Mal and I recently decided to plan “surprise dates” for one another. Basically, we want to jazz-up our “same-old, same-old” dinner dates by spending time together doing something new and different. With the temperature expected to reach 70* in Boston this afternoon, I knew exactly what to plan for my “surprise date” for Mal. To add to the suspense, I left a clue on Mal’s “school bag” this morning.
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In the email that I plan to send him at noon, it will tell him where and when to meet me. All I have told him so far is that he needs to be on the T by 4:15/4:30pm to meet me somewhere downtown.
Mal will get his next clue/gift when he successfully meets me! 
Breakfast and Workout
I shredded this morning before work, so I am taking breakfast to go with me on my commute.
Level 1 of the 30-Day Shred was such a great workout! 
I loved how Jillian moved from one exercise to the next without stopping for much explanation or rest. However, Level 1 wasn’t as hard as I expected it to be– even with 10 lb dumbbells (instead of 5 lbs.). I really thought it was going to kick my butt! It’s the perfect quickie workout if you are pressed for time or as part of a longer workout. After shredding, I did a 30-minute interval run on the treadmill.
Breakfast to go: oats mixed with wheat bran, ground flaxseed meal, and pecans and a banana. When I get to work, I will slice up the banana for my oats and add hot water from the water cooler.
I also grabbed an iced coffee mixed with hemp protein, soy milk, and agave nectar to drink on my commute.
Why Should I Go to BlogHer 2009?
As you may know, I really, really, really want to attend the BlogHer Conference in Chicago this coming July. Unfortunately, tickets are sold out, but I will do just about anything to get one! So, I was hoping that you guys would help me brainstorm some reasons why I should attend the conference in the hopes of getting BlogHer’s attention. Of course, I appreciate “serious” ideas, such as what makes CNC unique and why you read it, but I am also interested in the funny and ridiculous reasons! Feel free to leave any and all ideas that you may have! Please help me get to BlogHer!
Betty Crocker Giveaway
Check out this sweet giveaway on Megan’s blog: Betty Crocker Gift Basket Giveaway
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Have a great Friday! I want to go to Blogher too, but no ticket. Sad!!
Love the date idea!
Jillian has some really great workouts too.
That is SUCH a cute idea. I am totally asking Josh to do this
Test comment.
What a fun date night! I am excited to see where you all end up
Aww love the “surprise date” idea!!
Cute date idea!
I love the date idea! I bet he’ll have fun trying to figure it out.
how fun! surprise dates with clues are a good idea – and love the pug message!
You are strong! I use 2 and 3 lbs for level 1 and by side lunges at the end can barely do it!
What a cute thing to do to make the day a bit more exciting
. (and I like your drink mug, too!)
just wanted to say i love your blog and am really curious about the 30-day shred video, can’t wait to see the rest of your reviews. your oats also always look really inventive and i love the pug message as well!
have a great day
natalia
Wonderful ideas … you’re so creative! : )
you two are too cute! LOVE the idea — nice way to keep things interesting — the Mister and I try and do stuff like this all the time
love. it.
Have a great day! can’t wait to hear about Mal’s surprise
I have never “shredded” but from what I hear you are a BEAST! 10 lb. weights and you didn’t think it was hard?! You are C-RAZY!
I love your idea about surprise dates so much that I am going to steal it to use with my husband! I hope you guys have fun!
You should get Mal to take a “tastefully nude” picture of you with a big sign covering up your torso that says I would rather go nude than not go to BlogHer.
You did say silly ideas are welcome!
The date thing is so cute! I am telling my boyfriend later that we are going to do that! 10 pounds is amazing for the Shred! I stuck with 3 and 5s and it kicked my butt!
Love the surprise date idea – your pug is sooo cute!
Well, since you were the second food blog I ever started reading, I think you should be going because to me, you are one of the “big dogs” of the blogosphere!
There are a lot of blogs out there but I always check yours because I feel that I can relate to you more than a lot of the others.
Good luck to you! I’m sure you’ll find a way to get there.
hey tina! just wondering… what happened to your special announcement about how the blog is going to be changing?
@Abby: Coming soon. It’s not a huge change, but still a change.
I love the Shred! Such a great little workout when you don’t have a lot of time, and often I find it’s the little push I need to do more on a lazy day.
So fun! Surprise dates are such a cute and great idea.
I LOVE the date idea!! Might have to keep that one in mind
I am also so excited its so warm today!!!!! Looks like you have a fun evening planned!
I didn’t think the level 1 was all that hard either…but I was still SORE the enxt day:)
i love the date idea!! im so happy boston is finally warming up!
Make a cool YouTube video about how great BlogHer is and why you want to go!!
I read you blog daily, and noticed this add on another blog i read. Not sure where to find the actual contest, but check out this blog’s add on the right ….. http://www.mousearoo.ca/
Best of Luck.
edit that last post: i check her blog again, and the ad changed, but there was one that said “win trips to the sold out conference” … must be somewhere on the blogher website.
What a fun idea!!
Tina (or others) what do you think of doing the 30 day shred everyday? I’ve always heard that you should allow a rest day with strength training?
cute pug..i think i have an idea about where you could be going but i wont say anything haha..it was the beer $$ that tipped me off
you and Mal are too cute!
you and Mal are so friggin adorable!
i made those blondies this morning that you made the other day. so. good. thank you for sharing the recipe
You guys are so cute with your fun dates.
Such a cute idea! My husband and I really don’t have enough date nights anymore, I need to find a way to change that!
I love the idea of suprprise date nights! Can’t wait to find out what the 2 of you do tonight.
I love the date idea! I think my husband would be cool with anything that involves beer. Good idea
Maybe I should surprise him with a date tonight!!
I love the date night! I really should be better about doing that. Sometimes you get into such a rut.
surprise dates are a good idea!
i used to live in boston, and i miss this time of year there
LOVE the date idea! LOVE the shop too.
This is such a sweet date idea! I can’t wait to see where you wenr.
Hmmm. You need to go to BlogHer to share your love of pugs, carrots and cake with Oprah and the rest of Chicago.
Love the surprise date night!! Totally going to steal that idea
BLOGHER: Please allow Tina to go because she is such a cool influence on the food blog community. She will bring excitement, a refreshing perspective and thousands of followers to the Chicago! And I will get to hang out with her!!