Bathtime!!

I really tried running for an hour but after 45 minutes,  my side started cramping so I quit after 53 minutes. It was a wonderful run of 5.78 miles around my hood. The weather held up for most of the time but as soon as I got back, it started misting pretty heavily.

My mom loves to clean my dog. I swear Sonoma is going to lose her black colors soon!! :P

Surprisingly, Noma likes bathtime. She used to run away from it but now she just sits there like a good little girl!

Look at that precious face!!

I'm obsessed w. my dog. Who wouldn't be with that sweet face?!

Lunch was @ Busaba Ethai

Wasn't really a fan of their communal tables but I don't mind them anymore.

Busaba- hands down my favorite thai food in London. Everything is so yummylicious!!

 T and an old friend reunite. Two friends in two days came into town. Yippee!!

Thai calamari

 Chicken satay

Salty and crispy chicken wings

Pad Kwetio- thick noodles with prawns, chicken, bamboo shoots and basil. Holy spicy goodness.

My plate had a sampling of everyone's dishes. There was some red lamb curry, green vegetable curry, char grilled sea bream, crabmeat fried rice, and thai roti.

We were busy scarfing down our food. We ordered a ton once again but were able to finish everything. The waitress convinced us we had ordered too much and we eliminated one fried rice dish. Bad idea!! That's the last time we take the waitress' advice. I don't think anyone can really comprehend the size of our appetites. :-D

 Tarek I spotted another space invader! Weee!! I love those things. Reminds me of Paris.. Love :)

We spotted a Hummingbird Bakery and couldn't say no. I mean who could?

Hummingbird has the best cupcakes in London.

The red velvet takes the win! Moist with a hint of chocolate and cream cheese frosting. Yuuuuuuuum.

We stopped at a Waterstones bookstore and I was able to convince my daddy to buy me one two THREE books. I can't wait to read in my PJ's.

After all that food this afterrnoon, I convinced myself I needed a second workout of the day so I went to Zumba. The class was amazing as always. Now time for some fried chicken and beer.

Butt of the bread

My dad and brother went shopping for 5 hours and all they have to show for it is an Indiana Jones hat for my dad. He IS a professor at a University... see any similarities???

I managed to come to the restaurant just in time for a Cobra beer pour. I'm doing private lessons w. my salsa teacher to improve the basics that I just can't seem to get down: the hand connection, spotting, following the lead, and going in the direction of my arms. I'm trying not to get frustrated but sometimes it's hard. :-). Anyone know of any positive mantras I can repeat to myself? All I can think of is "just keep swimming, just keep swimming." Nemo seriously?!

Dinner @ Parveen restaurant. http://www.parveenrestaurant.co.uk/

Lamb biyriani

I got a little lazy and didn't take pictures of all the individual dishes.

Channa masala- chickpeas

sauce for the lamb biyriani that included lots of veggies

Someone musta been BERRY BERRY hungry. the other usual suspects were chicken tikka masala, spinach dal, okra- YUM, and garlic naan. All the flavors were spot on and delicious.

I got a late start this morning. Ever since my YMCA program went on hiatus, I've been sleeping in a lot later.
Fuel for my run: I got the butt of the bread (the end piece).

Whole wheat toast w. organic creamy peanut butter and a side of french roasted coffee. Mmmm..coffee

Patiently waiting for my Garmin to charge... I'm going to see how much mileage I can cover in an hour.

Song of the day: Hella Decalé- DJ Mam's feat Doukali & Soldat Jahman

Waka Waka

My friend Steph is here!!

 

It's actually quite easy to get to our place from the airport. You take the Piccadily line straight to Kings Cross. I was happy to see her smiling face. I'm not gonna lie- I was afraid she would get lost in the busy shuffle!

 

In true visitor fashion, she wanted to try British cuisine.

And sample some British beer

The bartender was nice enough to explain the three cask beers and give us a sampling of each.

I don't particularly like cask beers because they aren't very cold. The bartender shook his head as if I didn't know anything about beer. Well.. I DON'T!! Hmph. :o)

What a nice way to spend a long layover.

Sausage and mash.

 Fish n' Chips w. mushy peas. The batter was soggy but the fish was nice and flaky.

Steak and ale pie. Everything was just your standard British cuisine. Nothing to write home to mom about but its worth trying every once in a while.

Sticky toffee pudding.

Jaffa cake- both these desserts weren't very good. We left most of it on our plates.

What to do with an hour to spare....a visit to Trafalgar Square!

I felt like such a tourist today but that's alright because I loved every minute of it. We all need those cheesy let's capture these moments type days.

Mizzou represent. So great to see an old friend!

We saw Stephanie off to the last leg and her main destination. On to S. Africa. We dance to this song in my Zumba class. I love it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0

Fish n' Chips

A quick breakfast of banana and almond butter before going to the gym for my total body workout. Repeat workout from the other day.

Also had half a chocolate chip cliff bar.

Workout- 3 sets of 8-10 reps 

Shoulders

• bar military press

Back

• lat pulldown
• one arm row
• back extension

Chest

• Close grip bar press up
• dumbbell Chest fly

Arms

• Tricep Dips
• Concentration curls

Legs

• Barbell squat
• single leg calf press
• lunges

After workout protein shake: I ran out of frozen berries and ice. Noooooo!! Me no likey warm shakes :(

• scoop of chocolate whey powder
• cherry low fat yogurt
• banana
• skim milk
• splash of water
• toppings: muesli, goji berries, and raisins

Agenda: My friend is in town for a few hours so we're taking her out for fish n chips and a quick tour around London. Yippee!!!!

First visitor to the UK!!

Sunday FUNDAY walk to the center of town.

My dad wanted to see Covent Garden and do some shopping

But somehow, we ended up at Belgo's for mussels and beer at 2 in the afternoon. Say Whaaaaaaaat?

Alright alright.. I guess I'm not complaining. Salud!! Only in the UK is it totally appropriate to have a drink in the afternoon without any discerning eyes.

For the light weights out there: my momma had the framoise beer. I think it had 3.5% alcohol content or so?

My dad and T had the Hoegaarden Grand Cru, a belgium beer. I ordered a Chimay Bleu and had a sampling of everyone's beer. 

Open faced mussels platter with marinere and mozzerella cheese.

We ordered three kilo pots of mussels: Marinere, Green Thai, and Traditionelle.

Everything was so delicious as always. Even for a non-mussels fan (someone else, not me!!), Belgos was still a hit.

We did make it out to Covent Garden and Oxford street to do some window shopping and walking around.

Please Rudolph don't go!! I'm going to miss all the festive Christmas decorations.

We went to the only place we knew that played the Bears game. Bodeans for light beer and Kansas City style bbq.
http://www.bodeansbbq.com/

Meat platter x2. Oh lordie that is a whole lotta meat.

It was SOOO yummy. Especially with the two meat sauces- bbq and hickory that you could smother all over the beef/pork ribs, chicken, and brisket.

Bbq pictures are always so flattering.. wouldn't you agree?? :o)

We still managed to finish most of the two platters even though we had eaten 4 hours earlier.

I'm so stuffed. I'm not even sure how all that food got in my bellay. Good news is that the Bears won 38-34. We're going to the Superbowl playoffs baby!!

Great news: My friend is flying to S. Africa and has a Heathrow flight delay for 9 hours tomorrow so she'll be able to come see me!! Yippee!! My first visitor and not even on purpose. :-D. Either way, I'll take it!!

Bear down

Yay! Things are definitely a lot livelier this morning. Went on a 5 miler or so (I didn't bring my Garmin Forerunner with me because I have yet to charge it!) around my neighborhood again. Jogging in the cold is a bit of a pain at first but after 15 minutes have passed, my muscles become looser and the run actually becomes pleasant.

After my run, I was greeted with this: Someone went to the golden arches!

McDonalds hamburger and cold french fries. I scarfed down the hamburger and a few potato spuds.

Only I would get excited about Christmas socks that my mom forgot to wrap yesterday. It is my firm belief that one can never have enough socks and underwear :)

 

My dog has completely neglected me. I see how it is. Traitor.

Agenda: Shopping around Covent Garden and then the BEARS GAME @ Bodeans. My first NFL game of the season. It's been waaaaaay too long since I've had some "American football" in my life. Heeellz yea!

Hey! I'm a hitgirl. hehehehe

http://hanna-movie-trailer.blogspot.com/