My date arrived on time at the specified location yesterday afternoon. I, however, was 30 minutes late! 
I felt bad making my hubby wait, but Mal didn’t seem to mind. He got a table outside, drank a beer, played with his fancy iPhone, and enjoyed the warm springtime weather. What a handsome date! 
For dinner, Mal and I met at La Verdad, a taqueria on near Fenway that I have been dying to try since it opened!
Our experience at La Verdad was wonderful– Mal was especially impressed with the food. He ordered the Carne Asada, which he raved about non-stop while eating. He really liked the meat, which was very flavorful, tender, and a tad spicy. Mal also noted that his meal was the perfect portion– it filled him up, but didn’t leave him stuffed. Sorry that I didn’t snap a photo of his meal– I just wanted to highlight Mal’s new love for La Verdad!
To start, I ordered the house margarita, which was just so-so. It was better than most, but weak. I like to taste the tequila in my margarita, but all I could taste was sour mix. Meh. 
For dinner, I ordered the quesadilla, which didn’t knock my socks off, but was quality Mexican food. Inside was grilled corn, mushrooms, and Monterrey Jack cheese. On the side was a serving of refried beans topped with feta, cilantro, and red onions. I ended up eating 3 out of the 4 pieces of quesadilla.
Of course, I ate the quesadilla with extra hot Mexican hot sauce! 
My mouth was en fuego!
We had about 45 minutes until the “main event” of our date, so Mal and I ordered another round of drinks. I ordered a Carta Blanca beer, which sort of tasted like a Corona. I didn’t like the taste much, so Mal ended up drinking most of it.
Overall, I like La Verdad a lot, and I know that I will be visiting again soon. I hear they have $2 Taco Tuesdays, so I’ll have to check it out.
My “surprise date” for Mal: Tickets to the Red Sox game!!! I still can’t believe I got tickets! They’re so hard to find now-a-days, especially on a Friday when the weather is gorgeous!
At the game, Mal and I both enjoyed a beer in the bleachers.
Outfield pow-wow…
Mal was beyond psyched when he realized that we were going to the game! He’s the biggest Sox fan and we didn’t have tickets to a single game this season. I definitely impressed him with my “surprise date”! I wonder what he is going to come up with for mine!?
Saturday Long Run
I just fueled up for my 10 mile run with a big bowl of pumpkin oats (with hemp protein, MixMyGranola, pecans, and peanut butter) and an iced coffee, and now I am digesting and gearing up to run. 10 miles is nuts! I hope I can do it! Running long distances is so much mental– I need to psych myself up and tell myself I can do it! Wish me luck!
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AMAZING surprise!! Love the Sox
Good luck today with the run!!
I remember the first day I ran double digits with 10 miles – I cried at the end, I was so impressed with myself! You can do it, Tina. Just think, you knocked out 9 like nobody’s bidness
Great date, too – you and Mal are just so cute and look so happy.
I just read your “About” section and almost had a heart attack! I’m graduating from Union this year and getting a degree in Higher Education from UMass Amherst! You’re an inspiration on all fronts!
Also, I haven’t heard you talk much about things you eat during the run – do you refuel? I hesitated to buy all of that stuff for my first half marathon, but felt a HUGE difference when I did it for the second! A nutritionist advised me that you really only need to take in 100 or so calories every hour or so. I’m partial to Clif Shot blocks…they kinda taste like gummy bears.
you got it baby! no sweat! you’ll kill it
You planned an Awesome date for Mal…WOW!! Glad the food was great!!
Good Luck on your Run. You can do it!!
good luck tina—WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! Sending hugs on this beauuuutiful saturday<3
oh my my Hubby so wants to see a game but this week all tickets are sold out!
What a fun date! I had my baked oats and waiting to run too. I had the flu all week so I don’t know how far I can go. We will see. Good luck!
what a great date!!!! I love going to baseball games!
Aw! What a fun date!!!
Good luck with the 10 miler!
you can do it – tackle that 10 miler
awesome date!! sox tickets are so hard to get.. my dad had to wait like 15 years on the list to get season tix and we still only get them for like 10 games they’re super expensive grrr. i just love fenway though – even being in the bleacher seats is so fun! i love
your matching blue hoodies too
WOOHOO GO SOX!! Doesn’t get much better!
What a fun date! Although if I were the owner of that restaurant, I’d consider picking a different tagline than “escape to Tijuana.” Maybe it’s just because I live about 45 minutes from the border (and therefore from TJ) but it’s doesn’t exactly say to me “relaxation and margaritas” more like “poverty and drug-cartel violence.” It’s really sad what’s going on down there…anyway, I’m not trying to bring down the tone of the blog, I honestly thought the tag line was a little funny in an “oh really?” kinda way so I wanted to share.
Mexican, baseball, and beer – I think that’s a man’s perfect idea of a date! And mine too probably, haha. Great idea and good luck on your run. Can’t wait to read about it.
awwww that is so cute! i love the surprise date idea, i’m totally going to implement that with my boyfriend when i’m back in the states
What a sweet surprise date!! The queasdilla looks tasty and margaritas are the perfect accompanment. Glad you both had fun!
Aw what a fun date night!!
Good luck on your run, I know you can do it!
Love the date idea! I love the surprise idea for date night too!!! Good luck on your run, ten miles isn’t so bad… you’ll do great!
Aw what a great surprise date!! I agree with the margarita – what’s the point if you can’t taste the tequila?!
GOOD LUCK!!
La Verdad is excellent – the plantain chips are really good, and I think I had duck tacos that were amazing. You had great weather for the game! I’m taking my boyfriend next week as his birthday gift. Thank you Red Sox for being the go-to gift for the man who has everything!
how fun! Looks like a great night — and good weather!
Have a great run
OHHH My gosh – SOOO CUTE! ahhh i’m seriously squirming with how adorable this is!
I love La Verdad – let me know if you’d like to meet up for $2 tacos – I’m 5 minutes away
My fiance and I are going to the Sox game tomorrow – so psyched!
Again- LOVE this idea. SO cute. Glad Mal enjoyed your date. You’re such an awesome wife
Aw, looks like you had such a great time. How fun!
what a fun date! that mexican place looks really neat – i love outdoor eating
good luck on your run!!!
Oh WOW! That is an awesome surprise. I am totally Jealous. I cheer for the Blue Jays… don’t tell Mal
Yay, thank you for the recipe! The muffins are out of this WORLD.
Also, your husband is so darn lucky! Sox tickets sound like such a treat! I can’t wait to see what he surprises you with…
So jealous you got to go to a Red Sox game! It’s such a blast.
Check out my blog as I run with Team in Training and raise money for blood cancers!
www. HelpMeghanRun .com
What a great surprise date! Sounds like a blast!
I love reading about the fun adventures the two of you have. Great night!
Fun time! Love the quesadilla and margarita pics!
what an awesome date! Love the baseball pics.. Jacoby is my future hubby.. dont tell mine that though!
i love fenway!
That is so funny.. because one of my roommates took her boyfriend to the game last night too! So nice that you guys could go on such a nice day weather-wise.. and especially nice that it was a winning game!
You and Mal are adorable. I’m glad you had fun!!
What a sweet date! And a very memorable one, too. I hope your 10 mile run went well yesterday. Saturdays are always my long run days, too; I got very lucky with the beautiful weather in NY yesterday. When the weather is nice, running 11 miles is decidedly much easier!
What a fun date!
You two are so adorable. What a great site Tina. Jacquelyn thought I would enjoy it. These date adventures are so great. If more people took the time to do this there would be more happy couples. Two of my favorite students…..Love ya!
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