Husband’s First Sushi

As a mom of a four-year-old, I know how exciting it is to reach milestones: baby’s first steps, baby’s first solid food, baby’s first day of preschool… but today the husband reached a milestone, too.  Details in a minute!

Last night we enjoyed dinner with friends… I had a salad and salmon with steamed broccoli. 

I had a nice surprise for breakfast:

quiche and Starbucks!  Yum!  When I headed down to the conference events this morning, I expected to find a pastry bar, but I was surprised to find quiche!  Yum!  And a bold cup of Starbucks coffee!  Perfect. 

After the conference events, I was really craving sushi.  With the help of Yelp (an awesome iPhone app!) I located a local sushi spot that had pretty good ratings: Soho.  And it was within walking distance from our hotel!  Score!  Now, I have to tell you that the husband doesn’t eat sushi, but I really thought if I could convince him to go that he would like it.  And he was a good sport and agreed.

Soho has a great atmosphere and is a cute little place.  The only negative thing I could mention is that they still have a smoking section (so weird—I thought they were obsolete!) and even though we sat in the nonsmoking section… you could still smell it.  But other than that, it was a great local spot that wasn’t overrun by tourists. (You know… I guess we were the tourists since we don’t live here… but I have been coming to Myrtle beach for so many years that I don’t consider myself a tourist.)

We started with Miso Soup and Calamari…

Both were delicious.  The miso soup was really tasty and I liked that the tofu was really soft and silky.  Even the hubby liked it!

We decided on the Spicy Tuna Roll and a Crazy Roll.  Both were great!

The hubby gave his first sushi experience a thumbs-up!  Now I can’t wait to take him to RuSan’s, my favorite spot in Charlotte!

We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and wandering. 

It is just really nice to be away and childless for a few days!  I miss my little monkey a bunch, but it’s nice to have some adult time, too!

Photo Shoot and Sushi Night

On Saturday, I had a photo shoot.  You know what I think of when I hear the words “Photo shoot?”  This song:

This song was actually on a list of the top 10 WORST songs of all time.  But I can’t help it.  It’s fun and I like it.

Back to the photo shoot.  The dance fitness company I work for was having a photo shoot on Saturday to shoot new pictures for our web site and promotional materials.  I have to say, from the moment I knew the date for this, I started getting nervous.  I couldn ‘t decide what to wear and how to pose!  These shots were Zumba instructor shots, so it wasn’t like posing for just any old picture.  In fact, I spent a lot of time practicing my poses and even had Ryan take some practice shots of me!  (Go ahead, laugh.  I know, I am a total dork.)

 

The shoot was a lot of fun.  And I think the photographer actually got some pictures of me that don’t look totally ridiculous!  YAY!  Here I am, posing:

 

(Thanks, Jay, for this photo!)

Thank goodness for the “directors” who helped give us ideas!

It was also fun to just SEE all the other instructors.  Often, we don’t see each other because we’re all teaching in  different locations.

(again, thanks Jay!)

Afterwards, we headed out to one of my favorite Sushi spots: Ru San’s.  I am really bad about always ordering the same thing every time I get sushi, so this time I decided to try out 2 new choices.  I ordered the Grinch Roll and the Rising Sun. 

 

(Rising Sun: I think it had tuna, salmon, onion, cream cheese, and more— and then the whole roll had a crispy tempura crust)

Grinch Roll (can’t remember what was in it—but had tempura bits on top, and eel sauce)

Both were delicious, but the Rising Sun was AMAZING!  It had a spicy aioli sauce on the side that was the perfect combination.  The rising sun is a BIG roll, but it’s sooo pretty! 

Do you like sushi?  What’s your favorite thing to order when you go out for sushi?

Hope you all are having a great start to the week!  I just got home from teaching a high-energy, crazy Zumba class!  Now I am about to settle in  with some soup, wine, and a new episode of American Horror Story, if I can get the husband to watch it with me.  Anyone else watching this?  LOVE this show!!!

Sushi Dinner with Girlfriends

Whew!  I can’t believe the weekend is finally here!  This was a busy, busy week!  On Thursday, I left home at 6:45 a.m. and returned at 9:30 p.m.!  Talk about a long day!  I had a very productive work day, then coached Girls on Track at school, then taught Zumba that night!  Luckily, I had a fun evening with some of my fabulous friends planned after Zumba!

Mommies-to-be: Kati and Laura

Mandy and Elizabeth

Me, Angie, and Jenn

We all met at the Red Bown for some Asian eats. 

I started with Edamame… it’s no secret how much I love it.  You all know that.  Most of the girls had never tried it, so I passed the plate around the table.

I was torn between getting something with noodles (did you know Thursday was National Noodle Day?) or getting sushi.  In the end, Sushi won out. 

Philadelphia Roll and California Roll for me!

We had such a nice time catching up on each other’s lives… and we found out that one of us carries around a VERY interesting pen…

Thanks, girls!  Enjoyed our time together!

Diddo/Fate and Intense Negotiations

Tonight, the husband and I went on a date.  Well, sort-of.  Is it still a date when you bring your three-year old?  I’m not sure… I was craving Sushi and honestly, I really would have liked to go somewhere in the QC, like maybe Cowfish.  But with the little one, it just really wasn’t a great night to do that.  So we went to The Red Bowl instead. 

I like The Red Bowl because they make their sushi there and they actually do have a really good variety. 

It started out ok.  We admired the fountain outside.  We got a great table and didn’t have to wait at all.  And Sadie was enjoying practicing her S’s.

Our server took our drink orders.  That’s about where things started going a different direction.  First, she brought Sadie her water in a big frosty mug.  This would probably be ok except for anyone but our child, who absolutely insists on picking up the cup and holding it. 

Spill # 1 occurs. 

This is the exact moment the server comes back to take our order.  She leaves to get us a to-go cup with lid.  In the meantime, I describe some of the kids’ menu items to Sadie. 

“How about chicken nuggets?”

“NO!  I DON’T want NUGGETS!”

“Would you like rice or noodles?”

“I DON’T want ANYthing!”

This would be the exact moment the server comes back again to take our order.  I’m sure I can just about guess what she was thinking. 

On to the food.  Dinner was delicious.

I decided on a Crazy Roll and a California Roll, with Salted Edamame.  The food was fabulous.  And actually, Sadie did eat some of her food.  I am trying to order different sushi items and be a little more adventurous that always getting the Philadelphia Roll and the California Roll every time.  The Crazy Roll was my adventurous choice. :)  Also, have I mentioned that my extremely picky 3-year-old LOVES eating Edamame out of the shell??? 

In between bites, there was very romantic conversation such as…

“Honey, can I make a deal with you?  If you’ll get up early tomorrow, I’ll get up Sunday and Monday.” 

“No way, I got up early both days LAST weekend.” 

Now that’s real romance.  Intense negotiations.

Afterwards, we said goodbye to the turtle in the fountain and left a good tip for our server, just in case she had to clean up all the spilled rice and headed home before the dark skies opened up on us.  The wind sure was whipping our hair around.

 

Reading this back… I’m thinking I am going to have to call this something other than a “date.”

Family+Date=Fate?

Date+Kiddo=Diddo?

Even though it was a little nuts and I had to repeat the phrase “Get up off the floor and sit in the seat” more than once… it was still a fun dinner out and at least we can laugh about it!

(Oh and in case you were wondering about the negotiations… I made a deal.  I traded the hubby bath, books, and bed for getting up early tomorrow.  Looks like I’m gonna need some coffee in the morning.) 

I’m on a Roll… and I’ve Got a Surprise Coming Your Way!

Tonight I was at the grocery store and had not eaten dinner yet.  I couldn’t resist the sushi.

I’ve never tried a “summer roll,” but this looked too pretty to not try it!

Did you notice those little fingers in the background?

It was ok… but did not have a ton of flavor.  It was served with sweet chili sauce, and I did not think that sauce was the best compliment.  Hmmm…

I also got a California Roll.

Yum!  THIS I liked better!

So… you are probably wondering about the surprise I have in store for you.  Well, I’ll give you a few hints, but let me give you the back story. 

One reason that I started this blog was to give myself a place to do more writing.  I have always loved to write, but lots of time I don’t make time for it.  And as you know, many times I get caught up in food and trying to capture it in photos.  I love that part of blogging!  But I want to expand a little—keep the photos, but do a little more writing. 

Now, back when I was pregnant with Sadie, I had so much fun reading these books called The Girlfriend’s Guides.  There was

• The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy
• The Girlfriend’s Guide to Baby Gear
• The Girlfriend's Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood

Click here to go to the Girlfriend’s Guide website!  You can read more of the GG titles—there are more than the 3 listed above!

Those books were the funniest things ever.  They told you the things that the books written by famous pediatricians would NEVER tell you.  They made you laugh because everything rang true.  As I was reading them, it felt like it was a really close friend who was confiding in me.

Well, I am working on a series of “Sisterly Guides” that I am going to be posting on this blog.  I hope that the Sisterly Guides will be helpful, eye-opening, and most of all, funny. 

Are you wondering… “Sisterly Guides to… WHAT?”  Well, you’re gonna have to wait and see, friends.  But I think you’ll like the first one I am working on. 

So… get ready for the first Sisterly Guide.  It’s coming SOON!

Dinner, Katy Perry Style

The song, "California Gurls" by Katy Perry has been stuck in my head the past couple of days.  When Katy Perry released her first song, I thought she might be a one-hit-wonder, but she has hung in there, hasn't she?  I really like her songs.  Maybe I need to use that song for Zumba. 


After tonight's Zumba class at Oakland Baptist Church, I had to hit the grocery store.  Miss Priss has a Halloween Party at school tomorrow, which is sounding like it's going to be a major shindig!  I know she's going to have a good time.  I'll have to take a picture of her all dressed up as a princess tomorrow.  (She's going to be a witch for Halloween, but I don't want her costume to get ruined at school tomorrow, so she's going to get to wear a princess dress.  She'll think she's died and gone to Heaven.)  So anyway, I hit the store to pick up a few things I am supposed to send to her school tomorrow.  Now, me going to the store AFTER Zumba and BEFORE dinner has the potential to be dangerous.  Sometimes I find myself wandering the aisles, picking up things I normally wouldn't even look at, just because I am hungry.  Tonight, as I passed by the sushi counter at the deli, I just couldn't pass it by.  It looked so good!  And look!  Brown rice!

I also grabbed a POM Wonderful Pomegranate.  Since I am going to be cooking with pomegranates for my dinner in a few weeks,  I figured I should start practicing cutting them.  Last time I did this, it looked like a massacre had taken place in my kitchen.  But then I watched the POM Wonderful video on how to cut open a pomegranate and that helped.  I still need practice,  but tonight the mess stayed (mostly) on the cutting mat.  If you've ever been completely befuddled by this fruit, please take a look at this video or this guide.  It will help a lot! 

So that's my Katy-Perry-Style dinner: California Rolls and Pomegranates from California.  Sounds like an odd combination, doesn't it?  Yumm...  (No, I am not pregnant.)


Now, here's the question I want to ask all of you... do you eat the pomegranate seeds inside the arils?  (FYI, the arils are the little juicy red things inside the fruit.)  I never did, but lately, everything I have read says to eat the seeds.   They are supposed to be really good for you.  So tonight, I am (GASP!) eating the seeds inside the arils.  Do you??  Leave a comment and let's see what the consensus is.


Happy Friday Eve!