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!

Birmingham Restaurant Review - John's City Diner

I'm shuffling through older photos that I've taken while out to eat. This one is a little bit of a flashback. I had heard of John's City Diner, but after it was recommended by a classmate we put it on our list. It's been almost a year since we were there, but I remember just how delicious it all was.

John's serves upscale Southern dishes that walk you down memory lane at your grandma's house. The restaurant has a modern diner feel. Our server was very knowledgeable of the menu and suggested some of the most popular items. When we try a place for the first time, I sometimes like to get the dish that everyone raves about unless there is something else screaming at me from the menu. I went with the suggested mac-n-cheese, but I couldn't bite the bullet for the meatloaf. It's supposed to be awesome, but meatloaf just seems like a cop-out meal to me. I'll have to give it a chance next time, though.

(He loves me, y'all. Even through my "hey, lean over there so I can get you with the cool wall" moment.)

What I ordered: Not Your Mama's Macaroni and Cheese (Original) and Fried Okra

What he ordered: Cripsy Duck served with mashed potatoes and collard greens

When we try new restaurants, we frequently will order a few items and share them all so that we can try multiple dishes. And we NEVER order the same thing. That's mostly my doings, because even if we both want the same menu item, I can't pass up tasting two dishes instead of just one. So I'll always have a back-up choice. Obviously we were never that couple who fought over sharing fries. ;)

Everything was delicious, cooked and seasoned well. We liked how the fried okra was kept as spears and the batter wasn't too thick - something somewhat unique. The mac-and-cheese hit all the comfort food notes. I can't believe it's been a year since we were here! We will definitely have to go back soon!
Bonus, outside is one of the city's murals, which is a perfect photo-op!

Overall Rating: I kind of feel bad only giving 4 bowls because we really enjoyed John's, but remember 5 bowls is for "wow! knock your socks off! this food completed my life!" kind of food.

Birmingham Restaurant Review - Ovenbird

After my graduation our family took us out to eat. Dinner was my pick, so I chose a new restaurant who's Instagram photos had me drooling. And since it was a celebration, it was a little more upscale than we normally eat, and I loved every bite. The restaurant is tucked away in the garden corner of Pepper Place.

Ovenbird specializes in tapas (small plates to share)  and dishes that are cooked over an open fire, inspired by South American cooking. It is owned by Chris Hastings - one of Birmingham's most well known chefs at the Hot and Hot Fish Club. This seems to be a restaurant he can express his talents in a more modern way, but still clings to Southern cuisine. Everything was incredibly flavorful, and as delicious as it was beautifully presented. The live fire cooking style and the spices used in most of the dishes, even down to the simplest carrots, gave everything a deep and smokey flavor. I'll let the pictures do the talking:

Deviled eggs with romesco (pepper sauce)

Beef fat candle (basically the drippings from the best beef roast your grandmama could ever make.)

 (Alabama Shrimp and Clams)

(Grilled Octopus - Jesse's pick)

(Pork belly with Swiss chard and and zucchini)

(Beef Shoulder with sweet potato)

(Roasted Chicken)

(the best carrots I've ever eaten)

(Burnt Espresso Cream)

It was so nice to share this meal with our parents- although I think the menu and restaurant style was a little intimidating to them. :) There were a couple more dishes on the table that I didn't photograph, including my own dinner (!!!) which was Rockfish and summer vegetables in a delicious broth. Every bite of everyone's meal was delicious (and yes, I tried them all).

We would definitely go back here! Their menu changes with the season and what is fresh that week, so I'm sure there is always something new to try. 

Overall Rating:

Birmingham Restaurant Review - Real & Rosemary

A couple months ago we went to Real & Rosemary. They opened earlier this year, and I was excited to try them after hearing the buzz about this new spot in Homewood. They pride themselves on using simple ingredients to revamp familiar southern dishes.

They have a cute and clean look inside, but the tables and curtains give it a homey feel.

What I ate:  Fig and Collard Salad. The collards were tender, although raw, and it was a great combination of flavors. The figs were dried and very delicious. There were a few too many on the salad to be such a strong flavor, but at least you got one in every bite.

What he had: Plate of turkey with sides of sweet and spicy slaw and the vegetable succotash. The turkey looked plain, but it was super moist and flavorful, and came with gravy to dip. The sides were just okay; he liked the slaw, but wasn't impressed with the succotash. If I remember correctly, they were out of polenta cakes that day, so this wasn't his top side pick anyway.

Not pictured, was the orange blossom lemonade we had to drink. It was amazing! Super refreshing and you could definitely appreciate the orange flavor! If you enjoy Urban Cookhouse's strawberry lemonade (which has quite a following), you will probably like this. Tart and sweet - a funky version of a classic summer drink.
Overall, we enjoyed Real and Rosemary. We didn't feel we had to rush back to try more dishes; for that I'll give it 3/5 bowls. However, I have been back with friends since this initial visit and had the meatball sub with the polenta cakes and more orange blossom lemonade. Again, everything tasted good, and I would go back to try a few more menu items.
Overall Rating:

Since this is my first restaurant review, let's define the rating system:

1 Bowl  = A complete miss. We wouldn't recommend it.

2 Bowls = Ehh... it was okay. Sufficed as a meal, but nothing to write home about.

3 Bowls = Satisfying experience. Generally good food and enjoyable, but somewhat forgettable.

4 Bowls = Nice! Fully satisfied, and we would definitely recommend and return!

5 Bowls = A place that truly wows us and exceeds our expectations!

Snap, Click, Repeat

A few weeks ago we had a friend take some shots of us around campus, mostly to commemorate graduating. We haven't taken any professional photos together since our wedding day, so I was looking forward to at least one nice picture together. I wanted to share, because Asif did an awesome job, and the pictures turned out great!

By the way, I'm probably one of the most awkward people to photograph. I get so uncomfortable when a camera is on me, even though I want a good outcome. The whole time I told Asif to tell me if I looked weird. "Where do I put my hands?" "Should I stand like this, is that ok?" Poor guy. I think just to (kindly) spite me, he included this gem in the proofs:

Just keepin' it real, in case any of you thought I'm some kind of experienced photogenic goddess.

Summer Favorites

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

Summer is in full swing in these parts, with our 100 degree daily temps. And while sweating is not my forte, I do enjoy this season. We've been spending the evenings in the park walking or playing a round of disc golf, and we are looking forward to #6 on this list this weekend!

This zip up blanket is rather toddler-mom of me, but it's been handy even without kiddos! It has replaced towels at the beach because it's much larger and easier to shake off the sand. Birmingham has several movies in the park over the summer, and this is perfect to grab and go.

I purchased these Teva sandals a few years ago and every summer I think, "These are my all-time favorite shoes." Many of you are Chaco's fans, and while I can't speak to Chaco, these Teva's are excellent! They are super comfortable, great for the outdoors, dry easily, and I like the adjustable velcro straps across the width of the toes. And while they are definitely outdoor shoes, they aren't so grubby that I don't wear them with some casual outfits.

The IT Cosmetics CC Cream is pretty fabulous. I've wanted to find some makeup that wasn't as full coverage as my normal foundation to wear on more relaxed days when a "full face" is not necessary. Or in situations, like at the beach or hiking, which is why I love the SPF 50 in this formula! I received a sample, but was immediately sold, so I'll look into purchasing this soon.

When thinking about sunny, summer days I have to put a plug in for your eyes! Protect them from from the sun too with UV protective sunglasses. I'd also always recommend polarized lenses for your sunnies, like my Maui Jims. I've had my prescription Maui's since working in optical in college, and they are some of the best money I've ever spent! If you're a glasses only wearer, I'd highly suggest a pair of Rx'd sunglasses from your optometrist - you will love and cherish them!

I am all about the sunscreen to protect my fair skin, but I'd like a little summer glow too! My favorite sunless tan is Tanwise Foaming Mouse. It applies well, doesn't have an orange tint, and it doesn't have that typical fake tan smell. You'll want a mitt to apply it, and work fast!

Okay, this last one is a bit much, but Jesse recently got us this inflatable kayak and it's been a blast! He's had his eye on one of these for quite a while now, researching as usual. Neither of our cars are capable of transporting a "real" kayak, so this works great for us. It fits in the trunk, then we spend a few minutes pumping it up, and we're good to go! It paddles more like a canoe, but we did push the limits by putting 4 people in it while on the lake at Oak Mountain. We will try it again just the two of us before taking it down the river.