Sunday was one of those "perfect days". You wake up early and efficiently spend 100% of every minute doing something that makes you happy. Sunday morning, the Manfriend and I ran the Jingle All the Way 10K together.
It's one of my favorite races, but this year, it was...
Rainy!
We ended up running 8.2 miles because parking was ~1 mile from the start/finish lines, and it was just waaaay too cold to walk.
Done. And soaked!
Allllmost to car
As soon as we got home I took a looooong HOT shower until I could feel my toes again. And then the most beautiful and glorious thing happened...
A nap! Now you must know, naps are my thing. In college and grad school I napped between and after class all the time. I was usually up late studying and up again early for 8am class, so I had to squeeze them in when I could.
Why do I love napping so much, you may be asking? Because I have mastered the perfect nap.
Steps:
#1 Take a hot (and possibly lengthy) shower or bath
#2 Towel off then dress yourself in a warm [dry] robe. I prefer floor length.
#3 Wrap hair in towel
#4 Have a snack if you're hungry (after the race it was hot tea + Greek yogurt w/ fruit for me)
#5 Turn on fan to eliminate noise if needed
#6 Use hair towel to cover pillow case
#7 Set an alarm (or 5, if you're like me)
#8 Drift away in your warm and cozy cocoon
Mmmmmm.
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When I woke, it was time to get baking for the DC Blogger Cookie Exchange! The Manfriend offered to help, so we blasted holiday music and got cooking! I found about the event last minute so Lisa was so nice to let me come to her apartment packed with tons of other foodies :-)
On the menu (1 of 3 cookies I made):
Dark Chocolate & Coconut Macaroon Cookie Balls
(Refined-sugar, butter, oil, and gluten-free!)
(Refined-sugar, butter, oil, and gluten-free!)
Secret ingredient (makes em extra moist):
1.5 cups coconut flour
1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 eggs
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 cup almond milk
dark chocolate chunks
stevia (~7 servings)
1 t vanilla
1/4 t sea salt
coconut milk (to moisten, ~1/2 cup)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F
Spray baking sheet with baking spray
Roll into cookie balls
Bake for ~10 mins or until cooked throughout (bottoms become slightly browned)
Line new pan/plate with parchment paper (sprayed with cooking spray)
Dip 1/2 cookie ball in melted dark chocolate
Let cook until chococlate hardens
Savor.
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I saw some familiar faces and met so many new friends! Thanks again Lisa for hosting us! We chatted over wine, spiked cider, appetizers, and more cookies than I've ever seen in my entire life! It was a blast :-)
I thought the excitement was done for day until I arrived home to a lavish dinner prepared by the Manfriend.
Wine to start
Place setting with nice message on back of card
Organic spring mix with tomatoes and balsamic
Roasted red potatoes (EVOO, parsley, basil, thyme, cayenne, sea salt, pepper)
Crab legs
Side of green beans sauteed in EVOO, garlic, onion, sea salt, pepper.
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Perfect day, in my eyes.
What's your idea of a perfect day?
wow, that day does sound amazing. perfecting naps is key!
ReplyDeletePiping hot showers are the BEST way to prep yourself for a nap, I agree. That and I need white noise- absolutely cannot sleep without it!!
ReplyDeleteMy perfect day involves 90 degree weather, lots of chocolate, cuddling and vegan food. The order of those things doesn't matter!
omg I take hot baths and a nap right after alot! Actually I have been doing that so much recently, because its so cold out!
ReplyDeleteWow those cookies look amazing! Love ya! xoxo
That really does sound like a perfect day! Naps are the best but it's hard to slip them in once you have children. Sometimes on the weekend my hubby & I try to rope our girls into sneaking in a nap with us. Sometimes it works!
ReplyDeleteMy perfect day does not include running in the freezing rain (sorry!) but it definitely includes a nap. I agree--they're the best.
ReplyDeleteAnd those cookies look so good!
i get SOOO discombobulated when i take naps. so i avoid them, haha. but i do envy those who have mastered them!
ReplyDeletemy perfect day involves being outside with pepole who make me laugh and frozen yogurt. lots of frozen yogurt!
I love that your perfect day involves running in the rain - so hard core!
ReplyDeleteMine includes sleeping in late-ish, having a leisurely breakfast, going to yoga or the gym, and watching movies with homemade popcorn. Also, when I imagine my ideal day, it's sunny and warm outside. Actually, if it's nice out, maybe I went for a walk on my perfect day too.
Actually, if we are getting really serious, it's sunny and warm because it's winter but I am at my secondary residence at Costa Rica (I live in Canada, holla!). And actually, in Costa Rica I employ a gourmet cook who brings me fruit plates and nachos. And in that version of my ideal day, I probably also went surfing and had a couple of margaritas on the beach.
Okay, I will now stop my delusional fantasies and get back to work.
@Alina @ Duty Free FoodieAlina, I LOVED your comment! hahah I loooove to day dream about what my perfect day would be if I had all of the money in the world!
ReplyDeletethis day sounds pretty perfect (you and the manfriend are super cute together!!). I love days where I can exercise, spend time with my love, lounge on the couch and cuddle up to a movie or good book, and BAKE or COOK something new!!
ReplyDeleteperfect days for me is a nap, smiles from my wife and son and a few tidbits of new info on my mind.
ReplyDeletecoconut anything is delectable. lauric acid is an amazing medium chain triglyceride that even gets fed to low birth weight babies to fatten them up
have a great week and dont feel bad about the posts. no appologies necessary. we all are busy. dont feel obliged to post if you should be spending time with friends in real time not internet time
Naps are great. I wish I got to take more of them ;)
ReplyDeleteThose cookies are perfect I would like a whole tray of them!!!
you found a way to combine cookies and crab legs in one post. That's heaven for me right there ;)
ReplyDeleteThose cookies dunked in chocolate look scrumptious. You know today is NAtional Chocolate Covered Anything Day? Check out my blog for a post on it!
ReplyDeleteMy perfect day would be at home, in comfy clothes, under a blanket, with a cup of hot sweet tea, reading magazines and watching reality tv!
My perfect day would definitely begin with perfect (healthy) pancakes!
ReplyDeleteYUUUUM - cookie balls!
ReplyDelete:D