KF Favorite Things - Week #2

Unfortunately, yesterday’s date with Frog #1 was postponed at the last minute due to an unforeseen family issue.  We rescheduled for this coming Tuesday, so I will report back then!   Additionally, I’m going out with Frog #2 and to a sports conference (target rich environment) next weekend, so hopefully I’ll have some good stories to share in the next couple of weeks!

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite things from the past week:

1.       Definitively deciding to be cremated…

After watching Brad Picklesimer  climb onto a “prep table” in a funeral home for a date on ABC’s The Bachelor and observing the meat hooks dangling from the ceiling and syringes for draining blood, I have decided to be cremated.  I think it’s environmentally friendly (takes up less land) and distinctly less creepy.  For any readers who are also friends, I won’t make you go on a scavenger hunt to figure out where my ashes should be scattered a la Stealing Home (highly underrated ‘80’s movie with Jodie Foster and Mark Harmon – perfect for a Sunday afternoon hangover)… just a nice cliff overlooking the ocean. 

Sorry to be morbid, but here’s a great quote I saw this week which might appropriately lighten the mood:  “Do not resent growing old.  There are many who are denied the privilege.”

2.       Never trust a skinny cook

Instead, put yourself in Mario Batali’s pudgy, yet genius hands!  Last Friday, B and I decided to cook a recipe from his book, Molto Gusto: Easy Italian Cooking, spaghetti alla gricia.  I highly recommend this no-fuss dish – could anything with pancetta, onions, cheese and pepper taste anything less than magically delicious??  I suggest buying fresh pasta and pancetta from Whole Foods, pair with a bottle of barbaresco… molto gusto, indeed!! 

3.       Beauty is pain

S and I decided to dedicate 24 hours of our long weekend to self-improvement.  On Sunday, we attended a long yoga class with a new instructor who was great, but definitely made us push the boundaries of both muscle strength and flexibility.  Ouch on the double pigeon/crow!! 

Then, we woke up on Monday morning and cashed in our groupon for Zoom! Teeth whitening… even though my teeth are probably ~4 shades whiter, they hurt like a mofo!!  Shooting pain brought on by air and non-room temperature water for 12-15 hours.  Worst of all, we could only eat or drink white or colorless foods/liquids for two days.   So, my diet consisted of: string cheese, egg whites, potato salad, clam chowder, white bread, chicken and… mayo.  Lesson from the strange diet: mayo really makes everything taste better.   

Finally, we worked out with our trainer – shout out to Heidi Brown at thetrainingroomboston.com  - who made us do a workout with kettle bells, TRX  and 5x circuits.  We love you, but you make us hurt!  

More toned + whiter, we realize that beauty is pain… but probably worth it for those of us who *might* be slight mirror lookers.

4.       An oldie, but a goodie…

Sadly, one of my oldest and best friends is leaving Boston in a few months.  So we decided to go to her favorite restaurant, Hammersley’s, in the South End.  Even though we’ve been eating here for years and years, it never fails to disappoint.  The chicken is great of course, but we branched out to the fish and it was amazing… light, but flavorful sauce + prosciutto, wow.   I’m also routinely impressed by how unexpectedly affordable it is… and a great place to go with parents from out of town.  9 out of 10 stars

5.       Looking forward to trips! 

Operation Kissing Frogs is being transported to South Florida for 4 days.  I cannot wait for sun, 80 degree weather and OPERATION RETOX with B&M!   I will recount any adventures when we return… Have a great weekend, KF readers!!