My happiness factor is through the roof right now!! I really don’t remember the last time I muttered those words here at school! I wish I could bottle up how I feel right now so I can come back to it when the going gets tough. I’m gonna ride this wave for as long as can.
So what happened this weekend? Dinner, sun, run, and a bakery visit (!!!!). Let’s get to it!
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Last night I went to Milltown, a bar/restaurant in Carborro, with Susan, Sara (Susan’s friend), Sarah, Josh (Sarah’s hub), and Lucy (Sarah’s nurse friend). Milltown had a laid-back atmosphere with an eclectic menu and a chapter book of beer choices.
Earlier this week, I thought back to when Susan and I last saw each other. I quickly realized that we’ve only seen each other once in our lives!! We met at the Healthy Living Summit in August and I’m pretty sure we talked for about 2 1/2 minutes max. After I got back, I checked out her blog, left a comment and we quickly discovered our mutual love for baking. Since then, we’ve been dreaming about opening a bakery together (any investors out there!?).
Ohhh the joys of blogging.
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Warning: Milltown is as dark as a cave so I had to use the flash!!!
We started with some drinks. I had a pinot grigio, posing with Susan’s Elephant. The glasses for the beers were fancy schmancy but not so much for the wine.
We ordered some warm soft pretzels from Guglehupf, a German bakery in Durham. They were served with spicy mustard and bier cheese. They were as soft as cotton!
We chatted while watching some Olympic action.
I ordered the Pear Salad w/ bleu cheese, almond slivers, grilled pears, and a side of balsamic vinaigrette. The combination of the pears and the bleu cheese was a match made in heaven.
Of course, we exchanged baked goods 
. I mean, what did you expect?
Susan made me Chocolate Hazelnut Nutella Cookies. There were more cookies in the batch! I gave 3 to Sarah + Josh and ate 4!!
They were amazing, Susan!!!! Thank you so much. The Nutella brought me straight back to my visit to Paris when I ate Banana Nutella crepes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I kid you not.
And I baked Susan….
Pumpkin Coconut Pecan Granola. I made a label for the recycled almond butter jar!
Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies. I hope she likes pecans!
One reason you should all visit me, I’ll spoil you silly with baked goods!
This is only part 1 of my fabulous weekend. Just you wait for part 2!!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a great weekend! I’m glad you are in such a good mood! It’s awesome to have weekends like that because they make the weeks so much more bearable, at least that’s what I find!!
All those baked goods look delicious. I just had a salad for a late dinner and one of those cookies would go really well right now:).
I wish I liked pears. I just can’t get over the texture, or something. It seems like a lot of delicious-sounding meals have pears in them and I am turned off by that!
I am so tempted to hop in my car and drive to Duke right now. Haha, you know how I feel about your baked goods!
Glad you had a great time. I can’t wait to hear more about this epic weekend!
All these baked goods look SO good!!! Can’t wait to read about part 2!
Looks like so much fun, who doesn’t love nutella!?
So happy to hear what an amazing weekend you’re having! The cookies look amazing, as do the nutella ones! My friend made an amazing salad last night just like the one you had-I agree, blue cheese plus pears equals amazing. Ok, if the Healthy Living Summit is in Chicago, will you come visit me please!?!
That looks like a delicious dinner! Nutella crepes are a gift from God…seriously. I could eat a jar of that stuff! Have a great night
I am salivating. Those cookies and the granola! OMG. I have the urge to go make cookies, brownies, or granola right now. I think I just may…
I love happy posts! Glad to hear you had a fun weekend!
I want baked goods!! Sounds delish!
Can’t wait to hear the rest of the weekend recap!
so glad to hear you are feeling so positive. That meal looks fabulous- i love pears and that warm pretzel sounds delicious
That’s awesome – I completely thought that the two of you were friends from waaaay back in the day! you have totally meshed as quick friends!
Aw, what a FUN weekend. Sounds like a total blast!
SOO many goodies on here! i love that you are in such high spirits.. YAY for that!
omg, nutella cookies! sign me up for those! lol
I see you even recycled a salad box for the cookies – way to go green, Allie!
Oh my, these look yummy!
I would so like to visit you
Hehe those pretzels look like crabs, love it!!
:O Can I join in your bakery too!!?? I LOVE baking! I’m so sad I don’t have time to do it at the moment with exams
Oh and those Nutella cookies look good…I think I might visit her blog
Can’t wait for part II!
Wow cookies galore! x x
Yay for feeling wonderful!
Your cookies look fabulous! Can you make me some?
And Nutella cookies? *droool* I never like using the flash, either, but in dark restaurants it’s sometimes a necessity. Bummer, right?
wow, now that is a great “cookie exchange”
Wow, such a great get-together you had! All the baked goods sound delicious! I’m jealous!
I love your recycled almond butter jar – I do that all the time
Looks like a fun weekend so far – I’m glad you’re happy
Cookies made with Nutella? My heart just skipped a beat!
The weekend sounds fab so far. Can’t wait to read about the rest!
Wow, I wish I lived closer!
I love the combination of pear and blue cheese…pear with any cheese actually (with goat cheese, brie…nice!)
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
Glad to hear you’re in a chipper mood! That’s always fun! The pumpkin granola is so cute in that jar! What a great present!
What a great weekend – that kind of stuff gets my “happy face” on too.
The blogger “baked good exchange” sounds so fun! I’m glad you had a good time Allie. And soft pretzels? Mmmmmm
Looks very fun so far! And all the baked goods look delish!!
From your last post–I’m a huge fan of Lady Antebellum, you’ll have to let us know how you like the album!
I am so happy that you are in such high spirits after your fab weekend! You deserve to be enjoying yourself
And ahhh, genuine French nutella crepes are heaven. Absolute heaven.
Ha…is that Photoshop you used to erase your name? Smart cookie.
I can’t believe I haven’t watched 1-minute of the Olympics. Something is seriously wrong with me. Either that, or school + blogging consumes my life.
I bet the bakery owner would love your granola as a sweet gratitude =]
I love how everyone thinks we are friends from long ago!
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