Keeping it simple... keeping it real

Hello Friends!

Today, I'm going to write with my 'Southern' hat on.  I experienced something this weekend when we were dining in Newport that I can't shake.  So naturally, I need to write about it to get it out of my head and into yours.

To begin, I need to make a few sweeping general statements:
1) We live in the United States (by 'we' I mean me and most of you)
2) I come from the Gulf Coast of Florida, raised by fine Southern folk, so I know thing or two about what's going to be shared.
3)  I am not impressed by restaurants or people who attempt to fancify (is that a word?) southern cooking into something it isn't. 

So let's get to it... Shrimp and Grits are THE SAME THING as Prawns and Polenta.  I'm not talking about dishes, I'm talking about actual little shrimps and actual corn grits.  We do not live in Australia or Spain, and unless a restaurant or cuisine is specifically themed so, I feel that the more commonly used words here in the old U. S. of A are shrimp and grits.

I did a simple Google Images search and got the following:

GRITS

POLENTA

SHRIMP

PRAWNS

I'd love to know if you can spot any noticeable differences in the above pictures that would help you determine one from the other.  I'm guessing NO.

Now for my Low Country friends, you know a thing or two about a proper bowl of Shrimp n' Grits... this just isn't two random ingredients thrown together hap hazzardly.  This is an amazing combination of flavors and texture that comes together as an explosion of goodness in your mouth.  It's also a very commonly understood phrase in the South.  You'll see Shrimp n' Grits on many a menu or in many a Mema's or Nana's kitchen.  This dish is a staple for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

That said, I feel that in other regions of the country, folks try to turn this low country (if you don't know what low country means, click here) favorite into some high class, over priced, fine-dining entree by calling the shrimp "Prawns" and the grits "Polenta".  Now I know that in Spain, it's really called polenta and that there is actually a slight difference in the particular corn grain used between grits and polenta.  BUT- these names shouldn't be swapped out just to sound more sophisticated or worldly.

You can imagine my dismay when I sat at a restaurant in Newport this weekend, one we LOVE and visit often, and as I scanned the menu I saw "Shrimp and Polenta."  What the... seriously?  Don't try to church it up by substituting polenta for grits.  If you want to try your hand at a southern dish... you darn well better keep the Southern in it!

OK. I feel better now. I have a feeling that some proper shrimp n' grits will be happening in my home in the very near future.

Yours in southern pride,
Whitney

Hear ye, hear ye... I have excellent news!

It's official... I can finally spill the beans and share my excitement! It's been so hard to keep this one quiet.

I'm going to be an AUNT!!!!!

My brother and his lovely wife will be welcoming a sweet baby into their lives, and into ours as well, in October.  I couldn't be happier for them as they begin this most wonderful next step in their life together.

And, I can not wait to be an Aunt to the new little bambino, whom I will spoil and splurge on simply because I can.  I will probably buy shirts and bibs that have tacky sayings about Aunts on them, and I will demand (gently of course) to have Auntie/Baby skype sessions where I can read stories and make funny noises.  I will send care packages of singing baby toys and squeeky things that will annoy Mom and Dad (sorry!) but baby will swoon over.

But, most of all, I can't wait to see my little brother (who is really not so little) be a Dad.  Evan and Alexis make such a great team that I can only imagine how that will translate into being parents.  It will be so sweet to watch them love and teach a new little person, and to grow as a family.

Yours in baby love,
Aunt Whitney

Today is the day

Friends,

Today is the day I both long for and dread all year.  Today, the CrossFit Opens Competition begins.  It's a five week global competition in which CrossFit athletes compete each week as they work toward an invitation to the Regional competition in their state/country.

Tonight at 8pm the first WOD of the competition will be announced and I'm nervous.  Like a combination of butterflies in your stomach before a first date and the gut wrenching feeling of desperation and despair.  Lovely, right?

But before that, I am asking you all to watch this video of my gym, CrossFit New Haven, as we participated in a competition called Barbells for Boobs last October.  The competition was to raise awareness and access for early breast cancer detection and mammograms.  Our gym raised over $6,000 and had a BLAST!  PS- it's my absolute favorite crossfit workout.  On the video you'll get to see our gym, my friends, and even me! talking about this great community of people. 

When you click the link, read the article if you choose, but definitely click the best format for you to the right and watch.  It's about 6 minutes, but I'd love it if you took the time to check out something so important to me.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Cheers,
Whitney

Fat Tuesday

Happy Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday, friends!  When I came downstairs this morning, Darcy had already prepared herself for a day of treats and celebration.  When Mike takes her to the vet this morning, do you think they'll judge her for the beads?   

I hope you all treat yourselves to some good, rich food and drink tonight.  Tomorrow brings Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent and forty days of fasting and repentance before Easter.  You'd better live it up tonight!

My idea of a treat tonight is sweatpants, sweatshirt, a glass of white wine and some trashy reality TV.  What are you doing?

-whitney

Happy Valentine's Day... kitten!

Hello Gang,

Hope you're all off to a great start to the week.  I thought we (I) could use a little pick-me-up today.  It's hard to get excited about Valentine's Day, even if I have a 'valentine' because, to me, it seems so put on.  So much pressure.  There's build up, let down, high prices, dead flowers... need I go on?

So instead, I thought we could watch a few sweet little videos that make me laugh out loud.  Even if you've seen them before, it's always worth another viewing. 

This video, called Kittens inspired by Kittens, makes me laugh until I am crying and hyperventolating every time I watch it.

And this one is an oldie but a goodie! It also never gets old.  I wish this kid would stay this age and size and tell me funny stories every day.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

xo,
whitney

Tales of the Goat Dog and 5 other things

Happy Friday, Homies!

I hope you all had a wonderful week.  It was tough to settle back in after 5 days of family time (despite a sad reason) and the Florida sunshine. I'm a sucker for green grass (or, make that grass), the potential for tan lines in February, and quality time with the people that know me better than anyone. 

Awaiting for me when I returned was this:

Yep, Darcy the goat dog officially moved into my spot on the bed, and Mike further solidified himself as #1 human in my absence.  I'm hoping to reclaim my spot and gain some points in the human ranking when Mike travels for a week in April. Sigh. The plus: this 40lb dog compacts herself into a steering wheel sized pretzel for sleepy time, so she doesn't take up the whole side. Just the top near my pillow and my boyfriend. :)

Her goat like tendancies have been dormant the last week+ as we've been more careful with leaving our things around.  Although, we've now come to realize that this leggy little sweetheart has a mean streak for squeeky toys and will stop at nothing to tear their squeakers, heart, stuffing, and anything else attached completely apart in one sitting.  I'm talking less than 10 minutes to terminal destruction, people. I'll provide photo, or perhaps video, evidence when she gets her next softsided victim. 

On to the Other Things...

I've contemplated 5 things over the past few days that seem to play on repeat in my mind.  I figured I'd share them with you too, so maybe they can become 'our' ponderances. 

1)  I HEART spinning.  Don't get me wrong... I'm CrossFit all the way, and that's my #1 fitness passion, but as a non-runner, I must admit, spinning is amazing.  I didnt' believe the folks who've tried to convince me in the past.  I'm thankful for taking up a friend's invitation to check it out back in November and I haven't looked back.  I think it's proof that you can have great cardio without having to feel guilty about hating running. Take that, runners!  And, to prove my love, I recently purchased spin shoes. Yep. I'm IN!

2)  I have such a cool kid sister.  Given the 1,300+ miles between us, I'm not a part of the day-to-day, but that doesn't mean I'm not blown away by her cool, talented, him almost-13-year-old-self!  Here she is at swim practice last week while I was home. 

She swims for my old swim team, with one small exception... she's incredible and so gets the benefit of being coached by Randy Reese!!!  If you're asking yourself who the heck he is, shame on you, and read more here.  This little lady is on her way to big things, and that makes a big sister so happy!

3)  I've come to realize that I'm slightly obsessed with NPR, but in the best way possible.  I'm enthralled and totally tuned in when I'm listening.  I listen in the car before work, immediately tune in at my desk online, and then my whole car ride home.  Occasionally, I will silence a phone call so that I can continue to listen to the rest of a story.  It's my barometer for news stories... not as roses and sunshine as NBC, but not as hellfire and brimstone as FOX.  NPR, I heart you!

4) I have a tendancy to rationalize stopping at 2 or more stores to complete a shopping list- whether it be groceries or household items- I simply can not do a one-stop-shop.  I find that I prefer certain Trader Joe's items, Target items, and Stop-and-Shop items.  Although all three stores carry everything I need (almost), I have a preference and find that I will completely convince myself that it's better to get certain things from all three than all from one.  Now, from this perch at my desk, I can see that this is crazy thinking, but once my wheels are set in motion and I'm ready to check the list off, I know in my mind that I will not be satisfied unless I can get those specific items from each store.  Some of it is quality driven, and some cost driven.  I guess I'm crazy.

5)  Pinterest- I don't know its real purpose, and I think I might have accidently harrassed all of my FB friends by inadvertantly sending a 'follow me' message (is that what happens?!), but I love that site.  For me, it's like makebelieve and dress up for adults.  I just click away on the things I like with wreckless abandon.  Likely, I will never make the recipes, I will never buy the clothes, I will fail at the hair and make-up attempts, I will never actually DIY anything, but I have SO MUCH FUN pretending like I will.

And, that is all.  Have a wonderful weekend.

-whitney