a.m. originalities

Before you go any further: Ask me a question, won't you please?

I love breakfast. I know this isn't news to you as I'm always praising the deliciousness of my morning meals, but I just can't help but gush once more. You see, up until I was 18 years old, I ate a bowl of cereal before school. Every Sunday my dad would make scrambled eggs, on special occasions I'd have cinnamon-sugar toast or a bagel with cream cheese, and once a year I'd feast on a cinnamon roll (talk about a Merry Christmas!), but usually I started my day with a non-sugary, fiber-rich "bland" cereal. My favorite was Crispix, that's just the way my momma raised me.  Then I went away to college and discovered oatmeal.

For whatever reason, oatmeal had always grossed me out until blogs convinced me otherwise. And since I started oatmealing it, about four years ago to date, I haven't stopped. I haven't found a breakfast more satisfying nor sustaining. Here's my recipe if you're interested. These days I'm on a rolled oats kick with unseasonal toppings (my mom splurged on raspberries this week, she must love me). Otherwise, I'm not a trendy person in the sense that I make a sincere effort not to go along with what everyone else is doing. Another example? It took me two winters in Syracuse before I broke down and accepted practical Uggs as a gift. Anyway, before I go off on a stylish (or lack there of) tangent,  I just mean to say that this oatmeal love affair of mine is truly authentic. Today I'm proud to welcome my darling friend Julia to the mix. It was only a matter of time!

My most recent roommate, Meg, on the other hand, never did seem to catch on. It's fine, we're on good terms ;). The weekend before last, she was in town visiting another friend and joined me for a Sunday brunch on her drive home. It was one of those rare mornings when the perfect bowl of oats did not appeal to me. It was also one of those not-so-rare mornings when the aftermath of nocturnal festivities (read: hangover) decided to join us as we began our day. All I wanted was french toast. And so we went to City Limits Diner, and I devoured their Raisin Currant Challah French Toast with house-made vanilla apple sauce and real maple syrup alongside the necessary coffee. It wasn't anything like the heavenly plate I shared with SnackFace those many suns ago, but it was pretty damn good, and definitely hit the spot. Late morning yoga took care of the rest.

This evening, I am thankful that I live in a place that is so accessible for my friends to visit. The hardest thing about not being at 'Cuse anymore is that the majority of them are scattered across the United States rather than one concentrated Central New York location like they had been in the past. Living so close to NYC allows me to see those now living in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, while also being in a prime (and spacious) location for the non-New Yorkers to crash, and, of course, right next door to my original high school favorites. Case in point: December...

• 2nd, 9th, & 16th: Weekly sleepover at Steph and Catherine's.
• 4th: My cousin( and friend)'s apartment-warming party.
• 10th: Healthy dinner with old co-worker, friend, and current Fitness employee, Karla Walsh.
• 11th: Afternoon with Meghan (same one as above) and her boyfriend.
• 17th: A special AXO reunion.
• 27th - January 1st: K and I's week of of non-stop, new year celebrating!
• TBD dates with C, Laura, Debra, Nicole, Shannon, Muffin, Leslie,  Sofia, Greg, Kate, Claire, Gloria, Ryan, Chrissie and more.

There is just so much fun to be had, morning and night, as we wrap of 2011! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. Note that I said "right now." That would be a hint, my friends :) stay tuned for a December announcement.