Today, I’m waking up back in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time in two weeks. There are some positives to getting back into my routine and normal life, but I must say, the post-holiday-travel blues are a real thing, my friends. A real, real thing.
I’m teaching BODYPUMP this morning and two classes at Orangetheory Fitness tonight, with a big chunk of writing at home in the middle of the day. I guess it’s a good thing that I’ll be very busy, to keep my mind somewhat occupied, but it never gets easier to say goodbye to Florida and my family after such a nice visit. Oh the difficulties of moving so far from home.
A few friend visits in St. Pete and Orlando
Before flying back West, Dave and I (and my Momma) had the chance to see a few more wonderful Florida faces. On the way from Southwest Florida to our old hometown of Orlando, we dropped by my friend Yolanda’s house in St. Petersburg and met her new little daughter, Vivi. From there, we continued to the center of the state to Orlando, where we met our friends, Jess and Amanda, for a late outdoor lunch in the Winter Park neighborhood at Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen, with Rudy in tow.
Finally, before a huge and delicious dinner at Buca di Bepo with Jess and Amanda, we paid a visit to our friends, Chris and Allison, and their two daughters in their new home, and shared a few stories and laughs.
Family-style Italian dining is always a good idea. Can you see the size of that colossal brownie sundae we’re all digging into?
Over the course of just a few hours, we caught up with a bunch of our Florida favorites. Yet as usual, I felt like there were a ton more friends I wanted to see and things I wanted to do, and we couldn’t quite fit it all in. Until next time …
This week’s “What I Ate Wednesday” recap
Switching gears to food, as always, in the middle of the week every week, I like to take a moment to share a full day of all of my meals in pictures, and this one’s from Florida.
Today, I’m sharing a look at almost all of my meals from Sunday of this week. A day I spent at my parents’ house in Southwest Florida.
Breakfast at 9 a.m.
My first meal of the day included a toasted whole wheat English muffin, topped with mounds of almond butter, a banana and chia seeds. I enjoyed it alongside some hot green tea, sweetened with stevia and almond milk.
Liquid snack at 11 a.m.
An un-pictured big carton of coconut water.
Lunch at 1:30 p.m.
A helping of Publix sushi for the win! I gobbled up this brown-rice sushi roll filled with salmon and avocado and savored every single bite. Publix wasabi (the green stuff) has a good kick to it, by the way — it’s much more potent than Whole Foods wasabi.
Liquid snack at 4 p.m.
I had an embarrassing amount of these matcha green tea lattes from Starbucks over the past two weeks. But boy are they good. I will not be totaling up the dollar amount of those indulgences in my head. Not at all.
Dinner at 8 p.m.
Mom’s cooking strikes again. For our final dinner at home during the visit, I had tenderloin steak, roasted butternut squash, grilled garlic bread, steamed asparagus, grilled shrimp, feta-topped tomatoes and a glass of Chardonnay. It was beyond perfection.
Dessert at 9:30 p.m.
After a family game of Scrabble and more wine, I got into the desserts and enjoyed a little bit of everything we had leftover from Thanksgiving celebrations (as a team player, I had to help my Mom empty out the fridge). My paper plate of goodness did not photograph well, but know that it included a heaping portion of pecan pie, carrot cake cheesecake and egg nog ice cream. Yum central.
Delicious food pictures and some chatter for #WhatIAteWednesday ... Click To Tweet
Check out more food posts
Why the food pictures? Each week, “What I Ate Wednesday” is an open invitation for bloggers to showcase their eats to their readers. If you want to see more food recaps, check out some of my posts from the past here.
Questions of the day
When was the last time you caught up with an old friend?
How’s your week going so far?
Do you have an expensive daily food or drink habit?
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
I feel for you! Anytime I visit my family after I always get the spell of the blues for a little bit. It’s really hard when your family lives in another state. I always find jumping back into my routine helps.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…WIAW…So Much To Do So Little Time
Ashley says
I know, Megan. That’s what I’m going to do today … routine, routine, routine. 🙁 At least we have nice families to visit, which is a blessing!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
How much do you miss Publix? I mean, shopping is such a pleasure there 😀 So glad that you had so many delicious meals with such great friends and family. There really is nothing like getting to reconnect with old friends!
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Maintaining Fitness During Injury (Part 2)
Ashley says
It felt so good to be with my old friends … and to visit Publix numerous times heheh! 🙂 Have a great day, Susie!
Mo says
As usual your eats look delicious and healthy. I think my daily expensive habit is my glass or 2 of wine every night. I probably don’t want to add the $$ I spend on wine ?
You can justify the green tea lattes by all the antioxidants you are getting. Matcha is like a super food!
Ashley says
So true, Mo! And CHEERS to you and your nightly wine. I wonder if there is a way to mix matcha and wine? hahahha
Gretchen | Gretchruns says
I love Orlando! So cool that you got to visit, and I can’t believe you fit seeing so many friends in such a short period of time. Your organizational skills must be amazing! Is Publix sushi good? I’ve tried sushi from Trader Joe’s and my local grocery store and it’s always been horrible so I’m afraid to try from other grocers!
Gretchen | Gretchruns recently posted…Wednesday Reviews : Trader Joe’s
Ashley says
I happen to enjoy quite a few grocery store sushi varieties. Publix is good, but Whole Foods sushi is the BEST! But I don’t like Trader Joe’s sushi at all — that would be the last in my book, which is funny because Trader Joe’s has so many other good products.
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl says
I can’t bring myself to try grocery store sushi – plus, they tend to put stuff in the rice that makes it unsafe for Celiacs (I know for example pretty much all of Trader Joe’s sushi has wheat in it). Is Publix better? I’ve never been to one!
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…WIAW #34: Thanksgiving Leftovers
Ashley says
Hi Alyssa, Publix sushi is WAYYYYY better than Trader Joe’s, that’s for sure. But I don’t know about the wheat content. Better safe than sorry though, so I can see why you’d be skeptical.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
That all looks fabulous. I spend wayyyy too much on grocery store sushi and kombucha. It’s the little pleasure though. 🙂
Enjoy getting to be home for a bit! I know I am too!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Our Fridge Is Empty & Our Tree is Full [WIAW]
Ashley says
Hi Laura! I haven’t had a lot of kombucha, but I know that can certainly be a pricey habit heheh! 🙂 Enjoy your day, lady!
Ashley recently posted…A short and sweet stay in Orlando and some food pictures
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me says
I didn’t know Starbucks did green tea lattes! I don’t know why I assumed they didn’t, but I am literally going to go get one today! YES. Thank you for this!
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me recently posted…WIAW: Thanksgiving Eats!
Ashley says
Hi Julia! Yes, Starbucks has them, but they aren’t always on the menu – so just ask anyways! 🙂
Ashley recently posted…A short and sweet stay in Orlando and some food pictures
Hilary says
Ahh since moving the last time I caught up with some old friends was back in mid October, with no immediate plans of going home I hope to get them to come out and visit soon!
Hilary recently posted…December Goals
Ashley says
I want some visitors as well, Hilary! Hope your friends come through for you heheh! 🙂
Jen@jpabstfitness says
I had no idea Starbucks had green tea lattes- my bank account will hate me, but I love you for telling me this!
Jen@jpabstfitness recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday
Ashley says
They are so good, Jen. But they aren’t always on the menu, so just ask. 🙂
Amy says
Your trip “home” was great to read about! I do take living near my family for granted…….we don’t really make time to get together outside of a special occasion. This year was different though—maybe getting older is the reason, but it’s been better:) I don’t have a daily treat that’s spendy—when I buy my occasional latte–once a mth-ha, I feel bad spending the 4-5 bucks. I’m so used to making coffee at home and bringing tea bags to work. That green tea latte sounds delish though:)
Ashley says
Hi Amy! You should totally appreciate having family close by, because it’s SO hard to not have it. I realize it more and more as I get older too, of course. I usually make my tea at home, but because it was a “trip/holiday/vacation” I didn’t feel too bad about the daily splurge heheh! 🙂
Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth says
Fiiiiiine… I’ll try something at SB that’s not my steamed apple juice. But it’s just so simple and tasty! Ha!
Sounds like you had a great time traveling through the state. But welcome home. 🙂
Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth recently posted…2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Gals (All $50 & Under!)
Ashley says
Steamed apple juice? This is something I do not know about … sounds yummy though! 🙂
sarah says
I love Publix, it’s just the best lol. I definitely have a coffee addiction which can get expensive, luckily I like it black so that keeps the cost down!
sarah recently posted…A New Protein Source Reviewed
Ashley says
I wish I could drink black coffee! So cheap and quick. 🙂 You are my hero, Sarah hahah!
Whitney @ To Live & Diet in L.A. says
You consumed pretty much all of my favorite foods in one day! I’m jealous. And that colossal sundae?! No words – just a long mmmmmmmm sound 🙂
Whitney @ To Live & Diet in L.A. recently posted…5 Ways To Stay on Track with Winter Workouts
Ashley says
Get yourself to a Buca di Bepo to try it out yourself, Whitney. 🙂
Krissy @ Pretty Wee Things says
YUM! I love brown rice sushi too! And yes, oh my gosh I had to cut down my coffee intake after I did our budget and worked out I was spending almost $1500 per year ON ALMOND MILK COFFEE! Whaaaaat!
lol, so don’t work it out in your head, it’s safer not to know!
Krissy @ Pretty Wee Things recently posted…8 healthy bloggers who have your back this Christmas
Ashley says
HAHAH! WOW! That’s a lot of money on coffee. Scary thought. Glad you got it under control, Krissy!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
Leaving family is always hard, especially after a holiday! On the flip side, those green tea lattes are sooo good! Happy WIAW, Ashley!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables recently posted…What I Ate Sunday
Ashley says
They are, Liz! I want lattes and family in my life EVERY day. 🙂
Dani @ Dani California Cooks says
I had some serious post-vacation blues going on this Monday. Thankfully I’m taking a lot of vacation in December!
Dani @ Dani California Cooks recently posted…WIAW – Still Not Hungry
Ashley says
Good for you, Dani! Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!! 🙂
Dawn says
I too am from Florida, and recently moved to the Bay Area. That is what drew me to your blog. I just needed to share with someone that might understand, that I sooooo miss Publix.