A Magical Night

I have had a wonderful time visiting with my parents, and we've had so much fun the past few days! On thanksgiving, I went to my aunt's house and had the most DELICIOUS food, especially my Mimi's dressing! It's insane how good it is!!! 

My mom and I went to the North Georgia Premium Outlets to do a little pre-Black Friday shopping, since the shops opened at 9pm-12pm. We found some great deals, but did the bulk of our shopping on Black Friday at Dress-Up! (their styles are adorable, check them out!) Mom and I both found several cute scarves, jackets and head warmers...now if it would just get cold outside!!

Tonight, my mom, dad, myself, and my best friend Krista went to the Lake Lanier Magical Nights of Lights and had a BLAST!!! MNOL is a 7 mile drive of beautiful Christmas lights that include everything from the 12 days of Christmas to The Wizard of Oz!! Despite the fact that most people drive through the lights, that didn't stop us from continually hopping out of the car to run and take pictures with our favorite characters!

We finished the drive at Santa's Workshop, where we roasted marshmallows, bought Christmas ornaments and rode carnival rides! It was so much fun, and I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! So many wonderful memories were made, and I am so glad that I was able to make them with the 'rents and my bestie!

  

Skipping straight to the best part...

Well, Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite times of year. So I will say that is why it has been so long since I blogged (not because I'm lazy or unmotivated...)

So, sadly, not much has happened since July. I'm still loving my "new" place and love continuing to make it mine, especially decorating for the holidays. This is my first "grown-up" holiday season. I say this only because this is the first time that I will actually have family (my mom and dad) coming from out of town to stay with me. I'm so excited! I love Black Friday shopping with my mom and I am planning a fun trip for all us to the Lake Lanier Nights of Light!

 Looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with these two!

I can't believe I haven't blogged about PINTEREST yet!!! I am absolutely obsessed! It is exactly what a slightly OCD internet surfer like myself had only dreamed of before! I am especially addicted because it allows me to keep all my party planning ideas straight! I have a few upcoming parties that I can't wait to share with you, including an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, a Tea Party for a super fun 2 year old, and a baby shower for my dear friend Amy! I am beyond excited that Bill and Amy are expecting their first baby, and I KNOW that this kid is going to be too cool for school, but more to come on that later...

Back to Pinterest, I have a new obsession. Chalkboard paint! If it sits still, I'll turn it into a chalkboard! (Good thing my pup is already black!) I have painted several things in my house, but I think my favorite so far are these...

These will come in handy during the holidays, simply cannot have confused glasses!



I'll be posting more holiday pics this week, let's just say my place is "beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"...until then I'll leave you with this little holiday jem!

Summer Hair

So I've never really had a signature "seasonal style", but I think I may change that this summer. My new obsession is anything and everything that's NOT a ponytail.

Now I know that sounds sort of silly, but my hair is pretty long and I have been wearing it up a lot with the summer heat. I've found myself intrigued with every possible way to wear my hair other than in a ponytail. Here are some of my current favorites...

 

   

Clockwise: Waterfall braid, sock bun, dutch braid, and fishtail braid

I have also worn braids in a circle around my head, which I love along with a flower in it. The best part is that these hairstyles are year round styles and they are simple alternatives to a ponytail and take very little time to do.

There is something about braids and buns that take me back to being a little girl, but are still so chic. I learned how to do most of these styles by watching tutorials on youtube.

If you have any other "non ponytails", please share them...I can't wait to try more styles this summer!

 

Get Yo' Nails Did...

I have discovered a new love. HelloGiggles.

Founded by Zooey Deschanel, Sophia Rossi and Molly McAleer, it is "the ultimate entertainment destination for smart, independent and creative females". Um, hello? JACKPOT!!! It has several daily posts including, but not limited to, Saved by the Bell episode recaps, A single girls guide, Your Muppet Man Guide (how to tell what kind of a man he is by his favorite muppet) and Get Yo' Nails Did, the latter by Molly McAleer. 

Molly is one of my favorite bloggers on HelloGiggles and in her blog series "Get Yo' Nails Did" she tries many different nail trends. I decided to try this one. 

I think mine turned out cute (but only from a distance). Up close, you can tell that black that I used was not from a nail polish pen (which has been added to my shopping list), but from a bottle that I've had for some time and the polish is a bit sticky. This was my first time trying this technique and as Molly correctly advised, this takes practice.

 

I also painted my toes leapoard print and went for the same classis leopard colors, although I am excited to try some bright and exciting shades soon.

I am also looking forward to trying these, but in a multi-colored glitter. I will post on how these turn out soon, so stay tuned and CHECK OUT HELLOGIGGLES!!!!!!

Movin' on up...

So this has been a very busy week for me, 

I MOVED!

I am now the proud tenant, which sounds better than "renter", of my very own one bedroom apartment. It has always been a small dream of mine to have my own apartment and now, I do. 

Luke is LOVING his new place, but he is still getting used to having all this space to himself! However, he does not love having to go up and down 3 flights of stairs just to go outside...hopefully he will adjust.

 I am also happy to say that ALL, that's right, ALL of my boxes are unpacked. The only things left to do is to sand and paint some very red chairs black and to hang some decor on the walls... I'm also in the hunt for a coffee table and bed frame...but I'm banking on some "OMG that's it!" and "It's a steal!" kind of finds with these two :)

Moving day was hectic, but I got everything out of my old place and into the new one! But not without lots of help from my mom and dad, along with the best friends ever, Meg and Andrew!

It's amazing that it took a 17ft. UHAUL to move everything I owned, but thankfully it all fits perfectly in my new home...and also noted, I never want to drive a UHAUL if it is in any way avoidable!!

 The best parts...

1. I now live only 1.5 miles from a REAL grocery store. For the past 7 years I have only been able to buy my grocery at a certain "one stop shop", and I wasn't a fan. (it's the little things)

2. I live only 7.6 miles away from the sweetest little god-son EVER!

I'm sure I will have many more post about decorating and all the new adventures living on my own will bring, so please stay tuned...and if you have any advice on decor, I'm all ears!

A very sunny 25th birthday!

So for my 25th birthday, I was blessed to be able to celebrate another amazingly special day ;) Anna and Greg's wedding!

Anna was such a beautiful bride and the entire day was so special. We started the day at the spa and salon, getting our hair and make-up done. It was so nice to be able to relax and spend time together before the business of the day began.

 

The entire wedding party was so much fun, and I was able to see and spend some time with my friend Lindsey from college, who was a bridesmaid as well and who now lives in Texas. The best part was that she brought along her precious little baby bump...Savannah!

I feel so lucky to have been able to share in this sweet couple's special day and I have to say it...they picked one hell of a wedding anniversary! Congratulations and I love you guys!!

Baby and Bubblegum.

I know, I know, it's been FOR-E-VER (think The Sandlot) since I blogged. I would like to say that I have been super busy, but I think it's more that I have been enjoying not being super busy. 

I have exciting news to share. SADIE MARIE ARTERBURN IS HERE. She is so cute and I cannot wait till I get to hold her! I know that she is so sweet and she is already loved by so many people. 

I was lucky enough to be able to help Sadie's aunt with such an adorable baby shower to celebrate before she made her arrival. The theme was pink and black polka dots, and boy (I mean girl) did we run with it.

I was (and still am) OBSESSED with these gumball centerpieces. They fit the polka dot theme perfectly and  turned out to make great favors for everyone to take home! 

Sadie's aunt made this adorable announcement that was placed at the entrance of the shower, however, Sadie decided she wanted to make her entrance on May 3rd :)

I will try not to go so long between blogs and I hope that May is bringing everyone some lovely plans with friends and family. I know that May is my favorite month ;) and I that I have lots of fun celebrations ahead that I will want to share with everyone!

Paradise found...

 

Last night I got back from the beach. I had the most amazing time and amazing company. I have been friends with my roommate for 11 years now and I have gotten to know her family very well, and I am so thankful that they allowed me to come along and enjoy this peaceful vacation.

We stayed at the most amazing house, and it had the most amazing views, especially the sunsets.

The kitchen and family room were beautful, with an amazing view of the ocean, and were the perfect places for sharing some of Grandma's homemade banana pudding and chocolate caramel birthday cake. :)

This was the room that my roommate and I shared with her two sisters, along with her 3 month old nephew and 20 mo. old niece...talk about adorable! It was so fun to have the two little ones with us and they provided lots of laughter! :)

The weather was beautiful and I spent every possible minute on the beach. The sound of the waves, the feeling of the sand between my toes...nothing in the world can beat that feeling.

We were also able to celebrate Krista's 25th birthday while we were at the beach! We went to dinner at the Port Saint Joe Marina and had some delicious seafood and then had some UH-MAZING birthday cake when we got back to the house! I am so thankful that I can call Krista my friend and roommate, and for all the amazing and crazy memories we've shared over the past 11 years, along with the even crazier ones we've yet to make!

I love you Krista, and welcome to your mid-twenties :)



Mad March...

March Madness...no kidding! This month is such a busy month for me. Every weekend this month I have plans and have literally left only ONE day where I have no plans!

 Last weekend was a family reunion, where I had, rather surprisingly, the most amazing time. My granddaddy was the funniest man I think I have ever known, and I miss him terribly. So being around his brother and two sisters, and hearing the same outburst of boisterous laughter that came hand in hand with my Granddaddy was so encouraging. I also hadn't seen most of these family members in around 8-9 years, so it was interesting to see that no one had really changed, except me...thankfully, I'm not that awkward 15 year old anymore...I am now an awkward nerdy 24 year old! :)

Me, with my two great aunts, I love them so much!

This weekend, I am helping to throw a lingerie shower for my college roommate, Anna. Planning wedding stuff for Anna has been so fun and exciting. I can't help but be reminded of living in the dorms and our first apartment and staying up till insane hours of the night, planning out every detail of our weddings in a notebook, that now (thank goodness) can't be found! Anna is marrying Greg, and I am so happy for them both and so excited to be a part of their special day! I will have more to post about the shower soon, but I don't want to ruin any surprises! 

Now I know I said that I had such a busy month planned and all my weekends were booked, what I neglected to mention was that one of these weekends will be spent at the beach for my roommate's 25th birthday! I am so excited to have this relaxing beach time and it's been far too long since I've seen the ocean and had my toes in the sand. I went to Barnes and Noble last night, specifically to find a book to take to the beach. I left with this...

 

I now have my book, my bathing suit, and my beach towel...what else could I need? We'll see if this book was beach-worthy!

Then, and yes my Mad March doesn't end with the beach...I have a baby shower for my friend Marisa. I am so excited to meet Baby Sadie and I cannot wait to celebrate such an exciting moment for Marisa! There will also be more information on Marisa's shower, but again, I want her to be completely surprised! I will say that her sister-in-law has a BEAUTIFUL shower planned for her and it will be absolutely wonderful for Mommy and Baby! 

SHEESH...I think that finally brings my March plans to an end. Needless to say I will try to blog when I can, and I do have some exciting things coming up soon...so stay tuned!

Dazzle 'Em!...

So, when I was a baby my mom worked for The Florida Shoe Market. When I was 3 months old I wore my first cocktail dress to a party...I get it honest! Needless to say, my love for shoes started early and it is still going strong.

My friends, I would like to introduce you to SHOE DAZZLE, a website where stylists pick out shoes FOR YOU based on what you tell them about yourself! I first heard about this site through a friend who is equally, well let's just say it, OBSESSED with the Kardashians as I am. Kim is the Chief Fashion Stylists and Co-founder, and I love the picks she's sent me so far!

Each month you get a new showroom with your top 5 recommendations. (Don't worry, if 5 isn't enough there are runners up!)

Here are some of my favorites from my March showroom...

 There are even ways to earn style points and get FREE shoes! Yes, I said it, FREE SHOES! So if you are tempted to sign-up, *ahem*, don't forget the little people ;) Enjoy...

Say Anything...

I LOVE 80's MOVIES!!! And music. And fashion.

This past weekend I decided that since I will be turning the big 25 this year, my friend and I, who share the same birthday, will need to celebrate in a big way. And what's bigger than the 80's? At least the hair anyways.

So I will be posting more about our "Made in the 80's!" party, but I was also reminded of my love for 80's teen movies last night, when a friend "threatened" to come to my house with a boombox and blare music outside my window...I almost fell out of my seat!! That would probably be the SINGLE MOST AMAZING THING that has ever happend in my almost 25 years!

So here, if you haven't seen the following, I highly recommend them, I mean you're only 30 years behind! :)



Enjoy. I know you will.