Downtown Southern

Hello Weekend!!

2012-02-03T13:31:00.000-08:00

I've missed you! Even though you've only been gone for five days it's always too long! haha

So I had a little adventure to Target last night and got some great deals on these cute little shoes!

I'm in love with these leopard print ballet flats!! There the Mossimo flats that are only $14.99 that people went crazy over a couple months ago and I already have a black pat pair! So cute!

The loafers are on sale for like $13.98, they're so cute I can't wait to wear them with some skinny jeans!

Have a great weekend friends!

I've been tagged!

2012-01-30T07:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday Friends!

I've been tagged by the super cute mama-to-be Jessica from Happiest Girls are the Prettiest Girls! Thanks Jessica, I'm a sucker for these things!

Here are the rules:

1. You must post the rules. (And link up who tagged you.)

2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

4. Tag eleven people and link them on your post.

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

~~~~~~~

11 Facts about little ol me:

1. I didn't got to college out of state....I stayed in Virginia.

2. After I graduated from college I moved to the Outer Banks and lived and worked there from May - September until I was evacuated for a hurricane.

3. I have to drink milk with my Chinese food.

4. I have four brothers and they're all married and have kids, I'm the only non-parent sibling.

5. I went to Hawaii for spring break my senior year in college.

6. My religion is southern Baptist.

7. I've never had any broken bones.

8. If I don't wear makeup everyday then my face breaks out.

9. I'm very quiet around people I don't know.

10. In high school I was recruited to play volleyball and go to a camp in Florida because I was tall and left handed. I never played volleyball and have no skills at all. I declined the offer.

11. My favorite drink is water.

Answeres to Jessica's questions:

1. What was your first job? - I worked at the dry cleaners a block away from my house in the little town that I grew up in. I was 14.

2. If you were First Lady, what would your "pet project" be? (Like Michelle Obama's is children's nutrition...) - I think I would want it to be adoption awareness in the US and funding help for adoption agencies.

3. What is the most embarrassing show you always watch on tv? - I would say the Kardashians and the Real Housewives, it really is embarrassing when you think about it!

4. What is your favorite restaurant? - Red Sky Cafe in Duck, NC

5. Who is your favorite celebrity? Tom Hanks

6. Is there any issue you could really "get on your soapbox" about? Not that I can think of?

7. If you could change your hair color, what would you change it to? - Blonde, my hair is naturally a dark brown so I have to color is constantly, it would be nice not to have to do that.

8. Do you get embarrassed easily? - YES

9. If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be? - The president, so I could figure out all of the crazy stuff that no one else knows....

10. What do you call "soft drinks"? Coke, pop, soda...? - Soda

11. Describe yourself in one word. - Amiable

Questions for my tagged bloggers to answer:

1.What's your favorite snack?

2. If you were stranded on a dessert island and could only bring three things what would they be?

3. Where's your favorite vacation spot?

4. What do you like to do on a Friday night?

5. If you could splurge on one thing what would it be?

6. What's your go to recipe when you have to bring something to a party that's always a hit?

7. What's your favorite holiday?

8. What's the best bargain you ever got with regards to clothes?

9. What's your favorite book of all time?

10. If you could be one Real Housewife, which one would you be?

11. What's your favorite movie of all time?

I'm tagging:

Elizabeth from Beyond Blessed

Elizabeth from A Wedding Story

Aryn from Living on a Dime or Less

Lindsey from The Bargain Blonde

Katie from A Hokie and A Wahoo

Anne from Annechovie

Shannon from Wine Taste Girl

AV from Long Distance Loving

Janna from Perception is Everything

Alycia from Crowley Party

Aimee from Chronicles of a Dime

Can't wait to see ya'lls answers! : )

Sun Dried Tomato Risotto

2012-01-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday ya'll! I made the pioneer woman's sun dried tomato risotto a while back and it was soooo good!!

I added some shitake mushrooms and it made it even yummier! If you're looking for some new comfort food, this is it! : )

Check out the recipe here. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Winner Announced!

2012-01-26T05:20:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends! Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway! As you can see below I did the highly technical drawing method to pick the winner, haha!

And the winner is......................Schkinner! Congrats!

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!!

I've decided to give another lucky person a prize!

Elizabeth from Beyond Blessed! You'll get a little Thirty-One something as well. : )

I love giveaways! There so much fun!

Stay tuned for a Twilight giveaway coming soon!

January Birchbox

2012-01-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday!! I signed up for Birchbox in December and gave the first one to my SIL as a Christmas present she liked everything in it but the hair oil which I've actually been using and love!

So I was super excited when my Birchbox came in January!

Here's what I got!

Firming Cream which I haven't tried yet.....

LOVE this nail color! And I got three compliments from total strangers as well. I have NEVER gotten compliments from strangers about my nail color! Crazy!

YUM! Haven't tried it yet but it looks really good!

This is the Juicy Couture original scent and I am in love! I wear viva la juicy all the time but this is a nice change!

This is some complexion cream and it smells really good. My skin is super sensitive though so I'm using it sparingly.

And a fun magnet!

Well there you go. Do you subscribe to Birchbox? I'd love to know what you got!! Have a great week!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway! Chance to enter ends Wednesday the 25th! : )

GIVEAWAY - Thirty-One

2012-01-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends! Sorry I've been absent for the last month (maybe a little more than a month)

Life has been crazy, with Christmas and having the in-laws over for two weeks from Scotland, whoo busy busy! However, life is finally starting to get back to normal.

And because I've been MIA I'm starting back into the old blog with a GIVEAWAY! Woohoo, yeah!

So what exactly am I giving away? It's a Thirty-One Large Utility Tote! (And I do mean Large!)

via

There are soooo many uses for this tote!

Are you a mom? You can use this for toys, clothes, groceries, general storage.

Are you a single lady? You can use this for clothes, groceries, general storage.

Are you a married lady? You can use this for clothes, groceries, general storage, your husbands crap.

Going on a trip? Put it in the tote! Organizing your car? Put it in the tote! Do you have a million scarves like me? Put it in the tote! Going to the beach? Put it in the tote! Seriously you can use this tote for anything!

So here's how to enter, leave a comment = 1 entry

Follow my blog = 1 entry

Go to my Thirty-One site and order yourself a little something or something for someone else = 3 entries!!

(To place an order go to my site, click on "Place an Order" and click on "Shop Now" in the Downtown Southern Party!)

Contest ends Wednesday the 25th, Good Luck!!!

Glitz and Glam Swap!!

2011-12-11T18:01:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday Friends! I recently participated in Bargain Blonde and Ravens How the Glitz Stole Christmas Swap and it was sooo much fun!!!

I had the sweetest Swap partner, Hannah from A Lovely Mess! She got me the best stuff!!!

~ Some lovely sparkly candle votives, LOVE!

~ Some yummy smelling shimmer spray for all of my Christmas parties coming up this week!

~The cutest shimmery blue colored nail polish! I can't wait to try this out!!

~ And then some cute little mini nail polishes that I also am dying to try out!

Her picks were perfect!!! Check her super cute blog out! Thanks again Hannah! : )

And while I was snapping pics of my goods I also snapped a pic of my fun colored lights Christmas tree in my dining room! : )

My main tree is white lights but I also have a soft spot for the colored lights and I got the pre-lit tree from Michaels last year for $7!!! SCORE!

Head over to Bargain Blonde and Ravens to see what other lovely ladies got in their swap packages! So fun!!

I'm Blank Because.....

2011-12-01T08:48:00.001-08:00

I saw this post on Little Miss Momma and thought it would be fun to do!

Here goes.....

I'm weird because:
Sometimes I'll go a whole day without drinking anything.
I hate being tickled.
I love liver...whole liver, liver pate, chopped liver, you name it I love it!
I can't do # two at work, I have a phobia of it
I usually go three days without doing # two (I know TMI, sorry)
My face will break out if I don't put makeup on it.
I will put ranch dressing on almost anything but it has to be Hidden Valley.
I'm addicted to buying magazines, but I may or may not read them.
Same addiction with books.
I can't splurge on anything for myself, if it's even the littlest bit expensive I will hunt for a deal or a bargain on it.
I can splurge on other people.
If I get sick with any type of congestion I have to use nose spray and become addicted to it, it usually takes me a couple of weeks to wean myself off of it.
I have a major phobia of throwing up, I'll force my body not to just because I'm so terrified of it.
I love to dunk my french fries in my Frosty from Wendy's.
If I have to get out of the bed at night sometimes I have a hard time doing it because I will think about all of the scary movies I've ever watched and think that the ghosts and baddies are waiting for me.
Sometimes I'm scared of the dark.

I'm a bad friend because:
I will never call you on the phone.
If you call me I might not call you back, but I'll email you.
Sometimes I'll tell it like it is even if I know you don't want to hear it.
I tend to be over-protective.

I'm a good friend because:
If you're in a crisis, I'm there for you.
Friends are like family members to me.
I want the best for you and I'll always support you.
I'll always be an ear, shoulder, and arms for you.

I'm sad because:
I'm not happy in my job.
I can't save as much as I'd like.
I want to be pregnant and it's taking a long time to happen.
I'm afraid there's something wrong with me.
People I love are going through hard times.

I'm happy because:
It's almost Christmas.
My in-laws are coming to stay with us for Christmas who we don't get to see very often.
I found out on Thanksgiving that I'm going to be an Aunt again.
I get to see all of my family in a two weeks.
Hubby just had some health screening done and came back all clear.

I'm excited for:
Christmas
Vacation
Spending time with family
Trying new recipes
Making our new years list that hubby and I do every year on new year's eve, we list all of the things we want to get for the house and accomplish for the year.
Possibilities

There you go! If you do this, leave a comment so I can read yours! : )
It's almost Friday and the weekend is right around the corner!

SHOP FOR A GOOD CAUSE.....AND A CHANCE TO WIN!!

2011-11-28T12:11:00.001-08:00

Hi Friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was great! And now that Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season has officially begun I wanted to take the opportunity to let ya'll know a little something about me. I'm a Thirty-One Consultant! If you've never heard of Thirty-One before you have to check my website out and look at all of the great products we offer. I became a consultant for two reasons....1.) Because Thrity-One is a faith based company and that really appealed to me and 2.) The products are seriously affordable and cute!

So here's where the shopping comes in! (I'm super excited about this by the way!) I've opened up an online party just click here or go to www.mythirtyone.com/sroach and then click in the top pink bar where it says "Place an Order" and then you'll see Downtown Southern Party you just click on the shop now

Here's the deal you have from now until December 8th to place an order. IF you place an order then you'll automatically go into a drawing to be the HOSTESS of the whole party!!!!

What does that mean? FREE STUFF, HALF PRICE ITEMS, HOSTESS EXCLUSIVE SPECIALS, AND MORE!!! All you have to do is place an order. You know you have someone on your list who would love one of these bags!

Here is the Customer Special -

And the winner/hostess will receive an Organizing Utility Tote - FREE (along with other free products that they choose)

Here's the Hostess Special that one lucky winner will have a chance to get as well -

NEED ANOTHER REASON TO SHOP?????

I WILL DONATE 10% OF THE PROCEEDS TO ST. JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL!

via

I love St. Jude and I have been blessed with 9 healthy and happy nieces and nephews (and another on the way!) I couldn't imagine having a sick child that had to be in the hospital especially at Christmas and my heart goes out to the families and the children of St. Jude. And every little bit helps, right?

So spread the word and get shopping!

Email me if you have any questions!

HAPPY SHOPPING AND GOOD LUCK!

UPDATE: Please leave me a comment on this post and let me know if you make a purchase so I can keep track of who goes into the drawing! : ) thanks!

Sick :(

2011-11-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

I hate being sick!

But when the weather is 77 one day and 28 the next it's inevitable!

Here's my go to list of things I have to have when I'm sick!

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**I'M DOING A GIVEAWAY IN HONOR OF BREAKING DAWN, SO IF YOU'RE A TWI-HARD THEN CHECK BACK SOON**

Gallery Wall

2011-11-05T10:19:00.001-07:00

Happy weekend ya'll!!!
This is a seriously overdue post as we did this little project on our staycation back in July!!
We wanted to do a gallery wall in our upstairs hallway with some of our favorite photos. We used a template we found on google and just picked different size frames and really eyeballed it and that was it!! Wasn't that difficult at all and we loved the end product! (I'm using my iPad to do this post so I can't figure out how to arrange the photos...They'er a little out of order but you'll get the gist) : )

Five Things Friday!

2011-10-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovelies! I've been a bad blogger lately and I was so excited because I was on a roll there. The craziest thing is that I think about blogging all the time, I think about what I can blog about, what pictures to take and then it all just never happens. I'm such a procrastinator!

Anyway! Below is my list of the five things I hope to accomplish this weekend! The weather is going to be chilly and wonderful! : )

Have some friends over for dinner tonight! I'm making Chicken with succotash, brie stuffed mushrooms a la Pioneer Woman, brown rice, and bread pudding for dessert!
Sit outside with a fire in the kiln, I love it when the weather is cool enough to do this.
Organize my 31 stuff (did ya'll know I'm a 31 consultant??) Post on that coming soon with a giveaway no less!
Clean my house up for potential book club on Wednesday (no one has actually finished the book so I don't know whether we'll have it or not) We're such slackers!!
Paint my nails! I love to do this on Sunday evening, it's a new color for the work week! I'll post pics!

That's it, what do ya'll have planned for this weekend? Anything fun?!

3 Years Ago....

2011-10-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that on Tuesday Hubby and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary! I feel like we've been together forever and yet, at the same time, I can't believe it's been 3 years already. So far the journey has been pretty great and I know the best is yet to come! : ) I love that man more than words can say!

We celebrated by going to see Wicked! I loved it and Hubby actually really liked it as well. I read the book years ago so was really interested to see how they had turned it into a musical.

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Before we went to Wicked we had dinner at Balliceaux, it's a great little resturant that's got a perfect atmosphere for date nights. : )

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It's funny because I actually started blogging so I'd have somewhere to keep track of all my wedding planning. I had the added bonus of meeting so many wonderful ladies who were doing the same thing and it's amazing to see where they are in their own journeys.

I'm off to the Outer Banks for the weekend. I'll try to take lots of pics to share on Monday! : ) Happy Weekend All!

Meet Jack

2011-09-30T07:32:00.001-07:00

My newest nephew! My little brother is now a daddy....so weird! Jack is so little and so sweet, I took the new parents dinner this week and got in some love time with the little guy. I was really tempted to take him home with me but I figured not the best idea.
: )

5 Things Friday: Fall Edition

2011-09-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends! I'm bringing back 5 Things Friday. When I first started my blog and was deep into the wedding planning I did a 5 Things Friday to try and keep me on track and it actually really helped. Now I'd like to pick that up again with things I need to get done over the weekend. So here we go!

Put outside Halloween decorations up! I'm all about my Halloween decs! : )
Laundry - I know, boring, but if I don't put it on here it might "fall" through the cracks, get it, Fall, sorry....
Movies with Hubby - Really want to go and see Contagion, looks like a good one.
Need a few new Fall wardrobe pieces. I'll be checking at Target, Ann Taylor Loft, and New York & Company.
I got a huge can of Pumpkin puree and I need to make something with it! I just don't know if I should make pumpkin bread or something a little more adventerous! What do you think??? Any suggestions!?

Have a lovely Fall weekend ya'll!!! : )

Flavors of Fall!

2011-09-14T05:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends!

Fall is almost here and I can't wait! I'm so in love with Fall, the crisp air, the decorations, the colors, and the flavors!!!

I love apple and cinnamon flavors during fall they're just so warm and cozy.

One of my favorites is the Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice, YUM!

Starbucks

And another thing I love is to sprinkle a little cinnamon in my coffee grounds before brewing my coffee! It gives the coffee the best cinnamon flavor and reminds me of fall!

Do ya'll have any favorite flavors for fall?

NEVER FORGET - FOREVER GRATEFUL

2011-09-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

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End of Summer Recipe: Crab Quiche!

2011-09-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Ya'll! I wanted to share with you a recipe that's near and dear to my heart, it's the first thing that I made after I had moved into my own apartment my junior year of college and was "officially" on my own! It was one of the best feelings in the world!!! And I was so excited to have my own place and a kitchen that I decided to make a quiche (I had never really cooked before this) other than boiling an egg and making ramen noodle and easy mac! I felt pure joy and independence, it was amazing!

~~~~~

I took a trip recently to Costco with Hubby and was walking past the seafood and saw cans of Phillips crab meat for $4.99!!! I was so excited that I grabbed two jumbo cans and after checking out realized they were actually $15.99 a piece, major FAIL! That sneaky Costco puts those price tags there to make you think that it's a different price, it's called bait and switch! Yeah I have a marketing degree, I'm on to your game Costco!

~~~~~~

Anyway so after almost choking to death looking at the receipt, I walked my pride and very expensive crab meat out the door and decided to make my favorite crab quiche. : )

Please note the huge pieces of crab meat, mmmmm so good!!!

Its' really the easiest thing to make!!

All you need is:

Pre-made pie crust

4 eggs

1/2 cup of Mayonnaise

1/2 cup Milk

2 tablespoons Flour

8 ounces of your favorite cheese shredded (I like to use 4 ounces of swiss cheese because it really brings the crab flavor out and then 4 ounces of cheddar or colby jack)

8 ounces of crab meat

1 1/2 tablespoon Old Bay

Salt and Pepper to taste

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl (mix the liquids first then add the cheese and crab). Pour into the patry shell and back for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Enjoy!!!

Accent Vlog

2011-09-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

Okay so I saw everyone doing the accent vlog's and wanted to give it a try. Please excuse me looking at myself instead of the camera!! Haha

Let me know if you've done one as well, I've really enjoyed watching everyone else!

The instructions are to say the following words:
Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

And answer these questions:

What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?

What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?

What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?

What do you call gym shoes?

What do you say to address a group of people?

What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?

What do you call your grandparents?

What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?

What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?

What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

From Jenna's Journey

Flower Thursday

2011-09-01T03:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! These are some flowers from my garden in the spring that I meant to post ages ago! And as much as I love when my garden blooms in the Spring, I love the Fall leaves and crisp air even more and I know it's right around the corner!! : )

I'm Bummed about the Erin Condren Life Planner....

2011-08-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

I'm a list maker / calendar / planner kind of gal and I'm LOVING the Erin Condren planners that I've been seeing all over blogland but $50, seriously!!? I can't bring myself to spend that. And the best coupons I've been able to find so far is 10% off with 2011OFF and $10 off with WELCOME10. The WELCOE10 is actually a better deal out of the two but still.

I totally missed the boat with the whole buy a $50 voucher for $25 and I'm kicking myself!

Okay the pity party's over! ; ) Happy Monday!

Baby Shower: Where I got my inspiration!

2011-08-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! We survived Irene with no damage to our house, no trees down, and we still have power! How Blessed are we?!

I literally found all of the baby shower inspiration online and I really wanted to give credit to the lovely ladies who helped me out by sharing their own ideas.

First up is Sarah at Life Sweet Life she had a tutorial on my banner that I made!

Next is Sandi at Oh Baby Shower Decor she's got some great inspiration and lots of ideas. That's where I got the idea for the little mini Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers as favors. I also got the idea for the guests to sign a baby book from that website as well.

The labels I made came from Darby at Fly Through Our Window I just tweeked the template to fit what I needed. And I think it turned out perfectly! I also used the same template to make little food name tags.

I found this book at Target, it's call On the Night you Were Born, so cute and a great sentimental book if you're looking to do something like this at a baby shower!

I found this next idea through Be Different...Act Normal and it took me to this blog the poem is so adorable and great! I'm not a mom yet, but even I get choked up reading it! I thought it was such a cute idea that I had to give it to my SIL as a gift. I got a set of 4 tiny vases at Target for $2.99. You can click on the poem below and read it.

This type of wreath I've seen all over blog land and I really wanted to try and make one. I used this tutorial and it worked out great!

I got the idea to serve fruit in these little waffle bowls from Kelly at Kelly's Korner. I absolutely LOVE this idea!

I made these POMS and I think they turned out really cute, I watched a Youtube video for these, because I had never made them before.

I got the punch recipe from Erin at Blue Eyed bride. It was a hit!

Okay I think that's about it. I hope if anyone is planning a shower in the future they can get some ideas here! : )
p.s. I went and got a 4 pack of receiving blankets from Target and used two of them on the table above to add to the color scheme I was going for and then gave them to my SIL at the end of the shower (along with all of the decorations, I hope she'll be able to use some of them in the baby's room)
Have a great week!

Baby Shower!!

2011-08-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Last weekend I threw a baby shower for my SIL. She and my baby brother are expecting their first little bundle of joy in October (I think she'll have it in September though!)

I had a lot of fun planning this little baby shower and I wanted to share some pictures with you and then I'll go into more detail about where I got my ideas from! Literally I got all of the ideas from blogs online! There are so many creative and talented ladies out there! So I can't wait to share all of the great resources with you!

Picture of me and my SIL. I'm on the phone with the daddy to be :) he was traveling for business and couldn't be there.

The mommy to be with her mom and my Granny and her girlfriend was able to make it (she just had her own little boy two weeks ago and he was born 5 weeks early I think so he's still in the hospital. It was nice that she was able to come and have a little break :)

Details coming soon!

The Last Weekend in My 20's

2011-07-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Like the post title says, this is the last weekend of my 20's. I really don't know how I feel about it, but I knew I was going to have some fun!! : )

First I had Friday off of work (I do flex time so I get every other Friday off, love it!!) And I got some errands run and had lunch with one of my very best friends Kristen. It was really great to catch up with her and just talk about life! That's what girlfriends are for!

Today hubby and I watched our nephew Gabriel for a few hours while my SIL threw a little luncheon / shower for my other SIL because a) she's preggers and b) she works for my SIL so she wanted to do something nice like that for her. BTW - I'm throwing Amy my SIL who's preggers with her and my brother's first baby a shower in August and I've been doing all kinds of fun planning thanks to blogland for some awesome ideas I'll be sharing with you soon!! Watching Gabriel was a lot of fun but, OH MY GOODNESS, it was exhausting and I had hubby helping me, and I only had him for two hours, and I only took him to the mall, and he happens to be an angel baby!! I don't know how you mama's do it, but ya'll are all awesome in my book!!!

Then I fixed hubby and I some yummy pasta primavera with crab meat and had a little of my favorite red wine to go with it!

So my last weekend of my 20's has been pretty great so far, I have to admit. : )

Be back soon with more updates on my life and my last days in my 20's before I am thrown into my 30's, oh man!!!

Perfect Summer Read: The Beach Trees

2011-05-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends! So sorry for my absence these past couple of months I hope everyone has been doing well and enjoying the warm weather!

With Summer right around the corner I like to get my summer reading list together. You know the kind of books you like to take to the beach, pool, lake, mountains, etc. that you can just get lost in. Well I have the perfect book for you! It's called The Beach Trees by Karen White.

Set in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina comes a heart warming story about moving on after great tragedies. The main character Julie Holt is like a fish out of water in New Orleans in the beginning, she's a native of New England and has dealt with her own tragedy, the disappearance of her younger sister Chelsea when she was only twelve and then the death of her best friend Monica who leaves her only son Beau in Julie's guardianship. Her life changing journey leads her to New Orleans where Monica grew up and has left a beach house named River Song to her son Beau. Only after she arrives in New Orleans does she realize that Katrina has taken it's wrath out on River Song and there's almost nothing left. So she must connect with the family that Monica ran away from and try to piece together the mystery of why she ran away from a family that seemed to love her so much while rebuilding River Song.

Here you meet Monica's brother Trey who is a very complex character and her grandmother Miss Aimee who is one of my favorite characters of the book. One of the things that I love about Karen White's books is you get two stories in one. The present day with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which is Julie's story and then you get to see Aimee's story and what tragedies she dealth with and how she overcame them.

My favorite quote of the book is, "Great tragedy give us opportunities for great kindness." It get's me a little choked up thinking about all of the disasters that part of our country is facing right now in Missouri and other states in the wake of the tornados. But this book shows us just what the human spirit is made of and how we overcome and move on, help one another when the weight is too much to bear.

There's romance, mystery, and drama all rolled into one and I promise it won't dissapoint. I guarantee The Beach Trees will leave you inspired. Follow this link to see what others had to say about the book.

Happy summer reading!!!

Happy Valentines, Blessing Ring, and a Tutu

2011-02-14T05:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day Friends! Really quick post as I'm walking out the door to work.

I have a surprise baby shower to go to today for a co-worker and I made her a blessing ring. Seriously the easiest thing ever to make!! All you need is a necklace ring from a craft store and ribbons. Then you can add any embelishment you like.

And I also made her a tutu in her school colors. She went to Virginia Tech and so did her husband and they are die hard fans. So I think she'll really love this!!

Hope you all have a wonderful V Day!!!

My Week in Pictures

2011-01-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends! I've been enjoying my new Nikon and thought I'd share my week in pictures. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Pioneer Woman's Carrot and Squash Curry Soup! YUM!

I joined a Book Club!! This is what we're currently reading!

This was a belated Christmas present for Hubby. The poor guy came in a million pieces and Hubby glued him back together agent!

Playing with my new camera!

This is MY NOOK! Doesn't it look cozy and in desperate need of a makeover, this is on my 2011 Goals!

The surprise snow we got on Friday night!

The last of the Christmas decorations that came down this weekend!

I just love the glitter that's on this poinsettia!

Our cozy breakfast nook, although I have to admit that Christmas lights make anything look cozy! : )

Have a FABULOUS week friends!

My 29 Goals in 2010 - Continued

2011-01-02T14:10:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011 Friends! I hope everyone had a great New Year's and is excited about 2011, it's gonna be a great year!

So I shared my first two goals here and now I'm going to share the rest with you now because I need to get started on my 30 Goals in 2011!

Goal 3 - Take 365 photos (photo a day). Didn't happen, I think I made it to the end of February and then I just kind of stopped. I will be trying this one again and I'm hoping that my new Nikon will motivate me to follow through with it this year!

Goal 4 - Open up an Etsy store. Nope didn't do this one either, probably won't be adding this to the 2011 list because instead of opening up an Etsy store I became a Thirty-One Consultant!! I love it!

Goal 5 - Learn how to sew. No, this is turning into a list of things I didn't do in 2010, haha! I would love to learn to sew, my mom used to sew and she made me the most beautiful easter dresses.

Goal 6 - Attend 2 weddings. YES! I did this, attended two good friends weddings one in March and the other in July.

Goal 7 - Read 12 books. The idea was to read a book a month. I read The Host, On Folly Beach, The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner, Dead in the Family, Chasing Harry Winston, The Last Song, Firefly Lane (started but didn't finish), Eat Pray Love (started but didn't finish, The Hunger Games, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (still reading), and one that I can't remember the name of?? So I didn't quite get there, but I was close!

Goal 8 - Learn 24 new recipes. Okay so I got 23 new recipes. I'll share them with you in another post. But a lot of them were the Pioneer Woman.

Goal 9 - Make everything in the Pioneer Woman Cookbook. Didn't happen but I made at least 5 or 6 things.

Goal 10 - Swim in the ocean. YES! Did this over the summer in Virginia Beach.

Goal 11 - Go to Scotland. Yes, we went to Scotland in February to surprise Hubby's dad for his 60th birthday, it was a great trip!

Goal 12 - Plant herbs in the garden. I planted Basil, Rosemary, and Lemon Balm. : ) I plan on planting a lot more this spring. I want to do Parsley, Chives, Thyme, and a few others.

Goal 13 - Go to Key West. Hubby and I got invited to a good friends wedding in Key West and we were planning on going but with this still being the first year in our new house we really wanted to spend the time and money on that so we didn't do Key West and while I'm sad we didn't get to see our friends getting married I'm really glad that we saved the money and were able to spend time at the house.

Goal 14 - Host a Party at the house. Halloween Party and Hubby's Birthday Party and a Thirty One party! I was all about the parties! : )

Goal 15 - Go to the movies at midnight. Yes, hubby and I went to see It's Complicated at a 10:30 showing so technically we were at the movies at midnight and it was fun!

Goal 16 - Hang our Wedding Pictures up - Haven't done this yet, but we have started printing and framing them!

Goal 17 - Refurbish an old piece of furniture - I'm not really sure where this one came from but no I haven't done this. I'll work on it in 2011

Goal 18 - Decorate and paint my nook. Long story that I will share with you in another post.

Goal 19 - Give away 20 pieces of clothing I don't wear anymore. Yes I have given away a lot more than that and have a big bag that's still accumulating as we speak.

Goal 20 - Buy new shoes for work. Yes, I bought a cute pair of tan pumps from Aldo that I love!

Goal 21 - Have a Harry Potter weekend where I watch all the Harry Potter movies back to back. No I didn't do this, but does watching Harry Potter whenever it was on TV count?

Goal 22 - Take my nieces and nephews to the movies. Didn't do this one, this will be on my list for 2011, maybe not the movies in particular but take them somewhere fun, maybe a museum....

Goal 23 - Commission an artist to paint my wedding dress. Haven't done this yet, but I've found a lady on Etsy that I'm going to get to do this!

Goal 24 - Write a handwritten Thank You note to someone. Yes, I did this more than a few times, I think it's such a nice gesture that people have gotten out of the habit of doing.

Goal 25 - Send out picture Christmas cards. No we didn't do this, I was hoping to but in the end just ended up buying some regular ones.

Goal 26 - Go somewhere I've never been before - Yes, did this went to Dallas (for work)

Goal 27 - Have a mother / daughter day. Yes, took my mom to the Outer Banks for her birthday and had a whole weekend together!

Goal 28 - Get all of my Christmas shopping done before December. No way did that happen, I wish. I always end up doing most of my shopping in December.

Goal 29 - Get Pregnant. Unfortunately not, but still trying and praying that 2011 is the year!

So there you have it. My 2010 goals and the few I actually acheived, haha. I'll share my 2011 list once I get it all compiled.

Does anyone else have goals for 2011? : )

Christmas - 2010

2010-12-27T06:45:00.000-08:00

We had a great White Christmas this year! And I'm so excited because I got a Nikon D3000!!! So I'm a picture taking fool now!

Yeah, I don'nt know what kind of face I'm making here!!

Hope ya'll had a great Christmas too!! : )

Now it's time to get this place cleaned up! When Christmas is over I always get in the mood to go through my closets and do a good clean out, get rid of the clothes I don't wear anymore, make room for the new stuff (or the things I'll buy in the January sales!) and just get into organization mode to start the year off right!

How about ya'll, does anyone else do this?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-24T15:47:00.000-08:00

I wish nothing but the most wonderful blessings to everyone on this beautiful Christmas Eve! May you be filled with the spririt of Christmas and wonder of the birth of our Lord Jesus!

Merry Christmas Friends!

Sarah and Hubby : -)

My 29 Goals in 2010

2010-12-14T03:19:00.000-08:00

So back in January instead of doing the usual New Years Resolutions, like go to the gym more, never happens, I decided to do some goals for 2010. These are things that I could work on all year long, which for me being a self proclaimed procrastinator were perfect!

I'm going to share these goals with you and let you know if I actually was able to acheive them. : )

I'll also be doing another list of goals for 2011, that list will contain 30 (I chose 29 because I turned 29 this year) so the 30 list will have to be a doozie!

Now, I'm going to tell you right now that I didn't actually achieve ~~hardley any~~ all of these goals, so the one's the I didn't complete will be going on to my 2011 list.

Okay on to goal 1 and 2.

Goal 1 - Attend Church on a regular basis (I didn't quite acheive this goal I'm embarrassed to say, I did try a bunch of Church's out and ended up finding one that I really like that I've gone to a handful of times, so this will definitely make my 2011 list)

Goal 2 - Run a 5k (**Disclaimer - I'm NOT a runner, hate it, but I did start running back in February kind of gearing myself up for a 5k in April, but it never happened. I've printed off the running plan From the Couch to 5k (google it, it's awesome) that I'm hoping will help me out. This goal will also be making my 2011 list)

So there are my first two goals and as I'm looking through my list of goals I didn't actually acheive a lot of them, but they're good goals that I'll be sharing and adding to the 2011 list.

Happy Tuesday!

Another wonderful Thanksgiving!

2010-11-26T15:41:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends! I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving, ours was great! I cooked for my Granny and Papa and my Mom and niece. And everything I made was straight from the Pioneer Woman and fabulous!

I brined my turkey, which I had never done before and highly recommend. I made her mashed potatos and then her stuffing (I added sweet sausage to it and it was yummy!)

I also made her homeade rolls and caramel pumpkin cheesecake!!! Everything was so good!

It was great to be able to spend time with loved ones! And then I took a nap after they left because I was exhausted from all the cooking!! haha

But I was able to wake up and watch Elf, love that movie!! I also love the The Family Stone but can't seem to find it anywhere on DVD?! I did find out that it's coming on FX on Sunday at 7:00 so I'll be recording it!

Have a great Friday night!! : )

October in Pictures!

2010-11-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Lots happened in October, the in-laws came to visit for three weeks ~ went to the beach ~ celebrated a good friends birthday ~ had our TWO year wedding anniversary! ~ and hosted our first Halloween party! Woo, that was a busy month! And I think November is going to be even busier! Have a good week friends!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010-10-31T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hope you have a GREAT halloween and get lots of little ghouls and goblins ringing your doorbell!! : )

Halloween Costume!

2010-10-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

Yup that's right, I'm going to be Hit Girl for halloween! I've got the cape, mask, tarten skirt, and purple wig! All I need to get now is the fake double sword and some gloves.

This is definitely going to look like a halloween costume and not very realistic (I'll be wearing uggs for my boots and a regular shirt, not a leather jacket) but you'll recognize who I am though! That's half the fun is coming up with creative ways to get the look you're going for!

So, tell me, what/who are you going as for Halloween!! I'd love to know! : )

My New Favorite Snack!!!

2010-10-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends! As I was doing a little grocery shopping the other night I stumbled on these yummy little things and oh my gosh, they are so ridiculously good!! If you're looking for a healthy snack with a punch of sweet flavor these are it!

I just thought they were so good that I had to share! : )

Getting ready for halloween and the hubby and I are throwing our first party, a halloween party!!! Woohoo! Can't wait to show you pictures of my table scape!

Have a good week everyone!

Movies this Weekend?

2010-10-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

The in-laws are visiting hubby and I from Scotland for 3 weeks so we've been doing a lot of movie watching. Went to see....

Wall Street was very very good!!

The Town was good too, but I like Wall Street better.

I can't wait to see this movie!!! I love Katherine Heigel and Josh Duhamel and this just looks so cute!! Can't wait to see it!!

Has anyone else seen any good movies lately!?!? I'm a movieholic! : )

Fall Wreath!

2010-09-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends! I'm so excited about this little craft project that I just completed! I saw this post over at Thrifty Decor Chick and thought, I can totally do that!!!

All you need is a piece of foam board and some fall leaves from the Dollar Tree and a red crayon if you don't have any spray paint like me. That's it!!! Now I did a few different things to mine, like just cutting the foam board out with a knife and scissors, I think Thrifty Decor Chick used a jigsaw (I don't own one of those). And she spray painted her square and I just colored mine, worked fine.

I did measure a 20 x 20 piece and then went four inches on each side and cut the middle out. And her leaves were different than mine, I couldn't find those nifty little packets that she was talking about so I just went with the basic leave bunches, you know that you could add to a vase or something like that. And just plucked them off the stems and ended up with two leaves per bunch.

I bought 5 bunches and just organized the leaves all around with a hot glue gun and 30 minutes later.................TA-DA!!! I really like the way it turned out! I'm actually giving it to a girlfriend of mine because she's been looking for a fall wreath for a couple weeks now.

So for a total of 7 dollars (5 for the leaves and 2 for the foam board) you too can have a shabby fall wreath that will work right through Thanksgiving!

And this is a very random little tid-bit but I cleaned out my junk drawer in the kitchen. Everyone's got one right? Our got out of control so I pulled everything out and reorganized it, but I don't feel like you can really tell a big difference. I think I need to get those little bins from Target that organize things for you?? The after is the first one! : )

TGIF tomorrow!!!!

I think I have a problem!

2010-09-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

SCRATCH THAT! I know I have a problem, but seriously every time I go to the store I see a new fun magazine for fall and then I HAVE to get it!!!

But look at all the fun stuff they have inside!!

On another note.....or maybe a similar note.........I think I have another problem.......because I was burning Winter Wondreland last week. It smelled soooo yummy though!!! I know I have issues! : )

The Green Monster!!

2010-08-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Weekend!!

Have any of ya'll heard of the Green Monster??? Hubby has really gotten into this drink since being introduced to it by our friend Amy.

(image from oh she glows blog)

I have to say that I haven't tried it but Hubby has had it two days in a row and is liking it!

Click on the links above to get the recipe!!

I'm sure that I'll get up the nerve to try it one of these days but in the meantime I'll just stick to my Special K cereal, the fruit and yogurt is my fav!

A Little Bit Crafty

2010-08-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone! I went on a little blogging vacation and now I'm back! Just a quickie post to show what I made my nephew Colby for his 1st Birthday a few weeks ago! It's a little plaque or it can be a door hanger for his room. My inspiration was a very similar looking design on Etsy and I thought it was so cute and also that it was something I could probably do as well. My only problem was the letters! I hand painted them and I think in future I'll get some paint pens to make the letters look better.

Has anyone done anything crafty lately? I just love looking through blogs and seeing what people are making!!!

A blog that I found a little while ago and is now on my blog roll to the left is Tater Tots and Jello and she is awesome!!!! I love her weekend wrap up party!

Big Summer Update Post!

2010-06-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm going to blame my absence from blogland on hubby, because ever since the World Cup started I have had 0 usage of my laptop. He's been playing his Soccer Manager game while watching the actual games on tv. So it's not my fault, really! ; )

We're actually going to a bar in a few to watch the US play in the World Cup, should be fun! : )

So while I have my laptop back I'm going to give you a quick rundown of some random summer facts a la Downtown Southern!

Hubby and I have joined a pool and we are OBSSESSED!! It's awesome!

I'm finishing up Nicholas Sparks The Last Song and will quickly begin reading the latest True Blood book, yay!! Can.not.wait!!

Hubby and I are taking the week of the 4th off, to do nothing but stay around the house and do ya'll know how excited I am about that!?!?!? I can't even tell you! I've never taken a vacation and not actually gone somewhere and while I love traveling and have been fortunate enough to see Italy, Spain, Scotland, etc. I'm really looking forward to staying close to home that week!

Will probably take a day trip to Williamsburg for some shopping, BCBG, Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, and the list is endless! I have to find a super cute dress for a wedding we're attending at the end of July. I want to go with the one shoulder look, I just love it!

***I have a bridal shower to attend July 10th! AND I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ALL YOU RECENT BRIDES!!!! What's your favorite shower gift you received??????????? I need ideas for a present!?!?!?!?!?! HELP! ***

I'm going to see Jack Johnson on July 19th in Virginia Beach!!! Woohoo!! Nothing says summer more than a Jack Johnson song!!!!!

My bday is in July, I'll be 29 so I need to celebrate my last twenties birthday right!!!!

Every Sunday night this summer I'm glued to the TV watching my favorite show ever! True Blood, fangbanger, yeah!!!!!

Going to try and get to the Outer Banks for a short weekend, it's in my top 3 happy places! Does anybody else have a happy place, where they go and just feel nothing but pure happiness? The Outer Banks, specifically Duck, Corolla, and Carova, it's heaven for me!

I'll be going to see Eclipse next week, eeeeee, so excited!!!!

We're getting our kitchen painted in July cannot wait! Our theme is Tuscan!

So I think that's what's going on in July, not too busy right? ; )

Anybody else have fun summer plans?!?!?

Book Review: On Folly Beach

2010-06-02T04:25:00.000-07:00

On Folly Beach is a great Summer Read. I think it was a great way to kick off my summer reading list! On Folly Beach combines two different eras with the connection of war. You start out in 1942 during WWII and you meet the main characters there, two sisters Maggie and her younger sister Lulu. They run a general store which ends up being more of a book store because Maggie likes to lend people books from her collection. She has a cousin Cat, who lives with them and you'll find out quickly that she's the antagonist in the story. The second era is present day 2009 and you meet Emmy who has lost her husband in Afghanistan and her world is completely devastated. Her mother owns a book store in Indiana and ends up talking her daughter, Emmy, into buying Folly Finds, the book store on Folly Beach that Maggie and Lulu had owned. What draws Emmy there is a box of books that she finds cryptic yet romantic messages in and she's determined to find out as much as she can about these mysterious messages.

She moves to Folly Beach and ends up meeting Lulu who is an old stubborn woman, who makes beautiful bottle trees to catch bad spirits and also to communicate with loved ones, you'll find out why she's like that when you read the book. And you end up seeing many similarities between Emmy and Maggie and what connects them in a way that only true loss can. The book goes back and forth between Maggie's era and Emmy's era and you see how their stories unfold and ultimately who is writing the messages in the books.

There's mystery, romance, and deception with a bunch of twists that make this novel and great read, during the Summertime or any season for that matter.

This is the first Karen White novel I've read and I'll definitely be checking out her other novels as well. Check her out here. This review was part of the TLC Book Tour and you can check out other people's review of the book there as well!

Happy Memorial Day!

2010-05-31T16:04:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone has had a great Memorial Day weekend and taken the time to remember why we observe this holiday.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of soldiers who are away fighting to defend our freedom and to those who have lost loved ones for it.

We wouldn't be living the blessed life we are without those who have sacrificed theirs!

***

On another note, hubby and I joined a pool for the summer and I'm so stinkin excited!!! We went yesterday and I will say that I'm on the pale side until I get a good base on and seriously, I put spf 30 on and we were there for a couple of hours and this is what happened to me!?!?!?

What the heck!?!? I look like I'm still wearing my bikini!! So not good! I've been lathering up aloe vera like it's going out of fashion! I know I'm going to peel!

: (

I'm finishing up reading On Folly Beach and it's so good! Great summer read, it's got romance and mystery which is a great combination and the story takes place at a beachside town, perfect summer read combo! I'll give you a proper review tomorrow!

And finally, I went and saw Sex and the City 2 with some girlfriends this past Thursday!! It was really really good! I actually liked it better than the first one! It's really funny and even though it's 2 1/2 hours long the time flew by! I highly recommend it.

Project Update: Before and After Part II

2010-05-23T07:43:00.001-07:00

Hi Friends! So here is the before and after of our Kitchen - Powder Room - Laundry Room floor makeover!

We originally had the white vinyl flooring. It was a bit dated and not really the style we're going for.

Our theme for the kitchen is a tuscan theme so we wanted to do an imitation tile, we didn't want to deal with the cleaning of a real tile floor and when we have little bambinos we don't want them to fall and hurt themselves on hard tile.

So we ended up going with a great laminate tile and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out!!

Now that the floor is down painting is coming next! We're going with a burnt red or a brick red. I'm a little nervous about it but I think it will look good.

We're also planning on going with a different color for the powder room and the laundry room. Hubby wants to do a canary yellow in the powder room but I'm not sure how I feel about that. What do you guys think?? I'd love your input!

And then for the laundry room I want to go with a green, maybe an olive green.

What do you think???

Enjoy the pics! And up next is the dining room! Happy Sunday Friends!

BEFORE

AFTER

HELP! I need your ideas!

2010-05-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! So I'm gonna get right to it, I'm an Aunt again! To a beautiful baby boy named Gabriel, that's number 8 in case you were wondering! We didn't throw a baby shower for the new mommy b/c there was a lot going on and it just got away from us. But now that the little guy is here my mom and I want to throw a "Meet Gabriel" party! Very small, just for my SIL's and grandparents.

***Here's where I need your help***

We want to do a nautical theme and I need decorating ideas, menu ideas, anything cute!!! I've looked and found a few things but I need my bloggy friends expertise on this one. Let me know if you've seen a blog or website that has some cute ideas!! Thank ya'll so much!!! xxx

Project Update: Before and After

2010-04-27T15:55:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone! So here are the before and after photos of the paint job we got done in our living room, foyer, and upstairs hallway!!! Project "Get rid of the pinks" has begun!!! ; )

BEFORE:
Please note the lack of crown molding....(and we haven't hung any pictures on the walls yet, we're getting there, slowly)

and the now the
AFTER:

Woohoo Crown molding!!!

LOVE it!! We think it looks so much better! Now we just need to decorate the walls and make it more cozy. shoo! Up next, tour of the garden! And then, the kitchen!!!!!

Happy (almost) Hump day!! : )

My Wedding Photographer's gonna be on MTV!!

2010-04-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh I've been gone FOREVER!! I've been so busy friends!!

Hubby and I have been doing some redecorating around the house and spending all that wonderful tax money! : )

I'll post before and after pics next!

But first, I found out today that my wedding photographer is going to be on tomorrow nights episode of MTV's 16 and Pregnant. I've been watching this show a little but I'm not hooked on it or anything. But I gotta check this episode out!! Apparently this girl and her "fiance" who ends up cheating on her, ugh, drama...anyway they end up using my wedding photographer for thier pregnancy pictures. :) This episode airs Tuesday night at 10.

Some shows I'm super excited about right now though are:

Tori and Dean!! I love them! I don't know what it is but I think they're so entertaining!!!

Real Housewives of New York !! I don't even know where to start, I just feel so bad for Bethany!!! And Luanne is 100% certified psycho!

Couger Town! Love it! Modern Family! Hilarious! I think those are really the big ones I'm into right now! What are you all loving on TV???

I'll be back soon to share some of what we've been doing around the house! : )

Taking Pictures of Myself?????

2010-03-05T14:58:00.000-08:00

What the heck!!!???? I cannot take a dag-gon decent picture of myself to save my life!!!! I've tried everything!!

I tried sitting the camera down and putting it on timer....not so much!

The in the mirror picture....hmmmm...hello blurry!!

This is just a complete disaster....what's wrong with your face...you look like a football player!

I give up!

Here's the awesome dress that Hubby gave me for valentine's...I'm only a couple of weeks late in showing this to you ; )

Hubby did a great job with this dress!!! I'd had my eye on it for a while and luckily it's from a shop that our good friend owns called Eurotrash in Carytown!!! So she knew that I had my eye on it and he really didn't even need to think about it! Awesome!!

I will be living in this dress all summer!!!! (this is just a little outfit I put together)

He also bought be the darker pearl bracelet from Stella & Dot (the lighter one he got me for Christmas) Hubby did good!!!! I'm a sucker for pearls, I'd wear them everyday if I could!

Okay, hope everyone has a lovely weekend!!!!

Hubby and I are off to see Shutter Island.....eeeeee, looks a little scary!!!!! Can't wait!

Quick Post

2010-03-04T04:05:00.001-08:00

Hello Lovelies!!! Sorry for the absence I was in Scotland, I'll do a proper recap soon! But in the meantime just wanted to say that I finished Chasing Harry Winston and it was really cute, but I was super excited to find out that they're making it into a movie!!!

Can't wait to see that!!! : )

Have a nice day friends!

Happy Valentine's!

2010-02-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL VALENTINES DAY!

I'll be back tomorrow to show you how good Hubby did! ; >

SNOW=Crock Pot

2010-02-06T07:24:00.000-08:00

There's nothing I love more than to throw a bunch of ingredients into a crock pot and come back 6-8 hours later and have a meal waiting for me! Love it!

And with all the snow we've been having lately I've been making some crock pot meals.

Have you heard of Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks? They're awesome!!!!

I have a few:
(They wouldn't all upload for some reason so I can only show you this one)

One that I have is a Slow Cooking book and it's great!!!

I'm tring out the following recipe today, it's called Fisherman's Warf Stew

2T. Olive Oil

1 cup leek, sliced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 cup baby carrots, thinly sliced

6 roma tomatoes, quartered and sliced

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped

1/2 t. fennel seed

1 bay leaf

8 oz. bottle clam juice

1 cup dy white wine or water

1 lb. cod, sliced 1 inch thick and cubed

1/2lb. meduim shrimp, peeled and cleaned

1 t. sugar

1 t. dried basil

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. hot pepper sauce

2 T. fresh parsley, chopped

Mix oil, leek and garlic in a slow cooker. Add vegetables, fennel seed, bay leaf, clam juice and wine or water: stir. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 9 hours, until veggies are tender. About 20 minutes before serving, gently stir in remaining ingredients except parsley. Cover and cook on high setting for 15 to 20 minutes, until fish flakes easily with fork. Discard bay leaf; stir in parsley. Enjoy!

Stay WARM friends!!!

Update in Photos!

2010-02-04T04:07:00.001-08:00

Happy Thursday Everyone! Since I haven't been the best blogger lately, I decided to do an update in pics!

This is what I did all last weekend, because we were snowed in! And it looks like we're gonna be again this weekend! What the heck? We never get this kind of snow in the south!

View of our culdesac

Hubby walking taking a stroll in the snow

View of our backyard

View from our front door

Hubby drawing the winner of my giveaway!

All of the entries from my giveaway!

I'm doing the Project 365, where you take a picture everyday of the year! This was my picture from last Wednesday! We got that mask in Spain : )

Another one of my pics of the day

Hubby looking annoyed when he was really super happy because he just fixed the garage door opener!!!

And last but not least my new blackberry!! ; >

I'll be back soon with more updates! Stay warm everybody!!!

Winner Winner

2010-01-28T06:13:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone who entered my giveaway!

I didn't realize mac and cheese was such a big comfort food!

My favorite comfort foods are mashed potatoes made like my granny.makes em...instant with evaporated milk, best stuff ever! Angel hair pasta with alfredo and mushrooms, and refried beans cheese sour cream and tostitos...doesn't get more comforting than that friends ; )

Okay on to the winner chosen at random by my hubby! (Picture to follow)

Melissa G. From The Missoinary Mama!!!! Congrats Melissa, email me @ snconti27atyahoodotcom with your mailing address and I'll get your cookbook to you.

Thanks again everyone for playing along! This will be the first of a few giveaways I plan to do in 2010!

Have a great day everyone!

Giveaway Time!

2010-01-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

Ya'll guessed it! I'm giving away Ree's Pioneer Woman Cookbook!!!

Would you like to know why???

Please take a look at the picture below and pay no attention to my tired looking face it was the end of the day and I've been feeling a little under the weather friends.

So here's the quick story on how I ended up with two copies of the cookbook.....

Preface: I gave Hubby my Christmas list with everything I wanted on it back in November.

Beginning of December: Having just come back to the house from shopping.....

Me: Hey honey, look what I got (holds copy of the Pioneer Woman Cookbook)

Hubby: I thought that was on the list??

Me: It is, but I didn't think you'd actually get it for me so I got it so you wouldn't forget it, I'm not going to look at it I'm keeping it in the Barnes and Noble bag and you can wrap it up and give it to me on Christmas.

Hubby: Why don't you just use it now?

Me: Beeecccaauusee it's on my Christmas List and I want you to give it to me.

Hubby: okay (not really paying attention at this point becuase the soccer's come back on the tv)

~~~~~~~~

Fast foward to a week before Christmas: Me in the kitchen maybe using said wrapped up in barnes and noble bag cookbook to make Ree's famous cinnamon rolls.

Hubby: (walks into Kitchen and sees cookbook) Where'd you get that?!

Me: What? (wiping hand over forhead leaving lots of flour behind)

Hubby: the cookbook?!

Me: oh, well I needed to use it!! It's the Cinnamon Rolls!!!

Hubby: (leaves kitchen and goes upstairs, comes back down with another barnes and noble bag with Ree's The Pioneer Woman Cookbook in it and places it on the counter)

Me: what did you get that for? I told you I had already gotten the cookbook for you to give me!

Hubby: No you didn't!

Me: I SHOWED you the cookbook punk!!

Hubby: No you didn't!

Me: UGH!!

Hubby: You can just return one of them and pick somehting else out.

Me: (lightbulb goes off over my head) I'll do a giveaway on my blog!!!

Hubby: That's a GREAT idea!

Everyone's happy. The End.

Seriously, that's pretty much how it happened!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So anywho, now one of you lucky ducks is going to get a cookbook!!!

Rules: leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite comfort food of all time!!

~~You have until Wednesday morning 8:00am to enter!

~~Become a follower and get an extra entry

~~Mention the giveaway on your blog and get another entry

~~So commenting gets you 1 entry, following gets you 2 entries, and mentioning on your blog gets you 3 entries. (tell me if you follow and mention in your comment so I'll know how many times to enter you)

~~Winner will be drawn and announced on Thursday!

Good Luck Friends and HAPPY WEEKEND!! YAY!!! ; )

Trying to blog from my Blackberry

2010-01-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know if this is actually going to work or not, but if it does then WOOHOO.

Okay so let's play a little game...
The game is called, Guess what Downtown Southern is giving away!?!

I'll give you a hint it's something that was on my Christmas list!! Can you guess?

I'll be back tomorrow for the reveal and rules! ; )

I've Chosen!!!!

2010-01-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

Ya'll are awesome!! Your comments were a HUGE help!! And I've decided on the PINK CURVE!! Woohoo!!!

Chosen for two reasons.....

1. I'm liking the pink over the purple and the majority of the comments said for go the pink!

B. It's free, and the purple is $30, I know it's only $30 but still the other is free, FREE!!!

Now I would like to talk about how obsessed I am with Keeping Up with the Kardashians!!!
Oh my gosh, I love it! I don't really know why but I just do!!! Anybody else with me???

I am also loving Real Housewives of Orange County, but I'm ready for a new episode already, sheesh!! And I can't wait for the new season of Real Housewives of New York (which might be my favorite of the real housewives, I can't decide)!!!!!

Christmas recap coming and possibly a giveway!!! ; > Stay tuned friends!!! And tomorrow is Friday, YES!!!!!

Which phone should I get???

2009-12-31T04:29:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovelies!! I have a problem and I'm hoping that you can help me!

I'm due for a phone upgrade and I'm thinking about getting a blackberry, I just don't know which one to get??? And can you blog from your blackberry? I kind of like the pink curve, but I don't know if the other version (the purple one is better) I've tried reading the reviews and they're mixed.

So tell me ladies, do you have a blackberry and would you recommend it for blogging and taking pics and stuff???

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS!!

2009-12-25T10:36:00.001-08:00

FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS, I HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS IS FILLED WITH LOVE, JOY, PEACE, AND YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

LOTS OF LOVE,

SARAH ; >

Product Review and a little TMI....

2009-11-30T12:24:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday Lovelies! I wanted to share a little product review with you. And just to give you a little disclaimer, I have really sensitive skin, always have and always will.

So I finally jumped on the Proactive band wagon because I've been having really bad breakouts lately. Here's the TMI part, I think it might be due to switching birth control pills. Long story but it wasn't my choice it was a stupid mistake that my nurse practitioner made and I decided to go with it because I'm not quite ready for a little downtown southern baby yet. ; >

Little background info on me, as I said before I have really sensitive skin and I've tried using other face washes before but nothing has ever worked. So my beauty cleaning routine is usually washing my face in the moring with a rag and warm water. I know, gasp, that's so bad for my skin!!! But seriously anything else seems to irritate it even more.

So this brings me to the Proactive review, I decided to give it a go since nothing else has really worked for me. I've been using it for about 2 weeks and honestley, I think I've broken out even more than before. I'm going to keep using it and see if maybe it will start to clear up but so far no good. : (

Has anyone else had a good or bad experience with Proactive?

Santa Baby! I have my list ready!

2009-11-29T06:44:00.000-08:00

I think I've been a pretty good girl all year, so here's my wish list that you or hubby can get me. You guys can talk it over and decide who wants to get me what ; )

(all images from google images)

Black or Chocolate Uggs!!! I got my light tan one's last year and I L.O.V.E them dearly!!! They are by far the most comfortable shoes I own and would love some more : )

The Pioneer Woman cookbook!!! I <3 id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409540831264618546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 366px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eAne5AGYKcI/SxKMuZ1_uDI/AAAAAAAABdc/zxykI_B4Jhg/s400/Viva-La-Juicy.jpg" border="0">Viva La Juicy Perfume! This stuff smells divine!!! I had 2 or 3 samples and used them up very quickly!

Spa treatment, I don't need a whole day just a massage or a facial will do!

I'm a scarf finatic, you can actually find me in a scarf all year long, I just love them! They're the perfect accessory and I've wanted an actual Love Quotes Scarf for the longest time!

Yes, you're seeing that right, I want a kitty cat too! :)

Rain Boots! With all of the rain we've been having in our area lately I definitely need some rain boots in my closet!!

Martha Stewart Dutch Oven in either color! ; >

And the Michael Kor's Gold Bracelet Watch!!! Love it!! And I don't have a gold watch, so it would be practical too!

That's not too much right???? ; )

First Feature Decorating Blog......

2009-11-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovelies!!! I have been thinking about ALL kinds of stuff to blog about, there's just so much going on right now (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Presents, Decorating, Crafts, Clothes, Movies, Books, Awards) and the list goes on! and I can't wait to start writing about all of them!

So I have to start with my Home Decorating Blog that I've recently been obsessed with!!! I just can't get enough of her super cute ideas!!!

THRIFTY DECOR CHICK She's just great and she has so many unbelievable and easy decorating ideas!!! I get so inspired when I go to her blog and I love browsing through her old holiday archives!!

So there's my first decorating blog, go and check her out, I promise you won't be dissapointed!

Today I'm doing my Thanksgiving shopping!! What's on my menu?

~Turkey with White Truffle Butter (Barefoot Contessa)~

~Stuffing with Suasage and Apple (Barefoot Contessa)~

~Butterbeans with Basil (my sweet Grandmama)~

~Mashed Potatoes (your's truly ; >)~

Keeping it simple ya'll!

Hubby and I are going to some friends house tonight for an early Thanksgiving dinner and I'm taking Paula Deen's Brie en Croute!!!

If you're ever looking for an easy appetizer to take to friends this is it!! And I always get compliments on it!

You'll need:

Puff Pastry

Round Brie

1/2 cup Walnuts

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1 tablespoon butter

1 egg for brushing on top of puff pastry

Just melt the butter and throw the walnuts into the pan and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes then add the brown sugar and caramalize a bit. Spread the puff pastry out and place the brie in the center and pour the walnut and brown sugar mixture over the top and fold the pastry up on the top and pinch to close. Now take your beaten egg and brush over the top of the pastry and the sides for a nice browned top. Put in baking dish in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes and then take out and serve with crackers! SO GOOOODD!!!

I'll be back soon friends with another decorating blog that I love and I have some awards to give out!! : )

Hello There, I'm back! (again)

2009-11-14T14:25:00.000-08:00

I have been really really rediculously bad at blogging lately! I'm so ashamed of myself! I've been looking at a lot of blogs though and my latest obsession is blogs that focus on decorating! Love love love them, I just can't get enough! I'm going to add a house/decorating blogs list on my sidebar very soon to show some of my favs that I've found!

But for now I want to show you some of what I did today!

Had to show you my beautiful glasses that I just unpacked two nights ago!! That would be some good citrus green tea that I'm sipping, YUM! (and just finished watching Family Man, love that movie)

And this is the extent of my Thanksgiving decorations right now! I really want to be more festive than this but I don't know if it's going to happen because I'm getting too focused on Christmas!!!!

And here are a few pics from Halloween! We decorated our house with some fun decorations that were given to us from my brother and his girlfriend as a house warming gift! :)

Hubby thought the tiki torches would give a more scary ambiance and get more kids to come our way.....we're in the end of a culdesac so we ended up getting about 25 kids, I was secretly hoping for more.....oh well!

Hubby and me attempting to get artistic and taking a pic of our skeleton's shadow and shrunken head! : )

How awesome was the full moon on Halloween!! Loved it!!!

Alright friends, that's me back! I'm going to make an effort to blog more regularly, I promise!!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!!!

It's Done!

2009-10-06T04:18:00.000-07:00

We've finally moved and gotten through a lot of unpacking! Wow, I never knew how hard moving would be but we absolutely love our house and can't wait to start decorating and making it our own! I'll post pics in the next couple of posts!

But for now I have to just say how excited I am about today because the new Sookie Stackhouse book gets released! YAY!! I searched online and found that you can buy it at Walmart for like $11.50! I'll be heading there at some point today! : > Happy Tuesday friends!!!

(image from google images)

Life Among the BOXES!!

2009-09-27T06:15:00.001-07:00

I would just like to say a quick THANK YOU to everyone who commented on my last post about letting people know about your blog. It was a huge encouragment and I feel a lot better about my decision to keep my blog private from my family. I love having all of you to turn to for advice and like having you all to myself! : >

I've made the decision to start another blog for my family and friends because I'd really like to share out day in day out adventures with our families especially since hubby's are all in Scotland. I would be a nice way for them to feel connected to us and keep up with what's going on in our lives.

~~~~~~~~~~

Okay on to the post........

These boxes are covering every inch of our loft right now! It's so weird having all of our stuff packed up in boxes since we've lived here for the past 5 years. We close tomorrow and I'm praying that everything goes off without a hitch! I can't wait to be in the house and get everything organized.

We did a lot of packing yesterday and guess what I woke up to this morning???? A thrown out back! Of course! So I have a bag of ice on my back as I'm writing this and I'm getting ready to take a super hot shower to try to loosen the muscles up....ugh, I mean worst possible time ever to throw out your back! Good thing we've got movers coming on Tuesday!

And when did Fall arrive!??!?!? I feel like I've been in another world and last night as I drove to the store to get dinner (since we have nothing in the house because it's all packed up) I saw halloween decorations everywhere, it's only a month away!!!

This is my favorite time of year and I wanted to share my all time FAVORITE fall movies and halloween movies with you!!

First up my all time favorite movie is You've Got Mail, it just makes me happy and I love everything about it, especially how it opens in the Fall with pumpkins and fall leaves!

Next is Runaway Bride another fall favorite, the scenery in this movie is just gorgeous and the little town that Julie Roberts character is from is so quaint and beautiful! It really gets me in the fall mood!

This is my all time favorite Halloween movie!!! I actually went to see this movie for my 12th birthday and I've been in love with it ever since. Love it, Love it, love it!!

Love the witch's cottage in the movie!Another fave is practical magic!! I could just watch this movie for the house and the way it's decorated!! Love it!!

How beautiful is this house?!
And the inside I just love!!

What Lies Beneath is a great thriller!! Love Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford in this, it's a great movie to watch late at night!!!

Love Sleepy Hollow, it's such a great rainy day movie to watch!!!

(all images from google images)

So I NEED to know what are your favorite Fall movies and Halloween movies of all time!!???

Am I the Only One......

2009-09-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

Okay so I have a confession to make. I haven't told my family and friends that I have a blog. The only one that knows that I have a blog is hubby. But unfortunately hubby has a big mouth and tells everyone. I think it's a mixture of he's excited about the fact that I have a blog, he wants other people to know about it, and he just can't keep secrets at all, ever.....

I think the reason that I like my family and friends not knowing that I have a blog is I don't have to watch what I say and make sure I'm guarded with what I put on here. I'm more myself, which I guess I shouldn't have to be like that but I am.

And it's so frustrating when I find out that he's told yet another person, I almost wish I hadn't told him about it!!!! ugh!!!

Does anyone else out there keep their blog a secret from their friends and family??? Am I wrong for wanting to keep it private from them??? Just wondering.....

My Favorite Sunday Purchase!

2009-09-14T15:06:00.001-07:00

(images from google images)

The Martha Stewart Halloween issue is out and I was so excited to get my copy at the store yesterday!!

As sad as I am to see summer end, I'm soooo excited about Fall, because fall means wedding anniversary, pumpkins, apple cider, leaves, spiced pumpkin latte's, halloween, scary movies, trick or treaters, and so much more!! : O

Happiness!

I'm so making the Martha Stewart Ghost cake this year! The recipe is in the magazine and I saw a couple of bloggers last year make this and it looked so cute! I think it will be the first cake I make in my new kitchen, in my new house!!! eeee!!! so excited! : > haha

Hope everyone had a great Monday and have a great week!

Birthday Shout Out!

2009-09-07T16:34:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE SISTER-IN-LAW (that's not married to any of my brothers, gotta keep it fair ; >) !!!

Hope you had a wonderful day my dear and can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks!! Your present will be waiting! ; >

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope everyone had a fabulous long weekend and if you didn't get to enjoy the holiday then at least your Monday's over now!

And thanks for all of the great suggestions and comments about the paint colors for the new house! I'll keep ya'll updated on what color we end up deciding on and will definitely be posting before and after pics! : >

I need your opinion!

2009-08-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hello lovlies! Well my first week in my new job went really well and I think I'm going to end up liking it. It's a really big change from what I was doing before but like I said I think it'll be good for me in the long run!

Okay so on to the more important thing! Here are some pics of our new soon to be kitchen - mud /utility room - and half bath downstairs!!!

What I'd like your opinion on is paint colors!

As you can see from the pictures these people had a serious thing for PINK now I like pink but not enough to have almost every wall in my house pink!

Pink wall in the kithen and you can see the pink mud room and the pink bathroom in this piture too!

There's tile work under the cabinets which will stay (for now)

I love the working surface above! The laminate flooring is going to be replaced with laminate tile, it's really nice looking.

So I was thinking maybe like a brown or some kind of neutral color????

What do ya'll think?

We like the chandelier that's hanging and I was thinking that a brown would go with it, definitely more than pink.....and yes we get to keep the flat screen that hanging on the wall!!! I'll be watching Barefoot Contessa and Paula Deen all the time!! : )

Here are the pics of the utility / mud room, I was thinking if we do the kithen in some browns then I could do this little room in something fun like green or blue or something????

I'm at a total loss for what color the bathroom should be? Maybe a dark gray? Red? I don't know.

And yes even the living room has a pink wall! I'm telling you they are obsessed with PINK!

I was thinking some neutral colors in here too??

Here's the dining and look it's not pink!! I actually like the color that's in here, it's kind of a green/blue color.....

So there's a little mini tour of our soon to be home! We're closing in 4 weeks! aaaahhh!

So the immediate to do list is:

** clean out fridge

** clean out bathroom

**clean out Kitchen

Once I do that then I'll start packing up stuff that I know we won't use until after we get in the house.....

Does anyone have any good suggestions on packing and cleaning???

Hope ya'll are having a great weekend! :)

Bad Blogger, Lazy Sunday, and Some big news!

2009-08-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

I've been a horrible blogger lately, but I promise I have good reasons! I don't think I've mentioned yet that I'm starting a new job in a week! It's a good thing, but work has been super crazy and I know once I start my new job it's going to be even crazier! But it's a step in the right direction, so bring on the craziness!

I've had a great lazy Sunday, I'm watching the Notebook on oxygen right now, I love it!!! I just watched the part with the swans! So pretty and it's such a good movie but I'll cry like a baby at the end!!!

(image from google images)

I just did some laundry and went to the store yesterday and got the yummiest smelling Mulled Cider candle!!! It's smells so much like fall!

I hate that summer is ending but fall is my second favorite season and can't wait till it's here!

Hubby and I went to Baltimore a couple weekends ago and saw some European soccer teams play, it was a good time!

Then we went to the Baltimore Aquarium which was fun!

And finally the big news!!!

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!!!

Well technically we're in the inspection stage, but it's going well and if everything keeps going well we'll be closing at the end of September!! I can't wait, I'm so so excited and the house is just fabulous!!! YAY!

So lots going on in this downtown southern household in the next couple of months!! But they are all great things!

Hope ya'll have a wonderfully lazy Sunday too!

I promise to update more : )

A few fun things....

2009-07-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for my brithday well wishes!! Ya'll are so so sweet!!! xoxo

So some fun things I've gotten for my birthday......my sweet Granny and Papa always give me a check for my birthday inside my card : )

So I decided to go and get some fun little things for myself and here's what I got....

I went to Marshall's and got this perfume that I L.O.V.E! I used to wear it in high school and it just brought back so many memories when I smelt it, I just love the scent!

(image from banana republic.com)

Then I just happened to walk past a cart that an employee was unloading and saw a bunch of the Sex and the City dvd's on there for $5.99!!! I've been waiting to find it this cheap so I could make it a purchase!! Super excited because I love this movie!!! : )

(image from google images)

And then I bought myself some cute pj's....their caramel colored capri pants and a baby doll top with cream colored lace trim for $7.99. I'll take a picture of them and post with my other goodies that I get ; )

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!! YAY!! Hope ya'll have a good one! ; )

I'm the Birthday Girl!

2009-07-27T18:14:00.001-07:00

That's me!!!

Today was my birthday, I'm now a 28 year old :( ....haha just kidding, it's not all bad!

I just got back from a great dinner with my little bro and his girlfriend...the hubby had to coach soccer tonight so the little brother stepped in and took me out for my bday...I'm so lucky!! : )

Don't worry the hubby will be making it up to me this weekend!!! haha : ) He'll be taking me out!

It's been a great day, I have to say that I wasn't that crazy about facebook until today, I've gotten so many happy birthday wishes from people I never would have talked to otherwise and it feels really good!! So all in all, it's been a great day AND it's been a really great year!!

Hope everyone has a lovely Monday!! :)

Meet my newest Nephew!!

2009-07-22T15:38:00.000-07:00

Isn't he just the cutest!! He was born July 20th and he weighed 8lb. 12 oz.!
Here he is on Mommy's lap just chillin....this was the most he'd opened his eyes and he was looking all around.....

Proud Daddy's holding the little bundle so I could snap some pics! He's peaking at me!

Now he's just looking at Daddy....(my brother)

Proud Aunt right here!! I'm getting the baby bug I think!!! Just have to find a dang house to put a baby in first! haha....

So he's Mr. No Name Baby right now because Mommy and Daddy can't decide on a name....but I think they're leaning towards Colby, which I really like.

So No Name Nephew makes Number 7 for me!!!

2 Nieces + 5 Nephews = A lot of Christmas and Birthday presents ya'll!!! haha, they're worth it though!! ; )

What I've been up to....Working Out....

2009-07-20T15:18:00.001-07:00

Dear Jillian, you're kicking my butt up, down, and around the block and I can't decide if I like it or not.

I don't know if I can trust you because you said that after 4-5 times of doing this workout it would get easier. But lady, it.is.not!!! I think you're just crazy but I'm gonna keep doing your workout and hopefully I'll see some results eventually....

Me after finishing the 30 day shred workout.......level 1..... :-I
.

30 minutes later
yup, still there.....staring at the ceiling....

What I like to do when I'm finally able to drag myself off the flooor....

Watch some Paula Deen.....

Dear Paula, I think you're crazy too, but I love you too much to care!!!

So I'd like to ask a couple of questions for you workout babes out there...

Have you tried the 30 day shred and do you like it?

Do you prefer to workout in the morning or in the afternoon? I personally can't get into the working out in the morning, it just doesn't mesh with me.....

I'M BACK!...

2009-07-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

So sorry for the unexpected blogging break but I'm back!

Tons to catch up on and I'll be doing that soon but for now I have to tell you about the incredible deal that's going on at JcPenney's.....

If you have a JcPenney's near you then you're in luck because they're having their 'White Sale' right now and you can get their bath towels for $3.99!!!! It's a steal of a deal!! Even if you just want to be able to throw out some old tatty one's and replace them with these, they're really nice!

Cath-up to come, hope you're all having a glorious Sunday!

So Fun!

2009-06-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been absent the last week. We've been dealing with our nightmare of a property manager. It's been one thing after another with him and the latest is that we had agreed to have our tile in our tub replaced. Well he originally wanted the work to start last

Wednedsay and we told him no we wanted it to start on Thursday if possible.....because we wanted to have as little disruption during the work week as possible. Since we were going to have to stay in a hotel while the work was being done. So he agreed that the work would start on Thursday and be done on Saturday. Fine. Great.

So what do you think I see when I get home from work on Wednesday??? Yup you guessed it half of our tub tile torn out but not only that all of our stuff in the bathroom has been removed and thrown into a pile! L.I.V.I.D that would describe me! UGH!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

So I'm not going to talk about that anymore, I'm going to a happier place. Blog Awards. :o)

The first is from Brittany Ann from Living in the Moment I just love her blog, I think she's the sweetest girl!!! Thanks Brittany Ann!

The next one is from Miss Lindsay from One day at a Time another super sweet girl with a super sweet blog!! Thanks girl!!!

I would like to give these awards to my 12 most recent followers!! Ya'll rock!! : )

~~~~~~~~

Who saw True Blood on Sunday?!?!?!?! LOVED IT!!!! Can't wait to see more!!

And who's watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey tonight!!!?!? I'm catching up on the episodes right now!!! So much stinkin drama!!! love it!!

I still need to watch Southern Belles of Louisville, I've heard it's really good!

Times Up!! And the Winner is.....

2009-06-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

I used Random.Org to draw the winner of my blog-o-versary giveaway and the winner is.....

Megan at Wandering DC

Congrats Megan!

Email me your mailing address and I'll get your winnings to you!

Thanks to everyone for entering and don't worry friends, I'm already planning my next giveaway because I had so much fun with this one, so keep an eye out!! ; )

Hope everyone had a great weekend, the weather is just lovely here!

GIVEAWAY! Accessories!!!

2009-06-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

Guess who just got back from a little shopping at the F21 Accessories shop!?!? ME!

And I was thrilled to find that there is actually a totally different store that is dedicated completely to just F21 accessories!?!? Does anyone else have that! I had no idea they did that! At my local mall there's the F21 store and then if you go upstairs on the opposite end of the mall there's a whole other store just for the accessories! I was in heaven ya'll!

So what did I get for my giveway!?

I got these two cute recyclable bags that you can do pretty much anything with! I love them and you get to choose one! I'm keeping the other for myself! ; )

But the winner get's to choose the one they like the best!

The cute little love birds or......

The cute little world and birdie.....

Then this adorable coral lightweight scarf.....
coral color bracelet.......
flower ring......
charm necklace.......very Jennifer Aniston, I can totally see it being worn with a white tank and some jeans! I might have to go back and myself one ; )

I think the coral would go great with a cute black dress or some summer white pants, it's such a great summer color!! LOVE IT!

Closeup of the ring (please excuse my bad manicure and ugly bones and veins, I was streching my hand up to get the angle of the camera) ; )

Close up of the cute bracelet.....

And finally a totally 80's wallet!! I love the bright orange!! It's so fun!!!

Peak inside the wallet!

So there's the rest of my giveaway! Don't forget you have until Sunday June7th to enter!!

Leave your comment on my big giveaway post!!!!

Good Luck Friends!!! ; )

It's GIVEAWAY Time!!!

2009-05-29T15:19:00.001-07:00

Happy one year blog-o-versay to me!!! I can't believe it's been a year since I started blogging! It's really gone by fast!

So in honor of my 1 year anniversay, I'm hosting a giveaway!

And the beachy tote won the vote! So the winner of my giveaway will receive the following!

1) The adorable Pink Tote

2) This yummy Carribean Salsa candle in travel size so you can take it with you wherever you go this summer!
3) The June issue of InStyle magazine along with a year's subscription!!
4) The new mark Costa Rica perfume!

5) And a couple of F21 accessories! (I'll post pics of them later)

So there you go and here's what you need to do:

1) To get entered ONCE, leave a comment on this post

2) To get entered TWICE, become a follower and let me know in your comment

3) To get entered THREE times, blog about my giveaway and let me know in your comment

The giveaway ends JUNE 7th and the winner will be randomely selected then!!

Good Luck Friends! : )

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

2009-05-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

Okay I'm going to be hosting a giveaway for my one year blog-o-versay!! And I need you to help me decide!!!

I'm giving away a swag bag and I need you to help me deside the 'bag'!!!

Here are the options:

My first choice was.......

My new favorite Vera tote!!

But then I saw this post from Misadventures of a Newlywed and I started having second thoughts on my choice.....

So here's where you come in!!!

Tell me which one you like better!!!

The one with the most votes wins!!!

You have until the end of the day tomorrow and then I announce the rest of my giveaway!!!Seriously, I want to know which one you would like to win more!?!?

Sneak Peak into my Giveaway!

2009-05-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be doing a giveaway very soon!!! So don't forget to check back!!! : )

Here's a little sneak peak for you! ; )

(this scent smells so so so good ugh!!)

Wedding Recap: Grooms Cake

2009-05-26T17:01:00.001-07:00

So when it came to the groom's cake I knew two things......1) I wanted it to be a surprise and 2) I really wanted to do something soccer related because that is hubby's favorite thing

(besides me, hehe)

I asked my cake vendor about doing a soccer ball cake and they came back with an outrageous estimate that was actually more expensive than our actual wedding cake. They told me that it was because of the ball shape it would be really hard to do, that's why it was so expensive.

That's when I decided it was time to get creative. Now hubby also happens to have an alter ego that's kind of a super hero, yes you heard me right, a super hero. This super hero came about right after the movie Nacho Libre with Jack Black hit the theatres.

While I was trying to think of what I could do I had the thought of a doll cake, you know the doll cakes with the dome like skirt and the doll sticks out of the top? Well my sister in law happened to have one of those cake pans so I told her what I wanted and I provided her a doll and the pictures below are the end results!!!!!

This is a text pic that my SIL sent me while I was getting my hair done at the salon. It had turned out great! You can kind of make out the soccer ball.

I'm showing it to my MOH.....

And the end result............

TA-DA

I wanted it to look like the 'super hero' was jumping out of the soccer ball haha....He loved it and the guests got a kick out of it.

And if you don't believe that my hubby really thinks he has an alter ego super hero, down below is the proof......

Yes friends, I married that......for the rest of my life........let's just say there is never a dull moment when my super hero is around.......haha

(can you just imagine what our kids are going to be like with a daddy like that?!?!)

uh-huh, yup, forever and ever. amen.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

(image from google images)

On this Memorial Day when you're spending time with your friends and loved ones grilling and picnicking, or playing sports, at the beach, or wherever you might be. Take a minute to remember what the day is for......it's to give thanks to all of the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I can live in a country that is free, free to worship as we choose, free to say what we want, free to be who we want to be. We are so lucky and forever indebted to these brave people.

Hope you all enjoy your day!

*~*~*~*~*~*~

I also wanted to share a recipe with you that I absolutely LOVE!!!

I'm a huge Paula Deen fan and this is one of her recipes....so you know it's gonna be good! : )

LEMON BLOSSOMS

(photo and recipe courtesy of foodnetwork)

They're so easy to make and so so so yummy!!!

Here the recipe:
18 1/2-ounce package yellow cake mix
3 1/2-ounce package instant lemon pudding mix
4 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
Glaze:
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons water

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray miniature muffin tins with vegetable oil cooking spray. Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend well with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour a small amount of batter, filling each muffin tin half way. Bake for 12 minutes. Turn out onto a tea towel
To make the glaze, sift the sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, zest, oil, and 3 tablespoons water. Mix with a spoon until smooth.
With fingers, dip the cupcakes into the glaze while they're still warm, covering as much of the cake as possible, or spoon the glaze over the warm cupcakes, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with waxed paper underneath to catch any drips. Let the glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour, before storing in containers with tight-fitting lids.

They really are addicting and so good! Hope you all have a great Memorial Day!

Way overdo Awards catch up....

2009-05-22T18:08:00.001-07:00

I apologize to my sweet bloggy friends who gave out these awards and it's taken me SSOOO long to post about! Sorry girls, I'll try to be better next time! ; )

The first award Cristina at Another Day in Paradise gave to all of her followers (which I happen to be one of them) and she said she would be checking to see if we posted about it so here you go!! : ) haha Love your blog Cristina and thanks for the award!

Okay I'm supposed to list 5 things that I think are sexy:

1) My hubby 2) Convertibles 3) Tans 4) Tropical Islands 5) Manners

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The second award was given to me by the sweet Miss Un-Bride at Chronicles of an Unconventional Bride....go check her out and see why she's unconventional! :)

She has the cutest blog about her upcoming wedding and I love seeing all the great details unfold!

Now for this one I'm supposed to list 10 things that are un-cute about myself : (

1) I rarely ever answer my phone, I hate talking on the phone! 2) I have bad breath 3) I was a bed wetter when I was a kid 4) I have a bad temper, you don't want to cross me when I'm in a foul mood 5) My armpits are faucets 6) I have a phobia of public speaking 7) I get really really splotchy red on my chest and neck when I get nervous, mad, happy, etc. 8) Sometimes I get road rage 9) I tend to be a little on the jealous side 10) I have a hard time letting things go

Wow now I just feel bad listing all that un-cute stuff about me, shouldn't I feel better for getting all that off my chest??? oh well! I tag any of my sweet bloggy friends who haven't been tagged yet and would like to play along! : )

****

Please note that my one year blog anniversary is coming up May 29th and I might be planning an awesome giveaway....I'm just saying you might want to check back because I might be collecting some seriously awsome stuff....I'm just saying maybe ; )

All you sweet people out there have a safe and wonderful Memorial Weekend!!!!

Mid Week - Weekend Recap

2009-05-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day at the Rivah was great!!! The weather couldn't have been more perfect as you can see by my nephew's and neice in the water! : )

I wanted to share some photos of my mom and dad's new place....they just moved in last week and very beach inspired! I love it!!

This is the kitchen, my favorite room in the place!

Here is the living room, the balcony looks out at the river and bay.

Hall bathroom.

Window in the master bedroom

My mama's little office nook, very cute!

French doors leading out of the office nook.

Dining area

Hall bathroom, I just love the blue, cream, and brown combo!

Looking out from the kitchen.

One more view of my favorite room.....

My little brother and his very ill-behaved lab, Charlie : )

Me and my family hanging out in the garage below my parents new abode....that's what a lot of southerners like to do when it's hot out....they sit in their garage with their friends and eat crab chips out of a red solo cup.....oh wait that's just me! ; ) Speaking of me.....I'm sporting my new maxi dress from Tar-jay!! I love it but unfortunately I read the reviews of it online and it shrinks something terrible when washed, I might try hand washing it......

Hope everyone else had a great weekend and I know I have been given some awards by some sweet blogging friends and I promise that's my next post, major catch up going on here!! : )

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2009-05-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

I made my sweet mama a basket of Bakerella's Cake Pops and they turned out pretty good for my first attempt!! I used the Red Velvet cake mix with Butter Cream frosting!! YUM!!

I'll be spending the whole day with my mama and I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share with you! : )

I hope all you sweet wonderful mother's and mother's-to-be out there have the best day ever!!!!

Team Bethany!!

2009-05-05T15:06:00.001-07:00

Who else is going to be watching the season finaly of The Real Housewives of New York!!!????

I can't wait, I've been completely hooked this season, there's just been so much drama!!!

And I have to say that the fight and tension between Bethany and Kelly has kept me interested the most!!! I can't stand Kelly and how just flat out unbelievable she is, I've never wanted to go through the tv and slap someone across the face as much as I have this woman!!

I mean can you say 'psycho' because that would be Kelly ya'll!

I think Bethany is the best one out of all of them, she's brutally honest and funny and something big is going to happen on the finale between her and Ramona and I can't wait to see what it is!!!

I love drama, it's terrible I know, but at least I'm admitting it, you know?!?!? ; )

Weekend Purchase

2009-05-01T18:30:00.001-07:00

I knew when I went to see this in the theatre with my girlfriend that it would be a purchase!! It was so cute and I love Kate Hudson!!! It's definitely one of those Chic Flicks that is great for rainy days (which just happens to be this weekend here) : )

If you haven't seen it yet you should definitely watch it, it hilarious!! Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway made a great team!

(all images from google images)

Happy Weekend Friends!!!!

Scotland (the end of our trip) : (

2009-04-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

Sooooo, haha, towards the end of our trip we went to Stirling. Now Stirling, if you haven't guessed is the home of the famous William Wallace, better known as the sexy Mel Gibson in a kilt! mmmmmm......hahaI mean seriously, that's just nice ya'll.

It also happens to be the home of our friend Pete, better known as SIL's man friend. haha

me and hubby quickly snapping a shot

Hubby giving Pete a hard time, as usual

MIL and SIL and me posing in the hotel in Sterling

Pete's mum and dad's place. None too shabby.....

another pic...

Pete....free bird.....

Gotta love the timer on my camera....haha.....so if you can't tell I got a spray tan when I was over there and ya'll I'm officially hooked!!! I love it! And I'm not talking the booth tanning I'm talking there's an actual person spraying you, it's awesome, I looked like I had been at the beach for a week!!! I've already found someone over here that does it and you better believe I've already gone once!! haha, it lasts about a week so I'm happy. AND I'm not baking myself in the tanning beds which is definitely a good thing, I mean I'm no spring chicken anymore!!

Easter Sunday brunch, after SIL and I went to Church.

HEY LOOK I GOT MY HAIR CUT AGAIN!!! GOT IT CUT WHILE I WAS OVER THERE AND I LOVE IT!!! IT'S MORE CHIC!!!

Kate's YUMMY French toast with bacon.....*drool* Our last day. On the train. Heading into the city

Me.Trying to look like I'm in deep thought.

Shameless picture taking of myself.....how awesome is SIL's mirror!!!Love it!!!

And again.

Right after we went for a Curry lunch....

Automotive History museum, Yeah!!

Me and the phone booth shot! Yes I'm wearing my sunglasses and yes I'm in a building, don't judge!!

The Harry Potter car! See the owl in the backseat!

I'm sorry Pete, I had to do it!!! We all got ice cream when we left the museum and they put this 'rasberry sauce' on it that seriously turned your lips and mouth blood red!!! It was so good!!

TULIPS

Look closely, see the eyeballs in the skull....they're not supposed to be there.....

Posing!

Train station.

The end! : ( That's it for our Scotland 2009 trip! Hope you enjoyed the pics. I'll be showing you some fun gifts that I ended up taking over for the family in my next post and then showing you my fun purchases as well!!! Tomorrow Friday! YAY!!! : )

Our Tour of York!

2009-04-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

On the way to York.....we're crossing the border to England....hubby was telling me you see a lot of castles at the borders because that's how they protected their lands......

Hubby, mum (MIL), and hubby's Aunt

Me and Aunt

Me posing! : ) It was really windy...haha

This was the hotel that we stayed in it was really nice on the outside and just so-so on the inside.....hubby and aunt....

Going into the city of York......

And let the touring begin!!!!!......

Walking down the street I happened to look in the doorway of this resturant and look what I saw!!! How fabulous is that!? I had to take a picture!

I had to take two pictures!!! Love it!

Chocolate Heaven....YUM!

Diagon Alley, seriously looked like it!

Street Performer

Priest walking down the street

Me posing

The Minster

Inside the Minster

The ceiling in The Minster

Diagon Ally or the streets of York, can't really tell the difference!?

Old Fizzywigs

Street actor....I couldn't imagine sitting on that bike all day like that!!!

Street actor from the front....

Hubby and me!

Hubby waiting for the ghost tour we took to start.

I had to take a picture of this building....if you look closely the you can see where the window has slanted into where the bricks have settled, isn't that crazy looking!?!?

The streets of YORK, not too far from the street where Guy Fox was born.....'Remember Remember the Fifth of November!'

The Minster

My attempt.....

2009-04-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

to show what I'm wearing on this BEAUTIFUL Saturday!!!

I'm not very good at taking pictures of myself, but I love this dress I got from Forever 21 last year! It's a lightweight little summer dress and it's perfect for days like today when it's supposed to be in the 90's!!! wooee, it's gonna be warm!

I'm wearing some gold jewelry I got from Scotland that I love and topping it off with my trusty rainbow sandals! : ) (that you can't see because I'm crap at taking pics of myself)

I got these lily's last week and they are just so pretty and summery!! I had to share!!

And here's the view right now from our balcony....recognize that fountain?? ; )

If not, take a look to the pics on the left ; )

Hope everyone is having as great a weekend as I am!!!!