A couple of weekends ago, it was time to run up to Atlanta and see Kate and Andrew again. This time was extra special, though - school was out for the holidays, so my other sister Ashley and her family were able to sneak away, PLUS my brother let me bring one of my favorite nephews along, resulting in a regular family slumber party!
Al and I hit the road early Saturday morning. Our first stop was The Deconstructed House. In addition to being a really terrific brother-in-law, Ashley's husband Isaiah is also the contractor for the absolutely fab house I plan to build soon, so the plan was for him to meet me at a couple of places and do some idea-generating slash house-planning. The Deconstructed House is a sort of a salvage yard for home fixtures I had found online and I wanted to check it out, see if I could find any cool stuff for my house. The place turned out to be a little smaller than I anticipated, but it contained loads of pieces full of charm and character. In fact, I got so caught up browsing, I forgot to take pictures! Check out the site here though. (Side note: one of our family legends has to do with my dad honing his sales skills selling a quirky piece of baby furniture years ago. Lo and behold, we found an antique one!) Isaiah and I found some great old doors, plus some pretty cool ideas. (Let's just say that when this house gets built, you're going to want to come visit me, wink wink.) After we left, we hit the gigantic superstore that is Ikea, and we spent a couple of hours roaming its cavernous halls, harvesting more ideas. One of my favorite things about Ikea is the fact that they create these little simulated living spaces. I'm not always (sometimes, but not always) totally crazy about their wares themselves, but I love love love looking at the spaces they create and furnish and "stealing" ideas from them.
My consultant.
(How cool is it when your sister marries an incredibly talented person? Talk about windfalls!)
The world's cutest shopping companions.It was now high time for lunch, PLUS it was time to connect with the real reasons for the season. After a flurry of phone calls and texts, a meeting spot was arranged - JCT. Kitchen, located in the Westside Urban Market. I liked the looks of the place based on their Yelp reviews but I nearly squealed with delight when we pulled up. The place is located in this amazing little foodie/shopping area, full of hip little boutiques, home furnishings stores, artisanal food markets and restaurants. (Check out Star Provisions.) It was cold and rainy and we weren't able to stay very long (dudes and kids are not conducive to leisurely browsing, just saying) but by golly, I intend to go back there and stay for a very long time.
I loved JCT. Kitchen from the moment I walked in. Food is the primary focus of a restaurant in my opinion, and the ultimate yardstick by which I measure a place, but when the owners get both the food AND the look right, I fight the urge to applaud. JCT. was like that. I dug the vibe of the place immediately.
Look who we found! (Doesn't he look glad to see me?)
Shots of a joyous family reunion
Oh, and the food was really good, too, from the salty, spicy, sweet popcorn we started with, to my lamb banh mi, to Andrew's lobster roll, to the grilled cheese and tomato soup for the girls and the kids, to Al and Zay's utterly superb chicken and dumplings (that's what I'd order next time).
Of course, when we were done, we had to hit Jeni's Ice Creams. Homemade and good, with flavors after my own heart. I did a scoop each of the Biscuits with Peach Jam and the Brambleberry Crisp in a waffle cone, and was pretty darn contented by the whole shebang.
Babies and ice cream are a potent combination...
Check out those flavors!
Now, let me point out, we had my baby sister along. Where my baby sister is, there is shopping. Lots and lots of shopping. So, next stop...the Lenox Mall, where else? I have to say, it felt good. Juggling a full-time job and a full-time courseload doesn't leave much time for that wonderfully relaxing, rejuvenating pastime that is wandering a mall. Poor Al the Pal, hauling around with me from Anthropologie to Zara and all points in between. My dude should get an award, he was such a great sport about the whole thing. Never a word of complaint; our only mishap was a misplaced cell phone. (Well, technically, he did get an award. A multi-faceted award, called Apple Store/Brookstone/Nike/etc. I am a nice aunt.) Oh, and a note to the wise, the scenery at the Lenox Mall is...quite pleasant.
We grabbed a quick dinner at a local Mexican place Kate and Andrew knew about (I wasn't hungry, but the bowl of chicken soup I got was pretty good, anyway) and then we moved on to the best part of the whole trip.
I could eat that. Just saying.
She loves her auntie and her auntie loves her.
I speak the truth when I say that the times in my life when I feel like the richest, most blessed woman alive are the times when those that I love are gathered around me. I don't crave money or power or fame or thrills; I crave my people, and when my people are close to me, it is more satisfying than anything else the world can concoct. So yes, an evening gathered around, playing Monopoly and Scrabble, chewing the fat and loving on the kiddos, was pure heaven. (Except for the fact that Andrew whupped my hide in Scrabble. I'm still chafing at that.)
Really, our Sunday was a continuation of the same. We got up late, leisurely ate a killer breakfast (one sister married a genius builder, the other married a fantastic cook. You done good, girls), loaded up, hit another mall (my baby sister was still with us), chilled at Fuddruckers with burgers and milkshakes, wandered Dick's Sporting Goods, and then it was time to part ways.
It's always a little hard to say goodbye, but we play all tough and, with an insouciant wave and a jovial "oh yeah, we'll be seeing you!", we sail off into the sunset. (Don't tell her I said this.) But, in the end, we always do see each other again soon, and in the meantime, we do our stuff and group-text and look forward to these good times.
Oh, and on the way home, Al's last Awesome Nephew Award: a stop at the World of Coca-Cola. (If I am being completely honest, I like it every bit as much as the kids do.) We had but just enough time to watch the cute Polar Bear movie short, ride the 4-D theater (the memory of the sight of two little people, 3-D glasses perched on their wee upturned faces, completely enthralled, is one I cherish) and hit the sample room, where Alvin was utterly grossed out. The dude who is usually the picture of chill was filled with horror at the monstrosities masquerading as sodas that filled his cup and attacked his palate, and it was a complete riot.
And then, me and my sidekick and the family in the black truck aimed our headlights south, towards home. A good weekend it had been, a good weekend indeed.
