Whew! What an exhausting weekend!! I mean that in a good way, of course.
Things were pretty quiet here last week, and ever since we put our house on the market, Greg and I have just been kind of sitting and waiting for potential buyers to come check it out. As predicted, we didn’t have anyone come look at the house until the weekend (well, technically until Thursday). And then things were a little less calm and quiet. Since we can’t (well, we can technically, but shouldn’t) be home when people come to look at the house, we have to be prepared to leave any time we get a phone call saying that someone is coming over. People came on Friday evening, so we took the dogs into Greg’s car and drove over to my dad’s and back.
On Saturday, a number of people had scheduled appointments between the late morning and early afternoon, so Greg and I decided to take the dogs out for a few hours. They really need baths, so off the to dog wash we went!
As you can see, Lance was really excited to get washed. That is, until he realized that meant getting in the tub and getting wet! Jackson was also thrilled.
I wish someone would wash my hair and pamper me like that!
The boys were trying to communicate over the wall while we were trying to dry them off. To them, there’s nothing scarier in the world that the blow-dryer!
Aren’t they goofballs? At least they’re clean goofballs now. 
After the dog wash, Greg and I took the dogs for a walk around downtown Frederick. It was a little chilly, so we grabbed some coffee to help warm up a little bit. People had scheduled appointments at our house until 2:00, so couldn’t go back home until after that. I actually had plans that started at 2:00, which I was really excited about!
I was invited to do a sneak-preview of Frederick Restaurant Week along with 14 other local celebrities bloggers and various foodies of Frederick. The actual restaurant week is March 4-10. During that week, a number of Frederick’s most delicious restaurants will offer two and three-course lunch and dinner menus for a set (low) price. Frederick has been offering a restaurant week for four years now, and I have enjoyed some really great meals each year. Of course, I jumped at the chance to be a part of the preview!
The other participants were really wonderful, and I got to meet some great new friends, including my Instagram buddy Sando (who has a gorgeous blog!):
Another new friend and Fitfluential Ambassador, Jen was in attendance as well! My good friends Kelly and Gretchen (who are both published authors and have extraordinary taste in food!) were also there, and now they are new friends too.
It’s amazing how much we can all bond over food!
(Photo courtesy of Michelle Kershner)
I will be going into much more detail about the entire preview and the food that I got to sample at each restaurant a little closer to the date of restaurant week, but here’s a sneak peek:
We were split up into 3 different groups of five, and each group went to three different participating restaurants. My group went to Lunchbox, The Orchard and Firestone’s. We were given a few different dishes to sample, and let me tell you- it was hard to remember to just take a few bites of each (so that we would actually be able to try everything!). At the end we all met back up at Ayse for a few last bites and to compare notes. It was such a fun day, and I can’t wait to share more details about the food with you all!
I should also mention- I’ll be doing a pretty amazing giveaway for a gift card that can be used at a number of the participating restaurants for restaurant week… so stay tuned.
Greg picked me up early in the evening when the event was over to go to a friend’s birthday party, which was a lot of fun! But, by the time we finally got back home that night, I pretty much fell right into bed!
Sunday, of course, began with teaching Spinning class and then I enjoyed an hour or two of lazy time afterwards. We didn’t have any showings scheduled, but made every effort to keep the house as spotlessly clean as possible anyway. And it’s a good thing we did! When I was about 2 minutes away from my house (with a car full of groceries) I got a call from Greg (who was out running errands) that our realtor would be at our house in 10 minutes with some potential buyers. I rushed home, unpacked 6 bags of groceries at lightening speed, grabbed one of the dogs, and went for a nice, long walk. As hectic as it is to have to leave the house at any time, it’s a good thing. We want this baby to sell!
Here’s to another busy week ahead… and my last day of being 32!
Don’t forget- go enter for your chance to win some goodies from NuNaturals!
How was your weekend? Does your city participate in restaurant week?
I seriously can’t handle how adorable your dogs are. Wishing we were so much closer so we could have a Golden Retrievers meet up!
Cleveland Restaurant Week is at the end of this month… I have to do my research to see where to go this year!
Umm, yes to Golden Retriever meet up!
We need to pick a central location and all just drive there. Or, you can all just come to my house in Colorado after I move!
Your dogs are too cute! It looks like they’re smiling in most all your pictures.
Sounds like a good weekend!
They smile all the time- it’s freaky sometimes! They have such big personalities.
My friend’s daughter’s name is Ayse. I’ll have to tell her about that restaurant (she’s also from Bethesda, but lives in ATL like me). Is it pronounced like eye-sha?
Sounds like fun. Atlanta has a bunch of different restaurant weeks for different neighborhoods.
Yes! You’re right! I didn’t know how to pronounce it at first, but now they wear shirts that actually say “eye-sha” below “Ayse!” It’s SUCH a great restaurant.
By the way, you have amazingly beautiful blue eyes!! They totally stood out in a couple of those pictures. Sounds like a fun weekend.
You are so sweet! Thank you!
Awwaaa they are so sweet getting their baths!!!!! I love it!
looks like a fun weekend!
dog wash? that’s brilliant. I’m weird and just throw barney in the shower with me because I’m going to get soaking wet washing him ANYWAY, so why not? plus, he’s like 10 lbs. But a blow drying area would be nice. He hates the blow dryer!
I would definitely bring my guys into the shower if I could! I think Greg tried that once, and it was a disaster.
I am SO glad I got to participate in this awesome sneak peek event (seriously, my taste buds are still thanking me) and I can’t wait to read your detailed review. I plan on posting about it tomorrow — YOUR BIRTHDAY!!
<3 <3 <3
I’m so glad you came! And your review was perfect. I might just have to cut and paste it…
What a fun weekend!! And seriously, your dogs are just the cutest EVER!
Wait. There are actually places where you take your dogs and wash them. Like cars? Those exist? Wow.
Also, I am super jealous of your restaurant week preview. I was so out of it here I didn’t even know Charlottesville’s winter restaurant week was happening until it was practically over. Oh well.
I should have been more up on my game and tried to do something with the Virginia Bloggers, but such is life.
Sending good House Hunter vibes your way!!!
YES! The dog wash rules! I love it. Cville definitely has some good restaurants, but Frederick has the edge. There are SO many great ones, it’s hard to choose where to go!
I freaking love Lance.
Oh my gosh, I’m so excited for you. What a great weekend for the house (although I wish I could say the same for ours.) That’s SO awesome. Aren’t the “oh crap we have to get out of here” moments great, though? lol We went out to eat a few more times than planned, and one time Shane even just drove the car down the street and parked it like a creeper LOL
Just wait til you meet Lance. He’s a big, dopey teddy bear. And he LOVES the outdoors. He’ll be in heaven if he sees a prarie dog!
I have a feeling that we might just drive down the street one night too. It’s a pain to have to figure out where to go! We have people coming tonight from 6:30 to 7:30, and I get done teaching Bodypump at 6:30. We’re just going to meet up for Pho.
Oh what a fun weekend!!
Your dogs are sooo cute!
YAY — this weekend was a blast!
What a fun weekend! I hope your house sells! I will be in DC this fall. I wish you would be around.
At least I get to see you in May!!
When are you going to be in town? I’ll be coming back in early November for my stepsister’s wedding. And maybe in August if we get a new tenant in our townhouse and need to fix things up. And yes- I’ll see you in May regardless!
How would a local blogger like myself get involved in something like restaurant week? I am so close to Frederick too! Looks like fun!!! Good luck selling your house!!
[...] relaxed for a bit until it was time to head back out. I had dinner plans with Kelly and Gretchen (two weekends in a row!) and their significant others. We decided to head out a little early to hit up the winter sale at [...]
[...] A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to sample some of the menu offerings from several restaurants that are participating in Frederick Restaurant Week. The afternoon began at the visitor’s center, where samplings from The Red Horse and Alexander’s were offered. [...]