A Year of Dining Out in Columbus

For 2011, Jeff and I had the idea that we would try one new restaurant each month that we have never been to before. Better yet, why not do it with another great couple we are friends with. Jeff and I picked 6 restaurants and our friends are picking the other 6 restaurants. Tonight we are going to the first one on our list: Figlio. It's a restaurant we've been wanting to try for awhile now. But like everyone, we get into the same food rut and end up going to the same restaurants when we decide to eat out. This little "project" will hopefully expand our food horizons and push us one step closer to that "Columbus Foodie" category (but in a good way).

Here is our list of 6 restaurants:

1. Figlio

2. Aab India Restaurant

3. Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace

4. Barcelona

5. Knead

6. Si Senor

I plan to be back after going to each restaurant to give you a little food review, hopefully with pictures, and let you know about our experience. Figlio is all about their wood-fired pizzas. Jeff is a huge pizza fanatic so he'll undoubtedly enjoy it. I also enjoy pizza, but I enjoy it best with different and unique ingredients and flavor combinations. I'm hoping that Figlio will give me that opportunity. I'll keep you posted!

Weight Watchers: Back on the Wagon

So I'm not sure anyone is even reading my blog anymore, but thought I better write a post if I'm going to keep this blog at all. I'm back on Weight Watchers (WW) again. Started last week and trying to adjust to this new Points Plus program.

I was hesitant and skeptical at first, being as though I lost 30 lbs on the old program. However, after week 1, I have to admit, it's pretty good. I hate having to re-learn all the point values for my favorite foods but I like that I get to eat as many fruits and veggies as I want and not have to worry about the point total. I think the higher daily point total is a little fraudulent though because, although you get more points per day, everything you eat is a little higher in points like it used to be. It gives a sense of false hope that you get to eat more per day, when in all actuality, you're really not. I'm pretty sure I'm eating about the same amount of foods as I did on the old program. My food staples really haven't changed.

I need to lose 14 lbs to get back to my goal weight. I'm proud to say that I lost 3 lbs in the first week. Just 11 more to go! If losing this last 11 lbs is anything like it was last time, this may be a long couple of months. However, if I can convince myself that exercise is good and I should like exercise, maybe it'll be a bit easier.

I'll keep this updated each week with how the journey is going. I'm hoping that my blog can become my motivation tool to keep myself honest in this journey. That being said, I had City BBQ tonight as our one meal out per week and it was awesome! Back to being super strict tomorrow.

Until next time...
Amy

Trick or Treat!

I was so excited for our first Halloween in our new house. I was looking forward to actual trick-or-treaters coming to our door, ringing our doorbell, wearing awesome costumes, and me giving them candy. While we didn't have as many as I had hoped, we did have about 30 and they were all adorable.

And what's Halloween without a costume....

(Jackie dressed up too!)

Of course I was a cat. Like you didn't see that one coming.

We also carved some amazing pumpkins. Jeff and I went to a pumpkin patch near our home and carefully chose our pumpkins. The night of my birthday we carved them. Again, the amazing Jackie was with us and participated.

(Jeff's pumpkin is on the left, mine is in the middle and Jackie's is on the right)

Mine was carved using a stencil but Jackie's is free-hand. Doesn't she have awesome skills? Jeff's is free-hand as well and equally impressive. And of course the best thing about carving pumpkins is roasting and eating the seeds. Nothing better than roasted pumpkin seeds.

Hope everyone's Halloweens were equally as fun and exciting as ours!

Until next time...

Amy

Do you ever just feel "old"?

I'll be 27 in about 2 weeks. I know that by no means does that make me "old", but if you're only as old as you feel, does that also work in reverse? Some nights I feel like I'm about 75! Complaining about kids in our yard, falling asleep by 8:30 on the couch, griping that my knee or hip is hurting. Geez. Sounds like I could be a regular on the Golden Girls.

This weekend I was in Bowling Green for Homecoming. Nothing makes me feel older than watching a ton of college girls drinking, including people my age who are still able to drink at 2:00 in the afternoon and it never phases them. One glass of wine and I'm searching for the nearest place to take a nap! Plus, it was hard to tell friends that I couldn't party with them all night because "I have to get home to my husband and my cats".

It's official, I'm in my late twenties. And before you go asking "when are you having a baby", I can save everyone a breath and let you know that the new age for baby-making is 32. So I still have 5 more years before kids hit closer on the radar. Until then, I'm reveling and adoring all of my friends' babies. And since Jeff and I will probably never be an aunt and uncle, I'll have fun spoiling all babies of close friends.

So with the big 2-7 approaching, I'm left feeling somewhat old and somewhat not ready to grow up. Should be an interesting year.

Until next time...

Amy

A whirlwind month!

Wow! It's been over a month since I've posted, but at least I've got a good excuse. We're all moved in to our new house! The boxes are all mostly unpacked. The furniture is in, including our brand new couch and loveseat that my mom and dad purchased for us. We actually have a guest room with a full size bed (thanks Alyson!) so that guests can sleep on a bed instead of a 10+ year old futon. It's starting to feel more like home every day.

My new job is going really well. I'm very happy with the change and I feel like I'm doing pretty well at it. I really enjoy working from home although I get pretty restless in the evenings when I haven't gone anywhere all day. I know this will become less and less of a problem as my caseload continues to grow.

Jeff was offered the HS English teaching position at Premier Academy of Ohio for the 2010-2011 school year. We are both excited and relieved. He's teaching 10th, 11th, and 12th grade English.

Finally, Jeff and I have a mini-vaca planned for mid-August. We're spending 2 nights on Kelley's Island at Sunrise Point. Jeff and I purchased/won the trip last summer during a silent auction for a Batten Disease fundraiser. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to getting away, even if it's just for 3 days! We haven't really had a real vacation since our honeymoon. We've taken small trips here and there but this is the first trip where we can do nothing but relax.

Hopefully I'll have pictures to post soon. I spent yesterday making valances for the kitchen. They turned out really well. I'm planning to make some placements that coordinate for the kitchen table. I also need to get working on my Etsy shop! As soon as it's up and running I'll let everyone know.

Until next time...

Amy

Officially Home Owners!

As of 12:00pm yesterday, Jeff and I are officially home owners.

Yes friends, you heard right! After almost 6 months of this home-buying process we have reached the finish line. Jeff and I figured out we probably looked at over 30 houses, put an offer on two and have finally claimed one as our own.

We'll be moving in next week and let me tell you, it's not soon enough! We gave the seller 7 days to move out and she's taking all 7 days. Jeff plans to pick up the keys from the seller's realtor on Tuesday morning at 7:30am. My dad is driving down with his truck to help us move as well.

Right now we're living among boxes. We're probably 80% packed. Jeff's parents came down this past weekend to help us organize and pack. It was a HUGE help! We'll be very glad when these boxes can officially make it over to the new home.

My biggest worry now is hoping the cats adjust well. I think they'll be fine and I'm sure after awhile they'll really enjoy all the space!

I'll post pictures of the move-in once it happens. Thank you to everyone who sent good thoughts or said small prayers for us during the entire process. We needed it and it finally paid off!

Restaurant rave!

I wanted to give a restaurant rave to a great place that we tried for the first time this weekend. Jeff and I always enjoy trying new places (either brand new or new to us) and we are rarely disappointed. One thing I can say about Columbus is that we are never at a loss for great restaurants that serve fabulous food!

My shout out goes to The Burgundy Room in the Short North. Jeff and I were in the Short North for ZombieWalk Columbus (an entirely different post) and after having a few drinks with friends at MoJoe Lounge, said goodbye to our friends and grabbed dinner at The Burgundy Room.

The atmosphere seems 2-fold. The front of the restaurant is bright and friendly. Definitely where you'd want to sit if you were there with friends. The back of the restaurant is dark and romantic. A great spot for a romantic night out on the town. If you're a wine love, this is your restaurant! They have tons of great selections for both white and red wine lovers. Jeff claims that he had the best glass of wine he's had in his entire life. My glass of white was amazing as well.

The Burgundy Room is a tapas bar meaning that they serve small plates (tapas) meant for sharing and passing. You're meant to order 2-3 different dishes. Jeff and I got the french fries with garlic aioli dipping sauce, shrimp and grits with bacon and pork belly in a marinara jus and pulled confit of duck leg with cheese tortellini in duck jus. One word describes them all = OHMYGOD! They were each amazing and very rich which is why the small plates are so great. You get just enough of each plate with stuffing yourself.

Price-wise, this place is a little more expensive. For two glasses of wine and three tapas we spent $49. I would consider this a special occasion restaurant.

So if you're looking for a great place or something new to try, check out The Burgundy Room in the Short North.