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Virtual Cappuccino Date

Over the years, I’ve read multiple {Virtual} coffee or wine date posts from my favorite bloggers. These posts, along with Day in The Life posts, tend to be my favorite type of post, as they welcome readers into the person’s life and helps us get to know them better.

Since any of my friends know that my drink of choice since moving abroad is a cappuccino, why don’t you join me today for our first cappuccino date.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that putting myself on a shopping ban has been tough but beneficial. As I’d rather spend money on traveling, I told myself that between Christmas and the next time I’m in the United States, late March, that I wouldn’t shop. There should be no reason I need to shop during this three month period as I have a full closet and overflowing drawers. The urge to wear new things has forced me to dig into my closet and dresser, putting new outfits together and discovering items I forgot I even owned! I finally went through my workout drawers and donated any piece of workout gear that I avoid wearing. We all have this don’t we – a couple of tanks or shorts that don’t fit the way we like and are pushed aside each day when we go to grab an outfit. I donated two bags of tanks, shorts, spandex and sports bras!

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that I love how my girlfriends and I have been creative with finding time to catch up. Over the past few months, it’s been virtually impossible to find a night that works for girls’ night dinner. But, instead of letting that mean that we don’t see each other, we’ve met before work for coffee at our favorite coffee shop, gone to yoga or spin together, or hit the pavement for a few pre-work miles. While I love our dinner dates, I’m finding this one on one time even more valuable.

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If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you how thankful I am for a running coach. Jess has made training an absolute pleasure so far, and she truly is our biggest cheerleader. Since this is her full time job, she can respond quickly to emails and last minute questions before workouts. She’s also worked to create a wonderful family of runners through her #racepacerunners emails and newsletters.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that Bo and I are traveling each of the next seven weeks. While it will be fun and I’m excited to see new places like Venice & Barcelona it can still be overwhelming. Typically this would be exhausting and result in more than a few extra pounds around my waistline. But, Bo and I are finding that by eating clean Monday through Thursday, we can enjoy our weekends away, tasting and eating the local cuisine, without gaining weight or feeling over indulgent. Investing in a coach and training plan is also helping me stay accountable to make time for each of my workouts.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that I never cease to be amazed at the cost of living in Geneva, especially in regards to the price of food. Our friends were shocked last week that just a few bags of ski weekend groceries cost almost 300 CHF. Keep in mind, 1 CHF = 1.06 USD, so the exchange is virtually 1:1. The prices in our basic grocery stores, such as COOP and Migros, make Whole Foods seem like a discount grocery store.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that lately Bo and I have become obsessed with soups and stews. Each week he makes a big batch so we can enjoy it for two nights then freeze the leftovers. There is no easier Sunday meal after a weekend of traveling than defrosted soup, salad and hunk of bread. In fact, last night’s beef & barley stew may be our new favorite.

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If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that while I love my laptop and iPhone, I’ve started writing things down more and more. For some reason I find that I can think through my thoughts easier when they are on paper. Today alone, I outlined this post and an upcoming presentation on paper before transferring to PowerPoint and LiveWriter.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that while I know that Geneva’s winter has been nothing versus New York City or the rest of the east coast, I’m still craving warmth, sunshine and water.  I’ve already requested a family boating day when I’m in Savannah next month.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that I have enjoyed experimenting with my hair lately. I typically blow dry it each day then run a straightener or serum through it, ridding it of any frizz and wave. But, more often than not, I’m wearing it wavy since I’m lazy and tired of spending thirty minutes in the bathroom blow drying and straightening my hair. This weekend I may go for something a bit more polished, as Courtney’s post inspired me to try to curl my hair with my straightener.  If I don’t burn my hair off while attempting to curl it, hopefully, this will make me feel more put together and stylish for our date night in Venice, the City of Love.

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How about you, what would you tell me if we were sipping a cappuccino together today?

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Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon Training–Week 7

This week’s training recap is coming to you from the comfort of my bed. Unfortunately a few weeks of travel, too much fun, training and lots of sick colleagues have resulted in a cold. I’m on day 2 of the cold, aka the day when all I want to do is stab my sinuses.

So, while I sip hot herbal tea I’ll leave you with last week’s training. It was my strongest week to date and included lots of running versus the usual skiing.

Monday: Another week of glorious Monday night yoga. This 60 minute class flies by and before I know it we’re ending class in my favorite pose,  shavasana. Am I the only one who feels the need to buy this tank? Seriously though, each week this class has a different focus and last week’s hip opener focus was a very welcome treat for my body.

Tuesday:  I listened to a new Podcast, Stuff You Should Know, while enjoying an easy 40 minute run. The workout ended in 5 sets of strides and some lovely foam rolling. This was the perfect way to kick off the week’s runs as I felt strong and the easy run actually felt easy. I know that sounds weird but sometimes I find that I push myself too much during the “easy” runs so by the time the speed work or long run comes my body is tired.

Wednesday: Bo and I went to spin together after work and were surprised by the substitute teachers intensity. This 65 minute spin class left my legs shaking and me barely able to talk during most songs. The climbs were constant and the guys in the class thought it’d be fun to see how much they could push it, which of course led to me joining in the fun. I hit 172 RPM during the spring and the Rammstein music, while not my taste, definitely helped me zone out. If you’ve never heard of Rammstein just envision German death metal, oh and that song from 1997 Du Hast.

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Thursday: As much as I love running, not every run can be wonderful. Sometimes it’s a case of tired legs which feel more like lead weights than appendages. But this run was a mix of lead legs and a mind that just never got into the run. My mantra was to just run and finish the miles – nothing more, nothing less. Even though I enjoyed half the run with Mary I still finished the run feeling blah. I finished the 8 miles but never felt great and certainly didn’t hit the requested final 3 miles at a pace of 8:55-9:10. Instead the overall pace was closer to 9:50.

Friday: My legs and body were calling for a rest day so I listened and slept in as late as possible, snoozing my alarm more times than I’m willing to admit.

Saturday: It was hard to stay inside doing the prescribed strength workout when Bo wanted a running buddy. Therefore, per normal, I caved and pushed the strength aside in favor of a 5 mile run through Strasbourg. Sorry coach, sorry muscles – I wouldn’t have it any other way! We are both so enjoying the fact that he is back in running shape after his ACL injury left him unable to run since last April. We didn’t have a Garmin on us but based on the length of our run we kept around a 9:15 pace!

Sunday: At the hotel’s recommendation and a convenient running route card, we enjoyed a 5k run through the Petite France area of Strasbourg, winding us through covered bridges, canals, quiet streets, and old buildings. It was a perfect way to say goodbye to the city and enjoy a few Belle moments as I ran through the storybook town. Don’t worry, I didn’t burst out into song though I was tempted to multiple times. I mean come on, don’t you see the resemblance?  (Feel free to reference this Buzzfeed article for verification that it is set in the Alsace region!)

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YOUR TURN: Okay, now that everyone knows Belle is my favorite Disney character, it’s time to tell me who YOUR favorite Disney character is and WHY?

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36 Hours in Strasbourg, France

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend in the Alsace region tasting new wines, delicious food and exploring storybook towns together! In just under 36 hours we were able to discover Strasbourg and the nearby Alsace region towns.

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Located 4 hours from Geneva, Alsace is a region in France that borders Germany and the Rhine Valley. It has significant influences from both the French and German cultures, as it has changed hands between Germany and France during its history. Strasbourg, the region’s capital city is the seat of the European parliament and home to a rich culture, cobbled streets, picturesque canals and a restaurant scene strongly influenced by Alsatian cuisine.

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Stay: The Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Ile is located in the center of the Grande Ile district, just steps away from the sights and sounds of Strasbourg’s cathedral, squares, and canals. The hotel’s rooms were spacious on European standards, the beds were beyond comfortable and the hotel’s concierges made our stay easy with their multiple recommendations ranging from restaurant reservations to wine tour itinerary.

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Eat: Hidden among the canals and gingerbread houses is a restaurant scene which makes Strasbourg one of the top food cities in France. You can find everything from three Michelin star restaurants to century old restaurants who serve regional cuisine. After reading about Fink’ Stuebel in the New York Times we booked reservations at this cozy, rustic restaurant. IMG_9666

As soon as we walked through the door I knew settling on just a few options would be difficult. The portions were huge and everything looked delicious. Clearly influenced by both France and Germany, the menu is best known for the chicken and veal cream dish served atop spatzel, decadent desserts and the local favorite – choucroute garnie. Choucroute garnie is more meat one person can stomach – piled high atop freshly made sauerkraut.

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After our run Saturday morning we warmed up with coffee and breakfast at Cafe Broglie, located just steps from our hotel. A traditional French cafe which dates back to 1781, their breakfast included pan au chocolate, freshly squeezed juice, breads and jams.

Last but not least, we enjoyed a Valentine’s Day meal which far exceeded our expectations at L’assiette du Poete. We were very hesitant when the concierge told us she booked us a table for their special rose themed tasting menu.

While the horrible service is proof that the restaurant is trying to do too much based on their current resources and staff, the food itself is phenomenal. Each of our six courses, ranging from the champagne and strawberry palate cleanser to the marbled house foie gras served with edible rose petals was executed perfectly. The veal, which was breaded in basil seeds and served over an eggplant puree was creative and unlike anything either of us have tried or even imagined creating. Last but not least, the dessert of whipped rose infused mascarpone served between three paper thin sheets of dark chocolate left me trying to figure out how to recreate it for our next dinner party.

I hope the restaurant can figure out the service aspect because the food deserves to shine! Regardless, I will still recommend this restaurant to any of our friends, with the caveat to not go there in a hurry but instead relax, enjoy time with a loved one or friends and order another glass of wine.

Exploring Strasbourg and the nearby wine region deserves a separate post, which I’ll share later this week!

Until then, it’s your turn, if you could visit any wine region which would you choose?

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