Nicole Carina

Here’s list #2 in my 52 lists project

5 tabs I keep open in my browser – twitter, gmail, facebook, nicolecarina.com, wordpress.org, google reader

5 favorite Teas – Scarlet Cloud (strawberry white) , Monk’s Blend (vanilla and other spices black) , Kyoto Cherry Rose (cherry and rose organic green), Earl Grey, Blueberry and White Cranberry white tea

5 things I always have in my purse – wallet, blackberry, lip gloss, keys, hair brush

5 things I want to do in March – see butch Walker in concert, become more familiar with Raleigh, simplify my life and focus on what’s really important, start eating healthy again, get back to going to the gym regularly

5 random things that make me happy – hearing birds sing, seeing sun rays coming down out of the clouds, getting up early enough to pick up breakfast before work, the look of pure love in my puppy’s eyes as I rub his belly, having an Amelie moment and cracking the crust of my creme brule

Enakei artwork. I love the pictures by this artist, I think they’re just so pretty and girly.

Blogging with Wordpress – this was probably the best thing I’ve ever done concerning my blog. It’s sooo much easier to use than blogger, vox, or anything else. I wish I’d done it ages ago.

Discovering Raleigh – I’ve always loved visiting the mall and museums but now I’m learning about all the interesting little places that make Raleigh unique. Places that I would frequent all the time if I lived up here.

Battered and Fried Mushrooms with Tom’s Wing Sauce – my new favorite vegetable. Probably not too healthy but they’re delicious!

Letting go of my seriousness and acting like a kid, root beer floats, my cat greeting me at the door, new beginnings, Samurai Matte chai tea from Teavana, awesome deals at the thrift store, old Eddie Murphy stand up shows, and making a photo album for the first time in a long time.

Carina came with me to Raleigh this past weekend, and had an adventure of her own…

You know what I feel like?  A road trip!

Yay! Where are we going?

Great idea, the tea shop for a nice cup of tea.  I love strawberry white tea, it’s my favorite.

I get to drive us home right?

I wanted to get away from Wilmington for a bit so I decided to come up to Raleigh and stay with Tom for the weekend.  The more I come here the more I really start to love it. The weather was kind of cold and rainy but I still had the opportunity to do a little exploring. Driving through Cameron Village I saw a shop that said it was a tea merchant, so we decided to check it out.

That’s how I discovered TeaGshwendner, and let me tell you I was impressed.  I usually prefer tea rooms to tea shops, (I love the fru fru teacups, scones, etc) but when I walked in I was impressed by the huge selection and the tea knowledge of the owner.   They have a good balance of asian, traditional, and modern style accessories.  I like the teas they offer better than Teavana, which seems to be a little less traditional than what  I care for (popcorn in a tea blend? really?).

They also serve tea by the cup so I got a lemon vanilla white tea, very yummy.  I’ll definitely be going back.  It was so hard to keep from buying a ton of loose leaf to take home, haha.

I love a good cup of hot tea when it’s cold and yucky outside.  :)