by Kimberly | Jan 14, 2011 | chocolate, food, restaurants
I think every other cupcake business in Wilmington needs to just close up shop and that Coastal Cupcakes needs to bake more cupcakes.
Best cupcake I’ve had, hans down. I’ve had cupcakes in Chicago, RDU, Publix (which are a favorite of mine), TN, CO. Cupcake bakeries and “shoppes” are all the rage right now, so there seems to be one on every corner. They do it right!
A friend and I share the coconut with cream cheese icing and coconut on top. The most moist, fall apart, not dry at all cupcake. Flavorful and just melt in your mouth. Most cupcakes I’ve tasted in bakeries taste like they are frozen. I would have though these were baked right before we walked in (though the icing wasn’t melting, so I know they weren’t). The coconut wasn’t hard. The cream cheese frosting was just bliss.
I would love to have tried all of them, and the shop clerk that day was so kind and gracious to let me come behind the counter to not have the glass in all the pictures!
Thank you Coastal Cupcakes! Keep baking! I will return!
by Kimberly | Jan 14, 2011 | food, restaurants, vegetarian
This place came highly recommended and it is out of the downtown area, so parking is not a problem.
1. Great decor.
2. Low-key (yes, I know it was the off season)
3. Had a great waitress who allowed us to stay there pretty much as long as we wanted (a little over 2 hours)
4. Bottomless free chips and salsa (a must for any good Mexican restaurant)
5. The best restaurant salsa I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot.
6. First time with Mexican sushi (ok, not really, but look at the picture, doesn’t it look like sushi). I had the Cabo: blackened shrimp and avocado. Nuf said!
7. Homemade, fresh, daily, corn tortillas.
8. And many vegetarian options, which I definitely liked.
In my opinion, a little overpriced for mexican, but not outrageous. And definitely well worth it.
by Kimberly | Jan 14, 2011 | Uncategorized
Back in the summer I went on a photo shoot with a friend and we got invited to an event at 128 South, it was fabulous. 128 South is a hall/room/venue attached to the Stemmerman’s Inn. For the same price you can get a medium-grade hotel room, you can stay in a unique loft-style, kitchenette including, brick-exposed, unique room with a view of the Cape Fear and a little porch. Now, granted, it was 35 degrees or cooler when I went, but hey, what’s a girl gonna do. I gotta get my river fix!
These may not be usual “inn” pictures that you will find in most reviews, but what I care about are the details. This green vase was my favorite part of the main floor, and I stared at it every time I went by. The bathroom was the bathroom: with a white pedastal sink to go with the old-inn feel. The kitchenette was well stocked with everything you might need for a cozy dinner for 1 or 2 when dining at the little cafe type table in the eat-in kitchen. If seated at the table, you can gaze out the floor to ceiling windows that overlook the porch and look out onto the Cape Fear. The sunset was amazing last night.
If you make your way up the L-white spindle staircase, you will find a huge, welcoming king size bed. Again, I loved the simplicity of the headboard. There was a small open closet, a flat screen (with cable), and a night stand with lamp. That was all, oh, and a small dresser. So. Simple. I LOVED it.
This room (#7) also came with everything you might find in a generic hotel room and even a washer and dryer. How’s that for handy?
The staff was courteous and gave me plenty of options for dinner (The Stemmerman is within walking distance to restaurants of any ethnicity and price-range). It was quieter than I thought it was going to be, too (which I was very glad).
Check-in time is 3pm, check out time is 11am and there is parking (street parking you have to pay for in Wilmington, so I was thankful for their free lot).
I would go here again in a heartbeat. May make it a yearly birthday tradition. Downtown Wilmington (when not tourist season) is fabulous, because of its history, fashion, and beautiful churches (not to mention great food).
So, if you get a chance, go. Stay. Love the Stemmerman as much as I did. Fall in love with the details.
by Kimberly | Jan 12, 2011 | Uncategorized
Paul says in the book of Romans: “Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
Well, I want to do just that on this post. Right now I am laying on a king size bed in a little inn on the banks of the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, NC. Thanks to my parents. See, I was born. They like to give birthday gifts. This was mine this year. Yeah! I like to help them succeed in giving good gifts!
So…I don’t brag on my parents enough:
1. Only ones who still love me when I argue back, want my own way, am selfish, have no makeup on, want want want, burn food, smell, and any other things I can think of that aren’t loveable.
2. They will always love me. That is reassuring, and challenging at the same time.
3. They sacrificed when I was growing up and sent both the bro and I to a Christian school. Thankful for that sacrifice.
4. They allowed me to make a choice on churches in high school that would forever alter my path of life.
5. They encourage me in every endeavor – well, smart ones. But in the bad ones they let me make mistakes and help me pick up the pieces (I think of relationships and stupid money usage and burnt pork chops for Thanksgiving dinner.)
6. My Dad: a hard worker, a very gracious person (I’m glad I learn that from him), a wise person, one of the most patient people I know.
7. My Mom: cares so much about others and likes acts of service (again, I get this from her), faithful, will cry for me when I won’t cry for myself, and my biggest fan (like all mother’s should be.)
I love them. They are great. Will I parent (maybe, one day) just like them – no. Some things will change. But, I hope my children will be able to know their grandparents one day. And I hope I take some of their traits into parenting, or even into my relationships with other people
Thank you Mom and Dad
by Kimberly | Jan 11, 2011 | Uncategorized
Most people say that resolutions are a good way to spend the first week of January – then they all go by the wayside.
I wanted to give you an update on them:
1. 40 Day Fast has totally gone away. Not totally, but some have changed. I don’t keep a many sweets in the house (not even cool whip). I haven’t watched as much television, so that has freed up time for other things. The only fruits and veggies has changed and expanded to Meatless365. Up at 5 is good on most days. Hard but good. And computer off by 9 is also good on most days, but not every day.
2. Bible Reading Plan and memorizing Philippians are both going well. Philippians is going better, but by the end of the week I’ll be back on track with Bible reading plan. This is why getting up at 5am and turning off the computer by 9pm helps.
3. I have been blogging regularly, maybe not strategically though.
4. Reading a book a week: DONE. I’m completing my second book this week! Right on target!
5. Increasing this, with an Etsy shop in the works. And lining up things to photog. It doesn’t help with it so cold outside though.
6. 3800 words in (not including Scriptures or quotes). Must right 1800 a week. Diligent. This post helped me this morning think more about that.
7. So far, staying the same. But my birthday and snow days do not help.
8. This has gone well and I love it!
9. I forgot my phone for the 5k so that didn’t help and I had horrible time with hills and mud and ice on the race course. But, I am still on tap for the 10 miler and half later in the year.
10. This is going well! I love Philippians. Accountability is good in this one!
11. I have done more yoga, and I love it! 🙂
So, some are good. Some aren’t. But, goals none the less.
