welcome fall

This post has nothing to do about Fall except for that I wanted to acknowledge its arrival yesterday...welcome.

What I do want to share is the delicious meal that David cooked for me last night! Well, I helped too but mostly to prove to him that I can indeed cook {which I still don't think he believes yet}. I made the roasted potatoes with olive oil and fresh rosemary from my yard. But he made sauteed chicken with artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes over bowtie pasta tossed in pesto he made from scratch {which I did several samplings of before supper!}. He's 1/4 Italian and can cook...and enjoys it...can I ask for anything more?? It was so yummy and even better that we actually made it together. thank you David.

And all the clutter in the background of my picture {plus the hydrangeas} are part of tonight's project. I'm making arrangements for the Junior League cookbook press conference and reveal party. Remember those cookbooks?!....they are still for sale...it's not too late!

when in rome

I commissioned mom to make the window treatments for my guestroom...and after much convincing she said ok! Of course she had no pattern - just very specific details and a sketch from moi - which terrified her. But soon you'll see...they're quite fabulous and perfectly sewn and installed{of course!}. I just love them...love, love, love them. I'm thinking about switching rooms myself they're so marvy! Without further ado, my guestroom:

welcome.

I had to include my telephone because it was just relocated back to its original home today when comcast came {promptly!} and fixed my hall phone jack.

when I first told mom I wanted a black and white stripe "awning" pattern she said, "well mary don't you think it will be too busy"...and of course I said "NO!". she's singing a different tune now.

I wanted a fixed roman shade with a scalloped hem...so technically you can call it a valance or a roman shade, whatever floats your boat.

come visit!!

{thanks again m & d, you're the best!}

football prom

What a fun weekend! David and I were in Gainesville on Saturday for the big rivalry game! The win was good but the pre-game festivities were even better. We tailgated with the Micas and then spent some time in the President's box and then ON. THE. FIELD. with Governor Crist and the First Lady. It was the ultimate game day!

prom 2009

jack rogers modeling

with the governor and first lady...me holding mrs. crist's purse!

david was SO excited to be on the field...not too shabby if I do say so myself:)

the perfect kick off view!

no event too big or too small

Last night I went to Camp's birthday party!! Camp turned just one, but nonetheless it was a mighty fine party! Lane went all out and the theme of "primary colors with a splash of puppy" was in full affect. It was fun watching the happy camper relish in all his birthday glory. Looking forward to SK's first birthday party and already planning...

so cute! I spy a cake shop cake...

party favors

me and the happy hostess...in front of the wall I painted!

happy, messy camper

the gunters

friday morning bliss

The two women I work with are also dear friends. Our office is so small that you become close quickly - and I'm ok with that because I like them {but they don't know about this blog...so shhh!} They are significantly older than me but we laugh and talk like age doesn't matter. And they are so generous to me! They are also like my second mothers which I appreciate. There's nothing better than feeling safe and protected in your professional life.

This morning we started our Friday morning with breakfast on Beverly's new deck at her home. We dined al fresco and enjoyed the warm muffins and crisp fall-like air. It was gorgeous and it was fun - a nice, refreshing way to mark the end of a work week. bliss.

**Congratulations to the Hellers on the birth of sweet baby Olivia who I got to visit last night!**

empty nest

Hello friends - the Yellow Bird has flown the coop! So long my dear {sometimes} faithful friend. For all of you who have used this hairdryer or have made fun of it over the last 7 years or so it has been replaced. Oh, it still runs {unlike yellow birds #s 1 and 2} but when I realized it was taking 20 minutes to dry my hair in the morning instead of 10 the numbers were just not adding up. So I bit the bullet and bought a new one...that's not yellow. It's a shame too because I thought it looked so fabulous in my bathroom! c'est le vie.

thank you michael for the pressure washing

Hands down one of the best Labor Day weekends. Perhaps, it was the anticipation of the three day weekend but now I know it was the friends and family I got to visit with. The weekend started with Mexican food with Tallahassee friends {hi kristen!} and then we were Gainesville/Ocala bound bright and early Saturday morning. Saturday was game day and David and I were pumped. First stop was breakfast at one of David's favorite breakfast joints, 43rd Street Deli. I had the most unusual, but very tasty, pan-seared oatmeal with a sweetened balsamic reduction drizzle...sounds weird but tasted divine! We spent the rest of the day at his family's tailgate and I met lots of additional family and lots of friends who stopped by. I was so excited to see Heather Lane pre-game and Libby and Greg who came and sat with us during the game.

We spent the rest of our holiday weekend in Ocala and David got the tour de jour of all my favorites. On Sunday we visited with Abby and Ross and had delightful Thai cuisine with Lane. Our Labor Day consisted of a great fish fry at M&D's with homemade mac-n-cheese and a drive back to T-town. I've got to say, it's so much better to share these events with another person. I hope your weekend was just as special.

have you ever heard of such?...pan-seared oatmeal

david and his sister allison...matchy, matchy

mica family tailgate: beautiful and tasteful blue and orange flowers {I believe flowers are now a must at all tailgates!} and david's special strawberries in "preservatives"

only one strawberry for moi

new bffs!

I have not had an aerial view of the swamp for a long time and it was so fun

cheers to hometown homies!

:)