Heyyyyyyy there, friends!
Well, first and foremost, thank you for your major congrats on yesterday’s announcement vlog. I’ve been itching to tell you all for a few days now, so it was quite a relief to be able to share the news.
So YES! I am going to be transitioning into a full-time personal trainer at a local gym in my area. I’m still going to finish up my last two weeks at the salon, but I’ve also been squeezing in some hours to do some shadowing at the gym, too. Like yesterday morning, for example, I was up at 4:30am to be there to shadow at 5am. Caraaaaazy!
Needless to say (since I already said it yesterday) I am SUPER excited (and a little bit nervous) to get started. Ahhhhh!!
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Last Night’s Dinner
I’m really starting to think that one of my favorite things about celebrating is for the excuse to toast with champagne. Hehe…
Last night, we had our friends Sarah & Jeff over for dinner, who brought a bottle of champagne with them so we could toast to my new job. I knew I liked those two for a reason!
We drank our bubbly as I filled them in on the details of the job and waited for dinner to finish cooking in the oven. Speaking of dinner, it was a pretty awesome one.
I made a big, fresh tossed salad and paired it with a recipe that I’ve had in my recipe binder forever for Italian Baked Chicken & Pastina.
I only altered the recipe slightly, using a little less EVOO, a little extra chicken, and I also added in some spinach. It was super quick and easy to make – I’d highly recommend it if you’re planning on entertaining for four people.
Yum.
After dinner, we sat and chatted for another couple hours, which included some pretty deep and interesting conversations (right, guys?). We also realized that the last time they were at our house was probably for our St. Patty’s Day party. I can’t believe it’d been that long! We made a pact to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
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Breakfast
Alright guys. We’re on to day 3 of new breakfast ideas.
Any guesses which one I went with today…?
Apple and Cheddar Tartine!
Guys, I am seriously hitting the jackpot with these breakfast ideas. Today’s selection was definitely on point. My only substitutions today were using a whole wheat English muffin in place of the baguette, and only one slice of cheese (which was plenty). But other than that, everything else stayed as-is.
On the side, I had the rest of my apple, since I hate it when I save apples and they turn browner than brown in about two seconds.
But really, today’s breakfast may have moved to #1 on the list so far. It incorporated my beloved sweets at breakfast (with the apple butter and the apple slices) with the melty, gooeyness of the cheese.
I really think you need to try this, like, today. Okay okay, you can wait until tomorrow.
Time to head to work…long day ahead of me today!
Question for the Morning:
What are some of your favorite ways to celebrate a big thing for you?
Apple and Cheddar Tartine – YAY or NAY for your breakfast?
Andrea @ Andrea Out Loud! says
I love to celebrate with friends too! And a champagne toast is always nice ;)
Sadly I am allergic to raw apples but I am not sure if it would be something I would like, I’d have to talk myself into trying it for sure – I was like that with egg and jelly sandwiches…it took a while for me to try them but now I am in love!
Sylvia @ Frolic Through Life says
Congrats on the new job! There is no better way than to celebrate with good food, good friends and, of course, some bubbly! I usually celebrate events in the same way. Any excuse for champagne is a good one, right? ;)
I really like eating apples and cheddar cheese as a snack, but I never thought to melt the cheese over the top. Looks good!
Courtney says
You betcha! ;)
Nicole says
I am definitely going to be adding that pasta dish AND that breakfast into my life! Can’t wait to try them, they both sound SO good!!
Mallory @ Have your cake says
love apples/cheese combo! i bet it would be great with pear, too!
Jessica @ BEBT says
Oh, yay! So excited to see that you tried this! I bet it was great with that English muffin. I’m gonna go get the stuff at the grocery store today so maybe I can have it tomorrow or this weekend! And congrats, congrats, congrats on the new job! :) I’m excited to hear more about it!
Courtney says
YES! You definitely need to try it…AMAZING!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life says
For big events, I love going out to dinner with my husband. As simple as it sounds, there’s nothing like having a date night where it’s only the two of us and we order a glass of wine and toast to our life and accomplishments for our little family. I absolutely love dipping apples into cheese at fondue restaurants, so I am thinking I might really like your breakfast today! I agree with you, a perfect salty/sweet balance!
Khushboo says
I’m honestly SO happy for you..you are going to be an amazing trainer! And everything is in this post is mouthwatering…could the cheddar & apple combo be the new peanut butter & apple?
Courtney says
Ooooo, I don’t know…it would definitely give it a run for its money! ;)
Jodi @ Southern Flavored Life says
I am really, incredibly scared of apples and cheese. I know, I’m a baby… :-(
So glad you had a wonderful celebratory dinner in honor of your new job. I know you’ll do great, since you are so passionate about health and fitness!
Courtney says
Ohhhhhh, no no no, don’t be scared!! Give it a try! :)
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health says
Congrats again Courtney!! That breakfast looks absolutely amazing! I wouldn’t normally think of combining apples and cheese, but it really does look tasty :D. I love celebrating with wine and loved ones!
Molly says
apples and cheese seems like the strangest combo but it is so good! why is it so amazing??!
Lindsey says
Since we don’t eat out too often, we will usually go out for supper to celebrate! SO its always a treat :)
I think that breaky looks so good, going to check it out for a future breakfast for sure.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
I make those for lunch all the time. I love the combo of apples and cheese! I didn’t get to comment yesterday so I’ll say it today, Congrats!!!
chelcie @ chelcie's food files says
celebrating with a champagne toast is definitely my favorite way to celebrate! Congrats again on your job!
Lynn says
Yay! Yay! Congrats!! That’s very exciting and a direction that I hope to head in soon myself :)
And thanks for the share on those recipes, I’m actually going to borrow both of them! I’m having a get together that I think that chicken pasta would be perfect for, and then that breakfast looks good and like a change from the norm for me. I wonder how satisfying it will be as the morning wears on since it’s missing a protein? Looks SO yummy though!
Courtney says
Yup…it was delicious, but I was hungry about 2 hours later!
Shannon says
1. I usually just do a little happy day inside. If it’s something major, then it’s time to go out to eat with the family. :)
2. I am such a picky eater but I may try that Apple Cheddar Tartine!
Shannon says
*day was supposed to be dance
Clare @ Fitting It All In says
1 – I never said congrats yesterday. SO EXCITING!! I more and more am thinking I want to get certified!
2. LOVE the sweet salty combo. I love doing raw tempeh with swiss cheese and jam on an english muffin. Great lunch!
Colleen @ Jimmy Choos on the Treadmill says
Just saw your big news–ongratulations! I just started a new internship (that I’m loving so far), so I know how exciting it is to be finally doing something that you want to do!
Brandi @ Faith Fitness and Laughter says
When I celebrate, I have to have my family around me. The next would be close friends and my church family.
This breakfast is definitely a Yay as well! It looks really good! :)
I didn’t get to tell you congrats for your new job!! So, CONGRATS!! I know that you will do great. I am so excited for you! ;)
Lena @Fit on the Rocks says
I love celebrating with drinks, too! Since you love champagne and sweets, I highly recommend you try to track down a bottle of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur! They have a ton of drink recipes online, but my fave is simply mixed with champagne. It’s a bit pricey for a bottle, but soooooo worth it!
Courtney says
Oh wow. I’m definitely going to have to look for that. You’ve mentioned that before, haven’t you? It sounds familiar!
Lena @Fit on the Rocks says
LOL I might have. I’m slightly obsessed and order any drink that has it :P
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Congrats! You worked hard and I’m glad you are doing some you have so much passion for.
My favorite way to celebrate it out with Hunni first. It’s great to share good news with him and a nice evening out of the house.
Lauren @ Chocolate, Cheese and Wine says
Apples and cheese? Sounds amazing. I really like apple butter so that is a winner in my book :)
Ashlee says
Congrats! That is exciting!
That dinner looks delicious :) Glad you had a chance to celebrate. What candle is burning on the table? I am still burning some Chrsitmas scents…
Courtney says
Cherries on Snow!
Kathryn says
I like to celebrate different ways, sometimes a bottle of wine, sometimes a dinner at a favorite restaurant.
As for the breakfast, I’m not a big fan of cheese, anyway, and I have a really hard time adding it to breakfast, so I couldn’t do that. If I could find something else besides cheese, I’d probably try it, or maybe just leave the cheese out.
Tara Burner says
I don’t have anyone to celebrate anything with so….
and Congrats to you!!! sooo psyched for you
Melissa says
100% on board for that breakfast!!! Sign me up!
Miranda @ Miranda's Munchies says
Congrats! I watched your vlog yesterday, but I never commented :s
Champagne always makes a celebration a little more special! I’m definitely on the celebration band wagon… I love hearing of people’s good fortune! And I like it even more if we can celebrate it! Sometimes a little effort goes a long way :)
Becky @ Fit Chick on the Fly says
Congrats on the big news, I’m so happy for you :) Best wishes on this new adventure in your life! I love fun excuses to pop open a bottle of the bubbly stuff~!
Ruthie Hart says
I just went over to the food network recipe and pinned it! LOOKS DELISH!!
Jenny@HealthyMOChick says
This looks amazing! Congrats again :)
Kim @ The Family Practice says
I love apples and cheese! Surprising I have never thought to toast it up for breakfast. Yum!
Lexie @ This Aussie Eats says
Congrats! That is definitely something to toast to!
And that breakfast recipe looks amazing, I had never thought of combining those ingredients for breakfast. Looking at those pics has made me seriously hungry for lunch :-)
erica says
i like to celebrate by buying myself a little celebratory gift. ;p champagne is always good too!
your dinner looks delicious! i’m going to have to try that!
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake says
I made that same Food Network recipe like two years ago… funny!
Apples + cheese = delish!
Anna Crouch says
Did you know you can spritz some lemon juice on apple slices so they don’t brown? :)
Courtney says
Haha, yup…apparently I’m just too lazy to use it ;)
chris D says
Congrats on the new job!! That food looks great!
Nicole says
Congratulations on your new job.
Hope says
Congrats on the new job! So exciting! :)
You dinner looks absolutely delicious! I am definitely going to have to try the recipe! :)
katie Carso says
Congrats on the news girl!!!! How exciting and way to go already getting a job! Im sure you are nervous like you said, but it will be ok and you will adjust and be comfortable personal training clients very fast I know!
Good luck on this new journey for you!
Sarah says
i SOOOOO have the try that apple breakfast out… maybe ill make it for my midnight snack… right now?