Mike's Birthday 2012

Last year, Mike and I had the flu during his birthday so this year I was determined to make up for it. 

Friday night started off the fun:

Friday night, I made a simple dinner of Mac-N-Cheese, veggies and jalapeno chicken. (My first Pinterest recipe!)

while playing a few rounds of You Dont Know Jack. (this is my favorite win to date)

Saturday, we kept busy!

We went to Chatham Hill Winery, where we toured the place and then had a wine and cheese tasting, then we just picked up a bonus bottle and sat around chatting and sipping on wine. We got to keep the glasses you see, and we brought home a bottle for later. 

We headed back to Raleigh to the new Tyler's taproom. We grabbed a couple beers and watched some basketball...

and munched on DELICIOUS BBQ nachos and pickle chips. (Seriously y'all, I  WILL BE back. They were SO. GOOD.)

We headed home to clean up and get ready for dinner, meanwhile I gave Mike his Birthday present. 

the force is strong with this one

Saturday night dinner was at the ever amazing, delicious, scrumptions, spectacular Angus Barn. From the Ostrich Sate to the juicy, mouthwatering steak, AB is definitely the place to go for any BIG event.

Haven. Heaven. Whichever

Mike got some birthday balloons!

and BIRTHDAY CAKE! He was quite proud of himself and the nibble. 

Mike bought me a set of Angus Barn desert recipe cards. I've lusted after that Chess pie for years, and after my horrible fiasco with it from last year (I was crying on the kitchen floor) I think he took pity on me.

With full tummies and happy memories, we headed home to rest up for Sunday!

Birthday brunch at the Twisted Fork!!!

then a few hours leisurely spent at Barnes and Noble.

birthday filmstrip!

During the afternoon, Mike spent his time playing videogames and chugging around the internet, while i spent a few hours making him some AWESOME red velvet cupcakes. (Right Babe?) Then, I plopped the 2 and the 8 in, light those babies up and carried em downstairs.  Quite the happy camper that Mike. 

While I didn't have to really DO anything to make this birthday better than last year, just not die and junk, I *think* 

I succeeded in making this year pretty awesome. 

the rest of special lady weekend...

The rest of Special Lady Weekend, was just as awesome as Friday night. We got up early and headed out to Triangle Brewing Company, for their tasting and tours.  

 

It was probably the best "brewery" tour we'd been on, in terms of the science he talked about and how in-depth it was.   

They had an AWESOME pepper beer, in addition to their normal fare, 

free to try. 

did I mention: FREE, 

and then the guy raced the people celebrating brithdays to see who could shotgun a beer faster.

AFter the brewery tour, we decided to head to downtown Durham.
First stop was a awesome Irish Pub, Bull McCabe's to get some nosh.

Then some more walking, to take in the tobacco district.

 

Before we ended up at West End Wine Bar. 

I'd been there once before, and was quite excited to get back. 

The wine selection was amazing & the waitress was super sweet and knowledgeable about beer and wine. 

Mike was happy that a football game was on (which I don't remember), 

since the waitress and I chatted about the Kardashians.

We had such a blast, and & I'm a very lucky girl. :)

Tale as old as time... 1-14-12

On Friday, January 14th, Mike came home with flowers

pretty!

and announced that it was Special Lady Weekend...

First Up, we went to go see the 3D Release of Beauty and the Beast. 

Actually, this movie is one of my earlier memories. My dad took me to see it when it came out (I was 6.) I got SO scared of the beast, that I climbed on his lap and hid. Then, I saw the movie projector at the back of the theatre, and noticed that the movie was playing in IT too, but I could still stay on my dad's shoulder (for protection.) Thus, I watched the entire movie on my dad's shoulder.

 

After the movie, I was hooked. Luckily, for me, Pizza Hut ran a promotion where you could get a BatB puppet whenever you bought a small pan pizza. *Here's the commercial below*

I had all of them but Beast. I think my mom still has Chip lying around somewhere... 

 It was an awesome night. I loved Belle and Mike and I had a great time watching the movie as adults, singing along and reminiscing about our childhood... :)

Hurricans v Jets

For Mike's (continuing) birthday, we went to a Hurricanes vs. Jets game at the RBC Center. 

Our seats were two rows behind the team, which we must admit, was pretty cool. 

action shot!

Love this shot of the guys congratulating each other post score.

Hockey game dinner :)

I CAN EAT ICE CREAM AGAIN. (Thanks to Mike's Dad and his toothpaste recommendation) We celebrated with two scoops of cookies and cream. 

and the Canes WIN!!

Hunger Games

People have told me for years now that I should read The Hunger Games. 

Two Fridays ago, I finally downloaded the first one. Cause I was bored. 

At 2am, I demanded Mike download the next two. 

By Tuesday, they were finished. 

Safe to say: L.O.V.E. them. 

Therefore, I'm in a market for fan gear. 

Don't judge. I found some goodies!

Apparently, when Mockingjay came out, NECA came out with a few pieces that now you can really only find on Amazon. I'm seriously hoping they come out with a line to correspond with the movie. 

CAUSE, I want this pin. 

via

I suppose now I actually NEED to buy the box set. 

via

"Fan" tshirts can be really awkward and scream "PAY ATTENTION TO ME! I'M A DORK!" so I like to keep them on the harder to "get" realm. This is probably my favorite version that I've found so far. 

via


Along the same line, this necklace is absolutely adorable

via

and I LOVE this bracelet. I loved it before and now, it has more meaning!

via

Go read the book. Seriously. Then we'll start buying awesome things and planning the midnight showings :)

Pinteresting Wednesdays

Another new weekly feature with April! 

Let's take a peek at my favorite pins recently.

 Source: fab.com via Terri on Pinterest

This little charm is the epitome of adorable. It's sciency, girly and cute. It's also $98. Sadness.

Source: bsinthekitchen.com via Terri on Pinterest

When I first saw this sammich, which has both potato and bacon inside a grilled cheese, I MAY have hit Mike.

Source: mango-watermelon-love.tumblr.com via Terri on Pinterest

We're still in the mindset that come summertime, we will be in the presence of a new adorable puppy.

Source: bklynstitch.blogspot.com via Terri on Pinterest

I have no idea when I would ever need a mimosa bar (Just kidding. I can think of TONS OF REASONS to make a mimosa bar)


Teehee. I think Im going to enjoy this little series! Check out Pinterest, if you havent. You'll be hooked. <3

January 7th

Ok, let's start playing catch up.
January 7th, it's a good starting place. 

Early-ish, that morning my old friend from HS was in town. 

Let's just tell you a bit about my old high school. 

It's not like yours. (Unless you went to a residential magnet school)

I went to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathmatics.

It has only Juniors and Seniors, and you live on campus. 

Our Mascot was the Unicorn. 

You take upper level math and science classes and excellent humanities courses. 

You live on campus. So you get REALLYCLOSE with a small set of people. 

We called ourselves the fourple.

I still get goosebumps at the exit sign.

After graduation, all 5 of us (yup, you're keeping up) split across the country. 

So when one came to town, I went running.

We met up at our favorite Durham food ever. (It was so cheap and therefore perfect for highschoolers)

Cosmic Cantina. It really is the best one.

Though, it was a little odd having a drink there now.

Afterwards, we walked down the street to our old school. 

Each graduating class (since 1982) has their senior portrait down a hall way. 

We played a game to see if we could find ourselves.

bingo

We meandered down the hallway. Reminiscing, laughing, remembering...

Happy Half, Airband, KoffeeHaus, that nasty art pond that we swam in

and our senior bench, that was replaced by a bigger, prettier, NEWER senior bench. 

Then we found the swings. Those wonderful, wooden swings.

After a walk back up Ninth street, with some minor shopping at our old haunts, it was time to say goodbye. 

Again. 

with promises of reunions in new places. Vegas? New Orleans? Soon!

Almost as soon as I got home, it was time to go out for April's birthday dinner.

Where we learned some exciting news!

Wedding bells are ringing. Ring Pictures are still being taken. (and you already know the newest updates)

bling

but, we still ate cupcakes (green and pink!)

T'was a good day. I spent it with all the people I love and enjoy the most (or representatives thereof)