Sunday was an absolutely GORGEOUS day in the Bay. I actually took this picture Saturday night when Kyle and I decided to take a stroll down memory lane (through Crissy Field). For new readers, it’s where Kyle proposed to me a year ago. It’s now two months until our wedding and I still feel as giddy as I did the day he popped the question.
Anyways, back to Sunday morning…
Kyle and I woke up bright and early, said goodbye to the Marina, and headed to the East Bay to spend Father’s Day with my fam.
Hello cable cars.
We stopped on the way home for some caffeine, but don’t worry, we were home in time for the start of the Brazil game.
For brunch, I went bloob crazy.
Got me some antioxidants.
Course one was gobbled down by the handful – no utensils needed thankyouverymuch.
For course deux the blueberries were piled atop a strawberry Chobani greek yogurt. Course numero tres was apples.
After feasting my heart out and watching Brazil work their magic, we decided to play with the pups.
And somebody had her first dip in the pool…
Klutzy Kona kept dropping her ball in the pool…
…then reaching her head as far as she could to get it…
…but she hasn’t quite mastered her balance yet.
One nose length too far, and in she went!
Luckily we were all watching the entire thing unfold and quickly helped her find the steps laughed at her learning to doggy paddle.
Milo (the German Shepherd) was on the side lines the entire time, watch dog that he is. Such a protector!
Once the pool excitement wore off, I set up shop on a lounge chair with The Help and a Trilogy Kobucha.
After my Vitamin D was in check, my sis, Kyle and I all went to work out (at my parents’ country club fitness center). What was weird was how foreign it felt to be at a gym. I hadn’t been on an elliptical since quitting my NYSC membership months ago! Imagine that. I suppose that’s one of the main reasons that California is so gosh darn attractive. Who needs a gym membership when you can run outside 360 days of the year [for free]!
In honor of father’s day, my sis and I decided to BBQ dinner for our pops. So on our way home from the gym we swung by the grocery store for some summer essentials. Rather than chew my own arm off (or worse, eat all the dinner ingreds before they made their way to the grill), I snacked on an Apple Pie PranaBar before starting the food prep.
Then, it was go time:
Chopping.
Salsa/marinade: fresh mango, avocado, tomatoes (because we forgot red onions), fresh cilantro (from mom’s garden)
Sourdough
Salad: spinach, avocado, strawberries, golden raisins, dried cranberries
Very reminiscent of this meal, no?
BBQ: Salmon & Sausage
The table was set for the perfect feast in celebration of DAD.
Here’s my (first) plate.
What’s wrong with the above picture? Well, nothing in my opinion, but if you know me, or are a regular reader, you know that in the past few years I can count the number of times I have eaten fish on one hand. I call myself vegan for the benefit of others really, because explaining my diet in detail is quite a lengthy discussion…maybe nobody cares, but I was hesitant to post this meal because, well frankly, it is (was) an anomaly. But here’s the thing. Lately, I’ve been kinda craving salmon. I never stopped eating fish for any real reason (other than the fact that I didn’t want it). I was already living a cow free/dairy free life for several years before deciding to go full on animal free, and it had more to do with how my GI tract reacted to non-fish meats than seafood. Since I had no desire to eat seafood, I ended up not eating it, and thus the “vegan” title was born. But my stomach has never had digestive trouble with fish (unless it’s cooked in butter, of course), and so, as any rational human would do, I decided that if I was craving it, I should eat it. Simple as that. I don’t believe in living by rules or labels or anything else that restricts your lifestyle (provided it isn’t illegal).
And there you have it. I ate the fish…and three slices of bread, two helpings of salad, and as much of the salsa topping as I could claim.
Some of the balsamic vinegar for my bread leaked onto the salad, but I already had another vinaigrette on it, so it didn’t really matter.
My sister made brownies for dessert, which were in no way dairy free, so clearly I passed on those. However, my dad was nice enough to make us all decaf espresso shots, which I definitely DID participate in.
It was a fun day, and I’m so glad to be back on the West Coast where I can (finally) celebrate Father’s Day WITH my father.
I love you dad 🙂
Darlin, no need for ‘splaining. You ate fish at Le Bernardin, am I right? It seems to be a “once in a while” thing, and that’s coolio, if your body and spirit concur!
Damn you, out there in the land of avocados. I am (light) green with envy!
The salsa and the salad look and sound so delicious and summery! I can’t wait to get my hands on some avocados 😀
Well I say if you want some fish once in a while then go for it! Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that 🙂
Nothing wrong with a little salmon….yum!!
I always tell people I am a vegetarian because if I say I am a pecicatarian (I eat fish) they look at me wierd lol. I have a question for u though. Does greek yogurt not give you tummy problems or is it just to good not to have? lol I know my own life would have a void in it with out that creamy goodness!!!
Hey Emily, With Greek yogurt, I kinda have to feel it out. I know my stomach pretty well, and many times I won’t have it because I know it will give my tum way too much stress. But unlike other forms of dairy, greek yogurt seems to be one of the few things I can eat from time to time without it taking me out of commission. It’s an-in-the-moment-judgement-call kinda thing.
I’m reading The Help right now too, or about to actually.
That avocado salsa looks insanely good! And eat all the fish you want girl 🙂
Yeah. They weird part was that when I ate it at Le Bernardin, I had no cravings for it whatsoever. I only did it because I was in the house of the seafood God, and I feel like it would have been sacrilegious to pass on such an opportunity. Not surprisingly, I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the other (veg) courses. But the entire week leading up to Sunday I WAS craving fish, and since the craving wasn’t subsiding, I figured what the hell. Sometimes I forget that food blogging can make you accountable for the wrong reasons. Like, all of a sudden I have a label to uphold, and who wants to unintentionally put themselves in a box. I eat for myself, and that’s guided by my GI system’s reactions first and foremost and my taste buds reactions are only a close second. The good news? The fish caused no stomach upset whatsoever – and the small dose of salmon was all I needed to satisfy the craving. Happy girl 🙂
PS Reading your pet peeves on Caroline’s post had me nodding my own head to each and every one. Oh, the New York lifestyle. I agreed with them all!
Aw, doggies. That would have been really entertaining. Glad you went for the salmon, too – I’m not about the labels, either. 🙂
GASP! 🙂 I think it’s great that you blogged all your food, including your fish meal. It’s your blog so you should be able to post whatever you want. Labels schmabels.
Wish it was hot enough here to wear a bikini! Although, it’s getting there… whilst everyone is inside watching the world cup! Sod’s law it’ll rain when it’s over xxx
“What’s wrong with the above picture?”
Haha–I was going to say, “it is missing hummus!” 🙂 A meal without it?!? The horrors!
I LOVED The Help. I didn’t think I would like it (I usually get annoyed by books that jump around to tell the story from different perspectives like that), but I really really liked it. What do you think so far?
Courtney
No guilt for posting the fish- I often feel weird eating seafood on my blog since I’m vegan about 90% of the time (whenever buttercream frosting doesn’t call out to me, that is), but hey, everyone is different. I’ll never go cut out seafood completely either! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
Dude, you rock! Don’t even worry about the label crud… If your cravin’ it, it usually means your body needs it or else that craving will chew away at ya… Apparently i find it a ton easier to tell people i am a vegan because i support most of the reasons why “vegans” live the way they do and eat the way they do, and i’ve taken flack for this in the past– but i thoroughly enjoy resting my head at night on a pillow full o’ feathers & i really don’t fret too much about how they were acquired… Some people may see this as a contradiction, i remain comfortable and warm at night under my down bedding… 😉 I stopped eating fish for pretty much the same reason as well, just wasn’t into it anymore… So glad you are livin’ the dream out on the West coast. Can’t wait to join ya on the Pac coast next year for good!
Haha, utensils-free eats are the best kind, in my opinion:)
I ate salmon when I was pregnant. And newly nursing. My body wanted it. I honored that. Any chance your body is ahem, trying to tell ya something? kidding…
Seriously girl, who cares really. But people seem to. But yeah, it’s not worth 1. explaining to strangers b/c it’s so complicated and they dont get it anyway and 2. it’s hard to explain on the blog.
On other matters, when are you going to be in So Cal. Trying to get my summer time w/ elise plans goin!
girl you get your salmonator on!
what is it about dads and having stellar bbqs! we made it a special day for van and bought us some huge honking lobsters haha ballers!
tell papa hippie happy day from julie 🙂
UM well u know my feelings about salm…sooo I’m v. happy you two are getting reacquainted ;D
DUDE i’m also v. sad that you moved away from me, but sooooo sooo happy for you and Kyle!!! YAY! I am freaking bummed b/c I JUST went back home (for games 1 and 2 of the finals), just a quick weekend- but i was in Santa Monica/Venice AND Newport the whole time, crazy!! Have u been to Urth Cafe, you willll die it is so amazing, def go soon 😀
When i come home in July hopefully we can get togetha!! XO happy pop’s day to yo dad!
moving back in Aug (the 3rd to be exact), then its play time for sure. SOOO excited 🙂