A bubbly visitor added an element of fun to our weekend!
My friend Ashley arrived in town on Saturday! Ryan and I spent as much time as we could with one of my very best friends from college and were thrilled to have her back in Charlotte! Ashley has now been here three times since we moved (once in the fall before Kaitlyn and Kailon’s wedding and again in February) and I told her my personal goal is to get her here for every season. We’re on track so far! We just need a summertime visit to round out the year!
Friday
On Friday night, Ryan and I laid low and grabbed Thai food at a new local restaurant, Thai-Sushi 101, in Huntersville. We split the Tom Kha Gai soup which may be one of my favorite soups ever.
I cannot get enough of the creamy coconut broth and bright lemongrass flavors.
For my entrée, I selected the duck lettuce wraps and had no problem clearing my plate.
I also helped Ryan with his Pad Thai since his portion was rather large. We both really liked everything and will definitely return in the future!
Saturday
On Saturday, our day began with a workout (Pure Barre for me and a gym workout for Ryan) and then we met up back at home to take Sadie on a two-mile walk before lunch. We spent most of the day working around the house before it was time to head to the airport to pick up Ashley!
Right before we left, I had Ryan snap a quick bump pic for my upcoming 21-week update and we both agreed I am definitely looking more and more pregnant!
I also managed to get myself out of leggings – a pregnancy miracle for me! – and into a pair of James boyfriend maternity jeans that I bought on sale from Nordstrom Rack. I was surprised by just how comfy they were and may have a hard time returning to regular jeans after our baby is born…
Oh! And I spent a little extra time curling my hair on Saturday and followed a YouTube tutorial from Amber Fillerup, an apparently crazy-popular woman I randomly started following on Instagram because I loved all of her whimsical braid pictures. Her hair is gorgeous. I almost singed off four fingers in the process of following her tutorial, but I liked some of her tips for looser/softer waves like rubbing your curls between your fingertips rather than brushing them out.
Anyway, once Ashley landed, we scooped her up and immediately drove to dinner at Smoke, a modern barbeque hotspot in Birkdale village that we visited for the first time a couple of weeks ago when Ryan’s cousin was in town. (My friend Kristen and I actually ate lunch there last week, too, so you know I’m quite a fan!)
Ashley and I both ordered the barbeque chicken salad (I am seriously in love with it!), but the appetizers we shared with Ryan were definitely something to write home about!
We split the bacon-wrapped shrimp and the burnt ends mac and cheese and gave them both rave reviews.
After dinner, the three of us headed home and Sadie almost peed herself with excitement when Ashley walked through the door! We opted for a night in on the couch in our pajamas and I loved every second of it!
Sunday
On Sunday morning, the three of us woke up rather early and, at Ashley’s request, returned to Toast in Davidson for brunch! Ashley is a great dining buddy because though we both wanted eggs for breakfast, we had a craving for French toast as well and split it as a side in addition to our eggs.
The more dishes I get to try during a meal out, the happier I am!
After brunch, Ashley and I headed out on a 4+ mile walk with Sadie because the weather was beautiful! It was definitely chilly, but the sun was shining and a jacket and scarf kept us plenty warm.
Once we returned home, Ryan, Ashley and I drove to the hotel where Ashley is staying for the next couple of days (she planned a conference in Charlotte which is what brought her here in the first place) and spent a few hours in the hotel bar, eating lunch and watching the Louisville/Michigan State game.
I ordered a hot turkey club with onion rings and, yet again, had no problem polishing off every bite.
Yum!
Ryan and I eventually hugged Ashley goodbye when she had to get everything ready for her conference registration and drove back home for a hot second before it was time to head back out. Ryan had a 6 p.m. soccer game on the agenda and I had plans to meet up with my friend Chandra to watch since her husband Kevin is on the same team.
Unfortunately, about 15 minutes into the game, Ryan really hurt his knee. I felt so bad for him and am hoping he’ll get some answers about what happened during his doctor’s appointment today. Poor guy!
We made it back home a little before 8 p.m. and ate dinner on the couch while Ryan iced his knee and got in bed nice and early which was fabulous.
And now we’re all caught up. I hope you had a great weekend!
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Pretty sure all those food pictures left me drooling….yum!
How did you know what size to order in the jeans? Did you just order your pre-pregnancy size? I wear a 27 normally, so would I want to order a 27 in the maternity jeans?
yes!! i just ordered my same pre-pregnancy size and that worked well! but these were boyfriend jeans so they’re a little more forgiving than skinny jeans. i ordered my pre-pregnancy size in their skinny jeans, too, and returned them because i just found them to be a little too tight!
Hope his knee feels better soon!!! And yes, you are looking super cute!!! Yay for girlfriend time 🙂 Glad you got to enjoy some special time with a special friend!
Wow…all that food looks so good! I could go for any of that right now 🙂 Tom Kha Gai soup is my absolute favorite as well- anytime I’m at a Thai restaurant I have to get it. I tried to make it at home and it doesn’t taste the same at all! I wish I knew the secret. I hope Ryan’s knee is alright! Knee injuries are no fun.
same here! still trying to find a great recipe for that soup to make at home!
Ouch sorry to hear about Ryan in pain! 🙁
What a delicious weekend though! So glad you got to enjoy it with your girlfriend!
Looks like an awesome weekend! All that food is making me hungry even though it’s only 10 am here. Probably time for breakfast part 2!
When I curl my hair I always use my fingers bc a brush would totally ruin in and turn me into some kind of lion.
I love Basil Thai in downtown Charlotte! I’ll have to try Thai-Sushi 101 next. So sorry about Ryan’s knee, hopefully he’s okay. You rock that belly, looking great!!
basil is our FAVORITE!!!!!! we went there two weeks ago. 🙂 so good! thai-sushi 101 is a good cheaper option. 🙂
Laughed outloud during your description of curling your hair! I hope Ryan’s knee feels better.
I’m visiting the Charlotte area in June and then moving up there for grad school in August from SoFla. I can’t wait to try some of these places you’ve been showing !
Julie! Your baby bump is adorable! Show it off, girl. : )
that mac n cheese looks insane! hope ryan’s knee is ok.
Now I’m just craving Thai food! LOVE the baby bump, you’re adorable!!!
Visits from friends are always wonderful! And poor Ryan. My husband hurt his knee a while back and hasn’t been able to return to the soccer field, which he really misses. Hope everything is okay with Ryan!
ryan tweaked his knee about three weeks ago and stayed away from the soccer field since then. i feel so bad that during his first game back he’s totally sidelined. he has a doctor’s appointment this afternoon and i really hope he gets good news but he could barely walk this morning. :/
Popped over to your blog to get caught up before meeting co-workers for lunch and all those food pictures are making my tummy growl!! Everything looks so yummy 🙂
I am now officially STARVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You ate SO WELL this weekend! 🙂 And you just look so beautiful! you really are glowing!
What a fun weekend! So much delicious food! Hope Ryan’s knee turns out okay!
i definitely wore maternity clothes post-baby!!! the stretch is AMAZING!!!!!!!!
Aw hope Ryan’s knee gets better soon!! also gonna go watch that hair tutorial ASAP… I am obsessed with learning how to curl my hair haha
me too!!! i love learning new ways!
Ah the baby bump is so cute! You are hands down one of the cutest mommas-to-be! By the way I was seriously salivating at all of the yummy goodness you had this weekend!
A weekend of awesome food! And your positively glowing…a legit little tidy bump now 🙂
Thanks for linking to the hair curling guru – I need some tips! Do you happen to have any suggestions for making hair grow faster, by the way? I lopped off 10 inches a few months ago, and it’s taking FOREVER to grow.
I love that your cute bump is getting bigger! You look amazing! I love Pad Thai, you have me craving it now 🙂 All of your food from the weekend looks delicious!
Looks like you guys had some seriously delicious food this weekend. It’s always fun to share favorite restaurants with friends when they’re visiting.
You are looking adorable in that bump photo! I am hopping over to check out that tutorial now! Looks like you had a great weekend. Isn’t it the best when friends come into town!
Oh no!!! I hope Ryans knee is okay 🙁 P.S.
Wish Ryan luck at his appointment and I’ll say a prayer for him to not be his ACL. That is an awful injury to have. Your little boy is definitely starting to show now, so much bigger in the last couple of weeks – more real baby and less food baby
Yummm, all your eats from this weekend look amazing! I hope Ryan’s knee feels better! Knee injuries are always scary, even if they turn out to be nothing.
What an awesome way to spend the weekend! It looks like everything you had was so tasty!
The bump pic is great- you are looking more pregnant. Still adorable too! 😉
That sucks about Ryan’s knee! Hopefully it’s nothing serious.
I still wear some of my maternity Gap work pants and my son was born in November! hahaha I circulate them in my work wardrobe with my regular pants. My husband makes fun of me but I think he’s secretly jealous I get to wear comfy pants to work and get away with it!
BTW your food pics look amazing! I’m trying my hardest to move to the Charlotte area (we (husband, myself, son and doggie) currently live in Boston) and your food pics make me want to move there even more. I hope some day we do!
There is something about the hotel bar that is so fun. Your sandwich looks delish – drooling over the mac n cheese with burnt ends too!
I love Amber! Her blog is barefootblonde.com
Hope Ryan is ok!! I know you said he had a doc appt this morning, but I tore my ACL and meniscus in November and went to OrthoCarolina off Randolph and saw Roy Majors. He’s awesome and knows his stuff. Just by touching my leg he told me it was ACL while the first doc I saw said it was just a sprain. It was my choice on if I wanted surgery or not, but he reassured my decision that I had made because he wanted me to live the same kind of active life I had been before injury. And as an added bonus, my scars are minimal. Being new to the area I know it’s hard with doctors, so just wanted to give a name incase it is serious!
those maternity jeans are so cute!! hope they’re comfy!
Sounds like a great weekend! I love when friends come to town to visit – it gives me an excuse to try out new restaurants!
Looks like a fun weekend– I love when old friends come to visit! Love the baby bump pic. You look adorable! Good luck to Ryan with his knee, hope it’s nothig serious!!
Sounds like a fun weekend, expect for Ryan’s knee accident of course. Hope he’ll be fine! Your belly definitely shows pretty well! You know, ever since you mentioned about your craving for sparkling water, I can’t get it out of my head too (and I’m not pregnant), so yesterday we went for a little shopping and got us a soda streamer 🙂 Much easier!
Where did you get that scarf in the top picture? I love it!
J.Crew during their Black Friday sale!
I love my maternity pants — we only waited 7 months after my son before getting pregnant again, so I’ve had a great excuse to be wearing them for about two years now. I have to say though, now that I’ve finally had my son I’m looking forward to losing enough weight to occasionally wear something with buttons and zippers again!
Aww your bump is looking so cute! 🙂 Love your hair, too! Looks like a great weekend! Sorry to hear about Ryan’s leg 🙁 hope all goes well at the doc appointment!!
I am sorry Ryan hurt his knee. 🙁 Your food this weekend looked yummy.
omgggg the strawberry-cream-cheese -stuffed French Toast at Toast is my all-time favorite thing ever. So good. It’s our go-to brunch spot 🙂
I am 23 years old and I used to read your blog every single day for a couple years. I lived in Arizona and found so much joy in reading about all your adventures and food posts. The last year of my life has been very tough because I went through a bad breakup and I haven’t read your blog posts in over a year. Now I am in a great loving relationship and happy and living in Huntersville, NC. I just found your blog again today because I was bored at work and about passed out when I saw that you guys live so close me! I actually live at Birkdale and have never tried Smoke, that mac n cheese looks AMAZING!! I know where our next date night stop will be! 🙂 So happy that you are still blogging daily!
-Lauren
Aw so fun!! Looove Birkdale!
Julie! Just checked back into your blog after a little hiatus and major congrats on your beautiful baby bump!! <3
I'm currently on baby #2 myself at 14 weeks and am all about staying fit, healthy, and active throughtout my pregnancy just like you!! : ) If you want some new workout inspiration, check out GlowBodyPT on YouTube for some pregnancy fitness videos that I'm making for each trimester! Keep it up, Mommy, this will all be SO worth it for your labor and once baby has arrived!!