Belle I Am

Puppy Love

2010-02-22T15:30:00.004-05:00

This is our new puppy Jackson...well I guess he's not that new anymore. We've had him for about a month. He's really cute and has pretty much doubled in size since we got him. In the last two weeks, he's gained over six pounds. The vet says he's going to be big. By the look of his paws, I say he's going to be huge. I'm glad our new house has a big back yard.

This is a picture of our new house. These are the two main reasons I've been MIA. I'll post pictures of the inside once it is presentable. We just love it. We're so lucky and blessed to be at a great stage in our lives and marriage.

And for any of you that are wondering, I absolutely love GA. We're in Marietta now and it's a great combo of small town with access to big city.

I couldn't be happier.

2009-12-21T11:22:00.003-05:00

So as promised, below is a little photo recap of the wedding. This will be the first of several post of photography. These are just a few of my favorite pre-wedding images. Trust me, there are lots more...so stay tuned. For now, I'll leave you with this:

"I've loved you since the day I first saw you. I love you now. I will love you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?" Yep, those are the exact words my now husband said to me the night we got engage. I've got a good one, wouldn't you agree?

Busy Busy

2009-12-11T14:34:00.003-05:00

So I've been a very busy little bee recently. I know, I know. Same old song. I'm still traveling like a fiend. So to recap the past few weeks:

Several trips to NC in November.
One trip was over Thanksgiving. My Thanksgiving was very good. Time with almost all of my family - my second to oldest sister was in Florida. We'll be venturing to Michigan for Christmas to spend time with his parents. Who knows, maybe we'll have a white Christmas. Yes, I said Christmas, not holiday.
My husband, one of my sisters and myself helped my parents around the house all weekend. They're getting a little older and it is just physically impossible for them to manage the upkeep of a house.
My dear, dear husband spend 2.5 days in their yard cleaning things up and taking them to the trash dump. We're not done yet.
My sister and I spend 2.5 days in their kitchen....painting everything in sight. Yes, you see, it's been 33 years since they updated their kitchen - excluding appliances. We painted the cabinets white, the moldings and pretty much everything else white. We're going to paint the wall a yellow - beige. We're also gifting a new floor to them for Christmas. We also organized all of their cabinets and helped them get rid of things they didn't need. Are anyone else's parents a little on the pack rat side? They do love their stuff. And again, we're not done. I'll be there next weekend helping to finish so they can walk through the kitchen without stepping on their cabinet doors.
My husband and I went to Atlanta on another house hunting weekend. To our surprise, we actually found something we really like and are now under contract. It was the best house we've seen. And OK, so it's not in Atlanta. It's in Marietta. Which is a really great area to be in. Once we get a little further along and the inspection is over (it's tomorrow) I'll post some pics.

So there's a recap of the haps, peeps. Like I said, it's been busy. I am soooo happy though.

Have a good weekend bloggie friends.

xoxo

So Sad...Goodbye Metropolitan Home

2009-11-10T12:10:00.003-05:00

Yes, another one bites the dust. So sad that another shelter/home decor magazine has shuttered. For me, I am obsessed with home decor magazines, as I am in marketing for three home decor brands. There is still nothing like a glossy pub to capture your attention and really showcase design of any kind. We will miss you Met Home.

Be sure to snatch up the December issue as it will be the last. It will most likely be just like the coveted last issues of Domino and Cottage Living (at least for me anyway). And yes, when I moved, my last issues/archives of issues moved with me. Even though my husband bawked at the idea...I know how valuable these are.

Back in Town...For the Weekend

2009-11-06T10:22:00.002-05:00

So, it has been a crazy last few weeks. In my last post, I was on my way to Michigan for a football game and then I didn't recap. Well, here it is. We had a blast. I would show pictures, but I'm not sure my friends would be pleased to see their pictures on my blog with me asking. We arrived on Friday night and stayed with the hubby's parentals. It was nice to see them as I haven't since the wedding. We got a rocky nights sleep to say the least. The hubs still has the bed he had in high school - it's still in his old room. It's a full size bed and a little small for the two of us to say the least. It's also a little lumpy. So long story short, I tossed and turned all night. No worries though because Saturday morning came and all was right. It was rainy and a little cold when we headed out for East Lansing which is about an hour and a half from his parents. We set up at about 1pm for our tailgate - keep in mind this was a 7pm game. We had a great time. Drinks, food, fun. We had bloody mary's and hot chocolate with Bailey's. We know how to tailgate right. The game was a good one until we lost in the last two seconds of the game. It could have been worse, at least the rain stopped an hour before the game. All in all, I think it was a great first Michigan State football game for me. Maybe a new yearly tradition for the hubs and I.

When I got back, I had Monday to get ready for another trip. It was off to Dallas this time for a video shoot for web videos. That went well and I got back on Thursday night. Then it was off to Atlanta this past Tuesday for a marketing conference at our corporate office. I got back last night. Like I said, it's been a busy few weeks.

As for the weekend....tonight it's dinner and bowling with friends. Can't wait. I'm so excited. I love bowling and haven't been in awhile. Tomorrow...who knows. Maybe a walk, a little shopping and some thank you note writing. Yes, I admit, I'm one of those brides that waits six months to get the thank you's out. Shameful, I know. But at least I'm writing them.

I still have some wedding recapping to do, so maybe I can do that as well this weekend. Then it's off to NC on Monday.

I'll check in soon. Hope ya'll have had a good few weeks.

Medi/Mexi

2009-10-26T21:53:00.002-04:00

Tonight I made a really good meal for me and the hubby. It was a cross between Mediterranean and Mexican or at least that's the way it seems to me. I haven't ever tried a combination like this before so I'm deeming it medi/mexi since it had both green olives (Mediterranean) and chipotle in adobo sauce (Mexican). I really liked it and we'll be having it again. Um, yum...can you say caramelized onions and garlic. It was a good recipe for chicken since it's really not my favorite meat - it tends to be too thick and too dry sometimes...and maybe a little chewy. But this was yummy and too good not to pass along. One caveat to though, it is a little spicy, so be careful with the peppers.

Here's the recipe from Kraft (my revisions are in bold)
Chicken with Chipotle Cream Sauce
What You Need!
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter - I used 1/4 stick so it reduced the calories and fat
4 bone-in chicken breast halves (2 lb.) - I used boneless, skinless thin sliced chicken, about six pieces
2 medium onions, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
6 large cloves garlic, minced - I used about eight
1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream - Use light sour cream-it taste the same
1/4 cup canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (4 to 6 peppers)
1/2 cup small stuffed green olives
3 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley - I skipped this as I don't really like parsley
Make It!
MELT butter in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides.
ADD onions and garlic; cook 5 min. or until tender, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium; cover. Cook an additional 20 min. or until chicken is cooked through (180°F). Remove chicken to platter; cover to keep warm.
STIR sour cream, chipotle peppers and olives into skillet. Cook, uncovered, 10 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Pour sauce over chicken; sprinkle with the parsley.

Rainy With a Chance of Football

2009-10-23T11:30:00.003-04:00

You heard that right. Rainy weekend, tailgating and football. The hubby and I are heading to his Alma mater....Michigan State. It's supposed to be in the mid 40's, which is pretty cold by this southern girl's standards. Oh well; at least I got a new North Face out of it. I'm actually really looking forward to it. I've never been to Michigan State and it is a much bigger school than UNCG -where we didn't even have a football team, unless you're using the European definition of football.

Tailgating - yay bloody mary's and hot chocolate with Baily's - good food - great friends - corn hole = one happy girl. This should be fun...except for the rain. Cold, no problem. Wet and cold could equal on unhappy girl. Oh well, you take it as it comes. Should be a great time.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Is Anyone Still Reading?

2009-10-20T10:38:00.003-04:00

OK, so bad blogger is not the term for what I am. I knew when I started this blog, there would come a time when I would go on hiatus and not write anything for quite a while. I just didn't know it would be six months. Life has been absolutely crazy since April. In that time, I have gotten married, sold my house, moved to TN and learned to live with my husband. Oh, and might I add that I've moved twice so far - once to my husband's apartment in TN and then to our new apartment in TN.

I am now working from my home office (when I don't have to travel back to NC) with my same company. After returning from our honeymoon, the hubs and I decided that the best thing for both of us would be for me to move to TN - with or without a job. So, in June after the papers were signed and all complete with the sale of my house, I approached my boss to see if he would be willing to let me move to TN and work from home. It took him a while to decide...so long in fact, that during the time he was "evaluating" the situation, our parent corp. announced the office would be relocating to Atlanta, we had a new president and three new VP's - including my boss - which was one of the VP's that got replaced. So, the process began again. Luckily, my new VP didn't take so long in deciding and gave me the go ahead within in a week. So, at the end of July, this NC girl became a TN resident...but only for a short while. When offer letters came out at the end of August, guess who got one. That's right...this chick right here. Long story short, the opportunity is too good to pass up. Although I said I would never move there, we are going to pack up yet again and move. If you're keeping count, that three times in one year. So...Atlanta here we come. There have been some that say we will move again since we are a young couple and just got married. We say....if that happens....we're moving to the coast.

So friends, if anyone is still reading (and I hope you are) I plan to post more often. I have a lot to say and a wedding to recap. Below is a sneak peek at the wedding. I'll post more in the next few weeks.

xoxoxo for now.

Cute Shoes

2009-04-16T11:48:00.004-04:00

Has anyone been trolling Piperlime.com lately? They have some really cute shoes that I haven't seen on other sites. I found these tres preppy Moschino Cheap & Chic Sea sandals. These would look so cute with a black sun dress or white shorts and a nautical red/white striped shirt.

I also found these Mystique 1641 sandals. These were a Rachel Zoe pick...rightfully so. How fabulous would these look with a white sun dress and gold accessories. Can you tell I'm ready for our honeymoon in Puerto Rico?

Getting Crafty

2009-04-02T09:59:00.004-04:00

So as the wedding quickly approaches I am weeding out the ideas that will be making their final appearance at the kick-off party and the wedding.

For our kick-off party on Friday night (this is our rehearsal dinner, but with like 80 people) I want the vibe to be laid back. We're serving NC BBQ (with both sauces), sweet tea and local beer. We'll have corn hole boards set up and games for kids - including big kids - checkers and cards. Our color theme for this night will be green and white. Were saving the black for the "big dance" night - I think it adds that elegant touch that a 5pm wedding should have.

Anyway, back to the craft idea. I had picked up the strings of lights and the little paper lantern covers (Micheal's $1 bin), but have recently been rethinking this idea. I love that look, but I've seen it a lot, plus the little globes tear easily and they are hard to get adjusted so they hang right. So, being the crafty girl I am, I'm going to instead have these tissue paper pom poms hanging from the ceiling. I'm going to do green and white. I made one last night and it's really easy... and the bonus is that my fiance loved it.

You can find the how-to instructions here. They're Martha of course.

If I start to feel really crafty, I might try these crepe paper flowers. They're Martha too. You can find the how-to instructions here.

New Shoes!

2009-04-01T13:45:00.002-04:00

Guess who got these fabulous Kate Spade shoes for her wedding. One of my best friends and bridesmaids gifted these to me. She is a complete shoe-aholic, so buying my wedding shoes was very important to her...and me. I opted out of Minolo's and Louboutin's for my preppy idol Kate.

I'm in love.

What's Your Style

2009-03-31T17:06:00.004-04:00

So I was reading Etiquettely Correct and saw that she had gone to Ethan Allen and took a quiz to find her style. Here's what came out of my quiz.

My style is:

The verdict is in—your style is Villa. Villa is romance reinvented. A high-end “decorator” look. Refined without fuss. Serene yet strong. Pedigreed while also modern. Inspired by French and Scandinavian design. A mingling of carved woods. handcrafted artisanship, and the dressmaker detail.
This online portfolio shows your style. Brought to life in rooms. A subtle mix of furniture, accessories, and attitude. Different “looks.” Because every home should be unique.

They also offered up this as an alternative:

loft
So many beautiful looks, so little time. It’s normal to love more than one design style. Check out your first runner-up—Loft. Loft is energetic. Fashion-driven. Practical.

What's your style. Take the quiz here.

61 Days

2009-03-23T08:46:00.002-04:00

Hi all. I hope you had a fab weekend. It was beautiful around here so I took full advantage of my weekend and did some much needed housework (both inside and out), spent some time outside and then celebrated a dear friends birthday.

I hope you have a fantastic start to your work week.

And p.s.......

61 days and counting until this Ms. becomes a Mrs. I can't wait!

Polos and Pearls

2009-03-19T17:09:00.001-04:00

I think I missed the invitation when your blog went private. If you wouldn't mind, can I get an invite? I miss reading your blog.

Whew!

2009-03-19T17:08:00.002-04:00

Wedding invitations done + in the mail = one very happy soon-to-be bride!

2009-03-03T11:09:00.000-05:00

Don't you sometimes wish you lived in a J. Crew ad?

Invitation Sneak Peak

2009-02-17T17:52:00.007-05:00

I've almost decided on the final design of the invitation...so I've decided to give you a sneak peak. These are the folders that allow you to put info into a pocket. The actual printed card is not glued down and looks a little off-center, but hey, they're not final. Do you like my design? Cute, eh?

Bridesmaid Update

2009-02-15T10:46:00.003-05:00

So I haven't been giving the wedding updates like I wanted to. So here's info on the bridesmaids attire. Boy are they going to be walking J. Crew models. They are all wearing the same dress. I haven't decided on the shoes yet. I'll let them pick their style shoe, I just don't know what color - gold or black. The two bracelets below are their gifts (Holly if your reading, keep it a secret). I haven't decided who is getting what style, but I have a good idea. I will also be wearing one. I won't be able to decide which one until I try on my dress. Since my dress is a little plain, I wanted to spice it up with some cute jewelry.

RIP Domino Magazine

2009-02-05T10:40:00.004-05:00

So I think I have noted before that I work in public relations. I'm not sure if I also noted that I work in advertising as well. I'm on the corporate side of marketing/communications. I love, love, love magazines and for the most part can't get enough. That said, this down economy is wreaking havoc on my favorite past time. In the past year I have seen some of my favorite pubs flounder in the slumping economy and close. First it started with Home magazine. A sad case, but not necessarily one of my favorites...so I could deal. Then came the closing of Cottage Living, O at Home and Country Home....now it was getting personal. As I was reading my most recent issue of Advertising Age this morning I stumbled onto something terrible...Domino is closing. Of all books to close....Domino. Yes friends, this quirky pub that was part fashion and home has bitten the proverbial dust.

Here is the statement that is listed on their site.

dear readers
It is with very heavy hearts that we say farewell. Over the last 4 years, in 28 issues, we have done our best to create a great magazine. We started with a real idea—that style is for everyone—and tried to carry it out with stories that provide inspiration and empower you to act on it. From your tremendous response, we know that we were onto something. In this tough economy, however, we simply weren't able to get the advertising support we needed.
As domino evolved, we never lost sight of our original democratic premise. Looking back at the manifesto we published in the premiere issue, the first tenet of domino is still the truest: Home should make you happy. We hope we have played a part in making this come true for you.
Love,All the editors of domino

March is the last issue that will be on stands. Goodbye old friend. We'll miss you.

Wishing for Warm Weather

2009-01-23T14:04:00.004-05:00

Today it's rather mild outside and almost 60 degrees. BUT, I am still wishing for warmer weather so that I can wear flip flops and sun dresses. I guess I'm on a kick today, first with the bathing suits and now with this. I found some cute items to look at from Old Navy. This recessionista and soon-to-be bride might pick up a few pieces, but the major shopping will have to wait until after the wedding.

Bathing Beauty?

2009-01-23T08:49:00.003-05:00

Hello all. In preparation for my honeymoon and the upcoming summer season, I have started my search for a bathing suit. I have always been a bikini girl and still have a few that I love. Although I still think I have a good figure (thank you very much yoga), I am beginning to consider the tankini option. I think they are super cute and possibly a little more appropriate for family gatherings around the pool or lake. These super cute options from LL Bean might just do the trick. Cute ehh?

I think my favorite combination is the striped top and the skirt. I love that they're a little sporty spice and that the cover-up is built-in.

Well Hello There!!

2009-01-21T17:13:00.003-05:00

Hello to all my bloggie friends that still check back to see if I'm here. It has been a very full last few weeks...and by full, I mean stressful. I really didn't think I would be having nightmares about the wedding so far out. There are four months left until our wedding and the official countdown has begun. I know I have everything under control, but I think my subconscious mind and my "reality" need to hook-up. Oh well, there is only so much I can control. Did anyone else have nightmares before their wedding? Mine include trouble with the fiance (there are none in real life) and incomplete items at the wedding, such as: wedding dress not altered, no shoes, thank you gifts not finished, no center pieces, no minister, etc. I guess I really need to up my yoga routine and just get zen with the whole thing.

I'll provide a more detailed update on the wedding over the next few weeks, but for now, what do we think of this for the rehearsal dinner? I love this dress and wanted my bridesmaids to where it (in black), but the style didn't suit everyone. The rehearsal dinner is actually going to be a "welcome" party of sorts. We are having a southern style BBQ for around 80 people and I want to be comfortably chic (it is my rehearsal dinner after all). This cutie J Crew number is now a steal at $69.00. I think I might go for it.

2008-12-03T17:14:00.002-05:00

Today I attended a funeral. It wasn't a family member or friend of mine, but the grandmother of one of my best friends. As we were driving to the cemetery I was appalled by some of the behavior I noted. The way I was brought up, if you saw a funeral procession pass, you stopped as if were an emergency vehicle. I was always told it was a matter of respect, not to mention manners and just human decency. You never rode beside the processional...not to mention driving beside the processional and running the red lights to boot and you didn't drive between the processional. I noticed that some people did the right thing by stopping. Am I the only one that was brought up this way? What does this say about us if we can't slow down enough to respect the life that was just called home?

Sorry for the rambling. I know this isn't happy blogger content. It's just been on my mind since I left the funeral.

2008-11-30T20:25:00.006-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Did you eat yourselves silly...I know I did. I have to say I'm quite surprised I didn't eat a single piece of pumpkin pie. Oh well...there's always Christmas.

I was cruising J Crew today (sigh) and found these cuties. I believe these might be my new obsession. A girl can wish because these babies are a pretty penny.
Chow for now!

Photographer Recommendation

2008-11-12T15:52:00.002-05:00

I need help from all in the blog world. I'm looking for a photographer in the proximity of Greensboro, NC to shoot my wedding. If you know anyone or you are a photographer, please leave me a comment with your information. I'm looking for someone that has editorial/photo journalistic style photography. I gladly appreciate the recommendation.

xoxox

Reception Location

2008-11-04T23:13:00.005-05:00

I thought I would share with you the fabulous location of our reception, Proximity Hotel, Greensboro. I hope to start posting a few more details on the wedding...all except the wedding dress. Ha Ha...you'll have to stay tuned. I think this hotel is just fabulous. It's only a year old and it is the only LEED certified hotel in the area. The staff at this hotel is on point as well. I'm just so happy with the decision to have our reception here. Hope you enjoy the pictures. If you would like to see more of the hotel, the website address is http://proximityhotel.com/index.html.

The outside of the hotel front at night

The outside of the hotel and the restaurant, Print Works Bistro

Print Works Bistro patio

The front entrance (love the outside draperies)

The social area in the hotel lobby (taken from the second story of the lobby)

Just Announced

2008-11-04T23:06:00.002-05:00

I haven't spoken on the election or my political views, but the presidential outcome was just announced. We have a new president and I couldn't be happier with who it is. This was an historical campaign and no matter who you voted for or the outcome, I am very proud of all of those who voted and contributed the democratic process. I felt proud to have made my contribution and to make sure my voice was heard.

Here's to the future and to change.

2008-10-19T19:59:00.002-04:00

Hello Ladies. Did you miss me? Although I haven't been posting I have been keeping up with your blogs. Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been traveling like a mad woman. Four trips to Dallas in six weeks will make anyone a little pooped. I've been taking some of the work load that was left over from a co-worker leaving our company. I've been a busy little bee here lately.

On to some exciting news...the wedding plans are coming along quite nicely. I bought my dress last weekend. I have to say I absolutely adore the dress. I only went to two places, but I tried on at least 40 dresses in a variety of styles. I finally settled on the sweetest dress from David's Bridal. It's super cute and super preppy. I wanted a dress I could be comfortable in during the ceremony and the reception. It's a very simple style and has no train. I didn't want to have to worry about it during the reception....I plan on dancing a lot. Best of all, if I don't want to store it, it's simple enough to cut it off for a cocktail dress. Am I the only one who thinks like this? I just don't see putting my dress in a box and never wearing it again. I don't want to sell it, but don't want to store it either. What do you girls think? What did you do? I may change my mind, but I think I'll probably go with this option. I would love to show you guys a picture, but I'm not sure who is reading and I don't want to ruin my big entrance. Ha Ha. You'll have to stay tuned until I have the pictures from our big day.

We also picked out the save-the-dates finally. So cute. They are white with partial black polka dots and a hint of green in the form of boundary lines. All-in-all, I have to say I feel good with the progression of the planning. Stay tuned for wedding linen and floral details.

I hope you all had a great weekend. Hope you have a fab start to your week. I'll be back soon.

xoxoxo
CG

Fall Closet Makeover on the Cheap

2008-09-05T12:15:00.005-04:00

It is getting closer to the wedding day so my cash has got to stretch a lot further. I've been very good with shopping recently, but I think I may need to take a little break from my angelic ways. The FI seems to think I have enough clothes...and I probably do...but let's face it, all girls need a seasonal closet update. Let's also face it, there are some seriously good deals out there right now. Look at the cute stuff I found at Old Navy.

Seriously, I get get all of the above for less than $300.00? What? So cute. I intend on visiting Old Navy after work....or at work if I can't wait.

Happy Friday!

xoxoxoxo

Inventive

2008-08-26T15:09:00.002-04:00

If you are trying to be a sustainable as possible with your wedding, you may want to check this nifty idea out. I thought this was very inventive.

This would be a great use of a cereal box (who doesn't like cereal). The FI is a packaging sustainability engineer so I forwarded this on to him. Hey, if I'm creating all the ideas, he could at least help with the execution. These boxes would be great for welcome gifts. A welcome note could be affixed to the top of the box (if there is a stamp as there is here). The box could be stuffed with shredded paper and depending on the size of the box filled with local fare (wine, BBQ sauce, boiled peanuts, local beer, cheese straws). Just thought I would pass this idea along if any of you out there are looking for a different sustainable welcome vessel other than a reusable shopping bag.

This is from Craftzine via A $10,000 Wedding.

Testing Please

2008-08-26T14:25:00.001-04:00

Testing. Testing. Is anyone out there. This post is really to see if I have loaded Google analytics correctly. You see, I am less than tech savvy. So sad...I know.

Blog Article

2008-08-25T10:48:00.001-04:00

What better place than my blog than to post this link to an article in the New York Times on women and blogs. Just thought it was interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/technology/14women.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&em&adxnnlx=1219673320-4/FxUDZf5d3Q9KjuEJnSVQ

Snarky

2008-08-25T10:23:00.000-04:00

I'm back from another wedding weekend. I'm also sleep deprived and more than a little sarcastic today. Some might refer to it as snarky. I was introduced to this term about two years ago when I was being a brat, and a very honest friend of mine asked "why I was so snarky". I've since adopted the word and use it when appropriate.

I didn't get home from Michigan last night until 12:30 a.m. and then had a 8:00 a.m. meeting this morning. Seriously, who does this? If "you" are out there (and you know who you are) for the love of all that is sacred and holy, please DO NOT under any circumstance, schedule a meeting for 8:00 a.m. on a Monday morning.

I'm feeling a little better now that I've had a Latte (should have gotten that extra shot!). Did I mention I spilled a little on my shirt this morning.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

I'm Coming Out

2008-08-20T20:07:00.000-04:00

With my face that is. I haven't ever put pictures of myself on my blog before. The first picture below is of me and my luvie. Isn't he a cutie? This is of my 32nd birthday (gasp!). I sometimes can't believe I'm that old. Oh well, I've had a great life thus far, so I guess it only gets better from here.

This picture is from our Jamaican vacation. We were obviously out to dinner. One of the best we had while on our vacation.

This was the view from our balcony. We never made it to the private island other than to have dinner. It seemed like a hassle to go to the island during the day.

These guys were allowed to roam around the grounds and in the buildings. There was a male with a full tail of feathers. I wanted a picture but never got one.

This was one of the magnificent views that we had on our horse back ride tour. It was fun, but this was the first time I had been on a horse. I have to say I'm not sure that this is my sport. I didn't really enjoy it.

Love Love Love These Invitations

2008-08-19T14:33:00.001-04:00

I love these invitations. Miss Cupcake over at the Weddingbee designed these herself. I love how she used the bold colors. I think I've told you guys before that our colors are black, white and green. I've been on the fence a little about what green I want, but seeing these has sealed the deal. I really like how un-traditionally vibrant these are. I think our invitations will be elegant, but playful and will probably have some kind of black and white polka dot on them. I designed our save-the-dates. They aren't as ornate as these, but I think they're cute and express my personality.

Distinctively Southern

2008-08-15T16:41:00.000-04:00

Boy, two posts in one hour. I'm on a roll.

I've started thinking a lot about our wedding recently. I really want a elegant wedding, but want people to feel comfortable and enjoy themselves. My fiance is from Michigan and I would like for all of his friends and family to enjoy all that Greensboro, and the south for that matter, have to offer. I think I've said before that we would like to have our rehearsal dinner at our local baseball stadium. Our back up plan if there isn't a home game that night is to have the rehearsal dinner at a local brewery downtown. There is a third story private room that would be perfect for something laid back. This of course would be complete with beer tasting flights (is this fun or what).

Our ceremony will be held at a local park. I love this park and the fact that we will have to do the bare minimum to make this a stunning ceremony site is definitely a bonus.

Our reception is being held a the newest "boutique" hotel in the city. It is such a cool location. Our wedding colors are white and black with green as our accent color. For our cocktails, I plan to offer NC wines, locally brewed beer and Tom Collins with lime slices as our signature cocktails. For the menu, I would love to have the following:

Appetizers
Fried green tomatoes
Pimento cheese tartlets
Country ham tea biscuits

Main Menu (Stations)
NC BBQ pork tenderloin (east and west coast offerings of course)
Shrimp & Grits
Roast Beef
Salad
Vegetables (I would love to have fancy collard greens or fried okra as an option)

Desert Option
Cupcakes
Banana pudding cups

What do you guys think? Remember, all of this would be prepared with the utmost attention and it wouldn't be tres redneck. I think the fiance is OK with a southern twist, I just want to make sure I'm offering enough options for people. I would love to hear from you ladies. I trust your opinions.

Posh in Green

2008-08-15T15:32:00.000-04:00

I wish my office looked like this. I truly heart green. I love the bright energy it provides. It's classic with a twist. Just how I like to see myself. I think I wouldn't mind so much coming to work if I had this to look forward to everyday.

*both images are from Pottery Barn (where else?).

CFL Bulbs

2008-08-10T15:53:00.000-04:00

I know buying CFL bulbs is the new eco-conscious thing to do because they use less energy. One thing to consider is that when throwing these bulbs away is that they need to be disposed of properly. I'm sure not many people know that these bubs contain trace amounts of mercury...yes they stuff we have been trying to remove from water sources for years...think tuna. When disposing of these bulbs they shouldn't be thrown away in the regular trash. The mercury levels can leach into landfills if you throw them in the trash. You can find a recycling program in your area by visiting epa.gov/bulbrecycling.

I'll get off my soap box now. I just wanted all to be aware of this, as it seems to be a dirty little secret.

Tagged

2008-08-04T21:54:00.000-04:00

I was tagged over a week ago by Muffy Martini to list 5 songs I am embarrassed to admit I like.

*Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
*Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others that you like and tell why.
*Tag 7 random people at the end of post.

1. Ice Ice Baby, by Vanilla Ice (as if y'all didn't know the artist). I know every word of this song...no kidding. I can't get enough of it. Every time it comes on I have to listen the the entire thing. I swear it's like a train wreck that you can't look away from.

2. Islands in the Stream, by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. I think I'm going to have to play this at my wedding. It's an inside thing between me and the FI. Every time we get into a fight and we're in the car, all I have to do is play this song and he smiles. I've got his number!

3. Feels So Right, by Alabama. Again, I love this song so much I think I'm going to have to play it our wedding. When the FI moved away last year and we had only been dating for five weeks, I made him a going away CD. And...you guessed it, this song was on the CD. Can you imagine the cheese head he must have thought I was. Oh, and this song also reminds me of childhood. My dad was a big fan.

4. Footloose, by Kenny Loggins. I used to have this tape when I was a kid and spilled coke on it one day. Unfortunately, Footloose does not sound good as a rap song. So a few months back I downloaded the entire CD. God did this bring back memories of childhood. Can you imagine living in a city where you couldn't dance (he he!).

5. Girls Just Want to Have Fun, by Cyndi Lauper (sp ?). This was the ultimate girl movie (well, other than Dirty Dancing, you know what I'm say'n) when I was growing up. I must have watched this 50 times at slumber parties.

I think everyone else has done this. If not, feel free to play along!

U-haul (it your damn self)

2008-08-04T17:22:00.000-04:00

A week without me. I missed you, did you miss me? Sorry for the lack of posts, but I was in the middle of moving the FI from Chicago to Nashville last week. I know you're jealous of all my fun (ha ha). He didn't hire a moving company, so we packed up a U-haul and towed it behind the truck. I really believe they should revise their logo to U-haul (it your damn self).

Anyway, on to fun stuff. I'm in love with these cute pillows. I don't think that I'm going to have a ring bearer, but I think these pillows might be cute as a gift for a little girls room or a dainty guest bedroom. There is something so sweet about these pillows. I saw them over at Style Me Pretty. I think I might have a craft project in my future if I can ever find the time.

Hope everyone had a great start to their week. I'm off to the gym. Oh, red & white preppy, my email address is cab.76@hotmail.com.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2008-07-25T10:10:00.000-04:00

As one of my dear friends likes to say on her birthday, it's my birthday, not yours! It literally is all about me today. OK, so I like to think that about everyday, but let's face it, your birthday is truly your special day. My birthday is my favorite day of the year. I love holidays, especially Christmas and the 4th of July, but my birthday is the tops for me.

The FI is coming in tonight, although his flight is delayed...making his arrival 3 hours later. Oh well, I suppose we'll just have a late dinner. Then on from dinner and out to have drinks with my friends. I think tonight I may have to make an exception to my, I don't like to stay out after midnight stance. Although, technically after midnight, it is no longer my birthday. What the heck, we'll make this my birthday weekend. Why only celebrate for a day, when you can have three. It's definitely great that my birthday is on a Friday. I'm not going to lie.

We are also going to Lake Norman on Saturday for the remainder of the weekend. My sister is coming up from Florida so that we can celebrate my parents 40th anniversary. That's a biggie in any one's book. I guess this weekend is truly about celebrations as it's also my sister's (the one from Florida) anniversary.

I'll provide an update on the happenings this weekend on Monday. By then I might have time to download the Jamaica pictures I promised to share last week. I might even have some from this weekend to share.

Until then. Have a great weekend all!

10 Things I Love About Summer

2008-07-22T09:41:00.000-04:00

Waking up to a sunny day
Backyard BBQ's
Seasonal beers
Cute shoes and dresses
Being able to wear flip flops without your toes freezing
Having a tan that doesn't come from a bottle
Saturday afternoons with a magazine and iced coffee on my back deck
Fresh flowers
Patio dining
My birthday - which is this Friday - celebrated with lots of friends, lots of vodka and soda, great dinner at my favorite restaurant and my fantastic fiance

Still Here

2008-07-18T10:31:00.000-04:00

No, I did not fall off the face of the Earth. I did fall into the ocean in Jamaica and then straight to NYC for a media tour. Jamaica was fabulous and I promise to post pictures soon. NYC was great. The media tour went very well. Oh, did I mention that the press release I put out this week got picked up by Forbes.com. Go me!

I'll be back soon with pictures and maybe an update on my crazy life.

Preppy Princess

2008-06-30T16:14:00.000-04:00

I have never posted photos of myself, friends or family on my blog, but I thought it was time to start. Let me be the first to introduce the preppy pet. Her name is Kili and she might be the prissiest cat alive. My friends all say she has my personality. I'm not sure how I should take that though, because she truly is spoiled. She is rather cute and in these pictures it's hard to tell where she ends and the blanket begins.

One Week and Counting

2008-06-30T09:07:00.000-04:00

Until we leave for Jamaica. I'm so excited it makes it hard to work. Plus the fact it is a gorgeous day and I wish I were already lying pool side. Well at least I have a few extra days at the gym to get the body bikini ready. Wish me luck!

Bad Habit

2008-06-26T19:57:00.000-04:00

I am such a bad blogger. I've been a little crazy at work and my travel has had me all over the place. First it was to Chicago, then Michigan for a wedding, then back to Chicago and then home. Did I mention that all of this travel was in the course of one weekend? After getting home on Sunday night at 1:30 am, I left for Des Moines, IA on Monday and then finally came home on Tuesday night.

I work in PR and advertising, so I made a little trip to Des Moines to make a media pitch. I think it went well. I must admit that I love all things PR, but I'm not big on giving presentations to large groups. I used to be great at it, but now for some reason it really freaks me out. I need to get this under control as an adult career usually requires presentations in front of groups.

Back to the title of the post. My bad habit is picking out the best portions of cereal, party mix, trail mix, etc. I actually avoid buying certain cereals so I won't do this. I bought Raisin Bran yesterday and have already started picking out the sugar raisins. This is such a bad habit.

Tag...I'm it!

2008-06-16T11:26:00.000-04:00

I've been tagged for the very first time and it feels like a right-of-passage. I was tagged by I love Pink.

The rules go something like this: Post rules at the beginning of the post. Answer all the questions. Tag 6 people, go to their blog and leave a comment to inform them that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you have posted your answers.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I had just finished my fourth year of college. I was on the five year plan since I changed majors from textile design to textile marketing. Summer was always the best time and I was living that summer up because it was my last one without a full-time job.

What are 5 things on your to do list for today?

Write thank yous for our engagement party gifts.

Send thank you gifts to our friends that threw our engagement party.

Body pump class at the gym.

Order this dress from J. Crew (in Navy).

Read my book and get to bed at a decent time.

What snacks do you enjoy?
String cheese, Kashi granola bars, kettle corn popcorn, fruit, yogurt, anything chocolate...I'm a snacker.

What places have you lived?
I grew up in Hickory, NC. I lived briefly in Greenville, NC. I've lived in Greensboro, NC for 12 years (since I came here for college).

What 5 things would you do if you were a billionaire?

Pay off student loans.

Take care of my parents for life.

Set up a scholarship fund.

Travel.

By myself a spectacular home on the NC coast. I love it here.

Tagged: Little Southern Sister, Tres Poshe Preppy, Polos & Pearls and Mrs. Preppy. I think everyone else has been tagged.

Whim on Sale!

2008-06-13T14:38:00.000-04:00

I know you girls love Whim by Cynthia Rowley at Target because I've been reading your entries for the last month. Here's a tip...all the Whim items at my local Target in Greensboro are 50% off. Run, don't walk to your nearest Target before the pieces you haven't gotten yet are all gone. I just checked the target.com and the items online haven't been marked down yet.

Sweets for a Good Cause

2008-06-13T08:35:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how many of you out there are reading my blog that aren't reading The Preppy Wedding, but I wanted to share this anyway. On June 14 & 15 Wendy's will donate 50 cents from the sale of every Frosty product, including new Frosty Shakes, at participating restaurants, to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. This is a good way to make a contribution and get something sweet in return. You know we all love sugar, so skip the Ben & Jerry's this weekend and pony-up for a good cause. Help bring a child to a home they can call their own.

2008-06-12T09:30:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've been MIA since last week. I had a busy weekend with the FI and then had a busy first half of the week at work.

The weekend update goes like this. FI was supposed to fly in Friday night for our engagement party on Saturday night. He got delayed repeatedly due to storms in the Chicago area and finally arrived at 11am Saturday morning. We missed our Friday night together, but at least he made it for our engagement party. How embarrassing would it have been to be sans FI at OUR party. The party was great! My friends really out did themselves. The dress was cute, but I felt like I looked like a table cloth. Also, if the angle was right, I looked as big as a table. I would post pictures, but I don't think they turned out exceptionally well (see the statement about looking like a table). I don't have a problem sharing pictures of us, I just can't find that many cute ones (where we both look good). Hopefully we'll get some good ones when we go to Jamaica. The good thing that came from the shots of me looking like a beached whale is that I need to start working out more often. After many years of being super skinny and watching what I eat very carefully, I've discovered I really like food....good food. I'm not willing to starve myself, so I guess I have no other choice by to work harder.

Anyway, back to the weekend. The Friday night we lost due to storms was made up for on Sunday night, again due to storms. We finally got to play the 80's edition Trivial Pursuit he got me for my birthday last year. Yes, I love trivia, but have never been able to beat the FI. Let's face it, if there were a trivia game dedicated to clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories and brand knowledge, I would beat the pants off of him. Oh well.

Hope you're having a good week.

I Relapsed

2008-06-04T14:37:00.000-04:00

Yes, my addiction rears its ugly head again. My friends are throwing the FI and I an engagement party this weekend and the dress is "Dressy Casual". I do have enough dresses (due to the afore mentioned addiction), but I found this dress at Target and it is so cute. I tried it on hoping it wouldn't fit, but if fit like a dream. I thought this dress would be great with nude color heels. I guess right now I'm just making a confession and rationalizing another dress. Oh well, at least it will look cute in pictures.

Cosmos and Sex

2008-05-30T12:31:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the overt title, but this is truly what Sex and the City is all about. I have been waiting so long for this movie to come out. I know I'm not alone when I say I cried at the end of the last episode. So next week on Wednesday my girlfriends and I are going to see this movie and then go for drinks afterward. I believe there may be a round of cosmos or two.

I think I may have to channel my inner Charlotte with a cute outfit. Let's face it, I don't think this is going to happen again and I might as well bring it for the end of an era.

My Obsession

2008-05-23T16:02:00.000-04:00

I have a slight obsession with cupcakes. I don't eat them nearly as much as I would like, but the obsession has deep roots. I think it only fitting that I share my obsession with guest at our wedding. We plan on having cupcakes instead of a traditional cake with a cake topper for us to cut. I haven't decided on the type or style of cupcakes yet, but until I do, I'll be supplying you with plenty of tasty temptations.

I can't remember where I found this image, but I thought these looked so simple and fresh for a spring wedding.

I found these pretty pieces on Cupcakes Take The Cake. These are so elegant and refined. I love the fondant hearts and ribbon treatment. I think they may be a bit too sophisticated for the laid back preppy wedding we are striving for.

I found these on the Martha Stewart Weddings site. These are a bit too bright for me, but I love how the fondant hearts have the couple's initials on them. I think there is a way to tie all these together to achieve the perfect preppy cupcake tower. Wish me luck!

Mason Jar Find

2008-05-19T14:16:00.000-04:00

This is the cutest idea. It looks to me like these are cupcakes in a mason jar. The bakery is Bangerang Bake Shop. I would have never thought of that. There are so many uses for mason jars, but here in the south the top two are homemade canned products and a vessel for sweet tea. I like the idea of using the mason jar. I might use them for wedding favors (for candy). I wanted something a little more unique than a box or a bag and also wanted to provide something to my guest that could be reused.

Who knew mason jars could be so cute? Wouldn't these be cute with jelly beans in our wedding colors (green and white) tied with a black and white polka dot bow (black is the third wedding color). I'm not fond of licorice, so that is not something you would find in any of my candy choices. I would label this with a card that had our initials and the note that "love is sweet".

Dear J

2008-05-16T11:48:00.000-04:00

J Crew that is. Why must you temp me with such cute clothes during a time that is supposed to be all about saving? If it's not too much trouble could you put this on sale?

And this too?

If I say pretty please, will you do it? I really need these to add to my collection.

Thanks Martha

2008-05-15T17:13:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure who out there is reading this blog, but if you are, you know that I am engaged and planning a wedding. A little more background on me: I am 31, the youngest of four girls and am pretty far along in my career for someone my age. Needless to say, I, along with my FI will be paying for this wedding. Although I consider myself to have somewhat refined taste (and some might say expensive) I am trying to be budget conscious in regards to this wedding. Thanks to suggestions from Martha Stewart, it's easing the stress of trying to figure out how on Earth I'm going to achieve the wedding I want without going into some serious debt. I've been reading wedding blogs, buying books, magazines, on-line research...you name it, I've done it. When I was on Martha Stewart Weddings (.com) today, I found cute centerpiece ideas. Any of these would be great alternatives to expensive floral arrangements. I also picked up the newest Martha Stewart Wedding Inspirations book and found some additional ideas.

I found this idea for luminary center pieces to be devine. In the book I reference above, there are other luminaries that are just as cute. Mixed in with small flower arrangements I think this would make an elegant centerpiece.

I thought this was too cute. I was planning on using potted plants at certain areas at my reception. I was going to give one plant to each of our parents and keep one for us. I think it is only fitting that each have a card addressed to our parents to "let the love grow".

I love this idea too. I think this would be cute to place on the gift table and on the favor table.

Possibilities

2008-05-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

I talked to the FI this morning. I am excited to say that he might be moving closer to me. Not to say that a six hour drive is closer, but let's face it, it's much better than a plane ride. This made my day. I must not get my hopes up though, because there is still a chance that it won't happen. No rain on my parade yet though!

New Seersucker

2008-05-08T10:31:00.000-04:00

These are my new shorts. Cute aren't they? They had such a good selection of them at Target I may go back and get the green/white version. These are going to look so cute for my Jamaican vacation this summer. I think a white button down shirt, brown strappy sandals, brown belt and pearls will dress these up nicely.

Garden Party

2008-05-02T16:40:00.000-04:00

How cute would this be for a garden party or an intimate wedding?

If Only

2008-05-02T16:13:00.001-04:00

I had a beach house. This is how I would decorate it...and I'd be heading there today after work. One can dream.

And this would be right outside my back door.

Pottery Barn, why do you tease me so?

Addicted to Dresses

2008-05-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I'll admit it openly. I have an addiction to dresses. It started as a harmless flirtation. Now I think at last count I had around 55 dresses. Yes, I think I need an intervention. But, don't you think this dress is too cute for a wedding? I bought this for one of the four weddings I have this spring. I intend to wear it with cute pink high-heel sandals. Both were from Ann Taylor. You should seriously take a look at their site if you have any upcoming weddings this spring or summer. You won't regret it.

Hopped Up

2008-05-01T09:19:00.000-04:00

On sugar and caffeine that is. I have been typing so fast I think my finger nails are in jeopardy of breaking. I love this early morning feeling I get when I drink sweet tea before work and grab a cup of coffee when I get here. So productive until about 11am when I'm ready for a nap.

New to the Game

2008-04-30T13:37:00.000-04:00

I'm new to the whole blog game, so I guess we'll see how this goes. I started looking at other people's blogs when I started planning my wedding and it snow balled somehow to an addiction. I swear, it's worse than crack. I do find it interesting to read about other people's life...it's kind of like Cliff's notes to reality TV.

Speaking of planning a wedding, have you ever tried to plan a wedding when you're in NC and your FI is in Chicago, IL? Trust me when I say there is a lot of email correspondence.

So yes, I planning my wedding. I have to admit I thought I would hate planning, but I love it. Picking the flowers, creating the the save-the dates, the parties. Need I say more?

Well, I guess this was a successful first entry. It's kind of like writing in your high school journal. I wasn't very good at keeping that up, so hopefully I'll stick with this.