Tale of a GRITS

From Our Home to Yours

2011-12-20T08:38:00.000-05:00

Card by Minted

Sugar and Spiced Nuts

2011-12-19T08:48:00.004-05:00

Every year I try to find something to make for neighbors and friends. Last year it was loaves of Pumpkin Bread, the year before white-chocolate dipped peanut butter Ritz Bitz (best thing ever, if you're looking for something easy and delicious).

This year, I thought I'd try my hand at cinnamon sugar nuts. It took three tries, but I finally got it right. The first recipe called for making it on top of the stove, but it was far too sticky. The second is very similar to what I ended up with, but still didn't taste quite right. I altered it a little bit, and wound up with a delicious and perfect cinnamon sugar nut!

I found the original on All Recipes.com but I changed it just a tad. Instead of one cup of sugar, I used about 3/4 cup and added two tablespoons of light brown sugar. Everything else remained the same. It is key to spread the nuts out evenly and stir every 15 minutes. They weren't sticky at all and had the perfect combination of sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. I did one batch of almonds and a second of pecans, and then mixed them together once they were baked.

I used large mason jars for packaging and an Erin Condren label on the jar. Two batches (one pecan, one almond) filled three mason jars. Next time, I think I'll use smaller jars so I can fill more, especially considering the price for nuts.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

'Tis the Season

2011-12-16T13:27:00.005-05:00

I feel like I got hit by a reindeer! This week has been full of Christmas parties and I played hostess at two of them! Needless to say, back-to-back hostessing is not good for any part of my body and my feet are resting comfortably today in a pair of flats.

At work, we hosted a Holiday open house at our new office. Since the beginning of our organization, we have sublet space inside another company. And by space, I mean cubicles. As of last week, we are in our own office with individual offices. It's glorious! Here are a few photos of my new office.

I have a massive wall and 12-foot ceilings, and can't figure out what to put on it. Suggestions are welcome!

As you can see, I have a lot of unused space behind my desk and not sure how to fill it. I'm thinking some nice patterned chairs could be fun.

Last night, my mom hosted a party for her clients and my sister and I served as co-hostesses. I took most of the day off to help set up and prepare food and it turned out beautifully. My mom is always the hostess with the mostess. I loved the table display and thought it was so whimsical.

We served poinsettia cocktails and I must say, these are the perfect Christmas beverage! So delicious and very festive.

Seasons

2011-12-11T12:37:00.003-05:00

Well I think it's safe to say that I will not be winning any blogger-of-the-year awards, will I? When I look back at the past year, I'm a little disappointed that I have blogged less than 50 times this year. The year 2011 was a difficult and trying year for many reasons, but I'm thankful and blessed to ending it on a good note. I'm sad that I didn't document more of our experiences, however I am excited about 2012 and what it will hold and plan to blog as much as I can.

As my title suggests, I believe life is full of seasons. Some are beautiful and optimistic, others dark and dreary. God tested my strength and faith in many ways. I've said before that I believe God doesn't give you more than you can handle. However, I no longer believe that to be true. He DOES give you more than you can handle, but only because we aren't meant to handle such things on our own. We need to lean - and sometimes heavily - on HIM! Let's just say that was the story of my life for 2011.

However, the year was definitely not all bad, just brief moments. Because I haven't blogged since August, I want to quickly document some of the (mundane) memories. Sometimes mundane can be a good thing, though, right? Forgive the lack of pictures associated with events, but I do have some intertwined from our recent family photo shoot with Candace Carroll.

1. Who'd have guessed in August that UGA would have a winning season? We were so fortunate to receive free tickets to the season opener at the Georgia Dome, and left thoroughly disappointed. Who would have guessed the team would be back there for the SEC Championship Game? Matt attended with a friend and was on television - twice!

2. I turned 27 in September and actually had a small birthday party with friends. It's been years since I had a birthday party, and I gotta say, it does a girl good to celebrate turning a year older with friends.

3. We started "hiking". I use that word loosely, but I suppose it's fairly accurate. We discovered some trails near our house and now go there about once a week with Tucker. There are tons of mountain bikers, runners, and other people, so it's lots of fun and was beautiful during fall. We usually will walk/run on the trails, and I'm convinced I'm going to break my ankle one day due to my constant tripping over rocks and roots.

4. Kim Kardashian got married and divorced. Oh, wait that has nothing to do with me, but it does fit in the time line of August to present ;)

5. I traveled to Chicago and New Orleans for work. Chicago is amazing during August and New Orleans is still one of my favorite places. I'm so thankful that next year will only call for about six business trips! Whoo hoo.

6. Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm about to blog this. I know Mrs. Smith is laughing out loud, but I totally caved to the Erin Condren mania on Twitter and bought a freaking Life Planner. And yes, it has changed my life. That's all I've got to say about that.

7. Speaking of Mrs. Smith, Jessie and I traveled to Nashville in October for a visit and also met some other cool bloggers. I still can't believe some of my dearest friends that I speak to daily (even if via Twitter) were met online.

8. And for another speaking of...Twitter. Are you on it? I am and have been actively tweeting despite my apparent lack of blogging. I'm also loving and stalking Pinterest daily. Find and follow if you haven't already.

9. Finally, as Buddy the Elf says, the very best way to "spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear!" So, sing sweet friends. Sing loudly. Merry Christmas :)

Here's hoping this is not my last post in 2011.

Books & Cakes

2011-08-22T15:59:00.003-04:00

My two favorite things. Since I haven't been posting very frequently this summer, I wanted to share a few books I read and thoroughly enjoyed. These aren't full reviews, just a few quick suggestions if you're looking for something to read.

1. Room, by Emma Donoghue. Oh my gosh. I was hesitant to read this, but it totally captivated me. I can't believe it's written from the perspective of a five year old boy. I would love to see this become a movie.

2. A Stolen Life, by Jaycee Dugard. After reading Room, of course I had to read the true-story version. The situations aren't identical at all, but are very similar. This woman deserves to be People magazine's "Most Beautiful Person." Her strength and courage is incredible as she describes the horrific situations she encountered.

3. Happy Birthday, Danielle Steel. Y'all know I love a good Danielle Steel book and this one may be my favorite. Every year, her books become less cheesy and more sensible (in some ways). The characters are still movie stars and super rich, but it's not as cheesy and dorky as past novels.

4. Summer Rental, Mary Kay Andrews. This too is a great easy read, as are all of her books. The character is a little frustrating because she's so passive-aggressive, but I liked the setting and plot a lot. Also, this writer has a blog so that's cool!

After you select one of these books to read, mix up this recipe and you'll have a perfect pairing.

Gran-Gran's Southern Pound Cake

My grandmother is known for her delicious pound cakes. When I got married, she sent the recipe to one of the kitchen showers I had. Well, three years later I finally made it! I really can't believe it took me this long because a) I always have these ingredients on hand and b) it is so easy!

1 8 oz block of cream cheese. Don't be stingy here and choose low fat. Go for the regular.
3 sticks of unsalted butter, room temp
3 cups of sugar
3 cups of all purpose flour
6 eggs
1.5 teaspoon lemon flavoring (not juice...maybe it was just me who had to clarify)
2 teaspoons of vanilla or almond flavoring

Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time. On a slower setting, add flour a little at a time. Beat in flavoring. Pour in greased bundt pan and bake at 325 for 1.5 hours.

Do you eat pound cake plain or with sauce or sides? I prefer it plain, and can eat it warm and room temperature. Personally, I think it makes a fabulous breakfast.

Preppy School Accessories

2011-08-18T08:08:00.007-04:00

School supplies and accessories are one giant perk of Back to School season. And these days, Office Depot, Staples and Target certainly have no shortage of colorful notebooks, pens, and desk supplies. However, these are a few items I think kids and teens could truly use this school year!

Love this lacrosse stick cover by Two Pre ppy Girls!

Insulated Snack Square, perfect for snacks or lunch, by Monogram Chick.

Such a cute Pencil Case, by Monogram Chick!

And don't forget about those lovely ladies enduring I mean enjoying Rush Week! Sassy Sorority has everything and anything monogrammed with Greek letters.Every sorority girl needs a frame for her bid day picture!

Love this Greek letter Cross! Would be cute in a dorm room!

First Day of School + Shrimp Creole

2011-08-17T10:07:00.004-04:00

Growing up, my mom always let us pick a favorite dish for dinner on the First Day of School and our Birthdays. Even though these two holidays usually fell within a month of one another (School, sometime in August and my birthday in September), I always chose the same dish year after year. My mother's shrimp creole was simply the best!

Ritual first day of school bus-stop photo. I can't recall what grade this was, but I vividly remember that dress! We bought it at the Gap and my sister wore the matching seafoam green version. I think our headbands matched as well. I can almost guarantee that white, canvas Keds shoes were on my feet that day.

A few months ago, I came across a shrimp creole recipe on Skinny Taste. I made it this summer and it was absolutely delicious, and the best part was it tasted just like mom's. Just as I remembered, I served it over white rice (might as well go for the calories) and Matt and I both enjoyed the low-country twist on this Cajun favorite.

Without even thinking, I ended up making this exact same dish on Monday, August 15, the first day of school where we live. I can't believe it didn't come to me when I was meal planning for the week, but at some point when cooking, it hit me. Enjoying my childhood favorite on the first day of school took me back. I miss the days of buying college-ruled notebooks and white, canvas Keds shoes, receiving the pink postcard with my teacher's name, and the anticipation of the first day of school. The shrimp creole took me back to my childhood where days were long and filled with laughter and ease.

Of course, my glass of wine (not routine during my childhood shrimp creole meals) quickly brought me back to reality, where the days are quick and often not easy. However, I'm thankful for childhood memories and hope I can one day create the same traditions for our future children as my parents did for me. Wouldn't it be wonderful to fix shrimp creole in August for years and years to come?

Did you have a First Day of School tradition or meal?

Book Review: Yankee Doodle Dixie

2011-08-13T21:00:00.008-04:00

If there is one thing that will draw me out of a blogging break, it's a good book review. Considering my lack of posts this summer, you should know that I wouldn't be writing about this book if I didn't think it worthy.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by St. Martin's Press to review the sequel to a book I previously read and wrote about. A few years ago I received "Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter" by Lisa Patton for Christmas. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale of Leelee Satterfield, a Tenessee GRITS and a true steel magnolia who weathered (quite literally) more than her fair share of struggles when her (ex) husband uprooted the family from Memphis to Vermont to run a bed and breakfast inn. The book was an absolute delight to read and I have since recommended it to several friends, loaned out my own copy, and re-read it on my Kindle this winter.

So, when St. Martin's Press asked if I would be interested in receiving a complimentary copy of Patton's second novel "Yankee Doodle Dixie" to read and review, I jumped at the opportunity. I wasn't aware that Patton was writing a sequel and was thrilled to reconnect with Leelee Satterfield. It comes as no surprise that Patton has once again written a fantastic story that is both relatable and hysterical.

The second novel picks up just a few hours after the first story ends, which I love considering I never want stories to end. Leelee is on her way back to Memphis with her two daughters and is faced with a new home, job search, recent divorce, and possible relationship.

With grace, wit and charm, Leelee shows true determination in looking out for herself and her daughters. She accepts a job as an administrative job at a radio station, rents a cute little home, and reconnects with those hysterical three best friends we all loved in the first novel. Since readers did not experience Memphis in the first novel, I think Patton does a good job of re-establishing Leelee in her home town and showing readers the city's flavor.

Always a fan of women as role models, I was pleased to see Leelee once again prove she isn't afraid of hard work, sweat or tears. She sets an example to both her daughters and other friends; Leelee not only overcomes her struggles, she far surpasses them and becomes a better woman for them.

One thing I particularly enjoyed reading about is Leelee's relationship with her dear friend Kissie. It's obvious that the 80-something-year-old black woman who worked for Leelee's parents long ago is near and dear to her heart. The two women are very much like mother and daughter and their relationship is something precious. When Patton intertwines remnant memories of Leelee's childhood experiences, you come to see that Kissie has in many ways shaped Leelee's life and just as she's doing now, served as a mentor and friend during times of sadness or struggle.

The book mixes both realistic scenarios and slightly outrageous possibilities, keeping you laughing and empathizing throughout. Patton's descriptions and dialog draw you in to the story, making you feel right alongside the characters.

"Yankee Doodle Dixie" tells a true-to-life story about a woman anyone of us could be or know - a recently divorced mom faced with the challenges of living a new life in her former hometown. However, at the end of the day, Leelee maintains her steel magnolia grace and wit, proving that with time, women can have their cake and eat it too.

"Yankee Doodle Dixie" will hit shelves in September and I look forward to purchasing the published version. It's a terrific story and appears at a time (economically, speaking) when all women can use a little inspiration!

Note: St. Martin's Press gave, at no cost to me, a complimentary copy of "Yankee Doodle Dixie" for the purpose of this review. I did not receive monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed on Tale of a Grits are purely my own. Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for this unique opportunity.

Contentment

2011-07-19T07:53:00.003-04:00

I haven't been around the blog world lately. It doesn't mean I'm not reading, just haven't opened up my own blog to put thoughts to paper, so to speak. This time, I have no excuse. Work is busy, but I'm fortunate to be leaving at or around 5 p.m. lately. We haven't traveled a lot - though that will be changing this week as I have two conventions to attend. And we haven't been particularly swamped with plans. It's wonderful, actually.

So, why haven't I been blogging?

I'm busy.....being completely and wholeheartedly content with life right now.

To sound a little bit trite and somewhat like Ferris Bueller, life is a constant journey and I'm trying to look up and soak in the present. There have been times in my past when it felt like there was no light at the end of the struggles God placed before me.

But there was light. And we are living and seeing it daily now! So why haven't I been blogging the joy that life has brought the summer? Why am I not sharing these daily laughs, delicious experiences, joyful moments?

I'm too busy living in them.

Praising God for our jobs.

Walking the dogs and stopping to visit with neighbors.

Meeting new friends and catching up with old.

Sipping wine on the porch.

Trying new classes at the gym.

Experimenting with recipes and projects.

Saving and planning for the future.

Running errands and stopping for frozen yogurt.

Forgive me for sounding cliche. But this is where we are with life and I am absolutely loving it. This is what contentment feels like. Not wondering when things will change, for better or worse. Just simply living the individual moments that strung together create days and days of absolute delight.

I love this blog and the readers and the chance to look back at my past. I'm not closing up shop or going private. I want to share about the many things that will come in the future, be it small or big. But today and for right now, I'm just thankful for contentment. Thankful and living in each and every moment.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-15T10:24:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow I'm headed here for the 2nd Annual Mother/Daughter trip!

Only thing that stands between me and the photo above.....4 meetings, 2 RFPs, and a load of laundry....

2011-06-14T08:26:00.004-04:00

I finally get it. I mentioned a few days ago that I had signed up, but had not spent any time on it. After loading the Pin It button to my toolbar....I suddenly get the obsession.

Know what I'm most excited about? When I spend time scrolling through phone slide shows on places like Southern Living, I can now capture the images I like for future inspiration. Like this pink and green kitchen. Other sites I love to explore and now capture include Better Homes and Garden magazine, Real Simple, Hostess Mostess and Garden & Gun.

I'm suddenly feeling the need to redecorate, host a party, clean out my closet or simply re-evaluate the items I've tossed aside.

Are you pinning, yet? How will you use Pinterest?

When Life Hands you Lemons....

2011-06-13T11:30:00.003-04:00

Kids have it too easy these days, I tell ya. Life isn't handing these kids lemons, Target is.

As much as I love Target, they have taken it one step too far in creating the perfect summer for kids. This weekend I came across pre-made lemonade stand marketing tools. I thought to myself, seriously? No. Target, if you want to encourage lemonade stands and entrepreneurship, then this section should have been filled with poster board paper and markers.

Mark my words, my kids will make their own signs for their lemonade stands.

End of soap box.

iPhone Pictures

2011-06-10T11:01:00.004-04:00

Ever since I purchased the iPhone, I have been terrible about using my real camera. The iPhone 4 camera is fantastic, so I find myself snapping photos all the time, but rarely sharing them. Here a few from my camera roll over the last few weeks.

The other night, the little girl next door came to our house and was selling rocks. Not just any rock...rocks she had colored on. They were .25 cents each, and I thought she was adorable, so I bought four.

Well....I guess she valued me so much as a customer that the following day, I came home to find a monogrammed rock on my door step. So precious. I put them in a little dish in the guest bath.

Do you think this bag is cute or ugly? It was the deal of a lifetime and I loved it online, but it is...bold...in person. The bag retails for about $150. I saw in on One Kings Lane for $65 and used my $30 for $60 Groupon to One Kings Lane. So, I bought the bag for $5 plus shipping. I plan to use it for work. I travel quite a bit during the summer and fall, and my beige computer bag was starting to look dull. Thoughts?

This is Boomer, my parents' Maltese. He gets so excited when we visit!

This is Coco, my precious Maltese. I took Coco with me the other day to run some errands. I wasn't planning to get out of the car - going to places like the bank, dry-cleaning, pharmacy, etc. - so I knew he'd like to tag along. He loved the people at my dry-cleaners! They picked him up and gave him some attention. It was cute. Too bad I couldn't leave him to be cleaned.

I loved this hat! This was in the gift shop at the Atlanta History Center, which if you live in Atlanta, is worth visiting. It's a fantastic addition to our city, and the current Margaret Mitchell and Gone With the Wind exhibit is very interesting. Back to the hat, I felt like a true Southern Bell with it on and would love to own it. Not sure where I'd where it to, but I'm sure I could find a few occasions.

Thursday Tidbits

2011-06-09T08:30:00.006-04:00

A few tidbits on this humid and hot Thursday morning....

1. When I was painting my toes this morning (sidebar - CVS carries Essie nail polish now! Great use of CVS extra bucks if you ask me), and Matt asked if I was going to do my nails too. I said no, they're too short. I've been biting and picking the heck out of them lately, a habit that needs to stop. He said completely serious, "well, then you need some extensions." Haha! I thought that was cute. When we first were dating, I got acrylic nails done quite often. I've never thought of them as "extensions." Men are funny. Sometimes.

2. I love Skinny Taste blog and have found several delicious recipes that are both healthy and easy to make. Considering my love for chicken nuggets - be it McDonalds, Chick-fil-A or frozen Tyson nuggets - I had to try the Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets recipe. It was delicious and super easy.

3. I know everyone is talking about Pinterest and I have just recently started spending some time using it. It really is a great tool for collecting ideas. To be honest, I sometimes have a hard time looking at pictures of houses and home decor because I get super envious. I have to remind myself that these things take time and I can't possibly have a Pinterest-filled house in one day. If you want a referral, leave your e-mail address in the comment and I'll send you one.

4. I wish I were more creative with home decor. I have never had an eye for piecing things together. I know what I like when I see it. But, I'm not the type who can go to flea markets, TJ Maxx and other random stores and find all these cool pieces that together make a really cool room.

5. Looking for a few beach reads this summer? Recently I have enjoyed Here, Home, Hope; 44 Charles Street; and Waking Up in Dixie. These were three really quick and fun reads that I finished during Memorial Day weekend. Next on my list....Mary Kay Andrews new book Summer Rental and Jennifer Weiner's new book, Then Came You. I Have heard great things about the Divergent series, supposed to be similar to Hunger Games, which I loved. So I may check that out as well.

Calling Cards

2011-06-08T08:14:00.004-04:00

There have been a few occasions recently where I have given my personal contact information to new friends or neighbors. While I have business cards for work, I feel silly handing that to someone when really I'd prefer to give them my cell phone or personal e-mail address. I realized exactly what I was missing.....personal calling cards! Of course! I've seen them before for mothers to use for their children, things like "Mom of Joe and Sally".

So, I did some searching online and came across tons of cute options. I think these should be a staple in our wallets and pockets today. You never know who you'll meet and think what a great impression it makes to hand them a customized card containing your information. I kept mine simple and just listed my name, cell phone number and e-mail address. But, you could add your blog, Twitter handle or Facebook page.

There are so many cute ones out there! I was searching for the least expensive, so I landed at Shutterfly where I found this cute Fontaine Maury card.

I was able to order 50 for $15....by far the best price I could find for pre-printed cards. If you would like, you can buy adorable calling card templates on Etsy and print them at home. I think there were several templates available for $10.

Other great options can be found on Minted and Muffy Writes a Note! I love these two sites and their paper designs are just beautiful. I have mixed reviews about abnormal sized cards. In business, it drives me crazy when someone hands me a smaller card because I usually lose it.

Minted.

Muffy Writes a Note.

I can't believe I didn't think of these sooner. I think of all the situations in which I have to write my info on scrap paper, text it to someone, or say "find me on Facebook". In the age of constant communication, why wouldn't we want to hand someone a card with our information. I am so excited to have found such cute and super affordable cards to hand to new friends at Junior League, Church and other situations. And single ladies.....really, how cute would this be to hand to a cute guy who asks for your number?? ;)

Swim Suit Confidence

2011-05-25T08:57:00.005-04:00

Every single summer since I was little, I have struggled with feeling confident in a swim suit. Though I spend hours searching and will spare no expense for the right fit, when I walk out to the beach or step into the pool, I feel as though every flaw is being exposed to the public.

I came across this campaign earlier today and it made me think about swim suit confidence....or my lack-there-of. Lands End has partnered with the Curvy Girl Guide to ensure that every woman regardless of size feels confident in her bathing suit this summer. The girls at the Curvy Girl Guide posted photos of themselves in Lands End swim suits and they look fabulous. Truly, they do!

Entirely coincidental, I am actually a lover of Lands End swim suits. They fit right, feel good and are priced affordable. You can very easily find a tankini or one piece that is age appropriate and not too old-ladyish. Last summer I purchased a black retro-inspired tankini and a navy halter top tankini from Lands End. Both held up great and almost make me feel comfortable.

This summer I had resigned myself to the fact that I may just be a cover-up kinda girl. I thought, rather than investing in a new suit, I will just purchase several beautiful cover-ups that I can wear with a big hat and sunglasses. Chic, right?

But, after seeing these women and this campaign, I am re-thinking my idea. Who wants to spend all summer in a cover-up? I love these suits and am thinking I need to head over to Sears (yes, our Sears actually sells Lands End and Lands End Canvas clothing and swim suits!) to try on a few suits.

I know this post is random. But, I found it timely that the week I have been worrying myself silly about wearing a swim suit, Lands End and Curvy Girl launch this awesome campaign. Of course I won't stop running, doing the 30 Day Shred or watching what I eat. But I could...maybe...stop worrying about what my hips look like in a swim suit. It's all part of being a woman. We all struggle with different insecurities and this just happens to be mine.

I hope I can remember this campaign and the beautiful women on Curvy Girl Guide when I step on the beach in a few weeks. Life is far too short to be worrying about a few extra pounds.

Here's to summer and the confidence to swim!

Bullet Point Wrap Up

2011-05-20T08:49:00.005-04:00

On one hand it's hard to believe it's already Friday, yet on the other it seems like this week has dragged on forever! I worked the past three two Saturdays, so I'm super thankful to have a weekend at home. I'm actually looking forward to spending a few hours cleaning and working in the yard tomorrow. ;) It's the small things, I suppose!

A few fun and random things for your Friday.....

1. My third favorite Southern lifestyles magazine (#1 is Southern Living and #2 is Southern Lady) is available on Groupon today. Garden & Gun is a gorgeous magazine and you can score six issues for just $10!

Garden & Gun, the month my former town was featured in it ;)

2. I purchased Skinny Girl margarita this week and was surprised at 1) how affordable it is and 2) how delicious it tastes! Bethenny is a genius. Don't you just want to slap yourself for not thinking of this idea first? I love that it's just $12.99 and includes the tequila. Easy as pie to pour yourself a marg that's bikini friendly.

3. Matt got a new job! I am so, SO proud of him. I can't share too many details about it, but it's with a company he wanted to work for nearly two years ago and wasn't offered the job then. It's funny how God's timing is always perfect and right.

4. My sister and I saw the movie "Something Borrowed" last weekend. Look, I know it's gotten a bad wrap and all, but really the book wasn't complete without its sequel "Something Blue", so why would we think the movie would be? I loved it and cannot wait to see it continued and concluded in the sequel.

5. Tucker was attacked (I use the word loosely because it wasn't that bad) by a dog in the neighborhood last week. At first we didn't think it broke the skin, but later we realized he was left with two bite marks. I'm very dramatic with the dogs...imagine that? He'll be fine though; it looks worse than it is.

Reasons to Smile

2011-05-10T12:32:00.004-04:00

Today has been one of those days when nothing seems to go right. However, in the midst of the chaos, I have found two reasons to smile today! I'm sure I'll find a few more as the day goes on, but for now, these two are it.

1. This photo by Smilebooth. Taken at the wedding we attended on Saturday night. I love the new trend of photo booths at weddings. It makes for a fun moment and memory. I ordered a print of the photo - any photo that makes me smile is definitely frame-worthy.

2. This article, "What Your American Girl Doll Says About the Rest of Your Life." Did you own an American Girl doll growing up? I was BFF with Kirsten and my sister had Samantha. Those dolls are still amazingly popular. The American Girl store in Atlanta is a fantastic dream-world for AG owners. And, get this, 70 percent (70!) of the traffic at that store is from out of town. It's a huge draw!

You have to go read the entire article because it's a hoot. Here is the portion about Kirsten and what it says about me because I owned her. And, no, for the record I am not into jam-making nor do I think I'll do fine post-apocalypse. And, I definitely owned Kirsten because she was blonde. Duh.

Kirsten Larson:

You probably got Kirsten because she was blond, or because you read a lot of Little House on the Prairie books. (It definitely wasn’t because of her "St. Lucia Christmas Outfit" ... yikes!)

Whatever superficial motivation led you to choose Kirsten, you quickly learned that life as a Swedish immigrant in Minnesota is not all lingonberry pie and ice fishing. Not halfway through the first book does Kirsten's best friend Marta die suddenly and tragically of cholera. This was shocking and horrifying. Obviously, you were used to cholera deaths (this being the age of Oregon Trail), but this time it was different.

You therefore grew up to be a bit more thoughtful, a bit more reserved than your peers. You also find yourself inexplicably drawn towards crafts like knitting, jam-making, and quilting. You secretly suspect that you'd manage just fine in a post-Apocalyptic setting, should things come to that. You were surprised and delighted to see some of Kirsten's outfits come back into style in certain enclaves of Brooklyn.

Art Festival Finds

2011-05-09T13:01:00.007-04:00

I hope everyone had a beautiful Mother's Day! We had quite a busy weekend and it was wonderful to cap it off with dinner to celebrate my mama. I was excited to give my mom a gift she had originally seen on my blog. She loved the state-shap ed cutting boards, so we gave her the South Carolina version, her home-state. They are beautiful in person and a really nice size!

This weekend was extremely busy - not only did I work Saturday and Sunday, but attended a wedding shower, wedding, and a graduation party! All of the parties were lovely and had unique touches to them. But by Sunday night, I was wiped out! Poor Tucker was up for hours last night itching. I'm thinking it's from seasonal allergies - I read that dogs scratch a lot during allergy season - so I gave him some Benadryl for relief. I hope it helps. Mama and Tucker need sleep tonight.

The Art Festival took place this weekend for the City I work for, so I was busy with that during the day. It's one of the best festivals in the Southeast and features more than 150 vendors. I did manage to do a little shopping and wanted to share a few of my favorite vendors that offer online shopping!

Atlanta Vintage Travel sells fantastic vintage-style posters and prints featuring famous travel landmarks. There is also a sports collection featuring SEC and ACC football teams. I purchased the small Athens Chapel print because M and I were married there. I love some of the larger ones and think they'd be awesome in a basement.I also came across Christina Kober Designs jewelry and love the fortune cookie necklaces. They are so delicate and unique! The initial necklace is very similar to the Tiffany & Co version, except much more budget-friendly ;)

And finally, Bearly Chenille hand-makes teddy bears, rabbits and baby blankets from vintage chenille bedspreads. They are absolutely adorable and cuddly. She actually doesn't sell online, but there is a Facebook Page and she can be contacted for orders. If you're logged into Facebook, you can see her profile. The bears are precious!!And, unrelated to Art Festival, but M and I came across the website Kick It Back, a cash-back program for online shopping. Anyone familiar with it? We love anything like that - eBates, Swag Bucks, etc. If you're into those types of money-saving sites too, check it out.

Wine-a-Rita

2011-05-06T08:17:00.004-04:00

With the days getting longer and warmer, the drinks are getting cooler. I tend to spend a lot of time on our back porch with some kind of glass in hand. During the day, it may be Crystal Light pink lemonade or the evening it may be a chilled glass of white wine. I discovered these refreshing drink mixers and have ordered a few to enjoy on the warm summer nights! Since I know most of you are wine-o's too, I had to share ;)

Wine-A-Rita takes classic drink mixes like peach bellinis, margaritas, and cosmopolitans and mixes them with wine. Just add white or red depending on the mix and blend. The mixes are just $12....combined with a little Two Buck Chuck, and you have yourself a very budget-friendly (albeit, not so much waist friendly) beverage!

A Dream Come True

2011-04-29T13:27:00.003-04:00

Photo courtesy of the British Monarchy Flickr page. For real. Check it out.

By now I'm sure you've all seen the coverage. The Royal Wedding was absolutely spectacular. The British truly know how to put on a class-act event. Everything from the arrivals to the crowds were perfect. I couldn't believe how cooperative, respectful and behaved the crowds were. You know, I've heard and read a few things here and there that Americans don't care about the wedding, the British are mad about the tax dollars, that it's a big ole' waste of time. From what I saw this morning - and the fact that around 2 billion people were watching - I'd say this is just the sort of "pomp and circumstance" the world needed to rejuvenate. There are terrible things happening all over the world, from wars to natural disasters. For one day, the Royal Wedding redirected people's attention, created a unified feeling of being in love with love, and I truly think re-energized people's emotions.

As the Duke and Duchess begin their new life together, I pray that the media will leave them alone. As much as I adore seeing their photos and I'll be the first to buy up every magazine or view it online, I really want them to live happily ever after with the peaceful and private life they deserve.

I am so looking forward to gathering with a few girls tonight, reliving all of the arrivals and moments, discussing everything from flowers to hats, and toasting the modern Royal couple.

It was a day I won't soon forget. The 4 a.m. wake up call was completely worth it and I look forward to sharing the details with my future children.

Cheers!

Thursday Tidbits

2011-04-28T14:50:00.005-04:00

Just wanted to share a few things with you today! First of all, I'm sure you've heard about the devastation in the South. From dreadful flooding in Arkansas to horrific tornadoes in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and many other states, the results are devastating and tragic. I have several friends in North Georgia who were affected and because of the blog world, know of many women across the other states that were affected. It's heartbreaking to hear that their communities have been ripped apart. Please keep the residents and government officials of those areas in your prayers.

Few things....

1. A quick plug for Georgia Tourism - the 80 Days of Georgia Giveaways begins March 2. There are some wonderful vacations and prizes being given away....from the Coast to the Mountains and everything in between. Sign up at www.80daysofga.com.

2. You may recall the adorable cake pops I served at the Mardi Gras party. They were precious and a huge hit!

Well, they were created by a girl from work and she has started a little side business called ATL Cake Pops. If you are in Atlanta, check out her Facebook page. They are adorable for birthdays, weddings, showers, etc. And they're delicious!

3. I lost my mind again and volunteered to help coordinate a Family Reunion this summer. My family reunion. More specifically, my mother's side of the family. It's actually going to be super easy and a lot of fun. It's one day for a few hours in Greenville, S.C. and everyone is bringing a covered dish. There is no doubt it's going to be h-o-t, so I'm looking at having some old-school Church fans made for the group. We've used these for festivals before and they truly work. But really, I need to stamp this on my forehead and stop raising my hand.

4. I really can't wait to watch the Royal Wedding. I'll be up tomorrow morning at 4 a.m. to watch the festivities live. From what I understand, the balcony moment happens around 8:30 a.m. EST, so I'll head to work at that point ;) I relish in the tradition and historical moment that it is. To think that Kate Middleton was just born a normal little girl - her parents never dreaming she'd become a true Princess one day - is just about beyond the imagination. It's a real-life fairy tale for this woman - arriving at Westminster Abbey a {very blessed} Commoner and leaving as a member of the Royal Family. Amazing. I'm sure I'll cry tomorrow.....I know, I'm ridiculous.

Celebrating Easter

2011-04-24T19:52:00.004-04:00

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." John 11: 25-26

We had an absolutely wonderful weekend celebrating Easter and the life that Jesus has given to us. It was filled with sweet memories, family gatherings, dear friends, and delicious food.

On Friday night, Matt and I saw Water for Elephants. I have been looking forward to seeing this movie since I read the book and it was absolutely beautiful on screen. Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson have a true sense of chemistry and the acting was wonderful. Matt thought it was going to be a chick flick, but he really enjoyed the movie and agreed it will probably win awards.

Saturday was the celebration of baptism for my precious cousin, Peyton. I babysit for she and her brother often and love those two children so much. It was wonderful to celebrate her baptism on Easter weekend.

My cousin Ashley is a fabulous entertainer and had a luncheon complete with cake, pink champagne, and a full lunch following the ceremony. Isn't Peyton beautiful? I could just hold her all day!

Sunday we celebrated Easter with friends Tami and her husband. We went to Church and then enjoyed lunch on the patio at Front Page News. I think this is Matt's new favorite place ;)

I hope you enjoyed Easter weekend with you family and friends. It's easy to think that this holiday is all about the Easter Bunny, candy-filled eggs, and Cadbury (sure, they are nice additions and we are currently enjoying a few in our house). But, I have to agree with this quote posted on a friend's Facebook post this morning. It said, "Silly rabbit, Easter is for Jesus."

So true. Easter is for Jesus.

ZouBaby

2011-04-19T15:06:00.003-04:00

With all the April showers we've been having, I think these boots are just thing to add a little Spring to our steps! I read about ZouBaby Boots on College Prepster's blog and had to share.

Order your boots for April showers here!

Indian Wedding Ceremony

2011-04-19T09:06:00.004-04:00

This weekend, we traveled to Huntsville, Alabama - not an easy place to get to, I'll add - for some friends' wedding. Both are Indian so it was a traditional Hindu wedding. Never having been to a Hindu ceremony before, I didn't know what to expect. I did Google it and found a pretty accurate description on the Knot.

The Ceremony was absolutely stunning, full of tradition, meaning and beautiful music and colors. The women wore sarees in shades of teal (groom's side) and red (bride's side). I'm not sure what the colors mean, I heard a few reasons and wasn't sure what to believe. Some said it's for the region of India that the family is from, others said it reflects the caste or last name of the family. Either way, the colors were lovely!

We had a wonderful time dancing to the traditional Indian music at the reception. The food was traditional Indian food. Lots of flavor, but full of spice that my sensitive stomach can't handle.

It was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad we attended. I enjoy learning about other cultures and it's likely I will never make it to India to visit, so it was exciting to experience a piece of the tradition and culture.

iPhone Love

2011-04-15T14:38:00.005-04:00

I have officially been an iPhone user for five days and I can't believe I ever questioned the transition. It's pretty much the best thing ever and the capability is far greater than a BlackBerry. Once I learned how to use the keyboard and got my e-mail set up (much more difficult than BlackBerry to set up, so I enlisted the help of IT), I was good to go.

Here a few reasons why I am now an iPhone lover:

- Words With Friends. I now see why so many of you love this game. It's exactly like Scrabble, but you can keep the game open and ongoing while you continue to go about your daily life. When you're ready or its your turn, simply go back to the app and make your move.

- Royal Wedding app. You might be obsessed if.... Yes I'm obsessed with the Royal Wedding and with 14 days to go, I plan to keep up on all the latest info with the free app by NBC. It has news, history, photos, tradition details, etc. Download it if you too are obsessed.

- The camera. It's awesome and takes very high res photos. The app Instagram is cool too because you can change the look of photos right from your phone and save it.

- Speed. It's much quicker to look up something or search Google. It used to take several minutes for pages to load on my BlackBerry, but this is like searching from a computer....oh wait, it is searching from a computer ;)

- Touch screen. I really wasn't sure I'd like the touch screen. Where are the buttons? How do I end? How do I close something? But like all Apple products, it's extremely basic and everything you need is in front of you.

- Phone calls. Some told me the phone aspect was challenging because you might accidentally end a call by hitting "end" with your ear. I haven't found this to be a problem and I think it's very easy to maneuver your contacts, text messages, and call log.

I haven't figured on how to use Google Reader to keep up with blogs, but I'm sure there is a way. And, I need to order another charger for my office soon because the battery life is short. Overall, I'm very happy I made the switch. It's a never-ending source of entertainment ;)

Happy Birthday, Tucker

2011-04-12T10:37:00.002-04:00

So hard to believe that my baby boy is turning 4 this week. We aren't exactly sure of the day he was born, but it was around this time. He was six weeks old when we got him on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, so we estimate that he was born around April 11 or 12.

It's true what they say about a dog capturing your heart. Some days I can't imagine loving a child as much as I love Tuck and Coco ;) I'm sure that will all change someday, but for now, they are our babies!

Happy Birthday, Tucker!!!

Baseball and Jorts

2011-04-11T08:11:00.003-04:00

Let me start by saying this, I am not a Florida Gator fan ;) I know I've spent years chanting "Gators Wear Jean Shorts" and now I'm about to eat my words. I should also note that I'm not one to start a trend, so unless I feel others are already into it, I'm not about to take the first step. I was shopping on Saturday for some spring pants and came across a cute pair of blue jean shorts at Ann Taylor Loft.

I don't buy too many pairs of shorts since I don't wear them during the week, but these were cute and looked comfy. After trying them on I realized they were comfy and flattering and I actually liked them. And, before I knew it....I was buying my first pair of jean shorts since about 5th grade.

On Sunday, we had tickets for the Braves game. It was opening weekend at Turner Field and with 80 degree temps and a clear blue sky, it was perfect baseball weather.

I broke out my shorts on Sunday for the game and sent out a tweet on Twitter to confirm if I was in fact rocking a new trend or did I look like a nerd in jorts? I received mixed reviews. Do I care? Nope. I rocked those shorts with a tank and rainbow flip flops and I think it was a perfect spring/summer outfit.

I'm still not sure if these are an actual trend or more of a classic throwback to the nineties. Hard to believe the nineties were nearly 20 years ago. Eek. Anyway, what do you think? Will you be rocking a pair of jorts this summer?

Lipstick Shades

2011-04-07T19:40:00.005-04:00

We are due for phone upgrades and are finally making the switch from BlackBerry to iPhone this weekend! I have hesitated about upgrading to an iPhone because I'm not sure I'll enjoy the e-mail and phone capabilities as much as BlackBerry, but from what I hear, the apps alone make it worth the switch. Matt's BlackBerry continues to reset randomly throughout the day and mine freezes, so we're biting the bullet. As soon as I knew we were going to switch, I started looking at cases. I'm notorious for dropping my phone, so I need a good hard case. My co-worker shared this site with me and I am in love with all the preppy options!!

Lipstick Shades offers iPhone cases, iPad cases, melamine plates, trays and so much more. It's all customizable right down to the pattern color. Love!

I went with this green pattern with a navy script monogram. I love the apple green shown in the picture, so I just went with it. But, you can select from more than 10 or so different colors for both the pattern colors and the monogram colors!

Now that my soon-to-be iPhone will be well accessorized....what {free} apps do you deem must-haves!?

Cajun Cooking

2011-04-05T17:54:00.002-04:00

I never did write about the Mardi Gras party we hosted. It was so much fun and I think everyone had a great time! It was the first time I have ever attempted cooking Cajun food. Despite being married to someone from New Orleans, I don't eat that kind of food often so I never wanted to try cooking it. But, the two recipes I made for the party were delicious and several people have asked me to share them. I thought I'd post them here and you can all try your hand at Cajun cooking!

Big Easy Jambalaya
Source - allrecipes.com

1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup water
1 8 ounce package of Zatarain's Jambalaya mix (cheating? maybe, but so good!)
1 pound of large shrimp, peeled
1 package of andouille sausage, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Heat oil in large deep skillet or Dutch oven (I doubled the recipe, so I cooked it in a giant pot and it worked fine). Add onion and bell peppers; cook and stir 7 minutes or until veggies soften.

Stir in tomatoes, water and Jambalaya mix. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir in shrimp and sausage. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and rice is tender. Stir occasionally while cooking. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

Red Beans and Rice (made in the slow cooker!)
source - myrecipes.com

1 pound dried red beans
7 cups of water
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 garlic cloves (or jarred minced garlic)
1/2 pound andouille sausage, sliced
3 tablespoons of Cajun or Creole seasoning
Hot cooked white rice
Garnish - sliced green onions

Place first 8 ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 7 hours or until beans are tender. Serve over rice with the onions.

Both recipes are delicious alongside a Bloody Mary and followed by either bread pudding or bananas foster ;)

Weekend Updates

2011-04-04T10:38:00.003-04:00

Gosh it's been awhile since I updated! We had a wonderful weekend, full of sunshine and warm weather. I was able to get my hands in the dirt and pot some plants. Note, I am so not a gardner, but I do enjoy beautiful pots with flowers and such. Few fun things I've come across recently and wanted to share!

- Do you have a Bruster's nearby? We love Bruster's ice cream and were excited when Groupon offered a $10 special to the store near our house. We used it this weekend and decided to take Coco with us for the ride. I had no idea that Bruster's gives free ice cream to dogs! It was the cutest thing - a single scoop of vanilla with dog treats crumbled on top. Needless to say, Coco was in Heaven and thoroughly enjoyed his treat. Tucker was less than thrilled when he smelled the ice cream on Coco. Ha! Tucker gets to go to the park to run, so Coco gets ice cream. Fair is fair.

- I have read about Chocolate Blue frames before on Katie Rowe's blog. She has one for her three children and I think they are precious. I ordered the Noah one today for a sweet friend who recently lost her baby. They make precious keepsakes for babies and weddings! Need to remember these for future gifts.

- I cleaned out the freezer this weekend and came across cans of lemonade concentrate. They reminded me of the white sangria I made all last summer! For those who weren't reading last summer, this is absolutely the best sangria recipe! I can't wait to make it for the first time this spring/summer season very soon.

- We enjoyed brunch yesterday to celebrate Brandi's birthday! It was so fun to get together and try a new restaurant that I've heard so much about. Front Page News is a New Orleans courtyard-style restaurant located in Midtown Atlanta. It received Matt's New Orleans stamp-of-approval as he said it's the best bloody mary he's ever had! Can't wait to go back!

I'm so glad the weather is pretty! It makes everything happier :)

Summertime is calling me.....

2011-03-28T17:08:00.002-04:00

Are you a beach music lover? As in Carolina shag beach music? I'm talking about the Catalinas, the Tams, the Temptations, the Drifters and more! Thanks to our South Carolina-native parents, my siblings and I grew up listening and shagging to beach music since the day we were born. It's always about this time of year - when the weather starts to warm and the flip flops come out from the closet - that I just can't get enough of it. Perhaps it's the lack of spring break received after college or the drool-worthy catalogs you start receiving in Spring, but whatever the reason, I have beach fever bad!

Anyone up for a weekend road trip to the beach?

Week Update

2011-03-13T20:26:00.003-04:00

Maybe one of these days I will actually write a post that isn't a summary of the past week ;) Nevertheless, the past week held some very fun events, so I wanted to share. Alas, I don't have pictures to accompany every update, but words and links are fun too.

Chattanooga was a blast and I loved seeing Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Smith, and Tami! Mrs. Jones posted pictures this week, so check them out on her blog.

Mardi Gras was an absolute hit and everything turned out delicious. I used a red beans and rice recipe that uses the slow cooker and the Jambalya recipe is from Zatarain's. My mother took loads of photos, and I plan to have her e-mail them to me next week, so I'll share some then!

The final celebration of the week was for my Mother's birthday this weekend. It was actually yesterday, but the whole family celebrated tonight at our house. I made the shrimp and grits recipe previously posted and we enjoyed this beautiful (and delicious) cake from Cakes by Darcy, our favorite local bakery.

Perfect way to end the weekend :)

This is completely unrelated, but I came across this card earlier this week and laughed out loud. If you're a Democrat, please know that I completely respect your viewpoint, but you may not find this funny and I apologize in advance if you're offended ;) I didn't buy the card, but I sure did take a photo and send it to my sister.

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

2011-03-04T11:44:00.004-05:00

Time is passing me by and I can't ever seem to get to my computer long enough to blog. So many things are happening at work and there are several fun things going on at home and with friends. This weekend, I'm traveling to Chattanooga to meet up with a few other bloggers. I cannot wait to spend some time catching up with them. The weather is not looking pretty, but we all agreed that we will be just as content in a restaurant with wine, laughing and talking.

Mardi Gras is fast approaching as well and MJB and I have decided to throw a small little shindig for Fat Tuesday. Being the Louisiana boy that he is, well it just wouldn't be right to let this holiday pass without honoring it. I've been busy reviewing my Louisiana cookbooks for some easy and fun recipes to share with our guests. I also whipped up this Mardi Gras wreath for the season.

Fun, right? It was so easy - just a wire wreath base, two purple boas, some beads and die-cut signs. My (male) dogs were both fascinated by the purple boas and tried incessantly to catch hold of the flying feathers!! Sure, it's super tacky....but that's kind of what the whole holiday is about!

Last weekend I made this delightful Southern dish and it was simply to die for! Shrimp and Grits is hands down one of my favorite dishes and I am thrilled to have a go-to recipe for it. I took it from the Southern Living cookbook, but made some changes based on our preferences. It's quick and easy to whip up and absolutely divine!

Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients

2 cups water
1 can chicken broth
3/4 cup half-and-half (I used the fat free kind and it was still delicious)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup regular grits
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper
Few bacon slices
1 pound medium-size shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Bring first 4 ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan; gradually whisk in grits. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until thickened. Add cheeses, butter, and salt and pepper. Keep warm.

Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp; remove bacon, and drain on paper towels. Leave the bacon drippings in the skillet. Crumble bacon, and set aside.

Sprinkle shrimp with pepper and salt; dredge in flour.

Sauté mushrooms in bacon drippings drippings in skillet for 5 minutes or until tender. Add green onions, and sauté 2 minutes. Add shrimp and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes or until shrimp are lightly brown. Stir in chicken broth and lemon juice and cook 2 more minutes.

Serve shrimp mixture over hot cheese grits.

Returning...

2011-02-21T12:02:00.002-05:00

Soon! Things at work and at home will slow down after this week so I expect to return to blogging soon! I have truly missed writing and sharing things with you, and I look forward to re-joining the blog world soon, just in time for spring!

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens," Ecclesiastes 3:1

New Look

2011-01-18T14:23:00.003-05:00

You like the new look? I'm in love. It's a Penny Lane Designs prefab design. I was starting to think about getting a new look for the new year. When I saw this pre-designed template, I knew it was fate. The ladies at Penny Lane Designs were so great to work with and added a few customized additions to the design. Check them out if you are too are in need of a face-lift!

On a different note and awful timing because I just love my new design, I'm probably going to lay low for a few days. Everything is little hectic right now and I need to focus my time and mind elsewhere. I'll be back. I promise. :)

Things I'm Loving Right Now...

2011-01-14T11:06:00.005-05:00

I'm back in the office! Yay! I survived three snow days and was thrilled to get dressed and come to work yesterday.

Just a few things I'm loving right now....

This is the world's best all-in-one moisturizing lip, hand and face balm. My sister-in-law introduced me to Rosebud and I love it. It's definitely been quite handy with the snow and wind.

Vera Bradley posted about its new eReader sleeve a few weeks ago on Facebook and I knew right then I wanted it. I have a hard-back case cover for my Kindle, but this sleeve will be perfect for storing it when traveling. I ordered it this week in the new Lemon Parfait color you see here. For $30, this is much cheaper than the Kate Spade ones I was eying on Amazon. It is meant to fit most all eReaders, but it does not fit the iPad. However, the mini laptop case fits the iPad perfectly.
I first read about Fornash on Kappa Prep's blog. She wrote a post about their beautiful pink and green jewelry. What I fell in love with are the Boa scarves...coincidentally it's also a favorite of Oprah's! I ordered this light gold color one for my mother for Christmas. It's stunning with her blonde hair. This is truly an awesome product for the "woman who has everything!"
I hope you have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend! I'm thrilled to death to be headed out of town for the long weekend (I know, we just had three days off and now a holiday...). It will be wonderful to see some grass not covered in snow ;)

Snow Day Numero Dos...a rambling of thoughts

2011-01-11T17:58:00.004-05:00

I learned while watching the game last night (War Eagle) that I would be home a second day. This post is a rambling of my thoughts, because, well frankly I haven't had much thoughts today. I suppose that's what two snow days do to you. My first thought when I woke up this morning was I wish we had a television in the master bedroom. It isn't often that I want one in there, but on days like today, it would have been sweet. I then realized that I wish these two snow days had fallen on a Wednesday and Thursday. Coming off a weekend, I feel like I've had a double-dose of relaxation. I think *pray* we are working tomorrow. Ideally it will be a delayed start so I can still sleep until 8 a.m. The schools are canceled again tomorrow, but that's mainly due to buses. I can't wait to get dressed and put on an outfit. Though, I did shower and wash my hair today and put on some makeup and pearl earrings. Makes a girl feel good. M has actually been out of town. He was gone this weekend and didn't leave in time to get back before the storm. Don't worry, I froze a snowball for him...and have every intention of nailing him with it when he walks in the door. The dogs are going crazy and I've done everything but give them beer to keep them settled and calm. My only sanity today was that my parents and sister - who live a few miles away - drove over for a few hours. We had chili that mom brought over and played Apples to Apples. That is a super fun game. And I think suffering from cabin fever makes it more fun. I just looked back up at my title and realized I subconsciously wrote in Spanish. Know why? Because I'd kill for Mexican food right now. Between weight watchers and cabin fever, I'm seriously craving some queso and fajitas. I haven't strayed *too* far from my daily points value. More about that tomorrow, but really, other than a few glasses of wine per day (it wasn't like I was driving anywhere...), I've stayed within my points. I just decided to implement the rule that wine points don't count on a snow day. I'm trying to decide how to spend my evening tonight. I have watched too many movies and read some too. Not too into reading right now. Not sure why...I figured it would be all I do on these snow days. If you're still reading this, you rock. For now, I'm going to fix some dinner, pour some wine, and flip through the television. Here's hoping I can work tomorrow! Whoo!

Snow Day

2011-01-10T21:30:00.004-05:00

How about some bullet points to catch up on things?

- Snow. Lots of it! It started snowing about 9 p.m. last night and within an hour, we had a good inch or two of snow. This morning, we awoke to find nearly six inches of beautiful powdery snow. Unfortunately, sleet fell all day and covered the snow with nearly a half inch of solid ice. So, it's very difficult to walk on the snow...and the dogs are quite frustrated. Needless to say, everywhere was closed. We holed up at home, watching movies, reading books and generally relishing in a snow day. Tomorrow is another snow day...ask me about noon if I'm bored to tears yet.

A solid sheet of ice on top of the snow!

Tucker is a big fan of snow! Coco, not so much.

- Black Swan. My sister Lauren and I saw Black Swan Saturday afternoon. We figured a matinee was a safe bet. I'm not usually a fan of suspenseful and scary movies. Black Swan was neither. Psychotic, yes. Well acted, absolutely. Beautiful cinematography, without a doubt. But it wasn't the scary, nightmare-causing movie I expected. I really enjoyed the story and Natalie Portman deserves every nomination and award.

- Water for Elephants. I started reading this beautiful book recently. Then I saw a preview for the movie. Oh my. It's going to be fabulous. If you enjoy reading, I urge you to read the book first. Go ahead and picture Reese Witherspoon and Edward, I mean Robert Pattinson, as the characters.

For now, I'm cheering on a fellow SEC team and my sister's college - War Eagle! If you're in the south and experiencing the Winter Storm of 2011, stay warm and safe!

Bliss

2011-01-05T19:30:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was experiencing awful skin. I just wasn't happy with the tone and I felt like no amount of cleanser, toner or moisturizer helped. Though I've had facials before and always love them, I didn't want to spend the money on a facial or peel given it was Christmas. Plus, I knew I needed something that I could do once a week or so until my face evened out.

So, when I was Christmas shopping at Ulta, I asked the salesperson if she could reccomend a good at home facial or mask. She immediately showed me the Bliss products and said the Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask is absolutely the best. Well, she's right!

This product cleans out your skin, leaving it smooth and refreshed. I have been doing it twice per week for the past few weeks and can really tell a difference. I put my regular Neutrogena toner and moisturizer on top. My in-laws gave me some Estee Lauder items for Christmas and I'm loving the moisturizers. But, I probably wouldn't spend the money on it myself.

This mask will last a long time and feels like I'm leaving the spa each time I use it. I even made Matt try it the other night and he agreed it's a great product. If you need a refresher this winter, check it out!

Weight Watchers Kick Off

2011-01-04T19:59:00.003-05:00

I officially kicked off my Weight Watchers journey this evening with a meeting. I'm lucky in that a Weight Watchers storefront is literally a mile from our house. So, I'm committing to the Tuesday night 6:30 meetings (when I'm not traveling for work) so I'm in a consistent routine for weighing and staying on track.

There were several ways to purchase the books and tools. I like to be prepared and went ahead and bought the New Member Kit that includes a full food guide with specific brands (will be taking this to the grocery store), a dining out guide (not sure how helpful this will be since we tend to favor local restaurants, but some items may be comparable), a cook book, a daily tracker book, and a points plus calculator. Not gonna lie though, it was the packaging that sold me. How cute is this hot pink Built sleeve? It's really for an iPad, but serves a dual purpose for Weight Watchers tools.

The points plus system is interesting, includes lots of little books, but is really pretty basic. I think Weight Watchers has done a great job explaining the reasoning behind the new system and creating useful tools that can be used to fit individual lifestyles. I also love that fruits and (most) vegetables are 0 points.

One reason I like Weight Watchers is it's not all about the pounds. If I walked in tonight and they were like, "Ok! You have 30 pounds to lose!" I might jump ship. No one wants to think about it all at once. Instead, it's broken down by percentage of your weight, starting with a 5% target and then a 10% target. This to me is much more manageable...and I like to celebrate small accomplishments.

So, how far do I have to go? My 5% goal is 9 pounds, 10% is 17 pounds. I get 30 points plus per day, plus the 39 weekly points everyone gets.

I'm nervous about tracking it and about eating out for meetings or social events. But, I'm quite motivated given the number they recorded tonight is the highest I've ever been. I didn't tear or even get depressed. I knew this going in tonight and was prepared to face it. So, we're getting started. I'll head to the grocery tomorrow night, carrying the food guide with me. It may take an hour to get through Kroger, but I'd rather stock my home with foods I know I can eat.

I'll keep you posted on Wednesdays! If you want to link up, feel free to do so in the comments. I'll add a linky button if enough people are interested next week.

Unwrapping Christmas

2010-12-30T08:56:00.003-05:00

Christmas was absolutely wonderful this year. We left on Friday for Louisiana and were gone for several days. It was nice to get away and enjoy the holidays with my in-laws, whom we don't see too often. Though I was dreading taking Tucker and Coco with us, they ended up being a joy and had a great time playing with the other dogs in the fenced in backyard...something we don't currently have. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I'm glad we were able to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with our family and spend some time together.

A few highlights from our wonderful Christmas included...

- Matt's Christmas gift to me! He surprised me with a beautiful right-hand sapphire ring. Sapphire is not just my birth stone, but my favorite stone. The ring is lovely and is perfect for everyday wear.

Sorry for the poor picture quality...BlackBerry camera had to suffice as I {once again} forgot my camera...

- My Christmas gift to Matt! I gave him a bike! He enjoys cycling at the gym and has long wanted a bike to ride outdoors. We outfitted him with gear and accessories too, so he looks truly professional.

- Falcons vs. Saints. We were truly a house divided...with me being the only one to cheer for the Birds! It was a disappointing loss and as much as I love my in-laws, they all love to win...so it's not an easy place to be a loser ;)

- Reading, reading, reading. I am loving my Kindle. If you are someone who reads often and is debating buying a Kindle, do it! The books are so affordable and it's not at all like reading a computer screen. It is completely natural! I thought it might take some getting used to, but really it's as if you are reading a live page. I read four books while away and have some great recommendations for you: I'm So Happy for You by Lucinda Rosenfeld; Easily Amused by Karen McQuestion; Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews; and Whistlin Dixie in a Nor'Easter by Lisa Patton (read last year, but re-read this year on the Kindle).

- White Christmas. Atlanta had a white Christmas for the first time in something like 178 years. And, I missed it! I was so bummed when my Mom said it was snowing here and then I saw tons of tweets about it on Twitter. However, I will say that it was freezing in Louisiana on Christmas day, a rarity as far as I can tell. So, all was not lost.

Tomorrow night we will be ringing in the New Year at a Great Gastby themed bash! We were invited by some friends and decided it would be fun. Matt will wear his tux and I'm looking at buying this ruffle dress from the Loft (because I can wear it again!) and some 20s-era accessories like a hat, gloves, pearls, etc. Have any ideas? It will be quite the party and I'm so excited!

A Basic Black Hoodie? Think Again.

2010-12-21T08:15:00.004-05:00

Because we are spending Christmas with my in-laws, we exchanged gifts with my family last night. My mom is an awesome gift finder and my siblings and I grew up receiving very unique things she had discovered. This year, Matt and I received Kindle e-readers from my parents as our big gifts. This isn't too unique, but we are absolutely thrilled. Once I have it set up and figured out, I will do a full post about it. In the meantime, if you own a Kindle and have any insider tips, please share!

While the Kindle is awesome and something we both asked for, my mom gave us another gift last night that completely outdid the Kindle on the "cool" factor. When we opened them, we kind of looked at each other like, thanks for the sweatshirt!? At first glance, it's a basic zip-up hoodie sweatshirt from Old Navy. At second glance, it's a totally inventive piece of clothing and I can't believe I had never seen it. Of all the gift lists I reviewed this year in magazines, websites, etc., I never saw this product mentioned. (Note, since receiving it and doing a web search on it, I now see it's everywhere! Can't believe I was so out of the loop.)

The Old Navy Techno Hoodie has build-in earphones where a typical sweatshirt's hoodie strings are. And, in the waist pocket, there is a cord to connect your iPod. It's completely amazing and will be perfect for running, cycling, etc. (Note, I'm a little concerned about washing it though it says it's machine washable.)

I can't find it listed on the Old Navy website, otherwise I'd link directly to it. My mom said she purchased it recently in the store for just $15. It may be sold out online, but check your nearest Old Navy store for the item. If you have an iPod and enjoy running or walking, then this is an absolute must have! I'm sure other retailers will offer their versions of a techno hoodie soon, if they haven't already!

Christmas Cheer

2010-12-20T12:15:00.004-05:00

It's the most wonderful week of the whole year! I spent my weekend making final preparations for Christmas. We leave on Friday morning, but we have a week full of work (yes, I'm working) and Christmas parties. All of the shopping is done and gifts are wrapped. I cannot wait for Christmas morning because MJB is going to love, love, love his gift!

I made two Christmas treats this weekend and they were delicious. The first recipe are mint brownies - the recipe is from Julie's blog. Per usual, I have no photos to prove that I did in fact make them. You'll just have to take my word for it. I used red food coloring because I didn't have green and topped it with peppermint chips. They are so delicious and addicting.

The second recipe I made are red velvet whoopie pies. These are not a typical Southern treat, but are becoming increasingly popular here and I wanted to give them a try. They are so yummy! I snapped a photo of them with my BlackBerry and sent it to MJB to entice him home. Ha!

Finally, I watched this video on Kelly's Korner, but I wanted to post it here for those of you who haven't seen it. It's pretty incredible. The video tells the Christmas story...Facebook style!

This is the week of Christmas. The week our Lord and Savior was born many, many years ago. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas week and has a wonderful time celebrating the reason for the season!

Christmas Card Carousel

2010-12-17T21:13:00.004-05:00

This year I'm linking up on Faith's blog for her 3rd annual Christmas Card Carousel! Like most people, one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season are Christmas cards. It's so much fun to see pictures of friends and family. I display all the cards we receive on a red platter in the living room so I can look at them often. After Christmas, I put them all in a photo album. My mom has always done this and we used to enjoy looking at how the children and families change each year.

This is our card we sent out this year. The photography is by Candace Carroll and the card is Tiny Prints.

Merry Christmas!

Cook Books for Christmas

2010-12-15T15:08:00.004-05:00

I think cookbooks can make a great gift...if the person enjoys the kitchen! Cookbooks serve many purposes. I enjoy reading them, they are beautiful on coffee tables, and you can display them open using a cookbook holder like this one. These are some of my favorite go-to cookbooks that double as fun and useful gifts.

Top Row: 101 Ways to Cook Southern, Georgia Homegrown Cookbook, The Pioneer Woman
Middle Row: Hungry Girl 200 under 200 Calories, Cake Pops by Bakerella, Cooking up a Storm
Bottom Row: Thomasville's Pines and Plantations, Bon Appetit, Y'all, Atlanta Junior League True Grits

Weekend Recap

2010-12-13T10:34:00.002-05:00

We had the best weekend, concluding with hours and hours of beautiful snow flurries on Sunday. It was the perfect wintry weekend and a great start to the Christmas season. Unfortunately, I was a major fail with the camera. I have never been good at remembering to capture moments. Hopefully that will change one day with children or I won't have any photos of them.

A few highlights...

- Friday night we were invited to the Thrashers game, the Atlanta ice hockey team. In all my years of growing up and living in Atlanta, I'd never been to a Thrashers game. I had a great time and the action on the ice was well worth watching. I told Matt we need to go to another game soon. Very fun!

- On Saturday I met my college girlfriends for lunch and shopping at the Mall of Georgia. I don't go to MOG often so it was fun to see what stores it offered. I had my first Charming Charlie experience and fell in love with the store. Great place to find gifts! There is also a Charming Girl store that's perfect for girls age 8-14 or so. Cute accessories, handbags, jewelry, etc.

- Saturday night Matt and I went to a Christmas party at one of his friends' home. I couldn't believe the basement...talk about the ultimate man cave! Eight flat screen televisions. A full bar with beer taps. And...a urinal. Gross, I know. But, you don't see those very often so I found it hilarious. They were serving the most delicious shot at the party - a candy cane Shot. It tasted like the real thing and was absolutely delicious. I think it was made of Peppermint Schnapps, Creme de Minthe, and Grenadine.

- On Sunday, it snowed and snowed all day! Divine! All afternoon we bundled up on the couch, had the fire going, and watched movies. It didn't stick, but it was beautiful to watch falling. It very rarely snows before January in Georgia, so it was special to have snow falling during the Christmas season.

- A few of you asked about the Nutella hot chocolate I referred to last week. I first discovered Nutella hot chocolate at Cafe Intermezzo, one of my favorite dessert and drink places in Atlanta. But, I recently found a recipe for it to make at home!

Have a great Monday! Just 13 days until Christmas!

Christmas Movies to Watch

2010-12-10T09:25:00.002-05:00

'Tis the season for curling up on the couch, in warm winter pajamas, sipping Nutella hot chocolate and watching Christmas classics! There are many great holiday movies from childhood favorites to modern day comedies. I've compiled a list of my top 10 favorites, and while they may not be the original classics, they are full of Christmas cheer and are absolutely a delight to watch!

In no particular order...

1. Christmas Vacation. Really, what Christmas movie list would be complete with listing this family favorite? Makes me laugh every dang time. Cousin Eddie? Need I say more?

2. Love Actually. This is a beautiful, beautiful movie. Even Matt enjoys watching this romantic movie.

3. All I Want for Christmas. My sister and I were obsessed with this movie when we were young. I still enjoy watching it because it's just such a sweet story.

4. The Holiday. This has become one of my favorite year-round movies, but it's much more fun to watch during Christmas. And, it really makes me want to spend visit England during the holidays.

5. Deck the Halls. Again, a recent Christmas movie, but it's so funny! And, it has a great cast.

6. It's a Wonderful Life. A beautiful black and white classic.

7. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Originally a book, my sister was in this play one year as a child and it's always been a family favorite. I haven't seen the made-for-TV movie in years...I should order it this year!

8. The Christmas Shoes. Remember the book and then the song? The Lifetime movie bring it all to life...and you won't get through it without bawling. Such a beautiful story.

9. Charlie Brown Christmas. Another childhood classic. A must-see every year.

10. Elf. Just hilarious! I would love to see this on Broadway!

There are dozens and dozens of Christmas movies I enjoy watching. Sometimes the super cheesy ones - like the made-for-tv ones on Lifetime and ABC Family - are even enjoyable just because its Christmas. What are some of your favorites?

One Big Happy Family

2010-12-09T15:56:00.007-05:00

We received the photos from our family photo shoot over Thanksgiving weekend. They are beautiful and we are so pleased with how they turned out. This is the main group photo and there are several smaller group photos too. Gran Gran is in the middle...she looks good, right?! My family is to the left. I'm so glad we did this! What a great memory we have!

The photographer is Colorful Things Photography on Edisto Beach.

Merry On

2010-12-07T12:50:00.004-05:00

Thanks for all the encouraging words on yesterday's Weight Watchers post. I'm excited to begin and committed to getting this weight off...I'm also excited that some of you will be joining me on this adventure!

A few updates from the past few days...

- Matt and I recently starting watching Weeds on Netflix. Neither one of us are good about watching shows week-to-week, so we love to watch several episodes from past season on Netflix. Let me tell you, we are obsessed with Weeds. It's a crazy show with out-of-control characters, but we love it. It's not exactly full of family values, but it's hilarious. Running through my head is "Little boxes, on the hilltop...made from ticky tacky..." Ha! We're currently watching Season 3 and at the rate we're going, I'm guessing we will finish Season 5 before Christmas.

- Our Christmas cards are addressed and will be stamped and mailed this week. The return address labels I ordered from Minted are super cute! I will definitely be ordering more of these for various occasions. I wish I'd known about them when we got married because they would have been fun for Save the Dates.

- I did some Christmas shopping this weekend and scored a great find! Remember these earrings I posted about a few days ago? I found a very similar pair at H&M for just $2.99! Granted, the Kate Spade ones are much more beautiful, but the H&M ones are too cute and a great knock-off. The only difference (other than the fact they may turn my ears green) is they have little rind-stones on the bow.

- This image from Craftily Ever After is certainly adding some Christmas cheer to my office. Have you printed yours yet?

I'm definitely Merry-ing on! It's the most wonderful time of the year and I plan to enjoy it to the fullest.

Getting Real About Weight

2010-12-06T09:06:00.008-05:00

I know it's the holidays, but let's talk about it anyway. All my life, I have battled weight. It's an issue that most women in my family have faced. I wouldn't call myself fat, but I gain weight easily and have a very slow metabolism. The biggest problem for me has been finding a program that changes my lifestyle. The problem really began in college and has escalated since. For a long time, I did not exercise regularly and I ate whatever I wanted...well, within reason. Though wine and beer have definitely "fit within reason."

A little over a year ago, I lost 20 pounds...thanks to a "doctor" that was popular in town. It was a legit doctor and they carefully followed BMI, blood pressure, etc., but past that it was a pretty unhealthy diet. I took appetite suppressants and ate 500 calories per day of lean meat and raw greens. Of course I lost weight. But I didn't keep it off.

So...here I am over a year later and once again at the highest number I've ever seen on the scale. I'm in a pants size that would qualify me as "Plus Size". It's not the worst thing in the world, but when I know I would be healthier if I lost weight, have less stomach problems and generally feel better...why remain at this weight?

For me, the biggest mistake was not making lifestyle changes. I thought a quick 12-week program could do the trick. Not true for someone like me. I had a very hard time starting both an exercise program and changing my diet at the same time. Well, I'm proud to say that I regularly exercise now. I run, I spin, I lift weights. I make it to the gym about four days a week. It should be five, but, hey, four is better than zero.

However, all that running and spinning does nothing for my body if I still eat whatever I want. So, it's time to change my diet. Note, I'm not saying go on a diet. I'm saying I need to change my diet. Change the way I eat. Change what foods I reach for when I'm hungry.

Recently, Weight Watchers launched a new plan. I don't know that much about it yet, but from what I read it seems like a well-balanced plan that considers nutrition not just calories. I know Weight Watchers works. We've all seen it. There's no pills, no pre-fab meals shipped to your home, etc. It's a natural and healthy way to change the way you eat. Sure it costs money, but so does the gym.

Starting Monday, January 3, I'm getting on the Weight Watchers bandwagon. I could start before, but really, it's the holidays. There is an actual Weight Watchers storefront near my house and I'm going to do the meetings. I know I need that accountability. I've seen other bloggers have success with their Weight Watchers journey by writing about it on "Weight Watchers Wednesdays." I know that some of you are or will be starting Weight Watchers (or other plans) soon too, so let's do it together. If you have a blog, you can link up on Wednesdays and we can share recipes, tips, encouragement, etc. If you don't have a blog but want to join us, just share your story in the comments.

I think I'm finally at a place in my life where I'm ready to accept this change. A year ago I couldn't run for more than a minute at a time. Twice this year I have run a 5K - once without stopping. It's time to take the next step and change what I eat. What do you say, who's with me?

Side note - I know that people who are on diet kicks or health kicks can be super annoying if you aren't participating or are satisfied with your weight. So, if this annoys you, I'm sorry. I promise to only write about it on Wednesdays.

Kate

2010-12-01T21:27:00.008-05:00

Since the age of 13, when I got my first knock-off bag, I've been in love with Kate Spade. Her designs are flawless. Classic lines, simple patterns and modern styles. And, they can take you from the board room to the dog park. I first bought something by her a year ago. It was a beautiful houndstooth bracelet. A few months later, I purchased a handbag from an online sample sale for a really great price. Since then, I've been in love with everything on her website. I absolutely adore the designs.

Currently, I'm lusting after this beautiful bag.

And these shoes.And these earrings.
....among all of the other lovely items found on her website pages.

Cyber Monday Finds

2010-11-30T14:12:00.005-05:00

Like everyone else in the country, I spend some time on Monday looking at the Cyber Monday specials. There were some really great deals available yesterday! I didn't take advantage of too many of them, but I did find some very unique gift ideas. I love to have a few random gifts in mind and these are fun, practical and just cool ideas.
The Eddie Bauer Ice Scraper Mitt is one of the coolest, most practical gifts I've ever seen. I love it! Even us Southerners have to scrape our car windshields some mornings and it's never a fun job to do. And, more of than not, we are ill-equipped to scrape icy windows. These are so cute and stylish...and just $9.99 with any purchase (regular $14.99).

I believe personalization is the key to making any ordinary gift seem special and thoughtful. The Macbeth Collection, one of my favorite websites because they take completely ordinary items like buckets and tubs and make them colorful, has come out with fashion earbuds for iPods and MP3 players. The colors are adorable and just $14. This would be a great gift for a "tween" or a stocking stuffer.

You know I'm obsessed with Georgia stuff, and here is a fun way to show your state pride. A cutting board in the shape of your state, by aheirloom on Etsy. This is a great gift and any entertainer would enjoy it. I personally would love a Georgia cutting board ;)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2010-11-28T18:05:00.004-05:00

I admit, I started decorating the house before Thanksgiving. It does seem crazy to decorate before December 1, but we are traveling for Christmas and I want to enjoy it as long as I can. I tell Matt, we don't just decorate for December 25, we decorate for the season! This is my favorite time of the year and I'm loving the way this house feels with Christmas decor. It's a thick brick house with brown wood, so most of the year the house just feels dark. But, during the holidays, it feels cozy!

I bought a few new Christmas items this year at TJ Maxx Homegoods. I just love that store and the price is always right. We're still working on the exterior of the house, the mantle and, dining room centerpiece. But, it's certainly starting to feel like Christmas around here!!

I love this little tree in a Thomas Jefferson cup. Homegoods find! I had the brown and gold ornaments from last year.

The boys posing in front of the tree! Ha! I had to move Coco's bed over in order to get him near Tucker. It's been so chilly this week so I broke out Coco's sweaters...he adores sweaters!

These snow ladies are my two favorite items I bought this year! They were each $7 and I just think they are so pretty!!!

I'll share more of the decor once I finish them. I just love this time of the year!!

Family Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T17:54:00.005-05:00

There were 19 of us at the beach! Whoo! It was so much fun to catch up with family...many that I haven't seen in years and a few new ones I'd never met. I think my Grandmother enjoyed having the majority of her whole family together in one place for the holidays. She is the matriarch of one crazy family and it was such a blessing to be able to spend the holiday together. With so many of us in different cities, we rarely have the opportunity to be together.

I really didn't take a lot of photos. A part of me regrets it, but I was having too much fun talking, watching football, cooking and eating. We rented two beach houses on Edisto Island, about an hour outside of Charleston. I'd never been there before, though we always vacation in South Carolina, and it was a treat to experience a new beach. It's completely un-commercialized, which are my favorite kinds of beach communities.

One of the "new" additions to our clan, my cousin's baby boy Will. He is almost three and full of personality! He talked the entire weekend...and we laughed, completely egging him on. I hate that I didn't get any pictures of my other cousin's baby boy, Trey. Trey is one and he was overwhelmed by all the people and stayed close to his mama.

Dad, my brother Ben, and Matt

To commemorate having nearly the entire clan together, Matt and I organized a family photo session for my grandmother. We were planning to have it at the beach, but Gran-Gran doesn't walk very well on sand and we decided on this small park on the marsh side of the island instead. It was such a pretty setting and I think the photos will turn out well! Of course we were all in white and blue jeans. And yes, just call me Claire from Modern Family ;)

Lauren and I ran the Turkey Day Run on Thanksgiving morning. It was a 5K and a very well-organized race. The course was beautiful - you don't get that kind of scenery in Atlanta! Our dad went with us and he ate doughnuts and read the paper while we ran ;) He said this could be a new tradition. Ha ha! Lauren and I didn't stay together to run - she's much more athletic than I and took off ahead of me from the start. She finished in 30:06 and I finished in 35:59. Note, those times don't take into account the lag time at the beginning. I think it was nearly two minutes into the race when we crossed the start line. I didn't beat my time from the March race and actually walked about a minute, but it was fun!

It was a great getaway weekend and it was wonderful to see my beautiful family. I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, surrounded by family and friends and blessed with a table of food!

Thankful for...

2010-11-23T14:47:00.004-05:00

I can't believe I have neglected my blog for this long. I didn't mean to and in fact, I felt quite guilty about it several times. I spend the majority of my work days talking with people, communicating and writing on the computer - either e-mails or other documents. So, I really haven't felt like logging on to my computer at night.

But, to follow up on my Thanksgiving post...that was posted forever ago...I wanted to share a list of both large and small things that I'm grateful for. I am truly looking forward to getting away for a few days to spend time with extended family. I'll be back again after Thanksgiving and will be working hard to get back into the routine of blogging daily!

Thankful for...

- The everlasting love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
- MJB. A sweet, caring and supportive husband.
- Family. Quite simply, where would be without the unconditional love of our family.
- Friends. They offer laughter, memories, reminders and advice.
- My job. A place to thrive, grow and learn...and also bring home a paycheck.
- Tucker and Coco. Puppy greetings can brighten any day in an instant.
- Strong legs. I am now a lover of running! Who knew?
- Frozen Yogurt and Cupcakes. Two very happy things that have become quite popular and abundant in Atlanta.
- Our home. It's become much more than just a house we rent.
- Books. Oh how grateful I am for stories that I can escape within.
- The Office and Modern Family. These shows make me laugh out loud. Each. And. Every. Time.

I'm sure there are dozens and dozens of other things to be grateful for! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of blessings, laughter, food and joy!

Every good and perfect gift is from above
James 1:17

With Thanksgiving

2010-11-12T09:20:00.005-05:00

Craftily Ever After might be one of my new favorite blogs! Such cute ideas. These prints are free to download and print.

As you can tell from previous posts, I adore the Christmas holidays and am looking forward to all the comes with it - decorating, baking, shopping, cards, etc. But I also believe Thanksgiving to be one of the most sincere holidays during the year. It's a day to give thanks. To recognize and appreciate your blessings. And, to gather around a table of food with friends and relatives.

I know many have endured ups and downs during the past few years. We have all faced job losses, tightened budgets, unsure economies and dreadful news updates. But, despite the doom and gloom this country has faced, we still have so much to be thankful for! Sometimes you don't even realize the small blessings until you look back at the year and see everything in hindsight. All of God's plans were laid with purpose and we should give thanks.

Free Faux-Burlap Print from Craftily Ever After

Are you hosting Thanksgiving at your home? We are traveling to Edisto Beach just outside of Charleston for a full-family Thanksgiving with my Dad's side of the family. I always enjoy spending time with cousins and look forward to meeting the two newest additions to our family. I mentioned before that my sister and I are running the Turkey Day Run in Charleston. Hopefully that will cancel out the amount of dressing and pecan (puh-con or pee-can? I say puh-con.) pie I tend to enjoy ;)

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever"

1 Chronicles 16:34

Vera Bradley Finds

2010-11-11T15:35:00.010-05:00

As we start to think about Christmas shopping, I wanted to share with you some new things from Vera Bradley. Now, I'll admit, I've never been a fan of the patterned handbags, but the newer styles that are simple and classic are very nice. I also enjoy the accessory items and desk supplies like the jewelry case, ID holder for clutch purses, mouse pad and other small items.

This year, Vera Bradley has introduced several new items and patterns that are precious and would make great gifts, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, teachers' gifts, etc.

Frame Handbag
$105

Yoga Mat and Bag
$48

Watch
$65

Guest Towels
$8

Knit Scarf
$38

Apron Gift Set
$28

Kiss and Make Up Cosmetic Bag
$28

Thank You, Veterans

2010-11-11T08:04:00.003-05:00

Thank you to the men and women who have serve our country! I am overcome with emotion when I think about the children and spouses at home while their loved ones fight for freedom. I pray that the men and women who have returned from war can rest at night and sleep peacefully. And, I am simply so grateful for those who choose to wear the uniforms and travel overseas to defend America.

This video brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. I can't imagine what it must feel like to welcome home your loved one. Keep these children and families in your prayers today! And pray for our soldiers who have fought in wars, are currently fighting and are enlisting to fight.

Thank you, Veterans!

Chrsitmas Cards. Check!

2010-11-02T13:24:00.003-04:00

Making a list. Checking it twice.

Okay, I'm officially in Holiday mode. I truly can't help it! I get so excited and I hate to be rushed. So, I get an early start.

Today, I ordered our Christmas cards. I have debated nearly every card on Shutterfly, Tiny Prints and Minted. Obviously I was excited about this since I wrote about them in August (What was I thinking? Ha!). In the end, I wound up selecting a design I wasn't considering originally, but it's pretty and classic. The card looked best with a black and white photo, so I chose this one (it will be zoomed in on the card). I just love the puppies' expressions in it!

When card hunting, I came across these unique address labels. Usually, I make labels at home using the Avery templates. But these were so different that I decided to order some for this year. On the back label, it will say, 'tis the season.

Only 7.5 weeks remaining.

We Made it to November!

2010-11-01T09:04:00.004-04:00

Raise your hand if you are glad to see October gone? {Insert hand raised}. It was a very trying month for me as I worked many, many hours and events. All summer long, I knew October was going to be busy and difficult..and it was...but we got through it. Hallelujah!

A few updates on the last week of October...

- My finger is healing fine. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. I get the stitches removed this week and look forward to not wearing a Band-aid 24/7.

- Last Wednesday night, my sister, parents and I saw Carrie Underwood perform. My parents had gotten the tickets as part of our birthdays in September and we all had a great time at the concert. Carrie is incredibly talented and put on quite a show-stopping performance. I think my Dad may have teared slightly when she belted out "How Great Thou Art" in the middle of "Jesus Take the Wheel". It was breathtaking and I think the whole arena stood in awe of her talent.

- Next Halloween, trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood are getting Almond Joys. I simply have no willpower against the candy bowl, and may have eaten several mini boxes of Milk Duds and mini Hershey's bars.

- I'm running another 5K on Thanksgiving Day in Charleston. This is not good as I currently can only manage about 1.5 miles. Need to get serious about running the next few weeks. I stand no chance of keeping up with my sister during the race, but I'd like to run the whole thing without stopping to walk. Must get to the gym this week!

- I bought leggings this weekend. Not sure what got into me since I've remained pretty adamant that I am not a leggings kinda girl. But, they looked so comfy and fit great. Now, what do I wear them with? I seriously need ideas as to how to dress them up to go out. The only thing I can envision are chunky sweaters, but that's not dressy. How do you wear leggings?

Now that October has passed, I'm ready to start thinking about the holidays! Ordering Christmas cards this week and inventorying our Christmas decor to determine what needs to be purchased this year. Oh what fun! Christmas is coming!

My Day

2010-10-26T19:44:00.004-04:00

The Good:

I finally treated myself to something I have wanted for a very long time! October has been a super hectic month and I thought I deserved a little happy. I decided to go with the Fossil tortoise shell instead of the Michael Kors watch because it was lighter - in weight and price! I'm so glad I did, I absolutely love it!

The Bad:

We have the worst trash can and yet again I was fighting with the bag to pull it out. I reached my had down to finagle it and the lid of a can cut my finger. It was awful! I wound up at the nearby urgent care and left with a few stitches...and a ridiculous looking bandage. Ha! I go back in 14 days to have the stitches removed...until then, I have an intense pointer finger!
.

Family Photos

2010-10-25T12:03:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago, we had the talented Candace Carroll (photography site and blog) take some photos of us with our dogs. Many people have professional photos taken with their kids, so we thought, why not with our little babies? The setting was Bulloch Hall in Historic Roswell and it really made for a lovely backdrop.

The weather was really warm, completely throwing off my planned "fall" outfit. I had to switch tops at the last minute and unfortunately didn't have much clean at the time. I'm not thrilled with the top I had to wear, but what can you do? The dogs were very well behaved, though they are panting because they were so warm. Haha! They were really great though and posed perfectly.

I'm excited to order our Christmas cards and canvas prints. Not decided yet on which photos I'll use, so I'm sharing my favorites. Those of you who receive our Christmas card will be getting a sneak peak ;)

Chicken Fajitas

2010-10-17T19:06:00.002-04:00

Well, what I said in my post last Sunday stood true. It has been one crazy week. And, this week is another one. I leave tomorrow for Louisville for work and will be there until Thursday. Then, when I return, I will be working a special event all weekend, wrapping up Sunday about 6 p.m. Whew. Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Given the crazy hours at work, I haven't cooked (or cleaned) too much lately. But, I did find a great crock pot recipe that we enjoyed. It also made awesome leftovers, which is perfect for crazy work weeks. I could eat Mexican food every single night and these fajitas are delicious! If you like Mexican, throw this in the slow cooker - you won't be disappointed!

Crock Pot Fajitas:

- 2 packs of boneless skinless chicken breasts (or tenderloins, which cook faster)
- Can of chicken broth
- Large jar of salsa
- Packet of fajita seasoning
- Sliced/Chopped onions and peppers

Mix all of the above ingredients in the crock pot and cook for several hours. I used tenderloins and it took about five hours to cook.

Now, this is where it's cool. You can spoon out the chicken and vegetables, for the fajitas. Or, you can eat it with the broth as a soup. Yum. For fajitas, put on small tortillas and serve with Mexican toppings.

That's all I've got tonight!

Week Catch-Up

2010-10-10T20:32:00.004-04:00

It's been quite a week! In fact, this entire month will be quite a month. I've been dreading October for several months now because I knew I'd be working every weekend - five weekends in a row - plus a number of other events and Junior League commitments during the week. If I'm MIA for several days at a time, you now know why. I'll be back on a daily basis in November - just in time for Holiday fun!

The past week did hold several fun things that I wanted to share with you. On Friday, I had a meeting in Midtown Atlanta, right across the street from the Apparel Mart. So, on Friday, my Mom met met at the Mart and we had a one-hour whirlwind shopping spree. I found some adorable coats at awesome prices. Here's hoping this 80 degree weather cools off at some point this fall.

(Excuse the mess of throw pillows!)

Yesterday was a fabulous day with the BIG win at Sanford Stadium in Athens. How 'bout them Dawgs!? I was really proud of how hard those boys played and they had a huge win over Tennessee. Go Dawgs!

Last night we went to a new restaurant in Historic Roswell with some new friends. Melanie owns her own business and makes custom-designed handbags. They are beautiful and I've enjoyed creating custom designs on the website to try new styles and colors. Check out Mel Boteri - they are gorgeous bags!

Finally, we had our family photo shoot today with Candace Carroll. The dogs were so well-behaved. The 80 degree weather seriously through off my planned outfit, so I had to come up with something new at the last minute. We took the pictures at Bulloch Hall in Historic Roswell and I can't wait to see them!

Hope you have a great week! I'm looking forward to two big Breast Cancer events this week for Young Survival Coalition on Tuesday night and Saturday. Picking out what pink I want to wear :)

Life Before Facebook

2010-10-04T14:54:00.004-04:00

I haven't seen the Facebook movie "The Social Network" yet, but I'm looking forward to it. As someone who uses social media personally and professionally, I find the whole social networking world absolutely fascinating...and necessary. These days, it's hard to imagine life before Facebook, Twitter and blogs. But for kicks, let's reminisce about the old days (i.e., 2002) when Social Media was an unknown world.

Before Social Media...

1. You were being sincere when you ran into someone from high school and asked what they've been up to...you truly didn't know.

2. Terms like "status updates" were only used in the workplace and often involved reports and Excel documents.

3. You could just date someone without the pressure of stating your relationship status.

4. Only birds tweeted.

5. You didn't realize how much could be said in 140 characters. In fact, you'd never really considered anything in terms of characters.

6. Digital cameras were only good for printing photos at the CVS or Walgreens kiosks...not sharing them with strangers.

7. Your "friends" didn't have to read your wall or profile to know what you've been up to.

8. To know this much about people you've never met (i.e., Twitter friends) would have classified you as a stalker.

9. You visited news websites to read headlines, not to just get the full story.

10. You never realized how many things, places and ideas you truly "liked."

This list could go on and on. It's amazing the impact social media has had on our lives and social interactions. What else would you add to my "Life Before Social Media" list?

October Love

2010-10-03T18:52:00.005-04:00

It's finally October! I'm just beyond thrilled. Unfortunately, our poor football team had a fourth loss and it was really tough to watch. Not sure Georgia will recover this season, but I'm praying they win a game soon. Don't you know those boys' spirits are crushed? Thank goodness LSU and Alabama won this weekend, so my husband wasn't completely depressed.

I got crafty this weekend and made a fall wreath. I'm not going to claim the idea as mine - Jessie inspired me. This wreath cost me $8 and 20 minutes to make, so I'd say that is a huge success! I'm afraid I got a little carried away with adding leaves and flowers, and the storm door sort of flattens it, but I'm not worried about that.

You may remember from last winter that Coco loves his sweaters. This morning was quite chilly and little Coco shivered when we took him out. So, I broke out a new sweater I bought at Target and he has been cuddled up in it all day! It's so precious.

Show Us Your Life - Dining Room

2010-10-01T21:19:00.003-04:00

I'm excited to show you one of my favorite rooms in our house today for Show Us Your Life! It's a little nuts what makes this my favorite room, but it's the white trim. Now, I love our home that we live in, but I do miss white trim because of how open and clean it feels. The dining room is the only room in the house with it and it just makes me so happy!

View from the kitchen

View from the foyer

The furniture is all second hand, but we were just so thrilled to have something for the room we didn't mind. One day I hope to have a beautiful dark brown dining room table with monogrammed chairs...but that's one day. The hurricane lamps on the table are a recent hand-me-down from my mama and I love them! Not sure if I love them in this location, but they work for now.

Read more about this silver platter here (the guest bedroom has changed since that post, so I can't wait to show it to you on guestrooms Friday).

This is my favorite wedding photo of ours, so I had it framed. It doesn't show up well here, but it's a photo of us in the middle of the street and the cars are flashing by. The pineapple lamp was an amazing Hobby Lobby find - $19.99! Pineapples symbolize hospitality and I love having one in my home!

Thursday Tidbits

2010-09-30T13:37:00.004-04:00

A few updates on the week thus far:

- There is some serious love & hate for Botox and Toms shoes. Ha! Thanks for commenting. I really enjoy reading your opinions and appreciate your honesty while still being nice. I feel terrible for the bloggers who have endured really hurtful comments, so I very much appreciate your words being kind.

- It's chilly! And, October is tomorrow! I'm working from home day and relishing in the cozy feeling of home on this overcast fall day. My favorite Thomasville pine-scented candle is burning and it fills the house with the perfect essence of fall and holiday.

- We have a special date planned tonight. I was given {free!} tickets to see "9 to 5" the Musical at the Fabulous Fox Theater and M and I plan to go. I'm hoping we'll have time for a delicious dinner beforehand. I don't know anything about "9 to 5", but have heard it's hilarious. Looking forward to a night on the town with my husband.

- I'm looking forward to carving pumpkins soon, but can't decide what to do on them. I'd kind of like to do a monogram pumpkin. Is that silly? ha! The kids will think, "why do they have letters on the pumpkin?"

- We watched "Sister Wives" last night. Talk about bizarre! It's not just their "lifestyle" that had me nauseous, it was they way they interacted with the camera. It's so unnatural. Perhaps Kate Goselin or the Duggars need to give them some advice on living with a camera crew. But about the lifestyle, what man wants more than one wife?! I feel like M can barely handle me some days, let alone a second or third.

Enjoy the last day of September and bid farewell to any remaining specks of summer. Ready or not, here comes fall!

Walkin' Into Fall

2010-09-29T14:20:00.006-04:00

This weather this week has finally turned to fall. Away went my sandals and flip flops and out came closed toe heels, pumps, and flats. I'm not a big boot person - gasp! - mainly because I can't stand for my legs and ankles to feel restricted. If I wore skinny jeans or leggings, I'd probably want riding boots. But, I don't, so I prefer cute slip-ons and flats.

My day-to-day work shoes are pretty standard. I love nude heels and have about three pairs right now. The latest I found on clearance at Urban Outfitters. This is the picture online, but I bought them in taupe. They are super cute and comfy. I don't walk very well in stilettos, so I look for wedges or chunky heels instead. Fortunately that look is in style right now, so shoes are easy to find.

Flats aren't something I wear too often to work. I know, why not? I have no idea - but my work clothes all seem to fit and look better with heels. But, you better believe that flats are worn at night and on the weekends. I love the black and gold Tory Burch Revas I bought last year. Those were quite an investment, but I have worn the heck out of them. I considered buying another pair this year, but probably won't. There are too many other things I'd rather save for and buy.

So, instead of more Revas, I'm considering a pair of Toms. Specifically, the silver glitter ones. I was really on the fence about these things a few months ago. Quite honestly, I couldn't figure out where or how I'd wear them. But, I've since seen them with jeans and think they'd be perfect on the weekends. And, at $54, they are much cheaper than Revas AND a pair is given to a child in need. It's a win-win.

Let's Talk About Botox, Baby

2010-09-27T22:16:00.004-04:00

Everyone's doing it. So let's discuss. Actually, I didn't realize that everyone was doing it. (Not everyone, but you know what I mean.) I knew it was something many, many women have done. But I assumed these women were in their 40s, 50s, and 60s with clearly visible wrinkles to resolve. I didn't even consider that many adorable young women in their 20s and 30s are also doing it.

My Junior League group started discussing Botox tonight at dinner, and apparently it is much more common than I imagined. Several of them have had it done and a few get it done regularly. And they look fabulous!! And the best part? They were 100% open and unashamed about it. If you're going to do it - own it!

I started thinking about my wrinkles. I scrunch my forehead a lot. And I squint my eyes when I think someone is being stupid and I'm giving them, "Are you serious!?" look. I asked those who've had it done if they miss scrunching up their foreheads. Many said they didn't even notice it, and sometimes they think they are making a face when really they aren't. Now I'm wondering if I'd appear less of a b*%^* if I got Botox.
What surprised me (in addition to the frequency it's being done) is the affordability of it. When you think "cosmetic procedure," the dollar signs start popping up. It seems an excellent Botox procedure will cost $300-$400. That's much more affordable than I would have guessed. Also, did you know that it's not Botox that resolves wrinkles on the side of your eyes? It's Resin. Didn't know that. I have heard that Botox can help cure migraines and also helps with sweating when injected into the arm pits.

I'm not sure I'm ready for Botox, or if I'll ever have it done. But I believe it will become increasingly more common. It's likely that women years ago were hesitant about new beauty products and remedies that are now a routine part of our lives. So, who's to say that Botox won't be as normal as bikini waxes or acrylic nails in a few years? If it isn't already.

What's your thought on Botox? Are you secretly {or not so secretly} doing it? Would you?

Weekend Wrap Up

2010-09-26T22:42:00.003-04:00

Hittin' the highlights from this weekend!

- On Friday, I traveled to Augusta with my sister! Road Trip! She had a meeting at the Medical College of Georgia for her dental school application. While in town, I met Mrs. Grits for the first time. We are Twitter friends and also work in the same industry. Needless to say, we had a lot to talk about and I loved visiting with her. Lauren and I stayed with a friend from college who is currently enduring dental school. She was so gracious and shared all of her tips with Lauren.

The future dentists. Lauren (left) and Stella. Look at those white smiles!

- Georgia sucked. Excuse my language, but it's true. It was so sad watching our football team lose to Mississippi State. I don't think it's Mark Richt's fault and I don't want him fired, but I do think a staff shake-up might be necessary.

- Menu Planning. I planned a menu for the week...for the first time in many months. M is going to be eating well this week with Lemon Chicken, Artichoke Chicken, and Pot Roast with carrots and potatoes. But, it will be Tuesday before one of them gets cooked. I have a Junior League meeting tomorrow night so he's on his own for dinner. Ha!

- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. To say M was excited about this movie would be a major understatement. Wall Street is hands down his favorite movie and he's been excited about the sequel for three years. It was really very good. Different than the first, but extremely relevant to today's economy and the banking crisis. We both thought it was great! If you do see it, stay to watch the credits!

Hope you all had a good weekend and that your football team played better than ours.

Have a good Monday!

Master Bedroom Tour

2010-09-26T22:20:00.004-04:00

Well, better late than never. I'm going to be participating in Kelly's Korner "Show Us Your Life" Fridays over the next few weeks. Every week will feature a different room in the house. We are currently renting a great home and have enjoyed making it ours. I'm not very talented with interior design and I'm unfortunately not a do-it-yourself kind of person, but we love our little home right now.

This past Friday (which I finally am loading on Sunday night) was master bedrooms! I am so thrilled to show you our new bedroom furniture. On a random whim, we found this gorgeous suite on Craigslist, of all places. Other than a few nicks, it's in great condition.

We don't have a TV in our bedroom, so it is truly a haven for sleeping, reading and relaxing together. The bedding (Pottery Barn) doesn't really match the rug, but whatever. I'm not crazy about either one of them, but they work for now.

This dresser is so cool. The top portion is actually a separate piece, so in case we do decide to have a TV in the bedroom one day, we have a place to display it. The lamp on the dresser was an excellent find - $14.99 at Stein Mart! The little sign says "And They Lived Happily Ever After", and I found it at Target.

I love having parallel night stands. We used to have stands that weren't the same height and the lamps (Target) looked funny. And yes, we have two clocks because we both set alarms and like to see the time in the middle of the night.

I love my full-length mirror. It was my birthday gift a few years ago from Matt and he found it at Lowe's!

For the walls, I've decided on canvas prints of us and the dogs, and that will be my Christmas gift from MJB. I figure those can go with any future bedding we select, and future prints can be added in the future as our family grows.

A Girl's First Handbag

2010-09-22T12:26:00.002-04:00

I found this picture at my parents' house recently and think it's just too funny! First of all, my sister and I couldn't believe our mother had a Gucci handbag. Dad said he bought it for her and it cost around $130 at the time. We got on to her for giving it away because that bag is still in style and we would have loved to carry it! Needless to say, this is the only Gucci we've ever had in our house and I'm just thrilled there is a picture of me with it.

Can't you tell how much I'm enjoying rifling through that gorgeous bag?

Mantle Decor

2010-09-20T21:15:00.007-04:00

This is the first place I've ever had a mantle, and even though I always dreamed of decorating one, I realized I really had no idea what I wanted it to look like. Over the past six months, I've tried several looks and nothing seemed right. I knew the main issue was finding the right focus-piece and I went back and forth on artwork and and a mirror. We finally settled on a beautiful painting by Brad Thompson, a talented New Orleans artist. We have a very small painting of his that sits on a table and enjoy his style. When in New Orleans this summer, we visited the gallery and fell in love with the Oak Alley Plantation painting. It seemed perfect given Matt's NOLA heritage and our recent move from Thomasville which is surrounded by Southern plantations.

I wanted something simple and symmetrical on the edges. Enlisting the help of my aunt, we found beautiful urns at Michael's and created natural looking arrangements. I love that it's simple and natural. I think I'm realizing I prefer the less-is-more look, and am slowly learning how to carry this out while still maintaining my personality in the decor.

The fireplace is not 100 percent done yet as I'm hoping for a fire screen this fall and I'd love a few lanterns like these to set at the bottom.

I don't do a lot of fall decoration (at all) because I just don't have the time to think about it. I am really looking forward to Christmas decorations and plan to add some beautiful garland and stockings to our mantle!

Girls Weekend in Athens

2010-09-19T15:36:00.005-04:00

This weekend I got together with my college girlfriends for a girls' weekend. Since graduating several years ago, we have tried to get together a few times per year, whether for an afternoon, night or a whole weekend. Anna is back in Athens working for UGA, so we took this opportunity to have our girls' weekend in our alma mater's city and she graciously hosted all of us at her adorable apartment.

Standing under the Arch! Traditionally, you do not walk under the arch until you graduate. It's taken pretty seriously and someone even reminded us about the "rule". Ha! We laughed and said we graduated three years ago...but thanks for thinking we're still students!

UGA played Arkansas this weekend. It was an unfortunate game and we were sad about the loss. Even though we didn't have tickets, we had a blast in Downtown Athens watching the game. It was honestly a lot of fun and much cooler!

We walked to campus during the fourth quarter to watch the end of the game at the new student center. After, we spent a few hours roaming it, shopping in the bookstore and finally grabbing iced coffees at the student learning center...where we reminisced about the many hours we spent "studying" in those comfy chairs. Ha!

View of the full stadium from the new Student Center - which is pretty unbelievable!

Mallory and me in front of our former "home" - the Grady College of Journalism. Ha!

It's so fun to get together with girlfriends and I'm blessed to have such friends in my life. We can go months without seeing each other or having much of a conversation past gChat and Facebook and still pick right back up where we left off! I love these girls and can't wait for another get together in a few months!

Birthday Celebration!

2010-09-16T15:27:00.007-04:00

It's so hard to believe that I turn 26 years old today! The years just keep flying by...

Today has been a delightful day of sweets! Not sure who spread the message about my sweet tooth, but everyone got the message! My sweet co-worker is a fabulous cake pop maker and she made precious cupcake cake truffles for my birthday. She also organized a lunch celebration with some other work associates in the city and gave everyone truffles as a favor.

We had lunch at Seasons 52 and it was fabulous! The menu changes seasonally and everything on it is under 475 calories. We all enjoyed salads and butternut squash soup that tasted just like "fall"! For dessert, they brought out their mini dessert shots with a candle.

One of my work friends brought a box of Cami Cakes cupcakes! I've heard excellent things about these cupcakes and of course they were beyond delicious.

The final dessert surprise was waiting at my desk after lunch. One of my board members and his wife sent over a cookie bouquet and balloon. I plan to take these home tonight for everyone to enjoy.

Despite enjoying a day of sweets (well, thus far I've only had one dessert shooter at Seasons 52 and one cake ball!), I'm so excited for dinner at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants, Cans. I could seriously eat Mexican all day every day.

These gestures and the birthday wishes on Twitter and Facebook were so thoughtful today and I feel blessed to have such sweet friends!

Walk on the Wild Side

2010-09-13T21:34:00.004-04:00

I'm pretty conservative with my wardrobe...as you might have guessed given my love for Ann Taylor, the Loft and the Limited. I don't take very many risks, stick to solids in classic colors and generally choose very basic items that can be mix and matched. I enjoy adding trend with handbags...but even there, I'm pretty conservative with my solid, non-logo Coach and Kate Spade bags.

While at the beach for Labor Day, my sister practically shoved fashion magazines in my face and said, "There are some great fashion ideas in these...you should flip through it..."

Noted.

What I noticed in the hundreds of pages I flipped through is that leopard print is in this fall. In a big way! Now, as someone who is fairly conservative and not exactly a trendsetter, you're not going to find me in many of the leopard fashions I saw in In Style, Marie Claire and Vogue. However, after reading where Vera Wang said leopard is the new neutral, I figured I could give it a try. Below are some pieces I found online that I think I could pull off.

The Limited I think this shell would be beautiful under a black suit. It could also be paired with jeans and a cardigan on the weekends. Love it.

Tory Burch If I'm going to do a leopard heel...it's going to be a good one! I will probably not wind up with these, but I am open to leopard shoes if they aren't too hoochie looking. These might be an option.

The Limited. I LOVE this scarf! Target usually has a great scarf collection also, so I'll be checking there first. But, this one is gorgeous!

How are you wearing the season's hottest neutral?

Thursday Tidbits

2010-09-09T15:45:00.010-04:00

What's happening this week...

1. MyAgenda. My sister gave me the pink one for Christmas last year and I have been addicted to it all year. A constant planner who likes to visually see my days, weeks and months several times a day, I will always prefer a paper planner to electronic ones. My 2011 planner arrived this week and since it includes August - December 2010, I have started using it! I ordered the amethyst color this year and it's absolutely divine.

2. Red Dress. We are hosting a "tailgating" themed work event next week and I needed a red dress to wear to show my UGA spirit. I used to have dozens of red dresses for Sorority Rush and football games. After looking around I found a darling work-appropriate red dress at The Limited. I'm going to put a black belt around it next week, and I plan to wear it this winter with a jacket or black turtleneck. Thanks, Aunt Virginia for the birthday money ;)

3. Fall Television. We recently upgraded from basic to full cable because of a great Comcast special. We very rarely used to watch TV, so basic was just fine. However, I have become obsessed with cable channels - Bravo, Food Network, TLC... - and can't wait for fall shows to begin. I don't feel as bad about increasing our TV-watching because we purposely don't have a television in the bedroom. In fact, we have one set in the whole house. So, now that we have 99 channels instead of 10...what shows should I be watching this fall?

4. Family Photos. I booked a 30 minute photo session in a few weeks with Mrs. Southern Belle to have pictures taken of us with the dogs. We have never had professional photos taken (other than wedding day), but I had a few reasons for them this year. I plan to do a photo Christmas card and we don't have any photos with the dogs. And for Christmas, I want large canvas prints for the bedroom. I know Candace will do a beautiful job...I just hope the dogs behave. Have y'all ever taken professional photos with your dogs? Any tips?

That's all I got today. This weekend will hold a few fun plans and I'm looking forward to watching Georgia play at South Cackalacky on Saturday! Ha! My mom is a USC grad and several family members are USC fans. Go Dawgs!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

2010-09-07T21:08:00.005-04:00

...Football Season!

One of my favorite things to do is rearrange home decor and bring out seasonal pieces from the basement. I'm a firm believer that a home is always a work in progress {or maybe that's just because I've never gotten a room to "completion". Ha!}

Showing Georgia pride in our home this fall! Goooooooo Dawgs, Sic 'em!

Our house had a flag pole holder already installed when we moved in, so I told MJB we needed to make use of it during football season! I found this flag at Stein Mart, of all places, for just $12.99. Not sure what that says about Georgia Football, I think a UGA flag should be worth much more!

There is no doubt I'm a platter girl! I have cabinets and cabinets of various platters and pull different ones out for display throughout the year. I love this Georgia platter that I received as a wedding gift.

After seeing chalkboard plates on so many blogs, I created one a few months ago and have really enjoyed it. It sits on the sofa table, which is the first thing you see when walking in the living room.

Do you show your school spirit with home decor during football season?

Pups in the Nursery

2010-09-07T15:17:00.010-04:00

Despite being years away from having children, I have always had in mind a baby boy's nursery theme. Not sure where I got the idea or when it formed, but I'd love to decorate the nursery with puppy dogs. Being a dog lover myself and carrying the notion that "dogs are a man's best friend," I suppose the theme just works for me.

I've never found a favorite puppy dog crib bedding, but seeing as how we aren't quite there yet, never gave it much thought. {Yes, I do occasionally search around online at kids stuff. Admit it, you do too.} Recently I learned that Gap Baby carries bedding and nursery decor online...and there is the most adorable and perfect puppy dog bedding I have ever seen! And it's marked down!

Seriously, this is exactly what I've always had in mind for a future son's nursery. It's a great mix of sophistication and whimsy and doesn't have a lot of repetitive images. But, now that I found the most perfect boy nursery bedding, I'm feeling pressure. Do I order it and hide it in a closet? Pray that it's still available in 3-5 years? Forget about it and hope my taste changes one day? Or, figure I'll wind up with all girls and have no need for puppy dog bedding?

On a different note, is it a sign of confirmation that I'm not ready for kids if I get more excited thinking about the nursery rather than the baby? It's like those girls that focus more on the wedding dress rather than the marriage...

Labor Day Wrap Up

2010-09-06T19:05:00.003-04:00

It has been quite a few days! After my post last Thursday, I took a turn for the worse and wound up very sick with a severe sinus infection. I stayed home from work on Friday - rescheduling my finance meeting - and paid a visit to the CVS Minute Clinic. Whoever thought of that idea - genius! No appointment necessary, no waiting room, in and out! Armed with antibiotics, cough medicine and more Sudafed...I was on my way to wellness.

We left bright and early Saturday morning for Pawley's Island, South Carolina to meet my family for the weekend. Even though I was still completely under-the-weather, I managed to enjoy cheering on the Dawgs (big win!).

By Sunday morning, I was feeling much better and spent the day beach-side with my sister. That night MJB and my Mama took over the kitchen to cook some low country specials. MJB made broiled Parmasean and Garlic Oysters for an appetizer and Mama made homemade Shrimp and Grits for dinner! We were in Heaven! I was super impressed with MJB's oysters...not sure why he never made it before now?

Since I didn't have my camera - seriously, you wouldn't believe how many things I forgot to pack thanks to all the meds I'm on - he agreed to share his Oyster recipe! These are so delicious and easy. We bought the oysters at a fresh seafood market, but I'm sure you can find them at a local grocery or market as well.

MJB's Oyster Special:

2 pounds of raw oysters (out of shell and drained)
3/4 cup of butter
2 (heaping) tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley
EVOO
2 tablespoons miced garlic
1/2 of a fresh-squeezed lemon
1 cup of fresh Parmesan cheese

Saute EVOO and garlic. Add parsley, lemon juice, parm cheese, and butter. Spread oysters out on a cookie sheet or baking sheet. Spoon sauce over oysters. Sprinkle with more parm cheese and lemon juice. Broil for 5-10 minutes (depending on preference). Serve with Saltine crackers, and hot sauce if desired.

Sick Day

2010-09-02T15:29:00.004-04:00

Just when I was all prepared to get back in the office and finish out the week to turn my to-do list into a to-done list...I get sick. What I assumed was an I-talked-too-much-at-tourism-conference sore throat has turned into a full blown cold. Head fuzziness, sore throat, cough, body aches and sinus pressure. Awesome.

I'm trying to accomplish what I can today, but I've noticed that Sudafed seriously limits my ability to a) have a productive conversation and b) complete tasks as small as responding to e-mails.

Thank goodness a long weekend is around the corner. Unfortunately, I'm supposed to do a budget analysis in the morning for our 2011 budget. This could go severely wrong given the fact I'm not too good at numbers (or budgeting...) to start with. Oh well.

I'm headed to bed.

Athens Visit

2010-09-01T18:48:00.005-04:00

I have spent the past several days in the best city in the world...Athens, Ga.! The annual Georgia tourism conference was held in Athens this year and it is always such a treat to return to my old college town. As I drove into town on Monday, I couldn't help but tear up at my past memories. It's so hard to believe it was four years ago when I lived there and eight years ago when I was a freshmen! Eight years! Unbelievable.

I stayed at the hotel where our wedding reception was in 2007 (we were married at the historic UGA Chapel!), the Foundry Park Inn. I'm friends with many of the tourism reps from around the state, so the annual conference is always a blast - filled with laughter, drinks, shopping, eating...oh, and a little education and advocacy training mixed in!

Downtown Athens is well known for the many bars, restaurants and adorable boutiques. I had dinner with friends from South Georgia at Transmetropolitan, home of the best pizza and beer. We had this ADORABLE college girl as our waitress and I so badly wanted her to pull up a chair and tell us all about her sorority, classes, weekend fun, etc. Ha!

The shopping in Downtown Athens is so great. With about 15,000 college girls living in town, there is no shortage of dress shops, accessories, and fun little gifts. Many of them are quite pricey and I didn't spend too much time (or money) in them as a student. Now that I'm a grown-up with a big-girl job...well, I was able to enjoy them a little more. Every attendee received $25 Downtown Dollars to spend at any shop or restaurant, so we all had quite an incentive to shop! Ha! We may or may not have skipped out on an afternoon session to hit the shops ;)

I have long loved these simple Dogeared reminder necklaces and some girls I was with did too. We all splurged (well, we did have $25 certificates!) on the Eat, Pray, Love necklaces with sweet reminders about living. Mine is the Karma necklace - it just floats on your neck!
It wouldn't be a visit to Athens without bringing home some sort of UGA item! I wanted to find MJB a little UGA gift and picked out this very professional looking pencil holder for his desk with the Georgia G emblem on it. Picture from here

There was a great energy in town this week as everyone prepares for Saturday's first football game! The students looked precious walking around downtown, running down Milledge Avenue and heading to class. I hope they all know how blessed they are to be spending four years at a school at offers the unmatched combination of parties and academia. Go Dawgs!

Brain Dump

2010-08-26T12:46:00.003-04:00

This week has been pretty insane with work and Junior League stuff. I'm loving it all, but haven't had much time for anything else...including my sweet puppy dogs and loving husband. I know. I'm a terrible wife and dog-mother, but I'll make it up to them this weekend.

I saw this same exercise on Blue Eyed Bride today and thought to myself, I need a good Brain Dump. Ha! Just a few random things on my mind right now...

1. It's almost September. Which means it's almost my birthday! I'll be 26 and can't wait. I adore celebrating birthdays and turning a year older.

2. As my mom used to say, my wanter is outta whack. I need new fall clothes. I also want the Michael Kors watch. And I want some new things for the home. And we're having photos taken this fall for Christmas cards...which is another big purchase. I'm obviously not going to purchase all of this, so I need to prioritize what to save for and what to forget about. Anyone else have trouble prioritizing their savings for wants/needs?

3. One Kings Lane has Tiny Prints gift cards today! Looking for baby announcements or birthday cards? I love this online store, though I have never bought anything off it. I suppose that's good (see above). If they had a gift card for Christmas cards, I'd totally buy it - that would save some me some money (see above again).

4. My sister and I signed up to run the Turkey Day 5K in Charleston on Thanksgiving morning. We're doing a full-family Thanksgiving weekend at Edisto Beach. The run starts at 9 a.m., so we'll have plenty of time to get home and help with the cooking ;) Lauren is a very good runner, so I'm excited and nervous at the same time to run with her.

5. I bought two filet mignon steaks on Sunday that were marked 50 percent off. MJB and I adore filets, but very rarely eat them. However, since I haven't been home all week, they are still sitting in the refrigerator. I just remembered about them today and am going to be sick if they went bad. Hopefully we can grill them soon...we use Dale's Seasoning. Have you heard of Dale's? MJB swears by it.

That's all I got today. What do you need to dump off your brain?

Sugar and Spice!

2010-08-19T16:50:00.005-04:00

Given my severe addiction to candy, it's no surprise that I'm obsessed with candy bars...as in a candy buffet. I cannot believe I didn't know about this super cute trend or even think to create it when I got married a few years ago. Since seeing the many adorable buffets set up for birthday parties and showers, I have been dying to create one.

I want any reason to purchase bulk candy in a specific color scheme. And then fill it in apothecary jars or hurricane lamps.

From Blue Eyed Bride

I'm pretty sure I will finally have the chance with a work event coming up. And, then I recommend we do this for a Junior League event.

From here

Any excuse for candy. I'd love to throw a baby shower one day so I can create the theme around an adorable pink or blue candy buffet. How sweet would a "Sugar & Spice" shower be for a baby girl? I know. Someone get pregnant.

Did you do a candy bar at your wedding or a shower you hosted? Please share the pictures so I can dream a little more about a table full of candy decor!

Old Habits Die Hard

2010-08-18T20:35:00.005-04:00

Tonight is a little deep. Feel free to grab a glass of red wine and sit back to ponder. This is something I've been giving a lot of consideration to as I evaluate what I am doing to be a better wife, co-worker, community leader and citizen.

We all have our "weaknesses," those characteristics about ourselves that we use during interviews to describe what we can improve upon. Though, if you're like me, you take weaknesses that have a flip-side. I.e., "Well, you see I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I am constantly double checking things, making sure they're done correctly." Or, "I can be a bit judgmental at times, often too quick to form an opinion. But, that's only because I want everything done right the first time."

We also have "bad" habits. Like weaknesses, these things can annoy others or cause disagreements in our marriages or friendships. I'm sure we could all name dozens about our spouses, but I have far too many I'm guilty of as well. I'm an impulse spender - sometimes with groceries or just "popping in" Homegoods or Target on my lunch break - dropping $30-$50 and later wondering why I didn't save that money to put towards something I really want/need. I'm also too much of a nag about the house, cursing under my breath about gym shorts and boxers on the ground, tennis shoes in the kitchen or glasses in the office.

So, in regards to weaknesses and habits - our characteristics that hinder us from being a better, nicer or more responsible person - I have plenty. And, I'm curious, assuming that you too have a few flaws (I said a few...). Do you accept your weaknesses and bad habits as just a part of who you are and hope others do too? Or, do you work to rid yourself of the weaknesses and bad habits, trying to make yourself the best you can be? I truly don't believe either is wrong or right. We're each responsible for our own actions, so as long as we can each accept our characteristics and how we approach them, well that's all we can do.

I like to think I work on my weaknesses and habits. I certainly don't want to be a nag to my husband or expect that my co-workers will read my mind about how I want things accomplished. But, I know that it's a lot easier said than done to say "well, I'm really working to improve myself." Ha!

I do believe life is about give and take, and we have to give on some things to work on the others. But hopefully the give includes more small quirks and less faults. Some quirks that simply make me who I am - I destroy my nails by picking and pulling, snack on junk food way too much, check my Blackberry 276 times a day, and straighten the house at least 2-3 times a day. These things I can accept (even if they aren't all good for me) and hopefully laugh about some days.

But when it comes to my weaknesses and bad habits - the things that hinder me from becoming a better professional or more patient wife, well these are the things I want to improve. Like I said, it's far easier said than done, and maybe it's more accurate and realistic to just accept these things as part of me. But, I know they hinder me being a better person, whereas biting my nails just hinders my ability to get a manicure. I realize that I expect too much from other people and need to begin understanding how to improve that. I am also trying really hard not to respond right away; I need to let things sink in before forming an opinion or judgment (this mostly applies to meetings where I am too quick to give my two cents).

I hope I can improve these weaknesses and bad habits. I know I will always struggle with some, and they may change as I grow and my relationships and roles change in life. But, I do pray that I can overcome some flaws while continuing to be a work in progress.

So, what's your thought on weaknesses and habits? I truly don't see a right or a wrong here. I believe we're all responsible for our own actions and must be able to accept however it is we feel about our characteristics. Whether you choose to fix the hindrances or simply accept them as personality characteristics, that's up to you.

Does any of this make any sense at all or have I gotten into my own head? Correct me if I'm way off base here and just over-analyzing life.

Livin' Life

2010-08-17T21:53:00.005-04:00

We have been really busy the past few days...and all we're doing is just enjoying Atlanta! When we moved back here {nearly a year ago!}, it took us awhile to remember that we're in the Big City again with unlimited options for entertainment and dining. We all-too-often get stuck in a rut and frequent the same restaurants. Without planning it this way, the past few days have been packed with Atlanta things and we've had a blast enjoying some old favorites and new places.

Friday night we were given tickets to the Braves game. My ad agency for work gave them to us and the were great seats and allowed us to get into the 755 Club for dinner beforehand. We ran into some of Matt's friends and then my family. This is only the second Braves game we've been to all season and I wish we'd gone to more. They are so much fun! Even though it rained, we stayed until the end to see the Braves beat the Dodgers!

Monday night I had my first Junior League of Atlanta meeting. I just started my provisional year and have been looking forward to meeting some other women my age in the city. I'm also excited about getting involved in one of the many, many placements around the city. I liked the girls in my group a lot and think it's going to be a fun year. As many of you know, it's very difficult to meet girlfriends once you're out of college. So, I'm hopeful I'll meet some new women and maybe even a few couple friends, which proves to be even harder!

The Atlanta Junior League is the largest league in the country because it allows anyone to join. You have to be sponsored, but basically if you want to pay your dues and commit to serving the community, you're in. It's a large time commitment, but not unbearable, even for women who work full-time. Many leagues are much more difficult to join and involve many sponsors or recommendations, similar to sorority rush. I love the the JLA is open and focused on community service.

After my meeting, I met up with Matt and one of his friends that was visiting from Louisiana. I know, we actually went out at 9 p.m. on a Monday night! This morning came all too early. We're big Mexican food fans, so we decided to check out a local favorite, Tin Lizzy's. Not sure how we'd never been there until yesterday. We used to live about five minutes away and we pass it every Sunday on our way to Church. We'll be returning for sure ;)

Tonight, I had another girl's night out to Sips 'n Strokes with some tourism girlfriends. The painting tonight was much more difficult and mine isn't too awesome. Neverthless, it was a fun night. If you have a Sips 'n Strokes or similar venue near you, go!

Oatmeal Cookies

2010-08-15T19:30:00.002-04:00

I tweeted yesterday that I was making my favorite recipe for homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and a few requested that I share the recipe. This is my favorite kind of cookie and I think this is the best recipe out there. It was given to me by a family friend that lived next door for years. At one of my wedding showers, she gave me a binder filled with her favorite recipes. It was hands down one of the most thoughtful gifts and I love using her recipes. This recipe was included, and over the years I have slightly altered it to my taste buds. I'm not a big nutmeg fan, so I reduced the amount it calls for and I use cinnamon sugar instead of straight cinnamon.

These cookies are chunky and in my opinion taste better a few hours later or even the next day. Enjoy! They are delicious!

1 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 sticks butter (I used Smart Balance and it tastes just as good)
3/4 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar (or just cinnamon if you like it a lot)
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (basically a very small pinch)
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips, nuts or raisins (I use chocolate chips)

Mix butter and sugars til smooth. Sir in egg and vanilla. Stir together flour, soda, salt, cinnamon sugar and nutmeg. Add to creamy ingredients. Stir together, then stir in the oats and chocolate chips. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375. (I actually bake it for about 15 minutes because I bake on a stone, so just play with the time.)

What's your favorite kind of cookie?

Cocodot Love

2010-08-11T16:30:00.008-04:00

The Internet is full of amazing products and everytime I discover something new, I wonder how and why I'm just learning about it. Do you ever feel like that?

While at work today, we were about to do yet-another Evite invitation for a reception. We have used them for several events and I personally have used Evite for get-togethers with friends. However, Evite may be free but I am always disappointed with the invitation selection and the boring template it offers.

Enter Cocodot. I recalled Kappa Prep and Muffy Martini writing about this product, so I visited the site to see what it offered. Cocodot is much like Evite, offering invitations for all kinds of events. Though, these cards are much more realistic and offer a wide-range of designs including everything from baby showers, weddings, get-togethers and "hello" cards. See the process and experience sample cards here.

You can send anything on the site as a card or as an invitation. Cocodot also has stationary, allowing your e-mails to friends can be just a little bit more personal! For work-related events, I love that you can upload your logo to the card! Do I have you sold? Oh, and Lilly Lovers...there is a special Lilly-themed section!

The pricing is fairly reasonable, especially when you consider what you'd spend on cards or invitations. I'm still a believer in printed invitations for special occasions, hand-written thank you notes, and photo-printed Christmas cards. However, when hosting a game night for friends, inviting the girls to meet you for cocktails, or just sending a little happy hello to someone, why waste the paper?

Muffy offered a promo code for Cocodot's annual subscription, originally $99 but marked down to $49 right now. With the promo code, I was able to sign up for a year at $29! Sold! I've already sent a few cards to friends and love how easy it is to use. We're working on an invitation for that work reception and I know it will be so much more professional than the Evite I was considering.

This wasn't a compensated post. I just got really excited about this product and the many ways I will enjoy it this year. Like I said, nothing beats a hand-written note or formal invitation. But for the everyday events and greetings, you can go green and be quick and easy!

Also, speaking of cards - how sweet is this card Katie produced to honor Reese's first birthday in Heaven?

Go Dawgs!

2010-08-09T18:54:00.005-04:00

My alma mater, the University of Georgia (UGA), was recently named the number one party school by the Princeton Review. There isn't a lot I can say about this. I know dear President Michael Adams is crying and cussing at his desk, but I personally think it's quite accomplishment that UGA can manage to be the #1 Party School and still be very, very difficult to get into. Haha. I know I held my fair share of red solo cups during my four years at college but still managed to get a very worthy degree. So, I'd like to toast UGA and my fellow graduates and current students for finding a balance. A balance between developing social skills and academic intelligence. Go Dawgs!!

And, just in case our number one standing wasn't solidified, the 2010 Orientation Team has made a video (that was made prior to the announcement) - "Party in the UGA". Ha!

(I'm partially kidding in commending UGA on the standing, however I do think UGA is a wonderful school and am still VERY proud of my degree!)

2010 Christmas Cards

2010-08-05T22:03:00.003-04:00

Though it may be 141 days until Christmas day, it's less than 100 days until it's time to place Christmas card orders! That's right, I started thinking about Christmas cards today and I can't stop. We didn't send any last year and I think I'm having major withdraws. I was completely inspired by bloggers' cards last year and am planning ahead to order adorable custom photo cards. In the past I've gone through Shutterfly for cards, but this year I'm considering some Etsy designers because I love the idea of supporting freelancers.

The depressing part is that we have zero family photo suitable for a Christmas card. After reviewing our cruise photos, it's obvious that the photos we take together on a whim are not very good. Besides, the dogs aren't included. Question - do you include your pets in the family card?

After giving it some consideration, I think it's high time we had a set of professional family photos taken. I know we'll want some when we have kids, but that's years away. I'd like to hire a photographer for a few hours to shoot some really quality, artistic photos. I then thought about it and realized these photos would be perfect to fill some of the empty wall space in our bedroom and hallway. I'd love to have large canvas art printed like this and this.

So, I'm inspired. I need to get on this soon. It may be just August 5, but by the time I book a photographer, take the photos, order cards and mail them out...it's Christmas! Good thing I'm a planner. Do I now have you thinking about your cards?

Fall Watches

2010-08-04T21:00:00.005-04:00

I have never been a watch wearer, so when I purchased the popular white rubber watch this summer {which I was wearing before I saw the Blind Side, I might add}, it was more as a fashion accessory than a time piece. To my amazement, the thing is still running. It's an inexpensive white rubber watch engraved with Geneva, and I've really come to love it as both an accessory and convenient way to tell time. What a novel idea.

With fall approaching, I'm not sure how much longer I'll pull off the white watch look. Now, I may be Southern, but I do believe you can do white after Labor Day. Just not in the form of sandals or dresses. White jeans, trousers, tops and blouses are all a-ok in my book. So, I'm sure I'll rock the white watch for a few more months. But, I want something with more of a fall/winter feel also, so I've been looking at a few other timepieces online.

I'm loving the tortoise shell watches. One of my friend's received this Michael Kors' watch from her beau and I can't stop thinking about it. I'm quite envious. It's so lovely on her wrist. I could see myself checking the time on this beauty during meetings.
I also like these Fossil tortoise shell watches. They are similar to the Michael Kors one, but with two numbers in the price rather than three. Ha!

Stella Brown Enamel Topring

Stella Faux Tortoise Shell

I can't convince myself yet to "invest" in a watch. I suppose I still see it as a fashion accessory, even if I would wear it every day. I'm hoping to take a trip to the Atlanta Mart in the next few weeks, my favorite place for inexpensive accessories - my Mom actually scored the same white watch I own for half the price there! I'm thinking there may be some good finds...even if it is nameless in the face!

I've come so used to wearing my white watch that it would be hard to adjust without it. If I can't find another good inexpensive one, it may be time to just invest in a nice one.

Cruisin' Part 2

2010-08-03T21:09:00.004-04:00

Just a few more pictures from vacation. It has taken me nearly 72 hours to fully adjust to reality. I was literally fumbling through the work day yesterday {and part of today}. Being out of the office for 10 full days really threw me for a loop. I have a huge meeting tomorrow so here's hoping I wake up with my act together!

We didn't get to do the Atlantis "Excursion" {note, MJB laughs at that word every time. He's like, "they package something together, charge you $100 per person and call it an excursion. Ha! We're calling everything an excursion now.} But, we did taxi over to it for some pictures. It's gorgeous!

Never in my life did I think I'd ride one of these things...much less with my husband driving. He's a terrible driver and he totally admits it, but surprisingly managed the scooter well. Freeport didn't offer much to do and we'd already paid $100 for a beach excursion in Nassau, so we rented some scooters with my sister-in-law and toured the island. It was so much fun and the breeze was amazing. Of course, now MJB is begging for one to "scoot around Atlanta". Ha! This isn't exactly a city we can "scoot around" in. But, it was really fun. Oh, I tried driving for about five seconds and crashed. Ha! It was bad.

If you thought you were going to see a pic of me in a swim suit, you're sorely mistaken. Ha! I did wear one though and even tanned despite the SPF 70 I wore. I've become a freak about the sun. I suppose that's a good thing and I'm hoping my 70-year-old self will thank me.

MJB loved these sponge things, so I made him take a picture with Sponge Man in Key West. Unlike the Southernmost Point, people weren't lined up to have their kids pictures taken. Imagine that. We came home with two "natural" sponges. He was told it's the most natural thing in the world to shower with. Honestly, it creeps me out and I refuse to touch it. But he lathered that sucker up and said it feels so good. Gross. Just give me a cotton washcloth. Cotton is natural and I can see it grow right here in Georgia. I don't need a sponge from the sea.

I'm headed off to bed. This may be the first night that I don't feel like the house is cruisin' the high seas. Thank goodness! Though, if you do go on a cruise, be sure to get a prescription for the Transderm Scop patch. It's seriously a lifesaver!

Cruisin'

2010-08-02T18:02:00.004-04:00

Whew! I'm back after being gone for 10 days! I spent three days in sunny Ft. Lauderdale for a work convention and then came back home and left again the same day for a seven day cruise. Though all the plane trips I did in the past 10 days will make your head spin, the seven days at sea were absolute bliss. We slept, ate, read, sun-tanned, ate, and slept again! Ha!

MJB and I are very fortunate that his parents love family vacations. At this stage in our life, we cannot afford long vacations on our own, so we happily join his family when invited. This time, there were eight of us traveling on the Carnival Triumph.

Though I have many, many pictures to share about our trip and visits to Nassau, Freeport and Key West, I couldn't wait to show you my absolute favorite find on the trip! When in Key West, we took a historical trolley tour through the city. The guide pointed out Kino Sandal Factory and said we shouldn't miss a visit there!! Naturally, after the tour ended, I high-tailed it to the sandal factory to see what the fuss was about. Ya'll, places like this just don't exist anymore. Kino Sandals are made in the store by the Kino family and sold fresh off the manufacturing table.

I loved that I could see the shoes being made and purchase them from the hands who made them. As if the alll-American experience isn't enough, the classic, comfy sandals are just $12! I picked up two pairs and some for my Mom and sister. Though the only place in the world to buy them is Key West, you can purchase them online.

Of course, we also visited the Southernmost Point in the USA, though we couldn't get a picture next to it because the line was very long and there were tons of tacky tourists having their kids make all kinds of poses by the monument. I don't think you need 10 pictures of your kid practically hugging and kissing the Southernmost Point.

I've always loved taking photos of Matt from the back. It just seems reflective. This particular night he was wearing my absolute favorite outfit of his - blue button down, khakis and loafers! So cute.

It was good to vacate our lives for awhile, but we sure were glad to come home to these little guys!

Saturday Night

2010-07-19T20:34:00.005-04:00

This past Saturday, Jenny, one of my closest friends from high school and freshmen year roommate at Georgia got married! Our parents are also best friends so my parents and brother and sister were there. MJB wasn't feeling well, so it was the original five - my family and I always manage to have a good time together ;)

Siblings

There were a lot of mutual friends from high school, including my other good friend, Mallory. Weddings are a fun time to catch up and it was great seeing everyone. Jenny just graduated from Physical Therapy school also, so she's not just a Mrs. now, but a Dr. Mrs!

Jillian, La, Dr. Jenny!, me and Mallory

Isn't her dress gorgeous!? She really looked like a princess!

Mals and Me

The beautiful centerpieces. Jenny has always loved purple and her mother came up with this idea! I love the vase!

Jennifer Weiner

2010-07-18T17:18:00.005-04:00

Well, as I suspected, Jennifer Weiner is the most adorable and hilarious person! As I mentioned last week, I got to accompany a friend who was considered "press" to Jennifer Weiner's book event in Atlanta. She was promoting her newest novel, "Fly Away Home". I wasn't sure what to expect at a book event...would she just read her new book and discuss how it came to be? Would there be a Q and A? Something else?

She did all of that and more. Beginning with a mini stand up routine, Weiner talked about family, writing, running and the Bachelorette, during which she famously tweets her hilarious opinions. She interacted a lot with the audience. It was really refreshing and hilarious. She had a Q and A session. I asked her if she has an e-reader (because I've been considering one myself) or if she prefers the classic hardback/paperback. She does have a Kindle and loves it, but it's sort of a predicament because Best Seller lists do not count e-reader sales. So, her new book was down in actual hardback sales but way up in e-reader sales. She's like, I don't want to tell people to buy the hardback because she knows how useful e-readers are, so it's a toss-up. She thinks there will soon be an e-reader best seller list...if Amazon and Barnes and Noble can get along and share their information.

"Fly Away Home", which she autographed after the Q and A session, is about the wife of a U.S. Senator who has an affair. She said this story came to be during the many, many political scandals over the last 2-3 years. She was intrigued by the wives and how many responded differently. She said if it happened before April 2010, it's in the book - everything from Eliot Spitzer to Mark Sanford.

The book she is currently working on is titled "The Family Way" and is about a wealthy woman that hires a working-class woman to serve as her surrogate. There is also a college-age egg donor and a step-daughter in the story. She said it looks at the unique way families come to be with surrogacy and how it's almost like the wealthy hiring poorer women's bodies.

I've long loved Weiner's stories. Yes, she's "Chick Lit" (or as Weiner said, she would call herself "Commercial Women's Fiction"), but her stories and characters go far beyond sex and shopping. I think she takes serious, relevant issues and tells stories of how modern day women handle them. If you haven't read any of her books, I'd start with the original, "Good in Bed." Weiner said she most identifies with the character, Cannie, in "Good in Bed". I also loved "Goodnight Nobody" and "Little Earthquakes", which she said came about after her best friend lost a newborn to Sids.

It was a fabulous experience. She was so down to earth. I really felt like we could have grabbed a beer together and laughed and laughed. I just started "Fly Away Home" and it's, of course, proving to be a wonderful story with strong women characters!

The Pink Highlights

2010-07-15T22:24:00.004-04:00

I always prefer a pink highlighter, don't you? These are the pink highlights of my week:

- Sips n' Strokes. So fun! If you have one near you, go. I personally will probably skip bringing wine and food next time - honestly, it just stressed me out having it all over the table. Ha! I nearly dipped my paint brush in my wine! I don't think my painting turned out too bad. So maybe my daisy petals are more like hibiscus flowers. Totally worth the money for a fun night with the girls!

- Wooden bench. My summer project is our front porch. It's rather empty and looks sad. I'd been wanting a classic wooden bench to paint black. I found one on Craigslist and scored it for $100. MJB doesn't think that's a good deal, but believe me, it was the cheapest one I could find that was solid wood and not rotting. I'll take some before and after pictures once we do the project. For now, it's sitting in its "weathered" state on the front porch.

- God is GOOD! I started following Katie's blog last August when people were praying for her daughter, Reese. Reese went to Heaven at two days old on August 13. On July 13 - just 11 months later - Katie gave birth to a healthy and perfect baby boy. Isn't that sweet? I cried tears when I read Colson had been born and was healthy. I love the blog world.

- Roku. Do you have Netflix? We do....since we don't have cable (don't ask). For Matt's birthday, he got a Roku box. We now can watch Netflix on demand very easily. It's pretty cool! Nearly all of the movies and TV shows on Netflix can be watched on demand. I think the box was around $80 and we pay $14/month for Netflix. Such a good deal and sorta makes up for not having cable.

- Carrie Underwood. Pretty sure I'm the only person who doesn't think her wedding dress is heinous. In my opinion, it kind fits her glitzy and glam persona. Let's face it, she is a d-i-v-a. Don't get me wrong, I rock out to her music and can't wait to go to her concert in October, but the huzzie is a diva.

- Tucker. The name is appearing everywhere. I've heard it no less than five times as a dog name this week. Kellie Pickler even named her new puppy Tucker. Is this how a mom feels when she thinks she named her kid a really unique name and then it shows up in the top 20?

- Jennifer Weiner. My last point for the night. I'm SO excited to go see Jennifer Weiner in person tomorrow night. I was lucky to be invited as Maura's +1. I seriously heart Jennifer Weiner. What should I ask her? I mean, this is seriously the closest thing I've ever come to a famous person. Ha!! Too bad I'm not kidding.

All the Single Ladies...

2010-07-15T21:28:00.006-04:00

When I saw the topic for Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life Friday, I couldn't resist participating! Today's topic...Single Boys! Ha! With all the adorable single women out there who read Kelly's blog, she thought this would be a fun way to possibly play matchmaker. See more single boys at eHarmony/Kelly's Korner here!

The single boy I'm posting today is Ben, my 19 year old brother. (For the record, I asked permission and he said it's fine.) He may be too young for many of you, but you just never know!
Though he lives in Atlanta, Ga., Ben has the heart of a country boy. He started a landscaping business in high school and was named Georgia's young entrepreneur of the year at 18. He now owns and operates the business and works at another Atlanta landscaping agency to learn more about the business.

Ben enjoys all the pastimes of a true Southern gentleman - hunting, fishing, golf and driving his truck. He is very active in his Church - this spring, he led a group of high school kids on a mission trip to Mexico. And, as anyone will tell you, he's the funniest kid alive!! As for football, he cheers for Georgia and Clemson.

Truly, he's such a sweet kid and deserves a sweet girl. He basically has three mothers (Mom, and Lauren, our 22 year old sister, and me) so Ben knows how to treat women! If interested in learning more, leave a comment with your e-mail address.

Learning the word no

2010-07-12T20:44:00.003-04:00

I typically always take something away from Church's message. I enjoy learning lessons from the Bible that are applicable to my life. But, in all honesty, yesterday's message has kind of stuck with me more than most. It wasn't a true light bulb ah-ha moment or even a message that's new to me. But, at this point in my life, it really hit home.

The message was about our "appetite" for things. Things that aren't bad, but can become consuming. Things like food, sex, stuff and hobbies. All of these are good things that God created for us to enjoy at certain times in moderation. But they shouldn't consume who we are because in the end...we'll just want...more.

At first, I was being self-righteous and looking at Matt thinking, "Mmm, hmm. Listen up, boy, because he's talkin' to you and your obsession with those stupid computer games." But then it hit me. Hello, Katie! Are you listening? You have an itsy-bitsy obsession with blogs and Twitter. It's not a bad thing. I've learned so much from fellow bloggers (like Kelly) and have enjoyed following stories of people I don't even know (like Katie and the loss of her baby). And Twitter connects me to my blogger friends and others...allowing me to ask questions, vent and just generally enjoy conversation with these lovely women.

But, I've recently found myself checking my phone (Twitter) a lot. Like every 10 minutes a lot. Or signing into my Reader two or three times per day (or more if I'm bored!) to see what's new. Or, I get bored at night and start clicking around reading blogs. I do all of these things out of habit, when I could be cleaning, baking, playing with the dogs, reading a book...or reading my Bible!

The message was paired with the following verse. I'm committing it to memory. It's time I used God's grace to say no at times. I'm not going away. Ha! But, I am going to try very hard to stay off Twitter more. Check blogs less. And just generally close my laptop for longer periods when at home. It's amazing how connected we are to the world these days, but sometimes it's too much. Sometimes I need to spend less time connecting with the rest of the world and just connect with God, my husband and my home.

Titus 2: 11-12 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..."

Just a few thoughts for the day!