What a whirlwind weekend it has been! Nonstop action, but all good things.
It started with a birthday golf match! Technically I turn 25 on Wednesday, May 9, but Bobby treated me to an awesome early bird present with a tee time on the Chick Evans course Saturday afternoon. We even returned to the scene of his proposal, three years ago today!
Though it was cloudy, it was perfect weather for golf and we really enjoyed ourselves. I ended up victorious over Bobby, 85 to 88. Still coming down from the tournament high, perhaps, but it was a very contentious battle. 🙂
After our round, we headed further into the suburbs for dinner at Enzo & Lucia, an Italian restaurant that our friend Lauren gave us a gift certificate to for our wedding. Yes, we’ve waited quite a while to use it! Last night was the night.
The restaurant is situated in an old house in historic Long Grove, the same downtown where the apple and strawberry festivals are held. We started out with a bottle of vino: Santa Julia Malbec.
It was amazing – and made with organic grapes, says the label.
We decided on the calamari appetizer to start. They surprised us by having either a grilled or fried option – most places I’ve been to either have one or the other, and usually it’s fried. We decided to go with the grilled and were not disappointed! Some of the best calamari I’ve ever had.
For dinner, I chose the minestrone soup…
…and a seafood risotto. This was made with arborio rice and tomato sauce. Packed with shrimp, clams, scallops and more grilled calamari, it was a definite win. Bobby even preferred it over his meat dish. Luckily, there was plenty to spare. 😉
Then came dessert – and a birthday serenade!
I made a wish and split the tiramisu with my amazing husband. It was a sweet way to end the night.
Big thanks again to Lauren for the wonderful gift!
In other weekend news, I finished Insurgent. Review to come soon, but let’s just say that I didn’t want it to end. It had just as much action and plot as Divergent, and I can’t wait for book three.
I also managed to complete my first-ever 11-mile training run today! Granted, it was a bit…unique. I started out at 11:30 a.m. knowing that storms were planning to come through at 1:00. About 45 minutes in I realized the storm had decided to come early thanks to a huge thunder clap. I decided to run home and finish my last 4.5 miles on the treadmill, but not before I got thoroughly soaked.
Though I was sopping wet, it was invigorating! I’d choose a bit of rain over hot sun and humidity on race day, that’s for sure. We’ll have to see what June 10 holds for Chicago.
How was your weekend? What did you do?
Here comes Monday!!
Abrazos,
Wow, what a weekend! Your date looks like a blast. And happy early birthday 🙂 And congrats on beating Bobby. Hmm…do you have a new book series to get me hooked on? I’m intrigued! Blasting through Outlander now…XO
Thank you, Cara! I do indeed have a new book series for you and Susan. I will have to tell you more about them next time we talk. I really can’t wait to hear what you think of Outlander, though! 🙂
What a lovely way to spend an early birthday! Happy Birthday by the way sweet girl. Hope you enjoy your birthday all week long!
Thank you, Lauren!! 🙂
What a fabulous weekend! I hope the celebrating continues all week long. Yummy dinner. The risotto looks perfect. Our weekend was good- lots of family time and we took Kay swimming
Yalls weekend sounded perfect! I enjoyed reading about the proposal.. so sweet! And your dinner looks amazing… I’d eat that right now! Happy early Birthday!
ps I can’t wait to start Divergent, we have it down the list for a book club I’ve recently joined.
Aw, thank you, Christina! And YAY for reading Divergent! I can’t wait to hear what you think of it, and hope you’ll like it enough to read Insurgent, too!
What a great birthday celebration! Happy (early) birthday!
Thank you, Emily! 🙂
Happy early birthday, Jenn! It looks like you had a really nice meal- I’ll have to recommend that restaurant to my parents since they head up that way more often than I do. And another book that I’ll have to add to my list!
Thanks, Megan! Definitely recommend it – there were a lot of great pasta dishes on the menu and you can’t go wrong with good wine!
Happy early birthday! That tiramisu looks fantastic 🙂
Also congrats on finishing your training run–I’ve never run that far at once!
Thanks, Caroline! 🙂
Nonstop action huh 🙂
Oh how I heart you. 🙂
It’s almost the 9th, Happy Birthday 🙂 The restaurant looks lovely, and now I’m craving for a seafood risotto, I’ll have to settle for a shrimp dinner to tide me over today.
Thank you!! I’m craving seafood risotto again, too. So good!
Happy early b-day. Love all the seafood on your place 😛
Thank you, Nadiya!! 🙂
Happy Birthday, Aunt Jenn! We’ll wait for Adam to give you our “official” b-day call. 🙂 The golfing and restaurant sound great…I love a good b-day restaurant outing. So does my sister, who visits The Cheesecake Factory every year for her b-day…sometimes twice in the same week…haha. Happy, happy day to you!! xoxo
Aw, I’m very excited! Thank you, Susan. 🙂 Love that your sister enjoys The Cheesecake Factory. Their brown bread and Godiva chocolate cheesecake can’t be beat!