A Weekend of Adventures

A group of our really good friends came to visit us in Durham back in March.  It was a great weekend, and it was so nice for us all to get to spend some quality time together.  They came from Chicago and Birmingham. We had so much fun showing them all of our favorite places in Durham, and I'd venture to say that they enjoyed exploring Durham with us!  Instead of doing a boring, long post about it... I'm just going to do pictures and captions.  We can't wait to see everyone again at Lauren and Charlie's wedding in September! 

We had apps and happy hour drinks at City Beverage

"I can't wait to get apps with you cats"

We gathered around and partook of the Beer Tower of Power at BCBB

We visited Mystery Brewing and played a serious game of Cards Against Humanity

There were multiple intense games of Battle of the Sexes

We visited Fullsteam Brewery and shit got real during Jenga

Greg was too busy with darts to get involved in our fierce game of Jenga

I snuck over to the Pit with my best girl friend, Scott

We devoured apps from The Pit

There were many man snuggles

The boys took the pizza menu seriously when we were ordering dinner

We had delicious brunch at Top of the Hill Brewery

Lastly, we had "brewtails" and Scott was not pleased

2013

Hello, friends.  I seem to have hit a wall when it comes to blogging.  I have felt less than inspired, but I think down the road I will enjoy looking back at the blog, so I am going to give it a go again.  2013 was a year full of ups (sometimes very temporary ups) and our large share of downs.  Frankly, she was a bitch and we were very glad to see her go.  Greg and I are very much looking forward to what 2014 has in store for us.

We did a good amount of traveling in 2013:

We spent a long weekend in Washington DC.  We stayed with one of my very best friends, we went to 2 Braves v. Nationals baseball games, we saw several of the monuments and went to several museums. It was Greg's first time to visit DC, so we crammed in as much as we could in the short weekend visit.  We are actually looking forward to going back this summer to visit my friend, and some of our other friends will be there for the summer.

Our biggest vacation of the year was our trip to Chicago to visit Scott and Kathleen.  We did a longer visit there than the one in DC.  We had such a great time seeing our friends!  We went to a Cubs game, we ate amazing food, we did some sightseeing, and most of all we just enjoyed the time with Scott and Kathleen.  They are coming to see us in a month, so we are really excited about their visit!!

We had a lot happen with our jobs in 2013: 

In January, Greg got a job offer from a State Farm agent.  That job ended up not working out at all.  The agent was unprepared when it came to how to effectively run an agency, and he ended up having to let Greg go because he hadn't budgeted his money well and he couldn't afford to keep Greg on.  Even though that was a very crappy situation, there is a positive.  That agent paid for Greg to take all of his insurance exams, which prepared him to look for another job in the insurance industry.

Within a week of being let go from State Farm, Greg interviewed and was offered another job.  This time he was hired by an Allstate agent that has been in the business for a long time.  He clearly knew how to run an agency, and so we felt good about Greg taking that position.  This job has turned out to be a really great situation for Greg.  His co-workers are amazing, and it seems like this is something that Greg feels comfortable doing long-term.  I am so happy that Greg ended up with this agency, it has been such a blessing for us.

Greg isn't the only one that had changes this year as far as his job.  Luckily, I didn't have the stress of having to find a new job like he did... But, another little guy was born into the family that I nanny for!  So, my job has gone from looking like the top picture to the bottom picture.  The transition has gone REALLY well.  Both of these boys are wonderful, and I feel so lucky to be a part of their little lives. 

We had a few visitors come in 2013: 

Greg's family came for about 5 days in March.  It was a really nice visit.  We took them out to eat at a couple of our favorite restaurants, we went to a Carolina Hurricanes game, and I took them over to Nasher (the art museum in Durham).

In May, my parents came for a visit.  We had a lot of fun when they were here.  We took them to a brewery tour, Duke gardens, we took them to some of our favorite restaurants, and we grilled an amazing meal at home.  

We began to explore, and fall more in love with Durham in 2013:

Back in the spring, Greg and I made the decision to start exploring all the local jewels that Durham has to offer.  We've been trying new restaurants, new local breweries, and a lot of of other things that in Durham.  It has been SO much fun.  We have found amazing local food, delicious local beers, and tons of local events that we love being apart of.  It seems like our love affair with Durham is going strong.

Geer Street is one of our favorite local restaurants downtown

FullSteam is a great brewery downtown

We love Durham Central Park.  From the Farmers Market to movies on summer nights to food truck rodeos... We love lots of stuff that they have going on down there.

We've been going to the Farmer's Market weekly

This is from the Cajun beer and bourbon festival last spring

Triangle Brewing is one of Greg's favorite local brews.  This is a picture from the brewery tour that we did when Mom and dad came to visit.  They've actually opened a bar/restaurant/pub downtown that is great.

Infront of the Lucky Strike tower at Christmas

This is Greg's favorite new local restaurant

Greg surprised me with season tickets to the Broadway series at DPAC and it has been one of my favorite things that we have done all year.  It's been a special thing for us to do together every month

Here's us at the DPAC for our first show, Beauty and the Beast

I couldn't possibly give you a run down of the entire year in a blog post, and I wouldn't want to.  This is a good highlight from 2013, and we are so excited to see what 2014 has in store for us.  

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

- Martin Luther King Jr. 

Memorial Day Visitors!

Mom and Dad came to visit us over Memorial day weekend.  It was SO nice to see them and show them around Durham.  I feel like this is a common theme... We love having people come visit Durham, so that we can show them why we love it so much!  We had a really great  visit!

They arrived late Friday night, so we basically just said hello and went to bed.

Saturday morning we got up to go to the Farmer's Market and Mom decided she'd join us.  We had to get a good amount of stuff that week, and so I feel like Mom got the whole experience!  We also got breakfast from the food trucks, and it was delicious!  We weren't able to spend as much time as we wanted at the market that morning because Greg and I had to take the dogs to a vet appointment at 10am.  After Greg and I got home with the dogs, we decided to take Mom and Dad to Greg's favorite local brewery, Triable Brewing Company, for a tour.  The experience was a lot of fun, it was interesting to hear about the brewing process, and of course, it was fun to sample all the beers.

Triangle Brewing Company 

Dad and Greg were clearly excited about the Brewery Tour

 Mom and I during the Brewery Tour

Saturday night, we had to take them over to Lily's Pizza.  We take everyone who comes to visit us to eat here because it's our favorite local pizza place.  After dinner, I wanted to take Mom and Dad over to check out the new fondue place that opened downtown, and I thought it would be a fun to do chocolate fondue for dessert.  It was delicious!

Sunday, we got up and went to church.  We had lunch at the house, and then headed over to Duke Gardens for the afternoon.  It was fun to walk around and spend some time outside.  We took it easy that night, ate at home, and just hung out together that night.

Greg, Penni, and I at Duke Gardens

Monday, Mom and I went shopping while Greg and dad hung out at the house grilling lunch.  On our way home, we stopped at Harris Teeter to figure out what we wanted to do for dinner.  We ended up getting steaks, shrimp, zucchini, squash, corn, and baked potatoes.  It was so much food, but it was all delicious!

We are so happy that Mom and Dad were able to come up and visit!  We look forward to when they make another trip!

Durham Farmer's Market

Greg and I have been enjoying the Durham Farmer's Market a lot this year.  We started thinking about buying local once he started his job.  The reason it got in our head was because we had found a CSA that was going to be a perfect match for us.  The CSA let you 'shop' online to build your perfect week's worth of food (all locally farmed), and then you'd pick it up.  It also allowed you to cancel a week if you were going to be out of town, or if you missed the cancel by date, you could send you share that week to a local charity.  What is it that people say?  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  ha!  Well, after we paid to join, the guy in charge sent out an email saying that everyone was going to be refunded and they were not going to be able to do the CSA this year.  Boo!  

Since we had already committed to spending a certain amount per week on our CSA share, we decided to just take that money to the Farmer's Market every week and buy as much of our produce as possible there.  Now, I really look forward to getting up on Saturday morning and heading over to the Farmer's Market to shop.  I love the idea of supporting local farmers, and of course eating locally grown and farmed food is the best.  

You guys, I know that some people think it's ridiculous to spend extra money for local food, but I promise you... It is totally worth it.  The eggs that I get from the Farmer's Market are amazing, they have more flavor and they are much creamier.  The strawberries that we have been getting this season are out of this world delicious!  The best strawberries I have ever eaten.

Another perk of going to the Farmer's Market is that the local food trucks show up.  YUM!  I love getting a yummy breakfast from the food trucks!

I encourage you to seek out your local market, and give it a try.  Just take some cash with you, and buy what you think looks good.  You'll be supporting your local economy, and you'll be cooking with fresh, whole foods.  

Here's what we got one week... Eggs, strawberries, kale, sweet potatoes, asparagus, romaine lettuce, and mixed lettuces.

I was SO excited about these strawberries the first week they were at market!

Here's a shot of the food trucks lined up one week.  Yum!

Bark in the Park

The week after we got back from our trip to DC, Greg's friend at the Bulls called to let him know that they were having Bark in the Park that week.  We decided to go because when we went 2 years ago, we really enjoyed it.  I mean, our dogs act crazy initially because there are so many other dogs there, but then they get adjusted and end up relaxing.  Last time we went, I didn't pack water and a bowl for them to drink out of, and so we had to buy a bottle of water at the park for the dogs which was not ideal! 

It's actually a pretty cool event, if you have a minor league (or major) baseball team near you, then check out their promotions schedule to see if they do a Bark in the Park.  They had a bunch of local dog daycares, and vets set up with tents and information.  The company that makes the "thundershirt" is actually based in Durham, so they had a booth also.  Penni got a toy from the thundershirt people that she is obsessed with.  Overall, we had a really good time, and it was so nice having this event in April instead of July so that the dogs (and humans) didn't get so hot!

Penni checking out the other dogs

Hershee watching the game- ha!

Here's a family picture

Visit from the Barrows

Greg's parents came up to visit a couple of weeks ago.  It was great to have them!  The timing of their trip was actually really good because I happened to have most of that week off, so I was able to be around while Greg was working.  We had a really good time while they were here!  We love just really love when people come visit, so that we can show them all the reasons that we love Durham.

I took them over to Nasher Museum of Art over on Duke's campus.  It was really neat.  I hadn't been there before, and I think that we all enjoyed it.  They had an exhibit on photography and different types of exposure that photographers use to get the look that they want in their photographs.  We also walked through the section where they have pieces from their permanent collection.  We saw an Andy Warhol photo in the photography section, and I spent the longest time staring at a Picasso in their permanent collection.  Afterwards, I took them by one of my favorite local restaurants, Foster's Market, to grab sandwiches.

We also took them to our favorite, local pizza place, Lily's Pizza.  Of course, it was amazing.  I have to tell you about this salad that they have there.  It's a roasted pear salad with a pear vinaigrette.  The salad is a bed of mixed greens, roasted pears stuffed with blue cheese, toasted almonds, and homemade croutons. It is to die for... So delicious!

Thursday night after Greg got home from work, we went to the Carolina Hurricane's NHL game in Raleigh.  I love going to watch hockey.  It's so much more entertaining in person than it is on TV.  It is such a fun environment and the fans are wild!

Friday morning, I had a bunch of errands to run, so I suggested that Ralph and Linda over to Duke Gardens.  I wish that it had been warmer because Linda said nothing much had started blooming.  I told her that she'd just have to come back in the spring to see everything.  We went last year in May and it was gorgeous.

Overall, it was a really good visit and Greg and I were so happy that they were able to come visit!

Thanksgiving, part 1

Hello everyone!  I spent this month diving deep, and thinking about what I am thankful for this year.  I feel like Greg and I have had a really great year.  We have faced so many changes, I feel like we have found a place that we love living, and we have also been dealing with a lot of challenges. 

Throughout the month I wrote down things that I was thankful for with the intent to blog about it, so here it is:
- I am thankful for my very sweet, caring husband.  I am so happy that I have found someone like him to face the world with, come home to at the end of the day to, laugh with, travel with, and grow old together.  Greg and I balance each other out perfectly, and I am thankful that we met at Camp Sumatanga the summer of 2006.
- I am thankful for my wonderful parents.  They are a constant support to me, and I know that I can always call them if I need to talk.  I am thankful for Skype and FaceTime so that the months in between visits don't feel so long.  I always love having conversations with my Dad on my way home from work some days, and I love being able to call my Mom to talk about anything from a crappy day to how to make a beautiful bow for our door.  I am so lucky to be able to call them my Mom and Dad.
- I am thankful for my fantastic in-laws.  I feel like I won the in-law lottery.  They are so supportive of us!  I love talking to them, and I love when we are able to make a trip to see them.  Although we don't skype with them very often, it is fun when we have the chance to.  I know that they love us, and they set a wonderful example of how to really grow our marriage.
- I am thankful for my big brother Guy, his wife Andrea, and my sweet nephew Justin.  In college, I was super close to Guy and throughout the years we have kind of drifted apart.  I am thankful that this year we have had the opportunity to rekindle our friendship.  I am so happy that Andrea and I have had the chance to spend more time together in person, and we have spent a lot of time texting and chatting.  And of course how could I not be thankful for Justin?  This is the first time I've been able to experience being an aunt of an infant!  It's crazy to me how much I can love such a little human that I've only known for 2 months!
- I am thankful for my big brother, Ben.  We have certainly had our ups and downs throughout the years, but I am so glad that we have recently reconnected.  I rarely get to see Ben because he is usually working when we are home, and because we live so far away.  I am looking forward to seeing him at Christmas!
- I am thankful for my very sweet sister-in-law, Liz.  I know that if I ever have questions when it comes to cooking or baking that I can call her and she will have an answer for me!  She is a brilliant cook, and I'm so glad that I can rely on her in a disastrous situation in the kitchen! I am also thankful for her wonderful kids: Kayleigh and Tanner.  I was just thinking the other day that I can't believe how grown up they are!  I feel like it was just the other day that I was meeting them, Kayleigh was a sweet 6 year old and Tanner was a toddler!  It's crazy how time flies, and I am thankful to have you in my life!
- I am so thankful for my loving pups.  They make coming home at the end of a crazy day so happy.  They are always thrilled to see me when I walk in the door, and they are always willing to give me lots of loving and snuggles!
- I am thankful that Greg and I have found a cute townhome to move into.  This will be the first time that we have lived in something besides an apartment!  I am super excited to have something that feels more like a home!  Although I hate, hate, hate moving... it will all be worth it.
- I am thankful for Mark, Kate, and baby J.  I am so happy that I met Kate, and I am so thankful that they welcomed me into their home to take care of baby J.  Making the transition from a daycare to being a nanny has been fantastic, and none of it would be possible if they had not trusted me to love and take care of their sweet baby.  I wouldn't have the job I have now if it hadn't been for Kate... which leads me to...
- I am thankful for Bryson, Lauren, and baby B.  I am so happy that they trust me to take care of their sweet baby boy everyday.  Hanging out with B is so much fun, and I enjoy getting to know Lauren and Bryson more and more.  I am so looking forward to watching B grow and learn!  I am thankful that they have allowed me to come into their lives!
- I am thankful that cooler air has finally moved into North Carolina!
- I am thankful for days when I come home to a cooked meal!  It doesn't happen that often, but I cherish the evenings when I walk in to a hot dinner!
- I am thankful for college football.  This year has certainly made things interesting!  It's been fun to watch and wonder what will happen throughout the season.  I also love the fact that college football generally means that Greg and I are going to hang out all day and eat yummy comfort food!
- I am thankful for people who list their moving boxes on Craigslist for free!  I am also thankful that they weren't really kidnappers/murderers.  (ha)
- I am thankful that in the midst of a bunch of car break-ins in our apartment complex... that we have unappealing cars to criminals. 
- I am thankful for the opportunity to take an amazing vacation over Thanksgiving break.  We had such a nice, relaxing time!  I will be blogging about our trip later.
- I am thankful for reruns of Grey's Anatomy, Friends, and Will & Grace!  
- I am thankful that we've found our way to Durham, NC.  We absolutely love it here!  I am looking forward to staying here for a while, and hopefully growing some roots in this city!
- I am thankful for the time off that I am going to have at Christmas!  Greg and I are looking forward to make a trip home where we will actually have more than 2 days with our families. 
- I am thankful for Christmas decorations!  They make me so happy.

This is by no means everything in the world that I'm thankful for, but these are the ones that I wrote down throughout the month.  I am overall very thankful for the loving support of our friends and family.  They are the most important thing to me in the world, and I feel like I've been blessed with a great group!

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving break!  I'll be updating soon with pictures from our Thanksgiving trip!