Monday Trader Joe's Haul

Monday, Monday! We are still riding the weekend high, coming off of a wonderful few days with family. We spent almost the entire weekend outside, except while we were sleeping, and it was glorious. We had a wonderful time.

I went a little crazy on my Instastories today sharing my favorite Trader Joe's finds of the day.  My sister called me out and I said just you wait- next week I'll do a LIVE UN-BAGGING! Totally kidding but then again, maybe not. I always enjoy seeing what everyone else picks up at Trader Joe's- that place is such a gold mine! When I walk in, it's so hard to not ditch the list and get only what I came in for. Like, why don't I just let Joe tell me what I NEED!? 

Here are a few new things I picked up this week!

 

I already ripped these open for my 3pm snack break and they are delicious! The perfect little bite sized snack and they come individually packed inside the big bag. No strange ingredients and I think Will and Kate will love them, too.

This cauliflower tabbouleh did not disappoint! I've had this on my radar for awhile and finally remembered to pick it up today. I had some for lunch with the jalapeno chicken sausage from Trader Joe's (another favorite).

We have been on a citrus kick at our house all Winter so I always make sure that we have plenty. These mini mandarins are tiny and perfect for little hands and super sweet, too! Also great for kid lunches and snacks on the go.

Cold brew coffee chocolate bar WHAT!? I can't wait to try this. I know it's going to be a winner.

I don't always drink white wine, but the warmer days make me want to swap out my usual red blends for Pinot Grigios or Sauvignon Blancs. This one came highly recommended by a friend and I have it chilling in the fridge now in preparation for tonight's MOST DRAMATIC BACHELOR FINALE EVER. 

Here's the last of my haul! This cauliflower fried rice situation looks like such an easy weeknight meal! Just add in some protein and we will be good to go. Excited to give this a try. I love these small cans of wine. I always get the pinot grigio but picked up the rose to have, too. It's the perfect single serving and great for when you don't want to commit to drinking a bottle over a few nights during the week. The coconut lime mints were an impulse cash register find! Cannot wait to make these shishito peppers tonight with our salmon burgers! And since I'm a product junkie, the hair mask had to come home with me, too. 

And lastly, because I can't leave Trader's without some fresh flowers!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Christmas in Charlotte

We took a trip to our locally owned Hardware store yesterday. Blackhawk has the most magical tree display and is one of my favorite places in Charlotte to shop for Christmas ornaments. Will loved walking through the forest of decorated trees and looking at all of the ornaments on each one. It was a fun little outing that ended with a free bag of popcorn from the old fashioned popcorn machine at the store! I love that place at Christmastime and always look forward to taking Will, and now Kate, there to see the beautiful trees! 

Christmastime is is just the most magical. There is so much that our city has to offer at this time of year and with a little over a week to go before the big day, I'm rounding up some of my favorites!

Blackhawk Hardware- A beautiful display of trees and TONS of ornament shopping in here. It's been locally owned since 1977 and is just the neatest store! You'll find lots of odds and ends here and don't forget to grab a bag of complimentary popcorn on the way out! 

Leonard Bearstein's Singing Orchestra- The singing bears are a must! A little creepy though you can't help but love them. Shows start on the hour, from 10am-8pm. While you're uptown, walk around and check out the decorations! This is on our list for next week!

7323 Sherwood Forest Drive (off Colony Road)- This is my favorite Christmas lights display in all of Charlotte! We've been driving by here since I was a kid and I just love it. Santa is usually outside from 6-10pm handing out candy canes. Most of this street is decked out and this house is the star. 

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens- Holidays at the Garden is the best! This is where Mark and I got engaged (at Christmastime) so it's extra special to us. Another thing I'm hoping to squeeze in next week with our little ones. It will be so much fun to take them back! 

McAdenville, Christmastown USA- Another Christmas lights spectacular! This is about a 30 minute drive outside of Charlotte but so festive and fun! Roll through the Starbucks drive thru on the way for a peppermint mocha to enjoy while you drive through the twinkling town. You can park your car and get out and walk now, too!

Holly Jolly fa la la! 

Queen City Coffee Tour: The Daily Press

I love, love, love a good cup of coffee. I start every day with a giant mug of our favorite brew. I like my coffee with a quick pour of regular half and half. In the warmer months, I enjoy a cup over ice with a splash of almond milk as a mid afternoon treat to sip on during Will's naptime. A trip to a coffee shop is always a fun outing and my sister and I are making it a point to try new (and new to us) coffee shops around our city. Our first stop? The Daily Press in Noda.

This tiny establishment is located inside The Evening Muse on North Davidson Street. It's quiet and eclectic and the coffee is INSANE. I had a cold brew coffee with blueberry, thyme and lemon. It was unlike anything I've ever had before and I wanted to go back for seconds. And thirds. Andi took a bold move and tried the Barista's Bloody Mary (also a cold brew) and it was beyond delicious. Both of our drinks came from their seasonal menu. We loved our trop to The Daily Press and Will was a fan, too! The sweet baristas made him a blueberry infused seltzer water and he drank every last drop. 

The Daily Press is located 3227 N. Davidson Street. 

Beer Tasting with Noda Brewing Company

Last night, we had the pleasure of attending a beer tasting hosted by our best family friends and one of my favorite local breweries, Noda Brewing Company. These beers are some of the best to order when we go out to our favorite local spots. Most recently, Noda's pumpkin beer, Gordgeous, stole my heart. I had it served with a cinnamon and brown sugared rim and can't get enough.

Last night's tasting featured six of Noda's beers, all paired with different cheeses and chocolates. I've done plenty of wine tastings but never a beer tasting. This was so much fun and I learned so much about the different beers that we tried as well as beer in general. My favorite? A chocolate coconut porter called Coco Loco. Over the past couple of years, I have grown to love darker beers so I am not surprised that this was my favorite! The actual Coco Loco that we tasted had just been canned two days prior!

If you're local, check out Noda Brewing at local restaurants, retail spots like Whole Foods or Fresh Market and take a trip to the brewery! Skip the shopping on Black Friday and drink beer instead! Noda's Christmas brew, Santa Baby, debuts at noon.

Homeowners!

Well, there is no reason for this post other than wanting to have a dated blog entry on the day we closed on our first home together! After tiring weekends, and many drives between Illinois and North Carolina, we finally found a winner (with a lucky bright red door!) The house hunt was an overall exciting process and the weeks leading up to our closing were smooth and painless. You just never know what to expect we feel very fortunate to have had such a positive experience all around. 

Our little Illinois rental home will always hold a special place in my heart- It's where we spent our first year plus of married life and I wouldn't have traded that time for anything in the world.  Memories were made and our life together began. We knew that our Illinois adventure was not long term so on the flip side of the mushy gushy "I heart Illinois" stuff, it's wonderful to be back in Charlotte where we have roots and where we know we want to be for the long haul. 

We spent yesterday afternoon testing out paint colors on the walls and doing a little planning. It's a slow process but I know that we will have fun making our house a home. 

And...a quick yet GIANT shout out to the best realtor on this side of the universe. Nick Baker did a fantastic job and helped us find the perfect spot to call home. He spend countless hours and literally drove us to one end of Charlotte and back, several times, in order to make sure we were happy. Nick is a dear friend and I cannot sing his praises loud enough. If you are local to the Charlotte area and need an excellent realtor, please call this guy! I promise he will take care of you and you won't be disappointed. Nick is part of the Keller WIlliams Stephen Cooley Team.

 If you call him, say "Hello, Saint Nick!". He'll know that I sent you. 

{Saturday,June 2} East Boulevard Sidewalk Sale!

Dear Charlotte family, friends and readers,

Make sure you check out the East Boulevard Sidewalk sale THIS SATURDAY, June 2, sponsored by Scoop Charlotte! Waltz down to East Boulevard for street-wide savings from some of Dilworth's favorite small businesses in. 

Pour Olive is participating and will be selling their summer balsamics for 20% off all day. If you live in Charlotte, this is the perfect time to stock up at Pour Olive and get inspired for your summer cooking! How can you resist these fresh, summery flavors? My food obsessed mind is going crazy with all of the possibilities.

::Blenheim Exquisite Apricot::

Sweet, crisp and tart with an intense aroma of honeysuckle. Great with grilled chicken, as a glaze or served with cheese and honey. Like summer in a bottle.

::Alfoos Mango::

The Alfoos mango cultivar is considered by many to be one of the best in sweetness, richness and flavor. This vinegar is fantastic with everything from shrimp to scallops to salsas. Pair with Persian Lime or Harissa oils for an excellent compliment!

::Sicilian Lemon::

Playfully tart and pleasantly sweet, Sicilian Lemon offers a perfect balance of acidity woven with crisp lemon flavor and aroma. Fabulous with seafood, in dressings or try it in mixed drinks. 

::Cranberry Pear::

An absolute delight; clean, crisp and tart. The complex bouquet shines in a multitude of culinary applications. Dressing for fruit or vegetable salads, a glaze of poultry or with gelatin for delicious fruit aspic!

::Peach::

Crisp with a touch of sweetness. Our peach vinegar is extremely adaptable. Pair it with any of our olive oils to make a light, tart vinaigrette!

If you pop into Pour Olive this weekend, make sure you tell Sophie, Doug and their sweet baby, Jack that I sent you!

For the Love of Oil

Here's a quick sneak peek of a new gem opening up in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte this week! My blonde sister and her husband are the masterminds behind this artisanal oil and vinegar shop. My entire family, in fact, has been involved. It's a regular "family business" and I am so excited for Pour Olive to open its doors.

More to come soon...

Sprinklings from the South

On Monday, I hopped on a plane and landed in North Carolina. I'm hanging out in Charlotte this week! Lucky for me, I'll be enjoying delicious food, Southern sunshine, and sweet time with family and friends.

A few other things to share (kitchen and non kitchen related:

1. I am obsessed with brussels sprouts. We eat them every which way in our house and cannot seem to get enough. On Sunday, we pan roasted them with shallots and finished it off with lemon zest and toasted pistachios. Delicious.

2. Homemade pizza is our Friday night staple. We usually stick to roasted mushrooms, arugula, prosciutto, and mozzarella, but we have been mixing it up the last couple of weeks. Fresh tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichokes, capers, garlic, and mozzarella is the true winner right now. This is a copycat of the Papparazzi Pizza from Wolfman Pizza in Charlotte. Mmmmm.

3. Revlon Lip Butters might be the best little gems to make it into my makeup collection lately. Lollipop and Peach Parfait are positively my favorite right now. The colors are vibrant like lipstick, but go on smooth and buttery, with a little bit of shine. Love them.

4. I picked up these Say Yes to Cucumbers On-The-Go Facial Towelettes from Target this weekend to pack with me on my trip. I am loving the way they remove my makeup before I wash my face at night! They leave my skin with a calming, cool feeling and no makeup residue. I almost always wear black eyeliner and I always wear black mascara so getting all of the excess eye makeup off each night is key. These are doing the trick while I'm travelling and I like them so much, I may add them to my routine.

5. My family was jealous that Mark got to enjoy an Italian inspired meal on Valentine's Day. I'm re-creating most of the meal tomorrow night for them- Nutella Gelato and all! I'm confident that the Fettucine with Porcini Mushrooms will get positive reviews. When I asked my family if they wanted the pasta as a side or as a main course, my dad responded something to the extent of "a good bowl should always be enjoyed by itself". You now know where I get my passion for the palate.

6. The basket of Valentine's cookies that my mom left on my nightstand are beyond adorable! I'm going to convince her to write a post on these or at least give me some details so that I can share them with all of you. The packaging she designed is just to die for and these don't just have to be limited to February 14.

Until Winesday...