages. I had a particularly fantastic plate of chicken salad on Saturday, Dan was pretty pleased with some macaroni and cheese, and we stopped for a great brunch yesterday:
(that omelet included smoked salmon and dill cream cheese. be still my heart.)
The bellini pictured above was the perfect before-noon adult beverage, and I can safely say that I consumed my fair share of tequila over the course of the weekend as well:
(an awful picture of me, but worth it to showcase the size of that beauty)
They also served a blue margarita at the wedding that was incredible. And of course no alcohol-soaked weekend is complete without a late-night trip to Taco Bell... yum.
 -- The best part of the weekend, though, was getting to hang out with some wonderful people:
cuddled up with a (finally) sleeping nephew
with my (fingers-crossed) future sister-in-law and my brother-in-law (although not the brother she is dating)
my handsome hubby!

I think this may be one of those rare days that calls not for an afternoon run/workout, but an afternoon nap. Hope that your Monday is fabulous!


   Love,

    Meg
 

Blog Template by YummyLolly.com