Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend and that your week is off to a good start. Mine had an early start…I had a small group training session at 5:30 a.m. then came home for coffee, smoothie and computer work before heading to the studio to teach and practice.
This weekend (finally) marked the return to the farmers market for me.
For years I have been a year-round market goer but over the last 6-9 months I’ve gotten out of the routine because of teaching 2-3 classes on Saturday mornings. My recent schedule shake up has me free until 11:15 on Saturdays so there’s plenty of time again to do all the fun Saturday morning activities I love like going for an early run and the farmers market. Yay.
For local readers, I always go to the Charlotte Regional Market. There’s tons of selection and the prices are great although you do have to be careful to make sure that you’re buying from an actual farmer and not just someone who resells produce. I love seeing the same vendors every week and have been buying from many of the same faces and farms for years.
This week I came home with blackberries, broccoli, chicken thigh/leg quarters, cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini. I have to be careful not to overbuy produce!
I taught class after the market and then met a friend for lunch at Earl’s Grocery. This has quickly become one of my favorite meeting/hangout/working spots in Charlotte.
I taught another class on Saturday evening (subbed for a friend) and then came home and went for a late evening walk with my fiance and Zoey. We initially set out to run but we walked down the driveway and I looked at him and said, “Can we just walk?” I was still sore from my workout on Thursday (second day soreness…worse than the first day!) and just tired from teaching two hot classes. We went back in and got Zoey and ended up walking three miles.
We went for a late dinner at Cantina 1511 where I devoured these two amazing tacos. The one on the left was Al Pastor…slow roasted pork with achiote and served with shaved cabbage, grilled pineapple and habanero crema. The one on the right was Marco Polo…shrimp, jalapeño bacon and rajas, with pico de gallo, melted cheese, shredded cabbage and cascabel aioli.
When we got home Zoey got her first frozen doggie treat. It was a mix of yogurt, peanut butter and honey and she pretty much thought it was the best thing ever.
On Saturday night we watched Begin Again on NetFlix and I really enjoyed the movie. Keira Knightley is always great, Mark Ruffalo was hilarious and it was fun seeing Adam Levine in a movie. He looked so different in the film! I highly recommend this movie for an easy watch.
I slept until 9:15 on Sunday morning (glorious!) and then made brunch. I had an egg and cheese sandwich on sourdough with avocado, tomato and cheddar.
I subbed a yoga class on Sunday afternoon and then got showered and dressed to go out for apps and a movie. These shrimp lettuce wraps were delicious at Upstream.
I saw my first Jurassic movie ever with Jurassic World. Can you believe I never saw the original Jurassic Park? I thought this movie was entertaining but I was on edge…there was a lot of action happening! Side note…I can’t even imagine being an actor in this movie and having to do all of it in front of a green screen while pretending there are dinosaurs chasing after you. That takes skill! 🙂
I wrapped up my Sunday with gelato, hot tea and a book in bed.
Do you have any movies to recommend? Seen anything good lately?
Are you a farmers market shopper? Year-round or just during the summer?
Talenti is the best. Thanks for that movie rec!
Welcome! 🙂
Had dinner at Carpe Diem the other night for the first time. I guess the own Earl’s! Loved my dinner so can’t wait to check out Earl’s. And what a cute little street/neighborhood!
Speaking of Jurassic, did you see Jeff’s commercial? I guess they were showing it before the movie!
I have been there once during restaurant week and would like to try it during non-restaurant week time. You must check out Earls! I did not. We were a few minutes late!
Going to PT appointment in Cotswold then heading to Earls for lunch/work. Can’t wait! Also going to try and make your 9:30 class at Y2. Haven’t been there yet and excited to see it!
Looks good! Have you stopped drinking wine?
Thanks much! No, I haven’t. I have kinda cut back lately because I’ve been so busy but still having a glass or two here and there.
I watched Whiplash and McFarland this weekend- both were amazing, I highly recommend!
Talenti is my WEAKNESS. I ate the entire pint of caramel cookie crunch last night it was amazing. I think my all time favorite flavor is the chocolate peanut butter though- my whole foods was out of it or else I would have had that one!
I watched Whiplash on the plane on the way to Mexico a few months ago and it was intense! I will have to try the chocolate pb. Thanks for the rec!
I would like to dip a spoon in to that gelato right now! Yum!
You and me both! Counting down the hours until tonight when I do!
I want to watch the “Silver Lining Playbook”…I embarrassingly want to see “Magic Mike II” (but I’ll probably wait until it is out on DVR…I also want to see Trainwreck. That movie looks hilarious!
I haven’t seen any of those!
We just watched Begin Again too … What a great feel-good film! The music is fab too (I love films where actors sing and you can buy the songs on iTunes)! And two words: Mark Ruffalo!!!!!!!!
Totally agree! 🙂
I absolutely have fallen in love with markets since being in Europe! I appreciate them so much more! I’ve also learnt how better it is to eat the seasonal food instead of trying to eat everything all year round when half of the products are imported!
I don’t watch a lot of movies but I’ve just started season three of Orange is the New Black and am hooked!
Oh I’m so jealous of your European markets! I would love, love, love to shop in that kind of environment. I love Orange too but haven’t started season 3. I’m really into Damages right now!
I just watched The Hundred Foot Journey yesterday and I loved it!
Also Spy was pretty funny and way better than I was expecting!
I’m all about the farmer’s markets! I used to work at one. Now that I’m just a shopper I love to get to know the vendors.
I love lettuce wraps! Jurassic World was really cool, but plot wise it was a definite meh. Otherwise, great movie and great food ya got!
I had Talenti the other day too! Real good 🙂
You MUST see the first Jurassic Park. It’s incredible!
I’m also reading The Fault in Our Stars and started watching the movie. It’s great so far (haven’t watched the full thing since I want to finish the book first)!
i have read the book and seen the movie. beautiful!
I need to add that movie to my Netflix list. Love Kiera Knightly.
AND I must stock up on more gelato. Love the caramel sea salt one.
I saw Jurassic World too! I normally don’t like thriller movies, but I really enjoyed this one. It was very nostalgic for me!
I try to shop farmers markets as much as possible but don’t really go in the winter. 🙁