Visitors

This past weekend Jimmy and I were so fortunate to host Dan and Marisol AND Kevin and Stefanie! It was a hoot. Thursday was a late dinner at a local CB restaurant. Friday the ladies made a Mexican feast while the boys watched the Redskins - mahi mahi tacos, chicken enchiladas, chips, Flaming Amy's pineapple habanero salsa and grilled onion guacamole. Saturday we hit up the beach and then went into Wilmington for the night. First stop was Satellite for a drink and then Indochine for dinner.

Sunday the boys did a little surfing - post coming soon - and then we walked the North End in an attempt to recruit more family to move here. I wish everyone lived closer - I miss our families so much!!

I need to get my friends down here for a visit too :(

Boone Weekend

I had a wonderful couple days in the mountains this past weekend visiting my dad. It was so lush and green and pleasantly cool - mid 70s during the day and low 60s at night. We went to out to dinner Friday night, which I sadly don't have a picture of because the rest of the weekend we were grungy - not cute for pictures.

My dad is trying to sell his house, so Saturday we spruced up the front porch a little with some flowers and door mat by the door and flower "boxes" on the railing. They'll look even better when they mature a little this fall. Every little bit helps!

Next it was staging (for pictures) and enjoying the backyard with a bonfire.

Finally we made dinner Saturday night - Cleo's Daddy's BBQ Ribs, corn on the cob and onion rings. We ran out of flour and it was late, so pardon the half naked onion rings. Trust me - they were still delicious.

Late Night

Just got back from an evening on the water with Mike and Brittany. We took Mike's boat out for a stroll and a quick dock to see the weekly Carolina Beach fireworks.

Jimmy and Captain Mike

"Downtown" Carolina Beach from the water

The ladies looking a little wind blown

I'm off to Boone after work tomorrow to visit with my pops. I've pulled out my fall sweaters and jeans for the 50s at night weather. Very much looking forward to the change of scenery!

North End Reel

I rarely get to the beach in the morning, except to run (ugh), so I gladly volunteered to photograph Jimmy, Mike and Ben surf some Emily remnants Sunday AM. I am no professional, not even close, but I think bystanders thought I was standing thigh deep in the surf snapping shots of the boys.

Mike:

Ben:

Jimmy:

Katie's Baby Shower

Such a fun time on Saturday afternoon celebrating my co-worker Katie and her little baby boy!

(the loot}

{L to R: Jenny, Katie, Candy, little Carson, Brittany & Autumn}

{Adorable grown babies - Jack & Julia}

Do-Gooder

Thursday after work I drove to Durham to get ready for a conference at Duke on Friday.  After a successful day, I headed over to the most fun store around to pick up a present for a baby shower tomorrow...

Next stop, Nordstroms at Southpoint to make a charitable donation.

Nothing crazy, but I love them. So cute and comfy. I may have to pull "a Lucy" and sleep and bath in them. Yay for the Tax Free weekend!

When blogging about your trip to Boston...

...for work, you don't have pictures like this to share from sightseeing...

{random stock photo people}

And you don't have photo evidence of everything you ate - whipping out the camera at dinner would be weird. You can, however, share the Boston restaurants you enjoyed and write that, in addition to eating well,  you learned a lot at the conference you attended.

Anthem Kitchen + Bar
Neighborhood: Faneuil Hall
Meal: Steak and truffled mashed potatoes flatbread pizza

Eastern Standard
Neighborhood: Kenmore Square/Fenway
Meal: Veal Saltimbocca

{Sub thirsty rained out Redsox fans and that was the atmosphere}

Post 390 Urban Tavern
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Meal: Steak Frites

El Centro
Neighborhood: South Boston
Meal: La Mejor Del Mundo, Carne Asada Al Carbon "Estilo Sonora" Con Refritos, Chile Verde, Ensalada Y Guacamole

Oh my, I just realized I ate red meat every night I was there. Maybe my body secretly needed iron. Now I openly need vegetables and fish/poultry. Good times traveling with a fellow foodie...