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Awesome Anniversary and Redeeming Run

Anniversary Follow Up
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for you kind words from yesterday's post. Big cyber hug to you all!

I was really excited about eating out last night. We really don't go out to dinner often, and we rarely go all out and splurge on a high-end meal dolled up in our best duds. Last night (well, 6pm) we went all out. I knew what I was going to wear and was planning on wearing the pearls and pearl earrings I had worn on our wedding day, which Jason had actually bought for me. But to my surprise, Jason bought me diamond earrings and a diamond pendant necklace!!!!

I cannot even describe how surprised I was and then the thought he put into it....amazing. He was planning on an anniversary ring - 3 diamonds for past, present, future. Plus, my engagement ring is very very simple. We had it made, and he has always thought I should have something more. But I am not a big bling bling ring girl at all. I love that it's simple, and I never have to take it off. It doesn't get in the way. So he thought the earrings (1 diamond for each ear equals 2) then the necklace (1 more diamond for 3 total) would signify the past, present, and future.

I felt like such a heel when I handed him his gift - silver cuff links with a black diamond in the center. He has never had any really nice cufflinks, so I thought these would be a great gift. Apparently I should have gotten diamond button covers too! But he loved the cuff links.

After taking some pictures of ourselves, the dogs aren't good at such things, we headed over to a restaurant we enjoy called Lulav. It's only a few blocks from our house too, gotta love convenience. They have these unbelievable fruit infused martinis. I am not typically a martini drinker at all, but you simply cannot pass up a strawberry pineapple infused martini friends.

I started with the Verdures Farcides, which was a plate of mushroom caps stuffed with Spanish vegetables and fresh mozzarella. It was really really good, with a slight spicy kick from peperoncinis. I will admit to removing the mozzarella because it was just a bit thick. I never thought I'd ever be one to take the cheese off of something because there was too much. It sort of overpowered the mushrooms and veggies though. Jason had *gasp* the foie gras. He hasn't had anything like that since he worked at a French restaurant about 8 years ago. He had already started to dig in before I got a picture so excuse the mess and fork. He's still learning how to be the husband of a blogger apparently.

My salad was one of my favorites, the Montalcino salad, which is mixed greens, toasted Almonds crumbled feta and mission figs and a red wine vinaigrette. Jason's salad was called Strawberry Crunch and had avocado, pears, strawberries and candied pecans with a red wine vinaigrette.


Dinner was roasted vegetables over angel hair pasta for me. Jason had veal chops with smashed potatoes and squash and zucchini as sides.
Oh, and we had an awesome wine: Anne Amie Cuvee A Pinot Noir. We had the sommelier come out and let us sample a few wines. The man knew his stuff (he better right?). We sampled in one glass and he made us keep some of the wine in that glass then poured in a different glass. Wow, it really is amazing the difference a glass can make in the taste of a wine. He then let us try the same wine in a 3rd, basic wine glass. If I had tasted the wine in that glass, I would not have drank it. Seriously made that much of a difference.

We skipped dessert. Nothing really just jumped out at me, probably a good thing. I had actually planned on doing white chocolate covered strawberries but didn't have time to make it by the store to pick up the strawberries. But, we decided to stop on the way home and pick some up. I will admit that we ate most of the strawberries and didn't wait for the chocolate to even dry! So, this is a picture of how they looked today after the chocolate set.

Redeeming Run
This morning I really thought I would sleep in. Didn't happen. I ended up getting up around 7:45. I wasn't sure what workout I was going to do. I typically have been doing chest and back on Saturdays, but I did that on Thursday. I decided to head out for a run around 9:20. It was about 75 degrees, but low humidity. There was a slight breeze too, so it really felt fairly nice. I wasn't sure how long I was going to run. I just thought I'd at least shoot for 3 miles.

I ended up taking slightly different routes with each lap (thanks Jessica) and ended up running for 50 minutes. It was a fantastic, redeeming run for me. My past few runs have been kind of crappy. I felt great today and just kept going and going. I did make a couple of dashes through some sprinklers though. 75 didn't seem warm when I started, but 30 minutes later, the temps had gone up (it was 81 when I finished) and my body temp was definitely going up. But, I did a lot of thinking on this run today and here's what I learned:
  1. It's ok to change up your route sometimes, in running and in life. It can do you some good.
  2. Sometimes you need some heavy, fast music to amp you up again (thank you Nine Inch Nails and Crazy Town).
  3. Mazzy Star and Jack Johnson are great musicians, but do not make good running music.
  4. Playing air drums with your pink mace and not giving a care who's watching is indeed fun, especially after 47 minutes of running (again, thank you Crazy Town).
  5. It can be fun to have a random stranger cheer you on when they've seen you running for 50 minutes.
  6. That I am appreciated more than I have ever realized.
  7. That it's ok to think I'm pretty.
  8. That running 5 miles can be liberating.
Enjoying the Day
I really need to hit the grocery store, but plan on enjoying the day by lounging on the patio with a new book. Errands may or may not get run, chores may or may not get done. Frankly, I don't care. I plan on enjoying the day for what it is - a gorgeous day, a day off, a day of relaxing, and another day to enjoy with my awesome, unbelievable husband. 

Have a great day friends!

Comments

  1. Looks like a gorgeous meal! Re your comment on your last post, I thought I'd reply here in case you didn't get it on there! We're engaged but we haven't done any planning yet. He totally agrees with me that we want to do it that way though, neither of us want to waste money when you can do it just as nice, if not nicer diy style! We can't really do it at the moment but I keep seeing bloggers getting married and I'm starting to wish we could do it earlier hehe, no rush though really :-)

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  2. Sounds like you had a lovely anniversary. Jason did a great job on the anniversary present. :-)

    Have a wonderful Saturday!
    Ali

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  3. What a gorgeous time! Congrats to you guys! <3

    I love your running thoughts. It's sometimes difficult to remember everything you accomplished mentally while pounding the pavement. For instance, I totally came up with a plan for world peace. By the time I got home, showered, stretched and nom'd, I had forgotten. Gah. :P

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  4. Hello!
    Your pendant/earring set is STUNNING! Congratulations! You are so beautiful in that picture! Also, congratulations on the run! Also, what book are you reading? I'm an avid book-reader/obsessed book lover!
    Happy Anniversary!
    Barbara

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  5. awww!! I love this post for so many reasons. I shall list some:
    - you truly have an amazing marriage and it screams out loud from this post. It's "you" and it's real and you have a sense of self-deprication, in a sense, that makes me see how grateful you are to have found "it" with Jason.
    - you spurgled - at dinner (yay! balance!), going all out, and on each other. The cuff links were a wonderful gift! don't feel like a heel!
    - you had an awesome run!! Yay!! I did too, today, it felt good NOT to feel my shins feel all cramped up and to breathe much better than I have been. Virtual high fives!
    Ok, long comment ;-)

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  6. i maybe naive for saying this but ive never seen a white chocolate covered strawberry before and the idea of one never crossed my mind! i dont know why!!!
    you two look like a bazillion dollars <3 oh heck, u look good all the time ;)

    xoxo

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  7. Laura @ Box Run Eat Congrats on being engaged. I say whatever you do, do it your way!


    Alicia @ Vegan Epicurean We did have a great anniversary and he did an awesome job on the gift! Hope you're having a great day too!

    Tiffany @ Spartanette Training Thanks girl. LOL - wish you could have remembered the world peace plan!

    Barbara @ Protein Girl Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words! Just finished Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner and started Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott.

    Jolene @ To Be Determined Long comments are perfectly acceptable here ;-) Thank you so much for your friendship!

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  8. What a special celebration!! LOVE your new bling :-) So classic!

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  9. Kelsey @ Snacking Squirrel I'm not a big fan of chocolate, but white chocolate, you better stand back ;-) And you're going to give me a big fat ego with your compliments LOL.

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  10. You two are too sweet! I love the gifts too...looks like you had a great celebration! I miss exchanging gifts with Tony. With the boys, we don't spend our money on each other even at Christmas any more. Hopefully we will get to the point where we feel like we can do that again. Your food looks delicious and I am really so happy that you two enjoyed your evening! Those strawberries...oh how I want one! I hope you have a great time for the rest of your weekend!

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  11. Gorgeous bling and meal! :) Congrats!

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  12. You seem so happy with your life. I know no one is perfect, but your relationship with jason looks so healthy! cyber hug back at ya! hopefully we will REALLY hug one day. You better DAMN well think your pretty! I know its "whats on the inside" the jason would not marry someone not pretty, hes too good lookin himself, LOL.
    BTW, yes, jack johnson is excellent, did you know he went to my college? he sings about our dining hall in "Bubble Toes"!

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  13. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg Classic is a good description!

    Sarena @ The Non-Dairy Queen We definitely don't always exchange gifts quite like this of course. I was definitely shocked. I appreciate you girl!

    Kristy @ The Casual Dish Thanks!

    Eden's Eats I adore Jack Johnson, that's so cool he went to your college. And Jason will love your comment ;-) Thank you so much for your kindness!

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  14. Looks like an amazing anniversary celebration with thoughtful and wonderful gifts. Congratulations again and rock it out on the air drums like nobody is watching ;)

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  15. Haha, I air drum and lip sync up a storm when I'm running!

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  16. What a great celebration night! You two looked awesome, and the dinner sounds amazing!

    I am so glad you are taking the weekend to just relax and rest. I think that is so important, and you definitely deserve it:)

    Also, great thoughts on the run. It's really amazing how much you can learn while out on a long run. I did 5 miles this morning also, but they didn't go so great unfortunately. Glad you rocked yours!

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  17. Yes, it IS ok to think you're pretty. Cuz you are pretty, my dear. :) AND I'm so glad you changed up your running route and that I inspired you, in part, to do so. YAY! AND thirdly, LOVE the gift from Jason. You deserve it girl, congrats again :-)

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  18. You guys are so so cute! Such gorgeous jewelry, you're a lucky girl. I think your day lounging sounds like a great idea. Go for it!

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  19. you two look fabulous together!! :) what a wonderful present - still representing the past present future, but in a way you'll enjoy more :)

    your dinner looks amazing.

    congrats again ! :)

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  20. Bela @ It's Life, Max it Out Thanks sweetie!

    Madeline @ Greens and Jeans So glad I'm not alone on that one.

    Candice @ ChiaSeedMe Thanks so much girl. Hey, at least you got the run done right???

    Jessica @ EatDrinkBreatheSweat Thank you so much friend. Hugs to you!

    Jenna @ Healthy. Happy. Well. Thank you ma'am. Lounging days are good for the soul I think ;-)

    Kristina @ SpaBettie Thank you so much. I appreciate you!

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  21. Congrats! Love the pics of your special evening :-) Makes me smile

    Can you tell I am REALLY behind on reading blogs and catching up this evening, lol!

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  22. Yay! What a great date and present! Congrats! He's a keeper! :)

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