Ah, there it is. That catchy, yet irritating, phrase that can always convince me to LIVE a little despite my best intentions. But before I get there, the rest of the day went pretty well, and thanks Jenn for hosting WIAW!
Bacon, fried egg, Juice Plus gummies and ACV
I’m trying to be more diligent of eating at least a little something when I first wake up, followed by a little something more when Hailey gets up two hours later.
frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, 2/3 frozen banana, almond milk, spinach and ground chia seeds
I make enough for both of us to have a smoothie. It makes me happy that Hailey is getting some greens in since she’s been more on a fruit kick lately. Can’t say I blame her.
On the way to the gym I grabbed a handful of Salt & Vinegar almonds. The bold flavor actually leads me to eat less of them because they are satisfyingly strong.
I covered 2.11 slow miles on the treadmill, which puts me at a total of 9.81 miles towards my 31 miles in May goal. I have some catching up to do! After the wog, I completed a leg circuit consisting of weighted squats, lunges and plié squats. I can feel it today, which tells me what I threw together worked well enough.
spinach salad with carrots, red onion, blueberries and canned wild salmon with a side of homemade tomato soup
The ‘soup’ was a result of a recipe I tried for homemade marinara. It turned out more like a soup so I just went with it.
At 2:30, as our sitter arrived, I downed a snack.
Then David and I took off for Charlotte. It felt like a wild date night in the middle of the day, but really we were headed into the city for a meeting with Discovery Place.
When the meeting ended around 5:30 we figured we could either battle traffic, or spend some time in the city.
The city won.
It was a gorgeous day so we walked to the nearby historic Dunhill Hotel.
The lounge looked like a perfect place to grab a drink. So we did.
A martini? On a Tuesday? I blame the excitement of being in the city. It made me feel fancy. So fancy that I ordered an appetizer from the neighboring farm to fork restaurant, Harvest Moon Grille
HMG Charcuterie Plate
House Cured Meats, House-Made Whole GrainMustard, Pickled Vegetables, Moonshine Jelly, and Whey Crackers
.I was sold on this dish because of the pickled vegetables, which I’m reading all about in Michael Pollan’s Cooked right now. So I was a bit disappointed when the dish came out without them.
I went on to enjoy the house cured meats and pepper jelly, avoiding the crackers in hopes of somewhat sticking to my healthy eating plan, but was pleasantly surprised when our server brought out some pickled onions, the only pickled vegetable they had. So sweet of her!
After an hour or so of chatting, we decided to move onto dinner. With so many delicious restaurants within arms reach, it was hard to decide. Eventually I decided there would be no better place to try Thai food for the first time than at Basil, a restaurant that came highly recommended.
I feel just like the girl with the scrunchy from Sex and the City when I am in uptown. Everything just feels so fancy and I just do my best to fit in, though toting around my camera doesn’t help.
I was mentally going through what I should or shouldn’t have based on my jeans plan, when that phrase entered my head. Y(ou) O(nly) L(ive) O(nce). How often am I in the city with my handsome husband? Not often. So I went wild and ordered the Basil Rolls, rice noodles and all.
Shrimp, rice noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts and basil wrapped in rice paper wrapper.
The texture of the rolls plus the house sauce made for an incredible appetizer… best to be washed down by wine.
YO-freaking-LO.
Scallops, shrimp, calamari, mussels, onions, peppers and basil leaves
I know nothing about how to describe the amazing flavors of Thai cuisine, but I can tell you as I’m writing this at 7:00am, I want to eat my Basil mixed seafood platter all over again. Right now. It was so amazing. I ate the entire thing, not bothering with the rice.
At the end of the day, I don’t think I was all that unhealthy, though my dinner certainly wouldn’t be considered low-cal by any stretch of the imagination. But the spontaneous meeting-turned-date night with David was so much fun that I don’t mind it wasn’t exactly according to plan.
Life’s too short not to enjoy the special times…
as long as those special times don’t come every other day, which clearly I need to start realizing 
What is your favorite Thai dish?
I really want to try and recreate the flavors at home, though I’m quite intimidated at the idea!
Erica says
The only time I ever use the phrase yolo is in reference to food! I try to use it in moderation, but I seriously won’t let fun/life pass me by when it comes to eating out with friends, or enjoying some of my favorite treats on occasion.
blackhuff says
I love all your eats. Yum.
Well done on the workout and love the smoothie you two drink in the mornings.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I love those almonds! I have such a hard time controlling myself around those, though! 😉 Oops!
Karen says
I love how honest you are. Those moments we get to share with our husbands should be moments to savor, and you do only live once, so enjoy it to the fullest. There are many other days to watch what we eat.
Thia looks wonderful, we may have to give it a try someday, I have never had it!!!
Lauren says
Thank you for your honesty! You did awesome keeping your perspective of loving your life by embracing your time with your husband. As difficult as it may be, if we are constantly worried about something we can’t love in the present moment.
Karen says
YUMMY eats!! My favorite thai dish is either pad thai or the fire dish (it’s a spicy veggie & chicken dish at our thai restaurant). I love me some Thai food.
Vanessa says
I love, love your attitude towards life and being healthy. As a mom of an active four year old little boy, I understand that date nights (with martinis!!!) are not easy to come by! Good for you for living it up : )
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
So many things to comment on…let’s see if I can remember them all. 🙂
Ain’t no shame in calling marinara sauce soup. I eat tomato sauce with a spoon more than I’d care to admit. [And once, in a restaurant.]
I have been failing on reading Cooked, because Sugar, Salt, Fat sucked me in instead. I may just let you tell me the highlights and call it a day….or find it on audiobook for when I drive to Alabama this summer?
I would have been upset about the lack of pickled veggies, too. Any time I SEE the word pickled, I want it. [OK, maybe not pickled pig’s feet. Although I have had trotter and it WAS really good…]
THAI FOOD! Oh girl…the flavors! Seriously. I have tried to make Tom Yum soup once and it was NOT so good. Suggestion? Go to the Asian market and buy a Thai curry paste. It will have all the flavors, spices, etc., and then you can just add it to your broth or your veggies or your meat or whatever. It can ease you into it. 🙂
Lindsey says
Love salad rolls! I like all Thai food really. Anything with yellow curry and coconut is always good too!
Maria says
Pad Thai or thai salads with peanuts and ginger Thai dressing. There’s this great asian-fusion place that I will take you when you come visit me (hehe – like how I slid that in?) that has all sorts of yummy Thai dishes like green papaya salad and chicken skewers and spring rolls.
Charlotte @ Commitness to Fitness says
This is my first time to your blog and I love thai food! Those basil rolls look so good. My favorite is usually a red curry dish. Tuesday date nights are the best 🙂
Lee says
I think I’ve actually been to that restaurant (maybe?) when I was in a Charlotte like a year and a half ago. Thai food is delicious.
Amy Cole says
I think you did pretty good with your ordering! I have a hard time staying on track while eating out. You go girl!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
mmmmm…that thai place looks delicious! I went to a Thai restaurant in SF last year called Basil.
Beth Sheridan says
Oh that Thai food looks soooooo good! I have enjoyed every type of Thai food I’ve ever tried…and a martini on a Tuesday afternoon? I think so!
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, and Beers says
That sounds like a really wonderful evening. Basil has been on my to-try list since I moved to Charlotte. I’m not sure why it keeps getting pushed to the back-burner. Hmm…. better fix that asap.
Danielle @ Long May You Run says
Just wanted to say I love your last picture. I left CLT at the beginning of December and I miss it so much =(
I don’t know if it’s a Thai dish, but I LOVE the pad thai from Coral Sushi. I haven’t found a place that makes it as well as them!
Kristin says
Thai Food is the best YOLO meal! SOOOOOO GOOOOD! I love anything curry!! Especially red and yellow and panang (which is spicer) Never jip yourself when it comes to thai because it is soo worth it! 🙂
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate says
YOLO is my MOTTO 🙂
Karlee says
I think I’ve been there!!! Yum. My favorite meal of all time is red curry with tofu. I always eat the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. Always. they don’t last until noon.
Ashley says
I have an awesome Thai Peanut Noodle
recipe that is heavy on the lime, cilantro, soy, and peanut flavors. Great with chicken or shrimp. It’s one of those dishes that’s almost better the next day. Everyone loves it!
Christie says
I LOVE Basil (although i’ve only been there twice)! I have to admit that I rarely venture out with Thai food- it’s almost always pad thai for me (I love it and am always in search for the best (my favorite place is in MI and I still haven’t found a really good place in NC).
jen says
your meal at basil looks out of control! i want it all! so glad you got out and splurged a little!