What I'm Loving Wednesday

I always try and be different and do these "themed" posts a different day than everyone else, and I really just have to stop that. Popular and catchy themes are popular and catchy for a reason. So here goes.

1. My new hair!

Yes.. I cut it. Again. I'm pretty sure I completely change my style almost every time I go in.. and despite my assumption that my stylist may want to kill me at some point, I actually think she loves me more for it. Keeps her on her toes! All I know is that I am so, so happy to have it short again.

2. Goûter Tonics

Goûter (goo-tay) is a super local DC company that makes some fabulous alkaline water tonics. I actually did a 3-day cleanse of 6 tonics a day back in January, and I'm happy to say that I still love pretty much all of their products. It definitely helps that they keep coming out with new ones, like this months Refresh (featuring watermelon, mint, and chia seeds) and Salted Melon (featured cantaloupe, mint, himalayan salt, and chia seeds). Their business plan is also kind of interesting- they don't have a website (just a Facebook page), and mostly rely on bringing and selling their products to local yoga/Pilates studios and some local organic markets. Hey, I'm all for supporting local!!

3. Teeccino

Speaking of yummy drinks.. I'm also back on a Teecino (tea-CHEE-no) kick. Basically, it's all the satisfaction of having coffee.. but without the coffee (and caffeine and acidity). Now of course it's not exactly the same, but it's a pretty darn good replacement that comes in some pretty yummy flavors. I just tried the Dandelion Caramel Nut yesterday (organic carob, organic chicory, organic dandelion, dates, almonds, natural caramel nut flavor, organic figs), and it's a good variance from my usual French Roast option (organic carob, organic barley, organic chicory, organic ramon nuts, natural coffee flavor).

So while I'm definitely a tea nut (you should SEE my collection), I do find myself opting for this a couple times a week instead (although it's technically a tea as well). Especially when I randomly start craving coffee at 3pm but refuse to down that much caffeine. (Another side effect of getting older.. caffeine sensitively. WTF.)

4. TheSavory.com

This website has my pure, undying love right now. It's your standard Food/Drink/Recipe site.. but better. Just the amount of fun, interesting articles they have on wine alone has me hooked. Go check it out. Especially my new fave article: "3 Great Cocktails to Get you Loaded Whilst Juicing."

5. Planning our trip to Maine!

via

While planning a week-long trip on a super tight budget and having no idea about the area you're going to is kind of tough.. it's also incredibly exciting. Scot and I have started to realize that, in our almost 7 years together, we have really haven't ever gone away/on a vacation that was just the two of us, and just for us. We are always either staying with friends or family and basing our time away around that - even our honeymoon (aka Friendymoon) to Mexico was done with friends. Of course a lot of this has had to do with finances - we just don't have the dough to go on some of the vacations that our friends and family can.

Our solution was to finally take a week off this summer and do a road trip/bed and breakfast tour of Maine's coast. Scot's parents agreed to come down for a week to watch the animals - so we don't need to pay for a sitter or kennel - and the plan is to just sort of hop around Maine's highlights like Portland, the beaches, Midcoast, and Acadia. I'm still looking for someplace to stay in the Midcoast area.. so if you have suggestions of places to go and things to see, I'm all ears!!

(Also.. lobster. I CANNOT WAIT for all the lobster.)

What are you loving this week?

weekend recap + BB brownies

I don't do a lot of weekend recaps.. mostly because my weekends have been a bit boring and work-filled lately.. but this past one was definitely deserves a few words! Well, Friday at least.

I started off the day with a hot power yoga class - which is always my favorite way to start a Friday morning. My fave local studio features $5 Friday's, so when I can squeeze in a cheap class and grab a few more Goûter tonics? It's a good day.

The next stop of the day was to see our tattoo guy, Chris, at Low Tide Tattoos for my newest ink - a cat paw. Something I haven't talked much about here just yet is about the passing of my sweet kitty, Tully, back in December. The reader's digest version is that he developed lymphoma last year, and it was just a matter of time before it took over his body. We had to put him to sleep just after Thanksgiving, and god help me, it was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I still think about him everyday.

When he started getting sicker, I decided that I wanted to eventually "commemorate" him with a tattoo of his paw print. The interesting part was actually getting the print, but after several tries (and lots of wet food as incentive), I was able to get a few decent ones. It took me a few months to actually schedule an appointment, but I was feeling especially inspired last week and set something up for midday Friday.

I sent Chris two of the best paw prints - and seeing as he's also done five out of my seven tattoos - I trusted him completely with it. And guys? It's beautiful.

Hey, Goüter!

Well, I'm still alive, so that's a good sign.

As I'm writing this, I have one more tonic to go on day 3 - the last day of my little cleanse.

How am I feeling? Pretty good, actually.
Am I excited to digest some delicious noms tomorrow.. not in tonic form? Hells. Yes.

{I actually had a dream about tortilla chips last night. It was delightful.}

Now I have to admit that I tend to have a flair for the overdramatic on occasion. So despite my musings, you must know that no, I was never rolling around crying and thinking "omg I'm so hangryyyyyy". Did my tummy grumble a bit? Sure. But it does every day. Did I occasionally wish I could have a nice, fresh salad? You bet. But did I make it through.. and dare I say, enjoy it?.. absolutely.