A few nights ago Jessi and I went to Peels for dinner after work. I had been to the NoHo eatery once before for ice cream, and I loved the overall look and feel of the place, so I was interested to see how their food measured up.
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Apparently I was feeling particularly vegetarian-esque, so I went with their Gazpacho and Summer Succotash for my meal.
I really loved both dishes – the milk-based gazpacho was refreshing and flavorful, which was the perfect contrast to the warm and hearty succotash.
Peels has other delicious-looking homestyle dishes (Shrimp & Grits? yes please) and a supposedly great brunch that I’d love to try next time. Check out their menu here.
five things.
A few weeks ago Ali tagged me in her Five Things post - passing along the task of listing five things that I love about me and/or give me confidence. So, here are mine!
1. I’m a hard worker. If you give me a task - I’ll get it done, I’ll do my best, and I’ll most likely get it done pretty quickly. This can actually be one of my biggest setbacks too because the perfectionist within me can also lead to a huge ball of stress within me, but I think I’ve been learning how to manage that…
2. I’m a good listener. I truly believe that listening is one of the most important aspects of communicating…and of relationships as a whole, for that matter. So many problems would be solved if we’d just shut up and listen (and I mean really listen) to each other, don’t you think?
3. my freckles. I actually used to hate my freckles with a passion, but over the years I’ve learned to not only embrace them…I actually like them.
4. Continuing the “I actually used hate” theme, number four is my name. I used to wish I had a “cool” name like Stephanie or Clarissa, but as I got older I realized that I liked have a unique name like Gracie. So thanks, mom and dad 
5. I’m confident in waiting for God’s best for me. The truth is that the only love within me comes from Him alone! My confidence lies in the fact that God’s promises are real and true, and I will not settle for anything less.
Your turn - tell me one thing you’re confident/love about yourself.
I love freckles, I wish I had them! I used to hate my name too, everyone called me Gaby and I thought Gabriella was so proper. But for three years, I think my boyfriend has only called me Gabriella and I grew to love it, I never introduce myself as Gaby anymore
The people who work at Peels look kind of like elves! Also the succotash looks so darn yummy.
So jealous of your access to so many wonderful places to eat! I like my sense of humor - it’s unique and some people just don’t get it, but it’s my own!
I used to hate my freckles too! They don’t completely cover my face, but growing up I always wanted to have a “smooth face”…..which doesn’t even make sense cause freckles are really bumpy haha. But you know what I mean…. Anywho, I like em’ now, I feel like they make me different!
Gracie, you are such a breath of fresh air! Your generation is mostly all about themselves and how they can get the most without doing anything to earn it. I especially admire your faith and your willingness to talk openly about it without jamming it down your reader’s throats. You’re going places, kid!
agreed. she’s certainly a breath of fresh air
Wow, Stephanie, thank you so very much for this comment. You have no idea how encouraging it is to me! Really - thank you
I’m just giving credit where credit is due.
I’m still not crazy about my name. I’ve always wanted to have a name that was slightly unique and Ashley definitely isn’t that. Actually my first, middle, AND last names are all commonplace. In my high school class of 130, I graduated with 8 other Ashleys.
I love my enthusiasm. Some people seem so jaded, I’m glad that I still have a genuine enthusiasm for all of the big and little things in my life.
I love that I’m a super laid-back, go-with-the-flow kinda girl.
PS. I’m actually kinda jealous of your name!
Mmmm that succotash looks fabulous!
LOVE this post - I feel like too often we are all guilty of focusing on what we don’t like about ourselves & what we wish we could change instead of embracing what makes us, us.
I love my sense of drive - I establish goals for myself & I make sure I work hard to reach them. I know what I’m capable of and I never let myself sell my ownself short.
Haha my name is Stephanie and when I was little I used to hate my name! I wished it was shorter
What a fun post! I love my freckles, too…and my openness to trying just about anything once.
Ohh that looks like a delicious dinner! I do that sometimes too and order completely vegetarian by accident! Sometimes it just looks best! And what a wonderful post- I love that you are focusing on the positive things because so often we focus on the negative- what a great theme for the day!
Gracie, I love this post! I found your blog through my good friend Kailey at SnackFace and absolutely love your attitude. Like Stephanie said above, you are such a breath of fresh air! What I like about myself is that I am optimistic and cheerful. I’m also thankful for my name - although it’s Andrea, most people call me Andi which is pretty uncommon. Thanks for posting!
Thanks so much for this comment and the kind words, Andi! You’re awesome
I love that I was fearfully and wonderfully made by Him. There’s nothing more amazing that, besides the fact that he loves me as I am.
Girl I am SO with you on number 5! DO NOT SETTLE. Gods best is out there and he is going to lead you in a way that is so perfect and so sensitive towards your heart. I feel like we are walking in something called “passive obedience” its not this HUGE step of obedience, its like a daily thing that God is calling us to obey and wait on Him until He sends us His best! and its going to be AWESOME when He does! Until then, we will just soak up Gods presence and delight in Him as our first love. LOVE YOU
well said sista!
Love that - passive obedience - not necessarily obeying something specific but just a state of the heart….YES! love you so much girl. wow. xoxo
well, it looks like the super awesome God-fearing spunky little Katie took the words outta my mouth
i’d only be 5 feet tall if it wasn’t so long. 
it’s ok, cuz i love the girl!
anyway, i love my long neck
you’re awesome, do you know that?
I loved hearing about your five things, especially the things you used to hate! It’s nice when something that used to make us uncomfortable suddenly makes us happy and confident in who we are!
I love my willingness to try anything. I never used to be this way, and was constantly putting myself down and worrying about what others thought, but now I am pretty much up for anything. I think it came as a result of working in a school and having to get involved in everything for the kid’s sake, but now it is something that I will never let go.
It’s so nice to be able to talk about what we love about ourselves - I think people sometimes forget that they are awesome!
Great post
I LOVE your name! I would totally love to have an original name.
I love my determination. If there is something I want, I will find a way to get it and I won’t give up. I owe a lot of the positive things that have happened in my life to my determination.
I love my ability to get along with everyone. I always seem to be the peacemaker, and rarely find someone I just don’t click with. I love that about me because I’ve made so many new friends and met so many amazing people throughout my life
Love this post!
I am with you- I like having a (relatively) unique name.
I’ve loved my name forever! I’ve only know one other Melody in my life. And I love your number 5. It’s SO difficult to wait for His timing, sometimes, but knowing that He is in control is so comforting. I don’t know how anyone could live without it!
Totally agree about the good listener thing.
I love this post!
One thing that I love about myself is my legs- they’re strong and muscular from running!
I feel ya on the freckles! I’m in love with mine now because they only come out during the summer, so the first spotting of freckles means that summer has officially begun for me
Peels is so cute! Also, I wanted to let you know that I am always encouraged when your post involves anything God related1 I love that! It’s nice to read blogs like yours!
Ah, thanks for that, Emily. Such a huge encouragement to me!
Love love love your Bible verses, Gracie!
In line with that, I’m confident in God’s love for me, and that I am growing in my relationship with Him every day!
Gracie you are absolutely GORGEOUS, freckles and all!
one thing i love about myself are my eyes, they’re sorta multi-colored haha
Wow, thank you so much Claudia!
Beautiful post, Gracie, especially #5! Thanks for reminding me to count my many blessings
I used to feel the same way about my freckles. I have tons of them and I used to HATE them. I also spent most of my adolescence browsing Seventeen magazines trying to figure out a good way to cover them up. The models on the cover with their flawless skin didn’t help. But I have come to appreciate them and even like them. They are just part of why I am unique.