Home Sweet Home

Elliot and I just got back from North Carolina for the world's shortest trip to see the parents.  We arrived Saturday for lunch and left Sunday before dinner.  As much as it was sad to not spend more time with both families, it was good in the fact that my plants did not all die from this crazy Georgia heat.  Most everything was looking good, minus my basil.

This is my favorite little plant. The flowers pop up super quickly, and disappear just as quickly - it seems like everyday there is a new one!  They are different colors too!  Does anyone know what these are called?

My hydrangeas are finally blooming (all the others in my neighborhood starting blooming weeks ago) - so these are remedial.

I am in the process of making delicious iced tea with Lipton Green Tea.  To speed up the process and get this tea cold, I decided to make fruit ice cubes.  I simply took fresh mint leaves from my mint plant (which is taking over!) and mixed the leaves with frozen raspberries, poured in tea, and froze it in to a big ice cube.  So now my tea won't get watered down, and it will have delicious raspberries and mint in it! Hopefully it tastes good!

Growth industry: scamming older people

Today on the AJC newspaper a story was done on a high growth area of scamming old people: http://www.ajc.com/news/scams-more-high-tech-955757.html

Within the last 2 years my parents have been scammed a few times.  One was the classic email hack, "help I am stuck in London" send me money scam.  Luckily, I don't think anyone fell for it!

The other was some super vitamin that can save the world and cure you of anything. Somehow by buying 1 bottle you basically signed up to take 20 of these a day for life (maybe an exageration - but not by much).  Several hours of phone calls later, and threatening to call the better business buraeu, she was finally able to get off the subscription.

Crazy world we live in! It must be pretty rough out there to scam these people:

Bienvenidos a Miami

I need a vacation quick!!!  I realized I never did share photos from my Miami trip I took with Maggie, Gina, Anna, and Sarah (some of my friends from high school and college).  It was awesome. Very low key and relaxing, here is a brief summary of activities:

Friday: Anna and I explored.  By explored, I really mean wandered endlessly in the heat, Gaya complaining about the heat, and Anna talking about food or wine!  We ate, then had water, walked a few blocks, found somewhere else to have a snack and have more water…it is amazing how much water one must drink in Miami.  We got our nails done, then went and had guacamole at Rosa Mexicana.  That night Gina and Sarah got in and we all had dinner with Andrew who lives down there. Great Sushi and Froyo, and my kind of night (was asleep by midnight!).

Saturday: We went boating and took a ocean tour of Miami.  Let me tell you, it sure beats the walking Anna and I did on Friday.  It was gorgeous out and we threw the anchor in and went for a swim.  We got home, cleaned up and went to a nice Italian restaurant (good pick Anna!). 

The restuarant was called Escopazzo Organic Italian - Anna and I split the Pear and Ricotta Ravioli and the Sheep Milk Ricotta with lemon, honey, and Pecorino Cheese...delicious is an under statement!!

 We then went out to some swanky hotel bar/outdoor lounge area called the Delano.  It is amazing how frumpy you felt in a matter of minutes….I wear entirely too many clothes for Miami.

Sunday: We explored, had a great lunch, shopped, ate gelato and caught our flights home.

Oh I miss you Miami – where should I go next?

OPALA! Vinho Verde

So for a long time I was absolutely 100% positive that I was allergic to alcohol. I would have a horrible reaction, becoming violently ill.  Friends thought I was crazy:

"Sure Gaya...we believe you, you are "allergic to alcohol" while snickering and telling me it is also called "hung over." I was sure something is wrong so I gave up drinking entirely for a full 2-3 years. I did not have more than 3 or 4 ounces over that time period.  Then I thought one day "Gaya, you only used to drink real girly sugary drinks (think Mike Hard Lemonade & Pina Colada style), maybe you won't have the same reaction to wine and beer.

But the problem with this new idea was I hated the taste of wine and beer. I really think I have the taste buds of an 8 year old.  So I started to try to drink and build up a taste for it.  All of this is humorous because many folks try to drink less and I am over here trying to drink more - I mean - how am I ever supposed to go be wined and dined in napa some day if I don't even drink!!

So now, I was on a mission, I had to start with the world of moscatos, and rieslings...slowly and with time I am now drinking some normal white wines.  Next step in the mission learning to like red wines and beer. Any suggestions?

I tried a wine recently that I wanted to share with you guys.  It is the perfect summer white wine.  It is light, not overly fruity, and a tiny bit sparkly....so fabulous. It is called Opala Vinho Verde.  I bought it at Whole Foods, for 7 bucks, on sale 1 dollar off.  It is in this pretty blue tinted bottle (I am such a sucker for good marketing!!)

Here is what Whole Foods says about it: Whole Foods Market carries a very special brand of Vinho Verde: Opala. Opala Vinho Verde is incredibly fresh tasting. It feels light on the palette, but packs lots of peachy and tropical fruit flavor. With a little lower alcohol level, 9%, this wine is perfect for enjoying in the warmer weather. If you’re heading poolside this is the perfect wine to grab.

Cheeese!

So I have decided to start a blog - I was inspired by a few of my friends who have such fabulous blogs - just remember copying is the ultimate compliment!


--
I love cheese. Almost all cheeses - brie, cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, cotija, cheese at Mexican restaurants, pepper jack, string cheese, etc...this list can go on forever (if you don’t believe me check out wikipedia’s list!).

Growing up as a vegetarian there were limited options of what I could eat and I quickly realized grilled cheese was a safe bet.  However, I have never liked them when the cheese was not properly melted (needs to be past gooey and headed toward sizzling).

A few places in Atlanta with good grilled cheese is Southern Sweets near the farmer’s market where you make your own combo - I do wheat bread, pepper jack cheese, pesto and tomato.  Lotta Frutta also has a great one.  My friend Laura mentioned Bacchanalia market has a grilled cheese with asparagus (could be interesting – but I better save up first!)

The other day Elliot and I made grilled cheeses with rosemary cheddar….talk about freakin delicious – I just died and went to heaven!  The cheese was made in oregon and quite delightful.  I bought it at the Dekalb farmer's market - pretty reasonable and definitly worth the calories.