Food & Beer Friday :: A series of windows.

On our anniversary trip, D and I enjoyed a good number of beers.  This was the only one I was able to capture in action.  I mentioned Mother Earth Brewing back when I went to that amazing beer brunch.  Mother Earth has a Windowpane Series of beers that are fermented with fruits then aged in barrels.  My understanding is that they are all aged in different types of barrels.  The Fig & Raisin is the third in the series (first is blackberries, second is peaches).

The Fig & Raisin Windowpane is a Belgian style Dubbel beer that was aged in brandy barrels for three months.  This beer is cloudy and a dark amber color with a creamy caramel head.  My initial reaction to this beer was its sweetness.  It was overwhelming sweet in the first few sips.  As I kept drinking, I definitely tasted the brandy.  Those strong alcohol flavors help to cut the sweetness a bit.  At 9% alcohol (and unless you want to be overwhelmed by sweetness), I'd share this beer with at least one or two friends.  My overall feelings on the Fig & Raisin reminded me of how I felt after this winter beer.

Either way, I day drank sipped on this beer with D by the fire while finally finishing up Treasure Island.  It was a good anniversary day.

Other Mother Earth beers I'd recommend would be Silent Night (for you stout lovers) and Endless River (for your lighter tastes).  And if you're ever headed through Kinston, NC, check out their taproom!

Cheers!

<a href="http://www.skinnyjeanschailatte.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianPGCWR4-5GDVtTgLNTk-GvTpfKd9h1Qgd-N5Q-_M54fEgCjv9clhqVWu3q9LRmRQCPjYe7GUyuVtJVOZyz80a1vIXix0yjLB7oENtGgnR6KnA3TSG5aBKSXTr96QQLyDs_Igw7Wf1qE/s180/Food-%2526-Beer-Friday-button2.jpg" border="0" /></a>

Huge Group Giveaway :: Lululemon + a race entry!

A group of 14 bloggers, who love running and lululemon among other things, came together and decided we wanted to have a group giveaway. As we were emailing about what the prize should be, we decided it should be appealing for people who run and people who don't run. So here's what we came up with:
GRAND PRIZE One winner will win a $200 Lululemon gift card as well as a race entry of your choice (up to $95). If your race costs less than $95, or you don't want the race entry, that value will be added to the Lululemon gift card. So, that could be up to a $295 Lululemon gift card! Or, it could be that race you've been dying to enter as well as a pretty sweet gift card! It's up to you (if you win). I mean, at the end of the day, we're all addicted to racing and workout clothes, so some combination of the two seems like a pretty sweet deal.
SECOND PRIZE And because we wanted to have more than one winner, another winner will still get a $25 Lululemon gift card. And hey! That could totally buy you half of a tank top.
WHO ARE WE?
We're runners. We're bloggers. Many of us are marathoners. All of us are half-marathoners. We're all addicted to running...and we all appreciate our blog readers. Here is a recent race picture from each of us, and the links to our blogs are below the pictures.
HOW TO ENTER: Enter below the pictures with the Rafflecopter! Amy//Tori//Caitlyn Genna//Rachel//Meghan Caroline//Lauren//Meghan Kristin//Allie//Crystal Courtney//Beka Enter below through the Rafflecopter widget! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pardon the interruption.

Source: salad-eyes.tumblr.com via Kristin on Pinterest

There will be no Food & Beer Friday today as D and I headed off to the mountains yesterday to celebrate three years of being married.  I'll be off the grid for the weekend.

If you need a weekend beer (predictions are saying a bit warmer and sunnier this weekend here), check out this beer.  And for your food cravings, go make these vegetarian tacos!

12 Months of Giving :: Kiva what?!

After February's challenge was a semi-bust for me, let's move on to March's 12 Months of Giving challenge!  Are you up for it?

What in the hell is a Kiva gift you're likely asking?  This is another goal that has been on my 101 in 1001 list since I began it.

First, you should just check out Kiva's website.  It's pretty thorough and easy to understand, but I'll try to summarize it for you as well.  There's basically fours steps in the Kiva process.

1. You first make the loan to someone for a great cause.  You get to go here and choose a borrower.  Cambodia holds a very special place in my heart, so I'll likely choose a borrower from there.  Go here to get long and short versions on how borrowers are chosen.
2. Check your email for progress updates on how your loan is being utilized.  You can also view updates through the Kiva website.
3. You may even get money back!  The borrower does repay the loan, so it's possible that you'll get repaid for your donation with a "Kiva Reward.*" *Which is in no way guaranteed so not a legit reason to lend and help out others in need. 
4. Use your Kiva Reward to pay it forward (or withdraw it for yourself).

Need something to help you understand better?  Watch this.

Guys, it only costs $25!  And you can keep on giving.  As someone who feels passionate about helping others in third world countries but can't quite travel to volunteer, this is an amazingly easy way to help others who really need it.  $25 to help fund someone's livelihood seems more than worth it to me. We literally do not even have to leave our home to take on this challenge.  With a few clicks of the mouse, we could help a family be one step closer to security, to being able to provide for their family.  $25 is nothing for many of us.  Give up Starbucks for a month.  Those Target sandals.  Wait a bit longer for that JCrew skirt you've been coveting.  Help me commit to changing someone, or an entire family's life.   Are you in for the challenge?  

I would absolutely love to hear and share your stories from any trips or volunteer experiences in third world countries.  If you're interested in guest posting (or re-posting) a story or experience you've had please email me!

Life Lately + 12 Months of Giving.

Since February's #12monthsofgiving challenge was a bust for me, I decided to combine my link-up with my usual Life Lately.  Here's what the last two weeks have thrown my way.

 [Finally breaking out and styling my Printed Palette shirt I snagged from Brickyard Buffalo]

 [It's really been a gin + tonic kind of week.  There's been lots of stress between family and laundry drama]

 [And let the blood donation begin!  My hemoglobin was good (13.8 and the lowest is 12 something).  I got past the pricked finger and everything. My nerves had sort of subsided, and I was ready!]

 [And then this happened.  I was crushed.  Apparently even if you just fly into the Cancun airport on this trip, you're a malaria risk for an entire year!  A whole year?!  I was so incredibly sad.]

[Except I didn't get to make a difference...]

 [Drinking a brew for good karma in honor of Justyn's good news!  Ps. This girl has been helping to keep me sane in the drama of the last couple weeks.  So happy to have her around!]

 [Even though the chickens have been little bitches this week adding to my drama, we got pink eggs!  Easter eggs!]

 [This little baby misses his dad so much when he's gone.  He's constantly cuddling when D comes back in town!]

[Pretty thrilled with my runs these days even though my calf is still bothering me.  Only 14 seconds slower than race pace & massive hills we didn't walk on!]

Even though I wasn't able to donate blood in February (which means I need to get my new tattoo asap so I can donate as early as possible in 2014), I did donate something!  LensCrafters will take your old glasses donations for their OneSight program.  It's a cool program, and it's as easy as dropping your glasses off in a store.  It feels good to know that at least I gave something back...even if it wasn't blood.    

Grab a button and link-up below for 12 Months of Giving.  Check here for March's giving challenge (although I'll be giving more details this week) and that link-up will go live on Monday, April 1.  Happy Giving!

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Food & Beer Friday :: In the persnickity tank.

Time to make a complete switch from all those stouts!  A couple of weeks ago, I had a day off and enjoyed this as my day drinking beer.  I'm a big fan of farmhouse ales, and Boulevard Brewing Company's Tank 7 did not disappoint!  Tank 7 is a Belgian-style farmhouse ale.  Farmhouse/saison beers are always drier in taste for me, which I enjoy.  It's a bit of a different take on the hops.  This beer is brewed with three types of hops and corn flakes!  I'm not sure those make much of a difference in flavor; however the hop flavor is evident.  I would definitely order this beer if I found it on draft somewhere.  I thoroughly enjoyed sipping on this brew.

While my pairing (or glassware) doesn't quite mesh with what Boulevard recommends, I drank with my left over Moo Shu tofu from one of our fav restaurants in Raleigh, Dave's Dumpling and Noodle Bar.  The dry finish and hops paired well with the sweet & spicy of the Moo Shu.

(As always, this beer was purchased from Tasty Beverage Company in Raleigh, NC)

CHEERS!

Do you have a favorite farmhouse or saison beer?

currently | v2.

Reading.  Treasure Island.

I've finished my other reads of 2013 and am slowly working on this classic.  It's a little tough for me to read the classics with their "different" language.  I'm hoping to move on to Little Women if I ever finish this one.

Watching.  Girls.

Source: hermione.tumblr.com via Patty on Pinterest

I can not even get enough of Girls.  I re-watched the first season already and anxiously anticipate every new episode.  It is most definitely my favorite episode on TV right now!

Thinking.  About family.

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net via Kristin on Pinterest

It's funny sometimes...how one part of your life can be going so well and another seemingly crumbling around you.  My family situation (aside from D and I) has been a bit of a mess for about a year and a half now.  Things have taken a turn for the worse, and it's really hard to live far away and be helpless.

Eating/drinking.  Sweets & stouts.

In March, I'm planning to do another Whole 30 because sugar and dairy has made too big of a reappearance in my life.  Those donuts were what I was craving after my 10k on Saturday.  And of course you know all about my recent stout addiction.

Working.  On running.

I ran a 6 minute PR on my most recent 10k.  I've been focusing on running outside only (bye, bye treadmill) and building my hill training and endurance.  It feels really good to finally be getting faster!

Wishing.  For a spring break.

With my new job, I don't really get weeks off or summer breaks.  I'll take the switch for a job I love, but I can't say I wouldn't love a week off to do nothing.

Obsessing.  The new tattoo.

It's yet to happen yet but hopefully next month...

Hating.  Buying a new washer and dryer.

The purchase you love to hate.  You love the upgrade of having a new(er) & nicer washer and dryer.  You hate the money you have to put on that shit.  Another reason to hate it...they continually mess our stuff up. Long story, but it's pretty fucked up.  But two deliveries, one repairman, and two visits to the store later, we still don't have a dryer that properly works.

Loving.  Shopping my closet.

It's been so fun coming up with outfits lately.  I have another fun one coming this week!