This past weekend was the last official weekend of our summer! Enter mixed emotion emoji here. Sophia was off and on with her excitement all weekend. It went between "I can't wait for school!" and "Why is summer over?!" I was the same way.
We didn't have much stuff planned this weekend, because I thought a good weekend of little to no plans was needed before "the big day".
Saturday we attended a live Insanity class at the gym. Angelo & I did the Insanity program back in 2012, after I had Sophia. I 100% believe in it and 100% think it's the hardest workout program ever. I wish I would of taken a video of this class. Everyone was drenched in sweat, the room was a hot mess, and the windows were completely fogged up. Excellent.
The instructor was a fellow Tampa Bay Blogger, Katrina Elle. During the class I kept thinking about how familiar she looked, then it hit me when she said her name was Katrina! What a small world.
Saturday afternoon we had a birthday party for one of Sophia's friends at a bounce house place in town. The girls, and Angelo, had a blast sliding down the huge slides, running through the blow up obstacle course, and trying the hurricane simulator. Basically a Bonnaroo for Kids in there.
The past two Sundays after church we've been picking out a new restaurant to try, and we've decided this needs to be a weekly occurrence.
As you know, we love trying new foods and restaurants!
This week's foodie adventure was The Stein & Vine in Brandon, Fl.
It's a tiny place in a Big Lots plaza. From Bloomingdale Ave, you can only see the big red "PUB" sign and the place doesn't look very family friendly. I kept telling Angelo we needed to take a date night there, but as you may know, those are few and far inbetween.
After talking to a friend about it the other day, she told me it's definitely kid-friendly, especially during the day. They open at noon daily, so I thought it'd be a perfect place to go to after church with the family.
After ordering some beers (their local, craft beer selection is pages long), we ordered the Tater Tots appetizer, all the way. All the way in Stein & Vine terms means tater tots topped with chili, cheese, onions, bacon, and a fried egg, with sour cream for dipping. My girl's had never seen a tater tot before and were reluctant to try them. They ended up liking them, but only the plain ones that hadn't been touched by the chili yet. (Sophia is in this food stage where all her foods must be separate, not touching each other at all.)
Angelo & I were quite the opposite and went to town! I think an egg just about goes on top of anything right now!
Angelo ordered the Double Funk Bomber burger which is stuffed with an aged gorgonzola & Bleu cheese blend, topped with onion rings and a mustard aioli.
I trusted them, and I was VERY surprised! From the picture it looks like a regular bacon cheeseburger, but once I cut it in half, the creamy peanut butter oozed out and things got real.
I mean, does that sound appetizing to you? Have you ever eaten peanut butter on a hamburger before?! No people...it's not normal! But it was bizarrely tempting and pleasant!
I was told this isn't always on the menu, since their menu changes daily, so if it's on the menu when you visit The Stein & Vine, I suggest you give your taste buds the pleasure. You owe it to them on the weekend...right? ;)
The rumors were true. The Stein & Vine is a must-go-to place in Brandon and I'm so glad it's there! Brandon needs more places like this, and I believe they are slowly growing around town. The Stein & Vine can definitely hang with the big boys...I'm looking at you South Tampa & Seminole Heights.
The rest of Sunday was spent in our bathing suits because that's what you do when you eat enough for one day in one sitting.
This morning Nelps & I dropped Sophia off for her first day of VPK!
Why does time go by so fast?! She was so ready and I'm so proud of the little lady she has become.
She walked in her class, wrote her name down on the sign in sheet (WHAT?!) and told me she'd miss me. ;)
For the rest of the day I'll be XOXO
Join the conversation:
Did you try any new restaurants this weekend?
Have you ever judged a restaurant by it's outside appearance?
Looks like a blast & very yummy weekend! My husband and I used to road trip for work across the USA and often stopped on a whim. Some of our best finds were based on the outside (or the yummy smell)
ReplyDeleteI know right, the hole in the wall places always seem to be the best!
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