Made a fantastic fajita steak salad for dinner tonight. Rubbed a sirloin with lots of fajita seasoning, salt and pepper and seared it in the cast iron. Next, tossed in lots of green bell pepper, onion and minced garlic with the same seasoning I used for the steak as well as a spoonful of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for some heat. Built the salad with spinach, diced tomato, fajita veggies, 4oz of steak, a spoonful each of corn and black beans and topped with 1/4 avocado. To make a southwestern dressing, I mixed some adobo sauce with 2Tbsp of 45 calorie Greek yogurt ranch to taste. Not gonna brag but this is one of the best dinners I’ve made in awhile.
This weekend I put together a surprise birthday party in honor of my mom’s 60th birthday. My goal was to gather all her brothers and sisters and get some professional photos taken, as her sister is in poor health and they’ve never had a professional photo taken all together. I knew I wanted the party to be intimate and simple, but at the same time elegant and feminine. With natural rock formations, lush vegetation and a bubbling brook, the garden of the Historic Eureka Inn provided the perfect setting for an evening celebration, and the innkeepers Kat and Blake went above and beyond to pull the event off. As luck would have it, we caught the tail end of the nastiness from Hurricane Harvey and were served a chilly 55 degree day, complete with nonstop rain and high winds, however the weather proved to be no match for the natural beauty of the gardens and thankfully we were tented from the elements.
My partner in crime, Robbie, put his talents to work and designed a stunningly romantic tablescape using a variety of flowers including roses, astros, carnations and lots of baby’s breath. Candles and mason jars wrapped in twine, and hand wrapped corsages at each place setting completed the scene.
I catered the event myself to try and cut costs. The menu consisted of barbecue pulled pork served on kaiser rolls, marinated chicken skewers, macaroni and cheese bites, mini loaded baked potatoes and assorted fruits and veggies. My mother-in-law contributed her delicious slaw and Robbie’s mother made the deviled eggs. The signature cocktail was a strawberry lemon sangria and I ordered the cake from my favorite bakery, Petite Sweets. Rachel, the owner, has now created cakes for my past 2 birthdays and my wedding and she absolutely did not disappoint this go-round. Strawberry cake covered in a delicate cream cheese icing and topped with a glittery gold topper and fresh flowers was the center of attention at the buffet.
Finally, my photographer April, was able to capture so many beautiful moments exactly how I wanted. As you will see, she really managed to encapsulate everyone in their natural element.
By the time the party started I had spent the majority of the day in the rain or sweating over the stove so I did not look my best. But all the hard work and stress was worth it to see the tears of joy and surprise from Mom when she walked out the back door and saw all her closest friends and family. It truly was an unforgettable night that couldn’t have happened without all these helping hands. I am extremely proud of the event Robbie and I were able to put together. Maybe we should do this for a living!!
A thought occurred to me as I was sitting at breakfast this sunny Sunday morning, lazily sipping coffee, my eyes grazing over the local paper between bites of eggs and oats. It really struck me just how much I love this little ritual of meal and newspaper, the calm of morning, when the sun is bright and streaming through the windows and the day is new and young and full of promise. And the house is quiet and the warm scent of coffee dances in and out of each room. As I was basking in the comfort of this familiar daily task, it also occurred to me how many times this scene has played out inside the walls of this old house. The thought warmed me as much as my cup of java and I was suddenly overwhelmed with a wave of memories and nostalgia.
I am blessed enough to live in the house my grandparents lived in for over 40 years. I am able to carry on the traditions and holidays and celebrations within a home I was half raised in, that my father and his siblings and their children were all raised in. Growing up as an only child, it was always a treat to “go to Granny’s.” There was always a house full of people, be it family, friends or neighbors who came to sit a spell, and there was always home cookin’ to eat. My grandmother was one of 7 sets of twins within her immediate family and she and her twin brother Gordon, who for whatever reason we all called “Bud,” lived right beside one another. In the summer they planted a huge garden that stretched across the backyards of both houses and my Papaw and great uncle tended to it. My granny was a phenomenal cook and my favorite meal she cooked was her breakfast. Cat head biscuits with sausage gravy with sausage patties on the side, homemade strawberry jam made with freshly picked strawberries from Scott Farms in Unicoi, brown sugar syrup and peanut butter, and always sliced tomatoes and cucumbers with salt straight from that very garden in the backyard. Every summer my momma still makes that strawberry jam, and soon so will I.
Before I get too carried away rambling on about memories from my childhood, my point of this entry is to discuss how I still wish things were like the “good ol’ days.” I yearn for a time long gone, some from even long before I was born, when life was more simple and wholesome and clear cut. When most people had gardens because that’s what they had to eat from, not because it was the hipster thing to do. And men like my papaw got up on Sunday mornings just like this one and read the local paper while women just like my grandmother served them coffee. And ladies got up and dressed for the day EVERYDAY, even if they were only planning on working around the house and running errands. I guess you could call me a chauvinist. (Before everyone gets their panties in a wad, please remember this is MY blog and MY opinions and in the grand scheme of things my opinion means nothing and if you disagree or don’t like it then I guess you can always hit that red X in the top right corner of your screen.) But I believe men should still get up and go to work and be the main providers for their family, while women fix their hair and dab on a bit of makeup and maintain the functions within the home and family. I long for a time when women just like my grandmother and her sisters would sit on the “carport” and gossip and sneak cigarettes, because back then everyone smoked. I remember thinking, even in their 60’s and 70’s, how chic and classy these women looked with their curled bouffants and extra long Virginia Slim cigarettes. They would gather at dusk, after all the meals had been cooked and served and all the dishes and laundry had been put away and the floors had been mopped and the shelves had been dusted. They would sit in lawn chairs and bask in the last fleeting moments of summer sunshine, their conversations only murmured by the rise and fall of the hum of cicadas and the impending song of a lone owl. I wish that children today could walk down to Red’s, the gas station diner at the end of my road, and get a cheeseburger and a Popsicle for lunch on a hot summer day. Then walk around the corner to the baptist church in the evenin’ for bible school. I wish those kids could spend their nights chasing lightning bugs and picking honeysuckle until they collapsed in their beds from exhaustion instead of playing on their iPads inside all day. I wish I could have went down to Barnes Boring, the hardware store downtown, to pick up a screwdriver, before mega stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot undercut their business with lower prices and mass production. Strange as it sounds, sometimes I miss only having 3 fuzzy channels on the big box tv that set in the floor. It was comforting to be able to tell what time of day it was by the background noise on the television set. “Andy Griffith” was always whistling in the afternoons, “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” always made for fun after-dinner entertainment for the whole family and if “Price is Right” was on and you were just waking up, you were definitely late for breakfast!
But these times have long passed. Red’s is closed, cigarettes are bad and technology is king. The world today is all about speed and convenience. Fast food and smart phones have replaced home-cooked breakfasts and sunset patio conversations. I can’t change the entire world on my own. But I will upkeep the little traditions, the daily tasks that may seem so insignificant to others. I’ll keep getting my paper delivered instead of reading it online. I’ll wear fancy hats when it’s appropriate. Even though my grandparents’ garden is long grown over, I will plant tomatoes in a little raised bed behind the garage and I will slice them and eat them with salt with my breakfast. I’ll still stop and smell honeysuckle and I’ll have my girlfriends over for gossip and a smoke. Because if you don’t honor your past you’ll have no blueprint for your future. Time is passing so fast. Maybe what we all need is to slow down and give ourselves a daily dose of nostalgia.
Happy belated Easter everyone! I hope you all had just as delightful a holiday weekend as myself. We couldn’t have had better weather here in East Tennessee, 75 and sunny. Due to the fact that I have a small family, consisting of just me, Momma and Daddy, I always cook for our holidays and unfortunately can’t make it to Mitch’s side of the family events. But this weekend I managed to squeeze in an hour at the river with his relatives while my ham was heating in the oven. We have such wonderful balance in our relationship. I’m an only child who really never had a big family and Mitch comes from a HUGE family who gets together every week for Sunday dinner. Holidays are more like extended family reunions, held at a house on the river that is just for that purpose. I can get overwhelmed sometimes, but he understands and it’s nice to be able to sneak back home to my little world. Anyway, after I left, I got to work on our dinner. Traditionally for Easter I do ham and all the naughty fixins’. Mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, corn, gravy, dressing, deviled eggs, just to name a few. However, since I’ve really put forth an effort to stick to my healthy lifestyle, this year I prepared some lighter, although still as delicious, fare.
EASTER DINNER MENU 2014
My annual pineapple, mustard glazed spiral sliced ham
fresh canned green beans from a neighbors garden
baked sweet potatoes
pickled and deviled eggs
THE BUNNY CAKE
For starters, let’s just get to the ham. I don’t mean to brag, but my pineapple mustard glaze is so good you could seriously eat it by the spoonful. It takes a spiral ham from basic to BAM every year. And for such a showstopper, it’s so simple, anyone can do it. Just bring 3 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water and either two cans of sliced pineapples in juice, drained OR two fresh pineapples, cored, cut and sliced, to a boil. Skim off foam, lower heat to simmer, and let it go for about an hour to an hour and a half, skimming from time to time. Let the syrup cool completely, then stir in 1/4-1/2 cup of grainy, course ground, country style dijon mustard (I use Grey Poupon.) I always make the glaze the night before, storing it in the fridge overnight. That way the next morning, all I have to do is pour it over my spiral ham, letting the juices flow over and allowing some pineapples to stick to the ham itself. Heat the ham, covered in foil, and baste it periodicially until it is heated through, 10 mins per pound at 350 degrees. Be sure to serve the excess glaze with a gravy ladle so people can just pour it all over their ham. It’s amazing.
So along with the ham, Momma had some green beans that her neighbor had canned straight from his garden last summer. All they needed was a quick sautee with some bacon for a little flavor. Believe it or not, I used some uncured natural turkey bacon I had in the fridge and they turned out AMAZING. I also baked some sweet potatoes in the oven. There is just nothing more delicious on it’s own than a baked sweet potato from the oven. The natural caramelization that happens within the skin is such a treat. I only added a dash of Jamaican Jerk seasoning. Of course we had eggs. It’s just not Easter without deviled eggs. And I sliced a few pickled eggs as well, because I am a pickled egg freak. Don’t judge me.
All of that dinner lead up to my favorite part of the meal, the annual tradition of..….
THE ANNUAL SCALF BUNNY CAKEBefore and After
When I was a year old, my Momma ripped this recipe from some magazine, thinking it would be a fun (and delicious) Easter activity for us. Little did she know we would still be making this cake every year for 28 years. I love it. It’s probably one of my favorite holiday traditions. This year has to be my favorite yet. I baked a carrot cake with golden raisins and walnuts, smothered it in cream cheese icing and sprinkled it with coconut. Then after we finished dinner, Momma and I decorated like we do year after year with tons of candy. Reese’s Pieces, Cadbury mini eggs, twizzlers, Reese’s eggs and more icing…..sugar overload. I had to cheat on my diet. And cheat I did, polishing off half the poor bastard’s bowtie and one of his ears all on my own before I finally called Mom today and made her take the rest of it to her house. Had I kept it here I’m positive I would have lost a foot to diabetes.
It was a beautiful day with beautiful people.
Me and my MommaMe, Momma and Daddy
I also was very happy with my Easter outfit this year. Of course I was pilfering through Ross the other day and found this so cute skirt in my new favorite spring shade of blue, and floral top for like, $15 total. I managed to keep it on the hanger for almost two weeks until Easter. I topped it off with a big beautiful hat and really could not have been any more satisfied with my look. Nothing says Easter in the south like an outrageous hat, the bigger the better!
My makeup turned out very smooth on Sunday as well. I have to give credit where credit is due though and blame that all on the Naked II pallet. The colors blend so well, it gives an airbrushed finish. And the brush that is included is now a favorite.
My favorite accessory, as usual, was my hunky babe. His eyes are so complimented in this blue shirt. He’s the best blessing I could have ever received.
Best Easter everSomeone had too much ham!
I sincerely have never felt more blessed than I do right now which made this Easter the most special one I’ve ever celebrated. From my family to yours, I hope you all enjoyed each moment over the holiday weekend and were able to spend it exactly as you wanted.
As promised I wanted to update about our vacation to Myrtle Beach/Georgetown, SC. We had an amazing time catching up with friends and enjoying the sites. I wish I had more time to go into detail, but as I’m pressed for time, I’ll just hit the highlights.
Monday- arrived at 1pm. 75 degrees and sunny. Laid out by pool. Mitch fell asleep on his stomach and burned his back. After naps and showers, we enjoyed a late dinner at a new gastro pub called “Fire and Smoke.” amazing food and drink selection and beautiful art on the walls. Visited one of my favorite old haunts, Bumstead’s. Then back to crash.
Laura was there waiting to greet us!My honey, pre-sunburn.Finally! Rest and relaxation! Ahhhh…..Gas station munchies.Selfie shot at Bumsteads.My best friend Christian and I…reunited and it feels so good!
Tuesday- Woke up to another beautiful day. More pool time, as the wind off the ocean was too cold for laying out on the beach. We also spent the afternoon playing puttputt at Mitch’s request, something I haven’t done in years. Strange considering what a Myrtle Beach staple it is. We actually had a blast and Mitch even hit the hole in one on the 18th hole and won a wooden nickel good for a free game! That night both Christian and Laura had to work, so Mitch and I hit the boulevard looking for touristy trinkets, playing skee ball and getting in a little bit of Myrtle Beach nostalgia. Afterward we called it an early night, had a few glasses of wine and went to bed.
I love him so much! Puttputt at the jungle safari!Christian and I and our new friend on the course.Hello Sunshine!MB nostalgiaRelaxing in our matching Spring Break 2014 tshirts because we’re old and we can.
Wednesday- this was my favorite day. We drove down to Hopsewee Plantation in Georgetown. It was amazing. Beautiful, serene, and chock full of history. We toured the home first, then enjoyed one of the best lunches I’ve ever eaten in the tea room afterward. On the way back to Myrtle Beach, we stopped at Brookgreen Gardens and took a quick tour of the zoo. That night we enjoyed a relaxing game night at home with some friends. This day was perfect.
Pulling up to the back of the beautiful Hopsewee Plantation.Slave quarters. I’m going to assume the satellite was added later.Front of the house, facing the river.Honey, I’m home!!My love and I amongst the Spanish Moss.One of the previous Ladies of the plantation on her wedding day at the plantation.The wedding party in front of the house. The children are sitting on the very carriage stoop I was standing on in one of the above photos. So neat!Us on the front porch.Can I please just live here permanently?! ugh!Lunch at the Tea RoomDon Quixote statue at Brookegreen GardensChilly stroll on the beach!
Thursday- we woke up to some crummy weather, in comparison to the past three 75 degree days we had. Never fear, shopping was near. We hit up the outlets and I got a great deal on the perfect spring Coach wallet. (originally $115, I got it on mega sale for $33.) I also found a steal on an easy Leopard print Guess dress ($15) and some MAC essentials (a paint pot and the Viva Glam Nicki, which just so happens to be a perfect coral match to my new wallet.) We also had THE BEST DINNER EVER at a Brazilian Steakhouse called Rioz. Phew. Amazing.
New wallet and lipstick. Have I mentioned my obsession with coral?Chomping at the bit before dinner at Rioz. I love this lightweight spring trench.
LOVED my outfit that night!
The next morning we left. And honestly, it felt good to be home with my little dogs and my love. Hopefully I will make my triumphant return to the beach sooner rather than later. Til then, I can only enjoy this springtime in the mountains.
Good morning! I’m sitting here drinking my morning tea with the sunshine streaming through my windows and listening to the birds chirp. Even though it’s still pretty chilly outside, just like the birds, I can feel spring moving in. And time is FLYING by. I can”t believe it’s already been 2 months since I started this little online journal. Pretty soon it’ll be 90 degrees outside and everyone will be bitching and whining for cooler weather on Facebook (why can’t people just be happy )
This week I got around to bringing a little spring into the house. I changed my Bath & Body Works Wallflowers from “Leaves” to “Coconut Leaves!” I mopped my floors, opened my windows and let in some fresh air. And I changed out my dining room roses for a beautiful arrangement of astro’s and tulips. Nothing says spring time like tulips, and in white, they are so chic.
A spring bouquet for the dining room
Also, yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which means Lent is upon us. I’m not Catholic, but I’ll take any excuse to better my diet, so for the next 39 days, I’m cutting the carbs! This really isn’t a major change for me, I’m just enforcing my existing diet beliefs. I guess the best way to describe my diet would be Paleo, but I hate to associate myself with the Crossfit cult, no offense to any crossfitters, I just don’t do it, but more power to ya. I guess I’m a Naturalist. I feel that the best way to eat is the way my ancestors did–by eating things that can be consumed in their rawest form from nature. Lots of chicken and fish, with red meat maybe once a week and pork every other week, (I don’t have any kind of moral issues with red meat and pork, I’ve just found that when I’m eating really clean, my body has a hard time breaking those things down, and since I want to listen to my body, I probably should limit my intake of them.) I compliment my protein with plenty of fruits and veggies. Leafy greens, broccoli/cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, eggplant, asparagus, all the squashes, peppers and onions, garlic, avocado and cabbage are some of my favorite veggies. On the fruit side I love any kind of berries, kiwi, melons, pineapple, grapefruit, grapes, and tangerines. I try to stay away from carrots, corn, potatoes and bananas, as these contain a lot of sugar and honestly, I just hate the texture of bananas. For snacking, I try to stick to nuts, raw walnuts and almonds preferably, nut butters, hummus and occasionally 1/4 cup servings of cottage cheese or Greek yogurt. I’ve tried to quit dairy all the way around, but I’m a sucker for good cheese and can’t pass up my smattering of feta on my eggs in the mornings. Hey, YOLO. I have not drank milk in over a year now and am now apparently lactose intolerant. However, I absolutely LOVE almond milk. There is a reason why the Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla almond milk is always sold out at my grocery store. It’s delicious AND it only has 30 calories in an 8oz serving!
Typical breakfast
With all that being said about my diet BELIEFS, just like any believer, in my day-to-day life I falter. My diet REALITY is a lot more lax than just that nice little list up there. It’s hard to work in a pub where you’re frying delicious hand-cut french fries and not snag one or two. Off every order. And pretty soon those add up to an order within themselves. Or to tell the sweet old war vet who brings me cookies n’ cream ice cream that I can’t eat it because I’m dieting. Or cheesecake. For God’s sake. I’ll never be able to pass on cheesecake. As I’ve become more in tune with my body over the past few months, I’ve really learned a lot about myself. For example, as the day goes on I lose motivation. I’m a morning person. I wake up with all the ambition in the world. I don’t have food cravings and I get. stuff. done. However, the later in the day it gets, the worse my sweet tooth is, and the less likely I am to stick to goals and you can forget about the gym. Seriously, if I’m not at the gym before 1pm, it’s not gonna happen. And I normally don’t go in to work until 9pm! So imagine how hard it is to not hit the late night diner that serves homemade gourmet cheesecakes until 5am with all my co-workers after a long night of slinging drinks! But I am a firm believer in the 90/10 rule of eating well and exercising 90% of the time so the other 10% can be spent being a disgusting fat slob.
I really need to get it together though since Mitch and I are going on our spring vacation next week to the beach. I absolutely can’t wait. One of my best friends moved to Myrtle Beach right after we graduated high school and even after almost 10 years, is still nice enough to put me up when I get a little spare cash and can manage to get away from work for a few days. With that being said, I’ve spent a lot of time in the ol’ Dirty Myrtle, but since Mitch is going with me this time and he’s not a big drinker or partyer, I wanted to plan some really fun stuff that even I’ve never done before. For instance, one day we are driving down to Georgetown and touring Hopsewee Plantation. I’m obsessed with Southern history and am sure the tour of the house and the following afternoon tea will not disappoint. I’m also excited to get down to the Inlet and enjoy some fresh seafood. JUST NO HUSH PUFFIES!
Mitch and I on our last beach trip
I hope everyone is as excited as myself for the upcoming season. As much as I try to be thankful and enjoy every day, there’s just something so fresh and new and exciting about spring. With everything in nature stirring and coming to life, I can’t help but feel the same on the inside. Hopefully I’ll have some time to update from the beach. Until then, everyone carpe diem!
I have admittedly been slacking on my blogging lately and there’s no excuse. Although I will say I have been working my sweet southern butt off since my little Valentine’s getaway. Guess that’s the price you pay for time off. I had the busiest weekend of my life at work last Thursday through Sunday. Thursday we had a DJ come in for a “dance night” promotion, which isn’t my thing, but if it brings in the kids and they want to give me their money, I’ll play along. Ashton and I went all out in J. Valentine inspired go-go gear and it worked to our advantage. I made more money that night than I’ve ever made in one night in my entire work history. The next night, Friday, was another huge night at work. We pulled epic numbers yet again. Then I worked a 13 hour double on Saturday, followed by a 2 hour intensive cleaning party on Sunday, an alleged day off. Work, work, on Monday and Tuesday, and that brings us up to speed with my “weekend” Wednesday and today. On top of this crazy work schedule, I have taken on the added responsibility of working on our annual fundraiser for the Humane Society, The Mr.Tipton Street Pageant. Phew!
Ashton and I in our party gear for work
I managed to squeeze in a few fashion and makeup hits over the past few weeks however. One of my favorite looks was surprisingly on Valentine’s Day when I actually rocked a red lip in public. I’ve only worn red lips in public on 3 occasions as I am of the opinion that red lips are a privilege, not a right, but perhaps, I’m wrong. Perhaps everyone can wear a red lip. If I can do it with my giant mouth and manage not to look like The Joker anyone can! I opted for M.A.C.’s “Brave Red” lipstick, over their “Brick” lipliner, with a blob of sheer red gloss right in the center of my lips that I honestly do not remember the name of, only that it is M.A.C. Paired with romantic Veronica Lake waves and a lace neck, peplum blouse, I felt like a real Cupid.
Red hot romance
I also pulled out some shorts last week, as temperatures shot up to almost 70 following our 2-day blizzard. These silky khaki Express shorts were just perfect with a billowy CK blouse in rose. Add gold accessories and gold Guess ballet flats and I’m ready for spring.
I treated myself to a mani/pedi today and finally got my mitts on some matte black gel polish. I’ve been wanting this manicure for quite some time. It will probably be my last black manicure until fall, as I’m ready for some fun spring colors. I saw at the salon today that OPI has a really fun Brazil inspired line out for spring that with a coral that I’m dying to try. Unfortunately, I didn’t take into consideration that I will be at the beach in less than two weeks for Mitch’s spring break and black isn’t very beachy, but c’est la vie.
Matte black gel with glossy black tips
I would say that the highlight of my week was paying a visit to Clover Creek Farms to pick up eggs. This place, also known as Green Eggs and Lamb, was amazing. I didn’t want to leave! Clover Creek Farms plays home to a flock of over 200 lambs, dogs, several horses, guineas and of course, chickens. The chickens are Animal Welfare Approved, which means they have free range of the farm, foraging for bugs and other food in nature, just as they were intended. Their diet determines the appearance of the eggs, thus giving them their wide array of shapes, sizes and gorgeous colors. They’re almost too beautiful to eat! The yolks are enormous and a beautiful deep orange. The lady of the farm was also kind enough to throw in a pound of long horn beef , which I made into hamburger steaks. It was delicious. I added a little olive oil at her suggestion, as that type of beef is so lean it can tend to dry up. I’m so excited to be eating things that come from just down the street as opposed to a grocery store. The difference in taste and how I feel is more than evident.
My haul from the farm. 3 dozen eggs and a pound of beef for $12They don’t even look real!Longhorn beef steaks–it’s what’s for dinner
I hope to have more time to blog this week, especially while we’re away on spring break. We’re headed back to Myrtle Beach to stay with one of my best friends Christian. I spend a lot of time in MB during the summer months, but this will only be Mitch’s 2nd trip there with me. Pray for him 🙂 On that note, I would also like to say that I have been watching “Myrtle Manor” and “Party Down South” which are both filmed in Myrtle Beach, and it truly is a shame that these shows are representing that area. If you get off the strip you can experience a whole new Horry County and it is not the trash box those shows make it out to be. In parting, I leave you with this adorable picture I snapped of Mitch and one of my sweet babies Mr.Mouse. I’m one lucky gal. Til next time!
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Appalachian Barbie 