Our weekend was wonderful and a great balance of activity and relaxation. My mom and I got to take a Jazzercise class together which is always a blast and went out for brunch on both Saturday and Sunday which may be trumping dinner as my new favorite “dining out” meal.
Saturday
Saturday’s brunch date took me, my mom and Ryan to Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails, a restaurant located north of Charlotte in the Lake Norman area.
It was cold and rainy outside, so the warm, rustic ambiance inside was a welcomed treat!
After perusing the menu, I realized I was in the mood for a billion different things, so I created a hodgepodge breakfast by combining a shrimp cocktail appetizer with the most deliciously thick and hearty toast, eggs and grilled asparagus.
It was random but totally hit the spot. I was craving shrimp and cocktail sauce like you wouldn’t believe for some strange reason, so I was in heaven.
After brunch, Ryan headed off on his own to do some Christmas shopping and my mom and I ran all over town!
We did a little Christmas shopping ourselves and had a great time in a little shop that was totally transformed for the holiday season.
They had the cutest ornaments!
We also swung by Michael’s to pick up supplies for a cookie exchange I’m hosting on Wednesday and that place was a madhouse. The holiday crafters were out in full force!
By the time we made it home, we were ready to relax for a while before Ryan and I had dinner plans with another couple. We’ve been trying to get together with my friend Amii and her husband Walt for ages (we joke that we’re star-crossed lovers because our schedules never mesh!), and since my mom’s visit was last-minute, we offered to cancel our plans to stay home with her, by my mom was adamant that we go and enjoy dinner out with friends which was very kind! We made it back home a little after 10 p.m. and hung out on the couch with my mom eating sugar cookies until midnight.
Sunday
Sunday morning began with a 5-mile run! I took Sadie on a chilly run all over our neighborhood before grabbing a quick shower, changing into comfy clothes and heading off to brunch in Davidson with my mom and Ryan.
On our walk from the car to the restaurant, we took a quick peek at the remains of the Christmas in Davidson celebration that took place this weekend and had to laugh at three “Julie” stockings displayed at the information booth.
I must say, I’ve met more Julies since our move to North Carolina than I ever have in my life! It’s a popular name in this area, apparently.
How awesome is this snowman tree!?
The Davidson Community Players deserve major creativity points for that one!
Once we were seated inside the cozy Toast Café, we dug into the complimentary cornbread and apple butter (love!) and when and it was time to order, I selected the egg white omelet with ham, cheese and veggies.
Plus toast and fresh fruit on the side!
Following brunch, we drove back home and hung out around the house for most of the day. My mom shared the Christmas card she and my dad are sending out this year with us and it prompted me to order our holiday cards, too!
Ryan and I have sent out holiday cards most years since we’ve been married but missed last year, so we’re back on the holiday card train! Minted had a great deal yesterday with free address personalization (and 15% off!), so I was a happy camper! I’ll be sure to share them with you guys once they come in and we’ve mailed them off to friends and family.
Our Sunday night was perfectly lazy and we ordered pizza from our go-to pizza place, Brooklyn South.
We’ve been ordering pizza weekly (usually on Friday or Sunday nights) and last week I finally saved Brooklyn South’s number as a contact in my phone, cementing our love affair. It’s the best!!
And now we’re all caught up! I’ll see you guys later this afternoon with the kickoff of the annual PBF Happy Holidays Giveaway Week. Lots of great fitness/food/beauty/fashion goodies will be up for grabs!
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What a fun weekend! Love the pic of you at the Information Booth. Glad you enjoyed the time with your mom. 🙂
I love spending time with my mom. Looks like you had a great weekend! Those Julie stockings are too funny. I thought that they were all for one Julie who was just being greedy!
Awesome that you were able to spend time with your Mom. Mine lives far away so I know how precious those times are.
Love the pizza picture, half healthy, half not!
haha exactlyyyy!
That pizza looks amazing! Weekends with the family are always the best :).
What a fun weekend! There are so many cute places in Charlotte! I love the snowman Christmas tree, what a great idea!
We used to send out Christmas cards too and didn’t last year and it doesn’t look like we will make it this year. Maybe we will send out Valentine’s Day cards instead!
That sounds like such a fantastic weekend! I keep trying to plan a quick weekend getaway with my mom.. not the best time of year to plan it. 🙂 Guess it will be after the holidays! Brunch is for sure my absolute favorite meal ever! I used to hate breakfast and never eat it, but this past year I have formed quite the love affair… poor dinner…. lol!
Brunch really is the best meal of the day, totally agree! And I’ve been on a huge pizza kick lately too!
i’m not sure what it is (maybe the colder weather?) but we are seriously addicted to pizza in our house lately!! so, so good.
Nothing beats a weekend with my mom. Looks like you ladies (+ Ryan) had a great time together 🙂
Sounds like a great weekend! So glad you were able to get some quality time with your mama. That’s the best!
Thanks, Ashley!! <3
We’ve missed Christmas cards the past few years as we don’t get home until the 21st each year from Europe to mail them. But, luckily Minted has a great New Years section so we do those instead!
I love cookie exchanges! I just spent this weekend doing some cookie baking myself! Cant wait for the Holidays Giveaways 🙂
I’m happy you got to spend time with your mom this weekend and that you’ll be able to spend more time with her and your dad soon! That is my favorite part of the holidays, all the time spent with family. I don’t get to see my boyfriend’s family very often, so when I do, I really enjoy it 🙂
Sounds like a great weekend! I love your new town. It seems like a really fun place to live; so quaint and friendly!
My favorite tradition is our Christmas cards. We spend way too much time trying to make them as cheesy as possible 🙂
So many fun adventures and delicious looking food! Also, have I ever mentioned that you’re drop dead gorgeous!?
Looks like y’all had a great weekend! I completely agree brunch is my favorite restaurant meal as well. Hope you have a great Monday lovely!
Looks like such a fun weekend! Love all the Christmas stuff and that snowman tree is so adorable 🙂 Happy Monday!
Oh man that pizza looks good! I think I need more brunch in my life. I’m not typically a breakfast eater because I don’t feel like eating first thing in the morning, so by 9/10 am, i’m ready! Brunch sounds like something we need to do this weekend. haha
What a wonderful weekend, Julie! Love all the eats and Christmas spirit!
Nothing is better than time with your Momma. And all the good food doesn’t hurt either! Looking forward to the giveaways.
Ah, that pizza looks amazing! I love New York style pizza the most.
Such a nice weekend with your mom! So nice she was able to stop by for the weekend. It’s always easier to say goodbye too when you know you’ll be seeing them again soon! 🙂
We loooooove ordering pizza in 😉
Looks like a super fun weekend with your mom! You are lucky you get to see her so much still even though you don’t live that close bye.
Brunch is my favorite kind of going out meal! Yay for quality time with your mom. I am heading home for the first time in a year and can’t wait to hug my mom!
We usually order pizza on Sundays when football is on, but we have found an amazing new place near us called Blaze that is basically like a Chipotle for pizza. The ingredients are all so fresh and it is wood fired so it’s ready in a matter of minutes. I love it.
Looks like a great weekend!
Sounds like a great weekend! Time with mom is always the best. I think you are on to something with brunch. It had been a while since we had done the brunch thing, and after dining at a delicious restaurant in DC recommended by Anne, I can’t wait until next weeekend 🙂 have a great Monday.
Brunch is my all time favorite meal to eat over ever 🙂
Every dang food picture in your post has me drooling. I think my stomach may be eating itself right now, haha. Must be time for lunch!
Did your mom go to any barre classes with you while she was in town. I know you’ve said yall love to do fitness classes together.
SO much fun! I don’t think there is anything better than a day of brunching and Christmas shopping!
I love going out to brunch, that is my favorite. My husband doesn’t like to as much as me so I usually end up going with my girlfriends 🙂
All the julie stockings a the info booth! haha. Love it.
Sounds like you had a great time with your mom!! I love breakfast! Seriously, the best!! And loving all your outfits!! Can you be my stylist? haha
Ah so much fun!!! Weekends with mom are the BEST! Also, you are getting to really put to use your cute fall/winter wardrobe now! Yay for cool weather!
Sounds like a fun weekend! We don’t go out for brunch nearly as much as I would like!
Yum! That pizza looks amazing!!
Where did you get the plaid red shirt and the cowl neck sweatshirt you are wearing in your pictures? I absolutely love both! You’re style is amazing!
Julie! You have the most rockin’ style! Where did you get your beanie from? I have been searching for the “perfect” winter hat and I’m in lurrrrrve! 🙂
Yes, love your hat, would love to kmow where you bought it!
That pizza looks like when my hubby and I order…half healthy and half not! 🙂
Brunch is just the best!
I hope you had fun with Amii & Walt! I miss Amii… She is awesome!
Fun weekend! Where did you get your adorable beanie??
Thank you! It’s from Columbia (it’s their traverse beanie). 🙂
We order pizza in weekly as well. Love it during the cold and dark dreary months. Have a great week!
you’re time with you’re mum sounds lovely, My mum lives about 2 hours away so nice to catch up and always precious. I love the beanie, so cute:)