Going solo. Maybe.

This Thursday, my most favorite band, Walk the Moon, is coming to play in Cincinnati.

Well. They're technically coming to play in Northern Kentucky.

But anyway.

I bought my ticket right when they went on sale this summer. I went to Walk the Moon's Cincinnati concert last November, and it was honestly one of THE BEST experiences of my life.

Last year's Walk the Moon concert!

Rachel said she wanted to come along, as well, but was planning on buying her ticket later.

Last week, I sent her an email and asked if she was still planning on going to the concert.

"I completely forgot! Let me go buy one now." She had replied.

Except the concert was sold out.

Apparently Walk the Moon is a lot more popular than they were last year.

So now I am faced with a dilemma.

I am normally very comfortable with doing things by myself (such as dinner, shopping, even movies), but I'm a little apprehensive about attending a concert alone.

What do I do between songs? Or during that awful time when the opening acts I don't care about are performing? Is it weird to sing out the song lyrics and dance when you're not with a friend or two?

What is the proper "I'm at a concert by myself" etiquette?

"There's A LOT more wax in this crayon wrapper!"

It is no secret that I've gained back some of the weight that I lost last year.

But since my clothes still fit (relatively) okay, and I definitely didn't look like I had at my heaviest weight, I kept eating to my heart's content and ignoring the fact that I was putting back on the pounds.

Saturday night, I dressed as a reindeer for a coworker's Christmas party.

Before going out to the bars with friends later that night, I felt like changing into a different costume.

My reindeer outfit was cute, but I felt a bit frumpy in it.

"Why don't you just wear your crayon costume from last year?" Rachel suggested, as she was planning on doing the same.

"Great idea!" I replied before hunting down last year's costume in my mess of a closet.

REALITY CHECK AHEAD.

The crayon costume was sooooo tight, and I definitely did not look as cute in it as I had last Halloween.

"I think there's a lot more wax in this crayon wrapper," I told Rachel morosely.

She insisted that the costume still looked great, but I'll be honest. I felt miserable the entire night. Wearing that costume made me realize just how much weight I had let myself put back on.

Halloween 2011. Skinny crayon.

2012 Halloween. Jumbo crayon. BLAH.

I felt overwhelmed by disappointment and embarrassment.

I woke up on Sunday feeling a little better about my situation, and today, I feel determined to get the weight back off.

Maintaining a healthy weight is always going to be a struggle for me, but I'm ready to hop back on that weight-loss wagon and get healthy again!

I am NOT going to be a jumbo crayon again next year!

I sincerely hope I am not ANY crayon again last year. Eeeesh- two years in a row is enough!

It's never too early!

We are quickly nearing the end of October, which means we are within the two month countdown to my birthday AND Christmas.

Truthfully, I am not one of those people who thinks her birthday should be a national holiday (surprisingly), but I do take my list-making very seriously.

With my birthday and Christmas a mere six days apart, I cannot afford to be disorganized.

This whole introduction makes me sound like a terrible person.

So let's move on to my tentative 2012 birthday and Christmas list.

1. Solitaire Diamond Necklace- I've definitely been growing more partial towards simple, classic pieces of jewelry rather than trendy, statement items. I get so much more use out of my diamond earrings and Yurman crossover ring than the Tiffany choker I HAD TO HAVE for my 16th birthday.

2. Boo 2013 Calendar- It is going to be difficult to top my William and Kate 2012 calendar, but I think Boo's darling little face just might be able to compete! How could I ever have a bad day at work when I have Boo hanging over my desk?

Simply amazing.

3. BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette Spray- I have received two different samples from this perfume brand through Birchbox. Both scents were incredibly rich and feminine, and I used their samples to the very last drop! This scent was my favorite of the two though.

Such a posh scent!

4. Kate Spade "This is the year to" idiom bangle- This bracelet has phrases such as "be a firecracker" and "dance till dawn" inscribed on it! Love, love, love.

Stunning AND inspiring!

5. Kate Spade Skinny Mini Bow bangle- I love how dainty and feminine this bracelet it! And naturally I'll need something to stack with my other KS bangle!

Darling.

6. Gift cards: Crate & Barrel, Starbucks, Target, Nordstrom, and my favorite mall!

7. America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't by Stephen Colbert- If I have never confessed my love for Stephen Colbert before on this blog, here is it.

Okay. I'll just admit it. I have a HUGE crush on Stephen Colbert.

8. Flight Behavior: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver

9. A Crock-Pot- Seriously. Any model will do.

Is anyone else out there making her list and checking it twice?

Time to turn the song off now.

Do you ever get into one of those weird moods where you become obsessed with a song and listen to it on repeat?

This happened to me yesterday with Evan and Jaron's "Crazy for This Girl."

I've been a fan of this song since it was released waay back in the year 2000 (or so). It just has so much emotion to it, and the whole being agonizingly in love thing? Amazing and wonderfully dramtic.

Yesterday, I just couldn't get enough of that song.

I played "Crazy for This Girl" over and over again, hoping that somewhere there was a guy who was also listening to this song repeatedly, as it put into words exactly how he felt about me,

Of course, as he listened to the song, he would be imagining beautiful still shots of me laughing or possibly telling a witty joke, a gentle breeze ruffling my hair and my green eyes sparkling.

"She's all I can think about," he would sigh audibly while he doodled hearts and JEB across some important work document. "I wonder if she knows how I feel. If only I could tell her how much I love her. And then take her on a trip to Paris."

Where we would naturally shop at Printemps...enjoy candlelight dinners of filet mignon and red wine along the banks of the Seine... kiss beneath the Eiffel Tower as it twinkled at the top of the hour...tour Versailles and have him laugh, "If you think this Hall of Mirrors is fancy, just wait until you see the palace I'm going to build for you!"

Um, right then.

Clearly I need to cut down on the Evan and Jaron for a while.

I don't see the resemblance.

Yesteday, I took my "little sister" to a pumpkin patch out in the country.

It was the most perfect autumn day. The sun was shining, the temperatures were extremely mild, and the scent of delicious fall food was in the air.

Funnel cakes, caramel apples, hot cider. This farm had it ALL.

We had such a fun afternoon visting the different farm animals (we saw the fattest pig EVER), going through a haunted garden, viewing various craft booths, and finally (the best part!) choosing the most perfect pumpkin in the entire patch.

Of course, my little sister also chose one of the heaviest, and it wasn't quite so fun lugging that thing to the car.

"So! What are you naming your pumpkin?" I asked, as I buckled it into the seat besides hers.

Which she thought was just hilarious.

"Jenna. Her name is Jenna Pumpkin." She patted it lovingly.

Whaaaaaaat?! Was she saying the round, orange squash reminded her of ME?

GREAT.

"Um, how about we name her Patty? Or something with a P?" I suggested brightly.

"Nope. Her name is Jenna. This is going to help me remember your name better anyway. It will be very helpful for me," replied the ever-so-honest seven-year-old.

"Huh. Okay." I conceded. "Jenna Pumpkin."

Although I still sincerely hope she doesn't think I look like a pumpkin.

One can only take so many blows to her self-esteem.

"This cat is going to die! And it's going to be all my fault!"

Rachel is currently cat-sitting for one of her coworkers.

It should also be noted that Rachel is allergic to cats.

REALLY allergic. As in, she can hardly breath for about an hour following any interaction.

But since Rachel is a selfless person and friend, she agreed to care for this cat.

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Luckily, she only has to stop over at the apartment every two-three days to feed the cat, refill its bowls of water, and clean out her litter box.

Her first time on cat duty was last Sunday.

I was beyond exhausted that evening and crawled into bed early. Like 9PM early.

My phone rang, and I saw Rachel's name flash across the screen.

In typical best friend fashion, I didn't answer, thinking she just wanted to chat about something on her way home from the gym/cat visit.

The phone rang a second time, the universal symbol that it WAS something important. Or really good gossip. Either way, second calls are mandatory to answer.

"I cannot get into the apartment!" Rachel exclaimed frantically. "The key doesn't work! I don't know what to do. This cat is going to die! And it's going to be all my fault!"

Eeeeeeeeeeeek!

"Can I come get you? Maybe you can figure it out!"

You know, because I am SO GOOD at technical things like unworking keys.

I pulled my rainboots on though and threw on a jacket before heading out into the rainy night. When I arrived at the apartment, Rachel ran up to the door.

The wrong door.

"She doesn't live there. You've been trying to get into the WRONG APARTMENT!" I said incredulously.

Sooo it turned out that my presence actually was quite useful afterall.

And the sweet, little cat was just fine waiting an extra fifteen minutes or so.

The Chef Nextdoor

Rachel and I are lucky for lots of reasons.

But one of the greatest reasons why we're so fortunate? We have one extraordinary chef that lives right nextdoor!

Almost every week, Ben invites the two of us over for dinner.

These dinners aren't casual affairs. They are culinary extravaganzas!

Last Tuesday? Ben really outdid himself.

Rachel's new boyfriend was attending one of our weekly dinners for the first time so Ben knew he had to impress.

Before the two of them arrived, Ben and I set out freshly sliced smoked gouda and asiago cheeses, experly displayed on a cutting board. We had plenty of red wine to offer the moment they walked into the door, and Ben put together such a nice table arrangement.

We dined on buttermilk biscuits with honey, Madras curry spiced fried chicken, and champagne mango salad.

It was Ben's first time frying his own chicken, and the experience was a little scary. Imagine canola oil gone wild! We were both constantly yelping and leaping away from the stove as the oil sputtered and squirted upwards. One time, I even ran as far away as the living room.

But anyway.

It was SUCH an amazing meal with SUCH amazing company.

For dessert, Ben went simple and classic with a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

After dinner, I got in some Oreo loving with Ben and his boyfriend's kitten. Isn't she adorable? She is also incredibly mischievous and likes to knock over things like drinks and shopping bags.

Is anyone else's stomach rumbling now or is it just me? I am heading to my fridge NOW.

Getting skinny and literary!

So that title sounded like it rhymed inside my head.

It doesn't.

I've been doing really well making it down to the gym after work each each evening, but I'll admit...my workouts can get a little boring.

It doesn't help matters that ALL of the TVs are tuned to sports networks, and the one time that the Kardashians were on? Someone got up and changed the channel. While I was clearly watching. It was incredibly uncomfortable to say the least. And rude!

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So anyway. My workouts have definitely been dragging so I knew I needed something to spice things up and keep myself distracted from my aching body parts and accelerated breathing.

I ended up downloading Audiobooks on my iPhone. I've stuck to classics so far as contemporary fiction is insanely expensive (I am not paying $27.00 for an audiobook- seriously?), and I've been meaning to incorporate more literary fiction into my chick-lit filled reading schedule anyway.

This past week, I've been listening to The Great Gatsby, a novel that never seems to get old. This audiobook has a terrific narrator, too. I think hearing a book read aloud can present the prose to you in an entirely new and exciting way.

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While I'll always prefer real books to audio versions, I think this is a great way to liven up my evening workouts!

Next up? A short story by Jennifer Weiner and then Les Miserables.

Les Miserables is almost sixty hours in length.

That is A LOT of time on the treadmill.

California Dreaming

I have not left the Cincinnati (okay Tri-state) area since November 2011.

That is almost an entire YEAR.

Not even a weekend trip to Chicago. No overnights in Columbus. NOTHING.

To say I am hurting for a vacation would be an understatement.

This is why I am beyond ecstatic to report that I will be jetting off to California come January with two of my best friends!

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Libby, Kelsey, and I are friends from DePaul. Even though Kelsey and I transferred after our freshman year, the three of us have remained close. I probably see each of them twice a year, but we are hardly ever all three together.

Our California trip is going to include San Francisco and Napa Valley.

I am so excited I can hardly stand it.

Out in California, I want to eat Ghiradelli chocolate. I want to ride a scooter up and down San Fran’s hilly streets like Princess Mia in The Princess Diaries film. I want to have a picnic lunch in that park from the opening of Full House. I want to enjoy a steaming bowl of Rice-A-Roni. I want to hold a glass of red wine in my hands and gaze out over green and rolling vineyards.

Mostly though, I am looking forward to an adventure with two of my closest friends.

I think it’s safe to say I’ll be California dreaming for the next few months.

So many books! So little time!

Now that "Pretty Little Liars" is done taking over my life (I finally finished Season 1 and was BEYOND disappointed when I discovered that the identify of "A" was not going to be revealed...an article on Google has informed me that this major secret will not be uncovered until the SERIES FINALE. I CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG. So, for now, I have quit the show out of anger and frustration), I have time to tackle the ever-growing stack of books on my nightstand.

Here are the books I am most looking forward to reading in the upcoming weeks!

Well, alright. Maybe in the next month. Since I started my full-time job, my reading time has really diminished. This is partly my own fault, though. I know instead of online shopping/perusing or watching TV in the evenings, I could totally be readiing.

But anyway.

1. A Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling: Of course, I HAD TO HAVE this novel the DAY IT CAME OUT. Despite the urgency I felt in getting my hands on this book, I can't say I've gotten very far into the story! I like what I've read so far, but this book is at the top of my list to finish as soon as possible.

2. Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth: I need to read this book. I have an unhealthy relationship with food, and I've heard that this book really does an excellent job of explaining the reasons why we overreat, abuse food, etc. I saw it on Oprah years ago and have been meaning to read it for a while now.

3. Suri's Burn Book by Suri Cruise (well, not really, but it's how we'd all like to think Suri feels!): Love this blog and cannot wait to read this book. Suri is so sassy and says the things I think MANY people are often thinking about different celebrities. The writing is witty and sharp. Oh, and totally hilarious.

4. This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz: Junot Diaz is one of my favorite authors. I can still remember reading one of his short stories in an English class over three years ago and how much it stayed with me. My admiration for Junot Diaz skyrocketed after reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Brilliant.

What's on YOUR reading list right now?

Musings. Lots of them.

Crate & Barrel has THE coolest gift boxes. So simple and so chic. It makes me wish I was going to a bridal shower every weekend.

I always feel a bit anxious around people who exclaim, "Dexter is my favorite show! I mean, sure, it's pretty gruesome, but I seriously cannot get enough of it!" Uhhhh...so you LOVE shows about serial killers and graphic murders? Okay.

There was a bag of Fritos sitting in the bathroom at work. Who brought Fritos into the bathroom? Why? That's gross.

They were Honey BBQ, if you were curious.

It is beyond embarrassing to carry around a Forever 21 bag at the mall. Especially when you're going to Nordstrom. It doesn't help that the bag is just so obvious. The tacky, yellow plastic makes my stomach turn.

Whenever I get a Chipotle burrito, I scarf it down like I haven't eaten in days.

The violent aftermath. Oh, and missed call from home!

While I am no sports fanatic, my heart broke a little last Thursday when the Reds lost their chance to continue in the playoffs.

Maybe next year.

I like to go to the David Yurman counter at Nordstrom and try on jewelry I cannot afford. The employees there are always incredibly kind to me despite the fact that I never buy anything.

Maybe they're mistaking me for her??

I have gigantic spider bites on my forearms and hands. CREEPY.

That is all.

The Tea Girl

As I've mentioned before, there are free fountain soda machines at my company.

This is both wonderful and terrible.

My first week there, I was constantly popping (no pun intended) by that soda machine before one afternoon, I paused and realized, "Oh my gosh. You've probably had three or four Diet Mountain Dews today! That is so wrong."

In order to help myself stay away from the fountain soda, I started bringing in different varieties of hot tea that I keep in one of my drawers.

I absolutely love hot tea and find it incredibly comforting. 

So instead of drinking three-four pops each day, I've switched to four-five cups of tea.

Much healthier.

I am hoping that my coworkers begin calling me "The Tea Girl."

Maybe I could even host afternoon tea parties?

Okay. Now I'm getting weird.

My Five Favorite Beauty Products

I am a lover of lists, and it's been a while since I've compiled one on my blog.

Today, I am featuring a list of my (current) five favorite beauty products.

I believe I used to make beauty product lists all of the time when I began blogging (because I am SUCH an expert and all!) so allow me to visit those humble roots and pretend I know what I'm speaking about.

1. Dove Soap. This is so basic yet so amazing. My skin always feels so soft after I use it, and I love how gentle the soap is.

2. Crest 3D White. This toothpaste keeps my teeth looking white and bright! I haven't done whitening strips in over two years, and I must say- my smile still looks as blanc as ever!

3. Boi-ing Concealer. I wish I could say I have beautiful, clear skin. But I don't. Far from it. This concealer is my lifesaver. It covers up blemishes and creates a flawless look. I never go without it in my makeup box!

Rosy cheeks at Christmastime! 

4. NARS blush. I first tried NARS last autumn and instantly fell in love. In my experience, no other blush compares. It is my favorite makeup product- I love rosy cheeks!

5. Vaseline Total Moisture Lotion. While I love Bath and Body Works, I really don't like heavily scented body lotions. This lotion has a nice but not overwhelming scent and moisturizes well without making me feel greasy. I put it on morning and night.

What are your favorite beauty products? Is there anything you just couldn't live without?

I have a Little Sister!

No, my mom is not pregnant nor did she just give birth to a sweet bebe girl.

Though at the age of six, I may have spread a rumor around the neighborhood that my mom was expecting twin girls.

I honestly believed that if I told people, it would happen.

My plan was unsuccessful, and my mom was not very pleased with me.

But that's neither here nor there.

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This past week, I was approved to be a Big Sister with the Cincinnati Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and last night, I got to meet the little girl they matched me with.

She is absolutely adorable and incredibly sweet.

I cannot wait to get to know her and spend more time together.

I've wanted to get involved with the program for a while now but knew I needed a stable job and future before I made the commitment.

I feel so fortunate for all of the fantastic things going on in my life right now.

Is anyone else a Big Sister? What kind of activities do you do with your Little Sister?

Suri Says

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There are three people in the world who deserve to be called "ma'am" under all circumstances: the Queen, Meryl Streep, and Oprah.
Suri's Burn Book

New Show Obsession: PLL

I've always heard great things about the ABC Family show "Pretty Little Liars."

One of my best blog friends, Claire, is a fan, and I would perpetually be seeing Facebook statuses about the show and hearing tidbits of conversation regarding it.

I would think, You should really check that show out!

Last week, I was perusing Netflix when I saw that a few seasons of "Pretty Little Liars" were available. I clicked on the pilot episode and snuggled into the sofa, eager to see what all of the hype was about.

I love these girls!

I get it now. I totally get it.

Despite the show's crazy, unrealistic elements (forget the messages coming from the dead best friend, how does Jenna, THE BLIND GIRL, manage to flawlessly style her hair and apply lipstick with no eyesight?! Now THAT is more perplexing than who killed Alison), I have felt myself totally sucked into the drama and dying to know what will happen next.

I will admit, I really cannot watch the show when it is dark outside unless Rachel is home, but I think I sort of like the creepiness of the series.

I also am totally in love with all four of the main characters and find them all very likable. Furthermore, it is just sooo fascinating to think about secrets and how they affect people.

I have managed to fit in the first nineteen episodes so far and seriously cannot wait to find out what happened to Alison and who "A" is.

If only there were more hours in the day. If only.

Fun October Weekend!

My October got off to a most fantastic start.

Friday night, Ben and I went out for Indian food. We picked up a bottle of Pinot Noir from a nearby grocery store and enjoyed good wine and great curry.

Afterwards, we came back to my apartment. We set out delicious foods such as buffalo chicken dip and Godiva truffles. We rented "The Five-Year Engagement" and just vegged out as it rained and the wind howled (dramatic) outside. It was so cozy and relaxing.

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Saturday was UC's Homecoming. I had the entire day off from the salon, and it was absolutely amazing to sleep in. I have to admit, having a two day weekend is really nice, and I am now wondering if this is something I'd like to have every weekend...

Anyway.

Rachel and I tailgated at a friend's house all afternoon before attending the 7PM game. We knew it was going to be chilly but had no idea just how cold the temperatures would become once that sun went down!

Lucky for us, we have gentlemanly guy friends who chivalrously gave us their sweatshirts.

Thank God.

We went to all of our favorite bars after the game, and it was a great day and evening back on campus!

Sunday morning, Rachel and I woke up late and decided to make brunch.

We dined on goetta, eggs, and Dunkin' Donuts while sipping orange juice and coffee flavored with pumpkin spice creamer.

I spent the remainder of the day trying to catch up on blogs and watching Netflix. And obviously wearing comfy Gap lounge pants.

I was more than flattered to be one of my blogging bestie's first interviewee for her new Sunday feature "Brunch with a blogger." Ivana wrote THE sweetest post about me, and I was beyond touched.

Check it out here!

I kind of felt like a bit of celeb! Thanks again for the amazing post, Ivana!

You made me sound waaaaay cooler than I actually am.

I bought jeans! Kind of!

Last week, I stopped by my alma mater's bookstore in hopes of finding a cute top for the homecoming game that upcoming weekend.

I spotted a football jersey that had been marked down from $50 to a mere $25.

The only problem? It was too short for leggings.

I put the jersey back on the rack and moved on.

Then, I stopped and thought, You are letting leggings run your life! This is beyond pathetic.

So, I went back for the jersey, purchased it, and left wondering where in the world I was going to go buy pants.

I first stopped at Old Navy, which was an absolute disaster. I took four pairs of denim into the dressing room and literally almost had a nervy-b. Every pair was insanely unflattering.

"Nothing worked? None of them?" asked the dressing room attendant incredulously, as I handed her the stack of evil pants.

"No. None of them." I replied, leaving the store and wondering if I was doomed to a life without pants.

Maybe I was just a person who wasn't made for pants. Maybe God didn't intend me for to ever venture outside of the leggings realm.

Forlorn, I decided to at least pop into Gap and see if I could have any better luck there.

The moment I walked in, my eyes caught sight of a sign- LEGGINGS JEANS.

Or something like that.

Curious, I walked over and took a pair off the rack. I couldn't believe how soft they were! They even had a zipper, button, and pockets.

They were the perfect fusion between pants and leggings.

And definitely better quality than your standard jeggings.

So yesterday, I proudly wore my UC football jersey with my new jeans (close enough anyway).

After my next paycheck, I am totally going back for more.

I think pants are growing on me.

Maybe next autumn I'll be ready for real jeans. Maybe.

2012 Halloween Costume Announcement

After much thought and consideration (okay, so I came up with this after one particularly pensive workout), I have decided upon my 2012 Halloween costume!

Drum roll, s'il vous plaît.

This year, I will be...

RUDOLPH!!!!!!!!

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Yes. The red-nosed reindeer.

I have absolutely no explanation or reasoning behind my choice. I am not attempting to be ironic or clever.

I just thought I might make a cute reindeer.

I have purchased a really pretty brown dress from American Apparel with a matching pair of brown leggings.

Both items are technically called "Truffle." Ta ta ta.

The color name makes me want to rush to a Godiva shop ASAP.

But anyway.

I found the perfect pair of antlers on Amazon, and so with a little dab of red lipstick on my nose, I think I will be all set!

Soooo- what's everyone else being this year?! I'd love to hear your different costume ideas!

Grocery Store Daydreams

Yesterday evening, I stopped by the grocery store on my way home from work to do some much overdue shopping.

Already looking horrendous after my workout (no surprise there if you read yesterday's post), I also got caught in a cold, autumn rain, which only made my appearance that much more direr.

Trying to get in and out of the store quickly in order to spare the Kroger patrons' eyesight, I took a corner around the coffees and teas waaay too fast and bumped into a man.

"I am so sorry!" The John Krasinski lookalike smiled at me, apologizing despite the fact that I was the one practicing erratic cart driving. "Excuse me!"

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I tried to talk. I really, truly attempted to give a sincere apology, but all that came out was a slight stutter. Not even a word. Just an awkward sound.

And then he was gone.

Of course, my imagination flew into gear and came up with wonderful scenarios.

Would I run into him again and confidently laugh, "Okay! We really need to stop doing this!" as he grinned, "Let me take you to Starbuck's and get you a PSL."

Then, we would abandon our grocery carts and walk over to the nearby Starbuck's where the John Krasinski lookalike man and I would sit in cozy armchairs and watch the fall rain, warm cups in our hands, as we lifechatted and realized that we were indeed soul mates.

You know, just normal, realistic scenarios like that.

These fantasies were abruptly cut short once I caught sight of the John Krasinski lookalike again as he helped his girlfriend/fiancee/wife/loveofhislife set their groceries on the conveyor belt in the checkout line.

Funny. I hadn't imagined her in any of those fantasies.

Sigh.

Umm...sure! I'm a runner, too!

This evening, I was working out in the company gym when I noticed a tall, slim man get on the treadmill beside mine.

Upon closer inspection, I realized that the CEO was running smooth, athletic strides a mere foot from my right while I was walking at 4 MPH.

I can't keep walking like this! I thought. The CEO will think I am lazy and out of shape! I will not be that loser walking on the treadmill!

In my current less-than-perfect physical condition, my running limit is about ten minutes.

Perfect example of my running inabilities. Here I am drinking tea while Rachel gets ready to run a million miles.

I figured the CEO was probably just warming up and would be on to a different machine (and also a different part of the gym) in no time. I would just run alongside him until he moved on.

Unfortunately for me, he wasn't just warming up.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Fifteen...

As he ran effortlessly, I wondered if I was going to die.

Was this the end for me? Was I really going to die single and never having owned a pair of Christian Louboutins?

I couldn't stop running though. I wanted to impress the President of the company!

Finally, finally my 60 minute workout came to an end. I had been running for over TWENTY minutes.

Which I realize is absolutely nothing for you runners out there but for me? That is rough.

My face was hot and bright red. My compression capris from Old Navy were all out of sorts. I was so tired.

Currently, my legs feel like jelloid.

I hope I can walk in the morning.

And that the CEO and my workouts never coincide again.