Weekend in the Mountains...

What an awesome weekend we had!  We took some friends up to my boss's house in the North Carolina mountains.  The house is beautiful and we have the greatest time cooking, drinking and playing games together.  It is always so relaxing...except when we are playing cut throat games like catchphrase and spoons.

Shelly taking catchphrase very seriously!

On Saturday afternoon it snowed!

Shelly and I in the snow.  I had just gotten out of the shower, so my wet hair was FREEZING!

Vince and I in the snow!

Me eating snow.  Always the classy girl. 

This is a shot of part of the house with a little snow still left the next day.

It was a wonderfully relaxing weekend!

It's been awhile...

Oh blogging world, how I've missed you so!

I have been out of town since Thursday, and just had no time to blog.  I went to Raleigh, NC to see my best friend and her little girl for her 3rd birthday.  I have known Taylor since she was 1 hour old, and I have yet to miss a birthday.  

I flew in on Thursday night (first class, which was so great).  Steph picked me up and we went to the funniest, most red neck bar I've ever seen.  She lives in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE and there is not a whole lot of options.  We still had a great time and I'm so thankful for those few hours where we could just hang out without the craziness that is her house.  She married a guy who had 4 older kids already.  Needless to say, her house is always wild.

This is Taylor on her jumpy thing...

This is my beautiful best friend Stephanie; her step daughter, Steffany and Taylor.

I'm making her Christmas cards this year so I

 needed a picture of the three of them.

This is her cute cake and sign and goodie bags.  Steph and I always put on a pretty good party.

SO, now I'm back and I bought the CUTEST WINTER BOOTS TODAY!

This picture doesn't do them justice, but they are adorable!

Is everyone ready for Halloween?  I'm sending out my happy halloween cards today.  They are by Papyrus, and so stinkin cute.  

I love this time of year!!

You better not pout I'm tellin you why...

So....I know it's a tiny bit early for Christmas shopping, but I really like to get a head start on things.  I have vowed this year to only buy things that fall under one or more of these categories:

1) Handmade

2)Antique/vintage

3)Something that can be used (tickets, etc)

4)Good for the environment

So with that being said, here are a few items that I will be buying this Christmas....

These awesome reusable bags from Baggu

These adorable aprons from Etsy seller BellaBeeDesigns

This awesome *affordable* hand painted pottery.  I think these santa plates are so cute for my friends with kids...from etsy seller sweetpicklespottery

Are any of you making similar vows for present buying this year?  I really feel that with living in such a "have more buy more need more" society, we really all have enough "stuff", ya know?

"I'm so excited...

..and I just can't hide it!"

I just got my first "tag" from the lovely Heather at we met in a bar.  This is so fun!

4 things I did today:

1)made pancakes for Sophia (the 2 year old I nanny for)

2)went to nature class with Sophia and did a nature hike in search of bugs (yuck)

3)got a little cake from Whole Foods and took an old friend to a birthday lunch (yum)

4)kissed my sleeping prince charming (he gets to work from home this week since there is no gas in GA)

4 things on my To Do list:

1)go see our venue since I want to see what it looks like with the fall leaves because we will *hopefully* be getting married there next fall.

2)finish my last class of college and graduate in December (only took me 8 years to finish a bachelors.  I'm slow.)

3)save. save. save. save. save. save for a house.

4)lose. lose. lose. lose. lose. lose weight.

4 of my guiltiest pleasures:

1) pizza.  without a doubt.

2)fresh flowers.  they are so expensive but I HAVE to have them in my home at all times.

3)expensive bedding.  I don't care how broke I am, I will always have a luxurious bed.

4)have to go with Heather on this one.  ANYTHING on TLC.  Especially Jon and Kate plus 8.

4 random facts about me:

1)I am slowly decorating us out of our tiny apartment.  I cannot stop decorating and crafting.

2)I love eating breakfast for dinner.

3)All I have ever wanted to do is be a wife and mother.

4)I'm a terrible dancer but secretly dream of being a hip-hop professional.  

Ok, so now I tag:

Sara at 2000 dollar wedding

Jenny at Soon to be Mrs. Gentry

Kate at Altmix Photography

A low key weekend...

This was a laid back weekend.  My brother and his kids came in town.  And my sister came home from school for the weekend.  It was so much fun to hang out with family and eat good food.  My dad did his famous ribs and chicken for us, and we drank and played with weapons...

My brother being a goof ball with his pellet guns.  Oh, there was a blow gun too.  We're redneck.

Then we had friends over tonight and I made this squash and zucchini casserole courtesy of my lovely Natalie.  Here is the recipe....it's amazing!

Ingredients:
about 4 1/2 cups zuchini (diced)
about 4 1/2 cups yellow squash (diced)
1 1/2 cup yellow onion (chopped)
1 1/2 sticks of butter
one pan of prepared corn bread 
8 oz. cheddar cheese (i usually use more, though)
chicken broth
1 tspn minced garlic
1 tspn salt
1/2 tspn ground pepper 
1/2 tspn thyme
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
     
-preheat oven to 350 degrees
-Place zuchini and squash in a large saucepan and add just enough broth to cover
-Cook on medium heat until tender, and remove from heat.  Drain, but RESERVE one cup of the water for later
-On medium temp, heat all butter in large saucepan and saute onions until they turn clear
-add salt, pepper, thyme, and parsley.  stir.
-Add drained squash and cheese and stir.
-Crumble the cornbread into the mixture, add the reserved cup of broth and mix well.
-put it all in a casserole dish a 13x11 pan that has been sprayed with non stick spray
-cover casserole and place in oven for about 40 minutes
remove cover and bake for about another 20 minutes (i usually sprinkle a little more cheese on top before putting it back in without the cover)