FroYo Claims a Victim

Remember Coldstone Creamery? The Moe's of the ice cream world - 1,500 calories stuffed into a single serving? Faux-healthy versions of decadence like "Sinless Sweet Cream" made with Splenda? Sigh.

My favorite Coldstone memory? Being the rebel in my dorm and ordering Irish Cream and Cappuccino flavors in my ultra-Mormon college town where coffee is grounds for damnation. Pun intended.

Coldstone is the place for newly-single, newly-broken-hearted gals and their friends to eat themselves sick, for kids to learn what it is to consume more calories in one sitting than they should all week, and where plenty of first dates find true Love It.

Soon-to-be Italian Village. Hopefully they can get the guilt out of the walls.

And then came the froyo franchises. The actually healthy frozen treat with dairy- and sugar-free options that don't taste like chemicals and self-loathing. Unfortunately for this Coldstone on 17-92, Yogurtland settled in next door and Menchies moved in across the street in Winter Park Village.

Death knell for the Gotta Have It crowd. Cue Taps.

Eating Well, Thriving in a New Way

Well, I thought I would take the time I had off from working (read: I actually did work, just not in an office, which made it feel way more like fun than it should have been) to blog more, but it just didn't happen.

I was too busy starting my own business (The Gourmet Girl), a home-delivery gourmet dinner service, working freelance as a writer and editor (thanks Orlando Weekly and Tupperware for keeping me sane and busy) as well as taking some time out to really decide what I want in life. Sometimes, the pure act of stopping everything can make the world around you suddenly very clear.

I loved my time off. I had time to cook like crazy, make things I wished I'd had time for while I had a full-time gig, and got together with friends I hadn't seen in a while. If you have the chance to take a leave of absence (or if you get fired, hate your job and quit, or get laid off), ENJOY it for the ride. File for unemployment, do odd jobs for friends and take the time to really get to know yourself again.

Here's what I found out about myself:
1. I love pasta more than almost anything else that's edible in the world. On my worst days, a bowl of pasta (not a plate, mind you, a bowl) can make me feel like everything is right with the world.

2. I drink more when I'm employed than when I'm unemployed. I'm pretty sure this has to do with stress. I thought I would spend my days drinking away at the pool, but I didn't. I was AMAZINGLY productive and sober.

3. Sometimes unfortunate things (like finding out your new job just isn't right for you) have to happen for you to realize your full potential and do things you've always wanted to.

I loved my time off, but I'm happy to get back into the swing of things as editor of a national baby magazine. I'm sure I'll be back to blogging and eating and travelling soon. We're planning an anniversary trip (possibly to St. Croix, possibly to Kansas City) and there are other great things on the horizon. I hope you'll be there with us.