It's Friday, Love

{ Had the honor of photographing Caritas' Graduation Ceremony }

It's been a good week. Nothing extraordinary, just good. Nice rhythm. The rain has been nice too. I'm not exactly bursting with energy due to the gloomy skies, but the cozy darkness was welcome. Rain, you can stop now. Thanks. Really excited about our show at Hogtober Festival on Saturday. Need to nest and plant things. Maybe make soup. See ya Monday:). 

{ Rainy day lunch at Penny Lane }

{ Fall candles are lit }

{ Hopped on the Kombucha train }

{ A picture book a friend lent me }

Chocolate Banana Bread

This recipe is somewhat Paleo but don't let that scare you away. There's bananas. There's chocolate. Its yummy, trust me. I had a slice for breakfast this am with some almond butter on top, 'cause duh. Enjoy the pics and the recipe! Happy Hump Day gotta run:)

Chocolate Banana Bread 

3 ripe bananas mashed

1/2 cup almond butter

3 eggs

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

teaspoon of cinnamon

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup chocolate chips plus more to sprinkle on top

Mix the wet ingredients and then mix in the dry. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts last. Pour batter into a loaf pan and bake for about 1/2 an hour on 350. I like to sprinkle more chocolate chips on top so when the bread comes out the top is covered with delicious goodness.

Beast Feast

Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of attending my first Beast Feast. I very much hope with all of my heart and soul that this becomes and annual thing. There was so much meat. It was so good. And every fifteen minutes there was more of it. Duck. Goat. Beef. Chicken. Oysters. More beef. More goat. Some kind of bacon. Barbecue. Did I mention there were cocktails too? Absolutely fabulous! If you can score tickets next year to the nirvana of carnivorous proportions, I highly recommend it. 

It's Friday, Love

{ Missing the munchkins }

I can honestly say I never thought most of my conversations this week would begin by people asking me how my rash was doing. I went to the Dr. almost two weeks ago because my cold was not getting any better. They prescribed an antibiotic which I then took dutifully for 7 days. I was feeling better and thought everything was fine. Then Monday morning I woke up feeling like I had a sunburn. My shoulders felt a little hot, a little itchy. We were outside most of the day Sunday I thought to myself as I lay in bed wishing I had put on sunscreen. Then I went to into the bathroom and realized very quickly something was wrong. Although we'd been outside all day there was no way in hell my stomach had gotten burned. I yelled for my sister who is a nurse and she basically said I was having an allergic reaction but she didn't know to what.

By this point I was really panicking. My entire body looked and felt like it had sun poisoning, sexy, I know. Once I was seen, the Dr. said I had become allergic to the amoxicillin I'd been taking. Huh? I took it when I was a kid, that pink crap was horrible I don't care if it did taste like bubble gum. Doesn't matter, she said, you can develop allergies later to these things. You can have the reaction you're having now, your throat can close, all kinds of things. Well, crap! Thanks to modern medicine I'm right as rain just a couple days later and you'd never know anything ever happened.

I've had my share of health issues this summer which has been immensely frustrating but trying to tell myself that I've healed from every one and these are reminders to not take your health for granted. I debated whether or not to share this on the blog but I thought it would be good in case any of you are thinking of slipping me some antibiotics at a party for fun....don't. And in case I ever fall down and hit my head because my high heels are too high and I'm unable to tell a Dr. my medical history, please relay this little fact should you be there because you witnessed me falling down and instead of catching me, laughed and tried to film it with your iPhone.

See ya Monday....

{ So sad to see what's been happening in downtown Charlotte this week }

{ My Medicare Education Week events went swimmingly }

{ Lots of driving and a gas shortage in Raleigh made for an interesting week }

{ I hope I picked the right one }

A Southern Cheese Plate

Less than a mile from my sister's house in Charlotte is a quaint little place called The Bradford Store. If the sign wasn't right on the road announcing its presence, you'd absolutely miss it.  You're driving through a residential area talking on your phone and heading to Target. You don't expect to encounter a store that's been there for almost a hundred years on land that's been in the same family since the 1700's. As soon as you drive up you put your phone down, your heart a little bit lighter because of the gorgeous, bucolic setting. You burst out of the car and begin running up the steps only to remind yourself that you're acting like you six year old nephew. But what's inside? You're so excited to find out! Fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh meats and eggs. Jam. Peanuts. Cheerwine. Cider. You settle on several treasures while being greeted by the store dog, continuously asking to be petted.  Among your wares you've picked up some homemade pimento cheese, sweet potato biscuits and some muscadets. All the makings of a fabulous Southern cheese plate best enjoyed on the back patio. If you find yourself in the Charlotte area I highly recommend stopping by.