Happy Fall Y'all!

I cannot believe it's September!  Where did the summer go???  I totally did not mean to neglect the blog, but we've had a lot going on since my last post...in JUNE!  Here's what we've been up to:

Bird's Hospital Stay (Sis did a sweet blog about coming to visit)
Rosemary Beach Vacay (I cannot wait to feature the show house I toured while down there - amazing)
We Moved!  FINALLY!!!
Celebrated Birthdays
Bird's First Day of Pre-K2
Big Outdoor Landscaping Project (I know, we just moved in...)
Flights Booked for a Fall Trip

I'm sure there's more, but this list makes my head spin thinking about the busy summer we've had.  I've been decorating every spare minute I get too!  I'll start doing blog posts on the house as soon as a few finishing touches get done.  There are about 2 dozen window panels waiting to be hung - scheduled for next week with the drapery hanging guy!!!  Who knew there was such a person, but it's a good thing - the Mister can fight like nobody's business in the courtroom and write hundred page legal documents, but it's a different story when it comes to home improvement projects.  Since we moved, he now rides his bike to the Ace Hardware - which means he only buys what he can fit in his pockets...

Now I'm off to pick up Bird from school, run a couple of errands, and then we're heading down to the first GT football game of the season!  Fall is officially here!

I'll leave you with a pic of Bird (this is for you mom).

Pirate Cruise - Summer 2011

xoxo,

Bird's Mama

Weekend Recipe: Coca-Cola BBQ

I decided to dust off the crock pot and give her a whirl before she gets packed up for the big move!  A recipe that calls for a can of Coca-Cola, barbecue sauce, AND is easy...what's not to love about this!

So, first let me tell you how things go around here.  The Mister walked thru the kitchen while I was getting started and was the perfect gentleman to stop and ask if I'd like him to open the bottle of barbecue sauce for me.  How sweet, right?  Well, the Mister somehow unscrewed the cap and THEN decided to go the extra mile and shake the bottle for me.  Yup...he shook it *without* the cap on.  Thank goodness our current kitchen has undestructible Absolute Black granite counter tops.  I'm not so sure how our white marble in the new kitchen would have stood up to this mess!  Bless his heart.  Back to the recipe...

Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork
Southern Living Magazine
October 2010

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (3 to 4 lb.) boneless pork shoulder roast (Boston butt), trimmed
• 1 (18 oz.) bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce
• 1 (12 oz.) can Coca-Cola

DIRECTIONS

1. Place roast in a lightly greased 6 quart slow cooker.  Pour barbecue sauce and coca-cola over roast.  Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or until meat shreds easily with a fork.

2. Transfer pork to a cutting board; shred with two forks, removing any large pieces of fat. Skim fat from sauce, then stir shredded pork back into sauce.


Notes from Moi
The barbecue sauce I used was none other than the legendary Carey Hilliard's original from Savannah!  It's the perfect mix of not-quite vinagar based, not-quite mustard based.  (It's only sold in the restaurant, so I regularly get bottles imported from Savannah by DaddyO.)  Although the sauce was stellar, this meal gets mixed reviews from us.  I thought it was better served over cheese grits than it was just on a bun.  You just can't get that authentic smokey, slow cooked flavor from a crock pot.  Shocking, right!

If yall have a good crock pot bbq recipe I should try, please let me know!
xoxo,

Bird's Mama

P.S.  Carey Hilliard's is such a hole-in-the-wall, but it is really delicious!  Their Brunswick Stew is amazing.  It's like no other I can find anywhere.  I always have Hilliard's on my must eat list when visiting Mother and DaddyO in the lowcountry!

P.P.S.  Happy Father's Day to all Daddy's out there - old, new, and soon-to-be!  Bird and I are taking the Mister the Braves game this afternoon!

Restaurant Review: Food Trucks

OK, so technically it's not really a resturant, but food trucks have become all the rage in Atlanta this summer!  Every Tuesday night is a gypsy-like gathering of gourmet food trucks near the intersection of Howell Mill and Collier Road.  I was expecting much more of a park like atmosphere based on the artist rendering I had seen.  Ummmm....not quite.  Think more of just a gravel lot.  BUT, the food more than made up for this!  Seriously not the "roach coaches" you might think of when picturing food coming out of a truck-turned-kitchen.  
 


Howell Mill Food Park
Not quite, but maybe the gravel lot will look like this one day???



Here's the run-down on my top three must haves:

Yumbii
Korean BBQ Taco
Asian rib-eye beef, topped with Hankook BBQ sauce and sesame salad.  Served in a soft tortilla.  Amazing! 

Tex's Tacos
Carne Asada Taco and Lime Fries
Not much explanation needed here.  Citrus marinated steak in a tortilla and topped with grilled onions, guac, shredded cheese and cilantro.  The fries...yum...good crispy fries topped with Tex's homemade sweet & salty lime seasoning.  So good with an ice cold Coca-Cola! 

King of Pops* 
Raspberry Lime Popsicle
A homemade popsicle with fresh raspberries and lime.  Tastes just like a margarita, but better, if you can imagine.  The perfect ending to a summer evening!
*These guys have had lots of hype.  Now I totally get what all the fuss was about.



Delish, fun and definitely different for a Tuesday night out!
Howell Mill Food Park
1927 Emery Street
Tuesday Nights
6 - 9 p.m.

Keep your eyes peeled and be prepard to pull over for a delicious snack...you never know where the trucks might pop up!

xoxo,
Bird's Mama

Brass Is Back

Hold onto your hats people...

BRASS is making a comeback! 

I'm only talking about real brass though.  Pretty, unlacquered, antique brass.  It's timeless and can be used with any style of decor.  (By all means, please keep spray painting the hideous 80's brass like stuff.)  Here's some brass I'm loving right now...


Source: Grace Happens
Love the wallpaper!

Circa
THE expert in antique brass lighting.

 

Architectural Accents

Glass and brass doorknobs like my grandmother's house had.




Architectural Accents

French brass and cut glass finial for a newel post - a boule d'escalier.

 



Restoration Hardware
Some of their Antique Brass hardware is 50% off right now!



Let me tell you - we just had all of our oil rubbed bronze hardware installed on the doors at the new house and have done a combo of ORB and polished nickel drawer pulls and knobs on the cabinetry.  But, I will figure out a way to add a little more brass in my life.  I'm already lusting after a faucet in this brass finish for the powder room - we haven't even moved in yet so I'm guessing the Mister will not let me change it out!  Maybe when Kohler or Rohl comes out with an unlaquered brass finish option???



Waterworks 
Definitely has the best unlaquered brass finish on the market.

  
I do have a pair of antique brass andirons coming my way that will be perfect for the living room fireplace!!! I can't wait to show yall!  They were handed down to Mother from my Great Uncle Henry (along with a house full of other antique furniture, chandeliers, etc.).  DaddyO has been polishing them up for me - they had turned completely BLACK up in their attic.  Not the look I was going for - I want a little antique tarnish, but not that much. 

Now, don't say I didn't warn you.  I know some of you are rolling your eyes at the thought of decorating with brass, but I bet you never thought you'd wear high waisted pants, skinny leg jeans, or for goodness sakes - leggings - again either!

Tory Burch

xoxo,
Bird's Mama

Weekend Brunch Recipe

I know you guys are about to fall off your chair, sofa, toilet (wherever you do your blog reading) at the fact that not only have I been blogging this week, but now, a recipie post!!!  Yall know I'm not much of a cook and I'm not going to pretend to be one.  However, since I somehow convinced the Mister I needed a Viking Range for the new house (with double ovens below) I am going to take up cooking and baking.  Now, we do love to eat out, but save that for one night a week and on the weekends.  It's not that I don't cook - we just have our easy 'ole standby recipies or do fresh veggies and something grilled by the Mister.  It's time to puruse my collection of cookbooks Mother has given me!  First up...

Ina Garten's Roasted Asparagus with Scrambled Eggs
(Barefoot Contessa Parties Cookbook)   

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound fresh asparagus
• Good olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 3 tablespoons half-and-half
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
• 2 to 4 slices 7-grain bread

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Break off the tough ends of the asparagus and, if they're thick, peel them. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then toss to coat the asparagus completely. Spread the asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender but still crisp. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
While the asparagus is roasting, whisk the eggs in a bowl with the half-and-half, and salt and pepper, to taste.  Melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet. Cook the eggs on the lowest heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, to the desired doneness. Remove from the heat, add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of butter, and stir until it melts. Check for seasoning, salt and pepper, if needed, and serve with the roasted asparagus and 7-grain bread.

Notes from Moi
This recipie was SUPER easy and really tasty.  The Mister was not so sure about the asparagus and egg combo, but ended up cleaning his plate.  Bird liked the extra creamy eggs as well!  It was perfect for brunch time when you can't figure out if you want something breakfast-y or lunch-y.  This one gets 5 stars from me!

Shopping Scott's

This morning Bird and I were up and at 'em EARLY!  At the crack of dawn, we had to meet with our landscaper at the new house (more on that later) and decided we should just keep on driving south and spend the rest of our morning doing a little junkin' at Scott's.  Scott Antiques Market, the world's largets indoor antiques show, comes to town the second weekend of each month.  If you haven't been yet, go ahead and add it to your calendar for next month.  Even if I'm not in the market for anything in particular, it's a great place to look and I always seem to find something I've got to have and didn't even know it.  I rarely miss a month and let me tell you - I don't know if I've ever seen the same things there twice.  If you like it, you'd better buy it!  I once did not buy a little table that I absolutely fell in love with...a little drawer, real key hole, long tapered legs.  Boy was it an ordeal to track the guy with the table down and get him to bring it for me the next month!!!  I have to give credit to the Mister for totally making that happen.

Bird was thourouhly entertained by all of the "PUPPIES!" (pretty much every vendor at the market has their dog with them), popcorn, chips, and drinks.  It was nice to leasurely browse the rows and rows of treasures.  I was not planning on purchasing anything, but came home with a few goodies...
 

This mirror, in my signature color of blue/grey/green,

possibly for the powder room, but could go in any room of the new house.



ignore the boxes - I feel like we live in a warehouse right now



Chalk paint!  For my upcoming painting party with Sister and Mother. 

Six antique sea bird prints that will be framed

for a grouping in the new dining room. 

xoxo,
Bird's Mama

P.S. Scott, I'm really sorry I'll miss you next month,

but I must pay a visit to Rosemary.  You know how she is...

2 of 52: Bringing Home Bird

Exactly two years ago today, we brought Jay home from the hospital!  We were really lucky he had a relatively short stay in the Neonatal ICU.  He was definitely still tiny - only 3 1/2 pounds when he was released, but he was home and really felt like OURS now!  

leaving Piedmont Hospital WITH Bird!



the Mister getting last minute instructions from Jay's nurse

Unlike the day he was actually born, this was the best day of our lives.  At some point I will tell the birth story - it's still too hard to put into words.  It's not a nice, happy story.  What comes to mind when I think about that day is how I was scared to see what he would look like, what kind of heath he would be in and if there were any of the complications the neonatologists told us we needed to be prepared for.  This is not how I want to remember the day Baby Jay came into this world...

seeing Jay for the first time outside of the operating room

June 8th of 2009 was a much better day!  We were able to hold him for as long as we wanted, see his precious face with no tubes, and not worry about any beeps coming from machines.  We held him non-stop for days after we got home.  We finally got to pull out old baby pictures of the Mister and I to see who Bird favored.  We realized his adorable cleft chin came from his Great Grandaddy, his slightly wavy hair from me, and his greenish grey eyes from his daddy. 

arriving home! 
jay in his coming home day gown and light blue hand crocheted 
baby blanket made by a family friend in Chattanooga while jay was in the hospital

Having a preemie baby is really hard.  The Mister and I have still not completely gotten over the experience, but we are much stronger after all we have been through.  Seeing what Bird has endured in his two short years makes me sick.  If you have spent any time around him, you would not know anything is wrong.  He is as happy, sweet, smart and active as any little boy I have ever seen.  But, you see, something is wrong.  He's still small for his age and his doctors are worried.  This isn't something new - we've been dealing with this for two years, however now the doctors feel it is at a point where they need to find out what is wrong.  They do not have a diagnosis and we are scared to death.  I actually didn't even want to write about it because it makes it seem more real.  But, I guess this is real and this is my life.  He will be admitted into Children's Hospital in a few weeks.  We will have to stay overnight, but it should not be more than two nights.  He will only be under general anethesia for one procedure and the rest of the time we are there he is going to be seen by more specialists than I can count on one hand.  All of which will call for numerus blood tests and such.  Between now and then, we are scheduled to see a pediatric kidney specialist and he is going to have an x-ray and do a barium swallow study.  Over these next few weeks, please keep Bird in your thoughts and I'll keep yall updated. 

xoxo,
Bird's Mama

Number 4261

Four years ago we purchased a little tiny piece of property with a tear down house.  Right after that, the housing market totally went to he** in a handbasket.  We spent the last few years dreaming, drawing plans, saving, putting our current home on the market, taking it off the market, and putting offers on other houses.  We just about gave up and then found the perfect general contractor and decided that now was the time to finally take the plunge and build our forever home.  We are very excited to be close to moving day and I can't wait to show y'all the "virtual decor" plans for each room and then the actual home tour once we move in and get settled.  Here's the construction process of Number 4261 so far...

 

four years ago

no, that is not the tear down house :) this was the shed behind the house which we left up after the house came down to maybe reuse some of the concrete foundation for our garage

Breaking ground in 2010

first dig!

concrete poured for the basement and framing started

other happenings

Bird's first haircut!

the great snowfall of 2011

now, back to the house

I feel like Bird has grown up on a construction site!



friends entry, mudroom, garage, and breakfast room
oh - and the Mister on his blackberry

not sure what the smoke looking thing is on the right of the photo, but
i really hope it's not a sign the haunt in our current home is going to come with us!

back view from the carraige house




current progress

here's how the house looks today




a little preview of the inside!

 

 

Now I'm off to pack a few boxes and purchase doorbells!

xoxo

1 of 52: Jay's 2nd Birthday!

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet Baby Bird!!! 

I cannot believe two years has already come and gone.  On the other hand, it seems like he's been in our lives forever.  Our yearly tradition now is to take Bird to the zoo on his actual birth-day and to celebrate with cupcakes.  Boy was it HOT in Atlanta today, but the zoo was definitely a hit with the little one.  His top three favorite things were the goats in the petting zoo, the carousel, and the train...hmmmm...all of which we could have done not at the zoo!  To make the day extra festive, I purchased a couple of cupcakes from the bakery, a few balloons at Party City, and whipped up a party hat!  We started out the day with a cupcake, then the zoo trip, and ended with another cupcake! 

the birthday...

elephant theme hat and cupcake



party hat made by me - which Jay would NOT wear!



capcake wrap and topper made by me



the birthday boy enjoying his cupcake



the atlanta zoo...

a bird and a goat

second carosel ride of the day

after dinner cupcake...



just for fun, i'll end with an out-take from my photoshoot!

xoxo,

Bird's Mama