05.16.09 BBQ Brunch, Mall, Snacks and Dinner at Home

Slept in and my sister picked me up at 2pm to go to a BBQ with work friends.

I ate a blotted, bunless burger with fixings, waldorf salad, watermelon and diet coke.

Dessert was a slice of Strawberry Cake from Sam's Club and a slice of homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie.

My sister Sarah and one of her friends Roxy.

After the BBQ we went shopping at a few stores and ended up at Maplewood Mall. We had a great time and I ended up buying some cute things.

Went to the health food store in the mall and picked up a Coconut Cream Pie Larabar and an all natural Diet Hansen's Peach Soda.

My sister and her friends were going out to have some fun tonight but I decided to go home because I wasn't feeling that great and avoided being called into work and needed to couch up and veg a bit. 

Dinner was Chicken Breast with Sundried Tomato Risotto and Broccoli.

Dessert was some no sugar added neopolitan ice cream.

05.10.09 Mother's Day Brunch Cruise

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Only got 4 1/2 hours of sleep...6:30am-11am.

Woke up, showered and got dressed for our Mother's Day Brunch Cruise in Stillwater, MN!

We picked up my mom and sister and headed out to Stillwater. Arrived at 1:15pm and I ran to get our reserved tickets while everyone else got in line to board the boat. We boarded the boat and got a great table next to the window on the second floor! The boat left at 1:30pm and we took many pictures while we were out on the deck...

The Avalon!

Panorama of inside the boat

Me in my seat in front of the window

Dave & I in our seats

The Jazz Band was great! They made the cruise such a joy!!!

We had fun taking photos out on the deck...the boat has three floors, I was pretty much only thinking about how to keep my skirt from blowing up as we were exploring the boat.

The view from third floor rear

Me on deck

Angie & I

Dave & I

My sister Sarah, me and my mom

At 2pm the buffet was on. My first plate was a summer spinach salad with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, red onion and almonds. Also had some cantaloupe, pineapple, strawberries and watermelon.

My last plate was nice and meaty! Carved roast beef, bruschetta chicken, baked cod with tartar sauce and a pumpernickel roll.

The brunch cruise finished at 4:30pm so we loaded up and headed over to Wallyworld to pick up some ice cream and milk to go with the beautiful Chocolate Fudge Mother's Day Cake my sister made! She works at Sam's Club and they decorated 500 cakes yesterday!

Got back to our house by 5pm and we had cake, ice cream and milk then opened presents. We got my mom $100 in gift certificates to Belladerm Medspa in Maple Grove, MN...oh la la.

02.22.09 Brunch at Machineshed & Dinner at Home

Woke up around 10am in the comfy hotel bed and headed down for the brunch buffet at 10:30am. 

The buffet consisted of Huevos Racheros, Cheesy Hashbrowns, Corned Beef Hash, Biscuits and Gravy, Bacon, Sausage, and Homemade Waffles. There was also a carving station with Ham and an omelette station. In the center there was a dressing station for the waffles, breads and smoked salmon, a big fruit section and a pastry section.

My first plate (Slice of Ham, Huevos Rancheros, Two slices of sausage and Two slices of bacon and a glass of milk)

My second plate (Honeydew, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Pineapple, Grapes, a Strawberry Cream Cheese Pastry and the rest of my milk)

Third (I really shouldn't have but I had a homemade heart shaped waffle with apples and a little fresh whipped cream)

After brunch, around 11:30am we headed back to the hotel room to pack up our things and ended up relaxing and since our checkout time was 1pm we ended up watching two episodes of Top Chef: New York that were really exciting. Said goodbye to the gracious hostess at the front desk and told her we had a very nice time.

Headed over to Costco to pickup a few things. Bought Organic Baby Spinach, Two heads of lettuce,  Free & Clear Laundry Detergent, Two Bags of Frozen Organic Broccoli, Lean Ham, Thomas English Muffins, Arnold Sandwich Thins, Coffee Creamer, Soup, and the latest SELF Magazine.

Came home around 3pm and put everything away and watched a movie with Angie called The Island. Interesting movie...kind of a cross between The Fifth Element and The Matrix. 

After the movie was over I started making us dinner. Steamed up 1lb Broccoli and 8oz Mushrooms. Cooked 1 cup Orzo and 1lb Spicy Sausage. Heated up a can of Hunt's NSA Sauce and heated everything up together in my porcelain enameled casserole and voila! dinner was served. 

My portion