Our First Christmas

I can't believe it has come and gone. I really really really don't want to take down our tree, or put away our stockings, or stop using my adorable Christmas napkins from Target. So I think I'm going to just keep it all up for the next few days. I have been looking forward to our first Christmas as a married couple for so long and it was just as special as I had anticipated. We did our best to keep all family members happy and the result was a fun, action packed, very filling two days.

On Christmas Eve I had the pleasure of attending the traditional Edwards family meal at Benihana. It was all very exciting since the Memphis establishment burned down last year and the family wasn't able to enjoy the refreshing steam of the hibachi like they usually do. Different from the usual Italian fare served at the Good house on Christmas eve, but equally fun. After Benihana, the Edwards bros and I attempted to start a new family tradition by watching A Christmas Story and eating peppermint ice cream pie over at our place. Weren't able to finish the movie before we had to scurry to the beautiful eleven o'clock service at Second Pres, but we were able to get a decent picture in front of our first Christmas tree!

The next morning I awakened at my usual 6:45 to prepare breakfast for Price. After exchanging gifts with each other we ate cinnamon rolls and bacon while listening to Christmas music. I turned up the thermostat, lit allllllllll of my candles, and it almost felt like we had a fire going. It was so cozy and fun. I must say, Price totally out-gifted me this year. He really spoils me and I totally don't deserve it.


We then headed east to celebrate with our families, starting off the day opening presents at the Good house. (Below is Hannah, black sheep?!?!?!)

Then off to the Edwards for gifts and lunch and relaxing. Around 4 we headed back to the Good house so that I could prepare my dessert for our Christmas dinner. My mom really out-did herself with our Christmas feast. Ham, turkey, cheese grits, hot fruit compote, mac and cheese, orange and green salad, and my mediocre attempt at the Pioneer Woman's tres leches cake. We returned home to our haphazard apartment stuffed and pooped.

The next morning we set off for Jackson, MS with Price's brothers to visit their mom's side of the family. It was great to get to catch up with them and see where they lived. I have never been to Jackson and really enjoyed it. Still can't get over the fact that they have an Anthropologie before we do. We had so much fun playing with Price's six year old cousin. Price had so much fun playing Super Mario for Wii. It was a great finish to our Christmas weekend.



Since then, we have been enjoying doing absolutely nothing until around 1 or 2 everyday, eating leftovers, and watching movies. I love being a teacher and having a Christmas break. I just can't believe this bliss must end on Monday the 4th.

"Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts..."

Only a Hutch girl will understand the title of this post, but it does pertain to what I have been doing for the past 48 hours off of work. Working on our homemade Christmas gifts to friends! We may not have a Christmas card this year, but we do have cookies to deliver. And I really need to get on the ball and start giving them to friends so that I will no longer have to stare at the tempting stash of calories that I have "hidden" from myself on a very tall shelf that I can't reach in our kitchen. I have been plotting what "we" would make for our homemade Christmas gift for months. I always enjoyed helping my mom out with these kinds of projects when I was younger and I especially loved delivering them. I finally decided to make gingersnaps with pumpkin dip. Here are the recipes and pictures of the finished product.

Pumpkin Dip
- 1 block cream cheese
- lots of powdered sugar (I just kept dumping it in... probably 1/2 of a box)
- 2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

Mix together these ingredients until combined. Keep adding powdered sugar until you get the consistency you want. I prefer mine a bit thinner so I added quite a bit of sugar. I also added more spices just for kicks.

Gingersnaps
I found the recipe on this site. They turned out great. I added some extra molasses and additional ginger.
http://www.joyofbaking.com/gingersnaps

He Went... To... Jared?

A year ago today, my sweet husband got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We were talking last night about how quickly this year has passed. I so vividly remember walking to the admissions building at Furman thinking I was meeting my sister to "talk" and being swept off my feet by a candlelit proposal in a place that was so special to our relationship. I remember getting in his car and not knowing who to call first or where to go to celebrate because everyone was studying for exams and I was too excited to think straight. I remember going to McDonalds before going back to tell my friends and getting a soft-serve ice cream and then not eating a bite of it and leaving it in Price's car for 2 days. Clearly, I was distracted as ice cream is not something I ever waste. I remember running around the J apartment complex telling friends, both awake and asleep, about our exciting news. I remember standing in front of my closet for a good thirty minutes trying to decide what to wear on my first day with a fiance. I remember painting my nails once a week for a good month or so. I have a good memory and could go on and on but am going to stop for your sake.

Sitting here thinking about a year ago, I'm struck by how much has changed. Right now, Price and I are sitting in the living room of our apartment in our pjs (it's 8 pm, mind you) watching Mary Poppins on ABC family. We will probably go to sleep in an hour. My nails haven't been painted in awhile and I can't remember the last time I cleaned my ring. Our friends are all over the place. We are both teaching, something that really wasn't even a consideration a year ago. We have to pay bills... okayyyy... he has to pay bills. And I don't make the gourmet meals I pictured myself making as a wife because I tried that for a month or so and realized it wasn't amenable to our budget! Confession: tonight, I scratched the plan to make chicken enchiladas and instead opted for leftover ravioli from the PDS lunchroom. Price told me it was delicious. Apparently I am a great food heater-upper.

Things are so different from where they were last year and from what I imagined they would be like, but they are different in a good way! I really had no idea what a blessing marriage would be. I get to spend all the time I could ever want with my very best friend. We watch movies. Laugh about the grasshoppers that have infested our apartment. Fight about putting up the Christmas tree and then happily hang ornaments together. After dating for 5 years I really didn't think we could get much closer but everyday I am surprised. Price is gracious, kind, and so encouraging. I always knew these things, but being married has made me see them on a deeper level. A year ago today I was a very lucky girl! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us in the future.

Disclaimer: Price did not actually go to Jared.

Elf on a Shelf

A new phenomenon I have encountered this holiday season is the "Elf on a Shelf" tradition that many families with youngsters have embraced. Whoever thought of this one was pretty crafty. You have this elf, who sits on a shelf, and watches everything the little ones do so that he can report back to Santa. Naturally this voyeuristic household addition "encourages" the children to behave, at least while they are in the elf's presence. I am learning from the daily updates my kindergartners share that elven activity varies depending on the family. Some elves just stay put on that shelf. Others will disappear without any warning (to go to the North Pole of course). I have even heard of elves causing havoc with toilet paper in the living room. To add to the Christmas excitement this past week, our boys made a elf craft and got to write the name of their house elf on it. Now we have "Commander Elf" "Rocky" "Elfo" "Elf-ee" and many others watching our classroom (hasn't helped the Christmas-induced wild behavior yet). I strive to practice impartiality, but I have a favorite elf. His name is "Rex Malone." Poor little guy has two left feet and looks like he might need to go potty, but that doesn't stop him from spreading Christmas cheer. (See top row far right)



Have any fun family traditions? Please share! Also, if you too are fascinated by the elf on a shelf you can find out more info on this site: www.elfonashelf.com

The Halls Are Decked

Decorating for our first Christmas has been something I have been looking forward to ever since I created my gmail account with my new name months before we got engaged. Just ask Kate about it. However, I was unaware of the intensity and costliness of the process. I started buying decorations in early November. The shopping bags piled up in our one tiny storage closet, but when it came time to decorate I was amazed at how unsubstantial the items I accumulated were. It turns out Christmas napkins, stickers, cups, and treat bags can't get you very far when trying make your apartment appear festive. After many trips to Target, Michael's, and Hobby Lobby, I feel as if our decorations are blog-worthy.






Helpful hints for others looking to spruce up their space for Christmas:

- Home Depot is where it's at. We got our lovely 8 foot Fraser Fir tree for $39.99. The other tree lot we browsed had prices between $70-$150. Rip off.

- Hobby Lobby has garland that looks very real. And they run it half off for a few weeks after Thanksgiving.

- Christmas scented candles make me oh so happy. An even cheaper way to add a festive fragrance to your house is to let water, orange peel, cinnamon, and cloves simmer on your stove for a few hours. A trick I learned from my mom that smells heavenly

- BUY A DECENT TREE STAND. I will spare you the sappy details of our experience with a shoddily made tree stand that was too small for our tree, but if you are trying to decide between the $7 tree stand and the $12 tree stand just splurge on it. It will save you blood, sweat, and tears. We experienced all three.

Kindergartners Say the Darndest Things...

I absolutely love my job as an assistant kindergarten teacher. There are many reasons why I love it, but one of the best things is that there is never an afternoon when I come home without a funny story.

Last Week (on playground before our Thanksgiving feast):
Kid (pulling his ears up and down while wiggling shoulders and shaking hips): "Mrs. Edwards, my ears are itchin' to PAR-TAYY!"

This Morning:
*Kid: "Guess what Mrs. Edwards?"
Me: "What?"
Kid: "My mom drove into the hood this morning?"
Me: "What hood? Like the hood of a car?" (Not thinking that a child his age would know about the "hood")
Kid (giggling): "No, like the hood where the gangsters live."

*Note: This child decided to cut his cargo pants later on in the day during craft center. Perhaps his trip to the "hood" inspired him.

This Afternoon (making snakes in craft center):
Kid: "Snakes give my mother the willies. We have one under our house."
Other kid: "Is your mom a scaredy cat?"
Kid: "No. As a matter of fact, snakes are very frightening."

I then had to explain to the rest of the group what "the willies" were.

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

In the spirit of that almost has-been of a talk show hostess whom we all admire and love, I have set out to make a list of my favorite things sans the audience giveaways. Sorry reader(s?), the blog hasn't made it that big yet. Perhaps my suggestions will come in handy when trying to come up with a gift for someone special, or for yours truly...

Tocca Candles ($16-$36)

Also a favorite of Jessica Simpson. These candles are sure to add a breath of fresh air to your apartment/house/condo/parent's house and maybe a little holiday "spice" too. The large size has a burn time of 60 hours. I recommend the "Havana" and "Grace" scents. Just add mistletoe and you are set. www.tocca.com

Harney & Sons Tea ($6-$12)

This tea will rock your world. Beware: Lipton, Stash, and even the higher-end Tazo brand of tea bag sold at Starbucks will never taste as good once you have tried Harney & Sons. I am now a tea snob. Twelve dollars for twenty sachets may seem steep, but they do come in a cute little tin that you can reuse! "Hot Cinnamon Spice" is perfectly invigorating on a chilly morning and my absolute favorite flavor. www.harney.com
Tory Burch flats ($295ish)

I have the best husband ever. He bought me a pair of these babies in black for my birthday and I never want to take them off. I would wear them every day of the week, the only thing stopping me is my fear that I will wear them out too quickly. It's quite a conundrum. They are excellent for fashion forward teachers... until a little one steps on the metal "T" emblem and pain shoots through your toenails... but that's a very very minor detail. www.toryburch.com
Hunter rain boots ($100-$125)

While we are on the topic of shoes, it's definitely a toss up as to whether I love my Tory's or my Hunter's the most. These boots have the power to transform even the gloomiest of days. They are simple and chic, and do a marvelous job keeping tootsies dry and warm. My kindergartners are confused by the notion of rainboots indoors, but I wear them proudly! www.zappos.com or www.hunter-boot.com.
Alecia's Tomato Chutney ($8)

Alecia's Tomato Chutney is made by Alecia in Leeds, Alabama. I first tasted its goodness on a pizza at Frank Stitt's Bottega Cafe in Birmingham. Apparently, it is one of Stitt's favorite products too. The flavor is savory, but with a sweetness that comes from raisins and sugar. I have used it on baked chicken, pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and with cheese and crackers. According to a man I met at Williams-Sonoma who also loves this product, the chutney is made in small batches in Alecia's kitchen. You only see it in Birmingham and can't order it online. If you are interested you can give Alecia herself a call at (205)352-4900.
McCarty's Pottery

Now that I am married and allowed to collect pottery, I have a full-blown obsession with the pieces produced by Lee and Pup McCarty in Marigold, MS. According to their website, the McCarty's started throwing pottery in 1954. "Lee and Pup have come a long way since William Faulkner showed them a clay deposit in a ravine on his property and told them they could have it." I received several pieces as wedding gifts and the soft brown, blue, and green glazes typical of McCarty work perfectly with my decor. My birds and candlesticks make me particularly happy. I hope to collect many more pieces and maybe even make a trip to the McCarty barn and restaurant in Marigold in the near future (Price)!?!?! www.mccartyspottery.com
Juliska

Thank you Rachel Walton Knowlton for introducing me to Juliska ceramics (pattern: "Berries and Thread.") I am big on pretty colors, so when I chose this for my everyday china I couldn't decide between the blue, green, or brown. Sooo... I got some of each and I couldn't be happier! I have SO much fun mixing and matching my pieces. And the colors of my plates etc. flow effortlessly with my (small) collection of McCarty serving pieces. These guys are sturdy and elegant. I think my next present to myself will definitely be the small blue Juliska pitcher that was featured in this months Lucky magazine! www.juliska.com
Labradoodles ($ "too expensive for me")

Back to Reality

Price and I took a brief vacation from our teensy apartment and got to live it up in one of the oldest houses in Memphis while the owners were out of town. Although our apartments are ancient (my parents lived there after they got married), they don't have the "charm" that a house with a plaque on the front door listing it on the National Historic Register does. Until this weekend, I thought babysitting was a pretty easy way to make a little extra cash. Now that I have experienced housesitting I have changed my mind. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for the life that we live but there are a few amenities that I enjoyed and will miss as we transition back to our place:

1. Heated Bathroom Floors- Makes it a little bit easier to wake up in the morning.
2. Picturesque views of the country club golf course- All we get to look at is the parking lot and the railroad tracks.
3. Laundry Laundry Laundry- For the first time in months our clothes feel clean and we didn't have to deplete our quarter collection.
4. High Thread Count Sheets- I really dropped the ball on that one. Bought the cheapest I could find and with each wash they get these little fuzz balls on them that won't come off and make them scratchy.
5. A controllable shower- I forgot that showering can be enjoyable when you aren't spending the whole time fiddling with the knobs to get that perfect balance of hot and cold without getting scalded.
6. A walkable neighborhood- I avoid walking in our neighborhood because of the combination of busy streets, angry Memphis drivers, and my paranoia. Also, the houses near us are not nearly as fun to drool over.

We had such a fun time playing house together and will certainly jump if the opportunity arises again. However, it is nice to be home and back in our routine!

Chez Price

In this post I would like to take a moment to spotlight the kitchen-savvy man I married. It probably won't come as a surprise that he is quite humble about his cooking abilities and becomes quite bashful when complimented. But I have no problem bragging for him.

Mr. Edwards is self-taught. He began his career making delicious omelettes for his adoring girlfriend on special occasions using the Furman dorm stove and an extremely scratched frying pan that he rented from our RA's office. Since then he has graduated from eggs and maintains quite a repertoire of delicious dishes. Some of my personal favorites include his chicken couscous with vegetables, fish tacos (haven't had those in awhile... hint hint), corn and black bean salsa, and even though I don't like avocados in the least his guacamole is fab. He dominates our baby Weber grill and uses our Wusthof knives like an Iron Chef. He also hones them to keep them sharp. Wow.

Two weeks ago he made a dish we named "Farmer's Market Pasta" out of a bunch of random ingredients and vegetables we had in our fridge. He spent less than $10 at the grocery. I kid you not we ate this meal at least 5 nights and also had some to take for lunch. If you are cool with leftovers it is a great dish. I don't exactly know how he made it and I don't think he does either but here is the gist of it:

Ingredients:
- 5 stalks of celery (chopped)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tomatoes (diced)
- 4-5 Japanese Eggplant (these are the long skinny ones, much easier to cook with)
- cooked chicken (however you want to cook it)
- 1 package of penne pasta
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 can tomato sauce
- Salt
-Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley

Start by sauteing the onion, garlic, and celery in a skillet using a little oil or cooking spray. Cook until translucent. Add chopped eggplant and tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste. Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and any other seasoning you like. Simmer about 15 minutes on low. Meanwhile, cook pasta noodles. After you have drained them, add the veggie sauce and chicken to the warm noodles. Mix in chopped parsley and perhaps a handful Mozzarella cheese. Hope you like it because you are stuck with it for about a week!

When it is all said and done. Mr. Edwards won't even let his wife lift a finger to help him clean up. He makes the kitchen sparkle. In the future, his wife hopes that he will venture into the world of baking :)

Getting Festive

This may surprise you, but I haven't decorated for Halloween in any way shape or form. I bought a pumpkin about 2 weeks ago and that is it. I like to think I am saving all of my efforts for Christmas. I finally decided to carve our lonely little pumpkin last night and had so much fun that I am thinking of carving another tonight. I can't wait to roast the seeds today just like my mom used to do when we were little.

E is for Edwards!

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

With the chill in the air, my favorite ingredient is taking center stage in recipes and eateries everywhere. If there's pumpkin in it, I'm sold. Pumpkin Spice Latte's from Starbucks are delightful, Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts from Gibson's are heavenly, but NOTHING beats Pumpkin frozen yogurt from TCBY.

I have been a TCBY fiend for quite some time now. I have the rewards card, I know all the locations in Memphis, I have memorized their hours. I lived without a close TCBY during my college years and have found that absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder. Ever since October 1st, I have actually taken up stalking our TCBY locations in an effort to obtain this holy grail of fall flavored froyo. I confess, I have the store numbers in my phone and call daily.

Well, this past weekend while I was at Homecoming I gathered a search party (my mother) to stay on the lookout for me. Well... she found it and had a pint waiting for me in her freezer. Though a yogurt this tasty needs no additional adornments, I decided to make ours extra special by topping it with cinnamon and marshmallows that I toasted in the oven. YUM-O!!!! Enjoying it cuddled up in a blanket with fall scented candles surrounding you takes the experience to an even higher level. It's only on the menu for a little while, so go out and buy some today!!!!

Feel free to share your favorite pumpkin recipes or menu items. I would love to have a reason to try them!

My Dutch Lover

I have a new best friend. It is big, blue, made of cast enamel, and too heavy for me to lift from its spot on the top shelf (enter, strong tall husband)… My LeCreuset Dutch Oven.

I received this mother of all pots as a graduation gift from my Aunt. I don’t think I knew what its function was when I registered for it at Williams-Sonoma. Just thought it was pretty. To be honest, until yesterday, it has been sitting in the same place in our kitchen for the past two months adding a splash of color and silently intimidating me. Well, this weekend I took that oven down and put it to work. The results were very encouraging.

The function of a dutch oven is kind of like a crock pot, without the cords etc. You can throw a bunch of random things in it, put the lid on, stick it in the oven for a few hours and let your meat and veggies cook to a tender goodness. You can use a dutch oven both on top of the stove and in the oven, which I did for this recipe. I didn’t really follow a recipe, so hopefully next time I will be able to recreate it. Our dinner last night was fantastic, but I can’t take any of the credit… magical things happened in my big blue pot.  

Pork Tenderloin With Fall Veggies

-       1 pork tenderloin

-       2 small sweet potatoes, cut into chunks

-       6 small red potatoes, quartered

-       3 large carrots, sliced into large pieces

-       1 onion, cut into chunks

-       olive oil

-       fresh rosemary

-       Worcestershire sauce

-       Salt

-       Pepper

Cut up all your veggies, and place them in a large sauté pot with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Saute over medium heat until slightly browned on outside (about 5-10 min.) Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in dutch oven over the stovetop (medium heat.) Add pork tenderloin and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and rosemary. I also drizzled a bit of Worcestershire sauce at this point. Sear tenderloin about 8 min, turning every 2 minutes to make sure all sides are seared. Turn off heat, add veggies to dutch oven and pork, and season with salt, pepper, rosemary, and any other herbs or spices you fancy (I used a little cinnamon and nutmeg.) Cover Dutch Oven with lid and place in oven, preheated to 350 for about an hour or so. About halfway through I drizzled a little more Worcestershire. 

After I took the tenderloin and veggies out of the oven, I deglazed the pan (removed the brown bits) by adding ½ cup chicken broth, ¾ cup white wine, and 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard to the pot over medium heat. Let the sauce come to a boil, turn down heat, and simmer for 5 minutes until it thickens a bit. Serve this sauce over the pork.

ENJOY!

The Life and Times of an SK Teacher

For those of you who don’t know, I am working as a senior kindergarten teacher’s assistant at an all-boys elementary school in Memphis called Presbyterian Day School (PDS). I wake up in the morning excited about work and I couldn’t ask for more than that in a first job. Here are some things I have learned in my month or so at PDS.

Clues That The Kindergartners Are Rubbing Off On You:

(1)  Your favorite snack is now pudding cups (fat free, of course)

(2)   You get so into the Sesame Street video your class is watching that the lead teacher kindly reminds you “Mrs. Edwards, it’s time for carpool.”

(3)  While putting book order forms in the boys folders, you seriously consider purchasing Caps For Sale, the Little Engine that Could, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… for future use J

(4)   You forget your husband can open his own drinks and tie his own shoes. (About 90% of the time spent with the kids I am doing this)

(5)  Your quads are sore from sitting in tiny chairs and looking kids in the eye.

  6)  You smell like hand sanitizer constantly and fear you might be coming down with Swine Flu.

(7)   When you are up past 9:45, it’s a late night.

(8)    You have gained at least 5 pounds. It’s so hard to resist the Star of the Week treats, as well as  the gummies, Cheez-Its, Rice Krispy Treats, and other kid snacks that are always around.

(9)   Your big victory of the week is designing a Hippopotamus paper bag puppet for next weeks craft project.

      You have zero tolerance for whiners, fakers, suck ups, and know-it-alls.

Here are a few pictures of some of our little SK angels. They are so cute, sweet, and entertaining.  

(Part of the playground that is dedicated to Price's mom)

Labor Day Weekend/ Football Season Begins

I must say I was skeptical on Saturday when I woke up to Sports Center instead of the Food Network. But for a weekend with nothing special planned, Price and I managed to pack those three precious days with lots of spontaneous outings and activities.

Friday night was spent watching MUS whoop South Panola with Lizzie and Bev. On Saturday we leisurely drove to Oxford, MS to continue our month long quest to find something to hang our lovely new All-Clad pots on. Price found the perfect piece at my favorite antique store, The Mustard Seed. AND, we only spent twenty dollars! After drooling over furniture we can’t afford (ok, Price sat in the car while I drooled), we browsed around Square Books and then headed homeward.

That night, we ventured downtown to the Memphis Heritage and Music Festival, which we will be attending annually from now on. It was a b.l.a.s.t. The event is put on annually by the Center for Southern Folklore and other sponsors. It was a smallish festival, taking up only a couple blocks of South Main. On the five or six different stages we were able to see gospel, folk, blues, Latino, funk, and rap groups. I must say Al Kapone (Al Kapeezy oH bOy!) was probably my favorite act.  I especially enjoyed seeing one of my neighbors, who is… ohhhhh… probably late fiftyish, getting crunk by herself to this Memphis rapper’s rhymes. And how could I forget the cooking stage! We had the luxury of sampling the most delicious mustard greens, cornbread, and peach cobbler we have ever tasted. I don’t even want to think about the calorie content in those few bites. We had so much fun on Saturday that we went back on Sunday after Ole Miss beat Memphis only a few blocks away from our apartment.

Overall we had a great weekend of togetherness, food, not cleaning, relaxing, food, football, visiting with my family, and food. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving break! 

Locovores

My passion for farmer's markets began in college during a sociology class taught by a granola eating professor. I became a regular at the Pepper Place Farmer's Market in Birmingham when I lived there summer of '08 and since then have become obsessed. I never thought I would find another one as great as Pepper Place, but a few weekends ago I went to the Memphis Farmer's Market downtown and have found my local food fix. 

The key to a good experience at the farmer’s market is getting there early. Not only do you get to enjoy the cooler morning temps, but you also get better selections and prettier produce. I am a morning person so I had no problem hopping out of bed to support our local farmers.

The Memphis Farmer’s Market is located at Central Station in the trendy South Main district. There are probably between 50 and 60 vendors selling everything from cactuses to blueberries to wind chimes. I loved seeing how the farmer’s market attracts people from all walks of life, old women, young families, and even college kids. It is interesting talking to the different vendors about what they grow and hearing their cooking recommendations. You can easily get suckered into spending a lot of money at the market because everything looks so fresh and pretty, and every vendor vows their product will be the best you ever taste. I never really go with a list of what to buy, but I always decide how much I want to spend and bring only the allotted amount of cash with me. Here’s what I got last week for only $12: Okra, lima beans, green tomatoes, an eggplant, red potatoes, and a baby watermelon.

The Menu:

Fried Green Tomatoes with Non-Local Tomato Chutney (from Bham)

Herb Roasted Red Potatoes

Lima Beans

Salted Watermelon

Peach Tea with a Punch (of Firefly Vodka)

Banana Pudding

Price and I have been doing quite a bit of cooking lately. We have actually made it a bit of a game to see how many nights worth of leftovers we can get out of one home cooked meal. But don't fret, we are staying very well-fed (at least I am). Price's aunt from Jackson came in town last week and gave us the recipes and ingredients to two of her favorite easy dishes. One of which was banana pudding. Up until last week, I had only made banana pudding the old fashioned way where you make your own custard and have to keep stirring until your arm falls off. After making this, I don't think I will ever go back. This is one of those recipes that you can definitely play with to spruce it up a little and make it your own. I added orange zest and vanilla extract to the pudding mixture and it was delicious. Next time I may throw in some blueberries, or try the recipe with chocolate wafers instead of vanilla.


(I did not take this picture)

Easy Banana Pudding
- 1 small box vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
- 1 tub Cool Whip
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
- (any other mix-in's you think would taste good)
- 1 box Vanilla Wafers
- about 5 bananas

Make vanilla pudding according to package instructions. Let stand for 5 minutes. With a mixer or whisk add 3/4 tub of Cool Whip and can of sweetened condensed milk to pudding mixture. Layer Vanilla Wafers, bananas, and pudding as desired in a serving dish of your choice. Top with remaining Cool Whip and some crushed Vanilla Wafers. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Nesting

After an hour of labor, the second locksmith succeeded in unlocking our antique desk. Here are some pictures from our apartment that I promised. There is still work to be done, but it is very homey and we love it! 

Kitchen

Dining Nook

View From Couch (where we spend much of our time)

The Study + Price's Bookcase (all I got was the bottom shelf)

My Great Grandfather's Roll Top Desk

The Very Unfinished Bedroom With Napping Husband

Tiny Bathroom With Lovely Peach and Black Tile

That pretty much sums it up. It is much more charming in person, so if you are reading this blog (and are one of our actual friends) we highly suggest you stop by for a visit! 

Mr. and Mrs.

Since my last update, Price finished TFA training, we tied the knot, enjoyed a fantastic honeymoon at The Tides in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, moved into our new apartment, and have both started our teaching jobs. 

I am absolutely loving getting to spend so much uninterrupted time with my best friend, especially after all of the time we spend apart this summer. The honeymoon was an incredible way to kick things off and just relax together. The food at the Tides was the best I have ever tasted. Not to sound like a fatty, but I woke up every morning thinking about what I was going to order at brunch. I seriously had my dinner orders for the week mapped out in my head the first night of the trip. 

Food highlights included: homemade jams (or "yams" as the waiters called them) in exotic flavors with these great little pointy rolls at brunch, fresh corn tortillas every night, LOBSTER (never tried it before, it's now my new favorite food that I can't ever order), octopus appetizer with capers, flaming alcoholic coffee that I'm not going to even try to describe, mango mojitos, and the most beautiful tres leches cake. 

Now that we are back, settled, and slightly less well-fed, we have been able to establish somewhat of a routine. We have been cooking dinner at home with all of our fun new wedding kitchen gadgets, attempting to go on walks in our awkwardly unwalkable neighborhood, watching the Food Network despite the fact that we don't think it's a part of our cable package, enjoying (free) meals with our families, and watching lots of movies with our new Netflix subscription. Fyi: Netflix is an awesome wedding gift, thanks Wes and Clint.  

I have really been surprised at how quickly our apartment has become "home." Though the decorating is at a (temporary) hiatus due to insufficient funds, I am looking forward to being able to add a few more things like curtains and maybe a cabinet or chest for a little more storage space. I would post some pictures of our Home Sweet Home, however our camera (along with many other important things) is locked in my great grandfather's beautiful, antique, roll-top desk that happens to lock on itself when closed. The key is inside. The locksmith came, said we should try picking it, and told us to call him if it worked. It hasn't. 

"I thank my lucky stars, to be livin' here today"

I awoke this morning at 6:34. Fixed myself a patriotic bowl of cereal with blueberries and strawberries on top. Grabbed my Ipod and set out for a slightly longer than usual morning power walk (I plan to eat well today).  This is a special weekend not only because it is the last one I will spend with my family before I get married but also because it is the first time I have been home on the Fourth in FIVE years! As I pumped my arms to the upbeat bluegrass music on my not yet unbearably hot walk I started thinking about the Fourth of July and why I love it so much... To make this reader friendly, I will use bullet points. 

• I love how great the yards look in my neighborhood this time of year. People seem to work extra hard in their gardens during the summer. I can't wait to have my own garden. Right now i'll just be content with the pot of basil I am growing but can't remember to water. 
• I love that Fourth of July is casual. Other holidays (i.e. Christmas, Thanksgiving) are stressful. The house must be perfect. The menu must be perfect. Not so on the Fourth. If the house is messy, we eat outside. As long as the ribs are tasty, nothing else on the menu matters. 
• I get to wear my FAVORITE red sweater this year. When you are accused by your unobservant fiance of wearing a certain article of clothing a lot, you know you probably overwear it. I don't care. I love this thing (see below). 

• The smell of grilling out is one of the best scents in the entire world. Even this morning at 8 am I could smell it. Passing one house I caught the sweet scent of ribs and later a whiff of burgers on a charcoal grill. 
• Andddd... last but certainly certainly certainly not least... the FOOD. Now don't get me wrong I am not much of a carnivore. I don't really like ribs, burgers, or barbecue (I know, sacrilege being from from Memphis and all). It's the Fourth of July sides and desserts that steal my heart every year. Here is a glimpse at what the Good's will be eating this year:

Slow cooked ribs. My grandma's recipe that she never wrote down but, like any good Southern cook, remembered by smell.

Smoked turkey

Asian Slaw (a Good family staple at all holiday feasts)

Watermelon (of which I will probably eat half)

Purple Hull Peas

To be determined dessert with berries that I will make if I can pull myself 

away from my new favorite blog, thepioneerwoman.com, long enough to whip something up.

The only thing that could make this Fourth of July 100% perfect was if someone who is in Atlanta were here to celebrate with me. I guess i'll just have to wait for another celebration that will occur a week from today!

Home Sweet Home

I fell in love with Memphis today. 

For the past two weeks I have been in my stressed out-I-have-to-plan-a-wedding-and-find-a-job-and-be-nice-to-people-along-the-way-mode. I haven't had time to stop and smell the roses or, in these parts, the hydrangeas that are popping up in neatly manicured lawns. Well, at least for today, my perspective is renewed and refreshed. Memphis is going to be a blast. 

So, what made today so special? I began my morning at the brand new Panera on Poplar Ave. Panera is a new phenomenon to Memphis and a very exciting addition to our after church lunch repertoire. I then proceeded to the beautiful Rhodes College for an informal meeting (don't waste your excitement, still jobless.) Seriously, if you haven't ever seen Rhodes it is beautiful. It is not a place I pass by very often, but every time I do it amazes me that such beautiful gothic architecture is in the middle of our city. 

The afternoon was spent apartment shopping. Over the past 48 hours, Price and I have had a complete change of plans regarding our living situation next year. After visiting my grandfather's old house in Germantown(where we were supposed to live next year) and calculating the costs of utilities, extra furniture to make it appear livable, and the fridge, washer, and dryer we would have to purchase, we concluded that this rent free option might end up costing us as much as living in an apartment. After going back to the drawing board, we visited the apartment complex where my parents had their first apartment. After we got past the musty cat urine smell that comes with the quaint little apartment we fell in love. Seriously, it is so cute. Hardwood floors, an extra room that we are calling a study but I think will be my extra closet, nice khaki walls, a sweet little back porch just perfect for our baby Weber grill, and an amazing location in Midtown. Not to mention we have two sets of friends who are getting married this year and living in the complex, as well as one of Price's best friends from high school. We didn't hesitate to apply for the apartment. We are approved and set to move in on July 1st! We are so excited and feel like this is exactly where we need to be. We also got 2 free $25 gift cards to Cozymel's (a Mexican restaurant.) A move-in date and margaritas, what more could you want?!?!?! 

An event this monumental in our soon-t0-be-married life deserved celebration, so Price and I went downtown. We dined at Automatic Slims on Second street, a hip restaurant serving up Caribbean fusion cuisine. The service and food left something to be desired, but in our state of apartment bliss it didn't seem to bother us. After dinner we walked to the Orpheum, a beautiful theater just off of Beale Street, to catch their Summer Movie Series which features different films on the big screen throughout the summer. The movie tonight was Swiss Family Robinson which I had never seen but absolutely loved. If the apartment doesn't work out, I could totally do a tree house like theirs. When the movie let out we decided to mosey down Beale Street and check out the live music scene. We bumped in to some friends and wound up at Rum Boogie Cafe, a great bar with live blues and all kinds of crazy Memphis music paraphernalia. If you are planning a trip to Memphis anytime soon (cough, July 11, cough) you should definitely check this place out. While dozing off on our 20 minute drive back to our parent's houses in East Memphis, I felt so content and excited about the years to come. 

Sadly, I must now set aside my Memphis euphoria and my MacBook and focus on speed reading the 200 pages I have left in a marriage book I am expected to have completed before our marriage counseling session tomorrow. Thanks for reading! 

Confessions of a Blogaholic

I love blogs. It all started last summer during my internship in Birmingham when I had the inevitable hour each day with nothing to do but surf the web. I got into stalking the blogs of people I knew... and people I didn't. Up until this point my life hasn't been interesting enough to blog about. Not that I really think I'm overly fascinating now, but I definitely have more blog content than a few months ago. 

To get you up to speed on my life in a nutshell, here you go... I'm a college graduate. I don't have a job. It's looking like consigning my non-professional clothes and selling old books on Amazon might be my best options for making cash this summer. I'm getting married in July (not to worry, Price is employed) My life is currently consumed with invitations, appointments, and scrounging up furniture for the house we will be living in. Oh yeah, and job searching (if you have any ideas holler at me.) Hopefully I can keep this interesting. If not, I added Price as a contributor because he's funny. Maybe I can convince him to be a ghost writer for me on occasion. 

** Be warned, It's only a matter of time before my blog morphs into some sort of domestic sounding board. I don't have time to be domestic right now, but if you like recipes and home decorating (I do, I do!!!!) stay tuned.