Five Things.

I love the weekends. Erich and I get to spend quality time together, there is no rush to be anywhere, and I don't have to worry about setting an alarm (which is one of my favorite things in the world). The weather was nice on Saturday, but it poured on Sunday. I had two photo shoots with my friends, Avalon and Brett, on Sunday. Our original plans to shoot had to be altered, but we will just do that for the next one. The first part was done at the beach (where I froze in a short sleeved shirt, with a mesh back), but the second one was indoors, which was actually pretty fun. Here are some bits and pieces from my weekend that made it a bit sweeter.


01. Drive
A week or so ago, I finally watched Drive. I've been wanting to watch it for months, but haven't gotten around to renting it. The film was fantastic. I don't want to give away any of the plot/storyline, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the film. This film reaffirmed my longtime crush on Ryan Gosling. I've had a crush on the Gos since his MMC days, and he is like a fine wine - he only gets better with age. The soundtrack to the film is spectacular, so we snagged a copy from Amazon, for under $10. I feel like such a badass when I drive around, blaring the soundtrack. My favorite track is "Under Your Spell," by Desire.

 02. Marley's Mellow Mood
A handful of friends have raved about these relaxation beverages, but I hadn't seen it in stores until last week. When I spotted the bottles, I snagged the green tea with honey. Besides those two ingredients (the tea is decaf), the tea has a relaxation blend, comprised of Valerian Root, Lemon Balm, Passion Flower, Rose Hips, Chamomile, and Melatonin. I drank 3/4 of the bottle in one sitting, and I definitely noticed a difference in my demeanor. I was pretty stressed earlier in the day, and this definitely helped me wind down. It also tastes delicious, which was a plus. 

03. I'm Running a 5K!
I still can't believe i'm doing this. I haven't ran since high school, so this was a pretty big feat for me. The 5K is only four days away. I'm a bit nervous, but i'm sure I will do well. If you would like to donate to my fundraising, you can do so here. This weekend, my shirt and bib arrived. 

 04. Record Store Day
As of 2007, the third Saturday of April has been dubbed Record Store Day. Independent record stores come together with musicians to celebrate music. Special releases are created for this special day, and many indie stores host in-store performances. When I heard about this a few years ago, I was stoked. The only independent record store is Looney Tunes, which is about twenty minutes away from me. I didn't go there on Record Store Day, because Erich and I relaxed at home. I did dig out my copy of High Fidelity, and am rereading it for the umpteenth time. 

05. KB's Burger Shack
On Saturday night, Erich and I decided to lay low. We've been meaning to try KB's Burger Shack, a local burger joint a couple towns over. We didn't feel like being social butterflies, so we ordered our food to go. We got there early, so I went in to check out the scenery. A live jazz quartet was playing in the front of the restaurant, and the place was packed. I chatted the hostess, Kathy, and she was super nice. I was informed that the night before, one of their bartenders daughters was killed in a car crash with her father. They are holding a benefit on Thursday, May 3, at 6pm. If you are on Long Island and are free that night, please make an appearance and help the family out. There is at suggested donation of $25, which includes food and entertainment. For more information, check out the Facebook event. Below is a picture of my dinner - the Santa Fe burger. It was topped with avocado slices and caramelized onions in a balsamic garlic chipotle reduction, and served on an english muffin. The burger was cooked just how I like it (my medium rare burgers are almost always overcooked - especially on takeout orders), and the fries are some of the best i've ever had before! I can't wait to try their milkshakes - my friend, Sam, said they're delicious. We have already decided that this is our dinner the night after the 5K!

I am really excited for this week. I finally have a bit of free time, so I can finally get a few blog posts in, Erich and I have a few afternoon dates planned, and the 5K is finally here! I should be working on a few papers, but I'll save them for Sunday. I just need some time to relax and enjoy my surroundings.

Five Things.

This past weekend was pretty amazing. The weather was fantastic, and I got to spend some quality time with Erich, which was really nice. Here are some bits and pieces that were top notch.

01. Flavored Water
Elisabeth, over at The Happy Yoga Mom posted a photo on Instagram earlier in the week, showcasing some delicious cucumber water. I decided to make some portable flavored ones - lemon and cucumber. Definitely a refreshing treat, especially after a run!

02. The Beatles
For those who know me well, they know I love The Beatles. I wrote my undergrad senior thesis on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, I have a yellow submarine tattooed on me, and my cat, Penny, is named after Penny Lane (and Penny from LOST). If that's not love, then I don't know what is. Over the last fifteen years, I have frequented many thrift stores. The records are always one of the first places I check. Never was there a Beatles find. Until Saturday. Erich and I ventured to Saver's, because we were curious as to what they would have. I found Rubber Soul and Revolver, which are two of my top five Beatles albums (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, and The Beatles are the other three). Now, I was expecting there to be a steep price tag on these babies, as they were in decent condition - only the jackets had some wear. When the girl rang me up, my total was $4.23. In the words of Ice Cube, "it was a good day."

03. Summerish Attire
With the warm weather upon us, I was thrilled to wear sandals and a tank top, without being chilly. I painted my nails in an array of Essie colors (peach daiquiri, action, mesmerized, and navigate her, all on top of a coat of marshmallow - I wanted the colors to pop) while Erich was in class. I dug out my summer clothes, donned my Chandler the Robot necklace, and broke in my new K. Jacques Triton Sandals.

04. More Water
I am the worst when it comes to drinking enough water. Give me iced soy lattes and I can down those in no time. Water, not so much. I snagged some Borba packets from Walgreens a year or so ago, and picked some up on my last visit. They come in a variety of flavors, and have zero calories. I try not to drink sucralose, but every once in awhile, I'll have some.

05. Transatlanticism
Ahhh, Death Cab For Cutie. I loved them a great deal back in the early 2000s. Transatlanticism is my favorite album by the band. I can listen to the album from start to finish, and not have the urge to change it. This album reminds me of traveling with friends, seeing various bands and frequenting some choice diners. It also reminds me of The O.C. - that Seth Cohen had my nerdy little heart for sure. Adam Brody will never be able to top that role, as cheesy as that sounds. 


I'm looking forward to another fantastic week. Only twelve days until I run my first 5K, and I am definitely nervous. I need to get some harder training in before the big day. I'm confident I will do well, though!

Five Things.

This week was pretty out of the ordinary, to say the least. More hectic than normal, but in a good sense. I didn't run as much as I wanted to (only ran Tuesday, but running tonight), but I was rather active throughout the week. Here are a few things that made this week worthwhile.

01. Sokenbicha Revive

After running on Tuesday, I had to go to class. I didn't have time to stop anywhere en route, so I hit up the school cafeteria. My school has such an array of items, and the ladies make the best grilled cheese sandwiches (the week after Easter, I am definitely feasting on one after running). I wanted something besides water to quench my thirst. Oolong tea, black tea, rose petals rose hips, and ginseng? I knew this was up my alley. Once I got into class, I took a quick sip, and was hooked. I finished the bottle within thirty minutes, and actually walked out of class to buy another one. When I was downstairs, I asked if I could buy a case, because Whole Foods is the only place that carries this, and I didn't want to drive 40 or so minutes for tea, if I could snag it on campus. Long story short, in order to get me through Spring Break, the cafeteria manager sold it to me for just above cost. They're actually discontinuing this brand on campus, but since they know I'll be purchasing Revive, they are going to keep it stocked for me. So awesome. Another simple reason why my school rules. 

02. Nail Art
I used to paint my nails twice a week, but with school, side projects and what-not, my nails weren't the top of my priorities list. I took some time on Friday, to tend to my digits. I used Color Club Age of Aquarius, and topped it with a few glitters. The tips are donned with Essie Luxeffects A Cut Above (varying sizes of pink glitter) and Set In Stones (same style as A Cut Above, but in silver). After I let the tips dry, I applied Essie Pure Pearlfection, which is a fine white shimmer, that just makes the color pop, without overpowering the polish.

03. The Kittens
In less than a month, our babies will be turning one! Time flies, and they've grown so much. When we found them on May 21, Puar weighed 15.1 ounces and Penelope weighed 14.2 ounces. When I weighed them this morning, they weight 14.2 pounds and 13 pounds, respectively. Even though they have gotten huge, they still crawl into my lap and on my chest, just like they did when they were tiny, orphaned babies. Erich and I have raised them since they were three weeks old, so we are their parents. Its also amusing at how human they think they are sometimes. Penny tries to drink out of water bottles and can open doors now. 

04. Pandora - Brand New Radio
Brand New is one of my favorite bands, and they just so happen to be from Long Island. Anytime I put this station on when I use Pandora, a solid mix is guaranteed. While driving to meet up with a friend, Taking Back Sunday's Cute Without The 'E' came on, and I was super stoked. Tell All Your Friends is the only TBS album that I can listen to, from start to finish. I have a plethora of memories connected to this album, which, as of March 26, is ten years old. Once I heard this, I knew the day was going to be fantastic, and it really was!

 05. Curry Kebob House
After I helped a friend with a party, I met up with my mom at Starbucks. We decided to try an Indian restaurant that one of her school instructors works at, in Medford. My mom had never eaten Indian/Pakistani cuisine before, so I was excited for her. Her instructor, Christine, is so nice. She suggested Weight Watchers friendly food, plus some other indulgences. We chose Chicken Tikka (pictured below) and Paneer Jalfrezi. This was the best Indian food I have ever had. Fresh, flavorful, and made with great care. We met the owner and his wife, who both share the cooking duties. They care about their customers and their staff - Christine said they're her second family. The prices were great, the atmosphere was just right, and it was a great way to spend a Friday night with my momma.

I ate a lot of food, probably more than I should have, but I wasn't worried. I had been eating pretty well most of the week, and the feast we had last night was well worth it! I weighed myself today and I lost 1.2 pounds this week (3.2 pounds in three weeks - not bad), so I must be doing something right. Its strange counting points, as opposed to calories. I used to try and stay under 1,100 calories a day, but I definitely was not eating balanced meals. With my points, the fat, carbs, fiber and protein are taken into account. I am eating more food, but I am more satisfied. When I counted calories, I would often feel unfulfilled, then binge. I never thought I would say this, but the Weight Watchers program has changed the way I view food, even only after a few weeks. I have been making more healthful, mindful food choices. 

Spring break has officially begun for me, and I am really excited. I am hoping to get some photos done for the blog, and get more entries in. The next contest is ready to go, and will be up next week. The year that was looking terrible back in January is looking pretty promising now.

Five Things

What a busy week! I was super productive, which is always awesome. The blog got pushed to the wayside, which isn't so awesome. Actually, thats not 100% true - I did behind-the-scenes work on the blog - interviews and whatnot. I also have a list of what I need to do write-ups on, so I just need to play some catch-up. Good thing I take a plethora of pictures throughout the week - I can always pull them up later on, to use in an entry. Enough blabbering - here are a few things I was stoked about this week:

1. Eating Breakfast

Since I started running, I have been more conscious to eat a healthy breakfast. Usually its an iced latter, a piece of fruit, and a cup of yogurt or oatmeal. This week, I tried Chobani 0% dark cherry yogurt for the first time. It was delicious - definitely was not what I was expecting. I know, not the best description, but I ate it five mornings ago, and can't remember exactly what it tastes like. But its good, I know that much!

 2. Oversized Sweaters
Wearing jackets are a pain, especially while driving. I'd much rather wear an oversized, ultra comfy sweater. This is one of my favorites. Its not the prettiest sweater created, but I like it. I call this my Bill Cosby sweater (if you watched The Cosby Show as a child, you'll remember those jazzy sweaters Cliff Huxtable rocked).

 3. Popcorn on Salad
Why haven't I thought of this before? I made a bag of popcorn, and was trying to figure out what to pair it with. I put it aside, and decided to make a salad - needed more veggies in for the day. As I topped my salad with dressing - I looked at the bag of popcorn. Since I can't have croutons (no bread for Lent, remember?), I decided to sprinkle the popcorn on my salad. One of the best gastronomic decisions I made all week. I used microwave popcorn without butter - I chose a natural brand that only contained the kernels, oil and salt. Butter flavoring would probably be overload. 

 4. Sushi
When it comes to sushi, I am a creature of habit. This week, I decided to try something different. On Wednesday, my mom treated me to sushi and on Saturday, Erich's mom treated me to sushi. Both times, I tried something new. The picture below is the Perfection roll, which I feasted on Saturday afternoon. Avocado, cucumber, crabmeat, salmon, tuna, and yellowtail, wrapped in white seaweed. It was delicious. I plan on trying a new roll each time I go. Variety is the spice of life, right?

5. Mexican Coca-Cola

For weeks, I have been seeing photos of Mexican Coca-Cola on Instagram. I was curious to see what the fuss was about. Its Coca-Cola, made in Mexico, with cane sugar, not high fructose corn syrup. I rarely have soda, so this was a treat. It was delicious, but still totally unhealthy. I have another bottle in the fridge - I hope Erich drinks it, so I'm not tempted to! Also, check out the radtastic box of tissues behind the bottle - they're so 80s it hurts. 

Five Things (Weekend Edition).

I had a really good week. Kept myself busy, connected with a bunch of people regarding the blog, and continued my job search. Here are a few things that made my weekend much brighter.

1. Draw Something

I am no artist, by far. But I try, which is what matters. This was my rendition of Kanye West that I sent over to my friend, Kimber. I'm sure she would have figured it out, even if I didn't write, "Imma let you finish," but it made it more amusing. 

2. Running

Last week, due to scheduling and not feeling so hot, Liz and I got a bit off track with running. We got back to it, and let me tell you, it hurt like crazy. But we pushed through, and are back on track again. This is a picture of me stretching, before running. When I come back from running, I do not look this put together, hah.

3. Frozen Yogurt

Even though I am watching what I am eating, I can still enjoy junk food  - in moderation, of course. On Sunday, Liz and I went to YoChi Yogurt, in Patchogue - right down the street from where I had adventured on Friday. I was so stoked about having fro-yo, I took this picture to share my excitement with the world (well, just on Instagram, but close enough).

4. Gorgeous Weather

It feels as Spring is already upon us. Even though we lost an hour of sleep, thanks to daylight savings, I spent Sunday enjoying the beautiful weather. Definitely an even trade, in my book!

5. Magazines

My poor magazine subscriptions always get the shaft during the school year. Before bed, I quickly flipped through these. NYLON has been one of my favorite magazines for 10+ years - Paper being a close second. When I have more time over the weekend, I plan on ripping some recipes out of taste of the south, but I'm sure they'll have to be modified, in order fit into my healthier eating habits. 

What are some things that made your weekend enjoyable?

Five Things.

There were lots of occurrences that made me happy this week, and its only Wednesday. That doesn't always happen, so I am definitely grateful for that. Here are pictures of five things that made me smile over the course of the last forty-eight hours. Enjoy!

On Tuesday morning, Erich and I went to our favorite bagel store, where I scored a delicious BELT (bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato) on an egg everything bagel - beyond delicious. Little did I know that this bagel would be my last until Lent is over. We have a ritual of going by the water to eat breakfast. We arrived while the sun was rising. I opened up my window and started snapping on my iPhone. I would have taken more, but a truck had pulled in and happened to get in the way. This picture does no justice, it was absolutely breathtaking. Definitely a great way to start our morning off.

Tuesday night, I made juice with my mom. I really cherish the time I get to spend with her. While I redesigned my layout, I had some fresh juice in my yellow submarine coffee mug. I prefer all of my beverages to be in mugs, believe it or not!

This made me giggle, as I imagined the Former Secretary of Defense driving this. The Don actually dissed Hummer in 2004, regarding the lack of military Humvee production, so I doubt he'd be driving one of these.

Finding an avocado with the perfect consistency is not always easy. Today, I lucked out! As I started so slice my avocado open for lunch, I could tell the consistency was going to be perfect. With a bit of freshly ground sea salt and pepper, I was a happy little lady!

I thought my Chanel sneakers were MIA, but I actually found them at my parents the other day. I am definitely stoked about this find, because I paid far too much for these a few years back, and I only wore them once or twice. These will definitely get some use this summer.

What little things have made you happy this week?