Look who arrived in Charlotte yesterday!
My mom and dad swung by in the late afternoon and are planning to stay here with us through tomorrow morning. They decided to make a detour to our place on their way back to Jacksonville from Raleigh where they were visiting my grandma. Ryan and I are thrilled to have them as our guests again!
Yesterday
After beginning the day teaching spinning and working for an hour at the gym afterward, I headed to Sun Up Café for a lovely brunch date with my friends Tanya and Brittany where we chatted for a solid two hours. It was a great mid-day break and I enjoyed an awesome dose of girl time before heading back into work and coaching Girls On The Run later that afternoon. By the time I made it home, my parents were waiting for me and the three of us chatted in the backyard until Ryan arrived home and had fun watching Sadie run around sniffing everything.
The weather yesterday was incredible! No jackets needed! Ryan, my parents and I decided to go out for dinner in Birkdale Village and popped into eeZ, one of our favorite sushi hot spots. We were hopeful we could grab a table outside and enjoy the warmer temperatures and were quickly escorted to a table for four on the patio.
We began by sharing an order of the sweet and spicy Thai cucumbers and the tuna nachos. Though I couldn’t partake in the raw tuna, I made sure to do my part and filled my plate with the deliciously tangy cucumbers. They’re the best!
A flavorful bowl of coconut curry soup followed and it came out with two big pieces of tempura shrimp on the side – perfect for dipping!
For my main entrée, I figured I should take advantage of my current craving for fresh salads and ordered the beet salad.
Unfortunately it left a lot to be desired. I made a pretty good dent in it, but I was grateful Ryan ordered more than enough sushi for himself and had some of his tempura salmon and avocado roll leftover to share. Note to self: Stick to sushi next time!
While my dad and Ryan finished their drinks, we chatted outside for a while and just enjoyed such lovely evening weather. So many people were out and about last night and it really felt like spring!
Before driving home, Ryan suggested ice cream and I’ve never known my family to shy away from ice cream, so we walked to Ben & Jerry’s and each ordered a small cup.
I opted for a scoop of strawberry ice cream and a scoop of a new-to-me flavor: Speculoos!
I’ve been trying to find that flavor ever since I heard it came out a few months ago, so I had to give it a whirl! It was fabulous and I’m now on a mission to make them sell it in my local grocery stores.
Once we made it back to our place, we spent the rest of the night relaxing on the couch and I caught my first episode of The Voice this season. Lots of talented singers!
Now it’s time for me to head out and soak up some quality time with my parents. I am taking my dad to my gym with me to show him the ropes!
Have a great Wednesday!
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Have you ever tried Bluebell Ice Cream? It is made in Texas. They have the most amazing flavors! You have me craving ice cream…at 7am!
yes!!! I used to buy it all the time in Florida, but haven’t seen it here yet — i’ll keep my eye out! Their holiday flavors around Christmastime were always my favorite!
Love Blue Bell! I am about 30 min from the factory – it’s such a fun tour. Their Christmas Cookies ice cream is the BEST. It always sells out around here!
I’m in Spring!! We went for the 100 year celebration, loved it!!
I’m really sad I missed it! Fingers crossed they’ll do something for 110. 🙂
So fun! I love coconut curry soup, so that looks really good. I haven’t seen either of my parents since the holidays so now I’m really missing them!
Julie, I immediately thought of Trader Joe’s speculoos cookie butter when you mentioned your ice cream…have you ever tried it?! It’s one of my favorite things in the world. Now I have a serious craving for it, and I gave up sweets for Lent – gahhh!!!
Your parents are adorable. How fun to have them in town. Enjoy your time together!! 🙂
No, but I need to!!!
Where is your gold thumb ring from? I love it!
Thank you! I actually got it at Shine (a Christian women’s conference) earlier this year — it was just from a small local boutique that set up a little booth at the conference. Wish I could be of more help!
Silpada makes a similar one in silver – R3063 if you’re interested. You can view it here: http://www.mysilpada.com/brittany.lada
I love your thumb ring. It is so cute!
Silpada makes a similar one in silver – R3063 if you’re interested. You can view it here: http://www.mysilpada.com/brittany.lada
The Voice has some serious talent this year and I think it’s gonna be a tough season! I have a serious craving for some sushi now! 🙂
aw, i love getting ice cream with my family too! 🙂
I saw the Speculoos Ben & Jerry’s at the Target off of Sam Furr! They have a lot of flavors that I hadn’t tried before like Rockin’ Blondie & Peanut Butter World. I love eeZ! I haven’t been there in a while but I may have to convince my husband that we need a sushi date sans kids soon. Have a great time with your parents!
I love that you’re getting to spend time with your parents! Enjoy! That ice cream has me drooling!
Yay for family being in town. I never say no to ice cream either. yum.
It was in the 50s in Asheville yesterday and stayed so warm overnight that I got to walk around in the evening some without freezing. So nice.
Have a great time with your parents.
I’m loving this beautiful weather lately! Even though it rained all day yesterday, I didn’t even care because it was 50 degrees. Better than it being snow, right? Hope you enjoy your parents’ visit and happy Wednesday! 🙂
Is it Thursday yet?!?!?! 🙂
The weather in Michigan has been beautiful this week! High 40’s/mid-50’s with lots of sunshine. It’s nice being able to walk to class without bundling up for the freezing temps! 🙂
I’m looking out for that Ben & Jerry’s flavor, it looks delicious! I just tried Phish Food for the first time yesterday. Probably my new favorite!
It’s always such a good time when parents come to visit isn’t it?! Cute thumb ring btw!
Mmmmm ice cream after a great dinner is THE way to go! My family never turns it down either. We get it from my dad 😉
Love your thumb ring! And that ice cream looks amazing!
Whered u get that gold ring?!? I neeeeed it!!
it was 70 here yesterday too. i am so thrilled for the outdoor meal weather!
Speculoos is SOOOOO good. I tried it for the first time when I was living in Belgium and I have been in love ever since! Also– I love that gold thumb ring!
Love your scarf! And love quality time with family, those are some of the best days 🙂
If you really liked that ice cream you need to go to Trader Joes and get a jar of their cookie butter. I have a feeling you will love it. They also have it in ice cream. My son loved it!
Hi Juli!
there are cookies called Spekulatious in Germany around chrismas. They are realy good! All the best for you and the baby from germany
New to your blog, but hooked already! I was drawn in by your posts from a while back about WANDERLUST!<3 I'll be heading to the Stratton Mountain event in June and I could not be more excited. I also love your post on streamlining your morning routine, your outlook on health, exercise & food, and now your pregnancy journal. I'm Emily, nice to e-meet you 🙂
what a fun evening!! I have never heard of that ice cream flavor– leaves a lot up to the imagination!
I absolutely love your thumb ring. And the ice cream looks de-lish! 🙂
Those first days of Spring are the best! Everyone is in such good spirits and it feels so great to finally be outside again!
How fun! I wish it felt like spring right now – and now sushi sounds good Haha! Yum
Kim
http://trendkeeper.me .. Wedding Wednesday and how YOU can be featured!
Always a great treat to have your parents come and visit. I am driving home today for a very quick less than 24 hour trip to San Diego. I’m staying at my parents but I am going for an interview tomorrow. Fingers crossed I get it 🙂
Don’t take this the wrong way- but isn’t is weird to crave sushi when you’re pregnant and shouldn’t you stay away from it during pregnancy?
there is actually a lot of different kinds of sushi you can still eat when you’re pregnant — as long as you make sure it’s cooked and not RAW sushi! 🙂
Hi Juli,
there are cookies called Spekulatius in Germany around chrismas. They are very good. I tried some kind of spelulatiosspreed, but that was nor so good.
All the best for you and the baby from germeny
Your parents already look like happy grandparents and the baby hasn’t even arrived yet! hehehhe! Enjoy your time with them:)
Trader Joes has speculoos cheesecake!!! People go crazy for it!! I used it as my husband’s birthday cake this year, yum! Now I think it needs to be a coffee flavor…
Mmm, is ice cream acceptable for breakfast?
P.s. how do you get your hair wavy like that? I feel like you might have covered this on the blog before, so sorry if I missed it!
I just wrap it around the outside of a curling iron! 🙂 And then hairspray the heck out of it!!
your hair is so purdy!!
I craved sushi while pregnant and it was one of my first meals postpartum. Have you read the book “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy”? It addresses everything you think about while pregnant, but don’t have the nerve to ask out loud. Hilarious!
Your hair looks amazing in the photo with your parents; so much volume girl!
Have you heard of the new Ben & Jerry’s flavor called The Tonight Dough? It has Caramel & Chocolate Ice Creams with Chocolate Cookie Swirls & Gobs of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. It was inspired by Jimmy Fallon and obviously named after The Tonight Show. I have yet to get my hands on this yummy goodness, but once it is released in stores, I’m buying it ALL.
so fun that your parents are visiting! SO JEALOUS of your no jacket weather- ahhh that is amazing!!
That ice cream looks amazing! I just started watching the voice this season since there’s a student from my alma mater is on, but I regrt not watching it sooner! It’s a great show!
This may sound crazy but you actually can eat sushi while you are pregnant. My doctor (I am currently 16 weeks pregnant) recommended that I read Expecting Better by Emily Oster. It completely changed my thinking and nervousness about what I was eating/doing while pregnant. I feel more informed now and can make really smart decisions about my food choices that are backed by current research. The book goes deep into the research and debunks many false pregnancy recommendations that aren’t based on research and helps you make your own informed decision about what you feel is right for you and your baby. The day I finished the book, I went out and ate sushi (I just avoided the high mercury fish..tuna, etc)! It was delicious and I didn’t feel nervous or guilty at all. It’s a must read!
I think I will be 50 years old and still get super excited when my parents come to visit haha 🙂 I hope you enjoyed your time with them! & that ice cream sounds amazing!!!
Hey Julie – Saw this and thought of you: http://intothegloss.com/2015/03/diy-beauty-treatments-for-pregnancy/ I’m not pregnant, but can attest that Greek yogurt face masks are wonderful 🙂 Make sure you use full fat!
so cool! thanks!!
Oh ye looks like way too much beet that’s seen better days! Ice cream hopefully made up for it!
I love the thumb ring in the photo with your Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Do you mind sharing where it’s from?
I just bought a pint of B&J speculoos last night! The Food Lion in Dilworth sells it 🙂
Since you used to live in Chicago, did you ever have Jeni’s ice cream? It is out of this world. I have been eating the pistachio and honey flavor lately but I have to ration it because at $12 a pint it’s not something I can eat every day!!
I haven’t but now I’m sad! Sounds wonderful!
Aw, that’s great that your parents were able to stop by to spend some quality time with you guys!
And…beet salad? I love salad, but juicing beets kind of ruined them for me. 😉
Speculoos makes a COOKIE BUTTER that is to die for. (Trader Joes sells it for sure). It is a lot like Biscoff .
And Nestles Temptations makes a Speculoos Ice Cream too.
http://www.janedchua.com/2014/03/24/temptation-say-yes-nestle-temptations-dutch-speculoos/
enjoy … you are eating for two.
Ben and Jerry’s free free cone day is April 12th!
yessss!
Trader Joe’s has a Speculoos ice cream, in case you have a TJ’s nearby. Beware, it’s addicting, though.