my favorite time of the year

my favorite time of the year in denver is the two week period, called 5280 week, when higher end restaurants open their doors to the lowly and offer a three- or four- course meal for two for the tiny price of $52.80. ahhh, it makes me all tingly just to think about it.

http://www.edgerestaurantdenver.com/menus/denver_restaurant_week_2012/
reservation was sunday, feb 26 at 7:30
- the wait-staff was amazing. here's our food:












http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=379&LOLA&c=yes
reservation was tuesday, feb 28 at 5:30
- this is one of my very favorite restaurants in the metro area. it is my go-to place when i don't know what i want, but i know i want to eat out. here's our food:
















http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=84&9th+Door&c=yes
reservation set for thursday mar 1 at 7:30
- i have been harassing my husband to take me here for months now. i am confident that we are going to love it!


http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=694&Barolo+Grill or http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=544&Caf%E9+Brazil&c=yes
saturday mar 3
- where we go will depend on which one my in-laws prefer.


http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=526&Grappa+Bistro&c=yes
reservation set for tuesday, mar 6 at 7
- i can't wait to try the open faced lobster ravioli with sun-dried cherries, spinach and fresh mozzarella in a light curried lobster sauce. divine!


http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=1190&Axios+Estiatiorio&c=yes
reservation set for thursday, mar 8 at 7
- this is the restaurant i am most excited about only because it is so close to our house and it would be nice to have a go-to fancy-shmancy place nearby. okay, okay, we already have several, but fancy-shmancy restaurants nearby are just like diamonds. you can never have too many.

long run

last week while my husband, brother and sister-in-law where up partying with friends, i went to bed early so i could get up and complete my long run. it was supposed to be 5 miles, and i got to 4.68 before my time was up. i was pretty happy with that.

this week is 6.5 miles and i am procrastinating. why am i procrastinating when i know it will feel so good once i am done? i wish i knew the answer to that.


Lord, help me this lent as i am preparing for your death and resurrection to put the procrastination behind me. help me to rise above.

prayer

Lord, today is a struggle. i ask for your help. help me make choices that please you. amen.

preparing for lent

yesterday was fat tuesday. we indulged all day. polish paczki for breakfast. italian for lunch. pie for dessert. sushi for supper. it was decadent. it was over-the-top. it was tradition.



today is ash wednesday, a day of fasting. preparing our hearts and minds for easter. i love this time in the church. i love the sacrifice i can do during lent to show my commitment to Christ. i love how he takes my weakness and makes me rely on him more. i wish i could be this focused all the time, but i fall short and become distracted. i am glad i have a yearly reminder of God's goodness and mercy to me.

i could choose not to move

But I refuse.
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care.
I don't want to say another empty prayer.
I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
I could choose
Not to move but I refuse.


i know this song by josh wilson is about so much more than health but it really speaks to me on fitness level. i used to sit around wishing for weight loss. i used to watch others around me work hard and i envied them, but did not want to put in the time myself. God calls our bodies his temple; He resides in us. i could choose to have an unhealthy body, but why? i refuse.

all you get to see is an empty plate

...because hubby and i were in too big of a hurry to eat and i forgot to take pictures of our valentine's day supper. :) you'll forgive me i'm sure when you hear what it was. beef cheeks with spicy ragu over a quinoa cake with brussel sprouts and asparagus. you would not have been able to control yourself either.



my husband and i had agreed not to get each other anything and just stay home for valentine's. i was all set to make nachos with heart-shaped homemade chips. instead, he surprised me by taking me out for supper at one of my favorite italian restaurants. he is a stinker, but i will keep him. i can't wait to surprise him back.

supper was amazing! we split:
butternut squash soup with gorgonzola
bruschetta with goat cheese, strawberries, arugala and a balsamic vinegar reduction
the aforementioned beef cheeks



oh, and don't forget the bottle of wine from silver vines winery that was dessert.



what a lovely night out with my valentine.




how was your evening?

another zumba update

it's been a month. i have another month to go. i still don't like it. i wish i did. i'd rather go dance at a bar and use my own 'moves' and listen to music i know the words to. still, i can see the appeal because i really don't feel like i am working out when i am there.