something to look forward to

This weekend consisted of one really fun event and one much anticipated, hope-I-never-have-to-take-it-again, Interior Design licensing test...lovingly known as the NCIDQ {National Council for Interior Design Qualification}. Rest assured, I won't go into the dreadful 2 day long test details but know that it's OVER and that I survived.

ready.to.celebrate.

I'm sure you can guess that the fun event I had to look forward to was indeed a wedding! In fact, it was a weekend of wedding festivities that I was looking forward to. David was a groomsman in childhood friends Hillary and Martin's wedding. It was so fun having a date in the wedding and just attending as a guest but still having an in with the wedding party. On Friday we went to the rehearsal dinner at the home of Martin's parents. It was so fun and so snazzy! Everything was beautifully decorated and the food needs a whole blog post dedicated to it. The Powell's set up a tent in the backyard where we dined and toasted all while being serenaded by a jazz musician. To top the night off the caterers flambéed bananas foster table side.

Saturday brought the wedding and Part II of the NCIDQ. I was unable to make it for the actual ceremony but made sure I was there with belles on for the reception. I felt so relieved and was ready to dance the night away! Both the wedding ceremony and reception were held at Bradley's Pond. It's a great venue for a sophisticated rustic vibe. The food was delicious {think shrimp and grits!} and the flowers were pretty...I was happy.

Such a happy ending to my weekend! Now it's time to wait 14 weeks before I find out results from the NCIDQ...talk about a long time. Until then -

a view of the rehearsal dinner tent

inside the tent {sister, do you recognize the fabric??}

david and the groom...martin gave each of his groomsmen a vineyard vines alma mater tie

the reception

one of the best parts about the wedding was meeting more of david's high school friends...this is my new friend anna, fiance of landon, one of david's childhood friends who now lives in north carolina...get it.got it.good.

congratulations mr. and mrs. powell

david, gabe, and martin

with sarah...she goes with gabe {see above}. they live in nashville but we were able to spend lots of time with them while they were down at the end of summer.

come fly with me

This weekend premieres The Quincy Music Theatre's production of the whimsical musical Peter Pan. Sister was the choreographer for this show and I hear it's going to be fabulous! Again, I was her "assistant choreographer" but I'm pretty sure with my new love life I was only available for one rehearsal. Holly's choreographed {and I've helped!} two other productions for QMT - Fiddler on the Roof and Mame. Information on show times and tickets are on the website which I've linked above. And I'm not in to YouTube at all but here is a cool video about the show...watch it here. Peter Pan is a classic in the Radcliffe family, especially the Mary Martin one which I've featured above. We also dressed like characters for Halloween one year. Holly was Tinkerbell, I was Tiger Lilly, and Michael was the cutest 3 yr. old Peter I've ever seen! And of course, mom handmade each of our costumes. Now I know right about this point you're dying to see pictures and I will go ahead and tell you here...you will not see any. I did however ask mom to scan and e-mail me some from Halloween '93...and well I'm still not showing them! Let's just say I was an 8 year old disheveled Indian - not a pretty combination.

With that said {advertisement and mockery above}, I just adore the Leaf Theatre for several reasons. The Leaf Theatre is home to QMT - located in the heart of downtown historic Quincy. It was built in the 1940s and has gone under deep renovations from grants and private donations in the last couple of decades. The most recent renovation was done by Main Street Design, Inc. {the employer of yours truly!}. I love the style and architecture of this theatre. I also did a photo shoot with some other actors for the Leaf two years ago {as assistant choreographer they let me join :)} which I will share with you. You too can see the beauty and energy of the Leaf Theatre. I hope this plug will bring some new audience members to this historic venue for this wonderful musical!

front and center in sister's 4th grade poodle skirt...

a thyme to celebrate

Last night Lane came over and did a photo shoot with her new fancy-shmancy camera of my arrangements I did for the Junior League of Tallahassee's Taste & Toast. The event is tomorrow night at The Brogan Museum to celebrate the arrival of the new JLT cookbook {as I'm sure you all remember...}.

it's here!

This morning the committee chair and I transported everything to the venue and set up for a press conference this morning. The arrangements turned out so wonderful and everyone was beyond pleased! I was so honored to even get asked to do it. A special thanks to Capital City Lawn Care who donated the potted thyme plants and Bella Flora who loaned me the containers. I love arranging flowers - it brings so much joy to my life.

these are the centerpieces going on the food tables

please excuse the towel...we had some leakage.

I spy rosemary and baby artichokes

this large arrangement is for the top of a tiered table displaying all of the cookbooks...you can see the curly willow on the right edge of the photograph...which was added this morning to the arrangement on site.

and here is fern doggy dog...lane let me play around with her camera too!...I love how you can see the movement of fern's tail.

{most images courtesy of lane}

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