Friday, February 26, 2010

Spring is coming

Ok, it's February. I am always reminded of my sister's take on February somewhere near the end of it when I, too, am ready for it to be over. With the cold, rain, snow, and overall dreariness, you just have to find those special, favorite things that get you through the last bit of winter. Miss Mar is one of my favorites. Look at this sweet Valentine (now refrigerator art) she made for me:



And, you would think I took Em & Mar up to NYC last week for the fashion shows! I LOVE Mar in this picture. It's such her personality! :)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Blast from the past

A couple weekends ago I drove home to Greensboro and planned on driving to Raleigh to visit Pamela (who was in town from NYC!), the Schawels, and a couple other friends. But I must've been living under a rock that week because I had NO IDEA it was going to snow until the first snowflake fell. So, I drove to GSO going 25mph on the snow-covered highway with all the Southern drivers.

Anyway, I didn't make it to Raleigh, but I did get to hang out with my parents. And the next morning as I headed back to Charlotte, I saw this when my Mom was organizing pictures. I took a picture and knew I had to blog it...

Lucy, Ginna & Carrie circa who knows when!

and look at those bows!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Famous!

Ok, not really. But Perr sent me an email today with a link to this video on Gotham's website. I had no idea I was being filmed (40 seconds in)! There's also a bunch of us on the Redeemer website from a retreat in 2008 including my hair when we were playing one of Kathy's favorite card games. Good times! Boy do I miss Redeemer.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Recipes

I was at church this morning telling someone that I had to work this afternoon when it hit me: I can't remember a day since the cruise that I haven't worked. That probably isn't good. I do love to work and perhaps I'm just making up for lost time after losing my job last year, but a girl needs a break!

I often find my "break" in the kitchen. As much as I would love to turn this into a food blog with amazing pictures and delicious recipe posts, I don't have the time and you know, a girl also has to watch her figure. I don't have 7 hungry doormen around either to eat my baked goods so I can't be making cookies all the time, yo.

But, I do want to share a few great recipes I've found:

1. Banana Chocolate Chip Bars - are you tired of making banana bread out of your brown bananas? Try this! I made these this past week and they're really tasty!

2. Ok, I hope you're ready for this next recipe... it's that good. I debated on whether to share it or not just because this is going in my dinner party rotation for when I will host future dinner parties and think it should be a lovely culinary surprise to those invited as it was to me when I had it a couple weeks ago. Oh my gosh. Even though I was at a dinner in South Charlotte, I thought I had time traveled to one of the nicest restaurants in NYC. I'm sure it takes a while to prepare, but I'm still talking about it, so go for it if you want to impress your guests.

3. When I used to live on Long Island, I found a quaint little bookstore in Huntington. I bought a couple cookbooks from there that have turned favorites, including this one. Tonight I made blt's on ciabatta bread with a basil mayonnaise and had a romaine, pear, toasted walnuts, shaved parm salad on the side... all recipes found in the cookbook. The roomies, our friend Erin & I all ate around our new kitchen table telling fun stories with the Olympics in the background. And after a warm day like today, we're itching for Spring.

So there are a few recipes to try out!

Going to the chapel...

I drove to Greensboro on Friday after work to see Michelle for the first time since she got engaged. Oh and I got to see her bling! What a fun time with Malar!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Wear the city

Looks like Anthropologie teamed up with Fishs Eddy for this one:

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A day in the life

Do you ever have one of those days where you find out they don't need you to work at J. Crew and then you get in a really good workout? And on the way back you see your brake light is on and you call your trusty mechanic and say, "Gus, it's Carrie! My brake light is on and [I have no idea what that means which makes me think my car is seconds away from blowing up] are you free to look at it right now?" (Dad, are you reading this?) And so you drive to the mechanic and he checks everything out in 5 minutes flat and not only tells you everything looks good but also gives you peace of mind about the whole, unfamiliar thing?

And then you realize you're in the same neighborhood as the Aveda Institute, so you call and ask if they have any available appointments for the morning, and of course they do, and you have just enough time to check out a new bagel place right across the street. And then wouldn't you know that you find the PERFECT hair stylist who "gets it" and knows your hair and how you like it and gives you a cut that is for everyday life, not something you have to spend 5 hours in the morning fixing. Because, let's face it, I've never been one to spend hours on my hair. So you walk out after a heavenly oil head massage, cut, and blowout and the sun is shining. Drive over to work and wouldn't you know that the kids come home and get started on their homework right away. You make homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and then assist in the spearing of a cardboard box, the driving to & from tennis practice and hollering at the kids playing deep in the woods to remind them of responsibility. You put on 3 itchy feather boas, a feather hat, carry the world's tiniest purse and pretend that you're a princess with THE actual princess of the house... and then somehow you make an amazing broccoli & gruyere quiche (Al, I'll have to give you the recipe) that is brown and golden, and of course the kids won't even eat because they're suddenly allergic to all things green. You break up a fight between the older boys and suddenly you're aware of how weak you are (boys are strong when they're mad). You drive away, call your sister and chat of wonderful things like Funfetti cupcakes.


Then you have to stop at a gas station in a bad part of town, get a peach Snapple, leave and then find a big black guy walking towards you. Your "New York" suddenly comes out as he walks over really drunk and all you can understand is that he needs change for dinner. (Now, this might sound crazy, but it has been since NYC that I've been asked by a homeless guy for change, and in NYC would I rarely give anyone change... but I was so happy to be reminded of New York in this way, and to hopefully help him, that I reached for my wallet and gave him all the change I had. I told him to really get dinner and to stay out of trouble. As I drove off, I saw him peeing on the wall of the gas station. I'm so glad he listened to me.)

Then you head to life group to find fresh chocolate chip cookies, good fellowship and a wonderful group of new friends. There was also the inevitable and important mid-February conversation about how we're all tired of wearing coats, sweaters and closed-toe shoes. Afterwards you get a little lost and wind up going through Uptown's big lights, drive on home and walk in your room to smell these:




Ahhh... it's just the little things.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Love

I wrote a post earlier today but still need to upload pics, so I'll wait on that.

But I couldn't let the day go by without saying,

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Monday, February 8, 2010

snowsnowsnow

Ginna's apartment in Maryland:


Pretty, pretty princess




It was a busy weekend- I worked a ton and feel exhausted today. But I did get to attend Margot's 4th birthday party which was a princess theme. There were dress-up clothes, the decorating of crowns, tea sandwiches, and to top it all off, a Barbie cake. What a fun party! And how ADORABLE is Miss Mar?!

I also went to a Superbowl party last night. My thoughts on SB parties: out of all the parties to host, this falls on guys to organize. I can make the mint juleps for a Derby party or cook a turkey for Thanksgiving feast, but when it comes to football- boys, this one's yours. So I made the famous, yummy Mexican dip I make every year and headed over to a SBparty. Way to go Saints (not that I really cared), Bourbon St. must've been fun last night!
Hope yall have a great Monday!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Put some South in 'yo mouth

I had an interview yesterday at Levine Children's Hospital to become a volunteer. After a lengthy application process, references, background check and scheduling a time for the interview, I am happy to report that I will soon be volunteering in the Child Life department at LCH! But as I was walking out of the house yesterday in my heels, casual suit and interview mindset, I couldn't help but think of Jose.

Who is Jose, you ask? Oh that would be the blessed man who fed me at Lexington Grill on the UES. Often before an interview in NYC, I would leave early, pick up a NYT and eat a hearty breakfast of two eggs and cheese on a roll with s&p. So this morning, I remembered that I still had cream in the fridge from when Kathy was here a month ago. I had all intentions of giving her a good 'ol Southern breakfast of cream biscuits, eggs, grits (ok, grits might've been too much South for my Yankee friend who's never had them), and cranberry juice, her favorite. However, IKEA happened that Sunday morning and their ever popular and raved about cinnamon buns trumped a kitchen dusted in flour.

This morning I put the cream to use. Even though the date read 'February 2', that didn't stop me (although it usually does). I made these biscuits and had to add a little of MK's coffee creamer to make them extra creamy and boy are they good! Deb over there at Smitten Kitchen knows her stuff and I stalk her blog like it's my job. I made a biscuit sandwich with one egg and smoked gouda cheese. Try it!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Happy Birthday Pamela!!

Happy Birthday to YOU, Pamela!!! I hope you have a special birthday in the City.

One of my favorite things, among many, about Pam is her "Pam Face" (see below). We have lots of group pictures of us doing the Pam Face... it's such a classic, signature look of hers!

Pam's bday at Serendipity * February 2008

Monday, February 1, 2010

Snow day

Home + snow + chili + family (we missed you, Gin!) + Duke basketball + good books + playing in the snow + Petals & Zuzie + a fire = a cozy & fun weekend at home