This weekend was especially marvelous.
Not that all weekends aren’t good.
After several weeks in a row of go-go-go, it was nice to be in town and left to my own devices. One might say it was absolutely marvelous.
Click the image for Katie’s Marvelous Monday link up!
Saturday I had brunch with some friends from grad school. We had a great time catching up and resolved (again) not to go some long without a reunion.
On my way home, I stopped at The Fresh Market and picked up a few treats. Apparently I was feeling ginger?
Then I hit the gym. Hard. I am finally feeling comfortable lifting again, and seeing some good progress. A guy I don’t know, but had seen around for a year or so know agreed… he stopped to tell me I was making some good progress and looked a lot bigger than I did a year ago. I almost hugged him.
Just a couple of years ago I would have killed someone for telling me I look big. On Saturday I was flattered and thrilled. So much so that I had a photo shoot in the locker room… paying no mind to the lady changing and giving me the “WTF?!” look. #sorryimnotsorry
When I got home, I had a package. The timing couldn’t have been better. It was a delivery of my favorite protein powder from Growing Naturals!
I immediately busted out the vanilla and made a smoothie with spinach and raw sweet potato. It was good, but I want to perfect before sharing.
That night I went to see an artist I used to listen to in college – Melissa Ferrick. The group of friends was totally random; they all responded to my plea for a concert buddy via Facebook. Crowd sourcing concert buddies. 🙂
The venus is a listening room where there are tables and a full menu. I brought my own food in. It was really good! And I saved some carbs to have a Guinness. The best part about bringing your own healthy food to a show? Coming home to a healthy dessert in an almost empty Greek yogurt container! This was my favorite Carrot Cake Protein Batter, topped with granola and cocoa powder sauce.
Sunday I got up and made my Fluffy Cauliflower Protein Pancakes and a broiled grapefruit. Is it just me or are pancakes are the perfect way to start the day?
I semi-homemade my own syrup. It was 1 tsp sugar-free syrup, 1 tsp peanut flour, cinnamon, and a little water to thin. I’ll be doing that again!
There was a little snafu. I left to run errands and forgot to turn off the stove. The black beans I was cooking for the week turned to a char. Oops.
No matter! I had a date with some new friends to run sprints up Stone Mountain! Even more fun was getting to introduce them to my favorite market, where I bought some things to make the dish below.
I will share later. Bwhahaha…
***
In other marvelous news, it was actually sunny and warm in Atlanta most of the weekend. A nice change after our monsoon season.
What do you do with a “do what you want,” agenda-free weekend?
What was the last thing you burned? After burning those beans, my condo smelled like a giant fart. 🙁
Sounds like an awesome weekend!
Glad you got in some downtime and didn’t have such a busy weekend. After a while, it can be a nice change of pace to have some relaxation thrown in there!
And I have to agree that pancakes are the best way to start the day.
Just last night my mom made popcorn for herself and when ever she does she always forgets about it. Well yet again she forgot and burned the bag so the whole house has smelled like burnt popcorn all night and morning!
Ewwww! Someone in my office ALWAYS burned their afternoon popcorn.
As much as I love busy weekends, i equally enjoy the low-key ones that let me breathe and recharge my batteries. Sunday was actually one of those days for me and it involved me staying at home all day, watching a few movies, reading and taking a complete break from my laptop (with the exception of a couple of hours in the morning)!
Love it how you brought your own grub to the concert in favour of the guiness- my kind of thinking 😉
And props to having a new mind set to certain comments- its great to see you kill it in the gym again! Also a big fan of growing naturals protein powder too! Tastes much better than sunwarrior, imo!
TOTALLY agree on Growin Naturals > Sun Warrior. Night and day.
I love free weekends! Obviously, I workout and many times end up in a coffee place to read and blog forever. And going to the farmers market! Love it.
Well, you can not beat my burning story. I was alone in the office and made microwave popcorn. I forgot to take out the plastic cover and with the heat, it melted and started to stick to the paper bag and it got a HUGE cloud of smoke. 5 minutes later, 2 fire trucks with blue lights and sirens and about 10 running firefighters approached my office. Now imagine this: The blonde woman in high heels in front of a smoking microwave with waving arms towards the firemen yelling ‘False alarm! False alarm!’ – my MOST embarrassing moment ever. Why isn’t there a whole to disappear in when you need it? 🙂
OMG…. no way! I bet they never let you live that down.
On the weekend Rob told me I’m looking more and more like a brick shithouse. Lol! Only I would take that as a compliment!! Gaining is fun 😀
LMAO! I’d die laughing if someone called me a brick shithouse.
We had a free weekend too – little hiking, running, enjoying the sunshine and the last days of summer. Hope your house has been de-gassed!
Rofl oh man. I can only imagine how bad your place must have smelled after those beans… I’ve never burnt beans, but I’m the worst with grains… especially rice. The Robles is that it just takes too long to cook so I turn up the heat to make it cook faster, and yeah… I end up with a charred bottom and dry top.
I do that with oatmeal. But I like it chewy… 😉
our only plans this weekend was the cardinals game on saturday night, so on friday we went out to dinner, redboxed a movie, saturday we did some pool time, and sunday i went to a movie with my grandma!
on topic and off:
I WANNA GET TO THE ATL AND MEET YOU!
OMG – pleaseeeeee do that!
It’s awesome when someone comments that they can see changes in your body and affirm that your hard work is paying off! Congrats 😉
I love Eddie’s Attic! Such a good place to see a show. And the last thing I burned was some merengue cookies that I tried to make last weekend. Major fail.
We should go some time!
What a great weekend! The last thing I burnt was roasted eggplant, but it wasn’t too bad….just a bit more charred than I like. 🙂
lol…the last thing I burned was an amy’s frozen pizza…they stupid toaster over practically caught on fire! #shouldnotcookanything
LOL! I am a disaster with a toaster oven.
last thing you burned we was parsnip fries 🙂 so good though.
and you’re looking great – well deserve comment!!! HUGS
I think those are better a little crisped. 😉
Thank you!
Sounds like a fun weekend! I’m setting up shop so super busy making my metric kitchen into numbers I understand..literally driving me mad and trying to find my local farmers market. Can’t wait to try some new goodies!! I love going to shows and seeing artists such a treat! Thanks for sharing love + shine Courtstar
I bet!!! I didn’t even think about the numbers… good luck, friend!
next weekend i want to spend with you! and try that new Growing naturals! you got me hooked!!
Can you make that happen???
My weekend was anything but agenda-free. I need one of those ASAP. Awesome about the compliment and the lifting being more comfortable again. Love seeing those gains.
What a great weekend!!
I’m not sure I would know what to do with a “do what you want weekend!” There would definitely be time spent in the sun with a book!!!
That’s what the rest of my week is going to look like!
The weather was amazing this weekend! I worked all day on Saturday, but thankfully, some of that was outside. Sunday was a get shit done day around here and sadly that was all done inside.
Agreed on the pancakes! Sundays are better with pancakes!
OMG! A fart laden apartment! No bueno, but at least that’s all that happened! Leaving the stove on is scary and one of my biggest fears!
I can totally relate to the “getting big” thing. I’ve had older men make comments on my improvements and often times, it freaks me out since I’ve never noticed them before and now they’re commenting on how far i’ve come? Stalker much? But still, it’s definitely a confidence booster!
Glad you enjoyed your unplanned weekend! Happy Monday! 🙂
Yeah, it got a little creepy when he was trying to get me to tell him where I live… oh well!
I love those chimes ginger chews, my favorite brand of them for sure. congrats on building your strength!
Everything looks delicious! Glad you’re embracing that comment…it is totally a compliment in my opinion and you DO look fabulous! I’m curious, how do your friends respond to you bringing your own food? Is it awkward or uncomfortable at all? I’ve considered doing that in certain situations in the past but have always opted against it for fear of ridicule, criticism, and questioning from the people I would be around…
Thanks! My frieds don’t really care. They all know I’m in prep mode. No reason to feel awkward when you’re working towards something that’s important to you!
Besides… if people are going to criticize you, do you really want to be friends with them? Surrounding myself wtih supportive people is the best choice I ever made!
It isn’t just you – pancakes are a perfect way to start the day! Your cauliflower protein ones sound good AND oh so healthy!
I love free weekends – but they are few and far between these days. And I never seem to be able to make popcorn just right – I ALWAYS ALWAYS manage to burn it – at least it doesn’t make my place smell like a “ginat fart”
That was just too funny!
Thank you! I’m a little obsessed. 🙂
Popcorn doesn’t smell like a fart… but it’s not pretty! LOL!
I want to eat everything! I love the idea of broiling/grilling grapefruits. So smart! Lol to the beans comment. I burnt some cookies this past weekend…didn’t stop me from eating them!
It’s the best! I do them more in the winter – great way to warm up on a cold morning. 🙂
I do shots in the locker room all the time but rarely anyone there at my time but sometimes there are 1 or 2. 😉 SorryIamNotSorry for sure!
OK, got to say that the guy would have LOVED a hug from your new boobs but well, I know it is not your thing BUT it might have made him happy! 🙂
Burn stuff – me – I just overcook all the time! 😉 Hubby is not happy when I cook the chicken too long – me, I don’t care! 😉
It took me a second to figure out you meant pictures not tequila. LOL! 😉
That’s an option too! 🙂
Yay for compliments! Isn’t it amazing how a few words can make your day? And then sprints up a mountain? You are a machine.
Laura, I am 100% sure you could sprint right past me up the mountain.
Way to go! In a “free weekend,” I would do lots of reading – something I love that I feel like I NEVER do anymore, lots of cooking (which you know I miss as a traveling consultant!), and a good mix between “introverting” and hanging out (outside if possible) with friends/ family.
I am the same way! Iv’e started getting audio books in hopes that I’ll make more progress that way.
Glad you’re comfortable lifting again! You look great!
GIVING LOVE TO THE RICE PROTEIN! Pound it out son!!! 😉
Oh and don’t you LOVE when you see friends that you haven’t seen in awhile and then say, OMG WE REALLY NEED TO NOT GO FOR SO LONG WITOUT SEEING EACH OTHER and then boom………. 2 years goes by! LOL!
Those are the best friends too though – you can pick back up right where you left off!
1. I think you SHOULD have hugged him. Spontaneous hugs are the best.
2. I’m really glad you didn’t burn your home down.
3 I’m even gladerererer to hear that your heart is shining with joy again. xoxo
1. Nahhhhh… it got awkward.
2. Me. Too.
3. I love the way you word things. xoxox
Agenda-free? What’s that?! 🙂 I am hoping to do that for the long weekend, we have some plans in the works. Not plans like an agenda, but hoping for a cabin in the woods next to a stream. No plans. Other than finding a gym to get in my workouts. 🙂
You do need a cabin break! Can I come? 😉
Now, if only you could come over and make me that Carrot Cake bowl of yours!
Great job on the gains! You are looking awesome 🙂
I would!!! They are so easy though – you should try it! 🙂
We too finally had a free weekend and I tried very hard to keep it free of any major plans. I’m hoping for a non structured holiday weekend too!
I had a pretty busy weekend, lots of baby playdates, but I also got some new recipes done in the kitchen and that is always a good weekend 🙂
That is a good weekend! I’m going to be using the long weekend to do the same. 🙂
Ok so running sprints up a mountain is a pretty intense way to meet with friends!
Haha I prefer the marketplace 😀
Great weekend!
Cheers
CCU
Dude, I’ve got to check my Fresh Market when I get home to see if they carry pb chimes too! Omg, I’ve been stalking every TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Homegoods I go looking for those babies! I’ve been out for FAR too long! Funny thing…the other day I started getting a craving for pancakes. Hmm, could the queen be making a comeback soon? We shall see… 😉
Last thing I burned was my first batch of Almond Joy Granola…omg, burnt coconut is one of the worst smells ever…though a little better than farty black beans I guess! Lol
A “do what I want” weekend usually involves a nice walk at the park, some reading, some cooking, and maybe some shopping (depends on the mood I’m in as to whether it’s food or clothes I’m shopping for!)
BRING BACK THE PANCAKES.