August?
Happy Monday, folks. We’re pretty much midway through August – isn’t that bonkers? Kids in my county return to school this week, in staggered intervals, which means traffic and work are just going to be loads of fun. I’ve been at my job for over 7 years and it always amuses me how my coworkers, some of whom are also tenured at least for a year or two, are always shocked by the sudden shift from summer to school year.
I mean, hello, it happens every single August.
My work hours are picking up, which means free time is minimizing. I do have tomorrow off this week as a sort of consolation for working a bunch of long days, but after this I’ll be hovering at a baseline of at least 35 hours. Coupled with working on FMG, I’d consider myself pulling 50 hour weeks between by day job and my side hustle here. If you can even call this shindig a proper side hustle.
Whatever. It’s fun. I love sharing and that won’t change even if Internet algorithms are balls.
Once again we experienced a good deal of rain this week, which disrupted my ability to hang out in the pool or on the deck. I did get in a swim Tuesday evening after testing a recipe – I decided why the fuck not while I was sat watching How I Met Your Mother. It was lovely.
I swam Saturday, too, before my sister, her husband, and my mom showed up for an evening barbecue. Thunder boomed and threatened the whole time, thankfully waiting until J and I finished charring our foods and we were safely huddled under the gazebo. I bought some pesto sausages and the others provided burgers and some snacks. I baked these INCREDIBLE cookies, too, that I’ll be sharing this week most likely. Holy lord, it’s glorious.
Even with people I like, socializing outside a work context is incredibly challenging for me. It takes a lot of effort for me to get rolling with conversation, especially when I don’t feel like I have anything new to say. I love my family and being around them, but I’m also content to hang on the sidelines until I have something snarky to say.
Spending time alone is how I recharge best, and I am, as we’ve established, tied deeply with my comfort pal, Little Miss Ba. It might sound weird (but probably not to my fellow neuros) but having inanimate or at least nonhuman company kinda tricks my brain into thinking I’m spending time with a friend. A friend that demands no attention. Case in point, after a trip to correct some shit at the bank, Ba and I huddled away at Shortwave while a big rainstorm plowed through. My former coworker was behind the bar and steamed me a most beautiful latte.
Good eats this week: birria flatbread pizzas, Philly cheesesteaks (oh MY were these bomb), shrimp gyoza stir fry, shortcut Milanese with arugula salad, prosciutto tomato toast, and chicken and waffles!
I’m diving into fall recipe testing this week and I am SO excited. Also, for a trip to Target later today to peep some of their new seasonal offerings. I don’t need a lot of autumn decor but I always enjoy perusing the dollar spot for a few fresh photo props if anything catches my eye. I also have to browse for mom’s birthday…which is on this coming Saturday! Yay!
That’s all for today, folks. Have a great week!
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…A cozy fall bisque!
…A delish comfort dish for back to school.
…My mom’s birthday cake!
…A simple autumnal tequila cocktail.
A Few Things I’m Digging
Post-workout stretching…After my gym sessions I’ve been devoting about 5 minutes or so to stretching. It’s been a game changer! In my 20s I could get away with slacking a bit, but now that I’m 32 my mobility needs are much higher if I want to stay healthy in my everyday and athletic lives. It feels good and I’m gaining some flexibility back already!
Evening swims…I don’t do this often since I work up to the dinner hour nowadays, but when I have a morning shift it’s been so nice to reset later with a 20 minute splash. The sun came out this week for the first time in ???? and it felt good to get back into the water briefly.
Eye pads…No, not iPads. I’m looking for a better variety since the gel ones I buy don’t like to stick to my face, but I love using them as a whole – makes me feel like I’m in a spa! Eyeing (ha) the Pixi Eye Patch Library for something new, or try and find the Pacifica Eye Bright masks again since I remember liking those.
Notable Food Holidays
Monday, August 10: National S’mores Day (peep five fabulous recipes below!)
Tuesday, August 11: National Panini Day (though not specifically warmed, you could definitely throw my Arugula Pesto Caprese Sandwich onto a panini press!)
Thursday, August 13: National Filet Mignon Day (no specific steak recipe here but you could serve yours with my Loaded Baked Potato Salad!)
Sunday, August 16: National Bratwurst Day/National Rum Day (new cocktail coming this week, or relax with a Star Spangled Rum Refresher.)
This Week’s Menu
Meatless Monday…Stove Top Buffalo Cheddar Mac n’ Cheese
Taco Tuesday…Creamy Shrimp Salad Tostadas
Wednesday…Spicy Blackened Shrimp and Avocado Greek Salad
Thursday…One Pot Caprese Marsala Salmon
Friday Happy Hour…Toasted S’mores Cold Foam White Russian
Saturday Baking…Gooey Campfire S’mores Rolls
Sunday Snack…Roasted Garlic Whipped Ricotta Toasts with Avocado and Herbs
“Augtober” Style Picks
Five Treats For National S’mores Day
1. Toasted S’mores Fudge Brownies
2. S’mores Bark
4. Gooey Molten S’mores Skillet Cookie
5. Campfire S’mores Hot Chocolate
Week in Training
Monday, 8.3: 6.05 miles, 11:08 pace + 26 minute legs
GASSED after this session but had fun! The first rep always feels the gnarliest since my body has no idea what’s going on. Ran a 1.5 mile warmup with strides, then: 1 x 500m (2:01/6:34 pace), 3 minute recovery, 2 x 400m (1:36, 1:37/6:28 + 6:32 pace), 3 minutes in between, 3 x 200m (:43, :45, :44/5:49 + 6:02 + 5:55 paces, 3 minutes in between), then a random aerobic 800m at 7:58 pace. Very slow cooldown to finish. It’s fun to see some 5 averages in my 200s now!
Strength:
- 4 x 10 front squat 50#
- 3 x 5 depth jumps
- 4 x 8 ea. leg extension 60#
- 3 x 10 sumo squat 50#
- 3 x 5 jump squat 50#
- 3 x 12 front raise 25#
- :65 wall sit
- :60 BW squats
- 5 minute stretch
Tuesday, 8.4: 3.5 miles, 11:08 pace + 21 minute back & bis
Almost deterred by the early morning rain, but thankfully it remained light and manageable. Still got soaked, though! “Recovery” workout today: 6 x 100m fast with 100m walk, then 3 x 200m with 3 minute recovery. Ran a 4:59 top speed!
Strength:
- 1 x 5/2 x 10 biceps curl 25/20#
- 3 x 8 mid row 60#
- 3 x 10 wide bicep curl 15#
- 4 x 8 face pull 41#
- 2 x 15 ea. banded single leg bridge
- 2 x 15 ea. lunge matrix
- 50 crunches
- 5 minute stretch
Wednesday, 8.5: 4.5 miles, 10:54 pace + 21 minute legs
Fun, short little workout today. 6 x 300m with :70 rest – the plan called for 100m walking recovery but I added about 10 seconds just for a little extra breathing room. Ran 6:51, 6:50, 6:40, 6:36, 6:38, and 6:30 for my splits and felt great.
Strength:
- 3 x 10 ea. lunge with shoulder press 15#
- 3 x 8 ea. single leg deadlift 50#
- 4 x 10 hamstring curl 30#
- 4 x 12 hip thrust 55#
- 30 walking lunges
- :60 plank
- 5 minute stretch
Thursday, 8.6: 4.25 miles, 11:35 pace + 23 minute chest & tris
Oof. Couldn’t find my legs this morning, but I also wasn’t wearing my speedier shoes so that likely didn’t help. Warmup with strides, then 3 x (300m/100m jog/100m sprint/300m walk). Planned to run the first 300s at around a 6:45-6:50 but only managed a 7 for the first rep (which may have been inaccurate, I don’t know), though the other two clocked at 6:47 and 6:48. Hit a 5:29 top speed for the 100s and averaged a 5:58 for the second one, so not awful.
Strength:
- 3 x 10 shoulder press 20#
- 3 x 10 triceps pushdown 37#
- 3 x 8 machine chest press 60#
- 3 x 6 Svend press 25#
- 2 x 12/1 x 10 triceps extension 30#
- 2 x 20 plank leg lifts
- :35 ea. Copenhagen plank
- :65 plank
- 7 minute stretch
Friday, 8.7: 4 miles, 11:28 pace + 17 minute mobility
Very fun and satisfying session today! 8 x 150m with 2 minute recovery. It felt pretty lovely out, and I was surprised by the snap in my legs. Ran 29.7, 30.5, 30.8, 30.8, 31.8, 30.5, 31.1, and 30.7.
Saturday, 8.8: 8 miles, 11:22 pace
Rounding out the week with a shorter and lower-key long run interval sesh. 3 mile warmup with some pickups, then 600m at 6:52 pace, 400m at 6:48 pace, 200m at 6:32 pace, and 100m at 6:22 pace, all on 200m walk recovery. Slow run in between, then 5 x 100m strides and a cooldown. Hot, still, sweaty, and I was wearing my slow shoes, but overall a fun kick to complete the training week!
Total running mileage: 30.2
