Weekend Fun.

This weekend just screamed summer. It was chock full of sunny days and the smell of sunscreen. Strawberry, coconut and rainbow coquitos on the sidewalk (they are like Italian ices but better). Baby lions and carousel rides at the zoo. Carlos Bakery and long lines. Quaint downtown scenes. Shopping sprees and the most delicious rocky road caramel apple. Sonic burgers & slushes. Twice. And, lots of birthday cake.

Sounds fun, right? Oh, it was!

We spent Saturday at the zoo with M's family. It was very hot. But it was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun. We followed it up with a backyard BBQ and birthday cake.

Sunday started out as a lazy morning. I made grits and toast for breakfast and we ate while catching up on our DVR. Trying to decide what to do, M had the idea of a trip to Jersey. We could visit Carlos Bakery (from TLC's Cake Boss), hit up Sonic and do a little window shopping at the outlet mall. Uh, GREAT idea! We left everything where it was, got ready and packed a bag while L napped. As soon as she woke up, we were on the road! Carlos Bakery is in downtown Hoboken. I LOVE downtown areas. There's something about them...they just makes me feel refreshed and inspired! Carlos is quite famous what with the TV show and all. There was a line. Not HUGE, but long for a small bakery. About 2 blocks long? A block and a half? Either way it was long enough for us to decide not to stay for a treat. There was some shade but it was way to hot to have L out there. We awed at seeing the building in person and snapped a picture then we were on our way. We stopped at Sonic for lunch and we were in time for happy hour. Half price slushes? Yeah, that qualifies as happy! Lunch was delish. I really wish Long Island would get with the program and get a Sonic. As for our plan for window shopping. It sort of went out the window when we saw all the sales. Sales & clearance are my weakness. We got lots of goodies and somethings we actually needed. It was nice to have a fun shopping trip as a family. It's not usually M or L's favorite thing to do but we all really enjoyed it and we all (for once!) got something. Then, of course I had to stop in the chocolate shop. Who doesn't stop in a chocolate shop at a mall when it's dinner time and you are starving and the food court sucks? We got a caramel apple with chocolate and white drizzle and marshmallows. It was good. So good. And of course, we hit up sonic again for dinner. We rounded out the night by stopping at his sister's house for even more birthday cake.

It was a good weekend. I love it when last minute 'hop in the car and go' plans become so much more. So much better than if you had planned it in detail.

Now its a fresh new week and I need to get motivated to get the house into shape and do the grocery shopping and make a care package to mail off and make a meal plan of healthy but yummy dishes and get back to the gym and The Shred.

But at least I can look forward to another weekend in only 3 days!