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Summertime Florida sunset while driving

A Few Days in St. Petersburg

written by Parita 8 Comments

As I mentioned in my post on Thursday, Vishnu and I spent a portion of the weekend in St. Petersburg.  The purpose of our trip was to find an apartment and guess what…WE DID!  I was honestly a little nervous that nothing would be available for when we needed to move, but it worked out pretty nicely.  We were able to stay within our budget, and our new place is in a super cute neighborhood full of restaurants, shops, parks, etc. 

Now that we have a place and a move-in date the real work and planning begins…  But I’ll save all that for another post. 

Florida_sunset 
Gorgeous Florida sunset!

We didn’t just apartment hunt while in St. Petersburg.  We also ate some really good food. 

On Friday, we went to a place called Meze 119 for lunch.  It’s a vegetarian (with some vegan options) Greek restaurant.  The Yelp reviews I read were all pretty positive, so I knew we were in for a treat.

We got the basil pine nut hummus and zaatar bread to start.  In my opinion, the hummus could have been a little more flavorful.  It was all a little too subtle for my liking.  The creamy texture was spot on though.  The zaatar bread was perfectly toasted, and the spices sprinkled on top added a lot of rich flavor. 

Meze 119_hummus 
I also ordered the Cyprus BLT and loved the panko-crusted tomatoes, the olive tapenade, and the tempeh bacon.  Definitely something I’d order again.

Meze 119_BLT 
Vishnu ordered the Shawarma and liked it a lot.  While he loves his meat, vegetarian chicken is something he seems to be able to get on board with.  I had a bite of his sandwich and really liked how saucy it was.  Tons of curry flavor too.  We ordered the garlic potatoes with his sandwich and am so glad we did.  They weren’t super crispy, but the roasted garlic bits on top were spicy and added so much flavor.  I heard the table next to ours ask for hot sauce, so I followed suit.  You guys.  I wish they sold this stuff by the bottle.  The sauce had a spicy smoky vinegary tang.  So good!

Meze 119_Shawarma 
Later that night, we went to The Refinery for dinner.  All credit goes to Vishnu for finding this place and making a reservation.  He was a little nervous that I wouldn’t like it because there weren’t too many vegetarian options, but we both agreed that his was one of the most creative meals we’ve ever had.  The entire menu is made up of eclectic dishes that combine a number of very different/unique ingredients (read on for more detailed descriptions) that at first glance don’t seem like they would go together.  But of course, everything was absolutely delicious.  And the best part is that the menu changes every few days based on what the local farms can provide, so your experience will likely be completely different every time you visit.

We started with the Eggplant Blini which was essentially an eggplant puree pancake with tiny tomatoes, cucumber, radish, ricotta, and orange.  The pancake itself had a bit of Mediterrean flavor which all the other ingredients added to beautifully.  I’m going to try to recreate this at home!

The Refinery_Blini 
For my entree, I ordered the Potato, Leek, and Yellow Squash Casserole.  While this combination doesn’t sound unusual at all, the outside ingredients were plum and truffle honey.  I was shocked by how well everything came together!  The casserole was rich and creamy, the vegetables were tender, and the plum/honey combo added a subtle sweetness. 

The Refinery_Veggie Casserole 
For his entree, Vishnu ordered the Butter Burger.  Talk about crazy combinations – this burger came with all different kinds of butters, including apple-raisin butter, peanut butter, tomato butter, etc.  Our waitress highly recommended it, and Vishnu said that he could totally see why it was so popular.  As with all the other dishes, non of the flavors competed with each other.  The different components added to the overall taste in their own subtle way.

The Refinery_Burger 
Going into this meal, I told Vishnu that I didn’t want dessert.  The two options on the menu didn’t sound all that appealing to me.  Well, that all changed when our waitress (who was amazing!) took it upon herself to describe each one in detail.  I obviously and rather quickly changed my mind on the whole no dessert thing!  The best way to describe what we got is to think of a pie with a gooey brownie filling, a ginger shortbread crust, and lime whipped cream.  Sounds insanely weird but it totally worked!  The chocolate filling was dark and rich, the ginger crust was subtly spicy, and the lime whipped cream added a pop of citrus.  I really really really hope that this dessert is on the menu the next time we eat here. 

The Refinery_Chocolate Pie

So based on this trip, I think we’re going to adjust to living in St. Petersburg just fine! 

Now if only our current apartment would pack and move itself!

Happy Monday!

Do you live in a foodie city?  What’s one restaurant people should try when visiting?

Written on May 4, 2015 Related:Moving, Restaurant

The Adventure Continues!

written by Parita 16 Comments

The adventures of Vishnu and Parita continue…

PV move
We’re moving to St. Petersburg, Florida this coming June for Vishnu’s intern year.  And then in June of 2016 we’ll be moving to Chicago for his radiology residency!

I’m really excited about our upcoming moves for a number of reasons – the biggest being that my sister and Adarsh will also be in Chicago at the same time as us for their own residencies!

But more than anything else, I’m SO proud of Vishnu for pouring his heart and soul into medical school, the residency match process, and all the craziness that comes with this territory.  There’s no one else I’d rather be on this journey with!

The adventure truly continues!

Stay tuned 🙂

Written on March 23, 2015 Related:Life, Moving

Exhausted But Happy

written by Parita 26 Comments

Our move is 99% complete!  We still have a few things left to do at the old place, but for the most part we are done.  You guys, I can’t even tell you the last time I was this physically exhausted.  It’s kind of ridiculous.  But I don’t really care because we’re happy.  And that’s all that really matters, right?

To be quite honest, I don’t think I was as prepared for this weekend as I thought I was.  I left a lot until the last minute because we weren’t going very far (or at least that’s what I tell myself).  My procrastination led to a late Friday night and an early Saturday morning. 

And don’t even get me started on our movers.  Let’s just say that if I didn’t take the initiative to call and ask where the heck they were at 10:30 (the time we were told everything would start), we would have been in big trouble.  I’m glad we don’t have to go through the ordeal of moving for at least another two years.  That just adds to my happiness.

0DA74F8F-E676-46B5-B5E0-74F26C05E999

We are currently 90% unpacked and organized, which isn’t too bad considering I was gone for most of the day Sunday.

I also wanted to say thanks for all the good lucks, well wishes, etc.  Y’all are the best!  [insert virtual hug]

And with that, I’m off to work.  No longer having to get in the car and drive for over an hour makes me SUPER happy!  Happy Monday!

Written on May 6, 2013 Related:Life, Moving

Over Milk and Cookies

written by Parita 13 Comments

Last Friday, Dixya wrote about having a virtual coffee date with her readers.  It was so creative and fun to read.  I felt like I was sitting across the table chatting with her.  I loved her idea so much that I thought I would do something similar.  However, instead of chatting over coffee, we’d enjoy milk and cookies (come on, channel your inner five year old with me). 

As we dunked our delicious chocolate chip cookies in milk and devoured them one bite at a time, we’d talk and talk and talk.  And by the end of our time together, we’d be best friends…forever!

If this cookie date were to happen today, I’d have a few things to tell you…

First, I’d tell you that I’m super excited about our move (tomorrow is the big day!).  Then, in the same breath, I’d tell you that I’m also super stressed because Vishnu and I have A LOT left to do.  We’ll probably be packing right until the movers arrive.  Oh well, it will get done…because it has to get done.

moving

Next, I’d completely change gears and tell you about my new favorite lip product – the CoverGirl Queen Collection Jumbo Gloss Balm.  You’d hear about how amazing it is – rich color, creamy texture, and fantastic coverage (it’s not a stain, but it does leave my lips lightly colored).  I’d then tell you to go get the Jammin Gem shade.  It’s beautiful!

COVERGIRL Queen Collection Jumbo Gloss Balm

I’d then pull out my iPhone so that we could watch my favorite cute little kid video of all time.  We’d watch it several times…she’s that cute!

And finally, before we got up to refill on more milk and cookies, I’d share the following quote with you.  My sister’s professor shared it with her class during a lecture on eating disorders.  She really liked it, so she sent it to me! 

Scales only have the power which we bestow upon them.
In reality, a scale is just a small household item made of metal & springs & dials.
A scale is a toaster is a blender is an electric toothbrush is a weed whacker.
Imagine if I said, "My self-worth is determined by the toaster."Sounds pretty weird, eh?
Or "I’m fat, the lawnmower said so!"
Or "I have to check with the blender to see if I like myself today."
The power only comes in when we choose to hand all of ours over to an inanimate object.

How true, right?

I told you I’m a talker!  No worries because it’s your turn next…

What would you tell me about if we had the chance to chat over milk and cookies?

Written on May 3, 2013 Related:Friends, Life, Moving, Quotes

The Story Behind Our Move

written by Parita 31 Comments

As I mentioned in Monday’s post, Vishnu and I are moving to Miami! We found what we were looking for a few weeks ago and just finalized all the details this week. We move in 2.5 weeks…eek. Luckily, we haven’t collected too much crap over the past 10 months! Even so, the next few weeks are going to be insane with selling furniture, packing, unpacking, organizing, etc.

But most importantly, we’re happy. Vishnu’s happy to be living in a young, lively neighborhood full of restaurants and bars. I’m happy to no longer have a 2.5+ hour commute…and to be in a young, lively neighborhood!

Something I haven’t talked about on the blog is why we decided to move (yet again). When we first moved to Fort Lauderdale, I swore a million times over that we were going to stay put for at least 3 years (until Vishnu starts residency). Our [current] apartment is affordable, big, clean, and modern. However, the surrounding neighborhood isn’t the greatest, especially for a young, newly married couple. And everyone, including our parents, hated the fact that my commute was so long. I was willing to deal with all of this because of the affordability factor. Vishnu wanted to discuss our options.

Around the end of last year, Vishnu started bringing up the possibility of us moving closer to where I work, which is a beautiful area full of young professionals. He felt like we were 29 going on 59…all because of where we lived. I knew he was right, but I couldn’t fathom paying so much more in rent. It didn’t make sense to me financially, so I kept pushing back.

When we were in Chicago for New Years, Vishnu brought up the conversation again…this time with our friends Roshni, Samir, and Jetan. While they all saw my perspective, they agreed with Vishnu that this was the time for us to enjoy city living and have fun. Vishnu was so happy that they took his side and rubbed it in my face all the way back to Florida! I still wasn’t ready to agree.

Then, around the beginning of February, I came home from work one day, sat down, and said, “Let’s move to Miami.” To this day, I don’t really know what made me change my mind. I think it was a combination of really thinking about Vishnu’s reasoning and the conversation with our friends and observing the way we lived a little more closely. I finally came to understand that living in the city would increase the quality of our lives. We really have no clue where we’ll be moving next, so why not enjoy the present and live it up a little. Who knows – we could be in small town in the middle of nowhere in a couple of years. Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen! And while this move means we won’t be saving as much every month, we can still afford it (I’ve done the calculations a million times).

Anyway, Vishnu was stoked…and confused…about my change of heart, but he took it and ran with it! A few months later, we started our search and here we are with moving day not too far away.

FIL weekend 023

Our new neighborhood

I know this is going to sound crazy, but as the big day nears, I am filled with so much…gratitude. It’s hard to describe. Trust me – I’ve just typed, deleted, and retyped various sentences trying to describe what it is that I’m feeling but can’t put it into words right now. Maybe later.

Well, I’m off to pack…and pack some more. I hope you have a wonderful (and safe) weekend!

Written on April 19, 2013 Related:Marriage, Miami, Moving

Random Weekend Snippets

written by Parita 21 Comments

1.  Remember when I blogged about Coursera?  The whole concept got me really excited, especially when I learned that Khushboo signed up for a class too.  I decided to forgo the Philosophy class (for now) and signed up for two nutrition classes…that overlap for six weeks.  I honestly don’t know what I was thinking when I did that, but I think it’ll be fine since the level of learning I’ve selected is understanding (and not application or synthesis). 

Anyway, the Fundamentals of Nutrition class started this past week, therefore I spent a few hours over the weekend reading about nutrition basics, dietary guidelines, and dietary tracking.  Call me crazy but I miss being in school sometimes.  Probably because I love to learn – especially about something that’s become a passion of mine.  I can’t wait to apply and share all of this new knowledge…yep, I’m a nerd.   We’ll see how it all goes…one week at a time.

weekend snippets 008

2.  I have to share the cute birthday card and picture my sister sent me. 

birthday card 001

Love it!  I called to thank her for the sweet card, and about half way through the conversation we started talking about how I “bullied” her when we were younger.  Because we’re almost seven years apart, it was quite easy to get my way.  For example, I’d change the rules of any game if I was losing.  If Aekta didn’t go along with what I said, I’d yell and walk away.  A little while later, she would come get me so that we could continue with our my game.  I’m surprised she still talks to me!! 

3.  Khusbu (my friend from college) and I had a little girls’ day on Saturday.  I’m not going to post any pictures because I feel bad for those of you who are experiencing a brutal winter right now (which I’m guessing is a lot of you).  Let’s just say the weather was beautiful enough that we were able to stop for some fro-yo and then go get manicures/pedicures.  We ended our night with dinner and drinks at Tap42.  I had my second blueberry beer ever and loved it!  And for dinner I went with the housemade veggie burger.  A very good choice!

4.  After reading about Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stains on Mila’s blog the other day, I knew I had to try them out.  I made a pit stop at Target on my way home from running errands and ended up purchasing two – one in Honey (a neutral, slightly pink shade) and the other in Romantic (a dark pink/reddish shade).

weekend snippets 007

Me being me, the first thing I did after getting in the car was tear off the packaging so that I could try one of these out.  My initial thought?  I LOVE this lip product!  It’s a cross between a lip balm and a sheer lipstick -super creamy and highly pigmented.  And so far, the staying power seems to be pretty good as well.  Yay…new makeup makes me giddy!

4.  I know I’m late to the party, but I finally got around to making cauliflower crust pizza.  Best. Decision. Ever.  If you haven’t already, make this pizza.  It is absolutely delicious.

I used Brittany’s recipe as a guide. My modifications included using the entire cauliflower head, two eggs, cheddar cheese, and a couple pinches of salt.  For the toppings, I used store bought tomato sauce, sautéed onions, spinach, and red bell pepper, sliced olives, and feta cheese.

weekend snippets 010

The crust was flavorful and hearty.  While it didn’t taste like a regular pizza crust, in my humble opinion, it was 10x more delicious.  And for those of you who don’t like the taste of cauliflower, don’t worry.  With everything else that goes into it and on top of it, the cauliflower flavor isn’t overwhelming at all. 

Bottom line…make this pizza as soon as humanly possible. 

6.  Finally, I started researching Miami apartments because Vishnu and I are 99% sure we’re moving in a few months!  More on this later…I promise!

Did you buy, make, or try anything new this weekend?

Written on January 28, 2013 Related:Blogging, Family, Food, Friends, Make-up, Moving, Nutrition, Restaurant, Weekend

A Successful Move

written by Parita 22 Comments

Hello from Fort Lauderdale!  I’m happy to report that my move down here went better than expected and was not really stressful at all.  In fact, my dad and I had a great time.  I can’t put into words how thankful I am that he was able to fly down and help me this weekend.  He’s pretty awesome!  Smile

Since I’m kind of neurotic and like to do things well in advance, there wasn’t much left to do except wait for the movers on Saturday, so my dad and I spent a lot of Friday just hanging out.  We had a late lunch at Chipotle, which was great not only because I love Chipotle but also because this was my dad’s first time eating there.  Can you believe it?  He’s now a huge fan!  A bit later we decided to make an impromptu trip to St. Pete beach.  My dad was amazed that I had never been before, especially because I only lived about 15 minutes minutes away.  I kind of felt like a dummy! 

Beach Day 006Beach Day 007

Beach Day 008

On Saturday morning, we picked up the U-Haul, and a short while later, the movers arrived to load my stuff.  In less than an hour, we were on our way to Fort Lauderdale.  The drive took a bit longer than usual because my dad gave me very specific instructions to go slow so that he could follow me.  I lost him a little after the half way point.  I kind of knew that plan was bound to fail.  Whoops!

Since the apartment officially became ours earlier in the week, moving in was pretty easy.  We unloaded my car and then waited for the movers to come unload the U-Haul.  Again, the whole unloading process took less than an hour.  At this point, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.  The move was officially over!  I’m pretty sure I slept better that night than I have in a LONG time.  It felt so good!

On Sunday, my dad and I spent most of the day unpacking boxes.  Our goal was to set up the kitchen, and I’m happy to report that we were successful.

Kitchen 002

My favorite room in the apartment!

Kitchen 001

A not so well stocked pantry.  Ha!

The rest of the apartment is pretty bare, except for a couch in the living room and a bed in the guest room.  I’ll definitely share more as we move along in the decorating process.

Well, that’s all I’ve been up to over the past few days.  Vishnu has one more exam, and then we’re off to Atlanta later this week!!  Yay!  As soon as we get back, we’ll be heading to Purvi’s first wedding event!  I can’t wait for all the fun to come over the next month.

When was your last big move?  Did you hire movers or did you do it all on your own?

Written on May 22, 2012 Related:Moving

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