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Find of the Week: Foxcroft Wine Co

I always passed it on my way home from Dilworth - the quaint, corner spot decorated with the most adorable outdoor lighting. Last night, I was finally able to actually try Foxcroft Wine Co with some girlfriends. 

If you think the outdoor seating is a cool atmosphere, just wait until you make your way inside. Each wall is decorated with endless bottles of reds, whites, roses, and everything in between. Their menu  was extensive without being overwhelming. I ended up choosing a half pour of their featured Chianti & another half pour of their New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Delicious!

If you were like me and thought a wine bar wouldn't serve food, you are (gladly) mistaken. Foxcroft features a full menu of items ranging from flatbreads to sliders to daily chef's choice bruschetta. Though I had eaten before (zoodles, duh) I snagged a couple of bites of the charcuterie board which was as delicious as it was beautiful. 

If you're a Charlotte wine lover, definitely check this place out. I visited the Dilworth location but have heard the Southpark location is just as neat. 

4 Ingredient Dinner: Zoodles & Meatballs

An easy weeknight dinner gets me more excited than you probably think. Tonight, I had little time between getting home from work and heading back out for a wine night with some girlfriends. My meal plan was even quicker than I had imagined. Such a simple, delicious, and healthy surprise!

What You'll Need: 

- Veggie Noodle Co. Zoodles (available at Whole Foods)

- Aidell's Italian Style Chicken Meatballs

- 1 Can Diced Tomatoes

- Mozzarella Cheese

- Salt, Pepper, & Red Pepper Flakes optional

1. Add oil & a spoonful of canned garlic to skillet & heat

2. Add zoodles, salt & pepper, & red pepper flakes and cook 3-4 minutes stirring

3. While zoodles are cooking, microwave meatballs 3 minutes

4. Add diced tomatoes to zoodle pot

5. Stir in heated meatballs

6. Plate & top with mozzarella cheese

I served with a slice of French baguette toast. 

Enjoy!

Weekend Recap: A Visit Home

Another weekend, another lonely camera roll. I guess we should all be used to this by now but I promise I will continue to try to take more/better pictures!

This weekend, I headed back to Raleigh to spend some time with friends I hadn't had the chance to see in a while. Saturday morning was spent at one of my favorite places in Raleigh - a true "hidden gem." Morning Times is tucked away downtown and is the perfect coffee spot as it is completely unique serving seasonal brews that change all the time. I have never chosen one I didn't like. 

Their biscuits are also to die for. I indulged in a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast biscuit while Kara chose the breakfast burrito. We made our way upstairs to a quaint table by the window. The atmosphere is next to none and the dining area slowly filled with such a variety of weekend coffee lovers. My dad has always been right - morning people are the best people.

After catching up with Kara, I met my mom at Crabtree Valley Mall for some weekend shopping. Though I wasn't as successful as I had hoped, I managed to score this 1 State Polka Dot Dress (nothing beats a shift), a Lucky Brand Night Dreamer Wrap Bathing Suit (obsessed with the support this style gives), and these comfortable Rock and Candy Sandals (I've been on the hunt for the perfect work sandal). 

Most of my weekend was spent playing around with my parent's new puppy, Beasley. She is the absolute cutest and is entertained simply by throwing the ball.

Saturday night my mom introduced me and one of her friends to the local Cinebistro. We waited until our movie was called and made our way into the extravagant theatre where we were greeted by the most comfortable, leather recliners I have ever met. I enjoyed a delicious cobb salad & my mom and her friend ordered the fish tacos & brussels sprouts (highly recommended, so delicious!). We split a bottle of wine & enjoyed the comedy. I will definitely be returning for a date night next time I get back to Raleigh!

Please excuse this horrendous selfie and pay attention to the happiest, most adorable women beside me. 

I got to spend Sunday morning at my favorite church, Hope, with one of my best college friends/roommates. It was so nice to feel at home again as I am struggling to find a church I love as much in Charlotte. 

Finally, I caught brunch with Meggie, one of my best camp friends at Toast Cafe in Cary. They had a delicious breakfast burrito and the servers are always so polite. I hadn't seen Meggie in a while so we talked over coffee for a while before it was time to make my way back to Charlotte. 

Now that this weekend is over, there are many more busy ones to come! I am excited for my parents to visit Charlotte this weekend for Father's Day. It has been over a year since they have visited and I am planning on showing them some of my favorite local spots before we catch a Knight's game on Saturday night!

Happy Monday!

Dreaming of PJs

Now that I have graduated and started a "big girl job" (has it really been a year?!) I feel out of place wearing my usual oversized, frumpy t-shirt to bed. Hence my newest obsessed with PJs of all kinds. 

It all started when my brother & sister in law gifted me with the most glorious set of PJ Harlow pajamas for my birthday in March. I couldnt get over the way the fabric glides over my skin & how elegant a simple set of loungewear could be.  I have the Daisy Top & Mikel Shorts and wear an XS (recommended size 0-4) for reference. 

I also picked up these DKNY Citi Essentials Pants at TJ Maxx and they feel like heaven. You know the feeling of a new Piko shirt - those trendy tees made with bamboo? Ding ding ding.

 Normally I am totally against anything on my legs under the sheets, but for something so soft like these, I was more than willing to make an exception. I found a pair of black pants at TJ Maxx but am loving the heather gray here. Definitely recommend sizing up on these for a more loose, comfortable fit - I bought a medium.

Though I haven't tried Honeydew Intimates yet, I have heard nothing but great things about the soft, femininity of the brand. This nightgown is definitely on my wish list for summer nights to come. 

And how cute is this one for future brides to be?

Lucky Brand has also come out with some adorable sleepwear singles & sets. I love these boxer shorts with a simple tank or tee. Some of these colors are on sale for just $8.99!

Target has also been killing it in the loungewear category too. 

I love both this classic Periwinkle Set & trendier Fringe Set.

Finally, this wouldn't be a true PJ post without featuring my favorite robe. My mom gifted me this basic Jockey Robe for Christmas and I have a hard time giving it up for even just a day. It is light enough I am not sweating bullets when blow drying my hair but heavy enough to lounge in on a lazy, cooler Saturday morning. She monogrammed the back where the tie is attached to add a little personalized touch. Highly recommend this purchase - you won't regret it!

I have the black (of course!) but am loving the light blue. 

What's your go to sleep set?

Find of the Week: Happy Hits

Summer never truly starts until you've found a go to, feel good playlist to kick it off. Luckily, I got ahead of the game and came across Spotify's Happy Hits playlist that immediately had me craving the obligatory summer BBQ, a relaxed day spent on the beach, and the windows-down, wind-through-my-hair drive back to Raleigh all at the same time. That's when you know it's good. 

I found myself constantly surprised by the catchy songs that piggybacked off one another. The list included a range of recognizable radio hits to newer, never before heard beats that had me immediately making a "to download" list. 

You can find some of my recent favorites here: 

Kill the Lights

Lush Life

Sweet Lovin

 Hymn for the Weekend

I hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Easy Weeknight Dinner

Are you ready? Because here comes the absolute easiest weeknight dinner I have posted yet. 

Grab yourself a bag of Harris Teeter steamable green & yellow bagged beans and download the new Chick-Fil-A App and you're set. 

After downloading, Chick-Fil-A is offering a FREE Chicken Sandwich of your choice! Choose between the classic, spicy, or (my favorite) the grilled. 

Easy? Check. Yummy? Check. Healthy? Check. Perfect? Almost. 

Weekend Recap: Kiawah Island

After this weekend I feel like I am the walking example that "a bad (weathered) day at the beach will always beat a good day at work." Though we came face to face with Tropical Storm Bonnie this past weekend during our family vacation/celebration of my mom's 60th birthday at The Sanctuary, we made the most of the days despite the damp weather. 

Right when we pulled up on Friday afternoon, the first thing Hayden and I did was change into our bathing suits to meet my brother, his family, and my parents at the pool. It was the only time there was true sun shining so we wasted no time soaking up as much as we could before dinner!

We wined and dined at Jasmine Porch that night and indulged in the most delicious cocktail I have ever had. It was a mango margarita that was on special using the finest patron. They hosted an event and were trying to rid of the excess liquor - needless to say, my family was happy to help. 

Saturday was rainy - so much so that we barely got any time on the beach. Instead, we spent our time enjoying the most delicious breakfast buffet, spent time under the covered bar by the pool, & made our way to the Freshfields Village to explore the cutest shops. 

Saturday night was spent at the weekly Mingo Point Oyster Roast and BBQ. It was POURING, harder than I have ever seen it rain, but was so happy my family toughed out the storm and didn't let it get in the way of our plans. The oyster roast was delicious and served everything from oysters to BBQ, to corn on the cobb to banana pudding. The live music on the steel drums were so fun and made for great dancing. Holland & Hensley got their hair braided, picked out a few tattoos, and colored backpacks handed to them at the door. If this was a fun night in the rain, I can't imagine how fun it would be in beautiful weather. 

Sunday's weather luckily held out a little bit better. It ranged from overcast to misty to downright raining. Yet again, we made the most of the opportunities we had and spent the morning snuggled up on the beach under towels & umbrellas. After the rain rolled in, we checked out The Sanctuary's indoor pool for a while and topped off the day with an 8 mile bike ride to the end of the island that houses the famous Ocean Course & it's clubhouse. 

Sunday night we cleaned up and headed off Kiawah to Seabrook island to Lokal. We were so thankful that the rain had started to clear that we ate outside & enjoyed the boats docked beside the restaurant. Holland & Hensley loved being able to run around, we loved the weather and delicious food - it was a win, win!

Monday morning, we snuggled up again on the beach to enjoy the last sounds of the sea before heading back to reality. On the way out, we stopped at Cherrywood BBQ Ale House. It was recommended to us if we wanted to see Kiawah's famous Alligators and it didn't disappoint! There were four gators sunbathing when we got there, unfortunately my first inclination was to snapchat the massive creatures rather than snap an actual picture. We enjoyed watching their every move over the most delicious nachos EVER. 

Kiawah was the perfect vacation. Even though it rained, I can honestly say I was so happy to have been surrounded by the positive attitudes of my family. The Sanctuary was the nicest hotel I have ever stayed, the food was delectable (the breakfast was indescribable), and the service couldn't have been better. Even though my expectations were high, this weekend did not disappoint and as you can probably tell, is hard to even put into words. I am so thankful to have a family that makes weekends like this so much fun and parents who are willing to share their vacations with us!

Find of the Week: Corkcicle Coffee Cup

I am not going to say that the first day back after a three day weekend was easy, but I will say it was more manageable than expected. That was, in part, due to my find this week - the Corkcicle Tumbler. Sometimes its the simplest things that make life a little more enjoyable!

Ever since my new obsession with my Swell Water Bottle and its ability to keep my ice water cold all day, I have been looking for something that could do the exact opposite for my coffee. Yes, the Yeti Tumblers were always an option, but something about them screamed "man" to me. 

I finally found my match this past weekend at the adorable shops on Kiawah Island. The Corkcicle tumbler is my newest obsession and fulfilled its job of keeping my coffee warm all morning while still accomplishing the typical, cozy "mug" feel. It also failed to leak even a drop - something I first took note of after having to throw out my past Kate Spade & Lilly Pulitzer mugs for consistently dribbling down the side (and most of the time on my clothes - ugh!)

I can't recommend the Corkcicle tumbler enough and at only $24.95 it makes the perfect "love gift" (as my mom would call it.) I got the "Caribbean Green" to add a pop of color to my mornings. 

Which would you choose?

Recent Trader Joe's Finds

Happy (almost) Weekend, everyone! I hope you have something fun planned for the "unofficial start of summer." I am headed off to The Sanctuary Resort on Kiawah Island to celebrate my mom's birthday and cannot be more anxious to get out of my work seat!

Before I head off for the weekend, I wanted to share a couple of recent, favorite Trader Joe's finds. 

Trader Joe's General Tsao Sauce

Throw this baby on some ground chicken and sautee some veggies and you have the easiest weeknight dinner of all time! I used it in my Chicken Lettuce cups featured here. 

Trader Joe's Granola Bars

Hayden introduced me to Trader Joe's Vanilla Almond granola bars and I swear I could live off of them. They are the easiest grab and go snack & satisfy a simple sweet tooth too! Breakfast, Lunch or Snack these are a staple in my pantry. 

Trader Joe's Vegetable Pad Thai

Normally I don't gravitate towards a prepared frozen meal, but I had to try this Pad Thai when I was checking out one Sunday and asked the cashier (who had been working at TJ's for 12 years) what her favorite item in the store was. She told me about this Pad Thai and I have to say I was extremely impressed! Talk about a quick meal - especially with a quick bag of microwavable edamame.

Trader Joe's Cowboy Bark

This bag contains all of my favorite things into one place. Dark Chocolate, Pretzels, Toffee, Sea Salt - could you honestly think of anything more delicious? Let me make this easy for you - no, its absolutely impossible.

Trader Joe's Parmasean Ranch

What could be better than Ranch Dressing? TJ's Parmesean Ranch dressing. One of my good friend's here in Charlotte introduced me to this dressing when we cooked a sweet potato skillet together just two weeks ago. It is the perfect amount of creamy combined with the perfect amount of cheese. Mind. Blown.

4 Things

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Aromatherapy & Skincare in one

Mayobird

The Bluebird Chicken Salad with Broccoli Salad

Hot Tea & A Good Read

nothing beats Bigelow Green Tea with Peach

Jasmine Grill

the most delicious, authentic Medetteranialn food in Charlotte

Weekend Recap: NASCAR

I want to start off by saying...wow, what a weekend! I haven't been this busy in about a month and forgot how fun it was to have plans. 

Friday after work, two of my good friends I have met here in Charlotte & I bared the rain and headed out to PNC Music Area for Kenny Chesney's Spread the Love tour. It was POURING all day Friday but we decided to make the most of it, dress #comfyforkenny, and rock some sick ponchos. In the future, if you ever find yourself outside in a rain storm, I highly recommend a poncho. It was my first experience in one and boy did it keep me (surprisingly) dry.  

Though Kenny didn't play long, he played great songs ranging from his classics to his newer hits. 

After a late night Friday (the uber was an hour and a half, ugh!) it was time to take Saturday morning by a storm. I headed uptown to walk in Charlotte's Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis. The Associate Buyer in my office had a team I was fortunate enough to walk with. It was a great, low key walk event that raised over $226,000 for Cystic Fibrosis research. 

The walk ended and I headed home to get ready for Saturday night's Sprint All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A NASCAR race has always been on my bucket list so Hayden surprised me with tickets for my birthday back in March. 

Now that the race is over, I can honestly say that it was 100% not what I expended and outperformed by expectations ten fold. It is hard to appreciate the skill & knowledge these races require of both athletes and fans without attending one yourself!

We were fortunate enough to sit next to a sweet couple from New York who were more than happy to educate us on everything form the rules of the race to the history of the drivers. We loved to learn and they loved to teach so it was a great time!

The race consisted of just three rounds, two fifty lap series and a thirteen lap sprint that fans like to refer to as "balls to the wall." Drivers are going faster than they will for the bulk of the season. 

Our seats couldn't have been better. When we arrived yesterday at 1pm, we were worried sitting so close to the track having heard that there was a potential for flying rubber, tar, etc. However, we didn't face any of these issues and were right there (i mean, RIGHT THERE, folks) to both the start and the finish line. 

I was so impressed and excited that all of the fans were so friendly & nice. Everyone was surprisingly under control given the fact that the stadium allows you to bring your own coolers of beer into the stands. We took full advantage of the pre-race setups, tailgating, fan shops, and everything else there was to offer. I couldn't have been more happy to be there with Hayden and after leaving, we both looked at each other in agreeance that there is no doubt we will be back for another race in the future. 

Saturday turned into a late night due to rain delays, so Sunday was a sleepy struggle. I managed to fit a workout in before running some errands & meeting a friend who has just moved to Charlotte for dinner. Four of us met at CO Sushi & Noodle Bar and the food was just as good as it looks! I got the Firecracker roll but have also had the Pad Thai and the Spicy Tuna roll in the past. Each have been mouthwatering so be sure to check it out if you're in the area!

Time to relax, throw on a mask, and prepare for the week again. Thankfully, we have the premier of the Bachelorette to look forward to tomorrow night! 

3 day weekend coming up! Bring it on, Monday!