My High Class, Pescatarian, Stand-Up Paddleboarding Anniversary

Yes, this all happened in one day! Last week was my two-year anniversary with my hubby (My Workout Partner For Life, Yo!) and we each had plans for each other on our Cotton Anniversary. (Note: We bought each other things with cotton. Him: two Gino style shirts, and Me: underwear. Yes.). I love having the "traditional gift" as well as something fun planned for the day, it makes it so much fun.

Last year was our Paper Anniversary, and Carter got me plane tickets. To our honeymoon location. For an all-inclusive week away.

F. Yeah.

Too bad plane tickets aren't paper AND cotton, but I digress.

Carter always supports me whether I'm taking a year-long yoga course, training for a run, playing lacrosse, volleyball or floor hockey, or trying out one of my new recipes. He teaches with me when I do Couples Yoga workshops, massages my legs when I'm super sore, and tells me I look skinny even if I binge-eat on Kraft Dinner and chocolate. 

This isn't just for the bedroom.

And... this is when I pulled a hammy.

I surprised Carter with our first experience of Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP!)!!! I have been DYING to try this, so really, it was a present to myself. From myself.

Carter is so lucky.

I did give him a really cute card from a company called Just Wink- which has the cutest and funniest cards! I found it at Shopper's Drug Mart and bought about 5 of them. In case you didn't know, I buy in bulk.

We rented boards through MSC Fitness (also the place with my goddess of a yoga instructor) and hit the beach early to get the calm water.

Not pictured: Board falling on my face.  

You can't tell, but I'm making my tough face. 

Carter's tough face. I actually told him to look tough. Sigh. 

So we hit the waves!

Um... literally.

We got into the water and stood up (a miracle in itself- it feels like you're on a BOSU or Balance board for the first 10 minutes) and began to paddle. Now, I consider myself a veteran paddler from when I used to do War Canoe when I was 11, so this would be a piece of cake, right?

Um, no.

We paddled for what felt like 30 seconds and the next thing we knew, we were WAY out in the water- the CHOPPY water, and the strong wind, pushing us away from the shoreline. When I say WAY out, I mean way. Holy. Crap. We paddled for probably an hour trying to get back to shore and we moved about 2 metres total. We finally decided (um... after falling off 2 or 3 times.. paddle INTO the waves, not with them) to go on our knees and paddle in, which was a killer core and quad workout.

So, yeah. It was freaking hard.

So I went out again.

Man, I must be soooo far! You can't even see me!

Oh, right. I took that photo.

Eassssssssy.....

When the hell did I get so cocky? 

I can tell by all the photos you're taking of ME, Carter, that this was a GREAT gift I got for you.

The second time out, I was hooked. Staying close to shore and working on going out, turning around, coming back to shore and going out again was MUCH better. It is a wicked core/leg workout and you get to be outside and on the water! Perfection.

In addition to MSC, the studio that I did my Yoga Teacher Training- P3 Yoga- also offers SUPing. Even Yoga on the SUP! (Photos to come later as I tried this at the cottage last week!)

After we SUPed, we had some much needed nap time (can this be my life for real? I never want to go back to teach) and then Carter took me to the MOST amazing, high-class, celebrity hot spot restaurant called Centro in midtown Toronto.

I can't help it. My guy is sexy.

You're not ready for what's about to hit you.

I got there to find a bottle of Prosecco chilling on ice beside our perfect table.

And, naturally, I was extremely classy about it.

What happened next, I can only show through pictures.

7. Course. Chef. Selection. Meal.

RI. DIC.

My first time eating Oysters... insert "aphrodisiac" joke here.

Lobster-Dill Chowder.

Grilled calamari on top of the most amazing salad of fresh vegetables and herbs.

Smoked Salmon, Capers, Eggs, Caviar. (Okay so I didn't really like this but I felt cool to have been served Caviar.)

Lobster Tail! I missed the shot of the Scallops because I was too busy eating.

The most ridiculously decadent chocolate lava cake and dark chocolate gelato. Helllllllllllllllls yes.

I'm smiling here, but deep down I'm pissed that I had to share my dessert. 

Dinner was 4 HOURS long- every course was paired with wine on top of my bottle of prosecco.

They must have known I'd had a lot to drink- it looks like I wrote it. Drunk.

We didn't want our photo taken, but couldn't move for the next 3 days. In fact, I'm typing this from the restaurant.

We rolled out of the restaurant and headed home, and I thanked my lucky stars that I didn't get the bill. Now I just have to wait for the Toronto International Film Festival when all the celebrities come back to Centro. I'm sure I'll get an invitation.



Don't forget to ENTER to WIN my Titika Sports Bra GIVEAWAY! Contest ends 8/26 

1. SUPing. Thoughts? Would you try it? 


2. Ever gone out for a ridiculous dinner? DETAILS, people!!!!