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Weekend Wrap-Up at Home (Treat Yourself Tuesday)

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When I typed out the title to this post, I realized how interesting it is that I choose to label Iowa as “home.”  I have lived in Nebraska for over two years now, yet I still cannot get used to Omaha being “home.”  Maybe I will always call my hometown “home?”  Or maybe there is a certain amount of time that I need to live somewhere else before it becomes my “home?”  Does anyone else have similar thoughts?

Regardless of whether or not Omaha is “home,” I will always feel at home in Iowa.  I think maybe it is the people who make the home.  Since my parents, puppy dogs, and boyfriend are all back in Iowa, my heart still has a big piece there.  As you can imagine, my heart was so full and happy to be in Iowa this past weekend.  It was one big treat of a weekend!

treat yourself tuesdayI’m linking up with Becky from Olives ‘n Wine for Treat Yourself Tuesday!

Weekend Wrap-Up at Home (Treat Yourself Tuesday)weekend homeMy weekend home began on Friday evening.  I left work early in the afternoon, and arrived home at 6:00.  After a five-hour drive, I did not feel like cooking at all.  As a result, I whipped up some Annie’s white cheddar mac & cheese.  I threw in some frozen peas and corn to bulk it up a bit.  I think Jeremy was pleasantly surprised by just how delicious veggies can taste in mac and cheese.  Hopefully I have him hooked!

weekend home 2It would not be a weekend with Jeremy without trying out some new beer.  We both really enjoy sours, so we were excited to try Serendipity from New Glarus Brewing Co.  We both thought it tasted nothing like what we expected!  It was a bit sweeter than we thought it would be, but still had that perfect sour flavor.  I think both Jeremy and I really hope to visit New Glarus one of these days soon!

weekend home 3On Saturday, Jeremy and I made the 90 minute drive up to Iowa City.  There was a restaurant we had been dying to try, so we figured why not!

Before lunch, we stopped by John’s Grocery.  They have an awesome beer selection, so we picked up a food new ones to try.  It really is a staple location for anyone in the Iowa City area who enjoys craft beer.

weekend home 5After our quick pit stop, lunch time rolled around.  We stopped by 30hop in Coralville for a drink and delicious food.  I wanted to step outside of my vegetarian box, so instead of ordering the veggie burger (which I’m sure is amazing), I ordered the crab cakes.  They were delicious, but I have to admit that I am still not used to ordering seafood from restaurants.  Silly me for thinking that I would get more than two crab cakes for $10.  I suppose I should have known better!

weekend home 6Luckily, I had plenty of delicious sweet potato fries to fill me up.  These were delicious!  I also snagged a few of Jeremy’s regular french fries, which were equally tasty.

weekend home 4Can you find us?

And of course… the beer!  I ordered a Deschutes Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale.  It was deeelicious!  I wish that Jeremy and I could have stayed at 30hop all day and had a designated driver to chauffeur us around.  They had 60 beers on tap that we would have loved to try more of.  I am excited to go back during the warmer weather to enjoy their rooftop deck.

weekend home 7Saturday evening was pretty chill, as was Sunday… just how I like ’em to be!  Jeremy and I hung out with my parents and puppy dogs.  I did some afternoon blog work while he watched the Iowa game.  We may or may not have enjoyed a brewskie on the side.  I swear, we do not normally drink this much!  I picked out this IPA from Evil Twin Brewing while at John’s the previous day.  I have to admit that I partially chose it because of its name.  Jeremy and I always joke that I am a bit of a “hipster” at heart 😉

weekend home 8We ended our Sunday evening with homemade personal pizzas.  Normally, we would order Pizza Hut.  But I decided it would be more fun, healthier, and just as delicious to whip up our own.  Jeremy (his is on the right) may have loaded his up a little too much!

weekend home 9Here is a look at the veggie goodness up close.  It was so delicious!  I ate every last bite and was so stuffed.  Oh, and I will never go back to using shredded cheese now that I have made pizza with sliced fresh mozzarella.  It definitely made the pizza.

A weekend home, delicious food and drinks, and quality time with the people (and puppies) I love.  What more could a girl ask for?  This past weekend truly was a treat!

How have you treated yourself lately?
Where do you call “home?”

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{ 36 comments… add one }
  • Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies February 10, 2015, 6:34 am
    I used to go back and forth with accidentally calling my parent's house home, but once I had more than one kitty (and couldn't easily cart my fur babies back and forth anymore) my house because my home. My parent's still ask if I'm coming "home" to mean their house, so I always have to tease them about it. Maybe you just need to get a fur baby of your own and then Omaha will seem more like home ;) Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies recently posted...Cheesy “Chicken” Ranch CasseroleMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 8:39 am
      That 100% makes sense! I have been thinking about getting a dog for awhile now, but then I always think about how expensive they are ;) Plus, Jeremy is hoping to move out here soon and he has a dog. Two dogs might be a bit too much in my apartment!
  • Joanna @Makingmine February 10, 2015, 6:53 am
    I think my dad was disappointed I didn't go to U of I solely for the reason he wouldn't have an excuse to go to John's Grocery when he visited me at college haha ;) Looks like a really fun weekend! I bet Jeremy is getting excited for Beer Fest in a couple of weeks! Joanna @Makingmine recently posted...3 unexpected benefits of prenatal fitnessMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 8:40 am
      Haha!! That is too funny! I am glad to hear that he knows all about John's. It definitely seems like his kind of place. And yes... we are both quite excited! He bought the tickets last night and I just need to pick them up. It'll be here before we know it!
  • Lish February 10, 2015, 7:57 am
    Those pizzas look amazing...I love making pizza at home! Lish recently posted...I’m back!My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 8:41 am
      I do not make it at home near as often as I should. It is SO good and SO simple to make, too! I need to make it a monthly thing ;)
  • meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles February 10, 2015, 8:19 am
    It took me a really long time to stop calling where I grew up "home" and change it to "my parent's house". It took years. seriously. I got married at 23 and that was when I first moved out. I think we owned our own home before my parent's house wasn't "home" to me lol. meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted...I Joined The Gym – Now What?My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 8:42 am
      Haha, well maybe that will be the key for me! I might actually need to have a mortage in order for me to start calling where I live "home" ;)
  • Kate B February 10, 2015, 8:33 am
    Seafood is pricey at restaurants, but it is so good! I take little bites to stretch it out. Salmon is definitely my favorite. Kate B recently posted...Modesty- A heart issue.My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 8:43 am
      I was definitely taking super tiny bites of my crab cakes. I wanted them to last forever!!
  • Miranda @ Miranda Writes Blog February 10, 2015, 9:06 am
    I feel like we are beer soul mates! I'm going to have to try to find that Serendipity one. Yum! Miranda @ Miranda Writes Blog recently posted...Big Red BagMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 11:57 am
      Haha, I think so too!!! It's fun to keep one another up on the "good" ones ;)
  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul February 10, 2015, 9:19 am
    Ohh I want that mac and cheese and pizza!! You made me hungry at 9am. haha Thanks Hannah!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 12:00 pm
      There is nothing wrong with eating pizza for breakfast, right? ;)
  • jess meddows February 10, 2015, 9:29 am
    You know, I think you always call your hometown 'home'. I haven't lived in Australia for three years, or with my family for 12 years, and I still call my parents place home. Funnily still, I never even lived in that house they're in and I call it home!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 12:01 pm
      Haha! Now that is extra funny!! I definitely think the people/animals make the home!
  • Jamie | Jamie's Recipes February 10, 2015, 10:37 am
    I still call my childhood house "home." I think it is just out of habit. I left for college in 2001 so you would think I would be past that stage. My in-laws place is "home" too. I think if our parents had moved to different places after we left home it would be easier to refer to those places as "mom & dad's". We refer to Omaha as our Homaha to clear up any confusion. Haha. Jamie | Jamie's Recipes recently posted...Chocolate Layer Cake with Whipped Chocolate FrostingMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 12:04 pm
      Baha!! I love that phrase. I'm going to have to start referring to it as "Homaha" too ;)
  • Katie @ Daily Cup of Kate February 10, 2015, 11:51 am
    New Glarus brewery is great! They just completed an expansion with a beautiful outdoor area so try to go during the warmer months!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 12:06 pm
      Ahh, thanks for the heads up! That sounds like heaven. We will have to make a Summer trip to WI. You always talk about such great breweries and places for craft beer, so I'm sure we would really enjoy it!
  • Dana | fresh simple five February 10, 2015, 12:34 pm
    Sometimes you just can't beat Annies! I'm so happy you liked Serendipity!! I highly recommend visiting the New Glarus brewery -- it's amazing. It's only about a 1/2 hour drive from Madison too which has some great breweries and the best Farmers Market. If you do head out that way, I'd be more than happy to suggest places to go if need be. I went to college in Madison. :) Dana | fresh simple five recently posted...Scenes from a Snow DayMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 1:29 pm
      Ahh, how perfect!! Thanks Dana :) I'll be keeping you in mind!
  • Earl-Leigh February 10, 2015, 12:45 pm
    Haha! He wanted to use the entire fridge to make his pizza! It pains me to order crab cakes. I know that they almost always taste incredible, but they're so tiny. You just have to savor every bite LOL. Earl-Leigh recently posted...Healthy Almond & Oat Applesauce MuffinsMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 1:41 pm
      Honestly, that's what it looks like doesn't it?? ;) I totally get what you are saying about savoring every bite. That is exactly what I did. Unfortunately, they did not last as long as I would have hoped ;)
  • Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks February 10, 2015, 1:13 pm
    I treated myself to a massage on Sunday..definitely one of my favorite indulgences. Also - I love adding peas to Annie's Mac N Cheese!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 1:30 pm
      That is so awesome, Dani. That is something that I only get around to doing about once per year (if I'm lucky). I should treat myself more often to that, especially since my body always aches! :(
  • Becky @ Olives n Wine February 10, 2015, 2:38 pm
    Oh my gosh, all of that food (and BEER <-- jealous!) looks amazing. And yes, seafood can get pricey when you eat out at restaurants but it is typically always prepared the best there. Go figure, right?! Haha. I think I still call Iowa home too, mainly because it is where I grew up. And I've lived about a bajillion places in the past few years so it's hard to know where home really is :) Becky @ Olives n Wine recently posted...#74 Treat Yourself TuesdayMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 6:52 pm
      That definitely has to be difficult since you have made several times over the past years. It's a good thing that Iowa is a great place to call home!
  • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine February 10, 2015, 3:50 pm
    You will always call your home, home ;) I will ALWAYS call my home in NJ home! ALWAYS!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 7:17 pm
      There is just nothing quite like your HOME home, right? :)
  • Emily @ More Than Just Dessert February 10, 2015, 7:28 pm
    I love new glarus AND john's grocery! next time you should try moon man or fat squirrel from new glarus...a little different than the common spotted cow! Emily @ More Than Just Dessert recently posted...27 thoughts on my 27th birthdayMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 10, 2015, 8:45 pm
      Thanks for the recommendations, Emily!! I trust your judgment. I know you wouldn't lead me astray ;)
  • Alex Caspero MA,RD (@delishknowledge) February 11, 2015, 7:04 pm
    ha! i've lived in California for over 8 years and I still call Virginia home! My husband always reminds me that it's my "mom and dads" house- not home : ) Your pizza looks so good! I need to do a homemade pizza night soon! Alex Caspero MA,RD (@delishknowledge) recently posted...Monthy Foods FindsMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 11, 2015, 9:53 pm
      I think there are just those places in our minds that will always be "home" no matter how long we live away from them! I'm convinced it is the people who make the home :) And yes... homemade pizza night is a must! It had been forever since I had one, and now I am wondering why in the heck I waited so long.
  • Jenny @ apples & kale February 18, 2015, 7:52 am
    I know exactly what you mean, except I'm the opposite...I call everywhere "home!" Pittsburgh is home because I live here now, Omaha is home because I lived there the longest (10 years during late HS + college), and New Hampshire is home because my extended family is there and that's where I'm "from!" Haha! So maybe Omaha will be a "home" for you soon! :) Jenny @ apples & kale recently posted...DIY 3 Day Juice CleanseMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 19, 2015, 1:23 pm
      Haha, too funny!! I like the idea of that, though. I can certainly have more than one "home!"
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