Outside Dining

on October 12, 2010
in All Posts

I’ve flip-flopped my morning; I’m doing exercise + play in the morning and volunteering + work in the evening.

 

I took advantage of the cooler weather this morning to run 3.0 miles.  I felt pretty sore from yesterday’s 6.0, and I didn’t have my iPod, so I really struggled.  Funny how 3.0 miles feels so long at the peak of marathon training!  Then, I met Kath + Matt for a 90-minute yoga class.  I must admit – this was probably the worst class I’ve taken at Y2Yoga to date.  It was long, boring, and not very fun.  But it was yoga, and yoga is like pizza.  Even when it’s bad, it’s pretty good.  🙂

 

Then, I met new friend Megan, who is the manager at Charlotte Lululemon (epic job!), for a picnic lunch.

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Picnic lunches are a good way to hang out with friends and NOT spend money!

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I had a raspberry + feta salad, a hummus sandwich, and a Chobani.

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Fall keeps coming and going here in Charlotte.  I think Mother Nature got confused because it sure felt like summer by lunchtime.  I worked on evening out my very, very bad runner’s tan lines.  🙂

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Came home and made a caffeinated Green Monster (1 cup almond milk, 1/2 banana, 2 cups spinach, some Instant coffee).  I’m going to need my energy to keep up with my Girls on the Run today!

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Green Monster Power!

{ 66 comments }

 

  • Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] October 12, 2010, 1:39 pm

    That FRESH salad is calling my name — I miss my summer berries.

    && look at those STRONG legs =]

  • Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] October 12, 2010, 1:41 pm

    That FRESH salad is calling my name – I miss summer berries.

    && look at those STRONG marathon legs! =]

  • Holly @ couchpotatoathlete October 12, 2010, 1:43 pm

    I bet you have the best tan lines from your knee sleeves 🙂

    I *love* that napkin — that is hilarious!!!

    And I know what you mean with your hard 3 mile run. Sometimes I can run 5-6 miles easily and sometimes 1 mile is rough. It just depends on the day!

    • Caitlin October 12, 2010, 4:53 pm

      They are so bad!!!

  • Kjirsten- Balanced Healthy Life October 12, 2010, 1:44 pm

    I love pinic lunches! The cocktail napkin is great!

  • Brittany (healthy slice of life) October 12, 2010, 1:54 pm

    It is supposed to be fall again by Thursday! Yay!! 🙂

  • Lisa October 12, 2010, 2:00 pm

    Nice way to spend the day! That salad looks great.

  • lisasfoods October 12, 2010, 2:02 pm

    I love picnics. They’re one of my favorite things about warm weather.

    I also love to sit outside in general, alone or with friends, which I’m doing right now. Perfection.

  • Stacey October 12, 2010, 2:02 pm

    I never thought of mixing instant coffee in with a green monster! What a good idea, now I can use up that instant coffee from our camping trip 🙂 Hope you have a good GOTR session today!

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday October 12, 2010, 2:03 pm

    Oh too bad about the yoga class.
    I hate a boring yoga class. I usually end up staring at the clock until it’s over.

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine October 12, 2010, 2:03 pm

    The picnic is such a fun idea- definitely way cheaper than eating out. Enjoy Girls on the Run this afternoon!

  • Kelly October 12, 2010, 2:10 pm

    If I worked at lululemon I’d be the poorest person on the planet. Every penny I made would just go right back to the store.

    • Caitlin October 12, 2010, 4:54 pm

      hahaha

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) October 12, 2010, 2:10 pm

    I hear ya on the weather. I thought it would be a little chilly out and then when I stepped out…I was glad I could not find my cardigan to go with my tank top! Enjoy your afternoon!

  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin October 12, 2010, 2:12 pm

    I love picnics outside. And yes, manager at Lululemon seems like an AMAZING job.

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite October 12, 2010, 2:15 pm

    I haven’t been on a picnic in YEARS! Now I’m craving one 🙂

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat October 12, 2010, 2:21 pm

    I love eating outside! It appears Mother Nature is a little confused up here in Ontario as well because the weather has been all over the place lately. Looks like a fun lunch date!

  • Marina October 12, 2010, 2:22 pm

    I love picnics!
    So true about the yoga being like a pizza! 😀

  • Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun October 12, 2010, 2:23 pm

    What an awesome quote! And I love what you said about yoga. Great comparison.

  • Rachel October 12, 2010, 2:23 pm

    Have a wonderful afternoon! Love picnics 🙂

  • David (Keep it Up, David) October 12, 2010, 2:26 pm

    Love the napkin – love the company that makes them! I’m blanking on the name, but I bought all my Christmas cards from them last year. They all feature retro photographs and hilarious captions and were a big hit!

  • Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans October 12, 2010, 2:29 pm

    I can’t believe I never thought to put coffee in my GM! Brilliant!!

  • Kristina @ spabettie October 12, 2010, 2:32 pm

    I LOVE that napkin – I need to find some of those! 🙂

  • Sara October 12, 2010, 2:36 pm

    I am trying to eliminate coffee in the mornings but I need caffeine (until I can make myself go to bed early!) and I need a travel mug for tea at work, so until then (plus I drink Instant Breakfast every morning), I may try making a Smoothie w/ instant coffee in the morning instead! Great idea! Any American brands you’d recommend? I know Nescafe Gold is your favorite.

    • Caitlin October 12, 2010, 4:55 pm

      The Starbucks Via is pretty good!

  • LizLivingVegan October 12, 2010, 2:36 pm

    Picnic lunches are the best! 🙂 And I looove hummus sandwiches!

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write October 12, 2010, 2:44 pm

    I love that Maya Angelou quote. If only we could have her insight at our young ages, right?

  • claire October 12, 2010, 2:46 pm

    I love picnics so much! Looks like a fun afternoon!

  • Ashley October 12, 2010, 2:47 pm

    I feel the same way about the class/instructor that replaced
    the one I love at the studio I do yoga at! Love it. And… I want mother nature to get confused here
    in Alaska! I want summer (and the light) to come back!

  • Rachel October 12, 2010, 2:48 pm

    What a delightful picnic lunch! I want a hummus sandwich like that, yummm

  • Scargosun October 12, 2010, 2:50 pm

    I made myself laugh onetime when I was answering my husband as to why I didn’t like a new yoga teacher…

    “She half-asses her mudras.”

    was my response. 🙂 That is one of my measuring tools for yoga instruction . 😉

  • Nikka B October 12, 2010, 2:56 pm

    The weather here in LA is a flip-flopper too! Such a tease!!!

    BTW great idea for the friend picnic, Boyfriend and I are on a strict budget & I was having a hard time coming up with ideas to be out & about with friends on the cheap. Thanks!

  • Kiran October 12, 2010, 2:59 pm

    I love picnics, but in a slight cool weather. Not as scorching as in Florida 🙁

  • Sarah October 12, 2010, 3:01 pm

    Lunch looks fantastic…and I really liked reading that definition of success!

  • Edith October 12, 2010, 3:02 pm

    interesting napkin – considering all the Brett Favre drama lately…

  • Sarah for Real October 12, 2010, 3:24 pm

    Have you tried the Starbucks Via instant coffee? I remember you only like British instant coffee, right? I was curious how Via would fare in comparison. You know, since I’m probably not going to the UK anytime soon, haha.

    • Caitlin October 12, 2010, 4:56 pm

      It’s pretty good! But Nescafe is the best.

  • Amanda (Eating Up) October 12, 2010, 3:50 pm

    I love picnics! They’re really tricky in Chicago though–it’s normally too cold or too windy!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing October 12, 2010, 4:00 pm

    The picnic sounds like so much fun! And that salad… i looove fruit in salad!

  • Jamie @ Food in Real Life October 12, 2010, 4:04 pm

    That napkin is HYSTERICAL! Major LOL. Where did you get those? They’d be great for a BBQ with hot dogs. I don’t know why, but I also find 3 miles to be a hard distance.

    • Caitlin October 12, 2010, 4:57 pm

      Gift from a friend 🙂

  • Amber K October 12, 2010, 4:14 pm

    I’ve never been a fan of picnics (it’s the whole eating outside thing) but it always looks like so much fun in pictures!

  • Dorry October 12, 2010, 4:15 pm

    I love picnics for that same reason! We picnicked our way through Europe to save money on lunches. 🙂

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss October 12, 2010, 4:17 pm

    Never thought about yoga and pizza in that light before..but it’s true. Even the worst class is good in some way.

  • TheHerBehindItAll October 12, 2010, 4:25 pm

    I really liked the quote by Maya Angelou on the bottle cap. It is so true. Being successful is being happy where you are at and not striving to be something you’re not. I am thinking about it in weight loss terms [because that’s the journey I am on!]. I’m not instantaneously going to be happy I need to be happy with myself now and the rest will come in to place. I think it helps that I have read Operation Beautiful too (:

    • Caitlin October 12, 2010, 4:57 pm

      🙂

  • elaine! October 12, 2010, 4:26 pm

    That Maya Angelou quote is one of my favorite quotes of all time. I could write an essay on all the different things it means to me!

    And yeaaaah working for Lululemon would be utterly epic. 😉 I wish I didn’t live 200 miles away from the nearest store so I’d have a chance at getting my toe in the door there.

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) October 12, 2010, 4:30 pm

    What a wonderful picnic lunch in the sun!

  • Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) October 12, 2010, 4:36 pm

    Just finished my own green monster! YUM

  • Kelly October 12, 2010, 4:59 pm

    Oh my gosh! I have that same weiner cocktail napkin and I have the image on a notepad. Doesn’t he look just like Rascal? I keep saving the napkins for a wine and cheese party I swear I’m going to have before we move.

  • Ellen@FirednFabulous October 12, 2010, 5:41 pm

    Haha, love the yoga/pizza comment….SO TRUE!

  • Camille October 12, 2010, 5:42 pm

    That is a sweet gig! I want that job!

  • Michele October 12, 2010, 6:02 pm

    I am loving the Greek yogurt; I typically eat 1/2 of one container just about every day. I also add raw oatmeal, a few pecans & a bit of go lean crunch.

    A friend tried the Chobani yogurt last week for the first time, commented it kept her fuller much longer and she really liked it – I know she ate a full container in the morning for breakfast.

    After 1 week she stated she had gained 2 lbs and would no longer eat Greek yogurt as she felt it was too much protein.

    I realize eat more than you burn = weight gain; but is it really possible that the extra protein makes you gain weight that quickly?? I’ve done a lot of research online today and haven’t been able to substantiate the claim, but am curious on your take. Thanks Caitlin!

    • Caitlin October 12, 2010, 6:22 pm

      Calories are calories. Chobani has like 120 calories in it, which is usually what other yogurts have. If anything, protein keeps you fuller, longer, so it’s usually advised by RDs to eat Greek yogurt. Also, to gain 2 pounds over the course of a week, you have to eat an extra 7,000 calories (1 pound = 3,500 calories). It’s more likely she just didn’t poop before she weighed herself.

  • Lolo October 12, 2010, 6:57 pm

    I love eating outside in good weather. For me, picnic lunch is always the best way to spend time with your friends.

  • katie@ Fab.Fit.Full. October 12, 2010, 7:04 pm

    I see that Honest Tea bottle cap! You can make your own ya know…

  • Heather October 12, 2010, 7:39 pm

    I LOVE picnics, so fun! I agree, today was HOT, come on fall, stay for good!

  • Wei-Wei October 12, 2010, 7:46 pm

    LOLOLOL I didn’t see the napkin at first but I scrolled through the comments… then scrolled back up. Bahahahahha. Tooooo funny!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin October 12, 2010, 8:05 pm

    Bummer about the yoga class. I get so restless when they’re really long and slow! But if nothing else, at least it’s a good chance to stretch! 🙂

  • Whitney October 12, 2010, 8:05 pm

    Hi Caitlin,
    I’m new to your blog and am curious…none of your salads seem to have any dressing? What do you add as your fat for the meal? What is/are your favorite dressings? Thanks!

    • Caitlin October 12, 2010, 8:29 pm

      Hi Whitney!

      Sometimes I use balsamic but I was all out 🙂 The feta cheese and hummus had some healthy and filling fat in it!

  • Gretchen October 12, 2010, 8:46 pm

    What a cool ring your friend Megan is wearing 🙂

  • diana October 12, 2010, 8:49 pm

    haha i love that napkin. its so funny and… dirty! haha.

  • KRISTY October 13, 2010, 8:17 am

    The bottle cap quote is EPIC! That truly sums up my goal in life!

  • Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion October 13, 2010, 12:01 pm

    Those raspberries look awesome in that salad. I have never thought of adding caffeine to my green monsters. This is kind of an epic idea!

  • Lacey @ Lake Life October 13, 2010, 8:33 pm

    I love your “Yoga is like pizza” analogy!

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