Meet Miss Jones

I had the pleasure of visiting Savannah this past weekend, while at a work conference. With my trusty bike and my iPhone, I managed to hit almost all of my favorite spots. I thought I’d share a few of them, for those of you who have never been to Savannah (or would like to try some new places).

Papillote

Definitely my favorite place to eat in Savannah. It’s small, with a bistro/cafe feel, and the food is incredible. My favorite dishes are the Bouchée a la Reine (Puff pastry cup overflowing with a creamy medley of chicken, mushrooms, onions and spinach) and the Crab and Mango Tartine (an open-faced sandwich topped with crab meat, mango, avocado and a spicy sauce on toasted brioche).

I usually grab a bottle of sparkling berry lemonade and add a macaron to my order (the nutella flavor is mind-blowing), then take everything to go. I love eating out of their brown boxes while people watching in nearby Ellis Square.

The Paris Market

A short walk down the street from Papillote, The Paris Market is stocked with all sorts of goodies. From vintage letterpress type to retro candy, handmade children’s toys, recycled composition books, and more, it’s a lovely place for inspiration. The prices can be on the higher side, but there are plenty of small discoveries that won’t break the bank. I usually walk away with at least a fun new piece of stationery and some clove gum. The stock changes regularly, and the owners will gladly show you their favorite items.

Vinnie Van Go Go’s

Another great spot for people watching, Vinnie’s has the best pizza in Savannah. Their crusts are perfectly crispy and the slices are huge. The wait for tables can get pretty lengthy at peak weekend times, but there’s plenty to see while you wait. One thing to note–they are cash only (they’ll happily point you to their ATM inside), so check your wallet before you go.

Zunzi’s

It’s hard to feel more like a local than when you’re standing in line at Zunzi’s, especially if it’s during the lunch rush. One of Savannah’s favorite to-go spots, they only offer outdoor seating, but the gigantic sandwiches are worth braving the frenzy of the ordering line. It moves fast, so watch a few people order and then make your pick–you really can’t go wrong. Everything is fresh and delicious, with an international flavor.

Circa 1875

If you’re looking for a higher-end dinner out in the evening, Circa 1875 offers two flavors of dining–their bistro-style dining room, and the connected gastropub. Both serve the same delicious french menu, but the atmospheres contrast nicely. I ate at the pub, which is dark, cozy, and made me feel like I was back at the edges of London. Their menu selection is generous and the food was so very delicious.

The Olde Pink House

If you feel like dinner in Savannah needs to reflect the history and culture of the town, then the best stop is at The Olde Pink House. Be sure to make reservations (a few days in advance, if possible), because their classic high society southern cuisine is no secret. The house itself is fun to wander through, and truly makes you feel like you’ve slipped a century behind. As with any popular restaurant in a tourist town, the service can be on and off, but we had a great experience with a funny and attentive server.

Shop SCAD

The prices are on the high side, but Shop SCAD is a great place to browse and get a peek at what SCAD students and alumni have been working on. The walls host a wide variety of fun and beautiful art prints, and there are always interesting takes on industrial design. Next door, you can slip into the SCAD admission offices and take a peek at their current exhibit–anything from local paintings to original cartoon illustrations from national publications.

Measure

I happened upon this sweet fabric shop while riding my bike to Forsyth park, and I’m so glad it was on my path! Owner Maria is refreshingly helpful and doesn’t mind if you’re just poking around, oohing and ahhing at all the gorgeous fabrics. Her selection changes constantly and she’s always ready to order anything you can dream up. The shop is decorated with lots of fun vintage pieces and is worth a look even if sewing isn’t your thing.

Wild Fibre

While I don’t usually make my purchases at specialty yarn shops, a stroll through Wild Fibre never fails to inspire me. They have a great selection of beautiful yarns, including unspun alpaca fibers, silk ragg yarn, and felted tweed. They offer weekly classes and lots of project ideas. I really wish I could wrap this shop up and transport it to St. Augustine!

The Book Lady

Used books, galore. A few steps below East Liberty street, you’ll find this cozy hideaway filled with books from floor to ceiling. Like the best used bookshops, it’s a maze of nooks and crannies, with strategically placed comfy armchairs and stools. If it’s a cold or rainy day, you could happily spend hours searching through their immense catalog of books. The Book Lady also hosts frequent events–Poetry Readings, local clubs, and more. Check out their schedule before you visit to see what’s happening during your stay in Savannah.

E. Shaver, Bookseller

Since 1975, Esther Shaver’s has offered a carefully curated collection of books. The shop is nestled in the corner of Madison Square, and they specialize in regional books. If you’re looking for a long-ago published Paula Deen cookbook, or a collection of Savannah’s most interesting stories, this is the place. Even if you aren’t, take a few moments to browse–you might learn a few things about Savannah that you won’t get from any tour or guidebook.

Forsyth Park

Of course, a Savannah classic. The park is gigantic, and best enjoyed with a good pair of walking shoes or on a bike. Don’t miss strolling by the classic fountain near the front.

Mercer-William’s House

“The House,” as locals refer to it–this is the main setting of John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It’s been around for generations, but eccentric owner John Williams transformed it into an antique lover’s paradise. Take the tour; it’s worth every minute (even if you aren’t an avid fan of the book). The Carriage House Gift Shop is also a great place to find unique gifts. Not your average museum gift shop, its selection is updated and modern, with treasures that will make Etsy shoppers drool.

Telfair Art Museums

Even if you don’t have the time to do all the historic sights of Savannah, try to make it to the Telfair Museums. Your museum pass includes admission to the Jepson Center, the Owens-Thomas House and the Telfair Academy. It will give you a great overview of Savannah’s history (as well a look at more modern exhibits and student art). They also offer some great special events throughout the year that are free and open to the public.

Those are my Savannah picks! I still have plenty of exploring to do (next time) and would love to hear your “can’t miss” spots.

October was a pretty busy month. In case you couldn’t tell from, y’know, the fact that I didn’t make a single solitary post on this blog. It wasn’t that busy, but just enough so that when I did have some spare time to write, I wasted it on 30 Rock or reading my backed up Google Reader (it’s about time to “Mark all as read” for sure).

Since I didn’t really give you anything to read this October, I thought I’d at least share what I’ve been up to…

We kicked off the month with a baby shower for our friend Allison, whose baby boy will be arriving any day now!

To celebrate our anniversary (it was September 29th), Mr. Jones and I got tickets to see Death Cab for Cutie in Orlando. It was hands down the best show I’ve ever been to in my life. And completely worth the fact that my car broke down on our way from the hotel to the House of Blues…

(This is post-show, after running to shelter through the pouring rain while we waited for Caleb’s brother to pick us up.)

Since the show was on a Saturday, and they couldn’t tow my car until Sunday, we spend most of the next day wandering around Orlando with the other Mr. Jones (Caleb’s dad). We were so glad he could come pick us up from Orlando, and that my car (on its 240,000th mile) still lives!

October is the perfect time for picnics with friends on the fort lawn at Castillo de San Marcos. I’m hoping that some of the warmer weather will creep back in, because the past week has been chilled by the wind and dappled with rain.

The weekends were also perfect for bike rides, including trail riding through Guana State Park.

When the weather finally did take a turn for the cold, I loved spending time with cider, good music, an inspiring friend, and lots of art projects.

Carving pumpkins also got checked off my fall list, and Mr. Jones came up with a pretty amazing skull (sadly, not pictured).

We closed out the month by celebrating our friend Melissa’s birthday at a killer Halloween Bash. In case you can’t guess, we went as Calvin and Hobbes (if only my hair had been blonder). There were lots of amazing costumes and tasty treats, plus the perfect mix of old and new friends.

And that’s October! Hopefully November will have a few more entries to fill it up, now that fall is settling in and the holidays aren’t quite yet upon us. I’m heading to Savannah this week for Geekend, so I plan to do a little exploring while I’m up there.

1 :: I did a lot of dress shopping this weekend for a ball (yes, a BALL!) that I’m attending on Saturday. While I was searching for a floor length gown, I saw so many cute “short” dresses that I wished I could get instead, like this Annaliese Sweetheart Dress from Ruche.

2 :: I’ve been eating a lot of salads lately, since Mr. Jones has been trying to eat less carbs/gluten. This beet and tangerine salad from SparklingInk is a fresh take on tangerines in salads, combined with crunch red onions.

3 :: I’ve always wished there were a “nap store” (so to speak), where you could pay to take a short nap on your lunch break, so I was thrilled when I saw this awesome idea from a Russian firm: a mini-hotel, perfect for naps!

4 :: For some reason, there’s been an influx of cute, foreign cars lately in our sunny state. They always make me smile, especially the little Fiat 500s.

5 :: This free crocheted basket pattern is originally in Danish, but thanks to Google Translate, you can make it even if you’re not a master of languages. I love how nice and cozy it is–perfect for winter scarves by the door!

6 :: The best clocks are the simplest, like this modern birch timepiece from Uncommon.

In our last two apartments, I’ve avoided putting anything on our front door. I don’t really know why–I’ve seen many a cute wreath, door sign, etc. I think it stems from looking at wreaths in stores one solitary time and seeing high prices. Door decor is not something I’ve ever considered an area I wanted to excel at, so I shrugged off the whole DIY idea as well. I just resigned myself to keeping our front door minimal and empty.

But then.

Then I saw this sweet, welcoming wreath on Etsy.

I was in love. And I said to myself (as I’m often wont to do at places like Anthropologie…and the internet), “I could make that!” Except this time, I actually did.

Now, of course the best (and most nicely made) option is to simply buy the wreath, but since the seller is on vacation (and I really did want to try my hand at some felt flowers), I went straight to the craft store.

$4.99 got me an 18″ grapevine wreath, and I grabbed a a spray of 99¢ fake hypericum berries, along with few felt sheets in gold, light/dark brown, cream, and pink. I would have preferred coral felt, but apparently it’s nowhere to be had (not kidding, I checked two Michael’s and two Hobby Lobby. I really like coral). If I’d had more time I would have ordered it from a seller on Etsy, but sometimes you just have to get a project done.

I found some great tutorials on making felt flowers, and the round ones were incredibly easy. The puffy ones weren’t quite as simple, but they’re definitely doable. Just be careful, or you’ll end up with some nice hot glue gun battle scars.

Once the flowers were finished, I hot glued them to the wreath, stuck in the spray of berries and hung it happily on my door.

My future sister-in-law (yay!), Angela, recently wrote on Twitter, “Time to flip the switch from admiring to making for the evening. And go.” I’m really glad I didn’t let this DIY project pass through my mind like so many have before. Sometimes, when inspirations strikes, you have to turn off the computer and start the making!

Can you tell I’m a sucker for shrimp? I’m pretty sure I could eat them all day long. I know I’ve posted many a shrimp recipe, but I make no apologies. While I’m Florida, the shrimp are bountiful, and I welcome them to my kitchen with open arms.

I had a box of Orzo hanging out in my cabinet, along with some corn and a bit of asparagus, so I put them all together and found this Grilled Jerk Shrimp Orzo salad recipe on Taste of Home. At the time, I didn’t have a grill (although thanks to the cow, a little tabletop grill is now cozied up on our porch). I also didn’t have a red pepper, but I was pretty happy with how my adaptation turned out. It calls for jerk seasoning, but I was batting zero on that as well, so I just mixed up some of my own with this Homemade Jamaican Jerk Seasoning.

Jerk Shrimp Orzo Salad

Adapted from Taste of Home

Serves 2 as a main, or 4 if you’re adding sides

• 1 large ear sweet corn, husked
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/3 cup uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta
• 6 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
• 1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon jerk seasoning
• 1 small sweet red pepper, chopped (optional)

DRESSING:

• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon lime juice (lemon works as well)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Rub the shrimp with the jerk seasoning and set aside.

Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water; set aside.

Place the corn cob base in a shallow bowl and cut kernels off of the cob (the bowl helps to catch stray kernels). Discard cob. Heat 1tbsp butter and a little bit of coconut oil (if you have it) in a skillet over medium heat. Add the trimmed asparagus and cook for 3 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook until the asparagus is just starting to get tender (about 2 more minutes). Add the corn kernels. Cook until the asparagus is cooked through and the shrimp turn pink, turning once. Remove from heat.

Cut asparagus into 1-in. pieces (I found that kitchen shears were the easiest since the asparagus is already mixed with the other vegetables). Place the shrimp/veggie mixture, orzo and pepper (if using) in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients. Pour over salad; toss to coat.

Enjoy, preferably with the back door propped open and your feet kicked up.

1 :: This Summer Festival Striped dress from Ruche is perfect for any last summer hurrahs (and would be great to wear while wandering your upcoming local fairs).
2 :: I stopped in at Broadway Square the other day for some Boba tea and was reminded how much I love it. Now I’m ready to try making my own, thanks to this bubble tea recipe from A Beautiful Mess.
3 :: These stamp sets from The Small Object were featured on Bleubird Vintage, and they’re way too cute. They’d make a great gift, or something fun to pull out on a road trip.
4 :: The work of Andy Morris from Chandelarrow Creative Company is snappy and vintage inspired. So much fun to look through.
5 :: I’ve been wanting to share these fun print-it-yourself airmail templates from How About Orange for a while now. Enjoy and send someone dear a letter!
6 :: Good Magazine just started their 30 day challenge for September: Connect with people! I’m going to follow along and will be blogging about the experience. Give it a shot!

Last night, we got a cow. Ok, part of a cow. It all happened so fast, and somehow I went from getting a random text message a few weeks ago to driving home with part of Betsy (that’s what we named her) in the back of my car.

I’ve been interested in buying part of a cow for a while. We actually don’t buy red meat very often because it’s hard to find local meat that isn’t extremely expensive. Buying a whole cow makes local, free-range beef much more affordable, but we’ve never had the freezer space to tackle one on our own. Mr. Jones and I had talked about splitting one with someone, but just hadn’t done the legwork to make it happen.

Cut to my friend Brenna sending me a text message at the beginning of the month asking if we wanted to go in on one. I was a little gun-shy at first, but we talked it over and decided to give it a shot. It meant a bigger up-front investment from our grocery budget (although not as much as you might think), but it also meant cutting our subsequent weekly food budget quite a bit. The cost per pound is incredibly low, and as long as you have a decent freezer (or at least, a friend/relative with a decent freezer), you’ll be set on your meat-buying for a good long time.

We didn’t know when exactly we were picking up “Betsy” (that’s the name she ended up with), but I figured we’d get the freezer space ready a few days ahead of time. Instead, due to some random events, I got another text on Monday telling me, “The cow is here!” I headed over to pick up my portion, which was 60 pounds of meat. I don’t know quite what I expected, but we ended up with a nice mix of cuts (sirloin, rib steak, ground beef, t-bone and more). They were each individually wrapped and neatly labelled, thanks to the local family butcher shop.

The cow came from a family who raises about 6 at a time, then sells them. They’re a mix of grass and grain fed, and only fed antibiotics for the last few weeks before being butchered (as required by state law). I love that we didn’t have to take care of that end of it, and that the butcher who did it was part of a small family shop that’s been around for a long, long time.

I was a little nervous about how well all of the meat would fit, but between a shelf in Caleb’s grandma’s freezer and some re-shuffling in ours, it all went in quite well. Overall, it was an amazingly smooth experience, even with the last-minute meat arrival. While it may seem overwhelming to purchase a quarter (or even an eighth) of a cow, if you can, give it a shot! You’ll save a good bit on meat in the long run, have the knowledge that it was raised in a healthy way, and enjoy the delicious taste that comes from real, fresh food. If you’re interested, my advice would be to contact your local Slow Food or WAPF chapter; or just start asking around!

Now, we just have to find a grill…

Caleb didn’t want much for his 30th birthday–just getting together with a few friends. When his mom suggested that we have a pirate party out at their place, he was all about it: with the addendum that it be pirates VS ninjas. We threw together a Facebook event and before we knew it, over 30 of our friends and family showed up to duke it out.

We, of course, were ninjas. Pretty tough ones, thanks to Caleb’s DIY nunchucks.

We even had a pregnant pirate and a pregnant ninja, showing their spirit in some awesome costumes.

Caleb’s mom did a spectacular job on the backdrop.

Ninja group photo…

…and the pirates!

Someone got this fun blurred action shot–check out the little pirate in the center looking slightly overwhelmed. This was right before the silly string war, which unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of.

Caleb’s grandpa even made it out, sword in tow. No mannequins were harmed in the taking of this picture.

The party was a blast, and we’re so glad for everyone who came out in such awesome costumes. Not really sure how we’ll top this next year, but we’ll have to start thinking now!

1 :: Now is the time for late summer dresses that transition nicely into fall, like the Cider dress from Shabby Apple.

2 :: I love Peanut Satay and cucumbers, so this Cucumber Peanut Salad recipe from 101 Cookbooks is genius. Plus, it’s ideal for when you want a nice cool dish for supper.

3 :: Bright repeating patterns and fun shapes on this Krakatoa Poster from Studio Violet will make your wall pop!

4 :: Stackable rings that let you mix up whatever color combo strikes your fancy: Hammered Copper Stacking Rings from MixedMetal.

5 :: Not only does Ashley Ann give you a free download of this bright poster, but she shows you how to turn it into a rolled canvas. Add an old wooden clamp hanger and you’ve got some quick and easy wall art.

6 :: I can’t wait to make this. Bunting is fun, old records are even better, so combining the two? Perfect. DIY record sleeve bunting from Oh Happy Day.

image credit

A little more than a month and a half ago, when we moved to our new spot downtown, we got rid of our TV. It was a really big TV, too. Obnoxiously big. We got it at a yard sale, after our first TV (which was given to us by our old church) decided it had put in its share of broadcast time and no longer wanted to work. It was really a last-ditch yard sale trip, because I just couldn’t bear to spend money on a new TV before seeing what the driveways of our town had to offer.

At the last sale of the morning, we pulled up to a nondescript house with kids’ toys scattered out front. And then we spotted it–a giant silver screen. Mr. Jones was positively giddy. We decided on our price limit before leaving the car, so no hearts would be broken. With each step we took up the driveway, the TV grew larger and larger. It took an extension cord, a search for a remote, and a bit of fumbling, but the picture worked. After a trip to the ATM and a ride with me and the massive electronic box in the back of our pickup truck, it was ours.

Months later, in the middle of watching a random show, one or the other of us would laugh and exclaim, “We have a giant TV!” It felt a little silly, frankly, in our small apartment. But it was cheaper than buying a smaller, new one, and as two people who had grown up with less-than-standard TV sizes, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

As much as we loved watching movies on the big screen, life kept getting busier. The batteries in our remote died, and we never replaced them. When the end of our lease drew near, I started to get in the “uncluttering” zone, eyeing everything in the house with a “do we really need this” laser stare. Caleb was actually the first to suggest leaving without the giant box. Our new place wouldn’t have cable (the old one included it with the rent), and the idea of moving the TV wasn’t very appealing.

So we sold it. Now, my iMac sits in the living room in our new place, and I haven’t missed having a “real” television one bit. Granted, it’s not like we’re truly roughing it–thanks to fantabulous inventions like Hulu and Netflix, we’re still able to enjoy watching our favorite shows now and then. But when we do sit down to “watch TV,” it’s much more intentional. We know that we’ll watch one 20 minute (yay, no commercials) episode of 30 Rock and then move on to something else. Or enjoy a few clips from the previous night’s Daily Show, then head out for a walk.

As entertainment continues to appear on more and more platforms, the shared experience of live television is beginning to erode. In a way, it’s a little sad–the idea that you are watching something at the exact same time as THE ENTIRE COUNTRY (well, almost) is a fun one. But I don’t miss the evenings of looking up at the clock and realizing I just spent three hours watching…what did I just watch? Sometimes the best form of self-control is simply removing the tempting box and it’s many channels.

Now you know–I’m one of those crazy people who doesn’t have a TV. Or a microwave, but that’s another story.