breakdown beach

After graduation, I headed to the beach to meet up with Laura.

Then my car broke down.  I hung out with a friendly Beulaville police man while I waited for AAA.  I rode 95 miles in this tow truck with a new friend who advised me to "just stay away from jealous people and preppy people, and you'll be alright."  He was fantastic and also 19 years old.

Lauren picked me up after she had an interview, and we headed to Wrightsville beach!  Her family's place there is very nice and in a perfect location.  Laura, Jessica, Kate, and Angela showed up too.

We relaxed on the deck.

We ate hot dogs that Lauren grilled.

We watched the sun set over the marsh.

We shopped for mother's day gifts.

We ate frozen yogurt.

We went to a Psalm 100 concert at Lauren's church.

We ate baked ziti that Lauren previously blogged about here.

It was a great trip.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

Hebrews 13:15

playlist

Since I heard many good things about the CDs I made for my classmates at Christmas, I thought about making another set for graduation.  When Kate mentioned wanting a graduation mix, I just had to do it. 

Here’s the playlist:

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers – Start the Day Early

(version 1) Kanye West – Power

(version 2 and 3) Matt Wertz - Heartbreaker
(version 4 and 5) Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

Dave Matthews Band – Say Goodbye

The Avett Brothers – Gift for Melody Anne

Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance

Kings of Leon – Birthday

Jump Little Children – Rains in Asia

The Black Keys – She’s Long Gone
(version 5) Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw - Feel Like a Rock Star

Drake featuring Rihanna – Take Care

Dave Matthews Band – Lie In Our Graves

Van Morrison – Baby Please Don’t Go

Miranda Lambert – Over You

Delorean – Stay Close

(versions 1, 2, 3, 4) Tim McGraw – A Place in the Sun

Mumford and Sons – Roll Away Your Stone

(versions 1, 2, 4, 5) Jason Mraz – You and I Both

(version 3) Billy Currington – Let Me Down Easy

Dolly Parton – 9 to 5

Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough

Dierks Bentley - Home
(version 4 and 5) Rihanna - Where Have You Been

graduation

I've been in school for a long time.

I've been a pirate for even longer.

Now I finally get to join the rest of my family as I become an ECU alumna.

neon

Friday seemed like a good day for wearing neon.  I went to Greenville for the weekend, and that's obviously the place to wear neon.  

I forgot what it's like to take a picture of my outfit without using a mirror.

I mean, I forgot how to pose without an iPhone in my hand.

shirt - American Apparel

pants - J. Crew cafe capri

shoes - BCBGirls

belt - J. Crew

necklace - unknown

watch - Michael Kors

 ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16

recently cooking...

I've made a few things recently that garnered good reviews from my friends and family.  I don't have pictures, but I will link to the recipes.

Mexican dip
I was interested in making this dip after trying a similar dip that my friend Kristin made for the Carrier Classic party.  It is so, so simple, and people go crazy over it!  I made it for a friend's bachelorette party and then for my roommates' tacky Christmas sweater party.  For our party last weekend, I doubled the recipe, and it ALL disappeared.  There were about twelve people at the party and many other things to eat.  So... it's pretty good.

sweet potato casserole
This recipe appealed to me when searching for sweet potato recipes for Thanksgiving.  I made it for my class Thanksgiving party and also my family's Thanksgiving dinner.  It was my first attempt at sweet potato casserole and actually my first time eating it.  I enjoyed it, my classmates ate it up, and I was told by my supervisor that I had to send her the recipe before I could get my grade.

salted fudge brownies
After trying Escazu's Beaufort bar, I fell in love with sea salt + chocolate.  When I saw this recipe, I had to try it.  I wasn't crazy about the result, but my Bible study girls really liked them.  I took the leftovers to the clinic, and my classmates enjoyed them.  I think they were better the second day.

sweet tea
I thought everyone's mother made sweet tea.  Well now I realize why my mom takes it to every gathering.  Because now I am that girl.  My classmate Kristen loves it, and my classmate Brooke tweeted that I need to ship it to her when I leave.  I guess not everyone knows how/is willing to make it.  I have no particular recipe; I've made it in various quantities using various methods.  No worries; if you need some real instructions, please see my friend Rachel's blog, where she wrote about southern recipes today.

more list and big day

Last week, I went to eat at CPW's for the first time. I hesitated to give that link because the website's information isn't accurate. B was excited to get ribs from the "man's nite out" themed menu, but that's not the menu we found when we got there. Instead, they had a Christmas-themed menu, and all of the staff members were wearing red and green. It was December 1, so maybe it was the first day of the new menu. Anyway, we figured out something else for us to eat. The food we did get was great. B had some chicken and vegetables. I had an eggplant parmesan sandwich, which came with pasta salad and french fries. Everything was good, even when I ate the leftovers later! There was also some jazzy entertainment.

On a different note, today is my last day of class ever! I thought it would never happen.

list and Greenville shopping

I tried another place on my list, a Tavola!, Sunday night. I had heard it was good, and I might have heard particular praises of their pizza. I got a pesto chicken sandwich and B got spaghetti. It was okay, but not a place I'd send everyone I know. The only way I will try it again is if I get pizza. The fried okra was good and had a different breading than other restaurants. Yeah that's right, I ate fried okra at an Italian restaurant - one of the reasons I'll miss living in eastern NC!

My mom came to visit on Tuesday, and we went to Village Point Market. I just can't get enough of that place, and their turkey/brie/cranberry panini (pictured above) is back this week! We went shopping at Pizzaz, Jenni K, and Steinbeck's, a few of my Greenville favorites for gift shopping. Mom actually got a present for Dad at Pizzaz... and I got something for B at Steinbeck's. Don't tell! I'm about to head over to Parrott Canvas right now and pick up some monogrammed gifts. It is nice to have these special shops here to buy gifts for people at home!

list

I stole away from school for lunch today, and when B picked me up, we headed down my street and started debating where to go. We settled on B's barbecue, drove a loop around the whole neighborhood to head out the way we needed to go, and then I realized that it's Monday and B's is closed...

Since it was so nice outside, I picked Sup Dogs from my list of places to go in Greenville. We ate out on their porch along Reade Street, right at Fifth Street. I realize that it's a hot dog place, but B told me that they have good chicken tenders, and that's more my thing. They were pretty good, too. They serve everything with Sup Dog sauce, which was tasty and not what I expected. It reminded me of Chick-fil-a sauce, a favorite of mine. I always thought of Sup Dogs as a place people go only after bars, but I enjoyed it for lunch on a day with good weather for porch sitting.

more eating

In the last week, I've been to eat at some favorites and tried out one new place.

On Wednesday, we went to Parker's. Barbecue, fried okra, boiled potatoes, and corn sticks are good to me. Ask for fried okra even though it's not on the menu. Bring cash. Parker's is a must in Greenville.

Thursday night, we went to Wasabi 88. They have buy one, get one free sushi rolls Sunday-Thursday, so we try to get our sushi fix then. We ordered a hurricane roll, a spicy tuna roll, and two salmon rolls - one with avocado, one with cucumber. It was awesome. I could eat sushi every day, and Wasabi has the best I've tried in Greenville.

Saturday morning, B and I tried Harvey's for breakfast, as recommended by some friends. I got a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. The bacon was kind of too done for me, but it was still tasty. However, as soon as we left, I was in a lot of stomach pain. I'm not sure if I'd recommend that place or not. They had some great lunch specials listed, but the servers' shirts said "the breakfast place," so it remains to be seen whether I'll go back.

tipsy teapot

I checked off another place on my Greenville list today - Tipsy Teapot. When B texted me that he was there studying, I couldn't get out of the clinic fast enough. I found him at a table for two in a curtained, bookshelved area, I ordered some tea on his tab, and we studied/read/wrote papers.

I asked the girl working the counter for recommendations, and she gave me three that I don't remember, from which I chose casa blanca. It is a berry and hibiscus tea that to my surprise is pink! I drink black or green tea at home, so it was different than what I'm used to, but I liked it. At first, it tasted like juice, and then it tasted like roses. The counter girl asked if I take my tea with cream and/or sugar, and I requested honey. It felt a little wrong, but that's how I make it. I just don't know about milk or cream in tea.

If you're not a hot tea drinker, I also spied sandwiches, smoothies, and beer offerings. I was on a hot tea mission, though, so I'm sure there is more. It seemed like a great place to study all day, if you're cool with a little background noise. It's also a (used?) bookstore.

On my way to and from Tipsy Teapot, I saw a few of the places on my list, and I was tempted to hit them all today! Scullery, Courtside Cafe, and Copper & Vine-- I'll be back.

i'm back

I abandoned this blog and was looking into how to delete it completely, but recently I've been re-inspired. I have some things going on in my life that just lend themselves very well to blogging. While talking about one of those things today with B, he suggested that I blog it, so I'm back!

First, I have been inspired by my friends/classmates Lauren and Amy to create a Greenville bucket list. This is my last semester of classes in Greenville before I move home for my full time internship. As my time here winds down, I'm starting to realize that I will miss it, and I'm trying to fit in everything I want to do here. This past Saturday, Laura's mom came to visit her, and a group of us went to lunch at Village Point Market. If you have not been there, go! I cannot believe I've lived here for so long and never heard about it. I got one of the specials for the week, a turkey, brie, apple, and cranberry sauce panini, with fruit salad. It was delicious! Today for lunch, B and I went to Met Deli. B found this place when searching for a restaurant that serves Boar's Head meats in Greenville, and Lauren suggested this place to me as well. I ordered a half turkey sandwich and tomato basil soup. Their website says their soups are homemade, and I believe it! The sandwich was great also; the Boar's Head turkey did not disappoint.

Here's what is on my bucket list so far:

B's barbecue*

a Tavola

CPW's

Scullery

Sup Dogs

Copper and Vine

Coffee Shack

Village Point Market*

Met Deli*

Tipsy Teapot

Daily Grind*

Courtside Cafe

Winslow's*

Wasabi 88*

*been there already, but staying on the list for times when we ask, "Where do you want to go?" ... "I don't know, where do you want to go?"

Second, I've been inspired by my friend/classmate Robyn to include a little fashion. She was asking me where I shop, and a couple of the girls even offered to pay me to shop with them.... um, yes. So I would like to post my outfits and list where I got the pieces and/or information about how I put them together. I don't have a working camera right now, but I will see what I can do with photobooth for the outfits and my phone for the food.