*** Cantina! Restaurant Review ***

This place rocks. Most people in the 'Ham are more familiar with the Cantina in Pepper Place, but this one is right over by the Galleria and the Rave movie theater in Hoover, which is hellooo, so much closer to everything!

We went here the night of the infamous Kid Rock concert. I'm so glad that I had good food in my stomach...

Actually a key lime margarita, and not just a lime margarita...with a sugar rim! They also had peach and another flavor I can't remember right now.

This salsa was so yummy. It wasn't your traditional runny salsa, not even a hint of spice, but it was good. It was a little sweeter and the chunks of vegetables totally hid how unhealthy all the salt (put there by the table, not the restaurant) on the tortilla chips were.

I always get the cuban sandwich. Can you say amazing? You can even see the slab of pork that they put on this thing. And usually I don't like warm pickles, but they're ok on this. I ordered the side of refriend beans (instead of the fries, that's right...new year's resolution going strong!) and they even had queso fresco on top. Can you say deliciousness?

These are their sweet potato chips. I was allowed to eat these, because they were not called fries. You can pretty much guarantee sweet potato anything is going to be great.

Bennett's fish tacos. He always gets mad at himself, because he'll get one fish taco and one taco carnitas, and he always says he should have gotten two fish tacos. He says hands-down the best thing on the menu.

All in all, this place gets 5 stars out of 5 stars. Atmosphere is great; the service was fantastic, and of course the food was even better. If you're not headed to this place right now, you should be on your way.

**** from the desk of the dog ****

i am soooo frazzled. this weekend was a whirlwind! i have never had so much to do, and lost so much sleep in my short short life so far.

on friday, we drove (i hate riding in the car plus momma yells at me the whole time for getting hair in the car, and i'm like, geez, i'm scared!) all the way down to montgomery. there's another dog there, phoebe, who mom and dad keep calling my cousin. i don't get it. but she's mean. she always growls at me and never wants to play, so to get back at her, i frequently steal her water and her toys from her room. i'm like hey, it's not like you're using them. so then we went to bed really really late. but i like this house, because the beds there are super high off the ground, and i love to sleep under there.

then we get up and go to auburn. and there's another dog there. except this one wants to play!! we have the best time! especially because we are left outside to play on our own! we chased each other and had a fun time!! then our people come home (way late....what were they doing?!!), and they're all loud, but this dog has a monster basket of toys. maybe one of these day, i'll get a basket full of toys.

plus i introduced them to the game of toy basket. it's going to catch on, i just know it!!

~stell dog

365 Update

365 Updates....it's getting pretty hard to remember to take a picture every day. So that's the reason why there are a few pictures of the dog...she's my go to subject.

Things I'm Loving: IKEA

I am loving IKEA right now. I love their new commercials...and I love the way they have their stores set up. I love that you can walk in, and they have a set up for every kind of small living space imaginable. Their kitches are so fun and quirky. They have built in closets that I would die for. And then this...their beautiful website filled with beautiful things.....

(image via IKEA blog)

Do you see all of those pillows???? I adore pillows. I get yelled at for the amount of pillows in our home, but when you can get a quality pillow from Wal-Mart for $12? I am all over that. And when Pier 1 has their pillows on sale? (Even though I am not too happy with Pier 1 at the moment). They have the greatest pillows and bar ware imaginable. Well for people on a budget anyway.

I'm cheap. I'm not scared to admit it.

Photo UPdates

The past week or so here in the 'ham has felt like spring. It has been in the mid 70's, with no humidity. It has been perfect. It makes me want to take back everything bad I've ever said about Alabama (but then I remember the Kid Rock concert, and I'm not so sure.)

This weekend we get to go to K & A's down in Auburn. We haven't seen those two since they got hitched, and we get to finally see their place. I'm excited for maybe a trip to the Supper Club? I mean I still have my membership card.....might as well put it to use.

This stuff is soooo good. It almost doesn't bother me that a Real Housewife came up with it. Get rich how you can, I guess.

Baby's out of town. I pretty much eat eggs, cereal or hot dogs when he's gone.

This is my grandmother's butterfly magnet. My sister and I took them off her refrigerator after her house had been cleaned out after her funeral, and all that was left were these little butterflies. I love this little red butterfly.

Day 63

Last night we went to a Kid Rock concert. And no, I am not kidding you. We pretty much went for the opening act, Jamey Johnson, but ended up sort of enjoying the Kid Rock. Well, the older stuff anyway. He opened up with a few of his older hits (the better stuff) and then the whole thing got weird. Let me put it to you this way...we left early. And the people behind us were smoking pot. And I am not kidding about that. I'm surprised the in-laws weren't high when we left....but they didn't even seem to notice.

I was so hoping for some Bawitdaba, but I settled for some American Badass.

** La Brisa Restaurant Review**

Our brush with La Brisa was a good one. Sticking with the Mexican was a good idea. I told you that we loooove Mexican food. The restaurant itself is great on the inside, with inside or outside seating. Since it was 70+ degrees, there were a few people sitting outside, but we sat inside, because yours truly didn't think she would get cold in a dress. But it definitely felt cold once I stepped out of the car.

La Brisa is located on Highway 150 in Hoover. It's next to a Chevron gas station, and minutes from the new Target.

Sangria and margarita (mediums!!). Bennett said he could have made better sangria, but my 'rita was delicious!!

Their salsa wasn't as spicy as San Miguel's, but their chips were better. There was less cilantro, but more chunky bits of tomato. Which isn't a bad thing either.



These are Bennett's enchiladas poblanos. When asked to describe them, all he said was "delicious," so you can go from there with it....

I had the chicken chimichanga. This is a favorite of mine since someone introduced me to the world of chimichangas once on a very weird, but good night. Ever since then, that's what I've gotten. But I judge a chimichanga on the tastiness of the crunchy parts, and this one was great. Plus it had run over cheese, which only makes it better. I'm not a super fan of guac, but I let it stay on the plate.

The first time we came to the restaurant was when we discovered what the white drink that all the Hispanics were drinking in San Miguel. We couldn't believe that this place was actually advertising for it! So we decided that the next time we went to this place we definitely had to try one....

so we did!!!! And it tastes like Christmas!! Rum with cream and cinnamon!! It was so good, but not really what I would want to drink with a mexican dinner. I would love to have these around Christmas...maybe with warm cream? Does that sound gross? I think it sounds pretty awesome.

All in all, we would give it a big thumbs up! The food here is great, and it's just new enough not to be super crowded on a Friday night. Downside? No happy hour on Friday. Not even before 6 pm. But that was pretty much all we could come up with. The wait staff was very attentive and polite, always willing to bring us more drinks and salsa! So we definitely recommend this one!!

Days 57-61

i'm sorry these photo posts have been so far and few between. there has been a lot going on in my life (more later), but i have made sure that i was taking my photo a day. granted, these aren't the greatest, and you can still tell that i'm struggling with aperture shots, but they do count. and i have two restaurant reviews for you. only one counts for the 365; the other one i just happened upon. so enjoy these, and the restaurant review coming next....

stell-dog outside. lighting and shadow awful...

my v-day presents from parisienne girl jewelry (from earlier post!) the hubby did good, and i loooove these earrings!!

my fav decanter on our floating shelf.

from downtown on our blitz. it's crooked, but i sort of like it.

up close and personal with the stell-dog.

**from the desk of the dog**

so mom had to work this morning, so i decided to steal her computer and get in on a little of this blog action myself.

in case you don't know me from mom posting about me before, i'm stella. she talks about this blog thing, so i'm coming on to see what it's all about...and to post about my life at the james' house...well, from my doggie perspective.

daddy plays with me and mom gives me love. i couldn't ask for any better...so i'm going to share a little game with you that i call Toy Basket.

see, mom and dad gave me my own basket of toys. i looooooooooove toys. all kinds of toys, especially the ones that squeak. daddy hates those, so those are my favorite. anyway, back to the game. daddy will put all of my toys that i get out and strategically place around the house back into the basket. you know i have to have toys in the bedroom and in the kitchen and in the living room . it only makes sense. so as soon as he puts them all back in, oh yes, daddy, i'm watching, i pull them all back out!! i love it!! sometimes it's one at at time, sometimes it's two or three, but before long, they're all back out!! exactly where i want them!! silly dad.

so hey, this blogging thing is kind of fun. hopefully you get used to me around here! i'm gonna steal mom's computer every chance i get...and hopefully get some more pictures of ME up here!

*stell dog

Unforgiveable

usually i leave this blog for fun stuff, sweaters and earrings and the 365 project...but i want to write about this so i remember it later. and to express how awful this is.

(from espn.com)

Trees at Toomer's Corner poisoned
Associated Press
AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn University says someone deliberately poisoned trees at Toomer's Corner, where fans have long celebrated big wins and hundreds gathered after the Tigers won the football national championship on Jan. 10.
The university said in a statement Wednesday that a herbicide commonly used to kill trees was applied "in lethal amounts" to the soil around the two trees, and that they likely can't be saved.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Butch DillToomer's Corner is a traditional spot for Auburn fans to gather before and after games. Trees there were poisoned with a powerful herbicide, the school said.
Auburn discovered the poisoning after taking soil samples on Jan. 28, a day after a man called a syndicated radio show based in Birmingham saying he had used the herbicide on the trees.
"The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Ala., because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the Toomer's trees," the caller told The Paul Finebaum Radio Show, saying he was at the Iron Bowl.
Calling himself "Al from Dadeville," he said he used Spike 80DF, also known as tebuthiuron, and the trees "definitely will die." The caller signed off with, "Roll Damn Tide."
Auburn fans traditionally celebrate by using toilet paper to roll the Toomer's Corner trees, which are estimated to be more than 130 years old.
"We will take every step we can to save the Toomer's oaks, which have been the home of countless celebrations and a symbol of the Auburn spirit for generations of Auburn students, fans, alumni and the community," university President Jay Gogue said in a statement.
City police are investigating the incident. The use of Spike 80DF is also governed by state agricultural laws and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university said it doesn't use the herbicide.
"We are assessing the extent of the damage and proceeding as if we have a chance to save the trees," said Gary Keever, an Auburn University professor of horticulture and a member of Auburn's Tree Preservation Committee. "We are also focused on protecting the other trees and shrubs in Samford Park. At this level the impact could be much greater than just the oaks on the corner, as Spike moves through the soil to a wide area."
A small group gathered and rolled the trees Wednesday afternoon.
The soil samples were tested at Mississippi State.
The amount of herbicide detected in four samples ranged from 0.78 parts per million -- described by Auburn as "a very lethal dose" -- to 51 parts per million.
"This herbicide is extremely active and persistent," Keever said. "It's very likely to be in the soil for 3 to 5 years."

(toomer's UGA vs. AU 2011)

this is the most disgraceful act of sportsmanship anyone has ever heard of. these were not just "trees." they were a part of anyone who had anything to do with auburn university. if they can't take one loss, then i would rather not have to play them.

(Cam Newton Heisman winner 2011)

unfortunately, they are coming to our stadium next year for the game, and i don't think it's going to go well. it just doesn't say anything good about them or about society in general. it's an awful thing that's happened, and not just because i went to this school, but especially because i went to this school.

San Miguel Mexican Review*

me and the hubs eat more mexican food than any other food, whether we're just throwing tortillas in the quesadilla maker, or on friday nights going out for margaritas and chips and salsa, and whatever tickles our fancy. so, while this is a restaurant review, these also do count as my 365 challenge.

san miguel....located on green springs highway.

you get two kinds of salsa. salsa on the left = super spicy (= awesome!!!!), and the one of the right has more of a cilantro-y flavor. bad for the husband...but great for me. (i could eat cilantro on, umm, maybe everything).


the margarita. happy hour until 7 on friday. we call it the ecto-cooler. but don't it fool you. two of these, and you'll be feeling it for sure.

bennett's the more adventurous eater. these are his carnitas tacos. (he's had the lengua tacos, and the tripe ( aka chitlins) taco, which, umm, i do NOT recommend).

and then there's me with my steak quesadilla. which i do have to say was pretty delish.

we pretty much take everyone here when they're in town. it's the most authentic mexican place probably in birmingham. we are almost always the only non-Hispanic people in the place. it's amazing.

Days 51-55

i've been practicing so much with aperture lately, which unfortunately leads to boring pictures. but i was looking through some dps.com people who have been doing and/or did this last year, and the main point of this thing is to get familiar with your camera and to practice. and i love the look of the subject being completely in focus, while everything behind is blown out and blurry. so i've been practicing pretty hard with this, with normal everyday objects. and although it leads to boring posts, i did find out that my hubby does read the ole blog...

how do you know, laura, that your hubs reads your blog?

well, from the last post? guess who got the heart-shaped earrings for valentine's day. what a sweetie!