John's City Diner - Birmingham

I've lived in Birmingham for six years now.  I have always wanted to go to this place.  I've heard that going here is definitely on the bucket list of things to do in Birmingham.

So imagine my excitement when a mutual decision was met to go to this place of wonderment and awesomeness.

Located downtown, it doesn't occupy a whole of space.  Their bar area (where happy hour is from 4-7pm and includes $3 craft beer and half price appetizers) is cute and cozy and the dining room stretches out in the back, boasting plenty of room to enjoy their unique menu.

We got there around 6pm and were the only people there.  We sat at the bar and were promptly served by an amazing bartender, Phyllis.  We both ordered a Good People Snakehandler and got oysters Rock-a-feller as an appetizer.

I, of course, had to try what they were most famous for: chicken and waffles.  It wasn't your average every day waffle; it was a cheese waffle, topped with the most delicious fried chicken and syrup.  The fried chicken wasn't too heavily breaded, and it had those crunchy little pieces that will just melt in your mouth.  B got the Three Little Pigs, which was mac n cheese with prosciutto and pulled pork topped with fried onions.

It was pretty much the best thing I've ever put in my mouth, and I devoured it.  I even got a compliment from Phyllis saying she was impressed on how much I put down.

That's right -- I ate an entire plate of chicken and waffles.  And promptly gained ten pounds.  Well, I say ten pounds well worth it.  

Seriously.  Good.  Food. 

Sunday Song

Hope y'all have had a great weekend.  Enjoy these cats, because they're awesome.

Turnpike Troubadours - Workplay

We made it to Friday!  Thank goodness!

This week has been long and weird.  I'm really glad that it's over. 

Wednesday night we went to see Turnpike Troubadours at Workplay here in Birmingham.  Workplay is definitely one of my favorite venues here.  Especially when the act plays on the smaller stage.  The opportunity to get close to the band goes way up there, and before you know it, you're right up on them.

These guys play Texas country (from Oklahoma), and this was their first time in Alabama.  I think we treated them right; the people that did end up going to the show knew all the words as did we.  Sometimes the people of Birmingham do surprise even me!  I was positive that we were the only people in this entire state that had heard of them!

If you're looking for something fun and country to listen to, definitely check these guys out.

Plus it was an awesome excuse to wear my cowboy boots.

 I already loved these guys before I got to see them; I loved them even more after the show.  

I hope y'all have a great weekend!! 

#tbt: Sorority Formals

It may come as a shock for some that I was actually in a sorority while at Auburn.

Delta Gamma for about two years.

That chapter had been inactive at Auburn until the middle of my freshman year.  They had interviews to restart it at Auburn.  I went through two interviews, I think, went through the preference night, etc and was finally a sister, being initiated with a pin and all.

I didn't have the greatest experience with it, but looking back, I also didn't give it much of my attention.  I didn't try too hard to make friends there, and eventually left after about a year and a half. Mainly due to having a job and not being able to fulfill all the duties required of being in a sorority.

The one thing I did have a lot of fun with though, was going to the formals.  Finding a dress and getting to get all gussied up.  Going to the first one with a then boyfriend and then going to the second with a good friend of mine.

Being in a sorority wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a good experience.  I don't talk to anyone that I met from there anymore, but I'm also really bad at keeping in touch with people.

Again, I didn't put forth all the effort probably required of being a good sorority member.  

But I still do remember the password and handshake.  Yep, that's for real.

Lately Part 2

 

* I have learned in the past week that no matter what tough times you go to, you really can only depend on yourself.

*Unless you have a super awesome mom, dad and sister.

*This whole thing with the Malaysian airplane freaks me out.  I honestly have no idea what to believe.

*I honestly believe in the power of the tanning bed.  I don't go often, and I pretty much slather on SPF while I'm in there, but I am a firm believer that people need sunshine dammit.

*I have reacquainted myself lately with the beauty of a pizza that is just for me.

*My obsession for Brian Williams rivals only that of my obsession with Matt Laeur.

*Or that of Charles Barkley.

*I'm glad I didn't do a bracket this year, because I'm pretty sure I would have broken a window (or computer) by now.

*I don't know what they hype over American Hustle was; I do however understand it for Twelve Years a Slave.  

*And your face is pretty much the best comeback ever.  Next to yo momma.

*FUBAR is a great acronym.  Try to use it once today.  Just try.  You'll enjoy it.

Gotta Love Bham!!

I have a small obsession with Pharrell's Happy.  So imagine my surprise when I came across this gem!

I don't know any of the people in this video, but I will tell you that it is pretty awesome to know where they are in almost every shot!

Enjoy!

Lately

It's been really rough in my life lately.  There is so much going on that it's hard to share on here.  I know that I've always said that I will keep it personal and real on this blog, but some things are just too hurtful or too honest to share.

I hope that one day I can reveal all the happenings, but for now, enjoy a few beautiful scenes from the past weekend in New Orleans.

A Letter to A Love

Dear pizza delivery man,

Thank you so much for always delivering my most favorite thing to me when I need it most.  I should totally marry you.  Or at the very least pay your car insurance.

When I crave that delicious pizza, you are only a click or a call away.  You are there after a long night of drinking; you are there to satisfy my craving, even if that's at nine at night after I've already eaten dinner.  (that has happened, don't judge me.)

So what I'm saying is, thank you so much for risking your life to deliver my pizza in a timely manner.  We all know that there are crazy drivers out there.  And you do it all while having to smell that heavenly smell while doing so.  How you don't weight five hundred pounds from eating other people's pizza, I will never know.

You, you are a true hero.

love,

Laura

P.S.  You're the best.

St. Patty's

There are plenty of reasons why I don't necessarily like St. Patrick's Day.  My grandfather died on St. Patrick's Day; I had one of the worst days of my life on St. Patrick's Day.

While I do occasionally enjoy a green beer or a boiled potato; I would much rather just not celebrate the holiday at all.

But I did.  I went down to New Orleans.  Went to a few parades, where you give away kisses for fake flowers.  It was quite the spectacle.  I was also only a little shocked to find that out.  But then of course, having a garter put on your leg by an attractive Italian acting man?  I was totally okay with that.

And seeing as how Ms. Lindsey lives there now, you can pretty much guess I'll be down there all the time.

I sure hope y'all had a great St. Patty's Day!

#tbt: Grandparents Part Two

My dad's parents lived in a really small town: Lincolnton, NC.  It was exactly what you would think a small town anywhere would look like.  Hardly anything there.

But my grandparents were there, and we visited them often.  Mostly in the summer.  They had this doll named Timmy that my sister loved.  My grandma had a ton of costume jewelry that we always played with.  They always had a bowl of candy in the back room.  I remember so many Christmases there.  

I remember tickle fights on the floor with my dad; playing on the kitchen floor with cousins.  I remember grandma's dry, oh so dry, roast for dinner.  But her biscuits?  So awesome.  I remember getting BBQ from the (most likely only) place down the street.

I remember them probably not being able to really afford to give us Christmas gifts, but every year we had new Barbies and a new wardrobe to give them.  They cared about my sister and I so much.  Grandma sent birthday cards to us every year.  They were very good people.  

I'm so glad my family is a picture taking one.  I don't know what I'd do without all of these pictures.  It's so nice to be able to go back and look at these.  

I'm hoping to make a huge book that I'd be able to pass down to my kids, if that's in the cards of course.