Meet the new health drink: Beer!

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Not only that, but apparently, it has now been discovered to have real life health benefits! Can I get a woo-hoo for that? I'll come right out and admit that I have not always been a beer advocate. I was, in fact, so against beer that my friends were alarmed that I begin imbibing. Upon discovering that I 'didn't hate beer as much as I used to,' my college boyfriend remarked, "congratulations on becoming an American" or was it "congratulations on becoming a human"? I can't remember, and I'm not going to ask. But I digress. Back to my main point, which is actually twofold:

1. There are other beers besides Natty Light. This revelation shocked me also, and was a strong influencing factor in my decision to truly give beer 'the ol' college try.'

2. It's not bad for you! More than that, it can do you some good! Some of my personal favorite reasons to crack open a cold one:

 - decrease risk for heart disease by increasing your good cholesterol (HDL)

 - decrease you risk for cancer via the familiar and easy to pronounce compound xanthohumol

big-cat themed beer = 2 loves combined

 - preserve bone density. See ya, osteoporosis!

 - reduce risk for dementia

 - make yourself happy. Happy people are healthier people, right?

this beer dressed up as a bunny for halloween

Don't believe me? Want more? Check out these articles:

Forbes Health: 8 Healthy Reasons to Drink Beer

Healthy Living on Shine: 5 Surprising Health Benefits of Beer

CBS News: Beer a Health Booster?

Hope you had a wonderful halloweekend and are enjoying a sugar-high-fueled start to your week!

Goodbye, bridle path. Goodbye, outer loop and lower loop.

In addition to having to say goodbye to my quasi-boyfriend, Equinox, I also have to say goodbye to my favorite running routes. There are only two, so it won't be too difficult.

I live a block away from Central Park, so I obviously frequent the outer path of the park for 95% of my runs. I don't tangle too much with the inner paths because, um, I get lost. Consequently...my runs could be slightly more variant.

When I really can't stand the same scenery, I am fortunate enough to live on the west side of Manhattan (so much better than the east side, don't listen to anyone who says differently - they are liars and not to be trusted on any matter) and not too far away from the West Side Highway running path, which stretches both south and north. I used to frequent this path during my marathon training as I could run all the way up to Harlem through Riverside Park and then down to the very southern-most tip of Manhattan through Hudson Park, Battery Park and sprinklings of other parks of which I don't know the proper names. This route allowed me a good amount of distance in without having to do laps of anything. Always a plus.

This summer, I've had the opportunity to add a third route to my list: Park Avenue on Saturday mornings, also known as Summer Streets! I love the new route, the ability to cover vast amounts of land, and of course the free samples!

Other running "routes" I've enjoyed include the Brooklyn Half Marathon course, the Queens Half Marathon Course, and the Hamptons Half Marathon course. I was hoping to add one more to that list this weekend with the upcoming Bronx Half Marathon, unfortunately it seems that Hurricane Irene did not hear of my plans and is doing her darndest to thwart them.

I've been discussing options with my running friends for how we should approach the race and the consensus seems to be: sleep in. On Sunday, that is. On Friday, talks are in progress for meeting at 6 am to get in a good 13 miles before work.

are we sure that's a good idea?

One thing I am particularly delighted about is that while I will have to bid adieu to my favorite running routes I will not have to endure a dramatic goodbye with my favorite running friends. The benefit of developing friendships through a sport like running is that you can continue to see each other at races since we are all crazy and love travelling cross-country to run further in one morning than most people would like to in one lifetime. A large group of us are looking into forming teams for this winter's Miami Ragnar Relay because you know where I don't want to be this winter? Anywhere but Miami!

 What are your favorite running routes?
Do you want to run from Miami to Key West with me?!?

Treadmills are boring

That is the actual name of a playlist I created to encourage me to complete speed workouts - or any workouts, for that matter - on the treadmill, because guess what, it's true. Treadmills are boring.

Even armed with my mighty, up-beat playlist, my best laid plans to last more than five minutes on the t-mill often fall quickly asunder and I putter over to a pilates class, or the elliptical, or, you know...home...

My motivation has skyrocketed, however, since my discovery of interval training - you can get an even better workout than the slow steady run, get it done quickly and maintain level of interest? Where do I sign up?

The best part is, you don't actually have to sign up, you just have to climb on your treadmill. Or your gym's treadmill - so I guess you do have to sign up for that one. I digress. Some of my favorites have included this one (note: hard) this 'family of ones', if you will, and the most recent one I've conquered: this one from the cutest Gina which I love because it mixes hill intervals, sprint intervals, and gets me sweaty and off the treadmill in 30 minutes flat so I can do more important things, like enjoy tapas and happy hour margs with these loca chicas:

more fun than a barrel of treadmills!

Any fave interval workouts out there, for either on or off the tread? 
Any new, distracting workout songs I should download?
Help a sista out!

I'm baaaack!

Well, that was a fabulous staycation! I enjoyed a four-day weekend with my cousin prowling around NYC, giggling at her awe of all of the things I now completely take for granted. It's such a joy to see a city I've been living in through new eyes and was an aptly timed trip as I had the opportunity to do some final touristing and appreciating of the city before I depart for good in...less than two weeks, today!

Brace yourself, because there are about to be more photos in this one post than in the entirety of my blog....

at The Plaza! 

Yes, I made her pose for this. She'll appreciate me later.

in Central Park!

crossing the Brooklyn Bridge!

free doggy bags in Brooklyn!

 I felt compelled to take this iconic photograph as a mental note that they do not have such things in Manhattan...welcome to DUMBO! (By the way, if you are not a New Yorker and come into town, Dumbo is a must visit! you heard it here, folks.)

Anne and the Empire State Building!

slightly sweaty after a long day....

It's very apt that we're posing beneath the "Vegetarian Burger" posting as that is what we all got. I actually despise ordering the same thing as other people so I was none too pleased. We also ordered the same thing at lunch the next day...seriously peeved.

girls at Lucky Strike!

No, I didn't wear the same outfit four days running - these are all taken on the same day. And yes, we did go to The Plaza, Central Park, Brooklyn, Ground Zero, City Hall, West Village and SoHo...all on day one. I told you I get aggressive.

Luckily for Anne, day two consisted of a whole lot of this out at Long Beach:

a lil greasy post-beach time

And the rest of the weekend was filled with rain, providing ample time for much-needed napping and a viewing of "Crazy, Stupid Love" (so cute!)

Now it's Wednesday already and I need to get a' packin' for the big move!!!

Garden State Weekend

Last weekend I accomplished two things I am proud of:

1. Ran the Queens Half-Marathon (more on that lata)

2. Won a heated game of Thumper at a house party in New Jersey

For those of you unfamiliar, Thumper goes by other names: Zoo and Animal Kingdom are two I've heard, and is in the genre of "camp games" traditionally played by the under-ten set.

So naturally, when you have 25 college graduates between the ages of 22 and 25 in a house, you spend your night playing Thumper and Charades. (I don't think anyone was counting, but I think I single-handedly lost at Charades for my entire team. Thank goodness I had my Thumper victory to keep my self esteem afloat)

a...a....a Tree grows in Brooklyn!

monkey?

At the end of August, I will be leaving New York to return to my beloved hometown, St. Louis, a move I could not be more excited about. What I am not excited about, however, is that I will likely miss out on many such parties as this one. One of my friends estimated that there is a close-knit group of 50 of us, a figure which I think is on the conservative side. We have a huge and wonderful group of friends, most of whom live between Boston and Washington D.C., and we all put in a concerted effort to see each other a few times a year. And it is amazing.

flip cup on a raft? YES.

it's a tough job...but someone's got to do it.

The support, positivity, and laughter received from true friends is immeasurably important in living the best life possible. I will miss these crazy mules (our college mascot!) so much and hope to continue to make it to our larger gatherings...at least once annually!

Another weekend winner

I spent the vast majority of this past weekend lazing in the sun and scaring fellow loungers with my ghostly pallor.

On Saturday, I enjoyed a fast run on Long Beach's boardwalk, during which an older runner stopped me to ask if I would be running a race occuring in Long Beach the next weekend. I have no idea why someone would stop a stranger who is running past them and blaring music into their eardrums to ask such a question, but I took it to mean that I run so fast this man thinks I should race in all races, professionally, and win.

After a few hours slathered in SPF 70 with helioplex and fully educating myself on all of the latest celebrity gossip, it was high time for one of these:

strawberry daiquiri + pina colada = tru pink luv

Hello, I earned it.

I had to hightail it back to the city, so I hopped onto my tandem bike, sponsored by the fine brewmakers at Natural Light.

wheeee!

Totally kidding, my bike was actually sponsored by Bud Heavy.

I then had to sprint onto the train just as it was about to pull out for New York to celebrate my dear friend & celebrated opera artiste's 25th birthday.

One of these became necessary:

really just tastes like poison.

After a wonderful birthday celebration with my girl, I was ready to rocket launch myself into bed in time for a 6:30 am wake up call. Yes, on a Sunday. Following a slow and easy run and church, I hopped into my friend Sarah's Zipcar and headed up to Sleepy Hollow Country Club to lay by the pool, learn even more about celebrity gossip (and you didn't even think that was possible!) grab some club food and watch the U.S. Women's Team almost win the World Cup, and just generally suffer through my difficult, laborious existence.

The only way to cap off such a day was to spend one last evening with Julia before she heads back to her house upstate and help her finish off the tub of salted caramel Pinkberry she bought last week. That's an acceptable dinner, right?

Something about summer weekends makes me feel like a kid again! Hope yours was just as playful.

I left the island!

I had the treat of venturing out of Manhattan not once, but twice, this past weekend. Although the first trip was still in New York City, technically speaking, I think we can all agree that the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG as it is referred to in all of their informational signage and will be hereby referred to in this here blog) remains a worthy respite from a hot, city summer day.


sunny friends on a sunny day!


I was in complete awe of the stunning floral show on display at the BBG - the roses, the lilies, the exotic greenhouse plants.

not found on 58th street

I didn't spy any peonies (my favorite flower) so in its place my favorite flower of the day was absolutely the sacred lotus blossoms growing from floating lilypads in the Japanese garden.

A perfect combination of weird and beautiful, just my taste!

don't those buds look like shower heads?

Amazing.

this greenhouse flower reminded me of a textile!

mellow yellow

Such a reminder that God's creation is approximately infinitely more beautiful than anything we try to pull together.

My second venture off the island took me much further away to the beautiful Rhinebeck, NY for a surprise birthday party my sweet friend Chloe's delightful parents threw for her big 25th. It was such a wonderful evening of friendship and joy - I always look forward to meeting my friends' families and Chloe's is truly incredible. The thought and time they put into organizing a special event for her was heartwarming and I was so glad to be a part of it!

I took zero pictures - woops! - but trust me that the party was elegant, festive, fun, and left me with a terrible headache Sunday.

I capped off my weekend with a dinner of copious amounts of guacamole (too much is never enough), Trader Joe's indian dishes and Pinkberry with two of my best friends from high school. Being able to share time with these two unbelievable, hilarious, inspiring, encouraging ladies in New York was such a treat and left me with a very happy heart.

This past weekend was so overabundantly joyful that you better believe I was left with a July 5th feeling yesterday. I cured this with the classic documentary musical "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," shown for free as part of the HBO Film Festival series in Bryant Park!

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

The only slightly unpleasant aspect of that show was the hooligan sitting next to us, sporting a mullet and chain smoking. First of all, that's illegal in New York parks. Second of all, ew.

Hope your weekend was just as lovely and your week is going swimmingly!

Coffee: some is good, more is better.

Despite all of the rumors you've heard, New York City is actually not a relaxing place to live. Work atmospheres tend to be competitive and stressful, social schedules tend to be packed to the brim, and if you don't have 14 side hobbies, what are you even doing here?

It is both a blessing and a curse to be constantly busy. I am sort of a contradiction of a person in that while I am very outgoing, social and *ahem* bubbly...I am actually secretly a homebody. Nothing I love more than curling up with tea and a good book, having a friend over for a homemade dinner and conversation, taking a long walk, or watching an old re-run of Murder, She Wrote...I mean, what?!? Who said that!?

Welp, this weekend will not be one of those relaxing weekends.

Literally, every second is accounted for with parties (one of which is upstate!), a dinner, a trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden (my inaugural visit! so excited - and, for all you New Yorkers, admission to the garden is free before noon on Saturdays!), studying, running...whew!

I'm very excited, particularly as I will be seeing a few friends I don't get to see often, but also looking forward to a time in my life in which I can take a breather, take a walk, take the time to have a good phone date, do my laundry......

And on that note, it's time to visit my favorite baristas and get my 54 cent Starbucks refill. Yes, I know the exact cost, with tax.

couldn't do it without you.

Anyone else feel like they're always crazy busy...in their "free" time?