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Monday, August 30, 2010

a new love...

I know...I'm a bit late to the game.  But I have a new found love for Anthropologie.

Some of you who read this are thinking..."What?! where have you been?! of course anthro is awesome."  Others are reading this and have never even been in the store.  So allow me to either introduce you to this wonderful place, or give you the opportunity to swoon over all the reasons you've loved this place for years.


I don't remember the first time I went in one.  It seems like I knew what it was before the one in the Hill Center opened.  Either way...I knew about the store and knew it had fun things.  I've been in the store numerous times before now. My friend Lele worked there for a bit so she had clothes from there that were super cute.  I'd go in, look at them...look at the price tag, and move on.  I'm such a target girl at heart.  It's kind of obscene how much of my closet is from target.  I just feel like all pieces of clothing should be $25 or less.  Anyway...I'd move on from the clothes and spend most of times looking at all the aprons, or bedding, or household items.  Seriously...cute stuff.

I know I've bought stuff from there before...I think.  I can't really tell you what...so maybe nothing.  But last week I had the urge to do a little shopping with some of my friends.  I decided I should start thinking about outfits for my upcoming engagement pictures.  For some reason, in my mind, clothes at Antrho wouldn't fit me.  To my surprise I was very wrong.  After we all grabbed different things I found myself in a fun dressing room ready to play dress up.  Minutes later I was walking out of Antropologie with a cute dress in hand and ready to go back and find more clothes there...after I win the lottery :)

Saturday, August 28, 2010

birthday "surprise"

Have I talked about Josh, my future husband and love of my life on this blog yet?! Well just in case I haven't mentioned how wonderful he is...let me give you an example:

I.LOVE.MUSICALS.  It's not that Josh doesn't love them...well maybe he doesn't love them, he just wasn't given the priviledge of being raised on them.  The first musical he ever saw was WICKED for my birthday last year.  Starting out big, huh?!  Anyway...he knows I love them.  So he surprised with tickets for my birthday to this:


BOO YAH!  if only Julie Andrews would be there. none-the-less I'm beyond excited. AND. it's at the Fox Theater.  swoon. Have you been? You should go if you haven't. It's a great expierence regardless of what you are seeing there.

See yall next week...I'm off to the show!

Friday, August 27, 2010

our bedding


I'm actually quite surprised at how easy it was to pick out bedding.  We both saw it, agreed upon it, and have now purchased the majority of it.  We were strolling through the Hill Center one evening and decided to go look in West Elm, not thinking we'd fine anything.  Low and behold we saw this...


and then this..



I loved them...and Josh was just glad it didn't have big flowers on it.  And I was pretty impressed by price.

If I had all the money in the world I would have new bedding just about every month.  It's a problem, I know.  So, my solution...buy both :) 

THE PLAN: We will have two duvet covers (the gold and the slate) that we can switch them out or keep one folded at the bottom for the dogs.  But keep the gold shams and slate euro shams up all the time. 

We'll register for sheets elsewhere but liked this so we went ahead and got it!  We still need to purchase the slate euro shams but we are well on our way.  Now we just need a bed for these to go on...

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Silhouette...I NEED you!

One of the party blogs I read...Kara's Party Ideas is giving away a free Silhouette! OH.EM.GEE!



Do you know how awesome this thing would be for all my DIY wedding projects?!  huge amounts of awesome.

One way you can enter to win is to write a blog about it.  So here I am, writing a blog about it.  Look at all the fun things you can do with it?!  Who wouldn't want one? Probably Josh...but he'll see the light eventually. I would LOVE to win.  If you enter the giveaway and you win...will you let me borrow it?! Thanks!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

blue's birthday!


Today is my friend Elizabeth's birthday!!  what what!!!  She holds the last summer birthday for the IC5.  (September is next week! what?!)

I met Elizabeth in 7th grade...we had pretty much every class together and we both played the flute.  Our friendship continued well into high school (our 10 year reunion is next month...what?!) and has remained strong through college and after.  The Lord has certainly blessed my life through Elizabeth's friendship.  If you haven't met her, she's the cutest little cartoon you will ever meet.  She lives life genuinely, honestly, and full of passion.  Her dedication to not settle and pursue her dreams (or pursue finding out what those dreams are) is inspiring.


Liz moved to NYC after college.  While we certainly miss her down south, I know she's living life to the fullest...making people laugh, decorating fabulous cupcakes, mastering yoga...all the while pouring joy into the lives of everyone she encounters.


Happy Birthday Liz!  I hope you have such a FABULOUS day!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Happy Everything!

Typically if there is something I want, I buy it.  It's just how I roll.  With the exception of two items...the Happy Everything Platter and a KitchenAid mixer.  Well, for my birthday this year, I finally got my Happy Everything Platter!  I was beyond happy!  Have I mentioned I have the best mother ever?!


It's brilliant.  For someone who loves to decorate and celebrate all holidays and major occasions the platter is genius.  If you've never seen one...the top has a piece of velcro so you can change out different attachments for whatever occasion you are celebrating. 

It looks like this:


Mom got me two other attachments, the pumpkin for fall AND the football...because college football season is less than two weeks away, and I'm marrying Josh, so this is a big deal.



I can not wait to keep it out all the time.  The polka dots alone make it worthy of constant display!  It literally makes everything happy!

**Mom got mine at Hot Pink in Brentwood.  I know Swoozies had them (moment of silence for the one in at The Hill Center) but those are the only places I've seen them around town.  You can order different size platters and attachments here.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

might as well be family

I've now lived in Nashville for 22 years (with the exception of going to college in Birmingham for 2 of those years).  For the most part...a lot of my friends have been here just as long.  What's great about that is, we've remained friends. For those that have moved away (cough cough, cough cough, cough cough) we know their return is only inevitable.

Recently these fun people moved back after being gone 5ish years! 


It's so good to have them home.  and I get to hang out with this guy all the time!

had they moved back just a few weeks earlier they could have participated in these festivities...
homemade ice cream sandwiches are now a summer favorite!


little game night action...


ummm can we take a second to talk about how cute these two are?!

I like my family of friends.  They literally have been my family of support, prayer, encouragement, and too many good memories to count for the majority of my life.  I'm so thankful for each of them!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

coconut cake recipe

I wanted to have a nice little laid back cookout for my birthday last night...30 people later...we had a nice bumpin' party.  I'm blessed to have such dear friends and I'm so thankful to celebrate life and live life along side each of them.

I REALLY wanted a coconut cake for my birthday cake this year.  I love me some coconut but I was afraid other people wouldn't so I had folks bring some other treats.  Next to the Crouse Cookies, it turns out the cake was quite a hit.  Who knew?

So I thought I would share the recipe courtesy of Pillsbury (my comments are italicized in red):

INGREDIENTS

1 can (14 oz) coconut milk (not cream of coconut) I finally found this with the ethnic foods, THAI KITCHEN
1 box white cake mix with pudding mine didn't have pudding and it turned out great
1/4 cup water
3 egg whites
3/4 cup flaked coconut
1 cup white vanilla baking chips (6 oz)
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

this recipe is for a 9x13 cake pan.  I wanted I nice little layered cake so I didn't necessarily double the icing recipe, but I just added a little extra of everything to make sure I had enough.  You could probably double it and be ok, I had just barely enough.

DIRECTIONS


1. Heat oven to 350°F for shiny metal or glass pan (or 325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour. Reserve 1/3 cup coconut milk for frosting. If you need more frosting for the cake remember to reserve more of the coconut milk for it.

2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, remaining coconut milk (1 1/3 cups), the water and egg whites with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup of the coconut until well combined. Pour into pan.

3. Bake 28 to 33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

4. Meanwhile, in 2-quart bowl, microwave vanilla baking chips uncovered on High 30 seconds or until melted. Stir; if chips are not completely melted, microwave 15 seconds longer, then stir until all chips are melted. Stir in powdered sugar, butter, reserved 1/3 cup coconut milk and the vanilla. Cover; refrigerate 30 to 60 minutes. (If frosting becomes too firm to spread, microwave uncovered on High 10 to 15 seconds to soften; stir until smooth.) we definitely had to microwave...I would think if you want to spread the icing at all you will need to do this.  but it turned out great!

5. Spread frosting over cake. Immediately sprinkle top with 1/4 cup coconut. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

I only took one picture the entire night (seriously...who am I? guess I was just busy livin' it up!) so I dont' have a picture of the cake...it was all eaten anyway so there aren't even leftovers.  Instead I'll leave with you this picture of people that I love!  Each make my life better.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

they say it's your birthday...

today I am 28!...and feelin' great!

there is no birthday theme to report this year.  It's ok...hold back the tears.  This is a first.  However I think you will understand that all "theme" and "party planning" efforts have all been directed towards a certain event in March.  In the mean time here are the pictures I have from past birthdays...at least the past birthdays when I had a digital camera.

2009
theme: roller coasters and las palmas


2008
theme: Asian persuasion (for the Olympics in china)


2007
theme: emily


2006
theme: john Deere country cookout


2005
theme: Hawaiian luau

Friday, August 13, 2010

TREND: Baker's Twine - and a discount!

Oh, Baker's Twine, how I love thee.  I think you are just adorable and prove to have so many uses.


A few days ago I showed you I got this in the mail from The Twinery:


Baker's Twine is quickly making a name for itself amongst the crafting world.  I will be featuring it with some of my wedding designs and decor.  So, for  this trend I can't really show you anything I've done yet...but I will show you various pictures and places where you can gain inspiration and you too can fall in love with the cutest string there ever was.

DIFFERENT USES:

wrap presents:


wrap treats:

make cards:


wedding programs:


darling little flowers:


hang stuff:


I think your possibilities are endless.  and that's why I've decided to 1. use it in my wedding 2. always have some baker's twine on hand.  AND you too can purchase some today. 

The wonderful folks at THE TWINERY are giving all my readers a special 25% off discount! use the code PINEAPPLE25 at checkout to receive your discount.
(Discount good until 8/22...so go buy some twine!)

Thursday, August 12, 2010

a year of travel

I'm currently enjoying a nice southern summer vacation in Charleston with Josh's family.  HELLLOOOOO In-laws!  Just kidding...it will be great!

I realized recently I have traveled somewhere out of TN every month this year so far... granted they aren't the most exciting, but travel none-the-less.

Januray: Atlanta

February: Chicago

March : DISNEY WORLD!

April: Louisiana

May: Mississippi

June: Kansas City
(this is 1 of 3 pre-wreck pictures I have from the trip)

July: Louisiana

August: Charleston - I'm sure I'll have just a few pictures to share next week :)
In September I'll be going back to Louisiana for the family reunion.  And it looks like my travels come to an end then.  October, November, and December are empty.  Any ideas on where I should go then? 

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Dear Fall,


I'm ready to see you again.  I know it hasn't been any longer than normal, but this heat makes it seem like years since we've been together.  You are always so cool and fun to be around.  It's nice when you are here.  We can play outside and not instantly start sweating.  We can drink other things besides gallons of water at a time. 


To put it simply, I love you fall.  You are so pretty and faithfully make me smile.  Your colors and scents of pumpkin and harvest just make my life better.  I'm afriad this brutal summer is causing me to have higher than normal expectations for you.  I feel bad demanding your trees be more vibrant than ever, or requesting that somehow thanksgiving would include an extra day this year.  If I'm honest, though, that's how I feel.

I'm looking forward to wearing long sleeves and boots, changing the house decor, carving pumpkins, trying new recipes, and watching the leaves change.  Needless to say, I've got lots planned when you arrive.  So, the sooner you come, the sooner we can all enjoy having our windows open, drinking warm drinks, and admiring your beautiful landscapes.

Hope to see you soon.

Your friend,
Emily

Sunday, August 8, 2010

one year ago today...

One year ago today I met these boys...

and my life was forever changed.


It was my mom's birthday and I was at the mall with her.  Lele was at a goodbye party for Ben and Erin.  She'd briefly mentioned meeting a guy to me earlier that week but that Friday night I got a text saying I should come to the party because I needed to really meet him.  Instead, I hung out at the mall with my parents...because I'm cool...and a good daughter.


In my mind I thought it would be another "oh you should meet my friend" that never really happens.  But it got scheduled to happen. WHAT?! How did that happen.  I was really being set up? with a guy?! No.  YES! 


It was Caitlin's birthday now.  We had a fun party.  Somehow this set up became the topic of group conversation.  Before I knew it my friends were planning our wedding...to a guy I had never even met!  silly.  (and people wonder why girls always get their hopes up and jump ahead in relationships!) I tried to blow it off.  It wouldn't work out.  We'd have dinner, I'd think he was nice. End of Story. WRONG! The beginning of the story...actually.


We met for dinner with Lele and Eric.  It was going well until he suggested going to Bobbie's Dairy Dip for dessert.  Then I just kind of knew.  I have a STRONG love for the dairy dip.  That summer I'm pretty sure I went at least once a week.  I knew it had potential from that point on.  I've talked to Josh everyday since that first meeting...and looks like I'll be talking to him everyday for the rest of my life!  I'm so excited to marry him!

sometimes these dating anniversaries seem silly to me...especially when you are months away from from a wedding ...none the less.  Today, I've been dating Josh for a year.  and it's been absolutely wonderful.