Sock lopsided
Today was a great day, but I think the fact that I forgot a sock gave it a strange feel. While you’re teaching multiple fitness classes, it’s hard to forget that you’re only wearing one sock with your shoes. Didn’t feel very good.
This did, though 😉
(coming home to snuggle my favorite girl)
And this wasn’t too shabby, either…
(a voluptuous glass of Malbec + Cabernet)
When the Pilot and I each got home from work, we changed out of his flight suit and I braided my “still wet from teaching pool” hair and put some non-workout clothes on. Since I didn’t have time to make dinner during my lunch break and we were starving, the three of us went to The Abbey. We’ve been wanting to try it for quite a while and it’s always packed. Even on an early Wednesday evening, by the time we left, each table was full.
The atmosphere is quaint, funky and romantic- it feels like a mechanical garage that was swanked up- and they serve twists on American comfort food. Each day, there’s a salad, sandwich, seafood, meat and breakfast-for-dinner special.
While you wait for your food, you’re served truffle popcorn
and fresh pumpernickel-raisin bread with whipped butter and sea salt.
(I tried some of the Pilot’s slice and it was glorious)
For my entree, I rolled with the crispy salmon with a chive pesto crust, with carrot mash and Brussels sprouts (asked for no bacon).
The salmon was perfectly cooked – my favorite part was the carrot mash. It actually tasted like carrots, instead of the usual purees that are easily swimming in heavy cream and/or salt. It was lovely.
It’s funny because The Abbey almost feels like the Tucson version of 306 North and Two Friends in Valdosta. They were our spots to go on romantic dinners together or meet up with friends for dessert and cocktails. I have a feeling that The Abbey will be a new staple for us.
We’re back at the house now, and I’m going to lay low and gain my energy back for tomorrow’s classes. I have drums (eep!), a pool class and Zumba, and I’m extra excited to get through the day because Jeni is going to be here for the long weekend! We’ve both had babies and moved in the past year, so I haven’t seen her in so long. I can’t wait.
Thank you so much to those of you who have entered the foam roller giveaway! I’ll announced the lucky winner in the am.
Enjoy your night <3
xoxo
Gina
Do you have to wear socks with your workout shoes? I used to prefer bare feet in my dancer days but changed my mind pretty quickly. It feels so weird to me if I don’t wear socks with sneakers! What’s your restaurant staple –the one you’d take a date or a best friend to- in your city? In Tucson, we always choose between Eclectic Cafe, Blue Willow, Guadalajara Grill and Poca Cosa.
Something to do: Found this reggaeton the other day and love this girl’s choreo! Feel free to dance along:
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I love that Zumba video! You always find the best links and articles around the web!
I’ve never even tried going barefoot in my sneakers – I don’t think I would like it! I love the idea of a breakfast-for-dinner special, that’s so fun. And the bread and popcorn both sound delicious! Love the picture of Liv – her wide-eyed look is hilarious 🙂
she was a trooper, even though it was almost her bedtime 🙂
Oh my goodness! I can’t imagine how weird it must have been teaching with only one sock!
Best part of VFF’s is not having to wear socks!
Um, I may have just played that video twice and danced along in front of the computer. Good thing my husband is used to my oddities by now.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Sonoma County is The Riviera. Straight from the old country Italian, and they always have tons of options for all sorts of eaters – vegan, gluten-free, and voraciously carnivorous! In SF it was the Squat & Gobble for our weekly Sunday brunch. Crab Cake Benedict and mimosas? Yes, please!
Ahhh, that’s so funny that you mentioned Blue Willow…I worked there for over four years! Gotta love the patio.
I moved from Tucson a few years a go and miss it so much! Your site brings me back to my favorite city and help fights the homesickness. Awesome posts, fantastic recipes and a positive attitude. You are quickly becoming one of my favorites. Thanks for keeping me motivated in fitness and for giving me glimpses of Tucson.
I never ever wear socks with my sneakers.. They all smell LOL.
We roll with Jax Kitchen, Cafe Poca Cosa, and Scott and Co. for drinks!
Your little one is adorable!
i haven’t been to jax kitchen! off to google 🙂
thank you 🙂
I would be super happy with a glass of wine and truffle popcorn. YES! And the carrot puree sounds heavenly. A strange thing to get excited about maybe but that looks soooo good!
They have truffle popcorn at the restaurant/wine bar where my boyfriend works. It is sooo amazing! 🙂
That salmon looks so good! I am with you on purees…they’ve got to be done right!
I only wear shoes when I run, so I have to have socks! Unless we run on the beach, which is amazing and killer at the same time. :/
By far our favorite place in Honolulu is the Himalayan Kitchen. Himalayan/Nepalese/Indian/SPICY goodness. The kofta and lentils are my staples! And just a heads up: it’s BYOB!
I hate the feeling of going barefoot in my running shoes when I forget socks…
Girrrl, when you gonna post the tutorial for that waterfall braid of yours?! I know how to french braid and waterfall braid the front of my hair, but I cannot get it to wrap around. Something about moving to the back gets me every time and I just lose track of the strands of hair. I’m hoping there’s some secret to it…
I can’t go without socks. I bought a pair of those minimal padding sneakers that are meant to be worn without socks and it chaffed my feet. Gross.
I forget my socks sometimes and I am miserable every time. Gotta have the socks.
Yep, that place sounds like a winner to me! Your salmon dish looks pretty great.
We like to go to a place on the river here called Steve’s Landing. They have all kinds of dishes. My favorite is fried shrimp with a beer- I never said it was a healthy or super classy place but whatevs. On occasion, it’s awesome!
Another spot is this little cafe called Rembrant’s Coffee. It’s a little coffee/ dessert place. They also serve sandwiches. It was on Food Network once 🙂
I love the looks of that restaurant!
One of my go-to places in Baltimore is this little hole-in-the-wall called Annabell Lee Tavern. It’s TINY, but the staff is amazing, and their food is out of this world. My boyfriend and I always splurge on dessert there: they make a “Chipwich” with two fresh chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream. It is out of control!
That’s so funny you mentioned 306 North and Two Friends. I am a college student in Valdosta and those are our favorite spots for drinks and dinner. Not that there’s much else to choose from.
Everything about that salmon dish looks fantastic – especially the chive pesto crust. I want to try making something like that now!
One of my favourite restaurants in London, ON is Garlics. It’s an upscale restaurant using local and organic ingredients, and their food is fantastic! I had the most amazing arctic char last time I was there.
Your dinner looks so good!
that restaurant sounds awesome! i was reading my book a couple of nights ago and it mentioned valdosta. i sat for a few seconds and thought about where i knew that name. and then i remembered it’s because you used to live there. 🙂
I can’t not wear socks with my sneakers either anymore !! Feels so weird, especially when working out. As for restaurants, we like to take people visiting to our favorite ethnic places — Jasmine Thai, or Bombay Cuisine. (:
That salmon looks delicious! Especially the chive pesto crust.
I was a dancer too and i HAVE to wear socks with shoes with I workout now, I feel so gross if i dont! You are such an adorable and beautiful mother! Goodness gracious! And that salmon- YUM!
Now I wear socks, but like you when I danced and skated I went sockless. I’ve done a couple half marathons sockless. I eventually had to add a layer of protection though.
I’m from NS (east coast canada) and the BEST date place is called Cheese Curds! It’s a poutinerie (fries covered in cheese curds and gravy – def not healthy but soooo good) and their salmon burgers are to DIE for!!
I always wear socks in my workout shoes, I definitely hate it when I am barefoot and doing a hard workout, I began sweating and my feet feel weird inside and gross 🙁 sorry for the details!! And I am obssesed with socks, I have them in different colors and shapes, neon are my favorites! 🙂
So I really debated even leaving a comment because I know how this will sound, but….I live in Nashville, TN and while we have our really cute cafes and nice restaurants…the southern girl in me just likes to go to a bar for some beer and good food. And sadly, while we have some really awesome bars here in town, my addiction lately has been a chain…Buffalo Wild Wings. I love going on a weekend night with my boyfriend, sitting in the bar area, with 2 huge beers and some boneless buffalo wings. It’s not healthy but I love it. We always have a really good time together there, chatting, laughing, watching sports on tv, etc. (Maybe it’s because I’m not a girly girl and know that I don’t have to attempt to dress up to go there…) 🙂
Oh! The salmon really looks delicious… Yummy!.. 🙂
OMG that zumba choreo is amazing! Thanks for the link!! I’m going to the zumba instructor training course tomorrow so I can’t wait to make up routines!
We have a few nice places we like to go on dates but they tend to be pretty pricey so it’s more of a special occasion thing. The town I live in either has awesome, locally owned pricey places or chain restaurants like Applebees so it’s not much to choose from.
What time do you normally put Liv to bed?
That restaurant looks awesome. We have very few places to eat here, we don’t go out that much anymore.
Oooh love her choreo to that too! MIght have to just ‘borrow’ that 😉 Thanks!
Hi Gina,
I love your blog. I was stealthily following you for a bit but then I lost track. Anyway, I am always inspired by your recipes and really your lifestyle in general.
I was going to a local Zumba class for a while, so I thought I’d share their YouTube channel with some of their dances which are really amazing here: http://www.youtube.com/user/SensazaoCrew.
I’m glad I found your blog again!
Oohhh man! Not wearing socks during workouts hurts! Blisters = no gouda. 🙁 Your salmon look nummies, and the wine doesn’t look so bad either! 😉 Glad you and the pilot found another good restaurant for date-nights!
I love that place! You should try the restaurant Jax Kitchen too, they are owned by the same person I think.
I need to try a Zumba class! I know once I go I’ll be in love with it but I’m a little intimidated : )
Omg drooling on my dest at work, that food looks oh so good! I’m planning on doing last year’s summer shape up workout #1 before dinner tonight. Can you tell I’m getting antsy for this years summer shape up? 😉
whoo hoo! i hope you guys love it 🙂
I haven’t seen that song before but I follow that girl on some of her other videos all the time when I’m doing Zumba at home – her choreo is great! I also love her completely psychedelic studio lol!
Yes to socks! The thought of bare feet getting all sweaty in my sneakers freaks me out a bit. I don’t know how you handled that!
it was pretty gross haha
In Boston, I love bringing people to Zocalo, a fun, semi-swanky Mexican place with a killer mole sauce and great margaritas. if anyone lives in Connecticut, check out J. Christian’s in Wallingford for the best meal of your life!
I have to add that I’m finally trying your b-fast cookie dough cereal and it’s amazing. I added some chia seeds. I never ever would have thought of putting AB in dry cereal – you’re a food magician!
yay, i’m so glad you like it!
I don’t think I’ve ever forgotten a sock. But I did drive all the way to work once with flip-flops on, before realizing I’d left my acceptable shoes at home, instead of in the car where they usually lived. That was not fun.
she is so cute!!