The Best Peanut Butter Banana Cupcakes

Kalimera readers, is it really lame to be starting off with another apology? I love writing here absolutely, but I've been so busy with the move that I've had barely any time to breathe, let alone blog. Today I finally cracked under some of the moving pressure and decided to relax by doing an activity that I really, really enjoy: baking!

I'm going to visit Constantine and his family this long weekend from thursday-monday so I figured it'd be nice if I showed up with a beautiful selection of gourmet-quality cupcakes. Armed with an icing nozzle and a standard six-cup pan, I set out to tackle my favorite cupcake recipe!

Peanut Butter & Banana Cupcakes

adapted from the book "Perfect Cupcakes", by John Owen & Terry Newel

Sweet, Subtly Peanut-Buttery Cupcake Batter

1 cup of flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 egg

2 mashed bananas

Deliciously Chunky Peanut Butter Frosting

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup icing sugar

1-2 tablespoons of heavy cream

1/4 cup of finely chopped peanuts

1 tbsp of butter

1 banana, sliced.

Whew! There are lots of ingredients there but the end result is completely worth the effort. These are absolutely delicious, not to mention very attractive. Definitely the kind of cupcake to give to guests and special friends.

• Preheat the oven to 350. Prepare a standard (6cup) muffin pan by either greasing or inserting liners. I really enjoy buying pretty liners at gourmet cooking supply stories. It really dresses up the cupcakes and makes them that much more special.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
• In another bowl, beat together sugar and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then the mashed banana. Slowly combine the ingredients. Like with banana bread, stop beating the ingredients until they are -just- combined. Mixing too much will make your cupcakes too dense.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes. Got toothpick? You know the drill ^~
• For the frosting: beat peanut butter in small bowl until fluffy. Beat in the sugar. Add cream until you've reached your desired consistency. This is going to be more of a spread than a twisting tower of icing.
• In a non-stick pan, over medium heat, melt your butter. Slice the banana and saute the slices until browned, about 1 minute each side. Transfer to paper towels to cool.
• Ice your cupcakes. Then, place your tiny pieces of peanut in a bowl. Holding the cupcake on it's side, 'roll' the edges of the cupcake in the peanut butter pieces. This step isn't necessary, obviously, I just find it very pretty. For a finishing touch top with a piece of banana.

Try not to devour all of these before you get them to the people you're gifting ^~

Enjoy!

❤ Miss

Typelove

I have always thought that the most romantic stories are those that are written on the tired keys of an ancient Underwood. This is perhaps why I have such a soft spot for Ewan McGregor, who brought this image to life when he typed out the story of his love and loss in Moulin Rouge.

My grandmother had one such typewriter that she purchased from a thrift store when she was a teenager. She used it to practice for one of her early jobs as a secretary (oh how the times they are a changin'). I had it in mind to purchase an antique typewriter to use as an art piece in the new loft. You can only imagine my delight when she told me that I could have hers! I love my grandmother and it'll be so sweet to have a piece of her childhood in my apartment. I wonder who the typewriter belonged to before she picked it up? It was an antique in her time, and I love that it has such a history.

Stunning, isn't it? A good cleaning will set it to rights and I know exactly what I'm going to do with it. I'm going to put it on a small black table in one of the spaces between two of the gorgeous industrial-sized windows. Above it I'm planning on putting three of my favorite b&w pictures in three vintage frames. I need to make sure that the frames don't appear too eclectic, but I really love the romance the little arrangement will surely bring to the loft.

I apologize for the delay in posts, but I do have a valid excuse. I drove up to Toronto with Constantine and spent a fantastic time with his family. Along with the usual wine and cards with his parents, we went to a birthday party with his extended and had a fabulous time. Not to worry, I'll update on the food later (Oh, the Porchetta)! While we were up there we took advantage of the opportunity and went to visit the loft to take some additional measurements. I could not be more excited about living there. Just over a month now :3

Have wonderful Thursdays!

❤Miss

Painless Running Tips!

Kalimera readers!

I checked my scale this morning to reveal that I have lost another pound. This puts me in the single-digits towards my weight goal! 9 to go, 9 to go. I haven't weighed this little since the beginning of first year university, before the alcohol and convenient (horrible, never again) cafeteria food decided to settle comfortably on my hips/jawline/you name it, it was there. I bought a new pair of really cute American Eagle cargo pants yesterday to celebrate and am delighted to report that I've hit a size '4' at last. It's not the 2 that I used to be, but I'm not complaining! When I started, I was an 8-10. Some people can pull this off but I'm very narrow so an 8-10 on me looks horrible. I don't get womanly curves, I bulge! Ugh. I'm jealous of the gorgeous, Venus-like shapes some women have.

My weight loss secret is the only real secret out there: diet & exercise. I eat what can be summed up as an "Organic Mediterranean" diet and I work out 6 days out of 7 every week. I go for runs almost every day, and do Pilates every other day. The running does wonders for my calves and thighs as I run uphill for a decent portion of each session, and the Pilates are wonderful when combined with a healthy diet for overall tone and strength.

I know that many people balk at the idea of running. As a sprinter, I used to have very little endurance for long distance runs. I hated them! I was easily winded, got massive cramps almost immediately and was very quick to tire when faced with anything that remotely resembled a breeze, hill, or shortcut home. I'm delighted to tell you that I've since grown to love running, and have made it to a daily range between 5-8k. From my experience I've also discovered a few tips and tricks that will really help anybody looking to start incorporating running into their cardio activity.

Miss' Tips for Easy Running - Yes, it's possible!

The Warmup

• Give your stomach time to digest. Don't go for a run before 1.5-2 hours after you eat a normal meal, and try to give yourself half an hour after a snack.
• Be sure to stretch well before you set out. Don't make the mistake of only stretching your legs; you use your entire body when you run. When stretching, don't 'bounce'. This compromises your stretch and is truly a waste of time, haha. Instead hold each stretch for around 30 seconds.
• Make yourself a pump-up playlist of your favorite songs! I can't run without my Ipod, it helps to lose myself in the music when I get tired.

The Run

• Pace yourself! Don't expect to be able to run a half marathon just because you're feeling great about your new Lululemons. {I only say this because I've totally been there ^~} I started off with a 3k run, then worked my way up to 5, then 8. Don't torture yourself; if you make it too hard off the bat you won't enjoy it, and I guarantee you won't keep up with it.
• Breathe deeply. Avoid taking quick short breaths.
• Midway through my run, once I'm really warmed up, I like to stop and take a minute to stretch again, particularly my calves as a decent portion of the first half of my run is uphill.
• The side-stitch. So you've bought the running gear, primed your Ipods, stretched and eaten well. Pumped and ready you hit the road, but five minutes into your run you feel it in your side: that painful, tightening ache you simply can't ignore. Welcome to the side-stitch. This is caused by muscle spasms in your diaphragm, the large muscle that moves up and down when you inhale and exhale. Believe it or not, there's a way to fix this irritating cramp. Focus on the way you're running. Do you exhale with your right foot? Most of us do. Alter your breathing pattern so that you're taking deep, slow breaths and exhaling when you step down on your left foot. You'll be amazed.

The Cool-down

• I like to end on a high by sprinting the last 50-100 meters of my run. It brings me back to my track days and is the seal on an accomplished half hour/forty minutes of running. Even if you don't do this it is very important not to come to a full stop after you run. For the past forty minutes your muscles have been moving rhythmically and regularly, helping your heart by forcing blood to course quickly through your veins. When your muscles stop working, your heart suddenly has to work double-time to keep the blood circulating. Be sure to slow your jog, then walk for at least five minutes after a run. I like to pick Molly up and take her for a long half hour walk around the block immediately after I run. She and I both love the quality time and my heart is always grateful for the easy transition.
• If I could sum up the cool-down in four steps, they would be:

Heart Rate, Hydrate, Stretch & Repair

• Be sure to give your heart some easy recovery time by jogging, then walking until you're breathing easily again. As soon as I get home I drink two big glasses of water, the first one I generally gulp at room temperature, the second I savor as I'm walking Molly. Stretching after a run is just as important as stretching before it. Failing to stretch in either case will make your run more difficult and more painful both during and afterwards After I've cooled down, hydrated and stretched I like to eat a handful of crunchy organic almonds. Muscle tone is built up as your fat is worked away, yes, but also as a product of the damage your muscle incurs when you work out. Protein is the building block of muscle tissue so it is essential that you make sure you're getting enough in your diet to rebuild the muscles that you've been working so hard.

These are the tips and trips that have helped me work my way up to the confident, mile-consuming stride I've got going today. I'm a new runner in that this summer is the first time I've really dedicated myself to to long distance, so don't be intimidated because "you've never run before". I hadn't either, and I love it :3 I hope this inspires you to get out on the road. Don't forget the stitch trick, it'll change your life!!

Happy Trails,

❤Miss

Polished to Perfection - Sephora by OPI

Hi readers! I have been eagerly waiting for the past forty-five minutes to update my blog on some gorgeous nail polish I bought at Sephora. Now that the polish is fully set and dry enough to manage, do I ever have rave reviews to share with you!

I've always been a huge fan of OPI Nail Lacquer. The color is beautiful and the quality can't be beat - it lasts without chipping for days if you apply it with all of the proper bases, topcoats, etc. I was hooked on their premium white years ago when I asked a manicurist what product she used to make my French polish dazzle. At the time OPI was very difficult to find, so I ended up purchasing a bottle from her under the table.

Thankfully, I no longer have to make trips to the salon to find these premium polishes. OPI became more available in beauty supply stores and now I am delighted to be able to purchase from the Sephora by OPI collection. At $9 a bottle it is pricier than your run of the mill polishes but it certainly beats paying the $30 you'd pay for a good manicure. With a little practice I was able to bring my nails and toes to professional glamour with the help of this fabulous polish.

Sephora by OPI is a collection of colors that range from outgoing oranges and yellows to every tone of modern nudes. They have chic urban blacks and bright turquoise summer looks too! I used to be a clear/french only girl who restricted colors only to my toes. Now I have a wish list as long as this post of color's I can't wait to purchase.

Today I tried out two new colors:

Run with it! & Mermaid to Order.

"Inspired by the Mediterranean island of Capri, Sephora by OPI's newest collection captures the deep blues and aquamarine hues of the ocean."If I had my way I'd own this entire collection of blue & turquoise polishes. The colors are beautiful and really to bring you right back to the Mediterranean. I fell in love with Mermaid to Order and twenty minutes after I got home my toes twinkled with a turquoise so tempting it would explain Ariel's longing for feet! It is *such* a fun summer color that reflects a range of metallic greens and blues.

left: Mermaid to Order from Sephora by Opi via thenailphile

Run with it! Is a soft dove grey with copper and gold undertones. It's the last word in elegance and it compliments the olive in my skin beautifully. It is natural enough to go with anything; a beautiful, professional nude. I think it looks quite chic! It's more of a fall color, but I couldn't resist how pearly it looked in the bottle.

Right: Run with it! polish from Sephora by Opi, via alllacqueredup

I'll update with some pictures as soon as I get my camera up and running. For now you'll have to take my word on how beautiful my nails look. I highly recommend the Sephora by OPI polishes and can't wait to buy a few more!

Stay Beautiful,

❤Miss

Mornings brought to you by Oatmeal

Kalimera readers. I have had the craziest week and I'm so sorry I've been neglecting you all. I was at the office even yesterday, of all things (overtime on a Saturday, I know)!

I finally had a moment to breathe and as I sat eating my Sunday brunch, I came up with the perfect topic for a lazy morning post: breakfast. It sounds vague, but I can sum up nearly every morning in a single category. As much as I love sampling a variety of fresh Mediterranean cuisine, my mornings always start the same way: with oatmeal. I'm positive that I owe a significant portion of my weight loss (down two more pounds!) and good health to this rockstar breakfast food.

Here are a few quick facts:

I eat around half a cup of cooked oats every morning. This small portion amounts to nearly 4 grams of soluble fibre. We know that fibre is good for us, but why? It lowers the 'bad cholesterol' as well as your blood pressure, keeping your hearts cheerful while they pump away. {This is completely true, by the way, my nutritionist was delighted to report that I have essentially negative readings of the 'bad stuff ^~' Thanks, Quaker!} As a digestive tool, Oatmeal also helps to absorb extra fat and flushes it out of your system instead of letting it deposit right on your problem areas. It helps your stomach empty properly too and helps you to feel sated longer - also promoting healthy weight loss. Having read all of this I hope you're halfway to your local grocery store to buy your way into this weight-loss secret. But whatever you do, don't you dare buy those disgusting artificial packets! The sugars and preservatives negate so many of the great qualities found in natural oatmeal. Go organic, it's worth the extra pennies and trust me, by the time I'm through you won't want to touch those horrible bits of cardboard again!

I eat my oatmeal in three forms: The good ol' fashioned bowl of porridge, In a delish fruit smoothie or in pancakes

Miss' Herculean Oatmeal

1/2c Large Flake Organic Oats

1 Cup Water

Sprinkling of Salt

2 tbsp Fresh Applesauce

1 tbsp Vanilla Extract

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon to Taste

Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, bananas, blueberries, etc; pick your favorite garnishes

Place oats in pot filled with warm water in a 2:1 ratio water:oatmeal. Heat to a boil with a pinch of salt. As soon as the oats begin boiling remove from the heat and simmer, stirring constantly until you reach the desired consistency.

Add fresh applesauce, brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Stir well and place in your bowl If you don't have any fresh applesauce on hand you can cut a large apple into small chunks and bake it in your microwave for 1min with a little bit of water. You can then put this in a blender and smooth it out, but I usually omit the blending as a love my oatmeal when it's chunky and rustic. Top with a light sprinkling of your favorite fruit and nuts & voila!

Picture Credit: By Becky Lulgard-Stayner via Cooking Light

Miss' Oatmeal Supersmoothie

I love to run in the mornings but I always find that after a lovely jog I couldn't be less interested in eating. Oatmeal stepped in to solve my breakfast dilemma in the form of this delicious, nutritious breakfast smoothie:

{makes two, one for you and one for your jogging buddy ^~}

1 cup lite vanilla soy milk

1/2 cup large flake organic oats

1 banana

Your frozen fruit of choice! I generally rock a peach/mango combo or a berry blend. Mm!

Optional: 1 handful almonds. (I like to throw this in if I'm drinking it post-run for the extra protein)

I don't really feel as though I need to give you instructions on how to make this, but in case you were worried about incorporating the oats/nuts, here goes: Put the oats and nuts in your blender first and blend until powdery. Then add the rest of your ingredients. You can adjust to your desired consistency by adding more fruit/soy milk. You can also make this with yoghurt or juice if either tickle your fancy.

Picture Credit: Kal at mybodyzone

Miss' Oatmeal Pancakes

When I was little I loved the occasional pancake treat. When I grew up, and sadly, grew weight-conscious, I gave up one of my favorite breakfasts altogether. One morning, sorely tempted by the delicious blueberry pancake aroma wafting up from Constantine's breakfast, my envious stomach asked this brilliant question: why not try a pancake made primarily of my beloved oats? The rest, as they say.. ^~

1/3 cup large flake organic oats

1/2 tbsp of organic honey

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

2 egg whites

optional: 1/2 cup fresh applesauce or 1/2 mashed banana

small sprinkling of salt

1/2 cup fresh blueberries to garnish

They're very easy to make:

First process the dry ingredients in a blender, then add the wet ingredients and until combined (careful not to over-process). Cook over medium-medium high heat until nicely browned. I don't like to garnish mine with maple syrup, I eat them with a pile of blueberries and an extra sprinkling of cinnamon.

I adapted this great recipe from Kath Eats. These are delicious as well as fabulously guilt-free. If you find you're still jealous of your boyfriend's Bisquick, don't despair! I promise that soon your taste buds will come to their senses and delight in this breakfast treat.

Have wonderful Sundays and be sure to try one of these combinations tomorrow morning :) It may just be the start you need on a Monday.

Enjoy!

❤ Miss

Stuffed, Antlered Artwork <3

Kalimera! Nothing like a Monday morning to make you feel like getting some work done ^~ I've been meaning to write about this for awhile so I'll take the time now to spotlight one of the most unique, adorable purchases I've made in a long time. As many of you know (or will quickly come to learn), I have an absolute antler fetish. It started with moose and then expanded to include deer, gazelle, etc. It's no surprise that I found the piece I'm about to show you absolutely endeering ;3

I have taken to browsing Etsy for fabulous vintage finds and on a recent search I almost died with excitement when I took in the quirky charm of this stuffed piece by everyeskimo, 'A Leg to Stand On'.

I think I was equally won over by her description:

"nature, nurture. nurture, nature.

this is one little natureling who needs a little nurturing. three legged by man or nature? it's hard to say. and every harder to say which is sadder. but he has a sweet disposition. and will nibble sugar lumps and baby carrots out of your hand. turns his whole nose up at whole "non-baby" carrots, though. and he has major jones for pickles, but unfortunately not many people carry those around in their pockets.

he's 8.5" tall and 7.5" long and completely hand-stitched. he'll kick up his hand-embroidered feet and swish his hand-embroidered spots around if you scratch his tail. he's made of wool and vintage felts, except for his feelings.. those seem a little more fragile. try not to laugh if he stumbles a little, okay?"

Stuffed Animal, Picture & Description by everyeskimo

I'm now in the habit of checking her profile for new products on Etsy, and who can blame me? I never outgrew the stuffed animal phase and her quirky twists make her creations irresistible. The second I saw him, I was hooked, and when I carefully unwrapped him from his packaging it was love at first cuddle. He'll be coming with me to the loft where he'll occupy a place of honor on my desk ^~

I love the statement the piece makes, the message it carries and everyeskimo's gorgeous craftsmanship. I encourage you to take a look at her work, and if you want my advice, have your credit cards ready! I'm sure you'll find that piece that stares with imploring stitched eyes from your computer screen and softly whispers: "oh please, won't you take me home?"

Happy shopping!

❤ Miss

Miss does a Romantic Date - at Home! ^~

Kalispera readers, and I hope your Fridays are going well! I'm writing this on my lunch break as I'm going to be in such a flurry of activity tonight. Constantine is coming for around seven which is going to give me next to no time to prepare what needs to be The Most Romantic Dinner Ever. Haha. Being a student and trying desperately to keep my savings account in the five-figure range (it's taken me years to get here so don't be intimidated, I'm not as put-together as that makes me sound), I've decided to bring the dinner date home instead of frequenting our usual (expensive) restaurant.I'll share tonight's recipes with you here because they really are fabulous. I encourage you to copy my idea and plan a romantic dinner for your darling ^~ he/she won't see it coming and it's the best way to enjoy each other's company after a long week of work.

{ Miss' Menu }

Insalata Caprese with Mozzarella di Bufala

&

Authentic Italian Osso Buco

&

Chocolate Souffle with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Sound appetizing? I hope so! These are all much easier to put together than their names suggest. The only difficulties would be in the availability of the Buffalo Mozzarella (I get mine at a local Italian Grocery Store), the time you have to cook the Osso Bucco and your confidence when cooking the souffle (I promise they aren't as hard as they seem)! Ready? Here we go:

Insalata Caprese

{literally, the Salad from Capri. It's a fabulous blend of fresh ingredients, best available in summer. It presents beautifully and is perfectly complimented by the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the Mozzarella di Bufala. If you don't have the last ingredient available, the fresh mozzarella available in bags at most grocery stores works just fine, as well}

• 4 beautiful vine-ripened tomatoes
• 1 fresh ball of mozzarella di bufala
• 1 good handful of basil leaves, washed & spun-dry (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 healthy drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (about 1/8 - 1/4 cup)
• 1 sprinkling of sea salt, to taste

Slice your tomatoes and mozzarella di bufala into even slices. Arrange on a plate in circular pattern, alternating tomato, mozzarella & basil leaf. Sprinkle with sea salt and olive oil and serve immediately. It is fabulously easy and one of my favorite things to eat!
Picture Credit: initaly.com

Authentic Italian Osso Buco

{Constantine's parents taught me how to make their authentic Osso Buco and it is a spectacular dish. It gets better with age and despite the massive amounts of chopping that goes into the preparation, it is quite an easy main course to prepare!}

• 2-3 stalks of both carrots & celery, chopped into small chunks
• 2 packages of button mushrooms, washed and chopped into small slices
• 1 can of whole tomatoes in sauce(look for the ones that list only tomatoes as the ingredient! Stay away from pre-spiced sauces, ew!)
• 1 cooking onion, diced
• 4 cloves of garlic
• Italian Seasoning
• 4 fresh veal shanks
• Fresh Parsley
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup white cooking wine
• Flour
• Olive Oil

To begin, make your tomato sauce. First sautee half of your onion and 2 of your garlic cloves with a splash (1 tbsp) of olive oil and a sprinkling of italian seasoning. In a metal bowl pour out the can of tomato juice/whole tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes into chunks. Once your onions are transluscent, add the tomato chunks/sauce to the saucepan. Add fresh parsley & salt to taste. Lower heat. Do not forget to stir the sauce repeatedly!

Lightly coat veal shanks in flour and saute them in olive oil (1-2 tbsp) until nicely browned, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from heat and place in casserole dish.

Using same pan that was used to fry your veal, sautee the carrots and celery. Once they are almost done, add the fast-frying ingredients: your garlic, onion and mushrooms.

Add the cup of chicken broth and cup of white wine to your sauteed vegetables. Stir over reduced heat until the the liquid has reduced noticeably.

At this point, your sauce should smell so overwhelmingly delicious that you could almost eat it for dinner with a slice of fresh bread. I do this sometimes when I'm rushed and it's fabulous! Pour your tomato sauce over the vegetables. Stir to combine & be careful not to splash yourself! Aprons are your clothes' best friend in the kitchen. For an interesting twist on the romantic dinner, cook wearing an apron - just an apron ^~ it's silly, but undeniably sexy.

Pour the vegetable/tomato sauce over the veal in the casserole dish. Try to coat evenly and wipe off any splashes that could burn later on in your oven.

Cook, covered, at 350 degrees for an hour and a half. Remove covering and cook for another half hour.

Constantine likes to eat this served over fresh pasta. My father enjoys it with a slice of fresh bread. Serves this with whatever you'd like but be sure to eat it with something to dip into the delicious sauce that is left behind! This recipe technically serves four, but I find Constantine is always good for 1&1/2. I like to make extra because it is -so- good the next day. When it sits overnight the flavors deepen beautifully.

Picture credit: taste.com

Sinful Chocolate Souffle

As an athlete who spends hours every week at the gym I am always very careful with what I eat, but on occasion I'll make an exception for something really special. This dessert will melt in your mouth, impress your guests, and certainly justify the extra half hour of cardio ^~

I'm going to cheat on this one. As the recipe isn't my own I'll show you exactly where I found the one that I use every time I prepare this delicious dessert. Make your own souffle by following the

clear directions found on t h i s site.

Thanks Eating Well for this delicious recipe!

This concludes my menu for tonight. I hope that it inspired you to make something delicious yourself! I don't really cook with a recipe when I make these dishes (save with souffle), so I may have left an instruction out that I do automatically. Please don't be shy to ask questions!

Enjoy!

❤ Miss

Aw, Cook of the Week!

Thank you AllRecipes for making me your cook of the week ^^ I'm thrilled and certainly very honored. I've been using your site for quite some time to supplement my week with new recipes and ideas.

To the wonderful chefs who follow my blog, but who haven't yet had the opportunity to use AllRecipes I strongly, strongly recommend you sign up. They have thousands of delicious ideas as well as the opportunity to personalize your own online recipe box. It's a fantastic resource that certainly shouldn't be missed! Sign on today by clicking here.

Happy cooking!

❤ Miss

Thursdays & Love

Kalimera! I hope you had an enjoyable Canada day yesterday ❤ As I've been doing a lot of catch up at work after my 9 day stint with that horrible flu I don't have much in the way of new stories to share with you. I suppose it's as good of an opportunity as any to explain the backstory behind me and Constantine. I promise this won't turn into one of those blogs about love, boyfriends & wedding plans!

So here we go, the fairy tale begins:

Once upon a time, there was a 17 year old Montrealler who transferred to a private preparatory college in Ontario for her senior year. Being one of the only new girls to make such a daring move, she was the subject of much curiosity from the boys who had been picking from a rapidly slimming dating pool that consisted of girls they'd been classmates with over the past four-five years. Miss, having left a private, catholic all girl's school was overwhelmed by the fact that there were 'boys' in her classes, and further still by the fact that some were interested in her! She had broken up with her first boyfriend, a sweetheart named Jason, during the summer before her transfer. Their relationship was loving, but very shy (and very awkward!). As she and Jason weren't really compatible, she'd decided to give herself some time before diving into another mess of clashing personalities.

Yeah, right. Cue the Head Prefect of the college: rugby starter, competitive speaker, saxophone player, six + feet of Dutch good looks. A Boyscout all growed up and boy was he going places. He won Miss over by throwing pebbles at her window (to the obvious delight of all of the junior girls who shared her residence hall). His pursuit was swift and during it he made a few enemies - groups of guy friends are often attracted to the same type of girl, and so it was with the Boyscout and his buddies.

While the Boyscout threw pebbles, gave roses and took Miss out to dinners he also made the fatal mistake of inviting her along with his group of guys. One of them in particular really stood out: olive eyes, a delicious laugh, all rugby shoulders and wavy brown hair, the best story teller of the group with a lightning wit that matched that of the self-proclaimed intellectual herself. Constantine. Miss found herself staying up late after hours, huddled under bedcovers to hide the light of her computer screen while she talked to both boys: the Boyscout, very soon to be her boyfriend, and Constantine, whose company she enjoyed and whom she was rapidly considering to be her best friend at the strange new school.

In writing, Miss looks absolutely naive, but in reality? .. She was absolutely naive. She wasn't aware that Constantine was interested in her and simply took pleasure in his company. It wasn't until the day that she accepted the Boyscout formally that she realized her mistake. When the Boyscout told Constantine that Miss had agreed to be his girlfriend, Constantine abruptly disappeared.

Miss was startled, and as the days went by, realized just how much she had loved his company. More time went by and as her budding relationship with the Boyscout progressed, she began to realize her mistake. Their first kiss was the catalyst that ended up putting everything right. It was an obvious setup and she was excited for it to happen - the Boyscout leaned in, Miss looked up, their lips met and: nothing. Nothing? Nothing. Miss looked quickly away from the Boyscout's eyes (hazy with growing affection - clearly their first kiss had done something for him) and made her escape. I lied, you know, when I said nothing. Seconds after the uneventful kiss Miss realized she had had a fleeting, heart-racing thought: what would that kiss have been like if it had been with Constantine?

The breakup happened two weeks into their awkward relationship. Miss felt horrible but realized it would be unfair to lead the Boyscout on while she was clearly interested in somebody else. She had never thought she would ever be in such a position, but knew that in ending things as soon as possible, she'd be doing the right thing. Her decision was helped by her boyfriend's awkward jealousy. The Boyscout was a casual few steps away from her at almost all times. Her window grew perilously fragile from the constant pebble-throwing and she found him outside her residence more often than she invited him. It was too much, too quickly and just the push she needed to end things.

It took three hours to explain. (Even now Miss shudders to think of what would have happened if she'd waited longer than the two short weeks they'd been together.)

Weeks went by and Miss found comfort in Constantine's best friend, a now mutual acquaintance who had liked the idea of the two of them as a couple from the start and who decided to help Miss catch the boy who'd been chasing her all along. After many late-night meetings and shy smiles (& with the help from their matchmaking ally who was subtly encouraging both parties), Constantine and Miss rekindled their friendship. As a few more weeks went by, Constantine began making his first tentative advances. Miss was delighted.

When they finally began dating, Miss felt for the first time the comfort of compatibility and the rush of excitement without doubt. When they shared their first kiss, it was magic.

This story took place almost three years ago ^^ Since then Constantine and I have endured frustrating months of long-distance followed by wonderful semesters together at the same university. Now that I have transferred to a new program in a new city, we're going to be battling distance again - but we'll be fine, and we'll continue to endure. I have never felt a love as strong as the one that I do for this man. At twenty we're both far too young (and very aware of that fact) to be more serious than we are already, but someday I can see us being together. It's been a fairy tale from our rocky beginning and I can't imagine anything less than a happy ending for the two of us.

It's been a month since we were last able to see each other (our summer jobs are, sadly, also in different provinces), so maybe this explains my excitement at finally seeing him tomorrow.

There you have the story behind my little romance. I love to hear about how relationships start (especially when they aren't as awkward as my own!) so don't hesitate to share yours with me. Do you have an entry that tells your love story? Link me to it, I'd love to read it ^^

Have wonderful Thursdays!

❤ Miss