Halloweens

Thursday, October 31, 2013



BOO.

This is one of the best holidays ever. Creepiness and costumes, ghost stories and pumpkins, babies dressed up like animals and adults...how can you go wrong?

I guess I also like it because I kind of think of Halloween as an anniversary. Jim and I actually started dating in the summer, but we didn't really take it seriously because Jimbo was about to head across the country for a wilderness certification program in Washington. But we kept in touch while he was gone....and when he told me that he had to visit Boston for a "dentist appointment", I subtly suggested that he line it up with the Halloween party my roommates and I were having in South Boston. And he did!

I looked forward to his visit but I had no idea what to expect. I was enjoying the single life, and I have an uncanny ability to keep my hopes and expectations exactly where I want them to be (which in this case was low). I figured it would just be friendly, that he'd want to spend time with his buddies and that nothing would really come of it for us. But then he asked me to pick him up from the airport. Then I realized that he hadn't made any other plans for his visit home besides spending time with me. Then he mentioned visiting again for Thanksgiving, and again for Christmas. And slowly but surely I let my expectations creep up, as I realized this might just be the beginning of many holidays together.

Here's a throwback to our Halloweens:

^^Our first Halloween together in Southie 

dressed as wedding goers at our bestie's reception in Jackson, NH (obviously having no fun at all)^^

 ^^Mary Poppins and Bert in Boston! I loved the little birdie on my shoulder...

13.2 miles later in Healdsburg, Boo and Princess Peach ^^

I hope everyone's enjoying the day!

Get scared, be silly, and eat as much candy as you want ;).

Race Pics + Power Playlist

Monday, October 28, 2013

I hope everyone had a beautiful October weekend! Are you kind of sad that the month is almost over, like me? I love October. But at least I was able to say a lovely farewell- basking in the crisp air, bright sun, and colored leaves all weekend up in Guerneville with friends. We ran, we sipped, we ate, we relaxed, and we played. So fun.

And my race motivation really worked! My playlist was amazing. I listed a few of my faves from the playlist at the bottom of this post in case you've been craving some new workout tunes. And the costumes definitely helped. Watching our Mario and Luigi run around in full-on denim overalls and hearing passersby wonder aloud whether Jim was dressed as a ghost or a sperm really picked up the mood. Plus we WON the team costume competition. (Thanks for the delicious prize wine, Hawkes!)

 But there was one unlisted helper that really helped get me through those last few painful miles. This guy:


Jimmy helped us keep a nice steady pace, and every once in awhile when I felt like I might start dragging, he'd reach out his hand and give me the boost I needed. Towards the end my ankles were aching and my muscles were losing steam, but we knew we wanted a strong finish. So Jim fought through his own exhaustion to grab my hand and help us speed up through the end. Thanks Jimmy - I'll never make you run a 1/2 marathon again! ;)

Here are some more shots from the weekend.



Allie's Half Marathon Power playlist:

                 

:: 13.1 ::

Wednesday, October 23, 2013


Eek! My half marathon is in 3 days. To be honest, I haven't quite kept up with training the way I maybe should have. Which probably explains why I'm feeling a little nervous. This running thing does not come naturally to me! Hiking, yoga, team sports - yes. But running...my body resists each and every step. Which I guess is one of the reasons I really wanted to do this in the first place; to see what it would feel like to get my body running more than 3-4 miles at a time. To see if I could do it at all.

So the bad news is, I only did a few "long runs" in my training, the furthest of which was 9 miles. (reeeally banking on that whole "race adrenaline" thing to take me the last 4.1 miles on Saturday...)

The good news is, in my training runs every mile after 4 felt pretty good- kind of comfortable and robot-like. Like all I needed to do was lean forward a bit to keep going. Like a segway! Sure, my body felt like it was going to crumble into tiny pieces after each run...but I can cross that bridge when I come to it. (p.s. when I just googled segway I found this link. whaaa??).

The even better news is, I have some awesome motivation lined up for Saturday which I think will help me go all the way:

  1. Wine. This is a WINE country 1/2 marathon after all. After the race we'll be rewarded with tastings upon tastings. They even give you a taste during the race if you so desire. I will run for wine!
  2. Food. If you've ever been in a long race you know that the good ones have wonderful snacks awaiting you at the end. Nothing inspires me to burn calories more than the thought of replacing every last one of 'em with tasty treats.
  3. Hot tub. Our rental house for the weekend has a hot tub. Mmmmyes.
  4. Team. Jim and I are running with 8 wonderful friends, and we're all dressing up as the Mario Kart gang for the race. As the blondie of the group I was named Princess Peach...and I'm pretty sure that wearing a crown will keep me going strong til the end.
  5. Music. I've been slowly but surely compiling the greatest running playlist known to man. I'd still LOVE some recommendations though - please comment with any favorite songs I should add to my list :).
Wish us luck!



Heading Out to Big Sur :: Friday Links

Friday, October 18, 2013

Happy Friday!

Jimbo and I are playing hooky today and heading down early for our camp weekend at Big Sur. I can't wait. This gorgeous coastline is one of the reasons I wanted to move to California! It's just so jaw droppingly beautiful, and when you're there you're surrounded by all of my favorite things: mountains, ocean, trees, and yummy places to eat. Can't wait to share photos when we're back! In the meantime, enjoy some Friday links and some photos from our last visit, when we drove down the coast from Seattle.


Some links:
Enjoy the weekend, loves!

Good Eats

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

MmmmMmmMmm. I've been eating like a champ lately.

Care to drool?



1. egg and avo salad on greens
2. bitter caramel ice cream with hot donuts from The Penny Ice Creamery in Santa Cruz
3. tender pork belly with turmeric pickled daikon and green shiso from The Chairman
4. our favorite coffee from Pacific Bay Coffee Co.
5. quince black pepper ice cream in the best waffle cone of my life (Penny)
6. Ike's "Pinky & the Brain": halal chicken, onion Rings, swiss, teriyaki, wasabi mayo
7. homemade farmer's breakfast
8. calamari at Aldo's in Santa Cruz
9. spaghetti squash carbonara based on this recipe (winner of the ugly-but-tasty award)
11. fresh ramen with pork and soft boiled egg 


I hope everyone is enjoying a calm and joyful week!

Happy Anniversary

Friday, October 11, 2013


Happy Anniversary, Momsy and Popsicle! Today my parents get to high five and raise a glass together in celebration of their 33rd wedding anniversary.

Maybe it's a bit random for me to post on this today - it's not their 25th or 50th (or anything ending in a 0 or 5) so what's the biggie? But. I'm so far away from them this year, and I've been thinking of them so much lately. And... I may or may not have forgotten to get a card out to them in time. So what better way to send your love 3,000 miles than via the interwebs??

Look at these cuties!!


My parents met as students at the University of New Hampshire, as little teeny tiny babies (aged 17 and 18). Appropriately, their first date was to a UNH hockey game (hockey is a big deal there, I should know, I went there for my undergrad as well!). My dad ended up driving the zamboni for the hockey rink as a student job for awhile, which is unrelated but pretty cool. 

They dated through college, taking some breaks for the summers as college kids must (Mom recalls dating a guy briefly during one of these summers who wore socks with sandals, so that obviously wasn't going to work). They inevitably stayed together and had a grand old time flipping each other's hair out, wearing bell bottoms and dancing "The Hustle". They got married on October 11, 1980. 


Gorg! But look, they only get better with age!


Thanks so much, guys - for everything you've given me and the sibs, and for teaching us that silliness, patience, date nights, and laughter are what keep a marriage going strong. 


Cheers to the next 33!

Sister's Take on Bay Area Vintage

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

We have a special guest today - my lovely sistah Stephanie! Steph is one of the best shoppers I know, especially when it comes to antiques/vintage/consignment- and with all of the amazing markets around here I figured I should call on the pro to get a feel for Bay Area vintage shopping. Yesterday I finally got to join her at the Alameda Antiques Faire (it was ah-maze-ing) to see her at work, and I decided she should share a little something here about her vintage obsession as well.

Here are some photos from Steph's travels through the Treasure Island Flea and Marin's "French" Antique Market... 
















A: are flea markets around here better than what you saw back East?
S: The Bay is where it's at. In Boston the majority of flea markets tend to revolve around cardboard boxes of American Eagle socks; you're not quite sure if you're thrifting or sifting through Free Craigslist accumulations. So, moving to the Bay was a breath of fresh air-- here you'll find the pretty, the prettier, the hipster and the delicious. 

A: what do you love about flea markets?
S: I love the mass amounts of inspiration that I get from walking down a few aisles. I love being in a sea of imaginative minds that are all scheming to create something the same way I am. I also am deeply in love with the west coast image and though I am a born and raised New Englander, I feel it is closer to my own personal style. The free and easy vibe, the eclectic mix of prints and color. Fashion stimulates and inspires me and I get that in its rawest form at the weekend flea. 

A: how would you describe your personal style?
S: I'd describe my style as comfy/versatile grunge. I love oversized sweaters, flannel, tees and tanks mixed with tight jeans, a fitted jacket, a beanie, doc martens and some dark red lipstick. That's my go to. I also love super girlie vintage dresses for nights out. Leather and lace. Anything colorful, comfortable and edgy that makes me feel good.

A: what are your best tips for flea/vintage shopping?
S: It's a good idea not to be too specific with what you're looking for. This is a vintage affair, not the mall. No one likes to be disappointed and it's less fun that way! Be open to items with a history that might have a nick here and there, but tells a story. My favorite things to look out for are jewelry, purses, wall decorations and the softest vintage tees around.

A: and a random one: what are your top 5 favorite smells?
S: The smell of rain on hot pavement. It brings me back to my childhood quicker than you can say "Salute Your Shorts". As well as old books, freshly made bread and bacon.

A: any last tips for us?
S: My most recent DIY interest is window panes, check out this link for a few ideas on how to use them. You can definitely find these items at the flea!


Thanks, Stephie! Come back anytime!