for auld lang syne

...and that's a wrap on christmas! i hope yours was everything you dreamed of. 

here are a couple of things getting me really excited for new years!!

1. OPI Rainbow Connection Nail Polish

2. Cheers Coasters

3. Kate Spade Glitter Shoes

4. Photo Booth Props

5. Festive Cupcakes (stars can be found at michael's)

6. Sofia Champagne

7. Tory Burch Sequined Mini Dress

8. Scalloped Gold Glasses

on dasher, on dancer, on prancer, on vixen.

fire, christmas music, sugar cookies, apple cider, wrapping presents, 

candlelight service, the griswold's, vino, lights galore, pizza and family, family, family...

hello christmas eve...i love you.

merry christmas friends. xx

happy birthday husband!!

i just really love you. 

thirty years old and all.

xx

my favorite christmas movie forever.

can we just talk about how christmas is officially one week away. i love that every time i turn on the tv there is a different christmas movie on. my favorite christmas movie forever is national lampoon's christmas vacation. (husbands too). we have already watched it once and it has become a tradition to watch it christmas eve with the family. nothing makes me laugh like when
aunt bethany says the pledge of allegiance instead of grace. 

also on my list of must watch movies at christmastime:
white christmas (but only with my mom) and home alone. 

sweet & sour

{via misguidedviewsofperfection}

the sweet:
- this weekend! it's going to be so much fun. tonight we go to callaway gardens to drink the best (no really, it's the best) hot chocolate and see all the christmas lights our little hearts desire, then saturday off to husbands holiday party. sidenote: the food is always so good at this holiday party, and seeing as i can't drink...let's face it, the food is all i have.

- realizing that although i have been complaining an awful lot, i am probably going to look back at some point and miss this time in our lives...our first baby. it's just so cool.

- the mini beach boys concert that took place in our bathroom the other morning. full blown rendition of "kokomo."

- holiday cards arriving in the mail every day. i love mail.

the sour:
- not being able to have cocktails at holiday parties. (bet you saw that one coming) although i did get a little crazy and drink sprite last night. look. out.

- french fries for lunch twice this week. my boss just looks at me and shakes his head. oops.

- this 70 degree weather we have been having. not christmast-y. and although kind of lovely, unacceptable.

- running into copy machines. running into file cabinets. running into walls. running into everything.

have a great weekend friends. xx.

it's a...

we are so in love with her already. xx.

coconut macaroons are the way to my heart.

..and apparently to husbands. i seriously can. not. believe. how delicious and easy this was. 

and i am a terrible baker. really, just terrible. 

i used this recipe from ina garten and added the chocolate at the end. 

chocolate covered macaroons and love actually...the perfect sunday night. cheers!

all i want for christmas is you, and you, and you...

just a little glimpse at what is on my list this year. xx

1. stereolux retro ipod player

2. tory burch logo wrap bracelet

3. frankie magazine daily journal

4. savannah bee company royal jelly body butter

5. kate spade iphone case

6. urban outfitters zig zag rug

7. archipelago botanicals bergamot tobacco candle

8. essie glitter nail polish

9. marc jacobs eliza baby bag

10. kate spade ooh la la necklace

friday favorites

{via hello hello design}

hooray for the best day of the week.
and it couldn't come at a better time...because after a crazy week of sneezes and coughs, me and life are bff again. i got amazing news from one of my best friends, am having lunch with my momma today, and i am going to completely overlook the fact that i have to take a driver safety class tomorrow (it's true..i am a very bad driver) and enjoy the snuggle weather that has finally come our way.
have a great weekend. xx.

here are some of my favorites from around the web this week:

christmas gift guides, i love them. my favorites are here and here.

alphabet rings. great little thank you for not having a cocktail for 9 months. (oh, hey husband)

and while we are talking about jewels, spike the punch necklaces are my current obsession.

trader joe's cookie butter...enough said.

diy ornament chandelier via you are my fave.

how drunk can you get at your office party?

watercolor wedding invitations.

oh so beautiful paper's holiday card round up: parts 1, 2, 3, 4

reverse psychology

{via kate spade tumblr}

i'm not at home sick today with the worst cold of my life.

nope, no sir.

i am shopping in new york city.

(doesn't that just sound so much better, i'm gonna go with it)

have a great tuesday. stay away from the sick people. (they are everywhere) xx.

oh, hey christmas

so...

i may have made some new purchases for christmas this year.

want to see? okay!

1. felt wreath, west elm

2. stars galore, pottery barn

3. bambi, pottery barn (one guess whats in there)

4. my new boyfriend (and keeper of the cookies), pottery barn

sweet & sour

{via scouts honor co}

the sweet:

- dove peppermint bark. i am obsessed i tell you. ob-sessed.

- cold weather has finally arrived in atlanta! there was ice on my windows this week, ice! cabin socks, meet ugg boots. you two will be great friends.

- a surprise visit from mikie's best friend and guitar sessions in my living room on a saturday night.

- i think, no i am sure i made my best batch of chili yet this week. victory is mine.

- christmas lights are going up outside the house today and then we will be fully ready for the holidays! i am making peppermint chocolate chip cookies today and my plan for tonight is to cuddle up with my man, throw in christmas vacation and give the season a giant hug.

the sour:

- my belly button is enormous. like, i am pretty sure i could lose something in there. pregnancy is so strange.

- i am a bad driver. i get lots of tickets. husband is mad. so is the city of atlanta so they are sending me to drivers school next weekend. tear.

- watching people's divorce play out on facebook. this couple in particular seems to get back together once a week so it is just a sad sad display of emotions for all the world to see. but i'll admit, i can't stop watching.

- i had a hot flash in our morning standup at work the other day and had to leave the room. not before i turned a pale shade of white and was fanning myself incessantly. fun times.

glitter christmas lyrics on the wall...yes please.

{via katies pencil box}

guess what this crafty girl will be doing this weekend.

i love this idea. and i love that she even gives you the template.

makes it so easy, no?

get the directions, here.

truth.

{via pearls and peonies}

hope you are having a great week.

i for one, am suffering the post-holiday blahs.

the rain doesn't help.

but do you know what does?

peppermint bark.

turkey

{thanksgiving 2010}

here is a little pic from this time last year.

we cooked our first thanksgiving dinner at home.

i am never doing that again.

i am also never wearing my hair that way again.

and, in no particular order, a list of things i am thankful for...

warm apple cider, pumpkin bread

nightly chats with my mom

my little family you saw that one coming

my j. crew sweats and comfy cabin socks

jack johnson's christmas album downloaded and ready for me to press play on nov. 26

sweet texts from friends i will miss seeing at home this week

the excuse "eating for two"

macy's thanksgiving day parade

breaking dawn has anyone seen? thoughts?

dogs that love to snuggle

xx

sweet & sour

{via luxefinds}

the sweet:

- our new sunday morning ritual including a fire in the fireplace, coffees, and saved by the bell reruns. i love me some zach morris.

- the aveda peppermint foot cream my hairstylist gave me yesterday. it's life changing.

- four more days until we leave for pittsburgh. the land where pepperoni rolls exist. pepperoni rolls from our uncle's deli. please food gods let pepperoni rolls be my pregnancy craving. i'm bringing a cooler just in case.

- wearing my new boots to the grocery store just because it was cold out. knowing that if a snow storm were to suddenly hit i would be able to kick it's ass.

- golden retrievers dressed as pilgrims.

the sour:

- went to pay for my hair appointment, no debit card. had to run to the bank to get cash, bank was closed. had to drive thirty miles to go get husbands debit card. my debit card was in my coat pocket the whole time. pregnancy brain.....grr.

- the awkward way people look at you when they can't tell if you are pregnant or just fat. yes, that's a baby in there. no, i have not had 500 too many hamburgers.

- three people i know are on cruises right now. jealous. jealous. jealous.

- husband on wednesday night: that doesn't even look like your body. wait, what does that mean????

friday faves

{via elise* cake}

well happy friday! if you are like me you are already in thanksgiving mode and nothing is more important than food. well, maybe that is just pregnancy mode. it's all the same. i hope you have a great weekend! i will be finishing up christmas shopping for my in-laws and preparing for our trip up to pittsburgh to see them next week. oh, and maybe even going through christmas decorations. i adore the holidays!

here are some of my favorites from around the web this week:

saturday night live adele skit. i just love this.

63 reasons why bradley cooper is not the sexiest man alive

kate spade cheers necklace. ooh-la-la too.

this photo booth proposal.

cute holiday cards via oh so beautiful paper.

xx

we have news...

+

...we are having a B A B Y ! ! !

we have been so excited to share our news.

and tell you that we are the happiest we have ever been.

that this bump has been a while in the making.

and we feel so grateful that the time is here.

that we have certainly been feeling the love.

and we can't wait to meet this little one...on may 5th, 2012.

xx

(oh, and just so you know...i had every intention of being all creative and posting a cute pic...but the truth is, i haven't gotten out of my pj's in four months. much less put on makeup. so while i promise a cute pregnancy pic soon, today was just not the day. you understand, right?)

dear husband,

i love you more every day.

happy second anniversary.

the best/worst purchase i have ever made.

{image via jcrew.com}

aren't these boots perfect for snow days and icy conditions.

i know...they completely are.

i just bought them. i love them.

never mind that i live in the south,

where we are lucky if we get an ice storm once a year.

husband is going to kill me.

oh god.

sundays

so...happy sunday. oh and guess what? we are in the atlanta paper today. what we thought was going to be an article on our homebuilders has turned out to be a full page spread on how we found our house on craigslist. so embarrassing...oh and don't worry, they managed to capture me at my most unflattering angle ever. so there is that. we did go out for yummy brunch this morning at sweet melissas and are now back in bed snuggled up. well, we were...husband is now back turned and snoring away. oh the life of a celebrity. xx

p.s. i will be back to regular blogging this week. i have a good excuse. no really...i do :)

p.p.s is anyone else completely obsessed with pinterest? ob-sessed i tell you. here is mine.

its sunday.

apple cider + campfire + s'mores + great friends + dogs galore + ugg boots = perfect weekend.

S T A Y C R E A T I V E

i love everything about this list.

well almost...#20 hurts a little.

lovely little sunday.

today was perfect. it's still 85 here. amazing.

started the day off with apple cider.

then we went to a little fall festival.

listened to music, drank beer, and ate festival food.

i know...the hot dog...its kind of disgusting and i didn't even share.

xx

me.

i brake for latte's.

i've been to paris.

i despise photos of myself.

i only cook on sundays.

i love to celebrate. anything.

i want you to like me. (a lot).

i sing out loud in the car.

i get jealous.

i still love my ugg boots.

i take a bubble bath everyday.

i want to do something great.

{via danske's flickr}

sometime husband does really amazing things...

...like surprising me with a pumpkin spice latte in bed.

and letting me watch beaches this morning.

and not even making fun of me when i sobbed at the end.

and still not making fun of me when i downloaded wind beneath my wings.

and sang it at the top of my lungs.

happy sunday. xx

Happy Weekend!

{image via}

on the agenda...nothing. and I love it. I might even stay in bed until noon two.

here are a few of my favorites lately...

the tory burch duck boots i am working hard to justify

hellogiggles letter to ryan gosling

essie's fall colors (i love power clutch!)

best year ever 2012 calendars

steve jobs inspiring 2005 stanford commencement address.

chevron zigzag tray from etsy

s'mores in a jar

sarah watson illustrations

notes.

{via here}

this week was completely insane. i'm not going to list out all the reasons, but just know there were enough to make me walk in the door last night, walk straight to my bedroom, and on the way quote rachel zoe to husband..."i need a couple of hours to myself to remember what it is i love about my life."

but guess what, i feel better today!

"me time"...it works.

xx

falling.

{image}

today i woke up and all of a suddenly it was fall.
i feel lucky to live in a place where the seasons play out perfectly.
and fall is my favorite season of all.
because coziness is my specialty.
and apple cider is my cool weather addiction.
so is pumpkin - in all forms.
happy falling. xx

seeing stars

want. need. have to have this star projector.

perfect for romantic nights with ray lamontagne and red wine.

or for a nap...

lakeside

i hope you had a wonderful long weekend.

if you life in the southeast you likely got soaked.

we went to the lake. we got soaked. but you know, i'm okay with it.

we still managed to bbq, and i am fully caught up on young and the restless.

so you know, now i can sleep at night.

summer in review.

{may}

the beginning of summer. i am turning 31 here.

churros are the best, aren't they!

i spent my birthday weekend in hilton head. husband had to work which was sad but my friends and family made up for it and i had such a memorable weekend. and it only took my three weeks to recover.

{june}

june was largely work filled for both of us. however, i did find time to sneak off to charleston and throw my friend tiffany a bachelorette party. we feasted...because as everyone should know, charleston has THE BEST food. we also had dance parties. lots of dance parties. our poor neighbors.

{july}

holy. july. this month was insane and worth every exhausted moment.

we started off with a weekend tour of north carolina including stops in charlotte, raleigh and chapel hill to catch up with friends and say goodbye to one in particular who is being sent back overseas this fall. we followed it up with me quitting my job and leaving for pensacola beach for ten days of complete happiness, sunshine and a much needed break from life.

july ended with a cabin full of my best friends in west by god and a gorgeous wedding too.

all-in-all an amazing month.

{august}

in august i started my new job at the w hotel, which i love.

other than that we were just catching our breath and giving our livers a break until some of our favorites swung by to "shoot the hooch" aka. float down the chattahoochee river.

we had such a great time with our friends last weekend and it all ended with a sing-a-long to "hey jude" at a local taco joint. the perfect ending...to the perfect summer.

two things.

1. the first time i heard about 'the memphis three' i was at an eddie vedder concert. before playing the song 'rise' vedder spoke for a moment about his dedication to the cause of these three men, wrongly convicted for the deaths of three boy scouts, years and years ago. afterwards, i became in awe of this story, watching the hbo documentaries and following the case. so, needless to say, this week has been an interesting news week for me. this story continues to just constantly captivate and amaze me.

2. on a less important note, i just found out that sundance channel plays my so-called life reruns. i just think everyone would want to know this.

hello weekend.

{audrey hepburn and her pet deer, pippin}

i am having another domestic weekend.

cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping with my pet deer.

because next weekend...

some of our favorites will be arriving.

to celebrate the end of summer with us.

and we need to prepare. no really, we do.

sometimes i cook.

i did really good this week.

i made the perfect summer salad.

here is my version of the tomato & avocado salad that everyone in the universe

probably already knows how to make:

needs:

1 small red onion - thinly sliced

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

2 tomatoes (i like using roma)

1 avocado

1 tbl fresh basil

1/2 tsp dijon mustard

2 tbl olive oil

salt and pepper

how:

1. thinly slice the red onion (or call husband for help if you are like me and cry any time cutting onions is involved); place in bowl and cover with white wine vinegar. set aside.

2. cut the tomatoes and avocado however you like...i prefer wedges, and combine.

3. in a bowl combine basil, garlic, mustard, and some of that white wine vinegar thats been hanging out with the onions. now...a teaspoon is enough unless you are obsessed with vinegar...then use a little more. mix in the olive oil, season with salt and pepper.

4. drain the onions and add to the tomato/avocado party.

5. pour the dressing over the tomato/avocado/onion party and mix carefully. serve asap.

enjoy!

sidenote: 'sandwich' was sadly sacrificed for this salad. he will forever be remembered.

dear sunday,

{via kate spade's tumblr}

i would like to be here today please.

coolest cookies on the block.

{cookies by manjar}

im just not sure cookies could get any radder than this.

reason #439 why i wish i had photographer friends.

if i could have one superpower....

i would be able to teleport myself

anywhere i wanted.

this morning, i would have gone to my friend caitlin's house in des moines.

i wouldn't even have bothered with brushing my teeth or changing out of my pajamas.

i would just pop over for coffee talk.

and maybe some breakfast if she

felt like making me something.

i'm sure her boyfriend jake wouldn't mind.

i guess until then our saturday morning coffee talks via phone will have to do. but i sure wish iowa didn't have to be so far.

p.s. how cute are these state prints by onecanoetwo. perfect gifts for your long lost friends.

someone asked me why i was so happy today...

and i had nothing to blame it on.

which is wierd.

but also...good.

very, very good.

have a great weekend, friends. xx

today i am thankful...

thankful that in our little tiny garden out back, there is a tiny green tomato growing. i call him sandwich.

thankful that husband loves coffee as much as me. and rain storms. and shark week.

thankful for my friend danielle who entertains me endlessly with her crazy stories and hilarious texts.

thankful for ben and jerry's late night snack ice cream. chocolate covered potato chips. i don't know who comes up with this shit...but they are a genious.

thankful for crazy. stupid. love. ryan gosling is shirtless. it's kind of amazing. and don't tell...but i am pretty sure that's why husband worked out today.

thankful that i am feeling inspired again. inspired by life, inspired by love, inspired enough to blog three times this week.

have a wonderful sunday. xx

p.s. see how well i am sticking to my new mantra already!

my new mantra

i think i might have to give up pasta.

Happy Weekend!

{via weheartit}

what a summer this has been! so far we have traveled to charleston, hilton head, pensacola, west virginia, charlotte, lake wedowee and raleigh. i have been to two bachelorette parties and three weddings. i have changed jobs twice. i truly feel like summer should be over already...but oh my gosh, we haven't even gotten through august! luckily i am planning on spending the entire month in my little bungalow in atl. i may not even move from this couch. ever. hope you are all enjoying your summer too! here are a few of my favorites of late. xx

miu miu glitter booties

"a pool of sexy"

the best wedding invites i've seen

my kind of cornhole

jen's note to the universe

a little glance at fall fashion

(if you know my essie obsession you know i am dying over this green)

an announcement from my favorite

zzzzzzzzzzzz (i'm tired, that's me sleeping)

west virginia is for lovers.

we are back from our road trip to west virginia. we went for the wedding of my sweet and beautiful Tiffany and her Chris. (who is equally as sweet and handsome too btw). we had 6 couples comprised of my closest girlfriends and their husbands in a log cabin in lansing, west virginia which is home of the new river gorge, the third largest man made bridge in the world. west virginia is so so pretty and has amazing views every where you look. we certainly took advantage of our location...playing games, having great talks (in our perfect wva accents), dancing, drinking and just making memories that i will never forget. xx.

the books i read on vacation and loved

i might have a thing for books being made into movies. and brits.

this book was really good and although

maybe not a super uplifting beach read,

a perfect glass of wine/rainy day read...

and if you really want to be annoying,

read book aloud to husband using terrible british accent.

okay, now i know what you are saying, everyone has already read the help.

and i know pretty much everyone has..but for those of you who maybe haven't.

go now. quickly. it's that good.

this is technically cheating, but this is the third time

that i have read this particular book.

only because though, i always bring it along in case

i read all my new ones too fast.

and who wants to be left with nothing to read on their last perfect beach day...

not me. the fact that i have read this so many times though is a testament to how much i love it. which...i really do. (i hope they make into a movie)