Alabama + Graffiti

Nadine would probably be one of the first people to be like, WTF Laura?  A Brussel Sprouts recipe?!?  So yes, I normally loathe Brussels sprouts, but hear me out.  You add bacon, maple syrup and a splash of bourbon – ya girl is in.  These are delicious and oh so easy – my mom and I made them for Thanksgiving, and I made them solo for Christmas dinner.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 1/2 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved.
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 4 ( or 5 or 6) strips of bacon, diced.
• 2 oz bourbon
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• Additional salt and pepper for taste.

WHAT YOU DO:

• Fill a large pot with enough water to fully submerge the sprouts and place over high heat.  Bring to boil and add tbsp of salt.
• While the water is coming to a boil, trim the ends of the brussels.  Trim the ends, and peel the tough outer layer of leaves.  Slice them in half lengthwise.  Put the brussels in the boiling water and blanch 4-5 minutes until tender.  Strain, then run under cold water to stop them for cooking.  Set aside to air dry.
• Heat a skillet over high heat- add the bacon and cook until crispy ~ 7-8 minutes.  Add the brussels to the pan.  Sear over high heat until the sprouts are crisp.
• Add the bourbon to the pan  – continue cooking until the bourbon has evaporated.  Add the maple syrup and cook until slightly thickened.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately.

Y’all these were so good- and just as good heated up as leftovers.  I guess you can call me a fan of Brussel sprouts now – but only if there’s bacon.

Like most of America, we ran in 2021 from the comfort of our own home – and like most people I know, that is how we’ve done it for years.  It’s just such a hassle nowadays, to like put on pants and get in the car.  Plus – when food can just come to you, like what is the point anymore?

On a serious note, we did have a really nice time.  We ordered pizza, played with a karaoke microphone and watched Soul.  Which was such an amazing movie – seriously.  So good.  We blew up a 2021 balloon, wore 2021 hats (even LuLu got in on the fun) all in an effort to bid 2020 adieu.

After we got Sheff in bed – we headed to the basement to watch Tomorrowland.  We saw a few of our favorites – Da Tweekaz and David Guetta, but we were pumped for the Snoop Dogg set!  It was so fun to watch – a serious blast from the past.  We made it to midnight – and then like ten minutes past that before heading to bed.

Despite being up so late, I got up early.  I was craving some of that mom alone time – but Sheff found me, and we sat on the couch and snuggled at watched Safety.  It was such a good-feeling movie, and the weather was cloudy and crappy, and it felt right to start the new year that way.  We snacked and watched football for the rest of day – and then had the pork and black eyed peas for luck.

I have no intention of really setting any resolutions or coming up with any words for 2021.  B and I promised to starting making one recipe a week out of one of our many cookbooks – and I made a promise to myself to write more – either here on this blog or through journaling.  I’m not doing any crazy diets or saying I’m going to stop drinking soda – but hopefully I’ll read a few more books in 2021 than I did in 2020.  That’s really it – I’m making no more goals other than to just survive the best way I can.

I hope y’all have had a great start to 2021 – let’s give each other all a little grace again this year, yeah?

I succumbed to the Top Nine trend after telling myself I wasn’t going to.  It was fun to see a bunch of family pictures show up – and a lot of “big” moments pop up too:  Sheff’s first day of kindergarten, Sheff turning five, my 36th birthday in Atlanta in January before all of this crazy Covid nonsense.  Our 11th year marriage anniversary, and a five-inch hair chop.

No crazy trips, nothing too especially… special.  A lot of time spent together in quarantine – homeschooling and working.  Science experiments and baking.  Excessive amounts of wine drank.  So much take-out.  So many home date nights.  A lot of family walks – a lot of time spent outside.  Pool days and pizza parties.  Mexican nights and movies.  So many board games, so much online shopping and hand sanitizer.  Multiple home workouts and M&Ms.  Days gone by without hair washing or contacts or makeup.  Lots of books and facemasks – and lots of tears and laughs.

2020 – you were a legit asshole, but you won’t be soon forgotten.  I hope we don’t forget the lessons this year brought us – the fact that our families and friends are the most important thing in the world.  That there will always be a few bright spots among the dark – and we can do hard things.

Happy 2021 – we sure are glad you’re here.

Christmas 2020 is in the books!  Who would have thought we all would have made it through the year to see Christmas?  It was a year of so many lows for everyone, and while I tried really hard to get into the Christmas spirit, it just didn’t really happen for me this year.  That’s a hard thing to admit out loud – on the outside, we did all the things we normally do:  listen to Christmas songs, make cookies, see Santa – but it just never felt “right.”

I think Sheffield had a good Christmas, and let’s be honest, that’s really all that matters to me.  He had a good visit from Santa – getting the fish that he really wanted and a scooter.  He named his three fish – Garfield, Odie and Nermal.  They’re little glo fish, and he loves them.  He got what he really really wanted – which was an Osmo for his pad.  They’re little learning games that he does at school, and who am I to say no to learning?  He of course got some books, a new watch, a new camera.  And at the end of the day got to  take a nap with Poppa.

I was glad that Sheff appeared thankful for all his gifts – we’ve talked at length about being grateful for what he has.  I think he has a firm grasp on the fact that he’s pretty lucky nothing drastic befell this family this year.  Both parents are still employed, and we still have a roof over our head and are able to be fed each and every day.  Maybe that’s why I just couldn’t wrap my head around the Christmas spirit – so many have lost so much this year.  It’s hard to imagine a year that began with such high hopes for so many, only to have it smashed a few months into the year.

It’s been hard this year to put on a happy face, but that’s what us parents do, right?  We do our best to keep our kids happy and healthy – and try to keep the magic in all holidays, especially Christmas.  I know that the calendar page changing over to 2021 doesn’t mean everything goes away, but am staying hopeful.  And since this post took a turn for the dark – here is a picture of Sheff and Santa discussing how good he’s been all year.

I hope you all had a great Christmas – Happy 2021.

I love a winter beach trip.  I love wearing long sleeves and sweatshirts to sit and watch the ocean – I love curling up in a towel and reading a good book.  It’s definitely one of my favorite things.  Sure, I love going in the summer and getting some sun and getting in the water (we dipped our toes, but that was about the extent), but it just seems so much more peaceful without the throngs of people and their loud wireless speakers.

It was just a quick visit – we drove down Friday after work and left Sunday morning.  But it was a good visit.  We ate BBQ for dinner and went late into the night just drinking and talking.  Saturday, the weather was absolutely beautiful in the morning.  B and I took a 4.5 mile walk while Sheff hung out with the grandparents.  My dad got his hot tub heated, and Sheff had a blast just playing in there by himself.  Sheff and my dad put together another model car, and then we headed to the beach.  We read, tossed the football, flew a kite, and did some shelling.  We ended the night with some pizza, some Auburn football and grandparents snoozing on the couch.

Sunday we got up and ate some brunch before heading home.  No way to even sugarcoat it, but we spent the rest of the rainy dreary day with our butts in front of the TV – NFL for the parents, and some BS called Miraculous on Netflix for the kid (seriously, has anyone seen this show?  I have no idea why Sheff loves it so much).

I hope you all have had a great week – Sheff’s last day of school (e-learning) is today, thus leaving us to fend for ourselves for the next two weeks while we’re still working.  Send wine.