Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium

Huge swollen Mommy & Maddie...

She loved the turtles

My favorite picture

Lunch at the Dock House in downtown Beaufort

In between events we managed to squeeze in a visit to the

Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium & lunch in Beaufort at the Dock House.

The weather was beautiful we couldn't have asked for a better day.

It was so nice and relaxing to enjoy lunch outside and watch the boats go by.

I had a yummy soft crab sandwich, Tom had Cajun Mahi Mahi bites, And Maddiehad flounder. Yes, she requested to eat fish after going to the aquarium..lol

Maddie loved the aquarium, she got so excited she squealed when she saw

exhibits she liked. The rays, turtles and sharks were her favorites.

Relics of an old town

Thought I'd take a break from the Wine & Food photos.

 And share some photos from a little town we breezed thru while in town 

Don't ask me the name of it, I don't think they had a sign.. it was so small.

I love the house in the first picture wish I could have explored a little.

But for that I would have to get over my fear of snakes...eek

I love the little black & white store.,

 I can barely read the sign but looks like it was a grocery/general store maybe.

Busy week this week preparing for Miss Maddie's 2nd birthday party.

I think I mentioned before I am making Maddie's cake,

However Tom and I decided to each make our own cake.

As we both had different ideas in mind.

This will be a cake contest!!

We are going to have everyone vote to see who's cake is better.

I know we are dorks... ha,ha

Day one

My giftbag

Yummy food

We made it! We arrived in Beaufort around lunch time yesterday.

Maddie made out great! What a good little girl.

We even got in breakfast at our favorite place the Exmore Diner

Nice Egg & Scrapple sandwich

We got settle in our wonderful place. I'll have to post some pictures of it.

It's historic from the 1700's I believe

Then I headed off in the evening for the

 Opening Reception at Chefs 105

They had great food, fresh shrimp & tuna

and of course wine

After Chefs 105 we headed to The Arendell Room Bar

for a Bartender's Cocktail Challenge

The bar was cool had a anthro feel to it.

Awesome white birch wallpaper, and cool Ball mason jars lit up behind the bar

Thought I'd do a post real quick while Tom & Maddie are napping

We got to go to the Aquarium today & hit some antique shops

We even found a to die for house.. eek. Can't wait to show you the pictures of it

p.s. it's for sale by owner..

Tonight we are headed to Your Favorites Made Healthy

Featuring Ed Brantley from "The Biggest Loser"

Hope to get in another post for you guys tomorrow.

Beaufort Bound

Picture from a couple years ago of us in Atlantic Beach NC

Don't laugh at Maddie's hat,  that's the hat we brought with us,

it matched a velvet dress she wore to my brother's wedding. ha,ha

We are heading out tomorrow early a.m. hoping to leave like 2 a.m. ??

It's a 7-8 hr trip for us. Hoping to make it as far as possible before Maddie wakes up.

I am hoping to get a stop in Exmore VA on our return for some yummy crab cakes & their awesome handmade milkshakes. Gosh listen to me worried about what I am going to eat on our trip back..

Anyway I am hoping to do some posts while I am down there.

NC Dream Houses

Source

My DREAM house!!!  Love the color the style. The Porch ! etc. etc...

This house is awesome, on a corner lot. Has white picket fence. A mother in law suite.

Which would be awesome for house guests. (The kind that don't stay for 6 months or longer) ha,ha

Sorry! Rude.

ooh luv the built ins ~ I'd put my pottery & my twilight books here.. ha ha

Another Cute house (love the color) 3 acres Beaufort, NC

5 bedrooms

Sideyard water access, Wouldn't this be awesome to launch your kayak or canoe.

This house located in outskirts of Edenton, NC

Partially redone but still has all of the original fireplaces.

Love the porch and the columns.

It's okay to dream right ! Maybe one day.

I also keep a notebook with clips from magazines of stuff

I like cabinets, lighting fixtures, paint colors, built ins etc.

Thanks for letting me ramble about my dream houses.

I have a couple local houses to show you tomorrow

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

Surf Board Seahorse

The back side - see the surf board detail

Finally getting around to post a few pictures of Maddie's cool Christmas gift

 from her Uncle Mike & Aunt Lindsey and cousin Mason!

It fits her room perfectly don't you think. I luv it! I want one! I am totally crushin on the turtle and the jellyfish

The artist name is Craig Gurganus a Beaufort local

Check out his website http://www.fishbouffant.net/

I'd love to check out his shop.

I

Beaufort Wine and Food Weekend - North Carolina Wine Festival

I am so excited to annouce that I am signed on as the Event photographer for the

Beaufort Wine and Food Weekend - North Carolina Wine Festival

April 21-25, 2010 Check out the link above for the article about me and events for the weekend.

I feel blessed for this opportunity!!