Things I’m Loving Lately: Wine and Easy Meals
I have been trying to limit myself to posting four days a week so that I can bank a few recipes for when life gets really busy but I decided to throw together a little randomness so that I could chat with y’all for one more day. I think I might have a little addiction to blogging. It’s not just me, right? Hello?
Okay, here are some things I’m loving right now:
#1 Wine
I like to mix up the wine rotation pretty frequently and this week I’ve been enjoying a bottle of Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc. I found it on sale for about $15 and I think it is well worth the price. It’s dry, crisp and has just the right touch of citrus to please the palate. Napa is so close, I can taste it!
#2 Watermelon
Good Lord, watermelon is the shiesse. Especially when it’s nice and cold. It makes me want to be outside in the warm summer heat so I have a reason to cool off by shoving it in my pie hole. Plus, it’s loaded with this stuff called citrulline that can help lower your blood pressure. Win, win situation. {fyi- don’t Google schiesse- it’s a german curse word that will bring up some pretty gross images}
#3 Garbage reality television
I’m ashamed of this one but it’s true, I’m guilty. I should clarify that I rarely have time to actually watch TV but while Brandon was out of town recently, I took it upon myself to change the channel from ESPN and catch up on some trash, aka Real Housewives of the OC. Please tell me someone else watches this and saw the Mexican strippers? I’m all for having a good time but that was just gross!! I would have been like “here’s your dollar bill, now please get the bleep out”.
#4 Chez Marie Veggie Burgers
I try to eat fresh and home cooked food as much as possible but let’s be real, I am not dragging my happy butt to the grocery store or Farmer’s Market more than once a week. Usually by Thursday, we’ve devoured most of the fresh produce and I need a good frozen option to turn to. Enter…Chez Marie.
No Bull Burgers still take the cake but I really like these and found both the ingredient and nutrition label to be very pleasing. I do believe I will purchase them again.
Speaking of easy meals, I made this simple pasta dish earlier this week and it turned out really good! I used whole wheat spaghetti instead of linguine and paired it with a salad.
#6 Trader Joe’s Marcona Almonds
Tthere’s never a dull moment at TJ’s is there? These almonds are seriously good. Roasted and salted with fresh rosemary? Oh jeez.
#7 Improving my running skills
I have never been a “real” runner. I like to do short distances with intervals to get in some cardio but the thought of running a marathon makes me want to gauge my eyes out. {Major kudos to anyone who has ran or is planning to run a marathon!} Lately, I’ve been drawing inspiration from fellow bloggers who I see challenging themselves to become better runners and it’s making me want to improve myself.
I have been trying to run 3 miles a few times a week in hopes to gradually improve my pace so that I can sign up for a 5K and possibly a 10K. I’m also trying to get Brandon to join in so we can run a race together. He definitely needs more cardio and less sitting at a desk and reading research papers in his life.
#8 Rachel Roy Feed Bag
My laptop bag broke a few months ago and I needed a large tote that I could fit it and the rest of my stuff in so I bought this bag from Rachel Roy. Not only is it cute but every bag sold provides 100 school meals to children in India. #fashionwithacause
This shampoo smells incredible and is made with coconut oil to mildly cleanse hair while still leaving it shiny. Love.
And a little random funny for the day:
I hope you all have an awesome weekend!
What are you loving lately?
Any tips to help improve my pace?
Good luck with working up to a 5k or 10k! And yes- those almonds are AMAZING.
Have a good weekend :)
Thanks Tamara! I’m so not a runner but I think setting a goal helps. Have a great weekend too!
Fellow trash TV lover here!! Sometimes I feel bad for watching but then a second later I decide that I don’t care, lol! It is pure entertainment!
As for running, I have no tips but I am trying to accomplish the same thing. I have never been a speedy runner and I am okay with that but I would like to try to improve a little bit. I don’t ever see me running 8 minute miles but I want to be able to do a 5K in under 29 minutes.
Right! It’s nice to watch something that doesn’t require any thinking whatsoever. Except thinking to yourself how shallow and dramatic they are which makes you feel better about yourself! :)
I agree, I don’t think I could run an 8 minute mile (unless it were only 1!) and I think 29 min is a realistic goal. Although, running that in the Texas heat is a huge accomplishment!
Watermelon has been the love of my life for SO long, and I’m kind of ashamed to admit that I’ve been eating it all through the winter too lol. But it’s just so good! Especially during the summer when it’s sunny and warm, which is definitely another thing that I’ve been loving lately.
Happy Friday, girlie!
Oh yes…the watermelon right now is so amazing! I can’t get enough of it! The almonds sound so good!
Lately I’m loving nail polish, strawberries and my summer dresses! :-)
Oh girl, I’m all over that watermelon and RHOC!! I love those ladies, but here and there I can’t help but yell at the screen, “oh shut up”! :)
Yes, there is def a lot of eye rolling while watching that show! :)
Nice work on the run!! Your run pace is pretty close to where mine is. I just assume as i start running more, i’ll get quicker with time. that watermelon looks delicious :) and you know, i have yet to try the all in one pot pasta. it makes me nervous for some reason, i NEED to give it a go sometime soon.
The running is a work in progress but I love feeling encouragement from other bloggers, it makes it fun! I was also skeptical about the one pan pasta but it really worked and turned out great! It’s great for a quick weeknight meal (after a long run!).
No shame in loving the trashy TV. I love the Real Housewives they’re by far my favorite housewives to watch.
And I love my wine as well! White wine is always my favorite.
I would say they are my favorite too. It seems like they’ve been around the longest. And we’ll see if this whole “nice girl” thing with Tamra sticks around! :)
Keep up the running! That’s awesome! I never in a million years thought I would be able to run a 10k but with lots of practice I did it, and it really wasn’t that bad. I’m gearing up for a half marathon in September now.. oh boy. And I love the FEED bag! I got one of the Tory Burch/FEED bags last year and it is my favorite bag I own. Big, comfy, and practical..and I get comments on it every time I wear it.
Thanks Christine! Your comment is very encouraging! Good luck on your half marathon! I don’t think I could ever do that.
I’ve never seen the Tory Burch version of the FEED bag before. They are so great and I also like that it’s made from animal friendly material! :)
Watermelon, marcona almonds and wine – The 3 things I could live off of and be perfectly content for the rest of my life! As for your pace – I think you might be start off too quickly and not leaving any energy for your later miles! Try eating a banana 30 minutes before you run too – it’ll give some much needed energy :)
Yes, I def started out too quickly on that run. Then yesterday, I skipped the banana (which I usually eat before every workout) and I had to cut my run short at 2.5 miles bc I was starting to feel off. It has been in the high 90’s here lately so I’m starting to question my timing for this whole running thing. You are really a big inspiration training for a marathon, so I’ll keep feeding off your energy! Have a good weekend! :)
Honestly, the more you run, the more your pace will improve. There’s also the option of doing speed work but that makes running complicated and I like to keep running simple so I wouldn’t be able to give very much advice on that :) also, I may or may not die of low blood pressure in the near future. I’ve been eating watermelon like I get paid for it. (Wouldn’t it be fantastic to get paid for eating watermelon?) have a great weekend girlie, and I hope you’re able to get out on those trails for a bit!
Getting paid to eat watermelon would be amazing! In my dreams. I’m hoping the running will get easier with time, I just have to stick with it!
Exhastipated!!! Love it, that’s how I’m feeling right now. This week has taken a toll on me. I am trying to get into running but the only time I can is in the morning. So far I’m loosing the battle to my bed. :)
It is so hard to get out of bed in the morning to exercise! I always do it in the afternoon but I’d love the change things up. Let me know the secret if you ever figure it out! :)
I seriously love everything you love – except the RHW series. It gives me anxiety and I just can’t watch anymore – but I totally used to.
You’re going to Napa – OMG OMG OMG! I’m so excited for you!
Running an 8:37 minute mile is amazing. My suggestion is to throw some HIIT or Tempo runs into the mix to get your legs used to quicker turnover. Start out on the slower end and then work up from there. E-mail me if you want specific suggestions.
You can totally run a 10K! DO IT :)
I can see it causing some anxiety, they’re crazy! I usually multi task while watching it so it doesn’t affect me to deeply.
Napa is only an hour away from us so yes, I want to go several times before the year is up. Soon enough.
Thanks for the awesome tips! I think I get really excited when I start and then I get winded too fast so I will try starting slower from now on. Thanks for the motivation girl!
The mexican strippers! OMG! I was cringing! What was that??
SO bad and SO gross. :)
I am happy to say I am a Real Housewives junkie too and I am not ashamed of it! lol!! :) The Mexican stripper were hilarious. I could not stop laughing!
Love that one pan pasta! I saw that on Pinterest recently and can’t wait to try it. Interesting article about watermelon. My husband has been bugging me to cut up a watermelon we have had for a week! Now I will knowing the benefits. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend!! :)
Thanks for making me feel like I’m not alone in my housewives addiction. As grossed out as I was at them, I was definitely cracking up too! Have a good weekend too Tracey! :)
It’s okay. I LOVE trashy reality TV, too!! RHOC is one of my faves, too! :)
Those Mexican Strippers… Oh man! Ha Ha! I can’t disagree about it being a bit gross, but at the same time I was dying!! Heather’s facial expressions cracked me up.
It was pretty hilarious! :)
Hehe got to love grumpy cat!!
I always love wine but I’m more partial to red than white! I’m currently sipping on a cab sauv as I type this ;)
I always love my trash tv too. And I so want to try that pasta dish it looks simple but delicious.
Oh man, I have eaten so much watermelon lately that it is not funny. Thank God it’s good for you! Love your word of the day! That seriously gave me a laugh!
Those almonds sound fantastic! I may need to hit up my local Trader Joe’s! MMM mmmm.