Although the title of this post implies that I spent Saturday giving my brain a much-needed vacation, all it really means is that I took a killer nap this afternoon.
After struggling to wake up this morning, I finally rolled out of bed around 9:30 to the promise of a homemade breakfast. I seriously had to coax myself to open my eyes and get moving. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me other than stress and exhaustion, but I seem to be so tired these days. I suppose I assumed I’d be spunky and revived by simply being in a new city, but to be honest I’m finding it overwhelming more than anything.
My home-cooked breakfast was nice, though.
I heated up these Eden Organic Spelt Flakes with some water and sweetened vanilla almond milk (woah buddy it’s sweet), then added chopped banana, chia seeds, raw sliced almonds, and Trader Joe’s sunflower seed butter for another round of heating (yes, in the microwave. The shame!). I topped it with Nature’s Path Hemp Plus granola (when in Denver, right? hah) for some crunch, and had coffee on the side. The mug made me feel close to home.
Allow me to spend a moment on the star of this show: sunflower butter. If y’all know me well, you’ve heard me reference “nut butters” more than once. This is actually a seed butter, and a damn good one at that. It’s probably my all-time favorite of any butter. It’s smooth and sweet and salty and rich, all at once. 
My favorite way to enjoy it – stuffed into big Medjool dates with a sprinkle of unsweetened coconut. Trust me on this.
Anyway, after that big meal, I spent the next three hours attempting and failing to do anything productive. Job and apartment hunting was subpar, finding a bike path I was comfortable with was difficult, and I just felt blah. (Let’s also note that I don’t bike. So bike path hunting is just me pretending. Poser.) I finally bucked up the energy to go for another run around Wash Park, this time running far more than walking.
But I got home and returned to my state of poo. As in, after showering and again pretending to be productive, I ended up taking a nap. LAME. I have a love/hate relationship with naps. I always want to take one SO BADLY in the mid-afternoon, but mostly when I do, I regret it the second I’m awake. Such a waste of time!
And yet, what else am I doing?
Dinner was had with my hosts and their family at Ted’s Montana Grill, which was not the best but certainly not the worst meal I’ve had.
FLASH. BOO.
I had the bison chili and a chopped salad with chickpeas and other things. All good, not life changing. The free pickles placed on every table, however. Now THOSE were worth writing home to Mom about. (Hi Mom!) They were super fresh sour pickles, like you’d find in a Jewish deli. I munched on a entire dish of those and was tempted to ask for a refill.
Afterwards, I wandered around the Belmar Shopping Center, which despite its suburbanite character, was quite nice. It helps that the evening breeze made for possibly the nicest night I’ve experienced in a while. A lap around the place, a scoop of Cherry Garcia, and trip to Sur La Table (evidence that I live in a big city!) later, and I was ready to do some grocery shopping. Happenin’ Saturday night, I know.
But not before I drooled over some kitchen things. Ya know, for the kitchen I don’t have right now.
WANT. (terrible photo, wow)
And these guys!
It’s pink! With black and white polka dots! Squeeeee!
Right around the corner was an enormous Whole Foods, where I blew money I don’t have on groceries I probably don’t need, but hey, girl’s gotta eat! Which reminds me – I need to sign up for Match or Plenty of Fish, or whatever. Free dinner!
When I returned “home,” I curled up on the couch with my hosts, my computer (aka best friend), and Little Fockers. It had Jessica Alba, which made the stale storyline tolerable. But hey, I laughed, which is better than crying in the WF checkout line (not that I know anything about that).
All in all, not the worst Saturday night. But not the best. Waiting for the part where this all begins to makes sense.
Bedtime. xoxo
