Tables.

I’ve determined that nothing is sweeter than lounging on my couch on a chilly Sunday evening knowing that Monday is a bank holiday, and I can spend the day honoring the life of the brave MLK instead of waking up early and going to work. To those of you who have to work tomorrow, I’m so sorry. There are few perks to working at a bank, and this is one of them.

M and I had a great, cozy weekend together. He was kind enough to make the trip down here, and it felt so nice to not have to drive 4-plus hours on a Friday night. I decided that I wanted to make M a hearty winter dinner for when he arrived and a pot roast seemed like the perfect meal for the occasion. I hurried home from work to put the meat in my new apple-green dutch oven that I purchased this week. The roast cooked at a slow simmer while M was driving down to D.C., and when he arrived we had a warm and comforting meal together.

My timing might have been slightly backwards because we spent Saturday morning putting together my new table and chairs. Since I moved, I’ve been on the lookout for a small dining set  that fits in the small nook across from my kitchen. I finally found one that was delivered last week, so M and I put it together in our pajamas on Saturday morning. A table to me feels like an anchor. It makes my apartment feel more like home. It’s a place for gathering and eating, talking and comforting, laughing and crying. Food is one of my favorite things, and sharing food with the people I love is so comforting to me. Whether it’s a meal that I’ve made myself or spicy take-out from the Thai place around the corner or a microwaved LeanCuisine after a long day, food (and now my tiny dining table) is a place to unwind, relax and reflect on the day. Until now, I’ve mostly been eating my dinners on the coffee table across from the TV, which is nice when I want to catch-up on my DVR, but it also feels rushed, informal, distracting and uninviting. I’m so excited to gather people around my tiny table and serve them food I’ve made myself with a rich glass of red wine. Nothing sounds better.

Saturday night brought us a delicious Restaurant Week dinner at Occidental Grille downtown. It was so fun to get gussied up after spending the entire day in sweatpants and t-shirts. The food was delicious—my salmon was cooked to absolute perfection and M’s filet was tender and delicious. Dessert might have been the best part. Bread pudding might have been the greatest invention of whatever century it was created in. Mental note: need to learn how to make. After dinner we met up with one of M’s college friends at a karaoke bar and were thoroughly entertained for hours before I decided it was my bedtime and we headed home. (Let me add that it was after midnight when we left.)

Today was just as perfect, we slept in late and got huge breakfast sandwiches from a delicious bagel place down the street. Their savory “everything” bagels are stuffed with buttery fried eggs, thick-cut bacon and salty cheese, piled high and wrapped in wax paper so they stay warm until we’re back under blankets in the living room. This is my absolute favorite way to start a weekend morning. Luckily (or unluckily), there was plenty of football on all weekend, so we were never at a loss for something to watch. Too bad our Steelers didn’t make it, but it certainly makes the weekends less stressful for me!

Now I’m cuddled up on the couch watching romantic comedies and wondering what kind of take-out I should order for dinner. I’m thinking Thai….

To no-work Monday,

Lia