It's official. I have actually signed up and paid for the half marathon that I'll be running on Nov. 6. I know I'd already posted on here that I was going to do it and, of course, crowed to all of my family and friends about my upcoming adventure, but I've done that before and learned that it's completely possible to do so and still back out. But now my broke self has actually laid down money, so I have to do it (too bad that doesn't work with gym memberships and purchased home gym equipment. Ahem).
Anyway, training officially started on Monday (courtesy of the Runner's World Smart Coach) with an easy 2-miler. It would have been easier if I hadn't helped polish off a bucket of sangria and some rum punch the night before, but I made myself do it anyway because it doesn't bode well when one skips her first day to lay about on the couch bemoaning her headache. Yesterday was cross-training, and today was the real test. It's been a long time since I've run over 5 miles, and certainly a long time since I've done it at the crack of dawn, but I dragged myself out of bed this morning before the sun was up and slogged through it. Oof. I may run regularly, and I may be in decent shape, but that hurt y'all. I chose a pretty farm road loop near my parents' house in Lancaster, which was, um, fragrant. If you've ever driven through Amish country you have an idea of what I mean, but nothing compares to an early morning run right beside the fields when you're breathing hard. Holy cow dung, but maybe it spurred me to go a little faster and I finished in the allotted time. Unfortunately I also broke the screen on my iPod by sweating all over it, but I can still sort of see a millimeter or so around the edges and it still makes sound, so all is not lost. As long as it still plays for my 6-miler on Saturday morning I can work around the broken screen.
So, just a few minutes before I started writing this, I attempted to actually drive the route to get a better feel for it. And...then I got lost. I started at the appointed address and went on my way only to come to a one-lane bridge that's closed for repairs. Okay, turn around. I went the other way, promptly misreading my now backward directions and ending up where I started, at which point I gave up to come home to drink wine. On the plus side, the road that I was mistakenly driving on has far too many hills, so I'm glad I was a little off. Anyway, wish me luck and I'll keep you updated with my attempts to keep breathing while running further and further from my beloved couch.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
What've You Been Up To?
Sooooo. It's been a while. Things have been hectic around here - good busy, but busy nonetheless. So, a recap. A quick one, mostly boring, but a reminder that I'm still here and will eventually return to posting on the regular.
- I watched the first season of The Jersey Shore. I felt appropriately ashamed of myself but couldn't stop.
- I started commuting back and forth between Lancaster and D.C. for a job, and it's going quite well. I only see the boyfriend twice a week, but still.
- We're happy. Like, really really happy. There was a patch there, not exactly rough, but a bit bumpy, but all is as it should be now. We're still planning on eventually being married by Elvis, and I'm still planning to wear a red dress.
- I finally got rid of a really toxic person in my life and I made some amazing friends in D.C. I feel I have a family here now.
- So, of course, I have legitimate job leads in both Pittsburgh and Lancaster.
- Lancaster is, shockingly, ahead in the running for where I want to live if I don't live here. It's funny how your hometown can go from being the most hated place ever to the place where it's familiar and comfortable and nice that the guy in the coffee shop remembers your order every day. It's even nicer when you could get a three bedroom for the amount that you pay now and have a backyard for your as yet unpurchased giant dog. I love giant dogs.
- I'm running a half marathon in November. I might be crazy, but at least it finally made me quit smoking for real.
- I'm fully obsessed with Glee, despite my intense loathing of musicals, and glad that Emma Pillsbury, my fave fictional guidance counselor, has finally validated my cardigan habit.
There's most likely a lot more, but three-ish months is hard to remember all at once. For now, that seems good enough. And I really do feel bad about the Jersey Shore thing.
- I watched the first season of The Jersey Shore. I felt appropriately ashamed of myself but couldn't stop.
- I started commuting back and forth between Lancaster and D.C. for a job, and it's going quite well. I only see the boyfriend twice a week, but still.
- We're happy. Like, really really happy. There was a patch there, not exactly rough, but a bit bumpy, but all is as it should be now. We're still planning on eventually being married by Elvis, and I'm still planning to wear a red dress.
- I finally got rid of a really toxic person in my life and I made some amazing friends in D.C. I feel I have a family here now.
- So, of course, I have legitimate job leads in both Pittsburgh and Lancaster.
- Lancaster is, shockingly, ahead in the running for where I want to live if I don't live here. It's funny how your hometown can go from being the most hated place ever to the place where it's familiar and comfortable and nice that the guy in the coffee shop remembers your order every day. It's even nicer when you could get a three bedroom for the amount that you pay now and have a backyard for your as yet unpurchased giant dog. I love giant dogs.
- I'm running a half marathon in November. I might be crazy, but at least it finally made me quit smoking for real.
- I'm fully obsessed with Glee, despite my intense loathing of musicals, and glad that Emma Pillsbury, my fave fictional guidance counselor, has finally validated my cardigan habit.
There's most likely a lot more, but three-ish months is hard to remember all at once. For now, that seems good enough. And I really do feel bad about the Jersey Shore thing.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Shredded
Last time I was on here, I believe I was bitching about my recent weight gain, which is both unfair and unwarranted (the weight gain, not the bitching). At the time, I'd been doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred for a while, and keeping notes, which follow this intro. I must warn you, if you don't like exercise, or find long exercise-related posts kind of boring, you might as well stop now. If you want my impressions of the workout (and a little more cranky), keep going.
Week 1:
Started with Level 1. It's hard, but doable. I've decided to stick to my regular eating habits because I'm incapable of dieting. I would rather work out hard than attempt to restrict myself. I also stuck to my regular exercise routine for the most part - if I was doing Level 1 I did another workout with it, but the first few times that I did Level 2 I just did it alone. Anyway, so I started out at X weight (I'm not telling) and took my measurements. At the end of Week 1, I'd lost a half inch off of my waist, hips, and booty and lost 2 pounds. I admittedly did not do the workouts on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I needed a day off since I felt myself getting shin splints, and Sunday I was so grossly hungover I took a two hour nap and mostly ate saltines and drank ginger tea. Ahem.
Week 2: I was somewhat dissatisfied with my results from Week 1, so I did weight training days in addition to the Shred workouts rather than just running. Said workout basically consisted of biking for 15 minutes as a warm-up (no running b/c of shin splints), 20 minutes of either free weights on arm day or One on One Training with Jackie on leg day, plus whatever Level of the Shred I was feeling that day. I also tried Level 3 this week, which was a bit much at the time - too many plyometrics for my spindly little shins. Ow. I literally yelled OUCH a couple times. Plyometrics are so not for me. It felt like my poor little legs were breaking. I also made the mistake this week of doing a workout while hungover. Never. Again. Worst. Idea. Ever. Results, however, were pretty much unchanged.
Week 3: Have started keeping track of my calories and trying to eat more protein and fewer carbs (in a healthy, non-Atkins way). Apparently I am not entirely incapable of dieting, just cranky about it. Mostly, I am frustrated as hell that I am working out like a demon and not seeing results. The universe hates me. I did Level 3 again this morning and remembered that it hates me too. Mostly, my issue comes from the two most vile exercises I can think of - jump lunges and jump squats. I am unable to keep my balance during the former and during the second set of the latter I was in so much pain that I yelled "Shut UP Jillian!" at the TV and then muted it. Because I wasn't being melodramatic at all.
Week 4: Have started eating protein shakes for lunch. I am now a protein shake girl. I sort of hate myself a little for that. And yet, all the calorie counting and the fact that I do Level 3, a cardio warm-up (usually) and 20 minutes of abs has not made for super results. The grand total? I lost 3 pounds (WTF?), 1 inch from my waist, 1 from the booty, and 1 from my hips. Again, WTF? Overall it's a good workout, for sure, if you don't have much time. I think maybe I expected too much, having heard that it could change your body big time. And maybe it would have if I'd started from a different place - not exercising much to begin with or having more to lose - but honestly, it's a routine I'll probably only really stick with on days that I don't have much time. In the meantime, I'll have my protein shakes to keep me warm at night.
Overall:
A great DVD, especially if you don't have a lot of time. I know I did regular workouts with the DVD workouts, but if I didn't have time for a whole big thing I felt like I got a decent workout in 25 minutes, which is pretty sweet.
Level 1 is good. It's definitely hard, but Jillian is hardcore and motivating (although that pain that I feel while doing bicycle crunches? It's not "fear leaving the body," it's lactic acid buildup. Just sayin'). Level 2 is harder, but still doable. The cardio is more heart-pumping, and the weight exercises are static (think holding a lunge for a full minute) so your muscles are working the whole time. However, after a week and a half I felt like I needed another workout on top of both Levels 1 & 2. Level 3 is a beast, at least when you first start. I did really like the fact that she incorporated weights into the cardio (think punches while holding your dumbells) and there is something perversely satisfying about being that sweaty. Gives me a sense of accomplishment. However, at the end I still needed a little something extra (lagniappe, as we would say in NOLA) by my third day at Level 3.
My biggest issue with the DVD? There is this section at the beginning where Jillian talks for about 3 minutes, introducing herself and the workouts. Cool...one time. The problem comes because you CAN'T fast forward, and I only needed to hear it once. It's like those FBI warnings, but way longer. It's kind of hugely annoying when you've heard it 30 times in a row. Other than that, the stretching portion wasn't enough for me, so I just did my own stretches at the end, which made it pretty much a nonissue. Apparently, I also can't really speak to results, but if you're starting from scratch I'd say it's a pretty good place to start from. Mostly, I am lukewarm but still recommending it, and I'm starting to really like protein shakes. Sure, they taste like Yoo-Hoo with some fruit added, but now I find them weirdly satisfying. I'm not sure what that says about me.
Week 1:
Started with Level 1. It's hard, but doable. I've decided to stick to my regular eating habits because I'm incapable of dieting. I would rather work out hard than attempt to restrict myself. I also stuck to my regular exercise routine for the most part - if I was doing Level 1 I did another workout with it, but the first few times that I did Level 2 I just did it alone. Anyway, so I started out at X weight (I'm not telling) and took my measurements. At the end of Week 1, I'd lost a half inch off of my waist, hips, and booty and lost 2 pounds. I admittedly did not do the workouts on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I needed a day off since I felt myself getting shin splints, and Sunday I was so grossly hungover I took a two hour nap and mostly ate saltines and drank ginger tea. Ahem.
Week 2: I was somewhat dissatisfied with my results from Week 1, so I did weight training days in addition to the Shred workouts rather than just running. Said workout basically consisted of biking for 15 minutes as a warm-up (no running b/c of shin splints), 20 minutes of either free weights on arm day or One on One Training with Jackie on leg day, plus whatever Level of the Shred I was feeling that day. I also tried Level 3 this week, which was a bit much at the time - too many plyometrics for my spindly little shins. Ow. I literally yelled OUCH a couple times. Plyometrics are so not for me. It felt like my poor little legs were breaking. I also made the mistake this week of doing a workout while hungover. Never. Again. Worst. Idea. Ever. Results, however, were pretty much unchanged.
Week 3: Have started keeping track of my calories and trying to eat more protein and fewer carbs (in a healthy, non-Atkins way). Apparently I am not entirely incapable of dieting, just cranky about it. Mostly, I am frustrated as hell that I am working out like a demon and not seeing results. The universe hates me. I did Level 3 again this morning and remembered that it hates me too. Mostly, my issue comes from the two most vile exercises I can think of - jump lunges and jump squats. I am unable to keep my balance during the former and during the second set of the latter I was in so much pain that I yelled "Shut UP Jillian!" at the TV and then muted it. Because I wasn't being melodramatic at all.
Week 4: Have started eating protein shakes for lunch. I am now a protein shake girl. I sort of hate myself a little for that. And yet, all the calorie counting and the fact that I do Level 3, a cardio warm-up (usually) and 20 minutes of abs has not made for super results. The grand total? I lost 3 pounds (WTF?), 1 inch from my waist, 1 from the booty, and 1 from my hips. Again, WTF? Overall it's a good workout, for sure, if you don't have much time. I think maybe I expected too much, having heard that it could change your body big time. And maybe it would have if I'd started from a different place - not exercising much to begin with or having more to lose - but honestly, it's a routine I'll probably only really stick with on days that I don't have much time. In the meantime, I'll have my protein shakes to keep me warm at night.
Overall:
A great DVD, especially if you don't have a lot of time. I know I did regular workouts with the DVD workouts, but if I didn't have time for a whole big thing I felt like I got a decent workout in 25 minutes, which is pretty sweet.
Level 1 is good. It's definitely hard, but Jillian is hardcore and motivating (although that pain that I feel while doing bicycle crunches? It's not "fear leaving the body," it's lactic acid buildup. Just sayin'). Level 2 is harder, but still doable. The cardio is more heart-pumping, and the weight exercises are static (think holding a lunge for a full minute) so your muscles are working the whole time. However, after a week and a half I felt like I needed another workout on top of both Levels 1 & 2. Level 3 is a beast, at least when you first start. I did really like the fact that she incorporated weights into the cardio (think punches while holding your dumbells) and there is something perversely satisfying about being that sweaty. Gives me a sense of accomplishment. However, at the end I still needed a little something extra (lagniappe, as we would say in NOLA) by my third day at Level 3.
My biggest issue with the DVD? There is this section at the beginning where Jillian talks for about 3 minutes, introducing herself and the workouts. Cool...one time. The problem comes because you CAN'T fast forward, and I only needed to hear it once. It's like those FBI warnings, but way longer. It's kind of hugely annoying when you've heard it 30 times in a row. Other than that, the stretching portion wasn't enough for me, so I just did my own stretches at the end, which made it pretty much a nonissue. Apparently, I also can't really speak to results, but if you're starting from scratch I'd say it's a pretty good place to start from. Mostly, I am lukewarm but still recommending it, and I'm starting to really like protein shakes. Sure, they taste like Yoo-Hoo with some fruit added, but now I find them weirdly satisfying. I'm not sure what that says about me.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A Little Help Here?
Dear Body,
I thought we were friends. I mean, I know that we've had our ups and downs over the years - you gave me an annoyingly sensitive stomach, but I suspect that's probably because I decided you needed an eating disorder for a few years. I got saddled with an anxiety problem, but I blame that mostly on genetics. You gave me crappy skin, but made up for it with really shiny hair. I will probably never have lovely nails, but I have cute boobs. You even allowed me to eat whatever I wanted for most of my teens and twenties, and so when you decided that a high metabolism wasn't in the cards for me anymore, I obliged you by exercising and eating right and lost the 15 (or 20) pounds that living in New Orleans for 3 years gave me. We were cool, Body, and I kept exercising and eating right because, well, it was only fair. So, Body, allow me to kindly ask: what the fuck? Where exactly do you get off adding ten of those pounds back without even asking? It's not like I did anything to deserve this. Maybe I didn't work out quite as much and maybe I wasn't as diligent about the calories, but that's only because I have things to do, dammit, and it's not like I went on a binging spree. But fine, I stepped it back up again, and...nothing. That seems a little unfair. Because, really, it's not as though I enjoy working out 7 days a week. I don't like counting calories and feeling vaguely hungry and cranky all day, but I do it because I thought we had a deal. You know what I mean - I work hard, you cooperate. It's a pretty simple equation. It's not like I expected results right away either. I bought special DVDs and I took measurements and I didn't even rely only on the scale, because that thing is damnably unreliable, and I even restricted my little check-ins to once per week, and still...nothing. And now I am in a bad mood every day because my clothes don't fight me properly and there is nothing pleasant about plump, and I am about done with being little Ms. Nice Girl. So, sack up, beeyotch, because I'm getting a little sick of this nonsense.
XOXO,
The Rest of Me
I thought we were friends. I mean, I know that we've had our ups and downs over the years - you gave me an annoyingly sensitive stomach, but I suspect that's probably because I decided you needed an eating disorder for a few years. I got saddled with an anxiety problem, but I blame that mostly on genetics. You gave me crappy skin, but made up for it with really shiny hair. I will probably never have lovely nails, but I have cute boobs. You even allowed me to eat whatever I wanted for most of my teens and twenties, and so when you decided that a high metabolism wasn't in the cards for me anymore, I obliged you by exercising and eating right and lost the 15 (or 20) pounds that living in New Orleans for 3 years gave me. We were cool, Body, and I kept exercising and eating right because, well, it was only fair. So, Body, allow me to kindly ask: what the fuck? Where exactly do you get off adding ten of those pounds back without even asking? It's not like I did anything to deserve this. Maybe I didn't work out quite as much and maybe I wasn't as diligent about the calories, but that's only because I have things to do, dammit, and it's not like I went on a binging spree. But fine, I stepped it back up again, and...nothing. That seems a little unfair. Because, really, it's not as though I enjoy working out 7 days a week. I don't like counting calories and feeling vaguely hungry and cranky all day, but I do it because I thought we had a deal. You know what I mean - I work hard, you cooperate. It's a pretty simple equation. It's not like I expected results right away either. I bought special DVDs and I took measurements and I didn't even rely only on the scale, because that thing is damnably unreliable, and I even restricted my little check-ins to once per week, and still...nothing. And now I am in a bad mood every day because my clothes don't fight me properly and there is nothing pleasant about plump, and I am about done with being little Ms. Nice Girl. So, sack up, beeyotch, because I'm getting a little sick of this nonsense.
XOXO,
The Rest of Me
Friday, April 23, 2010
Misspent Youth
I just overheard a most disturbing conversation outside of my building. A girl said that Jared Leto once touched her boob. Apparently her mother approved of this encounter, as she approved of the arrest of said girl's boyfriend. Apparently her mother is also a binge drinker and a pothead (not my own judgmental conclusion, but one gained from further eavesdropping). She looked exactly like a skinnier, trashier version of Jenny Humphrey (which is tough to do, as Little J is so bleached and trashy and racooned eyed that she is practically Courtney Love, but less awesomely insane), and probably doesn't even know that Jared Leto was once Jordan Catalano before he went all emo and became addicted to guyliner. I fear for the future of our species.
A Fun Blog and A Random Thought
First up, fun blog:
I feel it's my duty to alert all two of my readers (hi!) to a blog that I love (LOVE), missdoxie.com. I got the address from another blog a while ago and promptly read about five years of entries. It's written by an Atlanta attorney who is hilarious. Seriously, I laugh like an idiot every time that I read her stories, and sometimes it's really touching and I almost shed a tear except that I'm usually at work and that is inappropriate and pansy-like. She doesn't update very much anymore - only once or twice in the past year or so - but she has archives going back to 2004, and I am not ashamed to say that I've read them all, some several times. Said archives have gotten me through any number of mind numbingly boring doc review hours, while quite possibly convincing my office mate that I am crazy. Most days when I first started reading went much like this:
Me: click, click, click, next. Click, click, click, next. Heh. Hehehehe. Heeee.
Office Mate: strange look in my direction.
Me: click, click, click, next. Click, click, click, next. Ahahahaha. Hee. Hee. Catches breath. Snort.
Office Mate: What are you doing over there?
Me: Oh, it's just this site I'm reading. Cackle, hehehehe, hee. Giggles silently while trying to maintain composure.
Office Mate: shakes head at seemingly crazy coworker.
And on and on and on. For like, days. It's okay though, because he's a really loud breather and I am thus not apologetic for my silent, shaking, giggling fits. Anyways, go read it. You will thank me, in between fits of hysterical laughter.
And now, Random Thought:
My blog title is seriously misleading. I picked it out when I was in this serious Lady Gaga phase and it sounded fun at the time, but it in no way reflects my life. My last blog title at least made sense, especially if you took Business Enterprises with me first year. This one makes no sense at all. Not only have I succeeded in playing out every Gaga song that I own to the point that I now skip them on my iPod, but my life in no way resembles a Glamour Show, at midnight or any other time. In fact, my life is really, shockingly normal and not very glamorous at all. Full disclosure and all. So it may change at some point (again), but I'm not especially creative and I can't think of anything better at the moment, so for now you can just imagine that I'm glitter-studded and partying into the wee hours and we'll leave it at that.
I feel it's my duty to alert all two of my readers (hi!) to a blog that I love (LOVE), missdoxie.com. I got the address from another blog a while ago and promptly read about five years of entries. It's written by an Atlanta attorney who is hilarious. Seriously, I laugh like an idiot every time that I read her stories, and sometimes it's really touching and I almost shed a tear except that I'm usually at work and that is inappropriate and pansy-like. She doesn't update very much anymore - only once or twice in the past year or so - but she has archives going back to 2004, and I am not ashamed to say that I've read them all, some several times. Said archives have gotten me through any number of mind numbingly boring doc review hours, while quite possibly convincing my office mate that I am crazy. Most days when I first started reading went much like this:
Me: click, click, click, next. Click, click, click, next. Heh. Hehehehe. Heeee.
Office Mate: strange look in my direction.
Me: click, click, click, next. Click, click, click, next. Ahahahaha. Hee. Hee. Catches breath. Snort.
Office Mate: What are you doing over there?
Me: Oh, it's just this site I'm reading. Cackle, hehehehe, hee. Giggles silently while trying to maintain composure.
Office Mate: shakes head at seemingly crazy coworker.
And on and on and on. For like, days. It's okay though, because he's a really loud breather and I am thus not apologetic for my silent, shaking, giggling fits. Anyways, go read it. You will thank me, in between fits of hysterical laughter.
And now, Random Thought:
My blog title is seriously misleading. I picked it out when I was in this serious Lady Gaga phase and it sounded fun at the time, but it in no way reflects my life. My last blog title at least made sense, especially if you took Business Enterprises with me first year. This one makes no sense at all. Not only have I succeeded in playing out every Gaga song that I own to the point that I now skip them on my iPod, but my life in no way resembles a Glamour Show, at midnight or any other time. In fact, my life is really, shockingly normal and not very glamorous at all. Full disclosure and all. So it may change at some point (again), but I'm not especially creative and I can't think of anything better at the moment, so for now you can just imagine that I'm glitter-studded and partying into the wee hours and we'll leave it at that.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Gooping It Up
I have a shameful confession. I can't decide if it's worse than that time that I made a picture of Megan Fox my desktop background after deciding that, actually, she was awesome in Jennifer's Body and I thereafter forgave her for saying the most ridiculous things ever. Actually, nothing is that shameful. Anyway.
So, um, I've been reading Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter, GOOP, which I have previously scoffed at on more than one occasion. It started innocently enough: I was at work one day and I came across this article in which one person attempted to live according to GOOP for 30 days, including the crazy detox, and then I found another similar article and another and I was really bored so I just kept reading and eventually I just decided to go directly to the source. And I liked it, so much so that it is now delivered to my inbox at semi-regular intervals and I get all excited about it, much like I get excited about facebook notifications or actual emails written by friends rather than listserves.
And now that I've admitted that...it certainly is rather silly, like the issue in which she suggested Christmas presents and included things like an Hermes watch "for her" and a Mulberry weekend bag "for him." So, yes, it may be totally frivilous on occasion, because who but a celebrity jets off to Morocco for the weekend and then writes about it as though us normal folk will someday think "Hey, I'm feeling restless. Lemme check out what Gwyneth has to say about Morocco while I'm packing for a little jaunt"? Hint: the answer is no one. But! It's also like getting this sort of goofy advice from your somewhat flaky but incredibly well-meaning friend who really wants you to have fun in Morocco and thinks that you deserve an Hermes watch for Christmas. And on occasion, there are some bits that normal people without rockstar husbands and an Oscar can use, like her playlists for a spring party compiled by various celebrities and the reading lists that she occasionally writes up. Most recently, there was an issue devoted to recipes and an interview with Jaime Oliver (think whatever you like of his show - I haven't watched it - but he can still cook) that has really easy recipes for different salad dressings and a Moroccan stewed fish recipe that I made just the other day that came out great.
See? Yummy. And, even though I am nearly incapable of taking good pictures of my food, it mostly looks like it's supposed to. Plus, it only took about 20 minutes, including shrimp peeling, which is always a plus in my book. Boyfriend and I were both pleased with the result, and though he initially smirked a bit at the source, the next night he asked if we were going to have more of "that actress's salad dressing."
So, um, I've been reading Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter, GOOP, which I have previously scoffed at on more than one occasion. It started innocently enough: I was at work one day and I came across this article in which one person attempted to live according to GOOP for 30 days, including the crazy detox, and then I found another similar article and another and I was really bored so I just kept reading and eventually I just decided to go directly to the source. And I liked it, so much so that it is now delivered to my inbox at semi-regular intervals and I get all excited about it, much like I get excited about facebook notifications or actual emails written by friends rather than listserves.
And now that I've admitted that...it certainly is rather silly, like the issue in which she suggested Christmas presents and included things like an Hermes watch "for her" and a Mulberry weekend bag "for him." So, yes, it may be totally frivilous on occasion, because who but a celebrity jets off to Morocco for the weekend and then writes about it as though us normal folk will someday think "Hey, I'm feeling restless. Lemme check out what Gwyneth has to say about Morocco while I'm packing for a little jaunt"? Hint: the answer is no one. But! It's also like getting this sort of goofy advice from your somewhat flaky but incredibly well-meaning friend who really wants you to have fun in Morocco and thinks that you deserve an Hermes watch for Christmas. And on occasion, there are some bits that normal people without rockstar husbands and an Oscar can use, like her playlists for a spring party compiled by various celebrities and the reading lists that she occasionally writes up. Most recently, there was an issue devoted to recipes and an interview with Jaime Oliver (think whatever you like of his show - I haven't watched it - but he can still cook) that has really easy recipes for different salad dressings and a Moroccan stewed fish recipe that I made just the other day that came out great.
See? Yummy. And, even though I am nearly incapable of taking good pictures of my food, it mostly looks like it's supposed to. Plus, it only took about 20 minutes, including shrimp peeling, which is always a plus in my book. Boyfriend and I were both pleased with the result, and though he initially smirked a bit at the source, the next night he asked if we were going to have more of "that actress's salad dressing."
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