This morning I woke up determined to get in a quick workout before attending a special brunch with my family.
Around 8:40 a.m., my sister and I drove to the gym to sweat it out for 30 minutes.
Our workout included one round of my favorite cardio circuit before doing a fast 20-minute workout on the treadmill that looked like this:
| Minutes | Incline | Pace |
| 0-5 | 1.0 | 6.8 |
| 5-15 | 2.0 | 9.0 for 20 sec., 4.5 for 40 sec. |
| 15-20 | 8.0 | 4.5 |
I wish I could’ve spent a little more time at the gym, but we had to rush to shower if we were going to make it to brunch at 10 a.m. Still, this quick 30 minute cardio session got my heart rate up and had me sweatin’!
Fancy Brunch
After a quick shower at the gym, my sister and I met my parents and their friends at the Renaissance Vinoy (where we held our wedding!) for a fancy brunch.
Brunch is the best… But fancy brunches are even better!
I’ve only been to a fancy brunch one other time in my life on my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary, so when one of my dad’s friends and his wife invited my family to Sunday Brunch at the Vinoy, I couldn’t wait to go!
This brunch is one of those amazing brunches where there is all-you-can-eat gourmet food.
The various stations held a variety of amazing foods including croissants and bagels with lox…
Fresh fruit including mango, papaya, pomegranate and strawberries the size of my hand…
A full tapas station with artichokes, grilled vegetables, marinated olives, duck quesadillas and more…
Sausage and bacon…
A carving station with prime rib, specialty soups and eggplant parmesan…
Coconut-crusted sea bass and grouper with mango salsa…
The most amazing display of crab legs and crab claws, oysters and shrimp (hand’s down, my favorite station)…
An omelet station and cheese bar went unphotographed, but I couldn’t let the amazing display of desserts go undocumented.
I filled my plate with bites from nearly every station. 
My favorite items from my first plate included the crab claws and the eggplant parmesan.
I went back for another plate of samplers. 
Those two little round things on the skewer are actually mini glazed doughnuts. I probably had seven doughnut skewers throughout the brunch. They were so, so good!
We chatted away for a while and let about 30 minutes pass between brunch and our dessert course.
We decided to each fill our plates with the sweets and share. I ended up eating all of my fruit topped with the most amazing cream and half of the Three Musketeers cupcake I snagged (but all of the icing). 
My dad and I also split a fantastic red velvet cupcake and I had half of a piece of a light and fluffy coconut cake.
By the time we left I was stuffed. I almost needed to be rolled outta there!
We arrived home to a dog who wanted some lovin’. 
We all took turns showering her in hugs and kisses. 
Then I headed into my room to pack my bags. I got word from Ryan that his cruise had docked and he was waiting for me and Sadie in Orlando.
We made it to Orlando in less than two hours and arrived home to hugs and kisses from our favorite guy! Though I was sad about leaving my parents and sister, it feels great to have our little trio reunited again.
Off to spend some time with Ryan. I missed him so much!
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wow that looks like the best brunch EVER! the fruit displays look fabulous
One year you guys should go with your mom to the Mother’s Day Brunch at the Vinoy~it’s amazing!!
Too much good food!!!
Wherever that brunch place is, I want to move in.
oh my gosh – brunch is my FAVE thing in the entire world! i have never seen such an amazing spread though. crab claw!? yes please!! wow – you lucky thing!
glad you’re all back together again 🙂
Holy smokes! That brunch looks insane! Especially the mini-glazed doughnuts! 🙂
Brunch looks great!! Sadie and her adorablness makes me go awww every time. She is such a cutie!
The brunch looks so fantastic! I love fancy smancy brunches
that brunch looks amazing!!! Especially that red velvet cupcake!! YUM!
Wowww all you can eat seafood and dessert and all the other food…it all looks so amazing! I have zero self control in situations like that 🙂
Those desserts look amazing, especially the coconut cake! I’d have to sample a whole bunch of them too. 🙂
Ahhhhh dessert buffets are my biggest downfall. The inside of that 3 Musketeers cupcake is pretty much the best thing I’ve ever seen…
Wow that brunch looks delish! Especially the three musketeers cupcake! that’s my favorite candy bar!
I am soo jealous of that brunch! The cakes look amazing…ooh those cupcakes…mmm….
How fun! And the food looks delicious!!!
I LOVE fancy brunches although I’ve never been to one with such an amazing dessert station! I went to one at the Gaylord Palms a few years back when I wasn’t a ‘foodie’ and I seriously regret only eating pancakes, eggs, and bacon! What was the chocolate ball on the top of your cupcake?
it was a GIGANTIC chocolate malted milk ball.
that cupcake is no joke.
Wow! That brunch looked amazing! Brunches are one of my favorite meals because you can typically eat more since you’re combining both breakfast and lunch : ) The coconut cake looked like it would’ve been my fave. I heart coconut.
Glad you had a fun time with family and hope you are enjoying yourself back at home with your hubby and puppy. Happy (almost) Monday!
Ahh that brunch looks amazing! What a fun weekend.
oh man what a brunch! yum!
Ohmygosh, that brunch looks amazing! And I’m with you on eating all of the icing…it’s the best part of a cupcake! 🙂
WOW!!!! That food looks AMAZING! I’m hungry now and I have to go to bed.
I love brunch. It is like the best of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every meal should be brunch.
I love fancy brunches like that!! I always end up leaving way too full, but love every single bite 😀
Ah, fancy brunches are THE BEST!!!! What a feast! 🙂 Glad you got home safely.
That brunch is bananas!! So much good food!!
Oh my goodness, everything looks delicious. I love how they used the barrels to decorate, and those cupcakes… yummmm! 🙂
Whoa, that brunch looks AMAZING! I would have had to be rolled out too…:)
Ahh that brunch looks like it’s to-die for… was there a special occasion for this brunch!? It seems so elegant!!
no! can you believe the vinoy holds this brunch EVERY sunday? it was amazing.
All the food looked great BUT the dessert bar! Wow…I think it’s worth it for whatever they charge just for the dessert alone 🙂
I love going to brunch! It is my favortie ever! It looks like you guys had an amazing time!
I agree I love a fancy brunch! I love that you aren’t shy to load up your plate…a girl after my own heart! although I probably wouldn’t have shared my desserts, haha 🙂
I’m a shellfish girl myself <3
That brunch makes my breakfasts look LAME! I would like to sit there all day and enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert! Looks so good.
I haven’t had a “quick” gym session in forever but it’d actually be kind of nice. I usually get wrapped up in things and stay there for at least an hour though. But at least you were able to get something in!
WOW, yumm! Lucky you to have such a fabulous brunch- and with great company, eh? Glad you got back safe!
That brunch is unbelievable! They sure had a variety! Thanks for sharing the pics with us!
Stumbled upon your blog and I really enjoy it! We have very similar interests…running and peanut butter!
what an awesome kick-butt workout!! and a freakin yummy brunch!!!! that mountain of frosting is calling mee!
Oh my goodness, that looks so delicious! Definitely the best brunch ever ♥
Wow, that brunch looks amazing! Those desserts have my mouth watering!
That brunch looks SO incredible! I need to go there asap! Haha! What a great selection of foods and desserts. Yummy! 🙂
Ooouuuh, MY!!!!
Looks like a brunch made and served in 7th Heaven.
Perfection 🙂
Even though I dread mondays with going back to work and leaving my kiddos, I do love getting back into a routine (especially with healthy eats)! I too ate way too much this weekend celebrating the hubby’s birthday with cake and icecream. I can’t even count how many pieces or servings I had. 🙁 time to detox with lots of fruits and veggies!!
wow! Wherever that brunch is im taking up shop!