There is really nothing like coming from the broken pavement of the DC highways onto the country roads of Virginia countryside. Especially when the Charlottesville mountains begin to appear in the distance!
[Photo from 28th birthday!]
DC traffic wasn’t horrible, but I definitely hit one too many patches of stop and go.
Fuel for the angered brain – Larabar must have sent this to me because it showed up in my mailbox! New flavor is Choco Chip Cherry Torte. I like it a lot – because of the chocolate – but I’m not wild about cherries. I think the Chocolate Chip Cookie is the best flavor I’ve had! Followed by Peanut Butter and Coconut. Love those!
I was greeted by Matt when I finally made it home!! He’s gradually stepping back a bit from the closing procedures so he doesn’t have to work 12 hour days (we’re slow in the late afternoons anyways). It was a fun surprise to find him at home at 6pm!
This meant an earlier dinner, which meant natural light and outdoor dining!!!
Leftover lasagna – easy as pie to reheat and eat!
Along with a massive pile of steam-sautéed kale! I drizzled mine with a little maple syrup and sea salt
After dinner I got to work on the IKEA tweaks with the new stuff I bought, unpacked, put things away, and now I’m blogging. Didn’t get a chance to enjoy the new couch yet!
Dinner was so early I’m munching on a few cinnamon graham crackers for a bedtime snack – my stomach felt like it was about to growl and that is no good!
See you for breakfast!
Can’t believe it’s almost your birthday again!
i got those larabars in the mail too. squealed like a little kid.
Wow. That first photo is gorgeous. Love the color.
How does autumn in VA compare to NC?
Slightly superior 🙂
What beautiful fall pictures!
Yummy kale–I cannot get enough of it!!!
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That photo is GORGEOUS! Virginia is SO BEAUTIFUL, I’m so happy to have the pleasure of living here for a few years. Those mountains never get old!
I like so many things about this post. Namely: those beautiful fall trees (we don’t get that here in the Pac NW), Matt’s shirt,and those giant pieces of kale on your plates that dwarf the lasagna. Hahaha…have a good night!
i might just have evening brain right now, but steam-sauteeing? i usually do one or the other…how do you do both? saute, then jam a lid on it for a few minutes..?
Exactly!! I start by adding to a dry pan and letting it cook a bit (slightly wet), then I add a bit more water, add lid and steam.
Thanks for another way to make Kale. I’ve been making a raw kale salad with a champagne vinagrette I bought at Trader joe’s and it’s rather tasty but I am getting tired of the same thing.
thanks kath 😀
Glad you made it back safe! 🙂 And I hope that Larabar is around here soon, lovveee the choc + cherry combo. My fave Larabar is … umm …. all of them ?! 😉
A growling stomach most definitely is NOT good. I love cinnamon graham crackers – the Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Schoolhouse cookies are SO yummy.
So glad you and Matt are reunited and you’re safe and sound at home 🙂
i hate going to bed on an empty stomach… makes it so much harder to fall asleep! beautiful photographs, tonight 🙂
I’m so glad things are settling down for you two with the bakery and life. Looks like a perfect evening!
Glad you’re safe and sound at home & that Matt is home a tad earlier! 🙂
I got to drive from DC to Charlottesville a couple years ago and 1) it was GORGEOUS. it made me want to move there immediately! and 2) haha yep, some serious stop and go traffic.
It’s crazy to think the leaves will be that different in 21 days, I was taking a walk today and noticing how green everything still is here!
I haven’t tried sautéed kale yet. It’s on my things to do list. Thanks for the reminder.
Leftovers rock. And leftover lasagna, pasta sauce, chili…red foods like that always seem to get better the next day.
And kale w/ maple…sounds great. Must try that one! I use agave but never maple.
That IS gorgeous!!
I LOVE leftovers. SO easy. So delicious 🙂
The highlight of work right now is being on the 7th floor and getting to stare at the fall foliage! I feel compelled to say the patients are always the highlight though….
that lasagna looks amazing! I hope Matt gets to cut back on hours soon 12 hours a day is crazy, atleast he is loving every minute of it!
Leftovers make the yummiest dinners. The flavors have time to meld!
Really happy for you guys..new house..travels..great business to run..each other..hard work and positivity pays 🙂 p.s. Matt you look great..not tired at all 😉
What a stunning picture Kath! There’s nothing I love more than the gorgeous Fall colors!!!
Mmm the lasagna looks good too. I love leftovers 🙂
Catching natural light before sunset is a great way to end a day of blogging. My number one complaint about Fall and Winter is now early sunsets, lol. A blogger’s life for me…
Oh my gosh! How gorgeous is that first picture?!
That first photo shows one of the many reasons I love fall so much–it’s just plain beautiful!!
Almost as beautiful: that giant pile of kale. Mmmm mass amounts of veggies <3
I got a GIANT bag of kale today, and was planning to kale-chip my way through it, but sauteing seems like such a good idea!! I’m not sure how maple syrup will taste like on kale, but I’ve seen you do it a few times and it looks interesting 🙂
Love your Birthday blog post! Gorgeous views. Cute boots. Glad you made it home safely and to enjoy a delicious dinner with Matt.
Luv’n the napkin, too!
Matt’s tee is awesome… and so is kale 🙂
Its so true – your blog is awesome inspiration for hard work paying off!!! Hopefully Louis and I will be able to do a cross country road trip when we come over to the states next fall!! VA looks incredible!! xox
Great photos. Love the Fall color photos in Virginia. Looks like it’s time for a road trip to VA. 🙂
You know you’re a blogger when the site of kale makes you drool 🙂
That picture is breathtaking—and just confirmed my desire to come visit Charlottesville!
I got the same LARA love yesterday too! I am loving the new flavour 🙂
That first picture is so gorgeous! I wish we could just freeze time for a bit so that the leaves could stay colourful for longer. It seems like they start falling off of the trees as soon as they turn colour!
That view makes me want to move to Virgina. So beautiful
My favorite Larabar (as of late) is peanut butter cookie. So good and I swear it REALLY does taste like a pb cookie. Some of the flavors I can definitely do without (Cashew cookie and Gingersnap) but some of them are really spot on with the flavors.
How nice to have dinner ready and waiting for you. 🙂 I love that mountain picture. Just beautiful!
you are right – there is nothing like the view of the mountains in cville. we headed to carter mountain this past weekend and i fell asleep in the car and when i woke up, i was greeted by the best view ever.
What a gorgeous fall picture!
By the way, I personally prefer leftover lasagna to fresh. It’s just one of those second-day meals.
Oh how I miss autumn in Virginia! I am so excited to move back in 7 months! Those mountains are simply magical!
That is exciting that Matt is able to step back a bit! It is always nice to re-establish balance!
Where does Matt get all of his food shirts. They are awesome. I’m always interested to see what he’s got on his shirt!
I brought this one home from last year’s Foodbuzz fest
Gorgeous!! I am so jealous of people that live in states with beautiful nature. I need to get the heck out of Florida
Absolutely stunning picture of the mountains! And I thought I lived in the most beautiful place on earth…but let’s face it, in fall, everything is gorgeous.
DC traffic is the worst! Every time I go back home I remember why I left!