snap back

August 16, 2010

to reality
luckily, i like my reality so this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. i am sure there will be plenty to catch up on today, though! i am already looking forward to resuming my normal routine with a run [though i have to say i just experienced some serious giddiness when i saw that the current temp was 62, followed by disappointment when upon the realization that my location was still set to chicago.]

i guess i’m really home
the happiness project returns!
i took a little holiday from structured goal-setting (perhaps inspired by this controversial post?). on her blog, gretchen has announced that this month’s category of focus is fun.

seems appropriate for the summer, doesn’t it?

i have decided i am going to join gretchen in her quest to find fun over the next four weeks! i haven’t decided exactly what my weekly goals are going to be, but i plan on thinking about it today.

how do you plan on having FUN this summer? and do you find that you have to schedule it in — or does it naturally happen on its own for you? add your inspiration in the comments!

summit recap part 3: dinner @ brasserieJO
i have a number of summit-related details to discuss to i thought perhaps i’d stre-e-e-tch it out a bit. this should also serve as insurance should i run out of inspiration mid-week (hey, it happens).

by the end of the structured summit activities, i can honestly say that my extroverted side was tired. not so tired that i wanted to retreat up to my hotel room with my book (though that would have been fun, too), but ready for a relaxing evening in a smaller group setting.

luckily, meg had scored a table at a great place for this to happen, and i had the pleasure of dining with her, allie, and some new friends: creative and artistic astrid, fellow ‘hybrid blogger’ suki (her site reminds me the most of mine of all the new blogs i discovered over the weekend!), and sweetheart hillary.

the restaurant was located about 1.5 miles from the hotel. as true healthy living bloggers, we headed out on foot!


it was fun to take in various sites along the way, and the walk went by in a flash filled with great conversation. destination: brasserieJO.

looks like we found it!
as soon as we were seated, a waiter brought by complementary herbed carrots and crusty rolls. i thought the carrots were a fun and creative touch.


a toast to delicious food . . .


and new friends.

the fabulous suki herself
the two of us ordered a few things to share (this seemed to be a common theme across our table). the food paparazzi were present in full force, of course.

we enjoyed some delicious smoked salmon and caper flatbread pizza:


ridiculously fun and flavorful beer cheese beignets (think savory cheese-filled truffles with a fried crust!):


and a refreshing endive, walnut, and apple salad:


yum.

and with that, we headed back to the hotel. good-bye, chicago!


————————————————————————–

8.15.10

workout: 45 minutes on the elliptical (with the latest issue of clean eating — LOVE when this one comes in my mailbox!) + 20 minutes of full body weights

odds ‘n’ ends: i wanted to use up some of the ingredients in our fridge (namely: eggs + potatoes) so improvisational frittata it was! spinach, pepper, and feta frittata, to be specific.

hmm, notice anything? thanks to the summit, i finally know how to change the white balance setting on my camera!
studying: resumes today.

3 Comments

  • Reply Susannah March 10, 2019 at 7:25 pm

    I lived in Chicago for 2 years some time ago (and enjoyed a few meals at Brasserie Jo). Your pictures brought back great memories! Glad you had a good time. As for me, fun has meant traveling to spend time with best friends and family, and turning out a few batches of homemade ice cream, which always tastes better in summer!

  • Reply BroccoliHut March 10, 2019 at 7:25 pm

    Sounds like you had an amazing weekend–I hope I can attend next year!
    I, too, squeal with joy when I get an issue of Clean Eating:)

  • Reply atilla March 10, 2019 at 7:25 pm

    looks like great fun. Welcome home

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