Yesterday was Junk Food Day and also my birthday … WTF? Funny thing is I never knew it was National Junk Food Day until I caught it on Good Day Sacramento and it’s supposedly a day where everyone can indulge and celebrate junk food. Did you celebrate? Typically, I treat my bday like any other going to work and doing something special with hubby later. But I decided to take the day off work and play all day this year doing whatever and not looking at a watch … or trying not to. I’m hooked now, it was a great way to spend it and I think it’s gonna be my new tradition.
I started my whatever day thinking I’d sleep in, but didn’t or couldn’t, I woke up wired at 6 AM and made a huge smoothie for hubby and I.
Blueberries, watermelon, spinach, carrots, chia seeds and SunWarrior protein powder – very filling. After Hubby left for work, I headed to the gym for a full workout, then on to meet my mom for a pedicure and gifts!
As much as I love crazy nail polish colors, they never seem to look good on me and I went with traditional red this time. I tried yellow once – big mistake, it didn’t work with my skin tone at all. I was actually eye-balling a neon green yesterday, but couldn’t bring myself to try it. And I can’t believe I’m actually wearing Crocs, I swore I never would when they first came out. But they were a gift from one of my mom’s sweet friends and I actually really like them, they don’t look like the original Crocs and they’re super comfortable – perfect for a summer slipper or dog walking shoe.
In a lot of ways I’m a kid at heart and still love corny things like state fairs. So after the pedicure, we headed to the California State Fair where I had plenty of opportunities to celebrate National Junk Food Day if I wanted to.
A sausage with a potato twisted around it – who thinks of this stuff?! Kind of seems like it would be a messy PITA to eat and I can’t think of how this greasy nightmare is breaking grounds in the flavor department. I’m guessing the sausage isn’t containing the highest quality meat either.
A tradition at every fair – fried everything! I can’t even imagine what a deep fried MoonPie would taste like, wouldn’t that ruin it? The kid in the yellow top looks like he’s doubled over in pain which is what I’d probably be doing after eating anything served from this stand!
Not something I’d be craving in the hot summer sun!
Getting closer to my speed, but again with deep frying everything – ick!
My mom is obsessed with funnel cakes, they’re a huge splurge treat for her and there were about 42 stands selling them. I’ve never been much of a funnel cake person, not a great thing to eat then go on fair rides!
What the heck are Cheese Curds anyway?
I think my dentist would love this booth!
I didn’t have much luck looking for lunch which I expected and packed a few snacks.
A Bora Bora Volcanic Chocolate Banana bar that got nice and gooey in the heat. And a couple of plates of chilled fruit from the wine tasting section.
There wasn’t too much I wanted to eat at the fair, but plenty I wanted
to do. Like silly kids, we spent time in the animal petting/feeding zoo making new friends.
That dear was obsessed with my mom’s shirt, would not stop going after it.
This dude was more interested in eating my camera cord than having his picture taken.
We moved on to the livestock show area where I saw many beautiful cows like this one.
Isn’t she cute? I even watched a judging show – not my thing, but a reminder of what beautiful animals they are.
The pig birthing area was cute, but disturbing.
It’s an educational exhibit that has booths with hugely pregnant pigs and cows, if you’re lucky you can catch a birth in action. But the poor animals being confined in small spaces with tons of viewers adding stress to an already stressful event. I felt horrible for these poor mama or about-to-be pigs trapped in cages not being able to move, that can’t be comfortable when you’re about to give birth.
Not wanting to stress them anymore, we moved on to the garden section.
I loved this section because of all the growing veggies, fruits and flowers on display, it’s tempting to walk through with a produce bag collecting.
Onward to the shopping display buildings.
The Nissan LEAF in all it’s electric glory and something I’ll seriously consider for my next car … which won’t be for awhile since I’m determined to drive my current economy car into the ground. It was a lot bigger in person than I thought it would be, it seemed bigger than my car. They wouldn’t let me climb in and take a test drive, guess I’ll just have to wait til January when it’s available.
Vita-Mix demo booth and free smoothie samples for me. As much as I love my Vita-Mix, I wouldn’t want to buy one this way – they’re too heavy to lug around a fair and who do you go to if the bow is missing parts, etc. But fun to see them in action and know more than the demo rep. :-P
One of the many “products of California” displays.
I stuffed in one ride before leaving, my all time favorite in fair rides. This thing twists and rocks until you’re upside down. I can’t get hubby to go on it with me because it’s too spiney and insane.
When I got home, I had just enough time to change and open more gifts before going out tot dinner with hubby where I got this amazing portobello butternut risotto.
It was a long, but amazing day – so many fun activities crammed and and I got some amazing gifts including a new cake pan, cherry pitter, wireless camera card and a new laptop – such an amazing hubby! Hard to get back to the grind after such an amazing day, I really need to take more vacation days.
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
best post!
ok HAPPY BDAY!!!!!!!!! why did you keep that under wraps?!! so glad you took the day off and what a day you had
cheese curds are hunks of cheese, battered and deep fried, I grew up in MN and between MN and WI, cheese curd capital of the country. They are insanely greasy and will give you a tummy ache like no other!
all that fair food…reminds me of my MN state fair days as a kid, except mini donuts not just funnel cakes were part of the action. truly though, even as a kid, i didnt like that stuff
rides, i liked those!
buying a vita there, you’re right, awful place. knowing more than the demo guy, i am sure! i also have the smaller canister like you have in your 1st photo. i used to use it tons but i find that the lack of a good tamper stick option prevents full blending for me. i wish it came w/ it’s own lil mini tamper, not trying to ram the full size one down.
your toes, good choice on classy, classic, red
your gifts..hello, afterthought? a computer?! congrats!!!!!!
pigs/birthing, cant even begin to tell you how sad i am about that..wow.
HAPPY BDAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Happy, happy birthday!!!!! Looks like you had such a fun day!
It cracks me up that there was a VitaMix display at the fair :-)
Danielle (Runs on Green) says
Happy belated birthday!! :D
Dear god we don’t need a national junk food day. I had a heart attack just looking at those pics lol
Jenn@slim-shoppin says
Happy Birthday!!!!!
Glad you had a fun day. I always think it’s no fun to work on your birthday
I have a twin sister, so we always take the day off, meet up for lunch, go shopping, etc.. it’s so much fun.
Love the pictures you took!
Katie says
I am so sad I missed your birthday : ( you were so quiet about it ! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like you had a great birthday, you got new shoes, laptop, and a great day out!! Love it!
omg your mom rocks, I love funnel cakes too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have one once a year if that!
its my fave fair food to get!
Deep fried moon pies, yikes!!!!!! lol! All these stands look so good but so bad for you! lol!!
Love ya girl and I do feel ya, coffee is the way to go , juice is good but cant replace it, or the boost from the caffeine!
xoxo