Tag Archives: summer

May29

((weekend)) — a weekend I could hug.

Posted on May 29, 2012 by jobo

This weekend lived up to all I had hoped it would, and more. It was one of those perfect summer weekends, the ones that you never want to end, where the weather is perfect, everything you do is absolutely fantastic and you walk around in one of those blissful, goofy-grinned euphoric hazes.

This weekend was one of those weekends where I yet again am reminded of the fortunate, blessed, happy live I have built for myself and continue to cultivate. One that I vow never to take for granted.

This weekend was a weekend I could hug. And perhaps marry, but I think M might have an issue with that

So, here are some pictures from this ((weekend)) <- a weekend I could hug.

Kick-started with a birthday bash for my brother in law’s 35th. My sis throws one HELL of a party.

Got to spend time with THIS girl, Samantha (Running and Cupcakes) and we had SO much fun!

Also spent LOTS of time with Steph, a b9 bestie, at this party, at her beach and impromptu dinner surf-and-turf style (scallops, lamb and steak tips!) on Sunday too!

I couldn’t have been prouder as an auntie to see my beautiful niece playing with the ‘big kids’ (my BIL’s nieces and nephews) like a pro. She was an absolute doll!

First trip to the beach, and you gotta take a ‘toes in the sand’ pic, right? Though I burned the shiznat out of my tummy, I look like a lobster! Oops!

Our pool opened at our complex on Monday, so we parked ourselves poolside for much of the afternoon. Blissful, perfect weather, despite about 40 kids running around

Spent as much time as possible reconnecting with M after being away last week. I don’t think I stopped smiling all weekend long <3

And that is just a glimpse into my weekend, which also featured teaching three barre n9ne classes, getting in a couple of great (hot and humid!) runs, scoring some great deals at lululemon and feeling refreshed today. How was your weekend? I hope it was blissful in some capacity…but from all the tweets, FB posts and blogs I have seen so far, it looks like it was a weekend to hug all around!

May25

5 for Friday!

Posted on May 25, 2012 by jobo

5 for Friday!

Raise your hand if you are incredibly glad it is a) Friday and b) a long weekend!! *raising hand so high, like that eager 5th grader, holding it so high, you have to hold it up with the *other* arm high, because you really want everyone to know your hand is raised wicked high*

I’m gonna keep it simple and do a little 5 for Friday action. Here you be:

3 ‘fit’ things I did on my trip this week: I went on 3 strong runs, outside, by myself. And save for a few side cramps (I’m always less hydrated when I travel, just by nature of less readily accessible water. Probably my number #1 peeve when I travel!), they were good, strong runs. I wasn’t up in my head, I smiled, I looked around, my mind wandered, I smelled flowers, I heard birds, I breathed fresh air, and it was honestly the best way to kick start my day (especially yesterday, before my long trek home. Nothing worse than parking my a$$ on a plane all day and being inactive before it!). I took a barre class at a local studio I discovered on one of my visits last fall. Got a mini-barre fix but admittedly cannot wait to get back to taking and teaching classes today and this weekend!
2 meals I ate: Well, let’s back up. I made good choices during all of my meals this week. Yep, all of them. People ask me how I still manage to stay on track with my ‘number’ when I travel and my answer? While I can’t be sure, most of the time, what the calories are in a particular meal (unless I can find it online and I am a pro at googling, myfitnesspal’ing and web site stalking to find it!), I can draw conclusions based on said googling or ‘like’ restaurants or meals and simply make a choice that will satisfy me – high protein, lottsa veggies, and as fresh as possible. For example, at lunch with my boss, I ordered a roasted chicken salad, which came with dates (YUM!), almonds, corn, chicken, shredded cabbage, greens and goat cheese. When it arrived, I evaluated the cheese serving – and it was perfect, just a few crumbles (given that could be a huge hidden calorie bust!) and I requested dressing on the side, and with all those yummies loaded in, I didn’t even need the dressing. Had some olives and white bean hummus that my boss ordered as an app and ya know what? I was completely satisfied all the way through that barre class I took, did not even need an afternoon snack. Go figure. My most favorite meal was the Jamba Juice apple cinnamon oatmeal I scored (thanks sis for highly recommending a la Naomi!), holy CRAP, it was so good, I honestly was blown away. SO EFFING GOOD. (Oh, and I always pack a few Dove promises as a little treat before bed (just like at home!)).
Coolest thing that happened while I was traveling: M bought a new car! I totally CALLED it last weekend when he just happened to mentioned being interested in a possible trade in for his SUV for a Mitsubishi Lancer and I said, ‘you’re going to pick me up at the airport in a new car, aren’t you?’ And yep, I called it. Brand new black Lancer…and he looks HOT in it, let me tell you Swoon!
Number 1 thing I am looking forward to this weekend: The official kick-off to summer, plain and simple. The weather is going to cooperate, and I have lots of outdoor things planned, including my sister’s bash for my brother-in-law’s birthday, the BEACH and perhaps even a day trip to Maine (game day decision!), or another picnic at the park. There’s something so euphoric about summer, isn’t there?
Best part about coming home from this work trip: That first hug and kiss from M. And the realization that after 3 work trips in 6 weeks, I am DONE *fingers crossed* for the time being, and my next trip…only for pleasure, at the end of June. I’ll share more details soon, but it may have to do with wine

CHEERS friends, I hope you have a fabulous long weekend and spend as much time as humanly possible outside! I know I will be!!

May21

A blissful weekend…in pictures.

Posted on May 21, 2012 by jobo

A blissful weekend…in pictures.

As I trot off to California for the next four days, I will sear into memory a blissful weekend that I truly believe was even MORE blissful because of shifting my focus and not going into this trip with any sort of ‘dread’ (except for the goodbye to M, which is always, always so hard), but with perspective that it’ll be a fantastic experience, filled with growth.

Without further ado…

Another ‘happy miles’ run with M, even if a bee did chase me and I ran like the wind

got my sushi fix on Friday night, with a glass of wine on the patio

Impromptu trip to the lake on Saturday…check out that glisten.

got to dip my toes into the lake, not as chilly as I thought, either

a sister cookout at Jess and Scott’s, never complete without a photo bomb

I <3 my sisters!

Complete with dinner on the deck and a crisp rose, and the weekend rounds out to a beautiful close…

And on a weekend that has marked the passing of my Nonna (May 20, 2009), I couldn’t help but think that this picture perfect weekend is her, smiling down, happy to see the happiness and love in my life, and in my sister’s lives too. I hugged my niece a little tighter, with her namesake (Isabel) and just smiled, my heart happy.

She climbed right up into my lap…and though it was just briefly, it’s captured.

~~~

Sep6

“Celebrate summer, sun-drenched days, starlit nights’ – of summer bucket lists.

Posted on September 6, 2011 by jobo

“Celebrate summer, sun-drenched days, starlit nights’ – of summer bucket lists.

While summer’s still alive and kickin’, as Labor Day has now come and gone, I find myself reflecting (again!) on summer and of course, my summer bucket list. How did I do? And what were my favorite moments? Things I still wished I’d done?

Well, let’s start with where I stand vs. my summer bucket list. Of course, there’s still time to do some of these things, right?

Go to an outdoor concert. Sadly, I didn’t accomplish this. I haven’t found a concert in the area that I want to go to, but hey, there’s still time, maybe, right?!
Maine, Maine and more Maine. Check, check, check, check, check and check (the last one also takes the cake as my most favorite moment of the summer)!
Dine ‘al fresco’ as often as possible. I definitely did a lot of this over the summer. At my old place, at M’s old place and most recently, at our new digs. There’s just nothing better than eating a meal outside. I have no idea why, but it is utterly euphoric.
Go to the Cape. Fail. This didn’t happen. Almost, but did not. On my list for 2012!
Run a half marathon. Check, though not as happy with the result of the race, I absolutely LOVED half marathon training during the summer months. That summer run by the beach? Yeah, that will forever be in my memory. Getting lost? Bunnies? Yep, loved that too! And I am still planning that 13.1 redo, I just may need to change the timeframe a bit. Stay tuned on that, friends.
Go to the beach…at least 15 times. I actually didn’t keep track. Fail on my part. I would say I probably hit the beach at least 10 times. So I will give myself a B+ on this one (hey, it’s my blog, my award system!)
Stomp grapes. Fail. Did NOT do this. HOWEVER, wine country vacation? Snuck up on me…it’s less than three weeks away! 9/21 baby! So maybe I can stomp grapes in Healdsburg? My second love affair to show M?
Take a walk. A+!! I did this! Quite a bit actually, and I plan to keep at it. Walks have been awesome for me, especially this one.
Go blueberry picking Fail. I was thisclose to picking a few weeks ago but the farm closed early in Maine due to a bad season this year. But I plan to apple pick AND I strawberry picked. That counts, right?
Roll down a hill. Without fear of spiders, tickets or, yes, getting dirty (this one courtesy of my sis, hehe). Oh, to be 12, again. <– fail,fail,fail. I’m a wuss. Spiders scare me. But I do have a lovely golf course I am staring out at as we speak that is screaming to be rolled down. Perhaps I’ll still do it

So, as far as my summer bucket list went? I think I fared pretty well.

Things that I wished I had a chance to do?

Take a full week off to go to Maine. Schedule-wise and work-wise, it just didn’t happen this year. But I spent as much time as I could in Maine and would say that I went to Maine more often this summer than previous summers, but didn’t get to stay as long. I would also say that I appreciated the time I was able to spend there, with family, M, friends, realizing that not many get this kind of home-away-from-home. I do. And I appreciate it every single time.

As the summer wore on and M and I took the plunge into finding our new digs, I started to feel in limbo. Half packed, staying at my place, and then at M’s and just in this in-between, can’t-we-be-living-together-already feeling that I felt unorganized and anxious. It put a damper on my mood sometimes, but the move was worth it. Worth every frustration and meltdown. Worth IT!

I’ve lived a full summer. And while I am feeling a little down today as the weather shifts into fall-mode (rainy and chilly vs. hot and humid all weekend…what’s up with that?!), I am going to enjoy each and every summer day that’s left and carry that enjoy-the-season feeling into fall – and yes, winter too – as much as possible. Because it’s not what’s around you that’s important, it’s how you embrace it and live it.

How did you fare on your own summer bucket lists of sorts? Was it kick-ass?

Jul26

What I did on my mini-lakation.

Posted on July 26, 2011 by jobo

What I did on my mini-lakation.

Maine never fails to amaze me in how much it can relax, soothe, and rejuvinate the soul. This weekend’s ‘lakation’ as @amber4miles dubbed it on Twitter (great moniker!) came through in spades, as usual.

So, what did I do on my mini-lakation?

…I sunned. As much as I possibly could dockside and floating in the lake on the best ‘floaties’ ever.

…(however), I lost my sunglasses. Sad face. They flipped off the back of my head and down they went, too fast for me to grab. Marc Jacobs no less…but fear not, they were a bargain a la Nordstrom Rack, so I can just get another pair, right?

…I ran 9 miles! My longest yet. I’m not gonna lie, it was wicked hahd, and I pushed and pushed but there were times I had to walk. And that’s okay. This felt like a very difficult run from mile one. (in hindsight, if the first mile sucks already, perhaps not the greatest idea to keep going on the 9 mile planned run, but with M’s support and pushing, we got it done together.

…We napped like zombies. See aforementioned 9 mile run. We were spent after that. Completely. It was actually good it ended up being cloudy, as we napped on the couch on and off, we read, relaxed and stretched our aching legs. Best place to recover post-run though, I must say.

…Drank lots of wine…and still fit it into my food log to boot (without starving myself!). Score for me?

…niece time at the lake! Isabel was adorable and she rocked the new one-shouldered jumper I got her from Old Navy. SO frickin cute.

…Got my ass kicked at monopoly (and um, finally realized why it’s called monopoly. Yes, I’m slow, folks. Srsly.)

…Played a mean game of dominoes with my grandparents, indoctrinating M into the tradition. And he kicked ass! My grandparents were questioning whether he really never played before and call rematch. Game on, grandparents, game on

…Drank a delicious Bloody Mary with Jess while Scott and M made it their mission to drink many, many beers. On the dock.

…became engrossed in ‘Mercy’ by Jodi Piccoult and vow never ever ever to be in a relationship or marriage that is 70/30 or even 60/40. It takes two to make it work, not one (if you read the book, you’ll understand what I’m talking about, a sidestory about a marriage that is definitely one-sided).

…enjoyed some loving, quiet, beautiful moments with M, as he became as relaxed as I’ve ever seen him, and seeing him settle into a place I love so much made my heart happy.

…didn’t wear a lick of makeup or do my hair at all. Um hello, lake hair is sexy, right? (as M said, when he called me beautiful and I scoffed – since I clearly cannot take compliments well – and said ‘the true test of a woman’s beauty is when they are most natural. you are beautiful’ *um, blush* I love this man).

…took some funny pictures...which I’ll actually post here too, because well, we know I’m not really that anonyomous anymore, right? And they are hysterical, some of them.

That’s about it. It was phenomenal. Can’t wait to go back in three days