Cookie Exchange

I am going to a friend's cookie exchange tomorrow night. I made one of my favorites, thumbprint cookies.

Hi Friends

Sorry for being out of touch! Things have been busy. I hosted Thanksgiving, we had a Christmas cocktail party, and we are getting ready for Christmas!! The Hubster is leaving for Missouri on friday and then I will meet him next week. I am excited for a vacation finally!

I did some shopping this weekend. If you live near a J. Crew outlet - you need to go!!! The whole store is on sale and they have extra 20% coupons. My camera battery died and I need to recharge it, once I find the charger - I will post lots of pictures! Miss you all :)

Busy Bee

My mom and I went to the Lilly Warehouse sale!!!! I found some good deals. I will be back soon. I just have a lot going on and Thanksgiving is this week!!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Well, my dad isn't 70, but this was the cutest birthday cake I found that involved golf! The hubster and I had my parents and baby-sis (+ her boyfriend) over for dinner. We had a great time! Our menu included chopped salad, pork loin with cinnamon apples, sweet potato casserole, green beans, and rolls. I tried a new dessert. Its called Pumpkin Ice Cream Torte. It was a big hit and the hubby said "you have to make this for Christmas."

"I bet you love the clothes"

My cute hubby and I started watching Mad Men this weekend. We both like it and we are plowing through season 1. After about two episodes, he said "I bet you love the clothes." Well, he knows me well and I do love the clothes. So, I am posting some pics on my blog :) Does anyone else watch Mad Men?? Do you like it? Don't give away too much info . . . we are still on Season 1 . . .

Sorry if there are too many pictures of Betty . . . but she has the best clothes!!!

Thursday Night Parties

So the boy and I have started one of our first traditions. We have thursday night parties. We don't invite anyone . . . just us, but its become my favorite night of the week! Our favorite tv shows come on, we have good food, and good drinks. We email each other during the day to remind the other of our thursday night . . . we are dorks, its okay. Here are our favorite shows (high dot low dot . . . let me know if you got that)

I didn't really like this show until I learned the premise of it, but now I love it.

The boy does not like this one (Kath & Kim) as much as I do, but he humors me.

We both love the Office.

Bunco

I was a sub tonight in my Mom's bunco group. It was fun! Its the first time I have ever played. I ate too much . . . but I had a great time! I am curious how many bloggers play bunco . . . do you play?

Thank You Veterans

Yummy Holiday Treat

I kind of made up a holiday ice cream sandwich. I have been taking two holiday chessmen cookies and then putting peppermint ice cream in the middle. It makes for a yummy holiday snack!

For Mom

Love this

Saw this on Abnormally Normal. I love this lady. She reminds me of my mom :)

A) Four places I go over and over: My parents house, My office, Target, Farm Fresh

B) Four people who e-mail me: My hubby, My mom, J. Crew, Crate and Barrel

C) Four of my favorite places to eat: Three Amigos, Kelly's, PF Chang's, My parent's house

D) Four places you'd rather be: Italy, Hawaii, Charleston, Paris

E) Four TV shows I could watch over and over: Lost, The Office, Designing Women (thank you DVR), Thirtysomething (when are they going to sell this as a series??????)

F) Four people I'm tagging: Mom, Mom, Mommy, Mommy - puhleaze??? post on your blog darling :)

The Perfect Christmas Dress

You can find it here.

Busy Bee

We're getting ready for a garage sale this weekend! Thanks Mom & Dad for letting us use your house! We're getting rid of a lot of duplicate houseware stuff that we have. We're also selling some random furniture and other stuff. I listed larger pieces of furniture on craigslist. I'm hoping to make a little chunk of change so I can do some things around the house! Any tips on garage sales?? I'm a first timer here . . .

Calling Harry Potter fans

A new trailer was released for The Half-Blood Prince. You can watch it here. I am still mad this isn't being released until July . . . but I suppose I'll wait :) It looks scary . . . .

Catching Up

Life has been so busy it feels like I haven't had a spare moment. Things in Etiquettely Correct-ville are wonderful! The hubby and I are settling into married life and we're having a great time. We finally got all of the wedding presents put away and now we are going to start doing more work on the house.

I have wanted to do a post on all of my wedding vendors. I think it will be helpful to some brides out there. My plan is to go through, chronologically, all of the wedding vendors and share my experience.

The two weeks building up the wedding were a complete whirlwind. My mom was a soldier! I could not have done it without her. We spent a lot of time together and we were constantly on the go, but we had a great time. We stayed up really late a couple nights trying to get everything done. I know everyone says how fast the wedding goes, I didn't realize just how fast it was! So, starting tomorrow, I will be doing my little series (with pictures). First up . . . the rehearsal dinner!

Love, love, love this

Will someone who 1) loves me and 2) reads my blog please, please, please get me this for Christmas?

Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart

So the boy and I made a little visit to Walmart. His sweet brothers gave us a grill for a wedding present and the good people at Walmart will put it together for us. While the boy was waiting for our drop off ticket . . . I was (true to form) browsing. I didn't know that Better Homes & Gardens has a line at Walmart. They have some really cute stuff . . . check it out!

I love this lamp.

New Blogs

Its time to update my blog roll. I am pretty sure I have some new readers but with the wedding and craziness, I haven't had a chance to follow up. I love new blogs so . . . if you want to be added, let me know!

FINALLY

How awesome was the Office? If you didn't see it . . . go to NBC.com right now! Click on the Office and watch the episode. Then we'll talk.

Teaser Pics

My photographer said it would be about two weeks until the pictures were ready . . . in the meantime, she sent me these. Did I mention our photographer rocks????? I am going to do a post about her in a few days.

All photos are from Catie's Photography.

Here I am after my veil was firmly attached. There was pure chaos in my parents' dining room when this picture was taken, can you tell?

This one is my favorite, so far. I love, love, love this picture. The boy was spinning me around . . . no, I'm not 2 years old.

I just think this one is pretty. I love it, but I think it just says pretty.

Me making out with my new hubby :)

Just a peek

We're back . . . Jamaica was awesome! We had a ball! Now, I have a couple days off before I start my new job. I am trying to get our house in order . . . it looks like a tornado came through here. You would never have known it was picked up and organized a week ago (Thanks to Mommy!).

It might be a little while before I am back to regular posting, but I am going to try for every other day. I am trying to get caught up with all of you too! And finally, while we wait for the professional pictures . . . here are a few lifted from facebook.

The boy and I sealing the deal!

My mom and I keep laughing about this picture because I look like I am asking her if I smell! I know this isn't the best picture . . . but its the only shot of my dress that I have so far!

faith

One more thing . . . for future brides, while you can't always have faith in your vendors . . . have faith in your family and friends - they will make it happen!

Amazing

The wedding is over - it was amazing. Our families & friends seriously rock. My parents went above and beyond and it was truly a fairy tale. I can't wait to show you pictures. The whole day was wonderful and I married my prince charming :)

PS - me and the hubster (not fiance anymore) are off to Jamaica!

Chance to breathe

So I finally have a free moment - in case I still have readers!!! I thought I would share our menu:

Hors Devoures ( I can never spell this right):

Asparagus Straws - so yummy

Steamed Shrimp

Gourmet Cheeses

Our main course is going to be split up into stations:

1. Beef Tenderloin with creamy horseradish
Roasted Vegetables
My chopped salad
Sweet potato parkerhouse rolls & mini brioche rolls

2. pistachio encrusted salmon
sauteed spinach
mashed potatoes

3. shrimp & grits bar - yum, yum, yum

PS - sorry for my lack of posts - and sorry this post isn't very pretty!

Rain, Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day

(http://www.jcrew.com/)

Its pouring rain where I live and my roof is leaking . . . lovely. My washing machine died this past Sunday . . . also lovely. The good news, I am moving this weekend! So if all of this had to happen, at least it happened during my last week. I usually love rainy days, just not when my roof is leaking!

From here until I get back from my Honeymoon, my posting might be somewhat sporadic. I will be pretty busy during the next few weeks, considering that I am getting married in 16 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please check back in if you have time, I might need some last minute advice on wedding decisions and who better to get it from than my fellow bloggers. Don't stop believin' . . .

"Gator-ade Gum"

I found this gum when I was browsing for candy for the wedding. I used to love it when I was little. My brother and I always called it "Gator-ade Gum." You can find it here.

Cute Gift

Wouldn't these be a great gift for a Lilly-lover? I would love a picture of Fiance drinking out of one of these . . .

Which Brady Are You?

I saw this on One Fabulous Mom (she truly is fabulous) and I knew I had to post it. I love the Brady Bunch. When I was little, I would religiously watch this after school. It used to come on TBS at 4:35 and I had to watch it everyday. I used to know every episode and I once recorded all of them onto VHS tapes so that I could watch them, even when they weren't on. I was really cool ;)

Confident yet kind. Popular yet down to earth. You're a total dream girl.You've got the total package - no wonder everyone's a little jealous of you.

Here is the quiz . . . which one are you?

The Heartbreak Kid

We watched the Heartbreak Kid this weekend. We both thought it was very funny. Ben Stiller was great in his classic role of "Mr. Nice Guy." Jerry Stiller was excellent as well (sometimes I think he is funnier than Ben).

In a nutshell, Ben Stiller's character marries a girl on the fly and then he is bombarded with surprises on the honeymoon. I think my favorite line was when he says "I guess we can afford it, we're a two income family now" and she replies "oh really, did ya get a second job?"

Tagged by Europafox

I was tagged a while back by Europafox to list 5 words of my least favorite words. It took me awhile to come up with this. I tag anyone who wants to play!

X-mas – I just think it’s lazy to use this.

Subjugate – I hate it when people use this word because they always seem to use it incorrectly. They think they know what it means and that it makes them sound smart (because they are using a big word), but you don’t sound smart if you are using it improperly!

Rectory – I’m Catholic, but I hate this word. It sounds dirty.

Cheers – Unless you are British or you are actually toasting someone with a glass, I don’t like it when people use this as a closing. To my girls on the other side of the pond – does it annoy you when Americans use this?

The C-word and P-word – no further explanation necessary.

Things that have contributed to my Summer Fun!

Here are a few things that I have either been told about this summer, I discovered this summer, or I re-discovered this summer.

Clorox Bleach Pen - I normally hate bleach, right Mom (she always remembers this)? It seems to have ruined a good majority of my favorite things, so in my house - there is a moratorium on bleach. That was until I got some lovely grass stains on my cute white mini skirt (favorite skirt of the summer BTW). The only thing that got the stains out was the Clorox bleach pen and in less than a minute! So, note to self: Don't sit on the side of flower bed in a white skirt, but if you do, use your bleach pen.

Beck’s Light – My friend L told me about this beer. ITS ONLY 63 CALORIES PER BEER! So you can now have two beers, as opposed to only one. Its actually pretty tasty and a nice change from other light beers.

Oil of Olay Original Active Hydrating Cream. I started using this around my eyes and it has made a huge difference. I put it on after I take a shower and before bed. Its alleviated a lot of the dark circles under my eyes and its fighting off wrinkles too!

Diet Dr. Pepper – This is one of Fiance's favorite sodas and I have gotten on a kick myself, sometimes you need to switch it up from the old standard, Diet Coke.

J. Crew Favorite Tanks - I have been wearing these for awhile, but I recently re-discovered how much I love them. I have them in lots of different colors and I wear them with jeans or my cute white mini skirt for going out. Fiance has recently informed me that he really likes it when I "rock the wife-beater look."

Southern Prep

Where did you go? I miss your blog. If you have gone private, can I please have an invite? Hope all is well!

Guestbook

Thanks for all of your advice about our guestbook! We decided to go with an engravable tray from I do engravables. Fiance, who grew up in a house full of boys, said that if we ended up with boys, the coffee table book would not last long . . . so lets get the tray. I am excited about it. It will have our monogram in the middle and the date underneath.

How times have changed . . .

Click on Miss Lili NC for a "Marital Rating Scale." I don't know if Fiance will still want to marry me considering I scored a -1. Which equates to - "Very Poor (Failures)" I think my personal favorite one is "Lets husband sleep late on Sunday and holidays." Notsomuch.

Need to buy in bulk?

For the reception, we are doing candelabras as centerpieces and then having small bud vases arranged around the candelabras. I have been looking and we found these on the Dollar Tree website. My mom ordered them and the best part is, you don't have to pay shipping! They ship them to the Dollar Tree closest to you and then you can go and pick them up.

Bicycle Built for Two

I didn't know they actually sold these. I kind of want one.

Purple

I usually hate the color purple, but I have to say, I think these bridesmaid dresses are some of the prettiest I've seen.

(David Schwartz Photography)

Not cool

I hope this is a rumor because its seriously annoying.

For my friend T

I was telling Miss T about how wonderful Snippet & Ink is! I love this blog - there are so many ideas for incorporating various colors into your special day. Its funny, this weekend, we talked about Tiffany Blue as an accent color and this was today's board.

Note to T - in the top left hand corner - you can do a search for a specific color and then see how its incorporated into the details :)

For my friend C

A couple of the girls who were at the beach this weekend are getting married. Miss C said she had blue bridesmaid dresses and I think they are similar to this color. I found this inspiration board at Adventures in Wedding Planning.

Gone to the beach

I am going here for my friend L's bachelorette party. Its going to be a fun weekend! I hope you all have fun and safe weekends. Its hard to believe summer is almost over :(

Cellophane Bags

I can't remember how I came across Nashville Wraps. It might have been through another blog. However, if you are in the market for clear, cellophane baggies . . . they are cheap here! I just ordered some for our cookie/candy bar at the wedding.

I also ordered cellophane wrap for the out of town buckets. I think they might be piled high and I didn't want anything to fall out.

Food for thought

Click here for an interesting read.

Pink Clutch's Halloween Swap

I think this looks soooo fun. I can't think that far ahead right now, but if I could - I would totally be in on it. I love Halloween.

When Fiance and I did our pre-marriage class, we had to do this little survey of how well we knew each other. One of the things was to think of your partner's favorite holiday and who would be there "enjoying a meal with them." Here is what Fiance said "so baby, I was trying to think of who was sitting around the candy bowl with you."

***UPDATE*** - I couldn't resist a swap for my favorite holiday - so I am IN

The Human Dolphin

I have to admit . . . I am not really into the Olympics. I am attributing it to the fact that there is so much other stuff going on in my life and I can't figure out the darn schedule. BUT, that was before I read this article. I am intrigued. This kid seriously rocks. I am going to look up the schedule so I can tune in tomorrow.

What has been your favorite thing to watch? Are you watching? Do you usually like sports?