Any weekend that includes great weather, delicious food, family and friend time, and some shopping is basically an A+ in my book. And this weekend had just that!
Saturday started off with a workout (PiYo Sweat, whew!) and then I was off to meet up with my college girls for brunch. We spent almost 2-1/2 hours chatting away and catching up (we hadn’t all been together since Eileen’s wedding in October) which was really nice. It’s sad that we don’t get the opportunities to get together as much as we used to, but we still have a great time when we are together!
After brunch, I took care of a couple errands, including returning a pair of the shorts I got from the LOFT (not the denim ones, the coral ones – they just didn’t fit right), picking up a few things for Lucas at Carter’s, and making a “quick” stop at Old Navy.
I had $60 in super cash that would have expired on Sunday, so I wanted to make sure I used that up.
Well, between that, another coupon, a $10 reward, and a $25 gift card, I ended up getting my $165 haul for only $54.
I’m pretty positive I was walking out the door with an extra skip in my step. As for the goods? Jay needed a couple things, so I grabbed those for him. I ended up getting this Women’s 3/4 Sleeve Lightweight Sweater and then this Men’s Striped Sweatshirt for myself, too. Yeah, it’s mens…that means it’s going to be 10x better in the coziness department!
Lucas, however, is the one who really made out like a bandit, since probably 85% of what I bought was for him. In case you’re interested in what he scored…
Hibiscus Print Swim Trunks / Cargo Shorts / Pop Color Twill Shorts / Pull-On Poplin Shorts / Chest Stripe V-Neck Tee / V-Neck Pocket Tee / Icon Piqué Polo / Buckle Strap Sandals
After my shopping was finished, I rounded out my errands with a quick stop at Starbucks. Iced grande nonfat caramel macchiato, for the win.
And not only was it free since I earned a reward on my card, but I swear the barista gave me extra caramel. AH-mazing.
Lucas was still napping when I got home, so I spent a few minutes catching up with Jay. Turns out, he and Lucas had a great morning together.
After chatting a bit more, I told him that I thought it’d be a perfect night to head out for an early dinner, the three of us.
I’ll be honest…we really don’t bring Lucas out to restaurants very often, and I wish we did. I see other parents do it all the time like it’s nothing and I think, man, why is it so hard for me? Is it because my child is SUPER energetic and doesn’t sit still? Or am I just using that as an excuse for my insecurities? Honestly, I think we’ve both been so overly concerned about him acting up or misbehaving, that we’d usually rather not worry about it (plus it saves money, so there’s that). But since I really do want to get Lucas more acclimated to being out in public places like that, I’m hoping we can start to all feel more comfortable going out as our little fam of three.
So thanks to a coupon and a gift card, we hit up Ruby Tuesday just before 5pm…along with all of the other toddlers and senior citizens. Perfect!
And you know, he was totally great the whole time we were out. Like, I couldn’t have planned it any better. We sat in a back corner (perfect), he sat in the booth fine (I knew if we did a highchair he’d immediately want to get out), stood up occasionally to say “Hi!” to those passing by, flirted like crazy with our waitress, and ate every last bite of the mac and cheese and apples we ordered him (this is SO rare lately you guys…). No whining, crying, or any of the other toddler stuff we tend to see happen quite often. Plus, we didn’t even need to break out the toys OR phone apps (we were prepared…and yes, I would have let him sit with my phone watching Disney in order for us to finish our meal if I had to).
It was a great dinner out, and definitely left us feeling like we could tackle this more often.
Oh, and as for dinner? Delicious! I’m forever and always a fan of the Ruby’s salad bar, and I ordered one of the salad bar combos that came with baja chicken tacos.
They tasted so incredibly fresh, and the flavor was fabulous. I would order them again in a heartbeat.
Saturday night included some TV time (we got caught up watching a 2 hour 20/20 special) and cookie dough ice cream. Doesn’t get much better than that.
Sunday was low-key but great. Lucas slept in until almost 9am, so I took advantage of the quiet time and made my coffee while doing some meal planning for the coming week. Cody also took advantage…little snugglebug that he is.
And he does seem to be feeling much more like himself these days, so thanks to all of you for the well wishes!
It was a nice, sunny day and Jay offered to do the grocery shopping (ok, that’s a lie…I sort of forced him into it…he’s the best) so Lucas and I spent the morning outside.
You like his new shades? I got ‘em for him on Saturday at Carter’s. They’re too big, but I love it. And so did he.
We swung on the swing, played all in the backyard, and even played with some chalk. He’s getting pretty good at writing his name, isn’t he?
I took care of some blog stuff out on the back deck while Lucas napped, and the rest of the day was either spent doing “Sunday stuff” inside, or enjoying the weather outside. It really was a great weekend!
And now, here we are at Monday again. Oh, so soon.
I hope you guys all had a great weekend! Do anything fun? Oh, and for the moms and dads out there, I’m curious…how do you feel about bringing your little ones out in public? Is it no big deal for you? Do you struggle with it? Any tips?
Ash Diamond says
I did some bargain shopping yesterday too! Thanks to the time zone difference, I was able to snag 10 things on the Target + Lilly collabroatino on the site before it crashed!
Lauren says
Weekends are THE best, but they’re much too short!
Looks like you guys had a great one. My hubby hit up old navy with our toddler this weekend and scored quite a few shirts for a great deal! I can’t believe how much he’s grown since last summer.
We’ve taken our son out since he was tiny. We only had one time that we “had” to leave a restaurant, but he was 6 months and screaming for fun. We were embarrassed and had no idea what to do! We stuck to our favorite, loud mexican place after that just incase. Ethans 21 months now and he still can’t handle a booster seat, he does way better in a highchair, strapped in, and now he asks for crayons (I bring backups!) He’s a big tal kid and is size 8 sneakers barely fit through the leg holes in those wooden highchairs, so hopefully he outgrows his craziness soon.
Andrea @ Pencils and Pancakes says
I don’t have any kids, but my husband and I went out this weekend to some breweries and wineries.We seemed to have been being followed by a woman and her toddler, who was hysterical the entire time. A restaurant is one thing, but I was shocked that this person thought a brewery was a great place for a kid! Not cool!
Heather @Fit n Cookies says
I have plans to hit up Old Navy later this week! You are always scoring awesome finds, hope I do too! Love that Lucas was so good. He is such a cutie I don’t think anyone would even care if he made a peep while out!
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says
I had Ruby Tuesdays too yesterday and that salad bar just cannot be topped!
Linz @ Itz Linz says
i’m totally in the same boat as you and don’t take william out to dinner too often either – i wish i could, but he’s so wiggly and doesn’t sit still long enough! maybe i need to try it again!
Furonda says
Looks like you had a great weekend Courtney! I wish they didn’t close my local Rubys Tuesdays in SoCal..the closest one would be 250 miles over – so excuse me while I salivate over your salad! And Lucas is gonna be a heartbreaker! He is growing so fast!
Britt@MyOwnBalance says
We bring Cooper with us everywhere, including out to dinner. He will usually sleep but he is only five months so we still have a bit of control over him!
Torry @ A World Without Wheat says
I don’t have any children yet and I already worry about what we are going to do about going out to dinner once we have little ones. I think you went at the right time though – going a little earlier then normal for now the places will be a little less busy. I went to Old Navy this weekend too and got a steal on the !5 dollar deals!
Brynn says
we take our six month old out with us so he can start to see and eventually understand the way to behave while out. He is still young, but if I’ve learned anything in six short months it is that they’re always watching and observing!
Melissa says
I’ve always been a big fan of Ruby Tuesday, especially for their salad bar! Plus, they have such a big menu.
Jess says
My best advice for bringing kids to a restaurant is to go somewhere loud. I hate spending the whole time shushing my 9 month old or telling my 3 year old to use an inside voice! Texas Roadhouse is great for this but really any place that has sports on usually works. Not to say we completely avoid other places but sometimes it is nice to let the kids be excited and have fun while we are out to eat too. Also pack snacks, waiting for food as a toddler is no fun.
Courtney says
Yes! Those are definitely tips I’ve been told. We have a few places nearby that are nice and “loud” and I always have snacks packed. That’s part of the reason we chose RT’s actually – b/c we knew we could hit up the salad bar right away! I hadn’t thought of Texas Roadhouse though – great idea! :)
Jen says
I have two ages 4 and 2 and my husband works nights. I take them out by myself all the time, usually for pizza. It’s nice and loud and there’s always a bunch of kids. People always look at me like I’m nuts lol but sometimes mama needs to get out too! I think as long as you project confidence (and bring snacks) you’ll be fine. Kids can smell fear :)
Danielle @ Little Mama Big Life says
Looks like a great weekend! We took our first out all the time from the time he was little and with a little planning, he always did really well. He’s eaten all over the capital district at all kinds of restaurants including Jacks and Paolo Lombardis.
We’re actually finding it more challenging to go out now that we have a “threenager” on our hands, but we still go but choose more family friendly places now and have resorted to taking him to the car if he’s really acting up so that he learns that his behavior is unacceptable in public.
For your little guy, it sounds like you have all the right ideas! I always tried to keep special toys that only came out at restaurants and tried to time an early snack at home accordingly. Definitely the more you go out, the better!
Claire @ Keeping Up With Claire says
Lucas is SO adorable! I don’t have kids, but one of my best friends has a three year old daughter and whenever we meet up for coffee/lunch/dinner, when she starts to get antsy my friend hands over her iPhone and all is well in the world. She loves to watch YouTube, which cracks me up. But it truly works – she’s never had a meltdown. We also bribe her with dessert, which works like a charm. ;)
Jenn. @ P&C says
Ohmygosh toddlers in restaurants, I feel ya! I’m one of those moms who takes my nugget out to restaurants a few times a month (and even more when traveling) and I can tell you first hand even the times it looks like I have it together, I don’t! Lol! I’m always son edge in case my little wiggle worm starts to chirp or squeal (or even scream!) resulting in me rushing her out the door to belt out that extra energy outside before going back in. She does really well in the booth like Lucas so that’s our new normal. High chairs worked until 18 months or so and now it’s booths that tame the kraken. Unless there’s slmenbe behind her, then it’s like ahhhh omg mia don’t touch his hat! Don’t hug that lady from behind! No you can’t pet that teenager! ;) I feel you. It does get a little easier each time thankfully! You’ve got this!
Jenn. @ P&C says
Pretend those typos don’t exist haha! I blame my iPhone and fat thumbs ;-)
Jen@jpabstfitness says
My older 3 (ages 12,10,7) are restaurant experts, we have always gone out to eat on Friday nights since we got married, but the 1 year old…she’s at the OMG, eat quick and get the hell out of here stage. She is not a fan of restaurant high chairs, which is weird, because at home she’s totally fine in the high chair. So one of us holds her until the food arrives and then we eat and leave before the shrieking starts.
Carrie (This Fit Chick) says
What a fun weekend! I can’t relate to the restaurant and kids thing since I don’t have any… BUT I do love Ruby Tuesday, so great choice ;)
Danica @ It's Progression says
Bargain shopping for the win! Old Navy always has awesome deals and coupons to use it’s never worth it to buy anything at full price. Glad you had a nice weekend!
Kelly says
I remember HATING to go out with the kids and dreading family events where we would have to do restaurants. But honestly, now it’s to the point where it’s actually such a fun family outing. I don’t even remember at one point it happened (probably just gradual), but it really does get to the point where you don’t even need to bring a “bag o’ tricks” to keep them entertained. :)
Heather @ Life In Leggings says
The salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays is a serious win! Love that. And look at Lucas! You guys could definitely take him out more often… what a cutie. Love the Old Navy finds!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
You’re my kinda gal – you scored some awesome bargains with all your coupons and such! Bargain shopping always makes me feel so good inside. Haha! Way to get some good steals!
I’m so glad you guys had an enjoyable dinner out with Lucas. We don’t go out to eat in general a whole lot, but we take Hunter out fairly often with us when we do go. Whenever we do, it’s almost always a pretty casual place though (Chick-Fil-A, a pizza place, etc.) that’s louder and pretty kid friendly. We’ve attempted some nicer restaurants, and we’ve had some really great experiences and some fairly awful ones too. I think a huge factor for Hunter is if he’s well rested or not. Other than that, I make sure he has food he likes and a couple little toys to play with if he gets bored. It’s never enjoyable when/if he misbehaves, but if it happens, we take him to the restroom to get disciplined and he typically does alright after that. And if not, then we leave (this has happened just once thankfully). But regardless, going out with a toddler can certainly have its challenges! Good job on behaving for your mommy and daddy, Lucas!
Sarah @ Sweet Miles says
Yea for Old Navy! Talk about a WIN! I’m telling you, Old Navy has seriously upped their game over the past few years! I think eating out with a baby or a toddler is one thing that makes me so nervous! My brother and sister in law always talk about how stressful it can be, ha!
Lindsey says
I hear you on the eating out with a toddler! We do not avoid it though I often wonder if it would make life easier if we did. Though we rarely eat out. But as soon as she started not wanting to sit in a highchair and run, it was a whole new game to eat out with her. I want her to behave when we are out and learn that she cannot run around but it can be a hard balance too. I try and go to kid friendly places, go early to avoid crowds and bring stuff to keep her busy to make the process easier :)
Koryn @ High Heels & Healthy Alternatives says
I’m so with you on the anxiety of taking a toddler out! Its great that it worked out so well for you! I’ve always had that first-time mom super anxiety about taking my one year old (Ethan) out to restaurants because like Lucas – he hates the high chair/booster seat! Actually, it’s not that he hates it, it’s just that he gets antsy quickly and wants to get out after like 10 min. :-p Crazy since he’s fine when he’s in his high chair at home. It’ll be great when he gets to the point when he can just sit in a booth with us, perhaps! :-)
Oh, and I clearly need to go shopping with you – the deals/clothes you’re able to find – AMAZING! Smarter bargain shopping for the win!!
Julie says
Ruby Tues. is one of our faves. My salad plate always looks exactly like yours! Love those chewy rye croutons & that broccoli salad. ;)
Courtney says
OMG YES! They’re two of my favorite things there, haha! :)
Julie says
I can totally relate to that feeling of going out to eat with a toddler! Typically, we know what we want to order when the waitress comes (we used to order our sons food first but he would inevitably be done eating by the time our food arrived) and we make sure he is hungry (but not starving) by the time we sit down to eat so that he actually will eat. And we usually order him something we know he will want to eat as opposed to something new. And then there is Youtube (thank God for Youtube) or toys/coloring books that are only for when we go out to eat and therefore seem “special” and “new”. Glad he was a good boy for you so you could enjoy your dinner without having to scarf it down! :)
Annette@FitnessPerksFitnessPerks says
You got some awesome stuff at ON for such a good price, that is awesome!
We take L out to dinner/meals often, and she usually does fantastic. I always make sure she is pretty hungry when we go because then she’ll busy herself eating. One time she had eaten pretty close to going & it was way harder to keep her happy, so I learned my lesson quick!
Jenni says
Love the Old Navy deals! I can remember hitting up Old Navy with my mom and sister when we were in elementary school and we always came out with a load of bargains. I did do some shopping this weekend (Target + Gap) but think I’ll have to make a trip to Old Navy soon myself!
And Amen to the RT salad bar!! There aren’t many around where I live, so I snatched up the chance to stop at one for lunch on my road trip to Kansas City last weekend.
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona says
Those tacos look amazing!
michelle says
It’s worth checking the Old Navy website to see if they’re offering a discount, then head to the store, take pictures of what you want and then order if off the web. Right now, they’re offering 40% off!
Amy says
We bring our little one out fairly often, mainly because my husband and I are kind of foodies, so we want her to learn early how to behave in a restaurant (she’s almost 1). But I definitely think timing and location are key. We tend to avoid “nicer” places (although we did bring her to a higher end restaurant when we were away once – she did perfectly fine but we could tell the waitress was super annoyed), and early is definitely best! The couple times we’ve gone a bit later with my in-laws the end of the meal has been pretty dicey :)
Caitlin says
Lucas is getting so big!!! I love Ruby Tuesday’s. Their croutons are the best and I love the salad bar overall. My parents always used to take my siblings and I out for dinner at casual places like that. Another favorite was Friendly’s, but that wasn’t often because my parents couldn’t get a drink there and sometimes taking kids out to dinner requires that, ha!