10.26.2009

orange you glad it's monday

I am! But the only reason I can think of is it's just one day closer to all my most favorite holidays {and no, it's not Halloween!}. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was filled with all things orange. Take a look...

on saturday we took sally kate to the pumpkin patch...


she loves her aunt sister

this was the best of sister and sk...she's showing off her new clapping skills

this will be sk's first halloween!


...and then we ran into the meadows family!!

chris, rian, {from left to right} hadley, carson, and reese

sally baby and her bffs. I love this picture. sk is telling reese that if he doesn't become a heart doctor they are over!

the girls

more orange. earlier that day I did a wedding with bella flora. the bride's colors were orange and silver and I'm not even going to there...but here's a tasteful arrangement we made.

on saturday night there was orange and blue in the air for another gator victory!

and last but certainly not least, meet riiiiiick. on sunday night david and I grilled out and carved pumpkins with friends thomas and erin. david made the most delicious roasted pumpkin seeds while I did the carving. apparently we should stick with what we do best :)

Have a fabulous fun-filled week!

10.21.2009

an evening under the oaks

It was baby shower part deux for Kasey last night. I'm telling you I love weekday evening events. Last night's soiree was at Chez Pierre...known affectionately now as just Chez {lame}. The shower was lovely and the atmosphere c'est ce bon. The weather was clear and getting chilly while the hors d'oeuvres were so tasty. We all watched as Kasey opened double for twin baby girls arriving in December. An evening under the oaks enjoyed by all.


the sisters {+the twins}

10.19.2009

weekend...approved!

It's always fun to get away - go off to a coastal destination and relax..live the good life...besides no one knows you there. So that's what we did. Me, Beth and Lane. Three days, one beach house, and about twenty meals enjoyed along Florida's Emerald Coast or better yet The Beaches of South Walton. It's corny, but this is a destination I've been dreaming about going to. Of course I've been to Destin and the up-and-coming/still sketchy Panama City Beach but it's the tiny stretch of hoity toity beaches in between that my heart's been set on. The beaches run one right into the other along Highway 30A. It's a fabulous drive and an even better adventure when set out on foot.

Every event was a highlight on this trip and the countless pictures tell everything...well, almost everything. We enjoyed using Lane's new camera and Beth and I were quick to model. The weather was down right chilly but ultimately beautiful. But the company was best...lots and lots of laughter! A much needed fall break.

It was also so neat to finally see things I've been reading in design/architecture magazines since high school such as the chapel in Seaside {mon favorie!}:


just gorgeous...so simple and elegant

And then there's the 2005 Southern Accents Showhouse in Watersound. We only drove by this exclusive neighborhood but here are a few small images I treasure:



So on to the food. One word...delicious! Here's where we ate and things worth noting :
Great Southern Cafe
{I had the Grits a Ya Ya...which was ya ya good which translates to fantastic. All I have to say is that they were Smoked Gouda cheese grits and we craved them for the rest of our vacation.}
Queen Bee Cupcakes
{A little disappointed. Nothing beats The Cake Shop. that's all.}
Wild Olives
{A yummy little market-deli-bakery in the heart of Rosemary Beach. I had a roasted veggie sandwich on ciabatta with hummus and a roasted red pepper tapenade.}
Bud & Alley's....Pizza Bar, that is
{Third time's a charm on this one. Pizza was calling our name and so were the Gators. We watched the end of the nail-biting game at this gourmet pizza cafe on the beach. Food of choice=excellent!}
The Red Bar
{We had breakfast at this beachside staple on Sunday morning. The eclectic atmosphere was fun and the food was delightfully filling.}

I'll let our fun pictures tell the rest of our fabulous weekend...enjoy, we sure did!

our weekend home

photo shoot #1: me, lane, and beth

we love the self-timer setting

great southern cafe...approved!

saturday we spent leisurely walking around rosemary beach and selecting our dream homes...




at first this one was my favorite...I just loved the green

@ wild olives

and then I spotting this beauty after walking down to the beach...I looked back from the water and she said "come live in me" OK!

don't worry there's a carriage house for my guests

had to take pictures from all angles.
the architecture in rosemary is so unique. each house a different combination of styles. I fell in love with this one's island old colonial style.

surprise, surprise...a wedding being set-up. don't worry we drove back by later that night to check out the scene. the reception was so swanky and everyone was on the dance floor with the band.





go gators!!



after a long day of enjoying ourselves we ended the night with a foot sugar scrub {compliments of pish posh pitchouli's} and cocktails.

10.15.2009

happy friday to me

Today is my Friday, tomorrow I'm taking the day off in honor of taking {and completing} the NCIDQ. Weekend trip to the Florida panhandle here I come!

In other weekly news, my Pamela came to visit!! The rules are eat good food, laugh, share clothes, and stay up late when she's in town. We abide by them wholeheartedly. Pamela is a bigshot accountant in Tampa for Ernst & Young {quality in everything we do} and often travels to my neck of the woods for recruiting events. It's these recruiting events I speak of that I have always been so intrigued by. In college, they wined and dine potential employees like it was going out of style as I, the lowly interior design major, stayed back at the sorority house jealous of the rare and eager recruiting style of the accounting world. But as a good thoughtful friend, Pamela would always bring me back a gift. There's nothing like collecting accounting firm paraphernalia. I got so many lame, I mean cool, gifts in my college years. So it made me feel better - made me feel like they wanted me too. Now since Pamela often works the recruiting circuit she still gives me silly gifts! I also liked/still like to throw out accounting jargon in front of my accounting friends. They realize my need for acceptance in the big scary financial world :)

I love when E&Y comes to town:

everyone needs an e&y hacky sack

who knew pamela could juggle?!

dessert at FGF

harvest pumpkin cake

another pumpkin cake...we all have a slight obsession with pumpkin :)

10.14.2009

31 years

Happy Anniversary to my dearest M & D!! What a blessing you both are in my life and as always a wonderful example.

xoxo

10.09.2009

baby shower supper

That's it. I want a new camera. After last night's baby shower my camera has been put to shame. Perhaps it could be a nice Christmas/birthday present since I will be turning..gasp...25. I think it's only fitting.

My dear friend Kasey is expecting twin girls in December and we threw her a fabulous baby shower supper to sprinkler her with love, monogrammed gifts, and matching little girl ensembles! Mollie and Adalynn will arrive in approximately two months if Kasey can stand it any longer. Mom-to-be looks great, is still teaching, and says she is feeling good too. So 60 of her nearest and dearest came out to celebrate. I've taken a liking to after work hours soirees...unexpected and everything wonderful mid-week. Weekend parties are so last year.

Please enjoy sister Kelly's beautiful pictures I pressured her into taking for me {with her fancy camera} and a few I took.


we set the tone with vintage baby accessories and "mother" ferns


the sunporch...the bassinet was kelly and kasey's

we strung our old baby dresses in the windows
{compliments of the sisters - mc, holly, kelly, and kasey!}


new monogrammed diaper covers...from me and sister

one each with their name in a light green and one each with their monogram in white thread {my favorite}

we served a sweet tea blend and a festive pink champagne and raspberry punch

the dining room

my favorite detail


the spread...delicious chicken tetrazzini {sans the "m" word much to my liking}, a salad with poppyseed dressing, and mini-biscuits {you, know the kind made of sour cream and butter=to die for}

kelly and I were happily in charge of the decor

kasey posing by her marvy cake...her sister-in-law and fellow hostess jennie made it and it was so yummy! the best part was that she modeled the bird motifs from the twins's crib bedding :)



outdoor seating

overlooking buck lake

socializing

THE sisters

hostess mary alice in the kitchen

caught in the kitchen...I just adore being a hostess.


mom and daughters

the lovely hostesses