MOM...

I found this bag while shopping today and I thought of my little sister Ivy. Come to think of it, this probably could go for my middle sister, MG, too. Hmm...

The Farmer's Market and THOSE Tamales

This year, I have started going to the Farmer's Market downtown on Thursday evenings. I love the atmosphere, the free samples, and all of the good food and friends there. However, there was one booth I never dared to try- the tamale booth.

The tamale booth is a crux of the farmer's market. EVERYONE gets the tamales. Behind a plain plastic table loaded with arsenals of tamales (ok, huge industrial size pots), is a spicy Latina woman saying, "Hey mama, come get some tamales! Try the free salsa! Hey papa! I know you want to try too." However, I have been too scared to buy any. Somehow, between the big pots, "mama," and the cakes (Oh, those cakes, I'll get to that later) I have been too intimidated. Today, I decided to try it.

My, oh, my. I've converted. I'll always buy her pork tamales as long as I shop at the Downtown Hattiesburg Farmer's Market. They are perfect!

After closer examination of this picture, it looks somewhat like what I picture a huge joint looking like. NOTE: THIS IS NOT MAR-I-JU-ANA.*

At her table you can choose between pork (what I got), chicken, vegetable, and cheese. I have to say, I think I am going to stick with the pork.

Oh, did I mention that the tamales are only $2.50 each? Sold!

Now, what I think I might conquer next week is her CAKE. I can't even accurate describe to you how huge her cakes are. She makes these huge cakes the size of an 18-wheeler tire (no lie) and sells this by the slice. She is known for her almond cake but she also has (as I am told but other vendors) an awesome chocolate and coconut cake. I will have to see about that.

I also got a loaf of carrot blueberry bread. Yum! Last week I bought muffins from this table that were orange, carrot, and blueberry that were really very good. I'm not a huge citrus fan so I think this might be even better! I'll let you guys know.

And last but not least, I got some goobers.

I do love some boiled peanuts. Though I love my tamales and bread, boiled peanuts have a special place in my heart.

Have a great end to the week and visit your local farmer's market this weekend!

*Maybe as addictive.

Happy 18th Birthday big... err... little sister!

Hallo-Happy-Ween-Birthday Weekend

I hope you guys had a happy Halloween this weekend! I had a great weekend, which happened to also be my sister, MG's, birthday (well.... tomorrow). I thought it would be fun to give her some mustaches, since she always seems to be preoccupied with "my mustache" (she swears I have a moustache and makes fun of me like the mean sister she is... just kidding!). So, I gave her these from Etsy...

And this one from a costume shop in Hattiesburg...

Needless to say, it was a big hit. Spike, on the other hand, was Count Pug-ula for a good minute in a half. The dog was never really good at costumes anyway. Don't get me wrong, Spike LOVES thinking about wearing costumes, but he gets so darn excited he ends up destroying his "clothes." He also had a hot dog outfit that was just too big for him and wouldn't stay on. Oh well, I guess dogs aren't meant to wear clothes...

BUT, MG thought it would be a good idea for her to wear it since Spike wasn't using it. We sat out on the front porch to give candy to the (very few) kids who came up our street. Our neighborhood offered a hayride around the whole neighborhood and when it was time, they came to our street. Once kids had gotten their candy and were on the hayride circling our cul-de-sac to go down the street, some kids yelled "Look it's the hot dog!" We laughed.

(Here is MG waving at the people on the hayride)

On Saturday we had a bonfire at Candy's house in celebration of MG's birthday. This is Lucy (on right with her friend, Rachel), my godsister. I know, godsister doesn't sound real to you but it is. My mom is her godmother so she is my godsister, Chris (her brother) is my godbrother, Candy is my godmother, and Bill is my godfather. Anyways, Lucy reads my blog and requested it be put on the blog, so here it is. Hello Lucy!

We brought tons of goodies that we had found that day. There was a fun crafts festival/show at the Cultural Center where we got BLT dip mix (YUMMMMM) and the Belhaven Market where we got shrimp dip (YUMMMMMMMMMM). We also had hummus, fruit, apples, chicken and corn chower, baked apple dessert... you get the picture.

Oh, and the quinessential black olive.

I like to think that these plates were in honor of MG and her feather hairclips she is making. How cute are these plates? (Don't answer, it's sad enough that I take pictures of the appetizer plates)

(Singing) We didn't start the fire, it's been burning since the world's been turning. We didn't start the fire...

Have a great week!

Puh-n-kins

I was on Etsy's "Storque" section today and I had a good laugh with this picture. There is a guy, Tom Nardone, who does these extreme pumpkin carvings, like the one above. You are ready more about about it (and do one for yourself) here.

Not MY School

I got wind of this story and was really shocked. Really, at MY school? How interesting...

More later!

ArtWalk and mo'

I love Hattiesburg when the town comes out together and celebrates with art, food, and music. You'd be surprised how much this actually happens. With the Historic Downtown Hattiesburg Association, there is definitely a sense of revitalization. Today was the Fall ArtWalk downtown- lots of fun! My friend Kaycie and I decided to go and check it out. Both of us being from Jackson, we knew what Fondren ArtMix was like and hoped it would be like that.

Around the different restaurants and shops (Southbound Bagel in this picture) there was art displayed with food and good music. The sign next to this band/duo/whatever said "Grateful Dead Cover Band," but I don't think I heard a single Grateful Dead song. He was really good though.
This little kid kept running away from his mom the whole time and just wanted to touch the drum. I am surpised he didn't think it was too loud, because it was loud even from where we were sitting. We got lots of laughs out of this kid.

Here's Kaycie enjoying listening to the guy sing.

After the ArtWalk, I went over to Claire's and I made dinner. We decided to go light because Claire and I had decided earlier in the week we wanted to go have dessert fondue at this relatively new restaurant called Stoney's. It's actually the place where Claire and her fiance John ate on the night they got engaged. So, I cooked and then we headed off to Stoney's.

Sorry this is such a horrible picture. The place was dark and I was obviously a little more concerned about my fondue. Every dessert fondue comes with bananas, strawberries, marshmallows, a brownie, and a slice of cheesecake. Yum! You can choose from milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate. We chose white chocolate. It was amazing. Plus, it's on $15 for two people, which was not bad at all.

I hope you guys had a fabulous weekend as well (thus far)!