Hosting & Toasting + Chalk House Updates

As I sit on the couch trying to find the energy to begin cleaning up our construction zone, I realize how thankful I am for the past two weekends that have filled my heart with joy and happiness. Even though the weekends seem short and Mondays always sneak up on me, I am grateful for the days filled with friends and family.

A quick glimpse into the past couple weekends -
Last Saturday, I was honored to host a Bridal Shower for a dear friend of mine. Meeting Kayla during our last few years of college was one of the greatest gifts. For the past 7 years and counting, she has been by my side through all of life's twists and turns. We have cried together, laughed until are stomachs hurt, traveled around the country discovering new places, and sat for hours upon hours talking about life while sipping a glass of wine. She is a constant reminder of true and forever friendship.

As her family and friends started to arrive, I took a moment to listen to the laughs and the memories that were being shared about our sweet friend, daughter, co-worker, and sister-in-law. All I could do was smile and remind myself that I am thankful to have the opportunity to share these special moments with the people that make me a better woman.

Bridal Shower Vendors:

Bridal Shower Invitations: Minted

Personalized Signs: Alex & Co. Pretty Prints 

Monogrammed Cocktail Napkins: Picture Perfect Papier

Catering: Ladyfingers Caterers

Cake: Nona's Sweets

Glassware and Linens: American Party Rentals 

Fast forward and this past weekend was the perfect mix of continuing our #chalkhouseupdates and spending quality time with girlfriends. Friday was spent doing the not-so-glamorous tasks of remodeling...pulling up carpet, removing the endless amounts of tack strips, trying to contain the dust from spreading throughout our entire house and replacing parts of our sub-flooring that had termite damage from many years ago. All of the prep work allowed us to lay the new floor in our dining room and foyer on Saturday and Sunday. We may not be finished yet but we are SO close!

This picture proves that our family farmhouse has been a true labor of love. Inside these walls, there are 126 years of memories that have made this house a home. We find ourselves listening to stories from our family, neighbors, and even strangers that will bring you to tears because you quickly realize how special our home is to so many people.

I was able to sneak away from the chaos on Saturday for a girl's afternoon. Danielle, one of my best friends from high school, flew in from Philadelphia for the weekend so a day of wine tasting and catching up was on the agenda! We had a blast discovering the beautiful wineries in North Carolina. The Vineyards in Yadkin Valley, approximately 30 miles outside of Winston Salem, are a hidden gem and a perfect destination for a day trip or even an entire weekend.  

Vineyard Recommendations:

Shelton Vineyards

Stony Knoll Vineyards

Herrera Vineyards 

Now, I am off to begin cleaning and organizing our new space so I can share a more detailed post with you before the end of the week! I hope you have a fabulous week, friends!

Weekend Highlights + Gift Guide: For Him

Thanksgiving 2015 was a huge success and has me still smiling my way through a cold, dreary Monday! We spent the past 5 days enjoying our loved ones, cooking family recipes, creating new traditions, and making memories that we will cherish forever. We've enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving at our home the past 2 years but this one was one for the books. Preparing Thanksgiving for 27 people was a bit different than the 9 people that we hosted last year but everything came together seamlessly and we were enjoying all our favorite dishes by 1:30pm.

We braved the crowds on Friday and the ladies spent the morning shopping and enjoying brunch at one of my favorite spots in Cameron Village, Tupelo Honey Cafe, while the guys broke out their sticks and headed to the golf course. I found great deals on a few items at the local boutiques in the area but I am excited to finish most of my Christmas shopping today with the Cyber Monday sales. What sales do you have your eye on?

Saturday was spent tailgating at Carter Finley Stadium for the last time in 2015, I can't believe football season is already coming to an end. Does anyone else feel the same way?! This particular game is always one of my favorite match-ups each season, NC State Wolfpack versus UNC Tarheels.

The intensity of the game is driven by the universities' similar size, the short distance between the 2 universities {25 miles} and we are both part of the infamous Tobacco Road Rivalry which includes NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke. It doesn't help that I graduated from NC State and my sister graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill so the family rivalry is just as big in our eyes as the actual rivalry!

Speaking of tailgates, I have rounded up a few of my favorite gifts for the men that enjoy hosting a fun yet well-prepared tailgate like my husband.

1. I have recently stumbled upon a few subscription boxes for men while Christmas shopping this year and I am obsessed! Mantry's Tailgate Tour box is one of my favorites.

2. No tailgate is complete without entertainment. Being able to watch all the other games before cheering on your hometown team is the perfect excuse to order DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket.

3. Finding a cooler that can fit everything you need for a tailgate party was impossible to find until we purchased our first Yeti Tundra Cooler. An added bonus, you won't ever have to worry about your ice melting during a hot, summer day.

4. Olly Oxen Belts are the best way to dress up {or down} your tailgate attire. I was an Olly Oxen Representative during their first few years, it was a pleasure to work for Charlotte and her two brothers. They are the sweetest family!

5. To add to the entertainment, the UE Megaboom Speaker would be all you need to play your favorite tailgate playlist.

I'll leave you with a final laugh about the Thanksgiving holiday with this hard to beat Mashup by The Holderness Family. I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving!

Weekend Highlights: New York Style

On Friday afternoon, we packed up our bags, kissed the pups goodbye and headed north to spend the weekend in New York City with my sister and her husband. You may have seen a sneak peak of the beautiful views that we were able to enjoy all weekend if you follow me on Instagram {stephaniechalk08}. My heart is full and I am still smiling after this weekend.  

By the time that we arrived at their door, I couldn't wait to squeeze my sister and give her the biggest hug! My sister has always been my rock and moments like this weekend make me realize how much I miss having her in the same state and only a couple of hours away. 

Throughout the summer, I have received numerous photos of their "favorite summer spot" so I was excited to kick-off the weekend from The Roof Garden Cafe and Martini Bar at The Met. The panoramic view of the city as the sun is setting is absolutely gorgeous. To find a spot along the wall to take a picture is nearly impossible but I had no fear that my sister was going to make it happen. And I am so glad she did because these are a few of my {new} favorite photos! 

It only seemed appropriate that we took a short tour through The Metropolitan Museum of Art to see some of our favorite artists - the Vincent Van Gogh exhibit was definitely my favorite so I had to snap a couple pictures.

Following a few glasses of rose, breathtaking sunsets and a history lesson we opted for a casual dinner at Pizza Beach. We spent the rest of the evening enjoying the beautiful weather, catching up on life and indulged in way too many delicious pizzas. If you love pizza as much as we do than this is your kind of place. I enjoy a pizza with a twist so my recommendation would the Lamb Merguez and Oaxaca Cheese with Shishito Peppers and fresh Cilantro & the Mushroom and Stracciatella with Roasted Leeks and Mascarpone. 

After such a fun Friday night, Saturday morning came {very} quickly but my sister whipped up one of the best breakfast spreads that I have had recently! My sister and her husband hit the jackpot when they found their apartment which has now become their beautiful first home as Mr. and Mrs. "Tro". One of their favorite amenities is the gorgeous rooftop that has the most spectacular views of the city skyline which is where we enjoyed breakfast. If only I had taken a picture so you could see what I'm talking about...blogger fail.  

Then we were off to Yankee Stadium to cheer on the Cleveland Indians as they played a four game series against the Yankees. TC's childhood friend plays for the Indians so it was a really special opportunity to be able to watch #8 play while we were in town. 

The former Yankees catcher, Jorge Posada, had his uniform retired during a special ceremony prior to the game. Many of his fellow teammates were in attendance for the ceremony to help celebrate and congratulate Jorge on his retirement - Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte are just a few that I recognized that were there.  

This weekend was full of epic sunsets and we took full advantage of them for our photos! A couples photo op was much needed as we waited in line to have cocktails at the Grand Banks NYC. If you plan on visiting NYC, you will have to head to Pier 25 in Tribeca to enjoy a cocktail on the deck of the F/V Zwicker - the last original salt-bank fishing vessel in existence. 

Happy Hour was followed by dinner at Nobu New York, the original restaurant of Chef Nobu Matsuhisa that specializes in Japanese cuisine. Everything that we ate melted in your mouth. I have to admit that I am still dreaming about the Bento Box dessert - Warm Chocolate Fondant Cake, Shiso Syrup, White Chocolate Sauce and Green Tea Ice Cream. Doesn't it sound amazing?!

The weekend was over and Monday was quickly approaching but the memories that we made this weekend will be cherished forever. Thank you to my sister and her husband for the amazing hospitality and another wonderful weekend on the Upper East Side! :) Until next time...

Weekend Highlights

This weekend was one of those that was good for the soul. It truly is amazing what a little salt air, lots of sunshine and evenings full of laughs with a group of people that I am so {so, so} thankful to be able to call family now can do to make you feel like you hit the reset button. The past few weeks have been consumed with fear, tears and praying endlessly that my sweet and selfless Dad would be okay. I am not going to share all the details but what I can say is that I can't thank everyone enough for their love and support, our prayers have been answered and Dad will be back on his boat and cooking up a storm in no time.

My sister was in town visiting my Dad for a few days and I was excited to learn that her flight on Thursday was delayed and she would miss her connecting flight {selfish, I know}. But we were able to spend the evening catching up, getting a pedicure and sipping on a delicious rose. All the things that sisters love to do, right?! :)  

 

On Friday afternoon, we headed to Morehead City to spend the weekend with TC's family. After a day on the boat, happy hour was next on our agenda. It included all my favorites - Pimento Cheese and Texas Caviar for appetizers, a vodka and cranberry in the prettiest glass and the cutest cocktail napkins.  

On our way home, I couldn't resist snapping a quick picture of my favorite Rocksbox necklace that I received in last week's box. Loren Hope's Palmer Necklace in Crystal is my absolute favorite. I love a versatile piece that I can mix and match with any outfit!

I hope everyone's week is off to a wonderful start! 

Weekend Highlights

Happy Monday! After this weekend, I am feeling refreshed and ready to take on the week ahead of me. It was the perfect mix of friends, family and house chores.

{Picture 1 and 2} I spent the week in Anaheim, California for a work conference, it was a blast catching up with friends that I don't get to see very often because we are spread across the country. After our sessions were finished, we would meet to enjoy cocktails on the gorgeous patio of nFuse which is located at the Anaheim Marriott. I highly recommend this hotel if you are visiting the area, the staff was extremely accommodating, the hotel was beautiful and it is very close to Disneyland.

{Picture 3}Speaking of Disneyland, we were able to squeeze a quick trip to Disneyland before I headed back to the East Coast. You can't travel all the way out there and not spend a few hours there, right?! I grew up going to Disney World in Orlando, Florida and regardless of my age, I have always had a blast. I may be a bit bias but I think Disney World is better than Disneyland. I love all the different parks at Disney World and the entertainment at Disney World is over-the-top too. If you have visited both, what are your thoughts?

{Picture 4} After a long day of travel on Friday, I was so happy to see TC. We had a quiet date night at home and we were able to sit on the porch to enjoy the beautiful weather that NC has recently been experiencing. After dinner, I was loving puppy cuddles from Tenley. She was attached to my side for the first few hours and I was soaking up every second!

{Picture 5 and 6} On Saturday, we headed to Pinehurst to spend the afternoon by the pool with my mom and then we enjoyed another evening of outdoor dining at The Porch of 195. I had an amazing Indian-Inspired dish - Local Goat Cheese Curry Paneer, Organic Basmati Rice, Peppers, Onions, Naan, Pompadon, Raita and Chickpeas. I am already getting hungry just thinking about it.

{Picture 7} In the Summer, Sundays are spent in the yard. No questions asked. I spent most of the morning mowing grass and listening to my newly updated playlist that I created for my nightly runs. You can tell that I was too excited and impatient to wait until my run on Monday night. TC was thrilled since he had to listen to me sing Taylor Swift, Andy Grammer, Ellie Goulding, and Ariana Grande on the top of my lungs :). I spent the last few hours, cleaning up our flower beds so we can finish laying the new mulch next weekend!

{Picture 8 and 9} The weather couldn't have been more beautiful than it was this weekend so we wanted to take advantage of it before it becomes 100+ degrees. On Sunday evening, we had a few couples over to grill out and we made the most delicious vegetable stuffed hamburgers that were wrapped with bacon and topped with BBQ sauce. By no means, is it the healthiest meal but my goodness it is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I'll be sharing the recipe later this week. I also loved spending time with my adorable Goddaughter, Emery. Isn't she adorable?

It was a perfect weekend, it made my soul happy! I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend too! I am linking up with Biana and Meghan to share our weekend highlights.

   

Weekend Highlights

Being a newlywed, there are so many things that I love about marriage but one that is on the top of my list is having someone that embraces and supports your ideas or aspirations {even if they are absolutely ridiculous} regardless of the situation. TC has done exactly that and this weekend was a perfect example of his selfless personality.

We had a lengthy to-do list to conquer in 48 hours {even prior to my additional ideas}. Warm weather means that we spend most of our weekends maintaining the land that has been in TC's family for many decades. In the midst of all of this, I mentioned that I would like to participate in the One Room Challenge by updating our Guest Bedroom in 30 days + I want to plant a garden again this year. No questions asked, he agreed and we got started.

After work on Friday, we met at Lowe's for our first of many trips that would end up taking place this weekend. We picked up everything that we needed to work on our Guest Room makeover since we wanted to start bright and early on Saturday. Then we opted for an impromptu date night at Doherty's Irish Pub in Apex. Their Pimento Cheese Fritters are my favorite, they melt in your mouth!

On Saturday, we woke up early to begin working on the Guest Room. Keep in mind that it has not been updated since approximately 1960. You will have to stop back by on Thursday to see the full update from this weekend but I will leave you with a few thoughts...

-From head to toe, I was covered in dust and dirt from a 55 year old carpet pad. 

-We went through many, many face masks in 24 hours.

-I went to work today with white speckles all over my arms and hands, Kilz doesn't come off easily.

-I would be perfectly content if I never saw carpet tack strips again.

Sanding the old carpet pad that was glued to the floor and had started to disintegrate.

I took a mental break and met a few girlfriends for much needed coffee talk at Benelux Coffee in Cameron Village. If you love coffee as much as I do then you will enjoy this coffee shop and their drink selections that have been inspired by their travels to Amsterdam and Brussels.

Later that evening, my mom came over to see our progress and cook dinner for us. It was a special treat that we enjoyed so much!

We were up bright and early to begin working on the rest of our to-do list but I was in desperate need of something sweet. My cinnamon roll craving hit me and it was all that I could think about. I solved that quickly and whipped up these to enjoy with my coffee.

After breakfast, we spent the morning trying to finishing the last few items for our One Room Challenge update. After lunch, we worked in our yard until about 7pm. By that point, we felt like we were struggling to walk or formulate sentences because we were so tired. It was well worth it since we'll have a garden with fresh herbs and veggies to enjoy this summer, our grass isn't as tall as my ankles, the weeds aren't taking over the driveway or our flower beds any longer and we made HUGE progress in our Guest Room.

Once I put the lawn mower in park and TC finished working on his projects, we sat on the porch to enjoy the Spring weather and remind ourselves that we are thankful to have this view to wake up to every day. It may be a lot of work but it is totally worth it.

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Linking up with these sweet ladies, Biana and Meghan.