Trying fried Mac-n-cheese

When I think of the NC State Fair, what comes to mind is lotsa rides and games, crowds of people and fried fun foods everywhere. Nothing is more a tradition to NC, then the good ‘ol fair. Takes me back to the small baseball carnivals and events in my hometown. I remember Debbie Gibson came out to my town. Remember her? She was the craze.

NC State Fair is all about the food. I like those big turkey legs. They’re big enough to feed a small village. It’s one of the few healthier food items on the menu. Oh, and the corn on the cob is really good. But on the not so healthy side…where else can you get barbecue sundaes, chocolate covered bacon, deep fried ho-ho’s, oreos, pecan pie, and Reese’s peanut butter cups? This time I got a ‘lil adventurous with the deep fried mac-n-cheese…which is the newest item on the menu. It’s okay to live a little!

While they said there was a low turnout of 37,000 on day one, it sure looked like this year did good as in previous years.

The highlight for me besides the food…was going in the Crafts and Hobby barn. There you could see the Lego contest. Great work!

Then a little further along you see all kinds of trinkets, and scrapbook items with awarded ribbons. Not to razz on the fine artistry of the contestants, but I think I could’ve entered and won first prize. Like many of the others. Every entry seem to have won a ribbon.

…Then you’ll find Jerry Span at the end of the building giving a demonstration. He’s Vince Shlomi’s job replacement for Sham-Wow from “As Seen on TV”. He’s a professional. Gotta love hearing the …”but wait, there’s more…” So I came back with 3 of these Sham-Wows. I think I’ll use one in my shower.

I wanted to ride the ferris wheel but the line seemed e a mile long. And I didn’t have the patience to wait for the pig race. Inside the Dorton Arena, there are live performances. Like Kellie Pickler who is a regular. And then there was Julianne Hough on the events list. Not sure what she would be doing for $5 a ticket. I know she was a dancer on “Dancing with the Stars” but what kind of performance would she give? There’s also Anoop Desai. The star from “Slumdog Millionaire”. Another one I’m curious as to what he would do. But I guess I wasn’t curious enough to check it out. Anyone?

You know I love cupcakes, right? President Obama was just here yesterday in Raleigh with a bunch of cupcake comments to the owner of the The Cupcake Shoppe in Raleigh.

Today in the paper he was reported as jokingly saying pretty much that he’s been talking about healthcare a lot but he thinks cupcakes are good for your health and tax cut stimulus money is extra money to buy cupcakes and other life necessities. That’s a lot of cupcake talk from our President even if it was just a couple sentences. He didn’t just come to Raleigh for the cupcakes but it sure sounded like that was the icing on the cake for his day. The article was co-written by Sue Stock and Michael Biesecker.  Those are my kind of reporters.   Oh, and I wonder what his favorite cupcake is?  That’d make for another good article.  Hint. Hint.

Did you know we have a local Raleigh pet radio station? Topics include pet nutrition, health and well being. And you can ask questions on the air. It’s hosted by Bowman Animal Hospital off Creedmoor Road. When is it? It’s on Thursday mornings from 8-9 am on WDOX – 570 AM station.

Next show will be with Dr. Shana Silverstein on July 2nd. I’ve met Dr. Silverstein on several occasions and she is a very caring pet doctor. That’s always a good quality.

Eric taking a break!

Boy, did I use some woman power yesterday lifting some furniture. …yeah that would be a man’s job but my husband seems to think I’m she-woman (…and granted I’m not a big woman). We were donating a couch and some tub chairs and needed to move them out of our house.  So my husband recruited me.  Lucky me.

I know it looks like office furniture but it’s actually hotel furniture from back in the day when I worked in that business.

Anyway, I’ve always donated furniture to the Salvation Army.  And they’ll come pick it up.  No desks though.  Here’s an army lieutenant checking out the comfortability of the tub chair.  He seems to like it.  Oh, and in case you were wondering, usually someone from the military doesn’t come to pick up the stuff. This army guy happens to be on another mission (long story

$25 Raleigh Barbecue Restaurant Print Out Gift Certificate For $2!  Read on…

Arby's Roast Chicken Club Sandwich

Okay I feel fatter today, because I had Arby’s Roast Chicken Club sandwich in Raleigh. Remember I’m not a big fast food eater. Oh and don’t confuse this sandwich for the Arby’s Roast Burger… we’re talking different meats here but same concept. Like the Roast Burger, the Roast Chicken Club is messy. It has bacon on it which in my adulthood I still can’t get myself to eat.

Every Wednesday Arby’s will have a freebie starting today. Meaning a free sandwich with the purchase of a drink. So basically for around 2 bucks you can get the sandwich freebie du jour and a drink. I got the Mandarin Peach tea. So it cost me $2.14 which includes our local tax…

The roof collapse about the world’s largest producer of meat snacks, Goodmark Foods in Raleigh (Garner), has made it across the nation’s news networks. Goodmark Foods produces Slim Jim and Beef Jerky which used to be some of my favorite salty snacks growing up. That was before I got older and I wised up on healthy foods and reduced eating processed foods and ones with nitrites.

Hope you having a great Memorial Day Weekend whether you’re hanging out by the pool, in Raleigh hitting a sale or the pool, or somewhere else. We were out of town in Charlotte for a family birthday celebration. Charlotte was ‘mobbed’ by Nascar-goers at Lowes Motor Speedway Coca Cola 600 mile event. Fans were wearing the red caps so they were easy to pick out. From our 19th floor hotel window, they looked like hundreds of red balls.

A-hem, but back to a topic I know about…like shopping. Well, it’s not secret I’m inspired by certain scents and fragrances. I discovered a line that is natural and really different than the normal mall stuff. Have you heard of Pacifica perfumes, creams and handmade scented soy candles from the West Coast? In the gift shop at the Charlotte Westin downtown they sell these yummy things. They’ve got perfumes in a waxy balm format which I’ve never seen.

Tomorrow there’s a Raleigh “Pink Party” happening with free daytime massages and manicures.  Where at?  Raleigh’s Hills.  Not Beverly Hills, but Raleigh’s Hills (a.k.a. North Hills)! 

The Pink Party is happening in the Club Room of the Alexan at North Hills Apartments from 10 am to 2 pm. You can just show up if you like with or without your friends. It’s being hosted by the Alexan.  And they’re taking applications for renters. But that’s not what the event is for…the event is for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Race for the Cure charity event in its 13th year.  Even the staff at the Alexan will be participating in the race with 22,000 others. 

So, what’s the catch?  Not a whole lot.  I’m sure they’ll take donations for the charity, but Rich who works at the Alexan promises that it’s not a ploy to get you to take a tour of the apartments …although you can  (and they have like 35 floor plans!).  Hey why not see what a $900 plus apartment in Raleigh looks like?  I remember when Inman Park off Leadmine was THE chic place to live… but today it’s North Hills if you wanna muster up the dough.