pink or blue??

first & foremost: i am NOT pregnant.  

obviously, i would've told you about that before revealing the gender.

one of our customers at urban ordered gender reveal cupcakes!!  he {yes, so cute.  the dad called to order them.} loves our chocolate on chocolate cupcakes, so he wanted chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, a white question mark, & pink or blue filling.

they are having a girl!!  pink it is!

i love fun baking projects.  after a few ideas, i decided it was best to cut a hole out of the center, pipe pink frosting in the hole, top with a portion of the cut out piece, & smoosh it in to hide any pink.  then i frosted a big chocolate circle on top & added a cute little white question mark.

they turned out pretty darn cute, right?  yay babies!!

especially for people that aren't me :)

love love,
kjp.

a little peek.

we finally moved!!!  & we are busy busy busy unpacking away.  boxes are everywhere.  stuff is everywhere.  but our new home is coming along.

so while you await my post with pictures of our new home, please allow this picture of our fabulous dining room with three walls of windows looking out over the park & a huge gorgeous tree to hold you over until our home is worthy of pictures.

see why we moved?

happy week to you.

love love,
kjp.

downtown kicked us out.

on friday night, blakey & i had our final downtown date night!  it was a celebration of our awesome two years in downtown birmy & 3 years in midtown okc.  we have loved being downtown lofters with our super open home, gigtanic tall ceilings, homeless friends, & a coffee shop & bar or two only blocks away.

so for our final night, we decided to finally try dinner at one of the fancy restaurants only 3 blocks away, cafe dupont.  upon our arrival, we discovered the restaurant was closed for a private event that evening.

downtown kicked us out.

so instead we headed to our new neighborhood for great beer & good southern food at j.clyde.  bar atmosphere, lots of brews to choose from, fried green tomatoes & fried sauerkraut balls.  that's more our scene.

we're very excited for our move to highlands.  peace out, downtown.

love love,
kjp.

thankful thursday - he moved my desk.

last night, i got really overwhelmed with packing.  we have gotten so much accomplished, but i feel like we still have far to go.

in the midst of all of that, right before i went to bed, we discovered the outlet my computer & modem are plugged into was dead.  d.e.a.d. dead.  it has a surge protector plugged into it but there wasn't even a storm.  the breaker was not flipped.  & to make the problem even more fun, it just so happens to be plugged into the outlet directly behind one of two drawers on our super heavy bookshelf/desk.

awesome.

so frustrated, i said "forget it.  it's time to move." & went to bed.

then i woke up this morning to my entire computer desk set up on the other side of our grand room.  blakey moved the super heavy bookshelf/desk away from the wall to get it unplugged.  he disassembled the computer & modem.  he moved our dining room table against the wall.  he reassembled the computer & modem.  & moved all of my office supplies & chair to my new "desk".

i cried.

it must have taken quite some time.  & it was absolutely not light.  & he wakes up shortly after i do.

so selfless.  so wonderful.  just to make me happy for a few more days before we move.

i am so thankful for my husband.

i hope you can think of something today for which you are thankful.

love love,
kjp.

i had to cook.

since we've been in the ridiculously long process of packing & {hopefully someday} moving, i haven't gotten to cook in so freakin long.  on monday, i just had to cook.  i had to! it was blakey's first night home post night float & i had to make dinner to celebrate!

the cooking things we have left unpacked include:  a knife, a cutting board, salt & pepper, olive oil, & garlic.  that plus fresh ingredients is all i need to make something delicious, right??

i get home with three delicious dishes planned & i realize... we packed the darn knives.  crap!  luckily for me, i have a knife kit down in my car!  negative, knife kit at work.  so i drive to work.  on the way to work, i realize i don't have a single bowl unpacked.  seriously, what was i thinking??

so i grab my knife & some handy to-go boxes from urban.  problem solved!  to-go boxes are kind of like bowls.  execution: this could still be interesting.

i wish y'all could've seen me trying to cook chicken with the one le creuset pot i have unpacked, wash it, stir one dish in it, transfer to to-go box, wash it, stir another dish in it, transfer to another to-go box, wash it, & finally stir the final dish in it.  it was quite comical.

the things i will do to cook for my husband.

after all of that, dinner actually turned out quite well.  i made avocado chicken salad & roasted corn, avocado, & tomato salad from this post & one new recipe:  watermelon cucumber feta salad.  let me tell you - this was the most peculiarly delicious thing i have ever eaten.  every time i took a bite of it, i immediately thought "this is so weird.  but i really want to keep eating more!"  so i think you should try it too:

the strangest salad i have ever eaten

aka watermelon cucumber feta salad.

originally found from: pinterest, of course.

adapted from: the healthy foodie.

a quarter of a watermelon, coffee scoop balled

{it's my favorite watermelon portioning method}

1 cucumber, chopped

3 T fresh mint, chopped

2 T basil, chopped

salt & pepper

2 T cooking wine... or just wine because that is all you have

1 T evoo

1/2 c toasted walnuts, chopped

2 oz feta, crumbled

1. throw all of the ingredients in a bowl & toss until well combined.

2. chill for 30 minutes or so to allow the flavors to marry.

3. enjoy!

happy first day of 3rd year, byrds!!

love love,
kjp.

a day with friends.

i have been strongly hinting at blakey to take me to dinner at one of our favorite little quaint greek restaurants in birmy, nabeel's.  the weather has been perfect for a relaxing evening meal on the patio.  & i have been craving their fantastic peasant salad.  {i know, i know.  it doesn't sound like much.  but it so is.}  he finally realized how right i was about this idea last friday :)

we invited friends to join us in this fabulous meal.  friends we have known for years, friends we have known for a year, & friends we are just beginning to know.  getting to know people over some great food - that is my favorite kind of day.

i forgot to take a picture of all of us.  or maybe i was a wee bit embarrassed to take a picture of all of us.  our new friends are not quite aware of my blogging addiction yet.  in due time, new friends.

oh yeah, we got to spend friday afternoon pre-dinner at the pool with gretchen!  it was fabulous too.  i heart our pool fridays.

love love,
kjp.

here's to you, chiefs!

saturday night, we said farewell to the outgoing class of chiefs!  we celebrated them in style at a fancy black tie event at the birmingham country club with dinner & dancing.  it was a marvelous time with so many of the interns, residents, fellows, attendings, & spouses all in one place {a few had to stay behind to deliver babies.  as it turns out, they wont stop going into labor for our party.}

our table of friends:

{dr & mrs chappell}

{ashley & me}

{dr caroline & dr gretchen}

after dinner & awards, we headed to the dance floor, of course!

 {blakey hugging their awesome program "mom", nancy}

after we all said our goodbyes to the chiefs, we decided to continue on the party.  more dancing at pale eddies with our friends.  a fun fun evening it was.

a few of the upcoming interns joined us!  these 'terns are awesome.  we are so excited they are here!  & i think they are going to fit in spectacularly.

{danny & johanna, megan & bf, haller & bf}

congratulations, cheifs!!  we are so proud of you & all you have become.  now go out into the world to share your greatness!

love love,

kjp.

you're a peach!

{strawberry pound cake topped with basil whipped cream}

long gone are my don't-put-fruit-in-my-dessert days.  strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches.  the more the merrier!  so please enjoy my new little obsession...

{blueberry blackberry lime bars}

{blueberry cookies!}

{oh, you're a peach, roscoe!]

happy friday to you, friends!  hope you get to put some fruit in your dessert.

& happy 10-year reunion, norman north & norman high class of 2002!!  wish blakey & i could be there to celebrate with each one of you!!  a big cheers to you from us.

love love,

kjp.

thankful thursday - a huge help.

lisa drove out to birmy to help us pack!!  i honestly could not be more grateful.  she spent all day yesterday packing up our kitchen.  & this might shock you, but i have a lot of kitchen stuff.  my mother in law is a fabulous packer.  i am one who packs one box, gets overwhelmed, & calls it a night.  but lisa went from a completely full kitchen to this:

{amazing!}

oh, & lisa also packed up our shuffleboard table to take back to oklahoma for us until we have a new place to display it.  she couldn't bare letting us let it & all of the awesome memories go.  so cari & aric are keeping it for us in their new home!  i cannot wait to get to oklahoma to play!  & by "play", i mean kick their butts at shuffleboard. :)

while i'm being thankful, our wonderful friends, jordan & trey who just moved out to birmy for residency too {awoohoo!!!} & their mothers saved all of their boxes & bubble wrap for us & helped get it all to our loft!  huge.  

people are so nice.  we truly could not have done it without y'all.

a few more boxes to go.  but i think we can handle it now.

i hope you can think of something today for which you are thankful.

love love,

kjp.

chocolate + espresso + caramel.

chocolate & espresso cupcakes topped with caramel buttercream & a caramel drizzle.  

i had the awesome opportunity to make cupcakes for a surprise birthday party for the husband of a big magazine food stylist in birmingham.  i was super nervous.  all sorts of foodie people were going to be there.  & totally judge my cupcakes.

so i made some fancy cupcakes!

this brand new recipe i had never tried... why do i do this to myself??... turned out pretty well.  the cupcakes were quite tasty.  what chocolate + espresso combination isn't?  the buttercream, on the other hand, did not want to cooperate.  after a little bit of convincing, it finally came through.  but it was the caramel drizzle that really did it.  everything is better with a caramel drizzle!

the party-goers were super kind & passed compliments to me!  our chef even ate two :)  i'll count it as a success.

love love,

kjp.

a date out on the patio.

after a long week for both of us, blakey & i had a lovely date night at the parkside patio.  a gorgeous day, a delicious beer or two, & an evening {ok ok, afternoon might be a more appropriate term for the time of day it actually was} with my best friend.  i could not ask for more.

love you, byrds.  three more nights!

love love,
kjp.

celebrating one more week.

in one week, blakey is going to be a big kid at work!  two years down, two to go.  can you believe it??  part of me feels like it has flown by.  but another part of me feels like moving to alabama & starting residency was a lifetime ago.  i think it is wonderful that way... i definitely appreciate every day more.

this weekend, the uab obgyn residency gathered to celebrate, toast, & roast the one-week-away outgoing class of chiefs!   it was a fantastic evening with the opportunity to see so many of our friends we have made over the last two years all together.  the current third years did a fabulous job of roasting the outgoing chiefs.  it.was.hilarious.

PROPOSE OR SHOOT??!  PROPOSE OR SHOOT??!

i truly have not laughed that hard in a long long time.  even with all of the good fun, we will miss this class of chiefs.  some great doctors & great people are heading out into the world to be doctors.  best wishes to all seven of you!

& in one week, blakey is going to be a third year.  a big kid.  easier calls.  very rare pages.  more & more research.  applying for fellowship.  it's a bit scary, as all new things are, but we are super excited. & i am so proud of him.

happy bonus week, residents!!

love love,
kjp.

mmm... blackberries!

it is hot outside & that means it is berry season!  we have so many beautiful berries in our kitchen, including these fabulous gigantic blackberries.  i love blackberries.  a little bit tart; a little bit sweet.  love them.

so when i found this recipe on pinterest for apple blackberry cake, i knew it was going to be {almost} summer love!

& because i am feeling extra sweet, i'll give you my version:

apple blackberry cake

adapted from the ginger cook

1 1/2 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 oz butter, melted

3/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c buttermilk

2 eggs

2 apples, cored & sliced into 16 wedges

1/2 pint blackberries

topping:

2 T brown sugar

a dash or two of cinnamon

1 oz butter, cut into little pieces

1. preheat oven to 350.  spray a 9" springform pan & dust with sugar.

2. whisk together flour, powder, & salt.  in another bowl, mix together melted butter, brown sugar, buttermilk, & eggs.  pour liquid into dry & lightly stir until combined.  spread batter into your pan.

3.  arrange apples in a pretty overlapping pinwheel pattern over your batter.  presentation really is the beginning of everything, isn't it? cut a few of the slices up to cover the center, if needed.  sprinkle the blackberries on top.  gently press fruit into the batter, just until you see a little batter popping through.

4. sprinkle brown sugar & cinnamon & butter pieces on top.  bake 45 - 55 minutes or until the cake is golden & a toothpick comes out clean.  let cool & eat away!

happy friday, friends!!  go enjoy that heat with some delicious berries.

love love,
kjp.

thankful thursday - a get away.

this has not been the most fun week of my life.  it certainly hasn't been the least fun either.  but i wouldn't rank it anywhere in the top.

so i needed a little get away last night & headed to a new coffee shop in town.  it is a lovely little place with delicious iced tea & flowers on every table.  the staff was kind & friendly & cheered on the thunder with me.  i listened to some adele & did plenty of people watching.  a beautiful reminder of my love for coffee shops.

it was so nice to get away, even if only for a few hours & a few miles down the street.

i hope with whatever this week has brought you, you can think of something for which to be thankful.

love love,
kjp.

lots of love to little aveer!

{the lovely mom-to-bee & hosts!}

after we filled the guests with amazing food & beverages, it was time for julie & little aveer to open their gifts!  

{my sister!!!}

{the soon-to-bees: grandma, aunt, & mom!}

baby things are so stinkin cute & these guests brought some amazing things.  but julie might have  had to explain a thing or two to me...

{a reusable diaper with snaps for multiple sizes.  smart.}

{a grass dish drying rack!

does it have to be for baby things?

or could i get one too for our kitchen??}

{thug life.}

{little aveer's first ou outfit!

perfect since the due date is during football season!}

the wonderful & amazing hosts {hehe} got julie her jogger & car seat!  little aveer is ready to go where ever you go, julie byrd & benny boo!!

& since we want aveer to be as smart as his/her parents, a huge book collection is ready for the nursery!

{from the grandpa}

{from the grandma}

{this must be a good one}

 {a pop out book!}

 {oh, little aveer.  you are going to get so many kisses from aunt kendall!}

oh my gosh, we had so much fun throwing you a shower, julie byrd!!!  happiest of days to you & benny boo & little aveer.

{emily, me, lindsey, izzy, cari, jenna, & siena!}

little aveer, i cannot wait to meet you & spoil you even more!  

love love,

kjp.