Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
Hubby loves baseball and has made it his unrelenting mission to make me like it as well. Whenever given the chance, he takes me to a baseball game. This time it was the Reds versus Marlins in Cincinnati 
. I actually had a great time!
We enjoyed the sunshine and what started out as a great game…dammit Rausch…you suck! Sorry, that was mean, but true.
My compliments to the groundskeeper at the Great American Ballpark. I thought the grass was turf because it was so perfect!
Can you tell how happy he was to be there? He usually fake smiles in all my blog photos…
We were right on the river! Gorgeous views, fun city
We grabbed some kettle corn and settled in for the game. It was delicious! Probably too delicious…I couldn’t stop eating it!
Hubs got his obligatory hot dog and soda…oh baseball fans
Unfortunately the Marlins lost terribly, but it was still fun to watch. And I learned how to take stats! It definitely kept me more engaged than I normally am
Do you like baseball? Or does your spouse like a sport you can’t stand?
Xoxo
Alyssa
Mary Poppins and Citilites Dinner
What this post should be titled is “worst photos ever”, but that wouldn’t give you a good idea of what we ended up doing this date night! Hubby and I love the fact that we have ready access to Broadway shows here in Dayton. Whenever a new show comes to town, we try to go see it, but it does make for an expensive night!
The best part of the night starts with dinner at Citilites restaurant at the Schuster Center . They usually have a themed drink to showcase the show that night. This time, they had a Spoonful of Sugar which Hubby ordered.
I had a glass of the Kim Crawford Chardonnay and it was fantastic! Love Kim Crawford!
To start we each had house salads with their unbelievable vinaigrette. It tastes like Tuscany
And shared an appetizer of the house sweet potato chips with cayenne honey dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was so sweet it made my teeth hurt, but I loved the chips and candied bacon
For dinner I ordered the scallops. The meal was wonderful! The forbidden rice (black rice) was a bit under cooked, but still tasty. Other than that no complaints!
And like we needed anymore food, we ordered dessert to try Jeni’s grass fed ice cream. We’ve wanted to try it for a while but refuse to pay $10 for a pint! The ice cream was tasty but not $10 tasty. I also had some coffee because I was exhausted!
Great dinner! Then we rolled upstairs for the 2.5 hr play. Very good production, but noting has yet topped War Horse or Wicked for me!
What do you like to do for date night?
Xoxo
Alyssa
Lunch with Friends
Why do friends always have to meet up for dinner, or a movie, or shopping? Why not lunch? Lunch is the perfect solution to a low key gathering, and you still have the freedom to do whatever you want in the evening. It is also the perfect solution for friends with kids Hubs and I had our friends Marc and Cat over for lunch with their two little ones and had a great time! I wanted an easy prep meal so I could enjoy my morning Crossfit session without worrying about slaving over the stove when I got back.
I woke up at 7:30 and had some banana and almond butter with coffee before heading to Crossfit Bootcamp. I’m loving this new class! High intensity cardio intervals with a focus on Crossfit movements. Not as much heavy weightlifting, so it is a nice and easy alternative to the regular Crossfit sessions. You get as much bang for your buck too!
I came home and began assembling lunch.
I had too many grapefruit and didn’t know what to do with them, so I thought up this citrus salad. Super delicious but I need to find a better way to cut these grapefruit! Sooooo laborious and annoying. Especially if you don’t have patience. Hint: I don’t have patience. Sure looked pretty though!
Just a few grapefruit, some naval oranges, blueberries and mint all marinating together. Yummy!
The main courses were soup and salad. I just bought Pacific brands butternut squash soup and heated that up on the stove, and then whipped up this tasty salad.
Spring mix (which I decided I’m not a huge fan of because it doesn’t last well), dried cherries, herbed goat cheese and sliced almonds. I topped it with my new favorite dressing: lemon juice, olive oil, dill, raw honey, dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar. So easy but delicious!
No photos of the soup or last minute grilled cheese we threw together because I’m a terrible food blogger, but they were great too!
Oh and lastly, Congrats to Elena for winning the Rudi’s giveaway! Please contact me at glutenfreemuse@gmail.com with your shipping info!
What are your go to easy meals? Soups and salad are always a given for me!
Xoxo
Alyssa
It Seems I’ve Married the Next Andre Agassi!
See him back there? Hubby has really been getting into tennis lately and is now playing three times a week! One of those is an outdoor league, so Beau and I decided to go and show our support! Of course, he won . He’s such a bad-butt! Hmmm, for some reason that doesn’t sound nearly as cool as “badass”…so much for not cursing.
Beau and I walked around the park, said hi to lots of children in the form of ferocious barking (Beau) and apologizing (me), and enjoyed the lovely Ohio Spring weather. I can’t get it into his head that most children won’t run TOWARDS a ferociously barking dog Strange…I know.
Since tennis ran late, we made a date night of it and I picked up some food from Earthfare. On the menu tonight? Lots of less than healthy food
Regular pizza for Hubs, GF pizza for me (looooove Against the Grain in pesto), some kombucha, Talenti gelato (for Hubs), root beer and some regular bread for Hubby’s weekly sandwiches.
When I got home, look what was on the counter!
Some Endangered Species chocolate for review! You’ll see a post here soon with a review and giveaway for some chocolate! Stay tuned
What is your version of “low key” date night? And don’t forget to enter the Rudi’s Giveaway while there is still time!
Xoxo
Alyssa
Kitchen 324
Today, we went to an expo to pick up our race packets and checked out the local art festival. It was amazing!! Biggest and nicest art festival I’ve ever been to . I took this picture for Hubby because he makes amazing wooden pens and obviously isn’t charging enough!
Afterwards we went to find some good food for lunch! A recommendation for Kitchen 324 was what we went on. It was a great recommendation!
The ambiance was amazing and I felt like we were in New York City!
Very chic! I ordered the Farmer’s Market which was 3 separate side dishes to make one meal.
I obviously didn’t eat the bread . The green beans were awesome and tossed with bacon and roasted Yukon potatoes in a garam masala dressing. Fantastic.
I also ordered the Brussels sprouts with hazelnuts. Fantastic pairing! I love me some sprouts
And lastly, a roasted beet, grapefruit, orange and goat cheese salad. It was topped with roasted pecans and tasted fab!
To drink I ordered the Green Good Morning Juice. The final kick of jalapeño was awesome!
Yum! A fantastic lunch and good fuel for a race the next day . Very excited!!
What is your favorite plae to eat? This one tops the list for me!!
This post is dedicated to my uncle–You are the strongest man I know and you have 100% of my awe and respect. You’ve lived an amazing life and have touched all who have crossed paths with you. We love you forever and always.
Xoxo
Alyssa
Traveler’s Tales
I’m a huge social butterfly, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to enjoy my alone time. Now, don’t take this the wrong way, Hubby, but sometimes I enjoy the process of traveling alone It allows me to be introspective, to people watch, to think, to write, and to read without pressure. Now vacationing alone is something I haven’t mastered and don’t know that I want to simply because memories, to me, are most shaped by the people we make them with. Sure, sights and sounds are memorable, but I tend to remember what people did in certain places rather than just those places themselves Like what about the little town we went to in Italy and my mom posed on the squatting toilet?? Can’t even remember the name of the town, but I’ll always remember my mom squatting, fully clothed and smiling for the camera
I also am less stressed when traveling alone. Probably because I’m mentally prepared to take care of myself. I pack lighter and more efficiently, I am fully aware of where I have to be and when, I’m fully engaged. When I travel with Hubs, I usually just sit back and let him do everything He tends to get stressed when we travel, so if I disengage I won’t stress alongside him. Defense mechanisms are pretty comical once realized.
So here I sit, at the airport as I travel for a race with one of my favorite people! I’m watching the woman next to me pick her nose…she bears an uncanny resemblance to Mrs. Doubtfire . We catch each other’s glance and smile kindly.
I meander through the throngs of speed walking travelers and gaze at the mom toting her twin girls in glasses. They ask question after question, taking turns asking…it’s almost as if it is recited, but alas, it’s just genetics
Amidst my people watching, a low, slow rumble makes its way from my stomach and it appears I’m hungry. Food.now.
Lucky for me, Chicago is my new favorite city and it’s all because of this store!
This little express gourmet grocery called Cibo was like a beacon of light in the dark. I walked into its entrance and became completely entranced in its wonder.
Healthy food at the airport?? Nay!! ‘Tis a farce! Nope…completely and wonderfully true
Ever seen gluten free cookies at the airport?? Me neither…I’m starting to think I’ve teleported to Portland…
Well then, what about gluten free and soy free macaroni and cheese????? WHAT?!??? Definitely in Portland…but I’m not!! Chicago…you had me at gluten free soy free mac n’cheese
I, myself chose a lighter option.
Tuscan tuna salad, roasted root veggies and a tea. Delish.
And then I paid $5 for those pens. They better be the best darn pens I’ve ever written with. Outrageous prices are guaranteed at the airport…ridic.
Do you enjoy traveling alone?
Xoxo
Alyssa
Meals As of Late
I’ve been a busy bee lately and blogging has taken a back seat to life. Mea culpa! Lo siento! I’m trying to get back on the wagon
Qrunch Veggie burgers on Rudi’s GF bread! Kale salad on the side.
Grilled Flank Steak with zucchini and a fresh summer salad. Perfectly cooked meat!
Chicken and apple sausage with peppers and sweet potato wedges. I cooked the sweet potatoes in coconut oil and they were amazeballs. Totes amazeballs. I’m working on a new set of vocabulary
Lemony Dill Salmon with Lemon Green Beans, fresh and perfect for summer!
Dijon Chicken with Cherry Almond Quinoa Pilaf and asparagus. The grains were weird to be eating (since I’ve been strictly grain free for the past 2 months), but enjoyable. I didn’t really ever miss them though!
Those are the highlighted meals of the week past. How have your meals been lately? It seems that mine have been leaning towards summer produce! Don’t forget about the Rudi’s Giveaway! A few days left to enter!
xoxo
Alyssa
