We moved!!
The new link is browsewatchshopreview.wordpress.com. It has the same posts, plus a couple of new ones. We're still working out the kinks, but check it out!
By the way, we may make a couple of other changes...
Stay tuned!
Monday, May 23, 2016
Saturday, May 14, 2016
My first mini Food Truck Friday
It was actually my first Food Truck Friday, ever! And mini is the way to go. I am not a huge crowd person, and this Food Truck Friday only had four trucks in a large space.
Rama Road Elementary PTA puts on this Food Truck Friday once in a while (I'm trying to get them to do more) to raise money for various student and teacher scholarships. It's a family friendly event, with face painters, balloon animals, and of course the school playground for kids to tire themselves out.Jay Barron
jay.pato.barron@gmail.com
Not long after Lawrence and I arrived, the radio was turned off and Jay Barron walked up to the mic. His first song, This Land is Your Land, was sung in English and Spanish. It was very refreshing, and quickly made me want to talk to him about what he does. As he sang, someone brought out buckets, drumsticks, and other instruments. Jay invited kids to come and play. One by one, children started joining in. Eventually, the cuteness you see below had formed:
AJ (white shirt, on the left in video) ended up being Jay's hype man, and a great "quacker" for Jay's song, Pate de Hule.
Jay has been a Spanish teacher for over 25 years, and works in a private school in Charlotte - and judging by how he was with the children, he's a great teacher. He has a CD called "¿Como estas mi amigo?", and is available for purchase here (click the link), or I'm pretty sure by emailing him directly. The songs are great children's pop songs and could work to assist children who are learning Spanish. My 7th grader was very interested in it, and after listening to it, I know I'm going to play the songs for my grandson.
Jay Barron receives $4.50 of $5
Farmhouse BBQ
Our first food stop was Farmhouse BBQ - I mean, where else do you stop in the south?The line was long, and the couple behind the counter was very busy getting out orders, so I didn't ask questions. For the truck, they only had pulled pork and several sides, but what they had was tasty. I had the pulled pork (no bread) and a side of collard greens. The greens were interesting - I could taste that there was some added sweetness (I'm cutting added sweets for about a month). Although it's not something I would do with my greens, it didn't ruin them at all. They were still tasty, and I finished each bite. Lawrence got the same, but added macaroni and cheese. The mac and cheese was a white cheddar on Rotini noodles. It was creamy and seasoned well, and Lawrence didn't leave a noodle behind.
Farmhouse BBQ receives $3.75 of $5
GoGoKu Fusion Cuisine House(sorry, no more info)
Our next stop was GoGoKu Fusion Cuisine House. The line was extremely long on the ordering and pickup side, so we were excited to try (well, Lawrence was trying). They had rice bowls, Korean tacos, and other Asian/TexMex/BBQ mixes. Since we did just have dinner at Farmhouse, Lawrence decided to get the Korean tacos.
So... where do I start. First, the tacos smelled divine. They had a cool looking relish on top, were a nice size. But... didn't find this out until about 20 minutes after ordering. After Lawrence ordered and received his number (31), I walked over to the pick-up window and heard a young man complain that he was #14, and still hadn't received his tacos. I started to worry.
I went around to talk to others at the festival... finished my water and started on my way back to Lawrence. It's been a while, and I was wondering why he hadn't tried to find me. He was still waiting for his tacos. Most food was already leaving the truck, but tacos were taking forever. There was a person with #33 that was called several times, and the lady with #34 kept asking if the order was actually for her and not for #33... the worker on the truck was already frazzled, and this lady made her a little more frustrated. Plus the lady was trying to jump in front of Lawrence, who again, was #31.After that small fiasco, Lawrence finally received his tacos. Although they smelled great, they were extremely juicy - not what you want with a soft taco. We had to dump a ton of excess juice out of the bottom of the tray.
It wasn't the best. The meat was chewy, and the relish was too sweet for my taste.
GoGoKu Fusion Cuisine House receives $2.00 of $5.00
(slow service, not great product)
We did end up getting a hot dog from JJ's Red hots ($3 of $5), and after listening to a little more music and talking to our neighbor, we decided to head home.
The food truck festival, although small, was great fun. I believe if they held them more often, it would be a go-to event for the people in the neighborhood that will catch the attention of other food trucks and vendors.
Food Truck Friday receives $4.50 of $5.00
Tomorrow, I will post my review of the Carolina Clay Matters semi-annual pottery festival.
Thanks, all!
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Busy Mother's Day Weekend
I've been working hard for the past five weeks... first second shift, and now first shift. I am tired. And with the other events going on (proms, rehearsals), I haven't had time to go to anywhere new.
Lawrence, Ahja, Janiyah, and I took advantage of the $5 parking and free shuttle from Nation Ford High School (our second driver, Rose, was great). As soon as we arrived, we were interested in funnel cake - one of the few items that contained strawberries. Lawrence and I mistakenly didn't take out cash, so we had to first stop at the ATM, then we were able go eat festival foods.
We ate dessert first - a simple strawberry shortcake with lots of whipped cream, then we found Beef o' Brady's , a chain burger place. Lawrence got a burger, and I got pulled pork nachos. Delicious. Hey, I needed to have my last weekend before my do-over diet starts be the best weekend ever...
Our first small business stop was Curly Girl Bath Soaps, where we met Lynn. She's been making soap for a couple of years, and knows what she's doing! Her soaps smell amazing! And she has a great idea - these adorable soap sachets! They are the little pieces of soap in these little pouches, and they smell amazing! She also has fun names for her soaps - Squeeze Me Tight, Wishy Washy sample bag, and the one I purchased, Freud's Favorite - which is gardenia, Sigmund Freud's favorite flower.
Her prices are great (especially the sachets), and she is amazingly pleasant. It would be a treat to purchase more from her - which I know I will.
So, there was this couple selling chocolate covered strawberries - one of the few strawberry sellers in the fair. Of course I had to stop. The Oreo and Snickers flavors were irresistible! Since it was very crowded where they were located (good for them), we were unable to talk to the people that were at the stand. It's a shame, because they were great, and when I pulled out my camera to take pictures, the lady gave me a couple of great poses!
You can order online, although they do have a disclaimer about when to order so your chocolates don't melt during travel.
My final shopping stop (other than funnel cake) was Elesha Andrea Designs. She also has Little Rug Bug. She sells adorable jewelry and accessories for women, and shabby chic items and bibs for children. There were so many items to choose from. I fell in love with her pendants, and I just had to stop myself from buying more than one... the price didn't make that easy, but I was good. The pendants are not listed on either site (I hope they are soon), but they were all beautiful. Each pendant came with your choice of style of chain, including the offer of a ribbon.
The shabby chic headbands for girls and the bibs and burp cloths for babies were all very colorful and looked rather well made.
That changed this weekend when I decided I needed a break from the busy, and we went along to the South Carolina Strawberry Festival in Fort Mill, SC. There's always opportunity to find small businesses at a festival, and I found a few great ones. I didn't find many strawberries, but we did have a great time with what they had.
We ate dessert first - a simple strawberry shortcake with lots of whipped cream, then we found Beef o' Brady's , a chain burger place. Lawrence got a burger, and I got pulled pork nachos. Delicious. Hey, I needed to have my last weekend before my do-over diet starts be the best weekend ever...
Curly Girl Bath Soaps
Our first small business stop was Curly Girl Bath Soaps, where we met Lynn. She's been making soap for a couple of years, and knows what she's doing! Her soaps smell amazing! And she has a great idea - these adorable soap sachets! They are the little pieces of soap in these little pouches, and they smell amazing! She also has fun names for her soaps - Squeeze Me Tight, Wishy Washy sample bag, and the one I purchased, Freud's Favorite - which is gardenia, Sigmund Freud's favorite flower.Her prices are great (especially the sachets), and she is amazingly pleasant. It would be a treat to purchase more from her - which I know I will.
Curly Girl receives $4.00 out of $5.00
The Madison Chocolatiers West
So, there was this couple selling chocolate covered strawberries - one of the few strawberry sellers in the fair. Of course I had to stop. The Oreo and Snickers flavors were irresistible! Since it was very crowded where they were located (good for them), we were unable to talk to the people that were at the stand. It's a shame, because they were great, and when I pulled out my camera to take pictures, the lady gave me a couple of great poses!You can order online, although they do have a disclaimer about when to order so your chocolates don't melt during travel.
The Madison Chocolatiers West receives $3.75 out of $5.00
Elesha Andrea Designs
My final shopping stop (other than funnel cake) was Elesha Andrea Designs. She also has Little Rug Bug. She sells adorable jewelry and accessories for women, and shabby chic items and bibs for children. There were so many items to choose from. I fell in love with her pendants, and I just had to stop myself from buying more than one... the price didn't make that easy, but I was good. The pendants are not listed on either site (I hope they are soon), but they were all beautiful. Each pendant came with your choice of style of chain, including the offer of a ribbon.The shabby chic headbands for girls and the bibs and burp cloths for babies were all very colorful and looked rather well made.
Elesha Andrea Designs receives $3.75 out of $5.00
We got home and slept for at least two hours after that trip! It was fun, and I would go back - IF they add more strawberries.
The SC Strawberry Festival receives $2.75 out of $5.00
(better utilization of facility space, more strawberries)
Next week, I'll cover the nail salon I visited for Mother's Day, as well as the local food truck event.
Thanks all!
Sunday, April 10, 2016
My review of Barbershop 3
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| Official Movie Poster |
Movie opens 4/15/16
Barbershop, The Next Cut, is the actual title of this movie. Many of the characters come back for this third film, and there are several new characters. One of the actors missing is Michael Ealy as Ricky, but it doesn't hurt the story at all.
The barbershop is caught in the middle of south side Chicago turmoil of gangs and violence, and Calvin is concerned about his son being caught up in either gang affiliation or random gang violence. The story opens with laughs, and most of the beginning of the movie delivers big laughs. Dion Cole as Dante and Lamome Morris as Jerrod help with this. Jimmy James (Sean Patrick Thomas) makes an appearance to deliver news that no one in the shop want to hear. The guys and the ladies in the shop and Angie's (Regina Hall) salon are ready to do something about it. In the middle of all of this, there is Calvin's son, Jalen (Michael Rainey, Jr.) who Calvin is trying to get to do the right thing, and of course, there's a story line there.
Common (Rashad), Nicki Minaj (Draya), and Utkarash Ambudkar (Raja), bring great laughs and a freshness to the shop that seemed to be missing in Barbershop 2. Anthony Anderson (J.D) still brings a few laughs.
If you liked 1 and 2, you will love 3. It takes you through laughs, as well as gives you some things to think about. It's a fun story that gets real at times, but brings you right back to fun. You don't need to brush yourself up on the first two movies to understand Barbershop 3.
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. To me, Barbershop 2 wasn't the best, and the third movie in a series is usually just trying to squeeze out the last bit of laughs and money out of the franchise, but not with this one.
If you liked 1 and 2, you will love 3. It takes you through laughs, as well as gives you some things to think about. It's a fun story that gets real at times, but brings you right back to fun. You don't need to brush yourself up on the first two movies to understand Barbershop 3.
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. To me, Barbershop 2 wasn't the best, and the third movie in a series is usually just trying to squeeze out the last bit of laughs and money out of the franchise, but not with this one.
Go see this movie! I would have paid regular ticket price to see this. Just be prepared - you may miss some of the lines because of the overabundance of laughter in the theater.
Barbershop 3 gets $3.75 out of $5
Gate City Yarns and The Table in Greensboro
It's been a busy two weeks around here. If I didn't mention it before, I have two heading off to college at the same time - Deven and Ahja have both chosen where they are going to spend the next four years of their lives.
After a long and grueling couple of weeks of waiting for all of the information to come in from the three schools Deven applied to, he could not pass up the great opportunity he had at Winthrop University.
That opportunity? Full musical theatre scholarship! Exciting, right?
As for Ahja, she thankfully didn't have to take as long to make a decision. She also had to wait for three schools, but once the information was received, she decided to attend UNC Greensboro. And guess what? She also attends for free! I am beyond excited!
I wish free meant totally free, but I guess I can't complain too much... it's still MUCH cheaper than the alternative...
While visiting UNC Greensboro this weekend, Janiyah (child #5), Ahja, and I decided to check out the town.
Gate City Yarns
www.gatecityyarns.com
After searching for a parking space - there was a sip and stroll in the area - we stopped at Gate City Yarns. They are located at 231 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC. Open Tues, Wed, and Fri, noon - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 4pm.
Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of the room, but it was nice. They sell yarn, roving, and raw fiber, along with the accessories needed to whatever you want. They room was large, and had great seating. There was a large selection of yarn, and in the front of the store, there were vendor spaces with jewelry and knick-knacks.
I actually didn't purchase any yarn - which was surprising - but I would definitely go back and buy.
While in the yarn shop, we overheard some people in knitting class talk about the new bakery next door. After hearing more than enough, I decided we needed to try it.
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| Ahja at UNCG |
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| Deven at Winthrop |
That opportunity? Full musical theatre scholarship! Exciting, right?
As for Ahja, she thankfully didn't have to take as long to make a decision. She also had to wait for three schools, but once the information was received, she decided to attend UNC Greensboro. And guess what? She also attends for free! I am beyond excited!
I wish free meant totally free, but I guess I can't complain too much... it's still MUCH cheaper than the alternative...
While visiting UNC Greensboro this weekend, Janiyah (child #5), Ahja, and I decided to check out the town.
Gate City Yarns
www.gatecityyarns.com
After searching for a parking space - there was a sip and stroll in the area - we stopped at Gate City Yarns. They are located at 231 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC. Open Tues, Wed, and Fri, noon - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 4pm.
Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of the room, but it was nice. They sell yarn, roving, and raw fiber, along with the accessories needed to whatever you want. They room was large, and had great seating. There was a large selection of yarn, and in the front of the store, there were vendor spaces with jewelry and knick-knacks.
I actually didn't purchase any yarn - which was surprising - but I would definitely go back and buy.
Gate City Yarns receives $3.50 of $5
The Table
While in the yarn shop, we overheard some people in knitting class talk about the new bakery next door. After hearing more than enough, I decided we needed to try it.
The Table, while opened in Asheboro in 2013, just opened in Greensboro on Wednesday. The place is beautiful! Getting there is walking through a small alleyway with tables and chairs outside the door to enjoy your confections. The store is located at 227 South Elm Street, Greensboro. They are open Tues and Wed, 7am - 3pm, Thurs and Fri, 7am - 6pm, and Saturday 7:30am - 3pm. They not only sell cakes, pies, and bread, they also sell breakfast and lunch items, honey, and kitchen items.
I decided to try the honey that was sitting in the counter. Dustie, the owner, assisted us with our choice and was very accommodating. She explained all of the honey to us, provided us with bread, and we even chatted about kids in college. We ended up buying the Colorado Clover whipped honey, and Dustie provided us with the delightful surprise of a loaf of cranberry walnut bread.
We tried the bread this morning toasted with some of the clover honey spread on it, and I had to stop myself from eating too much more! We didn't buy any sweets, but we will visit again when we drop Ahja off at school.
We tried the bread this morning toasted with some of the clover honey spread on it, and I had to stop myself from eating too much more! We didn't buy any sweets, but we will visit again when we drop Ahja off at school.
The Table receives $4.00 of $5
Next up - my review of Barbershop!
Monday, March 21, 2016
Ladies Tea at Charlotte Mills!
Introducing...
Our first event! Ladies Tea and Craft Party!
Join us!!
Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com/ladiestea. Discounts available for group tickets.
If you are a small business that would like to sponsor this event, please contact me at browsewatchshopreview@gmail.com
Edge of the city
This week kept me near the edge of the city - except when I went to a wedding.
I wanted to review Comida... it's the new restaurant where The Penguin used to be, but they are jam-packed, and it is highly recommended to call and make a reservation. Hopefully I can do that this week and report back. Hoping it's a $5 review restaurant... we'll see.
Time Flies Country Store
Time Flies Facebook Page
I was back in Mt. Holly on Friday, working on plans for the first BWSR event (more on that later). While there, Deven and I were able to stop in one of the other stores on Main Steet, Time Flies Country Store.
Being one of the entrances of Main Street, the address of Time Flies is 105 N. Main Street, Mt. Holly. They are open Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri, 12pm - 8pm, Saturday 9am - 6pm, and Sunday, 12pm - 5pm. They are closed on Wednesday. Caryn told us the store has been around for five years, and just moved into it's new location last year.
The store is cute. It has toys, ice cream, and quite a few fun items. There is a section of craft wares from several local craft people.
A small shop, but it packs a punch. Whether you want a quick drink, want to sit out front and eat some Charleston salted caramel ice cream, or you need a toy for a well deserving child, this store is one to check out.
Alexander Homestead Weddings
alexanderhomesteadweddings.com
Saturday had Lawrence and I up early so I can become the photographer for my former boss's wedding. She decided to have it at Alexander Homestead Weddings, located at 4717 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte.
This all in one wedding venue is a hidden gem! In my eight years of living here in Charlotte, I have driven past this place more than my fair share of times, and I didn't know it was there. Alexander Homestead invites you in with a beautiful wrought iron gate and a tree-lined path. When the gate opened, we were greeted by an adorable dog (I didn't get her name). She came over to the car, sniffed at us, and approved our entrance by trotting away. We parked in the back of the ample parking area. As we were driving through, we noticed the chairs set up for the ceremony around the gazebo, which is directly behind the carriage house. The beautiful dairy barn was just ahead.
Christi, the day of coordinator for Alexander Homestead, was very accommodating. This place does everything for you - they have vendors that handle everything you need; officiant, flowers, food, photography, and using their vendors is *highly* preferred. Using their vendors means Christi takes care of all of the services for you. The only two vendors that were outside vendors for my boss's wedding were the officiant and me.
Without going into total detail about the wedding and reception, I want to say Alexander Homestead is amazing! The carriage house for the bridal party was beautifully decorated, the pond was a great place for people to wait while I was taking pictures, and the staff was very attentive - they took care of everything! The service went on without a hitch, and the reception was fun and filled with very tasty food! I'm still thinking about those waffles (we had brunch).
I have already told Iyana (oldest) that I am going to save my pennies for her wedding to be held at Alexander Homestead.
I have been to Mama's Coffee House before. Since I haven't done so before, I thought I'd tell you about them!
Today, I had to drop Dianna (child 2) off at work and take Ahja prom dress shopping, so while I was close, I decided to stop at Mama's.
If you've never been to Mama's Coffee house, you're missing an adorable place. It's a place that the former homeowner's grandchildren still come by to point out where they used to play, a place where you can find some quirky door art, and a place you can write on (almost) anything. Seriously. They give you markers when you walk in and ask if you've made your mark yet (we have).
Located at 716 Main Street in Pineville, NC, Mama's is easy to spot when you're driving toward the NC/SC border. The giant coffee cup and colorful doors in the lawn draw you in.
I wanted a quick cup of coffee, and Ahja wanted a sandwich - a breakfast panini. Going in the door, it was more crowded than I have seen other times I've been. After hearing conversations, I found out Mama's has a great Groupon deal right now (click HERE for deal).
Because of the deal and small crowd, we had to wait. It gave me time to meet Monica, Josh, and
Monica's husband (didn't catch his name - sorry!), who were all extremely pleasant. Josh kept apologizing for the wait and offered free items, which we stupidly declined (I'm trying to stick to my diet).
The cafe/restaurant offers beer, wine, pastries, their own coffee (you can buy brewed and beans), and a variety of sandwiches. They have events, and will soon offer wine tastings. When you go, make sure you try the green pesto they offer with your sandwich. You won't be disappointed.
I wanted to review Comida... it's the new restaurant where The Penguin used to be, but they are jam-packed, and it is highly recommended to call and make a reservation. Hopefully I can do that this week and report back. Hoping it's a $5 review restaurant... we'll see.
Time Flies Country Store
Time Flies Facebook Page
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| Local crafts |
Being one of the entrances of Main Street, the address of Time Flies is 105 N. Main Street, Mt. Holly. They are open Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri, 12pm - 8pm, Saturday 9am - 6pm, and Sunday, 12pm - 5pm. They are closed on Wednesday. Caryn told us the store has been around for five years, and just moved into it's new location last year.
The store is cute. It has toys, ice cream, and quite a few fun items. There is a section of craft wares from several local craft people.
A small shop, but it packs a punch. Whether you want a quick drink, want to sit out front and eat some Charleston salted caramel ice cream, or you need a toy for a well deserving child, this store is one to check out.
Time Flies receives $3.75 of $5
Alexander Homestead Weddings
alexanderhomesteadweddings.com
 |
| View from one of the bridges |
This all in one wedding venue is a hidden gem! In my eight years of living here in Charlotte, I have driven past this place more than my fair share of times, and I didn't know it was there. Alexander Homestead invites you in with a beautiful wrought iron gate and a tree-lined path. When the gate opened, we were greeted by an adorable dog (I didn't get her name). She came over to the car, sniffed at us, and approved our entrance by trotting away. We parked in the back of the ample parking area. As we were driving through, we noticed the chairs set up for the ceremony around the gazebo, which is directly behind the carriage house. The beautiful dairy barn was just ahead.
Christi, the day of coordinator for Alexander Homestead, was very accommodating. This place does everything for you - they have vendors that handle everything you need; officiant, flowers, food, photography, and using their vendors is *highly* preferred. Using their vendors means Christi takes care of all of the services for you. The only two vendors that were outside vendors for my boss's wedding were the officiant and me.
Without going into total detail about the wedding and reception, I want to say Alexander Homestead is amazing! The carriage house for the bridal party was beautifully decorated, the pond was a great place for people to wait while I was taking pictures, and the staff was very attentive - they took care of everything! The service went on without a hitch, and the reception was fun and filled with very tasty food! I'm still thinking about those waffles (we had brunch).
I have already told Iyana (oldest) that I am going to save my pennies for her wedding to be held at Alexander Homestead.
Alexander Homestead Weddings receives $4.75 of $5!
Mama's Coffee House
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| The unmistakable front yard |
I have been to Mama's Coffee House before. Since I haven't done so before, I thought I'd tell you about them!
Today, I had to drop Dianna (child 2) off at work and take Ahja prom dress shopping, so while I was close, I decided to stop at Mama's.
If you've never been to Mama's Coffee house, you're missing an adorable place. It's a place that the former homeowner's grandchildren still come by to point out where they used to play, a place where you can find some quirky door art, and a place you can write on (almost) anything. Seriously. They give you markers when you walk in and ask if you've made your mark yet (we have).
Located at 716 Main Street in Pineville, NC, Mama's is easy to spot when you're driving toward the NC/SC border. The giant coffee cup and colorful doors in the lawn draw you in.
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| Customer ceiling art |
Because of the deal and small crowd, we had to wait. It gave me time to meet Monica, Josh, and
Monica's husband (didn't catch his name - sorry!), who were all extremely pleasant. Josh kept apologizing for the wait and offered free items, which we stupidly declined (I'm trying to stick to my diet).
The cafe/restaurant offers beer, wine, pastries, their own coffee (you can buy brewed and beans), and a variety of sandwiches. They have events, and will soon offer wine tastings. When you go, make sure you try the green pesto they offer with your sandwich. You won't be disappointed.
Mama's Coffee House receives $4.25 of $5
This week, you will learn about the first BWSR event, and possibly get a few hints on the second!
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