Currituck BBQ Company North Carolina BBQ- Road Trip Part II

To read Part I of our road trip click here: Antique Road Trip Post.

Now as my cousin would tell you, "You simply can not come down South and not have some good old Fashioned North Carolina Bar-B-Que."  I love that road trips allow you to get a taste for local culture, instead of just a view of the tourist hot spots.  So when my cousins told us we would be stopping at the Currituck BBQ Company for lunch I was one happy camper.  Its right off of the main strip heading down to the Outer Banks so it makes a great stop for family's traveling to and from the beach. 

The menu has a nice selection of BBQ favorites along with southern sides like green beans, potato salad, and fried okra.  The prices were very reasonable for the serving sizes too. After much debate I ordered a regular sized pulled pork platter with baked beans and mac and cheese. Once you decide on what you want you can either grab a table in their dinning room or a bench right outside.  Since it was raining when we stopped we opted for the dinning room with the great cozy country kitchen feel.  There are booths as well so don't worry about coming with a large group.      

Despite the constant flow of people the staff was very polite and managed to keep up well with the rush.  We received our food quickly and it was everything my cousins promised it would be.  The pulled pork sandwich comes without BBQ sauce so you can choose one of the six they provide you with on the table and customize the sandwich to your liking.  There were too many good options to just pick one so I decided to split my sandwich up and give a few of them a shot.  Of the four I tired (North Carolina, Brisket, Sweet Brisket, and Larry's Original) I thought the Larry's Original was the best.  The mac and cheese was creamy and flavorful and the baked beans were the perfect combination of smokey and sweet.  I loved everything I ordered but I think my favorite part of the meal was the fresh hush puppies.  I didn't order them because in the past I found most places serve mushy oily corn balls.  I decided to take the word of a local when they said these were the best hush puppies around and give them one more try.  Wow were they right! These tiny little snacks were perfectly crisp on the outside and bursting with moist rich flavor on the inside.  They were so good you don't even need the butter they give you.






















This BBQ joint will be a definite stop on any future North Carolina road trips.  I may not be an expert on down south BBQ but I do know that this food tasted great, there was a constant line of locals looking for their regular BBQ fix, and the large map by the door shows that people have traveled from all over the US just to get a taste of this North Carolina BBQ. What to do if you fall in love with the food but don't think you will be back anytime soon? Not to worry they have a shelf just for you filled with their BBQ sauces and other goodies.  Just because you don't live in the south doesn't mean you can't take a taste of North Carolina home with you!

Antique Road Trip

O'Neil's Antiques

I know when I set out to write this blog I wanted to focus on crafts, family, and life in NYC. Well I can't help it is my love of crafts and family are also tied into my love of travel. This Thursday (yes during the blizzard) my family and I started out on a road trip from New York to North Carolina to visit some family. Since the weather was bad we decided to drive about half way and spend the night near some of our favorite antique stores around the Delaware/Maryland border on Rt. 13. If you haven't figured it out already I am infinitely interested in tradition. I am a firm believer in understanding your roots before you can grow and spread your branches. So I guess it is no surprise that antique store amuse me. Walking through an antique store is like walking through a mini time capsule.

Loving all the books I found

One of our family's favorite antique stops is O'Neil's which is a few miles before you hit Maryand.  We have been coming here for years and absolutely love the big collections of estate jewelry, antique furniture, and treasures spanning a few centuries worth of nostalgia.  We were saddened to see that within the next few weeks the store will be closing.  The lovely couple who owns O'Neil's have decided after over 25 years they will be retiring.  On the bright side appointments can still be made to view their jewelry at their home.  Since everything was pretty much on clearance I went to work digging through each section looking for treasures. (Yes that is me sitting on the floor exploring craft books... the owners did say to make myself at home :)

Maybe I'm addicted, but at least its a healthy addiction

While there are so many beautiful things I would love to buy I decided I would focus this expedition on finding craft books, patterns, tools, and supplies.  I love looking through books to get ideas.  Many of the crafts I grew up with in my family seem to have faded as video games and computers have become the way to entertain so its pretty difficult sometimes to find resources.  Antique stores are a great place though to find these lost treasures.  Usually I feel lucky if I find a book or two but this trip I guess I was rewarded for braving the winter weather.  I  found so many craft resources that I actually had a hard time picking which books to buy and which I had to leave behind. With just two antique store stops I had literally piles of new craft goodies.  If you are looking for a cost effective place to load up on supplies antique stores, thrift shops, and yard sales are a good place to start.

Holding some of the new craft stash!

As for our followers, you can look forward to many new items in our Etsy Shop within the next few months.  The hardest part is going to be deciding where to start!  There are so many good ideas that inspire new items for my personal collection as well as the shop.  I even found some patterns I remember my Nannie working on when I was a little girl.  I love when we find little trinkets that remind us of our past.  Nannie was such an important part of why I am the crafter I am today so those things that remind me of her are extra special.  Antiquing turned out to be a successful part of the trip but we still had a few hours drive until we could begin our weekend getaway with some of our Southern relatives so we once again hit the road.  While flying is definitely a faster way to travel I wouldn't give up our road adventures for the world.  There is nothing like meeting new people, discovering hidden sight seeing gems, and spending time with your family.

We continued driving down south and decided to take a route that would bring us over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  For those of you who have never traveled this strip it is a combination of tunnels and bridges with a beautiful view of the water.  We were lucky enough to hit it just as the sun was setting.  The view was so colorful that we decided we couldn't just quickly pass it by.  Instead we stopped at their rest area.  There is a restaurant there with water views as well as a gift shop and convenience area. It is also a great place to stop and take a few family photos or just enjoy the spectacular view.

After all the snow we have had in New York this year it was incredibly refreshing to stand by the ocean on a warm day, listen to the seagulls and the churning of the water, and watch the sunset.  On that note, I will update our readers next post on the rest of the trip!

A sunset so perfect it almost doesn't seem real

For Part II of our road trip adventures click here!

 

Winter Accessories

January 3, 2014 Snowstorm

New York has already had a pretty eventful Winter.  At least four snowstorms and an Arctic Vortex later I think snow gear is a must.  In not a big hat person, but a headband, scarf, and gloves are a must before I dare to brave the cold temperatures.  Over the years of of my favorite things to make are crochet scarfs.  Not only are scarfs a fun accessory but for people like me, who don't tolerate the cold very well, they are a very practical and essential part of any winter outfit.

The advantage of being able to make your own scarfs is the color and materiel options are endless and I can make the exact size and design I'm looking for.  Since the scarf rarely leaves my neck, even once I'm indoors, it is great to be able to match them to some of my favorite outfits.  There are also some pretty fashionable ways to wrap or tie scarfs, so being able to add the extra length I prefer is another great reason I make my own.


With the recent temperatures plummeting so low my car's tires actually stuck to the ground, and wind chill numbers around -15 my scarf of choice for this winter is something thick, plush, and extra warm.  After a quick trip to the craft store (ok, maybe it wasn't so quick, but who could blame me for spending so much time there when there are so many great craft options?!?!) I decided on a deep burgundy red color.   Bernat's Soft Boucle Yarn caught my eye because of the rich color and the new "quicker and thicker" design.  FYI, I did notice a notable difference though in color and texture between dye lots so make sure you buy enough of the same lot for your intended project if you go with this yarn.  While some yarns you can get away with mixing lots, this is definitely not one of them.  Also, if you are new to crochet or knit this may not be the best yarn for you.  It is woven in a loose manner that some new crafters find hard to create with as it is easy to place the needle through the thread of yarn instead of under it.

Just as the label promised this yarn was plenty thick and it does work very quick. The yarn label called for a "L" crochet hook but since I was concerned with warmth I choose a "K" crochet hook to keep the stitching a little tighter.  While a single crochet scarf would have almost totally eliminated this problem, I wanted to make sure the soft plush quality of this yarn wasn't lost in smaller tighter stitches.  For this reason I decided to create the scarf in double crochet stitches with the slightly smaller hook which gave me the desired look, feel, and warmth.  I'm a huge fan of infinity scarfs right now so with that in mind I began crocheting away.  The picture on the right (don;t mind my pjs) shows the work in progress scarf after only a short time.  I made the scarf about 70 inches long before closing the infinity circle (a good length if you like to double the loops around your neck for a little extra warmth) and about 10 inches thick.

After completing the scarf I had some yarn left over.  I could have held onto the remaining yarn for a future project but all I could hear was a little voice in my head telling me my yarn stash is big enough. But... I refuse to waste craft materials... sooo... I decided the perfect solution was to make a matching headband!  After completing a basic headband I stitched a portion of the headband together creating a pinched bow effect.  Overall I am very happy with the yarn and the finished product. After only one night of cuddling up and crocheting I have two great new Winter Accessories.  I'm ready to face the next round of of Arctic Vortex cold expected within the next two weeks!

Finished Scarf and Headband (Color appears lighter due to camera flash)

Hobby Lobby!

About a year ago I heard about Hobby Lobby on a TV show dedicated to highlighting quality companies.  Not only is Hobby Lobby a large craft/hobby chain store, as I learned they are also a value based company. The Christian founders of the company still close stores on Sunday and have a large array of religious items in stock.  While not all of my readers may agree with their Christian values, I find something admirable in the fact that they keep their beliefs as a core part of their business.  As a crafter who gets many requests for unique religious gifts and decor I also appreciated the religious items that can be hard to find when crafting.  

Anyway, after hearing about Hobby Lobby on TV I asked my craft buddy from work if she had ever been to a Hobby Lobby.  While we have Michael's and AC Moore in NYC we unfortunately do not have a nearby Hobby Lobby.  I kept saying I would make my way to a Hobby Lobby eventually but it wasn't until this past weekend that I finally got to explore.  There was one not far from the route I was driving and the ten minute detour was well worth it.

As soon as I walked in I was greeted by this beautiful fall foliage tree.  While I am enjoying every last minute of summer, I also love the fall season so it was nice to see this decorative touch.  It may not be important to everyone whether their craft store decorates, but to me it is more than just looks.  Sure a pretty store can lift my mood, but it also shows that the owners/ staff of that store have an appreciation for creativity.  Like the crafters who frequent their stores they can take parts and envision a greater whole.  It is a connection to the store and materials I just don't feel looking down an aisle of bins and racks.

The effort put into Hobby Lobby was evident in more ways than one.   I was immediately struck by the size and neat layout of the store.  While I do enjoy exploring through chaotic craft stores, it is nice to walk into a store sometimes and to know exactly where to find what you are looking for.  Even the clearance section was organized and   When everything is neatly displayed you will be surprised what new things you may come across.  I don't know about you, but my mind is always looking for new ways to create and it can be the least expected thing that will trigger a new project idea.

Along with the aisles upon aisles of crafts there is also a large selection of home decor items.  Creativity can be expressed in so many ways and this is one of the few stores that give you the tools to turn your home into a work of art.  Neatly organized are decor items for firefighters, cowboys, police officers, car lovers, and musicians just to name a few.  I had one of my best guy friends with me and he HATES craft stores.  I usually have to beg him to stop in with me when we are hanging out and pass a craft store.  Since I was driving this time he had no choice but to come along.  I was sure that I would hear complaints about stopping the rest of the drive but boy was I wrong.  While he still was not amused by the typical craft store items he was like a kid in a candy store when it came to all the unique decor sections.  He even asked as we were leaving if Id let him know the next time I was heading to a Hobby Lobby!

Overall I have to say Hobby Lobby met my expectations and surpassed them.  My little detour turned into just the fun I needed on a rainy summer day.  I will definitely be heading back in the near future.  I'm thinking a pre-Halloween trip will be a necessity after seeing their adorable Halloween displays.  Halloween happens to be my second favorite holiday, running a close second to Christmas, and Hobby Lobby has plenty of unique items for both.

         

If you have a Hobby Lobby in your area (or are willing to go a little out of your way for a good craft store) dont forget to download their SmartPhone App.  The app provides coupons and the more you save the more crafts you can get! So whats your favorite part of Hobby Lobby, or is there another craft store you think out shines the others?

Marshall's Farm Market

This past weekend I had the pleasure of selling some of my crafts at a yard sale in East Stroudsburg, PA.  Even though it was incredibly hot, the time flew by and I met some very interesting people.  I had so much fun at the PA sale that I can't wait for my next one in the Catskills this weekend.  Anyway, after a long weekend my family and I began our trip back from PA to NYC.  The traffic on I-80 was bumper to bumper so we decided to take Route 46.  It has been years since we have taken this back route home and we were pleasantly surprised when we came across Marshall's Farm Market.  

There is something special about out fashion farm markets and stands, a magic that is lost in the big city.  We pulled over at first to take a look at some of the beautiful wood yard decorations and furniture but once we saw the wide selection of fresh produce, we had to explore further.  The fresh harvest colors welcome guests to the farm stand.  Everything was ripe and it is clear that these farmers know their produce.  While the outside is  quaint the smell of just picked fruits, vegetables, and herb mixed with the homemade pies and baked goods draw you into the traditional market.

Inside the market, customers are taken back to a time when homemade, made by hand was valued.  The wood floors, shelves and barrels at a cozy feel.  It is easy to forget that you are so close to a modern interstate filled with trucks delivering mass produced goods.  If even for just a moment it is nice to feel a connection with your roots.  I loved the large selection of canned goods dips, jams, jellies, vegetables etc.  Not only was there a nice selection but there was a table filled with free samples, encouraging guests to be a little adventurous.

While exploring the store I came across a few shelves filled with items from the Irondale "Whistle Stop" Cafe.  For those of you that are unfamiliar, this cafe inspired a book which later was translated in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes."  This movie about friendship and the families we make has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager.  I thrilled to see that I could now take home the Whistle Stop's famous fried green tomato recipe and taste the signature dish.  I grabbed a box right away and headed back out for tomatoes (buying green tomatoes from my local supermarket just wasn't going to cut it if I wanted that true country taste).  My family had never had green tomatoes before and we had no idea how to pick them.  After debating back and forth for a while one of the employees explained to us what we were looking for a why.  (For those who are as clueless as I was: firm with an even green color- no spotting of white or pink because this means they are beginning to ripe and the colors represent growing sugars in the tomatoes.  Green tomatoes are not suppose to be sweet).

In case you bought as much as we did and needed some help carrying all of our farm market treats home there is a lovely room to the side filled with baskets of all shapes and sizes.  Along with the baskets is a selection of some other country favorites (soaps etc).  And don't forget before you leave to wave goodbye to the adorable puppy that "guards" the back door.  While I was not happy about the traffic on I-80 and the resulting added time to my travel time home, I am happy that I found this family owned farm market.  If you are ever in the area, stop by and get yourself a taste of the country. And yes, we made the fried green tomatoes last night and they were perfect, every bit as delicious as the book/movie says they are :)

For more information about the Marshall's Farm Market visit their website at:

http://marshallsfarmmarket.com/

My double dilemma

Until recently the majority of my attention was directed toward creating baby sets, scarfs, and holiday items.  The problem with that is I was limiting how often I was creating.  I find myself in a craft store at least once a week and I cant help but be drawn to certain materials.  Most people buy yarn in order to complete a project they have in mind.  I on the other hand often see a yarn that calls to me and I buy it knowing eventually a worthy project will pop into my head.  There is just so much potential in a skein of yarn.  This unavoidable crafting addiction has lead me to quite a beautiful collection of yarn (which might not be a problem if I lived in a beautiful country home with craft room included, but my family's small New York apartment does put some constraints on my crafting).

So I found myself in a double dilemma, I wanted to expand the type of craft projects I was working on to something that can keep me busy year round and I needed to find the right project for some of my treasured yarn collection.  After some web surfing and thinking I decided I finally had the perfect use for my beautiful bright 100% cotton yarn.  It is so soft and springy and all the flowers springing up inspired me.  I began my first set of crochet 100% cotton washcloths.  My best friend thought I was nuts, "Who needs crochet washcloths?!?"

After one use I was convinced everyone needs a set of these in their life.  Sure there are 100% cotton machine made washcloths but these are so much better. I love that with every wash they get softer and softer, kind of like your favorite old t-shift!  Not only did I use them for my personal "spa" exfoliating and cleansing needs, they are great for clean ups around the house.  I love to do my polishing and dusting with these because they don't scratch the surfaces and they are so absorbent. 

Yes I was sold that these were a great year round project that anyone could find uses for, plus they could be made to match any decor.  I set right away to make a few sets and put them up for sale.  So far the response has been great, so to answer my friend's question, no I am not nuts (well at least not for this reason) and plenty of people have found a need for these in their lives.

I get so excited to see them added to baby and bridal shower gifts.  Some of my customers have ordered sets to bring to dinner parties instead of the traditional desserts or wine.  They have been a Mother's Day gift hit.  Even some of my male customers have raved about their usefulness for car washing and detailing (I'm pretty sure they indulge in so spa time too, car maintenance just sounds more masculine)... And my favorite of all is when someone tells me they are buying a set to treat themselves!  I love hearing the personal stories of each item I personally create :)  

If you are interested in spoiling yourself with a set of these washcloths you can visit my online shop by clicking here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandcraftedHolidays