Today is a GIVEAWAY!!!

I am very very excited to introduce all of you to my friend Lauren McCrory. She is a wife, mother, artist, blogger... let's just say she wears many hats... and they look pretty darn good if you ask me!

I am constantly drooling over each new piece she creates, and today I have a few to show you...

"Summer Bay"

"Cool Water"

"Nude Blush"

And guess what?!? We're giving one away!!

If you would like the chance to WIN one of these beautiful abstract paintings:

1) comment on this blog post {or my facebook link} by answering this question:

"Which one of these paintings would you choose if you won?"


2) ... and if you want an even better chance of winning, become a follower! {if you're not already one}

Your name will go in the hat once for a comment and once for being {or becoming} a follower. You have until Friday to enter and I will announce the winner next MONDAY! 

**You can view ALL of her paintings HERE**

**LIKE her Facebook page HERE**

Most of you are a little on the quiet side so I reeeeeeally hope you come out of "hiding" :) for this one because it's TOO good not to!!!

May the odds be ever in your favor! ;) ;)

Hot Date

I had a "hot date" the other night and no... it wasn't my husband.

It was Courtney!! 

We celebrated her birthday at this charming little restaurant downtown that we have wanted to eat at for literally a couple of years... it's kind of fancy schmancy so we saved it for this special occasion.

Courtney and I are self proclaimed "foodies" and we always have been... like since 9th grade. We laugh now... but when our mom's would give us money to go shopping we would go spend it on a nice restaurant we wanted to go to... or heck, cinnabon!

We decided to have our little date without our boys because well, they don't appreciate the "gourmet-ness" of the food for the amount of money it costs to eat it. So yes, we had a girls night and that was perfectly fine with us!

We had a little steak, tomato soup, potatoes, and creme brulee with our butter and cream. It was delicious!

We decided that we're going to try out a fancy restaurant together every birthday from here on out. 

Cheers to Courtney turning 25! 

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day Weekend!!!!

Good Things

Here are a few "good things" I thought I'd share... 

Casually {after a sweaty run} "sittin' on the dock of the bay"... enjoying a good meal... with good friends...

... who didn't mean to "match"... But aren't they just as cute as can be?!?

Mexican... it's casual, cheap, and absolutely delicious.

And who knew you could get such pretty views in Birmingham, AL of all places? Aaron and I were there for a wedding and I just had to snap this quick picture with my phone after the reception.

Ok... would you like to see my latest edible obsession??

 I've selfishly debated whether or not to let the cat out of the bag on this one because this stuff is absolutely unapologetically delicious. {No exaggeration included btw}. Have you ever enjoyed those delicious cookies Delta Airlines hands out? Well this is them in a smooth {or crunchy} form. Publix carries this spread but only in small quantities and I think World Market carries it too. I shouldn't have even told y'all...

Have any of you picked up this delicious magazine off the shelves? Well, I hope you have. Rarely do I find a cookbook or magazine that I want to make at least 95% of the recipes from. Just sayin'!

While we're on a "delicious" note... have any of you made my Easy French Apple Tart? I make it all the time... especially for my mom because it's her favorite. Let's just say her Mothers Day ended on a pretty sweet note!

And one more delicious image to show you... Homemade Cinnamon Sticks. 

~ Cut puff pastry dough in strips.

~ Bake on 400 degrees until golden and puffy. {about 20 minutes maybe? I honestly don't know. Just keep an eye on 'em! That's what I do.}

~ Meanwhile melt a stick of butter and when the pastry sticks come out of the oven let them cool and then roll them around in the melted butter.

~ Next, roll them around in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. 

~ Set them on a rack to set, and then dig in! Trust me, these are WAY more delicious than any restaurant chain... I promise!

Well that's all for today... and just so you know... I've got an amazing GIVEAWAY coming up that I am reeeeeeeeally thrilled about and you should be too!! GET EXCITED!!

a Baby and a Bump

One year ago this week I was in San Diego flying by the seat of my pants with Jane Gray.

In one year, there's been many changes... some have been physical... :)

We never feel like we're on opposite sides of the country because we talk so often but good grief it's so much better to be with the other in person!

I got to see Allan too!

I had so much fun catching up with all of her family.  They're just like mine so I feel comfortable in the middle of all of them as you can tell...

They're comfortable with me too...

Jane was in heaven being back in the good 'ole South. {So was baby James.}

Guess who else we were glad to see!

Kaitlin and baby Wyatt!!

Wyatt was happy to see us too!

Jane Gray got some good practice... and good advice. But she's a natural isn't she?

It's hard to believe that we're all getting so "grown up"... well, I say that... if you were a fly on the wall in some of our conversations, you might think otherwise... but you can let loose with your friends right?



"Grown ups" or not, I don't think we will ever change!

Green Thumb

I stayed with my Grandmomma and Grandaddy the other night while in Mississippi, and as soon as I got out of the car and hugged their necks, we were walking around the yard looking through their gardens of flowers and vegetables.

When you combine their experience, expertise, hard work, and good weather... it's only natural that their yard would be this beautiful.

So beautiful... I had to run to get my camera and snap away...

They have always had a garden as long as I can remember... tomatoes, string beans, butter beans, lady peas, peppers, different kinds of lettuce, etc.

One of my favorite fruits they grow are the plums. {They're different than the grocery store kind and much more delicious}. 

You better believe I ate as many ripe ones as I could find!

The blueberries will be ripe soon I hope.

I think my favorite picture is the one below... Grandmomma was workin' in the kitchen getting supper ready for us to eat... A fabulous cook is one of the many hats she wears!

And as always... it did not disappoint. Do you see what I mean? It just doesn't get any better than this, in my humble opinion.

And guess who else I got to see?!?!!!!!!! One of my very best friends Jane Gray.

To say these past few days have been special and refreshing is an understatement. Unfortunately we had to reunite under sad circumstances... her sweet Papaw died... and she had a very special relationship with him. I was so thankful to be there with her and for her.

 But on a joyful note guess who else I got to see...

Sweet baby James!!  {He thinks it's funny to kick me as hard as he can!}

I will be back soon with more details from our time together. I miss {them} already!!

Oh, and one more teaser thing...



Here's another delicious reason to come back for the next post!