Happy One Year to EDBH!!!!

This past week I celebrated the one year mark from when I started blogging. Looking back I can’t even believe that I decided to start my little blog Eat, Drink, and Be Hopeful over a year ago.   Now I know my blog hasn’t grown too terribly much in the past year, but it is definitely something I put my heart and soul into.  It has been an outlet for me to share recipes, ideas, and even some of my passions. I have learned so much about nutrition, ran 2 half marathons, had ankle surgery, learned so much about myself, and met so many great people along the way. Here is a look back at the past year…

Right after starting my blog I had the chance to go to Italy with Siema Imports for work. It was THE MOST amazing, life changing experience for me. I was truly meant to go on this trip because it changed how I looked at my job and myself. It was probably the most amazing thing that has happened in the past year since I started the blog, but what a great way to start off…right? Plus I met some awesome people on the trip as well. Hi Beth!!!

I trained for the Baltimore Half Marathon and ran some other races as well.

I went to NYC with my family during Christmas

And visited some awesome restaurants along with participating in a food and culture tour in China town.

I found out I had 2 fractures in my ankle and would need surgery. I was put in a boot and had to be non weight bearing for 4 months.

I went back to NYC for the Health and Nutrition Editors Showcase.

I had ankle surgery on March 18th. I had a bone removed from my ankle and had to lay in bed for 2 weeks followed by a walking boot for another month. So not fun!

I realized it was more fun to write about my running escapades than it was my ankle surgery.

I went to North Carolina to celebrate one of my best friends wedding.

And enjoyed good ‘ole southern food!

I celebrated my brothers 30th Birthday in San Diego.

And ate some incredible California fare. (Is there such a thing? None the less it was really awesome food!)

I went back to NYC (again) for the Fancy Food Show with my mom.

And got to enjoy a lovely dinner out with her as well.

And there was so much in between. Thank you so much to anyone who reads my blog. I love reading other food blogs and healthy living blogs, and I’ve really enjoyed writing this one so far. I love making videos, and I hope there is so much more to come!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I haven’t been blogging lately because I’ve been with out power 3 nights this past week, and life has been crazy as usual, but I’m making up for it in so many other ways.

Summer is such a great time to get outside, hang out with friends, enjoy delicious fresh food, and just have fun. I wish I could do more of it, but here is what I’ve been up to lately.

Dinners on the porch are my absolute favorite (if you couldn’t tell).

I made chicken breast with Robert Rothschild Farm Sweet & Spicy Bourbon BBQ sauce, green beans, and quinoa topped with roasted tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini. All with a little rose to wash it all down. From the Bandol region in France, this was the most perfect rose to have with a dinner like this.

Domaine Tempier Rose 2008.

It’s a perfect balance of fruit, acidity, herbs, and earth. It was just wonderful with the chicken and very refreshing on a hot night.

Girls Night dinner on my friends rooftop in Baltimore. This was so much fun. Food, friends, and VINO!

I made the green bean salad with raisins, sliced almonds, low fat goat cheese, olive oil, and balsamic. There was also whole wheat pasta salad with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, Asian lettuce wraps, fruit salad, veggies and dips, and Sensible Portions pita bites.

Farmers Markets in DC. I finally had a Saturday off and took advantage of the great weather by dragging Chris to Eastern Market to check out what it was all about. I was bummed we had just gone grocery shopping because everything looked so colorful and delicious. I will definitely be back.

After walking around the farmers market we had lunch at a little French Bistro called Montmartre. The food was incredible. Down. Right. Incredible.

Chris had eggs benedict with pancetta.

I ordered the panini, which was prosciutto, roasted red peppers, spinach, tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto.

It was HUGE, but that is where the boyfriend comes in handy.

And I enjoyed dinners out with friends that are in town to visit. My friend Kristen came into town and we met up at SEI in DC. This was my first time to this restaurant, and I absolutely loved it. The atmosphere was so modern and chic, and the food was really good too.

We started with the wasabi guacamole and shared sushi for dinner. We ordered the shrimp tempura, lobster tempura, spicy miso salmon, sun dried tomato, spicy tuna, and the kobe tataki.

(sorry for the awful pictures- the restaurant was very dark)

Then we headed to CoCo. Sala for a drink. Almost everything at this restaurant is made with chocolate, and the Co Cojito was recommended to us, so I gave it a try.

Hands down the best drink I’ve ever had. You wouldn’t normally think lime and chocolate would go well together, but the mix of mint and chocolate and lime was flavorful, refreshing, and decadent all at the same time.

I definitely want to come back to this place for dinner or dessert some time.

Other than that, I’ve just been enjoying simple fresh food.

Eggs over easy topped with a little mozzarella on top of organic baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, and whole wheat bread. Now that is a breakfast!

Turkey sandwich with spinach, lettuce, fresh local tomatoes, Taleggio iL Caravaggio and a shmear of Savora, which is a tarragon based French mustard, all on whole wheat bread.

Toasting the sandwich made the cheese ooze off the sides. Just the way I love it.

Tonight I’m headed to Chris’ parents house for dinner to celebrate his birthday. Can’t wait!

Thank you again so much for reading the blog. I hope you continue to enjoy it, as I continue to write it. Have a GREAT rest of your weekend and start to the new week!!!!

Tagged as: co co. sala, Domaine Tempier Rose 2008, Eastern Market, eggs, farmers market, girls night, green bean salad, Montmartre, one year, sandwich, Sei