This weekend we traveled to North Carolina to stay at my aunt and uncle’s house in Swansboro.
We went to hang out with family and celebrate my cousin’s birthday. She and I are only 9 months apart and have been close since we were little girls. Of course we’ve spent many birthdays together (aka tons of slumber parties), but this birthday was extra special because there was a new addition to our sleepover… her new baby, June.
I was so excited to finally meet her! She is 12 days old in this picture — so small, so precious and absolutely perfect in every way. Jon and Brooke are lucky parents. She barely cried — only when she was hungry (or needed to poop) and she was totally content to sleep anywhere and through just about anything. We’re a loud bunch sometimes, but she had no problem snoozin’ most of the weekend.
Technically she’s my second cousin, but I think it’s been decided that she can call me Aunt Brittany. Cousin Brittany just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
I think (Uncle) Isaac fell in love with her too.
On Saturday night we went downtown for Swansboro by Candlelight and the lighting of their Christmas tree.
Do you spy little June’s head poking out? Don’t worry, she had no problem sleeping through all the downtown festivities. 
They had a band, hot apple cider, a wine tasting and all the downtown shops were open for holiday shopping.
Is it really almost the holiday season?!? How did they sneak up on us so quickly?
In honor of all the celebrations, Isaac brought out a beer for everyone to try on Saturday night — Center of the Universe Brewing Company’s El Duderino, a white russian stout brewed here in Richmond. If you’ve seen The Big Lebowski you’ll understand why this is so cool. It was good too!
Isaac and I stopped by Chipotle today on our way home. We rarely eat there but we recently got a coupon in the mail and I wanted to try the sofritas so we went. The sofritas are a new, vegan braised tofu option select Chipotles are offering. I had them on a salad with a little rice, veggies, black beans, medium salsa and the corn salsa. Overall, not too shabby — they were spicy, but not too spicy and had a good flavor. I also liked the way the tofu was crumbled into small pieces rather than cubed. I would definitely order them again.
Sadly this weekend went by super fast, but more celebrations are headed our way because two of our good friends are getting married this coming weekend! Ahh.. can’t wait.
Did you celebrate anything is weekend? Are you ready for the holidays?
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