Savannah Bachelorette Weekend

It's difficult to summarize just how special this weekend was for me.

Bachelorette parties have a cliche, almost tacky reputation. The ritual stipulates that you're letting go of your freedom, reveling in one last weekend of female company before you take the plunge and domesticate. It's an event that traditionally feels as antiquated as referring to a married woman in terms of chattel. Women spending time with women looks two ways in modern society- it's either a pillow fight or a Lilith Fair concert. I'm happy to say that my bachelorette fell into neither of these stereotypes. I didn't know what to expect going into the trip- I had picked the location but beyond that wasn't permitted in participating in any of the planning. The result was one of the most inspiring weekends of my life. It was relaxing and exciting, I laughed and had some very serious and eye opening moments. 

I loved that my bachelorette was all about reconnecting with my girlfriends. It was a reminder that even though I am entering a partnership with a man it is the female relationships that keep me afloat year in and year out. Nothing is as consistently a mirror of my womanhood, my strengths, weaknesses, growth than the girlfriends who have seen me change and shift into the woman I am today. I feel ready for this next chapter in my life because I was able to see myself reflected in the eyes of women I respect and admire. I liked what I saw. 

IMG_6517.MOV from Tatyana Fey on Vimeo.

I want to share a few photos from this weekend that I didn't put on Instagram or Facebook. Savannah is one of the most surreal and singular places I've ever traveled. This was my third trip down and I was as hypnotized by the beauty and stillness of the drooping oaks and city squares just as much as five years ago. The city feels like walking through a children's ghost story, no wonder it's considered one of the most haunted towns in America.

The Colonial but Mediterranean inspired architecture coupled with Spanish moss hanging off every branch envelops you in a moodiness that's hard to describe. Square after ornate square the city feels like a river which flows into itself. I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend and came back feeling refreshed and relaxed. Enjoy!

We started the weekend with a trip to the Forsyth Park farmer's market. We bought honey, bread, cheese, okra, tomatoes, carrots and picnicked in the park with water bottles full of sparkling wine. My incredible sister, who organized the entire weekend, even found a sunflower vendor who gave us so many blooms for free. Our wedding is sunflower themed, so was the picnic :)

The heat index was high last weekend (118°F!) but that didn't stop us from taking in the city streets, squares, and fountains.

We stepped off the beaten path for lunch and indulged in taking out BBQ from Sandfly BBQ, hands down the best I've ever had. Texas toast, brisket, mac & cheese... washed down with a beer. One of the best meals of my life. 

Best named beer ever? yes.

exhibit at the scad shop. 

Forsyth Park Fountain from Tatyana Fey on Vimeo.

I saved the best for last. Sisters!

Grains of Salt

I can't believe it's Monday again already. Every week has been busier than the last and Memorial Day vacation feels like it happened a year ago at this point. I've known that this summer would be insane for months now but for some reason I can't seem to snap into the fast pace that I know is required of me. My mind has slowed down and I feel frozen in the amount of things that need to happen between now and September. 

Aside from the 145 things (I counted)  that need to happen for the wedding, I've been trying to put out the promised post on closet editing. Hoping to get that and the rest of my ducks in a row this week- not sure what's been standing between me and doing so but I'm starting with good and always effective list making. 

The glimpses of the last week are in line with what my mood has been. Slow, steady, but somehow all over the place. Like trying on my wedding dress and then sitting on a bench for half an hour eating a French cream donut... Completely irrational, totally unnecessary, yet somehow needed? Is there such a thing as a summer slump? I think I'm in one. 

French cream donut, my favorite bag. Is a 1000000 calorie donut still considered a "small indulgence"?

I've been thinking about buying peonies for the apartment for weeks. I usually stop myself because the price point is a bit too high but I am so glad I splurged. Something about walking into the living room and seeing the clouds of petals made me feel like life is a little more together than it actually is right now. Weird sentence but totally flows with the way my brain has been. 

I've talked about our newly minted tradition of turning laundry into a "date night." It's a small, simple way for us to spend that hour while the clothes spin and dry talking and catching up. This week we tried out a BBQ place that just opened up down the street. It's a total hole in the wall that hit the spot for comfort food. Perfectly fried chicken and cornbread for me, BBQ chicken and mac + cheese for my date. We ate it all on a bench outside the laundromat and as always it was more romantic and sweet than any gourmet restaurant experience we've had. 

Finally, naps on naps on naps. There is just not enough sleep to be had. Every member of my family has been walking around like a zombie, pups included. Maybe it's the pollen levels? Maybe it's the aforementioned summer slump? Hoping some outdoor activities I have planned next week will help snap us out of whatever is going on. 

Quick Bake White Fish

I was scrolling through the site yesterday, cleaning up recipes and configuring links and I realized that almost every food posts starts with a chat about the weather or my health. "It's cold -  I'm craving soup. I have a sinus infection- I'm craving soup." Lots of soup on this site lately. Just another example of how easy it is to fall into a rut with food, especially when on a tight schedule. I gravitate to soup and salad because the recipes tend to fill me up quickly and are easy to assemble and keep for a few days. Dinner and lunch in a hurry. Lately it's been pretty rare for me to stop and experiment with something new or prepare a dish that won't yield two days worth of leftovers. 

We got home from Memorial Day travels late on Monday night and I knew that I had to figure something out for dinner the next evening. A quick survey of my freezer yielded the same items I usually stock, listed in my Starting From Scratch post, but making chicken or a beef dish felt tired and too labor intensive. My first day back at work after the long weekend is always long and stressful and it almost always ends in unpacking when I get home. The last thing I want after a long day at the office is to come home to cooking a huge meal. I wanted something that would be faster than fast but still super tasty. So I scanned the freezer and my eye landed on some dover sole fillets I had spontaneously picked up at Trader Joe's during our monthly shopping trip. 

I don't cook fish very often. Which, after making this recipe, is something I'm going to change. This meal took me 20 minutes from start to finish and it was delicious and perfectly summery. White fish isn't heavy but super filling and when paired with some roughly chopped, roasted root vegetables it's the perfect hot summer evening meal. What's best- the dover sole fillets I found at TJ's were only $5 for 4 pieces! There were no leftovers, but with the savings on the dinner meal it felt like I could grab a bite out with coworkers the next day without feeling especially guilty.

Quick Bake White Fish

Ingredients

• 3-4 fillets of white fish (I used dover sole)
• 1 /2 lemon, for squeezing
• 2-3 sprigs of green onion, white parts removed
• 1 tbsp. paprika
• 1 tbsp. saffron
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
• 2-3 cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced

I improvised this recipe with spices I had on hand and enhanced the flavors with cherry tomatoes and green onion, leftover from a previous meal. Play around with this recipe! Have a leftover lemon? Slice it up and place it on the fish. Red onion rings from a salad? Same. It's so important to play with what you have in your fridge and keep it fun. Basil would be delicious on these too!

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Remove your fish fillets from wrap and gently dry them on both sides with paper towel. Lay them out on a baking sheet. 
3. Sprinkle fillets with salt, pepper, paprika, and saffron. Use a gentle hand and make sure your spices are distributed evenly across the fish. 
4. Squeeze half of your lemon on the fish. Drizzle with a small glug of olive oil.
5. Arrange green onions, tomatoes, and garlic on the fillets. 
6. Bake for 15 minutes, until the fish is white and flaky. Do not overcook. 

I served the fish with a side of roasted, rough chopped root vegetables. (I keep potatoes, carrots, yams peeled and ready to go in some tupperware in the fridge for an easy and healthy dinner side.) The potatoes + carrots roasted while I prepped the fish AND while the fish was baking (just move them to a lower rack). Rice or a fresh salad would be delicious as well.