More from Grits & Gravy

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Learn...

I discovered this project last week on another blog and I am blown away by it. I love the concept, video, editing.. all of it! This has certainly re-inspired my Thirty Before Thirty list. To see how I am doing, check out my update here.

Enjoy!



LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

To see the other two videos, visit their website.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Music Monday

Here is what is on my playlist this week....

I can never get enough of Sister Hazel. I've been belting this one out in car recently.

This kind of love by Sister Hazel


Boys from the South by Pistol Annies


Whenever We're Alone by Brantley Gilbert


Good Night for Dancing by the Josh Abbott Band with Charla Corn

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Summer Couscous

One of my favorite summer dishes is couscous. This dish is light, fresh and is ready in a matter of minutes. Let's be honest, I live in the south and it is way too hot to be cooking a super involved dish in the heat. I enjoy this dish hot or cold so you could use it as a side, main course or in place of a salad when entertaining.

I use Near East's packaged couscous which can be found in most grocery stores. I have not yet attempted to make my own couscous but it's on my list.

Ingredients:
1 package of Near East Couscous
1 1/4 cups of chicken broth
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 bunch of fresh basil
1/2 cup of snow peas
1/2 cup of fresh asparagus
1/2 cup of red bell pepper
Optional: Grilled chicken and/or other veggies

To prepare the couscous, combine the chicken broth, olive oil and season packet (if one is included). Bring to a boil. Stir in couscous and cover for 5 minutes. Using a fork, gently fluff couscous. Chop all of your veggies and combine with couscous.




Note: I prefer for my veggies to be raw so that there is a little crunch in my dish. You could roast or steam them if you would prefer them to be cooked.

Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Fun Fact: Couscous is considered one of the healthier grains and is a good source for protein and potassium.

Happy Eating!

Friday, August 19, 2011

a few favorites

I am adoring this website called, We Heart It. If you enjoy photography and/or images, this is the place for you. I picked a few of my favorite photos to share for this week's edition of my favorite things. Enjoy!

{Image Source: Polyvore}

Dancing

 The other night I went out with friends and this old man came up to me and asked me to dance. My first instinct was to say no but then I thought it was so nice to be asked so I let him give me a few turns on the dance floor. It was sweet.

"She dreams of mermaids and motorcycles and meeting a man who can dance"

{Image Source: Softly Collided}

Sparklers

Nothing says summertime like these bright lights!


Smores

I, for real, love a smore! I was reading this restaurant recommendation the other day and the place had smores on the dessert menu so now all I think think about is this warm, gooey treat.

{Image Source: Wet Behind the Ears}

Does this need a caption?

Where is this? Where do I get one? and.. how long can I lay in this while reading books?

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Summer Staycation

The move from Fayetteville to Tampa was so quick that I did not get my yearly summer vacation recharge moment. I decided to take a Friday & Monday off to give me a nice, long weekend. The time off was exactly what I needed. I feel refreshed and ready for the start of the new school year.

On Friday, I had a four hour lunch with an old friend. There was lots of wine and good eats involved. It was definitely nice to catch up. That night, I totally vegged out on the couch. I think that is a sign that I am getting old because I was really excited to have some quiet time with my DVR.

I deep cleaned my house on Saturday and went shopping. I did forget that it was tax free weekend in Florida so that was a little special. My friends Blake and Joe recently graduated from Law School and I was able to celebrate with Joe on Saturday night. Fun night. I'm really proud of these two!

Mal and I saw Crazy, Stupid, Love on Sunday. It was a riot and such a sweet story. For those of you who have not seen it, I will share that there is a Dirty Dancing scene that stole my heart. I think I fell in love with a fictional character... I mean, he does the lift! Go see this movie!

{Source: http://whysoserious.tumblr.com/page/7}

The Junior League of Tampa hosted a special screening of The Help on Monday at Cinebistro. I was thrilled to see it for a second time! It was definitely just as enjoyable as the first time. Cinebistro was a cool place because you are able to order supper and eat while wathcing the moive. It is a little pricey but the experience is definitely worth it. If you have a dinner theater near you, check it out. Great little treat for yourself, night out with the girls or date night.

I hit up a spin class this weekend and took a 4 mile walk. The best part of my workout time this weekend was the random stop I made at the park to partake in the swing set. Sometimes you just need to enjoy something simple.

{Source: A Touch of Sunshine}
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! Stay tuned for my "Summer Favorites" post!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Tapas and Flamenco

Last Saturday night, Doug and I took Momma to an amazing restaurant called Spain Restaurant and TOMA Bar in downtown Tampa to celebrate her birthday.

We traveled as a family to Spain a few years ago and this cozy little place sure brought back all of our fond memories of the trip. Doug studied abroad in Spain as a young fellow and his love for the country certainly transcended to Momma and I. We simply fell in love with Madrid.

The start of the meal began with the traditional serrano ham, manchego cheese, and olives. We then shared calamari, chorizo and potatoes in a spicy tomato based sauce. And, of course, no meal is complete without a little Roja! Every bite was delicious!



In Spain, we had a very special treat that all of us were happy to see on the menu...Chocolat & Churros!


The Flamenco dancers and guitarist were beyond talented and we thoroughly enjoyed the after dinner show.


If you live in or visit Tampa, I strongly suggest this special hideaway. We are already booked for the next Flamenco night!