Oil & Vinegar $30 Surprise Bags!

My family recently came to South Carolina for a visit, and stayed in downtown Greenville! One of the highlights of our many excursions shopping the shops of Main Street, was our visit to Oil & Vinegar on North Main. The store carried fabulous specialty products from Europe, Africa, and elsewhere. My Mom told us right away she wanted us to pick some things out so she could get them for us. She knows that my sis-in-law and I both love to cook! "Hmm, what to get . . ." I thought. Everything looked so good. 

As I perused the rest of the shop, there was one display I could not get out of my mind, the surprise bag table, which was strategically placed right at the front of the store as we walked in! The table was full of bags priced from $15- $50. There was a sign on the table that said that each bag contained twice the monetary value of the price tag on the bag! Sounded exciting to me. I picked out a $15 bag, my Mom saw me do so, and said I should pick out a $30 bag instead! "No problem," I thought. By that time, my sis-in-law had also decided to go for a surprise bag as her souvenir from my Mom, from our family time!

Although I've never been on a game show, opening the bags kind of felt like what I would imagine winning a surprise prize on a game show would feel like! We had so much fun discovering what we had "won" after my Mom purchased the bags for us! Jess and I each pulled out an item at a time. One of the kind, knowledgeable shop owners, and one of the nice, insightful shop keepers gave us recommendations as to what recipes to make with the products in the bags. My Mom also got an additional bag to take home to my sister in Pennsylvania. 

I quickly put my perfect chef's gift from my Mom to good use in my kitchen. This week already, I have been loving using the ingredients from my Oil & Vinegar surprise bag! I baked chicken one night with the chicken rub and lemon sage olive oil I received. Two nights ago, I made the best wrap sandwich ever, the secret ingredients being lemon sage olive oil and sherry vinegar from the gift bag! Other ingredients that were part of my special wrap included: 1 sun-dried tomato wrap, turkey, turkey bacon, shredded mozzarella, romaine lettuce, oregano, grated parmesan, salt & pepper, and ranch salad dressing. 

Jess and me opening our Oil & Vinegar surprise bags.

Holding up seasoning packets.

Jess and me with Veera Gaul, one of the owners.

Jess: Organic Pasta

Me: Olio di Oliva al limone e salvia

Me: Jerez Sherry Vinegar

Us, with another shopkeeper.

Me: Mustard Dill Dressing

(Great marinade for salmon and chicken)

Items in my bag:

Lemon Sage Olive Oil

Sherry Vinegar

Mustard Dill Dressing

Chicken Rub

Provencal Thyme & Bay Leaves

Dipping Bowl

Entertaining Family at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens & Geology Museum

Anthony, Shastya, and I met Anthony's brother, sister-in-law and their two kids at our local popular South Carolina Botanical Gardens and the Bob Campbell Geology Museum for some family fun today. Because Anthony and I enjoy nature and being active, we thought meandering through the colorful gardens would be a fun activity that would be representative of our lifestyle, to do with our visiting relatives. 

New Garden Art Sculpture

Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly

Shastya playing with her giraffe from Ivory Coast

Unusual Gourds

Looking For Turtles

Scary Insect

Mini Black-Eyed Susans

Cantaloupe

Cleome

Cosmos

Zinnia

Yellow Queen Anne's Lace

Dusty Miller

Eucalyptus

Pumpkin-On-A-Stick 

Looking at the Bee Boxes

Bob Campbell Geology Museum

Japanese Biwa Pearls

Brazilian Amethyst Quartz 

Baby Shastya Entertains Her SC Grandparents

Shastya Goes To A Phillies/Braves Game!

My parents took Anthony, Shastya, and me to a Phillies/Braves game at the Phillies stadium, Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia a couple weeks ago. At Shastya's first Phillies/Braves game, Shastya wore a pink Atlanta Braves shirt that her Daddy (Anthony) had picked out, and bought for her at a thrift store in South Carolina.

Right at the beginning of the game, my Dad (Shastya's Granddad) and I went to buy some sunscreen for my little baby girl. While we were shopping I spotted a miniature Phillie Phanatic for sale behind the counter. I requested the iconic sports mascot for baby Shastya, Granddad obliged. We did not know if sunscreen was going to be enough protection for our sweet little Shastya, so we searched the souvenir venue we were at for a ball cap for Shastya. We thought a ball cap would help shield her eyes so she could look out and enjoy the game! What do you know, we found a cute pink and purple reversible Phillies ball cap there for her! You gotta love ballpark prices. They are hysterical! I believe the little green Phanatic cost $14.99! The little pink reversible cap cost a whopping $19.99! Granddad told us later that the Philly Phanatic is the most well-known mascot in sports! He also said he would keep the mini Phanatic, and the pink baby ball cap in case his other little granddaughters wanted to come to the games!

The game we attended at the Phillies stadium was all drama. The Braves scored a bunch of points, and then they scored a bunch more points. The Phillies scored at least once or twice. Shastya cheered for both the Phillies and the Braves. She cheered whenever either team scored, and so did I.