A Friendly Meetup

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

My meetup with Amber

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!