warmed me up


I don't often seek out cold weather voluntarily, so heading to Chicago in mid-March, the time of year when the Mason-Dixon line divides the Midwest and South most clearly with a thermometer, might not seem like something I'd do. But the thing about Chicago is that there are so many people there that I love, that even when it's snowing, I'm warmed all the way to my core. 

This weekend, I visited Sara and Katie in Chicago for St. Patrick's day and the weekend was pure bliss. It's weird, because you think you're obsessed with people and then you have a weekend like this and become even more obsessed when you didn't even think that was possible. 

  
Friday, we went to a new bar called Bub City, which plays country music exclusively. My dear friend Callie met up with us, which only made it that much sweeter. Callie and I met freshman year of college when we were at UChicago and although I left for Indiana sophomore year, we never miss a beat when we're together. 

{Old picture because we were, as Callie said, too busy dancing to snap pics Friday night. But this girl needs some air time.}

Saturday, our friend Austin had a party. He'd planned for it to be exclusively rooftop, but the snow had other plans in mind. It turned into an indoor/outdoor when-you-could-handle-it party. 


{Loved loved loved seeing Kelley & Allyson. A lot.}



Sunday, we went to Sara's spin class before I flew out. It was hard. Sara the spin instructor rocked us. We incentivized it with the promise of large coffees afterward. At one point, when we were climbing a hill and struggling through, Katie looked over at me and mouthed: COFFEE. It was worth the work. 

After the whirlwinding died down Sunday afternoon, we realized I had 15 minutes to shower and leave for the airport. And then we were like: Wait. What happened? Where did this weekend go? It just began. 

And we didn't think it was cool of the airline for demanding promptness. 

So I'm counting down the days until I can see these amazing people again soon. I'm thinking a Cinco de Mayo celebration just might be in order. Until then...

¡Olé!

farewell everybody's

Last night, Katie G. and I partied like it was 2008. 

Back then, when I had a summer internship in Atlanta, I was also having a love affair with one Atlanta's finest restaurants: Everybody's. By the end of the summer, my then-boyfriend and I joked about an all-too-familiar conversation, which was along the lines of me saying: "Can we try somewhere new tonight?" and then about 20 seconds later, "Actually, can we go to Everybody's?"

It was an obsession. 

It was the first place I ate in Atlanta when my dad moved me here to intern, the first place I took my mom when she visited, the only place I agreed to eat for the entirety of my senior year when I visited, and the site of many other milestones along the way. 


So, when we found out that Everybody's is closing next Monday, we had to bid the sweet place adieu. 

We did it up 2008 style, which included a run for me on Emory's campus, a walk with Katie in Lullwater and then, of course, dinner at Everybody's. 

In other words, it was just a typical night [4.5 years ago]. 

We were fortunate enough to end up talking to the owner, Tom, for a bit and he told us stories about mistakes they've made (a long time ago when they tried out valet parking), the calls he's received this week after announcing the closing (people calling from India; flying in for one last time!) and what's coming to the corner next (a pub, in fact).


The place was absolutely packed - standing room only, with an hour + wait for a two-person table. 

While we waited, I decided to go a little emo and asked Katie if we could reflect on how we have changed since our first summer living together. We laughed about how different our lives are now. Did you expect it? Did you not? How much money would you have put on XY&Z happening? And all of the questions that only a dose of rosy retrospection and hindsight 20/20 can answer. 


So, farewell Everybody's. Thank you for the dates, the laughs and the sweet tradition. Atlanta will be missing a slice of happiness without you. 

::finally on time::

I gave up lateness for Lent this year.
This basically means that I stopped saying things like "I don't know why I'm always late! It just happens and time is like this black hole and all of the sudden I'm late." and instead started telling myself, in no uncertain terms, that I'm not quite as awesome as I think I am, and I cannot, in fact, load the dishwasher and clean the bathroom and drive across town in 20 minutes.
I resolved it at the start of my 26th year and then again at the start of the new year but was met with only marginal success.
But with this Lenten challenge, things are on the right track. I've only been late one time during the stretch, but that's not so bad for a chronic struggler. What I've found is that:
  1. It feels good to be on time. I used to be obnoxiously punctual (i.e. in high school) and I forgot how it makes you feel uber prepared and together. The empty dishwasher feels better at the end of the night, but on the front end, the extra few minutes to get it together are equally as fulfilling.
  2. When people are late, it's kind of annoying. Sheesh. That was annoying when I was late so much, I'll bet, to all those people who were on time.
With these revelations, I'm thinking this punctuality is going to re-become the name of my game. There aren't a lot of things I'd like to bring back from high school (like cargo pants, Abercrombie or mega-flares), but for this one, I'm making an exception.

image and image

{peanut butter popcorn}

Last week I missed National Peanut Butter day, which is obviously a raise the bar for next year. My go-to food deserves a little saluting.
I decided the holiday(ish), while now a distant memory, still called for a little extra PB loving, and what better to combine it with than one of my other all time favorite snacks? That's right: popcorn.
The thought of combining them seemed a little scary to me at first, but then I remembered that: (1) almost nothing is better than sweet+salty, (2) National PB day calls for extra creativity and (3) seriously what doesn't taste good with popcorn?
Everything tastes good with popcorn.
I got to popping and melting and happying yesterday and, let me assure you: you cannot go wrong with this one.
Ingredients
1/4 cup popcorn kernels
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter or more if you prefer
Directions
Using an air popper, pop the popcorn kernels into a large bowl.
Melt the peanut butter in a pan over low heat. Remove from heat and slowly drizzle over the popcorn. Note that microwave melting also works. I tried it. I can confirm it.
 Mix well to incorporate.

While an excellent dessert, it's also much more than that. I always workout during the day at work, after which I am in need of a protein+carb refuel (especially around 3 p.m.). This is the perfect way to refuel - not too indulgent, but just enough to be more interesting than my normal apple+PB snack.
In fact, it's the perfect way to spice up this lovely Wednesday.
Happy popping!

PS I may or may not have added chocolate chips when I ate it as dessert. I'm not confirming anything, but if I had done this, I'd tell you it was a great idea.