What a Weekend!

This past weekend was quite the busy one!

On Saturday morning, I ran in my first 5K race. It was for the Shirley Mae Breast Cancer Assistance Fund, which helps breast cancer patients in the South Jersey area with the cost of prescriptions, treatments, and prothesis. My mom had been running in this race for a while (go mom!) and since I had finally started running again, I decided to do this one with her this year.

My goal was to come in under 30 minutes, which I thought I was reasonable because my Nike plus band said I generally ran between an 8:40 and a 9:20 minute mile. But apparently the calibration of those bands is an important step, not to be skipped (which I did) and I am really running closer to a 10:00 minute mile. Oh well, I ended up coming in at 31:09, which isn't bad at all. I really pushed myself and was very proud of my performance. Next time I'll be under 30:00!

Here's a photo of the start. This race has grown like crazy  in the past couple years; my mom said that the first year she ran in it, there was only a couple hundred people.

The next portion of my Saturday was spent in the garage (open, of course!) with a few cans of spray paint. See, H's parents got a brand new set of patio furniture- which is awesome for them. And as it turns out, not too shabby for us either! They gave us their old set, which included a good-sized table, four chairs, an outdoor umbrella, and umbrella base. It was green, which I wasn't all that fond of, and a bit rusty, but structurally there was nothing wrong with it. I decided that a coat of black spray paint would work wonders on it.

First, I rinsed it down with the hose and rubbed all the dirt off. Then after it dried, I sanded to get the rust off and to rough it up a bit. And after that, I just sprayed away with a can of flat black Rustoleum brand spray paint. It took quite a few coats to finish each pice, but it looks seriously brand spankin' new. I cannot wait to finish it up. Here are a few pics from the process:

The original umbrella base. 

Hm, I'd say it looks a bit better.

 The original chair, rust and all.

And here it is now.

And as if that wasn't enough activity for one day, we met up with friends in Philly for dinner and drinks. (I actually wore my happy-hour-outfit from a couple posts ago!) We went to El Rey, the newest Stephen Starr restaurant, which is traditional-Mexican-diner-inspired. The food was awesome- seriously, so flavorful, melt in your mouth deliciousness. And it was SO much more reasonably priced than many other Starr endeavors.

And El Rey is apparently associated/connected via the kitchen with a Prohibition inspired bar. The real entrance was in an alley, the waiters were dressed in period attire, and it was lit entirely by candlelight. So cool! And the specialty cocktail menu was filled with  rye, bourbon, and campari. Also very cool, I felt like I was back in the 20's (or at least what I'd imagine them to be like!).

Now, I certainly don't fancy myself a photographer, but the candlelit atmosphere was just begging me to take a few (or twenty pictures).

Needless to say, I was so ready for the relaxing Mother's Day dinner with family on Sunday! Hope everyone had a good weekend!