NU Gals Strike Again! At the Driskill Hotel

It’s hard to believe at this time last week, I was just starting my five-day escape to Texas. The trip was everything I hoped it would be: good times with good friends from different parts of my life. The fact that I got to enjoy some much-needed 70-degree sunshine for a few days was an extra bonus!

Here are a few of my favorite things from my trip to Texas (in no particular order):

Austin:

• The three-cheese Texas toast grilled cheese at 24 Diner.
• Blueberry pancakes at Kerby Lane Cafe.
• Celebrating National Margarita Day at the Hula Hut and Chuy’s.
• A simply fabulous dinner at the Driskill Grill.
• Tabata training in the Westin’s fitness center to counter some of the calories ingested in the highlights above.
• Countless laughs with my Northwestern gal pals Tracy, Molly, Evva, Lisa, Jessica and Irene! (Laughing doesn’t burn nearly as many calories as my typical workouts, but it certainly felt good!)

Lunch with Jeanne Marie at Red Hot & Blue

Dallas:

• The “Five Meat Treat” at Red Hot & Blue BBQ.
• “Bleeding Heart” margaritas and Baja fish tacos at Ochos.
• Sipping pre-Oscar Prosecco with my lifelong friend Jeanne Marie while her husband (and bona fide “Grill Master”) Paul fired up a delicious steak dinner.
• Getting to know their four-month-old baby Charlotte!
• Watching the end of the Oscars while sipping red wine and sitting in their hot tub.
• Rolling out of bed and burning some calories from the above-mentioned highlights in their home gym.

By now, you’ve probably noticed a common theme in my vacation-related posts: Laura loves to eat and drink! This is why I always pack the workout wear and get in a couple of calorie-busting sessions wherever I go.

However, along with the moisture-wicking gear, I also work hard at letting my vacation mindset take over when I arrive at my destination. That means realizing the opportunities for these special get-togethers don’t come around as often as we’d like and since we enjoy catching up over fun food and cocktails, it’s definitely not the time to obsess over counting calories!

After a little bit of decadence, I actually look forward to getting back on track with my normal healthy eating habits and kicking it up a notch at the gym. On that note, I encourage everyone to enjoy whatever memorable moments present themselves in the weekend ahead. Life’s simply too short not to embrace all that you love in this world. If that includes chocolate and red wine,  dig in, sip and enjoy and remember, even indulgences have a place in our ongoing journey to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!