An Impromptu Visit

Thank you all for the get well wishes! I’m feeling loads better since Tuesday and am now just waiting for my ears to pop. Unfortunately, I think I’ll be waiting a little longer because of my plane ride yesterday. Fortunately, it was worth it for an impromptu visit to the one and only Arizona.

Bobby and I decided to plan a quick weekend getaway that just so happened to work out with scheduling and the beauty of frequent flyer miles. I arrived yesterday afternoon in time for a late lunch with Mama B. and Eric at True Food Kitchen.

Just as we did the last time we visited, Mama B. and I started out with Cucumber-Citrus Skinny Margaritas. Casa Noble Silver Organic Tequila, lime, fresh mint, soda and orange. I really need to recreate this at home!

We started out by sharing an order of edamame dumplings with daikon radish and white truffle oil…

…as well as a wild mushroom pizza. I can’t say enough about this one. I practically inhaled it!

Mama B. and I each also picked out the Mediterranean Chopped Salad, made with cucumber, olive, cherry tomato, quinoa, feta, Marcona almonds and lemon oregano vinaigrette. We barely made a dent in them after the appetizer and pizza so are looking forward to lunch leftovers today.

We came home and watched more of the Olympics, eventually satisfying our sweet teeth with a small bowl of vanilla ice cream layered with peaches. I love when peach season rolls around. It means fall isn’t too far away!

That observation may make some of you cringe, I know. 😉 But I can’t wait for football season.

In other news this week, I’m currently reading Emily Giffin’s newest book, Where We Belong. I’m enjoying it so far and am planning to do several reviews of her books in the coming weeks. I’ve read all of them and love the candy-colored covers that have become her trademark.

Speaking of books, how CUTE are these cupcakes?

They come from Victoria’s Kitchen in London. I am very tempted to have a batch sent across the pond. 🙂 Thanks to Jill for sharing them with me. I think the true challenge would be figuring out which books to use on top! What would be in your top dozen?

Last but not least, here is today’s random smile – a new towel I found in my family’s kitchen.

If you need me, I’ll be making a moose in the kitchen.

The weekend is almost here! Any big plans for kicking off August?

I’m hoping to play some golf and get in a hike or two.

Abrazos,

18 Comments

  1. SO fun that you’re in AZ. That Mediterranean Chopped Salad looks amazing. Enjoy it all. We have Kaylin’s birthday party Saturday and it is our 5th wedding anniversary! With all this PSU craziness…I am NOT looking forward to college football at all…its no longer the team I loved. BUT- I will be excited for NFL

    • I completely understand with PSU. It’s such a tough situation. But the NFL games promise to be as awesome and exciting as always! Have a GREAT birthday and anniversary weekend. I’m so excited to hear more about both!

    • I understand completely. I could really go for another round right about NOW! 🙂

  2. Hope AZ was fun. I am LOVING those cupcakes. Off the top of my head, mine would include: The Secret Garden, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, To Kill a Mockingbird, Trinity, Gone with the Wind, Zorro, Les Miserables, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, The Little Princess, Sarah’s Key, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Great Expectations, and to make it a true baker’s dozen – The Babysitters Club. 😉 Requested Giffin’s latest from the library.

    • I love your book list! Many of those would be in my baker’s dozen, too. 😉 We’ll have to book review Emily Giffin’s work when we do The House I Loved!

  3. So glad to hear that you’re feeling a bit better!
    Those cupcakes are too cute–I would have such a hard time choosing which books to decorate with though!

  4. Hmmm…can I do two dozen book cupcakes? haha. To Kill a Mockingbird would be on my list too. I’d also include The Giver, A Woman of Independent Means, The Kite Runner, Pride and Prejudice, Brave New World, Ishmael, The Poisonwood Bible, The End of the Affair, What Is the What, The Great Gatsby, and The Giving Tree. Oh, and for my baker’s dozen… umm… 50 Shades? NOT. haha. 🙂

    • Those are all great choices! Some of them are new to me, so you’ve inspired me to add them to my ever-growing list of books to read. Everything but 50 Shades that is, haha. 🙂

  5. I want those cupcakes!!!! I am such a book nerd (reading = love and happiness), and I have no idea what books I would choose as the decorations (Harry Potter would definitely be there though 🙂 ).

    • I couldn’t agree more with your equation on reading! Harry Potter would definitely be in my top dozen, too. 🙂

  6. LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE that towel!!! haha i love the ‘if you give a moose a muffin’ book! this is the best towel i’ve ever seen! i can’t wait to hear how the book is because i’ve heard grea tthings about it! xoxo

    • Ooooh I love that book, too! And I will definitely give you a review of Emily Giffin, especially since we have similar (good) taste in reads. 😉

    • I found myself looking for pumpkin beer at the grocery store today, haha! Not quite as healthy as winter squash, but definitely a sign that I’m ready for fall. 🙂

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