I’ve been spending a lot of time with friends lately–summer just brings a lot of my favorite people to town!
My friend, Jena, and I had a sleepover on Sunday, and one of our favorite things to do together is make a huge mess in the kitchen (she’s extra good at that). On Sunday, we used beets from my garden and local spinach, goat cheese, olive oil, and vinegar for our creation. I always feel good when I do that!
There isn’t really a recipe for the salad, or the other things either. We just put what we had together—toasted the walnuts and roasted the beets. The dressing was a combination of Herbs de Provence olive oil and California Apricot balsamic (from F. Olivers).
I feel like I’m back on track (for life) at the moment. I have four classes going on, and most of my family/friends have left town. Not that I want them to be gone, but since I work a lot at home, it definitely impacts the amount of work I get done (I compromise on time a lot, and end up doing my paper grading at 4am).
I will have a fitness update and workout to post soon. Everything has been going great there—mostly it’s food that’s variable, right now I’m just working on shaking the feeling that I need to drink wine everyday (it’s so easy to get into that habit!), and eating like I normally do when I’m in my regular routine. I have three trips to take for the remainder of July (Jersey Shore, LA, and Dartmouth!)… so I am going to try and stay really focused on my food/fitness while traveling. I think I’m at a good place to do that (and not be/look crazy at the same time).
How is your July going so far? I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure where June went!
Any trips coming up?
Hey friend!!!! Good to hear from you! You know I LOOOOOVE beet and goats cheese together! My favorite combo!
We are headed to the shore this weekend. I can’t wait! Although, I hope no rain I just saw the forecast. I want ot build sand castles with Weezy!
Oh sounds like so much fun! That salad looks great too. I need to get beets again. I was just thinking about how good they would be on a salad today.
LOL…I’m good at making a mess in the kitchen too! I LOVE beets! I actually buy then canned too just to keep in stock for adding to salads. It is a great pair with walnuts, isn’t it?? No recipes sometime are the best recipes!
i’ll come make a mess in your kitchen for that anytime! 😉
lisa, i TOTALLY think this is the time of year to just embrace opportunities to be with friends, family, get out and about/be social. sorry you have to fit four courses worth of work into your schedule – eesh!
i have no trips coming up, but that is fine – i love summer in ontario because i love humidity. it is 42 here this week, with the humidex and i say bring it on! as you know, i wish i could live in florida!
my july is going great, so far…i have a feeling it is going to go too fast!
so happy for you that you have more travel coming up. very fun! i say drink wine every day, it is SUMMER!
I am in the wine everyday routine as well! It’s very easy to get into that habit but a couple of times this week I found myself ready to have wine with dinner even though I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it, it had just become a habit. I used to only have wine when I really wanted to ENJOY it and I loved it whenever I had it. Now I feel like it’s becoming less special! I want it to be special again and was thinking about trying to cut it off a few nights a week to see if that helps!
Your beet, cheese, and lettuce apps and salad look so to die for. Great idea to use the lettuce as a wrap! Mmm prosciutto!
haha- I love utilizing my parents house/ cabin. Your treats look good!
Dinner looks amazing! This is my favorite way to eat in the summer, with fresh, local ingredients combined in any way I feel like doing it that day! I agree, where did June go, lol?
Just wanted to let you know, I made your Chocolate PB Cups — they are amazing!!