hallmark shower

a few weeks ago the sweet ladies that work with at Brentwood Stationers (a local Hallmark store) got together and threw me a little shower.  We had the best time!

Cindy made this super cute flower "cake" arrangement!

each of the ladies gave me some of their favorite recipes. 

this was a great treat b/c there are some GOOD cooks in that bunch!

the recipe box has a little lip on the lid to hold the recipe you are using to cook.

Back in August I blogged about my Happy Everything plate.  A few of the ladies from the store got together and got me some more attachments...and a fun storage case!

check out Coton Colors for all the attachments and all things "Happy Everything!"

 

valentine's day!

it's valentine's day!  I am beyond excited about my date with Josh tonight at Chickfila!  It's been about 2 months since we cut out fast food and I am ready for some waffle fries!!!! mmm!  I know it's not the most romantic...but I'm not a big romance person so this makes me just as happy!

Josh was out of town this past weekend, so I surprised him when he got home with some valentine's love...

I decorated the mantle with some heart shaped doilies and ribbon. 

Then wrote a little message on our chalk board fire place.

I also decided to go a bit retro...

today is 40 days from our wedding. so I made Josh a paper chain with 40 things I love about him...he gets to tear off one a day until the wedding (unless he cheats and reads them all when I'm not there).

There's this wall plaque that we've had at hallmark for quite awhile with definition of "The South" on it.  I love it.  But I've never gotten it.  Recently we got mugs, picture frames, and serving platters with different variations of the definition on them as well.  I thought the frame would be a cute little gift for Josh...

(photo in frame courtesy of Mary Rosenbaum Photography)

Josh surprised me with tickets to this in May:

needless to say, I was a happy girl!

Hope you all have a very happy Valentine's Day!

rescued.

this is josh.

he rescued me from the horrible snow-caused parking lot traffic that was West End on Wednesday afternoon.  It took me 1.5hours to go half a mile.  if you are familiar with my need to be in control you can understand why I may have had a few break downs during this time.

Josh was able to park his car at the gas station at West End and Murphy Road.  We decided to park my car at J. Alexanders.  The cars were not moving, it was like a scene from a movie, and here comes Josh, running down the turn lane on west end to meet me at my car.  It took less than 10 minutes to walk what took me 1.5hours in my car.  Clearly I should have just pulled off and parked it a lot sooner.

I'm thankful to be marrying a man who will get out of his warm house to brave the traffic and weather to come and find me and bring me home.  I'm typically an "I can do it myself" kind of gal...but I'll admit, it was a nice feeling knowing Josh would take care of me.

did you get stuck in the snow traffic?!

i love lamp.

Lamps. 

I've never been a big "lamp person."  Maybe it's because everyone always thought my name was lamPkin. It's not.  I know there are some of you that thought it was.  But there's no "P."  only 6 more weeks of that though :)

back to lamps...we won't have an overhead light in our master bedroom so we have to use lamps.  I was on a search.  That search left me so sad because lamps are so freaking expensive.  Lamps and end tables (which we are still on the hunt for)...what's up with that?  Enter: TJ MAXX!  discount lamps...ON SALE!  I got two of these pretty navy lamps with a khaki canvas shade.

I think it will go quite nicely against our grey and yellow...

west elm

wait...navy...grey...yellow....seems like my wedding color scheme is now becoming my house color scheme.  hope I still like it when I'm not in 24/7 wedding mode.

wedding dress cookies

so, my friend and roommate caitlin is getting married in 2 weeks.  WOAH!  2 weeks!  craziness!

a few weekends ago we had a little "girls night out" to celebrate!  lele has some pictures on her blog as well. We had dinner out and then came back to Lele's house for treats and such.  Caitlin requested I make the cheesecake cookie cups that have become such a staple around our house.  These are always such a hit!  I'll also be making them for her wedding reception.

but the treat I had the most fun making, were these wedding dress cookies!

I was a little bit nervous about them.  In efforts to save time I just used the slice and bake sugar cookie dough.  BIG MISTAKE!  I didn't like how they turned out.  They expanded a lot more than I was used to and the taste wasn't as good.  lesson learned...but I think some of them turned out pretty cute!

It's fun focusing on someone else's wedding instead of my own at this point.  Happy 2 weeks until your wedding scott and caitlin!

no fast food

i'll admit it.  i like fast food.  it's quick, easy, good, and cheap.  i know, i know...it's horrible for you and processed and gross and all the other stuff healthy people say is bad for you about it.  but I'll say it...i like it...mcdonald's, taco bell, wendy's, ....and of course...chickfila.  i like it.

best fries - burger king
best burger - wendy's
best chicken nuggets - chickfila ...though there is something great and classic about mcdonald's mcnuggets.

however...as the wedding day draws closer and closer josh and I are both faced with the fact that we could stand to loose a few pounds.  My roommate is getting married a month before me.  "Scait" as I refer to them (scott and caitlin) decided to not eat fast food until the wedding.  THE SHAME! I thought to myself...but then, we decided if they can do it...we can do it...and for a month longer.  So since the first of the year we've said no to fast food.

so the challenge is on.  no fast food...except for valentine's day.  we'll go to chickfila on valentine's day.  it's josh's favorite...like FAVORITE place ever. AND sonic for some vday dessert because THEY HAVE THIS!!!

oh my gosh!  it's like my idea of the perfect dessert all in one cup!

anyone else up for the challenge?!

a new favorite.

I love mexican food.  I'd rather meet someone for chips and salsa than coffee any day :)

I was going down the aisles of costco awhile back when I was planning for scait's Christmas Fiesta shower when I found these:

I'd seen them before and thought they would may make a nice addition to the menu.  did they ever.  huge success! and all I had to do was turn on the oven!

since then we've had them for Christmas eve appetizers, a little extra side dish on taco night, and I may have been known to just pop 2 or 3 in the oven and have a little snack!  warm up some queso to dip them in and you are good to go!