Weekend Photo Recap

This weekend was one of my favorites in a long time. 

Nothing in particular made it exceptionally special.

No grand plans or far away travels.

Nothing anticipated or above and beyond. 

Spontaneous, close-to-home adventures, sunshine, new places. 

Simple, but somehow extraordinary. 

In the midst of the weekend, it felt as though it would never end. 

Like an endless summer vacation.

Disclaimer:

This is very play-by-play. (Read: a little boring) I write it less because I think my readers care about the mundane moments of my weekend and more because I get stumped by the question, "What'd you do this weekend?" on Mondays, much less months after the fact. And, I wanted to remember this.

Friday: 

We had a snowstorm, so I worked from home. 

Pajamas and coffee should be mandatory work accessories. 

F got home and we headed out to Happy Hour at a new Southern-style restaurant by us and then to go see The Grand Budapest Hotel. (My review? Wildly imaginative, hilarious in parts, quirky, and enjoyable.)

Saturday: 

Woke up early.

F met with a friend for coffee and bible study.

I went to Zumba at the gym - First time braving the class alone.

To say I'm uncoordinated would be an embarrassing understatement.

#forthesakeofcardio

Showered. Tidied. Put this in the crock pot for dinner. 

Took the bus downtown to visit Macy*s flower show. 

Stopped and picked up a couple bottles of wine. 

Rented Frozen from Red Box and it was so good. #believethehype 

Played dominoes (because we are 90).

At approximately 11:30pm, I was super craving a dirt cupcake I'd seen earlier on our shopping escapades. 

So we walked to the grocery store 1 block from our house and bought it. 

I am not ashamed. That thing was amaze fest USA.

And, yes, I am a child.

Sunday:

Went to church. 

Brunch cravings set in and F decided to whisk me away to a new brunch spot. 

I absolutely love trying new things, especially food related, so this melted my heart. 

This place did not disappoint.

We sat and did a crossword puzzle while we ate. Further proof that we are 90.

(My dad and I have a tradition of brunch and crossword puzzles, so it was a sweet nod to him.)

We decided to walk around the lake by our house, since the sunshine was just begging to be soaked up and played in. It was so nice to see the lake paths once again filled with activity. We walked and wandered and avoided the puddles of the stubborn snow piles and "awwwww"-ed at all the puppies and wandered into an open house of a property just a little over our budget. (only by about 2 million dollars. #pettycash) F bet me $5 to go downstairs and excitedly yell, "We'll take it!" I chickened out, but it was a fun detour.

I'm curious, have you guys ever wandered into an open house simply because you were curious about what it looks like inside? I always think that sounds fun but never had the audacity to before Sunday. 

 For dinner, we had popcorn, smoked Gouda, and Pimm's cocktails (recipe coming tomorrow) because that's what adults do. 

Such a fun, refreshing weekend. 

Here's to Monday and hoping the week follows suit. 

images: hilaryclair

Cold Avocado + Cucumber Soup

I love cookbooks. There, I said it.

Love them in a I don't even want to make the recipes, I just want to stare at the pictures and lovingly caress the pages. A month ago, Francis let me use a lingering wedding giftcard to buy Giada's new cookbook. I perused it. Loved it. Added it to our cookbook menagerie. A few days later, I saw Gwyn's new cookbook and HAD to have it. After a stern talking to from the Mr. about my obsession love of cookbooks, and a promise from me that I would actually make the recipes, Gwyn and I walked out of the store together.

Her book is filled with new twists on classic recipes, all focused on eating clean and healthy. We had to take a trip to Whole Foods (who am I kidding, that place is like a vacation for me) to pick up a few less common ingredients, like brown rice syrup and grapeseed oil. My mother-in-law rocked my socks and hooked me up with gochujang, sesame seed oil, fish sauce and other Asian flavor goodness. Then, I was ready to roll. 

I've been rocking a fuzzy fro all week due to the heat and humidity, so any recipe that doesn't require stove, oven, or heat of any kind is a friend of mine. Enter --- Cold Avocado + Cucumber Soup.

This is it, folks. All the ingredients for a delicious summer soup.

NOTE: The recipe calls for the juice and zest of 3 limes. Next time I make it, I'll either take away a lime or add a cucumber and avocado. Though delicious - the lime flavor was a bit overwhelming. 

I scooped out the seeds of 2 large cucumbers. (Really easy to do - just use a spoon.)

Roughly chopped the cucumbers. They are going into the blender, so no need to be too precise. 

Add lime juice and zest. 

Add cucumbers, 2 avocados, and a pinch of sea salt. Blend away. 

The avocado makes the soup creamy, the cucumber makes it refreshing,and the lime adds a nod to summery citrus (too much in this case, but now we know.)

Here's the recipe:

Cold Avocado+Cucumber Soup

Serves 4

Vegan

Zest and juice of 2 limes

2 large cucumbers, peeled and seeded, roughly chopped

2 avocados, peeled and roughly chopped

1 teaspoon of sea salt

Combine everything in powerful blender and blitz until it's totally creamy and smooth.

Bon appetit!

images: hilaryclair