Over the years, I’ve read multiple {Virtual} coffee or wine date posts from my favorite bloggers. These posts, along with Day in The Life posts, tend to be my favorite type of post, as they welcome readers into the person’s life and helps us get to know them better.

Since any of my friends know that my drink of choice since moving abroad is a cappuccino, why don’t you join me today for our first cappuccino date.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that putting myself on a shopping ban has been tough but beneficial. As I’d rather spend money on traveling, I told myself that between Christmas and the next time I’m in the United States, late March, that I wouldn’t shop. There should be no reason I need to shop during this three month period as I have a full closet and overflowing drawers. The urge to wear new things has forced me to dig into my closet and dresser, putting new outfits together and discovering items I forgot I even owned! I finally went through my workout drawers and donated any piece of workout gear that I avoid wearing. We all have this don’t we – a couple of tanks or shorts that don’t fit the way we like and are pushed aside each day when we go to grab an outfit. I donated two bags of tanks, shorts, spandex and sports bras!

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that I love how my girlfriends and I have been creative with finding time to catch up. Over the past few months, it’s been virtually impossible to find a night that works for girls’ night dinner. But, instead of letting that mean that we don’t see each other, we’ve met before work for coffee at our favorite coffee shop, gone to yoga or spin together, or hit the pavement for a few pre-work miles. While I love our dinner dates, I’m finding this one on one time even more valuable.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you how thankful I am for a running coach. Jess has made training an absolute pleasure so far, and she truly is our biggest cheerleader. Since this is her full time job, she can respond quickly to emails and last minute questions before workouts. She’s also worked to create a wonderful family of runners through her #racepacerunners emails and newsletters.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that Bo and I are traveling each of the next seven weeks. While it will be fun and I’m excited to see new places like Venice & Barcelona it can still be overwhelming. Typically this would be exhausting and result in more than a few extra pounds around my waistline. But, Bo and I are finding that by eating clean Monday through Thursday, we can enjoy our weekends away, tasting and eating the local cuisine, without gaining weight or feeling over indulgent. Investing in a coach and training plan is also helping me stay accountable to make time for each of my workouts.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that I never cease to be amazed at the cost of living in Geneva, especially in regards to the price of food. Our friends were shocked last week that just a few bags of ski weekend groceries cost almost 300 CHF. Keep in mind, 1 CHF = 1.06 USD, so the exchange is virtually 1:1. The prices in our basic grocery stores, such as COOP and Migros, make Whole Foods seem like a discount grocery store.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that lately Bo and I have become obsessed with soups and stews. Each week he makes a big batch so we can enjoy it for two nights then freeze the leftovers. There is no easier Sunday meal after a weekend of traveling than defrosted soup, salad and hunk of bread. In fact, last night’s beef & barley stew may be our new favorite.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that while I love my laptop and iPhone, I’ve started writing things down more and more. For some reason I find that I can think through my thoughts easier when they are on paper. Today alone, I outlined this post and an upcoming presentation on paper before transferring to PowerPoint and LiveWriter.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that while I know that Geneva’s winter has been nothing versus New York City or the rest of the east coast, I’m still craving warmth, sunshine and water.  I’ve already requested a family boating day when I’m in Savannah next month.

If we were sipping a cappuccino together today, I’d tell you that I have enjoyed experimenting with my hair lately. I typically blow dry it each day then run a straightener or serum through it, ridding it of any frizz and wave. But, more often than not, I’m wearing it wavy since I’m lazy and tired of spending thirty minutes in the bathroom blow drying and straightening my hair. This weekend I may go for something a bit more polished, as Courtney’s post inspired me to try to curl my hair with my straightener.  If I don’t burn my hair off while attempting to curl it, hopefully, this will make me feel more put together and stylish for our date night in Venice, the City of Love.

How about you, what would you tell me if we were sipping a cappuccino together today?