Ahh-choo!

It has come.  It has arrived in full force.  The one and only....allergy season.

Ever since I came back from the park last evening, I can't even count to 10 before I let out another uncontrollable sneeze.  And this morning was no different.  I had to reassure coworkers who were giving me the stink-eye that this was just allergies, but they didn't seem too convinced. 

I still attempted a quick & easy 3-miler during lunch, but it was more my nose than the rest of the body that was doing the "running" today.  Errrgh.

So I popped a few Tylenol Sinus pills (for those of you who know me, you know just how bad it was if I was taking *gasp* medication!) and waited for it to work its magic.

After a drowsy afternoon, I picked up the roomie & K-Special and headed to Goodnite Gracies to support C-ler as she guest bartended to raise money for Team in Training.  Let's just say its a good thing she has her day job :)  In any case, martinis for a good cause?  Yes please! 

(and no, K-Special didn't drink *all* those by herself!)

Shin splints be gone!

I always realize I need new kicks just a tad too late.  This time was no different.  As I carried my splinted shins into Tortoise & Hare, I came out with just a cleaner, newer version of my existing shoes:

My Nike Pegasus.  I keep going back to these time after time.  They're simply that fabulous.  And its an added bonus that they fit my huge double-D feet :)

With my shiney new shoes, I headed to our nearby park to do my speed workout for the week - 4x800's.  Neighborhood dogs were being walked left and right and provided a much needed distraction.  Before I knew it, I was done and headed home to be greeted by this: 

OH MY GOD HOW CUTE ARE THEY?? 

After my double dinner-bomb of too salty salmon and too bitter brussel sprouts, the roomie made some raspberry choco scones from the Food & Wine recipe book that were juuuuust right!  Here they are (please disregard the aesthetics; they tasted like pieces of heaven!):

I've already had two and am currently eyeing another one... 

Binge drinking? Nah, binge EATING!

Weekend = binge eating.  And this weekend was no different for *this girl.*

It started off with satisfying my truffle obsession w/ truffle fries from Jolly Pumpkin: 

Then, decided to try their grilled romaine with warm potato croutons - you'd think this was healthy, but the deep fried potato cheesy croutons made it "Yuko-appropriate" :)

Saturday morning, I skipped my morning workout to meet up with K-Jo at Phat Sammich.  As we walked into this newly opened (okay fine, 7 months ago!) restaurant in Birmingham, it was as if we time warped into the 70's.  Grooviness.  K-Jo decided on #18 - The Mexican Chicken:  Pulled chicken w/ chipotle mayo, pepperjack cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and doritos, stuffed inbetween a grilled sesame seed bun.  The doritos were a pleasant surprise that added a nice texture!

K-Jo's first attempt to take  bite out of the burger - fail!

I opted for #1 The Phat Sammich original, per recommendation by the employees.  This consisted of corned beef w/ cole slaw, french fries, swiss cheese, Russian dressing on a grilled Italian bread.  Heart attack on a plate, you say?  Eh, no prob!  And yes, I finished it!

After a quick unbuttoning of the pants and a cat-nap at the rents place, I got ready to head to Royal Oak to meet up w/ my PPs (pregger pals) L-Nol, J-Wow, and my fav girl Lil-A at D'amatos.  We started our dinner with bruchetta as an appetizer.  Nothing extraordinary, but it was tasty nonetheless:

For my main dish I decided to go with the chef's special of the Sable Fish.  The presentation was great (I was amused by the baked potato chips on top!), but was a bit too creamy for me and I would still prefer Pacific Rim's version over this (As a sidenote: The description of the sable fish on their regular menu looked more up my alley so I'm not disregarding this restaurant!).

Lil' A taste tested our dessert for us to make sure it was a-ok.  The choco-peanut butter mousse was a perfect sweet finish to a fabulous dinner!

It was so good to catch up w/ the girls...hmm, maybe next time it will be plus two??

And to finish off this weekend of binge eating, after taking Gymmy w/ me on a short (but raaaainy!) 45min tempo run, the roomie and I headed out to try O'sushi.  But not for their sushi, oh no.  For their hot stone bibimbab.  The crunchiness of the rice at the bottom of the bowl hit the spot!  We will be back, O'Bibimbab!

Now I have to go thru my closet to see if I have any clothes that still fit me...*sigh*

Logan to the Rescue!

I failed.  Miserably.

I've been talking up this whole "Michigan Beer Pairing Dinner" at Grange to the hubs ever since I made the reservation a few weeks back.  As I picked him up from work, we both chatted eagerly of what we were soon about to experience...

Unfortunately, quickly after being seated we were informed that I had incorrectly made reservations (I still think I didn't do anything wrong, poo!).  Instead, the fun-filled exciting event was occurring upstairs at their bar, and was at its capacity.  Hmph.

I didn't want our date night to go to waste, so we decided to walk around town and see what Ann Arbor had to offer.  It was quick trip down memory lane, as we used to eat out every night when we first started dating.  Cafe Zola one night, Cafe Felix another, even a splash of Dolce Vita once (or twice!) a week.  As we decided upon an oldie but goodie, The Earle, we found ourselves distracted by the subtle yellow walls and classic looking interior of the restaurant just a few feet before our destination.  Before we knew it, we were seated at Logan's.

Now I have to admit I'm not a Logan's virgin, but my previous experience was uneventful.  Decent food, but nothing extraordinary, for an extraordinary price.  But last night's experience was much much different.  They tempted us with a 5-course prix fix menu that is only offered on Tues - Thurs, and we definitely bit that bait. 

Our first course was seared yellowfin tuna steak slices over buckwheat noodles, topped with daikon and carrots, served w/ warm dashi broth.  Nothing crazy original, I mean, its literally a Japanese dish.  But I give it props for presentation, and it tasted great!

Our second course was probably my favorite:  Creamy mushroom risotto w/ a red wine reduction, topped w/ a well sauted shrimp and scallop.  Nom nom!!

The third course was interesting - the name was too sophisticated for me to pronounce nor remember.  But it was a mix of pork & rabbit wrapped in bacon, and it went perfectly with the slightly bitter after taste of the endive.

                              

Final savory dish:  Beef short ribs braised in red wine and veal stock served on top of creamy polenta.  The short ribs were soooo tender I didn't even have to lift my knife.

And to wrap up the evening, bread pudding for dessert.  I'll be honest, I've dissed this dish before, but I guess I never gave it a chance.  It tasted like a sweeter version of French Toast, and then bruleed on top.  The marinated pieces of peaches were a nice finishing touch. 

Great dinner, great company.  Who could have asked for anything more?  So in the end, my mistake turned out okay... :)

Just call me Phoebe

Living and training on flat surfaces, I used to despise even the littlest of hills.  The burning sensation in the quads, followed by shortness of breath just really wasn't my style.  The easiest, flattest route to log in the miles was just the way I liked it.

Unfortunately, the most direct route home from work is one that encounters some rolling hills.  To most people, and even myself when I'm driving, they wouldn't even recognize the repeating inclines and declines.  Now by my description you'd think I'm climbing up Mt. Everest, I know.  In reality, I'm guessing its a mere 1-3% incline.  Yes, I give you permission to call me a baby.  As much as I absolutely abhorred hills, I forgot about the greatest thing that follows that tough trek up...the easy, breezy, beautiful downhill!  Until yesterday, that is.  On the incline, I'd put my head down (probably not the best form but whatevs) and work my way up slowly.  On the way down, I'd plaster on a huge smile, let my legs take full control, and call out the inner Phoebe in me:

How spoiled am I, for when I arrived home I saw the hubs making fajitas for dinner (the chicken pieces were marinaded in a delicious concoction of mixed spice seasoning w/ a truffle salt finish!) and the roomie making oatmeal muffins (with Ghiradelli dark choco pieces to complete a non-healthy recipe, just for me!) for dessert.  I plopped my lazy butt down and watch as they slaved over the stove for me.  Not only that, last night the roomie casually asked what my job function was, interested in what I've been doing for the last 6.5 years.  And as I began to answer, I was pleasantly *shocked* as the hubs answered for me, almost completely correct.  Simultaneously, I was embarrassed that I didn't have a clue what he does... So thank you hubs, for listening to me all these years...all those times I was stressing & complaining & ranting, I didn't think you were actually listening.  Reflection for today: Yuko needs to learn to be a better listener...

Ain't no sprinter here...

After a weekend full of large caloric intake and limited physical activity, I knew I was long overdue for a good workout.  But as I looked outside yesterday, all I saw was dreary, rainy weather not depicting the first few days of Spring so well.

But, motivated by KT's email, I decided to run to the small park near my house to do a quick speed workout - 8 x 400s.  My first ever speed workout outside, not on the treadmill. I know its just a mere 0.25mi, but I'm not used to running at a faster pace.  It was a weird feeling - shortness of breath, tingling of the limbs...if I didn't know any better, I'd say I was having a heart attack!  After a total of what added up to be 2 miles, my body was already done.  Clearly I wasn't cut out to be a sprinter...heck, even a runner at that!

I'm looking forward to running home from work today - its currently a little cloudy, but not pouring rain.  I'm in dire need of the 2 hours of mellow time after the day I'm having so far already. Have you ever had one of those days when you want to just tell your coworkers, "Stop complaining!! If you're so unhappy, then just quit!"  Don't want to get all "The Secret" an' stuff, but I do agree - negativity is contagious, and I hope my "immune system" is strong enough not to catch it :)

Recap of my lovely SF vaca!

A not-so-quick recap of the fun-filled, food-filled weekend in San Fran!

1.  Fantabulous food!
You can count on my sis to make an itinerary full of fabulous restaurants to try.  We started our vaca with a pit stop at our fav fast food, In-N-Out:

The next evening we headed to the roomie's friend's restaurant, Namu.  We had an amazing time chatting it up w/ friends over delicious Korean-Asian dishes:

My fav: halibut served over koshihikari porcini risotto w/ fried brussel sprouts

Korean chili flakes sprinkled over choco chip cookies

We tried Le Terrasse for brunch before our hike in Marin Headlands on Saturday.  My dish was simple - I picked it b/c of its name "California Eggs Benedict:"

And finally, we wrapped up our vaca with some Afghani food from Salang Pass:

Quabili pallow & Mantoo

I heart this staple Fremont restaurant b/c we don't have any of its sorts in Michigan, at least not that I know of.  And the restaurant name reminds me of the famous Japanese pain relief patch my parents used to use.  Completely unrelated, but nostalgic nonetheless.

2.  Fantabulous friends!

Besides the sis, bro-in-law, and their dog Buster, I was ecstatic to meet up w/ my fav California-ites.

3.  Chooooocolaaaaate!
I mean, we DID go there specifically for the International Chocolate Festival.  This is what I believe heaven would be like.  It's a tough call, but I think my fav was the chocolate caramel bacon from Christoper Michael.  Delish!

International Chocolate Festival @ Fort Mason

4. Free massages!
Thanks to my talented sister and the Xmas gift I got her a few years back, I was able to receive *free* better-than professional full body massages EVERY day I was in SF! I think my face has a permanent imprint of the "donut hole"...

5.  Introducing, my sister The ATHLETE!
When our casual hike turned *slightly* dangerous, my sis shouted out a quick, "Run!"  So what did I do?  Took a picture of course!  I mean, when else will I see my sister RUNNING??  We praised her on her form and pace, but she just shook of the compliments.  San Fran half marathon, here she comes!!