I had a great weekend! It was a nice balance of work, fun and relaxation. And there was this…
I almost feel guilty posting this because I know so many of you are digging out of snow but it was insanely gorgeous in Charlotte this weekend. 65 and sunny on Saturday and 70 and sunny on Sunday. This is why I live in the south!
I trained a client until 6:30 on Friday evening at Metro Fitness Club and then stayed at the gym to get my own workout in. I didn’t get home until 7:45 and wasn’t in the mood to cook. There is the best hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant in a strip mall near my house so I decided to let Saigon Palace do the cooking for me! I always order the tofu and vegetable pho but decided to switch it up and go with one of the chef’s specialties, Bahn Xeo.
I was totally googling dishes from the menu on my phone as I was trying to decide what to order. The best way to describe Bahn Xeo is as a crepe. It’s made from rice flour, turmeric powder and water and filled with pork, shrimp, green onions and bean sprouts. They are served with lettuce leaves, fresh cilantro and basil and a sweet and sour dipping sauce. I was instructed by the staff to cut pieces of the Bahn Xeo and wrap it in lettuce leaves and then dip it in the sauce. It was delicious! I will definitely order this again!
I’m going to write a more in-depth post about Saigon Palace for my local readers. It’s a hidden gem!
I was in bed early on Friday in preparation for a Saturday full of yoga. I taught my two regular hot classes at Charlotte Yoga and Om Yoga on Saturday morning and then returned to Charlotte Yoga Saturday afternoon for a workshop. Suzanne and I led a second session of our Intentional New Year Workshop. The first one sold out and we had a lot of requests to open a second date. We were thrilled when the second session sold out as well!
We received really great feedback from the workshop participants. Everyone especially loved the fire ceremony and journaling.
We all hung around after the workshop for a toast and some community-building conversation. It’s great to get to know everyone and I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with Suzanne!
I was exhausted after five hours of teaching yoga but I rallied to go to a friend’s house for wine and sushi. The sushi was takeout from New Zealand Cafe. I’ve heard so much about this place but haven’t been there yet! The sushi was great so I’m definitely interested in checking it out.
I taught yoga again on Sunday morning and then met a friend for a run and coffee. I spent the rest of the day hanging around the house with the girls. I think I took over 50 pictures of them during the course of the day!
They are just too cute! They love each other and are pretty much inseparable. We took a long walk Sunday afternoon to soak up the 70 degree weather and both of them were pooped after!
I wrapped up my Sunday with a yoga practice. Not going to lie…it took some motivation to get back to the studio after spending so much time there this weekend but I’m really glad I did. It was just what I needed. I came home and made a good dinner and caught up on this week’s episode of Scandal. This season is BANANAS!
Have you tried Vietnamese food? What’s your favorite thing to order?
What was the weather like where you live this weekend? Did you do anything outdoors?
Is anyone else watching Scandal!?!?
vietnamese food is great! i love pho in the winter. and, those pups are so, so sweet.
same! nothing more comforting than a big bowl of pho when it’s cold out.
I haven’t tried Vietnamese food–the sad thing is, I’ve said I’m going to for 18 years! There is a Vietnamese restaurant down the street from the newspaper I work at, and I have walked by there on my breaks every day since I’ve worked at the paper and said ONE DAY I will have lunch there. That day still hasn’t come! One day…really!
And our weather was pretty warm for the Midwest in February. On Saturday, it was in the 40s, so I went for a run outside. I said this year I was going to sign up for a mud run…I’m thinking the run on Saturday should have counted! The 13 inches of snow we had the weekend before was melting in the 40-degree weather and made for a very interesting run, lol!
LOVE the pup pics!!
chris…i think the time has come! take the plunge!
omg, your run on saturday sounds crazy! glad the snow is melting and you are getting some nice weather but gross!
I love Vietnamese food and I’m lucky to live in an are outside of Dc that has a lot of Vietnamese restaurants. My favorites include Pho, Vermicelli with grilled pork, and bahn mi. Seriously you haven’t had a sandwich until you have had bahn mi. Ok now I want Vietnamese for lunch.
We had great weather in DC this weekend- sunny and 60 yesterday. It felt like such a tease, but I’ll take it!
erin – that’s awesome! i also love the vermicelli “bun” dishes. can you believe i actually have never tried a bahn mi sandwich!? there is supposedly a place in charlotte that makes an amazing one. i need to check it out!
So jealous of your weather! It’s so cold here today and it’s currently icing, which sometimes, is worse than just snow.
ice is the WORST! especially if you have to drive in it!
The pups are the best of friends <3
they make my heart so happy!
Scandal, oh my!!
Always so intense.
Scandal and Suits are my two fav shows, so I am so happy they are both back on.
scandal and suits are my fave too! best shows on tv! 🙂
It was 40 here in Chicago yesterday morning and I loved being outside! Now it’s snowing again. Womp womp.
i love that 40 is warm for you. i am contemplating running on the treadmill or working out inside when it’s 40 here. haha!!! 🙂
stay warm!
im not sure if i love or hate this season of scandal ! any given episode i’m either loving it or scratching my head ! i’m in OH and am so sick of weather. cant wait for walks outside in the sun !
i love it! it’s a nice change of pace! sending you warm energy! 🙂
It’s almost 80 degrees here today in Houston and I currently have the AC on…It’s supposed to be beautiful all week and I am loving it. The Vitamin D feels so good…I finished the book “Me Before You” on Sunday on my porch in a tank top and shorts. So nice…and the book is AWESOME!
that’s AWESOME! jealous of that weather! i loved me before you too!
Love Scandal! I haven’t had a chance to start this new season yet, but I’m dying to because I’ve heard so many people say that this season is crazy and different!
it’s TOTALLY different! and awesome!
I LOVE Scandal haha, but this season has been so confusing haha, I have seen every episode yet I am still convinced I have no idea what is going on haha
this season is really crazy and i have no idea weather it’s a dream or real or WTF is going on but i love it!
It was in the 60’s in Asheville this weekend, but Thursday it is looking like snow again! Ups and downs. I can’t wait for spring!
I have not tried Vietnamese food. I need to find a good place. I may have to check that one out the next time I am in Charlotte.
gosh, i need to plan an asheville trip ASAP! it’s been too long! we haven’t had any snow here this year…crazy!
let me know if you want a vietnamese food date next time you’re in town!
SO much yoga! it makes me really want to start practicing again, I miss it.
I just finished Season 3 of Scandal and trying to figure out how to watch Season 4 but I can’t find the first half of the season anywhere. It’s so hard to see the commercials on TV without being able to watch the first half.
that’s such a bummer! i’m watching it on demand from time warner cable.
You can stream Scandal on Hulu!
The weather in Florida has been beautiful! Very grateful to live in the south during this time of year. Scandal is insane!!! I’ve been having to rewind and re-watch scenes to make sure I heard things right.
ditto! i don’t think i could ever live somewhere cold and snowy! and i know, scandal is CRAZY! love it!
p.s. i just added your blog to my feedly. love it! 🙂
I was introduced to Bahn Xeo at a Vietnamese place when I lived in DC and couldn’t for the live of me remember its proper name. I have yet to find a good Vietnamese place where I live now, but I could live off pho, bahn xeo, and bahn mi. DROOL.
Scandal is cray-Z this season! It keeps moving in a different direction than I think it will and I’m glued to the edge of my seat each episode. I couldn’t believe this past week’s episode was over when the shondaland coaster popped up! It moved so fast!
We’re thinking about getting a second dog and I wonder if you have any advice or resources to point me in the right direction? Sullie and Zoey seem so happy together, what’s your secret??
Hey Sarah! I am planning on a post soon about life with two!
I am very interested to see where they are taking Scandal this season. I hope it’s not a dream – that would seem like an easy out! My current favorite show is Justified on FX. There is a lot of intellectual dialogue and character development. If you have Amazon Prime you can stream for free starting from the beginning. 🙂
Love the puppy pictures.
thanks so much for the show recommendation! always needing them. 🙂
THANK you for branching out and trying some different Vietnamese food! Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE pho, but there are so so so many other delicious dishes. I grew up eating banh xeo and never really liked it, but I may have to give it another try.
haha! i love to branch out when it comes to ethnic cuisine! it’s fun to try new and different things!