Spring has un-sprung

Hi friends! Happy Saturday!

We slept until 10 this morning and I donโ€™t even know who I am right now ๐Ÿ˜‰ I always joke with the Pilot by saying he makes me lazy, because when heโ€™s home I feel so comfy and content. When I finally rolled over and open my eyes, I looked at him and said โ€œyou did this to me.โ€

It felt soooo good to sleep in, and even better to wake up to lazy weather. Spring had un-spring overnight– itโ€™s freezing and raining! I kinda like it ๐Ÿ™‚

bell

Lazy morning French toast:

toast

Brown rice French toast with maple syrup and blackberries

Last night, we had a little date night together.

We put on REAL clothes and headed to North, which is a fun place to chill on a Friday night.

us

North is located at La Encantada, which is an outdoor shopping center here in T-town.

They have an open kitchen:

kitchen

Modern atmosphere:

atmosphere

and on the weekends, they play club music out on the patio- it gets pretty packed ๐Ÿ˜€

The food is amazing, which is also a bonus.

First we had some vino (white for him, Shiraz for me)

vino

and they brought out some bread with sundried tomato butter.

bread

For an appetizer, we rolled with the grilled artichoke hearts with sea salt and lemon aioli.

artichokes

Yay for finger foods at swanky places ๐Ÿ˜€
We had to ask our server how it was prepared, because it blew away out at-home artichoke experiences. She said that they steam the artichoke first, then brush it with butter, grill it for about 30 seconds and then sprinkle sea salt on top. The lemon aioli it was served with was so creamy and tangy, too. Ridic.

For my entree, I chose the salmon:

salmon

Few things in the world make me as happy as perfectly cooked salmon. Itโ€™s right up there with designer jeans on sale, finding money in a winter coat, and having just enough almond butter left in the jar that it would be silly to use it for anything other than a spoon dip ๐Ÿ˜‰

The Pilot ordered the pork tenderloin- he said it was also perfectly cooked and raved about the BBQ sauce that it was served with.

pork

Weโ€™re off to see a movie. Itโ€™s that kinda day ๐Ÿ˜€

Have an amazing Saturday and Iโ€™ll see you later!

xoxo

Gina

Something to think:

โ€œThe greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.โ€

Oprah Winfrey

Just for fun:

I was drinking water out of a plastic cup last night, since they were left over here from a get-together and all of our cups were in the dishwasher.

Bella kept biting at it and trying to knock it overโ€ฆ and then determined that it was the best toy ever. So much for her $9.99 Martha Stewart toysโ€ฆ hahah

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47 Comments

  1. April @ Grits & Granola Bars on April 9, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    Looks like you two had an awesome time! Sundried tomato butter sounds amazing, I love sundried tomatoes in just about anything. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Little Bookworm on April 9, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Love the video of Bella! So cute. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing on April 9, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    <3 date nights. And now, I am determined to make an amazing artichoke replica! That sounds unbelievable ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Sana on April 9, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    I just adoreee the pic of Bella! Enjoy the movieee!

  5. Amber L on April 9, 2011 at 4:58 pm

    LOL I am cracking up at that video. SO cute!!
    Your date night looked like a great time!

  6. Rachel on April 9, 2011 at 5:02 pm

    Hahaha! “You did this to me”. Hahaha!

  7. Emma (ecoprincess) on April 9, 2011 at 5:03 pm

    Bella isn’t the same breed of dog as mine, but they’re so similar! my dog likes to play with random stuff like that too! ๐Ÿ˜€

    Looks like you had s fun time last night. Sometimes I love waking up to bad weather and just having a lazy day with the man I love!

  8. Joelle on April 9, 2011 at 5:14 pm

    Spring has *finally* sprung here! YAY!
    The sundried tomato butter sounds oh so yummy!

  9. Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife on April 9, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    I LOVE sleeping in with the husband ๐Ÿ™‚ It is soooo needed and relaxing sometimes! It is snowing here. YES snowing. Yikes. Oh well, off to hang in my pJs. haha

  10. Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food on April 9, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    aww so nice that you two get to have some date night time together again ๐Ÿ™‚

    as always bella is adorable ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Ashley @ Cupcakes & Combat Boots on April 9, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    I ate at North for the first time a couple of weeks ago when my parents were visiting! It’s so good!! We also ordered the artichokes and I agree that they were INSANELY DELICIOUS! Looks like you guys had a great night!

  12. Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty on April 9, 2011 at 5:29 pm

    Hahaha.. my puppy LOVES plastic too! A plastic bottle makes him go WILD!!

  13. Laura on April 9, 2011 at 5:41 pm

    ugh, that’s how my cat is too! I buy him catnip mice and fancy toys, and his favorite things? milk caps and hair ties.

  14. SmileCrave on April 9, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    I want to eat there!!!

    I LOVE your cup video! OMG she’s so fast!!! We gave our mini schnauzer a plastic bottle the other day… our intentions were to just let her have it for a second but it ended up to be the funniest thing and endless entertainment for her!! lol so cute!

  15. sarah (sarah learns) on April 9, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    hahaha, i loooove the bella video! our puppy loves ice cubes as treats! he likes them better than his milkbones! dogs are strange little things… ๐Ÿ™‚

    your date night looks fabulous!

  16. Holly on April 9, 2011 at 5:51 pm

    I LOVE Bella- she is soooo cute ๐Ÿ™‚
    I had a Golden Retriver whose favorite toy was a water bottle. It was so cute, she would just walk around with them around the house. Cheapest toy ever ๐Ÿ˜‰

  17. Elizabeth @ the good life on April 9, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    Shiraz, yum! Oh and the food looked great too:)

  18. lindsay on April 9, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    how lovely, you guys need to enjoy the lazy time. We do the same. I wish I could sleep in till 10am, maybe a glass of wine tonigt will help. hehe.
    And who needs toys when dogs are so easily amused with plastic, right?
    Cheers!
    LC

  19. Jessica@FruitandVeggieTales on April 9, 2011 at 6:15 pm

    Bella is cute! Our dog Brutie (named after Ohio State’s mascot) is the same way with plastic water bottles….she has a huge basket of toys but give ehr a plastic water bottle and she gets ridiculously excited! Funny kids!

  20. Alicia on April 9, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    haha too funny! I have a shitzu-pom and she goes crazy like that over random objects too! It’s so funny to watch them. Looks like you had a nice date night!! And a relaxing morning. I however had the alarm go off at 730 this morning to start on homework..and to bake! =)

  21. chelsey @ clean eating chelsey on April 9, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    I don’t even remember the last time I slept until 10 in the morning!!! I’d be wired for the rest of the day. ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. Dynamics on April 9, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    I love watching dogs as the “butt-tuck” Great video.

  23. Lisa on April 9, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    Cute video. It’s hot & 90 here. What movie did you see?

  24. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on April 9, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    Mmm yes, I completely agree about perfectly cooked salmon. Unfortunately too many restaurants feel the need to cook their salmon until it tastes like an eraser. ๐Ÿ˜›

  25. kate@ahealthypassion on April 9, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    Your date night looked like a blast I absolutely love date nights… and that artichoke oomgg looks delish!

  26. Moni'sMeals on April 9, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    cutie bella!

  27. Lynn (The Cream Filling) on April 9, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    Enjoy the movie! I slept in until 9 and it was pretty amazing.

    Your date night looks awesome ๐Ÿ™‚

  28. kristi (sweet cheeks) on April 9, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    The artichoke sounds so incredible. I’m going to have to try that method. And how can you go wrong with the gorgeous salmon?! *drool*

    That is such a great pic of you and the Pilot! Glad you two are enjoying the weekend together. <3

  29. Jerri on April 9, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    The artichoke looks amazing.

    I always think of you when I find a good-looking gluten free recipe. Here ya go…

    http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/nikkis-healthy-cookies-recipe.html

  30. Kari on April 9, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Your hair looks super shiny and awesome, those treatments must really work! Love the video of bella, so so cute!

  31. Ash Bear on April 9, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    I literally want to recreate that dinner at home next weekend! Everything looked amazing! Theodora and I are going for spanish tonight in Las Vegas and that wine definitely is what I’m craving!

  32. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat on April 9, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Haha such a cute video! Salmon has an equally pleasing effect on me… just like when you get all green lights on the way to work, wake up realizing you can still sleep for another hour or two, find a Lululemon top on the clearance rack IN YOUR SIZE (!!!!), and find a pair of heels that look amazing AND fit well too. Enjoy your movie! ๐Ÿ™‚

  33. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) on April 9, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    sundried tomato butter
    the artichokes
    and the perfectly cooked salmon
    NICE!!

    Usually with meals out, there is one thing that’s good. Or sometimes great. Sounds like you hit the trifecta!

    And of course, having your Pilot home to go out with is the most important part for you, I’m sure ๐Ÿ™‚

  34. Allison @ Food For Healing on April 9, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    we had beautiful weather here for once.
    i want to try artichokes, this may help now

  35. Brenda@Year25 on April 9, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    Wow, sun dried tomato butter sounds amazing. Also, my dogs tear up those Martha Stewart toys (or any toy), so I often just throw them a crumpled paper bag to go fetch. That way they tear it up, and I’m not out $!

  36. Heather (Heather's Dish) on April 9, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    North looks fabulous…i’m all about that sundried tomato butter!

  37. Amelia on April 10, 2011 at 12:56 am

    I love (and miss) date night! I wonder if your “North” is the same as the one here in Denver? I know they have a few scattered across the country and they are definitely delicious. Atmosphere is nice too. Glad you and the Pilot had a wonderful lazy day. ๐Ÿ™‚

  38. Ashley @ Feeding Ashley on April 10, 2011 at 1:01 am

    EEEK! Bella is so flippin adorable! Let me know when you have an open sky promo for her ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Fitnessista on April 10, 2011 at 5:47 pm

      hahah NEVER ๐Ÿ™‚

  39. Emily on April 10, 2011 at 2:51 am

    bella is gorgeous! dinner looks delicious and that’s a great quote – thanks for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

  40. deisegirl on April 10, 2011 at 4:28 am

    LOL @ the “finding money in a winter coat” feeling. Well it’s always winter in Ireland so for me that just means finding money in one of the coats I haven’t worn for a few weeks (and hopefully hasn’t been put into the washing machine first, eek!)

  41. J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) on April 10, 2011 at 4:28 am

    Fur-babies tend to decide on the cheapest, unexpected items as their favorites, LOL.

    Your swanky dinner looks delish! I haven’t had a fresh artichoke in the longest time. I think it’s time to give up my streak. ๐Ÿ™‚

  42. Ruth on April 10, 2011 at 6:40 am

    French toast!! Bring. It. On! ๐Ÿ™‚

  43. Chelsa on April 10, 2011 at 8:56 am

    yummy looking French toast. I wish I had read this before eating breakfast. Bella is adorable.

  44. Natalia - a side of simple on April 10, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    Grilled artichokes sound delicious! This weekend has been one of those “and now I should put on real clothes” weekends ๐Ÿ™‚ so I loved the reference!

  45. Emily on April 11, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    I like the salad chopper from Pampered chef. It chops salad like crazy and also helps make yummy guac and salsa. My staples. ๐Ÿ™‚

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