Last Minute Christmas Shopping

Hubby and I slept in…aaahhh…I needed that.

Breakfast was biscuits – first up – an egg and bacon biscuit (I think they used a whole wheat version of biscuit this time)

Then, a butter and honey biscuit.

With coffee and juice

Bailey was a little cuddle-monkey this morning.

We didn’t sit around long…we had a movie to catch. We saw Avatar!  The graphics and visuals were, of course, amazing. I loved the little world they created. Such neat animals, plants, and people. Have you seen the movie yet?  If yes, what did you think? What was your favorite plant?

After the movie, hubby and I headed downtown to grab a (very) late lunch and some coffee at one of my favorite home town spots – Coffee Underground.

Coffee Underground is a spot I used to frequent since I was a teenager. I love the atmosphere, the food, and of course the coffee!

We sat in a new room they must have added within the last year – the “Red Room”. Very cozy and intimate in there. I liked it.

 

I ordered a combo lunch – quiche and soup. I got the sundried tomato quiche with the 3-bean veggie chili.

Everything was very good. I even found some zucchini in my chili. I didn’t know you could put “other” veggies in chili, but I thought it was a nice addition and may have to add some in mine next time.

The quiche was a really nice portion and the mixture of flavors went well together. I thought the chili had a nice slightly spicy quality and I liked that it was vegetarian because it helped keep the dish both hearty and light.

Though the food was tasty, I only made it about halfway into mine before having hubby help me finish.

The thing I was most looking forward to was a delicious coffee. One of the last times I came here, I tried to order my fave pistachio latte, but they had discontinued the flavor!

I guess I wasn’t the only one who inquired about it because I saw it on the menu again today and they actually had it! I had been thinking maybe the menu was just old, but I knew they updated it pretty frequently so I had hope.

The pistachio latte was just as delicious as I remembered it and even had a bit of froth-art in the top!

The weather was really clearing up by the time we left – a HUGE improvement over the yucky weather yesterday.

The downtown area was bustling with people everywhere. There was a “winter wonderland” set up with fake snow and a carousel.

I love the downtown area. I used to frequent this place before they made it over and it’s really come a long way.

Hey soldier!

I’m glad hubby and I got a good meal in because we ended up doing some pretty good shopping post-lunch. Most stores were packed with people buying last minute gifts.

Hubby and I bought a cook book by a local chef who was in a retail store running a special – buy the book and get a gift certificate to one of his restaurants…plus you get his autograph, too!

Chef Rodney Freidank , from the popular + local restaurant Soby’s, was very nice and fun to meet. I hope to try out a couple of his recipes soon.

We shopped around more and found some good presents. We donated some money to have a couple gift-wrapped. The money is going to Safe Harbor Crisis Shelter. We thought it was win-win. They even did handmade bows!

A few trips later and we were back home and ready to eat! Christmas Dinner #1 up next…

Comments

[Jenna]

food looks great!

[Lily @ Lily's Health Pad]

Oh my gosh! We are definitely from the same hometown. Well, I'm from a smaller city close-by.

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