Around Here: Old Towne Orange
It's not often Angel and myself get a day off, but when we do, we'll pick a random town, fill up the gas tank and head out on a day of exploration. This time, we headed out to Old Towne Orange. From vintage emporiums to cafes, coffee shops and more vintage boutiques, we finally settled for lunch at Felix's.
A huge part of what makes Old Towne Orange great is the architecture and the style of the beautiful buildings and homes. Many of the local buildings are historical landmarks and even if they are not, a lot of love and pride is put into them to help retain their glory.
And, for vintage buffs, there's a fleamarket every 2nd Saturday of the month from 7am to 4pm right here in Old Towne Orange.
It was a gloomy, cold, overcast day... pictures didn't turn out great... but we'll be back again pretty soon!
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Don't you love this Starbuck's exterior?
I want to bring everything home for my kitchen..... :s
Our Cuban lunch at Felix's.... shrimp stuffed chicken breast, with seasoned rice, vegetables and plantains. :) I'm definitely going back for more.
Wish you were here!
Filed In: Around Here
A Girlie Sleepover
Every weekend, Angel goes over to Sugar's house for a sleepover. You'll think dogs don't need this kind of friendship and companionship but they really do! Everytime she comes home from Sugar's, she's quiet and almost depressed-like. And Sugar does the same thing when Angel's not around. In fact, put these 2 girls together, and they'll stir up some kind of mischief all the time!
Filed In: angel
Recipes: Hearty Beef Stew
There's nothing like a hearty bowl of nourishing home made soup to warm you up on a cold winter's day. This is one of the favorite soups among my friends and neighbors. I make this whenever I feel I have a hectic schedule coming up, feeling homesick or on a cabbage soup diet after a gluttony weekend.
My method uses a crockpot. All you need to do is prep the vegetables, put them in the pot, and walk away! 6 hours later... "hey presto!"... we have soup!
It really is easier than magic itself. ;p
You can make this soup in any meat and veg proportions. I love cabbage, tomatoes and carrots so I had more of those.
For the stock
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 1 small can tomato paste (not tomato sauce)
Ingredients:
* Lean beef stew meat
* Cabbage. They'll look like a lot when prepping, but will wilt down when cooked.
* Celery, washed and cut into cubes.
* Carrots, peeled and cut into cubes.
* Canned whole peeled tomatoes.
* Salt and pepper to taste.
Optional Ingredients:
* 2 jalepeno peppers. I know this sounds weird, but it gives the stew a little kick.
To prepare the stock:
* Put butter and tomato paste in a nonstick pan. Stir fry the mixture until they are both incorporated. The paste is ready when it bubbles through and is fragrant. This is what will give the stew a rich, creamy texture
Steps:
* Put butter/tomato paste and all your prepped ingredients into the crockpot. It is ok to fill it up to the brim since the vegetables will wilt during the cooking process.
* Fill half the pot with water for a stew-like soup.... up to 3/4 of the pot if you like a more watery stew.
* Set crockpot to 6 hours.
And that's it!
Filed In: recipes
Fan Mail: Ashley's Love For Fashion
When lovely 19 year old blogger, Ashley, contacted us on a story collaboration, we knew exactly what to send her - our Hearts Adore Dress! This energetic and enterprising young lady is a full time blogger as well as fashion event planner. For a creative meeting on a chilly day, Ashley wore her dress over a long sleeve stripe shirt and leggings.
Filed In: fan mail
