Friday night I got a spa pedicure (OPI Pinking of You for the pedicure, Essie Power Clutch for the manicure) and it was awesome. The manicurist even told me a ghost story, which I did not like because I do not like ghost stories, but she was excited about it.
I met the gang at
Gran Caffe L'Aquila for our annual Friendsgiving, minus a few who couldn't make it. The company is always stellar with these friends of 20+ years and their people, and the food was excellent. If you're in Philly and you like Italian, go here. The story of the restaurant is great and the food cashes the check. I had the stuffed olives, the veal saltimboca, and the lavender panna cotta. Next year: Friendsgiving at the shore.
Saturday morning we were supposed to have physicals for an additional life insurance policy but they didn't show. I followed it up with an awesome massage, a quick bite at Panera, a stop in TJ Maxx (Mae got a coat), a trip to the grocery store (couldn't tell you the last time I set foot in there), and a visit to see my father-in-law in the hospital. I rounded things out with a nap with the dogs. Jet lag is kicking my ass.
Saturday night my mother-in-law came over for dinner. I made salmon casserole (MFD's favorite) and we had ice cream cake to celebrate his three years of sobriety. Proud is an understatement.
I slept in on Sunday then did some food prep:
breakfast burritos to freeze;
egg muffins with asparagus and cheese for this week's breakfasts; a double batch of power breakfast muffins to freeze (actually made on Saturday night); the innards of
baked tacos for dinner this week; and a mix of roasted spaghetti squash, roasted asparagus, chicken, tomatoes, and olive oil for this week's lunches. I also took some turkey noodle soup out of the freezer for a dinner.
I meant to do more Sunday, but have been feeling run down from post-travel and sinus issues and hatred heartbreak fatigue, so I took it easy. Chinese for lunch, delivery by MFD; reading the newest in the
Dublin Murder Series; an on-point episode of SNL from Saturday night; and
The Fall (yes! it's back!) rounded out the day.
The next installment of our trip is coming up tomorrow. Prepare for pictures.
Happy happy birthday to my fabulous friend Melissa today.
That nail polish color is so pretty!! Sounds like the best way to come back from a trip away - friendsgiving is always so much fun!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteThat coat! Oh how I wish my dogs would wear coats.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to MFD!
What do you think of The Fall? I finished it within a week and have thoughts.
Congratulations to MFD! Choosing life and the joy that comes with it...one day at a time. Many continued blessings to you both.
ReplyDeleteGreat weekend! Um, I found a dog hat I want for Gigi at HomeGoods, but I am pretty sure she'd kill me if I tried to make her wear it. Haha. Love the Friendsgiving dinner! Congrats to MFD!
ReplyDeleteProud of Mike Doyle to infinity and beyond! Proud of both of you for your community service! Code blue nights and Covenant House and so much more. Both of you are very giving. It's the best. Continued Godspeed and Goddess speed. Love. Your. Momma.
ReplyDeleteYou go, MFD. And you go too, Steph, as wife and chief support system. I love Mae's new coat. "Hated Heartbreak Fatigue" is so damn accurate.
ReplyDeleteI got a mani/pedi over the weekend too and it was heaven on earth- needed it! The Friendsgiving food looks and sounds delicious- what a fun tradition :) Congrats to MFD!
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time I had a mani/pedi. Sigh. It's been TOO long. Glad you had an awesome time!
ReplyDeletewww.justmurrayed.com
Hey, congrats to your hubs on his amazing accomplishment - I had no idea. Also, sounds like we had similar weekend in the fact that we took much-needed breaks from the recent madness as a very welcome distraction. I thought SNL was GREAT, btw.
ReplyDeleteLove that polish color (but weird about the ghost story--that's a first!), and so fun that you guys do a Friendsgiving every year! So much yummy looking food in that food prep!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to MFD! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of/tried salmon casserole but it sounds absolutely delicious. I really love that y'all do a friendsgiving. We don't have a tradition like that.
Congrats to MFD! I've had Panera once...but haven't stopped thinking about how good it was since. It's probably for the best there isn't one even remotely near by.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to MFD! I loved loved that episode of SNL. I think it's the first time I've sat and watched an entire episode without fast forwarding in years. My favorite quotes came from the RGB skit. "An apple a day keeps Ben Carson away!" and "I've hidden horcruxes in Talbots across DC". I'm laughing again just thinking of it!
ReplyDeleteI love you all celebrate the sobriety. Totally worthy of cake & praise!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your manicure color! All the food pictures are making me even hungrier - yum!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to MFD - that's awesome! Mae's coat is adorable. I wish Max would allow me to dress him up more often. But five minutes appears to be his limit. LOL! Friendsgivings are the best. Sometimes better than family gatherings because less stressful. I'm sad that I won't be home to help my Mom with the meal but besides my parents, I'm pretty sure everyone there voted for Trump and I'd get shouty at them. And I really, really want a Panera iced coffee right now.
ReplyDeleteYour friendsgiving looks so fun!!! Love that polish color and the jacket you found for Mae at TJ Maxx. That reminds me I saw a Santa costume there this weekend I wanted to get for Mac and completely forgot to grab it. I need to make sure they still have it fast! you have me wanting chinese food and stuffed olives so bad right now. Yum!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS to MFD! I'm totally craving ice cream cake right now, and loving the color you chose for your manicure. So pretty! Cheers to a great week <3
ReplyDeleteThat Essie nail color is beautiful and so perfect for Fall! Your Friendsgiving sounds like so much fun, and a huge congrats to MFD on his anniversary! That's so awesome!
ReplyDeleteI LOVED this season of The Fall!
ReplyDeleteSo many congrats to MFD. Three years is a hell of an accomplishment.
Salmon casserole?!? that sounds amazing! Do share the recipe ;)
ReplyDeleteI tried to make Hewitt wear a coat I got him. He could not be bothered. He somehow got out of it when he was outside and peed on it then came back in like nothing happened. Little jerk...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on three years to MFD!
ReplyDeleteYou have done more than I have.. and I didn't even go anywhere. LOL
ReplyDeleteooo I love the colour Power Clutch! it's such a great fall/winter colour.
ReplyDeleteAll the congrats and well wishes to MFD on his anniversary. My dad just celebrated 8 years last month. It seems like forever since he was that person and like it never happened but not. The last few years of his drinking were so bad and I remember being so angry with him and now I have this immense amount of pride and he's just so different but better that it's hard to remember what our family was like before.
ReplyDeleteIs MFD a sweet-aholic now? I found that with my Dad he craves sweets. His weakness is spice cake. He bakes two cakes a week and eats a quarter cake at time for breakfast and dinner.
Your manicure is so pretty! Love Mae's coat!
ReplyDeleteWow lady, you took the weekend by the horns and kept busy with that lurking jet lag! Not sure I'd be able to get so much done. I hope your FIL is doing okay!
ReplyDeleteLove that Essie color! Mani/pedis are the best! :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Edye | Http://gracefulcoffee.com
Friendsgiving is an awesome tradition.
ReplyDeleteI bet Mae will look darling in her new coat.
Applause to MFD for the sobriety achievement. It takes such a strong person to decide that path is necessary for his/herself...and to stick to that path.
Love the fingernail color.
lol @ the manicurist telling you a ghost story! hilarious!
ReplyDeletei hope your father-in-law is okay. and congrats to MFD, that is amazing. ice cream cake is also amazing.