Merry Christmas Eve! How did today creep up on me so quickly?!
I’ve been continuing to enjoy being home and catching up with old friends and family. Yesterday, my mom and I met up with one of our Tampa friends for a foodie lunch at the Westend Bistro in the Ritz Carlton downtown! I decided my cute cowboy-ish boots and a sweater dress were in order for the occasion 🙂
We had a great time — I ordered the Tuna Tartar (LOOOOOOVE tuna tartar), which came with cucumber, frisee, and ginger oil (!), plus some unpictured toast:
And a huge Foggy Bottom Market Salad:
It was delicious, filled with all sorts of interesting veggies, like daikon, jicama, and fennel. It also came with a Truffle Oil Vinaigrette! YUM. I’ve definitely gotten onboard the truffle bandwagon.
My mom ordered the Oyster Po’ Boy sandwich — pretty!
And our friend Natalie had a cheeseburger! Isn’t this beautiful??
Seriously looked like something out of a magazine!
We also shared some fries, topped with all sorts of fun seasonings:
I just had a few — I was kind of over fries since I’d just had a bunch the day before! What a fun outing with the ladies 🙂
After all this eating out, all my mom and I wanted was something simple and healthy for dinner. Enter my Veggie-tastic Minestrone Soup!
So simple and so delicious 🙂
After dinner, I headed out on the town for more socializing! I met a bunch of my best friends from high school for wine and dessert (so much for being healthy!) — we had an absolute blast catching up and reminiscing and I’m pretty sure everyone else in the restaurant was like, wtf? We were a bit loud, howling with laughter 😉 Oh well, can’t hate on girls having a blast!
I transitioned my earlier outfit from day into night for the occasion — goodbye cowboy boots and white cardigan, hello soft black slouchy boots and black cardigan!
I’m off to relax — on the docket for today is:
- A nice long run with my brother
- Christmas Eve dinner at my grandmother’s with mom, brother, aunt, and uncle
My grandmother lives in a retirement apartment community and they have a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner in their fancy dining room, so we figured it would be more fun and easier to all go to that vs. try to cook on our own!
In case you’re wondering where my dad is, he sadly is overseas for work and can’t come home for Christmas. 🙁 BUT — my mom, brother, and I are leaving DC on the 27th and heading to Germany to meet my dad for a little family vacation of skiing and sightseeing! It’s been AGES since we’ve taken a family vacation, so I can’t wait! Don’t worry — I’ll be bringing my laptop and you guys along for the ride! 🙂
I hope you’re all enjoying your family and friends today, too!
