My new, sweet friend KB may be convincing me that running and working out is just an excuse to get some girl time and socializing into your schedule. She’s onto something, and I’m digging it.

She invited me to run with a group that meets every Monday evening in the 12 South Neighborhood. We ran 3.5 miles and it felt like we had just started – because we gabbed the whole way, mostly griping about our combined list of running injuries over the past couple of years.

While we ran, she often referenced “The Pancake Girls.” Turns out, there’s a small group of women who meet one day a week to run at 5:30 a.m. (“nah – not interested, no thanks”) and then eat at the Pancake Pantry (“wait…what? Where do I sign up? Should we do it three days a week instead of one?”)

It sounded like the Sweet Potato Queens or the YaYa Sisterhood or something…but with pancakes and running – so far superior.

P.S. this photo was taken AFTER I ate breakfast and cooled down for over half an hour. How is my face still so red? I’m such a sweaty kid. Or maybe it was the bacon sweats.

So I met them this week and had a blast. Such nice ladies and such a good breakfast visit. They were shocked when they learned I’d lived in Nashville for 7 years and hadn’t ever been to the Pancake Pantry. It seemed a tourist trap, so I avoided it and I DO NOT like to wait in lines. But at 6 a.m. it’s a different story. The locals are there.

The ladies were even more shocked when I didn’t order pancakes. I know – for shame. But I wanted bacon and eggs…and grits. So that’s what I had. But next time, it’s the sweet potato pancakes because they were the jam.

Later than day at work, we decided it was a “ladies who lunch” kind of day and five of us went to the Silly Goose in East Nashville. I have blogged about this place before, but it truly may be one of my favorite places in Nashville. It is SO hipster and the food is to.die.for. And beautiful. AND, the rosemary lemonade haunts my dreams. I want to make it at home but it would never be as divine.

This round, I had the Zipper.

Smoked salmon, honey black pepper goat cheese, caramelized onion, baby arugula on toasted marble rye. Served with balsamic dressed greens and couscous. OMG.

And no trip to Silly Goose is complete without a trip next door to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

This trip I had a scoop of Gooey Butter Cake and a scoop of Salty Caramel. They were the perfect pair. Although, I sampled Lime Cardamom Yogurt and will need to go back and eat about $20 worth of that, soon.

Cool lights in Jeni’s.

Last night, Rogers and I watched “Water for Elephants,” finally – I know. I wanted to read the book first though, and LOVED it. I was impressed the movie stayed so close to the book. And Rogers loved the movie, too. Winner.

Then we went to a showcase at 9:30 to check out a couple of budding young talents that Rogers is going to work with soon. We don’t do the showcase scene often – but last night was fun, at Hotel Indigo. Best part – we were in bed by midnight. Yes sir!

I’d say that kind of Friday was a delightful kickstart to the weekend — what do you think, little bloggies?

Hope yours is divine – see you on the flip side, which will suck, because the flip side of the weekend is Monday.

XOXO,
Jenn