On Tuesday afternoon I got together with Marla! It had been 8 months since we last met up and I had really been looking forward to seeing her, and yesterday was the lucky day!
We met at a Starbucks in the Carlsbad Outlets. Same place that we met last time, except this time neither of us had kids with us! Uninterrupted, focused, adult conversation is a beautiful thing. And boy, we covered a lot of ground in two hours. It’s amazing what two adult women can get done when no one needs a snack or their butt wiped.
We sat and drank coffee at Starbucks, we talked blogs, the blogosphere, blogger trips and events, cameras, photography, husbands, kids, and more.
I savored an extra hot cafe misto with the bold coffee blend of the day, and the barista made it perfectly. The foam on top was thick and the drink was extra hot. I have to have my coffee extra hot or it tastes like lukewarm dishwater to me.
I could more than overlook Avery rather than Averie because the drink was so good. And it was real dairy, and I didn’t have a tummy ache. Yay!
As I said in my post about our meetup last time, Marla is truly an awesome woman! I look up to her so much for all that she has accomplished with her blog, her photography, her fitness, and how she has balanced her life, career, and family.
As a human being, Marla is such a kind, generous soul. Last time she brought Skylar a huge bag of her daughter’s hardly worn designer clothes and Skylar wears something from her “Marla Stash” almost every day. Marla’s so energetic, fun, and just a great girl!
It was a wonderful couple hours and I was sad when we both had to get going. We could have sat and gabbed for hours more. Can’t wait til our next meetup, Marla. It better not take us 8 months to coordinate our schedules this time!
After the meetup, it was time to think snack options and Vegan Banana Nut Muffins (Gluten Free, Soy Free) came to mind.
So did a No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter & Oat Snack Bar
Ready in 5 minutes
After thinking snacks, it was time to think dinner.
Something fast, easy, light like Raw Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon & Herb Dressing
Followed up with Chocolate for dessert. But of course.
Vegan Chocolate Macaroons (dehydrator or oven will work)
From my last post about the Sweet & Sour ‘Shrooms, I’m glad you enjoyed that fast and easy way to jazz up raw mushrooms. And I’m glad that some of you really love your ‘shrooms. I really like them, too. Nothing wrong with a little plant based iron and fiber.
Questions:
1. Have you met anyone from the blogosphere? Or has anyone recognized you because of your blog? Or have you spotted anyone because of their blog?
I went to Food Buzz and met tons of bloggers <—check that post out for pictures with 50 or so other bloggers!
Also, Madeline and I used to have weekly coffee dates.
And I’ve had meetups with Jenn of Girl Heros, Bekah of Beek Eats, Nicole of Fitness Freak, Jackie of Peaces of Earth, and more.
I have also been recognized in San Diego here and here, and also in the Aruba airport!
Blogging, blogs, and the internet is so powerful! It’s truly a small world and a global village, all in one. And I’ve made some great, amazing friends along the way!
2. Who was the last person or friend that you talked to that the time just flew by?
I have been on quite a roll with friends and meetups lately…
My post on the importance of having friends
And yesterday’s meetup with Marla
I could have talked for hours with either of them. Time flew by and before I knew it, it was time to go.
3. Favorite Starbucks drink?
I used to just get drip coffees because I am cheap, but I do love lattes. Cafe mistos are nice because they are cheaper than lattes and the milk is heated so you don’t have to dump cold milk or cream into hot coffee and cool the whole thing down. As I said, I like my coffee drinks hot!
If I wanted to drink a meal’s worth of empty calories, a Carmel Macchiato is hard to beat. But it’s like liquid sugar!
And anything flavored with vanilla is great.
Have a great day!
I love a cinnamon dolce latte (half sweet) or a shaken black tea lemonade.
Glad to hear the dairy didn’t bother your tummy!!!
Wow, I know that Starbucks! I live in Carlsbad, how funny. :] Have you ever been to Pannikin’s in Encinitas, it’s a bakery/coffee shop, definitely recommend going there if you haven’t gone before.
Small world! Yes I have been just about everywhere in Encinitas..love it! But Marla lives in OC so I try to go as far north as i can to help her out :)
It has been awhile since we have done a blogger meet up. We have been catching up with our best friends lately, we all live in different areas so it has been nice talking with them. Makes me miss them more though :( but nice knowing that with the world today it makes it easier to stay connected no matter how far away someone may be.
What a fun meetup, so lucky you got to do another one! Marla sounds like an awesome person.
1. Not since the Foodbuzz fest sadly, my work schedule and limited vacation time has been a hassle. :-(
2. Probably catching up with my grandma, I need to arrange another lunch with her.
3. It’s been so long since I’ve been to a Starbucks, I usually go for a vegan late.
yay for no belly ache! and you are so sun kissed – i am extremely jealous!
thank you!! I love the sun and my skin shows a life well-lived, outdoors…oh well :)
Back in my fatty days, my go-to drink was the peppermint mocha. Deeeeeear Jesus. White chocolate was good too. I’ve heard they have a sugar-free peppermint mocha they tested last season. Hopefully this year it’s full-scale.
It’s so great to meet up with bloggers! Some of my absolute best times in London have been with bloggers. I’ve discovered some great places and had lovely day trips.
I’m glad the dairy didn’t bother your tummy! I’ve researched it a bit, as I’m a geek, and do have a bit of lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is very similar to gluten intolerance. In fact, one can cause the other (weakening the guts and whatnot). However, if you aren’t out-and-out allergic to it, sometimes the body simply repairs itself and is able to take it again. Maybe not full-on extra large milkshake, but some. Also, high fat dairy (butter, ghee, cream, etc.) is usually better tolerated than plain milk. That’s also why goat and sheep milk is easier to digest for some people. Fermented dairy too, because it’s sort of partially-digested. Oh, and raw milk is easier digested too. I can drink raw milk and not get a stomach ache whereas with plain milk I’m running to the bathroom. 75% of the world is lactose intolerant to some degree, but it’s a varying scale. I’ve discovered mine, so I stay away from cottage cheese (most of the time…it’s yummy) and anything more than a coffee’s worth of plain milk, but I’m fine with most yogurt, and of course the high-fat dairy. I never got the cheese craze though. I like it, quite a bit, but it’s something I could never picture myself eating gobs of at a time. Your cookies and doughballs on the other hand…;-)
Oh girl i have researched this TONS! Like over the past 10 years, you have no idea…there is milk protein intolerance and lactose intolerance. Some call these things allergies and other intol’s. So there’s protein, lactose, all’s, intol’s, and many times people get lost in the terminology.
Raw milk also has enzymes in it where as pasteurized milk does not. So that’s why many ppl find raw milk easier to digest.
Or why goat’s milk is better for babies than cow’s milk b/c the protein in goat milk are closer to that of human milk (which is the best but not always available for whatever reason)
so many variables but yes to everything you said. I dont want to bore ppl with all my little food trivia so i dont write about it all but could talk for hours!
A couple of hours with kids…excuse me while I dream a little dream!!
Fave drink at Starbuck’s: Iced Chai Tea Latte.
i want to read a lot more of your powerful writing style in the future.
as you may know very well than me these days blogs are cropping up all over the place.most people starting such blogs think,they can write anyway and anything on there blog which is definately not true.but your blog solely stands out for your writing style,it is actually quite engrossing.keep at it.
I like the Tazo Green Tea from Starbucks! I buy the same one but for some reason it always tastes better when I get it from the source!! :)
This makes me miss our coffee dates so much Averie! Some day our paths will cross again and I’m sure we could fill a whole 48 hours with nonstop gossip!
trust me, i cry sometimes just thinking about our weekly meetups…i miss you so much
xoxo
I have never seen any of the bloggers that I read in person. I probably would be way too shy to ever go up and say hi to anyone if I did!
well if you ever spotted me, come up and say hi :)
I just wanted to tell you that you have amazing skin! =) And you are lucky to live in CA and have a tan!!!! I’m currently experiencing freezing rain here in Michigan :/
thank you!! and i think my skin is very…just so-so. It has sun damage but honestly, I don’t care. I love the sun and my skin shows a life well-lived outdoors…oh well :)
I have only met a couple bloggers, actually. I wish I could meet more!
My favorite drink at any coffee shop is kind o f boring, the Americano. Its kind of nice, because it isn’t just drip or regular coffee that I can make at home, but I don’t like those milky foamy drinks. I used to work at a bagel/coffee shop in high school and had to make so many of them that I just started to hate them on principle.
i wish i would have been a barista in my former life..it’s one of those skills that would totally help me daily, now :)
My favorite drink is a Soy No Foam Misto at Starbucks – YUM!
Glad you were able to have an adult meet-up. It’s nice to have friends who you can meet up with and take up the conversation as tho you’d just seen them the day before, no matter how long it’s been :-)
Ooo sounds like you had a great time. Your drink does look perfect. It really is hard to beat real dairy in coffee. It just foams and froths SO much better. Which is my favorite part!
My fave drink is probably a cappuccino or a misto. I just adore milky foam.
yeah the dairy just foams…like nobody’s business :)
What a great blogger/friend meet up! Sounds like you both enjoyed some excellent quality time together. I have met a few bloggers and I’d love to meet more. There’s not too many in my area (that I know of) so it can be tough!
My fave Starbucks drink is a NF pumpkin spice misto, but most stores are out of the pumpkin syrup now so I’ve been rocking the chai tea mistos…
Averie I’m glad you got to enjoy that drink with out any tummy aches. Sometimes I really miss those coffee drinks, but those just do not agree with me at all!
I’ve only met one blogger in real life, but I feel like I’ve “met” so many already — duh you included. I’m going to my first blogger conference in June and I’m super excited to meet more bloggers face to face.
My favorite drinks are the super sugary lattes — with caramel or chocolate, etc. Caribou Coffee has a drink called Ho Ho Mocha around the holidays that I used to just love — peppermint/vanilla flavors, it was delicious.
Love reading about a bloggie meetup 10 minutes from my house! Wish I had more time to blog/comment, etc. I can’t imagine how you all do it. With 3 kids, working at home, and ADD brain, lol, maybe when I retire I’ll have a senior blog. Haha.
Yay for no tummie ache with a Starbucks with Dairy! I do that on occasion. Cappuccino is my fave.
I haven’t met up w/ any other bloggers, but your meetups w/ Madeline have me hooked on her blog now. I will have to check out Marla’s.
My bestie is in Orange County, and we never get enough time. We can never have just a 10 min phone call. We see each other maybe every 6 months. Au Lac raw food restaurant is our favorite meeting spot.
I didnt know you lived up there…small world!
Au Luc…never been. Off to google it!
I’m a latte girl, but can’t have them there anymore. Sounds like you had a great time! The local bloggers here meet up from time to time and it is always a great time.
Averie my friend – I love this post. *smiles* You have been a wonderful friend for a long time now. LOVE that we had a few hours of focus time together. We both needed it bad. We certainly will not let eight months go by again. We both realized how easy it was to meet without the kids in tow.
Your honesty, enthusiasm and passion for life is awesome. You are a great role model for drive and determination. Funny how we both started our blogs at the same time. It will be so fun to encourage each other with our passions and watch each others success. Can’t wait for your Boulder experience.
I believe our table in Starbucks is reserved for whenever we need it ;)
We will just kick anyone out of our table if they think it’s theirs. It’s ours :)
Anytime, say the word, I am there! It was the highlight of the month for me!!!!
oxox
You probably won’t believe me – but I’ve never been to Starbucks. Gasp! I love that you are close enough to other bloggers. I’ve only met 3.
So glad you got to meetup with a friend and you both had the time to just yourselves and no kids!! Marla seems so sweet! I am going to check out her blog!! You are amazing too, how you balance your life ; )
I hope you have a great day!!! xoxoxo <3
YAY for no tummy aches after real dairy! :D
Glad you had a nice time meeting up with Marla! Sounds like so much fun to get together with someone you have so much in common with.
My favorite drink from Starbuck’s is actually their hot chocolate, lol. Followed by their lemonade!
Oh my goodness, I was IN that Starbucks when I went on a family vacation to CA with my family a few years back!!! (Either that, or a VERY similar one in the Carlsbad Outlets… it’s been a few years now.) What a wonderful meet-up!
Starbucks – I order a coffee with an inch of steamed soy on a regular basis, and will randomly have soy lattes or chai soy lattes topped with cinnamon and nutmeg. I can definitely appreciate a drink done well!
well you prob WERE at that one b/c it’s the only one at those outlets!
Oh, I could live at starbuck’s! Now that I feel like I could order a coffee without going back to the dark side (read: my caffeine addiction), I think one is in the cards for me sometime soon!
yay for mistos! those are my favorite. Glad the tummy took it well. Wish they had almond milk though.
You two are gorgeous!
i just met up with my very first best friend last eve – we have been friends since we met at age two, but have been out of contact for a lot of years. it was SO GREAT to connect. we chatted for 1.5 hours but could have gone on for 8, i swear. so glad to hear YOU’VE had a wonderful week of connecting with friends, too!
starbucks is such a great place to sit and chat. i just love plain black coffe with stevia (that i bring from home).
thanks for sharing about maria! she sounds wonderful.
What a great time! Glad you two were able to catch up & relax!! I have met a bundle of bloggers now, a few who have become real life friends!! I love the misto at starbucks! Its my go to drink. If I’m feeling iced, I usually do a non fat iced latte
I finally made the oat bars! horray!
yay!!
1.) LOTS! But not you yet… soon enough :D
2.) Suave Slav
3.) hot chocolate
Oy, you guys are like black & white, like salt n peppa! Both so beautiful but totally different, haha :-). Amazing how well you go together, you agree you MUST meet up more, haha…
Uhh, dairy….I saw your post on it the other day – and congrats on the cheese bonanza, OMG! – and I thought about how the ONLY. single. thing foodwise that I envy my boyfriend on a daily basis is strong cheese – especially now, in the spring, I don’t know why! We have this really smelly cheese right now, and a sandwich of grainy rye bread, butter, and some tasty, thick slices of strong cheese – holy dairy cow, I’d love that like…a lot, hahaha.
Last time I met up with my every-six-months-girlfriend we went to a restaurant and it felt like we just sat down when the two and a half hours we had the table had passed and the waiter ushered us to another seating arrangement…where we then sat for another couple hours. Phew. Talk about a couple of hens catching up!
Have a nice day AverIE – I’m going for the first run this spring and I can’t wait!
“you guys are like black & white, like salt n peppa! Both so beautiful but totally different, haha “–thank you, the BW / SP comparison is SO true, you’re right!
I love meeting other bloggers/internet friends in real life especially ones that I have forged relationships with. Your meetup today sounded very fun!! Ad your lunch looks amazing! I need to bust our my spiralizer!