sidebar | life and training 6.5 -6.11

Today is our five year anniversary!

J and I got together after meeting at my old job back in 2018. Man, I was what, a wee 25 year old? Now I’m a salty and cynical near-30 year old. How these five years have trucked on by, through a pandemic and back again, and a whole slew of other bullshit. What an honor to have a wonderful person for so many years, and many more to come.

I’m not a sappy person, and don’t want to gush and holler all over this post, so I’ll leave the blowing of our horns to that one paragraph. Today we’ll probably do a lot of eating and wine-drinking, starting with some pastries from our neighborhood French bakery and a walk along the water. Later we’ll whip out my Kitchenaid pasta attachment and make a big ole Italian feast from scratch. Might end up at the pool sometime, and probably with an Aperol spritz or two.

Nothing fancy, but simple, and together. Just the way we like it.

This week was rather boring, EXCEPT for Monday. Without boring you with a whole lot of details, my car was illegally towed from my driveway after the company BLATANTLY LIED about someone calling in my vehicle. Those bitches straight up weaved a whole story about my neighbor calling at midnight, then at 5 am (when my car was actually towed) coming out and confirming that mine was the offending vehicle. None of that was true. Thankfully, my neighbor is amazing and is helping me correct this fiasco, but I have a feeling a court will have to get involved and the process will probably be way drawn out. I should charge a daily fee amounting to how long my $200+ towing fee is withheld.

Yeah, it was real startling emerging from my house and realizing my vehicle was gone. What a bunch of fucking morons. The whole spiel is considered car theft under the law, though, and could even be charged as a felony or a third-degree misdemeanor. They really mucked up, yo.

Not a fun time. Definitely needed wine after that sack of shit.

Otherwise, a quiet seven days. I cooked, baked, walked, talked, and switched locations at The Day Job. I guess that’s a worthy note. I’m noticing already that my energy levels are good after a shift at The Day Job, rather than me feeling emotionally and physically drained, and I’m able to get moving on FMG shit pretty easily instead of slogging my way into a recipe (which, usually, once I get going I’m fine, but the getting-going part isn’t always fun.)

I played with a really awesome pizza recipe I’m hyped to share soon, but I still have yet to perfect a good dough recipe. I’ll have to keep dicking around to find what works best. I have a feeling that whatever I land on will have LOTS of olive oil, because I love a good poofy, smooth dough.

I feel good about this coming week. I don’t think I have anything really planned aside from our anniversary fun today, but a bit more cooking motivation is starting to return. I thank my 15 Minute Brown Butter Shrimp Scampi for re-inspiring me to turn on the stove. I was for real on a cooking strike for a spell, and I think I’m still preferring no-heat meals since it’s so godawful shit out, but I’m starting to brainstorm some easy skillet or sheetpan dishes that I think ya’ll will enjoy.

AND, I really want to throw funfetti all over a bunch of baked goods. Eek. Hyped.

What are ya’ll up to this week? Have any fun plans? Something to inspire me to get off my lazy ass and into the big world? Hope you’re all hanging in there. Summer can be a drawl for everyone – the dog days, if you will – and if you’re not thriving, hopefully you’re at least surviving.

A good reminder for ya’ll today if you’re not feeling your most confident:

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…A delicious charred corn salad.

…FUNFETTI CUPCAKES. With a fun twist.

…Maybe another funfetti treat because I just need all that color.

…A wonderful summery potato salad.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Body wash…Tree Hut’s Watermelon shower gel is divine. The smell is fresh and light and really does remind me of watermelons, plus the lather is impeccable.

Cookies…Feeling really inspired by my Neapolitan Sandwich Cookies, which are a hit on Pinterest right now! They’re colorful and really fun to make.

Chocolates…Been buying the Dove Promises dark chocolates almost every week. The notes inside the wrappers are pretty stupid usually, but the candies are real good. Perfect for an evening sweet fix.

This…If my name is right in front of your face on social media, WHY ARE YOU SPELLING IT WRONG!?

Shops and Wish List

Fashion

Quince…Eyeballing their summer edit, lots of cute pieces. The ruffle shoulder on swimwear has popped up on a lot of clothing sites but I like this cut a lot. This linen smocked dress or the tencel button front dress are adorable for a date night. I’m into the neckline on this halter sweater knit tank and think it’d be a nice transitional piece into fall.

Home

Pottery Barn…How cute is this crab pillow?! I adore this potting station too, if I had a proper backyard I’d definitely get this or something similar to organize all of my gardening tools (because I will definitely have an herb garden when we get a house). Eyeing some soft boucle pillows for my couch – still looking to spiff it up more.

Week in Training

Monday, 6.5: 5.64 miles, 11:31 pace + 23 minute push

I don’t remember if there was anything notable about this run. Probably not – it was slow and likely real hot out.

Strength:

• 4 x 10 pullover 45#
• 4 x 10 ea. balanced upright row 25#
• 4 x 10 triceps pushdown 28#

Tuesday, 6.6: 3.34 miles, 10:46 pace

Less time this morning since I work a bit earlier on Tuesdays, so much shorter trot. I think I ran off pure adrenaline because this was far faster than I’ve gone in awhile. Felt pretty good, though.

Wednesday, 6.7: 5.65 miles, 11:30 pace + 23 minute pull

I think my allergies were screaming at me this morning because breathing was fucken hard. Legs also felt tight, so not the best session overall.

Strength:

• 4 x 8 ea. row 40#
• 4 x 10 ea. hammer curl 20#
• 1 x 15/3 x 12 rope pulldowns 45/54#
• Core work + 35 second deadhang

Thursday, 6.8: 3.37 miles, 11:00 pace

Felt a little blargh on my run, but not horrible.

Friday, 6.9: 4.22 miles, 11:08 pace

Didn’t really want to run this morning, but also didn’t want to not run – walking wasn’t appealing to me, so I laced up last minute and headed out for a trot. Glad I did! This felt really nice and relaxing, and a big ship was still hanging out in the port so I got to say hi.

Saturday, 6.10: 7.06 miles, 11:20 pace + 25 minute legs

Little to no air movement, very uncomfortable and sweaty. I felt okay during the middle miles but by the end my legs were shot and ready to stop. I did see a couple ships rolling in from a distance, though I didn’t catch them close to the port.

Strength:

• 4 x 10 ea. leg press 90#
• 4 x 12 ea. calf raise 100#
• 4 x 12 sumo deadlift 80#
• Core work

Sunday, 6.12: 4.1 mile walk (1:05:00)

Total running mileage: 29.28