Thursday, July 24, 2014

Summer and So Forth

In June, we roadtripped it back to Arkansas to visit family and friends. Ryan had to work while we were there, but it's nice that he can just work in Little Rock without having to use vacation days. We were gone for 15 days. We spent time with my parents, sisters, niece and nephew, and some of our friends. The kids and I also drove to Missouri to stay with my brother and his family for a few days. It was good to be "home."  
 
spinach, kalamata olives, roasted garlic, and artichoke
with olive oil instead of red sauce at ZaZa's...
one of my favorite pizza topping combos
 
On the subject of vegan: we met my youngest sister one day at Mellow Mushroom in Little Rock, which opened RIGHT AFTER we moved, good grief. We were also happy (and also bummed that it happened AFTER we left) to discover that ZaZa's Pizza in Conway now carries Daiya. (We always brought our package of Daiya with us for them to use.)
 
We have missed our old Whole Foods! It's a lovely location for a Whole Foods. We just loved everyone there and were always treated so nicely (despite the fact we are a lot of people and we do things like lick the sample tongs). We actually found out they are planning to move locations soon, which will be weird. (I also worked here for a short time many years ago.) I will say...as happy as I was to return to our home away from home, I quickly realized how much better the selection is in Tampa. So there's that. (And it wasn't me that licked them, by the way, and I gave them to an employee.)
 
He fell right over to sleep against my chest while we were shopping.
 
In Missouri, the kids and I had lunch one day with my parents' best friends from my childhood. We ate at The Grotto in Springfield, which is vegan-friendly. I enjoyed my salad (which was a fulfilling greek-style salad), and the kids enjoyed their hummus, etc. Our friends chose this place to eat after googling vegan restaurants in Springfield. And I love that they did that because even though we rarely see each other, they know me. And that was pretty much the theme of this trip...it was really nice to be around familiar people again. To watch my nephews play baseball. To reminisce and catch up with four of my best friends from high school.To see my kids giggle with their cousins. To eat cucumbers out of my aunt's garden and tomatoes out of my dad's. To cry along with relatives who were happy to see us and sad to see us go.
 
I write all of that to say: I'm in a bit of a weird phase right now. We love Tampa. I like Florida better than I like Arkansas and Missouri for enough reasons that Florida probably wins. However, if we choose to stay here, we are choosing a life without the people we love in it. So if I live there, I'm not 100% content, and if I live here, I'm not 100% content. I know that's the way life is, and you just have to find a way to be content, regardless. Maybe most people aren't 100% content? I'm a restless person, in general, so I have that against me. These are just some of my thoughts right now.
 
 My parents also decided to put in a saltwater pool upon our departure. Seriously, y'all.

Another big event of the summer (ok, not so big - but it happened) was my birthday this week. Ryan wasn't even here - he was on a business trip, and some other dumb stuff happened the night before that ended up taking up most of my day. But I did make myself a chocolate pie because it's always a good time to have chocolate pie. I let the kids decorate it themselves with strawberries, ground up chocolate chips, and candles. 5 candles seemed like a better number than 39, apparently.
 
HAPPY birthday.
 
It had been a dilemma: chocolate pie or pumpkin pie? I was going to pick pumpkin since I don't have it as often but didn't have enough time for it to set. So since we had to buy pie crust and Soyatoo anyway, we made a pumpkin pie the next day.
 
And then I'm going to eat salad today.
 

13 comments:

  1. Ooh that olive and artichoke pizza is a work of art. I would probably eat so much of that.
    Also YES to the saltwater pool!! I don't know anyone who has a pool and it's sooo sad! Especially since I don't like the beach.
    For me, it's always nice to be around family, as long as I can get away. I hope you guys find a happy medium.
    Finally..happy birthday!

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    1. I do like the pool better than the beach. And I do kinda think I have some pizza topping combination skills!

      Thank you!!!!

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  2. Happy belated birthday!! What a wonderful way to spend your day! I know what you mean about the place you feel happiest being different from where your family is. It's a difficult dilemma but I'm sure that you and your family will be happy wherever you end up. It sounds like you really had a lovely time with family when you went back and that is so nice to read.

    The pizza looks amazing and so do those pies!! I can definitely see how you would have a hard time choosing! And wow, that saltwater pool looks incredible and refreshing on a hot summer day!

    Nice to see you back Jenny!

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    1. Thank you, Sarah! We are definitely happy all together. But as introverted as I am, I really do love having other people I love around, too. I do think it can be more special when you get to see the people less often - you are forced to really make the time count. The pool was definitely so nice. I hate loading everyone up to go the pool and putting a swimsuit on in public :0 - so this was all a great treat.

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  3. I'm there with you on the restless thing. LR keeps us close to our families and D has snagged a pretty good theatre job for LR, but I'm still not doing anything even remotely theatre-related and sometimes it makes me want to move. But, after being so close to our family for the past few years, I can't imagine moving farther away again. So, yeah, I think it's difficult for most people to be content in just one place. Anyway, happy birthday!!! Pizza and pie are great ways to celebrate! I'm pretty excited about the Whole Foods move. They will be closer to where we are living right now and bigger, i.e. more of a selection! Any of the other Whole Foods I've visited in other cities are always much bigger than ours, so I'm looking forward to more/new options!

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    1. I hope you can find something you love to do in LR so you can have the whole thing. It's good to get your perspective - on living in Little Rock vs. far away AND Whole Foods. Maybe the Whole Foods will be finished next time we visit? I can't remember when they said.

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  4. I was surprised when you moved to Tampa. I am more surprised that you would visit Arkansas iin the summer. You are a person that can handle the heat. The Chocolate Pie looks incredible, and that's what is most important.

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    1. I can't say I love the heat. But you're right: pie>problems with heat

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  5. That pie looks yummy! Haven't had chocolate pie in a while, I always tend to think it's too rich and heavy for this heat Pumpkin can work well with less fat. But oh well, if it's my birthday week, then of course I'd just have the chocolate pie. :) Happy belated Birthday!

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    1. I have chocolate pie regularly, and I will eat it in the heat or the cold. :) Thank you!!! :)

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  6. A belated happy birthday! Sounds like an awesome trip, it's always nice to go "home". The pizza and pie looks super yum too. But the best is the sweet pic of the little one falling asleep while shopping. :-)

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    1. aww, thanks! I do love that feeling of him drifting off so full of vulnerability. Thank you very much! It is definitely nice to go home.

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  7. I know EXACTLY what you mean about where to live. We just sold our beloved house in Madison where all our friends live. We live in Seattle where two of our kids live. I have such mixed emotions about the whole thing.

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