I wish I could tell you that I had a super exciting July Fourth weekend…but I didn’t! It was a really quiet and low-key weekend. It felt like the city of Charlotte was a ghost town this weekend. Restaurants were empty, there was no traffic and classes at the studio were pretty slow. We usually have pretty high numbers on holidays…even Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think almost everyone was at the beach or the lake!
Of course social media doesn’t help that feeling of “wow, I kind of feel like a loser for not even having cookout plans” when it seems like everyone you know is hashtagging #merica (a trend I refuse to get on) and throwing back beers or posting family beach pictures…but then I decided that I actually appreciated a quiet weekend with no partying and just having some space to go at a slower pace. From the time I was young, my mom always reinforced in me that you don’t always have to be entertained. Sometimes finding yourself in the middle of nothing is exactly where you need to be.
So here are some pictures from my non-exciting July Fourth weekend! 🙂
Rainbow at the end of the Firecracker 5K on Friday night. Our evening ended on the couch with two episodes of Damages. (so.addicted.)
A really lovely Saturday morning that started with naturally waking up at 7, smoothie, granola baking (third time to ensure new recipe ready to share…and it is!), farmers market and yoga class.
Gorgeous heirloom tomatoes. I’m so glad they’re back.
My first Your Mom’s Donuts experience at the studio before teaching my 11:15 a.m. on Saturday. Life changed. I will be driving to Matthews on Sunday mornings for these things.
Watermelon and a few hours poolside with two girlfriends and a cute 9 month old baby. It was a really cloudy and stormy weekend in Charlotte but it magically cleared up for the time we were lounging. It was nice to see blue sky after a few days of gray.
Saturday night patio dinner at Vivace. I thought these two bright dots in the sky were planes or helicopters hovering before the fireworks but then I found out that it was actually Venus and Jupiter. Apparently they are very close to us this week. Pretty cool to see.
We thought we would be able to see the fireworks Uptown from Midtown and stood around for 30 minutes after dinner waiting for them to start. When they finally started just after 10, all we could see were some lights in the sky and reflections off of buildings…womp, womp. Back home to watch Damages!
I subbed a yoga class on Sunday morning. Since so many people were traveling, we had an insane amount of sub requests for classes. It was a lovely way to start the day…but I’m still happy with my decision to take back Sunday mornings!
I had a serious craving for breakfast burritos after class so that’s what I whipped up for lunch. Scrambled eggs, avocado, black beans, spinach and shredded white cheddar. I pressed them in a FlatOut wrap and then served them with a dipping sauce of plain 2% greek yogurt and salsa mixed together.
I got kind of domestic on Sunday afternoon. I trekked to Home Depot to get some potting soil for my basil plant and came back with a few more herbs and a tomato plant. I wasn’t going to attempt tomatoes this year (I’ve yet to be really successful with them) but then I saw this “patio plant” that was already established and growing tomatoes so I decided my margin of error was a lot smaller and bought it. I placed my herbs and tomato plant on the front porch this year in hopes that a) Zoey won’t dig them up and b) I’ll remember to water them daily since I’ll walk past them so often. My parents did not pass down their gardening gene to me.
Although I am grateful that my dad passed down his cooking and baking gene because that’s how I spent the rest of the afternoon. I love playing in the kitchen when I’m not in a rush. I baked a simple lemon blackberry cake.
And roasted a chicken alongside some herbs and veggies. The house smelled amazing.
While the chicken was baking I took Zoey for a really long walk. I decided to forgo a formal workout in favor of a walk. It was a nice way to wrap up the weekend.
I’ll give you one guess how I ended Sunday night? Damages may or may not have been involved! 😉 (And there was cake and salted caramel ice cream!)
Did you stay home or travel for the Fourth? What was the best thing you ate over the holiday weekend?
I’ve heard so many good things about those donuts! I need to make a trip soon before I move!
I went up to Winston-Salem on the 4th after doing the WOD at Metro. Best thing I ate was yogurt…ha! I’ve been experimenting with yogurt since I’ve heard some people with lactose intolerance can handle yogurt and I’ve had success 3x in a row!!! 😀 So good after 4+ years without! (Coconut milk and almond milk yogurt just aren’t the same.)
Yay! I’ve heard that cheese and yogurt are easier for some people because some of the lactose has already been broken down.
Hi Jen, just wanted to let you know that for weeks now, all new posts are not displaying majority of the posted poctures. After you publish a new post, the previous one is suddenly ok. I wonder whether it’s some of the adverts targeting new posts specifically, because all of the ads are displaying, even on empty squares where pictures should be. I hope you can fix it because I’m really missing seeing pictures to go along with text. Don’t know if this is relevant, but I’m reading you from the UK. Btw, happy 4th of July! It’s my wedding anniversary so I celebrate it every year. 🙂
Hey Maya – thanks for letting me know. What browser are you using?
I did nothing! Haha, I even went to bed at 8pm 😛
I’m so impressed! I’ve really been trying to focus on getting more sleep lately!
So I usually don’t comment (not because I don’t want to but just don’t usually think about it) but I religiously follow your blog and definitely enjoy reading! This is one post where I had the urge to comment bc I TOTALLY feel you on the feeling of sometimes missing out whilst everyone elses’ seemingly fun adventures on social media. I struggle with this myself and intense bouts of FOMO (fear of missing out haha!) when I see other people’s photos and posts online. Sometimes it’s really bad and actually gives me anxiety that I am not enjoying life as much as I should, or I work too much, or my relationships with others aren’t as ‘fun’ or as ‘special’ as everyone else, or I should be doing something different altogether with my life. Then I realize that people only post the fun stuff and EVERYTHING looks more fun and exciting when people post things online. I have to remind myself all the time of this and work on comparing my life to others. There’s actually been research studies on how Facebook makes people depressed bc of this. Anyways, enough of my long winded way of saying thanks for posting the pleasantly mundane as well….. and thanks for your always honest and enjoyable blog! Oh and to answer your question… I spent the fourth with my family — we hiked, grilled out and played board games — it was much different than my drunken and debaucherous fourths in years past but it was perfect!
I think everyone feels that way from time to time and we definitely have to be mindful of how we’re comparing ourselves to others. Glad you had a good 4th!
Going to a farmers’ market sounds pretty exciting to me! I’m on my way back from San Jose 🙂
Sounds like a fun way to spend the fourth!
It is amazing how social media guilts us into thinking we ALWAYS have to be doing something. I am glad you had a mellow weekend. Sometimes those mellow weekends are the most productive. 🙂 I love roast chicken and love the way it makes the kitchen smell. Happy Monday!
I completely agree! It was the perfect balance of getting things done and having time to enjoy the holiday.
Damages!!! My husband and I were obsessed with this show and hardly anyone I knew watched it. So good!
Thank you for not jumping on the ‘Merica/’Murica bandwagon.
It makes my blood boil!
Hi Jen – I noticed soomeone else commented on this as well. Most of your pictures do not display in your posts. It’s the same whether I’m using Safari or reading through Feedly. Hope you had a great Monday! 🙂
I’m on it! Thanks for letting me know.
Those breakfast burritos look incredible! Must try!
I totally agree that social media tends to make you feel lame when you don’t have plans on major holidays, and it was really nice to hear someone else acknowledge that!
I totally agree. Easter and all the bunny stuff, babies and dresses is always so overwhelming! 😛
Love those yoga pants in your hand stand pic! Lululemon?
No, they are a Brazilian company. The owner of one of the studios where I teach is from Brazil and brought them back with her!
i had a similar experience but because i painted the entire freaking weekend and helped take care of my moms house while she was on vaca. she has horses so its a lot of work. she does have a pool though and that was nice as was the outdoor fireplace. but i felt the same…no fireworks (booooo) and no real fun plans. oh…and i binge watched american crime 🙂
Oh my gosh…painting is NEVER fun! Pool and outdoor fireplace sounds like a good compromise!
Your 4th sounded lovely. Mine was pretty similar but mostly because I was a little under the weather. I love those do nothing days!
ps. that breakfast burrito! looks like a must try!
I hope you’re feeling better Diana!
Hey Jen!
Glad you had a great weekend. Do you mind sharing the breeder you got zoey from? I know you have mentioned it before, but I cant seem to find it in past posts!
Thanks!
Tara
Seasons Gold – it’s up near UNCC. Honor Goldens is also supposed to be reputable. I also encourage you to check out rescue organizations if you’re open to not going the puppy route! There are a lot of golden rescues and my parents have had great success with the rescues. Just depends whether you want to do baby puppy or past the puppy stage! 🙂
First off, I love those pants!
I had a low key weekend as well hanging out with my foster pup. Just an FYI, I read recently that the tomato greens can be toxic to dogs.
Thanks! That means I made a good decision to keep the plant on the front porch! 🙂 Nothing is safe around Zoey! What kind of foster pup do you have?
She was a 14 week old boxer/lab mix pup from Halfway There Rescue. I took her to her new family in Fort Mill last night 🙁 But now she is with a stay at home mom and 2 adorable kids…I’m gone 9 hours a day, so I felt that would be better for her. She seemed happy 🙂
those peaches!
Mmm those donuts look to die for!! I traveled up to see my college friends in Boston, so the patriotism was off the charts there. The fireworks show was the best I’ve ever seen! We also saw Venus and Jupiter 🙂
Oh my gosh, I will definitely need to make my way down to Matthews to try those donuts! This weekend, the best thing I ate was a summer fruit salad made with watermelon, kiwi, avocado, feta and mint. Super yummy!
Glad you had a great holiday weekend 🙂
Roasted chicken with herbs and veggies is one of my favorite meals. I already requested my mom make it when I get home 😉 Even though I didn’t have a quiet 4th, normally I prefer doing simple things. Just hanging by the pool would have been perfect in my book. Love your leggings too!
Happy belated 4th! Do you have a recipe for your lemon/blackberry cake?