Five Things Friday: Calm Before The Storm
Happy Friday! Some of you may have the day off, but I am working a full day as well as events both tonight and tomorrow night. Luckily these events – Paint Nite and Wine Riot – are events I’d totally attend on my own time for fun. So I’m pretty cool with it, and am excited to write up blog recaps too. One of the many responsibilities of my new job that I sure don’t mind. I’ve got a few things I can talk about today so I thought I’d discuss five of them for the sake of alliteration, and in honor of Five Things Friday.
Check out Clare’s link-up!
1. I finally ran into a meh Boston restaurant experience.
They can’t all be amazing right? I’ve had a great track record so far but on Tuesday I went to the soft opening of a new North End speakeasy called Parla, and was left unsatisfied. The drinks, to be fair, were awesome. My first one (pictured below) contained both Domain de Canton and Campari and it blew me away! I also had a prosecco cocktail with more Domain de Canton plus mint and lemon – it pretty much screamed Kaitlin. I’d return to Parla in a second for cocktails!
Served alongside a cucumber mint salad sample – compliments of the chef. Molly and I agreed the crouton made it.
But if I could go back to Tuesday night I’d suggest to my companions Molly and Jeannie that we get drinks at Parla and eat elsewhere in the North End. The food was good, but for how much I paid I didn’t think it was THAT good, and I was also unimpressed by the portions. I’ve had plenty of better food in Boston (and more of it) for wayyy less money. And I was still hungry when I got home!
The interior was both fun and beautiful (if you visit, check out the bathroom wallpaper!) and Parla is for sure a fun place to hang out and grab drinks. But given the hype surrounding the place – they went for a marketing strategy of being ultra-secretive, and it sure reeled me in! – I was let down. Then again, hype surrounding a restaurant just opening is certainly less reliable than hype surrounding a long-standing spot, such as Drink!
At least we had fun!
2. Workouts this week have been fairly good!
After a ridiculously meh Sunday workout that consisted of me leaving the gym after 25 minutes of arms (once I decided I just wasn’t feelin’ it), I felt more than ready for Danielle Dee’s Monday spin class at the BSC. It felt great, I worked hard, and the best part is she gave me props for that while I was cleaning my bike. She thanked me for coming and for “working SO hard”. Just the way she said it, with so much meaning, made me feel so proud of myself for rebounding from my crappy Sunday workout and kicking butt. I enjoyed a good sweat on the stairs on Tuesday morning, and Wednesday evening’s Total Body Conditioning class was ROUGH. But in the sense that the whole class felt super hard, so that’s way better than it feeling too easy.
We did these…but with weights in our hands.
I took spin last night and it was a shorter class (45 minutes) but was the perfect amount of workout for me for that day. It was a teacher I’d never had before but I really liked the variety of her class! This morning I just couldn’t bring myself to do cardio after last night’s spin so I did arms and abs. I feel guilty about it but am just trying to move on. Hopefully my upper body feels sore tomorrow.
3. I think I’ve finally figured out the right amount of food to meal prep for myself each weekend.
It’s Friday and I don’t feel like my fridge is devoid of everything! This is a big deal. Trial and error my friends, that’s the name of the game. I still have leftover Chicken Veggie Barley Bake even after eating more of it last night, so I threw it in the freezer this morning. Don’t worry, I put it in a container first. I also still have a bit of Tarragon Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Carrots (the recipe called for steamed but come on, roasted is SO much better) and have picked out a couple of recipes to make this coming weekend for next week.
4. I’m having a very un-Eastery Easter Weekend.
I’m not going home, I’m working, and the Easter Bunny doesn’t visit me anymore. It doesn’t feel like Easter Weekend! I am hearing a whole lot more in “these parts” about the Boston Marathon, which is this coming Monday. I’m excited to partake in the celebrating with some friends and experience my first Marathon Monday in my new home! And this is a pretty incredible first one to be experiencing. I also have a blogger event tomorrow at the Reebok FitHub; I’m trying out a new Cardio Kick class! I don’t usually go for afternoon workout events on the weekends but Sarah is going and I really want to see her 🙂
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The class will be taught by Eliza Shirazi! Source
5. Next week is a big week.
I just have lots of plans. Marathon Monday, Wednesday I’m meeting some old friends for dinner and then running a Twitter tasting, and Thursday I’m going out after work to celebrate two coworkers’ birthdays. I really felt like doing something last night, but I stayed in and am glad I did because looking ahead, this is the calm before the storm. Starting tonight I’ve got work, and I have work/plans each night except Tuesday (even on Easter…Molly and I are going to get together to watch the Bruins game!) up until next weekend (and I’m working another event then too!) So I really need to pace myself because I don’t want to get overwhelmed and regret not resting and taking down-time.
Shameless plug…please join us!
Now as that guy from Mulan said, let’s get down to business. Have a great weekend everyone!
Have you ever been disappointed by an over-hyped restaurant?
Got any fun Easter weekend (or Marathon Monday!) plans?
Do you find you need to pace yourself when it comes to plans?
