The Room Where It Happens

Hamilton!

A few weeks ago, the husband and I hopped a train to NYC to see Hamilton. And do other stuff, but, mostly, see Hamilton.

I had purchased tickets for his birthday and we went in mid February--which, for us, is usually a weekend that we spend stuck indoors because the East Coast is usually slammed with a snowstorm. This time however, it was so warm in New York that I ditched my coat during the day!

We stayed at The Roger, which is basically a block away from The Empire State Building. I usually stay a little closer to Times Square, so, it wasn't super walkable to shopping and theater, but, it was really quiet and still walkable to midtown and the river.

On Saturday AM we trekked up with the UWS to go to Sarabeth's and explore the UWS. I prefer the Central Park South location, but, it was booked, so, Upper West Side, it was! I always love the UWS-the families, the shopping, the proximity to the park; it's always so fun.

Spent the day wandering the park and then before HAMILTON, we went to The Plaza for light snacks and drinks at The Palm Court.

And then, Hamilton. Y'all. It was so good. I wish someone had told me just how good it was, because, I would have seen it a long ass time ago. The tickets were worth just seeing King George and then Guns & Ships was 100% worth every penny. I'm currently plotting how I can go back and see it again.

I only need one kidney, right?

On Sunday we spent the day in Midtown; I took my honey to my favorite brunch place in midtown/Hell's Kitchen, we did Top Of The Rock (my favorite!), and explored 5th Avenue.

We enjoyed The Smith for dinner and then walked back to the hotel via Grand Central so my husband could see the impressive train station.

Monday was our last day and we explored the Natural History Museum, Madison Square Park and braved Penn Station to get home.

It was a magical trip and I'm so glad we were able to explore NYC together. I used to go to New York several times a year, but, I've never been with my husband, and although his family is from New York, he had never really explored Manhattan.

As much as I miss Texas, living a 3 hours train ride away from New York is not a bad gig!

Ah! Take me back!

Any fun trips coming up? Anyone else want to go halvsies with a kidney so we can all go see Hamilton?

Two Years

March 1st. I don't know how that happened! But, I love spring. And summer. I'm not a big winter person--although, to be honest, we didn't even have a winter here in Baltimore. We had maybe an inch of snow, it didn't stick, and very few days that required busting out my down coat.

I bought new snow boots in November, so, everyone in Maryland, you're welcome for the mild winter.

I digress.

Spring! Flowers! Sunshine! It's all so lovely. My now husband proposed to me in spring of 2015, and we married in late spring last year. Spring is just the best.

It signals new beginnings and changes.

For me, in March of 2015, everything changed. I had been sick for 5 months previously, with the last few leading me to be basically bedridden. I lost my jobs, gained oh so much weight, was barely able to stomach much food, slept very little, and was on and off various medications trying to figure out what was wrong.

Two of my lowest points include being so sick I didn't even puke in the toilet, and forcing myself to inject medication in my thigh at 1am.

I was sent home and dismissed by numerous doctors, including a weeklong stint at The Mayo Clinic which left me heartbroken, distraught and even more confused. At one point, a doctor looked me square in the eye and told me I was lying. So. That happened.

After returning home from Minnesota, the one boss I still had hooked me up with a client of hers who referred me to her physician. And God bless it all--she believed me. She didn't send me home. She didn't question. She didn't have answers, but, she was willing to fight for me. And fight for me she did.

Together we poured over months of doctor's notes, medications, and hospital visits. Together we formed a plan. Together we figured it out.

By March, I was undergoing tests for a heart condition--me! A heart condition? A marathon runner and barre instructor?

And a few weeks later, everything changed. I sat in my cardiologists office as his PA shared my results with me. My stupid heart doesn't work right. Marathons are out. Running is out. Keeping my heart rate low is in. Strength training is ok. Burpees are not.

Everything stopped. I had defined myself by running for the last, what, six years? It was all gone. I remember stumbling out of the office and going home to lay down and process everything. I was so grateful to finally have answers (my heart condition is caused by a genetic condition that I was born with--thanks mom--and had no idea about until my doctor started running tests), finally understand what was happening and why. But, my life was forever changed. Not only could I no longer run, but, I now had to address all the underlying symptoms. A rheumatologist, cardiologist, gastro specialist, neurologist. The list goes on.

Two years later, with a team of doctors, I'm lucky that I have mostly good days. Most days I don't have issues getting out of bed, most days I can function from sun up to sun down. Most days.

And on the bad days, I stay in bed, watch The West Wing and eat a lot of Cheetos.

All this to say, March is bittersweet for me. It's the month where everything changed. It's the month that I took control. It's the month where I got answers.

Yesterday was Rare Disease Day, and I fall under that category. I hope that anyone reading who battles unknown illnesses will keep fighting. Keep your chin up, keep pressing forward. You CAN do this.

Happy Spring. Don't ever give up on yourself!

xo

Basically the opposite of Whole 30

It's almost February and it seems like all the people I know are almost done with their first round of Whole 30 for the year. I am not one of these people. 

I think Whole 30 is great, but I know it's not for me. I like bread and candy too much. And I know those are the exact things I shouldn't eat, but, let me tell you, when I restrict those things, I go bonkers. (and please, spaghetti squash just tastes like sadness covered in sauce; I'm sorry, I can't get on board with it. Don't pretend it's the same as pasta, it's not) (at least to me)

Case in point: trying to lose weight for my wedding meant very little of either. Until two months after the wedding when I went hog wild! All the bread! Sour Patch Kids in bulk! Luckily, I have since reined it in because I allow myself to have these items.

What works best for me is eating healthy foods, not going to Chipotle everyday (lame!), and I do the best when I cook for myself. Back in the day when I had roommates I cooked probably 6 nights a week with one night for leftovers. Going out was a treat. Then when I lived alone I rarely cooked for just myself because that is boring, and when I lived in London I basically never cooked unless you call picking up salad mix from M&SS cooking. I did usually top it with some salmon, however.

So, I'm trying to cook more at home. I want to be a better cook. I used to be pretty stellar and had a nice reserve of recipes. That was like, six years ago and now I basically cook like two things. Seriously, it's de-pressing. 

We watched Julie & Julia a few weeks ago and if that doesn't inspire you to cook, I don't know what will. My husband also gifted me a French Comfort Food cookbook last year and I figured I should use it. I have a ton of cookbooks--mostly because people gift them to me, so, now it's time to use them again.

Last week feeling super motivated, I ran to Target and picked up Cooking for Jeffrey because obviously, Ina. So, on Sunday night--the only day I have any time to do any real cooking, I made a beef bourguignon. It was delicious. I made enough for leftovers on Monday and last night I made one of Jeffrey's favorite meals (per Ina), roast chicken salad with grilled bread. Which, is incredibly healthy--or, at least, more healthy than the "salad" I get at Chipotle (yes, it all comes back to Chipotle). Unless of course you eat the skin off the chicken while the bread is grilling a la Joey on Friends because when you don't get home until 8pm and your day started at 5am that Lean Cuisine you had at noon really isn't doing it anymore. Why do I buy those? They aren't good. Not that I did that. Because that would be crazy. 

In the efforts of full disclosure, you should know that I changed up Ina's recipe a little; I added some Dijon to the salad dressing, some romaine lettuce to thicken it up and add some crunch, cherry tomatoes and avocados because I am not a savage. Oh, and rotisserie chicken from the market because I'm a working woman and can't be bothered to roast an actual chicken on a weeknight (probably, also not on the weekend either if we're being honest).

Highly recommend the salad. My husband LOVED it and he's not a huge salad person. It had a lot of complimentary flavors and the crunch of the romaine helped a lot, in my opinion. 

This weekend, I'm attempting an actual roast chicken (I used to be real good at this and cooked one hell of a Thanksgiving turkey in London, it'll be fine), and then a skillet lasagne because I'm married to an Italian and also really lazy. Wish me luck!

What are y'alls go to easy recipes and or cookbooks?

Tap, tap, is this thing on?

Hi guys.

Happy 2017!

Well, we're 16 days into 2017, so, I guess I'm a little late there too. Oops. To be fair, 2017 greeted me with a cold, my husband with the stomach flu and then it was a lather, rinse, repeat cycle for me with the cold....You probably didn't want to hear about that. Anyways. I highly recommend TheraFlu.

I used to blog a lot. And, now I, well, I don't. Blogging has changed a lot from what it was when I started back in 2008 (I think?). I'm not a fashion blogger, fitness blogger, food blogger, or, design blogger. Or, well, anything special. I just generally used this space to chat about funny things in my life, or lament about work.

And, in 2017, I intend to do more of just that. Blog. Not anything in particular, but, hopefully, it will be fun.

Here's a little rundown of me, if you're new here (or, if you've forgotten because, well, I'm lazy):

I'm a Texan Expat somehow stuck in the Mid Atlantic where I enjoy all the oysters I can get my hands on, and the newly discovered thing called "seasons". I live in a restored rowhouse with my husband (newlywed) and our three dogs. I own a barre fitness studio and eat Chipotle far too often. I used to live in London and I really, really love Diet Coke. My favorite color is pink and I've never met a hamburger I didn't like. I used to be a runner, but in 2015 was diagnosed with a heart condition and cardio is no longer my friend. I have red hair and far too many dresses.

That's me in a nutshell.

Let's do this, 2017!