god bless america

Hope you had a Happy 4th of July! We spent a most relaxing weekend in St. George Island with family and friends. We spent most of the time eating oysters - in all forms - and they were delicious! It was a wonderful way to spend remembering those who fought for our freedom, celebrating our country's birthday and my half birthday of course!

mr. and mrs.

sweet friends

sister, rian, mc, hillary and ellie

chris and michael
michael's wardrobe compliments of the crawfordville wal-mart!

cousins lucas, sophie and sally kate

sally kate is so sweet with sophie

looks like little holly

sweet smiley sophie!

the whole gang

the dunhams

the critters

more jump

a beautiful sunset overlooking apalachicola bay
(great picture hill!)

on the fourth, everyone participated in the big parade...

mom, dad, and I watched from the sidelines - trying to take pictures and avoiding getting wet from squirt guns and water hoses...no such luck...but the beach umbrella provided decent protection!

her comes the "miss smiles" float

they're up!

Our fabulous wedding photographer, Mary Beth Tyson, has posted some of our beautiful wedding images on her blog here. I love them all and can't wait to see the rest!

Thank you Mary Beth~

hands down...

...the best toast ever!

If you missed seeing it in person it's one for the books. I have the most talented and loving siblings and this was their toast to David and I first at the Rehearsal Dinner and then an encore performance at the Wedding Reception. It's now a YouTube sensation! I love you Sister and Michael!

Enjoy~

watch it here.

the great adventure

During our Rehearsal Dinner, Daddy gave a toast and told all of the guests about two Radcliffe family motto/lifestyles:

1. Always do the right thing.

and

2. The Great Adventure

The first one is the easy one and the second one he went on to explain is the one that provides challenges but excitement in your life. And that now David and I get to embark on our own Great Adventure together.

One week ago, the Monday after we got back from Italy, David found out that he was accepted to Cumberland Law School at Samford University! So...we're moving to Birmingham, Alabama in August!!! And you all know how much I love Birmingham!

I cannot even describe how bittersweet and exciting all at the same time this news is. Of course we will miss Tallahassee and our family and friends here immensely but we both like to meet new people and discover new cities. And I hear they're pretty nice in Alabama :)

Now it's on to looking at a place to call home and a job for moi! Please let me know if you have any connections in the Birmingham area for either.

And thus The Great Adventure begins...

overwhelmed

Today, I am back to gloomy work after 3 glorious weeks off for my wedding and honeymoon! I've been overwhelmed with emotions {love, joy, wedding blues, etc.} and events {including overflowing gifts and boxes at my house - all in all a total mess!} but I could not be happier than I am right now. My wonderful husband surprised me with a 10 day honeymoon to Italy and it was fabulous! I wish it never ended. Pictures to come soon...at least within the month.

But first the wedding, ah, the wedding. I cannot even describe how much I loved it and how beautiful and delicious everything was. I have too many dear friends to thank that made it all happen. Everything about our wedding was my favorite part and I would like to relive it over and over and over. I was camera free throughout the weekend of soirees so I've included some blog posts dedicated to the new Mr. and Mrs.!!! They speak volumes and I'm forever grateful for the memories. Enjoy~

http://heatherhagood.blogspot.com/2011/06/capital-affair.html

http://behindthethree.blogspot.com/2011/06/mica-radcliffe-wedding-part-i.html

http://behindthethree.blogspot.com/2011/06/mica-radcliffe-wedding-part-ii.html

http://alittlevignette.blogspot.com/2011/06/orange-blossoms-and-wedding-bells.html

http://ourgunterfamily.blogspot.com/2011/06/mary-davids-wedding-weekend-part-one.html

http://ourgunterfamily.blogspot.com/2011/06/wedding.html

happy wedding week!

The week has finally come as we count down the final days until I become Mrs. David Mica, Jr.!!

Of course every bride should have a little extra "fluff" in her home as she prepares for her big day! cheers~

my new "blushing bride" hydrangeas

bedside peonies

the toast of mayfair

Last weekend we headed to Charleston, South Carolina for one last hurrah as a Miss! 5 of us drove from Tallahassee and we met three more of my nearest and dearest who traveled from Memphis, D.C. and Ft. Valley! We had the most incredible weekend toasting the upcoming wedding and bride-to-be at every possible moment!

Matrons of Honor Sister and Heather Lane planned a fabulous weekend full of food, sights, shopping and fun. Thank you to all my wonderful friends for helping me celebrate!

But first, we couldn't drive to Charleston without a quick stop in Beaufort - which I simply adore.

wren in beaufort, south carolina

love me some low country decor and arrangements

their tasty version of southern tea

sister, the master planner

pamela was there!

so was precious rian!

erin is going to kill me for the picture...but she was there too!
{I actually think it's a cute picture!}

quick walk around the block in beaufort...

for moi

loved this store sign...necessary objects included ribbon and the like...my kind of boutique!

no bachelorette weekend is the same without fresh cut hydrangeas and favors!

sister, heather lane, and I gave all the girls a monogrammed mint julep~cheers!

mine included my new monogram :)

thanks gunters for our beautiful hydrangeas

hostesses and bride-to-be

supper on saturday was as mccrady's and was divine
"inventive cuisine fresh from the farm"

trail mix dessert...oatmeal cake topped with pretzel ice cream

I was so glad julianne could be with us!
saturday ended with dancing the night away on the pavillion hotel rooftop bar

sunday morning we brunched at high cotton
I had banana bread french toast with berry butter and a side of cheese grits, need I say more!?

the gang's all here

following brunch we took a private carriage tour to see the battery and all the beautiful homes south of broad -
rian and julianne were first timers to charleston!

meghan, heather lane, pamela, sister, mc, rian and julianne

of course we had to do a little shopping on king street...

and along the way we found burger babies for a mid-afternoon snack.
this place was so good and only a few weeks old...they specialized in "slider" sized sandwiches. I had the carolina pulled chicken slider on a steamed bun with asian peanut slaw served with sweet potato tots - YUM.

the spoleto arts festival was going on while we were in town and sister bought david and I an oil painting of the lowcountry landscape, which I love, for our wedding gift. we stopped at this quaint wine bar for a quick bubbly before our dinner reservations sunday night.

prosecco my love

the hostesses with the mostess

we dined al fresco at delicious 82 queen

back to the hotel for some lacy unmentionables

one week from tonight...let the wedding festivities begin!!

Monday we all headed home fearing that no one caught the strep throat that Heather Lane seemed to have contracted {everyone is in the clear so far!}! I had the most wonderful time in Charleston with so many special and loving friends. There were a few girlfriends that couldn't attend the weekend soiree and we missed you dearly!! Until next week~