Vegan Cupcakes FOUND

As I wandered down the busy streets of Greensboro on First Friday- I found my eyes drifting down the way to Cheesecakes by Alex wishing I was able to indulge my hormonal cravings with the dairy goodness wafting out the doors of that little store. Julia kept playing the temptress and my vegan conscience was truly being tested. We stopped in Just Be and looked around a bit, but my dessert craving mouth was watering at the stupidest of things like oreos or store-bought-brownie-bites. I had to get out of there...we stopped at the train tracks where a little convertible almost got squashed by the passing train. It was actually quite scary. The lights started flashing and the gate actually came down on the car and she couldn't move it backward- she was freaked, debated getting out, but her car was about 4 feet away from the train and she was fine.

After several antique stores, and the LOVELY garden behind Jules Antiques that had me believing I was in Italy somewhere drinking vino while painting some gorgeous city-scape, We landed our feet in Civic Threads. My long time friend William works there and we started catching up... as we talked my nose picked up a scent- peanut butter? No...chocolate?...BOTH? Talking continues, I catch a glimpse of cupcakes...oh no. Then William announces, "Oh hey, did you try to Vegan cupcakes? You totally should check em out, they are awesome!" I was already gone, b-line to the table- do you know how hard it is to find a vegan pastry in this town? (probably a good thing it's so hard!!)

Julia says, "Ew Vegan cupcakes? I don't want one of those. That sounds gross." I laugh, "but you just said they look good!" I pick one up and tell her she's splitting it with me! (She liked it, I knew she would!!) I start a conversation with the baker, asking about some of her ingredient choices. She then goes on to say, "Some people come into the shop and say, 'I was going to get one of those cupcakes, they look so good, but then I saw they were vegan.' I think, really? You are so closed minded to not try something that you think looks good just because it says Vegan on it!" I laugh and look straight at Julia.

This beautiful veganite-baker sells her cupcakes at Geeksboro. Check em out!

Quinoa Veggie Sushi

OK. I eat Sushi like two or three times a week. I LOVE it. I also eat rice paper wraps (Vietnamese spring rolls) probably once a week (recipe to come!) People have been asking for my Quinoa Sushi Recipe so here it is. SORRY no pictures :( I completely forgot!

The first time you make sushi it take like 45 minutes! But when you get the hang of it you can make it in about 20. 

If you are a T25 Vegan-Challenger, this is a great meal for us. We can get our protein and our necessary nutrients from this meal. It's hard for me to put a calorie intake on here, because it completely depends on what ingredients you put as your filling. Just be sure not to make your quinoa layer too thick!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups quinoa 
• 4 cups water
• 1 T sugar
• 1 t salt
• 1/3 cup + 2 T rice vinegar
• 4-6 sheets of nori (dried seaweed) 
• 1/2 t ginger
• 1 t sesame seeds 
• Light Soy Sauce (for dipping)

Internal Herb Options:

• Cilantro 
• Mint
• Chili Pepper

Internal Veggie options:

• Cucumber slivers
• Carrot Shavings
• Avocado (this and the quinoa are your protein source-vegan style.)
• Sauteed broccoli crowns
• Red pepper slivers
• Finely chopped kale (I put kale in EVERYTHING. It's my favorite superfood)

Internal FRUIT options: (if you're feeling adventurous)

• Lightly fried plantains 
• MANGO
• Cherry Tomatoes 

Preparation:

This is the Ginger Sesame mix my mom gave me for Christmas. It's my GO TO spice mi

This is not my picture, it's a google rep! But example of now to line up the veggies.

1. Mix 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 T sugar and 2 teaspoons salt until sugar and salt dissolve.
   
2. Place the quinoa in a pot and add about 4 cups of salted water. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until quinoa is practically see-through (do NOT use red Quinoa, not the correct texture.) Drain quinoa, then stir vinegar mixture into hot quinoa, tossing to mix. Set aside.
   
3. Cut up Veggies into long slivers. (I go with whatever I have in the fridge, honestly.)
   
4. Place nori on top of a bamboo sushi rolling mat (You can buy these at target or walmart of the grocery store. The first time I did this, I didn't have a mat so I use a seran wrapped, stiff, placemat!.) Spread (COMPLETELY CHILLED) quinoa onto the nori, leaving a 1/2 margin all around. (you might have to put in freezer for a few mins after cooking to be sure it's not hot anymore.)
   
5. Sprinkle red chili pepper, chopped cilantro, and ginger-sesame on top of quinoa. Press the quinoa into the nori for even thickness and consistency.
   
6. Veggie time!! Even align the veggies lengthwise in the middle of the of quinoa. Roll sushi tightly, then here is the tricky part, you have to use a VERY sharp knife to cut through the nori! At this point you have your roll with the quinoa on the INSIDE and the nori on the OUTSIDE; cut crosswise into bite size pieces.

So my favorite combo is:

• Cucumber
• Avocado
• Carrot
• Broccoli

It's hard to take "in the process pictures" because your hands get really sticky from rolling the sushi. This is the only one i took. It's red pepper, avocado, carrot, cucumber.

Tofu Tacos

This is an adapted version of the "Fish Tacos" in T25.

YUMMY!!

Tofu:
(in bowl mix)
1 t olive oil
2 Squeezed Limes
1 t Cayenne pepper
1 t Chili pepper
1 T corn starch
Cut tofu into 1/2 inch tiny cubes, roll them in the bowl of lime sauce and put into frying pan. It's optional whether you put olive oil in the pan, if you really don't want oil you can spritz some more lime juice in there, but they cook better with about 1 t of olive oil heated in the pan.

Cabbage:
(in bowl mix)
1-2 squeezed Limes
a "few drops" of agave nectar (I can't use honey as a vegan, but that if you DO eat honey, you can totally use that.)
a "dash" of salt

Thinly cut cabbage into "slaw slivers," as I tend to call them, and toss into frying pan. Heat the cabbage enough to soften the texture a bit while still leaving a "crunch.

Toppings:
MANGO (this is what MADE the tacos)
Cilantro
Red Onions
Avocado
***(optional, my dad put 10 calorie salsa on his to add a little extra kick)***

These are all wrapped up in little corn tortillas. The band I use is 45 C a piece, so I ate 3 Tacos the calorie total came out to about 350 calories.


**the yellower the corn tortillas the "chalkier" the texture so you need to make sure to wrap them in very damp paper towels and place in microwave for 45 seconds!!***

Mango and Black Bean Salad

This is a delicious and almost entirely raw food meal (and most def VEGAN.)

For the Salad:
3 Ripe Mangos
2 Cups (fresh) Pineapple (or two cans)
1 English Cucumber (or 2 seeded regular cukes)
1 finely chopped Red Pepper
1/4 C Cilantro
Handful of chopped Fresh Mint
2-4 finely sliced Green Onions
1 can Black Bean (drained and rinsed)
1 almost ripe Avocado (want it to be a little firm so it doesn't get mushy in the salad)
A few small-cut Kale leaves
1 cup Quinoa (remember 2 cups water to 1 cup Quinoa, place both in pan, bring to boil, remove from heat and cover.)

***Optional: Strawberries, Kiwi, or Papaya all could be added.

Mix ingredients in bowl, add dressing, mix again, and voila!! Heat up a few corn tortillas and you've got it made, feeds 4.

Salad dressing:

3-4 TBL Olive Oil
2 TBL Honey (or Maple Syrup for Vegans)
4 squeezed Limes, juice
2 TBL Tarragon Wine Vinegar 
Pinch of salt
*1 TBL Chili Powder (sounds like a lot, but when you mix it with the sweet fruit it subdues the level)

Red Curry Tofu

My mother is known for her amazing curry. When I say "known for", I mean it's literally a taste you will never forget, it will remain in your immediate food memory for the rest of your life.  You'll compare all other currys to it, you will request it every time you come over, it will become your birthday wish dinner, it will be your answer to the "if you could only eat one meal before you die what would it be?" question  you'll crave it when you're PMSing (ok maybe that's only me...) POINT IS, it's glorious. I don't have her recipe, and to be honest I'm not sure if I want it- might take away some of the magic- but I wanted to make my first attempt at this tasteful dish.

Now she does a yellow curry, I wanted to do a tomato based curry (blaze my own trail!) 

Here is my recipe I put together: though I added lots of spices as it was simmering so the measurements might be a little off. I combined two different sauce recipe concepts together- sorta followed an outline, but it's a matter of taste (Spicy vs. sweeter.) 

Ingredients:

      BULK:

• 2 full packages of Tofu
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 head cauliflower 
• 1 cup snap peas, chopped
  
  RED CURRY SAUCE:

• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 
• handful fresh basil 
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1/2 can vegetable broth
• 2-3 Tbsp. minced fresh lemongrass
• 1/4 cup green onion, minced
• 1 tsp ginger, grated
• 4-5 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 4 Tbls tomato paste
• 1 tbls paprika
• 2 Tbls chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 cup Cilantro, finely chopped
• 1-2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 squeezed limes (juice)
• 2 Tbls curry powder (yellow)
• 1 tsp salt
• add chili sauce for spice (if needed)

1. Cut up cauliflower and place in boiling water, soften and let simmer for about 20 minutes.
2. Cut up Tofu in cubes, bake (BAKE at 400) for about 10 minutes on both sides. Just lightly brown them, just for texture.
3. Combine all the sauce ingredients into food processor (Basil, Coconut milk, Vegetable broth, lemongrass, green onion, ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, tomato paste, paprika, chili powder, cumin, cilantro, drown sugar, lime juice, curry powder, salt) pureed into a creamy sauce.
4. Combine tofu and cauliflower with the sauce in wok on high. Bring to boil, then reduce temperature. Add bell pepper and snap peas and cinnamon. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Cook Sushi Rice (because it's extra sticky!) 2 cups rice, 2.5 cups water. Bring to boil then allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Warm up naan for 2 minutes at 400 in oven. 

VOILA. 

This fed Juan and I PLUS I have enough for a couple more meals (LOVE curry leftovers, they get better every day.) I'll probably get four more full meals out of the leftovers :)

Bikram Yoga

I'm so behind in posts. I've been meaning to update for months, but work has been kicking my butt the past few weeks.

                 I.E. Today in one of my fifth grade classes I gave a speech on "legacy" (which I'm convinced fell on deaf ears..) Tried to explain that teachers feel things too! I said, "sometimes I think you guys forget we're human too and we get worn down too. The difference is teachers can't just decide we're not gonna do our work anymore, or we're gonna be rude or jerks because we didn't get our way- we have to keep up a positive attitude and push forward. You make it very difficult to do that sometimes. Just keep in mind, we get frustrated and hurt and tired too, and there is only so much disrespect a person can take before they start to lose all respect for you...." One of the girls started crying and ran up to me after class and said she thought I was talking about her and that she's sorry....so maybe one kid was listening. She said, "I want to be remembered for good things not for being disrespectful." One victory at a time...

That being said, I want to update on my Greensboro activities- like I said I would on this blog!

                                                                  Bikram Yoga. 

1. What:  26 postures that systematically work every part of the body, to give all the internal organs, all the veins, all the ligaments, and all the muscles everything they need to maintain optimum health and maximum function. 
1. Translation? You sweat all your toxins out of your body while balancing the heck out of your body!
2. What to Expect: You enter into a mirrored room and lay your mat on the floor. There can be anywhere from 25-55 people there. The heat is set to 106 degrees and you start sweating profusely about 3 minutes into your time int the room. The instructor will begin to call out the poses. It last 1.5 hours (which is incredibly long!) The hardest part about this type of yoga is the slipperiness of your skin- it was difficult to hold positions because my feet would roll off my soaking wet skin. 
3. Important facts: 
1. Seriously Hydrate for the the WHOLE DAY leading up to going. (The first time i went I made the mistake of hydrating only DURING instead of BEFORE and I got a stomach ache.)
2. They don't like you to leave to use the bathroom so make sure you pee before you go in...
3. Don't eat junk food or heavy foods before you go, it will weigh you down (i'm not kidding!!)
4. Bring your own mat if you can, because you sweat all over it and if you care about germs at all you won't want to use another person's mat
5. Don't wear any rings or jewelry! 
6. BRING WATER and a towel 
7. WEAR LITTLE CLOTHING you will not want layers, the bare min is best, most girls wear spandex shorts and sports bras (or a tank top in my case.)
4. Price: Grouponed this gem, the groupon reappears about four times a year and it's an unlimited month for $26 (though I think it's $36 now...)
5. Location: West Market right between the Sheetz and the Nazareth resteraunt (that I'm dying to try!)
6. Watch Kumare: This documentary is amazing and extremely entertaining.  This class will put you in an entirely different mindset if you watch that movie. HIGHLY reccommend.
   
Here's a Trailer- you can find it on Netflix.
1. 
   

All in all it was a good workout, you burn a TON of calories and feel AMAZING the next day. During the actual class I felt kinda awful, the heat messed with my head and I didn't much care for the feeling. (Plus the girls in front of me were SICK at the poses and I felt completely ridiculous..ok not the one lady in the leopard print romper uni-tard, she was pretty terrible.I don't plan on ever going back (since that month) because the last time I went it gave me a migraine. The next day you feel like a whole new person! BUT it's not worth a migraine for me.

-Abigail

Quinoa Salad

There are many protein options for vegans, one of my favorite is quinoa.

This is my favorite quinoa salad recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cups Quinoa
2 cups of Water
Two cucumbers (I prefer English, b/c they are crispier.)
Small box of Cherry Tomatoes
Three Shallots
2 Tbs Olive Oil
One Lemon
2 Tbs of the following fresh herbs (I never measure these out, I kinda just eyeball it.)

• Parsley
• Mint
• Cilantro

Step 1: Make quinoa (cup to cup ratio with water), you can follow your box for this: Me? I just eyeball when I feel like it's about done (10-15 mins on the stove top)

Step 2: Chop up cucumbers and seed the tomatoes (I cut these in fourths)

Step 3: Chop up your herbs ( I forgot to buy mint, so this picture is missing that ingredient.)

Again, I eyeball the amount. Harris Teeter has the Mint and Cilantro for $2.09, generously boxed up- lasts a few meals.

Step 4: pour the warm quinoa into the cucumber/tomato bowl, mix in the herbs and shallots, add one FULL lemon and 2 Tbs Olive Oil. DONE.

The addition I make to this salad was pan fried tofu, just cuz I had it left over from the night before.

If you're a Carnivore, like this one, you might add shredded chicken to this mix (boiled, shredded, soaked in lemon and cilantro then added to the salad.)

Enjoy!

Pan Fried Tofu

Most of the time when I cook my tofu I bake it, but I didn't have the time to bake this batch so I tried something new. Turned out great. Pan fried Tofu, comes out in a chicken strip type texture, very good for Chinese food, salad topping, or anything Thai. 

Step One: Cut Tofu and press in cheese cloth:

Step Two: Sprinkle salt on one side (I like sea salt the best.)

Step Three: Pour either olive oil or grade-seed oil in a saucepan, let heat and stand for a minute or two on high heat.

Step Four: Place tofu in oil and let sit on med/high heat for five minutes. (**note** don't mess with it, let it Caramelize!)

Step Five: Flip and cook other side for 3-5 minutes. This can be added now to stir-fry or topping for a salad or soaked in a marinade. It's entirely up to you!

(I made goddess salad for my dinner tonight!)

Maxi B's Vegan Cupcakes.

The Vegan Life: After six months of vegan ism (8 of vegetarian) I feel more energized and happier when I'm committed and strict about the lifestyle. Even with this knowledge I find myself fighting the (sometimes uncontrollable) desire for foods that I KNOW contain egg or cheese products.

I love cheesecake and I love soft pretzels. 

Ginny and I decided that Natty Greens has the best soft pretzels in Greensboro.

I have resigned to the fact that I can't eat cheese anymore, months of living without has almost killed my addiction (although I do sometimes look at Mexican food and think- if only....) I've found that if I avoid Mexican restaurants altogether, I more likely to avoid the trappings of cheese lust. I can go Tex/Mex (i.e. Chipotle) because they have so many vegetarian options. My SAVING GRACE is that I'm obsessed with Guacamole, so give me some warm tortilla chips and a well made guach and I'm a happy camper:)

Jules and I eating Vegan Pizza at Sticks and Stones, realized we dressed the same...

Over Christmas I aptly titled myself a "seasonal vegan." I eat baked good (eggs) on Christmas day, and I eat cheesecake (all KINDS of dairy) on my birthday. (Pretend you didn't read that confession all you die-hard-veganists out there, I am so faithful ALL other days of the year.) My ONLY other slip is...soft pretzels. I will, in fact, eat a Philly-doughy-delicious-twisted-little-piece-of-heaven and NOT feel guilty for the intake of egg....almost no guilt:)

Maxi B's with Jules.

There are, however, two saving graces in Greensboro for the baked goods craving vegan. Spring Garden Bakery and Maxi B's Bakery, (also They have a BLOG.)

1. Spring Garden Bakery: They literally have THE BEST pumpkin chocolate chip vegan muffins. They are so filling too, it serves as a lunch for me (along with a cup of coffee.) Their coffee isn't my favorite, but it's good enough that I'll couple it with a muffin and experience a little piece on heaven on earth (I much prefer the Green Bean's coffee flavor.) 
2. Maxi B's:  I ordered a vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing... OH.MY.GERSH. It was Divine. haha. You laugh, I laugh, because it's true. I thought I died for a second and came back to life. So all you Vegans out there looking for an escape, order up a cupcake to savor in that sweet little inviting bakery on a cloud.

I'm in Charelston right now, but I'm going to try baking THESE VEGAN COOKIES when I get home, check out the link, because they look good. If any g-boro peeps want to join in this endeavor I'm thinking wednesday night.

Peace Out.

Spaghetti Squash

Some people say that the biggest question when approaching the daunting spaghetti squash creature is: cook it cut up or whole? I have been battling this creature for quite some time (especially during my gluten free days) and have finally come up with a method that works...95% of the time without frustration.

Step one: Set Oven to 375.

Step two: Fill a glass bowl with water and place your squash into the bowl, put in microwave and cook for five minutes. (This will make the rind soft enough to cut in half, otherwise GOOD LUCK.) First time I tried to cut that rind without softening it I almost chopped my fingers off...

Step Three: cut squash in half and place face down on a cookie sheet. Bake for 40 mins.

Step Four: Remove the Squash and pull our the seedy layer on top, throw that away.

Step Five: pull out the "spaghetti" and place on a olive oil greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 400.

Step Six: Make some sauce. I take a can of organic Harris Teeter brand tomato sauce and mix it will basil, oregano, garlic, and thyme.

Step Seven: Add meat. I use soy chicken strips, stuck those suckers onto the George foreman for a couple mins and they were ready to go. You can choose whatever, pour the sauce over the meat and "noodles" and Voila, you have a low-carb spaghetti meal.

A Weekend Getaway

I'm really excited about this blog. Not only is it a little bit of inspiration for us to get out and about in our city, but I think it's a great way to embrace the crazy adventure of a life I already live. One thing that gives me so much life is being a Young Life leader. If you know me, you probably already know all about that, and if you don't, you should ask me about it! I'll talk your ear off.

All that is beside the point for now, though. This past weekend, I, along with a room full of crazy, fun, lovely fellow Young Life leaders took a mini vacation to the lake to get away, get encouraged, and plan a little business. I mean come on, ya gotta do what you gotta do.

The thing that was so great about the weekend was being encouraged as a group. My eyes were really opened to the importance of community, and living in that community. Like really in it! I saw my college girl friends that live all the way on the other side of campus, therefore they are (obviously) like strangers. I miss them! But we had an amazing slumber party in the basement of the sickest lake house ever. Windows everywhere! Check out the sunrise that we caught the morning of! Also, shout out to my girl Laura who rocked my socks by being such a girl filled with the joy of the Lord! She shared her story and I felt so thankful for what God does in so many lives.

I also got to spend time with some adults that I adore. I have been so blessed to see pictures of friends living such wonderfully full lives with families. They are some of my closest confidants and I try to soak up all the time I can with them, hearing how they love their husbands and their kids and their Young Life friends and, most importantly, how Christ plays a roll in all of that.

These are some leaders playing a game where they had to dress like hipsters. My boy, Jim, won by saying "I live in Portland." Heyo!

The weekend was also great because the speaker spoke plain and simply about the good news of the Gospel. Although I love Young Life, there is so much discouragement in ministry, which is exactly why we need to be reminded of a God that is so great, and that does all the hard stuff. All we have to do is show up with open hands and a repentant heart. I know I am so thankful that He is guiding my journey and leading me to such exciting opportunities like this past weekend.

Zumba Night

After a full day of dancing at school, auditioning 73 kids for my dance company, I pumped my weary body up for a little zumba-ing at the Club Green Valley.

For those of you living in Greensboro, Ginny and I are going to try different organized social activities and review the experiences on the blog. Hopefully it will inspire you to try some new things in GSO as well. So, if you come across something interesting to do, post it and we will rise to the challenge- slaying apprehension in one fell swoop. (I will always take a dare, unless it's cray stupid..in which case I take a second to think about it before barrelling forward.)

Zumba with Braden Cook is so fun. When I lived in Charlotte I would take Zumba classes at the Siskey YMCA, and they were good, but this was better. Reasons why Braden was better:

1. The music. He doesn't just use Latin or techno-fused-African stuff, he plays main stream and pop music too.
2. The size. It's not so crazy crowded that you can't breathe, like other classes I've attended, everyone person has room to move.
3. Braden himself. He fuses real dance and aerobics together well so it doesn't feel like an 80s workout video but more like a dance class. The dancer in me is appeased and the fat girl in me is challenged, and the teenage-sleepover-let's-jump-on-the-bed-and-sing-into-our-hairbrushes side of me is DEF won over.
4. Body ached the next day. I know that it was beneficail because my butt, legs, and core hurt the next day.
5. I went with three of my dear friends and it was just as much a social activity as a workout

Well Done Zumba, you captured my heart once again.

Soft Pretzel Fiasco

Our word of the week (one of our day calendar words) is Squinny: We should NOT have squinnied at our soft pretzel recipe tonight. One thing that I, Ginny, consistently struggle with is reading a recipe all the way through before I begin. For two chicks that love our pretzels, we should have been more cautious. I still can't even tell you what we did wrong...In short, four hrs and two separate batches later they tasted like pretzel biscuits.

Could be because Abigail is a vegan and doesn't use eggs to bake though....

Tortilla chips

Personally, I was super excited to show off how good we were at making delicious foods for girly nights around the house.

My infamous homemade tortilla chips were a success with some delicious and some times spicy guacamole. If you ever want to impress guests, take corn tortillas and cut them up. Lay them on a cookie sheet, spray with PAM and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes and viola!

Also, the key to quality guacamole is LOTS of cilantro. Mash up your ripe avocado, squeeze a slice of lemon or lime, as much cilantro as you can fit in the bowl, add a pinch of salt and perhaps a spoon full of salsa.

The highlight of the night in the kitchen was probably the impromptu duet of Defying Gravity. Our audience of friends was highly pleased. To quote one of them, "I cannot believe you aren't on Broadway yet!!!!" And that, of course, is a lie; no one really said it. But everyone was thinking it. Abigail's comment post performance, "Now that's how you do the dishes."



Note to self: Always check "Over all time" not just "prep time" when baking...30 mins vs. 3 hrs.

                                                                  

Migraines and...THE Bachelor is Back

Well, I've been laying flat on my back, in a pitch dark room, icing my head, praying for relief...Migraines are the biggest test of perseverance in my life right now. They always bring me to my knees in prayer. The other silver lining of chronic pain is the days when I feel "normal" it's like feeling glitter in my veins. My whole body rejoices and shouts in glee at the opportunity to live out a day without pain:) I'm starting to feel that again right now, just had to "shout it from the roof tops" because three days in bed makes this moment priceless.

I walked into the kitchen last night and said to Ginny, " I wish I was dead. It would feel better than this."  She stopped unloading the dishwasher and looked at me, "Noooo, it will be done in a minute. In a minute the pain will be over and then you'll wish you were alive! That's what always happens!" I laughed. Another reason why we are great roommates.                        

The other thing worth mentioning: The bachelor. Ginseng and I decided it's the very best "trash tv" on tv.

Ginny's review: "Well we only saw the 2nd half but... Girls should never wear a wedding dress on the first date. And I always get so mad at all the girls because they say such stupid things about dating one guy and there's 20 of them... I commend the girl with the one arm but... it's like 'hey let's address the elephant in the room- I have one arm, in case you didn't notice- baby I born this way.' (sings a little gaga) They are all bozos til it's down to the last two. I mean, does that one girl get pushed down the stairs, I don't know, but I'm gonna have watch the whole season just to find out"

Abigail's Review: Drunk girl- this is what I don't get, do these girls just go on for fifteen minutes of fame? I would be so embarrassed to be famous for drunken crass behavior. Call me old fashioned but I blushed for her....And the arm girl, she kept talking about "I can't help but think I'm single because of my arm." Let's be real, you are surrounded by a room full of two armed women and they are all single...conclusion?

We also decided that all the shows AFTER the Bachelor SUCK. We sat on the couch playing on our computers and our phones wishing we could curl up with Ryan Reynolds (sparked by a preview Gangster something??) Ok- I KINDA like Deception...I'll try it a few weeks before I give an official review.

-Abigail.

Welcome to our World

                                             
Well here we are. Beginning our blog. Abigail and I are sitting in World Coffee in Asheville, North Carolina, sipping away and contemplating our new outlet of expression.

Abigail says the coffee tastes like berries, what could that be?

(Abigail interjects) Ginny tried to make a pot before we left the house and it ended up tasting...she lost count of the scoops...it was early...I mean it's Saturday you can't fault the girl! Anyway, I (who loves all things black) didn't care for the BITTEREST coffee in the world. So here we are- World Coffee- drinking our berry coffees and wishing it tasted a little more like sessions and a little less like...



So it's settled. Sessions coffee from now on. Y'all think Greensboro is hip? Try rollin through Downtown Asheville. I'm intimidated.

We're going public for a few reasons. We are two girls that love to find new outlets of expression. While we were playing around with that idea, blogging came up. How fun! We also think this is an exciting way to keep our friends and family involved in our lives, as well as make new friends and family. Here on the world wide web, we are going to keep everyone posted on new things we try, be it a new restaurant, coffee shop, exercise class, fashion trend... You name it!

One thing we love to do is explore, so today, after a disappointing pot of coffee (sorry again guys), we made our way to the NC mountains. Ginny has spent a few summers in this area and was excited to go back to some places with great memories. Abigail loves the mountain and couldn't wait to see the line of the Blue Ridge mountains in her view.

We started off in Black Mountain. a small town with lots of little specialty shops. Also... Lots of dogs. In every store. On every corner! Kind of cute, but occasionally I think sanitation is more important than appearances. Even though I played with the dogs more than I browsed.

(Abigail interjects) Yes, Ginny, but it's like a Mountain thing! Every mountain movie has a dog on the front porch...I may have just made that up since right now the only mountain movie that is coming to mind is cold Mountain and I never actually saw that movie. Scratch that, mountain people just like dogs, incense, vinegar, and postcards...
                             
We ate at the world's slowest service deli, which had potential to be really good; but what is potential if people do nothing with it? Just that. a word. It was alright.... Ginny ordered a vegetarian sandwich and had them add turkey. That's the best thing that happened there.

                               

Now is the point in our morning where we decide it's time to go to Asheville. We headed around the mountain to one of NC's coolest cities and couldn't help but get frustrated with parking. Whatever we're past that. We stumbled upon a sweet consignment shop that was literally OBSESSED with mustaches. Seriously. On cups. On plates. On jewelry. On shirts. On books. Probably more I was just numbed to it eventually. A decision was made that Abigail could (and probably should) make all of that stuff (obviously better, with less mustaches) and sell her stuff. Look out world!

(Abigail interjects) Ok, but what is the deal with the staches? What exactly are they representing? They aren't unique, they aren't new, they aren't fresh, so what is so stinkin' appealing? Girls don't generally like them ON their man, so why would we want them on our bags or plates or hats? I, for one, don't like kissing a stachy man nor do I find myself remotely attracted to a mustache wearing gent (in fact I automatically feel a little creeped.) YET I found myself buying a mustache mug at urban outfitters for a Christmas present this year...something about it  was incredibly adorable. I'd like to think I don't buy things simply because they're trendy, but in the case of the stache... I do believe I fell victim to the trend.

OH NO GINNY! I wanted to wear red stick like you, but now I look down and see I'm wearing a pink shirt and I'm terribly embarrassed by this Valentines Day fiasco situation I have going on here. FEAR NOT people of Asheville, I have a pink in my purse- let's find a mirror Ginbean.

One thing that stands out in downtown Asheville more so than any other place I've been is the amount of folk singing street brewsters. Accordions, washboards (played by a man/woman/thing we don't know the gender of!), saws, stand up basses... Instruments you wouldn't really expect to see on a sidewalk. Not gonna lie, I kinda wanted to jump in and join them! I just need dreadlocks...There's definitely a hippie culture around here that consists of major body odor, a lack of certain social skills, and some of the coolest people I could only wish to be friends with!



(Abigail interjects) I bought peanut brittle at the General Store and it was good.

Since it is only 4:00, I feel as though there are still things to be seen around these parts. Also, my glittery New Years Nails are reflecting in the computer screen and it is wonderfully distracting. Don't worry... there will probably be a post about that soon.