Hi everyone! Can you believe it’s already Monday? Our weekend felt short since both Matt and I had to work a lot of it, but sometimes that’s just how it goes.
On Friday and Saturday I attended an intensive two-day counseling skills workshop in Bethesda, MD. It ran from 8:30 to 4:30 both days and was led by dietitian and therapist Molly Kellogg. The focus was Motivational Interviewing, an approach I already use with my AnneTheRD private practice clients. I’ve followed Molly’s counseling tips for years, so when I saw she was teaching nearby I decided the course would be a worthwhile investment.
The workshop was great: it reinforced what I already do well, offered fresh ideas to strengthen sessions, and boosted my confidence. It was also fun to meet and network with other RDs from the area and beyond.
Breakfast both days included those satisfying egg sandwiches shown above — mine had egg, cheese, arugula, and a herb sauce (I think they were from Modern Market). Friday’s lunch was sandwiches again, which I wasn’t in the mood for. My current pregnancy phase has mostly ended my sandwich obsession, except for breakfast egg sandwiches and the occasional egg or tuna salad sandwich. I was craving vegetables but they were scarce that day, so I made do; the purple heirloom potato chips were a highlight, though, and I’ll definitely be hunting those down again.
Friday night’s drive home was slow thanks to torrential rain, and I was exhausted after a long day of intense focus. I grabbed some leftovers, went to bed around 8:45, and called it an early night.
Saturday’s lunch was more on point for me — a salad with chicken, quinoa, strawberries, and avocado that hit the spot. Learning from Friday, I packed string beans and carrots to ensure I had veggies available, plus extra snacks so I wouldn’t be starving by the end of the day. I also enjoyed an oatmeal cranberry cookie as a treat.
After the workshop I headed to a nearby goodbye party at Denizens Brewery in Silver Spring to meet friends. I arrived about an hour late and met up with Matt there. Even though the brewery offered creative salads and bowls, that night I was craving chicken fingers and fries — sometimes comfort food wins. I ordered chicken fingers with a side salad, shared fries with friends, and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. This blog is about real life, not perfection — occasionally you want simple comfort food, and that’s totally fine.
Sunday brought clear skies and cool weather. I started the morning with microwave banana oatmeal on the deck while the dogs played — I topped it with cottage cheese, berries, and slivered almonds.
It was Matt’s birthday, so I prepared a simple breakfast in bed: paleo toast with festive berries and coffee with cinnamon and frothed milk. He isn’t very hungry first thing, so keeping it light works best.
While making breakfast, I caught a lovely moment between our cat Zara and our adopted dog Freyja. They’ve been getting along better thanks to supervised introductions and treats, and that morning Zara jumped down to drink from the dog bowl while Freyja watched calmly — a small but meaningful step in their relationship. Ashe, our other dog, basically ignores Zara, so that’s been easy.
Because the weather was so nice, Matt requested a birthday hike with the dogs. We drove to one of our favorite Potomac trails in Virginia and enjoyed a peaceful walk; it was pleasantly uncrowded, perhaps because we went early.
When we returned, Matt had to head back to the office for the rest of the day to meet a big deadline — unfortunate timing for his birthday, but work called. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed: managing two dogs (including a high-energy puppy) while navigating pregnancy hormones and interrupted sleep has been challenging. I’ve missed my usual stress outlet, running with friends, so I decided to swim laps at the indoor pool. It felt restorative and eased my stiffness and hip discomfort. Swimming is something I want to keep in my routine at least once a week during pregnancy.
That evening we celebrated with a special dinner at Ray’s the Steaks. We dressed up and enjoyed a shared salad, bacon-wrapped scallops, and filet mignon with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and sautéed mushrooms. It was a lovely night out together — something we haven’t done in a while.
Today I’m working downtown and tackling a long to-do list after being out of the office on Friday. Time to dive in — hope you have a great day!