BLUE SHOWERS

UPS: First time ordering something to my house... kinda weird having in on my doorstep... seeing as though there is a door and elevator code...hmmm

TIFFANY & CO.: Ceramic Pink Bunny Bank

Isn't she super cute!

SAVINGS BOND & THE BLUE BOX

A good friend of mine is expecting to welcome her precious baby girl Nia Simone into this wonderful but cruel world and she invited me to help celebrate with her and her friends and family!

Let me break it down... I feel a lot of certain ways about baby showers and registries and asking people for gifts etc... hint to why I didn't have a house warming... to sum it up, if you are marrying it, birthing it or buying it, you should be able to afford it! Now because I care about you etc... of course I am going to support you... but don't request that I do... that irks me!

It also irks me that people don't offer to support you... I shouldn't have to ask you for a gift or support... you should care enough about me to offer your support... and please don't give me the I don't have any money(well neither do I but I still make sacrifices to support you and there are things you can do that don't involve money) you haven't registered (side eye: really... you call yourself my friend but you can't figure out that a gift card for paint or any home store would pretty much get the job done... I mean me registering is ridiculous... what do I look like putting a 3k sofa on a registry...) okay sorry I got off task ....

I like to give gifts that are positive for the long run... for example the savings bond...eventually this baby will out grow the cute frilly bibs and want to go to college... or buy a car... or get married... now I'm not saying my bond will do all of that... but it's a start... and if all else fails the bunny bank is from Tiff and co... you can always take it to the pawn shop...

Oh yea they calling me "Tee Tee Quin" ...hmmmm

THE REVIEW: MICHAEL'S STEAK & SEAFOOD

CITY LINE MURAL

THE REVIEW: I've visited the Hoover location of Michael's three times prior to this review and my very first experience was absolutely amazing. A business meeting, in which we were showered with an assortment of tasty appetizers! That is when I fell in love with the MICHAEL'S STYLE BUFFALO WING'S...

BREAD & SWEET ROLLS

THE SERVICE: It's quite ironic that on two of my four visits I received the same attentive waiter. Service was a bit slow on this (my first dinner) visit as a large party was being serviced at the time. The waiter kept us abreast of the timeline and refilled our beverages etc. accordingly. MICHAEL'S STYLE BUFFALO WINGS : ATTEMPT #1

THE AMBIANCE: An amazing live duo took the stage and they really were "that good". Dim lights and live music made for a dinner club type of feel! The well designed restaurant also offers several seating choices. Interestingly enough between my four visits I've never experienced the restaurant filled with customers...

MICHAEL'S STYLE BUFFALO WINGS : ATTEMPT #2

THE MENU: Really does have something for everyone. My second visit yielded my trial of the lunch special Meat and two Vegetables. I chose the Greek Chicken, Mac and Cheese and Fresh Collards. I'm not sure what magical seasoning combination is used for the Chicken but it has me hooked! The Greens and Mac and Cheese were pretty standard and were lacking the "wow" factor that the chicken more than made up for!

BREAD PUDDING

THE REVIEW: While I definitely enjoyed the live band... I now have a love hate relationship with the MICHAEL'S Style Buffalo Wings. Not good ....since they were the only reason for my last couple of visits to Michael's... and unfortunately they just haven't measured up these past two visits to my first two! I ordered the wings to go and got wings similar to ATTEMPT #1 from my last visit.... dry, hard and salty! With the luxury of actually being in the restaurant this visit I sent them back and received ATTEMPT #2... the picture showcases the obvious difference! While they were still tasty they just didn't pack the punch of my first two experiences where they were super juicy and succulent and nowhere near as salty!

CREME CHEESE POUND CAKE

THE VERDICT: Though I've experienced some inconsistencies I do plan on visiting Michael's again to give those wings one last try...besides I think I have a new love affair with their delicious CREME CHEESE POUND CAKE ! Yum! I just wish they would upgrade the ice cream to a vanilla bean gelato. All in all Michael's Steak and Seafood with it's well rounded menu and good service is a nice establishment to add to your list of dinner spots!

LML: IDENTIFYING HAPPY

OHIO SNOW

Almost a year ago I posted about my road trip with my mom and dad to visit sick relatives up north. This past week my mother and I set out again to Cleveland, OH to pay our respects.

TRAVEL FOOD: LONGHORN's & DAIRY QUEEN

I spent around 22 hours in a car with my madre... and it's an experience I won't ever forget!

Though the purpose of the trip was somber I had an amazing time with my mommy!

GROVE CITY

Last trip we had a big hotel fiasco as my mother was against valet parking... this time we did pretty good! THE CAULDRON PROJEKT

One of my favorite saying is "ART IS LIFE" because I really believe it to be so. Recently I looped up with two of my high school classmates to help them out on this awesome gallery project that will run through March! I'm super excited because I really feel like it's what I need to connect to the city and my artistic peers! Stay tuned for more updates on all the fun!

THE ART CRITIC: THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS

THE REVIEW: SAWS BBQ

THE REVIEW: I came upon SAWS by a referral from my boss! I usually don't have high expectations when people refer me because I'm pretty picky! But this has to be the best restaurant quality BBQ I have had by far!

PULL PORK WITH WHITE BBQ SAUCE

THE SERVICE: I've been to this spot a couple of times over the past six months and usually it's packed! Today was a good day as I came after the lunch rush! Service was fast and the food was hot!
THE AMBIANCE: It's a pretty small place with chairs and tables and window bar seating! The usual decor of BBQ joints... random signs with slight humor and license plates litter the walls. Rolls of heavy duty paper towels adorn each table and if my memory serves me right... there are even a few seats out front.

COLLARD GREENS AND MAC AND CHEESE

THE MENU: You'll find Ribs, Chicken, Pull Pork and Stuffed Baked Potatoes on the
menu. Sides like Stuffed Eggs, Greens, Mac and Cheese, Baked beans and Banana Pudding round it all out. The prize to me has to be the WHITE BBQ SAUCE it complements the well seasoned meat perfectly!

THE VERDICT: I LOVE IT... it's truly some GOOD SOUTHERN EATIN! Everything is super flavorful so if you aren't into big taste this may not be the spot for you! The meat is ever so tender and cooked to perfection.... I haven't had a dry, burnt or bland experience yet! I'm not big on BBQ sauce so I won't comment on it but I'm pretty sure you will fall in love with the WHITE BBQ version I keep typing about!

MPC:YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

MPC: Millionare Princess Club

I don't get all into "holidays" but I like my chocolate in a golden box or truffled champagne!

WEEK IN REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

DRUMLINE LIVE: WILL HAVE YOU MOVING YOUR BODY OUT OF YOUR SEAT!

THE CIRCUS: IT'S GETTING OLD :(

CREATING: I had to say see you later to my ESPN family but of course I did it with style!

Check it out on http://www.canuemagine.com/

I've got tons of good stuff coming up ... my first interview and I've been asked to speak to the Girl Scouts at their Birmingham Headquarters ! I've also been feeding my face of course lol... new restaurant review coming soon and my first product review and possible giveaway!

THE REVIEW: QDOBA

THE REVIEW: I like combinations of certain foods... just not in there authentic nature... so you could say I am a big fan of Tex - Mex and there are two places I go when I need a fix LaCocina and Qdoba's unfortunately the LaCocina cart is no longer on the corner and to my dismay last night I discovered that most of the Qdoba's in the area are no longer in business but I found one! YAY! While I was extremely excited about my find...

CHICKEN QUESO BURRITO no beans

THE SERVICE: Well it was pretty darn fast... because the restaurant was empty... it was pretty disheartening... but the server was polite and answered all of my questions about the company and listened to all of my nostalgic college stories of eating at my beloved qdobas!

QUESO

THE MENU: Looked about the same Burritos, Tacos, Taco Salad, Fajitas etc... I found my classics and kept it simple.

TORTILLA CHIPS

THE AMBIANCE: You could probably eat off of the floor... seeing as though they have no customers :( the place was super clean!

THE VERDICT: While I enjoyed the flavor of the open flamed grilled chicken and I appreciate the hint of fresh cilantro in the rice... it just wasn't the same robust flavor that I remember back in college... The queso was just right on the spice but the chips were a mixture of fresh and stale. They still had that special hint of lime and proportionate dash of salt... maybe it was the mix of emotion that one of my favorite restaurants is in despair but I was mildly disappointed.