You Can Have Roots and Have Wings

It was 2002, I was 16 years old and the movie Sweet Home Alabama just came out in theaters. My small town didn't have a movie complex closer than 40 miles, but that wasn't going to stop me from seeing the movie that would now be one of my top favorites and the only movie that can make any bad day good again.

At the time, I had just started dating a boy that I ended up dating for a long, long time. (It was actually our very first date.) What did I make him do? Dragged him 40 miles to see a chick flick. It had Reese Witherspoon as the leading lady so I knew he wouldn't mind too much. Plus, it was our first date so how could he tell me no?


I'll never forget sitting there in that theatre, watching a movie about a small town girl growing up, leaving what she knew, making something of her life and still finding love at the end with the one guy that she always loved. At 16, all I could think about is how I wanted to leave as fast as I could from that small town and never look back. After all, I knew much more than my parents did or anyone in that small town for that matter.


Now at 26 my life isn't a romantic comedy. My hair doesn't always look perfect in the Southern humidity, I didn't end up my small town sweetheart, and I haven't found my way back to that town permanently either. (Just weekend visits here and there.) What it does remind me is that you can have roots and have wings. You don't have to forget where you came from to know where you're going. And sometimes when you get lost on the way, you can always find yourself when you go back home. 

Maybe I'm feeling a bit nostalgic after seeing so many old friends lately, or maybe I'm reading too far into a movie that was only given two stars. Either way it's a memory that I hold dear to my heart.

Because it's funny how things don't turn out ... but it's funny how they do. 

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Saturday Night Cook-Off: Who Can Fry the Best Deer Meat?

This is a post about a healthy sport called competition. This post is also about one of my favorite things which is eating. Competition and eating. It's all-American. Saturday night, after a day of actually waking up to go to the gym and shopping with friends, it was time for the cookout at Melody's house. Even though I really like cooking, I've never actually cooked during one of these cookouts. (Maybe they don't trust me?)

Whatever the case may be, Saturday night it was Julie vs. Chad on who could fry the best deer meat. Knowing Julie and Chad the only thing I wanted to do was to have a front row seat of this competition. 

This is Melody. We've been good friends for almost seven years now. 

She's having a baby by the way.

Before I had arrived, Julie made a blueberry cobbler for our dessert.

I couldn't understand why we couldn't start with dessert. 

The competition is on. 

Except for when Julie couldn't figure out why the burner wasn't working.

(hint, hint, it was turned on low instead of high)

Melody had to step-in to help figure out the problem.

This was Chad's deer meat. 

This was Julie's deer meat.

Chad in action. 

(Look at his mess!!)

Julie in action.

(Much cleaner!)

Because Melody wasn't sure if she liked deer meat or not,

Chad also grilled some chicken for Melody.

What goes better with fried deer meat than fried potatoes? 

It is the South and all.

A closer look at Chad's mess.

He said if you're making a mess then you're doing it right.

Tick, tock, tick, tock Chad.

Almost time to plate!

Marc got in from work just in time to eat! 

Marc is a funny guy. 

Fun Fact: I had never met Marc until I was at their wedding... and I was a bridesmaid.

Good choice, Melody. Good choice. 

Even the dogs are ready for us to eat.

End result. 

I will say that both Chad and Julie did a great job at cooking.

Julie also did a great job with the potatoes and fried okra, while Chad

made the green bean bundles. It was all delicious. 

And a great way to spend a Saturday night. 

(I did take a picture of the dessert, but I'm still playing with this new camera and I think I deleted it. Whoops!)

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Reminding Myself...

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My Old Hobby is Now My New Hobby

My new camera is here! After weeks (okay, months) of trying to decide which camera I wanted to save up for - I finally did it. I bought the Nikon D5100.

When I was a youngin, I was really, really into photography, but as I grew up, it seems like time passed me by and I just didn't make the time for it anymore. Well, now that I have more free time (school is still out for the summer) I needed something to do. So why not pick up something that I use to really enjoy.

Did you know that I even photographed a wedding once in high school? I did.

This weekend was busy with plans and such, but I did take a couple of pictures around my parents house of my dog ... and flowers ... and tomatoes. 

Hopefully I'll have more time to practice later.

This is Copper. He's not my dog, but he's really good at looking at the camera.

This is Lucy. She is my dog. 

She's also sticking out her tongue and not looking at me. 

The result of my dad emptying his pockets.

Some of my mother's flowers.

I think they need some water.

And, my dad's garden. 

I had some of these tomatoes for breakfast. 

So, no, my photography skills aren't amazing, but ya gotta practice on something! 

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Curly's Fried Chicken in Atlanta, GA

Today is National Fried Chicken Day! What better way to celebrate than talk about fried chicken? When I was in Atlanta in June to visit friends and go to Courtney's baby shower, I discovered Curly's Fried Chicken...

Backstory: 
Melissa, my first friend in Atlanta, has recently relocated back to the city after thinking she needed to live in Alabama. Her new condo is located across the street from Curly's Fried Chicken. On the Friday night that I was there, I was hungry. We had dinner reservations at 9:30 p.m. at JCT Kitchen, but it was around 5 p.m. and I had been shopping all day and needed something to eat before waiting five more hours. The only logical thing I could think of doing was walking across the street and ordering fried chicken, coleslaw and macaroni and cheese. Oh, and sweet tea. 

There it is. Curly's Fried Chicken.

What is one to do? Walk across the street of course. 

Check out the menu. 

It's a little bit of Southern heaven on a board.

 Lots of specials and even some t-shirts.

  

Then order. 

I ordered the two-piece meal with coleslaw and maccaronni and cheese.

It was $8. 

Because of the crowd (this place always has people) and the freshness, I waited.

Once I picked up my order I headed back to Melissa's. 

And we dug in. See the little red sauce on the left? 

That's good. Real good. 

Eat it witcha chicken. 

Conclusion? 

Curly's Fried Chicken is good. Real good. 

If you're in Atlanta I suggest visiting. 

If you're not, then check out some of these friend chicken recipes for 

National Fried Chicken day. 

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