GUILTY: I have been terrible about posting recently. I think it's the maddness of my job in this busy holiday season. Here is my admission & promise to be better!
I had a full weekend with so many things planned! It was exciting to have so much to look forward to but I am not going to lie, feeling a little exhausted this week already with the go go go of friends & acitivies!
Friday night consisted of good pizza and great beer. Hayden and I headed to Mellow Mushroom for some amazing pizza. The best part is that the restaurant is right around the corner - something about being able to walk to dinner makes it taste that much better. We split the House Special pizza - red sauce based with mozarella, pepperoni, sausage, ground beef, ham, Applewood smoked bacon, mushrooms, black olives, Roma tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. Needless to say it was delicious and accompanied by one of my favorite beers brewed in Charlotte - NoDa's Jam Session.
We began Saturday with Charlotte's first annual Ugly Sweater Run. The 5K started in Romare Bearden Park and ran through the city and around the neighborhoods before doubling back to the finish line. Registering for the race included a neat toboggan unique to the race, unlimited Hot Chocolate, and a beer at the finish line. Also included in the packet pickup were some sweet coupons for Dick's Sporting Goods which will definitely be put to good use.
The race ended up being more of a fun run as Hayden and I came in 3rd and 4th overall at a jogging pace. We were still so happy to be a part of the fun shenanigans and the weather could not have been better! I would definitely check it out for next year - but make sure to go all out on your sweater or you'll be the odd one out!
After the race, we showered and got ready for South End Charlotte's 12 Beers of Christmas. The event included multiple breweries who partnered to sponsor the local Levine Children's Hospital. Bringing a toy to each of the breweries got you festive holiday gear and drink tickets. We ended up starting at Sycamore then headed to Lenny Boy Brewing & Triple C.
Sycamore is by far my favorite brewery in Charlotte. They seem to be rotating beers constantly but always have endless choices so it's easy to find something everyone likes. My favorites include the Southern Girl Blonde, Happily Ever After, and any of their fruit infused beer. They even have a Christmas Cookie beer for the holidays that is crisp and sweet!
Lenny Boy Brewing impressed me! It is located in a warehouse district parking lot so not much is too be expected. I had been curious to try this brewery ever since they won the award for best Brewery Run in Charlotte and was excited to get the opportunity this weekend. Though the outdoor atmosphere is lacking, I enjoyed a Life in the South beer in their small, homey bar and loved the smoothness of the lager. I give Lenny Boy a 7/10 and will definitely be back in the near future!
Triple C impressed me the most by far. Not only was it my favorite beer of the day, it was the coolest atmosphere as well. I had only been to their big 1 year anniversary celebration before and completely missed out on the warm interior. A dark warehouse has been completely transformed into a warm, Christmas lit, moutainy brewery. I chose the Zest-a-Peel and with a light hint of orange I was blown away by the flavor and smoothness of this beer. The bartender recommended this when I told him I enjoyed lighter, easy drinking choices and he could not have picked any better. I give Triple C a 9/10 and already can't wait to go back.
We enjoyed the ACC Championship game on Saturday night surrounded by some of my best friends from college. Though we didn't have a dog in the fight, I come from an ABC (Anything But Carolina) family and friend group so we were not disappointed when the Tigers pulled through with a victory.
Sunday was filled with errands. Now that I have such limited free time, I have learned to love the little things and errands are definitely one of them. The simplicity of being out and about, especially during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, feels both productive and exciting. Plus, I got to wander through one of my favorites, West Elm, before heading to Target. They had so many cute gifts for the holidays! I am thinking about stocking up on these candles for hostess and last minute gifts for the season:
After a sermon on being Sent at Forrest Hill, a local church I have been trying out, it was off to Target to play Santa for our two Angel Tree children. I have never had more fun shopping for legos & Star Wars! Here are a few of the gifts we picked up for our Angel Tree children this weekend:
Because this weekend was so much fun, it makes going back to work a little harder. I am looking forward to coffee before the day starts already! This week is filled with friendly dinners as I have a coworker's surprise birthday dinner tomorrow night & a Christmas cookie exchange on Friday night. I'll be sure to start taking more pictures - guilty as charged when it comes to getting caught up in the moments and forgetting to snap the memories!
Thoughts for this week:
