Pursuit of Happiness: Quarter Life Crisis

We move into our house this weekend. For a while now, I've had a long list of house hunting blog posts to write for you. I want to tell you all about our offer process, about what finally won us over, and most of all, all about the drama involved in our closing. I promise those posts are coming; I've just been busy writing about other topics. I wanted to revisit this series of posts tonight, as I'm feeling a lot of mixed emotions about moving in a few days. I know, I rarely talk about things deeper than the surface on this blog; but I'm hoping someone else out there might have similar experience under their belt. Hopefully someone else might read this and think, "Oh thank goodness! I'm not the only one!"

Dave and I got married less than six months ago. Within those six months, we each started new jobs. He's now practicing in Workers' Comp instead of Family Law, and I'm a physical therapist at a local hospital instead of at Grady, a Level 1 Trauma Center. We also bought a house...much sooner than we had planned to. We feel incredibly blessed to have had such wonderful opportunities present themselves, but I'm also really proud of us for having the courage to pursue these accomplishments. It hasn't been easy, but we're very grateful and very excited.

That being said, even good things are stressors when they are so significant. I'm exhausted. I'm overwhelmed. And I'm not exercising (my favorite way to relieve stress), and I'm eating like crap because, frankly, I just don't have time to make better decisions. All I can think about it this massive to do list that must be completed before 8:30AM on Saturday, and it's making it really difficult to concentrate on what should be my first priority: learning the ropes at my new job. It's made me question - is it worth it?

I've said from the get go that I was a little uncertain about moving to the suburbs. But maybe this isn't just about the suburbs; maybe that's just a metaphor for the big picture. Atlanta is a posh, exciting environment full of beautiful people, and fun events and activities to suit a variety of interests. It's also loud, dangerous, and crowded. Marietta is quieter, more family-friendly, and still has lots of charm...but it's not Atlanta. Atlanta is my 20s and Marietta is my 30s. Though Atlanta still sounds really exciting to me, it's becoming less and less appealing to me whether I like it or not, simply because I'm getting older. In fact, Marietta makes me feel older, and I can't decide whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.

I was so ready to get into this house and start this new job, but part of me feels like I'll be missing something. I left the intensity and insanity of Grady for something safer, but is it going to be interesting enough? The same goes for my new residence. I couldn't get out of our apartment complex fast enough. The neighborhood had really gone downhill and there were some incidents that made sleeping there a little more difficult...you know, like my car getting stolen. On the other hand, this is the only home I've known since I moved here after college. We were in this apartment complex throughout grad school as we struggled through our coursework and studying for the boards and the bar, respectively. It was in this apartment that I screamed out "Length-tension relationship!" in my sleep as I had stress dreams about doctorate-level exercise physiology. This apartment was the only home I felt I had when my parents divorced a few years ago. I can't stand this place, but at the same time, it's familiarity is comforting.

All of this change at once makes me worry that I, myself, will change. I know I like baking and home decor and, for some reason, that means I'm more domesticated than most of my fellow feminists. But why does everyone keep interpreting "I'm moving OTP" to mean "I'm going to spit out a kid within the next year?" Don't get me wrong, becoming a mother someday is a very important dream of mine, but why do people keep suggesting that it has to happen immediately now that we have a suburban home? What part of these expectations belong to me and what part belong to someone else? How do I cross over into this new environment while remaining true to myself and who I want to be at this point in my life?

Then, I realized something today that gave me a little bit of perspective on this matter: The reason city life seems less appealing to me is because I'm outgrowing it. It's not a good thing or a bad thing, I'm just slowing down because time isn't. Part of me still wants to go out in Midtown, but part of me is ready to settle in. I may not be ready to have kids yet, but regardless, it ain't just about me anymore.

My family, looking out from our new front steps.

When people ask how married life is going, I usually respond with, "umm married life is the same as life has been for the last six years" because nothing really felt different. I've been with Dave for six years, and we've lived together for four of them. Something feels different now. We're going to be furnishing, decorating, and (as things will inevitably go wrong) fixing this house together and turning it into a home. I moved around a lot as a child, and I always get confused when people ask me where I'm from. I grew up in the South, but my family is from New England; I've always felt like I don't have any roots. It's exciting to think that Dave and I are creating our own roots, both for ourselves and for our future family.

Maybe I'll be a little more boring than I used to be. But maybe that's just because as you get older, the excitement comes from within. Maybe it comes from the people you're with, not the things you do. Maybe 20 year-old Julia would look at 30 year-old Julia, roll her eyes and say, "You've sold out!" But maybe 30 year-old Julia would look at 20 year-old Julia and say, "I couldn't keep up with you. I have more important things to do now." I guess goals just change throughout your life. We just have to do the best we can to keep up with them.

I'm sure I'll feel nostalgic for what's behind me, and I'm not sure what's next. Until I figure it out, I'll just be as patient as I can with this awkward phase of limbo, and have faith that this horrible adjustment period will be worth it.

Anyone else out there having a quarter life crisis?

Saucy Spirits

Do y'all remember this dish from the chocolate edition of Atlanta Underground Market?

This dish is the Five Cheese Macaroni and Cheese with Dark Chocolate Cabernet Sauvignon Jelly, by Saucy Spirits. What makes this local business so interesting is that it's run by an 11-year old. But don't let "Jellyman" Ryan O'Neill's age fool you - he is quite the entrepreneur. He's been creating wine jelly since last year, and he's become rather skilled with it. Check out these unique combinations:

• Pear Pinot Grigio
• Pumpkin Spice Chardonnay
• Roasted Red Pepper Chardonnay

Ryan's mother, Tiffany Wong, assists him with his entrepreneurial endeavors...I mean, someone's gotta buy the booze! Together, they've started a project on Kickstarter to raise money and get their business off the ground. The money would help them purchase items in wholesale, and it would help them work towards getting USDA organic certified.

How awesome is that?! Don't you want to support them?!?! Well, if that's not enough convincing, here's the mac & cheese recipe so you can try it for yourself:

Ryan's Famous Five Cheese Mac & Cheese with Dark Chocolate Cabernet Sauvignon Jelly

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp flour

1 3/4 c heavy cream

2 2/3 Tbsp Tabasco

2 tsp brown sugar

1 1/3 Tbsp ground mustard

2 tsp paprika

8 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 c sour cream

1 c shredded of each of the following cheeses: Manchego (8 month raw), Cabot Clothbound Cave Aged Cheddar, Cave Aged Gruyere, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Ginepro

4 slices Applewood smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)

1/2 c Dark Chocolate Cabernet wine jelly

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  Melt butter on medium/medium high heat.

2.  Whisk in flour until a thick paste is formed.

3.  Add in heavy cream, Tabasco, brown sugar, ground mustard, paprika, and garlic.  Whisk well to mix all ingredients.

4.  Once heated, whisk in sour cream.

5.  Fold in 3/4 c each of Manchego, Cheddar, and Gruyere.  

6.  Once cheeses have melted, taste and add more cheese if desired.

7.  Pour over pasta of your choice and mix well.

8.  Cover with Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Ginepro and crumbled bacon (if desired).

9.  Bake at 400 for 10 minutes or until cheese forms a light brown crust.

10. Remove from heat and drizzle with Dark Chocolate Cabernet wine jelly

I made it for myself, and was almost as good as when Ryan makes it!

Here are my thoughts:

• The bacon was a bit much. I felt like it just took away from the stars of the show: the cheeses and, of course, the jelly.
• I cut the recipe in half, which worked well with 1 box of penne pasta.
• I used 1 tablespoon of créme fraîche instead of heavy cream (just because I had one and not the other for another recipe I was using that day). I think it came out about the same.
• On an unrelated note, multigrain bread + whipped cream cheese + dark chocolate cabernet sauvignon jelly = best breakfast ever.

Head on over to Saucy Spirits' Kickstarter page so that you can help write the next chapter of this inspiring company's journey. In the meantime, you can purchase their jellies on their website or at the Spout Springs Library Farmers Market.


Disclaimer: Saucy Spirits offered me complimentary jelly in return for editorial consideration, but everything in this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Guest Appearance

Just wanted to let y'all know that I'm featured today over on my friend Angie's blog, Birch Blooms!

Be sure to head on over and check out my DIY peacock feather fascinator tutorial!

My 100th Post!

I started this blog back in February as a chance to continue to write once I was done writing about my wedding (recaps have begun, by the way, and you should totally check it out). I've been amazed at how much this little site has grown and how well it's been received. Y'all have no idea how much I love doing this, and the sense of community that comes along with blogging makes it even more fun!

Now that I've written 100 posts (yikes!), I've decided to expand this sense of community in the form of...

...a Facebook page!

I'm pretty excited about it. My favorite part about the new page is the "likes" section. This will make it easy to find and contact all of the wonderful places and events I've found in and around Atlanta. I've also listed a bunch of my Weddingbee friends' businesses, so be sure to check them out as well!

So what are you waiting for?! Like my page here, or over on that little column to the right. And if that still doesn't satisfy your social media craving for Dr. Princess, you can always follow me on Twitter or Pinterest.

Thanks for reading along for my first 100 posts. I can't wait to show you what's next!

The New Chick in Town

When I first heard that Chef Mark Taft was opening a new farm-to-table restaurant in Marietta, I was immediately interested. You may recall that one of my biggest complaints about moving OTP was the fact that I would be increasing my commute to so many fabulous restaurants. Then, my attitude changed once I was introduced to unique eateries like L'Thai and Botekim (more on them later). I began to hope that Atlanta's culinary culture would expand to its suburbs, and I had high hopes that Chef Taft's Chicken and the Egg would join the ranks of this developing suburban foodie scene.

Then, I learned that the "modern farmstead fare" Chicken and the Egg planned to serve meant comfort food. So wait, you're telling me that a restaurant is opening up in my backyard and it's not only going to serve local, ethical, sustainable food, but it's going to be SOUTHERN food at that?!

You'd think that my excitement would completely eclipse any power I had to remain objective, but it was quite the opposite; my expectations were lofty, and I was worried disappointment was inevitable.

I was absolutely thrilled when I was invited to dine at the new West Cobb restaurant. The decor was so inviting - modern, indeed, and paying homage to the Craftsman-style homes that grace many of West Cobb's neighborhoods.

Before I talk about the food, let me just say how impressive it is to me to see a restaurant with good design and branding. I'm a sucker for aesthetics and I have an eye for detail, but I've found that even people who don't feel that way still embrace a restaurant that looks put together. I don't have a lot of confidence in what I'm about to eat when the first thing I notice in a restaurant is disjointed decor. Modern glass fixtures, rustic wrought iron, global art - what does it all mean?! Those are the restaurants that serve pizza and sushi and tapas and whatever's trendy just so they can mark it up (not to mention any names). Chicken and the Egg's appearance told me that they knew who they were and what they were doing.

Not only was their decor consistent, their menu was a beautiful piece of typography. The font and paper choices were perfect, as they conveyed a classy but approachable vibe. This theme carried through to their website, right down to their "under construction" icon.

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Maybe I'm being too particular. I'm just saying that I appreciate that those little things take time, and they make a big difference!

Okay, okay, on to the food.

We started with some beautifully crafted cocktails. I had the Debutante Ball, a gin cocktail with hibiscus and white balsamic syrup, lemon juice, freshly ground black pepper, and rhubarb foam. It was smooth and not too sweet. My husband had the South of the Border. It had tequila, vodka, watermelon juice, cilantro agave syrup, and cilantro and basil chiffonade. The cool combination of the watermelon with the herbs made it much more refreshing than a standard margarita.

We had some cornbread minimuffins before ordering our appetizer. The muffins were served with a really interesting butter. I think it was made with molasses instead of honey, and it had the consistency of whipped peanut butter. I must learn how to make this at home so I can put it on everything.

As an appetizer, we ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes, which were served with pimento cheese, shaved ham, and tomato jam. My only complaint? They're better than mine.

My husband ordered the Short Ribs for dinner, which came with baby carrots drizzled in Tupelo honey. No knife required; this piece of meat fell apart.

The entrée also came with gouda au gratin potatoes, served in an individual cast iron casserole. I think this photo is pretty self-explanatory when it comes to how creamy delicious these spuds were.

There was so much on the menu that sounded so interesting, but I figured "when in Rome." It was my first time visiting this restaurant - may as well go with a classic.

My fried chicken was served with collard greens and macaroni and cheese. I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to these Southern staples, and these sides were classically brilliant.

I wish I had videoed the first cut of the chicken breast with my knife. The crunch of the crispy skin was just to die for.

Even though the portions weren't obnoxiously huge (as they are in many Southern restaurants), I didn't think I had anymore room for dessert. Then, I saw the menu and was just too curious about the banana pudding not to try it.

As you can see, the pudding was served in a mason jar (perfect!) and was layered like a trifle. A caramelized biased banana slice rested on top (it tasted like a toasted marshmallow), followed by a layer of fresh whipped cream. Next, we had some absolutely incredible banana pudding. It sure puts any Jell-O brand recipe to shame! (No offense, Jell-O. You make my desserts very convenient at times and I love you for it.) At the very bottom were some bourbon-soaked vanilla wafers. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Not only did Chicken and the Egg meet my expectations, it exceeded them. The decor, the food, the service, just the overall theme of Southern hospitality...all I can say is thank you. Thank you for bringing such a treat outside the perimeter. You just made it a lot easier for me to move to our new house in three weeks. I guess I'll start packing!

Oh, and one more thing: the title bar on the kids' section of the menu is labeled "for the peeps." For the PEEPS! If that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will.

Disclaimer: Chicken and the Egg offered me a complimentary meal in return for editorial consideration, but everything in this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Atlanta Underground Market: September

I was so bummed when I had to miss last month's AUM...actually, I went to a bachelorette party in Midtown, so I promise I still managed to have fun! But still, I heard I missed a really good time despite the rain. I was thrilled that last Saturday's AUM not only made up for lost time for me; it also made up for the bad weather last month. Lately, I've found that I'm able to keep my windows open at night. It's that perfect time of year in Atlanta where the air is crisp, but it's not quite cool yet. Needless to say, I was crossing my fingers for an outdoor venue this month!

September's Atlanta Underground Market took place at Atlantic Station, in an open event space near Dillards. Live music, which was provided by Carter Rude, provided the perfect accompaniment to a beautiful evening.

First off, I sampled the award-winning Jer'vays. Apparently they've received accolades from Boars Head and Food Network and I must say, I can see what all the fuss is about!

Shown left to right, we have some apple and cheddar stuffed zeppoles, portabella parmesan, and the dish I tried, southwestern eggrolls. Even though I was drawn to smell of spice from afar, I ordered the dish with hesitation. It's hard to make a southwestern eggroll more special than your generic chain restaurant app. I was impressed; the shell was crispy, not chewy, and the gooey center packed more flavor than I had imagined.

Next, I visited one of my favorite vendors from Africa Night, Kushina Catering.

I had an Ethiopian taco, which featured tender slow-cooked ginger-spiced chicken. The veggie samosa had more cilantro than I'm used to, which tasted light and refreshing. My favorite of all was the salad. I mean, you can see how awesome the tomatoes were. But there was something about the wine vinaigrette with the cilantro seasoning that tied the other dishes together.

Next, I found Saucy Spirits, who had made a vegan gluten-free lasagna with thinly sliced zucchini filling in for the noodles.

The lasagnas were topped with watermelon, which was cut from a HUGE yellow watermelon.

Saucy Spirits was sharing a booth with another vendor, Everyday Indulgence. I had their watermelon salad, which was dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette.

I also tried their grilled peaches with chevre and kudzu. I'm not sure how I felt about the kudzu; the texture was a little weird for me. Plus, the thought of harvesting it scares me! Will that make it grow back faster?! Maybe someone out there can educate me on this. Regardless, this was one of the best dishes (if not the best) of the evening. The peaches were spectacular, and the sauce was just the right amount of sweet.

And here's one more photo of their beautiful produce. Then I promise I'm moving on.

I then sampled some of Teranga's dishes. You may recall my slight obsession with their hibiscus juice, as well as my bigger obsession with their sauces.

I tried that amazing tomato sauce over some veggie chips. I also had a vegetable spring roll and some lamb. My favorite part was the stuffed drumstick, which featured vermicelli noodles, shrimp, and red onions. How does all of that even fit in there?!

I was running out of room in my belly, so I decided to switch to dessert and start wrapping up a lovely evening. I started with Cake Pops by Nikki, and I literally gasped when I saw their booth.

What a view! Their pops were delicious, as always. Here's my friend Lindsey enjoying an orange pop in a vanilla shell.

This is how good it was: it tasted like a creamsicle and I'm still talking about it despite the fact that we play Tennessee this weekend.

Last but not least, I tried a gluten-free orange cupcake with bourbon vanilla frosting. Naturally, it was from Dr. Sweets!

This may come out wrong, but I LOVE bourbon. I'm not usually a fan of spirited desserts (I can't stand tiramisu...or maybe I've just only had ones that taste like they could be lit on fire), but this one was gooooood. It didn't taste drunk, it just added a smokier flavor to the buttercream. I thought it was interesting how two desserts, both featuring orange and vanilla, could taste so different. I love how each of these dessert chefs displayed their own styles!

I won't be at the next AUM because we'll be busy moving into our new house - eek! You should still go, though. In fact, you should go and take pictures so I can live vicariously! The next market will be held October 15th. Make sure you sign up at www.atlantaundergroundmarket.com so that you'll be in the know when the secret location is announced!

Scoutmob Revels in Coffee, Chocolate, & Pie

If you live in one of 13 major cities across the United States (and counting), you've probably heard of Scoutmob. It's a deals site, though slightly different Groupon or Living Social. The difference is that Scoutmob really takes pride in the local scene. They literally "scout" the area for hidden gems and best kept secrets, but they also aren't afraid to pay tribute to popular local favorites. Sometimes, I haven't even heard of the place listed on a daily deal; but I'm always glad Scoutmob pointed me in their direction.

Scoutmob's headquarters is based in Atlanta, so we're very fortunate to be able to share their newest endeavors with them before the rest of the country gets to. One of Scoutmob's latest promotions is something called Revel, which takes the deal a step further to allow secret perks based on how frequently something is shared. Think of it as a mechanism to further the sense of community throughout The Mob. Atlanta was one of the first cities to receive Revel, and the secret events just keep coming!

Given Scoutmob's love for all things local (and the fact that the company was basically created during a caffeine-induced frenzy), it's no surprise that Batdorf & Bronson Roastery is one of their all-time faves. (If this name sounds familiar to you, it's because they're currently working with Atlanta Culinary Tours and I like to write about them.) Scoutmob hosted their most recent Revel party at the roastery with a few special guests, including Cacao and The Pie Shop. The beautiful part about this collaboration is that Batdorf & Bronson works closely with Cacao to create coffee chocolate bark. In addition, they've recently joined forces with The Pie Shop to create a fabulous mocha pie. See? Community!

The event kicked off with an intro from our hosts: the ladies of Scoutmob as well as Jason Dominy, The Rootinest Tootinest Handbrewing Barista Extraordinaire.

Musical entertainment was provided by Bosco, who encouraged us to give in to our caffeine buzzes and dance a little bit around the roastery.

As I mentioned, Cacao was there handing out delightfully rich pieces of their bark. And if I may gush for a moment here, I am obsessed with their branding. Gorgeous.

I was really excited to try some samples from The Pie Shop. I haven't had a chance to visit them yet, and I was psyched to discover that they lived up to the hype!

First up, I tried a spinach quiche and a key lime tart.

Next, I had a buttermilk pie and the Batdorf mocha.

They were all so good, but the quiche and the mocha were my favorites.

Yes, the food was delicious, but as our noses told us the moment we walked in, the star of this show was coffee.

Did I mention that the folks at Scoutmob have a thing for mustaches?

And why wouldn't they? Clearly these guys know how to have fun.

Are you in on the Revel scene? If not, what are you waiting for? I'd love to see you at the next party! In the meantime, be sure to follow these folks on Twitter to make sure you don't miss any of their fun happenings:

• @Scoutmob
• @BatdorfATL
• @jasondominy
• @cacaoatlanta
• @PieShopATL
• @helloBOSCO