Indian Rocks Vacation
I know, a month without an entry…. I struggle sometimes. But it has been busy… end of the semester responsibilities, various graduation ceremonies and parties, getting my summer interns trained, taking a vacation, getting into the summer rhythm… it will keep a gal busy! But on this lovely Sunday, I want to talk about the much needed vacation that I took in late May.
The view of the Gulf of Mexico from our condo
Florida is a special place in The South. When you consider its geographic location, it is definitely a part of the American Southeast, but it doesn’t adhere to a lot of the traditions, history and even stereotypes that is held by most of the other southern states. I mean, busting out my political science minor here, it is what one can consider the new South. It is a huge mix of people and backgrounds, with a heavy international population- pending which part of the state you are talking about. This huge diversity is a part of the reason it is such a key state when it comes to the presidential election… you never know what is going to happen. But from the margaritaville atmosphere of Key West, to the uniqueness of the Everglades, the fast pace of Miami, the amusement park mecca of Orlando, the historical northeastern coast near St. Augustine and over to the Emerald Coast of the panhandle…. it is a cool and diverse place. It is also beautiful, but far more likely to get by a hurricane than any other place in the US…. I mean over 75% of it is surrounded by water!
I have been to Florida a million times or so now… I first went when I was five or so to visit my Aunt Jan in Fort Lauderdale and have been all over the place since then. One place that is very close to my heart is the Tampa Bay area. I spent my very first adult summer by myself there when I was in grad school doing an internship at the University of South Florida (Go Bulls!). While I could go on about all the reasons I love the Tampa Bay area (where I rode out my first real hurricane) I am going to try and focus on the coastal area, specifically Indian Rocks Beach.
The Bestie and her family have been going down to Indian Rocks since she was a kid… making the 17 or so hour drive in one long shot and spending two weeks at a condo right on the water. She still tells about how her Dad would rent a boat while they were there and then pull right up onto the beach to pick up her and her brother. They were still going all through high school, and a number of our friends would go down with her each year and come back all tanned and full of stories about the beach and boys. For some reason (probably because I was on vacation in the South) I didn’t end up making it down there with her until that summer in grad school. Since then, I have been back with her five or six times now and I fall in love with the place a little more each time. It is so breathtakingly beautiful. The sand is this beautiful soft white sand that is not too soft to walk on and this crystal clear aqua water. We have made the point in the last several years to go in May. It is perfect at that time of the year with the weather and it is not jam packed like it is after Memorial Day. In mid-to-late May you can actually stroll out and sit anywhere you want. We had a perfect weather the whole time we were there, with just one cloudy night that had us miss the sunset. The condo is a family condo, so it is perfect and it is literally right on the beach, so there is nothing to block the view of the sunset!
So, I spent the week with my “adopted family,” the Bestie and her husband and two-year old daughter (love my little Lili), her mom (my second mom), and her brother and his wife and four month old son. We ate at all our favorite places, played rummy almost every night (the Bestie somehow cheated, I am sure of it), took long walks on the beach, played with Lili on the beach and in the pool, and all sorts of fun activities. I will be sure to post a review of all of my favorite places to go there soon. Minus the fact that Lili had both poison ivy that turned into a bacterial infection AND a cold that she gave to half the rest of us, it was a fun trip that gave me some much needed down time and the opportunity to pause and catch my breath. It also gave me the chance to reflect.
The Bestie is more than my best friend, she is the sister that I was lucky enough to find. I don’t know what I would do without her or her family in my life. They took me in and welcomed me as one of their own during one of the worst years of my life and never batted an eye about it. I love them to pieces and love that I am able to vacation with them. But this was the first time with little Lili and the Bestie’s 4-month old nephew- JR. It was the first real vacation with kids where WE were not the kids anymore. When did that happen? It was interesting to plan activities around nap time and change our plans based on what was best for the kids. It wasn’t a bad thing, and I was prepared for it, but it was just odd to think about… odd to pause and go… when did we grow up? Yes, there were moments where I wanted to just sit and read, but Lili wanted to swim, so into the pool I went. I usually get through at least five books on vacation. I didn’t finish a single one on this trip and I loved it. Who knew playing tea party with a toddler could be so much fun?
It was nice to just sit and reflect on how lucky we are to have gone to a place that has seen so much of our lives. I can’t tell you the number of miles the Bestie and I have walked on that beach over the last decade or so talking about the men in our lives, our schools and jobs, our families our hopes for the future. It is cool to actually look back and see how parts of those plans have started to become a reality… especially when one of them is an adorable two year old you are trying to lather up with sun screen while she screams at you (because what two year old wants to have 100SPF smothered all over their skin)? I love that we get to eat at some of our favorite places and play rummy or dominoes where the plays are debated endlessly over the weeks that follow. I just love that place and the time that I get to spend their with people I love…. and I can’t wait to go back again soon! A smattering of photos are below and more on places to go while visiting there will come soon!
One
Lili at sunset
Two
best beach!
Three
tea party time
Four
nap time
Five
Not only is JR one of the most beautiful babies ever, but he is also one of the sweetest I’ve ever met!
Translation Tuesday: Y’all, Take Two
I mentioned early on that I love the word y’all. My English professor freshmen year even said it was okay to use in papers. Now one of the (many) things that drives me batty is when I see people spell it incorrectly. It is a contraction of “you” and “all” the apostrophe goes between the combining of those two words (so the “y” and the “a”, not the “a” and the “l”). If you are going to use the language of the American South, at least spell it right.
Random Brain Dump
- That whole quick dinner thing… great when I have time to think about it, not so great when I have long days and don’t get home until after 7pm. I so had rice krispies with sliced banana tonight for dinner. Yes, I am in my thirties and I am having cereal for dinner.
- I really am having a hard time adjusting to Windows 8. The damn cursor jumps all over the place and why can’t I find the paint function anymore?? It is just really hard to navigate and I have been using it for a little over two months now. It is easier than it was at first, but I am just not loving it… things just seem to take longer.
- Speaking of Windows 8… I really do like my new laptop (an HP) and my new Ipad mini (minus the Windows 8 on the HP). They are fabulous. But I still haven’t managed to transfer my I-tunes music and such over to both of them from my external hard drive. Must get on that, it has only been three months.
- I am coming close to yelling at a student in the parking garage, I am clearly ready for the semester to be over and not have to fight for parking anymore. But really, can they not stay in their lane? And for the love of all things holy, look around when backing out of your parking spot. And PLEASE stop texting on your phone while taking a corner! And all of these damn extended cab trucks need to be assigned spaces on the top or bottom of the garage, I just can’t see around them!
- On the other hand, I had one of those moments today that reminded me exactly why I love my job and am in the right field. One of my students that I have worked closely with for the last two and half years is graduating this week and we were able to get together for lunch. She gave me the sweetest thank you card that had me in tears later in my office when I read it and she gave me a Rewined candle. As I have mentioned HERE I am obsessed with these! It was sweet, but it just really reminded me that I get to make a difference and help students. Generally it is at their graduations and when I am sitting at their weddings that I have these little moments of realization. Heaven help me when any of them start to have kids and send me birth announcements… that may make me have a heart attack.
- Graduation is this week, so it is a little chaotic on campus. On the bright side, parking will be super easy next week!
- This must be the most odd spring I have ever seen. It has just not warmed up, I haven’t put on a sundress yet and yesterday it literally rained for nearly 12 hours straight. I felt like the kids is in the Cat in the Hat where they are staring out the window at the rain, bored out of their minds. That was me yesterday. It better have helped with that drought the weathermen always say we are in!
- I am officially only a few weeks away from my beach vacay! Bring on the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and down time with some of the people I love the most.
- I think I could do a whole blog on parents of college students. Seriously, I talk to some of the parents of my students more than my own mother. Sheesh.
Beach Shrimp and Roasted Veggies
As I am pretty sure you all know by now, I am pretty big on having a wide selection of quick and easy meals to make. This makes the chances that I am having cereal for dinner a less common occurrence (I am having it at least once a week as it is, I cant help it, it is the easiest thing there is). As it happens, I live close enough to the coast that I trust the seafood I buy to be fresh and good. So I picked up some shrimp and veggies last night and made the quickest meal ever.
Roasted Veggies
Ingredients
- Pick whatever kind of vegetables you want. Potatoes, squash, onion, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli… whatever you want. In this case I went with new potatoes (because I was trying to get rid of them) and zucchini (it is my fave)
- Olive Oil
- Spices of choice. I went with dried basil, herbs of provence (which does usually have basil in it), garlic powder, salt, pepper
Steps
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Quarter or slice your veggies. Remember the more dense veggies take a little longer to cook, so I try to make those pieces a bit smaller and the things that don’t take as long a bit thicker.
- Put in bowl, drizzle with olive oil
- Sprinkle spices on to level of comfort… I use more basil and provence than garlic, but that is my taste.
- Toss all items together
- Spread them on a jelly roll pan that has been covered with Pam (and I also put tin foil down).
- Bake for 25 minutes and then take pan out and turn veggies over with a spatula. Cook for another 15-25 minutes.
Beach Shrimp*
Ingredients
- 1 lb to 1.5lbs fresh shrimp (peeled or unpeeled is up to you. But every time I make this I wish I had pre-peeled them once I actually sit down to eat)
- 1 large lemon
- 1 packet Italian seasoning mix
- 1 stick melted butter (so a 1/2 cup)
- Parsley- optional
Steps
- Preheat over to 425 degrees
- Spray a 9×13 baking dish with PAM or some such spray.
- Put shrimp in dish.
- Cut lemon in quarters and place in dish
- Mix melted butter and Italian seasoning together, dump over shrimp and lemons
- Cook for about 20 minutes or until pink!
See this works really well with the veggies, because you just put the shrimp in the oven when you turn the veggies over. So easy, so quick and so yummy! I served with some crusty wheat bread. So any other super easy recipes out there? I am open to ideas, send them my way!
* I should point out that I got this shrimp idea from a magazine several years ago, but I don’t know which one. I like to give credit where appropriate, but sometimes my memory just fails me. The things that happen after you turn 30… the memory goes to mush.
Translation Tuesday: Fire Ants
Fire Ants… also known as the spawn of the devil. In my opinion, hell hath no fury like a fire ant whose fire ant hill has been messed with. Damn annoying little creatures that BITE!
I can still remember the first time I ever got bit by a fire ant…. July 1992 or 91. We had flown down South for my Grandpa Bob’s funeral. After the funeral we all were at my grandparents house and all of the grandkids were in the pool or around the pool. I was standing on the pool deck and eating a firecracker popsicle when I felt these stings on my leg… I looked down and there were ants crawling up my leg. I jumped in the pool, popsicle in hand, to wash them off. And then I noticed the welts on my leg. This was nearly 20 years ago and I still remember! Clearly, fire ants leave an impression.
So, if you want to know about the species and scientific info behind them do a Google search… I tried and it just made me a little sick to my stomach looking at the pictures of the ants. Ew. Anyway, there are various types of fire ants and the bites irritate some of people but not all. You can tell their ant hills because they are these reddish mounds that look like little mountains all over the grass. If you tap one with your foot (and then jump back) you can see the little suckers swarm all over the place. Thankfully, enough pest control companies have developed ways to kill them that it is not hard to dump some fire ant killer on top of the mound and then be free to walk barefoot in the yard.
It never fails, I get at least one fire ant bite per year. This year it came in early March on my right foot and left and itchy red welt for a week. Nasty little bugs. So if you come visit us down South, be on the lookout for the ants!
Lake View
As I’ve mentioned, it has been a busy spring semester… lots of travel, lots of events and then moving as a result of the break-in on top of it all. So when I made the decision to move out of downtown and into the suburbs, I knew I’d be facing a bit of a commute to work each day and I’d lose some of the fun of living downtown, but I knew I would gain peace of mind and a slightly cheaper gas price. One thing I didn’t count on was a great view as I scouted out new walking and jogging locations. I’ve found a lovely path that runs right along the lake, less than a mile from my house! Score! So a definite perk to moving out here have been these views of the lake on one side and view way off in the distance of downtown (it is about 15 miles). Really, how inspiring is it to see this while trying to get some exercise? Love the nature of the South!
Love the view of the Lake!
And another view….
Last view
Chocolate Lava Cake
Way back in August of last year, my friend Rach hosted a Grill and See for all of the college crew to meet Baby Bimmer, the adorable daughter of Gail and Puff. This was the chance for the whole crew to get together and catch up after Bimmer was a few months old. A grill and see is our variation on the Sip and See and it followed the Clam Bake Baby Shower I had hosted that April. Rach is an amazing hostess and a good cook, which you can read about over at Out of Meal Ideas. She made this crock pot cake thing that we were all obsessed with…. seriously, we may or may not have scraped the sides of the pot to not let any go to waste. So, I was determined to make it as soon as I had an event and I lucked out by having an office lunch a few months later. This was the easiest cake I have ever made and was a huge crowd pleaser!
Ready to Cook!
Ingredients
Bottom Layer
- One box chocolate fudge cake mix
- 1 and 1/4 cup milk
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Top Layer
- I box chocolate pudding mix (instant, 4 serving size)
- 2 cups milk
- 1 bag chocolate chips (12 oz)
Steps
- Spray the crock pot sides with some non-stick spray
- In mixing bowl, mix together all bottom layer ingredients until wet and thoroughly mixed. Pour into crock pot
- In a separate bowl, mix pudding mix and 2 cups of milk together.
- Pour top layer over bottom layer in crock pot, do not mix
- Dump chocolate chips ontop
- Set on low for about 3 hours.
- Serve warm and with vanilla ice cream!
Seriously. So easy and so darn good. If I didn’t have to make cupcakes for a birthday this week I would so be making this right now! Yummy!
And These People…
As with most people my age, I adored Dawson’s Creek when I was in high school and college. I still cry every time I watch the series finale. It totally hits topics and areas that fit for that time in my life and it has some kick ass quotes. One of my favorite quotes comes from Joey Potter when she gives her graduation speech midway through the series. It really sums up the connection and love I have for my friends and out experiences. ” Why are we so quick to forget the bad and romanticize the good?” I love the whole entire quote. Do you have any quotes that you just love?
Joey Potter Graduation Quote
32 Flavors… and then some
So, earlier this week I turned 32… yikes! Where on earth did the time go? It seems like the last year has just flown by… well, the last decade really. When I was a kid it seemed like time just dragged on and on and summer vacation would never get here. Then somewhere around college everything started to just pick up speed. You blink and it is over. I really have to say though, I have loved my thirties. For all of the panicked moments I had when I turned 29, they really weren’t needed.
My twenties felt like I was on a never ending roller coaster of emotions and drama and trying to figure out what the hell I was supposed to be doing with my life. I felt there was an expectation placed on me by my family, friends and even society that I need to accomplish A, B and C by the time I was 30. In typical me fashion, I finally said forget that and have been much happier since I gave up that sense of pressure. The first few years of my thirties have just been calm. And I don’t mean boring, I have had a ton of fun the last few years, but calm in the sense I know what I care about in life, I have a much better sense of purpose and know the direction I want to go into. Not everyday is perfect, not every plan is made, and there are a whole lot of things left on my bucket and goal lists… but I go to bed happy every night and wake up happy the next morning, ready as best I can be for what ever is going to come my way. I think that is a pretty good place to be. So, as I spent my birthday getting all sorts of well wishes, flower deliveries and shoe shopping… I chatted with the Bestie and reflected on 32 things I have learned in the last 32 years. I am sure I could go on for more than 32… but these were some of the funny/memorable/ emotional lessons that have mattered. And yes, I know, I ramble. Part of my charm folks!
- Learn how to change a flat tire, or at least have a AAA membership.
- When pre-heating the oven, be sure to check it to make sure you haven’t left something in there. Say a skillet and a plastic spatula. It will melt as it heats, not only making it smell miserable but burning a hole in the bottom of the oven. Always check the oven before turning it on. Also, on another cooking related note… if you ever have a grease fire, you need to throw flour on the fire to smoother it, not water. Regardless, a grease fire will also ruin the stove… needing it to be replaced again. Finally, if you cook a turkey in a tin foil pan… be sure to put a cookie sheet or something under it to lift said tin foil plan… otherwise it can rip, leading to said grease fire.
- Laugh. Laugh a lot. It really is the best medicine. And having the ability to laugh at yourself is equally important!
- Travel. Travel as much as possible. Learn about as many different cultures as possible. Wear out your passport and have it get so full you need a new one. I’ve been a lot of places and I need to travel even more. My travel bucket list is at least three pages, single spaced. But I don’t think anything will ever beat the joy of cruising on a gondola in Venice with three of my old friends, the peace that settles over me when I drive through the marshes of the low country, or sense of wonder I felt when cruising on Resurrection Bay in Alaska.
- Do not drink three screwdrivers and a gin and juice in a short time period on a very empty stomach after a nerve-wracking day. You will end up projectile vomiting and your friends will not let you live it down for the next decade.
- Record the stories… one of the best decisions I ever made was to sit down and interview my Grandmother before she passed away. While I still haven’t been able to bring myself to watch them, I know I have them there, telling me all the stories of our family.
- True friends are rare. You know you have found one when they do one of the following: teach you how to drive on their new car, help you move repeatedly, drive 1,000 miles to pick you up from college and drive you back North for the summer, defend you when a jerk cusses you out at a football game, they make a chocolate cake with peanut butter cream cheese icing from scratch for your birthday because you just have to have it, they will let you have the better seat at a rock concert, or they stay on the phone every night for three months straight while you cry yourself to sleep. These are the people who will always have your back. And you in turn will have theirs.
- I have never really been a fan of being an only child. I would have much preferred a sibling to share this crazy experience with. Since I wasn’t given one by my parents, I had to adopt some of my friends. And I am so thankful some of them have been willing to let me do that, but there are a few key women in my life who have become my sisters, who I know I can lean on and they can lean on me, and I am so incredibly grateful that God gave them to me.
- Parents. Oh my parents. I have learned to accept them for who they are, and that even if I don’t agree with them, even if they drive me crazy, even if I don’t like them every moment… I will always love them and I am thankful for everything they have given me. I literally wouldn’t be here without them.
- I think that it is crucial for everyone to make your their very own bucket list and work to cross off at least one item each year. This past year I crossed off visiting the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis and getting celebrate Christmas with a large portion of my Dad’s family!
- When you are in a wedding, never complain about the bridesmaid dresses to the bride. But feel free to toss it in the trash later or give it to charity. There is no rule that says you have to hang onto it, just to wear it and pose in some pictures. (Sorry ladies, I still love each of you though!)
- My heart will always be torn between two places… the South with my father’s family and all of my college friends and the North with my mother’s family and my dear friends who have known me for life. No matter where I live I’ll never make everyone happy and I’ve accepted it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it, but I’ve accepted it.
- You are not defined by the past of your family. It may help shape parts of who you but it does not define your existence and you can make whatever you want of your life. It is YOUR life.
- VOTE. In every single election you are able to. Don’t waste what others died for you to have.
- Being deemed a “walking encyclopedia” by your students is a great compliment. It also helps in the process of kicking butt in trivia.
- It is okay to not have plans to go out every single Saturday night. I finally figured out that I don’t have to have my social calendar packed 24/7 to be happy. I actually like spending time by myself. A perk of being an only child.
- Reading a good book can be one of the most wonderful things in the world. It can take you to a new place that you’ve never been, expand your vocabulary, and can help me escape my crazy world for another while laying by the pool. I am so thankful my Grandma Callie read to me every night when I was little, that my Aunt Heidi bought me my first set of Nancy Drew books and that my Grandma Pat and Grandpa Bob sent me a copy of Anne of Green Gables when I was six. It has made all of the difference.
- If you want to release a mouse after catching it in a glue trap, pour a little vegetable oil on the board, it will break the glue down and let the mouse go free. Just be sure to do this far away from the house, otherwise you’ll be catching the same mouse again. Personally, this makes me feel less guilty about the whole thing.
- If you ever need to put puffy paint or fabric paint on something, be sure to put newspaper beneath the fabric before painting… otherwise you could end up with wording on your apartment floor that says “Use Condom Sense” in big and bold letters from an Aids Awareness panel. (I’m looking at you Biner on this one).
- Having your heart broken can be painful, but it does indeed remind you that you have a heart. And they do heal.
- And to go along with the item above… though it may not seem like it, you always learn, even from the sad at the time things… like break-ups, rejection letters, and failing a driver’s test.
- It is true that time does heal all wounds, but that doesn’t mean they don’t leave a little scar. And I think scars build character.
- If you make the following shopping list, it will make you look like you are plotting a kidnapping/murder: kiddie pool, tarps, sledge hammer, duct tape, scissors, rum. I was actually doing extreme yard work, but when you have a friend who loves Hannibal Lecter that is the direction the mind goes in and creates a great inside joke (Gail, you’ve really got to get over the Hannibal obsession).
- I am ridiculously thankful that Facebook and Twitter were not in use when I was in college (Facebook came out towards the middle of senior year). I am convinced that it would have done extreme damage to the future careers of my friends and myself. I also think that students should be more careful about what they post for a multitude of reasons.
- I shouldn’t know how to bail someone out of jail, but I do. I also know that the Bestie still thinks one of my best quotes ever is: “What am I supposed to wear to bail someone out of jail?”
- If you are sitting around with your friends who are couples and they start to argue and then ask for your opinion… gracefully say that you aren’t versed enough in the topic to make an opinion. Do not take sides. NO MATTER WHAT.
- Every year around my birthday I end up going through old pictures and looking at stuff from when I was a kid and even before. This, without fail, always tugs at my heart. On one hand it reminds me of all the people that I’ve lost over the years… my Pawpaw, my Grandma, the wonderful Wanda Lee, my Uncle Paul, Grandpa Bob, and this list can go on. But as much as each of those losses tugs at my heart, it also reminds me that I have been loved tremendously by some very wonderful people in my life… some that are still with me and some that have passed. Regardless, it reminds me how blessed I have been in my life.
- Eat well. Foodie family as I have mentioned often. When I turned 18, my Dad wrote me the sweetest letter about how much he loved being my Dad. I still have it tucked away somewhere, but he made sure to point out that: “By the time you were 10 you were a more expensive date than some of my girlfriends… ordering shrimp cocktail, prime rib and crème brûlée.” I still order well and fully believe that a good meal should not be rushed or under appreciated. Thank goodness my family agrees.
- I love shoe shopping and it is a stress reliever for me. And I just adore a good and fun shoe.
- It does not matter how old you are, I think Disney World is the most magical place on earth every time I go and I cannot wait to take LiLi there this summer with the Bestie and Mikey. It is going to be such fun to experience the magic through her eyes!
- As someone older and wiser than me once said: “Make friends. Acquaintances are nice and connections are beneficial, but the friendships and relationship you develop make it all worthwhile.”
- Making the decision to go into higher education as a career choice was a great one… not only have I gotten to work with amazing students who have taught me so much, but I have also learned many life lessons, such as: how to pick a lock, how to break up a fight between two drunk men, how to stop and overflowing toilet, how to calm irate parents, and that if a vice president calls and says they need a ride to the emergency room, they are not testing how you respond to a crisis… they really do need a ride to the hospital. Also, I really hate blood… the medical profession is not for me.
And two for good measure:
34. I can’t live without music. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have The Beatles and countless other musicians of all backgrounds to listen to on my Ipod.
35. I love flowers. Seriously, I am looking forward to swinging in the hammock at my Dad’s this summer and being surrounded by hydrangeas, peonies, dahlias, roses and goodness knows what other cool things in the garden while reading a book. And yes, I realize that I am a dork for admitting this. Who cares.
So that is the list so far. Friends… anything you think I have left out?
Hot As…
Summer is coming. I will be saying this in about 45 days. I already have had the A/C on folks. Get ready for it. Here’s hoping we don’t have another 113 degree day this year!
Busy Life, Healthy Salmon
Well, I woke up to chaos on social media and in the news this morning. The connection among people who work in higher education in this country is incredible in my opinion. I didn’t even have to turn the news on this morning, I knew something was going on because of all the updates I was getting from people about school closings and where they were going. Then I turned on the news. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I don’t have a student on exchange in Boston this semester, I am pretty sure I would be freaking out right now if I did. Sending out lots of prayers for the safety of everyone in Boston today.
I am heading down to Charleston later today for my little cousins wedding weekend. And by little cousin, I mean he is a 27 year-old with a college degree who has a successful career in banking, who was taller than me when he was in high school and I was in college… but you know, I remember him in diapers… so he is always going to be my little cousin. So major family reunion over the next three days as the family flies South from all over the country. I’ll be sure to give a fun update later on.
By the whole family coming in, and most of us not having wedding responsibilities, that means we all get to spend time together and hangout. Which also means I am playing tour guide… remember the Charleston Bucket List from a few weeks ago? Yep. Tour Guide. So I spent yesterday afternoon running around finishing up shopping and doing laundry, which means I didn’t have a ton of time to do anything really involved for dinner, but I knew I wanted healthy, which leads to my easy recipe for grilled salmon and veggies.
Ingredients
- Salmon fillets
- Sliced butter
- Dried tarragon
- 1-2 lemons, sliced
- Salt and Pepper
- Two zucchinis
- 1 large red onion
- A lot of Italian salad dressing
- tin foil
Steps- Veggies
- Slice zucchinis into thin rounds- dump in a large bowl
- Cut onion into quarters, or smaller if you wish- dump in large bowl
- Pour Italian dressing over veggies, toss together
- Put in fridge to marinate for one to two hours
- When you are ready to cook, fire up the grill and dump the veggies in a grill container or put them in tin foil. Flip and stir in container as needed. Takes about 25 minutes to grill
Marinating Veggies
Steps- Grilled Salmon
- Pull out tin foil and spray center with Pam or such.
- Make a stack on the tinfoil in this order: several sliced lemons in a square or rectangle, salmon fillet, three-four slices of butter, cover all in tarragon, add some salt and pepper.
- Give a squeeze of any left over lemon on top
- Fold in foil to make a little packet
- Toss on grill, sliced lemon on bottom, it takes about ten minutes to grill
Lemon on the bottom, salmon, tarragon, butter, salt, pepper and lemon juice ready to go on the grill.
The salmon and all of the juice did get a little happy on the grill… as in, there were some flames occasionally, so I would not leave it unattended. It was really, really good. Impressive for just throwing it all together in my opinion. Wrapped it up with angel food cake and fresh strawberries. And now, it is time to finish packing and hit the road for Charleston! Have a good weekend y’all!
Translation Tuesday: Bible Belt
I realized yesterday that I mentioned the Bible Belt, but I haven’t mentioned in a previous post what exactly the Bible Belt means. The Bible Belt is one of the many, many, MANY nicknames for the American Southeast. And as the name might suggest, it has to do with the strong sense of religion that flows through the region.
Having grown up in Ohio, there was lots of religious diversity, but there was a strong emphasis on Catholicism. I mean a fish fry all the time during Lent and lots of church festivals in June. Down here in the South there is a heavy emphasis on mainstream Protestant church branches, with Baptists being the biggest group, but Methodist and Presbyterian are pretty popular too. They also have a tendency to be strongly conservative. Going to church is a very strong part of the culture. I will never forget when I moved for my first job post-grad school, I must have been invited to no less than 8 different churches in the first two weeks of arriving. One invitation coming while checking out of line at the grocery store! I always find it interesting that we pray before football games, even at state schools. It is just part of the culture here.
Check out this image to get the idea:
Anyone have a different definition of the Bible Belt?
God, Tea and the SEC
My oh my, do I love Pinterest. Sorry though, the chances of me ever posting a direct link to my boards here are slim to none. You’ll just have to be satiated with me posting items as I come across them. And I SO want to get this shirt!
When I talk to be about the South, I often talk about how much people love football. In my observation, people here love God, then football and then country. Granted, this shirt rhymes and it is sooo cute! But really, it is how things are here. It is not called the Bible Belt for nothing, Christianity is very popular here, churches are here there and everywhere. As I have already mentioned, sweet tea is the house wine of the South and football is huge. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is by far the best college football conference in the country and it is perfectly situated in the American South. Love the shirt…. love the concept of God, Tea and the SEC.
Oh… and we are only 135 days away from the start of football season! Woot!
Translation Tuesday: Lilly
I have an entire list of potential blog topics… I carry it around in my Erin Condren Life Planner that I am obsessed with. One that has been on the list since the very beginning as a potential translation that I just hadn’t gotten around to is Lilly. As in Lily Pulitzer. Since she passed away this week, it would be appropriate that today’s translation be about the world she created.
Now, a quick Google search will tell you that Lilly Pulitzer was an fashion designer and member of American high society. I actually didn’t know any of that until grad school. When I moved South for college I was introduced to Lilly. The brand. Just about every southern girl loves a good Lilly dress. To wear Lilly was (is) to be the epitome of Southern Bellness and prep princess. Lilly, as most women down here know it, are cute dresses (and other items, but the dress are the staple) in light and fun patterns. Personally, some of the patterns I loved and have salivated over, but there were plenty that just weren’t for me. However, you can bet that I am always perusing the Lilly section in my local Belk hoping to find something on sale that I just have to have.
Lilly as found on this site: http://www.wpxi.com/ap/ap/obituaries/fashion-designer-lilly-pulitzer-dies-at-81/nXFc6/
Aren’t those prints just cheerful? I will never forget when I was working up at Country Club College, two girls show up to a cookout wearing the same Lilly dress. They laughed and we all snapped pictures because they were so cute, but that was just how popular it is… people love some Lilly, at least in the South. So, thanks Lilly Pulitzer for bringing this staple to so many closets, you definitely left a lasting legacy!
The Y’all Map
I love the word y’all. I mentioned here in my first ever Translation Tuesday about two years ago. So you better believe I pinned this when I saw it on Pinterest a few weeks ago. So dead on in my opinion and just too funny!
The Y’all Map
The next time you are on vacation to one of these regions… pay attention to how they communicate this phrase. I would have to disagree with the Florida shading though. It is a different type of Southern state and you never know what you may get.
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