Nashville Weekend

For the past seven years, I’ve made an annual end-of-April road trip to Nashville. TN. It’s become a tradition of sorts to drive the almost 200 miles north on I65, stay with my sister (plus now my brother-in-law) and run the Country Music Half or Whole Marathon on Saturday morning.

Well, this year I registered for the half, began increasing my running mileage a couple months out, and then realized less than a month pre-race that I’d registered for the Nashville half marathon in… NOVEMBER! Since when is there a Nashville half marathon in November?! The race folks didn’t seem to see my blonde moment as a reason to refund my $100 registration fee for the fall race and instead encouraged me with the not-at-all helpful statement that I would certainly be race-ready by then.  Thanks a lot.

I stayed bummed for a couple of days and then decided to keep my trip plans in motion and spend the weekend with Jen and Zach, sans race. This proved to be a very good decision indeed. Instead of having to go to sleep early, waking up at 5 a.m., running for 13.1 and then feeling like crap the rest of the weekend, I was able to actually enjoy downtime and house hunting with Jen and Zach.

Zach's family (and Jen) were in Memphis all day Friday for his grandmother's memorial service. I didn't want them to have to worry about dinner plans after their long, emotionally charged day, so I went about preparing dinner in time for their arrival home.

We dined on honey brie with whole wheat crackers, honey glazed salmon (recipe will be posted on Wednesday), mixed greens, sweet potato fries and red wine while watching the Predators take on Arizona.

Saturday was rise and shine with Green Monster time!

I've been drinking quite a lot of these lately and will post the recipe Friday.

We then walked stairs at Percy Warner Park before heading into the woods for a nice, long trail run and coming across a three-foot, black snake. Eeew!

After climbing what felt like the stairway to heaven in the intense humidity, Jen and Zach weren't in as silly of a mood as I; but they were great sports!

The rest of the afternoon was consumed with house hunting for their first home together! A little Batter'd & Fried was a nice was to cap off a very full, fun day.

Zach showing his Tennessee love

Sunday morning began in my most favorite way.

Before we prepared for a 90-minute Bikram Yoga class

For the first 10 minutes of the class, I was breathing so hard and sweating so profusely in the 100 degree room that I couldn't even see the instructor, much less participate in any of the poses. It was a slippery, humbling, out-of-body experience. I've never longed for a shower so much.

Back in Birmingham, I shared what's becoming a regular Sunday dinner tradition with three of my favorites folks. Chef Hank spoiled us with pork tenderloin and creamy risotto, a perfectly delicious ending to a wonderful weekend!

Perch Bead Studio

On a recent trip to the “Loveliest Village on the Plains,” Allison took me by a whimsical bead shop she thought I would enjoy. Almost two hours later and laden with hand-stamped necklaces, we were both sold.

Perch Bead Studio prides itself on being a community studio and artisan jewelry store --

"A place to create, collaborate and inspire with an emphasis on having a good time."

A creative gal's dream world.

Only downside - not being able to choose everything!

Perch offers workshops, parties and drop-ins. We thought it would be great fun to throw a shower there. 

Allison was extremely meticulous about her stamping. She chose the date of her and Bradley’s anniversary to imprint into her charm.

Pork Chops Isabelle

 

Although I’m not usually much of a pork eater, these boneless pork loin chops caught my eye at Publix. Tomatoes, oregano and goat cheese are a few of my favorite ingredients and proved to be delicious complements to the chops. I’ve now tested this recipe twice and received glowing reviews. Let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

4 TBSP olive oil

½ white onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 boneless pork loin chops, about 1-inch thick

Salt & pepper to taste

½ pint cherry tomatoes

¼ cup fresh oregano

1 TBSP balsamic vinegar

4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

Directions:

• Heat 2 TBSP olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and cook until golden brown, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Take off heat and put set onions aside in a bowl.

• Heat 1 TBSP oil in skillet. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Place chops in skillet and cook to desired doneness. Set aside and keep warm.

• Heat remaining oil in skillet. Return onions and stir in tomatoes and oregano. Cook and stir about three minutes, until tomatoes are tender.

• Mix in balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Top chops with onion and tomato mixture.

• Serve on a bed of mixed greens and sprinkle with goat cheese. If desired, complement with a glass of pinot noir and crusty French bread.

Beauty Hunter

“I am a hunter of beauty and I move slow and I keep the eyes wide, every fiber of every muscle sensing all wonder and this is the thrill of the hunt and I could be an expert on the life full, the beauty meat that lurks in every moment. 

I hunger to taste life. 

God.” 

~ Ann Voskamp

Breakfast

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.” ~ A.A. Milne

I cannot deny that I'm a breakfast fanatic. I love it first thing in the morning, for brunch, and for brinner. I love a light version (oftentimes just a cup of black) and a full-fledged spread. I love it by myself on the front porch, at my kitchen table with the Word, with a loved one at a cafe or with a whole group of breakfasters. I consider it to be one of life's simplest (and most delicious) pleasures.

Banana Oats, Coffee & James

Latte & Chocolate Croissant at Continental Bakery in English Village

Walnut Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs & Bacon at Black Market Bar

Coffee, Wicked & the Word

Mom's Blueberry Pancakes, Kielbasa & Scrambled Eggs

Flour's Banana Nut Breads

Urban Standard Vanilla Latte & Chocolate Icing Cupcake: *You only live once*

Breakfast Casserole

Ditto + Buttermilk Biscuits & Banana Slices

Black

New Year's Morning Brunch

French Toast in the Works

Craving Adventure

It may be the spring-like weather, an increase in running activity, my upcoming birthday signifying another fresh year of life ahead, or talks about a possible (hopeful) trip to Uganda to see Sarah, but I've been really craving a good adventure. 

This quote by Mark Twain, is one of my favorites:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. 

Dream. 

Discover."  

Passing by Trak Shak today, the flyer for this little "walk in the park," caught my eye. God willing, this is what I'll be up to (knee-deep mud, that is) on May 26th. Feel free to join if you want a little bit of a challenge.

MAGIC CITY MUDDER

5.26.12

Birmingham, Ala.

www.magiccitymudder.com

Creativity + Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

It would be an understatement to say I have creative friends. Throughout my life thus far, I've been blessed to know a bevy of painters, designers, seamstresses, writers, and musicians. One such creative soul is Mrs. Brooke Fleming -- wife of David, mother to Thomas, lovely contributor to my weekly home group, and owner of City Arts Boutique. 

Brooke describes City Arts as, "A new concept boutique combining a gallery, shop, and on-site studios." The shop, which is located in Historic Woodlawn on the corner of 1st Ave S and 55th Place S, presents an eclectic mix of art, handmade arts and crafts, unique clothing and jewelry, all created exclusively by local Birmingham artists. She also hosts regular shows and wine tastings for her featured artists to showcase their work. I highly recommend you pay the boutique a visit.

CITY ARTS BOUTIQUE

5528 1st Ave S., Birmingham, AL

Open Wednesday through Saturday

10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or by appointment

http://www.cityartsboutique.com

As one of the hostesses for Amanda Blake's baby shower, Brooke offered to bring her very own Cucumber Tea Sandwiches. "I was always looking for a good recipe for cucumber sandwiches, but they were always so complicated or had more ingredients than I thought they should," said Brooke. Lucky for us, she has generously offered to share her most delicious, and doable recipe below!

BROOKE'S CUCUMBER TEA SANDWICHES

Ingredients:
Loaf of white bread
2 or 3 Cucumbers sliced in thin circles and chop the circles again cross-wise to make very thin slivers.
Mayonaise (I use real mayo, not fat free or any other substitute)
Whipped Cream Cheese (I also use the real kind, not the fat free)
Kosher Salt
Freshly ground pepper
Fresh Dill, washed, dried and leaves finely chopped (Don't use stems)

Directions:
• Lay out the bread for each side of the sandwiches side by side. 
• On one slice, spread with mayo and on the other slice spread, with the whipped cream cheese.  
• Spread some of the cucumbers evenly on top of the cream cheese side.  
• Sprinkle the cucumbers lightly with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.  
• Lightly sprinkle a small amount of dill over the cucumbers.  Place the other slice of the bread (already spread with mayo) on the top of the sandwich.  
• With a good knife, cut the crusts off each of the four sides of the sandwiches. 
• Then cut the sandwich cross ways twice to make four triangles out of one sandwich.