When the last day of the month and Friday coincides, why not put the Friday Goods and my January roundup together?
Everyone seems to agree that January has felt like quite the long month. I think so too but I welcome this change of pace from feeling like we're peeling the calendar months away so quickly. Long live longer feeling months!
Part of it had to do with some well-placed days off. I had a four-day weekend in the middle with a paid time off day and MLK Day bookending one weekend. I went to Charlotte as I showed off in last week's Friday Goods. It was a much needed respite from existing as a person with multiple job responsibilities. That time also reaffirmed my decision to refocus my career goals this year and stop scattering myself in a million different places. It hasn't done me any favors, nor will it in the near future.
January Recipes
I've been really inspired lately and have been cooking up a storm. Here's everything I shared this month:
Tomatoes and Spinach Over Pearl Barley
Vegetarian Beyond Beef Mapo Tofu
Frozen Stir Fry Vegetables with Peanut Sauce
Trader Joe’s Kale Gnocchi in a Garlic Walnut Sauce
Baked Pimento Cheese Dip with a Goldfish Cracker Crust
One thing I've been pumped about this month is really feeling and noticing the sun staying up later into the evening. Sure, sunset is still before 6 p.m. for another week or so, but every extra minute of sunlight makes the whole day better. And nothing is better than these amazing winter sunsets that we've been seeing lately. Actually that's not true, one thing is better and that's the relatively mild winter temps we've enjoyed so far in South Carolina. There have been a few really rainy days and a few bitterly cold ones, but for the most part it's been an alright winter. I better go knock on wood now...
Around Columbia
This is the newest, not officially opened, portion of the Columbia Riverwalk system. It's amazing and I didn't even traverse half of it. Meatloaf and I went for a walk there and we went off roading and right here is a view from the middle of the river. When the water isn't high there are lots of rock outcroppings you can walk on and be truly in the middle of the riverbed. It's such a cool experience, and once it officially opens it's going to be crawling with humanity so I am going as much as possible before that happens!
We haven't been doing Dry January in this house, that's for sure. Between my research for a Drink of the Week for one of my freelancing gigs, trying out the new brunch at Steel Hands Brewing, and hitting up the new/only craft beer bar and retailer on this side of the river, Weco Biergarten, there's been plenty to drink. It's nice to have this side of town finally coming to life with a lot of great new businesses.
And finally, I did a very rare thing and went to a live concert! Alan Jackson was in town for one night and I had never seen him in concert, despite wearing out Alan Jackson tapes on my Walkman when I was a kid. My friend Jessica got us some really great seats and we had a great time!
The Colonial Life Arena has a clear bag policy now, or you can take really tiny ones. I opted for pure fashion, of course. Yes, a Campbell's soup clutch, designed and produced by Coach, of all things. It's real! My wonderful mother in law got this for me at a Coach outlet because we have a long standing tomato soup gift war. I'd explain it but it's something that only Blakes can find funny at this point!
I have marinated manchego on the mind after enjoying some at Gervais & Vine.
Have you looked into maca?
Omg cosmic brownies are my go to from the snack shack at my office. Let's all make a batch.