Last Wednesday I turned 22! It was a pretty low key birthday...in comparison to my 21st, that's for sure! The day was well spent though and I enjoyed every minute of it. I started off with an early morning 3 mile run and it felt HARD. On Sunday late afternoon I managed to run 4 and a half miles easy - running is such a challenge for me in that some days I feel great and some days I'm just questioning myself why I even am doing it because my legs feel like two cement blocks. But on the days that I feel great, I am motivated to just keep pushing through! Anyway, I sweat a ridiculous amount and when I got back to the apartment, Michael had pancakes waiting for me (AWWW) so nice.

I decided to actually look a little nice on my birthday...I'm lucky because I really do get to wear whatever I want to work, but birthdays only happen once a year!

When I got to work I was surprised with lots of love! My c0-workers got me a spiralizer, muffin tin and a couple really cozy t-shirts. They already know me so well!

After work I went out with a few of my co-workers and friends to a couple different bars around work for SIPS, which is a city-wide happy hour that only happens on Wednesdays.

Michael picked me up around 8 and surprised me with a dinner at Talula's Garden, a place I've been DYING to go to ever since I moved up here. It did not disappoint. Unfortunately I had had a few drinks, I was very hungry and enjoying the evening so I didn't want to take out my phone to get pictures, but I did snap one of the beautiful garden we ate in. It's right across the street from Washington Square Park and it's a heavenly little spot.

We ordered an incredible cheese plate. I am STILL thinking about it, yet I cannot remember any of the cheeses that were actually on it! For my dinner I ordered the rainbow trout fish which was served over a crispy potato pancake along with roasted asparagus and a lemon cream sauce. I cleaned the plate. Talula's Garden is such a nice dining experience -  I definitely would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a beautiful meal in Philadelphia.

It was a great birthday! It ended with an even better weekend at the beach in Ocean City, MD! Details to come :)

- Rach

Do you have a favorite restaurant for your birthday? 

Hey there! I haven't had the time to sit down and catch up lately - everything has been really busy, to say the least! I'll share some snap shots of the last week and a half or so, which seems to have gone by so fast. First off, I moved! Again! Michael and I got our first place together. It's been very new and exciting. We couldn't be happier with our place, and it seems to be finally coming together. We had an Ikea field day last Sunday and it took us three days to build a dresser. Okay, it was probably only a total of four hours, but when we get home from work the last thing we want to do is build furniture...

I'll share photos once the place looks nice, but here is one from the day we moved. Moving this leather couch was one of the hardest things I've ever done - it feels like it weighs 1,000 pounds and we put multiple holes in the hall way walls lugging this thing up the stairs!

The last few days we've just been busy trying to settle in. Here's a few snapshots from last week. We had a fun week at work including a venture to Painting With A Twist, a Good Humor sponsored ice cream party (clearly the ice cream deliverer doesn't eat the ice cream), and a morning of volunteering at MANNA which included making a batch of brownies for 300 people which was SO FUN. You better believe we cleaned the bowl pretty well...

On Thursday my mom and grandma came to visit! I had a blast showing them around Philly. They both have never been here before and absolutely love it!

I was able to leave work early on Friday to give them a little tour. We stopped at Agno for lunch, which is basically a really healthy & Mediterranean Chipotle (AMAZING).

I showed them a lot of the historic landmarks including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Elfreth's Alley and Betsy Ross's house. We also walked through the National Museum of Jewish American History. It's a beautiful museum! I loved it because it wasn't too large or overwhelming. We got through the entire museum in probably an hour, if that. Definitely recommend! The bottom floor features a lot of Jewish pop culture and we were cracking up at a Seinfeld episode that plays on a loop. We ended up at Spruce Street Harbor Park on the river because we all needed a beer after walking all day. Spruce Street Harbor Park is easily one of my favorite places in Philadelphia.

Yesterday my mom came to my Saturday morning class at Sweat Fitness, we grabbed an egg sandwich at Reading Terminal Market and then we all hopped on the train to come to the new apartment. We spent the rest of the day buying some odds and ends for the apartment, some booze (necessary for a new apartment) and some stuff to make for dinner. It was the perfect Saturday ending with an amazing home cooked meal - angel hair with veggies and shrimp and delicious sirloin. Plus some munchies before hand...

Michael and I are heading into Center City soon to have brunch with my mom and grandma before they leave to go back to Florida. It was a short but sweet visit - we packed it in! I always say this, but I really do feel like I'm on a summer vacation even though I work full time - Philadelphia is such an amazing city with so much to offer! I probably won't be saying this in the winter, but for now, I'm loving it.

- Rach

How is everyone's summer going?

What's your favorite city?

Happy Friday!! Thought I would share some things that I've been loving recently, including the fact that it's the Fourth of July next weekend. I can't wait to celebrate it in the city that our country was born in. And in light of our country, I'll start with...

Same Sex Marriage

I think this one speaks for itself :) Finally!! Love and acceptance always win. The Gayborhood in Philadelphia painted their crosswalks just in time...

Class Pass

I've had so much fun trying out all different kinds of studios and workouts around Philadelphia. Their customer service is awesome and I was able to get a crazy discount on my second month ($50 off!), but unfortunately I am canceling my membership for August. I'm sad to see it go, but with the few teaching jobs I've picked up, I am able to use the facilities at those gyms and I cannot justify spending $80 a month on fitness classes. Also I really just can't afford it, who am I kidding. If you're in the Northeast I recommend ClassPass since there are so many boutique studios up here. If you're in Florida, peerfit is also a great service that is similar to ClassPass. My friend Christina from The Blissful Balance works for peerfit and has said wonderful things about it!

My grandpa's homemade bagels, biali's and breakfast bread

My grandpa has been making his own bread for years and I was surprised with a package last week filled with these goodies. Pictured is his breakfast bread with cinnamon, raisins, walnuts and apricots. Little taste of home!

Morning runs around the city

I don't run often, but when I do I always wonder why I don't because it is so peaceful (besides the days when my legs feel 100 pounds each)! Especially in the morning when the streets are quiet. Every time I run here I take a different route and discover new places everywhere. This picture is from this morning in Washington Square Park. So pretty!

Moving...again!

Not until mid July, but this will make three moves in the last three months. I would like to stay put for a while. I'm staying in Philadelphia, but moving a little bit outside of Center City into my first "adult" apartment. The reason I say this is because the entire apartment complex is in the process of undergoing an entire renovation so our unit will be like brand new. Also this is the first place that Michael and I are moving into together (exciting)! Moving up in the world? Here's a sneak peak...

And that wraps up all my favorite things today. I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

- Rach