Devastation

In case you live under a rock and haven't heard about the destruction of the tornadoes in Alabama, here is a little look of what happened yesterday...

We were incredibly lucky to not have to go through any of this. It missed the southern suburbs of Birmingham, but not by much. And we definitely hunkered down in the basement until JP Dice gave us the all clear to come up.

This just gives you a snapshot of the damage that was done. This tornado was reported to be a mile wide and pretty much tracked through the entire width of the state. The hardest hit areas were Tuscaloosa, north Birmingham, and Cullman. At least 131 people are dead (according to the governor), and there are still some missing. There are people that I work with that are missing family members and have lost their entire homes.

So pray for the people of these cities, because there's a long rough road ahead of them.

Wednesday Ramblings

• I love everything about New Orleans. I'm so ready to move.



• Have you ever watched The Soup? If not, you really should.



• Have you ever watched After Lately? If so, please tell me what's going on, because I don't get it (and it's not because I hate Chelsea Handler. I love her.)



• I can't believe how much I missed my dog on vacation. Do you know how hard it is not to love your sweet bundle of fur?



• I have some massive things going on in my life that I'm pretty excited about. I hope anyway. I hope to one day share them on this here blog!



• I have so many shows on the DVR; Hubs has to leave so I can watch him, because I can't convince him that Dancing with the Stars, Boy Meets World (reruns), The Event, Bridezillas, Grey's Anatomy and Glee are so worth watching.



• It seems my life is pretty much all food and TV. I guess that's about right...



• Oh, and I'm thinking of cutting all of my hair off. I'm bored.

these are the hand grenades from New Orleans. they look all nice and sweet. they are the strongest drink on bourbon street and they will knock you on your butt.

Restaurant Review: Mother's (NOLA)

This past weekend, hubs and I went to New Orleans. (Ok, I have to admit that I read another blog that said it drives this certain person crazy when someone else uses the word "hubs" or "hubby." Yeah, well I'm still gonna use it). It was amazing!! The hubs said it was named one of the 10 places you have to eat before you die, but I just googled the crap out of it and can't find it.

Anyway, it's on Poydras street. Mother's is best known for their baked ham, but they are also known for their debris (day-bree), which is the roast beef that falls into gravy. So freakin awesome.

World's best...they ain't kidding!!

Corner street sign.


The inside of their walls are covered with pictures of famous people who have been there.

Super cute hubs....he hates his candid shots.

The crawfish omelette. I could eat this every day. Seriously.

Their baked ham breakfast biscuit. Not only was the biscuit the best I'd ever had, but the ham. Best. Stuff. On. Earth. Bennett said the jelly was good, but I have a jelly phobia. I don't like the texture. At all.

And there it is...the debris. With grits. Oh my. I really could have eaten all of the debris in the world.

This is the the beginning of this trip. I'm excited to post the architecture, the "model shoot," the French market Restaurant, the lovely po' boys at Parkway. Plus some Bourbon street Saturday drinkin. Get excited!!

A Little Taste

of what's to come!

New Orleans was great! I'll be back to regular postings tomorrow. For now, enjoy the BBQ shrimp heads!!

Sweetness Times A Million

We were the proud parents of a puppy graduate this weekend! Stell dog finished her puppy education class this weekend at PetSmart, with three other of her little puppy friends! We mainly took puppy class because the trainer suggested it since she was so afraid of people. So on the very last day, she was a social butterfly! She played with the other pups, and, AND (this is the big one) let other people pet her!! We were so thrilled!! Anyway, a few shots from Saturday...

I'll give you one guess how hard it is to get a grad cap on a dog....

"Hey mom and dad!! I'll wear the hat, but I will not look at the camera!"

"Nope, still not looking...."

"Nope!"

Gotcha! So cute!!

Congratulations sweet puppy dog!!!

Things I Love: Jillian Michaels

Unlike most people, my love affair with Jillian didn't start with The Biggest Loser. I was actually looking for a nice way to get toned before my wedding. I didn't want my arms to jiggle during the champagne toast. So, like any bride does, I was perusing through some message boards, and came across some "How to Get Toned for Your BIG day!" articles and how someone mentioned how the 30 Day Shred was incredible for someone who wasn't looking to lose a ton of weight. So boom. That same day I order it from Amazon. I do the work-out and couldn't walk the next day.

I became addicted to her kick ass workouts and no nonsense attitude. I finished the 30 days, and then kept going! I would pick a workout that I wanted to do for that day, and it was always as hard as it was the day before! My arms had never been that toned as they were at the wedding. I had guns!!

I was hooked. I was in love. With Jillian Michaels.

When her book, Making the Cut, came out, I immediately ran to get it. I was so excited that I could have a bod like Jillian, but I read it, and didn't exactly have all the gym equipment necessary or share her affinity for fish. I like seafood, people, but I don't like it every day.

So then, Ripped in 30 came out. Another 30 day program! Hooray!! And this is one is Rough. (yeah, with a capital R....on purpose!). I had to take a brief hiatus this week, because working out when you're sick is not a good idea. But week 2? And crow push-ups? OUCH!!

Yes, Jillian. I want to look like you. Her book Unlimited was released last Tuesday. I ordered it today on Amazon. I CANNOT wait to read it. She really is a role model, and she is so motivating. I absolutely love it when she is in my face (or TV) telling me to Dig, Dig, Dig! Seriously. I am not joking. I looooooove her.

P.S. Jillian - Thank you for my amazing wedding arms. You rock.

Restaurant Review: Saw's BBQ

I have the flu. I feel icky. I've been home from work for the past two days, but we did have a pretty great weekend. Well until Sunday when I got sick.

We went to Saw's BBQ this weekend. Can you say heavenly? After lunch I was pretty sure I could die and everything would be ok.

Hello cute little mini-menu. All things homemade (including their peanut butter pie which I didn't get to try).

Pork sandwich with white bbq sauce. If you have never had white bbq sauce, um, what are you waiting for? I'm sure that there are more calories in this than the regular, but calorie free saturdays, I always say. Also that potato salad? Yum. I'm pretty picky about my potato salad, and this was pretty good.

Saw's sauce. You can buy this on its own. It can be used as a marinade or sauce, or snack. Whatever.

As you can tell I hated my lunch so much. Shiner Blonde? Yes, please.

The inside of the place. It's really small on the inside, and trying to eat lunch at a normal time at this place is pretty impossible. It was around 3 when we went. The kitchen is even small. Plus, you're allowed to write on the walls. There's a little iron pig on the wall (look to the very left of the picture). I want him.

The front window. You can sit and people watch if you prefer.

The Masters was on. This is why he didn't even know I was taking the picture. He's oh so cute though. I love him so much.

Then since DreamCakes was right next door, we decided we were going to try some new ones. Their red velvet one is amazing and Bennett had a caramel mocha thing. I'm not a huge coffee fan, but mine was so good. The owner actually has a Southern Living cookbook being released today. I will find out what that icing recipe is.

I didn't get pictures, sorry. They were too good for me to remember to grab my camera and get 'em.

So hopefully, I'll start to feel better sometime soon. I miss being able to breathe. And work out. But if I'm too sick to work out, then you know I'm sick.

Sweetness

I so wanted this to be our wedding song, but I lost. These boys are amazing with it. This song is so sweet, still makes me cry. Enjoy!

things I love: Citizen Cope

What is a Citizen Cope you may be asking? Well, let me tell you. He is a musician!! And a marvelous one at that.

And there is a little sentimental value to this love. This is the first concert that Bennett and I went to together. Wait, scratch that. This was our first date ever (cue the awwwwws...). He sort of introduced me to him, and we were going to have his song Holdin On as our first dance song, but well, it's six minutes long, so no.

The concert was at Workplay Theater in Birmingham. It's a fantastic place to watch concerts. There's two stages; the Soundstage and the Auditorium. The Soundstage is bigger, but you are standing the whole night. The Auditorium has a top floor with seats all around it, and the bottom floor has the same. Either way, both of them are great. It's one of the best places in Birmingham to watch a show!!

The chandelier in the stage area. With the banners. Oh, how I want that chandelier. I suggested it for our dining room, but Bennett said he would prefer to see the people he's eating with. Oh well.

Self-photos! The one accessory you can't see? The oh so awesome Hello Kitty band-aid that's attached to my back. Well it was either that or my gigantic cancer hole. You decide.

There he is!

It was such a good show. I recommend looking him up on iTunes or whatever file sharing thing you use. He's got a blue-sy sort of feel to him. And he sang this entire show acoustic, which made it even more special when he sang our song!!

Wednesday Ramblings

• Sales is starting to grow on me. I don't hate it as much as I did on Monday.


• Yes, I'm aware I've only been doing it three days.


• I learned the sexiest step in the cha-cha yet tonight. I danced it for Courtney. :)


• I've really hit a plateau in my running. I can't seem to get past 5 miles without quitting.


• I am so hitting the delia*s catalogue this weekend. Boo to the yah. I know that I'm 27, but their summer clothes are so cute, and their shorts fit me perfectly.


• We went to a place called Dreamcakes this past Sunday in SoHo (South Homewood. This is how we compensate in the South for, well, living in the South!). Can you say amazing? I have almost forgiven her for stealing my idea*

This is the wedding cake cupcake. The frosting on these bad boys was soooo good. I could feel my teeth rotting out of my head. And for $3? Bring. It. On.

This was Bennett's. He got a Peanut Butter Cup cupcake. You can see the hole where his mini peanut butter cup was. He couldn't wait. I really would love to see how in the world they make this frosting, because I don't think I can live without it now that I've had it.

*My idea was to have a portable cupcake shop in addition to a brick-and-mortar and sell them at college campuses. Then I see this sweet little truck with Dreamcakes written on it on UAB's campus. I had a heart attack and wanted to sue for idea stealing. But then, I never claimed it. And then, I don't even know if you can do that.

Smile...Even Though It's Breaking

Today has been awful. It has been one of the worst days I have had in a long time. Work got ya down? Yes, but it's actually just pretty much life in general. I had a big long post planned today for things that were currently making me happy, but it didn't seem appropriate.

My friend, Courtney, passed away today. She was only 42 years old and two weeks ago was at the beach with her children. It makes a person think that it could all end so suddenly. No warning, no time to say to everyone what you want to say. I hate that this got all cliche-y real quick, but seriously, it makes you want to do things now. Quit your job if you're unhappy; tell that dude from across the hall/office/classroom/match.com that you love him; skydive; buy seven dogs if that'll make you happy, but don't wait until it's too late to do it.

( I stole this from her facebook. This makes me smile)

And then there's these two who can always make me smile...

oh my god, I looooooove her.

and the two together? ugh, I die. ( I know it looks like he's poking her in the eye. I promise, he wasn't. We don't believe in animal cruelty around here :) )

So even on the darkest day I've had in quite some time, I still found the time to think of things that make me smile, and that makes me believe (ok, ok, know) that things are going to be ok.

My First Married Cooking Adventure

Okay, so no secret to no one that I can't cook. For anything. So when the hubs was coming home from his business trip last week, and his Tiger Woods golf something or other was in the mail, I knew I was going to be a good wife and make dinner for him.

But what to make...what to make?? I scoured through Food Network and even through Martha, but then decided since I'm not the most advanced, I should probably stick to something that is not too difficult to figure out how to make. So I figured, how bad could someone screw up a cheeseburger? Not even on the grill, but fried inside? So here we go.

The 'gredients:

1 lb ground meat. (you can go healthy here or not...I decided to not. I like chemicals)

jalapenos ( I tend to go for the jar kind. Because I couldn't find fresh? maybe.)

1.5 tbsp of canola oil

1 white onion (actually half...or the whole thing if you like 'em)

1 French Bread roll ( I prefer Publix bread. Actually, I pretty much prefer Publix anything)

1 tsp of salt

1 tsp of pepper (or 1.5 if you really like pepper. I do not.)

Tomato

Anything else you may want on your burger.

Any kind of sliced cheese you want. ( I got sharp cheddar, but it probably would have rocked harder with provolone)

How-to make a burger a-la Laura:

1. Slice the French roll into four pieces (eight, if you're going to want smaller portions)

2. Cut half of the onion, then chop. The smaller the better!!

3. Mix the salt and pepper with the onion and throw it into the ground beef. Make sure to combine all ingredients by hand. If you just pulled the ground beef out of the refrigerator, your hands will get uncomfortably cold.

3. Patty the ground beef into four little burgers (about 1'' thick).

4. Put the oil into the frying pan and turn up the heat.

5. Place the patties into the frying pan. According to the hubs, the more sizzle you hear, the better. I did about 6-7 mins on each side.

6. After about 7 mins on each side, throw a couple of japs on the top.

7. Then throw the cheese on top. (placing a saucer top over the cheese makes it melt faster!)

8. You can cut the patties in half and put one-half of each into one part of the sliced French roll, for a smaller portion, or throw one full patty into a piece of the French roll. That's the beauty of a Laura burger...do whatever you want.

8. Add your lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, ketchup, relish...or whatever else you like all over your shirt when you eat a burger and enjoy!!

The potato salad? Pre-made from the best grocery store ever; Publix. And I love mayo, as witnessed by the noticeably white stuff on the roll. Yums.