remember this gem?
i was cruising along in my mazda 2 the other day when, all of a sudden on 98.5, i heard a gem from way back in 2013. yes, ladies and gentlemen, i am talking about that hit “blurred lines” by mr. robin thicke, t.i., and pharrell.
did it get overplayed? sure. wait, that isn’t the right answer. YES. every station, regardless of genre it seemed, blasted “blurred lines” about, i’d say, three times an hour that year just to be sure that you would hear it while scanning through your radio presets. i’d worried the world had forgotten about this track! lo and behold, it hasn’t been forgotten, just buried deep in the 21st century past.
and when thinking about “blurred lines,” it’s hard not to recall jimmy fallon’s classroom instrument rendition. ah, yes, late-night television is a gift from the gods.
in all seriousness, i could not contain my excitement as a i bopped my head along with the beat and sang every word off-tune. my perfectly pitched boyfriend phillip would have, without question, been highly embarrassed for me, but what he doesn’t know is that car karaoke is one of my hidden talents, among the many others. wink wink!
after the song ended, i spent the rest of my drive remembering all of my robin thicke favorites. first up? the fabulous and unpredictable music video to “give it 2 u.” i mean, it’s kind of hard to resist it when there are bottles of champagne walking around on a football field.
and then, perhaps my favorite thicke song of all time, i remembered with a smile “lost without u” from 2006. ah, yes, so seductive and sweet. see, i do have a sensual side!
the next question? when is robin going to come out with more music? i need another instant hit to get me through the end of summer!
bone garden cantina – atlanta, ga
Hello, all. Due to Kelsey’s meeting with FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, she has graciously allowed me to be, for the first time ever, a “guest blogger” for the review of Bone Garden Cantina in Atlanta. This is Kelsey’s Dad; she has mentioned me in prior blogs, so I hope you will like and enjoy this review.
First of all, guilty as charged, this blog/review will be written from a guy’s perspective. In addition, I have worked at Saks Fifth Avenue in Ladies’ Shoes, so I am uniquely qualified to see, understand, and comment on the male and female perspective. Also, I love clarity, so I will let you know what to expect, what not to expect, etc…
From purely a food perspective, on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, I would put Bone Garden at a 9. Bone Garden is definitely worth the drive. On the menu there are some “plates/combos,” but most of the menu is a la carte. Portions are of good size, but 2 a la carte items would be a filling meal.
As Kelsey knows, I love things in chronological order, so following will be a step-by-step, comment-by-comment review.
Location. In Atlanta off of I-75, a bit of a challenge to find but worth the drive. Sidebar, as Kelsey knows, I am “technically challenge,” so she found and wrote the directions to Bone Garden. Also, if there were a Mount Rushmore for both being “off the radar” and “king of conspiracies,” I would be on them both. Kelsey can tell you of my mistrust of online banking, the Internet, GPS, etc… Regarding conspiracies, the Kennedy assassination, Oswald did not act alone. Watergate, classic example of the federal government not telling the truth. You have probably seen this all over: it’s not so much the crime but the cover-up. Whatever, Bone Garden is worth the drive – get there.
Wait Staff. ASK FOR KATIE. If needed, mention my name. She’s witty, charming, knows the menu, knows her tequila. ASK FOR KATIE.
Victoria and Katie.
Seating. This is important for me. I am 6’4″ and asked for a table, not a booth. The staff happily accommodated us. Reason for table vs. booth? Easy, I like to stretch my legs.
Atmosphere #1. This is important. Bone Garden has concrete floors. Very loud. Sound bounces everywhere. If you are looking for a quiet, intimate dinner, DO NOT GO HERE. Guys, on the other hand, if you want to have a great Mexican dinner and not hear what the others are saying, go here.
Atmosphere #2. Guys, this is important. Ladies, if a guy takes you here, this is what to expect. Guys, if the girl has a great sense of humor, likes to drink, this is the place for you. If she does not have a sense of humor, do not take her here. If she DOES have a sense of humor, you’ll love this place. Eat, drink, do not order from the dessert menu at the restaurant, get on I-75 ,the fast lane…you get the picture. If she DOES NOT have a sense of humor or is high maintenance, eat, drink lots, do not order from the dessert menu at the restaurant, get on I-75, drop her off and say good night, go back to Bone Garden…you get the picture.
House Rules. I loved this. On the menu there is a set of “house rules,” great stuff. Kind of like ordering soup from the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld.
Wait Staff. Did I mention to ask for Katie?
Ordering. We ordered three different items. Victoria ordered the Mole Plate: two seasoned enchiladas topped with chihuahua cheese, homemade green mole sauce, fresh avocado flown in from California, tomatoes, queso fresco, Spanish rice, and refried beans. Yummo! The chicken enchiladas are great. I had 2 a la carte items. #1, taco, barbacoa de chive, slow braised goat, topped with onion and salsa verde. It was just OK, would not order again, would rather try other items on the menu. #2, tamale, Puerco Azteca, corn masa filled with free-range pork and onion, steamed in a banana leaf and served with salsa verde. THIS WAS FANTASTIC. Order it. I will definitely order this again. Yummo!
Wait Staff. Did I mention to ask for Katie?
Summary. I would DEFINITELY go to Bone Garden again. As long as you understand Atmosphere #1 and #2 outlined above, you and your guest will have a terrific time.
As Kelsey has mentioned in prior blogs, I am the guy who would prefer the Silver Skillet vs. Buttermilk Kitchen. That pretty much says it all. In my book, Bone Garden Cantina is a definite “home run!”
#dailyselfie: master painters!
with my weekend kind of wide open, i made some plans with my sister-in-law kari yesterday. after working up a sweat with her at pure barre that morning and then grabbing some oatmeal and chicken salad at cafe jonah and the magical attic, we drove on over to amsterdam walk to scratch our creativity itch at dip ‘n dab.
i had been to a similar place a few times before, and since i always seem to have a good time, i figured it’d be a fun way to get out and do something a bit different. this was kari’s first painting and drinking experience, so i was excited to have her join me.
first things first (after getting our aprons and canvases, of course) was to pour the wine! last night’s class was an adult-only event, so bottles were being popped all around the room. we started with some cabernet sauvignon, keeping it ultra classy with my eskimo joe’s cups. don’t want to be breaking any glasses!
sisters-in-law!
next we needed the paint so that we could actually make something beautiful. a little white, brown, yellow, pink, red, and black ought to do it!
as we waited for everyone else to get settled, we busted open the groceries we’d picked up at publix before we arrived. a little gouda, brie, proscuitto, salami, and sopressata paired well with our carr’s crackers and baguette. this night would be quite an occasion!
we eventually got started with our brushes and paints since, you know, that’s why we were actually there. first up was a tall, skinny pink bottle on the left. beautiful!
now, we didn’t want it feeling lonely, so we added a tipsy plum bottle to keep the pink bottle company.
and then, because everything is better in threes, a large purple bottle joined the crowd. mine was a little genie-in-a-bottle-esque, but hey, diversity is a beautiful thing!
mm, curvy.
so ladylike, kari!
we painted a few more background bottles, and in between color mixing, wine drinking, and food eating, we enjoyed some wonderful slow jams from the jukebox. okay, it wasn’t a jukebox; it was probably just someone’s ipod or spotify playlist, but regardless, we were bumping along to some smooth tunes all night long!
a little bit later we had six lovely bottles set on a dramatic red background. ooh, how inspiring!
by about this time my color palette was looking quite, shall i say it, artsy? i was a mixing machine, purples of multiple shades and a lovely salmon/peach. mm, get it girl!
as the night wore on, we got closer and closer to the final product. a little outlining and corking and we were nearly there!
kari poured out the last drop of pinot noir (did i mention we’d opened another bottle…?) to finish out the night. we got in the zone to put on the finishing touches and voila! two beautiful lively bottles paintings were right there before us! it’s like it was magic or something!
we were proud artists that night, glad to take home something we created ourselves but even happier to spend some quality time together. with all the distraction in the world these days, sometimes it’s nice to just grab a glass of wine, some paint, and a brush and enjoy a creative and crafty evening.
naanstop – atlanta, ga
recently for nrw we wanted to keep things a little bit more casual, and as i drove home from disco kroger that sunday before, my eyes glanced left at the intersection of piedmont and lenox and there, right before me, was exactly where we would go that week: naanstop.
i’d been dying to go there ever since they opened last year, and considering kyle, kari, and clark had already been and didn’t mind going back, it seemed like it’d be a win. phillip and i met kyle and kari there at 7:30 sharp, and since it was still light out, i insisted we take a picture in front of the sign. perfection!
striking a pose!
clark had described naanstop as an indian chipotle, and as phillip held the door open for me and i walked in, i realized he was exactly right.
who you lookin’ at?
first, get in line.
next, pick if you want a wrap, bowl, or salad.
then decide what your filling will be. so many good things, how can we choose just one?!
finally, pick your chutney. it’s really a sauce/dressing to top your selections. get crazy! heck, if they’ll allow it, maybe mix and match.
at last you can choose some sides and drinks. per kyle and kari’s recommendation, we ordered some garlic naan, a great carbohydrate supplement to what would end up being a great meal.
we grabbed a table, and as i took a look at everyone’s meals, i was excited to dig into my kabob bowl with basmati rice, onions, peppers, spinach, and cool chutney. the meat was tender and juicy, and the cool chutney was a classic choice that didn’t overpower the rest of the bowl. i would gladly order it again, but i would probably ask for double spinach. can’t get enough of those leafy greens!
next to me, phillip had a lamb naanwich on garlic naan with peppers, onions, spinach, and sweet chutney. he started ripping the foil off in ravenous fashion when i stopped him just in time. “phillip, the sign said not to unwrap it!” and sure enough, he just started laughing at himself because not five minutes earlier he had taken a picture of the very sign that tells you not to unwrap the naanwich but rather to just peel the foil off as you eat. silly boy!
yes, that’s more like it. 🙂
across from me, now, kyle had what i think might have been my favorite bite of the night: the regular samosa. i took one taste and couldn’t stop myself from saying, “ooh, baby, that is the stuff.” the flavors were so wonderful and the pastry so flaky that it wasn’t until a few minutes later i finally realized why i loved it so much; it reminded me exactly of the green thai curry pie at panbury’s. as i was sitting there thinking about panbury’s and savoring the eats of my first naanstop experience, i was in food heaven.
at naanstop they’ve got a lot going for them. besides a simple concept, the food is quite fresh and handmade, things that make me feel much better about eating out rather than sweating like a wildebeest in my tiny, hot kitchen making dinner.
the only thing i ask naanstop work on before i return? that water dispenser at the soda fountain! it was taking its sweet time, a slight inconvenience for thirsty patrons.
#dailyselfie: cheez-it mania
ever since i was a young girl, cheez-its were my go-to cheese cracker snack. no, cheese nips would never do. don’t you even dare to call them an acceptable substitute! my obsession really took hold in my college years when i actually bought my own groceries and food. yep, there was no one there in aisle 6 of the east side kroger in athens to keep me from buying the family size box of cheez-its. and what’s worse is that no one even seemed to care! should it be normal for a young woman to eat that entire box herself in a single sitting? no, absolutely not, but that didn’t stop me from doing it. it didn’t help that my very first roommate ellen essie was an elite enabler. we would spend our friday nights laughing on our lofted beds, chomping down on cheez-its, and then falling asleep with all of the lights burning bright.
i wish i could say my passion for cheez-its came to an end along with my college years, but in fact, it did not. i think, if it’s possible, it might have even grown! my pantry was never without them, and sometimes there were multiple boxes if publix was having a bogo sale. it’s like they knew i was going shopping on those days. i wouldn’t even wait until a box was empty to buy more, for i never wanted to be without them. in fact, i loved cheez-its so much that my first tweet ever was about how i eat cheez-its in three’s. one at a time? nope. how about two? not for me, sir. three cheez-its at once are the perfect bite, and even before i’m done chewing a handful i’m reaching back into the box for more.
as i began traveling regularly for work, the cheez-it buying frenzies were fewer and farther between my local grocer visits. in fact, the box you see in the picture above is the first one i’ve bought in months. now, i don’t want cheez-its thinking they’ve done anything wrong. i still love their commercials and that bright red box, but sometimes your heart grows fonder when there’s a little distance. i still love this cheesy, salty snack with all my heart’s might and do, too, believe that real cheese matters.
p.s. i know this picture technically isn’t a selfie, but i still think it’s worthy of the #dailyseflie tradition!
#dailyselfie: cherries!
today was quite a tuesday. monday had already started the week off with a busy tone and really didn’t let up with the rise of a new sun. i dropped by the office of my coworker robert for a few minutes of sanity when i saw on his desk a bowl full of cherries.
“eek!” i exclaimed, “i love cherries!”
without hesitation he offered me a whole handful, and i was grateful for this small act of kindness between friends. sometimes it’s a simple gesture like this one that can keep your attitude positive amidst bombarding e-mails and unruly software.
om nom nom.
cherries have always been one of my favorites. i remember growing up and going to the grocery store with my mom. we would grab a bag of cherries (typically when they were on sale; they aren’t the cheapest but so worth the money!) and on the ride home we’d eat nearly half. man, thinking about it now makes me wonder where the time has gone. i’d do a lot for another childhood day back in birmingham. do i have to grow up just yet?
#dailyselfie
okay, everyone, here we go. i am excited to announce the introduction of…drumroll please…the #dailyselfie! okay, i cannot promise these selfies will be every single day, but i figure it’s a great way for me to stay on top of my posting a bit more regularly.
today i snapped this little beauty in my courtyard. i’d just gotten my hair trimmed and my bangs brought back to life from the lovely emily at balance salon. it was a tolerable saturday afternoon with the pre-thunderstorm breeze all around me, and i figured i’d enjoy it before the rain came pouring down (which it did, about an hour later).
and since i like you all so much, here’s a taste of a few others i had on my phone’s camera reel. stay tuned to see what else arrives!
oh, i’ll never throw it away!
morning starbucks from the little bro.
office flowers from my honey!
au naturale!
earlier this week i needed to whip up a quick dinner for phillip and myself. we’d already done some serious work on my mom’s famous chicken tortilla soup, so i was in the mood for something summer-y and easy. i knew bratwursts were a good choice along with some velveeta shells and cheese. i needed something a bit healthy to go on the plate, though, so, in a moment of inspiration, i decided asparagus would be an excellent idea. it’s one of those vegetables i don’t usually prepare too often for myself but very much enjoy whenever i have it with my meal.
after a quick trip to publix, i got home, lopped off the rough ends of each piece, and lined them up nicely on a foil-covered cookie sheet. i coated them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper and then popped them into the 425 degree oven for about 10 minutes. it was just enough time to get them crisp and crunchy, avoiding that soggy, chewy texture that no one likes in their asparagus!
the oven beeped loudly to announce that its job was done, and after setting the tray on the countertop, i kind of stood and admired what was before me. okay, maybe admired is the wrong word to use here, but the beautiful color of this natural food that had come from the earth almost mesmerized me. i mean, sure, i love a good processed and pre-packaged guilty pleasure just as much as the next foodie, but every now and then i eat something so simple and fresh and flavorful that i just have to stop and appreciate the moment. join me, won’t you?
the silver skillet – atlanta, ga
our dad came in town recently for a weekend getaway, and considering i hadn’t seen him since a hometown visit back in march, i was thrilled for the opportunity to have some quality family time.
we were nearly all together while he was here: kyle, kari, phillip, and i spent those two days hosting dad at some atlanta classics like el taco veloz and the buford market. when sunday morning arrived, we piled in the cars and made our way to the silver skillet. dad had heard about this local institution about a year ago on the food network, and considering it had been featured in movies and tv shows like remember the titans and traveling man, he just had to go and see it for himself.
kelsey v 