Hi everyone! :] I’m linking up with Coco @ Got 2 Run 4 Me, Lynda @ Fitness Mom Wine Country, & Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner! for April’s Ultimate Coffee Date! Pull up a chair/bean bag/whatever you like to sit on and come link and/or catch up with us! :]
I’m giving away 3 sets of Venice Kitchen silicone baking cups! Have you entered yet?!
If we were having coffee/tea this morning…I’d tell you that I love awesome company and good food, so I’m glad we’re catching up! :] How’s the weather been over where you are? Are you glad it’s finally spring? (April’s my birthday month, so I’m just a little biased. ;P )
While we’re on the subject of good company + food, before I left for my first away rotation, one of my friends came over and we made cake batter smoothies and quinoa patties for dinner to celebrate the ending of my least favorite rotation ever (excluding the last week of it, which was absolutely wonderful).
If we were having coffee/tea this morning…I’d tell you that I went to Pittsburgh for the first time last weekend! My friends and I decided we needed a little retail therapy and just a tiny day trip’s worth of an escape from medical school, just so we could remind ourselves that we had friends and lives and the like.
We had all sorts of good eats (bibimbap, bulgogi, sushi, all sorts of desserts…). Living in the middle of nowhere makes you really miss food variety! :o
I haven’t seen Sasha since 2nd year ended, so it was really great to be able to spend some time together and catch up on life! <3 There’s little else that rocks my world more these days than good company + good eats.
I’m super sad to be leaving the friend I’ve been living with, because it’s been awesome to have company and someone to cook and eat with. ;_; Med school can be a very alienating experience, and these past 4 weeks have been really helpful in combating that. It was the perfect remedy to my psych rotation, and I’m so glad I got the chance to be out here!
If we were having coffee/tea this morning…I’d tell you that since my away rotation has ended, I’m headed back to my base site tomorrow, and so I’m stopping by in Lewisburg to pick up Princess Muffin, my beloved foster kitty (pictured below)!
If we were having coffee/tea this morning…I’d tell you that starting this month, I’m gonna be contributing to a “How Do You Deal?” sub-series on Kate @ Clear The Way’s blog for Feminist Fridays! :D! She lives near my hometown in the bay area (<3!), and writes about ways to inspire more passion and light into your life!
(Stay tuned for future updates on the subjects covered!)
- Have you tried out any great recipes lately? Share them with me in the comments! <3
- Did you ever do a little trip to escape from life for a bit? Where did you go, or did you have a staycation?
- Do you have any pets?
42 comments
Skip to comment form
I am in a cooking rut,so glad to have found your site for some inspiration :)
My girlfirneds and I go somewhere every summer. This yr we are celbrating my sister’s 40th bday in NYC and then MIA :)
I have a fluffy cat….she is my 1st baby but has been pushed down the line since the human babies came.
Author
Aww, thanks! I’m glad it’s providing you with inspiration! :]
That’s awesome! I’d love to do an annual trip with my closest friends! :]
Aww, poor fluffy cat! :[ Is she dealing with it okay?
Princess Muffin! I love it…what is with cats and computers, though? We inherited an outdoor cat when we moved into our house. His name is “baby.” He is very friendly inside the screened porch but skittish outside of it. He also controls our rodent population and brings us “presents.”
Kelli recently posted…April Ultimate Coffee Date
Author
Hehehe, my friend forgot her name and thought it was Princess Muffin, and it was a bit too ridiculous of a name not to love. I’ll never know why cats love computers so much, haha. :P
I used to take care of a stray who’d leave me “presents” too! :x
yes! A little retail therapy is always good! We have the big outdoor shopping malls here and you can shop and enjoy the great weather , stop for an adult beverage and sit outside, shop some more – love it! We have a 15 year old lab and he is up with me now :) Happy Easter and have a great weekend!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…April Coffee date time!
Author
Indeed it does! We discovered a LUSH there and all of us went a little crazy, haha. I haven’t stepped foot in one of those since 2008! :O
Outdoor shopping malls sound awesome! :O I haven’t been to one of those in ages, but those are a lot of fun (and yay for sunshine! <3)!
Happy Easter! <3
The weather is hit or miss in Chicago but this week we had a few WARM days– I can’t wait– April is going to fly by and I know May will be here before we know it!
Laura@Fit Running Mama recently posted…April Coffee Date!!
Author
Oh, Chicago. I don’t think WV can really make up its mind with the weather right now either, but I sincerely hope the warm weather is here to stay! <3
It’s great to see that you got some time off! I love quinoa patties too-one of my staples. So glad you were able to join us for coffee today. love these dates!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date -April
Author
They are wonderful, and such a great way to use up other ingredients in my apartment! :O I’m gonna have to make more of them when I’m back at my apartment again! :]
Hope you had a great weekend!
Pittsburgh is great! Yes I have pets, a Japanese Chin named Harley. and I just got done making breakfast with a recipe I learned from pinterest..if you want to check it out, it’s the hash-browns listed in this post….https://heyyyymegan.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/a-tribute-to-breakfast/
Author
Aww, my friend has a hedgehog named Harley! :]!
And oh, pinterest! That’s where I get a lot of my food inspiration!
Yes! Retail therapy & catching up with old friends is always balm for the soul :). Those food pictures are making my mouth drool and it’s only 9:40 in the morning, lol. Hope you have an awesome April! :-)
Vicky @ randomlittlefaves.com recently posted…Weekly Highlights & Inspiration – Week 1
Author
haha, my apologies! :P I hope you have an awesome April as well! :]
I feel like all my trips are an escape from life! My vacation last month was such a blessing for that reason. A little retail therapy never hurts either.
I’m glad you’re “not fun” rotation ended, and hopefully your next rotation will be something you enjoy doing! It’s never awesome when you’re stuck doing something you hate. I know from experience haha.
I want a foster cat so bad! I’m just not currently able to have one. Soon!!
Montana Ross recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: April
Author
Agreed! It can help so much just to get away for a little bit (and a little bit of pampering is kinda wonderful too <3).
I'm glad psych is over too! I have surgery next, and while it's not what I want to do, the surgeon I'm working with is an amazing human being, so I'll learn a lot from him either way! :]
I hope you get to foster a cat soon! <3
I did have a vacation in February, but I’m ready for another one. We have Tiger Lilly, a big goofy boxer.
Coco (@Got2Run4Me) recently posted…The April Ultimate Coffee Date
Author
Aww, that’s an adorable name! :P
I feel ya on wanting another vacation! I don’t think I get another one til sometime next year!
Great to meet you! I just wrote about my family’s little mini vacation in my post. It clearly must be a trend. Glad you got away and good luck with your next rotation.
Carrie@familyfitnessfood.com recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date Linkup April
Author
If it is, It’s a rather nice trend to have going on! :P
Thank you, and happy Easter!
Yay Pittsburgh! I didn’t grow up far from there. There are so many wonderful food options. I miss it sometimes, but I love southern food too haha. Glad you got to get a little R&R in!
Author
Agreed! I’m all about the food adventures when I visit any new place! :]!
I don’t often get into trying new recipes and such because I don’t enjoy cooking (my hubby is the cook in our home) but those foods you posted about sound delicious and the pictures made me hungry!!
We have a dog at our house, along with a hooded rat, 55 gallon fish tank and 2 parakeets. I guess you could say we have pets lol! Have a great Easter!
Amy @ Mama Running for God recently posted…The Ultimate Coffee Date {April Edition} #2
Author
That’s awesome that your husband cooks! :D I need to find someone who enjoys making food with me, hehehe. :]
That’s awesome that you have a bunch of pets! :D I’m hoping to have a zoo of pets when I’m finally settled down somewhere! :]
A little retail therapy is always a good thing :) Congrats on making it through your away rotation!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…April’s Ultimate Coffee Date
Author
hehehe, agreed! :P
Thanks! It was definitely one of my favorite rotations thus far! :]!
Oh my, that cake batter smoothie looks awesome! I don’t have any pets right now, but I did have a hamster a few years ago. He was so cute and fluffy.
Jaime recently posted…Weekend Coupon Roundup 4/4
Author
Aww, I used to have a hamster when I was growing up! They are amazing escape artists. ._.
I’ve been loving the summer weather we’ve been having, however, Mother Nature keeps bringing back the snow. I like snow but not icy sidewalks! I’m dying for a weekend getaway but our schedules aren’t allowing one. I hope you had a good time in Pittsburgh.
Author
It’s like the weather can’t make up its mind! :x I am not a fan of icy sidewalks/pavement either. I ate it in the parking lot a couple weeks ago and it didn’t do much for my pride (but at least I didn’t break anything? Small victories…)! :x
That looks like a fun day trip with friends. I completely agree with you on needing some time way to remind ourselves that there is more to life than work and school! I’m glad you were able to take some time away to recoup. You deserve it! So are you keeping your foster kitty now or is he just visiting you?
Tricia @ A Couple of Dashes recently posted…Ultimate Tea Date – April 2015
Author
Thanks, Tricia! It was definitely much-needed! :D
I was on an away rotation for the past month and my friend’s apartment doesn’t allow pets, so I dropped her off at the cat rescue I volunteer at for the month, and now I’m back to pick her up! <3
Hi Farrah! I can’t imagine how tough your rotations are. But I can certainly agree that there’s not much some time with friends and good food can’t fix. So I’m glad you got some of that. The food looks yummy! I had sushi earlier this week and may have it again tonight. I can’t go too long without my fix heheh! Have a fabulous weekend! :)
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…Friday Favorites: Quite a few good things
Author
Sushi is wonderful! I got to have a sushi dinner with my family-away-from-home yesterday evening, and it definitely did the trick! I can’t go for too long without it either. ;P
Hope you have an awesome weekend as well! <3
Farrah, the sushi yes love it. I see cheesecake don’t I? Love love. I could eat with you anytime. The “how do you deal” series sounds interesting, can’t wait to read more. Our weather in California is in dire need of rain, and I have a bad feeling we are not going to get it this year. This drought is so horrible and scary. We have two cats and a dog. I have been making some great meals with shrimp lately and have only been Instagraming them not posting. I think it is time to start again. Happy Easter and thanks for coffee :)
Lynda@fitnessmomwinecountry recently posted…The Ultimate Coffee Date April
Author
Yes you do! :D That would be awesome! The food was lovely; I wish sushi wasn’t so time-consuming to make (+ that I had access to sushi-grade fish…). *-*
I’m so worried for California! :[ I really hope it gets the rain that it needs soon–I keep hoping Washington will send down its rain in return for some sunshine–goodness knows CA needs the rain a lot more than they do right now! :[
Happy Easter! <3
Wow, that sushi looked amazing! Vegetable sushi rolls are pretty much my addiction. I’m sure med school keeps you really busy, I almost can’t imagine! Also, I have official jealousy of your cat :) I find that pets are pretty much a must-have for staying sane and I am glad you get to be re-united with her soon!
Susan Smith recently posted…Where am I running to next?
Author
Sushi definitely helps to keep my spirits up! ;P
Me too! <3 I've missed her and my cat back at home-home so much! I don't know what I'm gonna do next year without either of them. :'(
I just got back from one of those “escape” from life trips. It wasn’t 100% escape because I was with my family but at least I got a break from my every day life!
What is your next rotation?
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Late bloomer
Author
Getting a break from everyday life counts! :D! It’s nice to get to escape every once in a while!
My next rotation is in surgery! :O
Do I ever not take a trip to escape my life?! Glad you enjoyed Pittsburgh. I think it is a really underrated city. Who know it had so much good food?
Happy Easter!
Erica @ erica finds recently posted…April Ultimate Coffee Date
Author
Definitely! :D I have Yelp to thank for all the food finds! ;P