We had the best day! The afternoon and evening more than made up for the missed morning bike ride.
The afternoon started with an outing to Best Buy, where I picked up this cash!!! I bought my iPhone from them partly because of Kevin and partly because that store knows how to do business. They match prices within 30 days, so I walked out with $107 in my pocket from the new reduced 3G phone price. Sweeeeeeeeeet! (I asked about getting the new phone, but since mine is practically brand new and will have an upgraded operating system in a few days there was no real need to get the new model).
After Best Buy we went to Old Navy to return a shirt I bought in the wrong size by accident – only to find they were now 50% off so I got 2 for the price of the first! And found this tube top for $8 too. I do not normally wear tube tops (thanks to being well endowed) but I have found that they are wonderful to wear around the house when I am very sweaty after a workout and shower and can’t stand the thought of putting on a real shirt.
He got a polo shirt too – all men’s stuff was half off!
On the way to our next location I took some photos of my new purse organizer. A new friend at MyRecipes.com (where I actually do go to research recipes all the time) sent along this purse organizer when I told her how much I LOVE Real Simple magazine.
It’s totally cool! You know how you have 10 different purses to match different outfits? Well this solves the problem of transferring every little item over and over. You find a place for everything and then just transfer the whole pouch. I have a lot of little things I’m always digging for in my big ol’ one pocket purses
My camera, phone, change purse, lip necessities
Breath mints, FOOD
Pen, credit card holder, receipts, KERF biz cards
All fit snug + organized in my blue fake Longchamps purse from China : )
The final surprise destination was Old Mecklenburg Brewery, Charlotte’s first local brewery. Matt had already been and was dying to take me to check it out.
They make German-style beers – low quantity, high quality – and had two to sample.
We started with the Kolsner. I wasn’t dying to drink this afternoon, but agreed I’d go and just have a few sips of Matt’s.
Thumbs up!!! It had a lot of flavor and body for a “yellow” beer
During the tour we tried the Copper, which I liked, but not as much as the first.
So we had a third (half pint, that is) of the first again. I probably had half to 3/4 of a half pint in sips?
Which we sipped with these DELICIOUS pretzels. I really love pretzels. Wish they weren’t so “empty.”
I had quite a few because that turned into this! (With Matt’s help, though)
After the brewery we decided to go for a walk in Freedom Park.
But on the way there I wanted to stop into Home Economist to see if they had chia seeds. They had EVERYTHING but no chia seeds ;( I need to go there again for some of these bulks. They had more bulk goods than I’d ever seen!
Then we arrived at the park for our walk. Matt likes to snap candid photos of me as I’m getting ready for a real pose. A real life 180* turn!! (How’d he get my hair to do that in the middle one!?)
We had a great 30 minute walk around the lake
And then drove home to make dinner. We thought about going out (the timing would have been fun) but we had salmon at home and knew it was the better choice all around. But going out to dinner is SO FUN!
I came home to a package from Mara – one of her food blogger necklaces!!! Her father makes them by hand and you can purchase them on her blog here. Think I’m going to get one for my mom!
(Love it Mara – thank you!!)
Before There Was KERF
Dinner tonight goes waaaaay back to the summer after sophomore year of college when we sublet a room in an apartment together as we worked as counselors at a water sports YMCA camp. We had NO CLUE how to cook, but this salmon recipe was our one tried-and-true (and very simple) recipe.
Back then I had this little notebook where I collected recipes torn out of health and food magazines
I ranked them if we made them so I’d know if we should make it again
I had intended the book to be a wine journal too – here’s the label from a bottle my parents gave me for my 21st birthday! Guess I ate it with cheese 😉
I wrote down some recipes we invented ourselves, like this homemade (onion-free!) salsa
Lemon-Mustard green beans (on tonight’s menu!)
And the salmon
Maple Salmon 2009
I used frozen wild sockeye from TJ’s and cooked it just like last year. This was only about .62 pounds of salmon and we only cooked it for 12 minutes instead of 20 though.
Served with the Lemon-Dijon green beans + almonds above (SUCH a good simple recipe)
I thought about heating up the leftover quinoa, but we had all those carbs for a snack, so we didn’t really need it.
Wine just seemed appropriate, so I had 4-5 oz of last night’s leftover bottle. I wanted some for no other reason than its romance –
Our dinner lasted well into the night – TWO HOURS. I think we both just wanted to keep the fun day together going.
He’s been up since 3:30 this morning (and just cleaned the whole kitchen while I blogged!) <3
Goodnight moon!
april says
Cute shirts!! Is there somewhere I can buy that purse organizer? I desperately need one!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Wow, cool bargains! I love getting “volume” from shopping trips.
You know what would be awesome? Unsalted whole wheat pretzels! Then they wouldn’t be as empty. 🙂
Salmon looks great. I swear I could it it everyday and never get tired of it.
Jenn
Help Meghan Run says
What a lovely, lovely day. 🙂 Looks like y’all had a fabulous time enjoying the simple pleasures. So awesome.
HelpMeghanRun.com
Shannon, The Healthy Beach Bum says
Looks like I’ll be taking a shopping trip to Old Navy this week 🙂
That is such a cute charm necklace and your old notebook of recipes is so neat! I love how it’s like a scrapbook full of memories.
Have a great day tomorrow! <3 Shannon
Linda says
Looks like a another fun day, and I’m tempted to go to Old Navy to check out some of those tube tops too! You and your husband are a cute couple.
I still keep a similar recipe journal with clippings from magazines and newspaper, and nowadays, it includes a lot of print outs from the web!
Melissa @ For the Love of Health says
What a great afternoon! It’s so nice to have monetary surprises like that! I get pretty excited too.
Your dinner looks amazing! Great story behind it 🙂
Have a great evening!
Bev says
What a lovely day . Where did she get the purse organizer from?
Tammy says
What a lovely day you had! I love finding old notebooks and things from the past. That’s neat that you kept your recipe book. And the grades — too cute!
Tammy says
After I wrote my comment, I looked up and saw that about 20,000 other people wrote “lovely.” LOL. Seems to be the consensus!
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
It sounds like a perfect summer day with the hubby!
Katherine says
I love the purse and would love more information about it!
I really like your recipe notebook – very cute 🙂
Priyanka says
Nice day, nicer Salmon and nicest purse organizer!! I simply love it!! My hand bag is like a mine that I have to dig deep each time I need something and this is like the best thing ever!
gliding calm says
what a fun day!!! i love old navy, but try not to go in there often…..it’s dangerous!!!
that purse organizer is too cool! i totally agree- having something to just switch purse-to-purse would be so helpful and convenient!! nice!
also loving that salmon dinner!!! it’s my favorite fish!!!
HAPPY SUNDAY KATH!!!
p.s. hurray for tube tops! they are so easy and comfy!!
Michelle (PinQue) says
Glad you got some money back! I am excited to get our new iphones next week!! See you at Pops in the Park tomorrow?
Michelle
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
What a great way to spend that extra cash with an Old Navy shopping trip! I love how you can get such good-quality clothes there at such amazing prices! LOVING the tube top Kath… very cute. 🙂
Sounds like you had a wonderful afternoon! And thanks for sharing that recipe book with us. That salmon recipe seriously sounds delicious and so simple! I’ve got to try it out!
Quick question… What do you use to weigh your salmon? Do you actually use a scale for that? If so, what kind is it?
Have a wonderful evening!
ReluctantWriter says
What a great evening! That’s wonderful that you guys take the time out to be together. A little goes such a long way. I love your old food journal. The first time I “heard” of someone rating and dating recipes was in Jhumpa Lahiri’s book – Interpreter of Maladies. The female character in the first story always rated and dated the recipes she and her husband made. I’ve always loved the thought of it, but I can’t follow a recipe to save my life! I always find a way to “improve” it. Thanks for sharing your day with us!
Anne K. says
That does sound like a fun day! I love that purse organizer–what a great idea. And Old Navy is fun. That’s a cute shirt!
The salmon looks delicious! How cool that you found your old recipe book. I love finding old notebooks and such 😀
Mrs. Myers says
How strange! Yesterday, while standing in line at CVS, it occurred to me that I should create an onion-free salsa recipe, and today, here it is!!! Life is crazy like that. lol. Sounds like you had a great day.
Jen says
I have that same tube top in coral! So comfy…I’m sure you will love wearing yours 🙂
Victoria says
Sounds like a great day. Awesome you got your money back! We just bought the iPhones because they became so cheap! That “cookbook” is a really cool look into the past.
Caroline says
Love the organizer! I am a sucker for anything that helps with keeping things neat!
Lynn says
What flip flops are you wearing while you walk? I can’t walk for very long in mine….
Lordus says
Dear Kath – as an avid reader of your blog I worry your posts have grown a little too… well… long and involved. Maybe chill out on the photos too.
BUT I LOVE YOUR OATMEAL!
Lauren says
Sounds like a really great day!! 🙂
Susan says
American money looks so fake to me!! I’m used to the colour coded Canadian bills 🙂
And I lovelovelove that purse. My current one is a giant sac and it takes me forever to find things.
Such a cute recipe book! Simple dinners are often the best, especially in the summer time after a long, fun day 🙂
Kate says
I like your recipe book idea! I have been meaning to make one myself since I am always losing my good recipes after snipping them from magazines.
The purse organizer looks handy! I could use one of those for sure!
Elizabeth says
What a lovely day!
polly says
hey cute kath! I love tube tops!!! BUT… I never had enought TUBEBOOBS to hold them up, per say. 😉
Have a fun Sunday and hugs! XOXO
Liz @ in the skinny says
Thanks for the heads up on the Old Navy sales. I’m going to have to hit them up sometime this week!
I love the idea of the book with recipes. Usually I just throw the recipe cutouts in my recipe box and forget about them. This will help me actually remember to cook them!
Nicole says
Ha, I totally need one of those bag organizers. Mine is a MESS!
Kath says
Re. purse organizer,
I’m not sure – I’ll have to ask my contact.
Heather ,
I just looked at the package, which said .62lbs and knew each pieces was slightly larger than 4 oz.
Lynn ,
I have a pair of rainbow-like flops. My feet did hurt a little afterwards, as I usually wear tennis shoes to walk.
K
Amanda says
What an absolutely great looking day! I love your recipe book… I’ve been thinking of a way to compile recipes I get in magazines, and I think I’ll have to try that book/journal out 🙂
Emily L. says
Such a great little recipe book. I really need to do that because all of my favorite recipes are print outs (from blogs like yours!) or from magazines as well. I have no organized way of keeping them, and it just becomes mayhem when I try to find my favorite.
I think that is a project for the day! Maybe I’ll do it and blog about it tonight 😉
Sabrina says
I’ve been reading for awhile but this is the first time I’ve written. Reading your blog about your recipe journal book got me wondering…how do you keep/organize all the new recipes you find, use and want to try? I keep things on the computer but become so overwhelmed by the quantity that I have…I just wondered what kind of tips or advice you might have.
Really enjoy your blog!
Sheri says
What a lovely day you spent with your hubby! Those kind of days are the best! I love that purse organizer…have to track down one of those.
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
So glad the charm made it there safely, and even more glad that you like it!!! 🙂
Jessica says
What a fun Saturday, we love matching prices at stores too! Check this new and coming brewery in Durham out! They make “southern” beers such as sweet potato and rhubarb! Once they open we’ll have to do a blogger trip there. http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=86367184999&h=1Njch&u=aZanR&ref=nf
Casey says
Kevin is mentioned in the blog! 🙂 Yes, I am a NERD!!!
Kath says
Sabrina ,
Well now I’m all digital 🙂 I save them in SpringPadIt.com. They have a cool bookmark tool you can use to capture recipes from the internet. I also save them in Google calendar as I plan them. And lastly, I do still tear them out of magazines and have a binder with paper covers to hold them.
Jessica ,
OMG – I can’t wait to go there!!!
K
Bev says
I found the organizer … Pouchee Ultimate Purse Organizer. Ebay has them for $23. 95 free shipping or amazon : http://www.amazon.com/Pouchee-Ultimate-Purse-Organizer-Leatherette/dp/B001N498SW/ref=pd_sbs_op_20
Adventures of Alice says
Hey! My Mom gave me one of those purse organizers a few years ago–they are so handy! I have a bright green one. Here’s a link to the kind I have if anyone is interested: http://shop.pouchee.com/collections/cotton-pouchees
Lordus says
why are your posts so long kath?
why?
Robin says
The new iPhone has a much better camera, can take video, has a compass, and will just run a LOT faster. You might want to look into upgrading your phone – even if just for the video aspect.
kitchenbelle says
I am obsessed with myrecipes.com! They have really done a great job with the site!
Ashley says
Where do you usually buy your journals? I have a drawer full of recipes and need to clean it out. I LOVE the idea of putting them all in a book and writing little notes, rating them and tweaking them. It’s just perfect!
Ashley says
Mmm I’m going to have to try those green beans. Trader Joe’s has 100% whole wheat pretzels!