Halloween!--The Malayter-Stankus Family Carves a Pumpkin

Tim and I had a great Halloween weekend. First off, it is rare that Halloween falls on a Saturday. It definitely gives one a better chance to have a little fun. The weekend kicked off with the Charlotte Bobcats opening game. Janet was able to hook us up with Row A tickets to the season opener agains the Knicks. The Bobcats won and we were pumped.

Halloween itself was low-key. We carved our first family pumpkin together...It was a group effort and we had a great time. We wanted to paint our pumpkin because it is less messy and things tend to rot here a little quicker than at home. However, for some reason, the idea of painting pumpkins is a foriegn idea to the people of Charlotte. Tim and I searched high and low for pumpkin paint kits--we went to Wal-Mart, Target, Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, Michaels, Harris Teeter in search of a kit and came up unsuccessful. C'est la vie...we carved out of necessity.

After pumpkin carving, we went and spent the evening with our Indianapolis turned Charlotte-based NASCAR friends, the Larsens and the Weavers. Both couples are from Indianapolis and relocated to Charlotte due to a NASCAR position. Between our three families, we have Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel, and Zionsville high schools covered. Most of all, we love the fact that we have fellow Colts Fans in the city. While I did not take any pictures from the party, I did take a few of our pumpkin carving adventure. We had a great time this weekend and hope that you had a good Halloween too!

The unlucky pumpkin...the object of our carvings...

Tim...the focused "surgeon" drawing his lines to begin cutting.

Tim was adorable when carving the pumpkin. He kept mentioning that his Dad was the one who would cut the top and clean the inside of the pumpkin...These tasks were a first for Tim. He is SO FOCUSED!!!!

Tim is trying his best not to give you his famous "thumbs up" sign.

This pumpkin had a ton of seeds and strings.

Don't kid yourself. This picture of me with the "pumpkin guts" was for show....the honor was all Tim's

Boys will be Boys....Apparently Tim wanted to be Peter Pan for Halloween or a Toys R Us Kid because he does not want to grow up! Ha!

Now it looks like he is holding the pumpkin like a little baby...

Tim forgot to take pictures of me carving our little monster! The finished work!

I do love the look of Jack-o-Lanterns!

Tim trying to scare me!

My two pumpkins!

Me with my work of art!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!

Fall Color Explodes on the Blue Ridge Parkway

It is no secret that if you want to see leaves, the North Carolina Mountains offer some of the finest "leaf-viewing" opportunities in the United States. My lovely husband suggested that since we are only a 90 minute drive from all of the splendor, that we should take the opportunity to go enjoy the nature around us.

On one of the final weekends in October, Tim and I hopped into the car and took a drive. We drove up to Boone, NC--the home of Appalachian State University. Their campus is awesome. it is tucked in the top of the Appalachian Mountains. This little mountain town has a quaint little city district and fun little restaurants. Tim and I agreed that we need to come up there more often. After enjoying Boone for a few hours, Tim and I merged onto the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. The mountains were absolutely EXPLODING in color around us. Tim and I kept commenting about how gorgeous everything was. It was definitely one of those moments that we wished that our friends and family were with us so that they could experience the same things that we were. We took a ton of pictures because we want to give you a "taste" of the sights--Hopefully it will convince you to come and visit us so that we can experience everything together.

There are stops about every mile on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This was our first stop...Clear Lake Park...During the summer, i would love to jump right in!

Black and White Shot of Clear Lake

Tim posing in the fun scenery

Color and beauty was all around us. This shot was taken while driving down the parkway.

Overlooking the valley below...You can see why they call this part of the Appalachian Mountains the Blue Mountains. The Mountains in the distance appear to be blue!
They same shot can look so spooky in black and white.

More shots of the Blue Ridge Valleys Below.

The tough thing about being just the two of us is that we rarely get pictures of us together. Me with the valley in the distance. (Pardon my hair--we got up early and jumped into the car so we could have a full day)

Tim with the same valley below.

To be specific...the Wilson Creek Valley

We continued to press on to Grandfather Mountain. You can see the view of Grandfather Mountain in the Distance! So pretty.

A Splash of Color

I just had to shoot this tree. It had the reddest leaves that I have ever seen!

Minus the power lines in this shot, it is my favorite shot of the day...You can see fall taking hold and can see the mountains going on for the infinite distance!

We even had a colorful drive home.

A few quick home updates

It is hard to believe that we have lived in our apartment for two years now. I am a very slow decorator. I think that I never want to commit until we have a house on decorative things. Since we are going to be in the apartment for a little longer, I added a few decorations to our mantle place and dining room to make our home feel more complete.

Our living room...I added the three iron mirrors above the mantle...they remind me of all of the Iron work down in Charleston that is why I chose them. We love our open floor plan.

A better view of my new mantle decor.

I made my dining room a little more fall-like. I like the warm, rich colors.

NASCAR Banking Only at Bank of America 500!

Charlotte is host to three NASCAR Races each year--two in May and the third in October. This year's event was the NASCAR Banking Only at Bank of America 500!--How is that for a mouthful for a race event entitlement. The NASCAR parody Talladega Night got it right NASCAR loves its sponsors!--It is not selling out, it is loyalty. The October Charlotte race is the fifth race and the halfway point for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup. It is also the only night race for the Chase. There is always a certian pomp and circumstance to this event and many of the drivers love the event because many of the drivers think of Charlotte as their home track.

Typically, the October race is my favorite Charlotte race. May in Charlotte can be a little hot and humid whereas October is typically mild and sunny. This year was an odd one for sure--May was not too hot (it was a little rainy). October race this year was COLD. (40 degrees at the start of the race. My blood has definitely thinned in the two years that I have been here.

We also had guests with us at the race. High school friend, Beau and his wife, Christy, came up and joined us for the race weekend. Beau had gone to the Brickyard a few times, but it was Christy's first race. We braved the cool weather and had a ball.

NASCAR races are very colorful...enjoy some of the "color" that we experienced that day!

A view of Jimmie Johnson's hauler in the garage area...Note the hustle and bustle of the crowds at the track.

In the garage area, you have to look out for the cars. If you don't get out of the way, you can definitely get run over. Pictured Casey Mears' '07 Jack Daniels Chevy.

The Aflac car driven by Carl Edwards is one of the most popular paint schemes at the track.

Chase contender, Greg Biffle's 3M Ford

Tim, Beau and my brother James' fave driver is Jeff Gordon. For the Charlotte race, Jeff drove a special paint scheme celebrating the DVD release of Transformers. Unfortunately, he was playing the "bad guy" on the track. Ryan Newman's car was the "good guy"

After we walked through the garages, we made a visit to pit road. Lined up are the "war wagons" in each teams pit stall.

Jeff Gordon's War Wagon on pit road.

Beau and Christy enjoying a photo in front of the number 12 Penske War Wagon

Tim and Megan stopping to pose in pit road.Future 4-time Champion Jimmie Johnsons War Wagon. Chad Knaus is getting ready for the race.

Indiana Guy, Tony Stewart's war wagon

Dale Jr's War Wagon.

Beau getting ready for the "driver meeting to start"

At the driver meeting, one will "spot" all 43 drivers. Beau caught a great shot of Bill Elliott. I used to represent him when I was working at CMG.

Jeff Gordon getting flogged by the media.

An artistic view of the cars all lined up for the pre-race ceremonies.It is starting to get dark....A view of pit road as night falls. The "tree" lists the starting grid. Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin were on the front row.
The Pre-race fan stage. We got to sit on the track wall and watch the pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions. What a treat.
The happy crew standing on the track next to the "safer barrier" wall.

Beau sitting on the safer barrier on the track.

This years' race theme was Homecoming as many of the drivers consider this track to be their "Home track" NASCAR crowned a homecoming king and queen. The king was "The King"--Richard Petty!

The pre-race ceremonies also honored the just announced inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Class. Pictured on the Stage: Inductee, Richard Petty; Inductee, Junior Johnson; Brian France representing inductees Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr.; and Teresa Earnhardt representing Dale Earnhardt Sr. We will be celebrating their official induction next may.

Drivers introductions call out each driver specifically and then they take a pace lap. Pictured here is Christopher Malayter's twin, Tony Stewart.

A view of the track as the lights come on and race gets ready to begin.

While walking to our seats, Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin complete their pace laps. Jacqueline would have been jealous
The flag stand. The green flag will wave soon enough!

A view of the track from our seats. The cars are doing the pace laps

The race is in full swing. Jimmie Johnson dominated most of the race and went onto win. It was a full, fun and cold day.