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Romantic Getaways

February 13, 2019

Romantic Getaways

With holiday travels long over with and summer vacation months away, now is the perfect time to break out of your routine and go on a long romantic weekend with your significant other. If you can time it so that it falls on Valentine’s Day, even better! But we think it’s possible to fill any weekend with love. Here are a few weekend trips we came up with to rekindle the romance.

Cabin in the Woods

Take advantage of each other’s company and cozy up in a cabin. Whether it’s a fancy yurt or a picturesque ski lodge, the winter is a great time to enjoy Mother Nature. Picture this: a snowy forest surrounding your wood cabin, a crackling fire, a warm dinner and a bottle of wine. Now that sounds like a relaxing weekend! During the day, consider hitting the slopes or taking a horseback ride in the sun. There are many locations all over the Southeast that offer this type of getaway and allow you to customize your experience to your taste. If getting away from it all sounds like a dream, but getting outside isn’t your idea of a good time, simply enjoy one another’s company.

Book a Spa Getaway

If imbibing doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, consider booking a spa getaway for two. Many spas and wellness centers now offer comprehensive couples treatments that will allow the both of you to relax simultaneously while still having a little fun. If you think your significant other won’t submit to a pedicure treatment, many spas and wellness centers offer various services that appeal to those looking to relax and those looking to get active. With thorough research, you can easily find a spa that fits within your price range. But don’t forget to get out and enjoy time together. Book healthy dinners for two and head outside for some physical activity.

A Wine Filled Weekend

Another romantic destination is wine country, which can now be found on the East Coast! Reserve a room at a quaint bed and breakfast and you’ll feel right at home. Most B&B’s are conveniently located, but others are tucked away in hidden nooks. Use your days to book winery and brewery tours. Many vendors offer package pricing that allow you to actually get an insider look at how these beverages are produced. Once your tour is over, the best part starts! With a renewed appreciation for the process, the wine or beer will taste that much better. Use the rest of the weekend to explore the interesting towns that help foster these unique ventures. Go antiquing or browse through an independent bookstore. Grab a cup of coffee or listen to a live band.

Traveling together is a great way to build upon an already stable relationship and also create new memories. It’s easy to spend a weekend at the mall, but things don’t last nearly as long as experiences. You can go for a weekend or you can go for a week, but no matter what you do, make sure it’s together.

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Holiday Recipe – Cocktails

November 18, 2018

Add A Little Kick to Your Holiday Party

As soon as the weather starts gets a chill in the air, party invitations begin showing up in your mailbox. In addition to family get-togethers, the holidays are filled with plenty of social mingling. Whether you’re a hostess extraordinaire or bringing a drink to a pot luck style meal, a few tips can’t hurt during this busy season. So, we’ve compiled a few cocktails sure to please everyone. Just follow these simple instructions for straightforward party success!

Southern Comfort Punch via Martha Stewart
Ingredients:
6 lemons
4 navel oranges
2 six-ounce frozen lemonade, concentrate
1 six-ounce frozen orange juice, concentrate
1 liter Southern Comfort
2 liters lemon-lime soda

Directions
Step 1
-Slice lemons and oranges into thin layers
-Wrap two baking sheets in plastic wrap
-Place slices of lemon and orange on baking sheets
-Place in freezer for 2-2.5 hours, or until frozen

Step 2
-Place frozen lemonade and orange juice into punch bowl
-Add lemon lime soda
-Add Southern Comfort and a few handfuls of ice
-Place frozen fruit slices in punch

Step 3
-Drink and enjoy! Yields 12 to 20.

Hot Cider Nog via Southern Living
Ingredients:
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk
1 cup apple cider
2 large eggs
½ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
½ cup bourbon (optional)
½ cup whipping cream, whipped
Cinnamon stick as garnish

Directions:
Whisk together half and half, milk, apple cider, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and bourbon in a saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. When mixture thickens (about 15 min), add bourbon. Top each glass with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick. Yields 5.5 cups.

Hot Buttered Rum via Marie Claire
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Mount Gay Eclipse Rum

Batter:
1 lb. light brown sugar
½ lb. unsalted butter (softened)
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground allspice
2 tsp vanilla extract

Batter Instructions:
Beat softened butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and spices together. Place in the refrigerator up to month.

Drink Directions:
-Preheat a coffee mug
-Place 2 tbsp (large) of batter into mug along with 1.5 oz of Rum
-Place boiling water into mug and stir

And if you’re looking for something that tastes good, but still allows you to drive home, check out this mocktail recipe!

Sleigh Driver via Eating Well
Ingredients:
1 cup water
½ cup sugar
2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
3 pears, diced and divided
2 quarts apple cider
1 lemon, halved and sliced
1 tblspoon ground allspice
1 cup fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Directions:
-Combine water, sugar, ginger, one pear in a saucepan. Bring to a boil using medium to high heat. Strain and return mixture to pan.
-Add the rest of the diced pears, cider, lemon and allspice and heat, stirring for 15 minutes.
-Add cranberries and vanilla extract and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes and serve in mugs. Enjoy! Yields 10 servings.

Labor Day: In Honor of You

August 28, 2018

Labor Day: In Honor of You

By Bethany Tap

The first Monday of the month of September is always Labor Day. This year, you may be taking a mini vacation for the Labor Day weekend or just kicking back on September 3 (Labor Day). It’s a national holiday, so every full-time worker in America gets the day off. But why do we get a holiday? What are we celebrating? We’re celebrating America’s workers and the contributions they have made to make our country prosperous and strong. In other words, we’re celebrating you.

Originally celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City, the celebration became nationally recognized in 1894. Today, we often associate Labor Day weekend with trips to the beach, outdoor barbecues and grilling, parades, festivals and fairs, and even fireworks.

No matter where you are in the U.S., there is probably a Labor Day celebration near you. These celebrations vary widely and not all of them involve parades and fireworks (although many do, including Knoxville’s Boomsday fireworks celebration.)

If you’re an avid reader, greater Atlanta hosts the Decatur Book Festival on Labor Day Weekend, and in D.C. you can attend the Library of Congress National Book Festival. And for the more active individuals, Virginia Beach hosts Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon, which also includes a 5K and Mile in the Sand run.

Other fun Labor Day events include beer and wine festivals, such as the Harvest Festival at First Colony Winery in Charlottesville, Virginia and the Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival in Houston, Texas.

There are also music festivals (such as the Patsy Cline Music Fest in Winchester, VA) where you can celebrate any type of music you like, from folk to jazz. There are art festivals and even a hot air balloon festival in the Atlanta area. There are county fairs with pageants and pet shows and parades. There are even craft festivals, such as the Mile High Kite & Craft Festival on Beech Mountain. You wouldn’t believe the variety of things that people can celebrate on Labor Day. It is as varied as the types of jobs we work.

Labor Day also marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons, but there’s still time for the baseball fans to catch a game on the weekend. Even if going to festivals or county fairs isn’t your thing, you can always kick up your feet and watch a game. Or you can celebrate Labor Day at the ballpark!

With all of these awesome activities to do, there’s no excuse not to do something on Labor Day. But remember, the most important part of this holiday is celebrating you as a worker, whether you’ve worked in the past and have retired, or work presently. You are the reason for Labor Day, a contributing member of society. So go hunker down and read a book, run a half marathon, drink a glass of wine or a beer, watch the fireworks, enjoy the parade or festival, or take yourself out to the ball game. There’s plenty to do and it’s all in honor of you!

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The BBQ Battle

May 10, 2018

*Updated. Originally posted January 22, 2014

The BBQ Battle: East vs. West Memorial Day Challenge

When it comes to BBQ, most of us usually think pulled pork, on a bun, with a side of coleslaw and served at an outdoor event. And for the most part, BBQ is just that. However, the BBQ battle continues to boil between the East and the West, the competition stemming mostly from the sauces used when making BBQ. And, both regions pour the loyalty on thick. Western BBQ is tomato based with definite tang, while eastern BBQ has a vinegar base with cayenne pepper to give it a nice kick. This Memorial Day, please them all and take your own mini-poll. May the best BBQ win….

Eastern Carolina BBQ

2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons molasses
1 Tablespoon ground dry mustard
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix cider vinegar, molasses, dry mustard, butter, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire and brown sugar. Bring to a boil. Mix 4 teaspoons cornstarch with 4 teaspoons cold water and slowly add to the sauce; simmer 1 minute. The sauce will thicken a little but will remain mostly thin as this is the type of sauce it supposed to be (it will also thicken a bit more when it cools). If you think the cornstarch became clumped in any way within the sauce, strain before pouring into a squeezable bottle. Serve over pulled pork.

Western Carolina BBQ

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
1 40-ounce bottle of ketchup
2 1/2 cups water to rinse the inside of the ketchup bottle
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 cups white distilled vinegar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup yellow mustard
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
1 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
2-4 Tablespoons of natural smoke drippings or liquid smoke to taste

In a large stock pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the ketchup; rinse the bottle with the water and add to the pot. Stir in the tomatoes, vinegar, sugars, molasses, mustard, lemon, salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 3-3 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Using a hand held immersion blender, food processor, or blender, purée the sauce in batches. Place a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl and strain the sauce, pressing on the solids with the back of a ladle. Add the smoke flavorings to taste.

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Wycliffe Golf & Country Club: Luxury Living

October 28, 2015

Wycliffe Golf & Country Club: Luxury Living
By Bethany Tap & Brad Lieberman

In the heart of Palm Beach County, surrounded by royal palm trees and magnificent wildlife, lays a community unlike any other in South Florida; that place is Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. Stunning homes with spectacular views overlook two championship golf courses designed to give members the lifestyle they’ve always wanted. What attracts homeowners from around the country to Wycliffe is the sheer exhilaration of a lifestyle that is only dreamed about by some.

Wycliffe enjoys beautiful weather-year round, as well as, encourages an active and social lifestyle to members. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy beautiful rolling fairways of 2 Championship courses. You can further your love for the game with private clinics and lessons, led by PGA Professionals. Tennis players can thrive on 16 Har-Tru courts coupled with a 1,200-square-foot Fitness Studio which hosts a number of Pilates and aerobics classes designed to help you lead a healthy and active lifestyle. You may also want to indulge and enjoy a restoration massage or a facial in our luxurious Spa.

The dining experience is first-rate in every way. Renowned Award-Winning Executive Chef, Michael J. Schenk, takes his culinary artistry to new heights. His menu includes decadent dishes designed to arouse your taste buds with only the freshest seasonal and local ingredients.

Additional amenities for members include onsite physical therapy by certified and professional trainers. Wycliffe was one of the first clubs to offer this service and continues to promote and provide the latest advancements in rehabilitation, offering treatments in general orthopedics to various sports injuries. Wycliffe is certainly one of the top Florida gated communities from which

As a Wycliffe member, you can participate in a wide-variety of social activities including photography, painting, stickball and more! You can also take a day trip to many museums and historical sites that South Florida has to offer, including: Palm Beach’s Norton Museum of Art and famous Worth Avenue located in Palm Beach, and enjoy shows right at your own clubhouse.

Being a Wycliffe member means that you are part of unique community that considers you family from the day you arrive. There truly is no place like it. The friendships that evolve will make you glad you chose Wycliffe Golf & Country Club as your new home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-3FGWb-z0U

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Romantic Getaways

Add A Little Kick to Your Holiday Party

Labor Day: In Honor of You

The BBQ Battle: East vs. West Memorial Day Challenge

Eastern Carolina BBQ

Western Carolina BBQ

North Carolina Communities by City :

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