Hello!
I have a lot of pictures to share with you today, so I may be limited in my words. As you know, Neil and I headed back to Virginia on Thursday to attend his annual holiday party. I ate all the food I can’t get in Chicago, visited friends, and had an overall great time!
Thursday
Not much happened on Thursday. We arrived in the afternoon, checked into our hotel, and I made sure to grab some Tikka Boti rolls from Toosso, a local Pakistani place that I used to be obsessed with.
Friday
Neil had a work meeting all Friday, so I took the car and went just about EVERYWHERE in VA. My first stop was trying out a local CrossFit box at CrossFit North Reston.
It was a great workout and everyone was really welcoming. My coach Brandon was awesome and even accommodated my excessive picture taking. Plus I got to break in my new tank.
After my workout, I drove to my sister’s apartment to walk her dogs and spend a good 45 minutes snuggling with this creature. If you’re not aware of our long standing relationship, click here.
At first it was endearing.
Then her tongue wound up in my mouth a few too many times.
I left with some bruises and scratches, but I’m attributing it to her undying love for me.
I mentioned on Friday that I was most excited to pick up my favorite cupcake, and here it is. If you’re in Virginia, Cupcakes Actually has two locations: one in Fairfax and one in Leesburg. This flourless chocolate cupcake is the most delicious thing ever.
After cupcakes, I drove to meet my sister at her work in Chantilly so we could grab lunch. We had Thai food which then meant that I had to get mango sticky rice because it’s obligatory at Thai restaurants.
Next to the restaurant was a place called My Next Puppy which, you guessed it, is filled with puppies. Unlike most places that require you to come up with some elaborate puppy-purschasing story in order to play with one, we were told “you can play with all of them” almost immediately.
We chose what seemed like a docile one to start, but soon discovered an unending amount of energy and shoe-chewing. Again, dog tongues in my mouth.
Next, we chose the French bulldog who had just woken up from a nap and was much more well-behaved. My sister told me it was time to go when I started to rock it like a baby.
After leaving my sister, I met up with my friend Tayler in Springfield. Seriously, I drove everywhere on Friday. I sloppily did not take any pictures of her or us, but managed this great picture of her son after our trip to Sephora. I’ll attribute my lack of picture-taking to the fact that it was really great to hang out with her again in person and not in text form every day.
She also gave me this bag of Sriracha popcorn that she originally got me as a going-away present over a year ago. I forgot it in her car before I left and she kindly saved it for me. Let’s see how this turns out.
Friday night was low-key and Neil and I settled in pretty early.
Saturday
Saturday was the day that my mom and sister were going to come hang out before the holiday party. Neil and I stayed in the Ritz Carlton that was attached to Tysons Galleria, basically an entire mall that I can never afford to shop at in my life. Take all of the high priced stores on Michigan Avenue and Gold Coast, put them in one mall, and that is Tysons Galleria.
What I could afford there was Starbucks and Sweetgreen, my absolute favorite place for salads ever. PLEASE COME TO CHICAGO.
I was also able to try Capital Kombucha, which I’d seen in pictures from friends back on the East coast. It did not disappoint.
My mom and sister arrived and we spent some time walking around Tysons Corner Center, the “normal people mall.” It’s right across the street, and obviously more crowded. I actually spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday there for some point during each day. I have a mall problem.
We stopped in a few stores, then I found a Lolli and Pops which was incredible because I’ve only seen their chocolates here at the Chicago French Market. I’ve posted about them before (here and here), but they are the fanciest looking chocolates I’ve ever seen. Of course I didn’t buy any and took a random picture of regular chocolates instead of the reason I went in there.
After walking around for awhile, I headed to the MAC store to have them do my makeup for the party. I wanted a smoky eye to go with my dress, but whenever I do one myself I’m always scared by the amount of shadow and what I think is enough never translates in pictures. So I figured I’d go to people who know what they’re doing.
I intended to only have my eyes done, but my artist decided to go hard and do my whole face, including false lashes. I loved the way it turned out, but I can’t imagine wearing makeup like that on the regular.
We all took a selfie and parted ways since I had to get ready for the party.
My sister came back to the hotel for a little while and I forced her to take millions of pictures of me. Sadly, the only one I found that actually showed you my eye makeup was this beautiful one I took to send to Tayler.
Props to Jackie for capturing this one though.
And this one.
Ok, I’ll be normal.
The party was a great time and we were able to reconnect with some of the people we haven’t seen in awhile. You may remember Kevin and Brittany from our trip to Pittsburgh awhile ago.
Sunday
Sunday morning we had a 7:30 am flight because someone had to get home in time to watch football. This meant a 5 am wakeup call after 5 hours of sleep. This may not seem too terrible, but I’m one of those “9 hours and I’m good” people.
We came home to this 🙁
The rest of Sunday involved a 2 hour nap, Dimo’s pizza (for Neil), making almond butter, and general relaxation. I’m getting my Dimo’s pizza next weekend after this photo shoot is out of the way. MAC ‘N CHEESE FTW!
I hope you had a great weekend!
Questions:
- What did you do this weekend?
- What’s somewhere you love to eat that isn’t near you?
- Have you ever had your makeup done?
Wow girl, you really drove all around nova!! It always amazes me how huge that place is every time I go back home. I miss sweetgreen, but we just got a restaurant called Roots that is similar 🙂
Jess @hellotofit recently posted…3 Things Every Personal Trainer Should Do to Succeed
I know right? I’m glad you can get your salad fix on!
hello hot stuff! you look great! fun weekend and eating and all the chicago shenanigans
Thank you!
Looks like a great weekend. You look gorgeous with a smokey eye (not that you don’t anyway…)! I would LOVE to have Chipotle. That probably sounds ridiculous, but I totally miss it now I’m living in the UK. I miss Dunkin Donuts too. I loved some of their ice coffees and there isn’t one in Glasgow. Plenty of other great options, but sometimes you just want what’s familiar!
Erin@BeetsPerMinute recently posted…Breaking Up with Negative Thoughts
You should petition to bring chipotle over there!
I already said this, but HOT DAMN you are gorgeous. Good grief. And I am tres happy that you got all of your food destinations in. Do you think that we could campaign for Cava and Sweet Greens to come to Chicago? Because that would be magical.
And I couldn’t go in to the puppy store. I would certainly leave with one.
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…The Best Medicine (Back from Our Mexican Vacation)
Girl shoo. I’ve just been tweeting at Sweetgreen constantly. Maybe they’ll get the picture.
A weekend of good eats and puppy snuggles = WIN! I absolutely hate early flights more than anything in the world. My ideal flight time is 10am. Early. But not too early.
Pragati // Simple Medicine recently posted…Blackberry Birthday Smoothie
That’s a great flight time. At least I got to come home and and take a nap!
hehehe that dog is so cute! it’s so endearing yet gross when they just want to slobber all over your face.
also you look BOMB in that dress.
i’ve had my makeup done every time i do a photoshoot. personally im not a fan, because i hate face make up, but its also fun to see what the makeup artist can do!
Beverley @ sweaty&fit recently posted…Resistance Training: Chest Day Workout
I have my first photo shoot for work this weekend and they’re doing my makeup too. I’m pumped!
Your weekend looks amazing and YOU! Dang girl. You in that dress. BOOM.
I would die if I had a flight that early after a Christmas party. For serious.
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs recently posted…Dopey Challenge Recap – Part 1
Thankfully we went to bed as early as we could but I still would have liked more than 5 hours of sleep…
Ooh, girl, you are ROCKIN’ that smoky eye! Yowza! I need to go see that makeup artist. Glad you had a great time in VA! And that you took so many awesome dog photos. Dogs are all about you, aren’t they? (It’s a good thing–I don’t trust people who dogs don’t like. ;))
Beth @ Sublimely Fit recently posted…Yoga for Runners Book Giveaway!
I know! I want to bring him here w me. I would play w dogs all day long if I could.
That’s awesome! I work close to Cupcakes Actually but show great restraint. Esp since I like baking so at home I show none. 🙂 I love Tysons – Not the Galleria, I can’t afford that either. Too poh’. Tysons 1 is awesome, has everything one needs and then some. I don’t go in there much because I have shopping problems LOL avoidance is good and traffic/parking there is always aggravating. I love that Loli and Pops store though, it’s so charming and they always hand out free samples. 🙂 Have a great one Erin! -Iva
AwesomelyOZ recently posted…I Miss Words
Well props to you on your restraint! They have greats seasonal varieties too. I ate so many free gummi bears at L&P!
Gah, I love this- You legit packed so much in one weekend! I’m on the hunt for a delicious cupcake and you’ve got me intrigued! sounds like you had a blast!
So, I went to sweetgreens here but legit felt like I could eat another one (I didn’t….they ate my wallet lol). We need a salad place with mofo sizes.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Healthy Edible Breakfast Cookie Dough for one
Really? It takes me forever to eat one of their salads. I eat everything else so fast and I have to slow down and stab each annoying leaf with my fork so I think I end up feeling full by the end