• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Search
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Oatmeal Recipes
    • Smoothie Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • 100 Oatmeal Recipes + Whipped Banana Oatmeal
    • The Best Overnight Oats Recipes
    • Smoothie In A Bowl
  • Nutrition
    • Favorite Wellness Products
    • My Wellness Program
    • Top 10 Nutrition Posts
    • Healthy Mindset
    • Real Food
    • Weight Change
    • Becoming A Registered Dietitian
  • Home
    • Home Tour
    • Home Renovation Before And After
    • Renovation
    • Kitchen Organization Accessories
  • Skincare
    • My Skincare Routine
    • my beauty broadcast
    • Beautycounter Swaps
    • What Happened To Beautycounter?
    • How to Apply Skincare in the Right Order
  • Life
    • Mazen’s Birth Story
    • Birch’s Birth Story
    • Fitness
    • Wedding
    • Charlottesville
    • Travel
  • Courses
    • Digital Clutter Course
    • Bloom Wellness Program
    • Freebies
  • Shop

Kath Eats logo

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Search
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Oatmeal Recipes
    • Smoothie Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • 100 Oatmeal Recipes + Whipped Banana Oatmeal
    • The Best Overnight Oats Recipes
    • Smoothie In A Bowl
  • Nutrition
    • Favorite Wellness Products
    • My Wellness Program
    • Top 10 Nutrition Posts
    • Healthy Mindset
    • Real Food
    • Weight Change
    • Becoming A Registered Dietitian
  • Home
    • Home Tour
    • Home Renovation Before And After
    • Renovation
    • Kitchen Organization Accessories
  • Skincare
    • My Skincare Routine
    • my beauty broadcast
    • Beautycounter Swaps
    • What Happened To Beautycounter?
    • How to Apply Skincare in the Right Order
  • Life
    • Mazen’s Birth Story
    • Birch’s Birth Story
    • Fitness
    • Wedding
    • Charlottesville
    • Travel
  • Courses
    • Digital Clutter Course
    • Bloom Wellness Program
    • Freebies
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Lifestyle / Awesome Aussies

May 23, 2011

Awesome Aussies

Tonight ended up to be such a serendipitous event with two new friends!

I met up with Jill, who is from Australia, lived in England and Canada, and is on a month-long tour of the East Coast with her husband, Ken.

They chose to include Charlottesville for 3 days because we make it look so cool!

IMG_9972Blog

We met up for frozen yogurt this afternoon – followed by a cocktail hour showing of Water For Elephants.

IMG_9973Blog

After super hot biking and a rush to get back downtown (via automobile due to my time crunch 🙁 ) cold frozen yogurt tasted incredible!

IMG_9975Blog

I had lemon mixed with cake batter – which was an amazing combination!! – topped with fruit, nuts and coconut. Hit. the. spot.

IMG_9971Blog

Jill also brought me gifts!!!!!!!!! She could not have picked out more perfect dishes for me – a HALF CUP coffee mug and a big a$$ oatmeal bowl!! I love them both so much! [Both are from Anthropologie.] Thanks Jill, you so didn’t have to do that!

IMG_9976Blog

The movie was good – beautifully done. And I didn’t realize how HOT Rob Pattinson is!! I have to say though, that I’m just not in love with the WFE storyline. It wasn’t as compelling to me as other books and movie plots there are. We also saw the preview for The Help coming out in August – I cannot wait to see that adaptation!

Jill and I hit it off and given that she and Ken have been eating in restaurants for weeks on end, I invited them over for a casual dinner and beers on the porch.

IMG_9977Blog

We had a blast talking about all things travel, historic and life! Sad these two will be on the other side of the planet in a few weeks!

IMG_9979Blog

For dinner we just added more to the simple meal Matt had started to assemble before I got home.

IMG_9981Blog

I cooked a bunch of beans from scratch on Sunday – soaked overnight on Saturday and then simmered on low in the crockpot for 4 hours on Sunday. Black beans took half the time of chickpeas to cook! I am loving cooking beans in the crockpot! Love that there is no chance of a boil over or drying out.

For this bean salad, Matt added carrots + green pepper, salt + pepper and local Caromont Goat Cheese – Herby Dill as a “dressing.” We browned 3 slices of bacon to go on top – delish!

IMG_9983Blog

We also served toasted Honey Whole Wheat so they Aussies could give it a try

IMG_9982Blog

And some cornbread Karen brought us because Jill is into cornmeal products in the South

IMG_9988Blog

And finally a green salad made with greens from the garden and Garlic Gold Red Wine Vinaigrette

IMG_9986Blog

IMG_9992Blog

IMG_9993Blog

Tasty dinner!

IMG_9990Blog

We just wrapped up, and I’ve got an overflowing inbox that I’m going to save for the morning. I can’t respond to everything before midnight some days!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Beans, greens

Reader Interactions

Previous Post
Sandwich Wizards
Next Post
Feelin’ Choffy

Comments

  1. Belly B says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:24 pm

    Everything looks DELICIOUS!!! I love that cup with the face haha 🙂

    <3 Belly B

    Reply
  2. McKayla @ Green Groats says

    May 23, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    Beautiful new bowl and mug! What a nice gift 🙂 I love anthropoligie!

    Reply
  3. Holly @ The Runny Egg says

    May 23, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    What a nice gift! That mug is super cute.

    Reply
  4. Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food says

    May 23, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    how nice that you made the time to get together! 🙂 looks like a wonderful homecooked meal 🙂

    I want to go on a month long vacay! 🙂 soo jealous!

    Reply
  5. Dee says

    May 23, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    what a lovely gift! those froyo cups looks so good!

    Reply
  6. Megan says

    May 23, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    Love that bowl and mug!
    That bean salad sounds perfect. I mean, of course it does, it has goat cheese in it. 🙂

    Reply
  7. staceyhealthylife says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    I just saw water for elephants last night, it was pretty good. Although I was expecting a little bit more, but it was still good.

    Reply
  8. Kim says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    what a fun vacation for jill and ken. and they’re right – you do make cville look fun! haha. and YOU are right, rob pattinson is hot. i’ve been trying to get into the book but i’m not too big on the story either, but i want to see the movie!

    Reply
  9. maria @ Chasing the Now says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    Had no idea they were making a movie out of The Help. I still want to read it before seeing it in movie form, so I better get on that!

    Love the new dishware. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Kaitlyn @ 7 Plates says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    Nice gift. Good looking food too! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    “I can’t respond to everything before midnight some days!”–I am the same but b/c of the hours I keep, my midnight is more like 5am…yikes!

    What a great time you all had and omg I want new (or any) friends that bring me adorable dishes from Anthro. TOO CUTE!!

    Looks like such a fun meal and time of it!

    Reply
  12. Justeen @ Blissful Baking says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    Those are AWESOME gifts! I love the design on the bowl and mug!

    Reply
  13. Baking 'n' Books says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    I haven’t read the Help – but they’re doing a movie?!! Wow.

    Rob Pattinson..hmm, I love the Twilight movies but never got into him – still seemed too “teeny-bopperish” for me…but, alas, I may have to see this movie to find out any difference!! Maybe it was just the Vampire, bite-me thing that didn’t sell me 😉

    Reply
  14. Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    Oh fun evening. Fro yo and a movie is the perfect date/evening out, in my opinion! And your dinner looks rockin’—I <3 beans 🙂

    Love the book The Help, still haven't read Water For Elephants…but really wanna. wahhh

    Reply
  15. Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    Aw. So thoughtful! Love how this community extends into real-life (not just virtual-life) 🙂

    Reply
  16. Estela @ Weekly Bite says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    What a great day!! Those are some great gifts! That was so sweet of her 🙂

    Reply
  17. Lea @ Healthy Coconut says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Really beautiful bowl. I thought you were going to say that she made it herself…before I read it was purchased.

    Have you tried azuki beans before? I think you will like it since you like creating dishes from beans.

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      May 23, 2011 at 10:20 pm

      Yeah, I love them!

      Reply
  18. Christine says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    Love the dishes. Anthro has the best dresses, aprons, dishes- basically everything. If I could afford it everything I owned would be from there 🙂

    Reply
  19. Sara @ myfancytuna.blogspot.com says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    LOL I love that you’ve seen the hotness that is Rob Pattinson 🙂 I meant to leave a comment on your last post, but I think it’s so awesome that the bakery is putting all of the quantity foods info to good use! So many of my classmates blew off that class as a waste of their time, but I thought it was cool…I should have shown them your blog 😉

    Reply
  20. Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:24 pm

    What cute gifts!! So thoughtful.

    Dinner looks yum, too.

    And there is never a bad time for Fro Yo 🙂

    Reply
  21. lynn @ the actor's diet says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    so??? how did reese look airbrushed (younger than normal?!)

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      May 23, 2011 at 10:27 pm

      Well I don’t know what she normally looks like up close, but I didn’t see any wrinkles

      Reply
  22. Jessica @ The Process of Healing says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    You can’t visit the South without trying cornbread 🙂

    Reply
  23. Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    How fun!! and the mug and bowl are too adorable.

    Reply
  24. Lisa (bakebikeblog) says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    yay for Aussies!! (hehe not that I am biased or anything lol) 😉

    Reply
  25. Jill says

    May 23, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    What a wonderful evening, thank you for the tasty food and great conversation. Already wishing we lived closer!

    Reply
  26. Alaina says

    May 23, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    Those dishes are adorable! I have to get to Anthropologie now. Too bad it’s so darn expensive. 😉

    Reply
  27. Hannah says

    May 23, 2011 at 11:30 pm

    Would you like to sponsor another Awesome Aussie (teehee) to come work for you in Charlottesville? I’ll bring, um, Tim Tams!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      May 24, 2011 at 6:53 am

      Are you visiting soon!?

      Reply
      • Mary Frances says

        May 25, 2011 at 9:49 pm

        We can actually get Tim Tams in the US, and Gram loves them!

        Reply
  28. Khushboo says

    May 24, 2011 at 12:04 am

    What a great day! I loved WFE and definetely saw a new side to R-Patz: hot dayuuum!

    Reply
  29. Alison @ Hospitality Haven says

    May 24, 2011 at 12:11 am

    I also love cooking beans in the crock pot!! I have some black beans soaking tonight for that very purpose tomorrow. 🙂

    Reply
  30. erica says

    May 24, 2011 at 1:00 am

    that is such a cute gift! anthropologie makes/sells the most adorable things!
    yay for movie nights! 🙂

    Reply
  31. tammy says

    May 24, 2011 at 1:09 am

    i’m a new reader and your blog is SO INSPIRING. i’ve been telling myself to eat healthier, be more active–just have a better lifestyle and i’ve always failed, blaming it on being busy. but you’re so busy and you still find time to eat healthy and be active. it’s really been an eye opener! how did you get started? i know changing your eating/active habits can be so difficult but you make it seem so easy. any tips would be so appreciated. thanks again for being a great inspiration!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      May 24, 2011 at 6:54 am

      Welcome!!

      Reply
  32. J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    May 24, 2011 at 2:52 am

    I so wish we had a froyo place nearby! That looks SO good!! As does dinner.

    So nice that you got to meet up with friends from so far away. 🙂 I bet their accents were charming.

    I know what you mean about overflowing inbox! Ugh, sometimes it’s a full-time job!

    Reply
  33. Carol says

    May 24, 2011 at 4:55 am

    So cool that a fan was able to meet up with you…and bring you gifts:) I also think it is very cool that you invited them to dinner. I am sure that made for an extra special part of their vacation!
    Hope you have a great day today!

    Reply
  34. Lauren at Keep It Sweet says

    May 24, 2011 at 5:05 am

    What a fun night! I didn’t know the Help was coming out as a movie… that I am excited for!

    Reply
  35. cathy says

    May 24, 2011 at 5:16 am

    THANK YOU for sharing your lukewarm reaction to the storyline of WFE – i read the book and just didn’t adore it…and have no desire to see the movie. i felt like the only one on the planet not RAVING over the book!
    i’m on page 300 of the help – normally i don’t see movies of books i’ve read as they never do them justice, but i just may break that rule to see “the help” on-screen. now that is an amazing book.
    love your expression “cocktail hour movie” – perfect! sounds so cultured!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      May 24, 2011 at 6:54 am

      Yeah, I thought it was just ok. The movie was better though!

      Reply
  36. Katie says

    May 24, 2011 at 5:45 am

    What fun! So nice that you got to meet up with her and her husband, is she a blogger?

    Love the gifts she gave you! so pretty!

    I want to see that movie, but I need to read the book first!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      May 24, 2011 at 6:54 am

      Not a blogger – just a reader!

      Reply
  37. Lauren says

    May 24, 2011 at 5:46 am

    I love those dishes!!! What a sweet gift and so nice of Jill. Glad you had such a productive but wonderful day.

    Reply
  38. Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says

    May 24, 2011 at 6:36 am

    Love the mug and bowl…too cute! Dinner looks delicious. I’m glad you had a great night.

    Reply
  39. Sarah says

    May 24, 2011 at 6:40 am

    What a great gift!! I agree about the WFE. I read the book and saw the movie both of which were good but not great. Nothing real exciting about them.

    Dinner looks great!

    Reply
  40. Molly @ RDexposed says

    May 24, 2011 at 6:55 am

    What perfect sizes for those dishes! I love new coffee mugs.

    Reply
  41. Cait @ Beyond Bananas says

    May 24, 2011 at 7:07 am

    Love meeting new friends! How cool to connect with your new friends! That frozen yogurt is making me want some.. at 8:07am

    Reply
  42. Kristen @ Change of Pace says

    May 24, 2011 at 7:33 am

    I loved water for elephants. I thought Reese Witherspoon was a little odd in it but I guess her character was in the book. Froyo is on my list of things to do today!

    Reply
  43. Riss says

    May 24, 2011 at 7:54 am

    I just got a set of that exact bowl pattern from my aunt as a graduation gift!! L-O-V-E it!

    Reply
  44. Natalia - a side of simple says

    May 24, 2011 at 7:56 am

    I want that bowl! 🙂 Usually I can tame my cravings but I don’t know about my hankering for that one…

    How fun that you got to meetup with Jill and Ken. I think you’re going to have to consider writing a tour-like series that’s even MORE in depth than your Charlottesville posts already!

    Reply
  45. Kim@ The Future Dr. B-S says

    May 24, 2011 at 8:08 am

    Cute dishes. I loves the WFE book – I will get to the movies eventually to see RPatz.

    Reply
  46. Hope says

    May 24, 2011 at 8:19 am

    What nice gifts! Anthropologie has the cutest bowls, plates and cups! 🙂 That frozen yogurt looks heavenly! 🙂 I really want to see Water for Elephants. I wanted to read the book before going to see the movie. I need to get around to reading it though.

    Reply
  47. Jennifer says

    May 24, 2011 at 8:32 am

    That bean salad looks fantastic! I’m definitely going to try that. 🙂

    Reply
  48. Heidi - apples under my bed says

    May 24, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    yep, aussies are awesome 🙂 what a fun night!
    Heidi xo

    Reply
  49. Leslie says

    May 25, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    I agree-Aussies are awesome! My brother lives in Australia and is wife is the absolute nicest person I’ve ever met. Our trip to “Oz” a few years ago for their wedding was delightful. Everyone we met there was so nice!
    It’s cool you are meeting people from everywhere through your blog. Maybe someday you’ll be visiting them!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search

Topics to browse >>

Get my exclusive promos –>

    Footer

    hi! Im Kath.

    I'm a Registered Dietitian, healthy eater, and mom of two from Charlottesville, Virginia. Here you’ll find a healthy mix of real-life meals made from whole ingredients balanced with the pleasures of life, including buttercream frosting and good wine. Plus a sprinkle of nutrition, home life, beauty, parenting, and travel.
    about | privacy policy | contact

    Please note: nearly every link I post is an affiliate link. Thank you for supporting my blog.

    Recipes

    • Oatmeal Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Smoothie Recipes
    • All Recipes

    Nutrition

    • Healthy Mindset
    • Real Food
    • My Wellness Program

    Life

    • Home Tour
    • Travel
    • Wedding
    • Charlottesville
    • Digital Clutter Course
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Copyright © // 2025 Kath Eats
    Jump to top