I love living only two miles from the heart of Uptown.  It makes business meetings so much less stressful (for once, we weren’t late!).

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Rocking the biz casual look for a meeting with a small business attorney.  Setting up the practice is a lot of work!  But the meeting was productive, and I feel more in-control of the legal side of things.

 

I really, really love the Uptown area.  It reminds me a lot of Orlando, actually.  Very clean and pretty.  And GREEN!

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We also scoped out some potential outdoor marketing spots.  One marketing trick we’re using is to plaster the Hubby’s face on the side of recycling bins outside healthy-lifestyle stores, like the farmer’s market and a vegetarian restaurant.

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One of the spots is near a new raw/vegetarian restaurant called Luna’s Living Kitchen.  They literally opened on Monday!

 

Since we were there already, we decided to grab lunch.  And I am SO glad we did.

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The food was absolutely amazing.  This place is definitely going to be successful.  They understand how to prepare tasty, interesting vegetarian food.

 

We ordered two dishes and shared.

 

I ordered the vegetarian burger, which was baked and made with a quinoa base.  The salad on the side was absolutely breathtaking and filled with so many different flavors and textures.

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The Husband ordered the Freestyle Wrap, which was veggies and cabbage with a cashew pate wrapped in two Swiss Chard.  I had one of the wraps, and it were DIVINE.

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Seriously, I don’t remember the last time I felt compelled to scrape my plate clean.  But I wanted to at Luna’s.  It was so fresh.  I highly recommend this place, and I know we’ll be back!

 

Hope you’re having a great day, too!

{ 66 comments }

 

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs July 22, 2010, 12:40 pm

    Oh wow, that restaurant sounds incredible!! England is so behind when it comes to that kind of dining 🙁
    Face on a bin – good idea! I really hope the business takes off 🙂

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) July 22, 2010, 12:40 pm

    you guys look gorgeous! and i love that restaurant…places with tons of color always win me over!

  • Amanda-The Nutritionist Reviews July 22, 2010, 12:41 pm

    Your lunch looks so fresh and delicious! How exciting having a business meeting about the new practice!

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman July 22, 2010, 12:43 pm

    That salad looks great. I love the banana chips in it!

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape July 22, 2010, 12:46 pm

    Advertising on sides of recycling bins near health stores is a very good idea! Definitely reaching your target audience. And that restaurant looks AMAZING! I’ve always wanted to try a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. Gotta find some in Chicago!

  • Kelly July 22, 2010, 12:47 pm

    Glad you had a successful meeting, I really hope everything goes smoothly with the practice start up. Using the husbands face should help!

  • marie July 22, 2010, 12:48 pm

    yes recycle can-vertising! do it!

  • Laine @ Beets, Butter & Moutaintops July 22, 2010, 12:50 pm

    Fun! And have him network with other holistic professionals – yoga studios, massage therapists, etc. since their clients will often ask them for referrals. Word of mouth is always the best way to get clients.

    He could even start a holistic professionals networking group that meets in the office or at different locations around town (at the yoga studio one month, a veggie restaurant another month, etc.) He can hand pick the folks to start off and they can help each other build their businesses and share marketing ideas and refer back and forth.

    I started a similar group for attorneys. It’s very fun and helpful and leads to good things.

  • Krystina July 22, 2010, 12:53 pm

    The Husband’s dish looks amazing! I love raw food.

  • Dorry July 22, 2010, 12:53 pm

    I wish Dallas offered more veg/raw dining! That place looks fabulous. And such a pretty sunshiny day. Enjoy!

  • Little Bookworm July 22, 2010, 12:53 pm

    Your lunch sounds amazing! 🙂

  • alex July 22, 2010, 12:56 pm

    Wow, I never thought of putting banana on my salad! I have done strawberries, and raisins before, but this I HAVE to try! Looks great!

  • Courtney July 22, 2010, 1:11 pm

    Yum! Everything at Luna’s looks so fresh and colorful! =)

  • emily July 22, 2010, 1:11 pm

    Off-topic, but that picture of you is totally gorgeous! You reminded me that I need to do the half up/half down hair more often.

    • Caitlin July 22, 2010, 1:14 pm

      It is also excellent for when you have not showered yet. LOL

  • Lizzy July 22, 2010, 1:11 pm

    i was following you on twitter and i saw that you signed up for another Marathon!!! cograts! 🙂

    • Caitlin July 22, 2010, 1:14 pm

      shhh! LOL just kidding. i need to blog about it.

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday July 22, 2010, 1:13 pm

    I love places like that Luna’s

    It reminds me of Urban Herbivore in Toronto

  • Chelsey July 22, 2010, 1:17 pm

    Yum! That looks awesome!

  • Caitlyn @ A Spoonful of Life July 22, 2010, 1:29 pm

    Those meals look so amazing! I would have felt like I was destroying a masterpiece by eating it…then I’d get over it!!

  • RhodeyGirl July 22, 2010, 1:36 pm

    I just have to say that your new neighborhood must be EXACTLY what an urban planner like yourself dreams of… right? It sounds divine to me.

    • Caitlin July 22, 2010, 1:40 pm

      yes i love itttt!

  • Ellen@FIrednFabulous July 22, 2010, 1:36 pm

    Mmm what a yummy, healthy looking lunch. Congrats to you and the hubs for accomplishing so many awesome things! The sky’s the limit!

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople July 22, 2010, 1:36 pm

    That sounds like an amazing restaurant!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) July 22, 2010, 1:39 pm

    That sounds like a great restaurant! We don’t have an “uptown” in my city. We have “downtown” which is the middle of the city, then we have 3 main ends – the South end, the North end, and the East end. For some reason, we never say the “West end”. There is nothing in the west of our city, except residential (and not the best area). I like the idea, of uptown, downtown, and midtown. I found that Manhattan really works in that way, and it makes sense.

  • Kiersten July 22, 2010, 1:41 pm

    I’m so excited there’s a new vegan place in Charlotte!

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) July 22, 2010, 1:50 pm

    That looks like a place that will totally succeed. I went to a place like that yesterday where it was just delicious and you wanted to eat every bite.

    And I love your marketing ideas. I totally look at all those things and they make me think about using the services.

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg July 22, 2010, 1:53 pm

    Yow!! The husband looks so cute in his suit!

    That restaurant is very cute as well! 😉

  • tanyasdaily July 22, 2010, 2:01 pm

    Veg burger looks good, the area looks great!

  • Angharad July 22, 2010, 2:03 pm

    That place sounds amazing! You’ve totally sold it! I wish there were more places like that in Minneapolis. There are some good vegan options but I’d love more vegan/raw options so I can explore that side of things outside of my kitchen.

  • Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) July 22, 2010, 2:17 pm

    Oh, that Luna place looks awesome!! I gotta try it… where is it?

  • Angela July 22, 2010, 2:21 pm

    You’re lunch looks awesome and so does your hubby’s. Love the idea of using swiss chard as a wrap.

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine July 22, 2010, 2:23 pm

    Looks like you moved into town at exactly the right time- both those dishes look great! The Swiss chard wrap is so unique!

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit July 22, 2010, 2:33 pm

    That food looks delicious, and it’s beautifully presented too! I’d love to go there.

  • Brittney July 22, 2010, 2:37 pm

    Oooooh nice, I need to get over there for lunch one day! I was close to that area (in Southend) at Pike’s today and we all wanted something healthy and got salads. That would have been better! YUM!

  • Jess @ Truly.Into.Fitness July 22, 2010, 2:49 pm

    you look SO pretty in the picture:) I had to leave a comment just for that! <3 xoxo

    • caitlin July 22, 2010, 6:54 pm

      Thank you so much 🙂

  • Holly @ couchpotatoathlete.wordpress.com July 22, 2010, 3:09 pm

    Your lunch looked fabulous and I loved how they decorated the restaurant!

  • Sarah for Real July 22, 2010, 3:10 pm

    You totally have to take a picture of the ad for us when it goes up! It’s exciting! Not exactly what every kid dreams of… having their face on a garbage can… but I totally get it! Genius!

  • Jo July 22, 2010, 3:16 pm

    Aww you guys look cute! 🙂

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter July 22, 2010, 3:20 pm

    That is so cool that Luna’s is so close!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) July 22, 2010, 3:23 pm

    I love Charlotte! It really is a nice city. I need to check that restaurant out the next time I get to the city. The veggie burger looks so good. I am glad you had a great meeting!

  • tia July 22, 2010, 3:30 pm

    I came across your blog awhile ago now but have just been lurking a bit. Last night I was sitting at the doctors waiting for a perscription refill and I just happen to glance up and you’ll NEVER guess what I happen to see. A sticky note was placed on the underside of the window sill at the very top so you would have only seen it if you had been sitting right where I was and happened to glance up. Guess what it said, “You are beautiful”, and in very small writing at the bottom, operationbeautiful.com. I could not flipping believe it! I’m from Alberta, Canada so we’re a bit of a distance apart! Just thought I would let you know, because it absolutely made my day. What a beautiful idea you have created : ) !

    • caitlin July 22, 2010, 6:56 pm

      Awesome 🙂 I absolutely love it!

  • Alexis {Mission: Ambition} July 22, 2010, 3:47 pm

    That place looks divine! If only there were more places like that in Columbus…the midwest just isn’t the best place for fresh, vegetarian food. LOL.

    You guys looks so nice all ready for your meeting!

  • Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun July 22, 2010, 4:02 pm

    Wow! The food looks so fancy and fresh!

  • Kristina July 22, 2010, 4:02 pm

    Lunas looks amazing… and I love the tomato decor on the wrap plate… CUTE 🙂

  • Beth July 22, 2010, 4:10 pm

    That lunch looks amazing! I just ordered my book, Operation Beautiful!! Can’t wait to get it and see you on the Today Show 🙂

    • caitlin July 22, 2010, 6:56 pm

      Thank you so much for your support! Yay!

  • Ronja July 22, 2010, 4:13 pm

    The food looks so amazing and fresh! I definitely want to try a restaurant like Luna’s too.

  • Candice July 22, 2010, 4:38 pm

    you guys look so cute!

    Lunch looks awesome – I so wish there were more vegetarian/vegan restaurants around her!

  • Stacey @ Tipping the (Kitchen!) Scales July 22, 2010, 4:50 pm

    What a great restaurant find! It sounds as though setting up a buisness is hard work. I hope it takes off!

  • Jackie (Peaces of Earth) July 22, 2010, 4:50 pm

    That is SUCH a good idea for marketing!! And that place looks like it needs to be right next door to me. Yummo!

  • laura July 22, 2010, 5:09 pm

    So happy you posted about Luna’s living kitchen! I am always looking for veg. restaurants in Charlotte!
    Great Idea for marketing!
    Your blog posts are the best part of my mornings (& evenings stuck at the office in my cube!)

    • caitlin July 22, 2010, 6:59 pm

      Thank you so much 🙂 Cube life is what you make of it – perhaps its time to play a practical joke on a coworker?

  • Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) July 22, 2010, 5:15 pm

    oh my gosh this post is AMAZING. luna’s is where a raw/vegetarian restaurant called real food charlotte used to be. they closed down a few months ago and i thought it was for good…but they must have been moving to bigger and better things like LUNA’s!!
    the quinoa burger is so good, i’m so glad it’s back!!
    i’m thinking a blogger meetup there sometime soon? k thanks 🙂

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) July 22, 2010, 5:40 pm

    oh my – are they dried bananas in your salad? YUMMO!

  • Heather July 22, 2010, 5:55 pm

    how awesome you are close enough to walk to palces like that! so jealous.

  • The Rabbit Runner July 22, 2010, 6:19 pm

    you and the hus look so fancy 🙂
    so jealous you got to eat at a raw restaurant – i am totally dying to try one!! the wrap looks delicious!

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write July 22, 2010, 7:00 pm

    How exciting it must be to be opening a business! I absolutely could not live without my accupuncturist, so once you get people in there it’ll be easy to keep them coming!

  • Anya @ Fitness & Sunshine July 22, 2010, 7:13 pm

    That wrap sounds so interesting! 🙂 glad you enjoyed the restaurant. I have actually never been to a purely vegetarian restaurant but have plans to go with the bf in 2-3 weeks!

  • Janna@Janna's Keeping it Real) July 22, 2010, 7:35 pm

    Those dishes look amazing! I wish my town had more vegetarian options, we are for sure lacking there!:/ glad to hear it was successful (both with the attorney and lunch!;0)

  • Corinne July 22, 2010, 8:37 pm

    aw you guys look great! so happy to hear the meeting was successful. the idea of hubby face blown up on recycle bins outside healthy lifestyle establishments is SO perfect; couldn’t think of something more fitting. the bf and i are entering into business together in the fall (he is purchasing an athletic revolution franchise which we will run together) AH! I am going to need your notes and guidance to stay sane 🙂

  • Rachael July 22, 2010, 9:26 pm

    I will be checking out Luna’s as soon as I’m back in North Carolina – looks great!

  • Maura July 23, 2010, 8:37 am

    If I’m ever in the Charlotte area I will definitely hit up Luna’s! It loosk great! Good luck with setting up the practice!

  • kristin July 23, 2010, 4:37 pm

    i for sure need to try this place next time i am in town. in Cleveland, we have ZERO vegetarian restaurants.

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