Maryland – JEN SPINS NYC

Yesterday was me and John’s 8 year anniversary! We dated for almost a month before making it “official” which was hilarious that I tried to play hard-to-get with an older dude. Don’t worry, it was legal! 😉 I was almost 18 and he was 24 when we met but as it goes, men never act their age. It doesn’t seem like it’s been 8 years AT ALL because I still remember every memory from the beginning on like it was yesterday.

Last night he surprised me with a date filled with my favorite things: pizza, coffee and dessert. We started out at Motorino which is a fancier pizza place I’ve wanted to try for awhile, but with no reservations and a VERY small interior it proves to be hard to get in. We lucked out and got seated right away and the food was absolutely amazing! I started with their special appetizer for the night which was baby Brussels sprouts sauteed with olive oil, honey, smoked pancetta and a sprinkle of pecorino. UNREAL.

I had the marinara pizza since it has no cheese and John had the meatball pizza. Sorry for the awful pics, I didn’t want to use my flash since your table is touching the table next to you and I didn’t want to be annoying haha

We then headed to one of my favorite coffee shops called The Bean. We got some coffees, and John pulled out 2 slices of carrot cake (my favorite!!) that he had gotten earlier after googling “best carrot cake in NYC”. He got it from Amy’s Bread, and it was definitely delicious. SO RICH that I only took about 3 bites before having to pull the plug. The rest is in the fridge for dessert tonight and probably tomorrow!

It was such a perfect night totally tailored for me 🙂 We really don’t buy each other gifts but rather plan special date nights like this, but I did completely surprise him when I decided to get him a gift that we could both experience. I got him tickets for the New York Rangers, his favorite hockey team! They are expensive so he’s only been to one game and I’ve never been, but we had a cheap Christmas so I saved a little and splurged. We’re going early next month and I’m stoked!

Since this blog also serves as my own personal journal type thing, I wanted to post pictures from all throughout my relationship even though it doesn’t fit the theme of my blog (food/fitness). Then I realized, these pictures DO fit the theme because you can see how much weight I’ve lost along the way! It’s been a long journey with LOTS of ups and downs, but how lucky am I that I found the perfect partner who loves me no matter how much I weigh 🙂 Feel free to exit now, regular fitness posts will resume tomorrow!

LOL please don't murder me babe. My prom hair was a complete DISASTER but that's a whole other story. — LOL please don’t murder me babe. My prom hair was a complete DISASTER but that’s a whole other story.

1st summer together at my friend Mark's cottage — 1st summer together at my friend Mark’s cottage

1st vacation together in Ocean City, MD (on a ferris wheel, hence my hair ha)

John was in a band for years when we lived upstate and I went to all their shows and we would get back to his house so late.. but it was so much fun :) — John was in a band for years when we lived upstate and I went to all their shows and we would get back to his house so late.. but it was so much fun 🙂

In our 1st apartment together at the end of 2007

3rd year in OC, MD together! This trip was so, so much fun. I will never forget it!

Those above 3 pictures from our 3rd vacation together in Ocean, MD, I had lost almost 20 pounds before we went. I just followed Weight Watchers for a few weeks but of course put it all back on and then some once we got back.

Shortly after we moved into our 2nd apartment. I had gained all the weight back I had lost in the summer. It's so crazy for me to see this because at this point I don't even remember being this big! — Shortly after we moved into our 2nd apartment. I had gained all the weight back I had lost in the summer. It’s so crazy for me to see this because at this point I don’t even remember being this big!

My face is unrecognizable! Little did I know this would be the last winter I was overweight.

I have basically no pictures of us during 2009… it was a super hard year for us and for me in general! That summer was when I took charge of my health and by spring 2010…