Catch some Zzzz's

I'm going to admit it.  I sleep with an eye mask on.  Don't judge until you try it.

Complete darkness.  No bright morning sun waking you at the crack of dawn.

Uh-maz-ing.

When I saw this cutie-pa-tootie I knew I had to share it with y'all.

I can only imagine the fantastic night's sleep I would get with this bad mamma-jamma on.

Ahhhh...Maybe I should take a quick power nap right now...you know...

in honor of this eye mask...Yawwwn...I'm sure my boss won't mind ;)

Pretty little baby

I had to share my recent find with y'all.

Isn't she gorgeous?  I thought so, too ;)

I picked her up at Marshall's on Tuesday for $40 bucks.

I like it so much I laid it on my bedside table and stared at it all night.

Okay, not really.  That would be a little creepy.  But if I did...

No one would have to know...

After I took the above pictures I opened it up and..

Frederick!  How did you get in there?!

What?  No one else has a rubber crab they keep around the house?

Okay, let's back up a bit...

A few months ago I purchased a recorder (the musical instrument) at

the dollar store for my roommate.  I mean, what good roommate doesn't do that?

So in return, she purchased me a crab that grows when its put in water.

And I named him Frederick.  If you know me, you know I name EVERYTHING.

Anyways, a game started between my roommate and I where we hide Frederick in

random places and wait for the other person to unexpectedly come across him.

Did I mention we're 3 years old?

Now that I've found Frederick it's time for me to hide him.

I can't wait until she finds him...Until then, Frederick will be in his hiding spot.

P.S. - My least favorite place I've stumbled upon Frederick?

Maddie's dog food bag...I thought it was a rat.  Eeeek!

What I Wore Wednesday!

Another week of outfits...and I only documented 3 of them!

I know, get excited people.  Here it goes...

Friday:

*Disregard the wrinkled shirt & lack of face shot...I fell asleep in the car on our way to Knoxville*

Cardigan - J. Crew

Top - Forever 21

Pants - Gap

Heels - Me Too via Marshall's

Necklace - Target {I think}

Saturday:

Shirt - J. Crew

Jeans - American Eagle

Boots - Steve Madden

Bracelet - Vintage {it was my Grandmother's when she was younger!}

Tuesday:

Cardigan - Nordstrom's

Top - Banana Republic

Corduroy - Heritage 1981

Boots - Steve Madden

And I would have posted a photo of myself from this morning but I looked

like a train wreck...it was more my face that looked like a train wreck.

Puffy, pale, unenthusiastic.  You get the picture.

I have been on a total crafting hiatus.  Maybe since I don't have to work this

weekend I can finally bust out the sewing machine, the crafts and get some

cooking done so I can post some recipes!  How does that sound? :)

Weekend Away in Knoxville

The boyfriend and I finally got to spend time together this weekend!

Our favorite college football game of the year is Alabama vs. Tennessee,

so off we headed to Knoxville to enjoy time with each other, friends and football!

On the road in North Alabama!  I love the mountains :)

Crossing into enemy territory Tennessee.

Heading into downtown Knoxville!

Then we made our way on campus!

I really love the UT campus.  Just look the view from our {first} tailgating spot!

Since the Tennessee River is right there people can take a boat to the game!

Can you imagine?  Taking a boat to a college football game!

I made sure to get a picture of me and the boyfriend {while I still had fresh make-up on!}

The amount of orange was ridiculous insane.  They even had orange port-a-potties!

I mean, really?

Then we saw this in the air...

I hope Nancy said yes to Carl!

Off to the {second} tailgating spot!

Yes, that's a TV that takes up the entire back end of that van.

We're serious about our tailgating down here!

We caught the tail end of the Vol walk...

Then we headed off to Neyland Stadium to watch the Tide roll over the Volunteers!

Watching Alabama's Million Dollar Band during halftime...

UT's band does this thing called "circle"...every. single. game.

Some call it tradition...I call it crazy ;)

Here are a few shots of the field...

We won! Alabama 41 - Tennessee 10

We had such a blast this weekend!

It was so great to get away and spend time with each other and wonderful friends :)

And this is the sweet face we came home to...

How was everyone else's weekend?

Did anyone else head out to cheer on their favorite team?

Road Trip to Birmingham!

Remember when I told you about the Alabama blogger meet-up with Lisa Leonard?

Well, it was a BLAST!

After having breakfast here in Huntsville, Amanda and I headed down to Birmingham.

We were super excited to meet Lisa Leonard and all of the fantastic bloggers in Alabama!

Who knew there were so many!?!?


Here are the lovely hosts with Lisa.

photo via Amanda

Rachel, Lisa, Amanda & Rhoda

Rachel from Grasping for Objectivity is as cute as a button and so sweet!


Amanda is so fun! She is full of life. She took all of the pictures you're seeing on here!
And if you love her photos...you'll be drooling over her recipes!


Rhoda is such a warm person - and beautiful!
And we ironically graduated from the same  high school in Georgia!


Lisa is even sweeter in person than I imagined. 
You definitely need to check out her blog!

And her jewelry is gah-geous! You have to say it with a Southern accent ;)

photos via Amanda; collage by me


Told you it was beautiful.
And these were quite a sight too...

photos via Amanda


I met some wonderful ladies too!
Like Katherine from Grass Stains.  I could tell immediately that she was a sweetheart :)


Robin from Alabama Slacker Mama and Jamie from Jamie's Rabbits
kept me giggling the entire time!  They were so much fun!


Becca was a doll!  I wish we could have chatted more!


I also got to meet Tammy from The Inkling Network & her sweet little boy Isaiah!
Tammy & I are blog friends and it was so great to finally meet it person!
I love reading her blog and her etsy shop has the most adorable items!

photo via Amanda


I think Isaiah stole the show ;)


I also met Alison from Ingredients, Inc. who has some wonderful recipes!
She's even having a book published that will be out Spring 2011...I know, so talented!

Steph from Plain Chicken was a riot!  And I loved meeting another
blogger with a day job like me!  She has some fantastic recipes, too!


Overall, I had such an amazing time meeting some wonderful
ladies and making some fantastic memories :)

photo via Amanda


I'm thinking another road trip is in order soon!
Did ya hear that Amanda? ;)

Comfy

I am dreaming about curling up in this bed and watching a good sappy movie...

(photo via lonny mag)

I love these colors together and the wall decor is fantastic.

Plus my feet are killing me from walking around my building all day today ;)

What do you think?  Is this somewhere you could cuddle up?

Fight

I came home from school, finished some homework and got ready to go

out to eat dinner with my family.  I remember exactly what I was wearing -

a blue skirt, fitted black top and black chunky sandals.

It was 2001 and I was 15 years old.

My mom sat down on my bed next to me.

"I have breast cancer."

I don't remember what my first thought was, I don't even know if there was a first thought.

It was more like a large amount of rapid thoughts that flashed quickly and continuously.

My mom & me @ Relay For Life 2010

I do remember thinking, "My mom has breast cancer...My mom has breast cancer."

I knew my mom would have to fight.  And I knew it would be a rough road.

I have to say, my trust and faith in God grew tremendously.

All I could do was put my confidence in the doctors that would be caring for my mom.

My mom & me in Carmel - February 2010

After surgery to remove the tumor and months of radiation my mom's cancer was in remission.

When I was a sophomore in college as I was walking to class I

received the phone call - my mom was finally cancer free.

Me, mom & my younger brother @ Relay For Life 2010

And she remains cancer free today.

My mom is the strongest person I know and I truly admire her in every aspect of her life.

So, today - on her birthday - I'm honoring her.

Thank you Mom for being a wonderful role model and a fantastic mother :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

I love you!

Kitchen Envy

I've got a thing for nice kitchens.  Nice, clean, beautiful kitchens!

Since I live in an apartment where I can't choose my wall color, cabinet color,

hardware or even the configuration of my kitchen, I thought I would share

with you some kitchens that make me giddy.  That's right.  I have kitchen envy.

(photo via houzz)

(photo via houzz)

(photo via my home ideas)

(photo via houzz)

(photo via houzz)

Well, now that I'm fully jealous of these beautiful kitchens I may

just need to go peruse Williams-Sonoma and pretend I live there.

I mean, that's totally normal...right?