Recipe: Peach Milkshake

Hank and I went to downtown Durham for lunch on Saturday to try Ed Mitchell's new restaurant, Que. It was delicious and has an awesome location right next to the ballpark. We started with deviled eggs, and I had his chopped barbecue with mac and slaw for my meal. 

I walked it off that afternoon by taking Bentley on his first trip to Carolina's campus. Bentley enjoyed Chapel Hill and got lots of love from fellow Tar Heels. He was so tired when we got back to the car that he drank his water while lying down in the shade... Such a bulldog. 

That night Hank and I watched a movie, and I made these delicious peach milkshakes:

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups fresh peach slices (Trader Joe's are great!)

1 1/2 cups milk

4 scoops vanilla ice cream

5 ice cubes 

2 teaspoons sugar

Directions

Blend fresh peach slices and ice cubes together for a minute or until ice crushed. Add milk, sugar and vanilla ice cream and blend it again until smooth and creamy texture. Pour prepared creamy peach milkshake into serving glasses and serve. Enjoy!

State Farmers Market

My mom and I enjoyed a fun Sunday at the State Farmers Market and restaurant. I love the restaurant's chicken salad paired with fried okra and collards. 

After lunch we made our farmers market laps and saw some pretties.

We brought home corn on the cob right out of the truck bed to pair with these chicken sloppy joe sliders for dinner. So fresh and so yum.

Quote Boat: Happy

Truth. I purchased this cute print at the trunk show part of the modern hand lettering class.

Hand Lettering Class

I spent a Saturday afternoon in downtown Cary. My friend May taught a modern hand lettering class at Cute Buttons Gift and Paper Boutique. We snacked on frosted cookies and moscato (obviously loved - mine are gone!) as we traced the word love and our name.

We then moved from tracing to practicing writing those same words and then took all we learned in the hour to make our final projects - a bookmark and two gift tags complete with glitter burlap ribbon and patterned washi tape. 

Ta da!

After the class, May and I had some fun grabbing lunch at Serendipity and shopping around the cute shop The Purple Polka Dot. Oh, happy day!

#PriusLife

Catch me in my Prius! I'm so happy to be the newest member of the 50 mpg club. This car is as me as it gets. Yippee! 

While car salesmen sell multiple cars a week, and I buy one car a decade, I know the salesmen are better at the game than me, but I wasn't going to step down easily. I did all I could to be as prepared as possible, so here are five of my car buying tips:

• Browse with no intention of buying. I knew without a doubt this was the car I wanted, but I was sure to shop around and test drive other cars to cement this fact. Dealerships would mostly likely call me a "be-back," because I would let them know I had to talk to the husband... Be back later!

• As soon as I knew it was 'new car time' and this was THE car for me, I was in touch with people I knew who had one - neighbors, friends and coworkers. I also took to Google and searched top hybrid lists to be sure this car was continually making it on those lists, and at the top of those lists no less. You can't ask enough questions or have too much research. 

• I used TruCar to get the lowest quotes on this car in my area. This helped me figure out which area dealerships would be most willing to play. Dealerships don't necessarily honor the TruCar quote because each dealership adds their own extras from window tint to paint protection. What they do is take the discount amount TruCar supplies and apply that to the MSRP. It's a great starting point for negotiations. 

• Get online quotes from those same local dealerships. The online sales and floor sales people operate a bit differently. When you get an online quote from one dealership, don't be afraid to take that quote and put it into this cheesy sentence: I'm ready to buy tomorrow, but I want your best price on your (insert vehicle here). I've already been to the dealership in (insert city here) and got the price of (insert price here). I'm ready to buy tomorrow, but I want your best price. ... And email that to the next local dealership and the next. This way if a dealership replies, "we can definitely beat that quote" - you know you've got some wiggle room. You can also use this site to get your actual invoice price so you know they aren't playing around when the dealership shows you that number.

• Have a trade in? Don't talk about it until you've settled on a car price. And don't talk financing either. This way you can get the best price possible on the car you want without introducing multiple other variables that can be manipulated without you ever knowing. Be sure to look up your trade in, if you have one, on a site like Kelly Blue Book and print out a copy of the trade-in-value.

Mean business by bringing in a folder with all of this research... It says, yep, try to get one by me. Use this site for even more great tips, and this site for an awesome series on Confessions of a Car Salesman - truly enlightening. The best thing to remember is that you can walk anytime, and that right there, is all of the power ladies and gentlemen. Even an hour of research can put you in a better position so you aren't an easy target - and that can save you thousands of car-buying dollars. Hip, hip, hooray!

Recipe: Ginger Beef Stir-Fry

"Hoisin sauce is a key flavor component in sauces and glazes in many Asian-inspired dishes. Made from soybean paste, garlic, chilis, and various spices, this all-in-one ingredient is salty, sweet, and spiced at the same time. In this super-fast recipe, we mix half of the hoisin into the stir-fry and spoon the rest over the finished product for an elegant finish."

Ingredients 

1 cup jasmine rice 

Bunch, scallions 

2 cloves garlic

Bunch, basil

1 small piece ginger 

10 ounces stir-fry steak

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1/4 cup hoisin sauce 

Directions

In a small pot, combine the rice, 2 cups of water, and a big pinch of salt. Heat to boiling on high, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked through. Fluff the finished rice with a fork. While the rice cooks, wash and dry the fresh produce. Slice the scallions. Peel and roughly chop the garlic. Peel and mince the ginger. Pick the basil leaves off the stems. Thinly slice the steak. In a large pan, heat some oil on high until hot. Add the sliced beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned, stirring occasionally. Transfer the stir-fried beef to a plate, leaving behind any juices in the pan. In the same pan used for the beef, add a little more oil and heat it on medium-high. Add the garlic and ginger; cook for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Stir in the soy sauce, half of the hoisin sauce, half of the scallions and half of the basil. Cook 2 to 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened and coated in the sauce. Add the stir-fried beef back to the pan and cook until heated through and coated in the sauce. Remove from heat. Divide the rice between 2 plates. Top each with the beef stir-fry. Garnish each with the remaining basil, hoisin sauce and scallions. Enjoy!

This recipe is an adaptation from Blue Apron.

Pineapple Love

I can't even begin to express how much I love to entertain. I have no less than 123897123873 trays, and I got this entertaining gene from my mom, who got it from her mom, who got it from her mom, etc. This summer there are some key happs that I am loving. These pineapple cups from my fave, eBay, straws from Amazon, anything and everything from Oh Joy! for Target - especially this tray featuring pineapples - and always some homemade confetti made with a puncher and scrapbook paper from Michael's.

Happy Friday with a side of summer entertaining, perhaps!

Etsayyy

I'm LOVING summer days by the pool - especially in my hot pink bikini top.

Donut Worry, Be Happy

Hank and I had some fun for breakfast at Durham's Monuts. Monuts is owned by a fellow Carolina alumna and that always makes me happy to support - local and a Tar Heel. 

Note cute little donut couple on the chalkboard menu. 

Love the pennants and flair at the counter. We ordered chile mango and lemon ginger donuts. 

With a side of bagel sammies! My sammie was redic. It was dubbed 'Just Peachy' and it was a toasted everything bagel with melty mozzarella and chèvre, sliced N.C. peaches, house made peach jam, bacon and cracked pepper with a fried egg. It was seriously as sweet as a peach in the South. 

Once we got home, I had to recreate the cute donut couple that was holding hands on their previously referenced chalkboard menu - complete with one of my favorite donut-y quotes.

Live by it. Happy day, y'all!

Photo Booth

Nope. I don't love a photo booth or anything.

We had Hank's family over to celebrate his Dad's birthday. It was luau theme, and I thought it would be fun to set up a photo booth on our front porch. It's too easy to do. I found some leis in my party box that lives in the attic, picked up the cardboard cutouts from one of my favorite stores, Dollar Tree, and gathered sunglasses from around the house. The mustaches and lips were crafted for a game at a baby shower I hosted. I thought they would be perfect to throw in the box of props for the photo booth. I picked up the chalkboard from Target and think it's a great way to bring a fun saying into the frame. Find yourself a solid background and an iPhone (using the square camera setting) and go to town. I pick four favorites and set them up in Adobe Illustrator, 2" x 7", and mail each party guest their own strip as a thanks for coming / party favor. 

This strip was from my 'oh, happy day' photo booth from my birthday here. Enjoy!

#LakeLife

Wooden docks, sunsets and boat tie-ups... 

My little happy place.

Quote Boat: Enjoy

Life is short, enjoy the ride. 

I've been enjoying life on my pink cruiser complete with basket, bell and koozie.

Looking Back: 28

I had some fun ringing in my 28th year on May 11. We did some of my favorite things like going on an adventure. Hank and I day tripped it to New Bern. We took a boat tour (saw Nicholas Sparks' home), ate shrimp and grits at The Chelsea, shopped and grabbed rooftop patio beers. I came across this awesome surf woody that I just loved... Sunny skies and aloha vibes.

Hank surprised me with my birthday favorite... Yogurt Pump pie (Oreo + Reese's).

I homemade a photo booth and had a little fun with my family. 

Oh, happy day.

Quote Boat: Good Life

One of my favorite lines from a song featured on the TV show Nashville.

Recipe: Guacamole

Praise God from whom all tacos flow.

Taco Night is a true blessing. I've finally figured out my favorite guacamole recipe to pair with said Taco Night. It's simple, and that's why I love it. Let that chunky avocado shine.

Guacamole 

2 Avocados 

1 Bunch Cilantro

1 Clove Garlic

1 Lime

1 Red Onion

Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits. Using a spoon, scoop the avocados out of the peels and into a medium bowl. Combine with lime juice, cilantro, as much diced red onion as you'd like and a pinch of the garlic (this is all to taste). Mash the ingredients to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste. Keep the pits and use at least one to set in your Guacamole bowl - this helps your Guac stay green and so fresh. Ariba!

Looking Back: RDU Baton

I had the best day carrying the RDU Baton back in April. RDU Baton is a collaborative photo project to show the world (and to remind ourselves) how amazing life in the Research Triangle is, through Instagram. Here is a look back on my day.

Good morning, Triangle neighbors! I just love y'all. Thanks for being a huge reason behind why this area is so great. I'm Andrea, and I graduated from UNC in 2008. I've been living and loving life in this area ever since. I start each morning with a 20-minute commute from Cary to Chapel Hill. I drive through four counties - Wake, Chatham, Durham and Orange. It's that through a tunnel of trees, windows down, music up, backroads pretty kind of drive. I pass this delightful, historic chapel each day. It was founded in 1794 and lies a few miles south of Durham. So excited for this day! Let's do this.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it can certainly be one of the tastiest - especially when it involves Jessee's in Carrboro. I could eat Mexican everyday, for every meal, so why not start with it in the a.m. Jessee's breakfast burrito is the bee's knees. It has avocado and then you go on and add the chorizo (from Cliff's Meat Market right down the street), and you can just stop. right. there. Nope! Keeping going... Their milky way mocha is out of this universe (see what I did there). I highly recommend adding Jessee's Coffee & Bar to your list of places to try. Heigh-ho! It's off to work I go.

I make a living out of loving Carolina. I started working at UNC after graduation, and I enjoy everything about marketing away in a college town. That's what's great about this area, from Chapel Hill to Durham to Raleigh, the college town atmosphere is all around us. We're surrounded by bright minds, entrepreneurial spirits, trendsetters, happening events, cutting-edge research, and we're rarely dry for a good game to catch.

Oh, bless the South. There is no lunch love like the one I have for Merritt's Store & Grill in Chapel Hill. Their single BLT with homemade pimento cheese has my culinary heart. When we're talking birthday meals, I'm all Merritt's Store for lunch and either Angus Barn, Daniel's, Dos Taquitos or Lantern for dinner. How amazing is it that we have enough innovative and delicious restaurants in this area to have a multi-page list of places we want to try, and as soon as we think we are about to make it through 'the list,' another restaurant or great food truck is on the horizon. We are food lucky.



One of my favorite local entrepreneurial spirits is Jamie Meares of Furbish Studio. It's been fantastic to see what a small business owner can accomplish. From a blog to a store that ships throughout the country, I am thankful Furbish Studio calls Raleigh home. I love a shop that is so packed with goodness, I need multiple laps to take it all in. Furbish carries White Whale of Durham if you are in need of a tasty home concoction. Other local favorites? Swoon, Moon and Lola and Thanks a Latte.

I met my husband, Hank, on the first day of class, freshman year, 8 a.m. This is our English Bulldog, Bentley. He ruvs the Tobacco Trail. The Tobacco Trail spans 23 miles. While Bentley can only last one mile of that, 23 miles is pretty darn amazing. We have multiple entrances right outside our doorsteps, and it's a major reason why I love this area so much. You can eat the best food and then walk, run or bike it out on beautiful trails. Couple great trails with awesome parks and green spaces, and we have got it going on, Triangle!

Craft brews! Any fellow Triangle-ers on Wilmington Street this evening? I love our beer scene. We're celebrating the fifth anniversary of one of our favorite watering holes, Busy Bee. We're road warriors traveling to all three points of the Triangle today - there is just too much to enjoy in our sweet little slice of heaven. Cheers to you!

Wow! I enjoyed a great dinner tonight at Stanbury Raleigh. The atmosphere was awesome - I love the open garage door concept, and it's surely a pretty night to be outdoors. I dined on lots of deliciousness and am thankful for such a fabulous restaurant. A quick trip next door to Escazu Chocolates, and I was on my merry way with creative chocolates and a jar of peanut pecan from Big Spoon Roasters based out of Durham. 

Tap, tap, is this thing on? I had the best day today - two thumbs up! Thanks so much to you for following along and making it great. I love this place everyday, but I love our area even more after today. While I didn't have time to workout, I just had to pop in to let you in on what I believe to be one of the most fun workouts in the Triangle - fitness classes at Defy Gravity Durham! You're jumping in a trampoline arena, and no matter how hard it is, you feel that tinge of excitement of being a kid again, and you can't help but smile. I'm jumping for joy for having had this opportunity and can't thank our RDU Baton co-founders enough. Live it up BIG in the Triangle, y'all.

P.S. The day's souvenirs.

Fellow Triangle neighbors, I hope you'll consider signing up for a day!