Well, I’m all settled in back at home after the best long weekend in Florida with my family. I am really happy that I made the decision to go. It was restful and relaxing, and I got to spent a lot of quality time with my parents and my grandmother. I don’t think I realized how much I needed to get away until I got away. It was truly everything.

Here’s a little weekend recap including all the delicious things I ate thanks to my dad. 🙂

FRIDAY

My flight got in around 3:30p on Friday and my mom picked me up from the airport. I spent some time visiting with my grandmother before going out to dinner with my parents.

We went to our favorite casual local seafood spot, Stewby’s. I had grilled shrimp with collards, slaw, hush puppies and grits. I ordered a side of gumbo but ended up taking it home. Everything was so fresh and delicious. The collards were to die for and this is where Finn discovered his love for hushpuppies – they’re melt in your mouth good!

And then I went to the grocery to fill up my grandmother’s fridge and pantry.

Back at my grandmother’s place, I got all the groceries unloaded (she always loves to see what surprises I pick out). We chatted for a bit and then it was early bedtime!

SATURDAY

Yogurt bowl for breakfast. It was a cloudy, gray day and I stayed in my pajamas until noon.

I ran an errand with my mom Saturday afternoon (my grandmother has been shopping for a recliner so we went to sit in the chair she’s picked out and check out color samples). My grandmother is super into puzzles so I brought one with me from Charlotte that Finn and I picked out at Walmart last week. I got it all spread out on the table and built the border. This is a HARD puzzle!

I went out for a beach walk before dinner. It was so peaceful.

Dinner was homemade chicken and dumplings, salad and kombucha.

My dad baked a carrot cake for dessert. He does love a very raisin-y carrot cake but it was overall so great.

I read a magazine and watched House Hunters with my grandmother. Does anyone else snap pictures of things you want to remember in magazines? Also, has anyone tried this arnica serum?

SUNDAY

We woke up to blue skies and sunshine!

The weather was so perfect that I was excited to get out and run. I thought I’d run 5 and that turned into 6 and then 7. Still obsessed with these running shorts.

Post-run sandwich on my dad’s homemade sourdough. He’s doing 50% spelt flour right now and it’s amazing!

Afternoon visit from my parents’ golden Beau. He’s such a sweet boy.

My dad knows how much I love a corned beef and cabbage dinner so he made his St. Patrick’s feast a week early so I could enjoy it too. I took this photo because I wanted to show you how he’s cooking all of the elements separately these days instead of boiling everything together. He baked the corned beef for six hours at a low heat and then sautéed the cabbage and roasted the potatoes and carrots.

Wish I could dive back into this dinner. Yum, yum, yum.

Sunset.

The Sunday evening activity was Oscar watching with my grandmother. It’s one of her favorite nights of the year (not for the actual films but for the red carpet and whole fanfare of the show). She started watching the red carpet coverage at 4p! We made it through the whole show all the way to Best Picture. I need to know who’s seen Oppenheimer and if it’s a must-watch? Also, I never saw Barbie. I need to stream that soon.

MONDAY

I was up and at the gym before I even had my first cup of coffee. I’m not one for an early morning lift but I wanted to get it done so I could enjoy the day with my family before flying out. I did a full-body strength workout and it was hard and good!

I spent the rest of the morning hanging out, cleaning and doing some work.

I couldn’t leave without one more corned beef meal so I made an open-faced sandwich with mayo, dijon, avocado, corned beef and provolone on sourdough. This is probably the best sandwich I’ve had so far in 2024!

I got all packed up and then sat on the balcony with my mom and grandmother a bit before heading to the airport. Travels home were smooth and easy and I was home with the puppies at 8p.

It’s always so hard to say goodbye but it was a little easier this time knowing I’ll see everyone again soon for Easter/Spring Break. Finn is excited!

QUESTIONS 

Have you seen Oppenheimer? Thoughts? What about other Oscar movies? Any you’d recommend? 

Do you like corned beef and cabbage? 

Do you ever read magazines these days? My grandmother subscribes to a few and I love paging through them!