These past two years of blogging have been amazing, and I’ve felt honored to be welcomed into the blogging community. I’ll still be an avid blog reader (although I need to find my Google Reader replacement), and I’ll still be taking many pictures of my food. You’ll just have to follow me on Twitter or Instagram to see those gems.

Thank you for every page visit, comment and encouragement through this process. It was a big step for my introvert-ness to put myself out there, and I’ve really appreciated the journey.

I hope you will all stay in touch via other social networking channels.

I’ve been trying to balance school and life better by taking more study breaks to spend quality time with friends and family. We did just that last week when we grabbed a quick dinner with our neighbors at Seito in Baldwin Park. Our neighbors also recently got a new camera, so we had some fun playing with that.

We started out with some edamame and beef negimaki, which is thin slices of beef wrapped around green onions, carrots and asparagus in teriyaki sauce.

The beef was very tender and easy to bite through. It was really good.

Kevin ordered chicken yakisoba for his main entree, which came with miso soup.

His noodles were very flavorful, and I was stealing bites off his plate.

I ordered two rolls. The Ichiban roll featured spicy salmon, and the Alaskan Crunch roll had crab salad, tempura batter and smoked salmon.

Everything tasted so fresh, and the textures and flavors all melted together: the sign of good sushi.

Also ordered at our table were a spicy tuna roll and Sweetheart roll.

We had a great time eating great food with great people. I really cherish these moments when I can break away from school work and enjoy life.

What is your favorite way to cut loose?

First up: me! You can read my quick retelling of wedding dress shopping here. Basically, I fell in love with Maggie Sottero gowns. I really wanted a typical princess ball gown because (1) I hate my hips and (2) I’m cheesy like that. I tried on many silhouettes to humor everyone, but I kept coming back to what I always knew I loved.  I also wanted something not overly embellished or overwhelming. I think I found my perfect match. I got my dress at Casa di Bella in Celebration, which was a wonderful experience. The store owner Sue has been in the business for a long time, and she shuts down the whole shop so it’s just you and your friends and family getting her 100% attention. I had the most wonderful day shopping for my dress surrounded by such  great support group.

It only took me one day and two stores to find my perfect dress. The hardest part was getting myself into it. Wedding dresses are heavy!

I was surprised that I liked the layers or organza at the bottom, but once I tried it on, the dress was so flowy but still poofy. I also loved the corset back and long train.

The dress originally comes with a belt with big flowers, but that was a little much for my short torso, so we replaced it with just a little bling.

To finish off the look was a simple fingertip-length veil. When my dress was bustled, the layers of organza just flowed together, and the dress kept its perfect shape.

Not only did I feel beautiful on my wedding day, but I was also surrounded by a cast of great looking people. Bridesmaid dress shopping was just as painless as buying my dress because I have really easy-going friends. We all agreed on the same dress: a floor-length chiffon dress from Alfred Angelo.

We also all wore red shoes.

Kevin and the boys wore black Hugo Boss suits and purple-and-red-accented Burberry ties that we bought them. Kevin actually picked out their suits by himself. I really didn’t have too strong of an opinion, and Kevin’s a better dresser than I am.

Kevin stood out slightly by wearing a classic gray and black Burberry tie that I bought him when he graduated from his MBA program. Kevin really didn’t want to wear a tux, and I think the suits were the perfect level of formality for our wedding day.

I’m so happy with how easy it was for all of us to get our outfits. There was really no drama at all, and I think we looked pretty spiffy.

What is your dream wedding dress?

So, as a way to motivate myself out of bed and out of the textbooks that are consuming my life, I signed up for  Orlando’s Corporate 5k today.

I’ve never run a race before, and it’s  been quite some time since I’ve run three miles. I hear there’s a lot of walkers, so hopefully that will take some pressure off. However, nothing motivates me more than the threat of looking like a chump in front of coworkers. The race is in a month….I’m really hoping to motivate myself to put on running shoes within that time period. There’s no time like now when I’m at my lowest physical capabilities and at rock bottom in terms of athleticism to sign up for a race.

In contributing-to-my-expanding-waistline news, Kevin and I tried a new restaurant with some friends a couple weeks ago: Greek Flame Taverna on Restaurant Row in the Dr. Phillips area. They were recently voted a top Greek restaurant in Orlando, and they lived up the hype. We went for dinner, so the menu was fancier, but they do offer sandwiches and more casual Greek fare as well.

We started with an order of mussels cooked in tomato and wine sauce topped with feta cheese.

The mussels were delicious and very flavorful. I loved the broth they were swimming in. For my main entree, I ordered baked shrimp and calamari, which came in a spicy broth.

The spicy kick warmed the back of my throat, and I loved the freshness from big chunks of garlic. This was not a dish for a weak palette. The flavors were very strong, and I really enjoyed them. It came with a side of Greek rice, which helped to mellow out the flavors.

Kevin ordered the rack of lamb with a side of Greek fries. The lamb was cooked perfectly and was incredibly succulent.

The wait staff was extremely friendly, and the atmosphere was a lot more elegant than a lot of Greek restaurants. I really enjoyed our evening there.

Any tips for a first-time racer? How do you motivate yourself?

I ordered the smoked salmon pappardelle, which came with a huge filet of their house smoked salmon and a creamy sauce that had a pretty spicy kick from red pepper flakes. The salmon was really moist on the inside and had a lot of smoky flavor. The spicy kick warmed my whole throat. It was hearty and filling.

Kevin ordered the filet mignon, which came with mashed potatoes and a coarse mustard sauce.

It was really nice to sit outside and have an evening to ourselves to celebrate.

This weekend kicks off spring break for the University of Florida…however, I’ll be one of the few venturing toward the town for class. Since I’m in a part-time program, we don’t follow the typical academic calendar so no spring break for me.

Tonight I’m packing so I can hit the road after work tomorrow. Hope your weekend is more relaxing than mine!

Last week I actively woke up trying to change that and ended up having a really good run. I felt energized and determined to keep the momentum going. Last weekend at the gym, I got overzealous and thought I would try a 10-rep Crossfit workout that Paula recently posted that I had saved. Minimal equipment was required and I knew how to do all the moves, so I could focus on form.

I should pause to admit that I have never done a Crossfit style workout before in my life, and the idea of attending a Crossfit box petrifies me. I’m easily intimidated, and I hate group fitness. This workout looked harmless enough. Halfway through I was cursing Paula, then I was just cursing myself. I finished in about a half hour, which I’m sure is a glacial pace.

But it actually felt pretty amazing to finish.

I looked like hell afterwards. I was dripping with sweat, red and puffy, but I felt pretty accomplished. I can see that high that people get when they’re done. You really feel strong. I can also see how someone would want to eat an entire extra large pizza afterward.

My entire body was sore a couple days later, but I can’t remember the last time I had such a good workout in a half hour. I can see how people could hurt themselves when they get focused more on time and less on form, so it would be good to have a trainer when doing more complicated exercises.

The workout definitely kicked my butt and got me out of the slump. Let’s just see if I can stay out.

What are your thoughts on Crossfit?

Kellie, the owner and primary photographer, uses a second shooter at all her weddings, and I really liked that her photography is candid and simple. We were more interested in photojournalistic style photos as opposed to a bunch of posed photos. Also, her packages were very reasonably priced, and we own the rights to all our photos. We first shot our engagement photos with her back in May, which gave us a chance to get comfortable with her.

When the big day came around, I discovered that pretty much all of our vendors had worked together: the sign of a great team. The photos came out great and perfectly captured the day. I often look through them and all those feelings from our wedding day just come rushing back. Here are some favorites. More photography to come in future wedding recap posts.

All photos courtesy of KWU Weddings

Food and photography were our two most important wedding details that we were willing to splurge on. What wedding details do you pay the most attention to?

I had a craving for stuffed grape leaves, and I was pretty excited by the large portion that came out.

I loved the savory lemony rice with the texture of the grape leaves. I could munch on these all day.

The Greek Corner’s menu is kind of limited, but they did have a lot of tasty looking options. (Although they didn’t have falafel, which I had a craving for.) I usually opt for the gyro when eating Greek but decided I was craving a slightly lighter protein so I ordered the chicken souvlaki.

Holy tzatziki! The pita came overflowing with grilled chicken onions, tomatoes and plenty of tzatziki sauce. Sometimes tzatziki sauce just tastes like sour cream or yogurt, but their sauce was really flavorful and tasted homemade. I ended up dipping my fries in some of my excess sauce. It was addicting. The chicken was also really well seasoned and moist.

Not only is tomorrow Valentine’s Day but it’s also my last evening with Kevin for a few days. I’ll be gone this weekend celebrating one of my best friends Sarah at her bachelorette weekend festivities. She was one of my amazing bridesmaids, and I’m so excited and honored to return the favor.

Sarah and I at my bachelorette party

I can’t wait for a fun girls’ weekend!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Kevin and I are pretty low key for V-day every year. I’m sure we’ll enjoy a relaxing evening in.

We headed to Pho Hoa and started out with some tea and shrimp summer rolls.

I actually thought the summer rolls were pretty mediocre. They could have amped up the basil and shrimp ratio for some extra flavor.

For my main dish, I decided to bypass the pho and ordered stir fried tofu with curry.

The curry was sweet with a little spicy kick and went great with all the aromatic vegetables. I loved the chunks of onions and mushrooms.

Sarah ordered the stir fried tofu with vegetables, which came in a brown sauce. It also looked really delicious. It seems as if our coldest days may be behind us, but hopefully the temperature will dip a little bit in the near future so I can get my pho fix. I really enjoyed Pho Hoa. The service was really friendly, and the food was tasty.

Poor Kevin’s been sick so he’s been drinking plenty of soup regardless. I guess it’s possible to catch a cold when it’s not cold outside.

What is your favorite meal when it’s cold outside?

We ate way too much as I typically do when going out to eat with my family. My dad loves food as much as I do. We started out with gruyere biscuits, smoked salmon and a charcuterie platter comprised of house-made meats and paired cheeses.

Instead of ordering one of their entree selections, I decided to order a salad and one of their pub fare options. I ordered the farmer salad, which had tons of house smoked bacon and a soft boiled egg.

I love my runny eggs. It was like breakfast in a salad form. I also ordered the shrimp and grits from the pub menu.

The Ravenous Pig’s menu changes often, and the shrimp and grits dish has a habit of reappearing. It’s one of my favorites when it’s available. My sister who claims to hate grits even took multiple bites. They’re rich and savory and unlike any typical breakfast grits. It’s topped with corn, tomatoes and chutney, which makes the grits taste so fresh and bright.

Kevin ordered the steak frites, which comes with truffle fries, another one of my Pig favorites.

For dessert, we ordered their banana cream pie in a jar, nutella bread pudding and pig tails (fried dough with espresso chocolate dipping sauce). Why choose just one? The pie was by far my favorite. It was topped with marshmallow, and the banana flavor was nice and strong.

My family really seemed to enjoy their meals, and I was excited to share my favorite restaurant with them while celebrating my dad.

28-Day Blog Challenge

Today as a part of the 28-day blog challenge, I finally cleaned up my Google Reader. I had been needing to transfer it to my new email address (that reflects my married name), and in the process, I unsubscribed from all the wedding planning blogs I had been using as well as blogs I no longer read. While I’m at it, here’s a shout out to some of my favorite blogs!

• Lauren Runs (my cousin!)
• crazy*running*legs
• Eat:Watch:Run
• J’s Everyday Fashion
• Peas in a Blog
• Young House Love

What is your favorite way to celebrate? Going out to eat is usually involved for me. That and sleeping in.