One of the best parts about my job is that I get to make my own schedule. Yesterday, this meant I woke up super early, busted out some work, and then took the rest of the day off to enjoy it. It was a fabulous Friday indeed!
Breakfast
I started my day with a toasted gluten-free English muffin with Teddie peanut butter and banana slices on top. I also drank half of a glass of decaf iced coffee with almond milk.
I only drank half of a glass of iced coffee because I had a Starbucks date with Kerrie a few hours later. The two of us have barely seen each other over the past few weeks, so we made a date to catch up. Kerrie also had a couple of Pinterest questions, so I offered to help her out.
At Starbucks, I ordered the Hazelnut Macchiato that I saw there the other day. It was delicious and not too sweet. I highly recommend it!
Lunch
After hanging out with Kerrie, I headed home and reheated some Mexican Hash Egg Bake leftovers for lunch. MmmāĀ¦ love this meal.
After I ate lunch, I headed out to run some errands. Kerrie mentioned that Ocean State Job Lot has some really great deals, so I decided to check it out.
Kerrie was right! I stocked up on all sorts of nuts, tail mix, and gluten-free products (crackers, rice cakes).
Coffee!
Bob’s Red Mill goodies!
And my favorite face wash. I’ve never seen it so cheap! Big win at Ocean State Job Lot yesterday!
I also saw this Snuggie for Dogs yesterday, but I didn’t end up buying it for Murphy.
After spending a crapload of money at Ocean State, I went to get a massage. I bought a Groupon and booked the appointment months ago, but then totally forgot about it until I received a reminder email on Thursday morning. I’m not going to lie, it was quite a nice surprise receiving that email. Massage on Friday? Yes, please! Unfortunately, the massage wasn’t great, but, as I told Mal, it was like pizza and sex. Even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good.
Snack
I was hungry when I got home from my massage, so I made a carrot cake rice cake with cinnamon cream cheese from The Laughing Cow, raisins, walnuts, and grated carrot. It was so good, I immediately made a second one. Yum! Great snack!
Dinner
After that, I showered and prettied myself for a date night with Mal. One of our goals for 2013 was to have a monthly date night together, so he made us a reservation for Steel & Rye last night. (We skipped February’s date night and counted our trip to Oahu as a week-long date night.)
Steel & Rye was amazing! Seriously. Mal and I absolutely loved it.
It was gorgeous inside and the food was excellent. We’ll definitely be back! (If you look closely in the photo below, Deval Patrick is sitting at a table toward the back of the restaurant on the left. Cool!)
Mal and I arrived about an hour before our reservation and grabbed a drink at the bar. We spent the majority of our time brainstorming ideas for our annual party!
Then, we headed to our table for dinner.
We started with the Raclette (we love cheese), which was potatoes served with braised bacon, cornichons, caramelized onions, and covered in melt-y Raclette. Oh my goodness, it was amazing.
For my entrĆĀ©e, I ordered the Colorado Lamb Meatballs, which were served with a hen egg, Greek yogurt, and pine nuts. It was actually an appetizer from the menu, but after filling up on Raclette, it was the perfect size portion.
I also had a bite of Mal’s steak, which was insanely flavorful and cooked to perfection. Mal loved his meal so much, he even snapped a photo of it for the blog!
And, of course, no meal is complete without dessert. Mal and I shared the Dulce de Leche Cake, which was served with toasted coconut sorbet and caramelized pineapple. Mmm! It reminded of us of Hawaii!
All in all, it was a fabulous Friday!
Question of the Day
Even when it’s bad, what’s still pretty good?
67 Comments
Chocolate! I love the expensive stuff, but I also love Hershey’s. LOL
Date night looks like it was filled with good food. That place reminds me of aldi but with real brands. I think ice cream is almost always good.
I need to find discount Bob’s Red Mill stuff around here – I’m jealous! That dog snuggie is cracking me up!!
i’m convinced everything tastes better served out of little skillets
I’m a long time Rhode Islander that LOVES Job Lot…you’re the first person I’ve ever heard refer to it as Ocean State and not Job Lot….maybe everyone out of RI calls it Ocean State?
I think so. I’ve only ever heard people call it Ocean State.
Love your blog, but I don’t comment often. We moved to Seattle 6 months ago and when the pizza is bad, it is really bad. We have tried about 10 pizza shops from Mom and Pop places to chains to restaurants and there is no good pizza here. I have started making my own which is cheaper and better than anything we can get here.
Bethany, I’ve lived in Seattle my whole life and I swear they’re not all bad! Try Via Tribunali or Paggliaci. Delish.
@Sorayya: Thanks for the recomendations. We have been to 3 Paggliaci’s and it is ok not saucy or doughy enough. We are looking for real NY style pizza and have not found it. I will give Via Tribunali a try.
I was at Steel & rye on Thursday and was blown away with the food and gorgeous decor!
Amazing, right?!? It’s definitely a new favorite for me!
Bad sex is just bad. No other way to spin it!
Even when I drink coffee that doesn’t have a nice taste, it’s still good. I love coffee. Yepp, the hazelnut machhiato is yummay!
ALL THAT FOOD looks divine! I’m drooling! (not really) But still! yumm.
I love Bob Red Mill’s stuff although it can be kind of pricy! Dinner looks great..what a good friday. I still need to get me some teddie’s too, ive been meaning to order some online!
Absolutely love the dog snuggie!
Chocolate is always edible!
bread. I work at a restaurant and after a shift is over the bread is all dried out. but i still eat it-cant help myself. hahaa
Pistachios! I love the Psy commercials for them HAHA too funny!
Your pizza and sex comment cracked me up! And I agree with chocolate and bread…even if its bad its still pretty good!
I also loved your pizza and sex comment haha. Granted, I have had some crappy pizza before, so I can’t 100% agree. I think icing is almost always a hit with me š
Ditto on the icing! š
Running! Even when I feel like crap and even if I cut my run short I never ever regret going running, and I always feel better afterwards š
I love Ocean State – just beware of the nuts – I’ve gotten some bags that are great, some that are rancid!
Eww, thanks for the tip. I’ll keep a look out!
I love that quote! Sent it over to my bf š
I also love that Mal snapped a pic of his meal!
Hey Tina!
Question: are you then, able to eat cheese? I just read It Starts With Food and it reads that cheese is an irritant for gut health…I have a sensitive stomach myself and am trying to figure it out, but reccomend cutting it after reading that book and its implications for someone with gut issues like us!
Yep! š
Ice cream!!! I will eat almost any ice cream… Even if its not great. š
Fun evening! Chocolate. Chocolate in every single way š
I love groupon! I have never bought a massage on there but am always tempted. I grabbed the starbucks deal the other day though!
My mom’s cooking!
Great deals! I would have totally stocked up.
I love how you described massages š I agree with others that chocolate definitely fits into that category too.
Hot yoga. Definitely hot yoga.
Steel & Rye looks awesome! Definitely going to try it out soon, so glad you reviewed it here š
Tina I just wanted to say you look so beautiful!!
Aww, thank you! š
That food looks delicious! The lamb meatballs sound especially good.
Like many people, chocolate ranges from amazing to pretty good for me. Never bad!
I agree with the person who said chocolate. š And I love all of the pics from your dinner. Looks like a really cool place!
Oh my god you so should have gotten the snuggie! So cute! My little westie would love one of them š Hope you stocked up on almond meal…bob’s is the best!
Even when a pedicure is bad, it’s still pretty good! I got one this afternoon, and though it wasn’t *great*, I enjoyed it–have to keep the toes pretty. š
Reality TV – even when its bad, its great! Lol. Totally a guilty pleasure. Not going to lie – anything potato based and covered in cheese sounds like heaven to me!
haha, I agree on the pizza and sex!
def chocolate! and coffee!
Pizza! I don’t think I’ve ever had a piece of pizza that was too gross to finish.
Haha! Ditto!
I agree with the pizza–oh and ice cream too. š
That was definitely a fabulous Friday. And thanks for sharing the “carrot cake” rice cake treat. I never would have thought of that, but I bet I would love it.
I don’t know what I am more jealous of-your delicious dinner or the deals you found at Ocean State! Amazing.
I’m not sure I’ve turned down much in the food department. I love to eat!
Yum that carrot cake rice snack you made looks great! They only have original flavour laughing cow cheese here in Australia, otherwise I’d be making it in an instant.
Love that they have snuggies for dogs that picture of the dog in it is so cute!
That place sounds so cool! I wish there was an Ocean State by my house!
That food looks absolutely amazing!
Even when they are a bit “bad,” both cake and ice cream are almost ALWAYS good!!
I love the carrot cake rice cake idea. I love topping my rice cakes with Laughing Cow cheese wedges and jam, but would never think to top them with the cinnamon wedges and add carrot cake ingredients. Awesome idea! š
A bad run is still a good experience!
I think a workout is good, even when it’s bad. As for pizza, you must be lucky because I’ve had some this.is.disgusting ones š
All those foods above really looking Yum Yum !! Whats the name of your breakfast ? that looks very tasty and the banana pieces making it more tasty š
Oooh I didn’t know about Hazelnut Macchiatos… I’ll definitely have to try one!
I’d say any dessert. I rarely leave dessert behind even if it’s just “eh.”
Mmmmmmm what a delcious looking meal! My hubs and I are starting a once a month date night too. It’s been tough with the baby but so nice getting away and being together during that time!
I LOVE Steel & Rye. They had this amazing sweet potato soup when I went. Can’t wait to go back!
I wanted to get that after seeing it on the menu online, but they changed it to a regular potato soup. I hope they bring it back!