SPRING IS HERE! Okay fine I did turn on the heat today for a second (eye roll) but I am just declaring, SPRING IS HERE!
May Coffee Date – 2019
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SPRING IS HERE! Okay fine I did turn on the heat today for a second (eye roll) but I am just declaring, SPRING IS HERE!
Which is kind of hilarious because hey good thing spring showed up in time for June 1st?! What is this. Big sigh.
I am so ready for these long, bright, 75-degree days!
Here’s what we’re discussing today:
Since we usually discuss drinks at this point, I need you to know that I am drinking agua frescas from ALDI like my summer well-being depends on it – strawberry lime is my current obsession – and of course there are occasional coconut milk decaf lattes with a half shot of vanilla sneaking into my life here and there as well. Cold drink, sweaty glass, paper straw… yes and yes please.
What are you drinking? Grab your bevvy and let’s discuss.
Let The Office Remodel Begin!
Man oh man oh man oh man! Things are HAP-PEN-ING!
Things to know:
- That tiny wall window has been cut into a HUGE window that is literally 6 feet long – and there’s one on the other side, too. It lets in a ton of light into the center area and it makes the space feel so much nicer.
- Dropped ceiling has been lifted! Hallelujah.
- The green, stained carpet is officially out and “wood” aka vinyl-wood floors will be going in sometime soon.
- Paint is picked! I need to go over tomorrow and get all the walls and trim labeled. Spoiler alert: LOTS OF WHITE. Goodbye, orange walls!
- The kitchen will be happening in a Phase 2 to allow us to just take things one at a time.
- My lovely friend Melissa is helping us with design and ensuring that our space makes it look like we know what we’re doing.
If you want to see the progress via video, check out the stories highlight on the Pinch of Yum Instagram called “Office Remodel”.
Poor Sage.
Okay, wow. This is a thing that happened in May.
It started with Sage having a dental cleaning which turned into a “let’s also just make sure that lump isn’t anything” while she was out, and ended with the vet calling us to inform us that the little lump removed from her leg was not cancer but was, in fact, A BULLET. A little BB.
Saaaage! Poor Sage. I just cannot handle the vision of someone doing this to her and, like any normal and reasonable person, have such a hard time understanding such cruelty.
Of course this gives us a better picture of why she is the way she is (shy and nervous and slightly antisocial) and just makes us even more committed to giving her treats and snuggles for the rest of her life.
Treats and snuggles, Sage. Treats and snuggles.
I don’t even want to ask if this has happened to anyone else because I’m sure it has. Why?!? Just why.
Let’s Talk About Lobster BLTs.
For dinner club last month I made the Lobster BLT’s from Tieghan’s Half Baked Harvest cookbook.*
It was fancy and very delicious.
I just needed you to know.
Working Out (Or, More Accurately, Not Working Out).
I don’t have any pictures of working out, obviously, which is why I’ll just leave a picture of ramen here.
You guys, I haven’t worked out in one and a half years.
That is not an exaggeration. I consider myself a runner, a swimmer, an elliptical-er. But when I got pregnant with Solvi, I had to stop working out since it was a high risk pregnancy where activity was a specific risk. And then when Solvi was born, I had to stop working out because… well, I kind of had to stop doing everything and just survive for a minute.
But this week! I’m back at it. Solvi is sleeping better than usual (just wrote and then deleted that for fear of jinxing it but here goes nothing) and I’m able to get up early, feed her, and sneak a run in while she and Bjork have breakfast.
And by “I’m able to” I mean I have done this twice. Can I keep this up?!
What is your workout routine? How do you make it work?
And I’ll just tell you in advance that I reject any talk of getting up at 4am to work out. Just full rejection.
Oh, Plastic.
It’s the season of iced coffees, and you guys, I’m feeling really convicted about my part in the plastic problem. This article re-fueled my fire to try to do a little better this summer.
I’ve been a fan of paper straws for some time now and typically carry them in my bag or car, so BOOM! that’s one point in my / the Earth’s favor.
But those dang, pesky, very convenient cups. Ugh.
I have owned reusable plastic tumblers in the past which are fun and cute, but do any of you actually have one where you bring it to the coffee shop and ask them to fill it up? Why is this making me nervous? Will they even allow it?
Someone help.
There’s always a lesson to be learned from Sage, and this month is no exception.
Tonight Bjork and I had this thought as we sat on our decrepit, paint-peely deck with Sage laying at our feet peacefully surveying her backyard kingdom:
She loves it here. She doesn’t know that this deck is ugly. She doesn’t know that this doesn’t look good on Instagram. She knows that this is her spot, these are her people, and this night is amazing. She is zero percent self-conscious, discontent, or insecure. She is just one happy doggo, living her best life.
I mean… isn’t that strangely inspiring? She loves life and she doesn’t care and she is all-around goals.
Thanks for being here for another monthly coffee date! You guys make these so fun. XO
Filed Under: Life
May 30, 2019
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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I love hearing ideas to reduce single use plastic. I started using the grove collective reusable zipper bags and I love them! I’ve used beeswax wraps and stasher bags as well, which are great, but these may be my new favorite! I’ve nearly eliminated the use of ziploc bags.
Lindsay,
You are the best!!
I’ve been read your posts, well it’s been a long time. I Love Love Love your recipes, I try new things (food things) because of you. I feel like I’m a part of your life as you are so open and honest, not afraid to share your feelings, even at your most vulnerable times in your life.
You are TRULY an inspiration to me and I’m sure many others.
Thanks for your recipes, personal sharing and well Thank You for being the beautiful human that you are!!!
Sincerely Gratefully BettyAnn
❤️
Is there something I can substitute for the soy sauce in the great peanut butter salad dressing.Soy’s being carcinogenic spooks me out. I was thinking Worcestershire sauce or salt and roasted sesame oil/seeds.Your thoughts?
I’d be super interested if you did a post on what you like to buy from ALDI! I recently moved near one and I have zero ALDI experience. 🙂
What a sweet coffee date with you–a virtual one, that is! Okay, I also can relate to making efforts in reducing my consumption of plastic. Whenever I receive plastic utensils, I end up reusing them to prolong their shelf life. I have a metal straw that I bring to smoothie places too!
Thank you for sharing Sage’s viewpoint on living the good life – inspiring. 🙂 I also just made your jalapeno ranch sauce and it was amazing on grilled fish last night.
Poor sage! I cant believe someone can be so cruel to shot a dog with a bb gun. Thank god sage is ok now.
Hi Lindsay, Loved your post, as usual. Had to comment on Sage, LOL… So cute! Our bunny and kitties teach me things all the time– mostly about trust, love, and rest. Have you ever seen this scripture, “Ask the animals, and they will teach you…” (Job 12:7)? Incredible! Thanks for another great coffee date!
Just have to echo “poor Sage!” We have a foster fail who was TERRIFIED the first time we brought out the flyswatter to kill a fly. She cringed and ran. Poor girl. She is also afraid of spatulas. Someone did something to her with that, and it makes me so mad, as she is the sweetest dog ever! Thank goodness you found Sage (and vice versa).
My best advice for working out post-baby is sign up for some sort of fitness event (I “ran”/completed a half marathon 9 months after my first kid and signed up to hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim in one day 18 months after my second). I was not as prepared as i wanted to be for the half marathon and we’ll see about the hike (it’s still 6 months away)…but I’ve been forcing myself to find time for some hikes. And it’s done wonders for my mental health even if it means an hour less sleep (which, with a 1 year old who still thinks he needs to eat once or twice a night is a precious commodity).
So many thoughts! Love your Coffee Dates as always. 1) I also took a long break from exercising and am finally back at it, too! I was working in a job I hated that also came with an hour commute, one way. After quitting that job two months ago I finally had time to get back to running, but had an injury (jeez, life) and this has been my first week back. I’m so grateful 🙂 And 2) Sage! Poor Sage. What you said about her being content even though your porch is not Instagram-able – I think this about my cat all the time! Sometimes I feel a little defeated because I don’t have the cash to make my house HGTV-worthy. Then I snuggle my cat on the porch on a beautiful evening and realize that she could care less, and I feel the same. We are warm, we are protected from the elements, we are safe. It is more than enough <3
I feel clueless what that thing is that’s around your dog’s head. L 🙂 L
I love hearing about Sage and the peely deck. I have a very annoying habit (just ask my peeps) about focusing (obsessing?) on the things that aren’t quite up to snuff in our house and it doesn’t make it happy for me or anyone. I love your perspective on this. All CAN be right with the world…with peely paint, chipped cabinets and a loaded garage (see what I did there?). Happy Weekend!
Lindsay – I cannot tell yo u how much I enjoy your coffee date emails. They are a wonderful mix of happy, humorous, sometimes sad, and real life musings that always leave me happy even when some of it is not so fun. You have wonderful recipes and your ability to blog is really terrific. Keep on posting girl!
xo C
I love your posts. I look forward to them. You have a fresh perspective. Your recipes are inspiring and as I’ve been looking for healthier but great tasting ideas, yours have been excellent. You are obviously a great mother, too! I am a grandmother and if there was one script out there we would have all used it…..There is not…..so everyone finds their own best way! Which is what was intended I believe.
Reading your BB story is so strange … my cousin’s pit bull was having hip problems so they took her in recently and they also found a BB 🙁 Knowing that it has happened to TWO pups is UGH.
Also, I almost always bring my own cup to Starbucks/Caribou/wherever I stop for coffee. They do not think it’s weird at all!!!
I have a reusable cup and take it often to the coffee shop! A lot of places near me even offer a little ($.10??) discount for bringing your own cup! Also, please don’t get rid of something you already own to buy a non-plastic version. That’s far more wasteful. I have to remind myself if that often.
Congrats on your renovation! It’s a big job. I renovated our condo in Palm Desert from the studs up, but I had to rely on my own eye to make all the choices as I didn’t know a soul down there. But it turned out fabulous and was so rewarding to finish. Good luck with the rest of it and be sure to share the after pics.
Sage is beautiful, and has landed the jackpot of forever families. It is hard to think of her suffering before she found you, but I am so happy that she has found her place and her people.
So Starbucks sells what looks like its paper cup but it is refillable, plastic inside with a plastic lid and it lasts FOREVER. I think it costs about $2.00 and they give you a discount on your coffee if you bring it for a fill up. I love mine!
I live in Seattle and coffee shops are very familiar with people bringing their own cups. They usually offer a discount, even the independent places. I just bring a mason jar for cold drinks (with a lid and my stainless steel straw) and, even easier, a travel mug for hot drinks. I’ve found that places that are more rural (or even suburban) are more confused when I bring my own cup but still willing to use it.
I love the Nike Training Club app! Some of the workouts are tough, but some are very gentle, and they range from 10 minutes to a full hour, so you can pick a time and intensity that fits you on a given day. The workouts include yoga, HIIT-like training, strength, etc. and it’s all free. I use it when I don’t have time or energy to get a run in. Hugs to Sage.
I’ve been using that 7 app you recommended on your IG a while back and like it! I do dit on my lunch break find it to be a good and un-intimidating way to just BE active for a few minutes. and you can do 2 circuits (or more!) of the daily workouts if you want something longer.
For workouts, I joined the Y. Ours has 2 hours of childcare per day included. My kids don’t go to daycare, so it was good for them in the early days to be around other kids and adults that weren’t family. I would also shower and get ready for the day after my workout and it was SUCH a pleasure getting to shower and put on my makeup without my kids. My routine has changed a little as they’ve gotten older but this was seriously my saving grace in the early days.
My late dog niece Weezy once ate a rotisserie chicken carcass out of the trash and had to have x-rays to make sure nothing was getting poked that shouldn’t be. They found that she was FULL of buckshot. Just loaded with it. They also learned that her sway back was caused by a broken spine that didn’t heal properly! 😭😭😭 Poor baby! No wonder she was terrified of thunder and trash bags being popped open. I’m so glad she and Sage found parents to love and spoil them properly! ❤️
On the plastic note- this is kind of unrelated to the plastic cup question but, I do the bulk of my produce shopping at Trader Joe’s where the produce bags are biodegradable. After I get them home, they’re repurposed as poop bags for walks and litter box clean up.