Random Questions (my first video)

I just did my first vlog or video or whatever. I did it all in one take but I cut a little bit out in areas because I repeated myself a little bit. So yeah head over and take a look. I know that I like hearing how blogger sound so I thought it was time to do my first video. I also hope to share more of our adventures in video so I wanted to get my first video under my belt. Let me know what you think also don’t laugh. It’s my first one.... haha

love, Carlee

Babe Ruth

Did you know that Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville NC? Super cool right. I mentioned it before my family is a big sports family and we love baseball so when I was searching in Pinterest ‘Fayetteville NC’ to find some cool spots and this marker popped up and I thought no way. And turns out its legit and Bath Ruth did hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville NC in 1914 so 100 years ago. He was only here for about a month and played on the Baltimore Orioles during spring training. It is said that Ruth also got his nickname ‘Babe’ in Fayetteville NC. This marker is at what used to be the Cape Fear Fair Grounds. It stands at Gillespie street and has to be one of the best historical markers in Fayetteville.

Clark and I headed to this location a couple of weeks ago. It was on a street we had ever been to before but it’s right close to downtown. Afterword we took Knox to the dog park. So win for me because I got to discover something else awesome and win for Knox because he got to go to the dog park and he LOVES the dog park.

We actually visited this a couple of 4 weeks ago and I am just getting around to sharing it. But I figured better late then never. I hate when things get out of order but I also hate not publishing all the post that I have ready and actually want to share here. So this is one of those post. Happy Friday, anyone else excited for the long weekend.
love, Carlee

Shorts: H&M

Tank: Marshalls

Sandals: Old Navy

Hat:  Boston Red Sox Team Store

Wednesday

How is everyone today? I am doing pretty good. I recently bought myself a planner and have been using it for 3 weeks now and I feel so much more productive. Write things down and check them off. I must have gotten that back-to-school organization itch because I found myself at Barnes and Noble in the planner section. 

This outfit is one I put together the other day because I really wanted to wear my off-red chambray shirt. I like it but haven’t worn it in forever. So I built my outfit around it. I heard somewhere (on What Not to Wear possibly) that when putting together an outfit to wear; first: choose a pieces you love and just really want to wear and then built in the rest of your outfit around that piece. I find that helps me when I am stuck on what to wear or lacking outfit inspiration. I can’t wait for the long weekend!

love, Carlee

Chambray Shirt & Sandals: Old Navy

Skirt: Marshalls

Floral Tank: c/o Sugarlips

Mini peach pies

I love mini pies. The first mini pies were the mini blackberry pies I made back in April 2013 then I made mini chicken pot pies November of last year. I just think they are better than regular pie and this is why: because they are single serving so easier for each person to eat and also because I think they save better for later. And while I haven’t done a lot of research in comparing mini pie making to regular pie making, mini pies are what I like to make and especially since I am only cooking/ baking for 2 and most of the time we don’t need a whole pie. I also worry that I might not get a whole pie cooked thoroughly. But with this recipe I did not have to worry about that.

This recipe is fairly easy the hardest part as usual is making and getting the crush right. Homemade pie crust is one of my favorite things.

You’ll need
Crust
1/3 cold butter
1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
3-4 tbsp ice cold water

Filling
2 large peaches
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 pinch of nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp butter (for the top)

Makes 4 mini pies cupcake/muffin size.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Make crust first. Start by pouring flour and salt into bowl and mixing. 
3. Cut small cubes of butter and mix into flour. I use two knives and slice back and forth trying to cut up the cold butter as small as possible. 
4. Do this until all the butter is into the flour. It should be lumpy. 
5. Put in 1 tbsp of water into the crust mixture and mix in with knives and use your hands to start lumping dough together. (DONT KNEAD TO MUCH.) 
6. Put in the second tbsp and then the third. Do one at a time. You don’t want your mixture to by moist. I only used 3 tbsp in the above recipe. 
7. Put some flour on a clean surface and rolling pin. 
8. Roll out dough to about 1/4 in thick. Then cut out with large circle (I used a cutter that was 4 1/2 inches in diameter. It was close to a perfect for the muffin tins. 
9. Grease bottom of muffin tim.  Place the dough circles into a cupcake/muffin tin. 
10. Mix all filling ingredients in a bowl. 
11. Fill peach mixture into the muffin tin.
12. Put chunks of butter on top of peach filling.
13. Place top crust on top of each pie and pinch at the sides all around pie. (I used a medium glass 3 inches in diameter for the top crust)
14. Cut small slits in top of pies. 
15. Place in oven that is 400 degrees bake for 10 minutes.
16. Turn oven down to 350 degrees and back for 20 - 25 minutes.
17. Let cool and serve with ice cream. 

These were really yummy and after we got done eating them, I decided that I like apple pie better than peach just because I like the taste of fresh peaches better than peaches in pie so I would prefer apple pie. So next time mini apple pie or just a regular apple (I think it’s safe to say apple pie is my favorite pie.) I tried to explain the directions good in this recipe because I was looking back on my own recipes and felt like I didn’t explain good enough. Hopefully this one is better!
love, Carlee

Rude Awakening

I love exploring new places just as much as I love returning to well-loved and frequently visited places. I wanted to share Rude Awakening here on the blog but on Saturday (when these photos were taken) stopping by Rude Awakening was not the plan. We actually set out to go to this Alpaca farm which is just on the far side of town. They have homemade ice cream and a yarn shop supposedly. But, unfortunately it was closed when we got there and it took us 3 dead end dirt roads to find the right dirt road. It was a disappointing but we figured we were already out of the house so we might as well stop by Rude Awakening and get some smoothies (our favorite.)

It really is a nice little coffee shop. Kind of cramped for space in the main ordering area but there is plenty of seating in the coffee shop as well as in the front on the sidewalk area and the back patio (where we like to sit.) They have really good smoothies as well. ( I am not a coffee drinker so I can’t speak to the coffee.) But they have fresh fruit smoothies and always really thick. I hate when I go to a coffee stand and ask what their smoothies are like and they say “fresh fruit” but then you get it you know it has the pump syrup in it. ugh the worst. But this place is A OKAY in my book because the smoothies are fresh. I got strawberry banana and Clark got paradise island which is pineapple, mango, peach, orange. The smoothies cost $5.00 a piece which is a little pricey but worth it. 

After we got our smoothies we sat on the back patio. We talked and laughed. I admired all the hanging plants and said “I want a patio with a bunch of plants someday.” Clark agreed it would be a great idea. I am sure just to please me, but what a nice guy. This outfit is one I put together in my head the other day when I was trying to be more creative with my wardrobe. I tried it on and it came together nicely. I actually ordered the tank from F21 because it almost perfect resembled my all time favorite tank last worn here which I lost in Charleston SC. It is however a little shorter almost crop top. And while I wont be showing any stomach in it, I still love it. Also I wish I would have gotten a better photo of the boots. Next time, I guess. Happy Monday folks.
love, Carlee

Dress worn as skirt: American Eagle

Tank: Forever 21

Boots: TJ Maxx

Bag: Target

Happening 8.22.14

Currently, it is Friday and I am thankful for that. This week actually went by really fast and I am going to assume that is because Clark had work off Monday and also because I was busy all week tackling my to-do list. Like taking new product photos and also getting ready to send cards to be included in the swag bags for the Maiedae Mixer!

This week I have jammed out to Taylor Swifts new song Shake It Off and already marked my calendar for October 27th for the release of her new CD. Knox has been a little naughtier than usual. We have had to be extra careful when we leave him at home alone because he has been in a “chewing things he isn’t suppose to” phase. Luckily, it has only been small things like a bra of mine, a sleeping mask, some paper. But right now, he is comfortably laying right against me as I write this and I can’t help but love him. 

I have been visiting the library almost every week for the past few weeks. It is so refreshing to read some actual books. I spend most of the time online and reading blogs and while they are great it is totally different to read an actual novel. I didn’t really know where to start in my search for a book to read. I like the travel section as it displays all the places I want to go. So I started there. Mostly there are just guide books which I don’t really find all that interesting because they are just information in bullet points with no really opinion behind it. (I want a real persons review of a place.) But while in the travel section I found this book called Gone to New York by Ian Frazier. It was really good and refreshing to read. Now I am reading a comedy book by Michael Ian Black. So far it is really good, I have no idea who Michael Ian Black was and that was the reason I choose the book. I like making up the character in my head. 

This weekend we are planning to go to a local Alpaca Farm they make homemade ice cream and sell yarn from the fur of the alpacas. I am also planning on one last trip to Diary Queen this August because you know there blizzard of the month is Chips Ahoy and it is so good. So, that is what is happening around here.
love, Carlee

Dinner in New Bern

I am here today talking about the couple of days we headed to the coast, 2 weekends ago. Remember when we went to the Birthplace of Pepsi and also Cape Lookout? Well the plan was to camp on the beach but after all day of rain and not looking like it was gonna let up. We decided to head back to New Bern NC and stay the night and enjoy a new city for an evening before we headed back to Fayetteville. Knox was already at the dog sitter so it only made since to enjoy the night. Unfortunately, we didn’t pack anything but camping clothes and since my jeans and yogas pants were both soaking wet, I ended up wearing cut off shorts and this pull over hoodie to dinner. I know #classy.

By the time the evening hit the rain had stopped in New Bern although the ground was still soggy and everything was wet. We headed downtown again for some dinner at Captain Ratty’s Seafood. We head the hand cut onion rings for an appetizer they were SO GOOD. I am a pretty big onion right critic and these ones were awesome because the onion right didn’t pull out and you could easily bit through (hopefully that makes since to the onion ring eatings out there.) I also at the clam chowder (with bacon) and Clark had the shrimp & grits. This place had good service and really good food. Definitely recommended.

After dinner we walked around and spotted tons of New Bern bears. They are everywhere. I love when town’s do something like that. We found 7 and weren’t really even looking. The town of New Bern is super cute and has lots of great little local shops which I am always fond of. We went into a dog boutique store and even got ice cream at an old school- cash only- walk up Dairy Queen. Score.
love, Carlee

Shorts: DIY

Hoodie & Sandals: Old Navy

At the beach in August

As you know, Clark’s mom was in town for 7 days last week and it has been so much fun to see her again (we haven’t seen her since Christmas.) She is pretty laid back and doesn’t mind just chilling at home but both Clark and I thought it would be really nice for us all to go to the beach so she could experience the NC coast. We went to Wrightsville Beach because it’s the closes to our home only a 1:45 trip. Since Clark didn’t  work on Monday we went on Sunday because we figured it would be less crowded then Satuday. Well turns out it was still SUPER busy anyways. We had to drive all the way up the beach looking for a parking spot. I am telling you we couldn’t find one anywhere. We finally lucked out and caught a parking spot right when someone was leaving.

Then we headed to the ocean. The beach was very crowded but that was to be expected. And also I kind of liked seeing all the people and knowing they are enjoying the last bit of summer instead of wishing for fall already. We swam in the ocean and the water was so nice and blue. It is pretty warm to. Everyone was just out enjoying themselves. I think a lot of people go to the beach and stay all day. They bring coolers, chairs, a canopy, etc, I guess this is the way to do it if you have children. We only stayed for 2 hours but it was so much fun. Also Wrightsville Beach is suppose to be the location of the movie The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks (according to the book not the movie.) 

On the way home, I really wanted to stop in Kilwin’s Ice Cream shop in Wilmington NC. It is so good. They have awesome ice cream and chocolate goodies. We stopped and Clark’s mom got to experience some of the best ice cream in NC! I got chocolate chip cookies dough in a waffle cone, Clark got Georgia Peach in a cup, and Clark’s mom got Georgia Peach in a waffle cone. Then we headed home! 

We really did have a great time and I was glad that we got to show off the NC coast to a Washtingtonian. I am also really glad that we got one last beach trip in before the summer ended. 

love, Carlee