Disney Live + Frozen

In the last few days I’ve had the great pleasure of not one but TWO dates with the finest five year old I know.  This evening we met up with Sister and Bird for a magical night at Disney Jr. Live Pirate and Princess Adventure!!



 



The cousins were rapt with attention and Sister and I just sat back and marveled at them enjoying Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Sofia the First, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Minnie and Mickey.  I wish I could just bottle up these years.



     

When Daddy-O took the PCP to see Frozen for a birthday treat and they both came home raving about it I was dying to see it.  Well, I logged on to my Disney Movie Rewards account a couple of days later and was beyond thrilled to have an offer for two free tickets!!  I took Whit on his birthday eve and wow… just WOW!  It was incredible and just might be my new favorite Disney movie.  EVER!  Sweet friend M gave us the soundtrack and we’ve listened to it on repeat the last few days.  Can’t wait for the DVD release!





With that, the littles are begging to play Hedbanz.  It’s quite interesting to play with the baby.  For lack of a better word.
xoxo

PS. Check out Day 7 on the 12 Days of Christmas Home Tour at Driven by Decor!!

Taking the Monsters to MU

One of the most anticipated outings of the summer occurred this week… taking the monsters to see Monsters University!  We almost never see movies outside of the dollar theater so this was a real treat.

 
 
Thanks Mimi and Ampa for the darling Monsters shirts and for the sticker albums!  Much like our baseball sticker books, packs of stickers to fill the books are just $1 and can be found everywhere from Target to the Dollar Tree.


 

Less than two years ago we met Mike for the first time and the baby was terrified… my how time flies!

Anyhoo, I must admit that I was just as excited as they were to finally see the movie.  We’re planning to re-watch Monsters Inc. tonight after Honey gets home and plans for MU Halloween costumes are already in the works!!
xoxo

Academy Awards 2013 Ballot {Free Printable}

Per usual, it’s with bated breath that I anxiously await the gorgeous gowns, dapper men and coveted Oscars that will be doled out on Sunday eve.  And while I’ll likely be watching in my jammies from the comfort of my bed, I will be keeping track of my picks and the big winners with another printable ballot.  (I have pictured last year’s because I just don’t have it in me to stage and take a photo this dreary afternoon.  I mean, as the four friends that popped in this morning can attest to, I still have on my PJs for cryin out loud.)



Here’s how:

- Click on link below to download file
- Print on two sides of regular 8.5” x 11” white cardstock
Then, if you wish to dress it up a bit:
- Trim the left and right edges, leaving only a very slim margin
- Use a paper punch to round the edges
- Punch holes (I had to punch two holes side by side) at the top of the paper to hold your pencil

Academy Awards 2013 printable ballot by

With that, I’m signing off of the old blog until Monday!
xoxo

Musings

SPOILER ALET: Please tell me I’m not the only one that didn’t know the handsome and enviable Matthew was going to be killed off in the season finale of Downton Abbey?!?! I mean, I really cannot come up with words to express my supreme disappointment. I immediately booted up my computer to find some answers – I mean WHY would they do that??? Well, it seems he wanted off the show and that was their only way to make it happen. UGH. I have just five words for him… the grass is always greener.

Speaking of Downton, did you see the fantastic party printables at Tatertots & Jello? I wish I’d had a good reason to use them but it seemed a little over the top (even for me) to string them up around my bedroom while I laid here by myself to watch the finale.



The student council at the PCP’s school sold lollipop Valentine’s to be delivered on the big day.  The PCP sent a few to kids in his class and besties in other classes and came home with one himself…  From our family friend Jacob: “You are my best frend”.  awwww



The baby’s fourth birthday party was featured at Hostess with the Mostess!  I mean, that’s only like the best party planning blog EVER :-)  I was beyond excited to his smiling face in my blog roll.  (See all the details here)

Photo from HostessBlog

Daddy-O has come up to Savannah with a trunk load of oranges straight from my parent’s next door neighbor’s yard on his last three visits.  They are simply the very best oranges I’ve ever wrapped my lips around.  I made fresh squeezed orange juice for breakfast one morning and the baby said it best when he exclaimed “Mommy!  This is the BEST thing I’ve never had!”


Another success in the kitchen has been Oh Sweet Basil’s Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas.  I’ve made them twice over the last month and they are divine!  They were so good, in fact, that they were the chosen meal for our “prepare a meal for someone who doesn’t expect it” Lenten activity.

Photo from Oh Sweet Basil

On the flip side of successful foodie finds would be the salt and vinegar kale chips I made for snack last week.  Let it suffice to say they have nothing on Lay’s.  (In retrospect I am wondering why on earth I thought I'd like them in the first place.)



I received the sweetest email and shot out from Amelia at Monograms ‘n Mud yesterday.  I was completely humbled at her kind words and then completely wowed by her blog.  I die at her basement – full of DIY goodness and totally my style…

Photo from Monograms ‘n Mud

I ate lunch at Zoes Kitchen for the first time this week and it was SO yummy!  I had the half sandwich (chicken salad) and half salad (greek minus olives) and was super happy with the meal.  It felt good to break out of our “errand day” Chick-fil-A lunch rut.

With that, I’m off to “nuggle” the baby before feeding him his usual three breakfasts and coercing him into helping me fold the four loads of laundry piled up all over our bedroom.
xoxo

Musings

Y’all were so so sweet to leave Honey all those comments yesterday.  He’s quite a catch :-)  Someone asked for a picture of his Christmas beard and, unfortunately (?), he broke a long standing tradition when he shaved it early this year for a holiday party.  The really interesting thing is that it was not a costume type event…
 
Have you seen the train wreck that is Dance Moms?  As much as I don’t want to watch it, on the rare occasion I come across it while flipping channels I just can’t seem to turn it off.  Okay, who am I kidding?  I do sometimes every so often seek it out :-)

I am thankful for every.single.minute that I have with this little one at home.  He fills my days with so much joy, laughter and silliness.

Lest you think the baby is always tromping around in darling outfits, I thought I should set things straight and share how he looks most days.  I never had trouble dolling the PCP up in smocks and appliques, but this little one has a mind of his own and an (unfortunate) penchant for jerseys and strange socks.

So excited to have found this blog dedicated to reviewing Trader Joe’s wine – Trader Joe’s Wine Compendium.  Although it doesn’t seem to have been updated in a good long while.

And speaking of wine, this is my new favorite red.  It’s $12 at my Publix but less that $8 at my local wine store.  Thanks blonde AW for making our introduction…Apothic Red: The brambly spice of Zinfandel, dark fruit flavors of Syrah, the bold notes of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smooth elegance of Merlot unite to create this captivating red blend.  Apothic Red reveals intense fruit aromas and flavors of rhubarb and black cherry, complemented by hints of mocha, chocolate, brown spice and vanilla. The plush, velvety mouthfeel and the smooth finish round out this intriguing, full-bodied red blend.

I’ve also been loving the What Kate Wore blog.  You know, because it satiates my obsession with all things princess and fashionable.

And while I’m on the subject of princesses, take a gander at my half-baby.  I’m just a little obsessed with sweet CeeCee and am counting down the minutes till I can get my hands on her again.  And don’t you just adore the hat??!!  Sister found it on etsy.

The littles helped me make these pancake bites earlier in the week.  We followed the instructions in the actual blog post, not in the Pinterest write up and found that it only made six little muffins.  Aside from that snafu, we used what we had on hand (blueberries, bananas & nuts, strawberries and chocolate chips) and the littles adored them. 

We have a fun filled weekend of basketball, birthday parties and Falcons cheering ahead.  And the chore of finishing the cleaning and organizing of  this wretched closet.  Yes, I realize that the fact that I wrote “finishing” is surprising because from the looks of it you thought I hadn’t even started.  This is part of my "evaluate" resolution…


Happy three day weekend y’all!
xoxo

Musings

I’m still under the weather – but thankful that nobody else around here seems to be fazed by any sort of cold bug.  I caught Country Strong last night on some cable network and it was so darn good I couldn’t stand it.  I was completely shocked by both Gwyneth’s and Leighton’s songs.  And I spent the whole two and a half hours swooning over Garrett Hedlund (whose name I’d never heard before last night.)  There’s just something incredibly attractive about a country boy that can croon.

While on the topic of the good old tele, who else is just over the moon with excitement for the Downton Abbey Season 3 premiere tomorrow night??  I will be positively despondent if Mary and Matthew don’t tie the knot and I simply cannot wait to see how things unfold for the Bates’.  (How is it that I feel like I know these people?)

While Honey and the baby did some work around the house, the PCP beat me fair and square in a marathon two hour plus game of Monopoly this morning.  No offense to Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders, but I’m thrilled to finally have some real games to play.  (That being said, Memory and Whack-a-Mole are still two of my all time favorites.)

Speaking of the PCP, last night he dazzled me with this little gem of what’s to come:  “I can’t wait to be an uncle when aunchie’s baby hatches.  I’m going to teach her how to wrestle and do ninja karate.”  Love that he a) thinks he’s going to be an uncle and 2) calls the birthing “hatching”.  Just a few more weeks…

Have y’all seen this floating around on Facebook?  I seriously… SERIOUSLY… thought the year 2013 was eons away back when Daddy-O took us to see this movie at the good old Victory Drive cinemas.  Eons away AND that I’d probably be in a nursing home by then.  Hard to believe that day in the future was yesterday.

I pinned this chair this week and can’t get it out of my mind.  Y’all know this girl loooooves some pink!  These eyes are peeled for a junk store version I can remake.  Gorgey!

Lastly, I want to ask y’all to send prayers to bestie Ron of Uptown Acorn.  Complications from the flu he’s been battling have left him in ICU for the past two days.  He’s one of the best friends a girl could ask for and I can’t wait for him to be back to his old self – I miss coffee tawk and our daily texts, emails and debriefs on matters of utmost importance (ie. cocktails, decor and crafts gone wrong.)  Much love, Ron!!! xoxo

The sweetest four year old face I’ve ever seen just popped back in my room after I thought he was long gone for the night.  I suppose I’ll have to lie down with him.  Such a shame :-)
xoxo

HGTV Dream Home 2013

One of my family’s rather untraditional New Year’s traditions is to tune in for the premiere tour of the new HGTV Dream Home.  Afterwards, Mother, Sister and I debrief room by room, talking about every little detail that we loved (and those not-so-much.)  Linda Woodrum has been the dream home designer of choice for quite a few years and is pretty much a celebrity as far as we’re concerned (Sister shopped along side her at Scott’s a few years ago and promptly called to report back on exactly what she was procuring.)  

Without a doubt, my favorite thing about the 2013 Dream Home was its choice location in Kiawah Island.  I mean, I’d have taken any of the houses up for the win over the years, but this one would literally be a DREAM! 




The marsh views from the multiple porches were to die for.

I loved the idea of the old iron Charleston gates over the fire place, but that focal wall felt a little cold to me overall.  However, looking from the other direction, the room was super gorgeous and sumptuous.


While I adored the blues, browns, linens and muted greens, this citron color was a little too prominent for my taste.  That would really be my only complaint.


I could seriously take this pantry and slap it right onto my kitchen.  I love that the look is very attainable and wouldn’t be too outrageous to DIY.  I think this would be a great look for my laundry room that’s on our 2013 project list.  I can’t get enough of the oversized, off centered prints layered over the shelves.  And now I know where I could put a few demijohns around this part without them getting broken (a conundrum I’ve pondered many times.)

I thought this was fun and dramatic and perfect for a powder room.  Love the horizontal pin stripes – a fresh take on the bold striped walls we’ve been seeing for years.

The loft area would be perfect for the littles.  I love the indigo and white but wasn’t crazy about the art.

The master suite was just lovely.  Serene and tranquil and lovely.  The large white framed sea fans were one of my favorite pieces of art in the whole house.  I've been thinking of doing something like this for some time now.




The guest suite was one of my very favorite spaces.  I loved the pops of indigo and the updated traditional bed with the geographic rug.  The bathroom was definitely my favorite of the lot with its clean and simple lines.


The bunk nook was cute and colorful and my littles would love it.  The rope handles on the drawers were a perfect detail!


I really can’t say enough good things about this room.  I just loved every little detail and thought it would make for a super sweet girl room for the girl that’s not all gaga over pink (is there such a thing?).  I used to have the same stripes in the dining room of my old house  - alternating flat paint and satin paint in the same color.


Since the garage is also on our 2013 project list, I was completely wowed by this one.  I mean, check out that polished concrete floor for heaven’s sake.  And that “playroom” is TOO much. 


So that’s a little mini tour of the 2013 HGTV Dream Home.  What did you think?  I know I’d be happy as a clam to move right in :-) 
xoxo