Oceanic Seafood Restaurant, Wrightsville Beach, NC for Special Occasions or Anytime #FullMoonRising #Valentines

Oceanic Seafood Restaurant Pier, Wrightsville Beach, NC
photo by CarolinaMama©

Oceanic Seafood Restaurant, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina is a very special place. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or just having lunch, the Oceanic is ideal. You can see the hustle and bustle of a Bridal Party here on this gorgeous Fall day when my so n and I got away to the Oceanic for a little Mom and Son time. 

Oceanic Seafood Restaurant, Wrightsville Beach, NC
photo by CarolinaMama©

The Oceanic is wonderful to celebrate. The beauty of the ocean front restaurant is stunning.  You can enjoy the ocean views from inside the lovely restaurant on on the Pier which is what we choose this fine Fall Day. The water was crystal blue and green. 

                       

We started with fresh Shrimp Cocktail and She Crab Soup for appetizers. These were excellent choices. The seafood is fresh and abundant at the Oceanic. 

Again, the weather was perfect on the Pier.  I loved the Blackened Salmon with Fresh Broccoli and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. The blackened salmon was outstanding. I love this combination and will order it again! 

My son loved the classic Shrimp Basket! Here you can see her loved the fries and shrimp as I took this picture half way through his eating it! :) He loved it as shrimp is one of his favorite things. He could not finish it so there was plenty food in the Shrimp Basket! 

You can check out the Oceanic Seafood Menu which is amazing. Find your favorites for your visit. 

Of course, after the wonderful lunch, we used the Oceanic beach access to walk right out onto the beach. My son loved chasing and running with the waves! I love this photo of his pure joy having no idea I was taking his photo! :) I got him in action! Enjoy the ocean! The North Carolina beaches are lovely!

We captured our beach feet in the tide before we had to leave. Our visit was spectacular at the Oceanic and their oceanfront beach. 

The Oceanic Seafood Restaurant is just over the bridge / bay from Wilmington, North Carolina. This whole area is full of rich North Carolina history, and entertainment from fine dining, to horse and carriage rides, UNC-Wilmington and the beaches of Wrightsville. 

Visit Oceanic for the Full Moon Rising, Valentine's Day or your Engagement Party. Visit on a Full Moon for a special evening on the Pier. Full Moon Rising - Every full moon, on the pier deck, enjoy small plates, drink specials, and live music!

           

 Photo: by Visit Wrightsville©

Valentine's Day 
Now accepting reservations for Valentine’s Day Weekend, Feb. 12 – 14. 
Because love should be celebrated more than just one day.
Call 910.256.5551

Recently Engaged?
Celebrate your special day at Oceanic or at their sister location, Bluewater Waterfront Grill with views overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Contact our Sales and Events Manager at 910.599.1337.    



Warmly, Carolina Mama

PS: we loved how the hammocks were so popular on the Pier. On a perfect Fall day, why not!

FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Oceanic Restaurant, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. All opinions are our own. 

Jackson and Perkins Nursery Helps You Share the Valentine's Day Love

Jackson & Perkins® has the most beautiful full-service nursery high-quality roses, amaryllis and plants and trees.  This South Carolina headquartered company is leading the market. Today, Jackson & Perkins® is the leading producer of hybrid teas, florabunda, bear root roses in the world." 

"Today, Jackson & Perkins is a full-service nursery offering all kinds of flowers, trees, shrubs, ground coverings, bulbs, decorative garden gifts, tools, garden accessories, plant care products and, of course roses. Over 2 million roses and other plants are shipped to customers every year."

Hear Paul Ambrose, President of Jackson & Perkins as he shares their story. 

This Holiday Season Jackson & Perkins asked us to try out their service and products. We loved the surprise when they sent us a beautiful Amaryllis Bulb.  It is a classic and beautiful bloom. 

Here you can see it just beginning to bloom right near our Christmas Poinsettia.  We were so excited to see the process begin. 

The Jackson & Perkins Holiday Amaryllis has been delightful!  We have all loved it!  Here is our first stage. Look how beautiful our Amaryllis was as Winter began. 

Soon, she began to blossom. We loved watching right before our eyes as the blooming began. 

Then, we enjoyed the beauty of a full blossomed Amaryllis. Isn't she lovely?!  We enjoyed how bright and cheerful this Amaryllis was for our Christmas and New Year's Holiday! 

"A surefire source of vibrant color, Amaryllis are generally grown as a lovely accent over the holidays. They are a favorite gift because they can add reliable beauty when grown in containers. Their lush, tropical blooms add a scintillating accent to the holiday home, which makes them great choices to give as living gifts . . . or to keep for yourself! Grown indoors they will bloom in about 8 weeks, then after they go dormant they can be brought out every winter to bloom again. In tropical climates they can grow right in the garden. Make the Valentine's Day special with this extraordinary winter flower!"


The Holiday Sale offers up to 70% off.  Go and get some beautiful and great things for your home! Enjoy! Happy Winter! Thank you Jackson & Perkins for the Winter Cheer! 

Warmly, 
Carolina Mama

FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Jackson and Perkins. All opinions are my own. 

Bouchon Asheville, North Carolina "Home of French Comfort Food" #VisitAsheville

Asheville Bouchon, NC and CarolinaMama Family
by CarolinaMama©

Bonjour, Y'all!

Bouchon Asheville, NC  truly is "Home of French Comfort Food." 

"Welcome to Bouchon, home of French Comfort Food! Bouchon is located in beautiful downtown Asheville and open seven days a week at 5:00 pm."

We were so excited to be on the road again in Asheville, North Carolina. It is always great family time to spend a few days away together.  We were thrilled to be invited to experience the wonderful French cuisine at Bouchon's Asheville. North Carolina is fortunate to have this incredible French influence here. 

We loved dining al fresco on the beautiful Bouchon's patio. Here our boys are enjoying exploring the menu with working with their French vocabulary. :) 

Bouchon Asheville, NC by CarolinaMama©

Immediately, we met some Asheville regulars who welcomed us to Bouchon Asheville. So fun!

Pack of Fine Clothing, Bouchon Asheville, NC by CarolinaMama©

Appetizers

First up were the outstanding "Pomme Frites!" These were a delight for all of us. I was so happy to share the authentic French experience with my husband and sons. The Pomme Frites were seasoned deliciously. The French Bread was warm, fresh and light. A perfect accompaniment. 

The Pomme Frites, the most amazing French Fries we have ever experienced.

Avocado Bord de Mer (avocado & crab)

This was an amazing beginning, with blue crab and fresh and fresh avocado, two of our favorite flavors perfectly blended together.

The salads were fabulous! We love a fresh start and these were excellent.  I have never tasted a more delectable Beet dish. :) 

Salade Composee
We love a good Kale salad, so this was a real treat. The highlight of this salad is definitely the fresh roasted beets.  The combination of the ingredients is amazing.

Salade de Betteraves au Chèvre  (sah-lahd duh beht-rahv oh shehvrh)

Roasted beets tossed with apples, walnuts, local goat cheese & Dijon mustard vinaigrette, served on fresh mixed greens 

Poulet Cordon Bleu Bouchon
This was one of the best variations of Chicken Cordon Bleu my Boulder Mt. Man, "Dad," has ever had the pleasure of tasting and enjoying. The combination of the Golden Chicken and Gruyere Cheese was absolutely mouth watering.

Poulet Cordon Bleu Bouchon "Chicken Cordon Blu by CarolinaMama©

I really enjoyed the Truite aux Amandes. We love fresh trout, and this was no exception.  Treat aux Amandes - Trout Almondine - is a specialty in French New Orleans. In Bouchon Asheville, the Truite aux Amandes is a locally caught fish, which makes the freshness all the better! It was one of the best trout dishes of all time. It was wonderful along with the amazing fresh sides.

Truite aux Amandes "Trout Almondine" Asheville Bouchon
by CarolinaMama©

The boys both enjoyed the Steak au Poivre which was amazing. Of course, they loved the extra serving of Pomme Frites! The Steak Frites Bouchon was perfect for our son who enjoys pure beef. 

We loved getting to meet the Owner, Michael. He was very welcoming and kind to us. He is also quite hilarious. We enjoyed visiting with him. Our sons found him entertaining. 

Our new friends continued to keep us entertained! Isn't this the best 'photo bomb' ever. We all did plan some photos to capture the fun memories of the night. 

Here he is reminding our boys about "Fine Clothing!" You can learn a lot about Paco's Fine Clothing at Fine Clothing. Look at the beautiful detail of his full service custom clothiers. 

Pack's of Fine Clothing at Bouchon's Asheville, North Carolina by CarolinaMama©

Here is a beautiful photo of our patio seating. We loved the ambiance with the red umbrellas and the casual yet upscale dining.

I love this photo I captured of our son looking around the Courtyard after dinner. These handsome boys are growing up too quickly.

We had such a relaxing evening. Our boys found everything humorous. Of course, I took the opportunity to fantasize about us being in Paris on the Champs Elysee dining al fresco. We were in the moment! Bouchon's couldn't be more French. Go and enjoy and Bon Jour! 

The atmosphere at Bouchon's is absolutely amazing, it is such a resemblance of a European cafe.  We had an absolute ball visiting together as a family and with the 2 gentleman sitting next to us.  It truly was an "out of country experience."  The outdoor seating is very charming and highly recommended. 

Mom and Dad had the Bete Noire, a flourless chocolate cake that was amazingly rich and chocolaty, quite the perfect ending, along with a really good cup of decaf coffee to end the perfect meal.

Both boys ordered the fresh Mousse au Choclat, freshly made every day and unbelievable! Obviously, this was a huge success for our teen boys. Chocolate wins! 

Before we left, Michael surprised the boys with baseball hats from the restaurants, named French Quarter. Talk about French flare. It was so nice and the boys love the souvenirs.

My handsomeness in their new hats! :)  Fun times! I LOVE these, too! :) 

The wonderful thing about Bouchon's is that you can experience other elements of that restaurant at the other 2 restaurants just next door. We did reminisce about New Orleans on our way home through the classic courtyard. One last photo on the way home. 

Bon Jour! 
Warmly, Carolina Mama

FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Bouchon's Asheville, North Carolina. All opinions are my own. 

Cary, North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival Extended Until January 17, 2016

Enjoy the Magic a Little Bit Longer! 

THE NORTH CAROLINA CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL CARY EXTENDED UNTIL JANUARY 17, 2016

All photos copyright© CarolinaMama©

The Chinese Lantern Festival, Cary, North Carolina by CarolinaMama©

It's true! You can "Enjoy the Magic a Little Bit Longer!"  We had heard all about the magnificence of The Chinese Lantern Festival. We were so overjoyed to experience the magic ourselves. The good news is that the Koka Booth Amphitheater has extended the Cary, North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival until January 17, 2016.  

The Chinese Lantern Festival

This year we kicked off our 2016 with the perfect family activity for the New Year - The Chinese Lantern Festival. We were mesmerized by the vibrant colors and spritely music. 

The Chinese Lantern Festival by CarolinaMama ©

Can you tell how elated we were upon entering the festival?! We were so delighted by the beautiful colors. This was our first selfie of the night! :) And it's a favorite that captured our joy. 

At the entrance, we paused to capture the beauty. The detail is exquisite. We felt transported to China. 

The Chinese Lantern Festival, Cary, North Carolina

The Asian culture has such a wonderful way of sharing beauty. We loved the colors and intricacies of each lantern. 

The Chinese Lantern Festival by CarolinaMama©

The Chinese Lantern Festival would be a wonderful date as the entire experience was very romantic, as well.  We captured the moments along the way. 

The Festival is also a wonderful experience for teenagers. Our boys had a wonderful time enjoying all of the beautiful lanterns and exhibits. 

We loved the ocean exhibits reminiscent of Nemo. These beautiful lily pads changed colors. We all had a different favorite and they were all beautiful. 

We had so much fun with he huge Dragon exhibit. This was a fun one with all of us. Capturing the amazing memories! 

Since my Daddy loved Owls and my Mommy loved birds, I was so happy to see this beautiful Owl and the beautiful Hummingbird together.  This reminds me of our parents. So beautiful. 

These were quite fascinating especially since I love pink. It takes me to my childhood right up to today. And these were reminiscent of the beautiful Asian fans. My sweet Boulder Mountain Man took this of me getting close with them. :) 

Ode to a beautiful Christmas with Santa Claus making an appearance in the Frozen Lanterns exhibit. 

We all had our favorites. It was fun to have our pictures taken with some of our favorite exhibits. Of course, Pandas represent all things Asian. Our son loved the Panda Bears. 

Tiger A has always LOVED China. So he was so happy to see the beautiful lanterns reminiscent of mainland China. 

My love of Giraffes and Zebras was happy to see these beauties! :) Here the Giraffes and I are having a chat. Another major THANK YOU to the kind gentleman who helped my family locate my brown framed glasses I dropped in the leaves and we couldn't see them. I was saying "I cannot see and they are brown frames." 

                                       

Thankfully, he calmly reached over and picked them up for us! Mom could see again! :) Our sweet Tiger A said, "Well, he had glasses, too. He could see them and he understood, Mom!"  Kindness matters, y'all. Here are the "brown frames." :) 

My handsome and happy Boulder Mountain Man loved the entrance with the beautiful roses and vivid colors and design while one of our Tigers was just as fascinated with it by solemnly viewing in the background. 

The Zebras had the most amazing golden eyes. The stripes were so outstanding. 

We loved the Bumble Bees and the Lady Bugs. Truly, there is something for everyone at the Chinese Lantern Festival. 

The Tulips were breathtaking. We loved the color and variety.  They illuminated the entire walkway as you exit the exhibits. 

     Cary, NC-- The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival Cary has proven to be a huge hit this holiday season. The show, which began on November 28 at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre, and was due to close on January 3 has been extended for another two weeks in an effort to satisfy demand. The last day to see this magnificent display will now be on January 17, 2016. When you visit, you'll get a close up of these beautiful lanterns. 

    The Festival which includes more than 20 displays, each one comprised of hundreds of parts, and thousands of LED lights continues to wow visitors with their artistic beauty! 

The Chinese Lantern Festival, by CarolinaMama©

   According to Lyman Collins, Town of Cary Cultural Arts Manager, "We are delighted there has been so much excitement and activity surrounding this incredible event.  The response has been so overwhelming and we simply want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to come and enjoy this amazing cultural experience – or come back and see it again."

Tickets can be purchased through etix.com or Booth Amphitheatre Box Office. New pricing just announced!

Event Days and Times:

Sunday - Thursday: 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday - Saturday: 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Ticket Prices:

Kids 2 and under free

Ages 3 - 17 - $10

Adults ages 18+ - $15

4 Package $50.00

For more information log on to http://boothamphitheatre.com/nc-chinese-lantern-festival-cary/

Tickets can be purchased at Booth Amphitheatre (Monday - Friday, 4pm – 8pm.)or through etix.com. By phone call (800) 514-3849

Etix hours: Monday-Friday/ 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. EST

Saturday/10 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST & Sunday/12 p.m. – 8 p.m. EST

Or, contact Koka Booth here www.boothamphitheatre.com or call (919) 462-2025. 

From our family to yours, we hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! And go, enjoy the Chinese Lantern Festival. You'll be glad to treasure the memories with those you love. 

Carolina Mama and Family at The Chinese Lantern Festival

Warmly, Carolina Mama

FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Koka Booth Amphitheater and The Chinese Lantern Festival. All opinions are my own.