Louisiana

I'm in Southern Louisiana this week for work, and having a great time. Unfortunately for my diet, I've been eating everything in sight. Not quite in line with my 2012 goals, but I have been to the hotel gym for the past 2 days (which is 2 days more than I would normally go), so I am feeling a little more proud of myself. Last summer I was in this area--but a little further out into the Bayou, not near civilization, and I bought a local school fundraiser cookbook. I've been reinspired to start using it again. I have eaten some of the most delicious food this week so far (catfish, gumbo, po boys, stuffed crab...and let's not even discuss the bread pudding). Today at lunch I had rice dressing for the first time, and it was insanely good. I think I'm going to try a recipe for it soon once I get home--and maybe attempt to healthify it? We'll see. In the mean time, I'm looking forward to a dinner of fruit and yogurt tonight, and another gym trip :)

Happy Tuesday

I hope y'all had a great weekend! Mine was nice, very low key. I spent most of it lying on the couch, watching tv, and doing a little cleaning and shopping and eating here and there. Just what I needed!

John and I tried a new restaurant, the Tuk Tuk Thai Loft on Peachtree. It was good and had a gorgeous view of the skyline, but I still don't think it held a candle to my favorite Tin Drum. I did get to use a $10 off coupon though, which I always love doing. Other than that, I took a trip to Ikea and confirmed once again that my perfect bedroom furniture does not exist. I really liked one I saw there, but frankly it just looked too cheap to pay almost $400 for. So, it has been decided (by me...and probably everyone else who is sick of hearing about my quest for furniture) that i'm going to attempt a DIY fabric headboard! I'm very excited about this! It will be my first semi-large scale, blog-inspired DIY project. I can't wait to pick out a fabric (I'm thinking bold...go big or go home, right?), and detail the process on the blog :)

Looking forward to a (free! awesome seats!) Braves game tonight with Jenn, and really looking forward to a weekend in North Carolina starting Thursday. Here I come, friends, family, beach music and bbq!

(Still) waiting

Of course, I heard nothing from the realtors this weekend about any progress on the house/closing date. I'm used to it at this point, but its really starting to stress me out. I have a bad tendency to stress most about things I have no control over, and this is one of those things. I've had a lucky streak of no work travel for about the past two months (which is a long time for me). And of course, now that my travel will start up again soon (although not too much), its still starting again. And there will be weeks that I'm not in town at all. I've also got some personal things happening too--all good, yay! I'm going to Florida for a mini-vacay/wedding weekend, and then Kristin is hopefully coming to visit in early March. Ugh. I just don't want to stress about closing/moving while all of that's going on, but alas, I have no control. I'll just have to make it work whenever I finally do get some news. Le sigh.

This was a good 3 day weekend for me. Friday I went to the mall and picked up a lovely wedding gift for Lydia (wedding weekend officially starts in 10 days and I could NOT be more excited). I also broke my no-shop February rule (I know....already), but I only spent $7! I got a pretty black cocktail dress at Loft--for $7. Amazing find that I could not pass up. I'm still considering no-shop February a success so far. I had dinner with a co-worker on Friday night and discovered a great new Mexican place. With $15 pitchers of margaritas. Yes please! Saturday was mostly spent in Alabama at John's sister's house, hanging out and playing with her very cute little girls. We tried a delicious new restaurant in Fayetteville on Saturday night, and then did the opposite of fine dining on Sunday and went to Waffle House, which was very delicious. All in all not a terrible eating weekend. Sadly I didn't lose any weight at last Friday's weigh-in, so I'm feeling more motivated to eat better and do more exercizing this week. Hopefully it'll go well.

I also half-way watched the Super Bowl last night, which is more than I usually do. I saw a few commercials, which I enjoyed and the game was pretty exciting overall. I definitely did not enjoy the halftime show, though. Fergie needs permanent auto-tune. I did enjoy the dancers and the lights/moving stage. Very well thought out, but overall boring and off-key.

I hope you all had fabulous weekends! Happy Monday xoxo

Yummies

Phi Mu petit fours for sale at a bakery in Auburn! It was such a coincidence that I obviously had to try one out (it was delicious). Probably the first one I've had since rush!

Breakfast

I adore breakfast foods. All of them. I really can't think of something I don't like. And I don't just love it in the morning...I could eat eggs or pancakes or bacon ANY time of day. Mmm I'm hungry just thinking about it!

I was so excited to find this list of 50 wonderful, delicious and unique breakfast places across the US this morning. I definitely want to mark the two in Atlanta off my list sometime soon, and hopefully get to try at least one in California on my upcoming trip. Yay!

Bon Appetit!

Summer-o-fun

Two weeks from today Kristin will be here in Atlanta--yay! And Sarina will be here just a couple of days after that! I'm so lucky to have friends who can come visit me...if only they lived here full time. I also realized today that in just over a month I'll be in Washinton D.C. for two whole weeks for work purposes, but also there over the weekends, and I'll get to have a reunion with some of the very best people in the whole world. I miss my friends from Wake so desperately sometimes...it will be better than wonderful to finally see some of them again.

There really is so, so much to look forward to. Seeing friends, traveling the country, visiting home. All so great. Plus, hanging out with my friends here in the (short) meantimes that I'll actually be in town. My goal for the summer is to actually go to a Braves game. I feel like I'm not really a true Atlantan until I do (and we all know that I'll be more interested in the hotdogs and beverages than actual baseball, of course:). I'm also planning on taking as much advantage of my pools (and gym...ick) as I can this summer. Might as well enjoy, on the few occasions when I actually have nothing to do in the evenings.

Other things I'm excited about:
-out to lunch today at a new Asian place, Silk, in Midtown
-my ugly grandma chair is being recovered this week in NC! I can't wait to see the finished product...my living room looks so naked without it.
-more cooking tonight on my GF grill
-pool time
-fireworks in WF on Friday night with mom and maybe Erin!
-finally seeing my beloved Matthew and Emily this weekend at home..its been far too long
-reading new books
-overhauling my closet space in my apt...its amazing how out-of-control my pantry, linen closets, etc have gotten in the past 7ish months

Happy Friday-ish!

I'm so excited its the last day of the work-week for me. Tonight mom and I are going to the High Museum for some live jazz and we're going to make dinner--fresh scallops from Publix. Delicious! Last night we went out for Mexican food (I discovered a new place--new to me--on Ponce in the Highlands called El Azteca...yum) and lounged around on noodles in the pool for about an hour. Lovely. Its so nice to have her here! Since she had no plans for today, she's going to pick us up some cupcakes from this bakery called Matty Cakes right by my apartment. Supposedly the best red velvet in Atlanta. I'll be the judge of that tonight:)

Otherwise life is trudging along as usual. I'm trying to enjoy my time in the office during these two weeks, because I know I'll be gone so much for the rest of the summer. But honestly, its the middle of summertime and I'm seriously lacking in motivation. I'm getting all of my assignments done, but I have no motivation to go above and beyond to do things that aren't due for a while. Even though its the perfect time to do them. Sigh. I think procrastination may have finally caught up with me, and my brain is crying out for a summer vacay. Oh, to be in school again:) Scratch that--I will be for two weeks at the beginning of August in D.C. Yay!

This weekend at home I'm looking forward to: Friday night with Erin on Glenwood South (we both need a night out, let's be honest), lunch with Sara, dinner with the fam, and hopefully seeing Be and Emily, whom I have not seen in longer than I'd like to remember. So much to look forward to!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

I want to stay here for a month.

Florida is fabulous. Nothing like palm trees and a new place in general to perk up a person's mood! I'm having a really good time here...excellent food, great coworkers and a pretty sweet hotel suite all to myself. Yes, please.

Speaking of good food, I had lunch yesterday at the Village Tavern--THE Village Tavern of Winston-Salem fame!! I had the Deacon Club sandwich, which of course isn't called "Deacon" here, but it was insanely delicious and nostalgic anyway. Nothing like the VT to take me straight back to college:) And on that note: this summer is going to be a summer of fabulous reunions with all the best people in the world from Wake. I am unbelievably excited and cannot wait for July and August to roll around so I can see them!!

Nothing much else to report on. I'm really hoping for some beach/pool time today after work! I can't leave Florida without some kind of tan/burn, right?

Happy weekend!

I hope all of my blogfriends out there are having an excellent Saturday. I just had a very successful morning of shopping, when I purchased a new fragrance & some cute new tops at Anthropologie on sale! Hooray! Now I'm just relaxing the afternoon away before the epic "cookoutpalooza" I'm attending tonight. Should be fun!



And now I'm currently enjoying a Chik Fil A peach milkshake--tastes like summer!

back in the land of the living

I'm back at work and finally feeling relatively back to normal again--hooray! Still not 100%, but about 3576x better than yesterday. Hopefully my nasty illness was just a short-lived virus, and I'll be totally back to normal by tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow: BEACH TIME! I'm unbelievably excited and cannot wait. I did a little packing last night...probably bring waaay too many clothes, considering it's only a 3 day trip. But sometimes I just can't help myself. I need to go to the grocery store for snacks and other deliciousness tonight, and pick up a special graduation present I ordered last week for my favorite cousin. Also, I'm going to bake my peanut butter brownies too! Hopefully I won't be too exhausted after work to get all these things done.

Good things about today:

1. Orange tea with Splenda is amazing, and can bring any person back to life.
2. Chik-fil-a lemonade has the same effect.

3. I like being back in the office and having human contact after my day in bed by myself.

4. Nice weather, although its looking a little rainish out my window right now.

Mixed feelings

Today is officially the one year anniversary of my graduation from Wake. A whole new crop of freshly minted diplomas are being handed out today, and I can no longer say "Oh, I just graduated last May." Getting older...le sigh. While of course I'm a little nostalgic and sad--I can't believe its been a solid year since I've spent any large amount of time with my best friends in the world--I'm mostly just happy to say I have survived my first year of adulthood. And I've turned out pretty damn great if you ask me! As much as I've complained about feeling lonely/anxious/whatever about being on my own lately, I have so many wonderful things and people in my life. This first year "on my own" could have gone a whole lot worse than it did. And for that, I am grateful!

Weekend recap: Friday I was a complete bum. Since my class and my test were finally behind me, I felt like a kid getting out of school for the summer. I slept late, layed out by the pool and didn't do much else. Friday night I went to dinner with a big group of people to Lola--yummy Italian food and a Bellini bar. Mmm! After dinner we went to Opera in Midtown. That's right, I officially had my first Atlanta night out in the club. Haha. It was really, really fun. AND, I feel very special because I was watching a Samantha Brown special on Atlanta this weekend on the Travel Channel, and she went to Opera too! She even called it the hippest nightspot in ATL. Since when am I that hip? Who knew! There was lots of fun dancing and delicious beverages:) Saturday and Sunday I was as lazy as humanly possible. It rained the rest of the weekend, so no pool time. But I watched some awesomely bad movies I rented from the library and did some odds and ends shopping yesterday before my massage appointment. (Quick note: it is unbelievably hard to stay awake in a massage when its pouring rain outside...practically impossible).

Now its back to Monday at the office. I should be fairly busy this week, which is good, but I know I'm still going to be restless because I can't stop thinking about my beach trip this weekend! It got here so quickly! I'm going to attempt to pack a little every night so I don't forget anything. Otherwise, here's a few things to be happy about today:

1. A very green banana for breakfast.
2. Not being tired at work--for the first time in a few weeks it seems like!
3. Getting cards from my sweet coworkers.
4. Looking forward to my crockpot meal tonight for dinner!
5. Perhaps attempting to make something about of the ground bison meat I bought yesterday?
6. A normal work week!
7. Beach beach beach.
8. Frolf tomorrow night with my new discs.
9. A couple good phone chats this weekend.
10. Sunny weather is here again!

Teehee

Watch this!

________________________________________________

As for the weekend: it was awesome. Sara got here on Thursday night and we finally went to a restaurant within walking distance of my apartment I've been wanting to go to for a long while. It was yummy. Friday morning I came into work for a few, then we spent most of the afternoon having coffee and chatting with one of our former teachers/friends from high school. It was pretty great to see two familiar Raleigh faces in the ATL, and we had a good time catching up. We were dying of starvation by the time we left, so obviously we went to the Varsity for dinner. Nothing is better than Varsity onion rings. Nothing. We also popped over to Atlantic Station to check out H&M (shockingly my first time since moving here) and a couple other stores. Saturday was spent at the World of Coke, where I tried every. single. Coke. product. I'm not going to lie, that was probably the most carbonation that has ever been in my body. Especially considering I don't really drink soda period. Then we went to Lennox for more shopping, and finished off the evening by going to Gladys's Chicken and Waffles!! We couldn't go to the gangsta-fab one downtown because it was packed, so I don't think we really experienced the full atmosphere. BUT, the waffle was awesome and it was actually really good with fried chicken wings on top. Who knew? I finally feel a little more ATL now that i've been! Sunday, Sara and I ventured up to the outlet mall to spend even more money (I bought myself a treat at Coach for passing my exam), and then I sent her in her merry way back to Raleigh. After she left, I went over to A's for our usual Sunday night hangout. Lots of fun.

I am so happy Sara was here for a few days. It was beyond good to see her and talk to her all weekend about everything imaginable. There is nothing like a visit from an old friend to lift the spirits and put life back into pespective a little bit. I'm excited that she got to meet Andrew as well, because its always nice to be able to introduce the people who know me best to the new, exciting people in my life here. Needless to say, I'm a happy girl and can't wait for more visitors. If you are out there reading this, you know that my door is open!

As for this week, I'm in a class at work. Luckily, its in my building so I didn't have to travel for it. The topic and activities aren't my thing, so I'm not really enjoying myself that much (yet, hopefully). But, its nice to be out of the cubicle and meeting new people. And the class is only through Thursday at lunch time, so it doesn't interfere with my flex Friday--crucial. Let's just hope I make it to then:)

SCD arrives tonight!

My quality of life has already improved so much since I got my test out of the way yesterday...I think it was adding more anxiety than I realized. But now I feel fabulous and carefree again! Lots and lots of good things to report on:

1. Sara is coming to Atlanta today!! I am so excited for my first official visitor. I'm taking a half day off work tomorrow so we can be lazy by the pool, shop and eat to our hearts' content. It will be so wonderful to have someone to hang out with all weekend too...none of my usual boring routine of trying to entertain myself. One downside: I probably should've cleaned my apartment before her arrival since its been very neglected this week, but alas, didn't happen. Oops.

Maybe we can recreate this amazing photo from my 21st birthday party this weekend? Hmm..

2. Fabulous meal at Roy's last night. A and I are making it our personal goal to dine at as many island themed restaurants as possible (weird, I know). Last night we had delicious Ahi tuna, Mahi Mahi with some kind of lobster butter sauce that I would like to swim in, and the official most amazing molten chocolate souffle of all time. I also had some type of pineapple martini that was so good I can't even really put it into words. Oh Roy's, I heart you.

3. This weekend I will finally be visiting Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles restuarant. I think I've mentioned this place before (because its one of the reasons I love ATL so much, and I haven't even been yet). A and I tried to go a couple of weeks ago, but the line was out the door and it was late. Sigh. This weekend we will for sure be making an appearance...hopefully at the downtown location, but we're willing to drive to the burbs for the other location if its too packed. I have to introduce SCD to the very best the city has to offer, obviously.

4. I will hopefully be getting in some solid pool time this weekend. I am in desperate need of a tan and I want to get a little color before the beach weekend (only two weeks away!). There's nothing worse than burning like a lobster on the first day at the beach.

5. Ok, so maybe this isn't really a good thing to report on, but I have become mildly obsessed with reading about the Jon and Kate Plus 8 cheating scandal! Its all over US Weekly--there's even video!--and I find the story very sensational. Still not sure if I believe it (I never believe anything until its on people.com, the only legitamite celeb site), but that hasn't stopped me from reading all the stories. One of the more shocking tidbits I picked up from one of the articles: Jon and Kate make an estimated $50K to $75K per episode of their show! Holy crap, thats a lot of money for not really doing anything except their daily routine with the kids. Wow.

6. Its Thursday, which is always a good thing.

7. I didn't go clothes shopping yesterday like I wanted to...hooray for me! I still do want to buy myself a little gift for passing my test, etc, but I'm going to try to think of something memorable that I can get/do. In theory I need to be saving up for all the lovely foreclosed/discounted condos I want to buy one day. If I ever complain about being bored, remind me to start doing some real estate research. No sense in renting when I can buy.

Rain+dark sky=extra caffiene needed.

Back in ATL after a fabulous Raleigh weekend. I purposely didn't make many plans while I was home this weekend, and that was an excellent call on my part. It was nice to be at home, run errands and shop with Mom, and just generally hang around town and relax. I always forget just how relaxing it is to be in my hometown. Home is peaceful and quiet and green everywhere. You can actually hear birds and insects and not the usual city noise I'm used to now. Atlanta is many things, but "relaxing" isn't really one of them. At least I haven't really discovered my relaxing places here just yet. I have very ambitious plans for exploring Piedmont Park and going to free concert Wednesdays in Centennial Park all summer, but as of right now the most relaxing place I can go around here is the mall (I know, I'm strange..the mall has always relaxed me). But, I really need a place to go where I don't spend tons of cash:)

Needless to say, I had a lovely time in good old NC and didn't do anything terribly special. The book sale was great (I fed my art history habit and got a ton of great/huge art history books...too bad I couldn't bring them back to ATL on the plane. oops) and I had an awesome dinner with Erin on Saturday night at North Hills. I did some quality window shopping by myself before I met her and soaked in a little of the place where I used to spend soo much of my time. It was really nice. The creme brulee cheesecake I had at dinner made me very happy too!

As great as the weekend was, I was ready to come back south yesterday afternoon. I take this as a good sign, considering how torn I've been feeling lately..missing home and feel lonely and whatnot. But I'm hoping that was just a little phase of the last few weeks. Something about May (the best month of the year, in my opinion) has given me a new lease on life.

Last night once I got back home from the airport, I went to A's house where he made me delicious fajitas, even though it was raining too much to grill outside, and we watched bad Sunday night tv as usual. I've been dragging this morning, despite my best efforts to caffienate with the extra bold brew. Tonight I'm looking forward to doing some laundry, unpacking from the weekend and going to bed early. I'm finally taking my work exam on Wednesday morning, so its like final exam cram time for me for the next two days. I feel like a college student again! If only..
I hope y'all had excellent weekends too and are having a happy Monday:)

Ode to Easter food

Two of the best Easter foods in the world:

Beachy weekend

Another deliciously long weekend is over, and I'm back in the office again. I feel really great today...something about a day off, seeing the ocean and spending a little time with my parents has re-energized me. I'm sure I have Spring to thank for some of the feeling too.

It's nice coming back to work today after having been out of the office for over a week. I really enjoy the travel portion of my job. Even though I'm still working (sometimes longer hours than I actually put in at the office), the change of scenery is so good. I don't care if I get sent to backwoods-wherever, its still nice to get out and see a new little piece of the world.

The weekend getaway was great. We got to Savannah Friday night, and spent all day Saturday riding trolleys all over town, walking by the river front, and eating. Highlight of the weekend (or of my life in general): eating at Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady and Sons. Holy hell, it was amazing. Some of the best fried chicken I have ever tasted in my life, and everything else was great too. Sunday we went to Tybee Island, the nearest beach to Savannah and where most Atlantans go to the beach. It was nice--very secluded, but lots of gorgeous, flat sand. Not a whole lot to do, which would be fine in the summer, but since it was still a little chilly this weekend, we couldn't exactly lay out by the pool or go into the ocean. Oh, well. It was still a great place to go to relax, and I hope I get to go back soon! Pictures to come later:)

This week is only a 3 day work week for me! Friday is my usual flex day, so I get to have yet another long weekend. Lucky me:) I hope everyone had a great Easter. I know I'm excited to wear all my summer whites and seersuckers now!

Long weekend--hooray!

I got to come home from Alabama yesterday after all! Yay! Unfortunately we didn't get to leave AL until about 5 pm Eastern time, but we booked it back home and made really good time to Atlanta. I was back in my apartment by 8pm. Awesome. I dumped my stuff off and went to dinner with A. He took me to this awesome Mexican place he had been to before--very authentic and everything is ala carte, so you can try a bunch of different things at once. It was very tasty.

Today I'm finishing up some work from the "home office". It was so nice to sleep in a little bit today. And my parents are coming down later this afternoon so that we can head to Savannah and Tybee Island for Easter weekend. Double Yay! I am so excited for some relaxation and I can't wait to stick my feet in the sand. Mmm, I'm happier already just thinking about it.

I hope y'all have a fantastic (hopefully) long weekend. I'll be back to the grind and back to the blog next week!

I wish I was on spring break.

I really wish I was on spring break. This first spring as an adult is rough--where is my week off to go to the beach? Where is all my free afternoon time to lay around outside doing absolutely nothing? If I were still at Wake this time of the year (my personal favorite time in the Forest), I'd be swinging on Davis Field or lying on on blanket painting my nails and listening to my ipod for hours on end. There might even be a trip to Haynes mall and Dewey's involved:) Oh how I miss that part of college.

And for another stimulating peek into my Alabama life this week! Haha, I wish that we're true... There is nothing new to report. Still just working and eating, and that's pretty much it. I ate peach cobbler not only once, bu twice yesterday! I'm pretty sure the only thing I'm going to take away from this week is about 5 extra pounds. I'm still unsure if I'm going back home today or tomorrow. My guess is tomorrow, although sleeping in my own bed tonight would be a very nice surprise:)

Things on my to do list:
1. Unpack and repack for the weekend once I get home.
2. Major laundry (see #1).
3. Buy some new cute pajamas for spring/summer time. I really like these.
4. Eat lots of Easter candy!
5. Clean my apartment at some point...its amazing how dirty it gets when I'm not even there!
6. Wear shorts since the weather has finally thawed out again.
7. Go on a serious detox after this week full of peach cobbler and said Easter candy.
8. Go to a baseball game. Yes, you read that right. I won't feel like a real Atlantan until I see the Braves in person.
9. Hang out more with all my new girlfriends in ATL.
10. Plan trips to Raleigh and/or NYC. Can't wait!

Alabama is boring. At least being here this week for work is boring. There isn't anything to do except eat, and the pickin's are slim for that too. Although I have to admit I had some of the best blackberry cobbler of my entire life last night at a place called "Peach Park". The whole trip was worthwhile just because of that:) I clocked some serious time on the phone last night too, which is good. Being stuck in a hotel in the middle of nowhere forces me to catch up with people! Also, its very conducive to lots of wonderful sleep!

I'm happy its already Wednesday. Only one or two more days here, and then I'll be back to ATL then off to Savannah and Tybee Island! I am super excited. Need to remember to charge my camera for the occasion. Maybe I'll run into myfood idol Paula Deen!

Happy Hump Day

Currently: eating fried corn nuggets (I feel like I'm at the state fair) and listening to awesome 90s music in my cube while I work. Its a little dreary outside again...all gray out my window, but I'm definitely grateful that all the pollen is being washed away by the rain. Pollen is my mortal enemy in the spring.

I took the morning off work today, and I'm really glad I did. I got to the police station and picked up my report so I can finally file my insurance claim! I also went to the dentist--only the second dentist I've ever been to in my life, and it was great! The people were so nice and told me I have very pretty teeth:) I wish I could have slept in a little later...I set the alarm for 8:45 but woke up at 6:30. Grrr. That's earlier than I get up on a normal day. And last night was a late night, as date nights during the week usually are:) Andrew and I went to get my new tv (upgrade from my old one!), set it up, went to dinner and trivia and then came back to my place and watched as much bad reality tv as possible to test out the new set. I had a really great time. But again, I don't like interruptions to my sleep schedule, so I was dragging this morning. Tonight I need to go to the post office, pay my rent, and take back some library books. Something tells me I'll be so exhausted that I won't actually do any of those things, and I'll save them all for my Friday off (except the rent, of course). I probably won't be able to pry myself away from my glorious new tv!

Middle of the week...I suppose its time to start thinking of weekend plans again. Hopefully Andrew and I will spend some QT together since we haven't both been in ATL for a weekend in a while. I also might do some more outlet mall shopping with my new friend Leslie, or hang out at my other friend Sarah's house. I'm so lucky to have met so many great people lately!

Awesome link of the day: Kristin's latest blog entry. The Latin nerd within is rejoicing:)