I haven’t shared a post containing weekend highlights in a long time, because it’s not very easy to recap one’s life when that life is constantly in limbo.
However, I’m officially settled in Omaha, plus the weather has been gorgeous here in O-Town, so I though I’d share my top 5 moments from the weekend.
1. Cooking Dinner for Good Friends
It was a big weekend for basketball here in O-Town (more on that later), and since some of the boys were in Lincoln for the game, the ladies got together last night to enjoy some girl time and eat some good food.
I volunteered to cook dinner, and I was really excited to cook a healthy meal for my friends (and their kids). Nothing makes me happier thank making food for the people I love the most. The meal took about an hour to pull together and included a crowd favorite, Baked Buttermilk Faux Fried Chicken, sweet potato fries and a warm kale salad.
I probably could have done a better job of taking pictures, but sometimes taking pictures while cooking slows me down, and the little ones have a bedtime schedule!
I must say, cooking for 2-year-olds is much easier thank cooking for adults. They just sort of smile, spout some gibberish, eat the food and look happy.
I’m one of those people that always worries about whether or not everyone likes my food, so the kids make it easy because they’re too preoccupied to answer my typical repeated “Did you like it? Is the chicken too dry?” questioning.
Luckily, everything turned out delicious, and by the time we were done, nearly all the food was gone.
I was very pleased with how the kale salad turned out and may share the recipe on the blog. It was basically Tuscan Kale and spinach mixed with a simple lemon-shallot vinaigrette. I then sautéed it on the stove top and topped with candied walnuts, cranberries and fresh parmesan cheese.
Kale can be tricky, so I was relieved that the salad turned out. If you’re looking to throw together a simple kale salad, read this article from BuzzFeed. Great tips in here!
Of course, the meal ended how every meal should end: with chocolate. We baked up another pan of brownies, based on the healthified brownies that Brody created. This time, we used different mix-ins: white chocolate chips, festive M&M’s and caramel bits.
Let’s just say that I think every brownie should be baked with caramel bits moving forward. The brownies, were fudgey, caramely, chocolatey and we all deserve a medal for not downing the entire pan.
2. A Buddy Workout
Since both of my best friends in Omaha are parents, I’m always thrilled when we have a chance to workout together. Last week, Emily braved the early Sunday kickboxing class with me, and this week Becca and I completed our Sunday workout together. The workout wasn’t anything too crazy, but I’m always grateful for the quality time with my best friend.
3. A Playdate in the Park
Of course, there is more than one way to fit physical activity into the day! Since the weather was gorgeous on Sunday, before cooking up dinner, I met up with Emily and Sammie for a playdate.
And, running around after these kids should not be taken lightly! Not surprisingly, the attention span of a 2-year-old isn’t very long. One minute she’s headed to the slide, and in a flash, she’s switched directions towards the monkey bars!
I was definitely out of breath a couple times during our playdate!
Luckily, one smart parent brought sand pails and shovels to the park. For the last hour, the kids focused on digging in the sand, while the parents happily sat next to them and chatted.
4. Getting into the Bluejay Spirit
For those of you who don’t live in Omaha, you may be surprised to find out that we don’t have any professional sports teams representing our great city.
Oh, you’re not surprised?
Anyway, for this reason, Husker football has always been a way of life for most Nebraskans. Over the past 15 years or so (since I’ve moved), the basketball team at Creighton has also garnered a big local following. They generally make it to the NCAA tournament every year, so it’s always fun to root for them.
That is why I was thrilled to have a chance to go to the team’s last game of the regular season.
It was senior night, and 4 out of the 5 starters are seniors, so the energy in the sold-out stadium was at an all-time high. While Creighton ran away with the win easily, that didn’t take away from the suspense. One of the players, Doug McDermott, was trying to join the elite 3,000 club: the eighth player in NCAA history to score more than 3,000 career points.
He surpassed the 3,000 mark easily, and he did it in style, draining a 3 pointer. The entire stadium erupted in cheers, and it was fun to be a part of it!
(Source)
To top of the weekend of March Madness, the Huskers also won a big game last night, potentially securing their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1998.
That’s great and all, but I’m pretty sure 90 percent of the headlines are about the on-court proposal from one of the players that happened before the game even started…
Watch it – you won’t regret it – trust me 🙂
This romantic proposal is clearly the reason they won the game…
Needless to say, it’s going to be an exciting March here in Nebraska!
5. Reuniting with Old Friends
Back when I lived in NYC, my friends and I frequented a bar called the Village Tavern. There was nothing special about the bar – just your average hole-in-the-wall quality NYC bar. The special part was that my brother had been going there for years before I moved to NYC, so every time I walked inside, it felt like an episode of Cheers.
Of course, it always helped that one of the bartenders was actually from Nebraska.
Well, that bartender moved back to Omaha and opened a bar of his very own in the heart of downtown O-Town, Wilson & Washburn. With 24 beers on tap and an eclectic selection of tasty bar food, it’s my kind of place.
But, the coolest part is seeing an old friend from NY running the joint!
Omaha friends, you should definitely check this bar out!
I was thrilled to stop by after the Creighton game to say hello to Jeff and grab a beer. Unlike my New York days, I stopped at one beer and headed home to bed. Ahhh, the times, they have changed.
That’s all for the weekend highlights – I’ve got to dive into a special project for one of my job interviews, so that I can get out to enjoy this beautiful weather!
Dinner was delicious and Sammie had so much fun with you!! Thanks for spoiling us 🙂
The pleasure was all mine – you guys were easy to cook for! We’re doing it again. Hopefully, by then I will have my own kitchen, so you two can come over.
And Sammie can drop all the cookie crumbs she wants. They’ll blend right in 🙂
Wilson and Washburn is SO good!! I LOVE their beet burger!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl recently posted…Weekend Wrap-Up In Pictures: My Dad Came to Visit!
I have wanted to try that forever- I will need to go for dinner next time, and I’ll definitely order it!
Can you please come to my town and bake me dinner too? I’ll buy you some Goldfish to compensate 🙂
Looks like you’re making up for a lot of lost time with your best friends. Good for you!
And that little girl is positively adorable.
Please share that kale salad, because it looks really good – what is Tuscan Kale by the way?
Also, if you have a recipe for simple baked fried chicken, I’d love to see a link. Thank you and happy Tuesday!
those chicken fingers and fries look deelish!!
Pingback: If I Lived the Way I Run… | The Sometimes Healthy Living Blog
Pingback: Warm Kale Salad + Tabata Time | The Sometimes Healthy Living Blog