Hi friends! How the heck are ya?!
And how has it been ages [read: 5 days] since we last talked? I’m thinking it might have something to do with the fact that I just up and vanished without a trace, and I apologize for that.
But it wasn’t my fault! I was kidnapped!
See, I was innocently going about my daily life as usual, when Mother Nature decided to throw some crazily nice weather our way. Long story short, someone [read: my friend T] decided it would be a good idea to take full advantage of the weather and head out of the city for a day [read: one day].
It sounded like a good idea at the time. Sun. Nature. Fresh air.
Okay, I lie. The main reason I went was for the promise of roasted marshmallows. It’s been ages since I had any, and I was not letting another summer go by without a taste of that ooey, gooey goodness.
Being out in nature was just an added bonus. A very pretty one…
In any case, someone also decided that it would be a good idea to turn our day trip into a long weekend trip, so one day became two, two became three, and three ended up as a four day “camping” excursion. I use camping in quotations because we were going through the motions without any of the gear. No tents (we slept in cars). No sleeping bags (thank goodness it was warm). Not much food (mostly marshmallows and hot dogs).
Not gonna lie, it made me rather uncomfortable and pushed me way out of my comfort zone. Spontaneity has never been my strong suit, especially when I find myself caught in a situation where I don’t know what I’ll be able to eat (due to allergies and ED history).
But I managed! 😀
All I can say is thank goodness I’m crazy smart enough to carry a jar of AB in my purse…
… which sacrificed itself so that I could live. That, along with some fruit, cheese, yogurt, bread, milk, and cereal that we were able to find in tiny convenience stores got me through the weekend.
I kid, I kid. It wasn’t that bad. I ended up having a great time, and I’m proud of myself for being able to roll with the punches and adapt to what was thrown my way. Still, I was more than happy to come home to my bed, my shower, and my food. Absence definitely makes the heart grow finder, which is probably why this morning’s breakfast tasted extra delicious…
I missed my oats! After five mornings without them, I was beginning to experience withdrawals. Shakes. Headaches. Cold sweats. I kid. But I was more than happy to see them again.
I was also more than happy to be able to enjoy some of my favorite morning snacks…
Fresh summer berries (which I’ll miss like crazy!) – Greek yogurt with honey.
And having access to a blender again meant I was able to whip up my favorite post-workout shake after this morning’s lifting session…
… which gets incredibly thick with the addition of chia seeds.
I have to say, though, that the best part of being able to eat at home again is being able to enjoy actual meals as opposed to constantly snacking on whatever I can throw together in a pinch.
I can’t deny that a few pieces of untoasted bread smothered in nut butter makes for a delicious camp-style lunch, but there’s nothing quite like a good pizza…
… especially when it involves pumpkin and hummus.
And I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t miss my favorite afternoon snack…
Vanilla ice cream – Cone – Chocolate sprinkles.
… or I guess I should say afternoon snack(s)…
The thing I love most about camping food is that the most basic things can taste absolutely amazing. It’s like the act of being outside in nature amps up the flavor intensity of everything, making the simplest sandwich taste like it came from a 5-star restaurant.
Still, that effect dims with time, and after too many simple sandwiches, nothing sounds better than a slightly more elaborate warm bowl of comfort for dinner…
Eggs scrambled with mushrooms and spinach – Broccoli – Avocado – Quinoa with cranberries.
It was good to get away, but it feels good to be home. Even though this won’t be home for much longer. Eight more days until I move… EEEEEeeeeEEEE!!! Hope you guys enjoyed this week’s party 😀
. – . – . – .
Are you a fan of camping? What’s your favorite food to enjoy while you’re roughin’ it?
What do you miss most when you’re away from home for a while?
Do you ever carry strange snacks around in your purse? Fess up!
Holy wow!
Lookitchu rollin’ with the punches, 5 days sleeping in a car! I couldn’t do it, girl!
I’m good for lil adventures and i dont manage well with a break in my routine, so more power to ya girlie!
ps: your eats are looking mightyyy inspirational, mydear!
xo
-hannah
OH MY GOSH YOU’RE ALIVE!!
Thank god… I was SERIOUSLY worried girl! hehe.
No but really, I did think it was slightly odd that I hadn’t heard (read) a peep out of you, and panicked that you had perhaps decided to leave us.
Please don’t ever do that okay? I’m expecting blog posts even when your cenile in your rocking chair and you don’t even have teeth to chew them oats of yours.
Ahaha AB in your purse! Man, I should start doing that!
It’s awesome that you were able to just go with it and have a great time. I imagine I would be a little stressed by that situation, especially going without my morning ritual oats.
I haven’t been camping in a really long time, though its on my list of things to do this summer.
Oh and! i bought some steel cut oats thanks to seeing them all the time on your posts. It took me ages to find them though, they arent easily available over here I tells ya!
So would you say 1/4 cup steel cut = 1/2 rolled?
Wooo steelies! Yep, 1/4 cup of them is equal to 1/2 cup of rolled.
That sounds like a blast girl, although I missed your posts I am so glad you got to live it up!!! Good weather and no school/work/other commitments sounds like the perfect time to be spontaneous, so so fun! Stepping out of your comfort zone can be so rewarding sometimes, and how amazing does a long shower and your own bed feel yeah? 😀
I’m glad you had a good time! It’s nice to go back to routine though, eh?
I can’t believe E-town got hot right when I left.
Welcome back! I’ve actually never gone camping before – unless you count school trips in like 5th or 6th grade. I do miss being able to make my own food. I’ve gotten so used to having high quality produce and other food, ive become a quality snob. I always feel really bad about it, but it’s so hard to turn back.
I am intrigued by that heaven in a bowl! It sure does look heavenly! I am clicking that link ASAP!!!! 🙂
PS Glad you’re back!!!
I am for doing things spontaneously but that maybe a little too much for me? Thats awesome you were able to just go and go with the flow of things!! I know how hard that can be. I cant wait to try that smoothie recipe, looks so good and simple 🙂 When Im roughing it I love roasted hot dogs and smores!!
Dude it would be wrong NOT To go seek out those roasted marshmallows!!! And I LOVE when the weather is good. You have to take advantage of it!!
I also like adding chia seeds to my shakes and smoothies 🙂 One of those things I’ve picked up from the blog world!
Love marshmallows! Roasted on a fire and half burnt.. You seriously can’t beat it.
Camping is definitely outside the comfort level with food/not being able to workout. I really can’t go anywhere anymore because there has to be a gym. Gasp.
I carry around packets of peanut butter, a piece of fruit ( most likely banana or apple), and right now there is a slice of banana bread in my school bag. haha.
Glad you had a good time and were able to enjoy yourself 🙂 It’s always the best feeling sleeping in your own bed and taking a shower.
I love camping, haven’t been in a few years though!
Congrats on being able to roll with the punches, I struggle with that too.
I carry steamed kabocha in a tupperware container in ma bag for a snack 🙂 not weird at all, right?
I’m not a huge fan of camping; however as a child I used to love going to my grandparent’s veryyyy rustic plumbing & electricity-less summer cottage in the middle of a forest in Finland on a lake. I still love the Finnish countryside and doing all the tranquil and nostalgic activities- fishing, berry-picking, cooking the potatoes and carrots that grow in the yard, and of course swimming in the lake and taking a sauna 🙂
A break from the hectic world and technology is always much appreciated 🙂 Plus I love eating simple- rustic dark rye finnish bread, some butter, and delicious cheese!
man. your eats always look so freaking amazing. i want to eat your post. 🙂
yay for spontaneity! 😀
wow SUPER fun!!! nothing like spontaneous camping!!! you never know where you might land up.. its the best. i always have snacks in my bag… nothing too weird- maybe my bag of protein powder?? only weird coz if i’m on a bus or a train and get a hunger attack then i eat it straight out the scoop. ok now i’m just reminicing (how do you spell that??!!) about my last spontaneous camping trip in the north island of New Zealand and we landed up at the coolest little campsite in a place called shark bay, in the middle of the night and when we woke up we realised the campsite was RIGHT on the beach.. litterally: tent.. 5 centimeters- fence- BEACH. nothing like a morning swim in the ocean!!!
I’m so jealous that you got to enjoy roasted marshmallows! That was one of my favorite parts of camping and I haven’t been in forever. I really loved it though, even though we weren’t really “roughing it” in our pop-up trailer!
Aaaaaah that’s so exciting that you’re moving so soon! Can’t wait to see how you decorate the new place!
My mom loves camping so we have been in plenty of trips– and ‘i have to say I love camping, and hiking in nature so much now, too! I would love to go backpacking, and I have been camping on my bike once! The thing I tend to miss most while being away from home is popcorn- until I figured out that I could pop it in a pan on the camp stove 😀 We’ve been almost camping in our own house and using the camping stove due to an extended (read: days) long power outage from a major storm last weekend (we got power back an hour ago! Yay internet!).
i always love your foooood. i seriously wish i could just have it all every time i look at your blog. and when i’m away from home i always miss grilled veggie burritos from my favorite cafe. and yes, i ALWAYS have snacks with me. almonds, hot sauce, dried mangoes…i’ve even been known to have a small baggie of nutritional yeast on hand in case i’m eating out and need a sprinkle..that’s totally normal, right?
Welcome welcome! I’ve missed your name in my reader 🙂
I’ve only been camping like once or twice, when I was younger. It was okay at the time, except we got caught in a hurricane.. but it introduced me to my favorite snacky meal… Tacos in a bag! Mini-bag of nacho Doritos + ground beef+ lettuce. And of course, you eat it with a fork.
So good, so bad.
I love that you came home and had ice cream! I eat it every night. I think I’m addicted. Is vanilla your faaavorite flavor? 😀
It sure is 😀 I know there are a bunch of fancy, shmancy flavors out there, and I do enjoy them from time to time, but I always find myself coming back to vanilla. Simple, yet oh so satisfying. Plus it goes good with whatever toppings you want to toss on it.
You are MUCH more spontaneous than I ever am! Im quite impressed!
I TOTALLY CARRY NUT BUTTER IN MY CAR TOO!!!
lol, I love camping – and it sounds like you had a blast – and I’m so glad you were able to roll with those stressful eating habit punches :). that’s definitely something I always find challenging on trips! And I totally get missing “home food” – whenever I go away and my eating gets thrown off, I start to crave my staples and can’t wait to get back to them! I also just miss weird little things about my house – the sound/smell of coffee greeting me in the morning, my dad doing his scholarly work on the porch swing, the sun coming in the ceiling windows…lol it really is the little things that matter!
Welcome back! We missed you!! 🙂
Your food always looks so good. I have never been camping- I’m not sure how I’d do with the bugs!
I almost always have clif bars in my purse. I don’t think that’s too unusual, but I have gotten a few strange looks when I randomly whip them out!
What fun! I love camping, it’s so amazing to be so close to nature out under the stars 🙂
I’m so glad you and your glorious eats are back, I missed your posts so much! I can’t believe there’s only 8 days until you move, that came up so quick, I must be in a time warp haha
I’m with ya on missing fave foods while on vacation, I can only go so long without my handy dandy blender and cottage cheese gloops 😛
Happy WIAW and welcome back gorgeous gal!
If you’re in a time warp, I’m right there with you. I honestly can’t believe that it’s only 8 days either. I’m gonna start freaking out soon 😆
I’ve actually never been camping, and I’m really ok with it! I don’t know if I would like it all that much haha. I hate bugs and having to use the bathroom outside. When I’m away from home for a while, I definitely miss my routines! They may not be the same every day but they are comforting. And I don’t carry snacks around in my purse unless I know I’m going to be gone for a while…I should change that because inevitable I end up hungry :D. Glad you’re back…I missed you! But, I’m also glad you had a good weekend!
“The thing I love most about camping food is that the most basic things can taste absolutely amazing.” –That’s exactly what my mom was saying when she finally got power back after the hurricane (she didn’t have power for a week!). At one point she was cooking hot dogs and corn on the cob on the grill for dinner…
I’ve never been camping before, and have no desire to; my mom and I consider sharing a bed in a hotel room to be “roughing” it.
And as for keeping strange snacks in my purse, I have what I lovingly refer to as my “emergency chocolate stash.” 🙂 I also tend to have at least one piece of fruit on my person.
I was wondering where you have been!! Sounds like an awesome long weekend, but I totally know what you mean when you’re ready to go back to your normal food. I went camping in the Florida Keys last summer and we survived off of the cereal, tuna salad sandwiches and veggie salad that I packed. It did taste amazing for a little wile though. 🙂 I’m stuffed from dinner and all of your food pictures are still making me hungry ahh! Glad you’re back!
I’m so happy your back girl! I missed your posts – glad to hear you had a good time camping! I actually don’t remember the last time I went camping- the idea of a warm fire and friends is perfect!
I love how you brought your stash of almond butter – I would have done the same thing! You never know when it will come in handy! My other favorite are trail mixes, fruit and cereal!
But your right – after being away for a few days there’s nothing like home!
Happy your back! 🙂 aimee
So thats where you were! I haven’t been camping in ages, but it sounds like you had a good time! That’s so great you were able to roll with the punches and go with the flow. Most of the snacks I carry in my purse wouldn’t be considered strange, except for the one time I had a huge pickle craving haha. When I get home after a long time I enjoy quiet time, because usually when i’m away I’m always with people 🙂 Welcome back 🙂 🙂
Whadup stranger:)
Camping sound hella fun- iv only ever camped once in a my friends back garden yeeeears ago. Its so awesome to do spontaneous stuff and get out the old comfort zone from time to times.
Think I’m going to have to try chias in my smoothie. And Oooooh baby, I ADORE your heaven in a bowl recipe- so much! I’m obsessed with so many of your foodie creations its unreal.
I love adding cranberries to my grains too!
Xxx
That sounds like soo much fun, especially with that beautiful scenery! Take advantage of the nice weather while you can 😀
Snacks in the bag are necessary for my survival and I am quite impressed that you happened to have a whole jar of almond butter!
Camping isn’t my favorite thing in the world, but roasting marshmallows sound perfect right about now, and now that you mentioned it, I realized I didn’t have a single smores all summer! So sad…
glad you’re back!
I am soo happy your back! But I am glad you had funfunfun! Haha I usually like camping, but my famjam always packed more than just “camp” food. I definetly miss my kitchen when I am gone for awhile! Hee hee, I am always carrying food around in my purse, granola, apples, dried fruit and nuts are a must 🙂
I am generally a fan of camping. Usually when we go we take all the equipment though and do pretty elaborate dinners. I absolutely love grilled pineapple and s’mores.
When I’m away from home I miss my bed. And now, if I can’t take my baby dog, I’ll miss him most. I’ve only had to be away from him for a few hours so far… I think a full day might make me cry.
I don’t usually keep snacks in my purse for the simple fact that there aren’t many snacks I like that don’t need to be cooked/refrigerated. Bars? Nope. Nut butter? Not really. Trail mix? Never. Dried fruit? Meh.
I like some nuts. Like the emerald cocoa dusted almonds. I had those in there for a bit.
That’s about it! If I’m out running around I prefer to spend the extra money and stop and get an actual meal. 🙂
Welcome back, Amanda! I’m glad you made it back safe and sound from your camping trip without any lions, tigers, or bears (oh my) getting to you first 😉
I honestly can’t remember the last time that I went camping, but maybe I should look into changing that. Although the food issue does seem like it would bug me a bit– not know what I would be eating and all. It’s crazy how my life revolves around foooooodd
I’m currently away from “home” & am up at school right now. It’s really tough being without home cooked meals and my mommy dearest, but its good that Will is up here to keep me company 😀
As you know, I LOVE camping, especially car camping so everything can stay organized in one place.
I’ve definitely had anxiety about finding foods to eat while traveling, and sometimes carry a bar or nut butter with me,, but to be honest, it’s more to save money than the food factor. I guess we a have our quirks, huh?
Glad you’re back! I was worried, ah hah. It’s soooo ridiculously nice up where we (I can say that now, ah hah!) live! I hope it stays that way for a few more weeks.
I hear you on the spontaneity thing, it’s really difficult, but kudos to pushing through and doing it! I’m sure you had a great time.
There’s nothing better than coming home after being gone for awhile, is there?
aaaaaaaaaand now I’m going to be scrambling to make myself a s’more before this awesome weather lets up
thanks for the reminder!
missed your words but glad you had a good time =D
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I just misspelled my own name. ^
I Missed you Amanda! So glad you are back and had a great time! I don’t really enjoy camping… I feel like I am such a girly girl sometimes! I used to though, apparently I have become a wuss as I have gotten older haha. Smores are always my favorite choice when I am “roughin it” aka staying in a nice, cozy cabin and cooking them in the oven 🙂
I always carry at least two kinds of bars around with me, cereal, almonds, GUM, and mini bags of trail mix. I never know what I want!
i know how you feel about being out of your comfort zone, I am suppose to go home to visit my parents for a week and I’m a bit nervous about it because I am so use to my house having my foods. But the thing is, spontaneity and not being able to eat your normal foods is a good thing, because it gets you out of your comfort zone, which with any ED is what its all about. Control. Comfort.
i love camping though, how fun! and what randomness. I dont know that I could do that now, but in my younger years maybe!! haha. i act like im so old!
it’s good to have you back lady, you were missed! your snacks always make me sooo hungry.
Haha that’s actually exactly what I was thinking the whole time… that this was SO the kind of thing that I’d do when I was younger. It’s still enjoyable now, but only once in a while 😉
I missed you love!!! I was wondering where you were, now I know you were just out having fun and camping, sweeeeeet!
I love camping when I can stay in a lodge, hehe, no outdoor sleeping for me, and I love S’mores, camping = S’mores!
I miss my family ( mike and anthony ) and my home made breakfast when Im away, plus just my schedule, when I get off schedule I feel I lose control in my life, haha!
Love you! xoxo <3
So glad you’re back – you’ve been missed!
I like “glamping” – glamourous camping 😉
OMG that shake looks so good. I love thick shakes…they are so satisfying!
The strangest snack I carry around is nothing to strange…carrots or trail mix! Those, to me, are the easiest and most convenient snacks to pack in my purse…
I love/hate being away from home. When I’m home, I want to leave, and when I leave, I want to be home.
Love your blog, girl. Keep writing!