A Mommy-Doggie Mini Vacay
When Mom’s away, The Chow will play.
This past weekend I headed to San Jose for the annual BlogHer conference.
Since I was going to be gone, the fiancé decided he’d take a mini vacation as well.
So where did that leave Mr. Chow?
Usually when we’re both going to be gone, we have to bribe our friends to Chow-sit. I never want to leave him at a kennel or board him for fear he’ll think he’s being abandoned.
This time though, I decided to try out the website DogVacay.com to find a legit dog sitter, with a cozy home, in our neighborhood.
As fate would have it, the perfect person — and her darling, half-Chow female pup, Suzy — lived right down the street from us.
I’d simply hoped to find Mr. Chow a happy home to stay in while we were gone, but I’d never have guessed he’d find a soulmate as well.
While I was away I received daily updates and photos from Lorraine about Suzy and Mr. Chow’s time together. They had a blast.
For today’s What I Ate Wednesday, I’m sharing those photos alongside my own meal pics from my mini vacay last weekend.
Get ready for a lot of food and furry shenanigans.
As soon as I finished my Anatomy final Thursday night — I aced it in case you’re wondering (yay!) — I hopped on a plan to San Jose.
While I had a horrible night’s sleep thanks to arriving around midnight, Mr. Chow slept like a baby at Lorraine’s.
Friday morning, I tried to awaken my senses with a little hotel room yoga sesh.
Naturally, I squeezed in my requisite “odd-place-to-do-a-backbend” pic.
My friend Gigi and I then hit the streets of San Jose early to grab a bite before the conference.
I was jonesing for a Starbucks oatmeal, but as it so happens, San Jose is the only city in the entire world without a Starbucks on every corner.
I settled for an egg and avocado sandwich at a local bakery.
Meanwhile, Chow was getting to know his new girlfriend.
Don’t they make a dashing couple?
I brought along a bag of my homemade “trail-mix” to nosh on during the grueling BlogHer panels.
Dried blueberry, coconut flakes and almonds. So good.
OK, so the sessions were only an hour and a half, but still.
Gigi and I decided to forgo lunch at the conference and venture out into the city.
We stumbled upon a Mediterranean place where I begrudgingly went for the lack-luster tilapia instead of the succulent chicken — being “pescatarian” on the road is hard.
After lunch, we browsed the expo at the conference where I filled up on fruits and veggies at the Ziplock booth.
Hooray for transportable snacks!
While I was having an existential crisis about my dietary choices, Chow was in pure doggie bliss over at Lorraine’s.
Ball-in-mouth, belly rubs are Chow’s jam.
After a long day of lectures, we were treated to a cocktail party at the conference.
Champagne or Crudités? Guess which I chose.
With a minor buzz on, Gigi and I went in search of a real fix. We found it a few blocks from our hotel.
Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.
Unfortunately, our hotel room did not come equipped with a Vitamix and freezer full of frozen fruit, so I went to bed without my nightly dessert.
Saturday morning, we got up bright and early to work out.
Thanks to two stress fractures, I’ve been avoiding the gym for weeks now. However, the elliptical proved to be a pain-free option.
Back in the Hollyhood, Chow was getting a workout of his own.
After freshening up and receiving some serious morning motivation (thanks, I’ll take it)…
…we headed to breakfast with a new friend, Alex of Delicious Knowledge.
She filled me in on all kinds of interesting info about becoming a Registered Dietician, which got me super pumped about my future career.
Post b-fast we hit another conference panel, then it was off to lunch with keynote speaker Kerry Washington. Yes, the one from Scandal.
Once again, I was stuck opting for a unappealing meal of sunflower seeds over salad, to avoid the chicken. Blasted (modified) plant-based protein diet.
Mr. Chow, on the other hand, was living the life of luxury back at Lorraine’s where she fed the pups her own homemade chicken and rice blend.
Lucky.
After one more sesh, we headed to the airport, ready to get home to our own refrigerators families.
It was here, in Terminal B of the San Jose International Airport, that I had the best meal of the trip.
A custom-made, brown rice Rainbow Roll with no mayo, and a glass of Barefoot Merlot in a Dixie cup.
I was in heaven. It was the perfect end to the trip.
The only thing to make me more happy than getting my food exactly how I want it? The delighted look on Chow’s face when I picked him up.
My boy was all tuckered out from his exciting weekend.
Lessons learned during our mutual mini vacays:
- Southwest flights are always delayed at night. Book one in the morning.
- Most places are not accommodating to vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, etc. — unless you want to eat fried tofu.
- Kerry Washington is way cooler than her character on Scandal.
- Ziplock bags can be used for amazing ab workouts — ask me if you want more details.
- I no longer need to barter massages, compliments and car washes in exchange for a Chow-sitter.
If you’d like to try out DogVacay the next time you need to leave your furry friend, use the promo code LIVE&DIET for $10 off your first booking.
With a website and app, it’s super easy to use. You just search for a dog sitter in your area, set up a meet and greet, decide if your pet clicks with the sitter and then pay online.
As you can see from my weekend, the process was seamless and my mind was at ease the whole time — leaving me free to worry about larger issues, like my lunch.
*If you haven’t already, follow Mr. Chow on Instagram @achowslife and me too @WhitneyLEnglish!
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy says:
Oh my God! How did you do that wheel pose between two beds? Don’t you start on the ground, of some surface and not the air??
You’re fantastic!
Whitney English says:
Thanks!!
I started across the beds, but I’m pretty limber. In an effort to legally protect myself I’m going recommend that people do not try this at home haha!
Tara says:
Your yoga moves are amazeballs, your outfit to the BlogHer event was banging and I’m so happy Mr. Chow has a girlfriend now ! You look beautiful and I’m glad you had fun x
Whitney English says:
Haha thanks girl!
Alex @ Kenzie Life says:
Sounds like a fun time! And I have to know–who makes that black dress you’re wearing? It’s stunning on you!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Alex!! It’s actually a skirt-tank top combo. The top is from Zara and the skirt is by Walter Baker. xo
Katie says:
I love all of your outfits! Can you please do a post on where you shop? Specifically, where did you get that lovely floral pant/red cardigan combo?!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Katie! I actually have been thinking about mixing some fashion in here so I’m glad to see you’re interested. I got the pants from Zara pretty recently, and the cardigan is from Gap several years ago. xo
Ellen says:
Never been to BlogHer. I AM extremely curious about the ziplock/abs thing…
Whitney English says:
If you have carpet in your hotel room, you just slip a bag on each foot and use them like you would gliding discs to do pike planks, sliding knee to elbow, etc. Easy, right?!
Ellen says:
Aha! Good one:)
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says:
I’m trying to go pescatarian/dairy free for a bit because of some stomach issues and it’s been so hard- so I feel ya!
Also, my newest goal is to do that beck bend over two beds. Might need to be able to do one on flat ground first tho…
Whitney English says:
Yes, I probably should have added a safety disclaimer in there somewhere. Good luck in working up to it!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
Well I seriously just RELIVED THE WEEKEND!! Ah ah ah! I kind of want to fly back to San Jose just for the airport sushi! LOL!
Whitney English says:
Let’s do it! $200 plane ticket in exchange for amazing airport sushi, so worth it ;)
Leah says:
I’m loving the update and Mr. Chow combo. So cute. On another note, you totally made me hungry with that post and yes, Southwest flights nowadays are always delayed post 10am, and I need to know about ziplock bags for abs.
Whitney English says:
Thanks girl! I’m so glad people are interested in the ziplock ab workout, haha! Basically, if you have carpet in your hotel room, you just slip a bag on each foot and use them like you would gliding discs to do pike planks, sliding knee to elbow, etc.
Arman @ thebigmansworld says:
Hahaha thanks for this…love the mix of the recap and the pooch vacay!
Custom made sushi? That is awesome, even moreso that it was at the DAMN AIRPORT!!!!
Whitney English says:
I know right?! Maybe I will go back to San Jose after all :)
Running Hutch says:
I love Chow! And you have a GREAT back bend!
Lindsay @ Fit & Awesome says:
Bummed I missed you and GiGi at BlogHer! That lunch you had looked way better than the one they served at the conference. Glad Mr. Chow had fun while you were gone. I need to check out Dog Vacay for Kona one of these days.
Bethann Wagner says:
Aw, I am glad you (and Mr. Chow) had such a good weekend! I wish I was in town so could finally see you! I am like 30 min away from SJC!
Ummm… also YES I want more details on Ziplock bag ab workouts!
Elle says:
Where are your heather gray and black athletic tights from? They’re awesome!