Spontaneous Happy Hour

on May 13, 2010
in All Posts

I spent the afternoon under a heat lamp.  My arm is killing me! I think I slept on it funny.

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I oriented it so I could lay on the couch… Maggie liked it, too.  🙂

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And I made Ginger Tea, which the Husband said would help my sore muscles.  I’m all for natural remedies so I thought I’d give it a shot.

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I steep a root of ginger in a small cup of bowling water for about 5 minutes.  It created this lovely, spicy yellow drink.  Mmmm.

 

Honey is key!

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It was really relaxing.  🙂

 

Snacks included Puffins cereal and grapes:

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Dinner was a new twist on my old favorite:  Sweet Potatoes and Baked Beans. 

 

But instead of mixing the sweet potatoes and baked beans together, I had them separately.  A drizzle of balsamic reduction (recipe here) over the sweet potato and broc slaw was such a yummy addition.

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And then… I had a pleasant surprise!

 

Megan called me for Happy Hour!  I am a firm believer in going out when someone invites you to Happy Hour.  🙂

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Exercising some serious self-control, I had one Amstel Light.  I love sitting at bars and talking to a friend.  🙂  I’m just a fan of the dive bar, what can I say?!

 

Annnnd… at 10PM, I randomly came home and baked oatmeal cookies.  I can’t wait for them to get out the oven!  Shall blog all the chocolately deets tomorrow AM.

 

What’s your favorite brew-haha? I think my absolutely favorite is… Killian’s Irish Red!  A classic.

{ 80 comments }

 

  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin May 13, 2010, 10:24 pm

    Wow totally impressed you kept yourself to ONE beer! Mine is definitely Blue Moon.

    Have a good night!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing May 13, 2010, 10:25 pm

    You can’t deny Happy Hour when it calls, oh no.
    I have VERY little experience with beer, I’m more of a wine drinker myself. I’d love to try beer but I’m not sure where to start? I’ve heard Blue Moon is good?

  • Madeline @ greensandjeans May 13, 2010, 10:29 pm

    Who can turn down happy hour and girl talk? I love leinenkugel’s summer wheat!

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit May 13, 2010, 10:34 pm

    Smuttynose Old Brown Dog!

  • Coco @ Opera Girl Cooks May 13, 2010, 10:35 pm

    I do the same thing — one light beer on a night out with friends. It’s hard when people are pressuring you to drink more though!

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman May 13, 2010, 10:35 pm

    Oooh…balsamic on sweet potatoes? Never tried it but I like vinegar on mostly anything, and it sounds good!

    My favorite beer is Hoegaarden. In summer, with a slice of orange, it’s so refreshing!

  • Heather (runningwithsass.com) May 13, 2010, 10:36 pm

    fun! I am so not spontaneous when people call to do something!

  • Megan @ Eat.Scrap.Run May 13, 2010, 10:39 pm

    I like your theory of going to happy hour when someone invites you 🙂 I had one beer tonight too, at a work happy hour. It was before book club so I didn’t want to get too crazy.

    I have this thing with liking cheap beer that everyone else hates. Right now I really like Bud Light with lime.

  • Jaimers May 13, 2010, 10:45 pm

    What kind/brand of baked beans do you usually eat? Or do you have a recipe? Thanks!

  • Claire May 13, 2010, 10:50 pm

    Love the spur of the moment happy hour…sometimes you just need it. have a good night! The dinner looks amazing, but I can’t wait to see some cookie action!

  • Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches May 13, 2010, 10:50 pm

    Blue Moon all the way….

  • Rachel @ Balance and Blueberries May 13, 2010, 10:51 pm

    I’m a huge fan of any pale ale. If it’s on tap, all the better!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is May 13, 2010, 10:51 pm

    Blue Moon! I love it!

  • Sarah for Real May 13, 2010, 10:53 pm

    Oh I’m totally on a wheat beer kick. In an ordinary bar I’ll have a Blue Moon, in an extraordinary bar I’ll have Paulaner!

  • Emily May 13, 2010, 11:13 pm

    Nope, can’t pick a favorite beer. 1) My husband is a homebrewer, so I get to try tons of his delicious brews. 2) I live in Colorado, a state near the top of the list for number of microbreweries. One of my current favorites is an Apricot Blonde from a very small brewery, and also a 90 Shilling Ale from O’Dell Brewery.

    • Katie @ Two Lives, One Lifestyle May 13, 2010, 11:18 pm

      I’m with Emily- living in CO makes it impossible to pick a fave!! That Apricot Blond (if we’re talking about the same one) is fabulous. Great for the summer. Oooh or Fat Tire. Usually I go for dark porters with coffee or chocolate malts though. Okay okay for general purposes- Guinness, it’s everywhere.

      • Emily May 13, 2010, 11:26 pm

        Maybe we are talking about the apricot blonde! Dry Dock Brewery in Aurora? (my husband is brewing an apricot blonde clone right now!)

      • Cindi May 13, 2010, 11:29 pm

        Mmmm – fat tire!

  • Camille May 13, 2010, 11:21 pm

    Sounds like a fun day!

  • Sam (My Sugar Obsession) May 13, 2010, 11:22 pm

    it’s a tie between stella and four peaks kiltlifter. both are so good.

  • Cindi May 13, 2010, 11:29 pm

    I like whatever we have kegged in the garage – right now our homebrews are a java porter, an apricot wheat, and our latest – honey basil ale!

  • Amy B (Second City Randomness) May 13, 2010, 11:31 pm

    I’m a firm supporter of my local Chi-town brewery- Goose Island. I just picked up some Goose Island 312 (a staple) and their limited time summer ale! Now if only I had some pizza….

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) May 13, 2010, 11:32 pm

    I can longer have regular beer due to the wheat content – but I did find one that is wheat free yay!!!

  • Jessica Lee May 13, 2010, 11:50 pm

    i LOVE balsamic reduction. it makes everything sooo much better.

    i have a few…blue moon, leinenkugel, corona light, guiness…haha these are all sooo different!

  • Lauren (Health on the Run) May 14, 2010, 12:11 am

    Haha I’ve been known to spontaneously bake late at night as well…I don’t know why, but some nights just call for cookie baking!

    And my favorite beer is definitely Blue Moon (seems to be a popular choice), but WITH an orange slice. Totally makes the beer. And if that’s not available…a blueberry beer with blueberries. I like fruit with my alcohol. 😉

  • Kristen May 14, 2010, 12:12 am

    Right now…. Sam Adams summer ale!!!!!!!! SO GOOD!

  • Krystina May 14, 2010, 12:14 am

    I can’t wait to turn 21 so I can enjoy happy hour. I haven’t experienced much beer outside of crappy college brews, so I definitely want to experiment a bit.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) May 14, 2010, 12:33 am

    Definitely Guinness!!!!!

  • Katie - Life Discombobulated May 14, 2010, 12:42 am

    Fat Tire ALL THE WAY BABY!!! 🙂

  • Heba May 14, 2010, 12:56 am

    Ginger is probably one of the best home remedies for all kinds of things: colds, asthma, nausea, sore muscles, headaches… and the list goes on! Hope your arm feels better really soon 🙂

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople May 14, 2010, 1:05 am

    I absolutely can’t stand beer. I have no clue how one can actually swallow that stuff! More for the rest of you!!

  • Marina May 14, 2010, 1:08 am

    spontaneous happy hours are the best!
    I love beer, usually really dark and strong 🙂

  • Kilee May 14, 2010, 1:49 am

    What a fun night! I can’t drink beer due to gluten and really don’t like it enough to seek out the gf varieties. When I did drink it I used to have a light corona with lime. Let us know how those cookies turned out!

  • Ellie May 14, 2010, 1:55 am

    It took me a LONG time to start liking beer but now I love it. Hard to pick a favorite — among them, Anchor Steam, Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA, Harpoon Summer (I LOVE Harpoon), Goose Island 312 . . . etc. Basically I love IPAs!

  • Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] May 14, 2010, 2:56 am

    Wait…what’s the deal with the heat lamp?

    Ah, late-night baking is always fun! Can’t wait for Cookie Friday tmrw : )

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs May 14, 2010, 3:11 am

    Ah that’s the spirit – following the call when baking needs you!! 😀

  • Helen May 14, 2010, 3:14 am

    Sounds like you had a good evening at least. Hope your arm is felling better today. And I love the spontaneous baking!!

  • Emily Eats and Exercises May 14, 2010, 6:06 am

    I’m not a big drinker – my body does NOT like it at all, but I love that you spontaneously go out for happy hour – I’m looking to be more like that when possible…
    Balsamic reduction on sweet potato is one of my new favorites and of course oatmeal chocolate cookies…

  • Naomi (onefitfoodie) May 14, 2010, 6:13 am

    where I went to college in ithaca NY they have their own brewery and they have this apricot wheat beer that is OUT OF THIS WORLD! see, i am not a huge beer drinker, so when i find one I like its usually flavored and DEEEEElicious! i also love blueberry beer!!

    and I am a firm believer in that as well! i am not a huge drinker but when a friend asks me to go for a drink at happy hour i am SO SO SO there!

  • Nicki May 14, 2010, 6:47 am

    I am sitting hear trying to type my thoughts while reading Naomi’s comment. I was in Ithaca on Wednesday and have three growlers in my fridge – two beer and one root beer.

    That is an aside. I am off to make some ginger tea as I am very sore from my movement to get out of the way of a vehicle that didn’t want to yield 12 inches of road to me while on my run Monday.

  • Lauren May 14, 2010, 6:48 am

    You can never turn down a happy hour invite from a friend! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed your evening hun.

  • Jenna May 14, 2010, 6:52 am

    Oh andbtw just lettin ya know that your bro in law is cute 😉 ha-

  • Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble) May 14, 2010, 6:56 am

    Being Irish, I love myself a good Guinness. But I can only drink one of those, so I usually opt for something else 😉

    My alltime fave is Steamwhistle, a local beer here in Toronto. And I LOVE Corona 🙂

    xo
    K

  • Lauren @ Dragonflies Journey May 14, 2010, 7:21 am

    Not a beer girl at all! Not sure why. Maybe cause I drank so much of it in college. Now I’m a rum and coke, or pom-tini girl. Weird, I know!

  • Matt May 14, 2010, 7:26 am

    Oatmeal cookies after drinking sounds like it would hit the spot 😉

  • Gena May 14, 2010, 7:33 am

    I tend to think that ginger tea fixes just about everything, from sore muscles to upset tummies to broken hearts. Glad you enjoyed!!!

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) May 14, 2010, 7:41 am

    Fun night out! Chatting with a girlfriend is much-needed sometimes. 😀

    Can’t wait to hear about the chocolatey goodness. :mrgreen: I need to make a batch of cookies soon!

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) May 14, 2010, 7:44 am

    I’m a big fan of mexican beers..dos equis WHAT WHAT!!!

  • Di May 14, 2010, 7:52 am

    Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale in the fall and Sam Adams Summer in the spring (it comes out in late March here)/summer. 🙂

  • Maureen May 14, 2010, 7:54 am

    I love dive bars too! I’m a huge fan of all kinds of beer from breweries….my favorite is probably blueberry ale from Boston Beer Works. But if we’re talking something you can buy in a store it has to be Sam Adams Summer. Ahh beer!

  • sarah May 14, 2010, 7:57 am

    Fat Tire, but you can never find it on the East Coast – BOO! So, in lieu of that, Yuengling.

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday May 14, 2010, 8:02 am

    Does Strongbow count? If not, then I’d say Keith’s and/or Keith’s White.

  • Sarah May 14, 2010, 8:05 am

    I like dark, thick beers, like Guinness.

  • Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly May 14, 2010, 8:08 am

    Blue Moon!!!

  • Kloe May 14, 2010, 8:21 am

    Unibroue : La Fin du Monde. Dark and sooo tasty! also from my Quebec 🙂

  • kirsten May 14, 2010, 8:30 am

    You look like Kelly from Beneath it All in the picture for this post! I know other people have said that before and I never really saw it, but this picture you totally do! 🙂

    • Caitlin May 14, 2010, 9:24 am

      hahah we are the real sisters!

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) May 14, 2010, 8:48 am

    Gotta love surprise happy hours:) Love the shirt you’re wearing there, too. Hope your arm feels better soon, Caitlin.

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) May 14, 2010, 8:49 am

    the BEST beer i’ve ever had is one that they brew at a local brewery in here in colorado: it was called the Nutcracker Porter. HOLY HEAVEN that thing tasted like candy! it had chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut flavors 🙂

    but since that was a one time thing, I am definitely a huge fan of Breckenridge Brewery’s Vanilla Porter (on tap please) or Kona Brewing Company’s Pipeline Porter (what can i say, i like me some porter!)

  • allison @ livingoneday May 14, 2010, 8:50 am

    im a big amstel light fan, actually! college was all about coors/miller lite, but i think amstel actually tastes like a BEER, and i like the taste. if i’m gettin fancy its a bud light lime, hoegaarden or blue moon! loveee dive bars

  • Tammy May 14, 2010, 9:02 am

    I just can’t like beer..ugh…but the ginger tea…THAT’S another story! When I lived i China I would drink a huge ginger tea every day with tons of ginger root in it…I love how spicy it is!

  • Leslie Moore May 14, 2010, 9:08 am

    I love beer too! I prefer Corona Light with Lime when I am on the beach (literally) but otherwise, I drink Purple Haze or Sea Dog Blueberry or Sea Dog Apricot wheats. I totally respect your taste in beer by the way. Have you ever had La Chouffe, Belgium – perfect summer beer.

  • kate May 14, 2010, 9:09 am

    Im a huge fan of 312. Its made in Chicago, perhaps some will be flowing during the HLS!

  • Christine May 14, 2010, 9:11 am

    I’m more of a wine girl, but summer is definitely beer weather…. my favorite is Blue Moon.

  • kalli@fitandfortysomething May 14, 2010, 9:21 am

    fun time with girlfriends is the best! i love a good blue moon beer-YUM!

  • Ilana May 14, 2010, 9:39 am

    aahha cute.. who couldn’t use a good happy hour every now and again? I’m not the biggest drinker but I’ve tasted some microbrews up in Portland, Maine, that are so fantastic.

  • Catherine May 14, 2010, 9:44 am

    I’m a sucker for a Stella… however I also love tasting all the flavors at small breweries. The fiance and I hit up the Long Trail Brewery last time we were skiing up at Killington Mountain and got the “sampler” and it was out of this world. Perfect end to a day of skiing too!

  • Kacy May 14, 2010, 9:45 am

    My favorite brew changes every 5 minutes, but right now it’s probably Coop Horny Toad. It’s a local, Oklahoma brew. Delish.

    I agree with your happy hour rule 🙂

  • Raya @ Raya Runs May 14, 2010, 9:57 am

    Now I am currently calculating if I can take a FOURTH vacation this summer even though I’ll just be returning from one the week before the HLS. Ahhh. Priorities.

  • Beth @ DiningAndDishing May 14, 2010, 10:10 am

    I’m not a huge beer drinker, but lately it’s been growing on me (only took 25 years!). My favorite is probabaly Guiness because it’s chocolatey and creamy 🙂

  • ActiveEggplant May 14, 2010, 10:28 am

    I “grew up” on Killian’s! That was my mom & stepdad’s favorite beer so it is always on hand at the house. (Although I will proudly say that they did not allow us – and I didn’t sneak any – until I was 21!) Mom & Ron have moved on to Michelob Amber Bock now which is quite yummy as well! Lucky for me, my hubby “introduced” me to the idea of trying new beers, so I have several favorites now – Blue Moon, Kona Fire Rock, Redhook IPA, Fat Tire 1554 (YUM) just to name a few.

    Hope your arm is feeling better!

  • Teacherwoman May 14, 2010, 11:38 am

    Currently my favorite brew is Smithwicks!

  • Lisa May 14, 2010, 12:24 pm

    I love Organic Velvet ESB. Mmmmm And Blue Moon Ale!

  • Macrae May 14, 2010, 1:17 pm

    Oooh, love beer, so I have to join the discussion…
    New Belgium has a great light, summer beer called Skinny Dip.
    And for an array of great beers try a Terrapin, it is local so hopefully you can find some. All the beers have a turtle on them and I recommend the Sunray Wheat!

  • Corinne (breathe and savor) May 14, 2010, 2:08 pm

    Killians? Really! I don’t even know if I have ever tried that beer! My favorite is hands down Sam Summer…the.best. Solid self-discipline w/ one beer Miss Caitlin 🙂

  • Eric May 14, 2010, 5:55 pm

    If you like Killians, then after you move to NC I highly suggest you try Red Oak. It’s brewed here in the Greensboro area and it used to be available only on tap, but they recently built a brewery in Burlington to begin selling it in bottles and cans. I haven’t seen it in the stores yet but I haven’t really been looking. http://www.redoakbrewery.com has a list of places it’s available on tap or in bottles. Hands down my local favorite. For retail beers I like Yuengling.

    • caitlin May 14, 2010, 8:20 pm

      i will keep my eyes peeled!

  • Kelly May 14, 2010, 9:08 pm

    Hands down, Sam Adams Boston Red. The problem is, I can only get it in Boston and I do no live anywhere close. I fell in love with it during the brewery tour when visiting a friend and drank so much of it that weekend. Killians is my usual go to though, I just love Irish Reds I guess.

  • Allie May 15, 2010, 8:01 pm

    I love ginger tea – I make it all the time when my stomach feels funny or when I’m sick. I swear its like the magic cure for everything.

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