We are back to the mother ship!
But first, one more picture from Blend thanks to mom, who showed up as the guest photographer.
After traveling from Boston to New York, New York to Colorado, Colorado to New York, I am done wandering for a while. (My mom and bro are still trekking along to Florida for my brother’s internship!)
Blend swag made travel snacking so easy.
Madre loves these Quest protein chips. Look at that protein!
almond butter Perfect Bar spread on a sandwich thin
Colorado was an epic vacation with my mom and brother, but I’m also happy to be home with my dad. Poor guy was eating leftovers from the fridge all week while we were eating fresh new foods in Colorado (and then posting them on social media where he could see). I’m also excited to be all domestic again this summer— mostly for the cooking, not as much for the cleaning and errands… Such is life.
Domesticity started early this morning with dropping off Pop at the train station, going grocery shopping (at 6AM when I can pace the aisles freely without judgement), and breakfast.
Arman’s cake batter oatmeal is life-changing // sprinkles just because it’s “cake batter”
We left Colorado with a bang by going to Flagstaff House for a super splurge dinner on Sunday night. My mom insisted on taking me out to an early birthday dinner, since she and Ben would be away for my real birthday. I definitely didn’t need a fancy dinner, but I think my mom really wanted dinner with a view to treat me to something special. It’s not like it was difficult to accept either. 😉
The meal was rich (food-wise and moolah-wise), but we savored every bite, as well as the unbeatable mountain view.
The service was excellent, and the food was outstanding. They even served complimentary amuse bouche and palate cleansers throughout the meal.
bottom left is our appetizer order: yellowfin tuna tartare and steak tartare with brioche toasts
my entree: New Zealand salmon (cooked medium rare, OMG) with lump crab meat // Ben’s: pork tenderloin // Mom’s: natural Colorado chicken breast
desserts: chocolate lava cake with vanilla bean ice cream // trio of vanilla bean, vegan vanilla bean, and salted caramel house-spun ice cream // tiny complimentary French toast with vanilla creme anglaise and candied pecans
early birthday complimentary dessert platter
complimentary mini blueberry poppyseed loaves to take home!
Incredible all around. The value is awesome when you account for the view, service, quality and taste of food, and amount of complimentary food!
I got some moves in at the hotel before we headed to the airport yesterday, and it was probably the last intense workout I’ll be doing in a while. (I’ll talk more about all that another day.) It was a good one though!
- dynamic warmup
- circuit workout // 3 rounds of each
- 15 weighted step-ups each leg // 20 squat jumps
- 5 reps of 5 bent over row+ 5 frog plank jumps // 15 leg lift crunches
- 20 hamstring ball curls // 10 burpee tuck jumps
- 12 sit-ups to shoulder press // 20 spiderman planks
- tabata // 20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest x8
- burpees
- high knees
I’m not a workout selfie person, but I thought my last gym workout for a while warranted one.
Hashtag grind, hashtag muscles, hashtag gym. Did I nail it?
I followed it up with more Blend swag food: half a Quest bar + a sweet potato with a chocolate Nuttzo sample packet and a power fuel Nuttzo sample packet.
And then an Asian chicken salad later in the afternoon.
I went to bed late and woke up early this morning, so I’m about to take a nap before my eye doc appointment and then my first day at physical therapy internship!
Hope you all have a wonderful day! Take weird selfies today.
So tell me:
Have you gone to a splurge restaurant that was totally worth it?
What do you like to eat on airplanes?
Do you like gym selfies (seeing them or taking them)? I don’t mind seeing others’ gym selfies every once in a while, but I don’t really like taking them myself.
What are you doing today?
Daily Moves and Grooves 
Wow, you definitely know how to make someone hungry! 🙂 Happy early birthday! When is your real birthday? That Colorado restaurant looks lovely, and I’m so glad your mom and brother came to make an amazing trip more amazing!
May 31! 🙂
I want to try the Quest Protein Crisps! I just saw them at GNC – I’ll have to pick up a bag 🙂 Also, I plan to make those cake batter oats tomorrow morning. Love the addition of the sprinkles!
PS – I love your blouse + skirt! You look beautiful!
Thanks, Di!
Let me (and Arman, primarily) know how you like the cake batter oats!
I only take selfies in the comfort of my own room☺️🙈🙈🙈but more power to ya👍
Ooo how was your first quest bar!? Yay or nay?
Today marks the begin mining of job hunting! May the force be with me!
And good luck on your first day😘💗
Ps that bday dinner outfit is beautiful!
First Quest bar was a yay! It’s still not my first choice of snack, but I love how it tastes like a treat!
Best of luck with the job hunt, Katie! Praying for ya!
Everything Arman makes looks divine. Did he (did I tell you?) I’m trying to plan an NYC getaway this summer?! If I can make it work, can the three of us please hang out? Let’s make him cook peanut butter-infused everything for us.
You did not just compliment me…..I am in disbelief.
YES. YES YES YES. Al is as much as a PB fiend as you are. And the two of you always eat in Fancy shitake restaurants (which we wont do in NYC cos I’m poor)
Which is what the Halal Guys are for. Cheap, killer food.
WHAT WHAT WHAT. Yes to all of that!! Please let me know when you’re coming!
Mom’s always save the day, don’t they? I saw your breakfast this morning on Instagram and it made me hungry even though I had breakfast just before seeing it. You look stunning in the picture from the restaurant (and every other picture you take!) Chocolate lava cake is my favorite dessert ever! I’m envious that you got to have it recently, but I hope it was delicious!
I don’t like to eat anything on planes! I get a little nervous, so I usually just have a soda to calm my nerves.
I enjoy seeing gym selfies because usually people take them when they are proud of themselves, however I am like you, and I don’t feel comfortable taking them myself. 🙂
Aw sorry to hear that flying makes you lost your appetite! I totally understand. Just the smell of planes makes me slightly nauseous.
I’m not a gym selfie person but yours is adorable! And you look so cute in your birthday pics! And how cool would it be if there was a way to tag the Blend picture with hyperlinks of everyone’s blog sites to check out? There are so many bloggers I don’t recognize!
That restaurant meal looks super good! And I am such a sucker for well cooked (or in this case, little cooked 😉 ) salmon, you lucky thing! I am loving hearing about all your adventures. That sweet potato made me feel weak at the knees, I need it in my life!
Isn’t medium rare salmon just the BEST!? The texture is just so luxurious, IMO.
You definitely nailed the gym selfie – if that’s how everyone did them, I’d like them a lot more. Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Looks like you had a great meal at the restaurant, Alison. It looks delicious!
As for airplane food, the food was delicious on the flight to and back from China. They even had ice cream! haha. The only flights I’ve been on were out of the country, so of course they have to serve some sort of snack or meals.
I don’t like taking much of gym selfies. I feel kind of awkward taking a picture at the gym where everyone can look and stare. >_<. but I do take them sometimes (rarely). Yours is super cute! 🙂
Longer flights tend to have better food for sure! Domestic flights just have peanuts, pretzels, and Biscoff cookies… but I can’t complain about the cookies 😉
awww looks like an incredible ((and delicious)) adventure!