Weekend Recap

In spite of our tough loss to Mizzou, we had a great weekend. It was so nice to have Nick home from Friday through Sunday.  

School and work have been going pretty well for me, and I actually feel like I have time for a social life this semester. It is a relief after some difficult classes I've had in my program previously. I've been using my spare time, since I have a little bit of it, to watch Netflix (yesterday I binged on Revenge) and to read. Over the weekend I finished The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. It is suspenseful, and the characters are likeable. I highly recommend it. Tonight I am starting another book by the same author. 

 

  I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday! I am off to figure out what I want to do for lunch...decisions, decisions...

Happy Thoughts

I definitely have my share of bad days, and I pretty much always really struggle with working and going to graduate school at the same time. That being said, I have been in a good mood this week, and here are a few things making me smile.   1. First of all, FALL is here officially here in SC. As in, I have turned off the AC in our house. I am wearing tights with a dress today! I love cool, crisp weather.  

  2. This makeup sponge is the best one I've ever bought. You wet it before you use it to put on your foundation. I wear Chanel Lumiere foundation and love it. Most of my other makeup is drug store makeup, and I usually get it at Walgreens when I fill prescriptions.  

    3. The test I took yesterday  for my Introduction to Speech Science and Acoustic Measurement class was easier than I thought it would be. That is for sure something to smile about!   4. I figured out what I am making for our tailgate this Saturday on Monday of this week (thanks to Pinterest) and went ahead and made my grocery list. That made me feel like I am on top of things.   5. I usually do not watch tv during the week, but this week I have been watching 20 or 30 minutes of tv before bed. This week I am rewatching season 2 of OITNB b/c I feel asleep several times when I watched it back in the spring. It makes me feel like I actually have some free time or have more of a life than my same old routine of work, studying, dinner, and bedtime.   6. I've also been making it to pure barre 2X a week for several weeks now, and that feels like a big accomplishment with everything that I have going on.   7. TGIF is tomorrow. Yet something else to smile about.   Thanks for reading!

Working on Empty Spaces

One of my decorating challenges is filling up all the empty walls in our house. I've gotten a start, and this is what I've done so far. I still have to find a place (read find the perfect place) in our house to hang our canvas from our wedding as well as my bridal portrait.  

Little gallery wall I'm working on in our dining room

 

 Close up on a shadow box I made with items from our wedding

 

 Mirror I found at HomeGoods for the dining room

 

 Bed, Bath, & Beyond frame we got off our registry

 

 This throw is a recent Rue La La find I had to share if because I love it

 

Tiles from HobLob   Happy Hump Day!!

Weekend Recap

First and foremost, this weekend I got to see Nick!!! I hadn't seen him in TWO weeks. It felt like a month. I saw him both Friday and Saturday, so that was especially nice.   Friday I got off work early and drove to Hartwell, GA. I visited with Nick in his hotel and got all of his laundry. I met my Mom at the Islander after and had a late dinner. I had the calamari, which is amazing (like everything else on the menu there), and a Stoli martini with a lemon twist. I think a lemon twist complements vodka better than salty olives, although I love olives in general.    

 Friday night with my mom//Sunday night watching RHONJ

Yadi worn out from spending the weekend at Camp Bow Wow//I am way too serious about that martini

 

NICK!!!!   Saturday morning my Mom and I went to Starbucks and Prop Drugs in Anderson. I had to get a Lilly Pulitzer umbrella from Prop Drugs. Friday on my way to work I was unfortunately caught without one, as it was conveniently located in my husband's car in another state. I helped her do some things around her house that afternoon. That evening, Nick came and got me and we went on a date. It felt so high school to get picked up for a date at my Mom's house (although I've actually never lived at her new house). We went to Wild Wings to watch the Vandy game, and we were some of the very few Gamecocks there in a sea of orange.   Sunday morning we hit up Starbucks again, and then I was out the door to get to church for a Christening. One of my best friend's baby was Christened yesterday. It was a really nice service, and lunch at my friend's parents' house afterwards was A.MAZ.ING. Sunday night I watched The Cowboy Rides Away concert off DVR, made dinner, and then watched Real Housewives of NJ. I weighed myself this morning and was very surprised that I didn't gain any over the weekend.   I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend!  

Wedding Day Timeline

Good morning! TGIF is tomorrow, we've almost made it through another week. The weekend cannot get here quickly enough.   I was just organizing posts about our wedding, and realized I never posted about our wedding day timeline. I made a timeline for our big day, and I felt like it was helpful in reminding everyone to stay on schedule. Prior to having my own wedding, I was a bridesmaid several times and made note of things I did and didn't want do to if I ever got married. I also used to work in Sales at a Hilton property. Some of the weddings I was a bridesmaid in were disorganized, and I felt like people didn't know where to go when.   I emailed this out to everyone (bridal party, family, our wedding coordinator, vendors, the venue, etc.) about a week or two before the wedding. I think some people thought I was a wedding Nazi or bridezilla when I sent out that email, however our wedding day really did run smoothly.   6:30 am – wakeup time   7:00 am - leave hotel  7:30 am - get our Starbucks

8:00am—Hair and Makeup at Salon Twenty Ten in Savannah 2010 Abercorn St, Savannah 31401
(912) 349-0566)

12:00–2:00pm—Most vendors arrive for setup

12:30 pm -at venue, bridal party gets dressed

1:00 pm -Courtney comes, start putting on my dress

1:30 pm -pictures of bride, bridesmaids (lasts one hour)

2:30pm -pictures of groom, groomsmen (lasts one hour)

3:30pm—Guests begin to arrive/Pre-ceremony music starts

4:00pm—Invite time

4:10pm—Ceremony starts

4:30pm—Ceremony ends

4:40pm—Cocktail hour starts (family photos)

5:45pm—Move guests into dinner

6:00pm—Buffet opens/Dinner served

6:20pm—All guests have food

6:30pm—Bridal Party Introductions (CJ)

7:00 Bride and Groom first dance

7:10 Toasts  (Jessie and Tedd)

7:15pm—General dancing music starts (guests)

8:02pm – sunset

8:30pm—Cut cake

9:00 pm - last bride/groom photos outside in lights

9:00 bouquet and garter toss

9:45pm—Last call

9:55pm—Music off

10:00pm—Guests depart

11:00pm—Breakdown done, all staff departs

And there you have it! I can't say enough good things about making a day of timeline. Our wedding day went like clock work.
 




 
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

Midweek Randoms

It is another gray dreary day (although still hot and humid), and the office is quiet. I have a few random thoughts to share with you today.   1. I watched Sunday's RHONJ last night. I looked forward to it all day yesterday. I missed it on Sunday because of Miss America (I wasn't thrilled about the winner). I love the twins! I think they are both so beautiful, and are a great addition to the cast. I love the DRAMA of reality tv. I think I like seeing that people that are rich and beautiful have dysfunction in their lives too.  

  2. Zyrtec. I am almost back to being good as new after being sick. I love that Zyrtec gets rid of my allergies. I work in an old dusty building that pretty much always has construction going on inside it, so I need to take something. Zyrtec works, but I do not like that it makes me tired. All day yesterday I felt like I was going to fall asleep. So far today has been better, and I hope I will not be dying for a nap by the time I make it to pure barre after work.   3. Hair. Tomorrow I have a hair appointment. I am going to get highlights. My husband loves my hair blond.      I think I look better with dark hair. I am going to compromise by getting a few highlights added back in, but not going too light. I am not telling Nick I am going back to highlights, so it will be a surprise when I see him.  

   4. School. I am very happy to report that after a tough summer, this fall is a sigh of relief. I have older instructors that have a ton of clinical experience, and they are both straightforward and easy to understand. I have some reading I need to get done before a test next Wednesday, but overall this fall is much more manageable. Praise God for that!   Thanks for reading!  

Weekend Recap

I had a low key weekend since I was getting over being sick. I was sorry to have missed such an exciting game (go Gamecocks!), but not that sorry since the weather was so terrible.   I got a lot done around the house this weekend. Not the most exciting, but I got a lot accomplished that was sitting on my to do list. Stuff that desperately needed to be done. I did a ton of laundry, cleaned the house top to bottom (even some baseboards which is my least favorite chore), studied, and ran errands.   New owl kitchen towels for Halloween from HomeGoods   I got some fun new things at HomeGoods and Hobby Lobby. I'll have to take more pics to post. I also made a shadow box with items from our wedding. I have had said shadow box since probably 2008. My grandmother gave it to me so I could do something with old ribbons from horseshows or awards from pageants, etc. It hasn't been touched until I finally got some motivation this weekend, and I am really happy with the result. I can't wait to share a picture of it.  

Chalkboard and Fleur de Lis stand from Hob Lob

 

I also changed out my Scentys to Goody Goody Gumdrop and I love it. Thank  you for the recommendation Brandi! I was using Autumn Sunset before I switched, and I wasn't that crazy about it. Is it just me, or do some scents seem like they work better than others?

 Scentsy owl and soup I made earlier in the week

 

I hope everyone's Monday is  off to a great start!

 

TGIF and Miss America

I have been feeling under the weather this week, so the weekend really cannot get here fast enough. I sold our GA tickets since the hubby is out of town and I'm sick. It doesn't look like I will be having a very exciting weekend, but that is OK. I feel like I just need to rest.   I am really looking forward to watching Miss America Sunday night. Here are some of my favorites so far:   Miss Mississippi, Jasmine Murray. Miss Mississippi is known for being a very professionally produced and extremely competitive pageant. I've always wanted to go, and one day I will!  

Miss Georgia, Maggie Bridges. Georgia is another competitive pageant, and their swimsuit competition is top notch. You will hardly see a girl at state that is soft. This is going to sound super creepy, but I may or may not keep a photo of a former Miss GA contestant on my computer to reference for fat shaming myself. I am joking about the fat shaming. Sort of. Sometimes I think that's the only thing that works with me. I have to motivate myself somehow, and sometimes my inner bully is the only one who can do so. Sad but true!

 



  Miss SC, Lanie Hudson. Miss SC was very competitive this year, although I didn't go as I was financially recovering from our wedding and didn't want to shell out for tickets. Isn't she gorgeous?  

  Some of my other picks include Alabama (Caitlin Brunell), North Carolina (Beth Stovall), and Miss Florida (Victoria Cowan).   I can't wait to see who will take home the crown! Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend.  

Pet Peeves

Everyone has a few little things that get on their nerves and drive them nuts. Today I'm sharing mine.   I don't like feet. This started in college. My friend Jenna and I were in the lobby of a dorm talking to friends, and a guy sat down right next to us and started rubbing and picking at his bare feet. He was sitting nearer to Jenna than to me, but we were both totally repulsed. I can't remember any specific details since this was 10+ years ago, but I think he had toe jam.   Smacking food, when people chew with their mouth open, and when people talk with food in their mouth   When people cough or sneeze, and don't cover their nose or mouth. I have asthma, and I hate to get sick, so I do not want their germs. My husband thinks I am a germaphobe, I call it being careful.    Know-it alls. This stems from a coworker I used to have named Murph. He was the authority on all subjects. I was haunted by Murph. Those of you that know me IRL know my Murph stories.   Compulsive liars. We've all known someone who will lie about even silly little things. I've always wondered why some people seem to enjoy pulling the wool over people's eyes, but I think it's like the Tootsie Pop Owl says, "The world may never know."  

    When you're swimming in an ocean or lake and something brushes past your leg, or even worse, bites you. I'm always convinced it's a shark or piranha.   What are your pet peeves?  

Five on Friday

TGIF! This was a wonderful week because it was short. I think every weekend should be a three day weekend.

 

1. Fall. I am ready for it. Google tells me the first official day of Fall is September 22. Bring on the cool crisp weather.

 

I took this last year at a Pumpkin Sale

 

2.  Speaking of fall, this list.  I am guilty of having already ordered my fall and winter Scentsy bars, and I can't wait to decorate for Halloween.

 

3. I texted my hair stylist Laura this morning because I miss my highlights.

 

 

4. After reading about these Sam Edelman shoes on every fashion blogger's site all summer, I finally scooped up a pair from Amazon. I have Amazon Prime, which just makes it that much easier to pull the trigger. I wore them this week, and absolutely love them. I got the ones with black straps, and I may end up buying another color because these are the kind of shoes you wear all the time.

 

 

 

5. Yesterday Food Lion had Yellow Tail Chardonnay on sale, so I got two bottles for the weekend. Hopefully the Gamecocks will play a little bit better this week, and there will be cause to celebrate.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!  



Home Tour {Kitchen}

We had a low key weekend at home. I got a lot of housework done, as well as some studying. While that is not the most fun or glamorous way to spend a long weekend, it needed to be done. I love crossing things off my to do list, so that felt good.

 

Here is another room in our house, the kitchen. I spend a good bit of my time here, and I study at the little breakfast area just off the kitchen.

 

Looking from the living area

 

I would like to get some bar stools to go here

 Trinket  

 salt and pepper shakers we got in the Bahamas

 

 Yadi 

 rug from Pier One

 Fleur de Lis trivet

 

I know red is not the most original choice for a kitchen, but I love the warmth it adds. I've seen some truly gorgeous kitchens done in white and light colors, and while that would probably flow into the living area better, I just love the bright cheery red.

 

It is a hot humid day today in Columbia, SC, and I am so very ready for some cooler weather. Today I work until 5, go to pure barre, then home to have a bite for dinner and study. It feels like a long first day back after the long weekend. Stay cool everyone!