Loveliest Village on the Plains

AUBURN

... my alma mater.... the town where I spent 4 years of my life... the "loveliest village on the plains"...

I have missed Auburn for so long now and wanted to go back and visit ever since my last 2 visits for a football game and Rachel's graduation almost 2 years ago!  It has been way too long, so we have really been looking forward to Ben's pledge brother's, Robert and Melanie's, wedding!  They have been dating since high school and all through college at Auburn, just like Ben & I!


We stayed at Ben's grandmother's house Thursday night before going to Auburn on Friday afternoon.  The Rehearsal dinner was wonderful and a great reunion with so many friends of Ben's and mine from college.  After the dinner we all walked to the bars in downtown Auburn... while some of the bar names have changed, it's all still the same!  oh the glory days!

Saturday was filled with lunch at Momma G's, shopping all over downtown Auburn, and relaxation.... before the wedding!  The reception was held at the beautifully stunning Fountainview Mansion.  I can't believe I never knew that this place existed the whole time I was at school there.  The view, the mansion, and the grounds were all gorgeous and the perfect setting for the wedding reception!

The food was some of the best, most delicious wedding food we'd ever had! 

We wish Robert & Mel a wonderful marriage and happy life.  We were so happy to be included in this special day and we look forward to visiting them in Auburn again soon!  

Sunday before leaving town, Ben & I drove all throughout campus and town to look at all the new buildings, changes, additions, growth, and our old apartments!  Auburn has such a beautiful campus and has really made some incredible improvements over the past 5 years.  I can't wait to come back for a game next football season!  

"I believe in AUBURN, and LOVE it!"

lions & tigers & bears, oh my!

This past weekend, we took a last minute trip to New Orleans.  Ben's parent were there Thursday & called all of us up & asked us to join them for the weekend.  Ben & I didn't have any other plans for the weekend, so we were very happy to go!  

Friday night we had a delicious dinner at a great little casual steakhouse called Charlie's.  They don't even have a menu b/c the options are very straight forward:  large or small salad, small, medium, or large steak, french fries or au gratin potatoes, mushrooms, vegetables, and onion rings!!

Saturday morning we all headed to the Audubon Zoo to arrive right when it opened.  We said we were going for Leigh but I think that all of us enjoyed it just as much!  We saw every animal we could possibly want to see.  

 This may have been the highlight.  It was just amazing to examine the Peacock so close up and admire how beautiful God's creatures can be!  I also wondered how heavy all those long feathers were!  

We ALL took a ride on the carousel

You may be wondering why I didn't post any pictures of lions or regular tigers or even bears.... well, yes that's my post title, but those pictures weren't as pretty or exciting as these!

 After a yummy lunch at Mahony's Po-Boy Shop on Magazine Street (a street with so many cool stores that I can't wait to come back to soon with my momma & sisters) we shopped a little bit and explored the French Quarter.  

I had not been in this church in so long, but it was a much needed air conditioning break and beautiful to admire.  

We snuck into a bar for a little while for drinks & caught the Kentucky Derby race! 

Saturday night we were all extremely exhausted from such a long day so we kept it casual for dinner.  Then Ben & I hit the Harrah's casino with $20 in hand each and after an hour playing computer blackjack we came out ahead $8.00!   (Obviously you have to bet big to win big and we were betting $0.50 at a time! haha)

Sunday morning was the necessary stop at Cafe du Monde for Breakfast before coming home.  Oh, how I love thee beignets!  They were even more delectable that I remembered.  (and note to self: next time I shouldn't wear a black shirt.... powdered sugar EVERYWHERE)  

Every time we leave New Orleans we say how much we love visiting the town & can't wait to go back!  It seems like every time we do something completely different to take in all the city has to offer (my mom asked if I remembered the last time we went to the Audubon Zoo... um no, I was 4!).  Luckily I have my next trip on the calendar already.  

to mothers

I didn't want to end the day without wishing all of the mommys & mommys-to-be out there a very 

Happy Mother's Day!! 

sunset over Mobile Bay Thursday night

My momma, mother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, female family members, and great friends are such incredible mothers to their very lucky children.  I look forward to the day that I will be privileged with the title of "mommy."  You all have the most important job & should be honored.  

For now, I'll continue my duties as mommy to my sweet Harper :) 

answering requests

Sometimes my husband is kinda demanding. You see, 2 weeks ago I had a delicious fish recipe picked out for dinner but when he came home from work he decided that it was NOT what he was in the mood for. I told him that the only other recipe I had ingredients for is this soup I was going to make tomorrow night. He took one glance at the recipe & his mouth was watering. Make it I did.... and it was AH-MAZING! 

We ate it leftover 2 more nights that week and made sure to mark it as one of our new favorites (in my new cookbook of course). The next week Ben would be talking about the soup almost every day, saying "feel free to make that soup any time." So fast forward to the NEXT week (AKA last week) & Ben was requesting again (talk about a serious craving!). So I made THE soup again last week & we enjoyed it 2 nights, with the rest in the freezer for one night this week. 

So, I hate to build it up too much, it may not even be your cup of tea..... but without further ado.... 

Erin's Chicken Tortilla Soup

(adapted from this tomato soup recipe)

5 medium tomatoes, cut in half (about 1.5 pounds)

2 Anaheim chiles, cut in half & seeds removed

7 (1/4-inch-thick) slices onion

2 large garlic cloves, halved (or 1 tsp minced garlic)

Cooking spray

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

48 oz carton fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded

2 cans white shoepeg corn, drained

2 cans black beans, drained

1 can Rotel tomatoes, drained

1 can diced tomatoes

diced ripe avocado

shredded queso fresco (or other Mexican cheese)

more chopped cilantro

tortilla chips

1. Preheat broiler.

2. Arrange tomatoes, halved chiles, onion slices, & garlic on a foil-lined baking sheet. Coat them with cooking spray.  Broil 15 minutes or until blackened. Remove from oven; let stand 15 minutes. Peel tomatoes and chiles and place in food processor along with onion & garlic.  Process for 1 minute or until well blended.   

3.  Move tomato mixture to large saucepan & cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add cilantro & next 10 ingredients (through diced tomatoes) to the pot, allowing it to come to and stay at a boil while adding everything.  Cover & simmer for at least 15 minutes on lower heat until you are ready to serve!  

4.  Top each serving with the diced avocado, shredded cheese, & chopped cilantro.  Enjoy with tortilla chips, like Scoops!

It seems like a whole lot of work but it really doesn't take that long & broiling the tomatoes, etc. gives it GREAT flavor.  I hope you all enjoy & let me know if you try it!  

Mullet Toss 2K11

This may be the longest running tradition we have so far.  At least on my blog this is the only thing that I have had the "4th annual" celebration of (other than national holidays of course)... MULLET TOSS!  As I have said in past blog posts, this is something that I never participated in when I was younger and now it has become something we look forward to every year.  Who knows how much longer this will continue (however, we did see a couple carrying their baby in a Baby Bjorn on the beach, so anything is possible, haha).

(Mullet Toss posts: 2008, 2009, 2010)

Sidenote: Watch this amazing documentary if you want to know the awesomeness that is Mullet Toss:

DEADLIEST THROW - Inside the Flora-Bama Interstate Mullet Toss from UM Media Documentary Projects on Vimeo.

We knew last year that Register & Gracie wouldn't be able to come (so sad) because they got married 2 weeks ago (so happy), but Austin & Steph, Katie & Jody joined us once again!  Friday night we all met at COBALT for dinner:

Saturday was Mullet Toss day.  We hit the beach for the entire day, once again, not even participating in the actual FloraBama/tossing mullets part of the day.  Just the sun and people watching!  I enjoyed my SkinnyGirl Margaritas that I bought in Jacksonville.  

This year would definitely be classified as more laid back than years past.  Partially because we weren't down there for as long and the other part was because we wanted it to be a little more calm.  Either way, I'm so glad we have been at the beach so much lately and hope to avoid getting sunburned anymore this summer!