Monday, February 23, 2015

winter blues but weekend fun

I'm finally at the point where I'm so sick of winter that I'm practically climbing the walls.
We're still having the bitter cold here ~ it's -9F here this morning. I was looking at some
of my Instagram photos from last spring where the trees were budding, Brian was grilling
outside, and the patio furniture was uncovered and actually being used. I am so longing 
for that again. And yesterday, my throat started getting sore and scratchy and I knew
what was coming. I immediately started taking Allibiotic (natural herbal supplement for
 immune system strength) and drinking herbal tea with fresh lemon and raw honey. Frankly,
I'm peeved at my body for being sick again since I normally take good care of myself: I
eat very healthy, I exercise, practice yoga, and take herbal supplements. I also wash my
hands immediately when I get home from being out in public. So, what gives? I was joking
with my mom this morning and told her I was going to start eating Hostess Ho Hos and 
Doritoes again. (Totally kidding - I stay away from stuff like that.)
 
We did get a chance to escape for awhile on Saturday. Brian had the day off (a rarity on
a weekend) and we first headed to a library book sale. This stack of books and CDs
are all Brian's except for the Apartment Therapy book, which has wonderful design ideas
for small spaces (not just apartments). I've always been a fan of their website. I'll eventually
read the "Dearie" book as I'm a Julia Child fan and have several other books by her and
about her.


 This stack of novels is mine. Before I bought them, I quickly scanned them on my phone
on the amazon app to look up the ratings and reviews. If a book has anything less than
4-5 stars, I don't buy it. We got all these books (and thetwo CDs) for $22 ~ less than the
 price of one hardcover book these days!


 Our tummies were then signaling it was time for lunch and we found this small, quiet
Argentinian place nearby.


 I had a cheese and scallion stuffed empanada with tomato bisque soup and a
lovely mixed greens salad with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. 


 Brian (the seafood lover) had a shrimp wrap, clam chowder soup, and salad.
The food was absolutely amazing. Everything at this place is homemade - even the
pasta. And so reasonably priced. Our lunch bill was less than what we would've paid
 at Panera! (And much tastier and not mass-manufactured food.)


After lunch, we went to Mariano's to pick up some groceries. It's definitely not one of those
grocery stores where you can run in and out. It has a cafe, a huge salad bar, impressive
wine and artisan cheese sections, and aisle upon aisle of every ethnic food you can think
of. This was a sampling of their olive oil selection. You can see all the different country's 
flags in the background. Maybe because I'm such a foodie, but I find it thrilling to walk up
and down all these aisles, looking at all the unfamiliar-to-me foods.


I'd never seen such a diverse selection of organic chocolates. How could you ever
choose? I'd like one of each, please.


I hope that your weekend was filled with some of the things that delight you, too. 

 

28 comments:

  1. Glad you and Brian got to share a Sunday together? Looks like both of you found some great books. The Argentinian restaurant looks so nice...and I love trying out new restaurants. I also love Mariano's and one opened by us about 4 months ago, Chaz and I ate our late lunch there last Friday. They have a great fish bar on fridays'. I'm with ya, been climbing the wall myself.

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    1. I love trying out new restaurants, too, especially when it's foreign food. I'm past climbing the walls now...I'm on the roof!

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  2. Now I want an empanada! No chance of that, since I'm not going to the store today lol

    I'm glad you were able to get out of the house and had a good time. I would have been in that store for hours ;)

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    1. I love empanadas and they had several different kinds. We definitely will be going back to this restaurant and I'll try a different kind. You could easily spend several hours in Marianos, just looking at everything, especially if you walk up and down almost every aisle - which we did!

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  3. I think cabin fever is happening to many right now. I know I have it. I did get out on Sunday after 8 new inches of snow. I also went to the store today in the cold.
    I don't think you can avoid germs. I think just having the heat on so much and it being dry makes it worse.
    I hope you can wish the germs away and enjoy reading all those books.

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    1. I haven't been out of the house in a week except to go to the doctor, so I'm going a little bit nuts. ;-) There's only so much reading one can do without getting bored with that, too - and I'm not much of a TV watcher.

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  4. Glad you had a good weekend. We're on our second day in a row of continuous snow but at least our temps are't near as low as yours. Hope you get to feeling better real soon.

    Judy

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  5. I'm glad you've been able to have fun even though it's so cold there. The books look great. I like Apartment Therapy too. I've been reading them for years as well, so long I don't even remember when I started! Your meals look delicious. We went out for lunch yesterday and it was just so NICE to be out of the house and eating something different for a change, you know? We don't do it often so it really feels like a major treat when we do. I hope you have a great week and stay healthy!

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    1. I know what you mean about it feeling like a treat when you finally get to go out and enjoy a meal that someone else has prepared!

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  6. I'm sick of the snow and cold too. Doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. I'm glad you two had some fun!
    Brenda

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    1. Snow and cold are still lingering here, too.

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  7. I so hope you are not sick - so many bloggers seem to be coming down with colds now.
    What a fabulous selection of books for such a low cost - you two made out so well.

    Argentinian food is so good - the best veggie quiche I've ever tasted was in a little cafe in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego before embarking the expedition ship for Antarctica. Panera is not as good as it used to be and the prices keep going up! We seem to just get bagels there now, nothing else.

    Take care - be well.
    Hugs - Mary

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    1. Well, I'm replying to your comment a week later and yes, I am sick. Oh well, this too shall pass. How I wish I were able to travel like you do, Mary! I agree about Panera. We never even eat there anymore. Their food isn't as healthy as people think it is, anyway and is loaded with sodium.

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  8. This looks like a wonderful day, Melanie...hope you are feeling better SOON! xo

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  9. What a nice way to chase the winter blues away, if only temporarily.

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    1. We need more of those temporary chasing the winter blues away days, don't we?

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  10. Melanie, I always enjoy following you around when you take us on these little getaways, whether it's to another town, bookstore, or restaurant! Those dishes look so delicious; (I'll have what your hubby's having - love seafood!). I hope you enjoy your books - better to bury yourself in a novel than in the snow!

    Poppy

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    1. Glad to hear that you enjoy hearing about my little getaways - thank you, Poppy.

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  11. Great buy on your books! I am so with you about the bugs, I have yet another cold - as in about the 10th one now!!!! - and am fed up with it. My throat feels as though someone is shoving a wire brush up and down - aghh!! Anyway, at least I am well enough to moan! I do hope that you don't get any more bugs, and that winter will soon be at the end!!! xx

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    1. I hear you on the throat thing, Amy - mine feels the same way. Here's hoping to a healthy spring for both of us!

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  12. It looks like you have lots of reading to get you through until Spring actually gets here. One of the best things about living in or near a big city is all the different restaurants and all the quirky little shops and nooks and cranks all about you. It must be fun, just getting out and exporting your communities. Thanks for letting us tag along:)
    Connie :)

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    1. Even though I always say I'd love to live out in the middle of nowhere, I do enjoy the conveniences of so many different restaurants and cuisines and interesting shops. I'd really miss that.

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  13. Looks like you had a great day out! I'm looking forward to one of those, too. Beautiful and fun blog!

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    1. Thank you so much - and thank you for visiting!

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  14. Sure hope you're staying well, Melanie! Your lunch on Saturday looked sooo good for a cold wintry day.
    Mary Alice

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