To Bee or Not To Bee    

Confections in Bloom - Flower and Flour Bakery

This Eating is Called to Order:  Every once in a while your stumble on a recipe for success.  In   Carolina Beach, two confectioneries, Bryan Williams and David Reid, have taken the wedding and event scene by storm with their bakery Flower and Flour.  Starting with a love for sugar flower art, their portfolio quickly expanded from wedding and event cakes to sweet indulgences (macarons, custom sugar cookies, cupcakes, etc.).  What sets them apart is customization - they transform their client's visions into stunning confections that are beyond delectable.  Flour never looked or tasted this good!

Good News, Bad News:  Flower and Flour's local service area includes Bald Head Island, Figure 8 Island, Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington.  That's bad news for us in the Triangle (unless you are planning a  destination wedding).  The good news is that Flower and Flour now offers mail order service for its delectable custom sugar cookies and macorons.  These are the focus of this article.  However, check out the goodies on their website and we guarantee that you'll start making excuses to head back to the beach.

Sugar Cookies - Memorable Appearance, Remarkable Flavor:  What do you have in mind?  The Eiffel Tower?  Comedy and Tragedy Theatre Masks?     Individual Surf Boards?  Artfully decorated sugar cookies should please your eye as well as your palette.  The vivid colors of icings, crystal sugars, drag�es and  other embellishments help tailor the designer look of each cookie.  Flower and Flour will work with you to generate ideas about shape, color, texture, and flavors.  Having a mental block? ... No worries, click here to get some samples.  But how do they taste?  Heavenly ... and that's the truly icing on the cake.  Each batch of sugar cookies is handmade from scratch ingredients and is available for shipping nationwide - minimum order of 2 dozen cookies per flavor and design.

Macarons - By Any Other Name: Macarons (Les macarons, Parisian macaroons or French macaroons)  are considered, by many, to be the crown jewel of the confectionary world.  From their colorful thin outer shell, to their delicate center and luscious filling, Flower and Flour macarons prove to be unparalleled in flavor and texture.  By using pure nut flours (almond, pistachio, hazelnut, pecan), intense natural flavorings (Madagascar vanilla beans, Belgian chocolate, authentic Key lime juice) and signature embellishments (cacao nibs, fresh lemon zest, fleur de sel) they create perfectly balanced macarons. Each small, handmade and beautifully colored batch is custom baked to order.

Flower & Flour: 718 N Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach, NC; Contact: 910-458-8557; E-mail Orders: cake@flowerandflour.com; Website

Place your orders now for Holiday parties and gift giving! 

One More Incentive to Vote - Free Sugarland Cupcakes

On Tuesday Sugarland Bakery in both Chapel Hill and Raleigh (Cameron Village) will be giving away free cupcakes to anyone wearing an "I Voted" sticker. Avoid Voter Fraud: One Cupcake per Voter.

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Fashion, Food & Fun  

Kiss and Make Up for Fall - Bobbi Brown at Certain Things

Cameron Village Thursday, November 8th

While the sun is off on vacation make your skin glow!  Bobbi Brown will be giving makeovers and tips at Certain Things on Thursday, Nov. 8th from 11 am to 7 pm.  Come and meet her and partake in a 45 minute makeover while enjoying a party with food, drinks, shopping and a new You!  But you must sign up for your makeover.  Email of call to reserve your spot now.  

Who is Bobbi Brown?  Bobbi Brown worked in NYC as a professional makeup artist right out of college.  In 1991, she released a line of new lipsticks under the brand Bobbi Brown Essentials, which debuted at Bergdorf Goodman.  The success of that makeup line led Estee Lauder to buy the company in 1995.

In addition to creating cover looks for magazines and make-up for fashion shows, Brown is the exclusive beauty editor of The Today Show and a frequent guest on the E! and Style channels.

So put your game face on and head over to Certain Things in Cameron Village.  Meet Bobbi Brown, get some great advice and tips on how to look better, confident and feel good about you.  Bobbi Brown makeup will be at Certain Things for purchase as well as great clothes to compliment your new fresh face.  Check out their new sweaters, scarves and coats that will keep you warm all winter long.

See you at Certain Things this Thursday, November 8th for your New You Look!

Certain Things: 404 Daniels St. Raleigh 27605.  Email: cthings@bellsouth.net, Phone:  919-828-5055 (Bobbi Brown requires a minimum 2 item purchase)

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1-5pm.  

Hunting Season - Antiques Hunting is Our Big Game

Truth be told, it helps to have a purpose to shop Hunt and Gather on Bernard Street.  With rows and rows of dealer booths to explore and hundreds of collectors' items you'll always find new discoveries in fine antiques and vintage goods from rustic to retro.  You'll uncover new ways to repurpose great things from yesteryear and old ways to bring back a lifestyle that portrays comfortable, inviting homes.

So here's your chance to enjoy the hunting season... This coming Saturday and Sunday, November 10th and 11th, Hunt and Gather on Bernard St. is holding its Annual Holiday Open House.  Kick-off the season with great holiday sales, refreshments and Christmas cheer.  Bring your friends your mother, your mother-in-law.  No matter if your home is 'early miscellaneous' or just misunderstood;

 there is something for everyone.  Enjoy the Hunt!  Enjoy the party!

Hunt and Gather: 1910 Bernard Street, Raleigh, 27608.  Phone: 919-834-9989.

Hours:  Saturday, November 10th, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday, November 11th, 1:00 pm to 5:00pm.  Website 

Game on!!

One of the Hardy Boys - Guy Bedarida, designer for John Hardy at Bailey's Fine Jewelry

Bailey's Fine Jewelry will host Guy Bedarida, head designer and creative director for luxury jewelry maker John Hardy, at its Cameron Village location in Raleigh on Saturday, Nov. 10th.

Bedarida will be in the store from 3 pm. until 7 pm. meeting with customers and signing pieces of jewelry purchased during the trunk show.  There will be opportunities for photographs, video and interviews with Bedarida throughout the event.

Bedarida was raised abroad in Florence and Paris and studied jewelry and fashion design at the Instituto Europeo del Design in Rome.  Bedarida's nature-inspired flair has led to designs that have produced some of John Hardy's best-selling collections.  Bedarida himself will show guests the new collection inspired by the timeless Bohemian glamour of Marrakech as well as the beloved Cinta collection. Bedarida has worked at John Hardy since the late 1990s.

Come and meet the very accomplished jewelry designer as well as view some of John Hardy's best-selling collections at the trunk show.

For more information, please call toll-free (866) 725 - 3111 or visit Website online www.baileybox.com. 

Bailey's Fine Jewelry - 415 Daniels Street, Raleigh 27605, 919-829-7337. Hours:

Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Bailey's at Crabtree Valley Mall: 4325 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, 27612, 919-788-7500

Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 am. - 9 pm., Sunday Noon - 6 pm. 

You Are Invited .... Come See Courtney L Bell Jewelry

Courtney L. Bell Jewelry Trunk Show -  Come shop and see this beautiful jewelry line at Back Porch Creative Market,  2704 Hazelwood Dr., Raleigh, 27608 on this Friday, November 9th from 5pm to 9pm and Saturday, November 10th from 9am to 3pm.

 

Courtney makes each piece of jewelry by hand, often incorporating vintage brooches and chains.  She uses high quality sterling, gold filled and plated components along with seashells, many of which she finds on North Carolina beaches.  Combining art with nature, each piece of her jewelry is one of a kind.  

If you can't make this Trunk Show, then mark your calendars to attend her show at Lavender and Lace  on Saturday, December 15th from 11am to 4 pm or Saturday December 22nd from 11am to 4pm.  Or call for an appointment.  

Please check her website to see a few of Courtney's beautiful selections.  Phone: 919-696-8262, Email: courtney@courtneybelljewelry.com. 

ANDERSON FOREST HOME FOR SALE ~ Just Reduced - $499,900   

3221 Anderson Drive - Click Here for Details  

Renovated, 2523 SF, 4 BR's, 3 Full Baths, .26 acre

Please contact Jill C. Rekuc, Broker Owner - Olde Raleigh Real Estate

(919) 389-0555

CRS, CLHMS, LHMG Board Member

jillcrekuc@nc.rr.com

It's Time to Register at Bailey's for Digging for Diamonds!

Bailey's Fine Jewelry is celebrating college football season by hosting Digging for Diamonds, an on-field contest where two lucky couples will go home with a $10,000 diamond ring.

The contest will take place on Nov. 24 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh as the Wolfpack hosts Boston College and Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels take on Maryland. Two couples at each game will take the field and attempt to find the $10,000 diamond ring, hidden among many Bailey Boxes. The couple who finds the ring first becomes the proud owner.  Couples may register at any Bailey's Fine Jewelry location from now until Nov. 15 for the chance to compete. Website

Get Ready for the Big Three-Day Winter Estate Catalogued Auction at Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd. On Nov. 29, 30, and Dec. 1st. The catalogue, featuring over 1100 lots from exceptional local and regional estates, will be posted to their website, Wednesday, November 7, 2012.  Website 

The Insiders - Would you like to know the activity in your neighborhood, specific to your home?  Sign up for automated email reports of homes for sale in your neighborhood, prices of recently sold homes as well as overall market stats for homes comparable to your specific home.  This report includes interactive maps, charts and home details.  You can choose to receive the email every 2, 4, or 8 weeks, or just view it one time. Want to Get IN the Know for the real estate market in your neighborhood?  Sign up for your free report. Click Here 

It's a Wrap! 

Cooler weather has arrived and scarves are in at CT Weekends! Fabulous colors and prints in an array of styles and weights!  CT Weekends in Cameron Village: 437 Daniels Street, Raleigh 27605. 919-787-9073. Hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Sat. Website

Kenna Custom Painting, Inc.  is available to tackle your residential painting needs.  With their great crews that perform very professional jobs on residential homes, you won't believe how quiet and unobtrusive they are.  So if you have that "itch" to freshen up your home, interior or exterior before springtime, contact them now.  Call 919-855-0082 or Email: kennapaint@bellsouth.net.  Website. 

Join My Blog Simply-Refined: I van help you with your Holiday Decor! It's not too early to begin planning.  I am an Interior Designer that can inspire and help you with your designs and decorating needs. Call  Zaytoun Interiors if you're finally ready to decorate or re-decorate your home or office.  What's your style?  If you're not sure, I can help you tap into your inner self and find what makes you want to come home again.  Website, Email, Phone: 305-793-8510. 

Did You Know?  For every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $68 stays in the local economy compared to only $43 if spent at a national chain. Please support our local business!  This is what The Beltline Buzz is all about.   

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