The only routine with me is no routine at all

Even though I’m on vacation, I feel like I’ve been getting a routine of my own while down in Florida. I know, I shouldn’t have a routine when I’m supposed to be relaxing and enjoying my time but it’s been working out well and not a stressful one at all. It seems like each day I’ve been meeting up with one of my friends for a meal, coffee or get together. I went to a bbq the other night and made a creamy Greek pasta salad as opposed to a Tysonlicious pasta salad.

The star of the pasta salad was gorgonzola cheese. I rarely buy the gorg because I love it so much and can make a container disappear within 12 hours. Yeah, I don’t even say 24 hours because it really doesn’t last that long in my house. So when I saw it on sale, I bought it as a perfect add in to the pasta salad along with artichokes, black olives, zucchini, parsley, red pepper and Light Greek dressing.

This turned out awesome! I don’t like to make creamy pasta salads too often because hello, creamy isn’t too good for you but it was a perfect dish to bring to a bbq for all to share!

I met up with my friend for breakfast on Monday morning. She is a writer so she tends to be busy at night and on the weekends so when she suggested breakfast, I immediately jumped since you know, the most important meal of the day thing. Plus hello, I love seeing my friends! We went to First Watch, a breakfast and lunch spot in Boca.

I ordered coffee as I waited for her and when they brought out a vat of it, I couldn’t have been happier. Well until I saw these beautiful babies that is

Don’t think I didn’t swipe a few for the road!

I liked how they had traditional breakfast and lunch fare and also a good selection of healthy options.

I should have gotten something off that menu but the meal was going to be both breakfast and lunch for me so I went with something hearty and savory to fill my belly-Key West Crepegg-A thin, sweet crepe combined with fluffy whipped eggs filled with Turkey, avocado, bacon, tomatoes and Monterey Jack cheese with a side of potatoes and an english muffin

A delicious meal (as is anything that involves avocado!) add that to catching up with an old friend and that is priceless.

I’ve been getting some good gym time in also. There are a number of gyms to go to here so I don’t think a lot of people patron the YMCA which is fine with me—more machines for me! On the downside, most of the machines are older versions of ellipticals and treadmills. They don’t even have my beloved Precor there, it’s a brand called Star Trac which I’ve never heard of.

Of course, I’ve been hanging out with a couple of handsome fellas as well.

Mickey and Lincoln are getting along terrifically! Lincoln is still a little protective of me but he has to realize that Mickey is the OB (Original Baby) I have a feeling I’m going to end up with two pups soon.

I’ve been spending my afternoon’s laying by the pool reading and swimming.

Thanks to all who recommended this book—I can’t put it down! It’s such a page turner and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Lincoln has done some swimming too and was all too happy to get out of the pool and sun bathe with me.

The parentals have been providing dinner and entertainment we went to see Bridesmaids on Monday afternoon. This movie? Holy effballs of fire, it was hilarious! However, I really wish I could skip over the sex scene parts when I’m sitting right next to my parents. It’s a bit awkward. But on the other side, I don’t want to live in a world where I don’t get to see Jon Hamm naked. Seriously, how is he so handsome?  We  went to dinner at Kyojin Sushi Buffet in Fort Lauderdale right after. I was starving by the time I got there since I really only had the big breakfast and a few snacks.

The first plate of sushi was fantastic. However right after eating it, I didn’t feel right. I felt like there was a brick in my stomach so I switched over to soup while my dad helped me with the rest of the sushi. I’ve never had a bad sushi experience at a restaurant but I felt like I was going to throw up on the way home. We’ve been going to Kyojin for the past three years and it just seems like the quality of their sushi is going down the drain.

For the first time ever, South Florida is growing on me. I was born in Indiana then we moved here when I was seven. I resented my parents that we would move somewhere that’s a completely 180 from Indiana and just wanted out. And you know what?  The first chance I got to leave here, I did. I picked out WVU on a map and moved 18 hours away. Now that I have lived there, Phoenix and Charlotte, I’m not so much if I like it up north of not. I always thought I was a cold weather girl but I am quite enjoying the warm weather for the past week and a half. I know a lot of people down here and my friends have already told me I could them my resume so a move to Florida may be in the future.     

 Random question–Who the hell names a business Hair on Fire?

As someone who has had their hair caught on fire, this disturbs me. I won’t get into the story but it involves freshman year in college, a cigarette, Bon Jovi and Natty Light.

How many places have you lived?

Anyone else have any fun, hair catching on fire stories?? Crickets, crickets….

The Week That Was

Packing, moving, working, stressing, living-oi! It has been a pretty hectic week with all of that going on. Tomorrow is the big day for my move, I got my keys earlier this week but all the furniture and endless number of boxes are being hauled over there tomorrow. I feel like all I have been doing is packing, bubble wrapping, taping, cleaning, making sure I have everything and tossing stuff I don’t need.

The fridge is officially empty except for a cooler with essentials I refuse to throw away—-spray butter, sweet tea vodka, Wholly Guacamole, frozen pineapple and pizza dough. My power is being turned off tomorrow which is worrying me a bit–will it be turned off at midnight or just some random time tomorrow? My bed has been broken down so I am sleeping on the couch but little did I know that is where Lincoln runs off to in the middle of the night. Also, I did not know that an eight and a half pound dog could stretch to ridiculous lengths and crush me in the middle of the night. I woke up this morning smelling Frito’s but none were there, it was just his paw in my face. Anyone else notice their dogs paws smell like Frito’s? Seriously, smell them-they do. A dude mentioned that to me once and I thought he was nuts but he was right……and I hate admitting I am wrong about something.

So, tonight is the last night in my apartment. I’ve lived here three years, which is a record in my book. I haven’t lived anywhere this long except for the house I grew up in in Florida so this was major for me. I move around a lot whether it be to different apartments, cities, etc. so I guess I’m like a gypsy. This apartment holds a lot of memories for me—-rough times for me with personal and family issues, a few boys here and there…..from ex-convicts to ghanja toting boy with a normal one or two thrown in there, friends who are still in my life and some that are not and oh yeah, the whole being a dog momma thing.

 I just can’t believe I stayed in one place this long–I love this apartment so much but the quality of people has just gone downhill. I heard that our complex isn’t even doing credit or background checks like they were doing when I moved in and it is more of a college, white trash and Russian mafia mix now which I am really not digging seeing that I am, sigh, 30 yrs old. I am so excited to move to my new neighborhood since it is closer to the city and within walking distance to bars, restaurants and eeeeeeek—four coffee places!

Wow, I guess I had a lot to get out—-if you’re still ready this, thanks for not clicking away 🙂

Let’s talk food! I’ve been eating out waaaaaaaay more than usual this week due to moving, not having food, throwing stuff out and such. My waistline and my wallet are not happy about this so I am excited to get into my new place and buy some groceries and get to cooking again! I now present the random goodness (and not so much) that I had this week.

Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Pizza Dough topped with TJ’s Spinach and Artichoke Dip with sautéed spinach and roasted tomato

6 inch Chicken Tender Sub with White America, tomato, banana peppers and Chipotle Mayo from Harris Teeter

Cucumbers with Trader Joe’s Kalamata Olive Hummus

Sausage, egg and cheese wrap from Just Fresh

Baked chicken pieces with ranch and tabasco dipping sauce and an Arnold Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin topped with honey. This was the worst meal of the week, in my opinion, however Lincoln was on it like white on rice.

Amy’s Breakfast Burrito

Cookies N Cream and Plain Fro Yo topped with Fruity Pebbles, Strawberries, Mango and gummy bears. Random yet fabulous

Huevos Wrap from Just Fresh

Chicken Finger Salad from Chick-Fil-A with Fat Free Honey Mustard—-anyone dress up like a cow today for a free meal? I tried to sweet talk my way into a meal since I was wearing a black top with white polka dots but they weren’t having that.

It’s weird how so much has gone on in this apartment yet I remember the first meal I had—chicken pesto pizza from Fresh Market, the memory is a funny thing I tell you. I can’t remember where one of my six pairs of scissors is but I remember a meal three years ago.

Turtle Brownie Bar from Hearth Strings Foods. I emailed them last week to see if they have nutrional values for their bars and granola and sadly they don’t, boo.

So, that’s it. I won’t even begin to talk about what a hellacious week at work this has been but when I blog next (hopefully tomorrow if Time Warner is on time?) I will be in my new pad!

Stay cool everyone—it’s stifling out!

Hurts So Good

Happy Sunday everyone! I went hiking today, I left at 8A and got back home at 10P and am completely beat but I will share some stuff about today before I pass out.

I went with a group to Grandfather Mountain, which is about 2.5 hrs away from Charlotte. It has amazing views and living here for 3.5 yrs, I never visited. I am always up for something new, especially on a three-day wknd, so I was game and excited to go!

Before I left, I made a breakfast burrito with black beans, mushrooms, egg whites, cheese and salsa

On another note, Lincoln is diggin the new chair.

I took Lincoln to my friend’s house to hang out with her dog since I was going to be gone for a good part of the day. I carpooled up with three others and it was a nice day out (we were at 5,000 feet elevation so it was a bit cloudy up there)

And the scary part—The MILE HIGH swinging bridge—eek!!

I did not want to walk on this at all but had to cross to see a gorgeous view of the park. It’s only 228 feet long however I was trying to walk as quickly as possible and not look down. It was a bit shaky but kept my ye on the prize…land!

Then the hike began, we were doing a trail that was four miles long to the top of another mountain. I am used to dirt trails and not rocks and this one was all rocks. We were basically rock climbing/hiking and to make it worse, it started raining. I feel about three times then took a NASTY spill. I was stepping onto a rock and fell right in between two. I screamed out and we stopped to check out the damage. My hand was scraped, both legs scraped badly and bleeding. I was trying not to cry but was in pain. We stopped for ten minutes then kept going and I did another 10 minutes but it got to the point the hill was at 50 degree angle and all wet rocks and I couldn’t go any further because my right thigh, which was scraped the worst, was in pain. The rest of the group was way ahead of me and there was an older couple walking down and they asked if I was ok and I started crying and they yelled to my group saying there was no way I could go on. One of the girls came down and went back to the car with me because she had her dog with her so that was nice not to go back alone. The walk back was rough. It took about an hour and I had to do it with extra caution since it was so muddy and wet. It was an amazing workout but I was in complete pain. We hung out at the car for almost two hours before they got back. And now…..my battle scars (I am already hurting, bruised and in pain so I fear what tomorrow will bring)

Yeah. Nuff said.

Some other pics

We met up with the rest of the group and was ready for grub!! We drove into Boone where Appalachian State University is and decided on the Mellow Mushroom-a hippielicious pizza place (hmmm first fruit hippies and now pizza hippies. Maybe I AM really a hippie at heart?)

Everything looks amazing and our table split cheesy garlic bread as an appetizer. I decided on the Magical Mystery Tour Pizza (love the name)—pesto, button and portobello mushrooms, spinach, feta and jalapenos.

Good lord, these hippies know what’s up. Amazing. And our table got four small pizzas so we shared and I still had half of this left so lunch or dinner tomorrow is taken care of!

I took a long soak tonight and am going to ice my body up. Lincoln knows I’m in pain and is being a sweet baby just resting on my lap (on the side without the bruises thankfully)