Warm Weather, Black Tie and an Overall Chill Weekend

Well, that weekend went by fast! And I’m pooped. I think I need another weekend jus to relax and recover from my weekend.

Friday night was pretty low key. B and I both didn’t get home until later than planned and our original plans fell through, so B made us fish for dinner. We don’t typically eat in on Friday nights, but we had gone to L’Albatros Thursday and I was happy to have dinner in. Especially this meal. So so good.

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Saturday was WARM. I mean it was 64 degrees in February. How could we not go for a run? We had to get in a few miles while the weather was so warm. Running is getting harder and harder for me these days and the first 2 miles were pretty bad. But I’m so grateful to B for keeping me out there and helping me stay motivated and less frustrated.

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That night was B’s office formal. It was a black tie event so B and I got dressed up and were ready for a night of fantastic food and drink and music.

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It’s fun to play dress up once in a while – but a little hard when you’re nearly 6 months pregnant!

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I didn’t get to enjoy the complimentary drinks as usual, but I did enjoy all the food.

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It was a late night for me. So Sunday started off pretty slow and sluggish. BUT it was seasonably warm again (not quite as warm though) so we headed out for another short run.

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Sunday afternoon was pretty relaxing. B and I grabbed some coffee and tea in Ohio City (tea for me!) and then went for a walk in the Metroparks. It was chillier than Saturday but I kept reminding myself that this is still February and enjoyed actually being outside without snow and ice.

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Our usual Sunday dinner plans weren’t happening, so B and I decided to have our own homemade Sunday dinner. We made pasta!

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And that was about it. A pretty enjoyable weekend … and now I’m ready to tackle the last week in February!

I’m linking up today with Erin for my weekend snapshot post, Katie for MIMM and the weekly wraps.

Some questions for you:

  • Do you like making pasta?
  • Was the weather warm by you this weekend? Did you get outside?

My parents in the CLE! (and that weekend I ate a lot of Italian food)

This past weekend, my parents came to town. It was very up in the air at first – if the weather looked iffy, they wouldn’t make the 8ish hour drive from NY – so I wasn’t expecting them to come. We’ve had a less-than-stellar winter in Cleveland – very cold and snowy – and I expected this weekend to be the same.

It was -5 when I woke up on Friday. Thus the day started with a treadmill run. Again.

It was -5 when I woke up on Friday. Thus the day started with a treadmill run. Again.

Thankfully, even though the weekend did have a dose of cold and snow, my parents were still able to make it! They came in Friday night and left Sunday morning, so we really only had one full day with them … so we packed in as much wintry fun as we could!

Friday night, we had reservations for Cibreo. Sidenote – it’s Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week, so if you’re in Cleveland, be sure to check out the list of participating restaurants and get yourself to one this week!My mom and I both dined off the Cibeo restaurant week menu and it was great – we both had the arugula butternut squash salad, salmon and lentils, and split both desserts (zeppoli and a custard). B and my dad got off the regular menu. Everyone loved their meals – I love Cibreo and their great Italian food.

The salmon from the Cibreo restaurant week menu - my mom and I both got it and had leftovers so I have lunch for this week!

The salmon from the Cibreo restaurant week menu – my mom and I both got it and had leftovers so I have lunch for this week!

Friday was pretty frigid – like single digits plus wind. So after dinner, we relaxed in our apartment, showed off some photos from our Asia trip, and well, that was the extent of our Friday night.

Saturday started off with a 4 mile run and then some Insanity cardio abs. Ouch. I haven’t done any Insanity workouts since B and I did them right before our wedding, and this only 15 minute workout killed me. In a good way, of course.

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After that, I met my parents and we walked to the West Side Market! The weather was warmer than Friday, but super snowy. Still, it felt SO good to be outside and walking! It had been so long since I’d been outside for an extended period of time and I was really getting stir crazy.

Selfie during the walk

Selfie during the walk

After walking to the Market and picking up some groceries, we walked over to Hingetown to my favorite tea spot. Yes, this was the third time I’d been to Cleveland Tea Revival in one week and I’m not ashamed. Their ginger tea = amazing. My mom also loves their tea and even ordered some ginger turmeric to be shipped to New York.

Family at the tea shop

Family at the tea shop

By then, we were all pretty hungry so we walked back to Ohio City and got some soup at Souper Market. Yet again, I got the mulligatawny so I’ll spare you another photo of that soup – it looks the same each week and now that I’ve given up meat for Lent it was the easiest soup to select.  AND I have some leftovers for lunch next week!

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After driving back downtown (B had met us at the market and gave us a ride – we had walked enough already), my parents and I checked out the North Coast Harbor Ice Festival. It was cool to see the sculptures – I have no idea HOW people make those!

My mom and I goofing around with the ice sculptures

My mom and I goofing around with the ice sculptures

Anchors away!

Anchors away!

Then it was time to relax a bit – we had been walking a lot and we were all a little tired after going nonstop since the morning. We decided to watch a movie that was on TV, the Edge of Tomorrow with Tom Cruise. Have you seen it? I have NO IDEA what the ending was about. Seriously – if someone has seen it, please tell me what happened!

For dinner we decided to brave the snow and cold yet again and drive to Little Italy for Pizza at Mama Santa’s and dessert at Presti’s. I think my favorite comfort foods are Italian and soup, and I got both in one day. Pretty lucky!

Disclosure: I had mushroom pizza (no meat for Lent). But I ate the slices before I remembered to take a photo.

Disclosure: I had mushroom pizza (no meat for Lent). But I ate the slices before I remembered to take a photo.

Cannoli=happiness. I ate the one on the right - every single bite.

Cannoli=happiness. I ate the one on the right – every single bite.

Sunday I decided to take a rest day. That means no elliptical, no running. This was the first rest day I’ve taken since we got back from Asia (more than a month ago) and with training for the Cleveland half marathon starting this week, I convinced myself somehow that my body needed some time off. Instead of working out in the morning, I joined my parents for breakfast before they hit the road. After saying goodbye (never easy), B and I took a walk, which always seems to help me get my mind off things. We went back to the ice sculptures and spent an hour exploring the area and other parts of downtown. It was a nice feeling to yet again be outside, enjoying the weather even if I had a day off from working out. Oh yeah, and we had some sunshine!IMG_20150221_211231

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SUNSHINE AND BLUE SKIES!

Sunday dinner was per usual with B’s family and we had even MORE ITALIAN comfort food – this time, lasagna and ice cream sundaes for dessert. Pretty much the cherry on top (yup, pun intended) to a wonderful weekend.

B's mom's lasagna. One had veggies in it and the other had meat.

B’s mom’s lasagna. One had veggies in it and the other had meat.

How was your weekend?

Do you still eat ice cream in the winter?Yes! Year round please.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Soup or Italian food. 

Welp, it’s February.

Phew. Ever end a weekend needing another one? That was my weekend. I don’t know why – it wasn’t terribly tiring, crazy, physically demanding, etc. But I definitely could use another 2 days off!

Friday night started out pretty lazy – B and I ordered takeout Vietnamese food, tested out our new chopsticks (from Vietnam!) and caught a few episodes of Walking Dead and Downton Abbey. Which got me thinking – what if there were a zombie show about zombies during Elizabethan era England? Huh? No, don’t quit my day job?  Okay …

takeout with nice chopsticks!

takeout with nice chopsticks!

Saturday, I got up semi early for another treadmill workout. I walked/ran (As most of my treadmill runs are these days) a 10K, did some kettle bells, arms and abs – and then met Ali to go to the West Side Market! We walked home and it felt so good to get in a longish walk – it’s been so chilly and snowy and I haven’t gotten a good walk in really since our trip. After our trip to the Market, we spent a few hours cooking! We both had Asian vacations recently (she to Thailand), and that definitely influenced our cooking. See for yourself – papaya cabbage salad and a red vegetarian curry:

Ali cooking

Ali cooking

Using a mandolin for the papaya (last time Ali used one she almost lost her thumb ...)

Using a mandolin for the papaya (last time Ali used one she almost lost her thumb …)

The finished product!

The finished product!

Then, I met up with B and his parents at Butcher and the Brewer for a drink. Their Midwest Mule is pretty amazing.

Sunday morning I woke up at 7 for no real good reason. I got in a 5.55 mile interval run – not as fast as I would’ve liked, but my first interval run in ages – and then it was time for brunch! Wet up with some friends at Market Garden Brewery for Sunday morning beverages and food. Food not photoed. But look at my amazing champagne flight – oh my goodness. We were stuffed and even though it was super snowy, I’m glad B and I had decided to walk the 40ish minutes to the restaurant and even looked forward to our 40ish minute walk back.

pretty drinks!

pretty drinks! my flight of mimosas

It was a little snowy

It was a little snowy

Sunday afternoon included some Super Bowl prep – check out some of the cookies I baked –

Butterfinger cheesecake cookie bars

Butterfinger cheesecake cookie bars

and we made spring rolls for an appetizer!

B rolling some spring rolls

B rolling some spring rolls

spring roll time! (totally normal super bowl appetizer right?)

spring roll time! (totally normal super bowl appetizer right?)

and then of course, it was Super Bowl party time! The spread also included ribs, drumsticks, chips and dip. Oh boy. I of course pretty much watched for the ads and the tweets, but WHAT A GAME (and the last minute?!!) and loved the Katy Perry halftime show.

How was your weekend?

Some questions for you:

  • What’s your favorite type of ethnic food to make?
  • What’s your go-to Super Bowl appetizer?
  • What was your favorite Super Bowl ad?