i'm with the band

There was no Black Friday for the Radcliffes! But rather the day after Thanksgiving brought relaxation and a fun filled concert on the downtown Ocala sqaure. Free for All was a celebration of sorts put on by our church with several local bands and headlined by contemporary Christian rock group Fee. The crowd filled the light-lined square last night to bring praise and thanksgiving and to kick off the holiday season. Michael's band, The Orange Standard, participated in the event and they were so awesome! They did some original songs, covers, and ended their set with Feliz Navidad...what more could you ask for to shuffle in the Christmas spirit?!

But first, we had a special visit from Pamela and Eric earlier in the day!! We met them for lunch at Latinos on their way home to Tampa. It was just what I needed~

me and ella

pamela was not feeling timid this time to feel holly's belly :)

the funniest picture ever! setup--the parking lot of latinos...holly: let me lay down in the backseat of your car and the baby will start kicking! pamela: ooooooohhhhh, I feel her!

the orange standard, pre-show

vips working the merch tent

we're so proud of our baby brother!!

mom and holly singing on the square

dad on electric guitar

the band takes the stage...

which do you prefer, schweppes or triangles?

everyday is a great day in the valley

Gracious and growing Georgia was my destination this past weekend – Ft. Valley to be exact. Home to those Georgia jewels that I indulge in every summer at the annual Peach Festival. My dear friend Meghan and her family calls this middle Georgia dot on the map home and over the last six years I too have called it home on the long weekends we would hop in our car and drive to the Valley. However, this trip I made solo. No one to sing on key with to Celine and no one to make the long drive back to Tallahassee with because Meghan has moved back to the land of pecan groves and peach orchards. As much as I miss her living a few miles down the road from me, it makes me treasure even more the times that we do get to spend with each other, for instance, this weekend.

We decided to stay with her mom and dad who spoil us oh so much! As always, we eat way too many sweet treats, spend way too much money shopping (put us together and we are a dangerous pair!), and I somehow always manage to fall asleep in the big red chair in the living room on Sunday afternoon. I love my visits to the Valley and I enjoy every minute of the weekend’s fun events…they never cease to surprise me. Meghan’s mother, Ms. Kathy always has something in store for us and it usually involves us waking up at day break on Saturday morning, and this weekend was no different. When I pulled up late Friday night I was reminded of the garage sale they were putting on bright and early the next morning. And let me tell you, bright and early came very soon at 7:30am and only 15 degrees outside! Despite the freezing cold and limited feeling in my cold fingers and toes it was a success. That afternoon we went to the Mistletoe Market and to some chic boutiques up the road in Macon. I also got to see Meghan’s new home - an adorable historic abode near downtown! For dinner, her parents met us and some friends at her neighborhood pizza joint. By ten that night I was worn out and snuggled tightly into bed after a long day on the go. Sunday brought church, lunch, a snack of homemade pecan pie, and our goodbyes. The good news is that Meghan will be coming to Tallahassee in two weeks for Holly’s first baby shower! And I know I’ve mentioned it before…but my excitement is beyond words for the holiday season and all the special friends and family that come along with my most favorite time of the year. cheers!

ms. kathy and I with our fanny packs!

meghan showing off some fashionable merchandise

@ ingleside pizza

a rainy day in the swamp

The gators played South Carolina this weekend, did you hear? What a game! I went down for the weekend and went to the game with m & d. The weather was not ideal but the game was still fun. Yes it is true that I am a graduate of FSU, but ask any of my college friends and they'll tell you (although they don't like to admit it, and we all know not to discuss it) that I am a gator at heart. I always get a funny look when I try to explain my football/school allegiance, and I'll admit that I was "confused" my first two years in Tallahassee, but I quickly realized that orange and blue still flowed through my veins. Good thing there was Kristen who also had the same great feelings toward the gators. We spent more fall Saturdays in Gainesville than we ever did in Tallahassee. Those were the days of fantastic tailgates and weekends at the swamp! Come to think of it, I went to a total of two FSU football home games. The second and last one was my senior year when they played UF and Kristen and I wore orange and blue. Fun for us-- awkward stares and questioning from our friends, but it was totally worth every minute of it! So just for the fun of it I've added some additional game day pictures of the past...it helps me get through the season better sans KB who lives in our Nation's Capital now, not quite a day trip to the swamp any longer. I miss her and the gators do too!

I hope your weekend was fabulous and full of fun no matter which team you pulled for. The things I'm looking forward to this week: Sisters dinner with Holly, Kelly, and Kasey, decorating Sally Kate's nursery, a trip to Macon to visit Meghan this coming weekend...Oh, and the official countdown to Thanksgiving is on!!

uf v. south carolina

mom and I in our cool rain gear

about to score another touchdown!

kristen and I at that "other" school

being harassed by some seminole friends :)

girls weekend!

Sister and I went home to Ocala for the annual girls weekend with some fun loving ladies! Girls weekend participants included me, mom, sister, Aunt Holly, Sassy, Lacy Lauren, Danika, Sharon, Rhonda and Renn...with names alone you can imagine the fun and laughs we shared! I'm sharing a few funny photo highlights from my fabulous weekend. I think the best part was that there was no party we had to be at or check list we had to accomplish this trip home--just a relaxing weekend with those I love. We managed to have a few laughs with some blasts from the past found in mom's closet. Can anyone say homemade vest fashion show?! Holly, preparing for motherhood, had the idea to search through mom's closet for some "mom" clothes. And boy did she succeed! Our mom has been through every craft clothing fad through the fashionable 80s and 90s...splatter paint shirts, scarf shirts with embellishments, and her infamous vests. I hope the pictures bring a smile to your face and help you relive some embarrassing, I mean wonderful, childhood memories :)

country angels, valentine's day, grape clusters

lila belle wanted to model with the girls

On another note I want to show everyone the most adorable playhouse you've ever seen!! At Happy Hearts Preschool the Hummingbird class parents have donated, designed, constructed and decorated this life like humble abode. They are raffling it off and tickets are $20 so if you're interested let me know. It is too darling! Currently it's sitting outside in front of the First Presbyterian Church so we went by and checked it out. My favorite part is the hand-painted rug with the Happy Hearts prayer along the border...a simple prayer that will forever be a part of my childhood, my family, my home~

We thank the Lord for Happy Hearts, for rain and sunny weather.

We thank you for the food we eat, and that we are together. Amen.

the hummingbirds

my favorite!

playhouse interior...I don't believe we had a chandelier in our playhouse growing up!!

weddings

with mom @ melissa's wedding

happy birthday pamela!

congratulations lindsay and david mckinney!

classic leo

the reception @ the winter park farmer's market

bridesmaids

the highlight of my night~me with orlando news reporter bob opsahl who I grew up watching on tv. when I first met lindsay five years ago I introduced myself and asked, "is your dad bob opsahl?" when she replied, "no, he's my unlce" I told her that would do. my goal for the night was to have my picture taken with him...accomplished!

we danced all night long

my sorority big sister, ashlynn~it was so great to see her!

adpi sweetheart song

adpis with the newlyweds/ pamela and I grinning like idiots to my camera

bridal shower

pre-shower posing with the bride-to-be :)

the spread

loved the colors!

kristen and her mother, better known as d-bo

kristen and the goods~

she was stunning!

my gift

maids of honor=fun with props!

k is for klauk

carolyn, me, leanne, and lauren

the bride and all of her bridesmaids

a bouquet or a bonnet?

political social graces

If you haven't heard, Florida's governor is getting married! I have been a docent at the Florida Governor's Mansion for the last 3 years and love giving tours to people of all ages about the great history of the people's house. I am known to the other much older, I mean wiser, docents as the "baby docent." This volunteer job has opened so many doors both in my personal and professional life. After all I got my job at Main Street Design through the Mansion Curator, Carol :). One of the many perks of being a docent is getting to attend special events at the mansion. For example I've had lunch with former First Lady of Florida Columba Bush, my name has been published in a recent historial book on the mansion, and I was a docent at the mansion for Governor Crist's Inagauration (see below). The latest perk to add to the list is being a hostess at Governor Crist's wedding public reception in December. How fabulous is that?!

with governor crist on his inagauration day in 2007