May Coffee Date

It’s been a while since I’ve done a coffee date style of post, so grab your warm beverage of choice (brewed coffee with Aldi’s SF vanilla creamer or a triple venti skinny vanilla latte with no foam for me if I am splurging) and settle in…

If we were having coffee today… 

- I’d ask if you perhaps clicked over here from SHU’s newsletter which highlighted my usage of shouldless days to stay sane in this busy season of life. If you are confused about what that means, I’d refer you to this post which details a shouldless day from November! And then I’d tell you that I have one on Thursday that I am so looking forward to. I have a haircut and color scheduled but besides that I will probably go for a run, read and maybe treat myself to lunch. 

- I’d tell you how frustrated I am with my RA right now. I’d probably show you the stupid flare in the knuckle of my right pointer finger that won’t go away. And then I’d tell you how in the span of a day I was told by the pharmacy that I needed to pay $1,067 before they could fill my injection Rx but then later that day the drug company called to tell me I had exhausted my copay assistance so had an outstanding balance of $3k plus. I have yet to fully deal with this and get to the bottom of it because work has been busy and the one time I tried to fix it, I was transferred twice but had to hang up while on hold since I had a call starting at work. This is one challenge of being on weekly injections that cost about $1k week. It will all get worked out and I should not owe $3k+ but wow it is a pain dealing with all the various parties from drug companies to copay assistance to insurance companies and so on. 

- I’d tell you how happy I am to be home this week after 4 weeks straight of travel. The ping ponging from one time zone to the next really wears on me. I go to Dallas next week Mon-Wed and then I only travel once/month in June or July (I thought I might not travel in June but have a NYC trip now which shouldn’t be too bad). Travel is part of my job so I try not to complain but it does put a strain on other areas of my life. 

- I’d tell you how much I enjoyed seeing ‘A Year with Frog and Toad’ at our children’s theater on Saturday. The boys liked it, too - especially Paul. We had to skip nap to attend and wow Taco is not ready to drop his nap.

The best photo I could get of the 2 of them. The cookie story is one of my faves!

So. Tired.

- I’d tell you how happy I am that nicer weather is finally arriving! I ran in shorts and a t-shirt yesterday for the first time and the lake I run around was like glass. All the heart eyes from me! 

My favorite kind of running weather! Sunshine and no wind. This is the lake I run around.

- I’d talk to you about the hills and valleys of being a mom and how I lost my cool a few times over the past weekend which made me feel bad but also human at the same time because I don’t have a ton of what I refer to as ‘margin’ these days between work being intense, travel, RA wearing me down, sleep not being the best thanks to taking steroids day and night to control my flare (and steroids don’t help with patience either…), and the day to day stress of adulting. 

- We’d close by talking about something more fun - books! I’d share what I am reading lately and would want to hear what you’re reading or what you are looking forward to reading. 

Your turn! If we were having coffee today, what would you share? 

Virtual Coffee Date

It's been awhile since I've done a coffee date kind of post. So settle in, grab your favorite warm beverage, and let's catch up. 

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd of course have to start off by talking about Paul starting kindergarten this week! Yesterday was his first day and he was SO excited. I would also probably talk about the complicated feelings I have around him starting kindergarten which is mostly related to how others think I might feel. I can't tell you how many people have asked, with concerned looks/tones, how I feel about Paul starting kindergarten. I know they are well-meaning questions and I understand that kindergarten is a big milestone but we are so excited about it. I loved school, I know he will love school, and he is very ready for this next step. Admittedly, I am not a very emotional person... That might sound like a bad thing but it's just how I am built and probably why I fit in so well in the male-dominated industry of asset management. But I almost feel bad that I don't feel more sad. Am I missing some crucial gene that all moms should have? This is not to say that I will never feel sad or mourn the end of a stage of parenting, but I am not very sad to be one step closer to leaving the baby/toddler/young kid stage behind. Those stages have their perks, but overall they were very challenging stages for me. So give me the elementary school years! Interestingly, barely anyone has asked Phil how he feels about Paul starting kindergarten so there is certainly a gendered expectation that mom will feel sad/cry and dad will be fine. And I not casting shade at moms who ARE sad and emotional and cried when their child started K. Everyone has a right to feel the way they feel, but I wish I wasn't feeling such pressure to feel sad, if that makes sense. Parenting is complicated. 

I was surprised he said he wants to be an engineer!

- I'd tell you I have fall on the brain even though fall doesn't technically start for several weeks. I bought the boys' Halloween costumes a couple of weeks ago at Once Upon a Child. Paul was with me so he picked out a Spiderman costume for himself and Marshall the fire pup from Paw Patrol for Will. Will's costume is borderline too small but oh well! He's very excited about it. Besides buying their Halloween costumes, I also bought tickets for Paul and me for our zoo's "jack-o-lantern spectacular" event. We went last year and it was amazing so we decided to go again. Fall is such a fun season so I am VERY excited about it! And I'm also very ready for cool, crisp temps after a very hot summer! 

- I'd tell you Paul was with me that day because we decided to go to an optical store and order different glasses for him. We could not get him to wear the cheaper Zenni ones we had bought earlier in the summer. I told him he ABSOLUTELY has to wear these every day when school starts and I've told his teacher that he needs to wear his glasses. He didn't pick out the pair I wanted him to pick out but these do seem to fit him better. There is no way he will be able to see the white board in the classroom without glasses so hopefully that motivates him to keep them on. 

- I'd tell you that Taco seems to be adjusting pretty well to his new daycare. Drop off is rough but it was rough once Paul stopped going to daycare with him. Our new daycare has an ap where they post pictures throughout the day so it's nice to see that he's happy/thriving. He is always happy and having fun when pick him up so hopefully the crying/screaming drop offs will come to an end soon...

- I couldn't end the conversation without talking about what we are both reading! I'd tell you that I finished "All That is Mine I Carry With Me" last night, which is by the author of "Defending Jacob." I really enjoyed the book but wow, the title is way too long. The author is an attorney-turned-writer. The book is such a page turner! I've been staying up past my bedtime because I can't put it down and then I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I tried to fall asleep! When the book opens, a mother goes missing and her husband, a defense attorney, is the suspected killer. It's told from 4 different view points. 

If we were having coffee or tea today, what would you tell me? 

Monday Morning Virtual Coffee Date

Good morning and happy Monday! It's a chilly morning (34F) here but we are coming off a weekend of beautiful weather! So the cooler temps feel tolerable since I know there can't be that many more cold mornings left this spring - I hope. I thought a "coffee date" style of catch up would be a good approach for this last Monday of my maternity leave! 

If we were having coffee (or your morning beverage of choice!) today, I'd tell you that...

- The weather was so beautiful here this weekend. Paul spent so much time outside which is so good for all of us! He went to the park both days and played in our backyard quite a bit on Sunday. I wasn't able to spend as much time with him outside since it makes sense for me to focus on Will and Phil to focus on Paul. But I'm looking forward to a time when Will's awake windows are longer so I can come with to the park! He can only handle about 1.5 hours of awake time right now but that will extend to 2 hours around 5 months. 

- I am feeling good about my return to work this week. I think 20 weeks of maternity leave is the sweet spot for me. I didn't feel ready at 12 or 16 weeks, but in the last couple of weeks, I have felt ready. I am very lucky that I was able to take 20 weeks with both boys. My company provides 16 weeks, fully paid, and then I use 4 weeks of vacation time to extend it. I've really enjoyed my time at home with Will but he's at a stage now where he is very interested in people around him so I think he will love watching the other kids at daycare, especially the older ones (his room is infant through 18 months). I also think he will do ok with being cared for by someone else. He was totally fine being held by my parents last weekend at the lake even though he hadn't seen them since he was born (which he clearly has no memory of!). He put out his lower lip initially when I handed him off to my mom but then was all smiles. The teachers at our daycare are so amazing so I know he'll thrive under their care. We are going there this morning to meet his teacher/tour his room so that will help me feel even more ready for him to start daycare. 

Will I miss this cutie? Absolutely! But it will make me really appreciate the time I do get with him on evenings and weekends.

- Returning to work the second time around is just less overwhelming overall and it helps that I know I am meant to be a working mom. I had a very hard time during months 5-10 with Paul so I ended up taking every other Friday off for about 3 months to get some extra time with him. That is also the time period when Paul was dealing with ear infections and needed to get tubes. He slept so terribly so I am sure that contributed to my struggle. But now I know that if I start to have a hard time, it's temporary. I wish women were more open about the conflicting emotions they feel. I felt like other working moms didn't feel like this, but when I was on the other side of that struggle, I mentioned it to a couple of moms I work with and they said they went through the exact same thing! So I try to be very open about the struggle I had with other new moms in case they experience the same thing and want someone to talk to. 

- I was cleared by my pelvic floor PT to do 15 minutes of 1 minute running/30 second walking intervals. It's a very gradual return to running but I would rather play it safe and make sure my body is ready for it. Pregnancy and C-sections are hard on a woman's body but now that I know I'm never going to be pregnant again (HOORAY!!) I want to return to running smartly so I stay injury free. I can also start the 21 Day Fix Beach Body program but she wants me to modify to the lower impact exercises and avoid the crunching ab work until my ab separation is resolved. But I am excited to be able to do some REAL workouts. I have loved walking during maternity leave but am feeling the itch to do more cardio. I'm hoping that by the fall I will be able to maybe do a 10k. We'll see what I am feeling ready for!

Sunday morning run/walk selfie! Phil watched the boys so I was out on my own which felt AMAZING!

- We are having William's baptism this weekend! Since my parents are coming to watch Will for my first 2 days back at work, it made sense to have the baptism this weekend. The church caps baptism attendance at 10 people, so it will just be our family of 4, my parents, Phil's mom, and the Godparents. All of the adults are fully vaccinated so they will come back to our house afterwards for lunch. I am doing a very low key "barbecue" style of baptism lunch with grilled burgers and brats, potato salad, fruit salad, chips and salsa, and bars and cookies for dessert. Plus that is food that pretty much everyone likes! Plus with our long winters, us Minnesotans LOVE grilled food since our grilling season is so short.

- I'm on edge about what this week will bring in Minnesota. Sadly we are back in the headlines for another police shooting that occurred last week. Plus closing arguments will happen today in the Chauvin trial - the jury will probably start deliberation tomorrow. I hope and pray that Chauvin is convicted. Phil and I feel like it is extremely unlikely he will get off but you never know. I'm hoping today is the only day Phil will work downtown because things could get bad if Chauvin gets off. I know our city has a lot of plans for how to handle things, though. I just don't want a repeat of what happened last summer when our city was literally on fire. 

- I just finished an excellent book last night called "The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano." It's a "Sliding Doors" kind of book about the different paths the protagonist's life that hinges on whether or not she had a child. It was extremely well done and I had the hardest time putting it down!

I would of course want to know how YOU are doing! I'd want to know what you are reading and watching, whether you've been vaccinated, and how you are feeling overall. So please share in the comments!

Virtual Coffee Date Catch-Up

Happy Tuesday! Can you believe it's the last week of July? Usually that would make me sad, but since this summer hasn't been typical with all the COVID precautions we've been taking, I'm not sad that it's going by quickly!

I haven't done a coffee date catch-up in a while! It's a good way to chat about a random assortment of things that are on my mind! So grab your beverage of choice and settle in. I'm writing this while enjoying a hot decaf coffee w/ vanilla creamer - I wish I liked cold coffee and it's not ideal to drink a hot beverage when it's so warm out but I can't stand cold coffee. I don't even like coffee ice cream. It's weird I know.

If we had a coffee date today...

- I'd tell you that our 20 week ultrasound went well last week. Phil was able to come with since we went to a perinatal practice. Perinatal practices tend to encounter issues since they only see high risk or complicated pregnancies, so that is why they allowed a support person. It was really nice to have Phil there. Everything looked good on the ultrasound which is such a relief. There is a slight issue with where the umbilical cord attaches to the placenta, so they'll need to do growth ultrasounds starting at 28 weeks. But so far the baby is measuring ahead so it doesn't seem like it's causing any problems. Hopefully that continues to be the case. I think now we will start to talk more seriously about names. Phil has vetoed all of my suggestions so I told him he needs to come up with some suggestions. He doesn't seem to be in a rush, though. Ha. Granted, we have 4 months but I'd like to get this decision made sooner than later!

- I'd tell you that I've been reading a ton lately! I'll finish my 11th book for the month tonight! Yes, 11! Insane, right? But I've read some light reads/major page-turners like The Bride Test, The School of Essential Ingredients, The Bookshop on the Shore, and Love Lettering. I'm finding myself drawn to more lighter reads right now because life just feels kind of heavy with everything going on with COVID, the fight for racial equality, etc. I am still reading 1-2 antiracist books each month, too. This month I read a young adult novel called "Stamped: Antiracism and You" and "So You Want to Talk About Race." Both were great but the second is as must-read for anyone trying to educate themselves on how to be an antiracist.

- I'd tell you that we just finished "The Last Dance" which is a documentary series about Michael Jordan's seasons with the Chicago Bulls. It was SO GOOD. There is strong language in it, so I probably wouldn't recommend it for young kids. But it was really interesting. That was such an amazing era for basketball. I did not know about all the drama going on between the general manager and owner and the players/coach. The general manager and owner definitely come off as idiotic a-holes. They basically destructed a team that had just won it's 2nd 3-peat within 8 years. It shows you how amazing Phil Jackson was/is. Funny story - my mom went to college with him at UND. She knew the girl who was dating him at the time and he was apparently the big man on campus - both literally and figuratively.

- I'd tell you that I am trying to not wish away summer but DANG it has been hot and humid. Like too hot and humid to be outside in the afternoon. We've had Florida-like humidity with dew points in the 70s and 80s. Luckily the humidity is much lower this week so I am going to try to make the most of this week before the humidity returns. People are often surprised to hear how humid it gets in MN. It's crazy to think it can be -30F with the windchill in the winter and then we can have heat indexes above 100 in the summer! I typically love summer but this year our options are so limited due to COVID so it's not a typical summer at all. Usually we'd be up at my parents lake place for a long weekend once/month and I was planning to hit a bunch of splash pads and wading pools with Paul but that is not happening thanks to COVID. All that said, I'm grateful for air conditioning! And that we have a guest room in the basement - that's pretty much where I sleep every night because it is much cooler down there. Phil has a higher tolerance for heat and prefers to keep our house at 78 which is just too hot for pregnant Lisa!

- I'd end my telling you how excited I am for our visit to my parents in August. I'm just hoping and praying our COVID tests are negative, but I really doubt either of us will be positive. We haven't had any cases at daycare since Memorial Day and we are very cautious about where we go/what we do. I will only see friends in outdoor settings with the exception of our best friends whose kids go to the same daycare. We are all living for that week off at the lake. Hopefully the weather cooperates but no matter what, I know it's going to be an awesome week of time in the water, good food, and lots of card games with my parents. Plus I know my mom is going to help out so much with Paul - or as much as he will let her!

Your turn - if we were getting coffee or tea today, what would you tell me? 

Virtual Coffee Date

It's been quite awhile since I've done a virtual coffee date, which is a way for me to share some random things that are on my mind! So settle in, grab a coffee or tea, and pretend we are sitting across from each other at a cozy coffee shop!

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd probably talk about our super frustrating house search. I'm so fatigued by looking at listings. So many people talk about how fun house hunting is or how much they enjoy looking at listings. Let me tell you, it's not as fun when you really want to find something and are striking out. I'd also talk about how surprised we are how little effort some people put into staging their homes. The market is hot for first time home buyer houses, but in our price range, things are not selling super fast unless they are priced right and have a beautiful kitchen. So staging is still super important. In fact, even though our house should sell very fast (it's a first time home buyer kind of house), we will still really focus on staging it to make sure it gets a lot of traffic and sells quickly. We are also surprised how over-priced some houses are. I imagine the owner must insist on a certain price because it does not make sense to us to price something way over what it will sell for. We've really gotten a feel for things should be priced after looking for 2 years, so I imagine their realtor has to know it's over-priced. It seems like it's best to come on the market at the appropriate price... it's not like you are going to trick buyers into thinking it's actually worth what you list it at! Anyways, I'd ask you to send good thoughts and cross your fingers that we find the right house soon!

- I'm sure we'd talk about Paul, too! I'm really loving the toddler stage. It's so fun to watch him explore the world and learn new things. He's still so obsessed with books. I didn't know that a toddler could love books as much as her does! Whenever he encounters a cat in a book, he wants to show Oscar (see pic below). He's handled the transition to the toddler room really well. He naps for 2 hours on a cot, which is amazing. He doesn't nap that long at home! I'm so glad he takes good naps as his teachers deserve a break. His poor infant room teachers rarely got a break from him as he usually napped for about 20 minutes! He's learning new words and concepts, which is cool to see!

He loves playing with this rotary phone. He says 'hello' in the cutest little voice!

 - I'm sure we'd talk about books since that's one of my favorite topics! I'd talk about how surprised I am that I've had my best reading years since becoming a mom. I guess being a mom makes you really, really prioritize your free time. Also, since becoming a mom, I make way fewer plans and have more free nights which gives me more time to read. So in general, I wouldn't say I'm busier as a mom than I was pre-kids - I'm just a different kind of busy if that makes sense? When I didn't have kids, I kind of hated it when people would say things like 'you think you are busy now, just wait until you have kids!' But now I can say you can be busy with kids or without kids. You are probably just busy in a different way.

- On that topic, I'd talk about how much harder it's been for me to fit in exercise since becoming a mom. Working out before work just doesn't work for me since we are all out of the house around 6:50 am. My day would have to start far too early for my liking. And then I'm busy with Paul until around 6:30-7 and am usually famished by the time he goes to bed. The best time for me to workout would be around 8pm and that's just too late for me. So I've had to settle for considering walks exercise (we take family walks on week nights and long walks on the weekend). I'm content with my weight so I guess it's working out ok? I will admit that I'm a bit envious of moms with flexible schedules. My work schedule is pretty inflexible... I'm also envious of Phil for being able to run during lunch. That's just not an option for me as I'd get so sweaty that I'd need a shower and there's no way I'd have time for that... nor would I feel comfortable coming back to my very professional/polished work environment looking like a hot mess (Phil has access to a shower at work)! I'm reminding myself that this is a season of life and right now, walking will need to be good enough! There are probably moms that would workout at 5am or 8pm but I guess I'm prioritizing other things over vigorous exercise right now.

- We'd close by me asking how you are doing and what's on your mind.

So tell me - how are you and what's on your mind?

Virtual Coffee Date

Hi friends! It's been awhile since I've done a virtual coffee date. It feels very winterish here as our highs are in the 30s ( and will be in the 20s later this week) and we've had 2 snow falls already (although the snow has melted each time). So it seems like the perfect time of year to grab a cup of something warm and catch up on life's happenings!

If we were having coffee today...

- I would actually opt for tea as I stopped drinking coffee shortly after finding out I was pregnant. It's safe to have a couple of cups a coffee a day while pregnant, but I was so turned off by the taste so I stopped drinking it completely! I could add it back in as the taste is more appealing now but I kind of like not being 'hooked' on something. I will occasionally get a decaf latte when I want a warm treat, though.

- I would talk about my upcoming travel plans! Later this week I am flying to NYC to visit my friend Alli. They had a beautiful baby boy in September. I can't wait to snuggle him and kiss his pudgy cheeks. I'm staying in Alli's neighborhood in Sunnyside, which is in Queens. I rented an airbnb that is a couple of blocks away from their home. They are in the midst of a remodel and are obviously adjusting to life with a newborn so it made sense to get my own place. Her neighborhood sounds so cute and charming so I can't wait to check it out. Plus I can be in Manhattan in 20-30 minutes on the train so it will be easy to get into the city. While I'm there, I am going to meet up with a friend that I made when I worked in Steamboat Spring, CO during college. I haven't seen her since 2009 so we have lots to catch up on!

- Next I would tell you about my trip to St. Louis in early December to visit Nora. Nora was diagnosed with lymphoma this summer and has been undergoing treatments this fall. In September she found out that the cancer is gone (hip hip hooray!). So this trip will be a celebration of being cancer-free and having her treatments behind her (she has her last two treatments this month). We are going to do some Christmasy stuff and visit book stores and just soak up girl time together. This will be my last trip before the baby comes. I could safely fly up to 34 weeks but I have decided to stop traveling a bit earlier. Luckily my boss is totally fine with me not traveling anymore.

- I'm sure we'd talk about the holidays! This year we are spending Thanksgiving with my family. My brother is hosting which is super convenient for us since he lives only 30 minutes away. Phil doesn't get the Friday after Thanksgiving off so it's great that we won't have to travel far. I love Christmas but I really love Thanksgiving. It's all about family and food and there's no pressure to decorate or buy presents! That said, I'm also excited for Christmas. We'll be celebrating with Phil's mom this year (we alternate who we spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with). Phil and I are not gift people - we stopped exchanging gifts for birthdays and Christmas last year. Instead we focus on spending quality time together to celebrate the holiday. I'm already thinking about the special meal we'll make to celebrate our little Christmas (it will be Indian-themed since we both love Indian food). Plus we always bake something together so I'm starting to do some research on what we should make!

- We would talk about what we are reading/planning to read. Right now I'm reading Everyone Brave is Forgiven, which is a WWII novel. After I finish this book, I want to An American Sickness which is about our broken healthcare system. The next heavier non-fiction book I want to read is The Second Amendment. It's written by an NYU law professor. It's about the history of the 2nd amendment (right to bear arms) and which is one of the most misunderstood provisions of the Bill of Rights. Given the insane level of gun violence in our country, I need to become more well-versed on this issue.

- Lastly, we would probably talk about my pregnancy. I'm 23 weeks today! I'd likely whine a bit about the latest flare I came down with on Sunday evening. I'm pretty much getting maybe a 4 day break between flares these days. If they continue at this rate it's going to make for a VERY long pregnancy.  :/

If we were meeting for coffee or tea today, what would you tell me?

Virtual Coffee Date: January 2017

Hello and happy Tuesday!  Today is like a Monday for me as I had yesterday off for the MLK holiday. Oh how I love 3-day weekends.  I wish we had them once a month.  I get so much vacation time, though, that I need to do a better job of making a 3-day weekend for myself during months when we don't have any holidays!

2017 has gotten off to a bit of hectic start as I've been so busy between several work trips + wedding planning!  I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with her head cut off while trying to act like a duck.  You know, calm on the surface but paddling like mad underneath.  So I figured today was a good day for a virtual coffee date.  Grab a cup of something warm and settle in!

I'm treating myself to a vanilla latte with coconut milk as I write this post!

If we were having coffee today I'd tell you...

- I am a little burned out on traveling/being away from home. Between going to Spain in late November/early December, 2 work trips to Chicago in December, traveling for Christmas and New Years, and trips to New Jersey and Jackson, MS for work in the first half of January, I'm kind of exhausted!  Luckily, I will be home for a full week this week for the first time since the week before Thanksgiving!  I leave on Sunday for one more work trip this month (which is going to be a crazy week as I'll do meetings with 3 different people over 3 days and stay in 4 different hotels...). At least I'm racking up airline miles to use for our honeymoon!  :)


- I ordered my dress earlier this month so now I have extra motivation to tone-up between now and our wedding in May! Right now I'm doing the Core de Force program through Beach Body and am loving it!  It's all body weight (i.e. no weights required) and I can access the workouts online. It's nice to have workouts I can do without leaving my house or hotel room. Next up I'm planning to do the 21 day fix workouts.  It's nice to have some new workout programs. And in February I'll start to do some personal training sessions with a friend that is a personal trainer.

- Since our lives feel like they've been a little bit consumed with wedding planning/discussions, we decided to go on a little get-away to San Diego in mid-February.  Our plan is to take a break from all wedding talk!  We rented a cute condo in the Mission Beach area so I'm envisioning lots of walks on the beach and lots of grilling as our condo has an outdoor grill.  We can't wait to thaw out, soak in some vitamin D, and do some hiking!  If you've been to San Diego, let me know if you have suggestions for things to do!

- Speaking of travel, we've also decided to go to Maui for our honeymoon!  We are getting married on a Friday and will fly out on Sunday for Maui and spend 8 full days there. I'm really excited as we'll get to relax on the beach and snorkel but also do some hiking and other outdoorsy things. We're hoping to get it booked by the end of this month. So I'm also open to any Maui suggestions!

- This post has been pretty wedding-centric but there are other things occupying my mind and time, like working on my January Happiness Project (organizing) and reading! I've already finished 5 books this month, the best of which was "When Breath Becomes Air." That book deserves an entire post but in case I don't get around to writing one, suffice it to say that it was a heart-breaking, amazing book.

If we were having coffee today, what would you tell me?

Virtual Coffee Date

Hi, happy almost Friday! It's been awhile since I've done a "Virtual Coffee Date" catch-up session, so here goes!

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd probably start off by apologizing for the hoarse man voice I'm rocking right now thanks to a nasty chest cold I came down with last weekend. This nasty cold forced me to stay home from work yesterday as I just felt so crappy and didn't want to subject my co-workers to the awful sound of me hacking away. Here's hoping the day of rest did it's trick and that I'm back to full health soon - ideally by tomorrow when I leave for my girls' weekend lake cabin getaway!

- I'd tell you how much I am loving gardening. I never expected to like it as much as I do! I also never expected it to be as easy as it's been. Sure, some thing have been a bit disappointing (like my radishes which didn't grow great as I didn't thin them - lesson learned), but all in all it's been so much fun. I got to pick my first batch of tomatoes last weekend. I heart tomatoes so much so am excited to have a steady supply of home grown tomatoes to enjoy over the coming weeks. Phil doesn't eat tomatoes (his loss!) so I think I am going to try canning salsa or tomato sauce as I'll probably have more tomatoes than I can eat on my own. I've never canned anything before but hopefully it's pretty easy to figure out.

I grew an heirloom breed of tomatoes that turns bright pink instead of dark red. They are delicious!

- I'd tell you that I feel blessed to have a full life but also overwhelmed by my busy schedule at times. Free week night evenings are difficult to come by these days and I've been traveling more for work lately so life feels a bit hectic. August is shaping up to be a busy month so I've decided that I can't say yes to anything else this month, outside of work travel.

- I'd tell you that despite the busy schedule, I have some really fun things to look forward to, like my girls weekend getaway this weekend, hosting our friends from New York next weekend, celebrating Phil's birthday later this month, a book club meeting I'm hosting later this month, and a Labor Day Weekend wedding that is at a lake resort in Minnesota.

- I'd also probably tell you that I managed to track down the email addresses of the couple that lives in the house with the door colors I like. I figured it'd be easier to try to ask them what color they used to paint their door versus trying to find a similarly colored paint chip. Plus it just seems like paint chips are never completely accurate and I'd rather not deal with the trial and error process of finding a color we like. They responded back and said they'll send me the paint color when they get back from the vacation they are on. My goal is to get our doors painted in September. I know it won't happen in August given my busy schedule!

- I'd also tell you that I feel kind of 'meh' about the summer Olympics this year. Maybe it's all the drama around the health risks associated with the location that has resulted in some athletes opting not to go or maybe it's knowing that I won't be able to DVR things since we don't have cable or a DVR. Whatever the case, I just don't feel as excited as I was in the past. Hopefully I'll find my Olympic spirit once they start to broadcast events.

- I'd end on a positive note and tell you that Phil and I bought our tickets for our Bend vacation this week! We got really lucky and got a great deal on our tickets! The price randomly went down $150 the day we bought them and we used a free companion fare I get each year through my Delta credit card, so we only had to buy one ticket. We are going in mid-October and will spend 3 nights in Bend and 1 night in Portland. I'm so excited for this getaway! Bend has lots of great hiking in the area and we'll do a day trip to Crater Lake National Park. It should be an awesome trip!

If we were having coffee today, what would you tell me?

Virtual Coffee Date

Hi friends!  Happy Monday! I hope that everyone had a great weekend! The weather has turned spring-like here so I am excited for the week to come! It's been awhile since I did a virtual coffee date so thought I'd start off the week with a virtual coffee catch up session.

- If we were having coffee today I'd tell you that physical therapy is going well but it still feels like I am a ways away from being able to run again. They been working on massaging out the muscles in my hip/glute area that are crazy tight. Let me tell you, it's a painful and unpleasant process, but no pain no gain, right? I'm still able to do yoga and use the elliptical and bike but dang I miss running! And it kills me to not be out there when the weather is so beautiful and ideal for running!

- If we were having coffee today I'd tell you that I am feeling a little bit overwhelmed by my schedule over the next couple of weeks. Between the adult ESL training sessions for the non-profit I'll be volunteering with going forward and some other social plans, I have very few free week nights! I'm reminding myself that it's temporary and that life will slow down in the second half of March.

- If we were having coffee today I'd probably show you a picture of my bulb garden. I am just amazed at how fast it has grown. This was seriously such a cool gift! It brings me such joy to watch it grow and grow each day.

- If we were having coffee today I'd tell you that I decided to take three days off this week to get some things done around the house/fit in some doctor appointments. I feel a little bit guilty taking 3 days off when I'm not going anywhere, but I get 6 weeks of vacation and there's just no way I can travel for all 6 of those weeks (especially since Phil gets waaaay less vacation that I do)! Having some days off will help me feel less overwhelmed by my busy weeknight scheduled and it will allow me to prepare for Nora's visit (she arrives on Friday morning!!!). Also, my 2 colleagues are going on 1 and 2 weeks vacations at the end of March/early April so I will be on my own in the office for quite a bit so I wanted a little break before things get really crazy for me at work!

- If we were having coffee today I'd tell you what I plan to do while Nora is here this weekend! She hasn't met Phil before so I'm excited for them to get to know each other!  Nora has been here before so I wanted to come up with some different things to do so she'd see different areas of the Twin Cities.  I've got a loose agenda planned but some of the things we'll do include visiting the Minneapolis Institute of Art (which I've never been to!!), checking out the winter flower show and the zoo at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory (I've been to the zoo but not the conservatory) which is FREE, going to a yoga sculpt class, taking in some live theater, and going for lots of walks in my favorite areas of Minneapolis! I also want to make sure we have plenty of downtime for girl talk and relaxation!

- If we were having coffee today we'd probably talk about some more serious subjects, like the metamorphosis of friendships, thoughts I've been having lately now that I'm approaching the two year mark of being back in Minneapolis, upcoming changes that I'm anticipating on the horizon, and how I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm probably always going to be a more anxious person and what I'm doing to manage that anxiety.

If we were having coffee today, what would you tell me?

Virtual Coffee Date

Happy Monday!  It's been awhile since I've done a virtual coffee date so I thought it'd be a good way to share tidbits of what's going on in my life.

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd tell you that I had the best weekend that included things like going to the driving range with Phil, a baby shower for a good college friend, a long bike ride with my friend Courtney, a dinner with some of the girls that were at the baby shower, and a fun afternoon with Phil on Sunday.  The weather was in the 80s on Saturday and it was just a glorious day and one of those days that made me think, 'gosh I love my life!'

- I'd tell you that I was relieved when the condo I'm renting sold after ONE showing.  Leaving your place in showing condition is a pain so I am so glad it sold so fast!  I'd also tell you that I am moving in 10 days and have barely packed!  A girlfriend is coming over to help me pack my kitchen the week of the move, which will help tremendously as that's my least favorite room to pack/unpack.

- I'd tell you that the presentation I gave at a conference last week went pretty well and that I am relieved it is behind me.  I'd talk about how freaking stressful these big group presentations are and how anxious I am for the one I will give in Virginia in 2 weeks because it is 75 MINUTES LONG.  That's WAY too long for me to stand up in front of a group of people and sound interesting (especially when the topic of my presentation is "the benefits of utilizing a Portfolio Analytics system"...).  Luckily after this presentation I get a break until August.

- I'd tell you how excited I am for my meet-up with Kyria in Colorado at the end of May.  We both love to hike and spend time outdoors so I know we are going to have a blast.  Our plan is to do a really long hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park area on Saturday and then a shorter hike, possibly in the Boulder area on Sunday before flying out that evening.  After doing some research on hikes, it's making me want to plan a week long trip out there with Phil as there is SO much to do.  Plus, I'd love to take him to Steamboat Springs so I could show him where I worked and do some of the hikes I did when I lived there.  There are so many places to go, and such limited money and vacation time... 

- I'd tell you that the beautiful spring weather we've had lately (like this past weekend's weather) has done wonders for my mood.  It's funny how much nice weather impacts us Midwesterners.  It's been great to resume my routine of going for a run with Phil one night a week but in addition to that we've taken long walks, swung on swings at a local park (I guess we are kids at heart), and practiced our rock skipping on the Mississippi River.  I've also been helping him out with some yard work around his house which I have really enjoyed!

- I'd tell you that Phil and I are going to try camping this summer.  I have actually never been legitimately camping (meaning sleeping in a tent) as we had a camper when I was growing up.  I think that it's something we'd enjoy doing together but we are going to try to borrow some equipment from friends before taking the plunge and buying all the necessary equipment. I'm really hoping we like it because that would really make birthday present shopping a whole lot easier when his birthday rolls around in August (he is the toughest guy to shop for!).

- Lastly, I'd tell you that I am 2 weeks away from the one year anniversary of moving back to Minneapolis.  It kind of blows my mind how fast the past year has gone.  Anniversaries of events always make me extra introspective so I have been thinking back on the last year and how my life has changed.  There have been challenges, mostly related to work, but all in all, it's been a pretty incredible year.

If we were having coffee today, what would you share with me?

Virtual Coffee Date

When I read Caroline's virtual coffee date post last week, it reminded me that it's been awhile since I did one, so here goes!

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd tell you that the party I hosted on Saturday night was really fun!  I made pulled pork, lentil meatballs with marinara, pickle dip (goes with potato chips), fruit salad, and a layered s'mores ice cream cake (pictured below) and the other 3 couples each brought something to share.  The fireworks show was probably the best one I've ever seen and we wrapped up the evening with a game of Apples to Apples.

This is each of the layers of the ice cream cake.  I am glad it tasted good because it was kind of a putzy dessert to make!

- I'd tell you that I've had multiple people tell me that they can tell how much happier I am now that I am back home.  It's nice to hear that others are noticing I am back to my normal self as I wasn't sure how long it would take to shake that bogged down version of myself that I became in Charlotte.

- I'd tell you that my transition to my new job has been... challenging.  The work environment, especially within my immediate team, is different...  It's only been 2 months and they say it takes about 6 months to adapt to a new job/work environment so I am trying to be patient.  For now I'm trying to focus on the fact that this job brought me back home and am trying to remain hopeful that I'll feel more comfortable in my new group soon.

- I'd tell you that for the first time in my life, I am consistently strength training.  I completely attribute this to doing the summer shred in June.  I've been re-using some of the workouts from the shred and supplementing with workouts from Peanut Butter Runner.  I can definitely tell that I am getting more definition in my arms which is nice to see!  I'm looking forward to doing another shred later in the year around the holidays.

- I'd also tell you that running is going really well.  I ran 13.5 miles on Saturday, which is the longest I've ran since my injury and I felt pretty strong on the run.  I'm probably not running on the trails as much as I should but it's just so time consuming to go out to the trails in the area since it's a longer drive/slower pace/etc.  I do plan on running on trails next weekend, though.

- I'd tell you that I am really looking forward to the (mostly) unplanned weekend ahead.  The last 2-3 weekends have felt a little bit over planned so I am glad I have a quieter weekend on deck (yes, it's only Monday and I'm already thinking about the weekend).  I am trying to not make any plans on Saturday so that I can relax and do whatever I feel like doing that day.

If we were having coffee today what would you tell me?

Virtual Coffee Date

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  My mind is kind of spinning from this state of transition that I am in, so I figured the best way to share some of the things running through my head is through a virtual coffee date post!  So here goes!

If we were getting coffee today, I'd tell you:

- that my first week of work went really well but was kind of overwhelming.  In the 3 days I worked last week I had 2 welcome happy hours and a welcome dinner, so I definitely can tell they are excited to have me (and the other 2 people who started on the same day as me) on board, which is a good feeling.  Luckily I sit by about 10 people that worked at my former company, so it was a warm environment to walk into.  I know they have high expectations for me so I am trying my best to meet and exceed those expectations which = stress.  But I think it's impossible to avoid stress when starting a new job and I am confident that it will be a good fit.

- that moving wore me out and that I'm happy it's behind me.  I'll do a post next week about the process and will share some photos once I get pictures up on the wall (i.e. once my 2 best local friends have time to come over and help me hang them because I suck at that).  I'm so happy to be back in my old neighborhood, I am just giddy.  My view is amazing and I am happy with my floor plan.  And - I have plenty of room for my piano so will have that delivered sometime this month!  Yea!

I heart my view so much.  When I have my windows open I can hear the sound of rushing water which is so peaceful.

 - that Phil and I are dating again!  I have been quiet about the details of my relationship with Phil but we've kept in touch since I left.  2013 was incredibly difficult for both us as he dealt with the loss of his father and I dealt with the long list of challenges that was thrown my way, so neither of us had much to give.  But now that we are living in the same city again, we are giving it another try.  So far it's been really wonderful and it seems like we are better and stronger than ever.  I think the year apart taught us how to communicate and understand each other better, and it gives us more of a sense of appreciation for the time we do spend together. 

- that I feel like I have been bleeding money for the last 2 months so will be focusing on not spending much money in June.  I can't say it will be a 'no spend' month because I know I will need to get things for my apartment and might need to add to my wardrobe as the dress code at my new job is a bit more formal than my previous one and they don't observe casual Friday so I might need to add a few pieces here and there to make sure I have enough clothes.  But besides that, I am trying to cut out expenses wherever I can.

- that it's so nice to be back in a city where it's so easy for me to be happy.  It's just wonderful to be close to family and friends, have a full social calendar, and to wake up to a view that is jawdroppingly gorgeous.  I find myself smiling just walking down the streets of Minneapolis.  I love this city so much, I could probably be an ambassador for it.  I know it's not perfect for everyone, but it's perfect for me.  I look forward to hopefully hosting some friends in the year to come and there are even places around my condo that Phil hasn't seen so I am excited to show him more of my neighborhood.

What would you tell me if we met for coffee today?

Virtual Coffee Date

It's Monday so we all need some caffeine right?  If we had a coffee date today, here's what I'd fill you in on.

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd tell you that this whole job search process feels so foreign to me.  Aside from 6 months that I spent working at another company (which was a hellacious experience) I have only worked for my current employer which means I've worked for my current employer, in various roles, for about 10 years.  Internal job searches are so much easier because I know who the hiring manager is and the salary range.  I will be very relieved when this job search is over for multiple reasons.

- I'd tell you that I am nervous about the month of April because I don't have any weekend trips planned which means I'll be in Charlotte a lot.  However, I have work trips to Houston, Denver, and Charleston so hopefully those trips will give me a enough of a break from Charlotte to make the month tolerable.

- I'd tell you how I have very few running path options here in Charlotte because there is no water in this city.  And then I'd tell you how the one running path that it is close to me goes by a hospital and how much is pisses me off that hospital workers walk down to the path for their smoke break.  I already judge people who smoke (sorry I'm not sorry, it's a disgusting habit) so people who smoke on a running/biking path?  I have the very lowest opinion of them.  I should not have to run through a cloud of smoke.

- I'd switch the conversation to something positive and tell you that I am really excited for my trip to Savannah this weekend.  I don't have much planned; I really just want to walk and walk and walk as I have heard it's such a cute city with neat parks and gardens.

- I'd also tell you how great it is that my joints are healing well enough for me to start taking some strength training classes.  Besides not running from mid-April to mid-January, I also wasn't able to do any upper body strength training from early-June to mid-March as my joints hurt so much.  But the medications seem to be doing their job as I've added low-weight strength training in and it's gone well so far.  It's fun to be able to take more classes at the gym!

- Lastly, I'd tell you that I gave up sweets and chocolate for Lent and how I've been surrounded by temptation (I mean at one point I walked through a crowd of people eating delicious home made ice cream) but that it's felt good to exercise the muscles of self-restraint.  I'd tell you that I am unsure how I will celebrate Easter but that the day will certainly include macarons!

If we were having coffee today, what would you fill me in on?

Virtual Coffee Date

It's been awhile since I've done a virtual coffee date post so I thought it'd be a good way to catch up on the thoughts and happenings in my world.

- I have been in Charlotte for the last 3 weekends which is the most consecutive weekends I have spent in Charlotte since May.  So I am ready to bust out of here - and luckily I will this weekend as I have a client meeting tomorrow and will head to Charleston from there.  I am so excited to check out this city! The weather should be fairly decent for January (upper 40s most likely so certainly not warm but could be worse), so as long as it doesn't rain I'll be happy!  I do a lot of solo travel so it will be a nice change to have some friends to explore Charleston with!

- January has been a quiet month, but February is going to be BUSY.  Which is good.  I have a trip to Austin for a girls weekend, then I host Kyria for a weekend here in Charlotte, I have an unplanned weekend in Charlotte, and then I go home to Minneapolis in late February.  So February is pretty much going to be awesome.  Plus it's my birthday month.

- I have been trying to manage some anxiety lately that ebbs and flows with my outlook for my job search.  In the past, my tool for managing anxiety was running.  It's really hard to not have that outlet but I am making it work because I have no other choice.  

-  My cousin came up with a great idea to start a family book club.  We are all scattered across the US so will be using Google hangouts for our meetings.  Gosh I love technology!  I am excited for our first meeting in February.  I picked the first book so I hope everyone likes it.

- Speaking of books, I picked up 5 from the library last weekend.  I just can't emphasize enough how much I love the library.  It's weird to think back on the days when I bought books instead of using the library - now I rarely buy books.  Which is good because my 6 bookcases are over-flowing as it is, so I don't really have room for more books right now.

- I am wishing my sister Abby the best of luck this weekend as she will be running her 2nd marathon on Sunday!  I know she is going to do great and can't wait to hear how her race goes.    

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!  I'll be back next week with a book review and a recap of my time in Charleston.

Virtual Coffee Date Catch-Up

It has been awhile since I've done a coffee date catch-up kind of post, so here go!

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd tell you that my first French class went really well!  There are only 5 of us in the class so I think I will learn a lot!!  We had a substitute teacher for the first class, but our regular teacher is a guy from France so it will be nice to learn from someone who is native to the language!

- we'd probably talk about what is going to happen when my year commitment in Charlotte is up as I get a lot of questions about this.  My company thinks I am here in Charlotte indefinitely (well, my immediate managers probably don't as they know I am not happy here). The year I speak of is the contract associated with my relocation package; if I leave before the year is up, I have a significant financial obligation.  When that year is up, though, I would have to find a new job (most likely with a different company) if I wanted to move back because my current job is permanently in Charlotte - moving back and keeping my job is not an option.  So there are no guarantees that I will actually be able to move back when my year is up...  we'll see how things shake out.

- I'd tell you that I am actually looking forward to being in Charlotte this weekend as I was gone the last 2 weekends and will be gone the next 3. My to-do list is long, but my goal is to get it all done on Friday night/Sunday because on Saturday I am taking a day trip up to the Blue Ridge Parkway with a co-worker and her boyfriend. If my foot feels ok, we are going to try to do some hiking!

- I'd tell you that I am really excited to see my local friend Lori tonight!  We are going to dinner at this cute French bistro.  I haven't seen her since June, which is kind of crazy.  Between my work & travel schedule, and her busy life, we have the hardest time finding time to get together.  It will be great to catch up with her tonight, though!

- I'd tell you that I am starting to do some research & planning for my Paris trip, which is about 9 weeks away!!  Since it's my 3rd trip to Paris, I don't feel the need to really plan much, but I do want to plan one day trip to an outer region that is a 1-1.5 hour train ride away.  I ordered a book called "An Hour from Paris" so will be perusing that before making my decision.  Right now the front runner is Chartres as I've heard good things about it! 

- I'd tell you that I am really looking forward to seeing my parents a week from tomorrow.  I haven't seen them since August and I feel like so much has happened since then.  I think I am a very independent person, but in my opinion, you never stop needing your parents and that has especially been the case this year as I've dealt with the move, my RA diagnosis, etc.  I am sharing a hotel room with them the weekend I am in Minneapolis so can't wait for lots of one-on-one time with them (which is such a treat when you are from a big family)!

If we were having coffee, what would you share?

Virtual Coffee Date

Greetings and Happy Friday! To round out the week, I thought it would be good to close out the week with a virtual coffee date.

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd tell you that I am looking forward to the quiet weekend ahead of me.  My plans include checking out a local farmer's market, possibly going canoeing on Saturday afternoon if the weather holds up ok, and checking out a local yarn store.

- I'd tell you that the amount of rain we've had lately is RIDICULOUS.  Today is the 14th day in a row that showers have been in the forecast, and there is nothing but rain in the 5 days forecast.  It's a good thing I take a vitamin D supplement because clearly I am not getting any naturally since the sun is not out much these days. 

- I'd tell you I am excited to celebrate Bastille Day on Sunday.  I'll be rocking stripes, checking out another crepe place (that offers gluten free crepes), and treating myself to a couple of macarons.

- I'd talk about how frustrated I am with the process of having to change insurance companies due to my relocation.  I'd tell you about the 6+ phone calls I have made to try to fight having to pay a $600 medical bill that should have been paid out of my health savings account but wasn't because of the transfer of insurance coverage process.

- I'd tell you that I am really looking forward to my trip to Asheville next week.  Asheville appears to be very gluten free friendly, so I have a list of restaurant options to check out, and I booked a kayak excursion for Saturday afternoon which I think will be really fun.

- I'd tell you that I am cautiously optimistic about my doctor appointment today.  The plan is to transition to tennis shoes but I am pretty nervous that I'll feel pain right away like I did last time.  Fingers and toes are crossed that this is not the case, but we'll see.  I haven't ran in over 12 weeks and haven't done any cardio for 3+ week so I am going a little bit crazy.

- I'd tell you that a Starbucks FINALLY opened in my building last month so my Friday latte tradition has resumed!  I'll be treating myself to one after my doctor's appointment this morning.  

What would you tell me if we were having coffee today?

Virtual Coffee Date

It's been awhile since I did a virtual coffee date, and I figured it'd be a good way to catch up on some of the thoughts and happenings of my life these days!

If we were having coffee today...

- I'd tell you that I am super excited that my mom, sisters, and sisters-in-law booked a girls trip to Myrtle Beach for a weekend in October.  The boys in our family have gone on countless hunting and fishing trips, but us girls have never gotten our act together and planned something.  Until now!  We have a beach front condo booked and I am SO excited for a weekend of girl time.  It's good to have another trip to look forward to (which is driving distance away for me).

- I'd also tell you that I booked a weekend trip to Asheville, NC last week on a whim.  I looked at my (mostly) empty calendar for July and felt like I had to plan something.  I found a reasonably priced condo on VRBO (which is a sight I am obsessed with perusing).  I'm really excited to check out Asheville as I've heard so many good things.  Since it's only about 100 miles away, I think this is an area that I will be visiting multiple times.  And hopefully by then I will be back to normal activity level and can do some hiking and join a group run there.

-I'd tell you that I had a work trip to Miami earlier this week and another one to Houston next week, and that work travel is SO MUCH more manageable now that I am not studying for the CFA.  It was a quick 24 hour trip to Miami, but it was fun to check out a new city.  I really like the sales rep in that office so I am going to try to go back so her and her husband can show me around.

- I'd tell you that I am super sensitive to comments about the CFA right now and that I have to remind myself that people have the best intentions.  For example, someone commented that a 2+ month wait for my test results "isn't too bad."  Those are fighting words, people.  2+ months in a LONG freaking time in my book.  For the record, the only appropriate response is something along the lines of "wow, that is a long wait."  I actually feel like I could write a little pamphlet entitled "Things You Shouldn't Say to a CFA Candidate." 

- I'd tell you that I have been reading some really great books lately, like The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes, which was a total page turner.

- I'd tell you that I am thoroughly enjoying all of the free time I have.  I can't tell you how great it is to wake up on the weekend knowing I won't have to study, or to get home at the end of the day and to be able to do whatever I want.  Free time is such a luxury.  

- I'd tell you that I am looking forward to the upcoming weekend as it includes things like taking in Shakespeare in a park area and going to a matinee showing of The Spirit of the Marathon II (which I am SO excited about, but might make this whole not running thing even harder).

If we went out for coffee this morning, what would you share with me?

Virtual Friday Coffee Date

Both Amber and Kelly did this lately (post idea via Jenna's blog), and I thought it was a fun way to catch up on what is new in their life, so I thought I'd play along! 

If we were having coffee this morning...

... I'd tell you that I feel really blessed to have so many people in my life that made me feel so special and loved on my birthday.  The number of emails, cards, texts, tweets, and facebook messages, as well as in person birthday celebration with Phil, friends, and family really made my day.

... I'd tell you that it's been a month since I found out about my relocation and that I am certain I have cried more tears in the last 30 days than I have in my any other month of my life, and that I wish that a) I wasn't a crier and b) tears were something that had an on/off switch as I have cried at some rather inopportune moments.

... I'd tell you that I am trying to fight the feelings of sadness by creating a virtual inspiration board with pictures of the things I want to do and the places I want to visit to help spark some positivity and excitement about the move!

... I'd shift from these heavier move-related topics and tell you I am looking forward to celebrating Valentine's Day with Phil next week, hosting a dinner party next Saturday, and spending a day with my nephews next Sunday!

... I'd tell you that I am really excited to register and start planning my trip to Chicago for the marathon!  I'll be running it with Amber, Anais, and Lauren, and Kelly will come spectate! And Nilsa lives there!  So there is lots to look forward to for that trip!  I may or may not already have my long runs scheduled in my planner.  ;)

Your turn!  If we were having coffee this morning, what would you tell me?