Happy Hearts Day

Hubs and I aren't the type of couple to go out to a fancy restaurant on Valentine's Day. Last year we actually weren't home for V-day, so we went out a few weeks before, using a gift card we had gotten as a wedding gift.

This year? We're headed to my parents' house to enjoy some lasagna. See, my parents ALWAYS have lasagna on Valentine's Day. In 1975, my mom invited my dad over to her apartment to have lasagna. They had dated the summer after high school, broken up for two years, and this was their second-first date. They've been together ever since. (You can read more about my dad and my parents' relationship here.)

{aren't they precious? from my wedding}

We also got to have lunch yesterday with Hubs' parents and little brother. AND, I got to hang out with three of my BFFs last night, playing Just Dance and watching the Grammys! I love getting to spend this holiday with so many people that I love, not just one :)

As for gifts? Well, we decided to forgo gifts this year, and I'm totally at peace with this. But when Hubs got home from work last night (at around 11:30), he had these for me.

I'm one happy - and blessed - girl.

What's your favorite way to celebrate - or not! - Valentine's Day?

Bridal Shower Fun

A very dear friend of mine will tie the knot on October 22nd. In preparation, my girls and I threw her a bridal shower this weekend. Behold: what happens with the Shady Ladies throw a party:

{Name tags for guests and a big, obnoxious tag for the bride to wear}

{My Cricut worked over time! Black & White paper is a 3" circle from the George & Basic Shapes cartridge. White solid paper is a 2.5" circle from the same cartridge. And that's my attempt at calligraphy-like handwriting, with a Sharpie, of course. I hot-glued the flat-backed name tag pins from Wal-Mart on the backs of these.}

{I used one of the decorative shapes from the Ashlyn's Alphabet Cartridge for the red & white papers on the Bride's tag. I then used my Sure-Cuts-A Lot program to cut out the word "Bride." The red ribbon is an effort to make it more obnoxious. I used another flat-backed name tag pin on this.}

{The flowers doubled as decoration and as a thank-you gift for our friend who hosted us at her house.}

{This is Millard. He's awesome.}

{I made this banner using 5" circles for the background, 4.5" circles for the foreground, and 4" letters, all from George & Basic Shapes. I punched holes on either side of the circles, then tied each letter to the next using red curling ribbon. I used the same papers as I did for the name tags.}

{I have a bit of an illness when it comes to making sure things are coordinated. So I designed the gift record to match the invitations...I can't help it!}

{I also designed her invitations and save the date cards. We used the A&W logo on both.}

I provided the paper products for the shower, so I can't take any credit for the food, except for icing the cupcakes (however, someone else made them...including the HOMEMADE ICING. Yeah, I think I gained like 12 pounds...) And we counted...a total of 12 blocks of cream cheese were used in the making of this menu. Sounds like a good party to me!!!

{The ones on the left are sausage pinwheels-aka the best thing EVER. I didn't get a good close-up of these, but they are so super yummy that I needed to tell you about them.}

{I think she had fun!}

{My favorite Knoxville Girls}

{"Clean up." I just had to include this one! And no, she didn't actually drink the rest of the punch out of the bowl. But she considered it. Also, this is the lucky owner of that gorgeous ring I posted over here.}

It was a great weekend! We were all exhausted by the time it was said & done, but I think the bride really enjoyed it, and that's what matters most!

And if the pictures in my header look familiar as you scroll through this post, it's because I decided after this weekend, I needed a small update, and I had fun new pictures to share :)

What did you do this weekend?

Southern Sirens: Pass the Sass!

I'm so excited today I can't hardly stand it! The Southern Sirens are officially making our debut!

Grab the button and pass the sass!





<br /> <center><a href="http://3southernsirens.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad218/acrosscreative/siren-button2sec200.gif" /></a></center><br />


Please head on over and check it out. You're going to love it!! While you're there, click to follow!

Julie's got another giveaway!

I've talked about my real-life bff a hundred times, and today I'm talking about her again! Julie over at Brown Eyed Belle is hosting the most ah-dor-ah-ble Valentines giveaway in honor of her 100th blog post!

Scoot on over and check it out!



PS, I die over those dish towels!!!

Workin' For the Weekend

It's so true today (and all week--it's been a rough week--anyone else with me??). I'm headed out of here at 3 p.m. today because this weekend....wait for it....I'm going to Gatlinburg, Tennessee with 150 of my closest middle and high school friends (where we'll meet up with about 5,000 other middle and high school friends). Suicide? Far from it! It's Resurrection, and since I was a 7th grader, one of my favorite weekends of the year.



Resurrection is a weekend all about youth--music, an awesome speaker, and a time for teenagers to think about who they are and who they want to be. I really can't tell you how much I loved attending Resurrection as a youth--and how blessed I am to be able to return as an adult!

The hotel we're staying in this year does have Wi-Fi, but I've decided not to kid myself--there's no way I'll have time to blog or to check in on you lovely ladies (Even though I know I'll be dying to by the time I get home!). I have a terrible tendency to take my laptop everywhere, laboring under the delusion that I won't be busy while I'm out of town. WRONG! It never happens that way! So, I'm trying to break that habit this time. Not taking my laptop means not risking losing it or breaking it when my bag gets thrown into the back of a U-Haul with everyone else's stuff.

{source} 

Today is also a big day...it's Brown Eyed Belle's BIRTHDAY! So, in honor of her big day, I made her a little button.

 

Go ahead Julie, put it on your blog! And for those of you who aren't Julie, scoot over there and leave her some love today! While I'm in Gburg this weekend, I'll be picking up something for this lovely lady (yes, we're friends in real life!) at a little store called Mr. Tablecloth. (and no, the store isn't as lame as the name makes it sound!) Once I get home and I know Julie's gotten her present, I'll post about it here. (I've already picked it out...just need to pick it up!)

{source}

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend! (And Happy Birthday, Julie!)

Gratitude, Day 3

Happy Tuesday!

Tuesdays are one of my favorite days of the week for 7 simple reasons. They are:

Lamb (Laura), Manna, Beth, Alyssa, Melissa, Leah & Laura.

These women are my "Shady Ladies." Melissa, Leah, Laura & I grew up at Cokesbury United Methodist Church together, and Lamb, Manna, Beth and Alyssa have all worked with the youth there at some point. We found ourselves all back in Knoxville last fall, after the four "younger" ones graduated from college. Melissa had the idea to start a Bible study, and that's how the Shady Ladies were born! Unfortuantely, since then, Laura has moved to Jackson, Tenn. with her lovely husband. Even though Laura isn't able to join us weekly, she still makes it into town for big events (seen here at a Bridal shower for me last spring!) and she is very much a part of the Shady Ladies. We meet regularly on Tuesday nights, and sometimes, knowing that Tuesday is on its way is the only thing that gets me through Monday!

I am so blessed to have these wonderful, godly women in my life!