I want a Do-over!

It is no secret to anyone that I love sweets. I mean, how can someone not like sweets. So while I've been getting into this Pinterest thing, I came across some pretty sweet ass wedding cakes. And I thought to myself, I really didn't do it up that big for my wedding cake (in real life, I'm quite the simple girl), so what kind of wedding cake would I have if I could do it all over? I'm so glad you asked....

(via through pinterest)

A row of cascading yellow flowers? Yes please! I love the simplicity of the white cake with the scattered flowers. Gorgeous!

(via through pinterest)

The ombre and the orange? Do I even need to explain why this cake is amazing? Didn't think so...


(via through pinterest)

A sweet white cake, on a simple wooden stand...but wait what's that? A sweet flag banner on top? Such a creative idea!!

(via through pinterest)

I don't think wedding cakes get any more gorgeous. This would have fit perfectly white my black, white, and pink themed wedding. Wish I would have thought of it!!

(via through pinterest)

I love the super boldness of the one black layer with the single orange rose on top. I think this would be beautiful for a fall wedding...or a wedding some day around Halloween!

So out of the few things that I would change out of my wedding day, I think I should have done up the cake a little more. I mean, my cake was beautiful, and it tasted awesome, (you know that top layer you're supposed to eat a year later? we ate every last bit of it!), I think it could have been a little more dressed up. How about those of you guys that are married? Would you re-do your cake? Or how about those that think they want to get married? Any of these cakes look good to you?

Restaurant Review : The Flying Biscuit (ATL)

This weekend, two girls from work and I went to see Chelsea Handler at Chastain in Atlanta. Please let me tell you how hilarious this girl is; plus her opening acts were even better . If you can score the chance to see her, I totally recommend you do.

It rained, and we got soaked, but for some reason that only made it better. Plus the greatest thing about Chastain, is that you can bring in whatever you want. Yes, alcohol included. So we filled up on beer and vodka cranberries (whilst watching Chelsea, a vodka drink is a must!) and laughed and made friends with the people next to us.

After one cheeseburger too many, we all decided to just crash at the hotel, even though we all were pretty gung-ho on going out dancing. At 2 am, it was probably better that we just crawl into bed and sleep.

But the next morning, we woke up starving!! None of us really knew too much about the Chastain area, so we decided to just drive around, and found this cute little place for brunch: The Flying Biscuit!

It was nestled right off the same road as our hotel; please don't ask me the name of the street. You couldn't pay me to remember what it was.

Our fried green tomato appetizer; I am so obsessed with fried green tomatoes.

My breakfast of over-easy eggs, creamy dreamy grits (probably the best I've ever had), a Flying Biscuit, and chicken sausage. Totally amazing.

Meagan's brunch; A Meggxican (yes, that's how they spelled it), moon-dusted (rosemary) potatoes and of course a biscuit.

I can't remember the name of Elizabeth's omelet, but there was definitely some mushrooms and spinach involved. It looked and smelled amazing.

One thing we didn't take advantage of (too much the night before? perhaps...), but they have $3 flavored mimosas. Delicious, right? Maybe next time.

I also got to re-connect via text with one of my good friends from the ATL, Brett. Unfortunately he was in Boston for the weekend, but we've decided that I will make another trip to the ATL for a fun catch-up weekend.

Hopefully I'll be taking it back to The Flying Biscuit for seconds.

Song I'm Loving Sunday

This weekend was one of the best weekends I've had in awhile. I'll share some now, and then share the rest later. Last night we went to The Nick. It's a cute little dive bar in downtown, and we had never been there before. It's a little eccentric, but their pull is four bands in one night. We went strictly to see Uncle Lucious (more on them later), but we got a guy who took the percussion out of dance club songs and added his own, a sweet little acoustic duo from Muscle Shoals, and a group of 3 guys who you would never think would be in a band.

So, we get to The Nick at around 9 last night, and had no clue that the show we were there to see was the opening act. We were so glad that we had gotten there early. Not even to mention that we got to meet the guys in the band, and hubs got their autographs on the CD that he bought. Because seriously, when you scroll to the bottom and hit play on that little button, you will see why they need to make it big.

Let me just say that hubs and I love music. If you scroll through any one of our iPods at any given time, you will find a mixture and be like WTF? I go from Gaga to Lou Rawls to Amos Lee to Grace Potter to guys like Uncle Lucious to Tom Petty. And his iPod is probably even more random than that. But we absolutely looove music and seeing live music.

Which led us exactly to where we were last night. And I'm telling you guys, I am in love with their lead singer Kevin Galloway. I was so nervous to get a pic with him that when I finally did, I told him that he was "super cute." I'm sure that's exactly what he wanted to hear....

Hi, yes, I love you.

Here are a couple more shots from their set, and then make sure to click that play button! They need all the support they can get! It's sad to hear that a band that can play Tipitina's in New Orleans and sell out, but can only bring out a crowd of about 20 in Birmingham.

Also, if you're into checking out unknown bands and singers try MusicFog.

Pour Some Sugar on Me

Sweet tea. An entire post on sweet tea. Not just because it's Southern, but because it's a million and five degrees here, and I craved it today for the first time since last football season. So, like a good little Southerner, I went to Southern Living's website to find out what I could about this sweet summer drink.

(via)

History of Sweet Iced Tea (via)
It’s easy to understand how sweet iced tea came about in the South. First, the summers always have been hot. Second, ice boxes and the rise of refrigeration made it easy to make the tea cold. Third, rationing of sugar during World War II encouraged creative and thrifty Southern cooks to add sugar to the tea while hot, so it took less sugar to make the tea sweet. The super- saturated elixir soon became a Southern staple and the undisputed drink with barbecue and fried chicken, and at fish fries, family reunions, and church suppers. That’s because Southern gatherings are usually big, and large quantities can be made quickly and inexpensively.

Perhaps it’s fitting that South Carolina was the first place in the United States where tea was grown and the only place where it was ever produced commercially. And, the oldest sweet tea recipe in print can be traced to a community cookbook published in 1879 titled Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree

It also just so happens that I live in a city that houses a restaurant with the best sweet tea known to man: Milo's! Seriously. They sell this stuff in grocery stores. They also have a Splenda version if you don't want to consume the empty calories of the original. But if you do get a chance, at least take a sip of the original. I promise that you won't be disappointed.

And since it's me, and well, I'm me, they also make a sweet tea vodka. I'm pretty sure they sell this country wide now, but make sure you mix it with Minute Maid's Light Lemonade and make a spiked Arnold Palmer. Delicious!

And yes...I just did an entire post on sweet tea. Cravings are terrible!!

Southern Sunday Brunch

We don't just have big hair and big pearls in the South; we also know how to do breakfast! Granted this is a lovely home-made Sunday brunch ( woo-hoo for saving money!), but it couldn't have been more delicious. Pictures, courtesy of me, brunch courtesy of the hubs. I keep telling him that we really need to open a restaurant. Trust me. You would eat everything this man cooks.

We always start out with an alcoholic beverage. Always. In lieu of the more traditional Mimosa or Bloody Mary, hubs opted for ginger ale and a mango/peach rum. Oh yes. It was as delicious as it sounds. And so light and perfect for the heavy meal ahead.

Unripened tomatoes from his garden. I would say our garden, but no. Everything I touch, I ruin. He likes to grow things, and is pretty good at it, so it's his garden.

Fried green tomato goodness. Can you get more Southern? I don't think so. Hubs says fry it in corn and flour, and you get the perfect coating. I'll take his word for it.

The monster 3-egg omelet. He's such a good omelet maker. Every time I've tried, I've given up and gone for scrambled eggs instead.

You wanna know what's in it? I bet you do! Well let's see... pork (doused in the red beans and rice sauce from the night before), steak, friend green tomatoes, and of course cheese. I swear we keep the Meat Association of America going. Yeah, I don't know if that really exists, but if it, then we should have plaques hanging in their front office.

It really was amazing. He is such a good cook. Now I just need to get him to quit his day job!!

Song I'm Loving Sunday

Lady Antebellum's Just a Kiss.

I have been on a huge country kick lately. And it's not that I hated country music before, I love it, but for some reason, I found myself drawn to it more than usual.

I've also found a couple of fun websites this weekend that have kept me occupied:

-- 240sweet.com

S'more Marshmallow

Chocolate chip Marshmallow

--- Poppin

Forget having a boring cube at work! You can get everything in super fun colors (PURPLE!!) and make the work day brighter!

---- Charm and Chain

Super cute jewelry. I, of course, can't afford any of it, but a girl can dream, right?


Hope everyone's had a great weekend!!

Thursday Shmursday AKA Wednesday Ramblings on a Thursday

• There has been so much going on lately that the blog posts have been scarce. I wish I had the time to sit and write a post every day, but I just don't.
• I got my evaluation back from the judge at the competition. Aaaaaaaaand....it was mostly good which was a pleasant surprise. Since there were few students who entered, she actually took the time to evaluate all of us and give us some feedback. I need posture in the rhythm, and I need to stop hating on my tall body and long lanky arms.
• I sometimes miss the people I used to work with. There are a few there that I really do miss seeing every day. They know who they are.
• Our hydrangeas have found new life in our flower bed!! And apparently we have pink hydrangea soil, since our blue ones have now turned pink.
• I want time to sit and wonder about things. The picture below was taken at Red Rock in Vegas. It was so beautiful there, being surrounded by nature. I know that I am not exactly dressed for a walk down the rocks, but I did it. Flip flops and all. Plus there were two German girls in skirts doing the exact same thing. If they can do it, then so could I! So I did!!!

I Must Love "The First 48"

Ok. Let me explain this title post to you. Have you ever watched The First 48 on A&E? (If not, it's a show about trying to solve homicides in the first 48 hours after they find the body. Apparently this is when they have the highest chance of solving the murder). Well my current living situation (B to the Ham) has a season with it, and so does the city that I went to this past weekend. My favorite city in the US (NOLA) might as well be on it, but well, I digress...

Okay, so my Memphis trip!! First of all, you have to know that Memphis is centered around blues music and BBQ. It's also not the safest place on Earth, but I will get to that later. If you are a vegetarian that can't stand the sight of meat, I warn you not to proceed..(warning: picture overload!)

Our first plate of BBQ nachos of the trip. These are from Alfred's, which is on Beale Street. And please let me tell you that these were as good as they look. Pork BBQ with Rotel cheese all over. A side of jalapenos and sour cream = perfection!!


The view down Beale Street after 9 p.m. If you do ever go to Memphis, make sure you get to Beale before 8 p.m., so you don't get the pat-down and the wand. Yes, they wand you down before entering this street. We stood in line for 40 mins to get on a street.



One of the barricades to get onto the street.


The Memphis drink: Walk-Me-Down. Not weak!!

• 1/2 oz. Curacao, blue
• 1/2 oz. Gin
• 1/2 oz. Rum, white
• 1/2 oz. Tequila, white
• 1/2 oz. Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz. Vodka
• Fill with 7-up
• 1 oz. Sour Mix

Mix all ingredients together in the blender with ice (duh). Enjoy!

This was my "special" Coke. I only put enough money in the vending machine for my Diet Dr. Pepper hanging in the back, but then I got a Coke too! Needless to say, I had to get a picture of it!

Oh, the duckies!! We woke up in time on Sunday to go to the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks. At 11 am, ducks march out of an elevator and into this fountain that's in the middle of the hotel. They even had duck security! No joke! There were three guys walking around with headsets on making sure people didn't interfere with the March of the Ducks. Click on the link above to read the history of the March.

These ducks? Also living the high life on their roof-top penthouse.

Before we went home, we knew we had to try some Memphis dry-rub ribs, so we went to this cute little dive called Central BBQ.


The inside.




Cute little cup. Plastic! Woo-hoo already paid for souvenirs!!

The BBQ nachos at this place were not as good as the one's at Alfred's. They still pass the "I'm going to eat you" test.

And then the full slab of ribs. Don't worry. We didn't eat all of this in one sitting. We each had two ribs and packed it up to take it home. You can order these bad boys from the link up top if you want. I highly recommend that you do so. Sooooooo good!

Have I mentioned that Memphis is not a safe city? Well there were policeman everywhere. And not just any policeman...super hot ones!! I have never seen so many attractive police officers in one city. These 3 were no exception. I'm sure they would have let me take their picture if I would have just asked, because not only were they the hottest ones ever, but they were always talking to regular people.

So if not for the BBQ and music, take the trip down to see the hot policeman! Oh yeah, there's some history there too. You can see the Civil Rights Museum, where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot, and where he was shot from. This, unfortunately didn't make it into our trip, but we only live 4 hours away, so we'll be back.

I will post pictures and possibly video from the ballroom portion of my trip tomorrow. I need to gather all the courage in the world to be able to put those videos up!

Wrong Turns

I'm going to get a little serious on this blog post. I really wanted to sit and write about Memphis and the Southern Ballroom Invitational, but I have a monster thing that has been going on in my head, and I just need to get it out!!

When I went to Auburn, I started out as a journalism major. I loved to write. I loved to listen to people. I wanted so badly to work at a newspaper, with people running everywhere, women with pencils stuck behind their ears and holding up their messy buns, and bosses screaming, "We have to meet dead-line...where is that story?!" Sadly, for me, I never realized that dream.

I had a terrible teacher that taught one of my first journalism classes. He told me that I would never make it as a journalist, and that I wasn't ruthless enough to cut it. Now I know that it would be incredibly hard for me to interview a family who had just lost their mother, or to cover a story like the Alabama tornadoes, but in now way did I ever think that I would be a terrible journalist.

In my naive college mind, I believed him. I changed my major from journalism to marketing and never looked back. I never really regretted it again until recently.

I guess with the job changes, and me not really being able to figure out what I actually want to do with my life, I've been able to revert back to the dream that I once had for myself; the one actual goal that I ever really set for myself; to work for The New York Times. I know this dream is pretty much out of reach for me now. I have no journalism experience, and all I know about is trucks and transportation, but they have magazines and papers for those too, right?

I've set another goal for myself; to get published in some way shape or form before I die. Good goal, no? I will do it.

via

Song I'm Loving Sunday

In love with Eli Young Band's Crazy Girl. Seriously in love with it.

It's been a crazy weekend of ballroom dance competition, crazy Memphis nights, and good friends. I will have more posts on this later.

For now, I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

P.S. Thanks to Chelsea for helping me figure out how to stretch my header. Thanks girl!!

Out of Pocket

I know that I've been out of pocket for the past week, but seriously, it was to support the cause. I was trying to learn how to be a serious blogger, using LiveWriter and trying to figure out how to make my header go all the way across the page.

Please let me tell you that I have failed miserably on all accounts. My header is still only taking up 3/4 of the top of the page, and I am not writing this from LiveWriter.

Complete and utter FAIL.

I couldn't get LiveWriter pictures to sync up so I could actually publish the darn post. I spent almost 2 hours writing, rewriting, and in general just throwing a hissy fit trying to get it to work. I googled the crap out of "error 403," and no. All those people and their HTML genius don't jive with me and my limited knowledge of the blogging world.

And the header... Umm, I can't even go there. Maybe one of these days I'll have a beautiful blog that makes some sort of sense and has a full header.

But for now, I'll leave you a picture of my sweet pup from the 4th, and when I can bring myself to rewrite my 4th of July post again, I will most certainly do it.

**edit** ok, seriously didn't know that the other post posted. so now you have two ranting posts. geez.

I had a post once upon a time.

I hate LiveWriter and will never ever attempt to use it again. Like ever. I had a blog post, but couldn't get it to sync? And I refuse to use Picasa, because, well, I don't like it. I'll leave you with a picture of Thunder on the Mountain, and a promise to write more when I have calmed down! Hope everyone had a great holiday!