weekend

Weekend Snapshots

May 27, 2015 · 4 Comments

So I’m a tad late to the long weekend posts — oops. Although in my defense, my dad was here, and I was not about to waste (probably a bad term here) time blogging or scheduling or anything like that. That was the last time I was going to see my dad before I give birth, so I wanted to focus on that instead of coming to this space. BUT, now that I am here, here’s how the weekend looked.

not exactly weekend, but last week my coworkers threw me a surprise shower, where they all pitched in for a gift card. lucky girl I am to work with such amazing people. // a gorgeous bride whose wedding I was honored to attend. // her and the love of her life finally married. I don’t cry at weddings, but her man wrote the most amazing vows. everybody was in tears. // this weekend we played tourist in our hometown and went to Sloss Furnaces. // the flight from Avondale that my dad and step-mom shared. // b chilling inside the furnace. // we went to pepperplace market this past weekend and stopped at the harvest root tent // we also got one of their ginger brews to drink while roaming around. I wish it wouldn’t have been so expensive, because this stuff was the shizz. but for those so inclined, they do sell it in bottles // dad and I at Sloss. this is pretty much the reason why I have avoided cameras since getting pregnant. holy, am I swelling in the face and I didn’t even know it.

I hope everyone had a fantastic long weekend, and remembered the reason why we celebrate.

A Mo Pho of a Weekend

May 18, 2015 · 5 Comments

I couldn’t even wait to tell you guys about this place. After working all day on the nursery (crib is up, carpet is in, decorating has begun), we decided we needed a date night bad. We had seen a Vietnamese place pop up in an old sushi place (which we loved), and decided it was worth a try. It’s called Pho Pho, and it’s located downtown in Five Points, next to the old Metro Prime Steakhouse.

We got there sort of early and were the only people there –which was nice, because who likes people anyway? Our waiter was awesome, and B suggested I try my first boba tea. Apparently, these things are also called bubble tea and are really popular everywhere else but Birmingham. I played it safe and got the strawberry one.

I was super obsessed with the cup, and the stuff inside. It really pretty much tasted like strawberry milk – like the most awesome kind of strawberry milk you could ever have – and I will be back to test out some more of their flavors.

For dinner, B ordered some spring rolls as an appetizer — the legit spring rolls, not the fried ones. He got some sushi rolls for his dinner, and I got a delicious noodle bowl, that had the most amazing pork in it. Please see below.

It was honestly the best Vietnamese food I’d had. They are currently working on their liquor license, but don’t have it yet. I need everyone in Bham to go and check them out, because I will be really really sad if they have to close up shop.

I mean, I’ve only gotten to try one boba tea!

I hope everyone had a great weekend !!

Eat Drink Birmingham

April 1, 2015 · 2 Comments

A few weekends ago, I was privileged enough to be able to go to an amazing event here in the Ham. Since I could only do half of the event (the eating part), I had to live vicariously with the alcohol through B and Nadine. They even so graciously let me smell their glasses — which is not really the same, but it got me through.

There were so many dishes at Eat Drink Birmingham, but I’m going to share my top five favorites.

First up is the bacon from Bottle & Bone. This stuff seriously melted in your mouth, and they were responsible for the delicious smell wafting through the entire place the whole time.

Next up was the Raspberry Bread Pudding from Silverton. This was absolutely amazing. I think I ate two of them.

Third was the Shrimp N Grits from Cosmos. I love shrimp n grits normally, so I was super excited to get to try theirs. They are renowned at the brunch scene here in Birmingham.

Fourth was the Chicken Mole Taco from Avo. I love tacos. There’s not much else I need to say about tacos.

And then my absolute favorite from the event (and from what I read, a lot of other people’s favorite as well) the Filet Fricassee from Bellinis. It was paired with fingerling potatoes and corn, and of course heavy cream. Can’t hate on anything with heavy cream.

They even gave us pretty awesome glasses to keep at the door. They’ve got one of our favorite pub spots from Birmingham on them (the J. Clyde), and Eat Drink Birmingham on the other side.

I fully intend on going to this event again next year, with baby Sheffy strapped to my back. Thanks so much to Alabama Brewers Guild and Birmingham Originals for putting on an amazing event!!!!

Sundays

January 26, 2015 · 6 Comments

Lately, B and I have been super good about not spending money. I mean, we’ve got a kid coming that we’re hoping will go to college. And while a lot of the money right now is going into finishing the basement, we’ve also cut out a lot of the going out and eating out. We usually have one meal out a week. And this week, we made it brunch at Jackson’s in Soho. To be honest, I didn’t even know they did brunch — we were trying to go to Over Easy, but it was jam packed, and we were starving. We saw people walking into Jacksons, and thought what the hell? We’d never been, so another place to cross off the list.

And it was awesome! B got corned beef hash, and I got a breakfast quesadilla with a side of French onion hash browns which were amazing.

After that, since we were semi-gussied up, we went down to Morris Ave to get some new pictures for our Linked-in profiles. I know; get wild right? But we actually did end up with a few good shots!

Sundays have quickly become my favorite day of the weekend, since Saturdays are mainly spent painting and getting the basement ready. Breakfast and a mini photo shoot (see new picture in the About Me!) are a great way to spend Sunday Funday!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Birthday – ATL style

January 7, 2015 · 7 Comments

For most of you that have visited a little bit, you know that I grew up in Atlanta. Atlanta is still one of my most favorite cities to visit. I absolutely love it there. So instead of taking our normal birthday trip to Nola (which I’ve pretty much done every year since I’ve known B), we decided to stay a little closer to home and take it a little easier, so we took the 2 and half hour drive over to ATL to spend the weekend there.

One thing that we’d been wanting to do was head to the Georgia Aquarium — we had never been, and decided it was about time to knock that off the list.

Reminder to everyone who goes to an aquarium. Saturdays when kids are still out of school….probably not the best day ever to go. It was really, really crowded and really, really loud. (Better get used to it, right?). Did I mention that there were a lot of people there? Because there was. A LOT of people.

The California sea otters were our favorite — and the belugas. But they also seemed to be everyone else’s favorites, because I couldn’t get close enough to take a really good picture. But below is what I did get to snap a few pics of. I only took a picture of the Falcons dolphin, because I was grateful for them losing to the Panthers, because they gave the Pack a run for their money the last game they played, and well, I didn’t want that happening again.

After the aquarium, I was starving. So we headed to my most favorite lunch spot in Atlanta; The Varsity. I looooove this place. And I don’t care how touristy or greasy people say it is — it reminds me of home, and it tastes awesome. So there. I got two chili slaw dogs, some onion rings and a frosted orange (which is pretty much just a creamsicle drink). And I ate ALL of it.

So after our super healthy lunch, we went over to the Krog Street Market, which was pretty much all food and alcohol. Since we’d just eaten, and since I can’t drink ( I did over to just chill with some water if B wanted a beer), we scooted through this and decided to go ahead and check into the hotel.

The freakin’ Ritz Carlton. Is my B good to me or what?! So we chilled for a little bit, watched some of the game, and then good ole hubs gave me my birthday present.

A pair of diamond studs that I’ve been wanting forever!! He was so sweet to get them for me! These are the first diamond earrings I own — if you know me, that’s a big deal since I don’t normally do jewelry. I mean, the wedding ring comes off the second I get home. But they haven’t come out of my ears since Saturday.

After present time, we decided to go and get an app at the cute little tapas place down the street, Alma Cocina. They had this amazing non-alcoholic blackberry and lavender drink, and we got the salsa and guac sampler. 3 guacs and 3 salsas, and they were delicious!

After the app, we decided we were too full for an actual dinner, so we headed over to the Cabbagetown Village of Atlanta to get some cupcakes. We went to Sweet Cheats, got a couple of cupcakes and headed back to the room. From there, we ate our cupcakes, had some coffee and fell asleep watching King of the Hill. Awesome night, right?!?!

Sorry for the blurry cupcake photo. It was really good though.

So the next morning, we woke up and decided it was time for brunch. B tried to order a Bloody Mary to the room (for him, of course), but Georgia has even more ridiculous laws than Alabama, and they can’t serve before 12:30. Lame.

So we headed to The Flying Biscuit for brunch, because I am obsessed with their grits and their biscuits. I had the Piedmont omelet, and B had the Southern Eggs Benedict. It was so good.

After brunch, we drove around for a bit, and found ourselves back at Sweet Cheats for cupcakes to go.

I know how much work B put into this birthday with it being the last one with just us. I love how he just knows me, and how just cuddling up with coffee and cupcakes watching cartoons is also his idea of a good night.

It was definitely one for the books. And now I’m in my early 30s. Gross.