Back to Monday.

This Monday is particularly challenging for two reasons:

1) It will be dark outside for the entire drive to work.

2) The weekend was AMAZING and it’s hard to transition back from something so wonderful. Why can’t I spend all my days frolicking in the woods?

Friday:

On Friday after work, I powered through the exhaustion I usually feel in the evenings and had some more pink-drink, post-work shenanigans. I met up with the ladies from 336 because we had plans to go to First Fridays in downtown San Jose.

We polished off some sweet tea vodka + champagne + a block of cheese and crackers. And then we decided to do some yoga in the kitchen.

And by “we,” I mean Vanessa. My version of yoga on a Friday evening is sitting on my chair and hoping I don’t fall off. It’s a balance act that not everyone can do, my friends.

We didn’t end up making it to First Fridays because we decided that eating pizza was way more important than seeing some fancy art pieces.

Pizza wins over everything 99% of the time.

Saturday:

Despite our late night* outing, Brunch Bunch decided to be adventurous and drive out to Santa Cruz to hike 12 miles to see Berry Creek Falls!

*”Late night” in your late 20s means staying out until 11PM.

Of all the hikes and trails I’ve explored in the Bay Area, this one might be my new favorite. Jen and I prefer hiking in the redwoods because we are sheltered by the trees for the most part but the sun still shines through in little pockets.

Since the waterfall was 6 miles in from the trailhead, we just hiked further and further away from the distraction and noise along the coast. And, as we hiked further into the woods, everything just felt so quiet and peaceful. Yet, because it was so quiet, it felt as though other, less obvious, sounds were amplified. Like the buzzing of bees (which scared the crap out of me and kept me on my toes) and knocking of woodpeckers.

When we got to the waterfall, we hung out for 20 minutes to eat our sandwiches. Which, despite being soggy and smushed, were probably the best tasting sandwiches EVER. I guess 6 miles can make you pretty hungry. After eating and enjoying the falls for a little longer, we started making our way back outta the woods.

At around Mile 8, we were a little delirious. Singing songs like “99 Bottles of Beer” and “The Ants Go Marching 1 by 1” all while harmonizing with our empty Smart Water bottles. At mile 10, I outran some horses. At mile 12, Jen started getting emotional as we sang “Outta the Woods” by T-Swizzle. She said, “I don’t wanna be out of the woods. I just want a chair.” 

But we made it outta the woods just in time to see the sunset.

And followed it up with some KFC. Some well-deserved KFC.

I can’t decide whether this “half marathon” hike was more painful than the actual half marathon. All I know is that I am STILL feeling my body ache in all sorts of places. But definitely worth it.

Sunday:

Jen and I wanted to do some early morning yoga to stretch out our sore legs, achy backs, all the joints. (I’m in my late 20s, not late 80s, I promise).

She decided to do the Flow class and I chose to do the meditation class. Which didn’t stretch out any part of me, but the discussion was pretty decent, so I can’t complain too much.

In the afternoon, BethyV had some friends come over to participate in a study for school. We had to listen to a lecture, but we got to doodle and eat Costco pizza so I was more than willing to help out.

After the world’s most boring lecture, we made some yummy cocktails which made it all worth it.

Since the weather outside was beautiful and the sun was going to be out for a few more hours, we took the festivities outdoors to Jack Rose Libation House.

The cocktails are good. The service – NOT so much.

But you can’t really go wrong when you get to pair sunshine and bananagrams together. It definitely helped ease the Sunday scaries.

Now we are back to a new workweek and a new countdown until next weekend! 🙂

Questions of the Day: 

• Favorite cocktail? 
• Favorite memory of the weekend?