A Cup of Catherine

Thinking Out Loud #3

by

I hope everybody had a lovely first day of the year. I’ll just get right to today’s post, hosted by the lovely Amanda.

Thinking-Out-Loud

1. I think every work week should include a random Wednesday off. While I’d much rather have had a longer vacation than I did (i.e., this entire week off), it’s nice to have had a break and just 2 short work days till the weekend.

2. Since this was my very last NYE as a twenty-something, I’d had every intention of partying it up (hilarious, if you know what a home-body I am!) and going downtown to watch the infamous MoonPie drop and fireworks. Clearly the “old lady train” picked me up miles ago, because Mark and I ended up going to dinner at Zea and then immediately putting on our PJs to ring in the New Year in front of the TV (instead of in the cold + rain) with glasses of champagne. And you know what? It was perfect!

3. New Year’s Day couldn’t have been more perfect either. I slept late and went to a noon Bikram class, which was the BEST way to start the year! Classes were free, so there were so many new faces and not a single clear spot in the room. I loved it.

4. And because Mark is awesome, he cooked a delicious New Year’s lunch while I was at yoga: black-eyed peas (for luck), collard greens and roasted cabbage (for wealth), and pigs-in-a-blanket (which have become our weird tradition since I wouldn’t eat peas or greens as a child).

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5. We also saw The Wolf Of Wall Street. It was long, but not to the point where I was counting the minutes until it ended. Leo is a fantastic actor, and the movie was pretty funny, keeping me entertained until the end.

6. I also bought a brand-spakin’-new planner, which I can’t wait to start using. Please tell me I’m not the only person addicted to school supplies and organizational tools!

7. I just realized that even though I did a Christmas wrap-up post, I didn’t talk about any of my gifts. In a nutshell, I received more jewelry than I know what to do with, but one of my favorite gifts was a super thoughtful stocking stuffer, foodiEcology business cards and an engraved card holder, from the husband. Aren’t they spiffy?

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8. He also got me this Mignon Faget tulip pendant that I’ve been wanting. He previously gave me the oyster and the pelican, so this one can join the rotation.

9. Gahh…I’m actually writing this Wednesday night while watching Top Chef, and I’m so jealous the contestants just had dinner with Chef John Besh at his house. He seems so incredibly nice, and, of course, all the food looks delicious. I guess we’ll just have to cook something from his latest cookbook and pretend we’re important enough to mingle with famous chefs.

10. On that note, I’m going to sip some freshly-aerated wine (the aerator was another Christmas gift I bought us) and finish watching the show. Later gators!

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    1. I had plans to go out on NYE too, but it was just too dratted cold to go downtown and watch the fireworks, so I ended up over at a friend’s house playing board games and drinking wine instead. It was perfect 🙂 I used to be huge on the party scene, but honestly… I only have a handful of good memories from those times, usually because I ended up putting WAY too much pressure on the evening and being let down. The older I get, the happier I am with something low-key.

      And I’m ALL for making workless Wednesdays a regular thing. The break mid-week is definitely nice… even if it leaves me feeling like Thursday is Monday 😆

      • I always put too much pressure on enjoying NYE or whatever else, too, which is really quite silly, considering I always enjoy more low-key nights anyway. From now on, I’m embracing my introversion! 🙂