Hey hey HEY!!
AND hapPEEy MONday! 😀
Sorry for the over exuberance this morning, but I’m still riding the high from this weekend! A weekend spent with some VERY lovely ladies and two of my dearest and closest BLENDS!
(Bloggers + Friends = BLENDS!)
Melissa came up from Memphis on Friday afternoon and then Sarah met up with us Saturday evening on her way back from Louisville where she was visiting another good blend, Brittany! We had SUCH a good time chatting, shopping, and of course, because we’re all die-hard foodies, EATING!
While the girls did their fair share of traveling to get to ME, I did my best to take them with me on a trip of my own! After hitting up Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods not minutes after Melissa arrived (are you really surprised?), we were both BEYOND ready for lunch! So where do I take a girl who shares my undying love of sushi?
Oh yeah, I couldn’t help but take her to my favorite the MECCA of sushi restaurants! While we chatted nonstop about everything from college life to blog life, we chopsticked our way through Japan one wasabi-topped sushi roll at a time!
Later that night, we met up with the man-friend and after a little huddle decided on some MORE traveling…to a new-to-me Thai restaurant called Siam Cafe!
Melissa and I both enjoyed a “small” bowl of Tom Ka Kai soup (which was pure coconutty HEAVEN!). Then Melissa went brave and ordered a MEDIUM hot curry! I got brave too, but not on the spice front (because I’m a total pansy)…
I tried DUCK for the first time!
It was sautéed in a red curry sauce with pineapple, tomatoes, and basil and was absolutely DIVINE! I’ve heard that duck tends to be a bit greasy and was a little nervous that I wouldn’t like it, but it turned out perfect…crispy roasted bits on the ends and tender and juicy on the inside!
On Saturday, Melissa and I made some breakfast and then headed out to my favorite park to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weather we were having!
Have I ever mentioned that my favorite “wralking” trails are right next to the river? It was great to see so many other people taking advantage of warm temperatures the sunshine! 🙂
Obligatory blogger selfie 😉
After our fingers had all gone numb from the wind, we scooted back to the house, whipped up some random snackage for lunch: roasted kabocha, bok choy, and cottage cheese with jam? Yeah, I don’t think it can get more random that THAT!…one of the many reasons I love hanging with other bloggers! Ha!
Not long after that, Sarah showed up and it was time to party shop! We made our way back to Nashville and headed toooooo…TJ Maxx (another surprise, I’m sure). After scouring the store for foodie goodies and thumb-hole jackets, it was time for dinner! I was super excited to get to introduce them both to Ethiopian for the FIRST time…and what better place than Mesob…the restaurant Allie introduced me to just a little less than a year ago!
We ordered the veggie sampler for the three of us to share…
And the meat combo for Melissa and me…with PLENTY of injera for all!
So what did the girls think of their first Ethiopian experience?
Umm, I think it’s safe to say it was THOROUGHLY enjoyed! Oh and how about this? Our entire meal was less than THIRTY BUCKS! 😯
Once back at the house, we were sipping tea to soothe our full tummies when I surprised them with a bit more…
KMB Retreat “swag”! 😉
And then the next morning, before it was time to part ways, we woke up and enjoyed a little bitterSWEET celebration…
Well, duh! It WAS Pancake Sunday and all! 😉
Recipe coming SOON!
I just have to say, this was one of the BEST weekends…dare I say even more MARVELOUS than last week? With all the stress I’ve been feeling lately, I really needed some girl time and a chance to just “get away.” Although I already felt like I knew these ladies well before, I feel even closer to them now and am incredibly grateful that they were both able to make the trip out to see me. I had so much fun playing hostess and would gladly open my doors (including the one to my pantry) to them again!
That’s right folks, come see me and you get the ROYAL treatment AND some of my
crown jewels foodie gems!
So, who’s coming to visit next?!
Super excited for that pancake recipe!! What a fun weekend. It would be so fun to spend a weekend with other bloggers! I will admit though, the Ethiopian food doesn’t look too appealing to me.. or the duck. I can’t imagine eating one!
What a fun weekend!! Miss you ladies!
Oh what a NICE girls weekend!! Isn’t girlstime the BEST when you feel stressed out? I absolutely love it! And I am superjealous too….I want to come and be hosted! On the other hand, it would be so fun to host someone here in Switzerland….what ya think?? 🙂
Omg, that would be AMAZING!! I can only imagine the shenanigans that would go down with us under the same roof! Haha!
I would make the trip -just- to be able to taste those famous pancakes made by the pancake queen herself. I kid, I kid. I would honestly love to meet you, but the pancakes would be a nice perk 😉 As long as you keep the PB away from me 😯
I would rid my house of every ounce of peanut and peanut-mingling product if it meant a visit from you! You are seriously at the top of my list of bloggers I want/need/hope to meet! 🙂
Aww, looks like a fun time! I didn’t get a chance to meet w/ Sarah and Brittany because things got CRAAAAZY last week. Glad you all got to meet up!
Oh yeah, I heard! Sounded like Sarah and Brittany were feeling a little rushed too…I swear there’s just never enough time…especially when you get a couple of chatty girls together! Lol
Looks like a fun weekend, for sure! I’m planning my road trip down your way already 😉
Ahhhhhh! Don’t tease me!!
PS, on your way down, be sure to grab Amanda and Chelsea! 😉
It looks like you had a great weekend! Spending time with friends and enjoying good food is always a wonderful way to spend the weekend!
ME!!!!!! Seriously I want to be your blend. Or come visit me. I can promise frigid temperatures and polar bears! sounds fun right?
Polar bears, yes….frigid temps, notsomuch! But I would perhaps consider wearing a couple of parkas JUST for you my little pickle! 😉
Meee!!! Oh, wait, that was me 😉 but I’ll do it again in a heartbeat! And you are more than welcome in my home anytime! Love ya! That was the most fun weekend ever!
Awww, you make me smile SO much! I swear I’m not even sure how I lived life before I had you to call/text/send mile-long emails to! xoxo
Seriously looks like such a blast! I secretly get jealous of other blogger meet ups;) I wish I lived closer to others!
I so want to come next time.
Can we talk about my face in the swag picture? [I used my exotic sauce and munched on the salt & pepper peanuts last night….]
Miss you already! I’m coming back as soon as possible. Maybe I’ll drive to Wisconsin for Christmas instead of fly so I have an excuse to stop and see you. 🙂
Well, the other pic I got looked like something from the movie The Ring! Haha! Seriously, our time went by TOO fast! I can’t wait to see you again…and thanks to a heads up from Laura, I may just be crashing your trip to ATL next month! 😉
Me, me, me, me!!!! I want to come! I love duck and injera and TJ Maxx and pancakes.
So glad you guys had fun. Sarah is coming here in Dec… just sayin’ you’r overdue for more ATL too. 😉
Oh reeeeeeeeeeally? Hmm, well I do need to peruse IKEA for a kitchen table! I’ll see if the man-friend and I can make it down there! Which weekend are we looking at?
Weekend of Dec 14th…. sooooo you should block that on your calendar. 🙂
Done…I’ll check the on call schedule at work and talk with the man-friend this weekend. I’ll keep ya posted!
I now REALLY want to try Ethiopian food!!!
Oh man – now I want Ethiopian food!! I haven’t had any in ages and that looks so good. 🙂 And a weekend with good friends – perfect!
I have to admit… I’m totally jealous I missed out on the pancakes… We need a meetup in Nashville ASAP! xoxo
I’ve got to find an Ethiopian place around me! I do love duck too! Hopefully my boyfriend gets some for me tomorrow! 🙂
WOAH crazy, I just had Ethiopian food for the first time on Thursday! It was good. It took a bit of getting used to since it’s so salty/vinegary at first.. like extra so. Same with the sour sponge bread. But after a while, I started really being able to enjoy it and YUM almost polished it off. But the red wine tasted like juice afterwards… haha my tastebuds were shot, I think haha.
LOTS of fun delish food here. Jelly!!
MEEEEEE.
As long as we do all of that, plus a completely new pancake recipe 😉 That sounds like the best weekend and nothing beats being in the company of like minded people! Have a great Monday buddy!
Deal! Just be sure to pack the Vegemite! 😉
Me me me! I want to come visit!!! Sounds like an amazing weekend. Hopefully we will meet up again soon! xoxo
Omg, seriously! I would be the happiest girl in the world!! Oh I miss you so much, beautiful!
I’m glad you had a marvelous weekend. Girl time can do that for ya, and it’s always such a good time hanging with other food bloggers. I speak from experience. 😉
I’m a huge fan of Ethiopian food although I’ve only had it twice since I first tried it a year or so ago. I totally would have gone medium on the heat. I like it spicy baby.
PS. Where’d you eat the Sunday morning pancakes. Tell me you got a table?!
Haha! You mean you didn’t notice the barren dining area behind the girls in the swag pic? No, no table as of yet…luckily the coffee table does pretty good for a stand in! 😉
PS, next time we get together, we HAVE to go out for Ethiopian…or Thai so I can watch you sweat while you eat! Lol
Is that even a question?! Me! Me, me, me [stubborn child voice]! I need to verify the “huggable” seal I gave you after all – honesty and hilarousness have been proven by your posts already but that’s one I need to test myself :). But it looks like I came too late to sign up for the extra special KMB retreat …?
Glad you had a fun time with Melissa and Sarah in anyway!
Haha, awww MP!! I would spin you around in circles in a great big bear hug if I could!! Love you!!
So.Much. Good. Food!! This looks like a fabulous weekend, having guests is always fun 🙂
MOI aussi (that’s french for “me too”). i love reading about meetups like this..and i especially like seeing a huge box of goodies being attacked by two women..as she stands off in the distance, snapping photographs. you’re awesome!
When does the next plane leave?!?! Seriously girl I want to meet you SO much! One of these days we actually need to go to the same conference/retreat/summit haha.
It looks like you had an awesome weekend of girl time and food – I would expect no less from a bunch of food bloggers. 😉 I’m super intrigued by your Ethiopian meal because I’ve always wanted to try it. I need to find a restaurant near me so I can go!
For real?! I swear when I finally see you, I’m going to give you the biggest hug! You have GOT to try Ethiopian whenever you get a chance….it’s my absolute favorite ethnic cuisine! The flavors are a lot like Indian food, but the injera makes it so much more fun to eat!
I would love to be the next to visit you but Tennessee is a bit far from Ohio… I think I would just want to be there to witness Pancakes Sunday! 😀
That Tom Kai Kai soup looks amazing! And I’ve never had duck before but I think I’d love it.
Aww, I didn’t realize you were in Ohio! How close are you to Cleveland? Next time I make a trip to see Meghan, we could totally meet up…and eat pancakes of course! 😀
What fun eats! Looks yummy. 🙂 I’m a duck fan too – sorry Daffy.
Sounds like such an amazing time! That sushi I seriously die. Yep I am dead now. Ok not really but that sushi wow.
I wish I could say I was coming to visit next!
Looking forward to that pancake recipe.
Aww, I wish you could too, love! Gah, why do you have to live on the OTHER side of the world?!
hahahahaha. You said pee.
I NEED to go to that sushi place! How far exactly is that from Louisville? 😉 Looks like great fun, food, and friendies!
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I had to do a double-take over the weekend when I saw you and Melissa post the same thing… That sounds like an absolutely marvelous way to spend your weekend! Hooray for good blends, shopping, beautiful weather, and tasty eats!
Me! Me! I wanna come visit! Please?
Time with blends is the BEST. So glad you got to spend some quality time with some lovellllly ladies <3.
Ohmaaaaagarrrrrd YESSSSSSSSSS! Seriously, I would freak the eff out…in the best way possible! Because you’re kinda like my hero! 😉
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