‘Twas a nice day for a hike!!! Excellent, actually. Perfect weather!
The four of us went to Umstead Park in Raleigh for a 6 mile hike that lasted about 2 hours.
GUESS WHO SPOTTED A SNAKE TAIL!!?!? I’m always on the lookout for predators… I ran the other way!
Ye ole mill
After the hike we headed to Sweet Tomatoes with coupons!!
I love lunch spots like this – a 50 mile long salad bar and buffet. Something for everyone!
-Unlimited food for Dad
-Interesting flavors for Matt
-A plethora of vegetables and ice cream bar for me
-And bread and sprinkles for Mom!
I had a big salad piled high with veggies, beans and a few salads
Sipped some tortilla soup
And dove into this sweet potato seasoned with maple butter!!!! My was that good.
There was lots of sharing at our table. Matt ate half of my potato and I tried about 5 things from his plate (didn’t care for the mac n cheese). Mom shared a bite of cornbread!
But for dessert, it was one for all
I had vanilla/choco swirl with sprinkles, cookies and granola
And mom had sprinkles with a drizzle of ice cream!
Our lunch was late and large, so Matt and I packed sandwiches to have whenever we got hungry again for dinner.
Avocado, cheese, tomato for me. Meatlovers for him!
<3 our mountainous home!
3 hours whizzed by and we’re unpacked and lounging now. Don’t see any dead spider bodies..guess that’s good!
Sweet and Savvy says
What a beautiful day! Thanks for sharing these great pictures! This time of year is so gorgeous, I could not help but just post about the foliage.
lindzjane115 says
It was a gorgeous day today! Glad you got to enjoy a hike. I love Matt’s T-shirt! When and where did he get it, and might I be able to find one?
Also, I wanted to thank you for your inspiring breakfast ideas! I had my first yogurt bowl with crumbled muffin today, a la KERF!
KathEats says
It’s from the Food Channel – they were giving them away at Foodbuzz last year
KathEats says
[And thanks!]
Lisa Fine says
Was wondering the same thing. It’s such a cute shirt! 🙂
Sana says
Matt’s shirt rocksss!
katie @KatieDid says
omg amazing food for a buffet style restaurant. And your sandwich is so cute next to Matt’s. Sounds like an awesome day, I absolutely love hiking and try to go most weekends.
Nancy @ Beyoutiful Fitstyle says
Hiking is the best! Usually a good workout too. I’m hoping to find more trails for next spring/summer.
Cait @ Beyond Bananas says
Hiking is so much fun! There are so many awesome things to see. I love fall hiking in new england because you are practically in the middle of a beautiful picture!!
Hillary says
Gotta admit, I love my ice cream the way your mom does—light on the ice cream, really heavy on the sprinkles!
Mom says
You go Sprinkle Girl!
Mom says
I wish I had another bowl of sprinkles with a tad of ice cream.
Lillian misses you lots!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
I run the other direction amazingly fast when I spy a snake or hear something that may sound like a snake! YIKES! I’m such a scaredy cat!!!
I have a thing for sprinkles! 😉 They add so much happiness to life!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
It was such a good hiking weekend! We went yesterday and I don’t think it could’ve been more perfect.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
If I saw a snake, I would have been out of there like a bolt of lightening! A snake came up to me at the lake two summers a go…I think I scared the crap out of it with how fast I got my butt out of the water!
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
ahhh I’m so jealous! I absolutely love hiking! Although it always makes me laugh when people talk about the Appalachian Mountains… I grew up going to the Rockies so the east coast seems more like hills to me.
Lauren says
That is a beautiful and scenic hike! Yesterday I got to spend my day in the country going horseback riding-it has been a perfect weekend for doing things outdoors! Also went mini golfing with my little cousins in the wonderful weather.
I’d love that bowl of ice cream with sprinkles. They make everything better 🙂
Krystina (Organically Me) says
I once saw vultures eating a snake outside my dad’s house – it was one of the grossest things I’ve ever seen.
Amy says
I’m in Raleigh! Glad you enjoyed the day here! Sweet Tomatoes is such a yummy place to eat. Did you hike at Umstead State Park? I’m not familiar with Olmstead…
KathEats says
YES!!! Oops 😉 Going to change it!
KathEats says
PS. Thanks!
Krissy - Shiawase Life says
OMG I love Sweet Tomatoes – we used to go every week back when we lived in FL…we went to that one in NC this summer and also to ST’s twin Souplantation in CA when we were there…ahh…wish Cville had one!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I love salad bars! Variety is what I live for. 😀
Have a safe trip home!
Gillian G. says
It’s so rare that I see someone else who loves sprinkles as much as I do! (We call ’em jimmies up here in Mass.). Your mom & I are kindred spirits 🙂
Mom says
I adore them! I really like the round kind better–nonpareils –but they’re hard to come by these days.
Pat says
Oh, chocolate ice cream with chocolate jimmies…. be still my heart! I’m a Mass-raised gal.
Gillian G. @ When Bread Is Broken says
mmm, the chocolate are my fave! I went to school in South Carolina & had to re-train myself to say “sprinkles” so the Bruster’s people wouldn’t look at me like I had 3 heads.
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
What a fun day with your parents! The weather was amazing.
Jessica says
Gorgeous day for a hike! Lovely photos!!
cathy says
i’m a fan of ultramarathons and the ulmstead 100 mile is a popular one! looks like great terrain to enjoy.
love your mom’s helping of sprinkles – awesome.
Lynn @ the actor's diet says
In LA they’re called soup plantation. I love them!!!
[email protected] healthy helper blog! says
I want to go to sweet tomatoes SO bad!!! It sounds like a place I would LOVE!
Marcia @Frugal Healthy Simple says
I’ve been to Raleigh a few times for business (my last company’s HQ was in Durham), but never did hike. I have a sister in NC. It looks like a beautiful hike. One thing I miss about the East Coast is fall, and the green forests.
I’ve never actually eaten at a Sweet Tomatoes, though I’ve seen them. If I’d known that they had a mile long salad bar, I’d have stopped!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
We love Sweet TOmatoes in my family – my mom and I go there for a dinner date about every month!
Deva @ Deva by Definition says
I love Sweet Tomatoes. They don’t have them near me, so I go when I visit my grandparents!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
I seriously need to try maple butter! Looks like a great day 🙂
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
i used to love sweet tomatoes solely for the self serve soft serve. seems so cool when you’re a kid!! i am much more appreciative of the endless veggies these days 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
I love sweet potatoes! They’ve been on my list of easy (and lazy) dinners lately. So good! I usually put a little peanut butter on them – may seem weird but it’s super delicious!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
That looks like the perfect family day to me!
I seriously LOVE baked sweet potatoes. YUMM.
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf says
MAPLE butter?! OMG. I like making my own homemade butter occasionally, and sometimes I even do honey butter. I’m going to have to try making maple butter! I’ve got a huge bag of organic sweet potatoes just begging for something like that!
Angel7 says
Your mom loves sprinkles 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries says
Mmm I’m all about the unlimited veggies and ice cream too! 🙂 I love Sweet Tomatoes.
Molly @ RDexposed says
You’re looking pretty good for just hiking!
Lindsay @ biking before bed says
I went to Sweet Tomatoes a few weeks ago and fell in love! I love how the beets were cut to look like crinkle fries:)
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
Yeah for hiking! It was just as perfect weather on the West coast for hiking, too. Although my daughter complained, she did great. The hike we took tends to be steep in parts, but taking quick pit stops to enjoy the view of the creek and trees helped her out a lot.
Yummy salad! Can never go wrong with a well stocked salad bar.
Laura says
sweet potato, tortilla soup, AND ice cream? just call me a weeee bit envious!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
sweet potato seasoned with maple butter…wow, that is quite the find in a restaurant. I need some maple butter in my life! yum!
And what a great TALL salad…love it.
Glad you guys had such a great day together!
Namaste Gurl says
Looks like a wonderful day!
Khushboo says
Sweet Tomatoes sounds awesome..everything looks so delicious, especially the sweet potato and sundae!
Hannah @ Sparrow + Spark! says
This looks great! Maple butter sounds like something I am going to have to make!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Looks like a great hike! I actually went hiking on Saturday and saw a snake! It was just a tiny little ribbon snake though.
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Looks like you had a great weekend! 🙂 There is nothing better than spending time with family. I love sprinkles on a sundae!
Katie says
Fun times with family! Great pics, love the pic of you with your mom & dad. Who do you look more like? I’ve been enjoying a few baked sweet potatoes with a little butter and brown sugar or maple syrup.
KathEats says
I think it’s a toss up, but I’ve always thought I was more like my dad and larbs is more like my mom
Karen says
I concur with you, Kath…you/Dad, Larbs/Mom. But, you all resemble each other quite a bit!
Katie says
That’s what I was thinking, but I didn’t know if it was just because you are next to your dad in this picture. You can certainly tell that you are all related. How about personality wise?
Becky says
BTW…..while I’ve never tried it myself, I’ve heard hedgeballs are an effective and eco-friendly way of keeping spiders away. Here in Iowa we have hedge trees all over the place and can find said balls at farmers markets or regular grocery stores for cheap. You are suppose to place them around windows, doors and let them do their magic. While they are organic, I do believe they are toxic to small animals and children if eaten……though they are very ugly and I have I hard time thinking anyone would attempt to eat it. 🙂 good luck!
Kristi @ Hiding in Honduras says
I <3 Umstead! And I'm with your mom on the sprinkles front, yum!
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Love, love, LOVE a great hike. Looks like a beautiful day!
Julia H. @ The Petite Spiel says
Fun hike! I just went on a big hike myself today–always a nice way to switch up the fitness 🙂
And I LOVE LOVE sweet potatoes. Mmm now I want Thanksgiving to come so I can have a bunch of sweet potato casserole. Yum.
Alaina says
What a lovely day for a hike! I miss hiking with my husband. We’ll have to get on that soon. 🙂
Christina says
I was at Umstead GeoCaching this weekend and the weather was gorgeous! I swear I saw your dad but didn’t want to be “that girl” who asked if he was your dad! LOL
KathEats says
Where and what time!? Maybe it was him 🙂
Mac says
Wow that does look like a gorgeous day for a hike! Fall is so pretty on the trails!
Love Sweet Tomatoes!