"Food Tour of Lexington"

We spent the weekend in Bluegrass country savoring what it means to be a part of the "Big Blue Nation".   Once we were done savoring our revenge on the Mountaineers, we had enough time to eat... a lot.

David and Sandra had this great idea of taking M and me to various restaurants in Lexington, a "food tour" if you will, which was a treat for these two foodies.  With food on the brain, I asked to work a half day Friday so we could get up to Lex in time for dinner.... Half days are awesome.  You still get a few hours of work in, get to leave early, and the more you look at the clock, the closer it really does get to leaving time.  I was in the process of having my hand all the way inside a body cavity... looked up, 11:00..."Whoops gotta go guys! Have a great weekend!"...I was scrubbed out in a matter of seconds.

We started Friday night at Malone's Steakhouse.  Bobby Flay ate there the last time he was in town.  No brainer.  I got the Prime Rib with whipped potatoes.  M got the same but with Mac n' cheese.  Incredible.

 Saturday morning, David made us his famous blueberry pancakes.  Two hours later, I'm at in again....  We requested to have take out Joe B's to eat while watching the UK game.  M's good friend Dave came over with his 3 boys. 

Aren't they TOO Cute.  From Left: Tom, Will, and Luke.

 Saturday afternoon we went to look at furniture, but first I had to make them drive passed Calipari's pad. I hadn't seen it yet. 

So this is what 31.65 million over 8 years can get you!  He only wishes he had a PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and was married to a nurse.

 Saturday night we went to a 5 star Italian place downtown called Bellinis.  Bobby Flay says it's the best Italian he's had in Lexington.. Who am I to argue?

Sunday after church we went to Ramsey's which is a meat and three type place... I was feeling pretty guilty about all the calories, so I went a little healthier and got everything FRIED. :)  Catfish, hushpuppies, the works... David and Sandra, it's a good thing you don't live in the same town as us, or I might have to move up a weight class.  Thanks so much for such a fun weekend!  I've never felt so full....and spoiled :)

INTRODUCING...

The soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Hardison!  Benjamin and Morgan are engaged!  We are so incredibly happy for these two!  I've been a Team Morgan fan for a long while.  We loved her from the first time we met her, and we feel that we could not have hand-picked a better girl for our fav "little" bro.  She's sweet, caring, super cute, and downright funny.  Now, I will have not one but two awesome sisters-in-law...  We only wished we lived closer!

So, to Benj and Morgan.  We love you both so much, and we're so glad to watch you take this next step together.  We will be praying for you as you prepare for your married life together.  Married life is the BEST! 

Clendenins and Hardisons

Last weekend we left the Magic City for the Marble City (Knoxville) to spend the weekend with our best friends, soon to be Dr. and Mrs. Clendenin.  I know I've talked about how close we are with Heather and Russ on the blog.  But I felt it was high time to share our friendship history.  You see,  M and I give Heath and Russ about 40% of the credit for Matthew and me being a couple.  If it weren't for them, M would have never fallen in love with the cute, funny girl (that would be me) that sat next to him at the Grey's Anatomy season finale party that was held at Heather's parents house in the Spring of 2006.  That's where it all began.  We spent the rest of that summer hanging out as a foursome, until M moved to Bham.  M and I didn't start dating for real, until January of 2007.. for multiple reasons that shall forever remain from this point forward as irrelevant.  Heather and Russ were even there at our first date, a UK game in Rupp arena :)  As seen below...

But our relationships with Heath and Russ obviously didn't just start in the Summer of 2006.  Heather and I became best friends back in the 6th grade after Heather got over the fact that I was a Sunday School know-it-all.  I was a nerdy kid :)  We spent the rest of middle and high school living 5 minutes away from each other.  We went to college together, but did not room with one another, for the simple fact that we would have killed each another.  I convinced Heather to pledge Pi Delta, and was there as she and Russ became engaged and got married.  Maid of Honor of course :)

Matthew and Russ first became friends through being on Lipscomb's freshman orientation team together.  If you have ever been in the company with these two, you would understand that it must have been fairly easy for them to become good friends.  Their likeness is uncanny, and at times drives their spouses crazy.  Matthew and Heather became friends separately from Russ, but obviously became better acquainted after Heather and Russ began dating.  The three of them used to do things together, so often, that some of my friends (Aimee, Emily and Carol) and I were convinced that  "Hardison" had a crush on Heather, and was tagging along as their third wheel. Ha.  It was obviously not the case. 

Since then we have been great friends with each other, M and I were in their wedding, and they were obviously in ours.  We're so thankful for lifelong friends, and we cannot wait to experience more live events with these two!

On our way out to dinner. 

We ate at an incredible hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Littons.  It was AWESOME!  I ate every bit of my cheeseburger, fries, and Snickers cheesecake.  To get on the waiting list, you sign your name to a chalkboard, I thought it was too cute. 

Matthew put Lexi on top of the homemade cat tower Russ made for Munchie and Crunchie.

The four of us.  Thanks for the great visit!  We love yall!  Also, check out Lexi eying Crunch Cat.  She couldn't stand that she couldn't play with him :)

For the Love of Food

NEWS NEWKS ALERT!  I have heard from a fairly reliable source that one of our favorite Bham restaurants is possibly making its first Volunteer State appearance..in Cool Springs!  Okay, it may be the 3rd of 4th, but the others are in Memphis or Murfreesboro or something... as if Rutherford county needs anymore restaurants sandwiched into it. 

But Cool Springs is another story.  My parents live in Cool Springs.. this is BIG news.  While the Magic City is smaller in comparison to Nashville, we make up for size with delicious food.  Although I've yet to find a Baja Burrito equivalent in this town, I can honestly say, that in my humble opinion, the food is just better here.  I know... in Alabama, what?!  I can't believe I am suggesting that Bham may have beaten my hometown in any quality or characteristic.... but Nashvegas, cheer up, you're the fun and pretty one :)

So, to all my Nashville friends.. when NEWKS hits town.  Don't miss out.  The " NEWKS Q" (grilled chicken breast, applewood smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, with a homemade white barbecue sauce) is calling your name.  If it isn't one of the best sandwiches you have ever tasted, then just assume that the Nashville establishment is not as good as the one here :)  Check it our for yourself here

Too Tired for Creative Title Post...

 Wake me up when life slows down...  When my mom used to tell me that as you get older life gets crazier, I thought she was over-exaggerating.  But she's right! (See mom I can admit when I'm wrong).  I feel like my brain is in overdrive... but no complaints here, life's too short to sit in your bed watching TV... which is what M and I currently doing (M just spilt ketchup on our duvet, he freaked, I laughed.)  We'll see if I still think it's funny after it comes out of the wash :)

Anyway, we've been crazy busy.  But good busy. 

 One of my favorite things.. Babysitting sweet Sam!  Looking extremely dapper in his puffy vest.  

Last Friday night,we and 3 of our couple friends threw a couple's baby shower for our good friends Katie and Drew.  It was dinner-party style. 

Decorated onesies.

Host and hostesses with the parents-to-be!  So VERY thankful for these people right here!

I can't take credit for this idea.. Instead of bringing gifts to the shower since Katie had already had a million gift showers.  We all brought frozen casseroles to stock their freezer for when baby girl arrives! I made my Dad's famous white chili.  \ It's called "Timothy's White Chili", but I'm thinking about renaming it "Master Pastor's White Chili".  We also brought "hospital survival" goodies for Drew.  Drinks, magazines, snacks, candy, etc...

Friday night after the shower we headed up to Nash to celebrate my mom's b-day!  How cute are these two??

M, me, mom, and Ash went out to lunch Saturday afternoon to celebrate Mom's bday.  Dad and little Matthew were supposed to come.  But after Dad picked up Buddy from his ACT (who takes the ACT at 13?) he was complaining of not feeling well.  Turns out.. FLU!  Love ya buddy, but had to stay away.

 Happy (late) Birthday to my incredible mom.  I can honestly say that there is no one in the world like you.  I'm so very proud that you are my mother.  You are a hard worker, confident, caring (over-protective), and simply the cutest mom that ever existed.  You pushed me to use my talents (ahem, piano lessons until I was a senior), but I don't regret any of it.  Whenever people say that I remind them of you, it makes me smile. Mostly because I know it's true, but also because I'm extremely thankful to have been raised by a mother like you.

Up next... David, Sandra, Benj, and Morgan will be here this weekend to celebrate Sandra's and Benjamin's bdays!  Then the next weekend, we're headed to Knox to see Heath and Russ!

Walking in Memphis (Well really Bartlett- the 'Burbs of Memphis)

A couple of weeks ago, Ashley, Matthew and I met in Memphis to visit Mimi and Papaw to celebrate Christmas...just a few weeks late.  Usually we are able to go visit over New Years, but this year Ashley was in NYC and I had to work.  I've been dying to go visit since I hadn't been able to see my gparents since MAY!  Ridiculous.  I missed them SO much... not to mention having Mimi's chocolate pie withdrawals can be pretty intense.

Some things never change.

First things first.. Christmas gifts!

Excited about our "Happys".  Since we were little, Mimi has made us "Happy" bags that contain all of our favorite toiletry items.  I've never bought a bottle of lotion or tooth paste thanks to this wonderful woman.  

On Saturday, Matthew and I visited Graceland.  Mimi volunteers at the hospital with a woman whose husband works security at Graceland.  So, we got our $45 tickets for FREE. 

Matthew, Priscilla and Lisa Marie

Who can't wait for this to come back into style?

Elvis' TV room. 

The family room that Elvis designed himself.  Interesting.  It was called the "Jungle Room".

End of the tour.  I didn't upload half the pictures.  Just imagine more gaudy 60's/70's decorations.  It irked me to no end that we weren't allowed to go upstairs into the "private residence" to respect Elvis' privacy.  No offense, but the man is no longer with us!  Like he cares that people are looking into his bedroom.  I asked a worker if she was allowed to go upstairs, she said "No, of course not".  But she did say that everything upstairs has been put into storage except the furniture from Elvis' bedroom...as if he were still sleeping there at night.. Crazy. 

Private Plane

If you're going to have 1... might as well have 2

I know.. it looks like I wear this scarf all the time.  1. I really like it.  2. My best friend Katie Bug bought it for me.  3.  I always seem to be wearing it times when I actually take pictures.  4.  I don't really know why I feel the need to defend myself. 

Isn't she too cute.   Most of my physical characteristics came from this woman here. 

Great weekend.  Can't wait for our next visit. 

One of These Days

As Matthew and I get closer to contemplating buying our first home, I find myself on the internet constantly searching for my "dream kitchen" or "dream bathroom" etc... While I know that our first home will not be my ultimate "dream house", it's ok to look, right?  I have organized and tucked all the pictures away in a file titled, "Future House"... on my currently dying laptop.. it's SLOOOOOOW.  Might be a good time to pull out that new external hard drive to save all of our priceless pics (of Lexi) before this computer bites. 

Matthew and I eventually would love to build our own home... But that will have to wait until "post doc salary" turns into "fellowship salary" which will then turn into "Matthew is finally done with training salary." I can't wait to design a custom made professional grade kitchen, where I can finally find a place for all of our kitchen appliances (I'm guessing a lot of you don't own a mandolin slicer or an immersion blender)... We love to cook.  I find my favorite designs by typing "French Country Kitchens" into Google Images.  French Country is my fav... partly because I grew up in a home that was decorated this way, partly because I just like it, and partly because every self-respecting Southern woman should know that French Country is the way to go :) (JK.. everyone is entitled to their own style)

The first 3 pictures is our favorite kitchen to date.  I love the rustic feel of it. 

I mean... LOVE it.  The only thing I would change would be to have the cabinets a little less distressed.  And possibly paint the shutters a different color. 

This is my favorite picture of it.  I love the exposed brick with the refrigerator built inside. 

Different kitchen, but I really like this one as well.  Especially the pots hanging over the island.  I will have a kitchen with my pots hanging like this!  But new pretty copper pots.. not my ugly Calphalon non stick pots.

Love this one too.. I think you can see a trend.  The floors are gorgeous.

When we do buy our first house... hopefully sooner rather than later.  We will have to get a dining room table.  This is my current favorite, with different, more comfy chairs.  Now how I find one like this, I have no idea.

Happy Monday.  Off to watch the Golden Globes.