march goals

Curious kittens from the snow day...

Hello, friends! Last week was quite the week! Mother Nature has not been kind to North Carolina, and on Wednesday night dumped about 5+ inches of snow on the Triangle, knocking out power for thousands (including Matt and I). We didn’t get power back until Friday morning – two days since it first went out! Luckily, we have family that live close by, and were able to pack up ourselves and the kittens to spend the night in electricity. It’s funny how much your schedule gets thrown off by something like that!

This weekend was spent brunching with friends at Irregardless Café (our caterer, coincidentally), picking up our wedding rings (!), and lots of downtime watching movies and snuggling with the kittens.

I’ve been seeing many bloggers post their monthly goals, and it’s always something that I wanted to start on my blog, too. What better way than the month of March for the beginning of a new series? With the wedding countdown in the double digits, it’s going to be a busy month! My March will include: dropping off / picking up invitation envelopes for the calligrapher to address, a dress fitting, a hair and make-up trial, a wine tasting at the venue (rescheduled from all the snow the past couple of weeks), and a bridal shower in New Jersey. Whew!! I’m sure there’s more that will pop up, but this is what is currently tracking on my calendar. With all that in mind, I’m trying to keep everything else low key.

Goals for March:

— Make biscuits! 

— Write a “60 Before 30” post

— Purchase some plants for the top of the bookshelf

— Keep on top of the wedding plans – I’ve been pretty good about this so far, I think the only outstanding thing from February was purchasing the bar signs, which I couldn’t do anyway!

— Have a fantastic time at my bridal shower!

Looking over this list, I think it’s doable. The only thing that could get crazy is the wedding planning goal, but I’m confident in my organizational skills that everything will continue on smoothly. :)

our favorite durham spots

I thought it would be fun to share our favorite places around Durham. This city gets a bad rep, mostly because at one time it was considered pretty unsafe. But, Durham has gone through a revival of sorts over the past 10 years, and I’m confident that it will look like a completely different city in the next 10 years – that’s how much change is happening. It’s fun to live in a city that is coming into its own, so to speak. This is in no way an all-inclusive list, but these are the spots that Matt and I have gone to, continue to go to and enjoy.

FOR DINNER

Geer Street Garden – a restaurant located in a former gas station. The seating is mostly communal and outdoors, but they bring in heaters and close it off during the winter months. I think between the both of us we have gotten pretty much everything on the menu, and it is delicious. The grilled pimento cheese sandwich and fish tacos are so so good.

The Pit – if you want some authentic, North Carolina barbeque, this is the place for you. I used to dislike hushpuppies, but theirs have converted me.

Dos Perros – upscale Mexican restaurant with the best guacamole and margaritas.

Bull City Burger and Brewery – I don’t normally eat beef, but for Bull City Burger, I make an exception. If you get a tattoo of the BCBB logo somewhere on your body, you will receive 26% off for life. Really.

Nanataco – when we just want some fresh, authentic tacos, we go here. They always offer a “dirty meat” (think duck, beef tongue, etc.), but I’m not that courageous and just stick to chicken.

Lilly’s Pizza – I had to include a pizza place! The best crust partnered with the freshest toppings.

The Federal – for all intents and purposes, the “Fed” is a hole in the wall bar, but man their fries…so good. Check out the specials; there is always something surprising and delicious (like boar meat tacos).

FOR LUNCH

The Q Shack – The best Southern food, with no frills. Think: picnic benches and paper towels for your sticky fingers.

Nosh – While good for lunch, this is also a great place for breakfast (it’s what Matt gets every time we go there). I love their pasta salad. 

FOR BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

Parker & Otis – Can get pretty crowded on the weekends. It’s located inside a store, so it’s fun to shop while you wait for a seat.

Rise – Don’t let the location turn you off (it’s located in a strip mall). They have the best biscuits with some tasty toppings as well.

Monuts – Fresh donuts! Who doesn’t love a good donut, am I right?

FOR COFFEE

Guglhupf – Belgian inspired bakery and café. This is a great place to come and meet a friend for a latte or to get some work done.

Cocoa Cinnamon – The best hot chocolate I’ve ever had can be found right here (seriously, it was like drinking straight chocolate). They have a lot of interesting choices, so take a look at the menu closely before ordering.

FOR BOOZE

Fullsteam Brewery – Out of all the places listed, this is definitely the most hipster. Dog friendly, food trucks, arcade games, ping pong tables, and trivia every Thursday night. I don’t like dark beers, but The Working Man’s Lunch is pretty delicious.

Bull McCabes – an Irish pub located in the heart of downtown. We usually order a Guinness (Matt) and a Crispin (me).

And really, every restaurant we recommend serves great drinks. We are living in the golden age of microbreweries, folks.

FOR DESSERT

The Parlor – Delicious ice cream made by hand. It was originally a food truck that started a Kickstarter and opened up its own shop. They feature a lot of quirky flavors, including green tea.

The Cupcake Bar – I have a soft spot for cupcakes (I’m opting for them instead of a traditional wedding cake), and this bakery almost won as my wedding vendor.