Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

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I didn't just enjoy a long Labor Day weekend . . . I started celebrating the end of summer on Wednesday with Tri Delta alumni from all over the country, wine, and a book that we all mutually hated. I joined Book Club to meet new people and have yet another reason to go to Barnes & Noble each month. This month we met at one of the young women's apartment in NoHo. Now, compared to my apartment, this place is the Taj Mahal. Absolutely beautiful, two-story windows overlooking the street, a chef's kitchen, and--my favorite part--built-in bookshelves with a ladder so you can reach even the highest shelf.

My favorite part wasn't the apartment, though. It was getting to hang out with people who like to read almost as much as I do, who weren't afraid to share their true feelings about just how bad this book was (I won't even write the title, just in case the author somehow comes across this blog in some alternate universe), and with whom I have a lot more in common beyond our letter jerseys from college. I'm looking forward to the next months (and hopefully reading better books) and getting to know these women more.

So, a couple of months ago, I did something kind of spontaneous and maybe a little crazy. Not crazy by New York standards, but definitely out of the ordinary for me. I was stopped on the street by a man who asked me where I get my hair done. (For background: I hadn't washed my hair that day, so it was in a greasy knot on the top of my head.) Long story short, I ended up buying a voucher for a 2-day salon and spa package. He wanted $70 for it, but I only paid $40 (cause I'm broke, and he could tell). I was a little hesitant about it at first. But when I realized that the salon is on 5th Avenue right across from Lord & Taylor, I knew it couldn't be but so bad.

On Friday, I had day one of my 2-day package. Day One consisted of an "image consultation" (they asked me what I wanted to do with my hair...a trim, please), shampoo, conditioner, cut, blow dry, and style. Oh, and complimentary wine. It was so relaxing. I love getting my hair done, especially when it's prepaid. I did pay a little extra for a toning treatment, but I'm so happy with the results. (Bonus: I get 50% my next haircut at that location!) I'll be scheduling Day Two in the near future.

Saturday was, well, lazy. I slept in a little later than I'd planned to, but I still made it to yoga. (Fitness was sort of a theme for the weekend, as you'll see.) Other than running a couple of errands, I really didn't accomplish much on Saturday except for finishing Season 5 of Once Upon a Time --just in time for fall TV premieres! (And, with Sling, I can actually watch a lot of my favorite shows live!)

Even though it was a holiday weekend, I went through my same Sunday routine: church, yoga, grocery store, and Indian takeout. Well, almost my usual Sunday routine. When I went to place my order--mango chicken with naan--I was shocked to find out that my favorite Indian restaurant no longer delivers to my part of the neighborhood. Sad day. They have the best naan, and they are the only restaurant I've found in the area that has mango chicken on the menu. Meh. I ordered from a different place, more expensive that my old go-to, but the food was good. And there was enough leftover for dinner tonight. So all in all, not a bad way to end the day.

Today--Monday--was supposed to be my massage and pool day. Yes, you heard right. Massage. And. Pool. But last week the weather forecast was looking dismal--rain from Saturday to Tuesday thanks to a storm system off the east coast. So I jumped the gun and cancelled my appointment. Well, of course the weather was beautiful all weekend, if a little windy. The good news is, I found plenty of other fun things to fill my Labor Day. The better news is, I have a new appointment for a massage and pool day on Saturday. And the weather looks perfect.

Instead of lounging by the pool, I started my day by joining a gym. Yes, you read that correctly. Thanks to a new deal between a local gym and my employer, I can afford to join a gym--with equipment, classes, and locations all over the city. It felt good to be back on the elliptical. Oh, and also, the machines all have TVs, so I watched Food Network while working out. Ah, just like old times.

The best part of the week wasn't the salon day or the workout or the book club. (Though all three come in a close second.) The BEST part, hands down, no contest, was Luke's Lobster. A classic in the city, Luke's Lobster has a small location a few blocks from my apartment that I've passed on multiple occasions. What better day to enjoy a lobster roll than Labor Day? It was delicious. I was so hungry after my workout, I could've eaten two. And the blueberry lemonade was amazing. (The fact that it's within walking distance to my apartment is dangerous enough; but I discovered that they deliver after 5 pm! Maybe my weekly Indian takeout will be replaced with Sunday lobster rolls . . .)

No, I don't want the weekend to be over. Mostly because I don't want to get up early tomorrow. But this week I have some fun plans to look forward to, so for tonight I'll enjoy the last few hours of summer with HGTV, cold white wine, and leftover naan.