Short Week & Vacation

Fabulous weekend. The wedding was perfect & an absolute blast!

{They had an open bar as you arrived before the ceremony} How cool is that??

Unfortunately, we were having too much fun & I didn't take any pics of the wedding, but I did capture our mountain retreat for the weekend. Isn't it a beauty??

*I'll find some photos from the wedding & post (for you PGA!)

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I'm off to Cali for a girls-getaway with my mom, sis, aunts & girl cousins! I'm excited about going coastal & the 68 degree weather.

We are visiting some fam outside of LA and then checking into The Huntley. This will be a nice treat after the one & only Mitchell's Inn & Lodge!

There will be a little R&R and lots of laughing, vino consumption, good eats, and shopping.

Of course, the trip wouldn't be complete without some celeb-stalking!! Those that know me well, know I will be all over that & looking like a total tourist, but that's ok.

Found this pic in one of my inspirational files & love everything about it. It has Cali written all over it!

 

Know of any hot spot restaurants, sights, shops in Santa Monica?? Please send my way.

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Weekend

*Picture Sources: pinterest, thehuntley, sociallitelife, craftycameleon

{Weekend}

So with the  world coming to an end (seriously?!) we will be spending the weekend in Highlands, NC attending some friends nuptials. I am so excited to celebrate with them & escape the hustle & bustle for a weekend.

A little mountain chic inspiration I am lovin'!

Images in order: SimplySeleta, vignettedesign, elledecor, newlyweddiaries, elledecor, unknows, newlyweddiaries

Hope everyone has a great weekend too!

*If you haven't seen Bridesmaids it is a must. Funniest.Movie.Ever.

World Market

Has anyone checked out World Market lately? Impressive! After receiving this coupon today, I decided to see for myself. Here are some of the fabulous inspirational things I found on SALE....

Here

Here

Here

here

  

here

Here

Here

Here

Here


Can you believe the knobs...some are $5.95 for 4?! Watch out Anthro.

All images via http://www.worldmarket.com/home/index.jsp

{Recipe 1}

So, I am a terrible cook. I admit it.

Growing up with a southern belle grandmother, Mama Queenie, who cooked the most delicious pound cake and a mom, Kath, from Memphis that makes the best Southern Cheese Grits, one would think I would've acquired some kitchen skills.

Unfortunately...I did not.

However, JH grew up with a mom that cooked the most fabulous-from scratch meals every night...i.e. pot roast, a zillion-layer lasagna, fresh grown vegetables, even homemade bread.

{Not to worry, that was not to be expected post nuptials}

All of that aside, one of my 2011 New Years Resolutions was to try a fancy
(in my book!) recipe once a week.

Insert Betsy, a friend who started this fabulous blog... Shugart & Spice

http://www.shugartandspice.com/

While I don't have her cooking talent, she has shared so many delicious recipes that seem do-able (thank ya girlfriend). You must check her out!

So, sticking to my goal, I recently found this recipe via Cooking Light and gave it a shot...

*Per the taste tester, he was quite impressed. And best part, I didn't burn the house down*

{Spring Risotto}

Ingredients

• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 1 3/4 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
• 1 cup frozen shelled edamame
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 ounce shaved Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme (i left this out bc/ i couldn't find it in store! who knows what thyme taste like anyways)

Preparation

• 1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Add asparagus, and cook for 2 minutes. Drain. Bring 2 cups water and chicken broth to a simmer in a saucepan.
• 2. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil, and swirl to coat. Add onion; cook 4 minutes. Add garlic, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in rice, edamame, and salt; cook for 1 minute. Stir in 1 cup broth mixture; cook for 4 minutes or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining broth mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until liquid is absorbed before adding more (about 20 minutes total).
• 3. Stir in asparagus, cream cheese, and pepper; cook 1 minute. Spoon 1 cup risotto into each of 4 bowls. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese; sprinkle evenly with thyme

Give it a try & Enjoy. The edamame is the best part!

Party!

After a huge booze drinking networking week in Memphis, we had yet another jam packed weekend.

Saturday was our annual neighborhood Spring Party.

We live in a n'hood filled with 1950's ranch houses, young families, and lots of social functions.

While some of our friends think it can be quite cult-y (and I often agree), it really is so fun (& quite convenient) to live in a neighborhood with several of your friends.

One of my very bff's- KHS- chaired the party & she asked  me to help co.

After lots of planning & laughing, we woke up Saturday with...

A guest list of 75, A limited budget, & A weather forecast of 60% rain

We carried on as planned & luckily the rain held out, everyone showed, & we had a blast

Hopefully our first attempt at Party Planning for a large crowd was a hit!

Prepping...KHS fab back yard

Making Progress 

Our FREE Flower Arrangements..vases borrowed, flowers cut from a friends yard

No need for comment...

KHS & her creativity

SUCCESS!!

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I'm probably so late-to-the-party with this, but it is too awesome not to share.

Coincidence??

{Image Courtesy of my bff coworker BWS}



Hope everyone had a great weekend!

{Signing Off}

I am Out of Office the rest of the week... jet setting to Memphis for w-o-r-k.

I will be networking-it-up on Beale Street & attending this with fellow bond gurus...

In the meantime, I'm sure i'm late to the party but do you know about this???

INCREDIBLE. Inspiration & Ideas galore. Also, just pretty pics to look at for fun.

*Set Back: You have to be invited or submit a request for them to let you in...clearly I went with the first!

Great news...the gracious & talented Brooke @ http://blueprintbliss.blogspot.com/ extended me an invite into the club site.

I'm sure most of y'all (my 5 readers) remember the beautiful & talented Rachel Berry from UGA...her blog is nothing short of amazing & she just did a post on this latest craze... http://nestegg.typepad.com/

I'll leave you with this pretty pic I found pin..teresting this week

See ya next week!

*pic sources: memphisinmay.org and pinterest

Go Sis Go!

Great weekend !!

As mentioned, my favorite sis and bambino of the fam graduated from COLLEGE this weekend & we celebrated big. Aside from the 100 degree weather & 3.5 hour graduation, her day was special & fun

To commence her fun four years at Auburn...

Caroline got a nice bottle of champagne & an autographed print out of this from her walking ATM Big Pops:

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2011/05/04/7-biggest-money-mistakes-college-grads-make?PageNr=1


and an email of this from your truly:

(Sidenote: i'm certain Lina will get what Lina wants)

All jokes aside, You go sis! We are so very proud of you & congratulations on such a great accomplishment!! 

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I got home yesterday to this.... Spring has Sprung! First Hydrangea in the new back yard. 



I'll be back tomorrow... I'm still struggling from hitting it big in a College Town...on a Sunday Night. Yikes.

 Photos credit of Pinterest, hoscotch&gracebike

{Happy Weekend}

Whoop, It's Friday! We are all over the place but it will be fun

*Dining with fun friends at this new spot...

http://www.thefamilydogatlanta.com/

*Volunteering with co-workers for these cool people...

http://www.thecoolgirls.org/



*Celebrating with old friends at a fun wedding in AL...

*Loving on mi madre Sun for this special day...

And ....

*Commencing my favorite sister on an exciting milestone....

{Hope everyone has a fabulous & fun weekend!}

*images via pinkwallpaperblog, coolgirls.org, stylemepretty, ohsobeautifulpaper, and someecards



Day 2 & Room Service

So, this is kind of fun. I must say it’s crazy how ‘public’ you can be via the www. I have learned a few new tech terms ..referring sites, google analytics?!  

Thank you to one of my most hilarious friends who blogs (more on her in a different post), my bff coworker, & my sweet sis and her cute friends for telling me to keep it up.

JH is definitely freaked out. To quote, ”funny joke you played on me with that whole blog thing”… “what do you mean joke? Want it be fun to document our little 1950’s ranch as we "spruce" it up along with our weekend adventures & life in itself” … “you are serious? why in the world would you think anyone wants or cares to know about what we are doing”….

Mr. Sensitive, eh?! I could have some fun torturing him with this.

After a little convincing I wouldn’t discuss him or air our dirty laundry, he loosened up a bit.

That was followed by constant pokes throughout the night… ‘oh look, catie is using the bathroom let’s blog about it’ or ‘oh, don’t forget to blog about how you put a dish towel under a bowl in the microwave & almost burnt our house down’ !

Enough Enough… blogging is fun!

*********Back to some substance & something really awesome******* 

So through my blog lurking, I learned about this incredible new charity in Atlanta:

A couple of amazing bloggers (Dayka & Erika) came together with a vision of combining their “love of design with their commitment to serve others.” Brilliant.

Enter The Nicholas House. A place ‘Assisting families in making the transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency.’

Combining a local shelter & creative ideas amongst talented designers, 

Room Service Atlanta was born in April 2011.

http://www.roomserviceatlanta.org/

Several design bloggers just completed the first installation of rooms at The Nicholas House in Atlanta & here are a few pics that will blow your mind:

Before:

Now:

Is this not SO awesome?! How special & sweet for this family to have a place that feels like home.

*Design & Images by Sherry Hart http://designindulgence.blogspot.com/

Next Room:

Before:

Now:

Unbelievable! So happy, clean, & a place to call home

*Design & Images by Lori May http://lorimayinteriors.com/ & wall painting by Kristin Davis http://kfddesigns.blogspot.com/

***See, this is the kind of stuff you get from surfing blogs***

Now I get to say/post how amazing you people are and your work & generosity do not go unnoticed!

For ways to help check out the website http://www.roomserviceatlanta.org/p/help.html --

I hope to get involved soon!