ATL

Headed to Atlanta with my best girl for a relaxing weekend. On the agenda: fancy drinks in the fancy hotel bar, body scrubs and hour and a half long massages, shopping, champagne in the room, napping, and delicious meals out. To say I'm excited would be an enormous understatement. I am beyond thrilled and haw been waiting for this for weeks!!!!!

There's gonna be lots of this: (toasting and smiling, not wearing a million layers and a scarf)

Chicago

AirTran and Southwest are having a major sale right now. I just scored tickets for a long weekend in September for my love and myself for $186 total (including all taxes and fees) for both of us roundtrip. How is that even possible?!

Now to start planning! The only other time we have been to Chicago together was in December. I'm so thrilled to explore the city in warmer weather! And with better planning!

First caprese of the summer

Made with Thai basil that we are growing and I cannot get enough of. I adore that it's not as sweet as regular basil. It also tastes a bit spicy (to me at any rate) and somehow a bit more complex and earthy. How can I describe basil so well and yet only come up with "um....it tastes like more?" when referring to wine? What can I say, I love wine, also basil.

Currently experiencing a crazy rain storm. My big plans for this weekend (planting a garden after a delivery of 15 cubic yards of dirt!) have been derailed because they cannot deliver the dirt tomorrow or Saturday. Le sigh. #firstworldproblems

The first weekend in June

Saturday I finally planted a garden!!! I have truly turned into my mother now, and I couldn't be happier. Just give me some dirt to play in and I'm happy as a clam.

The second retaining wall you can sort of catch a glimpse of will eventually be filled with dirt and another terraced garden, but for now I just wanted to focus on the top part. We will be putting in the final two (very large) gardens this fall (prepping with a tiller). Until then I'm determined to grow my own dang tomatoes and (fingers crossed) squash and basil!

Cuddled with this little nugget. He only snuggles when my Love is gone for the summer. All the animals are always extra lovey and it really makes me want to cry with how sweet and kind they are. Or, alternatively, they hate my husband and rejoice in his absence.... ?

I spent time with my dear friend N! We took ourselves on a date for oysters and cocktails on Saturday, came home and talked and talked and drank sangria, and then decided we needed some frozen yogurt, so we got that.

Who knew peanut butter fro yo was so good?!

Sunday I spent the rainy day in bed watching movies and napping, brides joining my family for a movie and sushi. Quickly returned home and changed so I could go see The Addams Family tour at the Ford Center for Performing Arts. It was charming but I've realized I don't like musicals. At all. Still, it was fun to do something different! 

Now in the middle of a busy week at work followed by a wedding in Chicago! Whoop whoop! I love a mini vacation!

Luck

So this happened......

Crazy right? All in about seven seconds, boom boom boom.

And this was a farewell platter my love threw together for us to enjoy on Tuesday. Some dates, assorted cheeses, marcona almonds, Parmesan garlic potato chips, chocolate covered sea salt sprinkled almonds, and garlic rubbed toast points.

Dream haircut

In my head I have this haircut (found via Garance Dore, natch) and look this good. In actuality, not so much. How goooood is it?! It's so perfectly fresh and French and cool.

Plants

We gots 'em. 

Nine pots filled today and planning on refurbishing the herb garden this week (it got fried last summer when I was ill for a month and staying with my parents) and a vegetable garden! 

Last summer we planted seven tomato plants only to get ONE tomato out of the whole deal. It was the single most expensive tomato of my life. 

This finally happened

Glory glory hallelujah. After a life spent without air conditioning in my car, including an excruciatingly hot TEN YEARS in Mississippi (that's impressive folks, let me assure you) I am now the proud co-owner of a car with......AIR CONDITIONING!!!! Whoop whoop!!!

Yes, after years with internal temperatures in my car (with windows down) reaching such highs as to pop a freaking cork out of a bottle of wine (no joke) and occasionally almost bursting into tears at red lights because I thought if we didn't start moving nownownowrightthissecond I might spontaneously combust...we have a car with AC.

It's glorious. We are like officially middle class now y'all. 

Spent today loading it up with plants and potting soil like the yuppies we must surely look like.

Summer, you're totes my bitch now. 

The dog-son totally approves.

Breakfast

I think we all know what actually got eaten. (Hint, it was not a fruit.) 

Does anyone else surround themselves with fruits as a sort of talisman, in the hopes of eating more of them? Perhaps I'm the only one. Vegetables I'm so good at, but fruit I rarely crave or am in the mood for.

The only exception to this is chilled watermelon in the summer. Which is less fruit and more a requirement as necessary as air and a fan to survive the insane heat.

Oh, also berries on the weekend. Somehow it doesn't seem like the weekend without a few berries with our breakfast.

How I spent my 20 minute lunch break

When you can hammock, you should hammock.

I can and I did.

Nail polish is Chanel Peridot. Or, as my fly-fisherman husband lovingly calls it "bass boat green". 

It is my most favorite EVER! And sadly I only just discovered it while getting a pedicure and it is sold out. Curses!

Lilacs

While walking yesterday evening I came upon this rather gorgeous scene. The woods smell so delicious right now with all of the honeysuckle and Confederate lilacs in bloom. Technically I believe they are weeds but I adore them so!

BBQ

Courtesy of work we (me, my bunny, his sous chef and his girlfriend) were able to go to Memphis BBQ fest for FREE! It was super fun. We had Jell-O shots. Also I made a new friend. Also broke it down on the dance floor to a TERRIBLE remix of Michael Jackson's "Thriller". 

Also.....

Best present ever was found today for a very special and beloved Mother Unit. KILLING IT! (While I did purchase this it was purchased on behalf of my Father Unit. Anniversary? Check and mark. Shopping for presents is my favorite!)

Sweetest

Came home after yoga to find these saucy little numbers waiting for me! Kielbasa and spicy jasmine rice lettuce wraps with carrot, cilantro, tomato and onion. Yes. I'm so grateful for my dearheart!

All day

I've been so hungry.

I've eaten:

-2 pieces cinnamon raisin toast with peanut butter

-peanut butter vegan protein bar

-birthday cake

-an apple

-a taco salad

-snack pack of chez-it's

-handful of Hershey's cookies and cream candy drops

-kashi heart to heart honey toasted oat cereal (snack size)

And I could keep going. What's wrong with me?

The First Weekend in May

It was rainy and 40 degrees. Other than going for a few runs (ok, jogs. Ok, walks) we just cooked and watched movies and napped. It was so perfect and so necessary! My love surprised me with homemade pancakes and scrambled eggs on Saturday! It was absolutely delicious and so sweet! I had been craving pancakes all week for some reason, but we just didn't have the time to make them.

Overalls

The Man Repeller wears them. Ditto the Cherry Blossom Girl. Even Rumi of Fashiontoast.

Shoot, they've been my jam for years. Even when they garnered strange looks and disparaging comments. Haters gonna hate. Why? 'Cause they're haters.

Now some of my favorite ladies are joining in. Coolest gang in town don't ya know.


Overalls: vintage
Shirt: H & M
Sandals: Saltwater
Sunglasses: Prada
Swagger: my own

Lately:

Smorgasbord. New (to me) bike. Chopping mushrooms for quiche. Flowers from my dearest Mother Unit.

Nashville mini review of Patterson House

Go.

It's expensive but not terribly so (on another evening we had drinks at a random pub by our hotel and my delicious but run-of-the-mill martini was a mind-blowing $13. Sorry but if you have a bunch of TVs and serve buffalo chicken sandwiches I do not typically associate insanely expensive drinks during your happy hour.) and it's so worth it. Delicious. Go go go. No pics because it was so dark. We also sampled the olives (gaaaah so good!) and deviled eggs (delicious although I thought they could have used some salt. But I'm prone to thinking that about most dishes). Treat yourself and go.

Nashville mini review of Rolf and Daughters

So we ate our way across Nashville and here is our unsolicited opinion of:

Rolf and Daughters

Verdict: not worth it and will not be going back.
Cons: TERRIBLY snooty servers, food not that spectacular, hard to find.
Pros: gorgeous interior, delicious drinks, ran into friends, big patio.

We ate there for dinner and think you'll be hearing a LOT about this restaurant, especially since City House hasn't had much competition in this part of town. There were a lot of age groups dining on the Thursday night we were there, which was cool. But, again, I'm snobby yes, but will not be returning because the food was simply not worth it. John really loved the pâté, I hated it. He agreed with me that it tasted of cream and not liver. For the record I LOVE cream, but when ordering chicken liver pâté, I want to taste the liver. Call me crazy. They're making their own hotdogs which is a charming idea, even though it didn't taste all that special. Also? We ordered 4 appetizers (um, we were hungry), a pasta dish, an entree, and dessert. So I feel we adequately sampled the menu.

Nashville

In Nashville celebrating end of old job, beginning of new job, 3rd anniversary, and just being together. Staying at baller hotel, drinking delicious things at the Patterson House, and eating baskets of crispy fried chicken skins. Nom. About to grab lunch at Arnold's and do some shopping (we were going to do botanical gardens but most is outside and because it's 28 degrees we are waiting until tomorrow). Dinner tonight at Rolf and Daughters where I will preset the love of my life with a badass present (it's customized! Holla!) and tomorrow we will go to the Frist, Cheekwood, bring at marche, and dinner at Lockeland Table with our dear friends. Saturday means Nordstrom (you can hate me, I'm still pinching myself!) and some change will be dropped. Impromptu mini vacations are my favorite!

On my desk

This morning was a farewell bouquet of daffodils. So sweet and lovely. I am excited for this next chapter but sad to say goodbye to friends. It's not really goodbye though, more like a farewell for now.

Dream Dress

image via nordstrom

Found. The most perfect silk "marciel" dress by joie. It is as though it sprang, Athena like, wholly formed from my head and into reality. In my dreams I've worn it with:

- red ballet flats and bare legs
- nude wedge loafers
- tights and rag and bone booties
- with a gray cashmere sweater over it so it looks as though I'm wearing a skirt
- a big chunky necklace
- a little leather jacket and my hair in heidi braids wrapped around my head
- a slouchy neon pink beanie and frye boots
-an army green blazer and burgundy oxfords
- my red peacoat, tights, and simple black flats
-layered with a striped shirt on top and a green army jacket
- a chambray shirt knotted up at the waist and my white chucks


Essentially I've worn this dress for years, except I've never owned it. I'm saving my pennies and wishing and hoping on a star that it goes on sale so I can add it to my wardrobe. Seriously, it is my dream dress and looks so perfect and versatile I can hardly stand it.

It also comes in red. What. The. Fuck. I cannot currently afford one, let alone two.

PS Is it merely coincidence that the name of this dress is the female version of Marcel, my cats name? Obviously it is a sign from the gods.



Marcel

The cuddliest and also jerkiest of cats. Named for Marcel the Shell. He enjoys cuddling when he is confident I cannot reach him. Hardcore parkour-ist, also has made our dog cry because he can be so mean. We love him the way only parents could. I saved these photos so when he makes me bleed with his claws for no reason, I'll remember the good times and not kill him.

Big news

The reason for silence is....I GOT A NEW JOB!!! And it is LEGIT!

Highlights from the past few weeks:

1. New job.
2. New job.
3. New job.
4. New job.
5. New job.

Other notable moments include:

1. Celebratory mini vacation planned to Nashville over our anniversary next week.
2. AMAZING write-up about the Unalakleet River Lodge (my Loves business) by a noted Mississippi fisherman.
3. Great food. Neon pig in Tupelo, homemade spinach dip, etc.
4. Best friends coming to visit us!
5. A boatload of new alcohol brought by our friends including a pear liquor, bottle of st. Germaine, and blood orange and grapefruit infused vodka (perfect with prosecco!).
6. Making a new friend.
6. An early birthday present/new job present of work boots that I love so much they will also be fun boots! Thank you Mother Unit!
7. Splurging on new work clothes so I finally look appropriate.
8. Finding the most perfect anniversary present for my love.
9. A new book to read( gently used and courtesy of my Mom) about Julia Child.
10. New beginnings.

Highlights over the past few days

-delicious berries
-endive salad with radishes
-asparagus
-fancy coffee this morning
-inadvertently matching my sweater to my plaid shirt
-lots of dog walks
-cold crisp windy weather that reminds me of Maine
-rosy wind burned cheeks that make me feel so alive
-cat cuddles
-dinner cooked by my Bunny
-a recipe for red velvet black and white cookies I cannot wait to try this weekend
-some wine and baileys for this weekend
-happy coffee with a dear friend ("happy" meaning it has alcohol in it)
-planning for New York trip
-not buying anything selfish (I don't do that a lot anyway, but my Love and I had a long talk tonight about money and our finances. While he wants me to treat myself more than I do, we are both focusing on the bigger picture and the most important things. When it comes down to it I'd rather have a vacation with my Love every couple of weeks or months than a new shirt or lipstick once a week.)
-an unexpectedly awesome radio station discovery
-detox tea
-cuddling

Trying not to fall asleep

But it's not totally working. Might go take a walk in the bracing winter air to freshen me up. Must. Not. Succumb.

Last weekend in February

This weekend was so relaxing and wonderful. The highlight (other than simply being together, aww) was going to a drag show. Yes, that's right. I feel like I've finally become a true Mississippian in that I like trying new things, being outside enjoying the weather, and watching car races. It was really rather exciting. We were so close that sometimes you could feel the cars as they drove by! They were so rumbly and fast! We drank beer (on a Sunday no less!) and ate ribs and fried catfish and just had a heck of a time. I cannot wait to go back!

Vroom vroom!

One is my coffee and one is my tea (I couldn't decide which I wanted most, so I went with both).

These pancakes I made twice. I was craving pancakes in the worst way and managed to make glorious ones on Saturday morning. They were the best I had ever made and even my Love agreed. But, it turns out, all was not well that morning. Our syrup had turned. How that happens, I do not know. It was special imported Vermont Grade B maple syrup (um, the good stuff that is impossible to find here and that is my most favorite and the most delicious!) given to us by a friend who lives in Vermont and taps his own trees. And it was spoilt. We didn't realize it, we poured it all over our pancakes, and then our pancakes were spoilt as well. It was so very sad. I had made green eggs (eggs, onions and spinach scrambled together) to go along with the pancakes so we just ate those while inside I cried. After a refreshing nap I went to the grocery store to get, well, groceries. Sunday morning I made those dang pancakes again (and honestly, I worked out all the kinks and these were even better than the first round) and we feasted! They were crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. I had heated up some frozen mixed berries with a bit of lemon juice and brown sugar, and added a wee slurry of cornstarch to thicken it up, and we ate those and other fruits along with our dang two day pancakes. Worth it. They were worth it. But folks, check your syrup.

This is just a picture of some blooms I saw while walking the dog. So gorgeous right!?! It's almost spring here! Yay!

Friday!

No plans whatsoever this weekend and that is great news! I want to sleep in, drink lots of coffee, walk all over the place, maybe splurge on a meal out or a dress, drink wine, and talk and laugh with the Love of my life.

Tonight I will be cleaning out the fridge and making a spinach and assorted vegetable frittata with roasted cabbage and Parmesan toast. Or perhaps making eggs Florentine sandwiches. Who knows. All I know is we have a new bottle of wine to try and we get to spend the evening together, so it's going to be great.

In other (completely unrelated) news, I looked through the vince new arrivals this week and I wasn't tempted. Which is a really good thing. Because vince is sorta my weakness. I still want these pants though:

These are the cropped leather leggings available at vince.com and fine retailers everywhere. Aren't they pretty much the single greatest pant you've ever seen? I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing the cut of Vince pants are and how flattering the cropped leg is. Seriously. I have a suede jacket of theirs that is the thinnest and most beautifully cut jacket I own so I imagine these pants are like butter. They will probably make-out hardcore with my legs and I would love every second of it. I will need to save my pennies for a while years to afford them. But man will I then wear them with ever. y. thing. Which I'd sort of have to to justify buying them. Black leather pants in the Mississippi summer? Why yes of course. Your point? Cost per wear man, cost per wear.

Thankful

Sometimes (especially lately) I get too bogged down in, for lack of a better phrase, the negativity. It seems like there's so much in this world that wants to break your heart, crush your spirit, squash your good ideas, etc. Today I'm being gentle with myself and reminding myself with a little visual list of how much good there is in the world, and especially in my little corner of it. I shouldn't need a list, but sometimes it helps me to have a concrete thing I can read, touch, or taste.

my husband, for now and forever

all the animals, furry goobers

crocuses and daffodils coming up everywhere

a sunny day

the little lettuce plant growing in the sidewalk crack where I work, it makes me smile every day

my family

the girls trip to New York in April

lunch with a friend

the female cardinal outside the window this morning

a cup of sweet tea with cream

getting dressed up tomorrow night to celebrate my husband and his business partner

bright pink lipstick

that my parents are in Disneyland right now

my beloved and talented Brother Unit

the godiva chocolate I had last week

sleeping in an extra five minutes this morning (and, ok, well, most mornings)

a great pen with a super fine tip

soy lattes

a glass of wine

fresh sheets

how my Love is psychic and understands me better than I understand myself

balloons

the pretty red roses on the counter right now

baking cookies and wrapping them up with sunshine yellow tissue-paper to give to friends

helping others

when the animals sleep together with paws or noses or backs touching, it makes my heart melt

tomato season at the farmers market

smiling

having a job with insurance and vacation and sick days

photobooths

that the trees will soon be in bloom for spring

the weekend coming up in a few short days

yoga

possibilities

soft oversized sweaters

seeing the ballet next month

getting to explore Savannah a bit on a work trip next month (April is, apparently, a big month for me?)

a modest life lived richly

a detox tea I just ordered that my friend swears will give me the best glow ever (and tastes delicious!)

bakeries

my freshly painted nails

saving money for a treat

long dinners with dear friends

the fancy coffee I am going to splurge on tomorrow morning

bright red ballet flats

that my Dearheart did our taxes last night (and we get money back MAYBE for the first time EVER!)

that I don't work at the restaurant anymore

that I have the power to change my future and my current state

I am happy

I am healthy

I am present today

and I am loved.



16-17

We cooked up a big pot of spicy sausage and lentil soup for dinner on Friday night. It was exactly what we didn't know we needed. On Saturday a dear friend came over and (after sleeping in and walking the dog) we proceeded to get our cook on. We gathered wine and groceries and set to work prepping and cooking everything for bi bim bap, Japanese roll cake, and panna cotta.

The Japanese roll cake she had brought over before and my Love and I both flipped for it. He is not a big sweets eater but had two helpings. He also requested it for his birthday cake. (Sadly, that did not happen. Next year!) Those are two huge compliments and I knew I needed to get that recipe! Our friend did better than just the recipe, she came over and made it with me. This time we opted for a coconut rum and blueberry spiked whipped cream filling instead of strawberries. It came out beautifully and I cannot wait to experiment with fillings and cake flavors. With the dinner of bi bim bap we made a super simple salad of endive with a dollop of goat cheese and julienned cucumber on top, drizzled with a peanut sesame dressing she whipped up before she came. It was perfect. And will be made again and again in our house. We topped the bi bim bap with carrot, bell pepper, chopped up endive, spinach, zucchini, marinated pork, and an egg. The extra glutinous rice was cooked in a donabe borrowed for the occasion, and it was really perfect.

The only semi-fail was the panna cotta. It set-ish. Not as firm as we wanted or expected. It strangely acted like a liquid but didn't roll off of the spoon. The flavor was fabulous, but it just wasn't firm like we had wanted.

Sunday my Love made a seafood lasagna to take to our friends house. Obviously, he killed it.

The cake being assembled.

A busy happy counter.

Bi bim bap. (seaweed added after this picture taken.)

Zee beautiful table.

Nom.

Mixed in all good.

cake!