12 weeks & change

call me crazy
but i feel SOOOO much better after writing my weekend plans out IN DETAIL!

i definitely do not always do this, but we have a lot going on this weekend [mostly fun stuff], and i’ll enjoy the fun stuff far more if i know that there will be time to get the things i NEED to do done [ie, finish presentation; do the laundry; shop for groceries]. our apartment is also a royal mess [seriously] so i need time for reorganizing.

hopefully my little projects will be successful – i have a major closet overhaul to do [out with any constricting garments] and on sunday i want to bake a pie. it’s possible i may wimp out and do a crisp instead, but we’ll see how the schedule — and my energy level — is going! [ps: if you have a recipe recommendation, i’d love to hear it!]

12 weeks
well, 12 and change, anyway. i’m trying to take bump/progress shots every week [8 weeks; 10 weeks] but it slipped my mind until yesterday. 12 5/7 weeks is close enough!

from the front: not too much action. after clinic yesterday:

i’m actually wearing the only pair of non-maternity work pants that still close sans band. [using the word ‘fit’ would be stretching it.]

from the side:

i think this shirt camouflages a lot –and perhaps i should have taken the shot after dinner. because i think i have more belly action than can be appreciated in this photo. it still looks like i have acquired a hefty beer + nachos habit and nothing like a baby. i’m hoping this changes in a few weeks!

durham restaurant review: l’uva
since moving to downtown durham, josh and i have attempted to eat at as many walking-distance places [rather than driving] as we can! there are still SO many more possibilities . . .and only ~6 months before we never eat out again. heh.

for the locals: here are some of our previous walking-distance reviews . . .
✔ mt fuji
✔ alivia’s
✔ rue cler
✔ bull city burger + brewery
✔ dos perros

anyway! so on to l’uva. i actually didn’t know that this place existed until i read the review on carpe durham earlier this week. it’s quite new [open just 5 weeks!] but the owners and operators are well-known in the area from sister restaurant revolution, which josh and i both really like.

distance: 0.6 miles

cost: $60 for two

atmosphere: modern and cozy at the same time — similar to revolution, but with a more laid back and homey vibe. they have a great enclosed patio [it was full – we walked in without a reservation] and also some additional seating further outside in the courtyard of the american tobacco area [shops, restaurants, twinkling lights, fake waterways . . . you know]. we elected for the courtyard because the weather was perfect.

josh behaving himself

cuisine: italian, with an emphasis on wine [sigh] and i would say a lighter touch than most traditional italian venues. we started with some italian beverages. i think you can guess who drank what . . .

josh not behaving himself
[that is now my favorite picture of all time]

with our beverages, we were brought some traditional italian bread with almond-basil pesto. it was delicious and much more fun than just the traditional olive oil.

we ordered two appetizers, because i wanted to try both the eggplant bruschetta and the scallops salad with goat cheese, oranges, and tomatoes.

salad with frisée, goat cheese, 2 seared scallops, oranges, and grape tomatoes
both were excellent and probably my favorite parts of the meal. the bruschetta was on crispy bread and the eggplant was vibrant and fresh-tasting. both had goat cheese on top, which i really hope was pasteurized [i didn’t ask, but on a recent trip to whole foods i noted that ALL of them were, so i felt pretty safe].

for entrées, josh and i both chose pasta. i got a ‘small’ size, which wasn’t very small, but it was nice that the choice was offered.

buccatini with rock shrimp and sicilian bread sauce
this actually reminded me of my mom’s mac ‘n’ cheese more than anything else, but was decent!

josh loved his rigatini with tomato, basil, and chicken:

our entrees took a little time to come out, and the manager [who i recognized from revolution] came out and personally apologized and bought us a round of drinks [wine for josh, more sparkling italian H20 for me!]. the service was extremely kind and attentive, which was always our experience at revolution as well.

overall verdict: i would definitely go back. i didn’t LOOOOVE my entrée, but i didn’t dislike it at all, either! the food was not as fabulous as, say, panciuto [best italian in the area in my opinion], but the cost was less than half and we could walk there. next time i just want to save room for some tiramisu!

okay, off to run . . . in the rain. but with a friend so hopefully it will be fun! have a wonderful weekend!