the pinterest problem

Okay, so this post is going to divert a bit from describing a Raleigh-related experience. Over the weekend my mom and I hosted a baby shower for a family friend. It turned out great! We had a lovely afternoon of food, socializing, and celebrating the miracle of life. But what I took with me from the overall experience is this: Pinterest is a problem.

What's the problem with Pinterest? It seems like a fun little way to benefit from and contribute to the creativity of others. Whereas we used to have to buy a bunch of home design and craft magazines to get ideas for DIY projects, Pinterest cuts out the middle man and puts the projects right at the fingertips of the every-woman. Being crafty is no longer reserved for the quirky aunts with a lot of time on their hands or the professionals. YOU can make that. It's easy. It'll be cheap!

This, my friends, is a lie.

Let me spoil the illusion for you. See that perfectly curated photo album of the baby shower right there? You cannot create that scene. You will not be able to make that paper garland by hand. That cake was baked and decorated by a professional trained in Paris. See what I'm getting at here? Pinterest makes us all believe we are Martha Stewart's protégés. Without the criminal records.

Don't get me wrong though, Pinterest is a really great way to get ideas! But halfway through your fifth DIY project you will begin to realize that the key to Pinterest is moderation. Pick 1 project. Pick two! Just don't let the wonder of Pinterest make you forget that you have a full-time job outside of DIY-ing.

But as I said before, our shower really turned out great. I will just remember next time that my name is not Martha and I am one person. With a job. Happy crafting, y'all!

cake that we did NOT make ourselves!

dipped rice krispie pops

dead duck punch... they wouldn't float :(

detour from the fro yo frenzy

For the past few years it's been all about the frozen yogurt. Yogurt's health benefits make it a healthier option as compared with other indulgences, but lately I've been loving the local custard chain in Raleigh. Goodberry's custard isn't the healthiest dessert you'll ever eat, but every so often its mom and pop feel and delicious frozen custard calls my name!

The custard is only available in vanilla, chocolate, and one flavor of the day which changes every day. That may not sound like a lot, but they have a wide range of fruit, candy, and syrup mix-ins that can create a huge variety of concretes (think DQ blizzard, but better) and sundaes. Tonight I got the flavor of the day and let me just say that the time I'll spend in the gym this week will be worth every bite. 

i'm no wine authority (yet)

Wine is one of those things most of us want to learn more about but are a little intimidated by. I never want to be the jerk at the restaurant who spends a ton of time scrutinizing the wine list, pretending I recognize winemakers and certain "vintages," and then making the waiter bring me a taste before I finally choose the one. That's why I love wine shops -- they're a really great way to get more knowledgeable about what's out there in a low pressure environment. My friend Sarah had been talking about Wine Authorities for a while, so we finally made a trip down there over the weekend.

The setup is awesome -- the front wall of the store is stocked with empty wine glasses and a row of all different wine varieties for the tasting. A few tables are available inside, and there are a good amount of small tables and chairs outside, too.

Wine Authorities also sells craft beer!

You serve yourself, which is my favorite part! No judge-y wine experts telling you what to get, but I'm sure the staff would be happy to help if you have questions. Each wine is available in 3 sizes: a taste, a 1/2 glass, or a full. Little placards can be found above each wine letting you know a little about the wine and giving suggestions for food pairings.

 Paying is really easy. Since the wines vary in price and each size has a different price, you purchase a little card ($1 each) and let the cashier know how much money you'd like to put on it. To use the card, just put it in the slot at the top of the wine dispenser and push the button for the wine and size you'd like. Just make sure you keep the card for next time... which for me, will hopefully be soon! 

blackberries and baking my way to adulthood

I have a somewhat irrational fear of not becoming domestic enough in time for my adult life. Since I'm still in my emerging adulthood phase and don't yet have a family of my own, I don't cook what I consider to be real, "adult meals" very often. When I go home to visit my parents, my mom usually makes something that makes me think "Wow, I hope I learn how to make these types of things so I can be a fully-functioning adult who can play hostess one day." I know that it's crucial to practice cooking/baking these things before I actually have to make them for guests, so every once in a while I get kinda antsy thinking I better get serious before it's too late.

Last week I had a little escape from Raleigh, so when I returned I was really excited to see that the farm by my house had blackberries ready for picking. One of my favorite things about where I live is the close proximity to Page Farms. My brother came down for the Fourth, so we stopped by and grabbed as many beautiful blackberries as we could before heading to the pool.

So back to my desire for domestic experience -- I searched Pinterest for a recipe to try with my blackberries (but nothing too difficult because I don't even have a mixer). I decided on one for Blackberry Pie Bars since most of the ingredients were already in my pantry. Nothing about the recipe was difficult and I got to use my favorite tool, the handheld grater, to zest the lemon. Check out the result below...

All in all, I'd say this mission was a success. I know my future guests will need more sustenance than a berry dessert, but I'll get there... one recipe at a time.