Good morning. First, thank you so much for your comments on yesterday’s post. I know that Brittney’s family and friends so appreciate your thoughts and prayers and I am overwhelmed by the responses and positive feedback on taking responsibility for your life. I’ve said this so many times and I’m going to keep saying it but you all inspire me daily with your words and actions. It’s a two-way street, for sure!

I think that I’m STILL full from dinner last night. That never happens! I always wake up hungry for breakfast. There is good reason for this though – we had a late dinner at Chima for Charlotte Restaurant Week.

Chima is a Brazilian steak house so I’ll give you one guess as to whether I picked the restaurant. Yeah, that would be a no. Regardless, I was excited for an evening out downtown with my husband’s family.

I arrived from teaching a yoga class just as everyone was sitting down for dinner. I ordered a dirty martini to kick off the dinner festivities…I needed a martini to handle what was coming!

I loaded my plate at the salad bar. Most Brazilian steakhouse experts would advise you not to do this because it’s just “filler food” before the meat comes but vegetables will never be filler food in my mind. And I just love fancy salad bars. Hearts of palm, artichokes, roasted red peppers, edamame, buffalo mozz, smoked salmon, prosciutto and melon…mmm!

This was the real filler food. They bring a lot of apps to  your table – fried bananas, some kind of fried meatball, fried polenta sticks, etc. I tried to stay away from this stuff! (Not just from a filling standpoint but also because I just don’t love fried stuff.)

And then the craziness started. You have a little card that you can flip to “yes” or “no thank  you.” If your card is on yes then get ready. The meat guys start coming around and offering you all kinds of things…sirloin, leg of lamb, parmesan pork, bacon wrapped chicken, bacon wrapped filet, salmon, swordfish…it goes on and on and on…

Luckily, they just give you a little taste of everything so portion control is possible if you put your mind to it! I definitely had more than this but it gives you a good idea of how it works.

We were somehow able to squeeze in dessert at the end of our meal. Brandon and I split a Brazilian walnut cream that came with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. It was different but pretty tasty. I officially reached the point of ridiculously full after dessert but it was a very fun evening with family. Brazilian steakhouses definitely offer different and interactive dining experience.

Have you ever been to a Brazilian steakhouse? If not, do you think you could hang!?

Lunch yesterday was a slightly healthier meal.

A tomato sandwich with our beautiful farmer’s market tomatoes, avocado and mixed greens. The key to an extra amazing tomato sandwich is herb mayo!

I pick a variety of herbs from our herb garden (yesterday was lemon thyme, basil and chives), mince them and then whisk them into light mayo with a squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper. It adds the perfect fresh kick to the sandwich.

And I’m off to work. Have a great day!