First I want to start off weekend favorite by saying that if you’re not following me on Snapchat, you should! Yesterday was all about doughnuts, but a lot of times I’ll share recipes, fitness motivation and more! Today I’m planning on making a delicious baked oatmeal recipe via Snapchat (that will also be on the blog on Monday) so be sure to stop by to see it in action. Also Milly makes plenty of appearances.
Anyway what’s new with you? Are you following the debates? My cab driver had a 5 minute convo about who he was voting for yesterday. Sometimes you can’t do anything but nod and listen. You feel me?
This past week went by way too quickly. Rose and I started working on the Chicago Series, which will be hitting the blog in May! The series focuses on all things Chicago because if we live here we might as well share our favorites. First up on the list is donuts, so if you’re from Chicago let me know what your favorite places are in the comments!
Good food I ate this week: I did a lot of recipe testing for May and part of June. Right now I’m LOVING matcha anything, coconut and trail mix. I love making my own trail mix at home with a million different combos, most of them including anything chocolate. Lastly I’ve been super obsessed with BREAKFAST! Can I just have breakfast everyday like the one pictured above? (It’s from Proof Canteen in Scottsdale.)
Ahhh I also had the BEST cheeseburger in the city at Au Cheval last week. OMG really just the best ‘cheat meal’ ever. If you come to Chicago, this is your place to check out. Beware, the wait time is anywhere from 2-5 hours. Yes, seriously.
This weekend: It’s going to be SO nice out, I’m not sure how we’ll get anything done. So far our plans are to pickup a vintage bookshelf and refinish it. We also have a cabinet that I want to paint white, so hopefully that happens! I’ll be sure to take before and after pics.
Wellness thoughts: For the past month or so, I’ve been working out pretty intensely and I think I got a little burnt out. I know when this happens because I start avoiding my workouts and finding the weirdest excuses to put them off. This week I took a few days off to just relax and now am feeling much better about getting back into my routine. Does this ever happen to you?
Alright, now let’s get on to my favorites from this past week! There are some good ones in here:
How hiking changes our brains. And makes us better travelers too!
This chicken pasta skillet just looks AMAZING. Diving in NOW.
Celebrities to follow on snapchat. My fav is Kate Hudson!
I’ve been craving a really good bran muffin lately. These ones look PERFECT.
Foods we commonly mispronounce. Tony calls quinoa “KIN OH AH”
Amazing no fail pillow combos. Because everyone knows I’m obsessed with pillows and rugs.
This greek pasta salad is everything I want for dinner.
Four self help books to read. These all sound amazing.
10 reasons to use Turmeric. I love it with a little honey & almond milk.
30 places to visit before you turn 30. Guess I’ve still got a lot of traveling to do!
Have the best weekend!
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The baked oatmeal recipe sounds amazing! I’m a fan of matcha too. Chicago series sounds fun; can’t wait for the donuts post! I need to try Au Cheval’s cheeseburger. Weekend plans: hiking and cooking. Taking breaks from workouts is essential for recharging. Keep up the great content! 😊
Hi Monique! I lived in Bucktown the past five years (I recently moved to Colorado.) I am gluten free but my boyfriend is not and we are both doughnut lovers. Our favorite is by far Stan’s in Wicker Park! I love the gluten free pistachio doughnut there. It is my favorite sweet treat of all time and I look forward to it when I come home to visit Illinois! I also love Do-Rite, which is downtown on Randolph. Good luck and I wanted to tell you how much I love reading your blog and making your recipes. Also, I know you and Tony enjoy eating out in the Wicker Park/ Bucktown area. Try Lucia’s, Jane’s, Birchwood Kitchen, and Cortland’s Garage. Those are some of my favorites! Also, Shokolad in Ukrainian Village is the best kept secret for the freshest breakfast and lunch you can get! Best! ❤️
Hi Jamie! Just wanted to say thank you so much for your suggestions!!!
Anyone who pronounces Pho like “Foe” needs a good slap in the face. Thanks to your weekend favorites I now know that I’ve been pronouncing ciabatta and gyro wrong for my entire life! LOL! And there’s NO wrong time for breakfast. Might as well have pancakes for lunch and dinner because why not?
Could we be seeing recipes incorporating matcha in the near future? I’m loving it right now too and there are so many possibilities!
Chicago restaurants that I love: Girl & the Goat, Little Goat Diner, Tanta, The Publican, etc! Also, I recently went to Au Cheval’s new restaurant called Small Cheval where they just serve the Au Cheval burger, fries, and shakes. It was incredible! Thanks for distracting me at work today 🙂
The Today article about how to pronounce food is essential! Everyone needs to read that
I am the same way with workouts! After a while of high intensity, my body just needs a break. I give it a few days off and am then ready to hit it hard again. Enjoy your beautiful weather this weekend!
I also live in Chicago but Do-Rite is by far my favorite… I love old fashioned donuts, but their cinnamon crunch raised is amazing!
YES to Au Cheval. So so good. If you decide to have a cheat meal more frequently, I’d go to Small Cheval – the wait isn’t nearly as long and the burgers are the same!
I’m not a big fan of doughnuts, but Glazed and Infused is amazing. Their Blackberry Cheesecake is basically a dessert, so good!
I live in Chicago and I have to say, Doughnut Vault is pretty amazing, but Stan’s would have to be my favorite, mostly because they have my all time favorite donut (chocolate iced with sprinkles — old fashioned or yeast, depending on my mood). If you haven’t been, they have a ton of other varieties, and even some gluten free ones! And yes, Au Cheval is SO GOOD and totally worth the wait!