Last Friday was my 25th birthday and Jesse took me out to a wonderful dinner at the historic Bright Star in Bessemer - "Alabama's Oldest Restaurant." It began in 1907 and moved to its current location in 1915, and is stilled owned and operated by the original family. They are famous for their steak, which has been voted the best in the state of Alabama. It's in a beautiful old building that has been well maintained through the years, leaving you with a fancy mom-and-pop kind of feel. Literally everything we ate was delicious and truly tasted homemade.
We were seated by one of the owners, who was welcoming and obviously proud of his establishment. He walked us toward the back and seated me in "Sandra Bullock's chair." Apparently the Bright Star is her father's favorite restaurant, and in 2010 Sandra (we're on a first-name basis now) took him and many of their friends here for Father's Day.
celebrity birthday treatment? why not?
After the owner heard it was our first time at the restaurant, he brought us each a small cup of their gumbo before our waitress had time to bring us drinks. The roux was dark and made it deep and delicious.
We order stuffed mushrooms and fried green tomatoes for appetizers, then split the dinner sampler entree which came with a crisp Greek salad.
(this dish was supposed to have the shrimp and remoulade on top, but we separated it since I'm allergic)
Their famous steak with Greek sauce, grilled chicken, and red snapper.
Surprisingly the chicken was our least favorite, but we had so many more options we didn't mind.
We were so stuffed we had to order our desserts to go. I mean, it was my birthday.. I had to have dessert! Jesse ordered their famous Lemon Box Pie, and I ordered Baklava Cheesecake. We debated on the bread pudding, but decided against it. Our waitress surprised us with a complementary sample though, and it was warm and gooey and amazing, without being soggy or too sweet. I mean, she pretty much forced me to eat it. (Just kidding... you guys know it doesn't take much.)
We were really impressed with the Bright Star. We really enjoyed our meal and appreciated the genuine friendliness of the staff. It is a little bit more expensive than our normal eating out, but I would recommend it for a special occasion.
The next day we ate our desserts. Jesse's lemon pie was light and fluffy, topped with whipped cream, and was also not as sweet as you would expect, letting the lemon shine through. And my Baklava Cheesecake... oh my! A creamy cheesecake-like center rolled in baklava and drizzled with honey - it was magical. And I'm pretty sure we ate 4 times off of one dessert!
Obviously no more wedding bells are ringing around here, but the title for this post is still appropriate. I told you in last week's High Five we had a special delivery Saturday, and I'm excited to reveal it! (I'm probably more excited than any of you will be, but moving on...)
Several weeks ago Jesse and I went home to look at/work on a project. My mom has always had the same dining room table. A chunky, heavy, simple, wooden table that's been around since...maybe before I was born? I'm not sure, but I remember this table being our dining table my entire life. It's in the background of photographs and home videos. I'm sure I blew out many birthday candles on this very table. But it's also special because my dad made it. For those of you that haven't known me long, my dad passed away when I was young from multiple sclerosis. Most of my memories of him are in a wheelchair or scooter to get around, so he loved wood-working, for as long as he could, because it was something he could do with his hands. I remember going into his workshop, where the ground was covered with wood shavings and smelled earthy like pine or cedar.
Recently my mom and step-dad bought a new table and I inherited the table my dad made. I am so excited to have it! 1) because it's a treasure and 2) because I wanted to replace the patio-style table we currently had in our dining area. And this new old table would fit perfectly in our small space! Here's what it looked like before:
As you can tell, it has places that tell it's been around for a while- with all of it's scratches and dents and scrapes. We knew it needed to be re-finished somehow, and we also thought it would be a good idea to stain it a different color - something a little darker and more modern. We chose a deep espresso stain and went to work one weekend at Jesse's parents' home. They helped us sand, and sand, and sand, then apply the stain, and we left without seeing the final dried product. Several days later my mother-in-law sent me a picture of the table and I was overjoyed - it looked fabulous! The dark shade was beautiful with lighter areas mixed in that really made the grain of the wood pop! Then she confessed: the stain Jesse and I applied looked really bad once dried, so they re-sanded the table and re-stained it - all without stressing me out about it's initial failure! We went home for a final look and it was just as beautiful in person! They applied a poly sealant, then delivered the table and its chairs to us last weekend. (I'm pretty sure I have the best in-laws!)
Ready for the grand reveal?
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And it still has all of it's marks of love...
I added a table runner, gray place mats, and napkins to help tie in our black and white dishes (not pictured) with the brown tones. (All of these are from World Market, and I got a great deal on them!) And we finally get to use our napkin rings we received as wedding gifts!
Isn't it gorgeous?!!! We aren't sure what we'll do about the chairs just yet. To stain, or not to stain. Or replace (they weren't handmade)... we'll see. I'm so thankful to have this piece my dad made. And now it is even more special because my mom loved it for many years, Jesse and I worked on it together, and his parents worked on it to help transform it to its current state. That's quiet the family effort! I will cherish this piece all the years to come!
Since last Friday (for which there was no post...sorry) Spring Break has ended, and I've been forced to return to school for the last 5 weeks of this semester. It's a countdown, folks. My mind and body really enjoyed the time off. So did the kitchen, and my my husband's tummy.
What did I do with that time, you might ask? (if case you've been worried about me since my depressing post)
- it begin with a Friday night date out for Indian food
- followed by a whole lota nothin' (and it felt so good)
- made a brief visit home, mostly for dentist appointments
- stopped by my old optometry office to visit
- had taco night with family, which was a combo send-off for my cousin, Carissa, going to Austria for a few months
(and I got to hold cousin Jessica's sweet little baby, who is as cute as a cabbage patch kid!)
- went through and eliminated an enormous stack of magazines that has been growing for quite some time, and other cleaning around the house
- redecorated our mantel (aka - removed the random Valentine's Day paraphernalia)
- had my oil changed
- had my hair cut - nothing drastic (obviously)
- organized our pantry (some)
- watched a good deal of TV (If you are a Netflixer, watch the series Sherlock. It's awesome.)
- enjoyed hanging out with friends, including a late night game night
- cuddled with my hubby (until I caught a cold)
But what about this past week's high five?
1. Our old friend Dusty came to Birmingham to celebrate his birthday. We were lucky enough to meet up with him for dinner one night. Jesse was also able to meet him and some friends for a round of mini-golf. It took him coming to B'ham to introduce us to Saw's Juke Joint, and it was delicious! Can you believe I didn't ask Dusty to share his birthday banana pudding with me?
2. We had a special delivery on Saturday afternoon! It has it's own post coming up, and I can't wait to share it with you! Coming soon, I promise!
3. I've spent a good amount of time this week practicing for my final practical. The big, grand finale of all practicals that has me shaking in my boots a little. It's basically a full eye exam, and will be on an unknown person, unlike our other practicals which only cover a few skills at a time and are on classmates. We are getting ready to see our own patients in the summer term, and this practical will make sure we are all capable of being let loose on the public. ;)
4. We got to babysit this week. Addy loves walking Maggie (which is really Maggie walking Addy) and it makes her so very happy. She runs along behind Maggie with the leash and laughs and smiles and is overjoyed. It's precious and makes my heart happy too.
5. Last, but certainly not least, the greatest highlight of the week is that today is my birthday!!! I've officially been around a quarter-century now. Sounds like a long time, when I put it that way. I cashed in on a birthday freebie at Moe's for lunch today. I'm not sure what's in store for celebrating, as Jesse has been out of town this week for work, but I'm looking forward to celebrating someway this weekend.
And apparently even Google now wishes you a happy day.
I've grown up in the South my entire life and say things like "fixin' to" and "used-ta could." In addition to that, I've also grown up watching my grandmothers and my mom cook delicious entrees and side dishes that are considered Southern classics. I wish I could go back in time and work in the kitchen with my grandmothers. I'm sure I could have learned a lot from them both. Thankfully, my mom picked up on many of her mother's techniques and continues her cooking traditions. I've been thinking up a list of classic Southern cuisine that I think I should conquer (eventually) - a list of things that any proper Southern lady should know how to make.
1. Buttermilk biscuits - a Southern breakfast staple. Golden tops with a flaky center. Topped with syrup and butter, and often served with salmon patties. I've made these HERE, but could try again and make them a little bigger.
2. Fried okra - the best way to eat okra. Don't confuse this with the fried okra you can get from the frozen foods aisle, or what many restaurants serve (which is probably from the frozen foods aisle). Homemade fried okra should have a thin, crispy coating - dusted in flour and seasonings, not a full, thick batter.
3. Pound Cake - the iconic dessert to bring to any gathering. I've already made my Memaw's recipe HERE.
4. Stewed squash - yellow squash only, preferably from your garden or local farmer's market. Next to fried squash it's my second favorite way to eat yellow squash. And it's the healthier version... and probably the healthiest thing on this list.
5. Fried cornbread - can be served with anything, especially if there are peas on the table.
6. Dressing - made from cornbread and a good chicken stock. To be served at each holiday occasion, whether Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. And not to be confused with "stuffing."
7. Salmon patties - it would probably sound better to call them "salmon cakes," like crab cakes, but that's not what they are known as. Serve with #1, because they are also best with syrup. Cane syrup - preferably Daddy Buck's, but if that's not available, Yellow Label will do.
8. Jelly/Preserves - also often served with #1. This will take a while to cross off my list, I'm sure, as it's the most challenging and requires some knowledge of canning, which a true Southern lady knows how to do as well. Fig preserves were always in my Memaw and mom's cabinet, and rightfully so, they are delicious. And if you have the problem of having too many figs, then preserve them, because they are like gold (in my opinion). Delicious!
9. Peach Cobbler - thanks to my mom, I have this one down pat already, but I will revisit it and share the recipe with you. Mmmm....cobbler...
10. Chicken and Dumplin's - a comfort food classic. Best made from scratch, although you can buy frozen dumplin' strips. Read strips, not balls of dough, and definitely not made from canned biscuits (bleck!).
I'll refer back to this post as I make my way through the bold items on this list. Did I forget any of your favorite Southern dishes?
A new beauty product here and there helps keep me sane. I realized I haven't posted any beauty favorites since November, and I have a few to share with you. (see previous beauty-related posts HERE and HERE)
1. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle - Reviews of this product are floating around Pinterest, which is where I saw it first. It's raved about as a cheap deep conditioner that works great, and I have to agree. I've only used it once, because it's something I will probably use once a week or so when my hair feels really dry. You apply it after shampoo in the shower then leave it on for 3 minutes to do it's magic, then rinse. My hair felt SO soft afterwards and smelled amazing. A little like a tropical vacation (no complaints there)! It weighed my hair down some the day of application, but was back to normal after another morning's shower, however its effects are long-lasting!
2. Freeman Anti-Stress Face Mask - For a spa feeling at home use one of these Freeman masks (also very affordable). Many of them have great reviews. I chose the Anti-Stress Mask which is supposed to "balance moisture while purging clogged pores." I'm not sure if it does all of that, but it feels refreshing as you apply it. You wait for it to dry, then wash it off with warm water. My skin felt smooth and refreshed afterwards. It was a little drying in places, so I followed with moisturizer.
3. Elf products - stay tuned! I'm going to write a whole post on this to share my thoughts on these super affordable products!
4. Tanwise Dark Sunless Tanning Mousse - You can great an excellent review of this product HERE from a blogger who has tried ~40+ sunless tanning products. As a very white girl who is not risking her fair skin to cancer, I appreciated her trial and error testing of sunless products and was happy to hear the results. I quickly snagged this recently at Sally's (on sale!). I am used to a tanning lotion, so applying this mousse was a little difficult just because I was working with a different product. I applied it with a tanning mitt (which I would say is a must with this mousse). I tested it first with just my legs and went a little light over the knee areas and wound up with paler knees (mistake). The second time I put lotion on my knees and elbows, and it went on without any streaks or splotches. It's color is great - not orange at all, and it barely (barely) has a smell. Most sunless tanners do, but this was is ever so faint and I don't think anyone else would pick up on it as you wear it.
5. Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm - While shopping at Ulta there is always a coupon for $3.50 off of $10 worth of non-highend products, so I used this item as a filler and basically got it for free. My sister-in-law had told me good things about these tinted lip balms, and I've enjoyed having one on hand to put on a little color while moisturizing my lips at the same time. I will reach for this instead of regular chapstick because it moisturizes so well.
6. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - I mentioned this primer HERE, but haven't gotten back to you on it. I replaced my Benefit stick primer (mentioned here) with this one. I really enjoyed the Benefit primer, but it didn't last very long for the price. I researched and price checked to get the most for my money and decided on the Laura Mercier Primer. I've used it for a couple of months now and have really enjoyed it. It helps my foundation last all day, is not heavy, and only takes a little to cover my whole face, so I expect this tube to last a long time (several months, maybe longer). There are oil-free and moisturizing versions as well, but since I consider my skin to be neither oily or dry (somewhere in between), I went with the basic primer.
I titled this post before I started typing because it's the root of how I feel. Then I realized it's irony to my career choice and had to laugh a little. I wrote this post a few weeks ago in the midst of studying for midterms and preparing for a practical, when my classmates and I were stressed to the max. I've been hesitant about sharing, because it's revealing. But let's be real here for a little bit.
Optometry school has to be the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. You might think, it's just school. You just go, and study, and then your done...after a while. Nope. Not really. It's the biggest challenge I've ever faced. Why? Because I lose sight of so many things while I try to keep my head above water.
On days like today, while I'm writing this, I've literally been doing school related things from 8am until right now (10:45pm). I mean, I had lunch. And I did take the time to have dinner downstairs with our friends before Community Group. Which I arrived home just in time to throw some clothes in the laundry and walk downstairs to. Then I dipped out of the actual Bible study part of group to come back up to my desk and start my "homework."
Not everyday is like this. And there is plenty of my time I don't spend wisely. But school seems to engulf me- some weeks with crashing waves. And many times I have reached the point where I just go to bed and start to cry because so many things seem out of whack in my life:
- not enough time spent with my husband
- not enough time spent reading my Bible
- not enough time to volunteer at church
- not enough time spent with my friends
- lack of sleep in general
- I'm behind. I'm always behind.
- I could go on, and on
And to be quite honest, I've wondered if I could quit. Could I just call this off? Walk away and pretend it never happened. That I never got this far. And then I think of all the other things I could do with my time. (This usually involves cooking and baking, and all the things I've saved on Pinterest; heck, maybe even taking up embroidery! Oh the things I could do!) Then Jesse reminds me that I have to tough it out for this part, this short little part of my career, to reach my real goal. A goal I've been hunting down for so many years. (He always seems to also mention the growing amount of loans... I don't blame him.)
But then I snap out of it (for a while) and remind myself that he is right. And I try to remember that all of this is part of my purpose. My God-given drive and passion. Because if it wasn't God behind all of this, I would drop it and walk away. I love optometry and people, and want to love people through optometry. I've learned through this journey the past couple of years that for me, it is definitely not about selfish ambitions, a title before my name, or the money I may make one day (which, by the way, insurance policies are slowly washing down the drain). When I lose sight of this vision God has given me, I'm not trusting Him. I feel so alone in this because it feels like such a struggle, but really He has placed me here and knows my outcome. This is His plan for me, and this is how I can serve Him. If I could just remember that these long days and nights of studying are really worshiping and glorifying Him, maybe they would be more enjoyable.
Tim Timmons, a singer/songwriter that has been to our church in the past, sings beautiful reminders in this song. If you watch the video, you'll see that Tim's struggle is much greater than my own, but this song is an inspiration to me, and I keep it on repeat in my car for my morning drive.
"Remind my soul that Your in control. Praise to the Father, with every breath I take. In joy and sorry, all for Your Kingdom's sake. Be thou my vision. Be thou my hope restored. Now and forever, you are my great reward."
I'm not looking for sympathetic words or for you to feel bad that I get discouraged. I just wanted to point out that we lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing sometimes- the purpose behind it, and if it's the right thing or not. We get bogged down in what feels like a burden sometimes, but really it's just the path we are to follow, which is not always easy.
Spring break is next week and I'm planning to make the most of it, relaxing and renewing my mind for the end of this semester!
Friday night we went out to First Avenue Rocks here in Birmingham. I got Jesse a Groupon certificate for this back in October for his birthday, and we never got around to going. It was about to expire, so we used it this weekend. We needed a night out together after I had a very stressful week of midterms.
We had a good time challenging ourselves. You can choose courses to do from "very" easy to much more difficult by choosing a certain color tape to follow. I mostly just tried to make it up the wall any way I could.
Jesse immediately scaled up the beginner wall, and we had to move on to harder territory.
It was a really neat experience. There were numerous courses to try (many of which were way too difficult for us). Watching other people that obviously come there often was fun too. It's a great way to work your upper body, and since I don't do that often my arms felt like Jello before we left.
Afterwards, we drove around downtown and enjoyed the night time view of our city.
I found this Buzzfeed article recently of 50 things to do in Birmingham. We have done quite a few of them, but have plenty more to do! This adventure was another check off the list!
