I don’t think you’ll ever hear me say that being in a long distance relationship is easy. It’s definitely challenging sometimes, and it’s a lot of work, and it requires a tremendous amount of patience, trust, and respect for both yourself and your partner. What I have said, however – many times – is that my boyfriend and I have made it work and we’ve made it work surprisingly well over the nearly several years we’ve been together (six of which we’ve lived on opposite coasts!)
I cherish and look forward to the time we get to spend together when visiting one another, but I also respect and eagerly anticipate our daily check-ins, phone calls, sharing funny videos/photos and even the moments of long pauses when we’re simply listening to the other cook a meal, go grocery shopping, run errands, etc. I’m lucky enough to have found a mutual, unconditional love with one of my longest lifetime friends – who just happens to reside on the other side of the country after a job had relocated him all those years ago.
So a day like Valentine’s Day, when we can’t physically be present with one another – can feel a little sad – but receiving a beautiful floral arrangement (and another gift I really, really wanted and am in the process of setting up in my living room!) makes the butterflies in my stomach start fluttering around again. I’m oh-so-grateful for him, his kindness, generosity and spontaneous nature.
I digress. I spent the bulk of this past weekend celebrating both Valentine’s Day and Gal-entine’s Day with some of my friends and family. My friend Stef and I had dinner together on Saturday night at her house where she cooked an incredible carbonara and I finally ended up gifting her and her husband the Christmas presents I had been unintentionally holding onto since mid-December (it was a busy holiday season. It happens!)
On Sunday morning, I scooped up my mom and we headed to Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, Massachusetts for a brunch and candle making class courtesy of the nearby Kitchen Sink Candle Company where we sipped on mimosas, carefully selected our fragrance combinations, and were assisted with pouring the wax while chatting with the people around us. It was super fun, super informative for anyone who may want to try getting into candle making themselves – and our jars came out lovely!
While my mom is a pure lavender lover, I concocted a cherry-vanilla-milk chocolate blend that smells heavenly!
And with yesterday being both the Lunar New Year and Fat Tuesday – my day was nothing short of filling and decadent! I had grabbed Chinese food at one of my favorite spots in Central Massachusetts during a lunch break at work, only to then make a stop at GOMBO in Northampton on my way home to the Pioneer Valley.
While my plan had been to just grab some food to-go so I could enjoy it for lunch while working from home today during the impending snowstorm, they were having a full-blown Mardi Gras party and I ended up staying for some crab cakes, a seafood boil, and plenty of jazz music while keeping out of the cold for a couple of hours.
Best of all? I asked for a slice of King Cake with “extra baby” and they understood the assignment completely. I’m looking forward to having it later on today!
And with all the fun and food-filled February festivities (say that three times fast!) now winding down, it’s time for me to look forward to the next things I have planned – including some more local travel this coming weekend and trying to map out a possible trip/weekend away to NYC for March or April. We’ll see how it goes!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 