Punk-y Brewskies

Something about changing fall colors, pumpkin scented candles and football-full weekends just makes beer taste better. I have previously told you what my favorite brews are, but the fall season deserves a list of it's own.

1) Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Opposite of my husband, I've never been a huge Dogfish head fan. They are usually too dark, heavy or potent for my liking, but then came this little Punk. Hands down, the best pumpkin beer I've had. Be warned, it's very "pumpkiny", so the average light beer drinker may not be prepared. It smells like rich pumpkin pie and your tastebuds will literally have a dance party in your mouth. Look for these babies in 4 packs rather than 6 since their APV% is a bit higher. Nothing wrong with that... :)

2) Harpoon Octoberfest Beer

We found this gem amid a Harpoon mixed pack and have been in love ever since. Goes down light and smooth, but has the autumn feel in every sip. If most October beers are too intense for you, this is a great option. Plus, it's brewed in Boston where another more common yet equally awesome Sam Adams Octoberfest

3) Carolina Brewing Company's Oktoberfest

Gotta rev up my local brewery again, but it's hard not to when all their seasonals are so friggin tasty. Hit up their FREE beer tastings every Saturday from 12-2 and try it before the winter lager comes out!

What are your top Autumn Ales? How did you find them? Do share, there's always room for more faves!

Shorter days, expanding asses...thanks DVR

In a previous post, I told you many of the reasons I adore this changing season. But I blasphemously neglected to mention one of my most favorite fall treats: GOOD TV! When I say "good" TV, I'm not talking about reality shows. Americas Biggest So You Think You Have Talent with the Stars is just not my cup o' tea. I'm talking about actors playing characters to make you laugh, cry, and watch develop over seasons, and absolutely no panel of judges.

Now, my TV watching until 2006 was slim to none. Other than Seinfeld re-runs I literally could not have told you anything that came on the tube. Things certainly changed when I got a full-time job. Between teaching or at least being at school between 8-12 hours/day, working out 4-5 times/week and working 2 different part-time jobs 1-2 times/week, I am SPENT when I get home. I take care of Housekeeping-type things the minute I get home because once I shower and sit down, it's over for me. I'm not moving unless there is a glass of wine or unnecessary salty snack I need to reach across the coffee table. DVR has transformed my view of TV and I'm not quite sure I could survive without at least 20 minutes of "wind-down" time each night.

The Top 5 Shows I am excited about returning this year are:

1) How I met your Mother- Mondays at 8 on CBS

Love the nightly bar conversations filled with flashbacks and flashforwards. Of course I'm a "Lilly" since she's a teacher and the married one of the group. Matt is nothing like Marshall, but I like to think our marriage is as happy as adorable as theirs. Oh, and did I mention THE Neil Patrick Harris as eternally single Barney; although I'm 99% sure he'll end up with Robin for good. And then there are videos thrown into a regular episode like this one:

2) Modern Family- Wednesdays at 9 on ABC

Everything a show needs to be successful. A beautiful, relatable family who is far from perfect yet so strong. Since this show has risen to fame, I have had many people tell me that Matt reminds them of dad Phil Dunphy. This made me very nervous, but he is flattered.

3) Cougar Town- Wednesdays at 9:30 on ABC

I was never a huge Friends fan, mainly because I was a few too many years shy of living on my own to really understand young adulthood. Coutney Cox in this show however grabs my attention with her ridiculous circle of friends (including her ex husband) and their mutual love of full glasses of wine...no matter what time of the day it is.

4) The Office- Thursdays at 9 on NBC

So, I'm a bit nervous that this show has been steadily on the decline any may hit rock bottom this year, but I still love it. Jim, Pam, Michael, Dwight...The characters are just the greatest! Andy has to be the best add-on character; proof of moments like this:

5) Saturday Night Live- Saturdays at 11:30 on NBC

Sure it has it's up and down seasons, but after 36 years it is still on the air. That's saying something...

What shows are you anxious to see this year?

Top shows I will miss this fall are:

1) LOST-For many of you, all you had to do was read the title and you understood. For the rest of you, maybe you haven't committed to one of the greatest tv series of all time. This is the opposite of reality tv because it makes you think and question everything. Not just about the characters, but about our own lives and purpose on this Earth. Yea, it's that deep, and it was that good.

2) Dexter-not because it's over, but because we no longer have Showtime. Greatest serial killer of the series removed, dead wife, 3 inherited children, and Julia Stiles on the set is going to make for an amazing season. We'll reconvene when the season dvd is released Dex :(

3) The Wire- Honestly, I am only in the midst of season 1 of the 6 and I'm already sold. Matt and I watch it on DirecTV's the 101 Network, reason #457 TWC can't hold a candle to DirecTV. I was hesitant to get into this show for years because I thought I couldn't handle it. It deals with real issues of innercity Baltimore and the police department who patrols it. It shows how drugs, violence, culture, and poverty take a toll on it's adults and ruin children's futures before they have a chance to make one. It's heart wrenching and sometimes hard to watch. I can't believe how the writers make me root for some of these criminals. It's friggin good.

Okay, out of all the tv shows come and gone, what would you give anything to see come back?

Pretzel M&M's have crack in them, no?

Everyone has their weaknesses when it comes to snack food.

Mine has always been the sweet and salty combination snacks. Honey nut Chex Mix and chocolate covered pretzels were particularly hard to say no to. For that reason, I try to NEVER keep them in the house. Why? Out of sight, out of mind. If they are sitting there however, it's scary how many I can put away in one sitting. I realize that if I cut out this behavior (and booze) I would weigh 20 less pounds, but hey the main reason i work out is so I CAN eat!

This system was working swimmingly for me until I saw this...

Good God they have managed to create the most delicious bite sized snack imaginable. And I can't ignore it because this product is popping up everywhere. As a centerpiece at a friend's party and even Coach Rex Ryan on HardKnocks was talking about his addiction to them. My outta sight rule obviously wasn't prepared for this.

What's worse? I find out it's really not "that bad" for you. Mars boasts that inside that bag is only 150 calories and 5 grams of fat!

At that point my obsession with these went from a little overboard to unhealthy. I had Matt take me to 3 different grocery stores/gas stations to find these at 10pm one night. Yesterday I go to Walgreens and find myself downright giddy that they are on sale BOGO. I may need to be committed...

I give the new pretzel M&M's an: A+ (there's a first for everything my friends)

Five Below

Meet the newest chain to hit the Raleigh area:Five Below. At first I thought it was a snowboard store (which I thought to be odd for our area) or maybe an icecream shoppe. After doing some research however, I was stoked to discover that it's a bargain store! It's kind of like the Dollar Store, if the Dollar Store was infused with pop culture and Old Navy. If you know me well, you know that even $5 is no bargain for me on many things so I wouldn't really call a lot of items a "steal". I kept unloading my shopping cart throughout the trip because my "treasure box" prizes and trivia games were adding up to big bucks quickly. By the time I hit the register, I spent $20 and bought multiple things I absolutely didn't need, just wanted. My 2 favorite buys are the magnets below ($3 each) and it was hard not to buy many more 30 Rock and SNL sayings for our fridge.

This certainly would have been one of my top stores if I were in high school or still living the dorm life. However, the only really good items I found were school or collector-related, so don't go there thinking you can stock up on house supplies. I know I'll be back however to see what new items the season brings in, and definitely for some Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers.

I give Five Below a: B+

Pick your poison...I'll pick mine from NC

You know what I like? Beer. Good beer. And I like it often.

Now that that's out there...

I don't remember my first beer, although I assume it was in college at a frat house. It was most likely Southpaw, Keystone Light, or maybe Bud Light if the party throwers were really trying to show off.

What I have learned through my ongoing research over the past few years is that these beverages are hardly beer. They are grossly mass produced, additive-ridden, beer flavored wannabes who are the laughing stock of the bar. So basically, unless I'm on the beach all day or it's free...you won't see me drinking it.

So what DO I like to drink from my high horse? I'm glad you asked! I have visited many local breweries here in North Carolina and have found that the tastiest and most unique styles of beer were created just a few miles down the road. Below are some of my top choices. Enjoy!

1) Shotgun Betty of the Lonerider Brewing Company: I'm usually not a Hefeweizen gal, but this beer changes the rules. It's a wheat beer with a banana clove finish (yes, i said BANANA) and it's soooo delicious. We visited the brewery in person earlier this year, but you can also purchase Betty from Harris Teeter in the Raleigh area. Do yourself a favor a try this today!

2) Spring Bock and Octoberfest of the Carolina Brewing Company: Not to be confused with many other breweries that use "Carolina" in it's name, CBC is actually located less than 5 minutes from my house here in Holly Springs. Their Carolina Pale Ale is sold rampantly all over the triangle(and it happens to be Matt's overall favorite beer), but it's their seasonal beers that I find the most delicious. The Spring and Fall brews are my favorite and you can attend FREE tastings of all their beers every Saturday afternoon.

3) Gaelic Ale of the Highland Brewing Company: This deep amber beer

is quite bitter for my usual taste, but something about it keeps me coming back. I've never been to this brewery, but definitely plan on making the 3ish hour drive to Asheville some day as I hear it's an amazing place to visit, listen to music, and enjoy a brew or two. This is also widely sold In North Carolina groceries and bars.

Co-ed showers...not the kind from college

I'm definitely not ready to have a baby yet, but it seems that lately that's what everyone around me is doing. Like one of my BFF's Sarah of Say What You Mean to Sa .This is great, don't get me wrong. I'll happily spoil your kid until I'm ready to go out for drinks...

What I have noticed lately however is that the whole wedding and baby showers for women only is a thing of the past. Now it's almost always "couples events" where people drag their poor boyfriends and husbands to someone's house where we all "ooh" and "ahh" at how damn cute every little onesie or burp blanket is.

Although I'm not typically into all the "baby frill", I'll totally go gaga over outfits with trains, baseballs, or really any type of shoe that could fit someone under the age of 2.

So who loses in this equation? In my opinion, both the men and the women are miserable. The male discontent is easier to pick up on by the looks on their faces, but the women are battling internally with trying to make sure he's met some people, and had plenty of "punch" to not freak out over her interest in baby things ("oh god, now she's gonna want one" like it's contagious or something).

My solution? because of course I have thought long and hard about my own baby shower years premature is this:

1) Ok, go for the couples shower. My amount of estrogen present at my female bridal shower was beyond intimidating. I had to be uber proper, sophisticated, blah, blah, blah. We sipped lemonade, ate cake, fruit, and delicious truffles and chatted, of course. It really was a great day, but I felt like I was "on" and couldn't relax the whole time. Our couples luau however was a whole different feel. Music, food, BOOZE, games, and we DIDN't open presents. This pissed off a few people there, but the other 90% were eternally grateful that we didn't sit them through that.

1A) ONLY IF: I insist this be during a major sports day, like College Football Saturday or NFL Sundays. We could all mingle together for food and arrival, but the minute someone mentions baby games or presents, the men hit the TV room and sip off the keg for the next few hours. This allows them to do their thing, and doesn't infringe on the ability of the women to do theirs without shame or concern over his "comfort level".

Our baby shower invite would probably look something like this; plus I'd throw the word "baby" on it a few times...

Balls in your Mouth

Oh hush your fuss, after you watch this clip you won't stop being able to stop saying it either.

If you watch Late Night TV you are probably partial to a particular guy. It used to be the choice between Letterman or Leno; and more recently in the news was the drama between Conan And Jay over the ideal time slot on NBC. Personally, I'm a Conan fan. Jay's jokes always seemed too easy for me, and Conan knew how to appeal to my generation. When Conan left, I had a choice to make. After all, Matt and I had a routine of dvr'ing Conan and watching it the next day during dinner and I wasn't going to let a deep rooted tradition (ha) such as that go by the wayside. We could go Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, Letterman, cross to the dark side with Jay?

Pretty quickly we decided on Jimmy Fallon, our old buddy from SNL. Honestly, the guests aren't quite on par with what the Great Conando could pull in, but he is just as funny and even more lovable. He brings in an old style of talk show where he has reoccuring games that he plays with his guests and audience. I mean, Beer Pong with Betty White was classic. Or his "Thank You Notes" session where he "thanks" current news topics for being idiots. Pros and Cons are always good, as well as Spit Takes where the Taker tells a joke and the Spitter has to time and release a mouthfull of water directly into their buddy' face. Gross? Yes it is, but it's amazing what you do to win an "Eff Off" t-shirt. Oh, and did I mention the show's band? It's the Roots! Yes, the Roots who have been incredible for years. Their comedic timing and creativity is evident every show, so even if the guests are lame, you get a mini concert.

Here's a sample of just how adorable and funny Mr. Fallon is with his original song, "Balls in your Mouth", inspired by the BP oil spill tar balls that were floating around the gulf.

**Warning** This is highly contagious and may give you earworm

Go Shawty, it's yo birthday...

Saturday and Sunday, July 17th and 18th, 2010

My husband is definitely not the romantic type, but he is incredibly thoughtul and puts lots of purpose behind his plans for birthdays, holidays, etc. We knew we couldn't afford to go all out in celebrating my 26th (fine by me as I am still unable to drink dirty martinis over a year after the last time people celebrated me) but he managed to plan a fun evening in Chapel Hill

Rain put a damper on our "window shopping" on Franklin Street, but we did mange to pop in a few stores and replace my sunglasses which ended up on the bottom of Jordan Lake last weekend (Guess who thought it would be funny to push me off the boat?)

We then drove a mile down the road to Carrboro for a surprise dinner at Southern Rail Restaurant and Bar. It is literally comprised of the old train station and some restored train cars and is by far the most unique place I can remember eating. All the pictures, doorways, signs, and even hardware has the look of the olden days. We had a view of the actual traintracks on one side and the open courtyard between train cars on the other. The food was mediocre, but the Bloody Mary topped with pickled okra (how's that for southern living) made up for it. We grabbed another drink in the former train station where a bunch of old dudes rocked out, and we were by far the youngest spectators around. I give Southern Rail a B+

After dinner, we met up with some buddies at Milltown and finally headed to Cat's Cradle to see one of our favorite bands, The Love Language perform. The LL performed a great show, but the most memorable part of the evening was the opening band. Their band name? S#!tHorse. Yes, you read that correctly, except without the censoring. It was more like a circus act watching these guys between the seemingly homeless lead singer and the scantily clad woman wearing a horsehead mask on stage. I've been working hard to erase that image from my memory.

Today, I am looking forward to some pool time, but the reality is that the majority of my day will be spent rotating laundry, grading papers, cooking, and cleaning. Guess the birthday fun is over for this year. Cheers to 26!

Happy bday to me!

July, 16th, 2010

Another year older, although somedays it feels like I have aged many years since last July. It was great to spend the day being showered with gifts and cards at school, then get wined and dined by my inlaws and hubby last night.














Have you ever been to Tribeca Tavern? Well, you need to go! It's another great venture of Rocky Top Hospiltality which has satisfied my appetite for years through Twisted Fork at Triangle Town Center, Michael Dean's, Bogarts, Hi5 and many more. TT boasts a cleverly named burger and sandwich collection made primarily with local meats and cheeses. Matt enjoyed the Blue Devil (fried jalepenos, carolina feta cheese, etc), his Mom and Pop went for the Wolfpack (2 patties, bacon, bbq, etc), and I had Jimmy the Greek for the 2nd time (can't go wrong with a greek salad on a lamb patty). Honestly the only bad thing about this place is the wait. We were told 20 minutes and waited an hour to be seated. This never really bothers Matt and I since we just hit the bar and wait it out among rather laid-back company. However, people who aren't drinking or have kids to keep entertained would not be fans of this long wait.
I give Tribeca Tavern a: B+

After dinner we visited our favorite movie theatre, the Galaxy Cinemas in the Crossroads Cary area. It's cheaper than other theatres, waaaay less crowded, and serves booze! They show all the independent movies and oscar noms that you'd never see at your local Regal Cinema. We saw Cyrus, the newest Duplass brothers film which debuted actual movie stars in the leading roles for the first time. It is nice to see Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly and a more serious role that they surprisingly actually pull off. Marisa Tomei is as always, superb.

Satisfy your tummy and your wallet

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Nothing says summer like these:

Lemon squares are beyond delicious. Here's the recipe for creating summer in yo mouth:)

Ingredients
Crust: 1/4 cup granulated sugar , 3 tbsp butter,(softened), 1 cup all-purpose flour
Topping: 3 large eggs , 3/4 cup granulated sugar , 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice , 3 tbsp flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp salt, 2 tsp powdered sugar

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.
Crust: beat 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the butter at medium speed until creamy. Lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup. Gradually add 1 cup flour to sugar mixture, beating at low speed until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Gently press mixture into bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes
Topping: While crust is baking- beat eggs at medium speed until foamy. Add 3/4 cup granulated sugar and next 5 ingredients, and beat until well-blended. Pour mixture over partially baked crust. Bake an additional 350° for 20 minutes or until set. Sift powdered sugar evenly over top. Cool in fridge to make cutting easier.

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Can you believe that it costs between $8-$10.50 to see a movie in the theatre now! Yea, me neither which is why we rarely drop that kinda cash seeing newer movies. Thank goodness for poor people like us there is the Blue Ridge Cinemas, aka the $1.50 theatre. It's not state of the art, and you'll want to bring some hand sanitizer, but it's only $3 for a movie date!

This weekend we decided to finally see Date Night. Not so into romcoms's, but Love Tina Fey, love Steve Carrell, so this was a sure thing. It's was good, not great, but pretty good. Maybe I'll appreciate it more when my life resembles their's a bit more and I have to pay a sitter to get away from my multiple children once a week. Great cameos, original idea, but overall very predictable. I give it a: B.

Surprisingly positive experiences

Friday, July 9th, 2010

First of all, happy 76th birthday to my Poppop!
Secondly, happy 5th 1st day of school to me! Any teacher you talk to doesn't sleep well the day before a new batch of darlings walk through the door. Personally, I am anxious, nervous and excited due to the uncertainty and unknown of what the next 12 months will be (yes, 12 rather than 9 due to year round).



I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised today though! I was only semi-successful with the whole "no smiling for 2 weeks" thing, and made sure to pour on the sarcasm to weed out any weaklings who can't handle it:) I will smile soon, once the whip cracking has taken it's toll and they can actually walk in a quiet straight line. It's funny to me that I have earned the reputation as a "strict" teacher when I see myself as ridiculously non professional and mostly a kid myself. Hey, whatever works...


Thursday, July 8th, 2010

So, I'm not a fan of the dentist chair but because I get free cleanings I am subjected to hearing terrible and expensive news bi-yearly. Our last dentist SUCKED. Didn't explain financial obligations, did filling for both Matt and I incorrectly, and in was rather unfriendly in general. After Matt's recent dental crisis, we began seeing a new dentist and LOVE her.

My first appointment at Renee Wall, DDS went perfectly. They are friendly, helpful, and honest. Also, I know it doesn't mean much, but the office itself is designed like TJMaxx Home Goods rolled through there! They were even nice enough to transport my husband to and from his crown appointment last week since I had to work and they advise against driving on Valium. Need a dentist or thinking of switching? I give Dr Wall and her crew an A+

Idiots Guide to reading quality books

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

So, I'm not exactly what you call a "reader".

Yes, I know that I teach kids how to read and comprehend and predict and infer and all that, but the truth is that I just don't really love longer books. This is why I teach 3rd graders how to read rather than say, 11th graders. I love short stories and magazines and newspapers, but it takes a special book to keep me hooked for 500 pages.

These are the types of things I typically read...

<-- Chelsea Handler's hilarious latest installment of an interesting childhood, mind blowing amounts of one night stands, and poor physical and moral choices

A son who lives with his dad and literally just writes down sh*t his dad says -->

(Check out his webpage and twitter feed for bites of this ridiculousness)

I feel like I should be a more respectable reader though so I am making an effort to branch out of my comfort zone, hopefully with your help. Here is my first attempt:

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo- By Stieg Larsson - 608 pages -

An international publishing sensation, it combines murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue into one satisfyingly complex and entertainingly atmospheric novel.

So, I still have pretty much no idea what its about, but I'm going to give it a shot. At best, there are 2 other books in the series. At worst, at lease they are making a movie of it...

Your door and more!

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Yet another example of how sweet my students' parents were this year...look at this picture! This is a pen and ink sketch of my school, and I absolutely love it! The artist is actually a Holly Grove mom who does these types of drawings for a living. She is best known for house sketches which you can find all over the Raleigh area. These make great keepsakes or personalized gifts.

Check out Brenda Priest of Your Door and More here!

A positive Domino effect

Friday, June 25th, 2010

I went at least 4 years without touching a slice of Dominoes pizza, and probably 8 since I had last paid for one. It was crappily crafted and overpriced. It was even sub-par for 2 am feasts after bar-hopping in college- and that is truly saying something.

But then Dominoes changed, well everything. The pizza had better crust, sauce, and ingredients. The new ad campaign focused on acknowledging that their pizza sucked and how they made it better. My favorite improvement came through their online ordering process, including virtual COUPONS!

What's that you say, I don't have a Dominoes coupon? No problem, you can search for one you like online and use it immediately. And yes, you are seeing the picture correctly, I can watch my pizza come together on my computer screen! I choose my size, my crust, my sauce Want half pepperoni and half mushroom? Extra cheese or light sauce? Don't need the pizzas until next week but want to go ahead and put in the order? All of this is possible without ever having to talked to the stoned high school kid taking orders over the phone! You can even see what time they put your friggin pizzas in the oven through the tracking system accessible through your email confirmation.

For someone who appreciates good and cheap pizza, and hates dealing with anything over the phone, this is a DREAM COME TRUE. Thank you Dominoes for recognizing that you used to sell crappy pizza and then allowing me to order this significantly better pizza without having to even talk to another human:) I give the new Dominoes an A-

I Propose you hit up The Teet

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Harris Teeter super doubles began today, which is somewhat of a celebration in my house. I haven't been as coupon saavy lately, but I still wanted to save some serious cash.

Here are some savings for the items pictures here:

Before VIC savings and coupons:$38

After savings: $15

Pretty good, right? Thanks Teet:)

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

There are a LOT of bad romantic comedies out there. Within the last year I have seen maybe 6 or 7 and they have all failed me miserably. They are cheesy, predictable, unrealistic, and have terrible acting.

I had NO interest in seeing "The Proposal" when it first came out because I had never been a huge Bullock fan and didn't want to waste another 90 minutes of my life. Then I remembered I love Ryan Reynolds, and realized I could see it for free through Directv.

I loved it! Yes, it was cheesy, unrealistic, but the acting was pretty good, and you can't go wrong with Betty White. If you are looking for a RomCom both you and your manfriend can tolerate, this is worth watching. I give it a: B (Just add "critic" to my resume).