Thanks to everyone for your concern and heartfelt comments you left on my last post about my stolen iPhone. I have been just sick over it.
The money that it’s costing me to replace it is almost $250 even though I have insurance (that’s half a Kitchen Aid stand mixer I was wanting to buy) compounded with not having my phone until the new one arrives (hopefully Wednesday), having to take time to re-set and re-program the new phone is all a royal pain. Plus, as many of you said, the sense of violation of that comes from having someone steal. I hope there is a special place in hell for thieves. And as many of you pointed out, karma is real.
It was sad to read about the things you have had stolen, too. Sigh. I am so sorry that many of you have experienced something stolen over the years. Thanks for the comments and for being awesome readers and friends. It was comforting to read everyone’s comments and swap stories.
Moving on and speaking of awesome friends, I had a fun afternoon on Tuesday because I met up with Marla!
We took pictures of each other with my camera. Didn’t even bother having a stranger try to get one of us together because the camera is big and heavy. And I didn’t want anyone to touch it or steal it. Kidding.
We met at the same Starbucks we did last time.
We drank coffee and had an awesome gabfest for two hours. The time flew by!
They spelled my name wrong again but I was in need of a cafe misto and spelling doesn’t matter when caffeine is in order.
Marla and I both have a passion for photography, blogging, traveling, and are both moms so there’s never a break in conversation.
Marla is super high energy and so am I and we both can talk and talk, a mile a minute, and not come up for air.
It’s great when I meet someone like that! It’s like, ahhhh, she can keep up with my nonstop talking, questions, and chatterfest. Because she is the same way!
As we were leaving, we noticed the beautiful rows of flowers off in the distance but were pressed for time so this is the best my zoom lens could do.
I adore Marla. She is just an awesome woman, mom, blogger, photographer, cook, and friend. She also happens to be having a giveaway for Medjool dates on her site right now, so if you’d like to make something like…
Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Fudge Balls (GF)
Or…
Raw Vegan Chocolate Brownies (GF)
Enter Marla’s Date Give Away so you can get busy making recipes with dates. Which is pretty much anything in raw/vegan un-baking.
I also wanted to mention another friend and her small business opportunity. It’s a system created to help bloggers, working people, and stay at home moms become a marketing consultant for small businesses.
My friend told me there are over 25 million small businesses that need your help and no marketing experience is required. I have not tried the system personally but I wanted to help my friend build her business. Click Here if you’re interested in learning more.
A little birdy told me I should make some Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables tonight.
One pot, 30 minutes from start to finish, vegan, gluten free, and incorporates one of my favorite condiments: salsa plus chipotle seasoning.
And roast up some Cinnamon Sugar & Ginger Roasted Potato Sticks
Cinnamon, sugar, ginger and warm potatoes will make you feel better. Promise.
Questions:
1. Who was the last person you met up with? What did you do or where did you meet?
Prior to seeing Marla yesterday, I think my last face-to-face time with a friend was my previous meetup with Marla. Clearly, I don’t get out much other than work + parenthood.
2. If a little birdy was listening to your “coffee talk” that you had with your friend, what would the birdy hear?
Sometimes a little gabbing, or venting, with a friend about everything from:
workplace woes
family drama
fights with your significant others
what you think of the latest episode of the Real Housewives of OC or other TV shows
travel plans
who’s blog you’re loving lately
…is just what the doctor ordered!
Marla and I talked about some those things. When I get together with my close friends, it’s great to just let it all hang out and to swap stories. Giving and receiving solid advice and honest feedback is so wonderful! I mean, that’s what friends are for, right?
Time to dish on what you talk about with your friends!
Have a great Hump Day!
I’m a long time lurker (sounds creepy!) but just wanted to comment to say that I’m so sorry your phone got stolen. Like you said karma is very real, so not only will the thief have some bad coming, you will have some good coming your way :) I met up with my two best friends for coffee today, and as its only the second time this year we’ve been all together we talked alot! Conversation was everything from weddings to exams – we’re meeting up for round two tonight as couple of hours is nowhere near enough to get all of our chatting (and venting) done!
PS I made your banana/oat breakfast cake yesterday and it was delicious!
thanks for delurking and glad the oatcake worked :)
The picture of the flowers is just beautiful! And here I am looking out the window at SNOW. Ugh.
I met up with a friend on Saturday and we talked and talked and talked — it is so nice to have someone that you really click with and can talk with for hours. I’m glad you and Marla had a great time!
Phones are such a personal thing, our whole lives are on there! Such an invasion of privacy. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with that! :(
Oh on! I’m so sorry about your phone! It’s scary that someone can invade your personal space like that and then take something, from you! It makes me realize I have to always be alert and aware of my surroundings.
I’m sure a little blogger meet up helped brighten your mood though! It looks like a fun time!
Sounds like a good time to me. I met up with friends for lunch on Saturday. I guess the topic of conversation depends on the person I’m with really.
I AM SO SORRY! I can’t believe someone stole your phone. That is really incredibly awful. *Hugs*
On a much happier note, I love the bright and happy shirt you are wearing to your coffee date, it is so lovely! If we ever got to meet in real life I have a feeling we’d talk a mile a minute too!
And WOW those flowers are beautiful!
I am so glad you got to meet up with a friend to vent. I know that feels so much better now even if it doesn’t take the blow of the whole situation. We meet up with a group of close friends every Wednesday for lunch. We really just catch up, I don’t really have many gripes right now. Give me a couple of days, I’m sure I could come up with something. I hope you have a great day Averie!
Cathy sums it all up above “your blog entry just radiates energy and happiness”
LOVE this post ’cause it is so happy. I always have an awesome time with you girl. Digging our Starbucks photos – that fabric print behind us is so fun!
Out commitment to each other always needs to be “lifting” It is good to know we share so many passions, interests, loves & of course boundless energy & drive.
Can’t wait until our next meet-up. Thanks for sharing my dates giveaway & for all these awesome recipes too. xxoo
It was awesome to see you and can’t wait for the next one :)
xoxo
I am sorry to hear about your iphone : ( Im just catching up on your blog post’s, people are so mean, well karma will get whoever stole it, I believe in that : )
Im glad you had insurance on it, but still stinks you had to pay, and Im sure you lost all your contacts too : p
U look so beautiful! I love your shirt, and your friend is so pretty too! Love her blue lulu jacket!
It’s great to meet up with a friend!
Have a great day! xoxo <3
I drove super fast to work yesterday for a soy misto – it was just one of those mornings.. and yes, I did get a stomachache. And yes, it was worth it.
I’m so glad you got a fabulous distraction from all the phone craziness… Marla sounds like such a sweetheart and a perfect person to keep you motivated with the recent stress you’ve had to deal with. It’s those people in our lives who are truly irreplaceable!
I’m definitely like you – I can talk a mile a minute about almost ANYTHING! It just feels great to share stories, news, school, and life in general with someone else.
you ladies are just gorgeous, naturally gorgeous! Must be the california sun! I love that she is having a date giveaway, genius!
your blog entry just radiates energy and happiness (with your outing, i mean – NOT referring to the phone disaster!) – i bet a girl chat was just what the doctor ordered to help turn your day around.
i’ve made a real effort over the last month to connect in person with friends and get the same warm fuzzies that you experience. time flies, 1001 topics are discussed, many laughs had. so good for the soul!
i can talk non-stop, but also can listen…i’m big on “tangents” in conversations…jumping from topic to topic! luckily, many of my friends *get* this and don’t mind the randomness!
hope your phone arrives today!!!
your comments are the ones that brighten my day…every.single.day. Thanky ou!!!!!
I’m so sorry about your phone, again :[ And that it’s going to cost you so much – mentally and literally!
Glad you had a great meet-up with Marla, though! Love the portraits of you both :]
Last meet-up for me was with a good friend on Friday…and if someone was eavesdropping on our conversation they were probably wondering why we were talking about shooting things.
(don’t worry, with a camera!)
I seriously cannot believe that about your phone getting stolen! Grrr. And there is nothing I love more than a good gabfest at Starbucks! My friends and I will talk about everything from food to guys to what we’re going to do next year after college. :)
I really want to learn more about photography. It’s one of few art mediums I have yet to try, and I am dying to do it. Right now it isn’t feasible for me to buy a fancy camera and the one I have is old, but it has to do for now. I travel a lot, so I would love to get more skilled at photography!
You are improving nicely, it I may say! Your newer photographs look great!
much of photography is food styling and photo composition. Taking the picture with the equipment is one aspect, but there’s much more you can work on, no fancy camera needed! Just setting up a shot, staging it, etc.