A Quick Trip to TN

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Today’s big activity is driving to and from Knoxville, Tennessee to pick my dogs up from MomHTP’s house – she was dogsitting while we were on vacation.  I don’t mind the four-hour trip (each way) because it means I got to visit Mom at her work and eat lunch with her!

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Plus, I had another epic romance novel to listen to.  Traveler’s tip:  Go to Cracker Barrel and rent a book on tape for just $5 – they take a deposit but you get the money back when you return it to ANY Cracker Barrel restaurant (which, of course, are a dime a dozen on road trips).  Or you could rent one for free from the library… but that involves planning. 

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A gas station find:

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It was geeee-ross.  I would not recommend this bar. I hated the texture!

 

Mom retired from a high-powered corporate job a few years back and now she works at a boutique that sells wigs, mainly to women with cancer or genetic hair loss.  She’s really good at her job because she’s great at making women feel beautiful and special! 

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I like to visit and play with the wigs!

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Since she has to stay at the shop during her lunch break, I packed up a meal for both of us in a cooler and reheated it when I arrived.

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In the mix:

 

Quinoa

Baked tofu

Roasted broccoli

Roasted carrots

Red curry sauce (from a jar)

Pea sprouts

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Really, really tasty.   I sliced extra firm tofu very thinly, placed it on a greased casserole dish, and baked it for 30 minutes at 375.  Meanwhile, I also roasted the veggies, which I sprayed with a little olive oil.  Once the tofu was done, I chopped it up and mixed it in with the quinoa, which I prepared per these directions.  Added in the veggies and poured the curry sauce on top.  Easy peasy.

 

Back to Charlotte I go…. Wheeeeee!

{ 53 comments }

 

  • Ashley @ Thefitacademic October 12, 2011, 2:40 pm

    Love the red one – you would look great with red hair!

  • Beth @ 990 Square October 12, 2011, 2:45 pm

    I would say check one out of the library (Overdrive is SOOOO easy) or get an Audible account. I have quite the audiobook habit (hello, audiobooks make LRs go by WAAAAY faster) so I have an audible subscription service.

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday October 12, 2011, 2:51 pm

    That’s pretty sweet that you can rent books on tape from the cracker barrel. I’ll have to remember that next time I go to visit my sister in Illinois.

    That red wig looks great on you!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) October 12, 2011, 2:52 pm

    I have no idea how you have so much energy driving back and forth! We used to rent books on tape from Cracker Barrel…it’s been so long since we did that. I think we need to get back into that again!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat October 12, 2011, 2:55 pm

    Looks like a tasty lunch! And the wigs look like so much fun!! I’ve never had a chance to “play” with any, but I think the colour of the one on the right looks awesome on you!

  • Katrina October 12, 2011, 3:06 pm

    LOVE the red wig on you! The cut and color are perfect for you!

  • Cait @ Beyond Bananas October 12, 2011, 3:13 pm

    I really want to play with wigs. Fun!

  • Michelle October 12, 2011, 3:22 pm

    Is it just me or is your wedding ring on your right hand? Is that a Puerto Rican thing? : )

    • CaitlinHTP October 12, 2011, 9:17 pm

      Hehe. Nope, it’s on the left – the pic is a mirror image so it looks like my right!

  • Adrienne October 12, 2011, 3:23 pm

    OH man do I agree! I love Kashi but those specific bars are nasty.

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife October 12, 2011, 3:26 pm

    Wow, that is a lot of driving for dogs! I hope they appreciate that! Your mom is so cute–and she seems happy 🙂

    I like the short wig on you—it’s cute!

  • Katie @ Peace Love and Oats October 12, 2011, 3:29 pm

    lol 4 hours each way?? I’m all for a road trip but that’s the whole day! But that lunch looks delicious!!!! Haha and I cannot handle romance novels, I feel to uncomfortable reading them!

  • Caitlin October 12, 2011, 3:36 pm

    I love audio books – that is SO COOL about Cracker Barrell! Thanks for the tip!

  • Chelsea October 12, 2011, 3:39 pm

    I will be making that meal very soon!

  • Dani October 12, 2011, 3:40 pm

    4 hours one way! I would definitely fall asleep : X

  • Julie (A Case of the Runs) October 12, 2011, 3:58 pm

    Never even heard of Craker Barrel (I’m a West Coast-er)!

  • marian @ marianwrites October 12, 2011, 4:02 pm

    omg i am DYING laughing at those wig pictures. thank you for brightening this gross yuck nasty rainy afternoon

  • erica October 12, 2011, 4:12 pm

    i really like the short red wig on you! maybe a possible new look????

  • Danielle October 12, 2011, 4:29 pm

    Your momma is beaaautiful, Caitlin! Sounds like she has a rewarding job, too!

    4 hours is a long drive, I agree but it seems like you make the most out of it! Does Cracker Barrel have a good selection of books?

    • CaitlinHTP October 12, 2011, 9:16 pm

      meh, the selection is okay. mostly big-name thrillers and romance novels.

  • Lisa October 12, 2011, 4:30 pm

    oooh that quinoa looks delish!

  • Rosa - Fitness, Food, Fulfilled October 12, 2011, 4:34 pm

    I love anything with quinoa and broccoli, so that sounds fantastic.

    Wigs are so fun to play with. It’s crazy how a different cut and color can change how you look so much!

  • Lili October 12, 2011, 4:34 pm

    How nice and fun that you get to visit your mom…annnnd the fact that she can petsit the pups when you are gone!

  • Jen@foodfamilyfitness October 12, 2011, 4:54 pm

    I love the 2nd wig, it looks fantastic!
    As does your lunch, deeelicious!!!!

  • Kim October 12, 2011, 4:57 pm

    I am so excited that I can now download books from my public library to read on my Kindle. I bet you could download books “on tape” from your library. Still takes some planning, but not as much as going to the brick and mortar building. Glad you are getting James and Maggie back – I missed them:)

  • Sara October 12, 2011, 5:05 pm

    the wig you have on on the left reminds me of Sandy from Grease…kind of random..

    • Meagan @ High Cotton Living October 12, 2011, 5:17 pm

      I was sooo thinking the same thing!

    • Meagan @ High Cotton Living October 12, 2011, 5:20 pm

      Oooh you are so missing out! Cracker Barrel is one of the best things about traveling…or living in the South 😉

    • CaitlinHTP October 12, 2011, 9:15 pm

      Summmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmer Nighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhts!

  • Ellie@fitforthesoul October 12, 2011, 5:13 pm

    that’s so awesome you got to see each other! I bet she was so sad seeing you leave~she sounds like she’s a marvelous woman! And 4 hour long drives are DEFINITELY hard for me. Unless there’s lots of beautiful nature and scenery involved.

  • kathleen @ the daily crumb October 12, 2011, 5:26 pm

    love that you planned ahead a healthy and delicious meal for you two 🙂 your mom seems so sweet…

    • Joy - HTP Mom October 13, 2011, 9:15 pm

      Hi Ksthleen,
      Caitlin is amazing. She drove from Charlotte and brought me lunch!! It was delicious. She’s the best daughter ever. And, my fur grands are the luckiest puppies ever. They also love my backyard and beg her to let them come over for vacations now and then.

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss October 12, 2011, 5:34 pm

    Oh my, wigs! I have WAY too much fun with the halloween ones. Never tried on real ones, though. They’re much prettier. 🙂

  • Courtney @ The Petite AthlEAT October 12, 2011, 5:39 pm

    I love the boutique your mom works in! What an amazing and fulfilling job! I would go home so happy at the end of the day – she makes a REALLY big impact in the lives of women … we all LOVE our hair. It’s our defines our femininity, you know?

    I also have to note how CUTE the table and turquoise shelf behind your mom was where you two were eating. I love the antique/aged thing … 🙂

  • Molly @ RDexposed October 12, 2011, 6:15 pm

    Why do I never do books on CD for long drives? Or plane trips??

    Love the red hair look!

  • Aja October 12, 2011, 6:32 pm

    It’s amazing how a simple change of hairstyle can change a person’s whole looks.

  • Mel @ Mel a la Via Paradiso October 12, 2011, 6:53 pm

    Ahh, I LOVE Cracker Barrel! I wish we had one in Washington. That, and a Waffle House. For the sake of my arteries though, it’s probably a good thing we don’t have any.

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin October 12, 2011, 7:14 pm

    4 hours is such a long trip, but it’s worth it when you get to see your mom! How often do you get to see her?

    • CaitlinHTP October 12, 2011, 9:14 pm

      Not nearly enough 🙁 Maybe once every two – three months.

  • Army Amy* October 12, 2011, 7:16 pm

    I love that your mom has a job making women feel beautiful. Not too different from Operation Beautiful!*

  • Rebecca October 12, 2011, 7:26 pm

    MomHTP sounds awesome!

    • CaitlinHTP October 12, 2011, 9:14 pm

      She is totally awesome!

  • katie @ KatieDid October 12, 2011, 8:16 pm

    Wow that’s a lot of driving for a single day, but worth it for those pups! And that’s a pretty awesome job, she should feel really good about the work she does 🙂

    • Joy - HTP Mom October 13, 2011, 9:11 pm

      Hi Katie, I see many chemo patients and it is rewarding to see them feel like “themselves” again after losing their hair and finding a wig close to the look of their own hair. It must hard to be scary sick and then stripped of your public self image also. Makes me very grateful for my good health!

  • Vanessa (@IsleStyleLiving) October 12, 2011, 8:36 pm

    That’s a looooong drive!

    Living in Hawaii the longest we drive anywhere would be about 45 minutes =)

    I’m loving that red wig on you!

  • Jen October 12, 2011, 11:54 pm

    What a wonderful job your mom has! The wigs look like fun too.

    I think the crunchy Kashi bars are way better, like a regular granola bar rather than a sponge. I haven’t tried the “roll” ones, but they do not look very appetizing haha

  • Steffi October 12, 2011, 11:59 pm

    You look like Carrie of SATC in the first wig pic! 🙂

  • Julia H. @ The Petite Spiel October 13, 2011, 1:19 am

    Whoah, neat wigs! That first one is..uh..interesting, but I’m kinda digging the second one!

    And Cracker Barrel is a road-trip must for me. My mom & I always find one on the route of any trips we go on so we can get the pancakes!!

  • Khushboo October 13, 2011, 1:29 am

    You should totally consider cutting your hair short- that 2nd wig looks GREAT on you!

  • E October 13, 2011, 2:03 am

    Uhh…not so much on the first wig, but the second one looks really cute!

  • Alexia @ NamasteYoga October 13, 2011, 3:24 am

    this meal looks so yummy. all of my favourite things on one plate: quinoa, broccoli, sprouts and thai red curry flavours.. mhmm.. and what is better than enjoying it with your mom 🙂 hope she enjoyed too!

    • Joy - HTP Mom October 13, 2011, 9:20 pm

      Hi Alexia, Caitlin teaches me how to make something wonderful every time I’m with her. She’s quite a cook and can put something together very quickly that is healthy and yummmy. She’s fun too!!

  • Sophie @ threetimesf October 22, 2011, 5:50 am

    My Mum had cancer a few years ago and I will never forget the woman that we met in the wig shop – she made us both feel so much better about the whole situation!

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