San Diego, CA - What to Eat

As you know, our vacations consist of a lot of eating, and San Diego was no different. In fact, it was one of my favorite dining cities, where we had one of our all time favorite meals! I recently was looking through photos to create our Christmas card, and asked Jesse if he thought anyone would appreciate a card of food pictures... ;)
I had a few places picked out ahead of time from Pinterest and other blogs. We met up at the end of the week with Jesse's brother and sister-in-law, who had a few food requests as well. Otherwise, we would search as on the go, depending on which side of town we were on. Here are a few of our favorites:

Chocolat Cafe and Gelato - gelato and ice cream shops are all over, but I think we hit the jackpot at this random stop. The gelato was so beautiful and vibrant. We picked four flavors to split and they were all equally delicious.

Extraordinary Desserts - This place definitely lives up to it's name. I've never seen such intricate and beautiful cakes and pastries! You can dine in for dinner and dessert, or order something sweet directly from the case.

Donut Bar - originated in San Diego, and now has multiple locations. Their donuts are huge! They claim to be the "best," but honestly they were kind of a dud. Until the guy behind the counter started passing out made to order Donut French Toast. This, my friends, is their best kept secret.

Considering you can see Mexico as you fly into San Diego, there is plenty of Mexican food and inspiration! We chose Los Panchos de Charly, in walking distance of our hotel, for taquitos and tostadas. I wouldn't say this is the place to go, but it was fresh and yummy, and really hit the spot.

Okay, now I must tell you about one of our very favorite places we've ever eaten. While on a city tour I overheard a local tell another couple the best place in their Little Italy district is Davanti Enoteca. I honestly had no idea what he said, but I repeated the syllables long enough to pull out my phone and save it. We walked over the next day for lunch and had an amazing Italian beef sandwich with dipping au jus. Such a simple sandwich, but out of this world flavor! We also chose a selection of Salumi e Formaggi (meat and cheese): taleggio cheese, cured Berkshire salami in truffle oil, and duck salami. Freaking amazing. One of the best things I've ever eaten. We returned the next day with Matt and Heidi for brunch and another round of cheese and meats.

After lunch in Little Italy, we returned for dinner that night, and decided on a whim for Buon Appetito. We both really wanted a good bowl of pasta. We lucked out and were seated almost immediately although there was a very long line. We were given a bread loaf and cup of marina. An incredible, fresh tomato marina, that has changed all future marina eating experiences. Few marinas will ever measure up, I'm certain. Jesse opted for the Linguine Boscomare (shrimp, scallops, clams in wine sauce), while I went for the Borsettini di Vitello e Funghi (pocket pasta filled with veal and mushrooms) in their creamy marina sauce. Y'all, if I had only one meal left in this life I would fly to San Diego for this pasta. No regrets. Oh, and let's not forget about the cannoli! We took Matt and Heidi here the very next night.

While exploring La Jolla with Matt and Heidi we made sure to eat an appropriate amount of dessert. One stop was the Baked Bear, a build-your-own cookie/brownie ice cream sandwich. Not a new idea, but we all approved of their flavors!

Another top contender on this trip was Hammond's Ice Cream. You can order in a cup or cone. Or if you're like us and can't decide want to try them all, you can have a flight of mini cones! Very unique and prominent flavors. We would definitely seek this place out again! Check out their website and drool over a few flavors like Vanilla Rose and Lychee Cream.

Lastly, Wow Wow Waffle, which had to be the most unique atmosphere. It was an outdoor restaurant, sort of in a large alley way between two other buildings. It had fun seating with large wooden tables and succulents all around. They gave the food truck vibe without actually being a food truck. But somehow they produced these delicious waffles from behind a curtain. Maybe it was magic. I dunno. They make Belgium yeast waffles (not your typical waffle batter) - is their thing. Since we were there for brunch we both started with something pretty ordinary as far as toppings go. Next we split a bacon/avocado/goat cheese waffle.

There was more food had, but these were the outstanding dishes. San Diego was a perfect trip. So many activities to do. It was a very clean city, and I always felt safe walking around even on my own. The weather was perfect, and the food top notch. We'll be back for you, SD!

San Diego, CA

That one time I took vacation two weeks after starting a new job, flew home, and bought a house the next day. That was August. Let's reminisce.

Back in August, Jesse had a work trip to San Diego and I planned to tag along. Fortunately my new job was very flexible with a trip I already had booked. :) We spent a week in San Diego, and it quickly became one of our favorite places we've visited. First of all, the weather is absolutely perfect. It's a decent size city, but not too congested, with various sub-areas within the city that have their own unique atmospheres. Oh, and there is AMAZING food there, but we'll get to that.

We opted for a multi-day, multi-use pass for 3 main attractions: San Diego Zoo, Zoo Safari Park, and Sea World. (Aside: I had very mixed feeling about going to and supporting Sea World after watching the documentary Blackfish. I still do, but part of me is glad that I went and was able to see the final orca show. We know more about orcas because of their lives in captivity, but some of those findings are extremely sad and unfortunate situations have occurred. I'm very interested to learn of the changes Sea World will make in the future, as their original obtainment and current treatment of the orcas has been questionable.)  All three of these parks are huge, and it takes more than a day to fully conquer each of them (seeing all exhibits and shows)- even as fast as we walk. We still rushed through some parts, but overall, felt we experienced each park to the fullest without being overwhelmed.

(Seriously, my life would be complete if I could hold a koala.)

(A friend recently pointed out that there are only 4 pandas in the United States: Smithsonian in DC, San Diego, Atlanta, and Memphis. She has seen them all, and we're halfway there! Thankfully the other two are closer to home!)

(The Skylift was a quick way to cross the park!)

(The elephant exhibit was incredible! They had a ton of room, and it was so fun to sit and watch them walk, eat, and interact with each other.)

(Even baby hippos are adorable! Look at that smile!)

(I'm not sure what this creature is, but it's eyes were the coolest I've ever seen!)

The Safari Park, although similar, was a completely different experience. As much as I liked the zoo, I personally enjoyed the safari a little more because the exhibits were more open and natural. You also ride a tram through the African "safari" fields where animals are roaming more freely.

(We were able to watch the gorilla feeding, which was fun. The older male silver-back definitely rules the camp!)

There were a couple of days Jesse had to work, and I went out on my own. Balboa Park is an outdoor area of large Spanish-style buildings from the early 1900s. It was a beautiful area to walk around in. There were also museums and gardens to explore.

Since my mom instilled the love of cats in me at a young age, and deep down I would be happy being a crazy cat lady, I had to go to the Cat Cafe. You buy a cup of coffee, then get to sit and play with the kitties! They are partnered with the humane society, so all the cats are up for adoption! They are well loved and well fed (aka - all fat!). 

Sea World was great, but a little dated. And also more difficult to maneuver from one exhibit to the next (even with map in hand, and landmarks in sight). We ran from show to exhibit to show. Then Jesse convinced me to ride a roller coaster, which I'm rather afraid of. However, I thought it a reasonable idea - until it was time to load into my seat. I immediately questioned my decision, but it was too late. The bar came down, my feet were dangling, and I hung to the guardrail for dear life. Forgive me, roller coaster lovers, but it was not fun. I could barely breathe the whole time. The photo that they take and try to sell to you at the end, had me clinging to my chest like I was having a heart attack. 

We watched the dolphin show, the seal/dogs/cats show, and of course, the orcas. I have to say, it was pretty incredible. They are brilliant animals who are trained so well. Again, mixed feelings, but it leaves you full of awe to watch. Before the show, the mom and baby orca willingly came to the splash pad several times without instruction to see the crowd!

Matt and Heidi joined us for the last weekend there, and we saved several things to do and explore with them.

The Ho Chi Minh trial, which starts as a tiny, inconspicuous path in the middle of a neighborhood, and quickly turns into quite the challenge - including sandstone walls, a rope to shimmy down the cliff, and finally the beach!

Coronado Island and Hotel, wear the guys learned to surf!

They also snorkeled in La Jolla cove with sea lions!

We drove around Point Loma and toured the light house.

Walked along the bluff of Sunset Cliffs. (We didn't catch a sunset here, but I'm sure they are epic.)

And walked across a suspension bridge that's nestled right in the middle of the city, over a small valley.

This was a wonderful trip, and I highly recommend San Diego as a travel destination! I'm so thankful I was able to join Jesse on this trip and that we were able to meet up with family at the same time! This post got a little lengthy, so stay tuned to find out what to eat in SD!

Moving Forward

With an incredibly busy August and lack of internet recently, I have done quite the horrible job blogging. Most of you have heard our news or seen posts on other forms of social media, but I wanted update here as well.

As you read in the previous post, we have been living with my super sweet and gracious Aunt Vera during this time of transition. Once we decided to stay in Birmingham, I obviously needed a job, and we needed to determine our future living arrangements. Late July/early August I accepted a position with EyeCare Associates in Trussville and have just finished up my first month on the job! (Yay real world and paychecks!!) I'm very excited to join this team of doctors that provide eye care to the Birmingham area and beyond, and it is so nice to be back in patient care after my "summer break!" If you're in the Birmingham area and need an eye exam, new glasses/contact lenses, or have any concerns about your vision (or your child's vision), I'm gladly accepting appointments in Trussville! ;)

The last four years of living in Birmingham were spent in a apartment. We were tired of renting and wanted to settle into our own place, so we looked into buying a house. Our expectations and styles were very different. I would be perfectly happy living in the land of Joanna Gaines, and Jesse would have a stroke right after she painted the brick and distressed the wood. So after several long conversations, making lists of priorities, and looking at photos and listings, we bought the first house we walked through. Can you believe it? WE bought the first house we walked through! When we found the listing, we didn't even have a realtor yet. Thankfully we acted fast and swept up our new abode - out from under the open house. :)  We love it. And really still can't believe that we found everything we (realistically) want in a single home. While it was a difficult decision to decide to stay, we were blessed over and over again throughout the home-buying process. It was such an unexpectedly peaceful process, we know that we are where we need to be. We can't wait to see how God will use us here in this city. Many thanks to our awesome realtor and lender who guided us along the way and went above and beyond!

We moved last weekend with the help of several incredible friends and family members, and have most things put away already. It has truly felt like home from day one. The first night we slept in the house, I woke up in the middle of the night, and in my slumber I panicked a little with the realization of home ownership. "What did we just get ourselves into? This is a lot of responsibility. Did we buy too much house? It's a lot easier to rent, why didn't we just keep doing that?" I reassured myself we made the right decision, rolled over and back to sleep. We're excited what the future will hold for this space. Eventually we will grow our family, but in the meantime we want this home to be open to friends and family. We want to use it to build and strengthen relationships with others. We don't want it to just be a haven from the stressors of life and work, but a place for being intentionally present in other's lives. I don't know what that really looks like yet, other than feeding and housing you; maybe hosting a community group or Bible study in the future. So, if you'd like to visit, need a ride to the airport, want to tinker on a project in the garage, want to prep some freezer meals in the kitchen, want to throw a steak on the grill, we're probably game. Just ask. Or say yes when we ask you. :)  Here we are looking especially tired after 3 days of moving boxes and unpacking:

Which Way Do We Go?

The verdict is in, folks.

As many of you know, we have been deciding (for quite some time) about moving to California vs. staying in Birmingham.  (Apparently there's no where in between that piques our interest.) What I didn't mention in my (long ago) post about our last trip to Cali, was that I had a few job interviews while there, we looked into housing, and Jesse was calculating what it would mean for him to change the course of his current career.

We've been weighing the pros and cons for months. California would be fun and adventurous, and we have some family there now. I mean,... have you seen my pictures of how beautiful it is?! However, Birmingham has become home, and we've grown to really love this city over the past few years! I'll save you the excruciating list of the benefits and risks we weighed, and the pros and cons of each.  We're indecisive people, but with the blessing of having an aunt that let us move in with her while we pondered and prayed, we were able to take the time to make the best decision for us.

I'm not going to lie, this summer was hard time. I never thought I'd be 27 years old, freshly deemed a doctor, and have no where to work. I felt a little like a bum while I sleep on someone's bed that isn't mine and while I haven't contributed to our income when I am able. But I'm incredibly thankful for a husband that is willing to pause and reflect and help direct us where we should go next, and that we're in a stage of life that allowed us to do that. I'm always anxious to go and do, and this time has really been good for me to relax, slow down, and breathe a little. It's also helped me to remember that I am not in control of this life of mine. Sometimes you have to sit back and wait on the Lord to direct you, and not plan your life for Him.

There's a couple of things I want to clear the air about that we encountered along the way through our decision making. None of these are directed at any one person, and I'm not trying to call anyone out. We have heard a lot of generalities that just simply aren't valid. Moving far away from people doesn't mean we love them less. Putting that many miles between us and many of our loved ones wasn't an idea we took lightly. We have several friends that have moved cross-country from their families and it's an admirable season of life. It's a big deal to leave all you've ever known with all of your belongings for the unknown that lies ahead. These friends have been able to encounter so many new people and experiences because of the choice to move and do life in a different place for a while. Secondly, California is not just full of crazy liberals. In our two trips to Cali, we encountered so many kind (and conservative) people! We were greeted by so many strangers who genuinely asked about us- where we were from, how was our day, have we enjoyed our stay. Genuineness that rivaled Southern charm, in fact. We were there through a weekend and went to church with our family on Sunday, where we were welcomed and worshiped next to fellow believers the same way we do at our home church. You can't judge an entire place by what you hear on the news or even the majority of a state's political view. This is one of the main reasons I have enjoyed traveling so much. When you go somewhere with no assumptions and immerse yourself in a different atmosphere or culture, you see the world from a different perspective. Sometimes it confirms what you felt you knew deep down, but mostly it molds you to be more open-minded to others. This has turned into a tangent, but this relates to where we are as a society today. We stay confined within our normal, or comfort zone, and when someone different from us does something different than what we normally do, we get defensive and protective, or angry. The issue of racism and stereotyping has been heavy on my heart for months now. We watched the ESPN series on OJ Simpson, which is an excellent documentary of racism in America. While we were watching historical news reports of brutal force by the LAPD on African Americans and riots in LA, I was heartbroken as my mind flashed back to the Baltimore riots just last year. How are we still here?! Then these past several weeks of absolute disgust that have played out between our police and the black community. I haven't said much about it, because honestly there's not much to say other than we need change. We can cast blame all day, take sides that just exacerbate the segregation of our people, but it all boils down to sin - hate, pride, envy, murder - it's all sin. When Christians don't act like Christians and love others with the same love that Christ loves us, then we are failing. That's the only answer.

So to bring this full circle, I am proud and excited to tell you that we are choosing to stay in BIRMINGHAM. Birmingham - a city known for violence and hate during the Civil Rights movement. A city known for segregation "over the mountain." A city that has made a few national lists of poor places to live based on poverty and crime. Through living here we've come to know a city that, today, is continuously working to overcome racism. A city that is growing and revitalizing its downtown area to meet the needs of those that live there and turn run-down buildings into thriving businesses. A city that has people passionate about where they live and where they spend their hard earned dollars. We are excited to stay and be a part of this city's transformation! Some of you reading this think Birmingham is too small to be considered a "city," and others think it's too big and scary to even drive through. For us, it's just big enough, and we can't wait to continue to check off restaurants and activities from our Birmingham bucket list we compiled in case we were leaving. So, stay tuned for many more adventures in the Ham!