Kiefer's

A picture Ed took of me on our first Kiefer's date!

There are some restaurants you go to because it is convenient and then there are others you will drive hours for because you dream about the food.  Kiefer's in Jackson, MS is one of those places!

A couple of weekends ago, the hubby and I made a long but fun road trip very south to Houston, TX. To break up the trip we stopped in Jackson to indulge our cravings that had not been satisfied since our last stop in October.  We were more than happy with our experience (typical of this place).

Kiefer's has been featured on The Food Network as well as an assortment of  magazines.  And all recognition is well deserved. Not only is the food authentic Greek happiness, the atmosphere of a twinkle lit deck on a slightly warm spring night is the epitome of modern day Southern life.

If you go, indulge in the feta cheese sauce.  Actually just ask for a cup and a straw to drink it.  Or you may just want to turn the cup up and slurp it up because people often threaten to drink the stuff.  Yes, it is that good. And yes, we are some of the people that threaten to drink it.

Our favorite side dish is one order of cottage fries with two extra cups of the feta cheese sauce to coat the fries.  When we first started dating, I just let Ed request one extra cup because I wanted to be polite but the polite phase has long been replaced with the reality that I want my own cup!  Ed confided in me at this last dinner that he is happy that I have my own cup. While I thought I was being polite in our early dating phase, I ate most of it and he didn't get much. I guess he was the one being polite to the girl that ate all his feta cheese sauce and he still married me!

Not being a beef or lamb fan, I stay away from the typical gyro. Although, I am sure it is wonderful. Lately my favorite wrap to continue to drown in the feta cheese sauce is the grilled chicken wrap with added mushrooms, onions and bell peppers.  They probably get frustrated that I unwrap the gyro (an instructed not-to-do on the menu) and eat out the contents.  I am told the fresh pita is especially made in Chicago and shipped down. And while it is good, it is certainly not gluten free. However, the contents are so delicious that I don't need the bread filling me up and taking away the additional room for the feta cheese sauce!

If you are in the area you have to try Kiefer's. If you are not in the area, then you have to drive but it is one of those places that is so well worth it!

Marry Me Monday: Capturing Every Sweet Moment (Part 2)

By the time we reached the church we were running late for pictures and I wasn't even in my dress yet.  Event though I had carefully planned the timeline, wedding days inevitably can make even the most organized be late.  I was trying to stay calm because I wanted to make sure I stayed happy and in the moment but my hands were shaking as I unpacked my things in the church dressing room.  All of sudden a small glass of chardonnay appeared in front of me.  Ashley knew the stress I was feeling and knew exactly how to calm the moment.  My mental snapshot of that moment is the red solo cup with the chilled wine and sweet Ashley's smile.

Ed and I agreed to give each other notes before our first look photo.  I handed Ashley a note and asked her to find Ed for me.  She came back just a few minutes later with a card for me.  I really thought in the stress of all the wedding planning, Ed would forget we had decided to exchange notes. However, he did better than me in my opinion.  The card was picked out especially for this day and helped me focus on the true meaning of the day.  I still see Ashley's expression which captured the significance of that moment.  I could tell she felt honored for getting to be the one who made the exchange possible.

I was finally dressed and ready to go down to the sanctuary for our first look photo.  One of my strongest memories of the day is walking into the quiet church with the only sound being the swishing of my train. The sound was very loud in the quiet of everything else. Ed says that hearing the train was the first time he got nervous.  I thought we were alone with the exception of the photographer but I looked over and saw Ed's brother, Jamie.  He looked in awe of the moment. I saw that expression many times from many people that day.  I remember thinking I was glad Jamie was with us getting to witness this moment. I was too overwhelmed with nerves and emotion to speak so when I reached Ed I just touched his shoulder to let him know I was there.  I felt better after that touch.  The nerves subsided and excitement set in.

Ashley gives me the card

Love this picture...everything else is a blur except what is really important!

Ed's mother and grandmother see the card

First look picture taken through the door by Leigh

My Current Obsessions: Summer 2013

Summer is here!!! I know not technically by calendar standards but I am an academic so in my world when school lets out then summer has begun.  With the start a new season brings new ideas and of course, obsessions.  Here is my completely fun and totally frivolous current obsessions list for the beginning of Summer 2013.

The cute-bags-to-carry-food thing is not a new obsession but one that carries over to the summer.  Perfect accessory for any summer BBQ or dinner party! These are available at Lily Pad in Oxford.

The Birchbox!  I received my first one a few months ago and now I am obsessed! I get so excited when I get the e-mail that one has been shipped. 

I love the current trend of the starfish.  You can now wear the beach! Found this one on Etsy.

I just discovered my favorite author's latest book. I am on chapter 2 and already laughing!

Unexpected Moments of the Sweet Life

Dreams do come true. I am sure you have heard that saying often, especially during Super Bowl season with the endless Disney commercials that appear at that time.  I agree with that saying but as we often get wrapped up in our daily tasks, we forget to really perceive the meaning behind the phrase. After a recent trip,  that saying has an even stronger significance to me and one that will serve as a powerful reminder that there are times in our lives that are simple but they are the meaningful moments that make up our lives.  I was able to witness this type of moment as a very simple but extremely powerful dream came true.

Mom and I have an annual Mother's Day Trip (six years and counting!) to the Beau Rivage.  We spend a few days with non-stop girl talk, eating way too much, drinking wine, indulging in massages and sitting poolside for days.  On our last full day this year, I went upstairs to the hotel room to grab more wine (of course!) and returned to find my mother teary eyed.

Two women, who appeared to be sisters were holding hands in the pool. One clearly supporting the other.  I would guess that these women were in their 70s possibly younger but one was very ill causing her age to be indiscriminate. They giggled like teenagers as they talked and waded in the chest deep water.  The woman's walker waited for her right at the edge of the pool.  Mom told me that it took her sister with one other young pool attendant to get her in the pool. When she finally immersed into the water, she looked up and said, "I am so happy."  Being able to witness a woman getting to experience the simple pleasures of life - a swimming pool on a beautiful late spring Mississippi day - moved Mom and the college aged girl who assisted her to tears.

About fifteen minutes later, having had her dream realized, the lady was assisted out of the pool by the attendant, life-guard and her sister.  Two very young females at the beginning of their adulthood humbly and graciously helping this woman step by step out of the pool. It took effort with the water no longer supporting her but she made it back to her walker. It was a beautiful moment to see these generations of women working together, bonded by the simple human experience of being alive.

Out of the pool, the woman said, "Dreams do come true.  Number four on the bucket list!" Her eyes looked strong and happy in contrary to her weak body. According to her sister, the woman loved the water but had not been able to swim for years and this moment meant so much to her.  The sister took a picture of her with the two young girls all gathered around her walker.  A moment to remember. A moment that will stay with me as a constant reminder.

It started as a regular work day for those girls.  And for us, it was a day of relaxation but the day turned into an extraordinary moment and a reminder.  We can all help others dreams come true.  Dreams don't have to be extravagant because often the smallest ones are the most meaningful. Life is so beautiful, so sweet. Remember the pool moments of life daily.

The Beau Rivage Pool....one of my favorite places to be!

Marry Me Monday: Capturing Every Sweet Moment

Go to any bride website, read any wedding magazine or speak to any former bride and the advice is always the same, "Enjoy every moment because it goes by so fast."  The wedding day is probably the fastest day any person will live if they are the bride or groom.  The best advice I read somewhere was to steal little moments to realize what is going on around you and take mental snapshots.  I tried to take in every second of the day and there are several mental snapshots that I have in addition to the real pictures.

The wedding day started off with a family breakfast hosted by my sweet cousins Jimmy, Christy and Andrew.  The breakfast was a relaxing moment before the day took off at full speed.  Good food was had while funny family stories were told.  The mental snapshot for the morning was lots of laughter over breakfast as sleepy friends and family members drifted out of their hotel rooms to start the day with us.

After finishing setting up the reception site and eating a quick lunch at McAllisters, it was back to the hotel to start getting ready. My cousin, Kimbrell, came to my hotel room to do my hair and make up. I originally thought I would do my own but Kimbrell, a hairstylist and make up artist, offered and I am so glad that she did. Not only did I love my look but not having to do my own was so relaxing.  Even more special, it was just Mom, Kimbrell and me for about an hour.  We had sweet family time and reimininsced about when Mom babysat Kimbrell as a child. The only things that would keep her from crying were crackers and brushing her hair.  She must have known as a baby that hair would be her future profession.  The mental snapshot I have from that moment is when my sweet bridesmaids came in and saw what I looked like for the first time.  They all made me feel so beautiful! I was surrounded all day by so much love!

Next week: Getting dressed and the first look photo!

Sweet family moment. Kimbrell doing my hair and make-up meant so much to me!

Loved my hair and make up by Kimbrell!

Wednesday Wine-A-Rita!

My husband told me to stop telling people about this drink but it is too good to not share!  In grad school, I developed an allergy to tequila while drinking margaritas with grad school friends and my throat started to close. I like breathing a lot so I have not tried a tequila drink since then.  While not a life altering allergy since most people can adjust to life without margaritas, I still did miss that refreshing lime taste.

Enters my fix everything husband and he invents a drink just for me!  Ed's margarita recipe has been a favorite in his circle of friends for awhile so he adjusted it for me by switching out the tequila for wine.  We sampled a few methods before finding the perfect mix. And now I have told everyone about it.  Ed says that I need to stop because he will be stuck in the kitchen juicing limes all night for people when they come over if too many people find out.  Yes, it is that good...even my tequila friends love it!  Cheers!

Wine-A-Rita

2 Limes (juiced)

5-6 oz Pinot grigio (we tried sauvignon blanc but pinot works better)
1 shot of triple sec

Load it down with ice and stir.  YUM!  (You can salt the rim, I just always ordered the salt free variety).

You can see the original blog post about my hubby's margarita making skills here .

Marry Me Monday: Our Rehearsal Dinner

Lunch with friends and family. Last minute set up.  Emergency trip to the eye doctor. A funny Irish priest who kept us laughing. Amazing cajun food. An evening ending in laughter with family and friends in a tipsy euphoria. These are all phrases that capture April 5th, 2013.

The day before our wedding was a beautiful, sunny spring day in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  Friends and family members seemed to be arriving every few minutes.  There was a definite feeling of a special excitement with everyone gathering in the Hub City for our celebration.  Ed and I kept telling each other how overwhelmed we were with how much love was around us. So many people traveled a long distance to be with us and we appreciated every one of them.  This day started an entire weekend where we felt loved, happy and most definitely humbled by the love shown to us.  Thanks to my sweet friend Leigh for capturing the rehearsal and dinner.  Below are a few of the great pictures Leigh took!

Stealing a moment to take it all in. 

Last minute touch ups with my girls.

A funny Irish priest is always a good thing especially when it is Fr. Tommy! Love him!

Ed and Jamie practicing walking their mom down the aisle.

Mom and me practicing the big walk!

Joy!

Walker really wanted to sit the whole time!

Cousins meeting for the first time!

Leigh: my first GA, my sister look a like, and my lifelong friend.  Thank you for all the great pictures!

Summer Projects

Confession: I am a procrastinator when it comes to home and craft projects.  I always have the best intentions to actually make the recipes and projects I see on Pinterest. I go to Hobby Lobby and get inspired, only to come home and get overwhelmed with the daily tasks that must get done.  I always think one day. In fact, one of my Pinterest boards is labeled, "Projects I Plan On Doing One Day." I think I should change that label to "Projects I Will Probably Never Do." However, I have hope! I just started a new phase of life and I am hoping to leave the crafting procrastination behind me. 

I love my busy life. We travel a lot.  We socialize a lot.  We have a lot of fun.  So while I don't have a lot of time to sit around crafting, my life is full. I am not just procrastinating because I am watching The Real Housewives of Orange County (well maybe a little).  However, there are some things I really want to do so I need to figure out how to make time for them.   And as an expert list maker, I have made a Summer Projects 2013 list that I am determined to make a priority so I can overcome my home procrastination habit.   I hope by publishing my home project goals I will actually achieve them! Hold me accountable...just don't call while The Housewives are on!

Projects I WILL Do! 

 Summer 2013 

Assemble a wedding card book for all our cards. I found a how-to on: artofweddingspdx.com

Print and frame several wedding photos.  Isn't this a cute idea?  I found this on a fellow blogger's website: williamandjacqueline.blogspot.com

Finish decorating our bedroom. These colors and patterns are my inspiration.  From: www.centsationalgirl.com

Learn how to assemble a non-sew curtain for the back bathroom. From: www.bhg.com

We love to cook and we received several great cookbooks which is something I collect. Therefore a summer goal and hobby will be to experiment with new recipes and host dinner parties! Thanks to my cuz Stephanie for this cookbook!

Frame and display wedding memorabilia.  I got this idea from Pinterest.

Marry Me Monday: One Month of Married Life!

Today marks one month of marriage.  In ways, it does not seem possible for our wedding day to have been a month ago because the memories seem so fresh.  But more so, life has happened in such full throttle that it feels like a year!  A month ago today was an absolutely beautiful wedding day.  We loved every moment of it and truly enjoyed ourselves. I would not change a thing and when I look at the pictures, I am filled with a warm feeling of joy and love.  I will be sharing the details and pictures of our special day in the posts to come.

Since our wedding day, we jumped right into the "in sickness" part of our vows when I developed an eye condition that caused us to have to leave our honeymoon to rush back to an eye specialist. One month without eye makeup or contacts along with about seven eye doctor visits later, I am on my way to getting better!  Also, in our first week, my grandmother had to have emergency surgery and is now slowly recovering.  So yes, we jumped right into life.  I expect the second month of marriage to go into the "in health" part of our vows.  I apologize for being a week late for my blogging return but life has literally been a blur this past month.

In the midst of sickness, we have had fun in our first month.  We have started the process of unpacking wedding gifts and organizing my stuff that I  moved in. I have a feeling that process will take all summer!  We take advantage of any nice spring day to go on our patio to eat dinner and have a glass of wine.  Friends have dropped by and we hosted our first impromptu dinner party.  We are just enjoying daily life as newlyweds and it is wonderful! Tonight we are going to celebrate by cooking a special dinner of salmon, asparagus and rosemary roasted potatoes. We will be eating this delicious meal on our gorgeous Blue Heron plates and sipping champagne from new toasting flutes. Cheers to starting month two!