Christmas Decor & Making Plans

Hey hey! I’ve got to make this snappy because I want to watch the end of Top Chef… I love that part one of the finale is in Napa, and I want to watch my friend Kevin! Do you watch Top Chef?

I got my hair trimmed after work. I’m trying to grow it out… I think it’s long now, but clearly, it isn’t!

Elizabeth put up the Christmas decorations last night, so I thought I’d give you a little tour of our main space. This is what you see when you come in the door… do you like how I randomly hung the stockings? Haha.

Last year, we got a real tree… the year before, we had an artificial tree… and this year, we decided on no tree!

The dining room that we never use… actually, I use it for studying!

The kitchen, not decorated but thrown in for good measure.

And for dinner? A Dr. Praeger’s veggie burger on an Earthgrains whole wheat flat bun, and Alexia sweet potato fries with chipotle seasoning. I just found the fries last week and I love them! I normally buy the plain Alexia sweet potato fries, but the spicy ones are really good.

Look what I finally found (at Whole Foods)!

AND pineapple Chobani! I haven’t tried either yet but I’ll let you know how they are.

Which brand/flavor of Greek yogurt would you always buy if the prices were all similar? I love Oikos, but I don’t buy it often since it’s never on sale!

———-

So, it doesn’t feel right to post a totally cheery post right now because my grandpa passed away last night. I’m sad (and I’m one of those people who embraces a good cry), but I know that he’s in a much better place and no longer in pain.

I’m really starting to understand what people mean when they say that if you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans. I’m always making plans and in control of most situations, but life has been throwing me some curveballs lately. Rest in peace, grandpa. <3

We’re flying up to PA tomorrow for the weekend. I was planning on going to Philly next weekend (12/11-12/13) to meet my new nephew, so on a positive note, I’ll get to meet him a week earlier than expected.

I don’t think that I’ll be posting much this month, but I promise that I will be back and I’ll definitely be commenting in the meantime!

-Laura

A Top Chef at Woodfire Grill

Oh, Monday! Is it just me or do Mondays always seem the same?

Last week, we went to Woodfire Grill, home of Top Chef contestant, Kevin. To be honest, I saw the first episode or two of Top Chef and noticed that there were a bunch of chefs from Atlanta, but it wasn’t until Jenna mentioned that she met Kevin that I added Woodfire Grill to my list of “restaurants to try.”

We headed over for dinner the night before Thanksgiving. The restaurant isn’t in the most desirable location- let’s just say that the area makes me nervous because of the amount of “clubs” that Josh Duhamel apparently likes to frequent.

When I saw Kevin, I had an “I know him!” moment… clearly, I don’t know him. I’ve just seen him on Jenna’s blog a lot lately. He was nice as can be, and boy, is he a GREAT chef!

I started with a peach blossom- prairie organic vodka, elderflower, peach bitters, fresh lime juice, soda.

The server brought out a delicious amuse bouche to start- it was some sort of marinated pink lady apple with blue cheese drizzle and a little bite of crunch on top.

We started with the winter endive salad- windsor blue cheese, seckle pears, parsley, micro herbs, tabasco-maple dressing.

The dressing was so unique- it added such a nice punch to the salad!

We also ordered a side of the roasted delicata squash- indian curry, madeira soaked raisins, cilantro. The aroma was unbelievable- I really believe that taste is influenced by our sense of smell, and this was truly a work of art. I can’t even fathom coming up with a combination as delicious as this…

For dinner, I ordered the heirloom carolina gold rice risotto- carmelized apples, sweet potatoes, sage, madeira butter, argon oil.

My first thought was, “oh my gosh, this is so small,” but it really was the perfect size. I savored it and it reminded me of how much I LOVE seasonally-influenced menus.

Tobey ordered the wood grilled berkshire pork loin- confit shallot, cherry gastrique, braised fingerlings, wilted arugula. I tasted some and coming from someone who rarely eats meat, this was tasty!

There was no way that we were walking out of there without trying dessert… the food was way too impressive to skip the sweets!

We tried the banana cake, brown sugar bacon buttercream, fried banana ice cream, salted caramel, banana chips. My favorite!

We also had the honey roasted pear, carrot cake, golden raisin verjus, honey cream cheese, candied carrot. The candied carrot strings were really cool!

Everything was so fresh & flavorful. I think that Woodfire Grill might have to join Rathbun’s and Sotto Sotto in my top 3 restaurants in Atlanta.

Have you tried a new restaurant lately? Do you have a favorite restaurant?

-Laura

Tapas + A New Car

Long time, no talk! Did you enjoy the weekend? I definitely had an interesting weekend…

On Friday night, we went to Eclipse di Luna.  Tobey and I shared a bunch of tapas, but the lighting was so bad that I didn’t get any good pictures. Later, we all shared a pitcher of margaritas.

Eclipse di Luna is a really cozy place, but still high energy… I love that. There was definitely some salsa dancing going on when we were there!

On Saturday morning, Tobey and I went to the spa and got massages. There is something to be said about the power of touch- you can go in really stressed out and come out so refreshed!

I went in the steam room for about 20 minutes… very relaxing. I love the decor & colors throughout the spa- turquoise and chocolate.

After our massages, I dropped Tobey off at home and headed to the Honda dealership. Do you guys remember how my car wouldn’t start the other week? Well, it wouldn’t start on Friday morning for the FIFTH time since August!

Volvo hasn’t been able to figure out the problem (huge money drain- they just kept replacing the battery, battery cable, etc) and it has left me stranded and late to work so many times. I decided to head on over to the Honda dealership to look for a new car.

Have you ever been somewhere and the salesperson talks to the man instead of the woman? I made it clear to the salesperson on Friday that I was buying the car and that it had nothing to do with my boyfriend, but he STILL kept talking to Tobey. That’s why I went back without Tobey on Saturday.

After looking at new & used cars, I said goodbye to Vicki the Volvo…

And hello to my brand new Honda Accord! I was going to get the basic 2010 black/black Accord, but they had a fancy ‘09 left for the same price so I got that instead…

I love it so much. It will be weird to have a car payment, but I’m so happy that I have a reliable car now!

3 1/2 hours later, I was home and dinner was ready.

Mixed greens with ginger dressing:

Peppers stuffed with honey goat cheese and baked to perfection:

This was inspired by one of the tapas that we had at Eclipse di Luna…

We also had some really good focaccia bread from Whole Foods. Honestly, I was so hungry that I don’t remember exactly what was on it. I was just really thankful that Tobey made us a nice dinner!

Oof… is anyone else having a hard time believing that tomorrow is Monday? I will be filling my new Starbucks reusable cup – so glad that they’re back in stock – with some strong iced coffee to get me through the day!

Is this “back on track” week for anyone else?

-Laura

Thanksgiving at Rosebud

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you enjoyed the day with your loved ones and ate some good food.

So, I took the exam yesterday and failed by ONE POINT. I left the testing center and just went to my car and cried my eyes out. I felt so defeated. Honestly, my life has been so out of balance the last couple of weeks… all that I have been doing is working, studying during lunch, studying after work, and then studying on the weekends.

This is the 4th (and hopefully final) license that I need to get, so I knew what I was getting into, but failing made me feel stupid. I got called into work right after I took the exam, and needless to say, my eyes were puffy!

Anyway, I have to wait 30 days before I can take it again. I really wanted to get it out of the way before the holidays, but now my goal is just to get it out of the way before the new year. The exam is completely changing in 2010, so I REALLY want to pass the current version.

Enough about that… because today was a much better day! We went for a walk around the park this morning (actually, I walked and Tobey ran) and the weather was just gorgeous.

We had a 1:30 reservation at Rosebud. I really missed being with my family in SC this year, but I have no days of vacation left. I feel like this whole post is a sob fest– sorry!

A gorgeous day…

We started our feast with a bottle of champagne… I left this one up to Tobey!

They brought out some hors d’oeuvres right away- Rosebud trail mix (which was surprisingly good), pimento cheese, and pickled vegetables.

We each had a choice of sage & honey roasted turkey or mexican coke glazed ham and braised cherry chutney. We both ordered the turkey.

And we had a choice of five sides for the table! We got the whipped sweet potatoes with ginger & sweet chili, mac and cheese, brioche and herb stuffing, cider & maple roasted brussel sprouts, and glazed carrots with citrus & cardamom.

I absolutely loved the mac and cheese… it tasted just like my mom’s version!

My plate:

I didn’t love the turkey (it tasted really smokey), but the mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, and stuffing were all wonderful. I loved the carbs. The citrus flavor added a nice twist to the carrots.

We were stuffed by the time dessert came out, but we managed. Just look at the whipped cream on top of the pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin pie tart, apple normandy, pecan pie tart:

What was your favorite thing that you ate today? I think mine was the mac and cheese! I loved the pumpkin pie tart as well… I always love pumpkin pie.

We’re watching Funny People right now, and it’s okay but it’s SO long… like 2.5 hours long!

I’ll be back tomorrow with my experience at Woodfire Grill, where I met Jenna’s friend from Top Chef.

-Laura

Annie’s to the Rescue

Hey!

I got such a good night’s sleep last night… it was nice not having to wake up to an alarm! I got a million practice tests out of the way today… oh, I love personal days.

Annie dropped off lunch today! I had Annie’s classic mac & cheese with peas. I always keep a box of Annie’s in the pantry- ready in a snap and pretty good!

Next, I took some of this:

And put it on top of this:

One apple, sliced and tossed with cinnamon. I added 1 tbsp of oats, microwaved it for 1 1/2 minutes, and topped it with 1 tbsp of Barney Butter.

Fast forward to tonight–

I thought I’d have some champagne to spice up the practice tests…

I got out a bottle from Domaine Chandon that we got in February because well, what was I waiting for?

Are you going away for Thanksgiving? What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

I’m staying in town this year. We normally meet up in Kiawah (South Carolina), but my sister and brother-in-law are staying in PA since they just had a baby, and well, I don’t have any time off so I’m staying put!

I love pumpkin pie… maybe I’ll make one if Angie will send me her recipe.

Night!

-Laura

It’s the Little Things…

Hey hey! This is going to be a really random post, but I want to tell you guys about two things that I loved today.

So, you’re probably bored with me telling you that “I studied at Starbucks today,” but I have to tell you about what I had for breakfast there… the greek yogurt and honey parfait. Have you tried it yet?

It’s so good! It’s perfectly satisfying and full of flavor. The granola is great… just the right amount and not too sweet. It kept me full for 3 hours or so, which is impressive!

  

A frosty pic:

I’m glad that I had a good breakfast, because the weather was just dismal today! It was raining cats & dogs when I took this picture.

You’re about to see that it’s the little things that excite me…

So, I stopped at Bed, Bath & Beyond for a few things this afternoon. I’ve been thinking about adding a Keurig to my Christmas list ever since I fell in love with my sister’s Keurig in October. And that’s where the Nescafe Dolce Gusto comes in…

There was a girl running a Dolce Gusto stand in the store, so I stopped to try a drink. I went into the little demonstration thinking that there’s no way I would like it more than the Keurig, but now I’m torn! Do you have either one of these coffee makers?

I don’t NEED one, but they really are so cool. I normally just brew two pots of coffee in the beginning of the week, pour it into a pitcher, and have iced coffee for the week. Simple, but not that exciting!

Anyway, I tried a latte and it was seriously as good as a latte from Starbucks. I looked at the ingredient lists on the little single cups and they weren’t bad. The machine started at $149.99, but after a $30 rebate and 20% off, it was $95. Not bad!

Do you guys have any thoughts on single-cup coffee makers? Is it worth the investment?

<End randomness>

Have you guys been watching the American Music Awards? The performances have been amazing… they have made taking practice tests so much more enjoyable.

I hope that you have a great start to the week!

-Laura

Freshly Pressed

I started my day bright & early at Whole Foods… not a bad way to start the day! I wanted to grab a juice before I went to the farmers market.

I looked for the seasonal Clif bars, but they were nowhere to be found! Does anyone know if they are the same flavors as last year?  

The juice bar:

I got the “Pascal”- carrot, celery, apple, lemon, beet, kale and ginger. I just ask for “medium ginger” because wow, it’s strong and really wakes me up!

I also had a Clif white chocolate macadamia nut bar. Clif bars are kinda meh to me- honestly, I don’t think they taste that great and I’m always hungry like an hour later. I like Luna bars a lot more. Do you have a favorite bar?

  

Next, I made my way over to the farmers market. It wasn’t open the other week, so I was glad to see that they were back at it today!

I picked up some white carrots and a bunch of peppers. I’m really excited to use the white carrots; apparently, they last just like regular carrots but they’re really pretty.

I was excited to see that Souper Jenny was there! She makes the best soup in town… there is always a line out of the door for it. It didn’t even cross my mind to buy some because it was still pretty early.

Finally, I made my way over to Starbucks to study. It was packed today… like, line-to-the-door packed until noon. It must be the red cups!

Random story– the creamer stand (Is that what it’s called?) was to my left, and at one point I noticed that there was a red-headed boy (who was maybe 10 or so) with a strawberry frappuccino. When his mom wasn’t looking, he was dumping sugar on top of it! I really couldn’t help but laugh but his mom wasn’t very pleased when she saw what he was doing.

I was sitting at a table with this sign in front of me:

Caramel brulee latte? I must try that! Instead, I got one of these… (I told you that Clif bars don’t work for long!)

When I got home, I FINALLY finished the thai leftovers. Thai food makes the refrigerator smell really bad- it was driving me nuts!

With a side of kale chips:

For dinner, I baked a butternut squash at 400* for 60 minutes. As Christie would say, I made a multi-tasking meal. While it was baking, I got some cleaning done before I started on the polenta.

I cut the polenta log into disks, and sauteed them for about 5 minutes on each side with olive oil and sea salt. Once the squash was done, I cut it into cubes. I combined the squash and polenta, and topped it with parmesan cheese.

I think that I’ll top the leftover polenta with marinara tomorrow, and have the butternut squash on the side. The way that I ate it tonight was just okay- a tad bland.

Enjoy your Sunday… I just can’t wait for my weekends to be free of studying! Hopefully that will be soon enough.

Night!

-Laura

A Night of Repeats

TGIF!

Oh Friday night… I love knowing that I have the whole weekend ahead of me! I’m using a personal day on Monday (to study), so I’m looking forward to a LONG weekend. What are you looking forward to?

I went to the gym after work, and did the following:

• Ran 3 miles in 29 minutes
• Walked for 15 minutes at 4.0

I don’t run very often, but I was in the mood to tonight and it felt good!

When I got home, I heated up some leftover spicy basil and rice for dinner.

Can you guess what I had for dessert?

A chewy chocolate graham bar! I got a better picture tonight of the bar in all its glory…

It’s kind of like a cross between a seven layer bar and a s’more. I really have no words for it other than delicious!

Do you have a favorite dessert?

Relaxation time! I haven’t decided if I’m going to yoga in the morning, or if I’m going to get right into studying and exercise later…

Have a great night!

-Laura

Thai Take-Out & Chewy Chocolate Graham Bars

Love Thursday nights… by this time in the week, I’m already looking forward to the weekend!

Last night, Tobey picked up Thai food from Bangkok Thyme while I was studying away. I laugh like I’m 15 every time I say Bangkok Thyme…

Sometimes I think that Tobey wasn’t fed as a child… he loves to over-order! Do you like to try a little bit of everything when you go out to eat or are you conservative when it comes to ordering? I’m a tad (okay, more than a tad) frugal and only like to order what I need.

Enough for a family of 5:

Is it funny that I’m about to list everything in clock-wise order?

• Sizzling Yaki Soba (Stir-Fried Japanese Soba, Mushrooms, Nappa, Sugar Snap Peas & Carrots in Teriyaki-Katsu Sauce, with Beef)

• Soft Basil Rolls (Shrimp, Lettuce, Carrot, Basil Leaves & Cooked Rice Noodles; Served w/ Peanut Plum Sauce)

• Bangkok Ginger (Shredded Fresh Ginger Sautéed w/ Sliced Onions, Scallions, Straw Mushrooms, Carrot, Celery, Bell Pepper and Pork)

• Spicy Thai Basil (Stir-Fried w/ Fresh Crushed Chili, Garlic, Green Beans, Bell Pepper, Basil Leaves and Chicken)

I had a soft basil roll with peanut-plum sauce (The sauce is absolutely amazing!), as well as spicy basil and yaki soba.

I know I can always count on Tobey to pick up Jujubees… my favorite frozen yogurt in the neighborhood!

I got a small green tea and original (tart), with strawberries, kiwi, and mochi.

Have you ever had mochi? It’s like a little Japanese marshmallow, but not as sweet as it probably sounds.

I put half in a bowl and the rest in the freezer. This picture makes it look like mashed avocado, doesn’t it?

Fast forward to today–

I got home from work, checked the mail, and my eyes instantly lit up when I saw this…

The chewy chocolate graham bars that I ordered last week from Fanny & Jane! I found Jen’s blog about a month ago and just love it. She seems so down to earth and is a really good writer!

My pictures don’t do these bars justice. As I was eating one – okay, two – I kept thinking, “How am I going to describe these?” All I could come up with was, “These are so good… SO good!”

From the website: This chewy, fudgey, caramel-y graham bar is a night out on the town for your taste buds. The buttery graham cracker crust provides the perfect base for layer after layer of indulgence. Topped with slivered almonds and a ribbon of caramel, we could eat an entire pan. (These are Jane’s favorite.)

Off for a dose of studying, with House Hunters in the background.

Don’t forget to check out In My Tummy’s Chobani giveaway!

Good night!

-Laura

Rosebud

Hey guys! How is your week going so far? I definitely just had to remind myself that it’s Wednesday already!

Last night, Tobey and I met up with our friends at Rosebud. I’ve been wanting to try Rosebud (it used to be Food 101) since Caitlin always says such good things about it, so it was the perfect spot to meet Jeff & Caitlin for dinner.

Do you guys keep a list of restaurants that you want to try? I love Zagat; I make a list of where I want to try and highlight the places that I’ve been to! Total dork.

I started with a glass of Maryhill pinot gris… it was good!

I’m a huge sucker for shrimp & grits (andouille sausage, sweet onion, san marzano tomatoes & local grits)… I’ve lived here for over 2 years now, but my eyes still light up when I see it on a menu!

Have you ever had shrimp and grits? I realize that it’s totally a Southern thing- I lived in PA for 23 years of my life and I don’t think that I ever saw it on a menu!

It was good (not as creamy as it sometimes is), but I LOVED the duck risotto (roasted mushrooms, dried apricots & fresh sage) that Tobey ordered.

Sorry for the blurry pictures- I still haven’t figured out how to take pictures in dimly lit places!

Caitlin and I:

Enjoy your evening!

-Laura