Once February rolls around, my patience with winter tends to wear thin. This feeling has recently been compounded by the weather growing colder and Chasen beginning his 6 week rotation away from Philly. I've been trying to do little things to create excitement in my weeks and remind me that in a mere 2 months, Chasen will be back home at night, and the Spring sunshine will bring longer days and milder weather.
On Friday, I was glad to be able to have dinner with friends downtown for Restaurant Week even though Chase was away on a trip. The menu at Seafood Unlimited featured 4 courses, and my main entree was a melt-in your mouth sea bass (post-wisdom teeth surgery friendly). We hit up a bar after dinner to extend the night, and it was fun to be downtown in the midst of all the restaurant week excitement.
I was lucky enough to get to the spa on Saturday for a hot stone massage that Chasen booked for me as an early Valentine's gift, and it was just as wonderful as I thought it would be! I had never had a hot stone massage, but the stones are used as an extension of the hands during the massage, and the heat feels divine mixed with the cool in the oils. We also saved $50 using an online Yelp coupon--which I highly recommend if you ever get an expensive spa treatment.
I had some homemade vegetable soup with turkey for dinner tonight, and a simple grilled cheese sandwich that tastes anything but simple. I love putting goat cheese on everything, and when mixed with the melty sliced cheddar on this whole grain toast, the goat cheese provides a creamy consistency that melds with the bread. Yum. Purple flowers from Trader Joe's also help me to remember the beauty that exists beyond the barren winter presently outside. Whatever works!

