Bacon + Bourbon + Brunch [Weekend Recap]

This weekend started by meeting up with semi new-to-us friends. I’ve learned over the past year or so that making friends at 28 doesn’t come as naturally as making friends at 22. I think I’m naturally extroverted (although I’m definitely more introverted as I get older) so when either Nick or I, or me just by myself, go meet up with new people I do a pat on the back for putting myself out there.

We were introduced to Brad and Michelle through mutual friends and planned a dinner date for Friday. It was awesome! It makes me so happy to find friends that you feel like you’ve known way longer than a few hours. We started with dinner at Washington Square Tavern where I drank a couple glasses of cab and ate a black bean burger with guac and sweet potato fries.

And then we headed back to Brad and Michelle’s to watch the UNC vs Duke game. UNC WON THANK GOD. Nick is a die hard Tar Heel and how the game ends translates to the mood in our house for the next few hours. So a UNC win is a win for me ha.

During half time we ate cookies + vanilla ice cream.

Saturday morning we slept in until 8:30 and it was glorious. I love nothing more than when the sunshine through my window wakes me up and a remember it is in fact, Saturday. Does anyone else wake up on a weekend questioning the day of the week and a little frazzled as to what they need to be doing…and then realize, oh yea. NOTHING. It’s Saturday. Ok…me too.

I hit up the grocery right away because it’s minimally crowded and so much more enjoyable. I got a coffee when I walked in and strolled the aisles for a good hour. I picked up stuff to make pizza that night and a brunch we were hosting on Sunday for friends and somehow walked away spending way less cash than anticipated. Love when things end up better than expected. I had some coupons for free Perfect bars so that contributed. I really like the taste of Perfect bars but tbh, I don’t think I’d ever buy them with my own money because they’re pricey. But they are tasty.

I eyed this jar of Justin’s hazelnut butter last week that was on sale and then resisted due to the budget. Real life…I could go completely ham in the grocery without any boundaries. But this week, I saw it again and had zero restraint. By the time I got home I was overly hungry so I ate a banana and pb while we cooked some bacon egg and cheeses using bacon and everything bagels I picked up.

Two fried eggs + sharp cheddar + bacon + hot sauce. Awesome.

Then Nick and I tag teamed the apartment cleaning. Usually I clean and Nick does laundry. I cook and Nick does dishes. But when I got home from the store, he was somehow cleaning and I was like hallelujah. So we did a deep clean. It had been awhile. I’m not sure this is a healthy thought process, but having a clean apartment makes me feel like everything in life is going to be okay.

I wrote a few cards that I’ve been meaning to write forever and then ate several handfuls of granola + an orange and went outside on a run.

It was chilly but the sun was out so in my mind that means it was gorgeous. I listened to a podcast and then walked some while talking to my friend Jena. One of my favorite routes takes me through Fenway and then though the Longwood medical area.

Got home. Took a shower and drank my usual green smoothie – banana + spinach + milk + Vega protein powder. And then Nick and I went to a Bourbon + Bacon tasting event. My friend Hannah Jane (girl’s from Georgia) got me into bourbon a couple years ago coincidentally when I began dating Nick. Nick is a big fan of whiskey. So for his birthday or Valentine’s Day or some other occasion I sometimes get him tickets to a whiskey event.

We sampled a lot of different whiskeys – some I hated, others I loved – along with several bacon infused foods. With endless bacon and bourbon you’re bound for good times.

And then we made it back home in time for the UNC vs UVa game where UVa played an almost perfect game and UNC sadly lost.

But the homemade pizza was a win. I bought a bag of dough at Whole Foods and we topped it with bell pepper + onions + mushrooms and goat gouda cheese. I added pepperoni to Nick’s. And I threw together a Caesar salad. Basically romaine, dressing and parm.

I hate daylight savings in March because you lose and hour of sleep and I’m overly dramatic about it. I hate losing hours! In November though I’m all about it when you gain and hour. So we were up extra early for church.

After church we had a few friends over for brunch that included an egg + kale + sausage + sweet potato casserole and french toast! I haven’t had french toast in way too long because my default is pancakes but now I’m like…yes, french toast you good. And we had bloodies and mimosas…of course.

We bought some Stonewall Kitchen Bloody Mary mix when we stocked our bar cart a couple weekends ago and let me tell you..this mix is GOOD. A little spicy, thick and tomato-y and really fresh testing. Not like a mix that has been sitting there for ages. Highly recommend.

We ate and talked and had a lazy Sunday and it was perfect. Nick made the eggs and I did the french toast by mixing together 5 eggs, ~2/3 cup milk, a splash of maple syrup, vanilla extract, pinch of sea salt and some cinnamon. I sliced up a loaf of bread and let it soak in the egg mixture for about a minute on each side before cooking it on a buttered pan. It was fab but I think it would be even better with cinnamon raisin bread. Our friends have a little boy and we had this tiny cast iron that I think you’re suppose to melt butter in, but we made a mini egg casserole….like mini meals haha. I knew that little cast iron would come in handy.

After everyone left we spent the rest of the evening watching multiple episodes of This Is Us, making veggie curry for the week and eating leftover pizza for dinner.

Followed up by ice cream.

After a couple weekends of travel it felt so good to be back home. Hope your weekend was great too – share your highlights in the comments!