My Little Corner of the World

I’ve spent most of the summer in the small Connecticut town where I grew up, and shared little pieces with you in the form of running scenery, blue sky snapshots, restaurants, and lots of local ice cream. But the other day as I was taking a stroll on Main Street, I realized I hadn’t painted a full picture yet. So today’s post is a photo tour of my little corner of the world (does anyone else love that Yo La Tengo song? I first heard it on Gilmore Girls and have enjoyed it ever since. It’s provided the soundtrack for my thoughts lately.)

 

The Cass Gilbert Fountain greets you as you arrive in town

 

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Weekly Workouts and Updates 7/27-8/2

Hello and happy Sunday, everyone! I am a lot cheerier today than I have been in awhile because my ~10 weeks of freedom began last Wednesday night. It’s time for a recap of the week that got me to this lovely point, starting with my weekly workouts and ending with weekend updates.

 

 

Weekly Workouts

Monday: 6.3 miles

Tuesday: Bar Exam

Wednesday: Bar Exam

Thursday: 7 miles

Friday: 8 miles

Saturday: Rest Day

Sunday: 6 miles (planned)

 

Despite the heat and humidity I was grateful for my pre-exam run Monday and post-exam outing Thursday to let the stress literally sweat out of me! I was a little nervous Friday since I got my stitch removed on Thursday afternoon and the site was sore. But I did a good job taking care of the site, and my doctor said as long as I kept a Band-Aid on and wrapped it tightly for runs, it would be fine. The trade-off for running is a small circular scar instead of a thinner straight line, but I have lots of scars anyway. I’m just happy to be running and getting back on track because Dumbo is in just over a month! And as part of my training, one of my college friends who I’ll be staying with in England signed us up to run a 10K in Hyde Park together which should be lots of fun.

 

Birthday Weekend Eats and Treats

Just checking in to share a few of my birthday eats and treats from yesterday. I shared a few snapshots from my pre-birthday dinner on Saturday, but wanted to showcase a few more and bask in my birthday glow a little longer. And also, it gave me something to do today while I prepare to take the New York Bar Exam tomorrow and Wednesday. I decided treating this test like a race was the best idea, and that tapering was a good call, so I spaced out my studies and gave myself plenty of time, and took most of the weekend off from Friday through this morning. This afternoon, I’ll review a bit more before having dinner and getting to bed at a decent hour (we have to be at the test center at 7:30am tomorrow, so I need to leave my apartment by 6:30am). I’ll check back in when it’s all over, but until then, I leave you with these morsels of deliciousness…

Weekly Workouts + Updates 7/6-7/13

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I’m checking in with my usual Monday recap of weekly workouts and updates. I’ll be honest, the past week I’ve been feeling pretty drained. Not physically, like I was the prior week, but mentally. Studying for the bar has gotten to the point where my mind is exhausted, and I feel like if I try to put any more information in one ear, something is going to spill out the other. Plus, I think the weird weather in Connecticut the past week got to me (we had bad humidity and rain for most of the week, although the weekend cleared up and as the sun came out so did my happy thoughts!) My attitude until then was similar to Sasha’s when it’s hot. 

 

 

Five Things Friday: Frozen Treats

And we’re back with Five Things Friday! I haven’t done one of these in awhile, mostly because there’s been so much else to talk about here with you. But now that I’m in the thick of bar studying, it’s about time to share some of the the frozen treats that sweeten up my daily eats.You had to know this one was coming. Now that June is in full swing, it’s high season for ice cream and other such sweets. Whether it’s a few scoops of my favorite flavors at the local ice cream shop, making my own sundae at home, or trying out new frozen treats, I am taking full advantage.

 

1. Ice Cream Cones:

One of my favorite activities on a summer evening is taking a trip to the local ice cream shop for a scoop of one of my favorite flavors. At Ferris Acres I can even nab a gluten free cone! Wherever I go, I always top my treat with rainbow sprinkles for some extra pizzazz. I tend to choose my favorite flavors consistently – these include Moose Tracks and Strawberry at Emack & Bolio’s, Raspberry Fudge Swirl with a sweet cream base at Ferris Acres, Cherry Vanilla at Deborah Ann’s, and pretty much any berry-and-dark-chocolate-chunk combo you can think of anywhere. 

 

Raspberry Fudge Swirl

Cherry Vanilla Cone at Ferris Acres

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Lately: June Edition

 

This Thursday, I’m thinking out loud in the style of the Currently posts that have been floating around the blogosphere lately. After seeing these posts from Julie, Amanda, Tina, and more, I decided to share my own current things, because that’s what thinking out loud is all about anyway. So here is my Life Lately: June Edition!

 

Current Book: Unfortunately, my stack of BarBri bad boys to prep for the New York bar exam in July. But I am always re-reading my favorite summer book before falling asleep. It’s called The Big House, and it’s about a family that built a grand summer home on Cape Cod at the turn of the last century, and all of the ways the family members’ lives became entwined with the house. I spent childhood summers down the Cape with my grandparents and have always loved any book to do with Cape history. Even though I won’t be back this summer, it’s a lovely reminder of the spirit of the place. 

 

 

Current Music: My favorite summer mix including lots of Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Matt Nathanson, and most recently Gloriana and Alex & Sierra. I have ‘Scarecrow’ on repeat a lot!

Current TV Show: I’ve been re-watching Hart of Dixie and Parks and Rec on Netflix later in the evenings after finishing up with studying for the day. It’s nice to unwind to something familiar and relatively upbeat.

‘And there you are, happy landing on a chocolate bar’

Shirley Temple might have been referring to an airplane when she sang about the Good Ship Lollipop, but to me the local (and locally renowned!) sweet shop in all its holiday glory is the real mothership of all that is good and chocolate.

 

In the holiday spirit

 

 

It’s called Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe, and they really get into the holiday spirit that I’ve waxed poetic about.

 

 

 

 

Which way to the North Pole?

 

 

 

I’ve been known to have some candy cane ice cream in December just because, well…who could resist? (I’m also one of those crazies who drinks iced coffee when it’s below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and considers it a bonus that the ice doesn’t melt!)

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate is a great gift for ANY occasion

 

 

No matter the recipient’s mood or lifestyle, you’ll find something here that suits.

 

 

 

 

 

So now you know where to go to satisfy any craving for candy or chocolate! The best part – almost all the chocolates made on premises are gluten-free, as is the vast majority of the penny candy, and the owners and employees are super helpful about letting you know which treats are best if you have other allergies.

Sage parting words of wisdom

 

 

 

 

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