surrounded by silver & gold

Hi again :) I think I've forgotten how fun it can be to post every day. These past few days have been great ones; from a weekend that was spent with some of my most favorite people, to a return to a home filled with tons of goodies (you're going to have to wait 'til the road trip for those ones but let's just say I'm thrilled), and into a fun and fulfilling week at Quirky HQ that's been scattered with many a happy hours (literally and figuratively) with friends. For as much as I felt nostalgic for the life I had, it's be crazy to think I'm not lucky to have the life I got. And if it's true for me, I can't imagine that it wouldn't be a similar case for you too. 

When I was in Girl Scouts, many moons ago, we sang a song: "Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold. A circle's round, it has no end, that's how long I want to be your friend..." and so on and so forth. Anyway ;) since I was reminded of it today (don't ask) I realized that I hadn't really shared with you a few new "friends" I've made recently. The first is Oats in a Jar. Yep, I'm one of the select bloggers that had not yet made the plunge until yesterday. Can anyone remember who started it by the way? Hm. It was fun, no doubt, but even so, I think I'm still more likely to be loyal to my true blue bowl. Call me a traditionalist, but I don't like having more dishes to do than normal and I prefer my drizzled Almond Butter scoop among all other things. Don't worry, there's no hard feelings.

Then there's that Core Fusion Yoga class that I took at Exhale two weeks ago. Core Fusion is a toning class "based on Lotte Berk Method fundamentals, Pilates, and 50 years of combined fitness expertise, to achieve a strong, athletic, flexible, and youthful body." Quite the claim, don't ya think? Well, it's no exaggeration. And even I knew this after a sole hour of exercise heaven. The CF Yoga class ingeniously combined asana, Qi Gong, stretching, and the standard core strengthening and thoroughly kicked my a**. I felt outstanding, and then my entire body hurt for the next four days :). Unfortunately, as much as I would love to, I simply cannot afford to indulge my inner-masochistic-yogi so luxuriously. Bring on the friend crush. In other news, I'll keep you posted on the gym/fitness center I do end up joining though, because it is happening in the month of August. Suggestions are more than welcome. Please, please have some suggestions.

And of course, I cannot forget about my lunch date with the freshest face in town, Otarian. I've heard a lot about this new-to-NY café (they must have great PR people) but didn't even think to try it until last week. I hadn't had a chance to pack lunch in the morning so I looked up their downtown eatery location and walked on over the eight blocks. Choosing what to get was tough. For a little background info: all the food they serve is vegetarian friendly and quite a few of their items are either gluten free or vegan, choices range from soups to burgers to yummy brownies (just saying), and everything is sustainable in every way and as local as possible. Although a bit expensive for my tastes, the Roasted Vegetable Cous Cous salad was flavorful, and yet sadly hardly satisfying. I'm not writing them off or anything, it just might be a whole before we reach that bff level ;). As for iced green tea, well, she and I have always been close. Gotta love Starbucks.

I am so ridiculous that I astound myself sometimes. Oh gosh. Okay. Tonight I put my preemptive snobbery aside and had pasta salad with dinner. I don't know why I had been threatened by this ever-popular dish for so long! Perhaps it is my lack of adoration for pasta, or my fear of salads that do not involve greens, but my mom's version made with farfalle (it'll always be bow ties to me), pesto, leftover roasted vegetables, and pinto beans was out of this world. Insanity. I also enjoyed a classic vegetable favorite, broccoli, and a small piece of an unidentified fish stuffed with crab meat. What new foods, places, or things have you recently met? As far as who've you befriended lately, it might be less weird to assume that real people work better :).

P.S. Notice the abnormally-low quality of these pictures? I think my latest camera might be dead. Cameras and I just do not get along. Ever, ever :( I'm not over it.