what a difference a year makes. i feel like i have finally LIVED these past 12 months and it only took me 30 years! i have been spending more time focusing on my passion (fitness, creating and cooking healthier recipes, blogging, etc.) and it has opened up so many doors and avenues beyond my small, limited imagination. i’ve crossed a few things off my bucket list and i have so many more to tackle. however like all things in life, i’m simply striving for progress, not perfection. i am content, appreciative, and so hopeful for what the future holds! i thank God for another year that wasn’t promised, and i’ll walk right behind Him into 31 and all it has to offer! Sonny put a little something together for lil ol’ me for my bday this year and it was … everything. what was it? those 3 simple f’s up there.
*****
i started my saturday morning off how i normally do-
with a GREAT early morning workout! i had way too many cartons of 98 cent strawberries (from HEB) on my island and i planned on incorporating them into our breakfast somehow.
so i diiiiiid. strawberry shortcakes came to mind! i don’t normally eat whipped cream for breakfast lol but hey, the occasion called for it. recipe is coming right up- had to do a little tweaking first. i was given specific instructions to be ready to go by 5pm later that day and to ‘do something with myself’. 
i did my best to make my bun as neat as possible. 😆 so i’ve said in the past i don’t like shopping for clothes… i should clarify that i don’t like shopping ALL DAY LONG for clothes. i love Urban Outfitters cause 9 times outta 10 i find the cutest thing on the sale rack within minutes. UO keeps my shopping bug alive and kicking cause i almost stepped on it and killed it. it’s become my go to store for a quick, cute outfit or top! i found this black lacy number for 10 whole dollars. what? i thought it was clearly a mistake. i was too through after that awesome find! i even did my nails for the first time in a really, really long time. aaaaand i went to get some eyelash extensions done!!! watch out nah! it was fun to get a little glam.
back pose!
we dropped off our Stank Tank with our ‘rents and headed to a private dinner at Tango & Malbec South American Cuisine.
Mr. Impeccable Taste himself;)
straight to the meal!
aaaaah, the lovely bread bowl. it was filled with real, fried potato chips, bread sticks, and sourdough bread. so hard to resist this thing at any restaurant. if it wasn’t for Sonny, i’d tell them to not even bring it to our table.
our appetizers were Lamb Lolichops and El Calamar (grilled calamari steak) and they were both and cooked and seasoned perfectly.
before we tore it up, we snapped a pic!
my lil appetizer plate. to be honest, the lamb was too rare for me..i don’t do the bloody meat thing, so i gave it to Sonny.
i decided on the Trout topped with mushrooms and carmelized onions for my entrée. i told myself no salmon and no chicken breast!!! i knew Sonny would order some type of steak so i planned to just get a piece of his.
i also had some old, faithful asparagus on the side.
there it is- Como En El’s the name! Sonny’s dish was a combo of beef tenderloin, pork ribs, lamb chops, flank steak sausage and black sausage. the ‘protein platter’!
as we dined, a couple waltzed to music – very nice touch! i enjoyed our dinner and it didn’t end there- complimentary dessert was on the way.
hey i know her! i devoured that tres leches cake and received a little something i wasn’t expecting at all…
a quality camera to take my blogging pics with! i’ve been using my cell for ALL of them as our previous Casio bit the dust a couple months ago. it was right on time.
we ended the evening with more dessert- self serve fro-yo! apparently dancing was on the agenda but after that meal our night was a WRAP.
thanks, Polar! April 7th was the big day.
first thing i did was thank God, then went to make me some birthday pancakes! chocolate peanut butter banana pancakes with chocolate sprinkles.
chocolate peanut butter banana pancakes
the stuff:
- half a banana
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp chocolate PB2
- 2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 packet stevia (optional)
- 1/2 tsp butter extract
- more PB2 for topping
do this:
whip this all up in your blender or food processor, then cook them up like cakes in your skillet. 3-4 minutes on medium heat for each side. top with more PB2 and sprinkles! they are optional too:)
for the entire stack:
i topped mine with more strawberries, and it tasted like a big peanut butter and jelly sammich. omg, YUMMINESS!!!
i didn’t get a sub for my class…no need. i had some gifts to give out too- the gift of sweat.
and i did so with new workout gear, whoop, whoop! that is ALWAYS appreciated, no matter what the occasion! i’ve been #upgraded!
afterwards, we got ready to go take some professional family pictures, and eat some lunch.
lunch where? where else!?!?!? yep, RG.
the weather was perrrrrfect, so we found a great table outside. if you have a little one of age then you know an ipad or any electronic device works wonders to keep their little minds occupied until the food arrives.
we tried the hi-protein hemp empanadas for the first time and WOW. i will definitely be remaking this at home! i LOVED the sweet and savory flavor combo. seasoned ground beef, raisins, cilantro, mozzeralla and cheddar cheeses all stuffed inside a hemp and wheat flour pocket. and yeah, they are fried… you’ve been warned!
before pizza,
after pizza.
i know exactly where he gets his hunger attitude from. 🙄
this kids loves some cheese pizza, so of course we ordered him one along with…
grilled fish tacos on corn tortillas! Sonny’s was super spicy,
mine was not.
oh and i got some butternut squash too. it’s the LITTLE THINGS that made my birthday so special and memorable!
clearly the pizza had Chiso’s undivided attention until it was gone.
there was a lambo car show going on at the same time in City Centre so it was definitely alive:
from newer models,
#justlooking
very last thing….. more, YES, more fro-yo!
from Red Mango.
and that’s a wrap! thank you so much for reading!
i’m back on track with more EXCITING product reviews, and more GIVEAWAYS!!!!
i’m THRILLED about some of the products i’ll be featuring shortly that YOU will be able to enjoy yourself as well!!! stay tuned 🙂
le
fit foodie le 
I love this post! Hope you had a happy birthday 🙂
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i truly did! and i sincerely appreciate you taking the time to check us out, Addie! thank you so much for sharing!
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Wow Leah u r amazing. When r ur classes? I need poor man’s plastic surgery. But no no no seeds that look like bugs lol.
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thank you, Tisha! if you shoot an email to le@fitfoodiele.com i’ll give ya my workout schedule for sure. and that’s right, i’m all about preventive maintenance! no plastic surgery if we can avoid it, and most times WE CAN! and what seeds girl?? do tell!
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