Trying New Things!

This weekend, my friend Terri had tickets to the Festival of India and we also had tickets the Sip and Stroll in Downtown Charlotte. We had a yummy lunch at the first festival--I had some kind of spicy chicken, jasmanti rice, and some kind of chickpea dish with a yummy sauce. It is always fun to try new things (I've had Indian before but it's been a while). Then we went to Sip and Stroll. They mostly had manufacturers there with samples. I like Barefoot but they did not have that much selection. It was a neat locale and still fun though. 

Sunday I went to church with my neighbors. I have gotten really close to my neighbors over the past year and they all go there. I really liked the sermon and I liked that it was so relatable..all about the ant vs the slug -what are we in areas of our life including health, work, relationships with others, etc? As someone who is really wanting to get it together, I really enjoyed it. 

It was fun to mix it up and try new things!

Inspired by a Friend

I just read my friend Susan's blog and it occurred to me that even though our situations are different, we are the same! I can so relate to her. I miss you Susan!!! I wish we lived closer and could go to Ulta tomorrow.

I feel there are so many things I would want to say on a blog but fear of being judged. If I talk about Pete, I am not moving forward. If I complain, I am not trying hard enough or am depressed. I am very liberal thinking. My family is me and my pets. I am defintely different. Of course, I am probably my own worst critic :).

I have decided to embrace being different and find my own path. I try to be open and know that my path will be unique. Sometimes I really don't know what I should be doing and I feel alone. Other times, I am so busy and feel that I am on the right track.

I have thought about Pete a lot over the last week because we met ten years ago this week! I read some of the emails he sent me. He was really over the top and hilarious and I really miss him. It occurred to me that one reason I have had such a hard time is I lost him twice. His illness was horrible..I had no idea what he was thinking..it took away the guy who wrote the emails and planned crazy fun dates (hey! Let's go to the library and take a class on fung sui-it's free!!). Then I lost him physically. I couldn't really remember any good times or funny stuff because memories of this illness were so forefront.  It was good to revisit the magical time we met and I hope something like that will happen again.

I hope that I can be bold and blog more. I love reading Susan's blog. She is so open and that makes her even more likeable/relatable.

Ronan Farrow!!

For once the highlight of Taste of Charlotte wasn't the food (still good, lots of samples!!)..this year, MSNBC had an area set up.."Growing Hope". You could plant your hopes in their garden and they gave us a free tree to take home too. And best of all, Ronan Farrow was going to be there from 1-2 pm. That worked perfect for us and we got to meet him. He was really nice. Ronan is the son of actress Mia Farrow and Woody Allen. He is estranged from Woody and many believe Frank Sinatra is his real father (he looks just like him too). He is a lawyer, activist and has his own show on MSNBC. I was thrilled to meet him and know we will see great things and more from him in the future.

Dennis Vineyards

I am finally doing my write up on Dennis Vineyards. A group of us went in March. I know it is kind of near South Charlotte and it was really really good..they had a ton of different wines, all affordably priced!
I tried the Carlos Sweet (v good), Nectar (tropical!), Spring (my favorite, very springish, and that's the one I bought), Christmas (love my Christmas wines!), Sweetheart (Valentinesy but my note says too dry), and Cherry (a little tart). It was so fun. My friend Terri is really good at finding these deals on Groupon..this one included a tasting for 2, 2 glasses to drink there and a bottle I believe for like $12. She is so good at finding fun outings like that. I would like to go back to that one or find out where they retail because it was super good and they actually had like 30 or so you choose to try!

Here are pics from the trip:

I always have to get a picture with the winery cat! That is the PETE in me, making things extra fun!

Amazing Read

I actually read a book in just a few hours last night! It was "Finding Me" by Michelle Knight. Michelle was one of the three girls who were held captive for ten years in Cleveland and were finally freed last year.  It was soo amazing, and hard to grasp the reality she had to go through. Very horrible and made me feel grateful for my freedom and cleanliness. She truly had to live in filth and terrible conditions. It is a good read.

Adult Lessons from "The Brady Bunch"

Growing up, "The Brady Bunch" was my favorite show. I wanted a house with stairs (done), and have all five seasons on dvd ready to parent with them--any life lesson there was pretty much an episode for that. 

I never really thought of it as an adult show until a few years ago. I was re-watching the first episode (the wedding episode where Mike and Carol Brady got married). As a kid, I never really thought about it being their SECOND marriage. 

Carol Brady says: "A few years ago I thought it was the end of the world".

My mouth flew open! She knew just how I was feeling having lost my husband! I felt terrible, like my life was over. 

Mike Brady replies: "But now it's a new beginning, for both of us".

Carol: "No, for all of us"

Mike: "That's right-the whole bloomin Brady Bunch".

I never gave much thought to their stories before they got married..who knows what they have may have encountered. Supposedly Mike was widowed (his wife may have had a horrible disease or died suddenly in an accident, we don't know)..Carol was "supposed" to be divorced but they wouldn't let them put that on the show..however I think that is GENIUS of creator Sherwood Schwartz to leave it ambiguous because that way all women, no matter what their circumstances, that have had a marriage or relationship end can relate to her. Their lives seemed happy, perfect, idyllic but the reality of it was it had been some hard times. 

It also occurred to me that Carol totally scored in her second marriage..she got a live in maid, Alice who was funny. Pretty much stayed out of the way, yet ran the household and always wrote the dinner menu on the chalkboard every day. Carol really didn't have to do much (or work). It occurred to me after re-seeing this episode that maybe I, myself, needed to have a little higher expectations for Hubby #2 (does anyone know any guys with live in maids?!!) I was married to someone who was really wonderful, so I have always felt that maybe if there is ever another marriage, it would not be quite so great. This show basically says, you can have a good second marriage.

I don't know what the future holds for me and honestly it scares the crap out of me. But it is comforting to see someone on a tv show that I so admired growing up going through a similiar situation. Maybe tomorrow I will re-watch this episode. I am so proud that a show I so loved as a kid is still teaching me in my adult years as well.

RIP Ann B Davis ("Alice")

What's Trending in my World This Week

-I have a new flavor I am into-wasabi ranch!! I don't know when I realized I like wasabi (not plain with sushi but like mixed with a ranch or something). I bought these at Target in the wasabi ranch flavor and they are so good..and kinda healthy (only like 300 ish for the whole bag and it's hard to eat it all at once too)

-I also tried out the wasabi ranch at the new popcorn store in Mooresville. You guys would love the place..super fun..for kids, dates, gift ideas etc..over 200 flavors including Cherry Cola, Spicy Dill Pickle, Jalepeno Ranch, Sun Drop, flavors based on candies/sodas/savory flavors, etc. You get two samples each time you go.

-I have had trying a farmer's market on my list for over a year. Last weekend, my mom took me to the Denver one, it is on Saturday am each week at Rock Springs school. They didn't have a ton of veggies yet (Mom says that changes later in the season) but they had these gorgeous multi color flowers for $15 like we used to get at the Observer from the Korean florist down the street. Soo pretty and good to know that for future ideas. We also tried the Troutman farmer's market..it is on Thursdays from 3:30-6:30..Josh's (who actual "store" is in Mville) had a stand there..I got yummy cucumbers, zuchhini and a pepper for less than $3!! They were all really fresh and yummy smelling. I will def get my cucumbers there this summer! Also, they had an icee truck with yummy flavors and I got a cherry cheescake flavored one and they even added a little cream to it! Soo good!