Happy Friday! This week flew by thanks to days packed with training and teaching and evenings packed with social engagements. I usually try not to plan more than one weeknight out per week but this week I was out Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Here’s a look at this week’s eats. Not as many home cooked dinners as usual!
Breakfast
Orange Mango Smoothie and coffee from Starbucks between teaching two yoga classes. It’s been so cold here in Charlotte (10 degrees this morning!) but all I want is smoothies!
Banana oatmeal in a leftover peanut butter jar. The one non-smoothie breakfast of the week.
Lunch
Soup and salad. Carrot ginger soup and salad with spinach, kale, quinoa, deli turkey, tomatoes, carrots, feta, pepitas and homemade honey mustard.
Turkey sandwich on sourdough with avocado, spinach, provolone and pepper jelly. Kiwi and clementines on the side.
Half turkey sandwich, salad and kiwi.
Dinner
The only home-cooked dinner of the week. Sriracha lime salmon with brown rice, steamed kale and roasted baby carrots.
Wine and apps with friends. I shared this charcuterie plate and then had a crab cake salad.
Other Stuff
Raw pumpkin pie with pepita brittle from Luna’s Living Kitchen.
Espresso and a Paleo banana muffin.
Kind bar and local Lenny Boy kombucha.
Appetizer plate at book club. We are starting a book club (like the kind where you actually read the books) with a group of women from the yoga studio. I’m really excited about it. Last night we had our initial meeting to discuss the ground rules for the club and what books we want to read. We have quite a list to research and vote on.
One of the things we did during the meeting was go around the circle and answer the question, “What is one thing you couldn’t live without?” Of course the first silly answer that came to my mind was peanut butter. But then we started really talking about it and the answers varied from “my children” to “adventure” to “toilet paper.” It was really interesting to hear the replies and it really made me think, what can’t I live without. What really matters to me?
Some of the things that came up for me were…
– Sullie and having a pet in the house. My family always had dogs growing up and when I left home I couldn’t wait to get one of my own. She brings me more joy than I ever thought possible. It’s pretty incredible.
– Being outside and travel. I crave sunlight, fresh air and seeing and experiencing new and beautiful things.
– My family.
– Believing in love.
– Possibility, growth and expansion.
– Being physically active…whether it’s running, walking, practicing yoga or a tough strength workout. I just love to move and breathe.
– And of course there’s peanut butter, wine, cheese, dessert, cooking, baking and all those other things I love so much! 🙂
So big Friday question for you.
What can’t you live without?
I absolutely have to echo the being outside!! That and being able to be active – preferably outside if possible!! Right now with the horrible conditions in Chicago I am really really wishing I lived outside of the Midwest!!
My family (hence why I am probably still in the Midwest 😉 ) and my amazing husband all are at the top of my list.
And yes, wine, cheese and chocolate are also up there! XO
yummmy lime & sriracha salmon sounds amazing!
i would probably say I can’t live without my health & fitness. since i live alone and am single, it’s important to be that i remain physically & mentally healthy.
<3
mmm, looks like another great week of eats. the OIAJ look particularly tasty to me.
I never could think of a good answer to what I couldn’t live without until a few years ago when it finally dawned on me… my contacts/glasses/some type of corrective lens. I wouldn’t be able to function without that! But peanut butter is next on my list 😉
I don’t think I could live without laughter. It just seems to make everything better, and it is by far the best feeling in the world. 🙂
Love that that kombucha is in a beer bottle. It would be pretty funny to get pulled over for drinking that!
The obvious one for me is my little girl and the baby I’m currently making! But like you, I crave being in nature and time with my family and friends.
Btw, avocado on a sandwich sounds great right now!
Dogs are so loveable and faithful. I sort of forgot that while not having a dog through college and afterward. However, the manfriend had a black lab when we first met and I have realized how lucky I am that she is now my dog too. 🙂 Things I can’t live without: movement daily, family and friends, thin crust homemade or wood fired pizza once every week or two.
I also can’t live without my Support (friends & family), pets, nature and peanut butter (almost every day)!!
My husband, my fur children, and my family. Those are always the top things in my life no matter what!
Friendship & love, pets, laughter, red wine and dark chocolate.
Could you share some of your homemade salad dressings? I would love some simple ideas using some pantry staples 🙂
Friends and family, as cheesy as it sounds, whenever life gets me down there is always someone I’m close to helping me through..oh and my dog, that guy is always there to make me smile.
Definitely my faith in Christ, my family, my closest friends. Cliche answer but very true!
I definitely can’t live without hope. The possibility that life can be happy and full.
I don’t think I could live without hope, and on a lighter note, please teach me how to love smoothies in the winter!
Definitely agree with you on having pets in the house! Also grew up with pets and it just makes home feel more like home to me. We have a cat and a dog and I love them both to pieces.
Also movement, preferably running or yoga, and my wonderful family and friends!
On a serious note, I definitely couldn’t live without my family, friends, and especially my boyfriend who is pretty much my rock in life. But like you said, then there’s coffee, peanut butter, cheese (oh the horror if i ever develop a lactose sensitivity…), the list could go on and on.
I definitely couldn’t live without my family. They are my world!
On a more fun-loving level, I couldn’t live without wine (I’m counting the days until May when I can drink it again!), the possibility of hard work bringing big dreams to fruition and finally I couldn’t live without chips and salsa. MMM 🙂
My family and friends. Moving and nut butters and chocolate!
This is a good question! I can’t think of a lot that I couldn’t live without – some things would definitely decrease my quality of life if I didn’t have them, but I could live. I would have to say having pets, because I’ve always had cats/dogs and find them to be wonderful company. Also the support of friends and loved ones, and the chance to give back others. I just really need some human contact! Although sometimes I also need alone time to think and process, so that’s important too.
i am with you amanda. i was thinking reading other posts that even though the “right” answer is family, friends, etc i have lost family, friends, etc and obviously kept on living. I understand the point of the question is to say what you are most thankful for but i had the same reaction as you. No matter what you keep on going….there is not much other choice ! I think the responses like needing hope, human contact of some kind (along w alone time!), love, health, etc are all more in line with my first reaction. And obviously my kitty cuz whats the point without him….and cheese. i do love cheese : )
I am going to say exactly what you said…I couldn’t agree more! And “believing in LOVE” is such a big one for me right now. Thank you again for the delicious package! XOXO
i love your meals. i’m always reading thinking, “yup, that’s exactly what I want”. 🙂 hope you had a great week!