This past weekend, I had the pleasure of accompanying Seth to a wedding on Duke’s campus. Not only do I love weddings, but I also love to dress up. Here’s the outfit I chose for this occasion:

• Teal top, TJ Maxx $14.99
• Ivory lace skirt with teal underlay, TJ Maxx $24.99
• Coach purse, gift
• Nude heels, Target $29.99

Duke Chapel

The Batman Ears

We arrived on campus well before the ceremony began because Seth was a groomsman in the wedding. While he attended to his duties, I seized the opportunity to revisit my old stomping grounds.

First stop: my sophomore dorm. My roommate and I lived on the very top floor, which made moving in and moving out rather hellish. On the plus side, I got a leg work-out walking up four flights of stairs every day!

Fun fact: I lived here when I first began this thing called the Broccoli Hut

Good ol’ Craven D.

Before heading to the ceremony, I decided to make a pit-stop at the student center to pick up some baby Duke paraphernalia. On my way out, I grabbed a copy of The Chronicle.

 This issue happened to be about obesity and diabetes in the United States. Of course, I had to read it from cover to cover.

Then it was time to head back to the Chapel.

That’s Seth on the upper right.

Here comes the bride!

The newlyweds!

For the reception, we headed to the Washington Duke Inn (also on Duke’s campus). You may recall that I have been here several times. (You can read about them here, here, here, and here).

Because Seth was a member of the bridal party, we got to sit at the head table.

I think I should legally change my name to Caroline/lyn, as most people seem to think that they’re interchangeable.

Care for a (Hershey) kiss?

Before any speeches or dancing could begin, we feasted!

garden salad, roasted vegetables, grilled salmon, and herbed roll.

I was so excited to see the vast array of healthy foods on the buffet table. Yum!

Before long, it was time to cut the cake.

Seth and I were both pretty pumped about eating it.

 Sorry for the terrible lighting.

And again.

After the guests were gone, the bridal party stuck around for another picture session. Apparently Seth likes to take uncomfortably close photos of me when I’m not paying attention.

We did manage to get the rare shot of us together. (Usually one of us is the one behind the camera).

Don’t our pastels look nice together?

Congratulations to Charles + Bonnie!

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If you’d like to read about other weddings I’ve attended, check out these posts:

Brendan + Jennifer, 7/2/11

Owen + Sarah, 5/13/12

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Good afternoon, all! The Memorial Day weekend has arrived, so you might be planning a summer kick-off celebration. If you’re looking for a few healthy alternatives to the usual burgers and cole slaw, check out the list below!

Starters

Creamy Cashew Dip

A fun way to serve up seasonal berries.

Smoky BBQ Hummus

A unique homemade hummus for those who prefer their snacks to be savory.

Salads

Apple Cranberry Slaw

A lighter alternative to traditional cole slaw!

Herbed Potato Salad

Mayo-free potato salad.

Entrees

Lentil Burgers

A burger fit for vegans and omnivores alike.

Purple Fajitas

Fire up the grill for some eggplant!

Dessert

Creamy Strawberry-Lime Pops

Refreshing yogurt pops…no fancy equipment required.

What are your plans for the holiday weekend? Any special meals planned?

Seth and I are headed to another wedding tomorrow (yay!!), and I’m hoping to fit in some pool time too

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A few weeks ago, I was delighted to receive a card from my aunt and uncle, congratulating me on my recent graduation. While the thoughtful card was a kind gesture in itself, I noticed this little gem tucked inside it:

Glorious! A Whole Foods gift card! My relatives know me well

People are always saying how expensive Whole Foods is, so I thought it would be fun to share with you what $50 will buy you at Whole Paycheck Foods. I was a little prodigal with the money on my first trip, but I was far more practical for the second round.  Observe:

Round 1

• coconut butter. $10.99 My coconut butter stash ran out a few weeks ago, and I’ve had trouble finding it (not to mention stomaching the hefty price tag). I jumped at the chance to replenish my supply.
• organic chia seed. $15.99 This was a total impulse purchase. They didn’t have any chia seeds in the bulk section, so I sprang for this large bag without ever trying them before. I sure hope I like them.

Round 2

• Nasoya firm tofu. $6.82 for 3 (I used a coupon) I am very particular about my tofu—it’s Nasoya or nothing for me. This should last me for the next 3-4 weeks.
• canned beans. $5.34 for 6 Yes, I admit it—I use canned beans. They’re convenient and still quite healthful because I buy the no-salt-added variety.
• hazelnuts (in the bag). $6.04 for 0.55 lb I don’t often have hazelnuts on hand, but I recently saw Katie’s recipe for homemade Nutella. Obviously, I have to try it.
• Vega Performance Protein $4.98 for 2 After I read how Allie raved about this protein powder the other day, I decided it was worth a taste test. Love that they sell these little sample packs for precisely this purpose!
• local eggs. $2.39 Latta’s Egg Ranch is located in Hillsborough, NC (about 40 miles from Raleigh), and it’s my preferred source for eggs. They’re always nice and fresh!

So that’s how I blew fifty bucks at Whole Foods. How would you spend a $50 gift card at Whole Foods (or another grocery store of choice)?

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