I have to say, last week flew by! I can’t believe it’s the weekend. I am working tomorrow, so I have a lot I would like to knock off the to-do list tomorrow. Blogging was one of the more fun things, so that was moved to the top section of the list
This post is kind of mishmash of different things that didn’t really fit into one theme.
Let’s start with something fun, Skinny Girl Margaritas. A few weeks ago, I received an email about Bethenny Frankel doing a signing of her new Skinny Girl Margarita at Astor Wines. I happen to work a few blocks from there and it came with a free t-shirt, so I was sold. Unfortunately, I had a few meetings I couldn’t miss at the 4PM start time. So I enlisted Margarita Liz to help me out. Actually she volunteered, even though she doesn’t give a hoot about Bethenny, she is just that awesome. It ended up that my meeting ended a little early, and I rushed over just a little after 4. There was Liz, 5th in line, with Skinny Girl Margarita in hand. I love her. I traded places, so she could get back to work and continued to wait wondering why we weren’t being let inside. It was cold out!
Apparently, Bethenny was running late, but they finally let us inside to wait. We had to chat it up with the liquor guy. I was probably the only NYC person in the room, everyone else was from Alabama or somewhere and couldn’t stop talking about their hotels in Times Square and how much walking they had done that day. God bless, that was me not too long ago. Anyways, while I have not drank tequila in years, I am not sure I intend to ever again, the ingredients in the Skinnygirl Margarita could not be more natural: blue agave clear tequila and agave nectar. Oh, and it only cost like $13.

Anyways, Bethenny rushed in and Alex McCord stopped by to offer some support. Let me just say, my mouth dropped to the floor when I say these women in person. Skinny doesn’t begin to describe them. They are SO RIDICULOUSLY THIN. I mean model thin and then some. Bethenny’s waist is maybe 20 inches. Just an observation, and no judgment, power to them. But man, TV does add pounds.

Bethenny was exactly the same as she is on the show. Funny, sarcastic, perfectionist. Not only that she was extremely personable and intelligent. In just the few minutes she interacted with each person, she took the time to grab a common thread and make you feel like she was happy to meet you and appreciated your support. I happened to mention that I grew in Saratoga, where she also spent a lot of time, and she asked me about 3 or 4 restaurants and how I ended up in the city. The t-shirt is really cute and super soft, but I can’t imagine wearing a shirt that says skinny girl, maybe to bed.


I actually didn’t look at my bottle until days later, but somehow she even caught my name, which I thought was pretty incredible. In any case, it was an eventful way to spend my lunch hour.

New Scenes
So I tend to go to my favorite places over and over. But this week, I actually tried some good new city bars and restaurants. 8th Street Wine Cellar. Cute, affordable, not too loud or crowded. It would actually be great for a first date because it is on the romantic, intimate side, but not too sexy, there is a hint of masculinity. The menu has a lot of good options, and the food was good, but not great. I had the butternut squash and goat cheese brushetta and the beet and goat cheese salad. While Bar Jamon, which has the best beet salad in existence, is still my fav wine bar, 8th Street is a good alternative, if your not ready for super intimate.
Next up, Paladar. A cuban place in the lower east side. It was more spacious, than my typically cuban go-to Cafe Habana. The menu was very good and the food clean, light, spicy and delicious—I had a butternut squash and walnut salad and two tiny swordfish tacos with avocado and mango salad. The portions were modest, which was actually nice, so you could try a few things without feeling stuffed. I am not a huge cuban fan, but definitely fun once in a while.
Finally, I ended the night at Sunita. It was shockingly empty for such a sexy little space. I typically don’t drink martinis, but I was convinced that I had to try one. So I debated between a ginger, lime, lychee and vodka martini and a passionfruit martini and went with the passionfruit. I also had a sip of the signature passion fruit jalapeño vodka martini. It was good, but I am not sure I would want a full glass of it!
While we are talking city, I am kind of in love with these MUJI city in a bag kits! So cute!


Injury update:
I had my final appointment with Dr. MetzDreamy yesterday—high fives and all. He cleared my to run the marthon and told me it would rock my world and I would love every second. In fact, his only concern was my lack of enthusiasm. I am pretty sure he would run the NYC marathon every day if he could. I guess, I need to accept that a lot of runners deal with pain and discomfort, and it is not going to kill me. His confidence and enthusiasm was definitely beneficial. He also suggested I get not only a pedicure (lol) , but also a MELT treatment next door to help ease the plantar’s fascilitas, but I just didn’t have the money to drop. The appointments, bandages, insoles, etc. have been expensive, so I am going to see if I can get a golf and tennis ball to help roll the tissue out a bit. I am nervous and sad that all the weird pain I have been feeling might take away from the experience. But I am not looking back now, I have the option of deferring until 10/28, but I am going to hope “the course is with me.”
Tapering Update:
So my actually running schedule called for a 10-K today or 6.2 miles, which is weird since almost everyone else does 13 miles two weeks out. I did an easy 4.3 miles over the 59th Street Bridge and down to Grand Central this morning. I saw at least 100 Nike Town runners on the bridge, preparing for race day. I plan to do the 10K tonight on the treadmill and push myself a bit more toward faster pacing. I was hoping to get to a hot vinyasa class at the Yoga Room today, but I am probably going to just do a little online class to loosen up a bit. Just couldn’t get it together for the 130 class, on the bright side, I have done laundry, sheets and pulled all my sundresses out of the closet to make room for sweaters, so I haven’t been completely unproductive, especially considering I had a glass of wine and a martini last night
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CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!
Have the best marathon ever CHANDRA! We love you! And don’t forget to partake in some shenanigans along the way!