it takes two when it used to take one

cannot wait

2011-06-16T08:57:00.003-07:00

my mother and i are heading to south florida this weekend to visit my younger sister. i have been thinking about what to pack for awhile now. our time will be spent laying out by the pool, gabbing non-stop, eating cuban food, shopping, and no doubt making wonderful memories.

happy birthday

2011-05-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

to my wonderful husband

to celebrate-
dinner at rose peppers with friends
followed by cupcakes from this recipe
and to end a locally made gift (read this- amazing craftsmanship)

just a note to say...

2011-05-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

dear readers,
happy cinco de mayo! the hubs and i will be cheering on the predators tonight, so, we have plans to have an early quick margarita before heading downtown.

dear cinco de mayo,
chips and salsa, margaritas, summer just around the corner-what's not to love?

dear self,
brush your shoulders off. those shrimp tacos with lime and cilantro served in warm tortillas you made were lip smacking good.

dear april,
can you believe i did not post one single blog all month long? it wasn't as if nothing noteworthy happened, posting just took a back seat.

dear stagger lee,
he is just a garden gnome. no need to tuck your tail and bark with such fear and apprehension.

dear readers,
video of stagger lee and garden gnome coming soon- really funny

dear stagger lee,
i just realized this may be the first time i have written about you and you have been with us for nearly a month now. you deserve better.

dear elyse,
thanks so much for sharing your beautiful day with me- it was a lovely wedding. cannot wait to see you ( as a mrs.) next weekend.

spring

2011-03-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

happy st. patricks day

2011-03-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

outfit by kitzieshepard featuring hoop earrings

J Crew denim jeans
$70 - jcrew.com

Seychelles platform high heels
$70 - urbanoutfitters.com

PEONY leather tote bag
$148 - anthropologie.com

Hoop earring
$88 - sundancecatalog.com

Jewelry
$148 - sundancecatalog.com

New Arrivals - Clothes - Anthropologie.com
$138 - anthropologie.com

just a note to say...

2011-03-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

dear readers,
happy st. patrick's day!

dear home,
you look completely different and just lovely- it is amazing the difference a fresh coat of paint to base boards, crown moldings, trim, and ceiling can do to a room.

dear murphy's oil soap,
i love the way you smell- you take me back to spring cleaning (who am i kidding- every saturday cleaning) with my mother.

dear husband,
we make a good team. i am amazed at how easily we chose our new paint colors. and, we made excellent choices if i do say so myself- toot, toot.
oh, and i am capable of mowing the back yard- you just get the mower started and prepared to be proven wrong.

dear wisteria,
where are the bar stools we ordered? 3 1/2 months back order- really?

dear neighbors,
here's to porch sitting, beer drinking, and building new friendships.

dear shade grass seed,
i am counting on you to grow, grow, grow. i did my part: raking dead grass and leaves, and then raking again, spreading the seed by hand, and watering. now you do yours.

dear breakfast nook,
i have wanted to lay hardwood floors since the day we moved in- rather, since we first saw this house and knew it should be ours- and, today it is happening. ah woo hoo!

dear stephanie,
i am so excited to have lunch with you this afternoon followed by antique shopping.

dear friends old and new,
we cannot wait until saturday evening. we cannot wait for great conversation, sitting by the fire, and corn hole

stunning

2011-02-27T17:58:00.000-08:00

glowing

striking

graceful

other favorites:
mandy moore
mila kunis

great husband+ glass of wine+ housewives of miami= sigh.

2011-02-22T16:40:00.000-08:00

i just spent the last half hour venting to my husband about my physically, mentally, emotionally exhausting day. my day was bookend-ed with unstable emotional outbursts by kindergartners. the kind that you can see coming but have no way of preventing or avoiding, the kind that begin with limp bodies collapsing to the floor and erupt into uncontrollable tears, runny noses, kicking legs, and pounding fists.

so, i am thanking the Lord for an amazing husband who listens to my stories
and i am enjoying a glass of wine and will be tuning in to the housewives of miami season premiere- sigh. i already feel calmer.

right now

2011-02-11T08:39:00.000-08:00

i am listening to the civil wars,

washing sheets so that my brother and his three sweet ladies have a fresh smelling bed to sleep in tomorrow night,

looking forward to dinner and drinks with great friends tonight,

searching for botanical prints for our home- i love these

i love these and the price is just right

and i am wondering what i should wear monday evening as i enjoy a lovely valentines dinner at the watermark with the hubs

just a note to say...

2011-01-21T09:43:00.000-08:00

dear red ink,
despite your sneakiness you were not victorious in your plot against the hub's closet.

dear oxi clean,
thanks so much for sending your reinforcements. your strength combined with our patience proved most effective in defeating red ink.

dear readers,
if you ever experience this. let your ink stained clothes soak for 1-6 hours in hot water and oxi clean. then, wash with your regular detergent and oxi clean. finally, voila! also, saturate a beach towel or two bath towels in a bleach water mixture. do not wring out towel; toss towel soaking wet into your dryer and tumble dry- a short time later the ink will be completely gone from your dryer walls leaving it bright and shiny. be sure to wipe the dryer out with soap and water before drying any clothes.

dear snow,
i apologize for the way i treated you during your last visit, though, i thought you overstayed your welcome. i prefer you to come and go rather than come and linger. still, i am so glad you returned. i have been working like crazy and am glad you recognized i needed to sleep in this morning.

dear those of you who believe teachers have it made,
though students are in school august through may from 7:45 until 3:00, the planning, energy, effort, time, and thought teachers put into their job is not limited to this time frame. teachers who are doing their job as it should be done do not stop thinking, planning, and working for their students. i go to bed and wake up thinking of my classroom. i have just stepped into this position- i have taught a total of 4 days and i am exhausted.

dear students,
though i am very tired, i cannot imagine doing anything else. have a wonderful weekend; i look forward to monday morning when i will see your eager, bright, smiling faces.

ugh.

2011-01-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

this monday morning did not begin well. i awoke to the hub's frustrated, annoyed exclamations. i came out of our bedroom rubbing my eyes to find the hubs tossing his clothes out of the laundry room. several articles of clothing, primarily his work clothes, were covered in red ink. a sneaky red pen found its way into our dryer; it hid in a pair of the hub's pants. ugh. so this monday will be spent agonizing over the $500 worth of clothing lost and scrubbing the sides of our dryer.

i just feel terrible for the hubs; i think i will prepare fish tacos for dinner- his favorite.

meanwhile, there are three birds in the birdbath right outside our living room window-no doubt trying to put things in perspective for me. chirping,"it's just clothing"

snow and sand

2011-01-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

this winter weather has kept me out of the classroom all week
(well, i did go into to school yesterday for a few hours to further prepare lessons) and has got me thinking about warmer weather, music festivals, sand between my toes, and travel. the hubs and i have a few trips planned for this spring and summer which leaves me wanting no, no, needing a few things...

Untitled by kitzieshepard featuring j crew dresses

Ikat Caftan Dress :: DRESSES :: CLOTHING :: Calypso St. Barth, $250
Women's new arrivals - dresses - Siren dress - J.Crew, $98
Women's new arrivals - swim - Solid asymmetrical ruched bandeau tank -..., $88
Womens's SHOES & BOOTS - Wanderlust Leather Flip-Flops - Madewell1937, $48
Narcia Cowboy Hat :: HATS :: SHOES & ACCESSORIES :: Calypso St. Barth, $150
essie, $20
Mod Modernist Runway Necklace Faux Lapis Turquoise

guilty

2011-01-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

who did not leave her house yesterday and has no plans to leave today...
if you could see me, you would find me raising my hand.

i love snow days:
sleeping in
perusing various education blogs for strategies and ideas for the classroom
catching up on chores- laundry, cooking, cleaning
and picking paint colors for our bedroom and the hub's office

home

2011-01-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

found here

hello.

2011-01-05T18:52:00.000-08:00

i have not posted any eye candy since this
so, for your viewing pleasure...

hello ryan.
oh to be his lower lip

hello sam. sigh. what is it about aussies?

hello mayhem. you have never looked so good

gift guide 2010: for my daddy who loves sweets and always reads

2010-12-21T09:02:00.001-08:00

gift guide by kitzieshepard on Polyvore.com

gift guide 2010; for my selfless mother who makes melt in your mouth bisquits and loves taking vacations with her daughters

2010-12-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

gift guide by kitzieshepard on Polyvore.com

Personalized Door Mat | Pottery Barn, $59
terrain: Jam in the Morning, $58
terrain: Acorn Shakers, $58
Holiday Greens By Type | Restoration Hardware, $34
Return Address Labels

gift guide 2010; for my little sister and the greatest sisters-in-law

2010-12-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

for my little sister, who lives in southern Florida and always keeps her toenails painted:

gift guide by kitzieshepard featuring a merino wool cardigan

Women - merino - Infinity cardigan - J.Crew, $90
terrain: Weck Juice Jar Set, $24
terrain: Juicer Squeeze Boat, $24
Amazon.com: OPI Nail Lacquer Alpine Snow L00: Beauty, $5.30
Store : Deck Towel
Classics, 12 of 42 products from Opi Dating A Royal 15ml to Opi...

and for the greatest sisters-in-law:

gift guide by kitzieshepard featuring leopard print shoes

Whispering Forest Top, $78
Snow Leopard Women's Vegan Classics TOMS Shoes, $54
capri blue etched jar candle, $25
PETAL HOOPS - Post - Earrings - Jewelry | Robert Redford's Sundance..., $48
Marvelous Kiddo

gift guide 2010

2010-12-13T08:50:00.002-08:00

for my husband:

gift guide by kitzieshepard on Polyvore.com

Buy Mountain Hardwear Men's Sub Zero Vest - Mountain Hardwear at..., $130
Men's shirts - washed favorite shirts - Secret Wash button-down shirt..., $60
Buy Patagonia Men's Active Sport Boxer Brief - Patagonia at Moosejaw -..., $35
Men broken-in jersey Short-sleeve broken-in no-pocket crewneck tee, $19
Amazon.com: ESPN Films 30 for 30 Gift Set Collection, Volume 1: Wayne..., $49
Gift Idea: Personalized Embroidered Leather Dopp Kit, $58
Musk Oil - Body - Kiehl's Since 1851, $39
GLOBE ORNAMENT - Trim the Tree - For the Holidays - For the Home |..., $14
Beklina : Juniper Ridge Sachets [Sachets] - $12.00, $12

just a note to say...

2010-12-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

dear heavenly father,
thank you for this lovely winter wonderland. it is beautiful.

dear blog,
i have been so consumed with school and the holidays that I have not found the time to post. well, leave it to a winter wonderland to provide the perfect opportunity to write. has it really been two months?

dear heated seats,
how did i ever live before you? i am thinking about how warm my tail feathers will be as i venture out later today.

dear joe purdy and mumford and sons,
i will play you throughout the house today as i clean, laundry, and wrap gifts.

dear friends,
i had an extraordinary time with you this weekend, as i always do.

dear homemade christmas gifts,
the hubs and i have had a good time making our christmas gifts this year. great idea stacey!

dear front door,
if it weren't for your charmingly old and cheerful doorbell, i might have to replace you. you are kind of drafty.

dear blanket and house-shoes,
thank you for keeping me warm as walk past the front door.

dear month of december,
slow down; you are passing us by too quickly.

dear belmont university,
as much as i have enjoyed my time with you, i am thrilled to be picking up my cap and gown and ahem (clears throat) my hood! and though this lady will not be speaking, i am still elated to be graduating.

dear little sister,
i cannot wait to pick you up from the airport.

i am in love with...

2010-10-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

this dress from calypso

gotta have this

shut-up! tory, i lurve these boots!

these should be in my jewelry box

gorgeous. gorgeous. gorgeous.

wonder if i could convince the hubs that this rug is perfect for our home

while the hubs is enjoying bob dylan at the ryman auditorium- i am drooling over the above mentioned items.

ready or not...

2010-10-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

the work week has begun. here are a few photos of the hubs and i on our travels through central america. looking back at through these pictures reminds me of our wonderful adventures and has me looking forward to our travel plans in the future- a nice distraction on a monday

widespread panic at the ryman auditorium

2010-10-06T18:20:00.001-07:00

funny

2010-10-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

as i was explaining to my kindergarten class why friday would be my last day working with them, i was asked a question that made me smile-

my explanation- "i hope to be a very successful teacher so it is important that i learn from more than one experienced teacher as well as observe and work with lots of students. so, i have gotten a chance to work with such good kindergarten students (you), now i will visit fourth grade."

one concerned student asked, "do you have to take a plane to get there?"

a plane ride in order to get to fourth grade? gosh, i love the little ones

just a note to say...

2010-09-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

dear autumn,
so good to see you again; your colors are just lovely. oh, and thanks for the crisp cool air you have brought this week.

dear new orleans,
it has been awhile. the hubs and i look forward to seeing you tomorrow night.

dear thursday night,
oh, how i love you so. grey's anatomy followed by private practice- sigh.

dear dvr,
seeing as how i will be on a plane to new orleans during the above mentioned television addictions, i really appreciate your recording abilities.

dear ryman auditorium,
you always deliver. i enjoyed lyle lovett and look forward to widespread panic monday night.

dear yard,
i am sorry you have been neglected. the hubs and i will try harder- after this weekend of course.

dear volunteers,
i am patient, optimistic, and will be wearing orange and cheering you on in tiger stadium saturday afternoon.

dear friends,
i miss you like mad.

too much

2010-09-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

i has been a while since my last post- too long; but, who has time to blog? not this girl- at least not right now. i wish i did; i enjoy blogging. but, i have too much going on in my life right now:

teaching kindergartners takes a lot of preparation and energy- in a few weeks i change to fourth grade, which i hear will requires less preparation and a significantly less amount of energy (still, knowing me, i will miss my itty bittys. but perhaps my posts pick up again)

our lovely new home carries with it a never-ending to do list

football season; we are out of town nearly every weekend and heading to new orleans next weekend (blogging takes a back seat to new orleans)

so, future posts may be few and far between and when the rare post does happen it may be just a short note, a couple of sentences or a photo

until next time...

update...

2010-08-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

we are in our new home and we LURVE it!
our family rocks; they have been over everyday to lend a hand. thanks family.
why do i insist on painting every room in the house? i am hoping my arms and back look amazing after all this painting.
my closet is organized; my kitchen is getting there.
ben picked up our new refrigerator last night- who knew kitchen appliances could evoke such emotion. it is sooo pretty.
have yet to find out recycling pick up schedule
i am trying to accomplish most of my never-ending to do list before the school year begins on monday; there are not enough hours in the day.
need to read up on gardening so that i pull up weeds and evasive plants rather than purposeful flowering beautiful plants
worried about the size of my caboose as our neighborhood is flooded with tasty bars and restaurants
looking forward to picking up our furniture we had reupholstered
thrilled to share our new home with friends and family at some point- hopefully in the near future

back to reality...

2010-07-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

the hubs and i returned from our two week jaunt in central america late friday night and were hit hard with a dose of reality. we close on our house tomorrow morning (a woo whoo) and are packing and cleaning, cleaning and packing. we move saturday! and then we will be cleaning, painting, unpacking, and settling.
and because i want to leave you with a bit from our trip-
you know you are in central america when...

you take a cold shower and instead of putting on perfume you apply a generous dose of OFF
you wear the same pair of pants two days in a row and no one notices
breakfast includes a warm, ripe mango, pineapple, or avocado just picked off the tree
you have rice and beans for lunch and beans and rice for dinner
you nearly forget what it feels like to drive on a paved road
you create a nickname for the gecko, howler monkey, or coatimundi that keeps you up at night
makeup is replaced with sunscreen
your new BFFs are "the snake man" and or course "teacher ruth"
a good hair day includes of a scarf tied around the head
adventures wait around every turn

exciting things...

2010-07-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

exciting things are happening at the shepard home...
i wrap up my summer course work this wednesday- a whoo whooooo!
my dear friend emily is getting married saturday- hope my bridesmaid dress still fits - ugh.
the hubs and i leave for a two week trip to belize this sunday- cannot wait!

and, we offered, they countered our offer; we gave a second offer, they countered our second offer; we sighed and regretfully decided this house may not be for us- not at that price. so, we declared our second offer our final offer.
they thought it over and said okay, that second offer sounds better now that we know you may walk; so, how about your second offer...
we accepted! considering everything goes well with the inspections- we will be home owners of a Victorian home built in 1900 with tall ceilings, transoms, oak floors, three original fireplaces, and lots of charm.

red, white, and blue

2010-07-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

oh how i love the fourth of july. the hubs and i are heading to lake norris in east tennessee for the weekend. we will enjoy fun in the sun with a dear friend. i made a yummy refreshing salsa this morning to take with us (the peppers made my hands feel as if they were on fire- this story is worthy of its own post- tune in later) and rice krispies treats. i am looking foward to sipping crisp white wine, lounging on the boat, watching the hubs wake-board and water-ski, eating wonderful grilled summer foods, and watching fireworks. happy birthday america.

have a relaxing holiday weekend.

tuesday shoeday

2010-06-29T10:13:00.001-07:00

these would be perfect for this fourth of july weekend- i think the pom poms look like fireworks
(this pair comes in orange too- so good)

just a note to say...

2010-06-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

dear daddy,
happy father's day. i love you.

dear world cup games,
i love spending my morning watching hot fit men -i mean- the game of soccer (wink, wink).

dear emma grace,
i cannot wait to see you this weekend. happy 5th birthday!

dear house hunting adventure,
you pose many questions- fixer upper or turn the key and move in?

dear july,
i am eagerly awaiting your arrival. you are full of fun times and memories to be made-
belize trip, emily and jameson's wedding

dear kale juice,
you actually taste kind of good and surprisingly refreshing.

dear weekend,
welcome.

hello.

2010-06-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

thank you vanity fair- this makes me sweat

happy world cup weekend

2010-06-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

this weekend i am wishing i was here
how incredible to witness such excitement and in some cases- madness.
i hope to get there one day... i am positive the hubs would be thrilled to watch such great talent and athleticism. i would be thrilled to watch such good looking talent and athleticism. soccer players, or should i say football players, are hot- no?

landon donovan- usa
picture found here

carlos bocanegra- usa
picture found here

xabi alonso- spain
picture found here

joe cole- england
picture found here

freddie ljungberg- who is not playing this year but so good looking i had to include him (you should know he models underwear)played 2002 and 2006-sweden
picture found here

planning a trip 4 years from now; wanna join me?

go usa!
picture found here

tuesday shoeday

2010-06-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

the other day i was filling my grocery cart with yummy fuji apples when a lovely young lady walked by wearing these

i told her i loved her shoes and wanted to know where she got them. she replied with two words- steve madden

just a note to say...

2010-06-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

image from weheartit

dear weekend,
i am glad you have arrived. i always love your visits.

dear firefly,
how did you get in the house last night? i enjoyed watching you as you flew around the living room and it reminded me of the summer nights my brother, sister, and i would catch fireflies like yourself in mason jars.

dear last night's margarita,
you pair nicely with episodes of The Desperate Housewives of New York (as she licks her lips)

dear fried egg on toast,
you have been my go to breakfast for several days now; and yet, i have not grown tired of you. (as she licks her lips again)

dear hazelnut coffee,
you are lovely.

dear early june morning,
you are so peaceful. i wish you would last longer (this way i wouldn't feel so terrible about having my third and fourth cup of hazelnut coffee)

dear amos lee pandora station,
you make cleaning the house, organizing, laundry, and ironing enjoyable.

dear husband,
thank you for working so hard for us. i love you.

living room inspiration

2010-06-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

the hubs and i, as you may know, have been viewing, letting thoughts settle, re-viewing, more thinking, and discussing purchasing our first home. we are looking for someplace special with character, a happening area, and fun neighbors. the past three or so weekends have been devoted to the process. and i am obsessed with decorating our new space (remember enthrallment) we do not have funds for me to actually purchase; so, i decorate with polyvore.

tuesday shoeday

2010-06-01T08:14:00.001-07:00

the hubs and i enjoyed a lovely wedding saturday evening. while dancing our socks off (okay- maybe i wasn't dancing, maybe i was just standing talking with friends) i broke my heel.
often times i out all my weight on my heels- i have broken heels in the past from doing this and, as saturday night proved, i have not learned.
so, i think these lovely flats would be perfect for the wedding we will be attending this weekend.

tuesday shoeday

2010-05-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

if there is a bow on it...

like these

or these from this guy

or these
there is a good chance i am going to love it

happy weekend

2010-05-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

i love weekends. i especially love the weekends i spend with the hubs after he has been out of town all week. i hope you have a wonderful sun filled weekend- the forecast predicts saturday and sunday to be rain free. this will be a nice change for nashville; it has rained the past several weekends.
i leave you with some finds from around the web as well as a few things that will fill our weekend.

remember when Kathleen Kelly (You've Got Mail) shares, "...Streatfield. Noel Streatfield wrote Ballet Shoes and Skating Shoes and Theater Shoes..." well I picked up this book at the library. One of my teaching placements in the fall is a fourth grade literature and language arts class; so, I thought I should read a few of the books included on fourth grade reading list at the public library. When I saw Ballet Shoes on the list, I searched the shelves, found it, grabbed it, and checked it out. i am looking forward to reading it.

and the search continues; tomorrow we will be taking a look at a few of these

considering this headboard for our future bedroom

have you seen this? a coffee brunch- count me in

i want. i want. i want.

burger up- the hubs and i have been wanting to try this place out since it opened. i think it may happen tomorrow- house hunting really works up an appetite. and nashville seems to like it

ain't life grand

2010-05-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

just a few photos from our too short beach trip...

beach lounging, beer drinking, seafood eating, football throwing, napping, sand castle- or sand structure creating during the day
widespread panic loving at night: meeting new people, making new friends, dancing, jamming, movin', shakin', and as drew interprets widespread panic shows- "getting weird"

tuesday shoeday

2010-05-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

yes, please.

these lovelies are from, of course, here

i love you like biscuits and gravy

2010-05-14T10:22:00.001-07:00

the hubs had to travel to memphis this week for work, and seeing as how i am on vacation until the beginning of june, i hit the road wednesday to surprise him. how could i not be with him on his birthday? he was thrilled; we met up with a few friends who live in memphis for dinner and drinks.
i returned to sweet nashville last night and today i am preparing our home to welcome him. he works so hard for us, he truly deserves a birthday week. so, i am finally unpacking from the beach last weekend, washing laundry, cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, changing the sheets on our bed, baking his birthday cake- he asked for a lemon cake; i am going to try this one- yummy! making a delicious dinner- grilled mahi tacos with fresh salsa and cold beer, i will set the table with fresh flowers and candles, and wrap his gifts. he loved this poster so, i ordered it. i also ordered these...

the hubs has several cool albums framed (one of which is eric clapton's slow hand- he gave it to me years ago as an anniversary gift; it has our song on it- sigh.)
i am thinking these prints would look great framed joining the albums on a wall in his office. i love collections of framed pictures, prints, albums, or whatever on a wall.
these are postcards: i thought it would be nice to frame besos ('kisses' in spanish) and i love you to add to the frame wall.

so, now you know how the hubs and i will kick off our weekend- fish tacos, beer, lemon cake, and birthday besos. oh, and more house hunting. have a wonderful weekend.

happy birthday

2010-05-11T18:59:00.001-07:00

to my concert going partner (this is us this past weekend: widespread panic at the wharf)
couch cuddling buddy
favorite dinner date
high school sweetheart
first 'good morning'
last 'good night'
best friend
and husband.

happy birthday ben. i love you

tuesday shoeday

2010-05-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

i think i need these beauties to wear to see this

they are not Manolo Blahniks but i think carrie would approve of Stella McCartney

love your neighbor

2010-05-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

as you may know, roughly a week ago nashville received a lot of rain. the hubs and i were very fortunate; our neighborhood remained dry. though, the ground was so heavily saturated that several trees were uprooted in a few of our neighbors' yards. the wind and weight of the rain caused a big old tree in our back yard to split (tear, i hate to see old trees die). the tree split right down the middle causing one half of the tree to land on our house. it was a sort of rude awakening sunday morning at 8:00 am as the tree branches hit our bedroom window.

(the hubs dangerously climbing the split tree as i quickly snap a picture saying,"do not go up any farther")

(this is a uprooted tree in our neighbor's yard- one of many in our neighborhood)
our landlord came over sunday afternoon to access the damage, which as it turns out- all that needs to be replaced is the gutter. she returned monday with her husband and the two of them along with the hubs cleaned up the mess. later in the afternoon a tree service came to remove the rest of the tree as it would eventually die and create further dangerous situations. now all that remains is a stump. sad, but in the big scheme of things we are so blessed. so many have lost their homes, their cars, and possessions- one of my professors at belmont university returned to her home monday afternoon to find the first floor of her house completely ruined. there are too many stories like hers; still, nashville is a sweet caring city. neighbors have come together to help in any way they can. the hubs and i are trying to do our part by continuing to use as little water as possible. i am trying to get my hands on this relief poster too-

sigh.

2010-05-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

i have been busy as a bee lately. and, i have so much to share.

a couple of weeks ago the hubs ran in the country music marathon. he looked so dreamy as he whizzed past. i am so proud of him and everyone else who participated -some 30 odd thousand! you go people; way to get your run on!

(i pirated the top photo- thanks marathon photos.com ;
and the photo on the bottom was taken as the hubs ran on the boulevard.)

as you may know, sweet nashville received quite a bit of rain (pictures to come next week)
we are continuing our search for a home- lots of things to consider.
i finished up the semester today- sigh. so nice to have a break- first summer session doesn't begin until june- one class left to go in my masters coursework- feels so good.
my dear friend em is getting married this summer and the girls are going out on the town this weekend. it is so fun to purchase lingerie for brides to be. have fun girls and be safe.
and, today the hubs and i are heading to the beach for a much needed weekend getaway.

tuesday shoesday

2010-04-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

i think this print would look lovely in a beach house like this one in rosemary beach; and it's for sale!

busy monday

2010-04-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

this weekend we enjoyed

a baseball game- go nashville sounds!

running- the hubs ran the country music marathon; i cheered him on (photos to come)

take out from fido- yummy!

candlelight- the crazy thunderstorms knocked our power out for a few minutes (it could have lasted longer- i kind of enjoyed cuddling on the couch in the dark while listening to the pounding rain and claps of thunder)

searching for a perfect home for us to purchase ( i had a lovely time decorating our new home in my mind- i must have looked through old issues of HOUSE BEAUTIFUL and ELLE Decor a hundred times

Monday begins and I am busy as a bee wrapping up the semester
print from we heart it

focus

2010-04-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

I should be preparing for my presentation this afternoon at the NAAEYC (Nashville Area Association for the Education of Young Children) conference. But, instead I am browsing Heidi Merrick's spring collection- just lovely.

But seriously, must prepare for the conference. I am speaking with a classmate and one of my professors this afternoon. We are covering the topic of parental/guardian involvement and the positive impact it makes in the education of children. We are sharing ideas for activities, communication tools, and resources for teachers to use to encourage parental involvement. We expect around 30 or so early childhood teachers and directors. Heidi, I will most definitely return to drool, but for now i must get into conference mode...I wish I had that blazer with the elbow patches to wear this afternoon... focus kitzie, focus

tuesday shoesday

2010-04-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

i got my hair cut this weekend; several inches chopped off- my hair is above my shoulders. i love it. i think it is fresh, light, and perfect for warmer weather. the hubs says i look like a teacher and wonders if my hair will continue to get shorter as i get older. First, looking like a teacher is not such a bad thing- right? I am a teacher, so if i look like anything it ought to be a teacher. which brings me to these-

Oh, Tory Burch. I think these are beautiful, comfortable, perfect for a teacher, and would compliment my new hairdo wonderfully. As for the second comment the hubs made, "what?! the answer is no, not necessarily. i am still young; and, short hair does not equate older age. AND, (read with meaning) does this mean you do not like my hair cut?"

autism awareness

2010-04-07T07:47:00.001-07:00

april is autism awareness month. those who know me well know that i view exceptional children as a blessing. i have had so many wonderful experiences and relationships with children who have autism; each child probably taught me more than i taught them. so, thank you.

check out this ; the quote on the above painting is from sedako saski. read her inspiring story here and read more about autism here.

tuesday shoesday

2010-04-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

a sister of mine (she was also my 'momma' or pledge trainer) shares a pair of shoes with her readers every tuesday. take a look-she has wonderful taste and is always put together from her head down to her toes or shoes.
i do not buy shoes near as often as i wish i did. i wear cowboy boots in the fall and winter and chacos in the spring and summer; but, there are occassions when i wish i had bought a nice pair of flats or wedges or heels instead of a third pair of cowboy boots.
so, on tuesdays i will find a pair of shoes to share with you so as to encourage me to build my shoe wardrobe. i think the hubs may have more shoes than i; or at least the same number- sad.

cannot go wrong with Cole Haan

bruuuuuuuuce

2010-04-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

we had the privilege of attending a volunteer meet and greet/information session/drinks and hors d'oeuvres a few weeks ago. we met both women's and men's athletic directors of the university of tennessee. we also met the charming, well-spoken bruce pearl. dear pat summit, where were you; we missed you.
the men's and women's basketball teams are no longer in the tournament, tear. but, we are so proud of their accomplishments this season.
still, duke is in the championship game tonight. go duke! i think a lot of people will be rooting for butler; they play consistently well and their coach, Brad Stevens would become the youngest coach to win a national championship in 70 years (Branch McCracken was 31 when his team, Indiana, won it in 1940).
still, this house cheers for coach k and the blue devils.

hmmm...

2010-03-30T15:20:00.000-07:00

wondering if i can make this hair style happen

image from nadinoo

first impressions

2010-03-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

tomorrow i will be visiting an extraordinary school, not as a student observer, but as a teacher looking for a school to call home. a wonderful friend of my mother's has offered to give me a personal tour complete with introductions to teachers and school heads/directors, and lunch with the students (first graders) i would love to call this school home; it is a beautiful campus and the staff and students are inspiring. i know that a teaching position at this school comes with great expectations as well as unique, challenging experiences- i am up for it; i think. ha.

so, i need to make a great impression. first impressions are very influential; consequently, i am over-thinking and stressing. i know to just be myself, but i want to be my best self. so, say "yes, ma'am/sir", "no ma'am/sir", and "thank you." make eye contact, smile, ask questions, dress professionally, show my personality, be warm, fix chipping nail polish, wear flats, use mouthwash, and send thank you notes. "oh no! i am all out of personalized stationary. do you think social graces could turn around 25-50 letterpress, monogrammed notecards in less than 24 hours? no...maybe just 5?"

gray monday

2010-03-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

this weekend:
friday night we ate dinner on Jackson's patio, had great conversation, and people watched
saturday morning the hubs went for a 20mi run; i sat on the couch, later we watched some march madness with friends on rippy's rooftop
sunday we slept in and watched more march madness- go vols; go duke

today i am meeting my mother and mother in law for lunch at the Renaissance Center
for the Houses of Hope Habitat luncheon. then, i am going to rummage through vbs materials in order to get ideas for Belize- yah! thinking about our upcoming trip warms me on this cool gray monday.

this photo was taken by a friend's nephew- William Vingi

hello sunshine

2010-03-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

today is a lovely day; the sun is shining and the temperature is climbing. i am thinking of beautifully pedicured feet in flat sandals

happy sun-filled weekend

in order-top to bottom:
jcrew
anthropologie
cole haan

green

2010-03-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

i just bought this dress... i wish it were warm enough to wear.
where are you sun?
happy st. patrick's day

may your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow

2010-03-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

i love st. patrick's day and so do the people of savannah, ga. some girlfriends and i visited the beautiful historical city several years ago to celebrate the green holiday. we had a great time and saw wild things like body builders in kilts, leprechauns, pirates, the u.s. coast guard, and lots and lots of green.

i wish i could visit boston next week to celebrate- wouldn't that be fun

homemade pizza and oscar love

2010-03-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

last night the hubs and i spent the evening enjoying homemade, tasty, relatively healthy pizza and the oscars. i love the oscars- especially when my picks win

i loved Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab and Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta

i also thought Nicole Richie looked great

did your picks win? who do you think looked great; who- not so great?

i die

2010-03-01T11:09:00.001-08:00

i die. tribute to rachael zoe ; what ever happened to her show?
i could wear this piece to weddings and parties all summer long. this copper necklace from j.crew would look like perfection on bronze skin-no? summer could not get here soon enough.

au revoir february; bonjour march

2010-03-01T07:49:00.000-08:00

au revoir february. i enjoyed the snow days spent cuddling on the couch by the fire. our valentines trip was just lovely. and, the winter olympics were inspiring. see you next year.

bonjour march. i look forward to sunshiny days, warmer weather, spring break, birds singing, flowers blooming, and wearing chacos. this weekend calls for temperatures in the near sixties- sigh, smile.

i get it...but it's not for me

2010-02-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

i have been observing several early childhood education centers through Belmont's graduate early childhood methods class- accordingly, my thinking as to what makes an ideal preschool is validated and in other instances-evolving.
yesterday, i had the opportunity to visit linden waldorf school of nashville. before visiting, i read up on their educational philosophy, but like so many programs it is hard to wrap your head around it, until you see it.
the linden waldorf school teacher engages in domestic, practical and artistic activities that the children can readily imitate (for example, baking, painting, gardening and and crafts). i witness the preschool children (mixed ages, 4-6) of nashville's school make bread, plant and harvest vegetables like spinach, hand stitch dolls, and clean.

I love the activities and see the effectiveness, beauty, and fun in each. For example, making bread teaches math and science- measuring, fractions, time, cause and effect and chemical reactions. gardening teaches science- composting, plants, life cycles, and animals (squirrels were hiding nuts in the spinach bed). hand stitching dolls teaches fine motor skills and social studies- relationships, responsibility, culture. and, cleaning- the children were responsible for washing dishes after snack, wiping the table, and sweeping the floor. who doesn't see the value of this? and, each lesson promotes language development.

also, the linden waldorf teacher nurtures the child's power of imagination particular to age. She or he does so by telling stories and encouraging free play. This play, in which children act out scenarios of their own creation, helps them to experience many aspects of life more deeply. When toys are used, they are made of natural materials. Pine cones, wood, cotton, silk, shells, stones, wool, felt and other objects from nature are used in play and to beautify the room.

I understand and see the value of using natural materials. I did not see one thing made of plastic- everything was made of wood, felt, or wool. And most of the materials were hand made. There were no trashcans, except in the restroom, and the class uses cloth napkins and towels to clean. very green!

So, what's not for me...
there weren't any books! the teachers introduce stories through dramatic storytelling (often through songs and nursery rhymes), which they note models rhyme, repetition, onomatopoeia, etc. linden waldorf schools do not formally introduce literacy (letter and sound recognition, phonics, blending, and writing) until first grade. the thinking is that these lessons are too abstract and consequently not developmentally appropriate. also, they note that as of third grade linden waldorf students read with more comprehension than students of traditional schools.
STILL, i understand reading to be a wonderful activity for children of all ages. It is never too early to introduce a print-rich environment. in my ideal preschool, things would be labeled, books would be read every day and would be available for children at all times. i would include a variety of literature in lessons- songs, poetry, nursery rhymes, fiction, and non-fiction. and although reading may be an abstract concept- it's all about how you engage the children in it. do you connect it to anything that carries meaning/ something they see everyday such as their names, grocery lists, recipes, stop signs. there is a lot of research that illustrates that reading early with children has positive results with regards to reading scores later in school. and in response to the findings that linden waldorf third grade students' reading comprehension is greater than third graders of traditional schools, i think that there is a sort of learning curve. imagine a first grader who is just learning to read vs. a first grader who was first introduced to reading in preschool or kindergarten- that before mentioned student will more than likely have more excitement and excel rapidly. Still, if a teacher connects the prior knowledge of the latter student to new concepts the same excitement can be achieved. and, the former students rapid growth i would imagine slows down at some point, bringing the two students' reading comprehesion quite close.
any thoughts?

next week Montessori- so excited about this.

i love the itty bittys

2010-02-22T08:26:00.001-08:00

created by a graphic designer and teacher,wee gallery has the sweetest greetings; the black and white animal images would be perfect for notes from an elementary teacher- no? take a peek...i especially love the hen and porcupine

wee gallery on etsy includes stamp sets- love the birdie and seed pod-
and boo boo packs- probably more effective at healing wounds than simple bags of ice.

as someone who adores the itty bittys, i think wee gallery is just lovely

live music

2010-02-11T11:59:00.000-08:00

last night the hubs and i enjoyed the music of michael franti and john mayor. there is nothing like live music. live shows are so great because of the relationship between the artist and the crowd; there is a sort of give a take- the greatest shows are when the artist can match the feeling of the crowd. last night was one such show.
michael franti was unreal last night. he roamed throughout the crowd (i should note that he was barefoot) singing, dancing, encouraging people to "feel the music." for one number, he asked that kids in the crowd join him on stage. i was grinning from ear to ear. he most definitely will be remembered and loved by those kids for a long time. having been familiar with spearhead before last night, i knew that you do not sit and take in the music, but rather you get up and feel alive; you move. this is how i like to enjoy shows; so, with my aisle seat (lots of room to bounce, nod, feel the beat) i was a dancing fool

john mayor played an amazing set complete with covers of fleetwood mac, bruce springsteen, and eric clapton. now, it should be noted that most of john mayor's fans are teenage girls who shrieked between every song and sang every word to each song- except the before mentioned covers- sad-no?
still, i appreciate the enthusiasm they carried throughout the show and so did john (i feel as though i know him well enough to refer to him as just john). john declared that we- nashville- sounded beautiful and that he was not surprised. he says nashville always sings beautifully. he commented that a lot of us probably have record deals- ha!
i have heard artists say this before. dave barnes, while playing this summer at 'live on the green' in downtown nashville said that he could hear the harmonies of the crowd. he then continued to impersonate a music lover from nashville; he put his finger in his hear and hummed the key of the song before singing along- hilarious!

my personal favorites of the night were the cover of "crossroads" and "comfortable" which i thought started off the valentine weekend perfectly. the love ben and i share is most definitely gray sweatpants, no makeup- so perfect, broken-in kind of love.

my bum is on the snow

2010-02-02T18:11:00.001-08:00

friday the snow fell, and fell, and fell. the hubs and i wanted to get out of the house but did not want to drive in the snow- well, i should say ben would have been fine to get out and drive but i was a bit nervous- okay- a lot nervous

so, we walked a block to zanies and lucky us -Tom Green was in Nashville to make us laugh

And laugh we did

do you remember when...you're still mine

2010-01-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

hello.

2010-01-27T08:57:00.001-08:00

hello there. i love your rolled jeans, socks, and shoes. i love your jacket, button, and pocket square. i especially love your curly hair, dimples, and charming smile. i am married-no, no- happily married. but, you could still take me out for coffee so that i may get a closer look at you and your great sense of style. i would very much like that.

thanks sartorialist

a treat

2010-01-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

a treat- enjoying s'mores with the hubs

or in my case, roasted marshmallows. i prefer a warm, toasted, gooey, sticky, marshmallow

the old are gold

2010-01-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

happy birthday laurel
laurel is dear friend i have known and loved for 11 years- is this right!? holy guacamole-i feel ancient. today we celebrate a lovely lady; cannot wait to par-tay it up with old, gold friends

and, i made cupcakes for the special occassion

i can taste the batter just looking at these photos- my mother always let my brother, sister, and i lick the spatula and bowl clean. last night i got the spatula and bowl all to myself- oh, indulgence. detox? what detox?

recipe from smitten kitchen

the hubs, official taste tester, declared the cupcakes "so good"

i wish i may i wish i might

2010-01-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

this day, a day throwing me back into reality, i am wishing i were at the beach with the hubs
doing a bit of this...

a bit of that...

and a bit of this...

instead, i am cleaning the house, finishing laundry, working on job applications, and preparing for class tonight. belmont starts the spring semester today, after a month long break- i know, you have no sympathy for me- back to reality
i am not ready for early mornings, papers, observations, readings, presentations, and time management

this weekend

2010-01-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

this weekend...

the hubs and i are going to take the christmas tree (tear) to one of the metro public works sites in order to get it mulched

pack up the lights, ornaments, garland, wreaths, and stockings (another tear)

BUT, i am leaving my poinsettias out as long as they last or until valentines day whichever comes first. at which time i will replace them with orchids.

pick up more firewood- the hubs and i finally used our fireplace. we think snow days are the best days to listen to the crackle and pop of a warm fire (notice the firewood rests on the floor while the yoga mat and free weights call the firewood bucket home)

we watched the bcs national championship game last night by the fire while eating spaghetti. what a great game! i thought both teams played so well; and can we talk about shipley!? he is a wonderful athlete- i am a fan

begin planning a wonderful valentine weekend for the hubs- any ideas?

finish my series of flower paintings- frame them (along with making better food choices, painting and attending the flow yoga class at belmont are on my resolution list- i will post photos of the paintings when they are finished)

go out on the town with friends (brooke, the hubs and i are game for tonight)

have a wonderful weekend

you've got mail

2010-01-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

E! has shown you've got mail numerous times this holiday season and... i lurve it! i can watch this movie over and over again, and i have. the hubs comments, "again? you are watching this again?" i reply, "uh, huh. i love this movie."

meg ryan is adorable in this film and her clothes- so sweet. i love how kathleen (meg ryan) carries flowers with her from room to room. and her pretty, calming apartment. ooohhhhh, and i want to move into her bookstore, the shop around the corner.
tom hanks, well, who doesn't adore him; his voice is quite comforting, don't you think? joe fox (tom hanks) and his beautiful dog brinkley make a great pair.
a few of my favorite characters from the film are fall, winter, and spring, the upper west side, and coffee-amazing
wonder if the hubs would fancy renting the original the shop around the corner (1940)

detox

2010-01-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

the hubs and i wanted to begin 2010 sans toxins. so, the hubs read and researched. and, after speaking with a seemingly knowledgeable lady at whole body, we selected renew life. i chose to try renew life's 2 week organic first cleanse for the total body. the hubs chose renew life's 2 week organic total body cleanse. i opted for the first cleanse for the reason that it IS my first cleanse and i am not as brave as the hubs. my detox consists of two pills a day for the first three days and then four pills for the remainder of the cleanse. the hubs's detox consists of 10 pills each day- that seemed a bit frightening for someone like me who doesn't even take daily multivitamins. (i know, i know-i probably should) we are on day three of our total body cleanse, which users say is usually when you feel exhausted, weak, and not your best. i did, in fact, feel a little off this morning and so, stayed in bed "just a bit longer" but, i am reassured that my body is working hard for me- thanks body
this cleanse is helping jump start a resolution the hubs and i have made to, of course, eat better. is there anyone who doesn't make this resolution? it is silly to try and detox while still making poor food choices. so, we are eating lots and lots of fruit and vegetables. little meat for the reason that it (red meat in particular) is tough to digest.
i will let you know how much stronger, healthier, and more refreshed i feel in a couple of weeks.

so, doesn't look like the hubs and i will be having a dog bowl full of beer any time soon

but, i will enjoy watching my sweet laurel have one in celebration of her 26th birthday next week. "laurel, i think we should ask the bartender for a straw"

this hat

2010-01-04T10:09:00.001-08:00

the hubs and i headed down to atlanta to celebrate the new year. the hat i am wearing in the photo, a gift from stacey, brought us some good fortune.
we stayed in the holiday inn in downtown atlanta, georgia. i walk in the lobby and the lovely lady behind the front desk, dede, declares, "Heeeeyyyy, Mary J!" while the hubs checks us in, dede and i find that we have a bit in common. she grew up in wilmington, north carolina- remember my momma, sister, and i spent a wonderful week there this past spring. i share that the hubs and i recently lived in the wonderful state of north carolina- every now and then i miss durham- and we now live in nashville. dede declares that she lurves nashville- well, who doesn't?
she asks my name, this of course leads to "what?! is this your given name? love it! you look just like a kitzie!" then she shares that ben's name should be ken and we should move to hollywood. i share with here that we have, in fact, been refered to as ken and bitzie

best part- dede says that because we are so special, she has upgraded us to the priority club level, give us coupons for free drinks at the bar, and coupons totaling a $40 value for breakfast at the hotel restaurant- not the typical continental breakfast, and an checkout time of 2 instead of 11.
the hubs and i head to our upgraded room; it is spacious and has an extraordinary view of the aquarium and olympic park
the good fortune continues- as we check out we are informed that the $20/day parking fee has been waived. there were hundreds of people in this hotel celebrating the weekend, checking in and out at the same time we were and i did not hear anyone else receiving all the goodies we were receiving. i ask the desk clerk- not dede- "why? why us?" the clerk replies, "we think you are special and want to treat you as such." so great, right?

it all began with the hat- what an amazing hat. thanks stacey

i want to put him in my pocket and take him home

2009-12-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

merry christmas

2009-12-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

if it isn't uncomfortable- nothing is gonna change

2009-12-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

if it isn't uncomfortable, nothing is gonna change- words from jillian michaels
it is amazing how quickly you can fall out of shape; 6 months ago (okay, so maybe this isn't so quick- can you believe how long it has been since i worked out regularly- yuck!) i was rockin' with jillian for 60 min. of course, i was doing something active for at least 45 min 4 x a week

today, i was heaving after 20 min- i thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest

gotta get back on a good workout schedule

tomorrow i will make to 30 min- i hope

just a note to say...

2009-12-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

dear christmas tree,
you sure are thirsty

dear flannel sheets,
thanks for keeping me so snug

dear fireplace,
i think it is about time we put you to use

dear smart wool socks,
you are the greatest; my toes especially appreciate you on this cold morning

dear hat, scarf, and coat,
please keep me toasty today while i run errands

dear state capital tree,
you poor thing; i am sure you will be upright in no time
(the big tree in front of the capital fell over last night because of the crazy wind)

dear yoga mat,
i know, i know

dear friends,
i am looking forward to our dinner date tonight

naomi from rockstardiaries sometimes writes little letters; i like the idea- so, just a note to say...

have a cheerful weekend

2009-12-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

today- southern meat and two for lunch with the hubs
grocery store for ingredients for sweet treats
prepare the kitchen for some serious cooking- i.e. play Micheal Buble' Holiday on Pandora- amazing!
bake mint chocolate brownies (recipe from marta- check her blog out; it's a good read)
spaghetti for dinner
may or may not head over to ruth's christmas cocktail party complete with a jazz band- it's sounds fun and festive but i am leaning toward staying home in order to...

snuggle on the couch with my red-head hubs

tomorrow-
wake up prepare breakfast: freshly ground coffee and blueberry pancakes
savor breakfast
do a bit of christmas shopping (stacey, ethan- what is on your wish list this year?)
go get a tree!
find a good spot for o' christmas tree
break for ut game
string popcorn garland
decorate tree while listening to christmas tunes (check out this great version of baby it's cold outside)
grab a plate full of mint chocolate brownies a mug of milk and park it on the couch next to my love

good morning

2009-12-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

this morning- walking on campus, no other person in sight (must have been in between class times) drizzling, cold, wrapped up with scarf and hat, looking at the lovely lights, garland, and wreaths that adorn Belmont's campus and listening to the bells chime a familiar christmas tune.
this morning- a good morning

establishing some traditions of our own

2009-12-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

this Christmas will be second the hubs and i celebrate as a married couple. last year we spent the holiday with friends and family and this year will be no different. but, seeing as how we lived in North Carolina and both had schedules that allowed us to spend lots of time with family- who wants to drive 8 hours on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?- we left our home around the 21st. we did not get a tree- i know, i know; it was so sad- nor did we sort of establish some traditions of our own. but, this Christmas season, we live in Nashville, a short drive to friends and family. so, i am especially excited about celebrating the holiday with the hubs and starting some of our own traditions.
-i like the idea of exchanging pajamas, robe, house slippers or something of the sort on christmas eve and then wearing the gift christmas morning.
-i think we should have a big breakfast while listening to Christmas music Christmas Eve morning.
-we should make spiced cider and watch a wonderful christmas movie
-hang mistletoe and kiss under it
-drive around to see neighborhood lights
-donate sweaters or coats to those in need or canned goods
-oh, and I want to continue some of the great things my parents did- i always loved dumping out the contents of our stockings. we always received gum, clementines, apples, an occasional magazine, nail polish, lipgloss
-and, my grandmother, after eating and before opening gifts, reads the Christmas story from the Bible to remind us what we are celebrating

what does your family do to celebrate the season; what traditions of your own would you like to start?

this never gets old

2009-11-24T12:46:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

there was a time

2009-11-24T08:24:00.000-08:00

there was a time when i made a yummy, relatively healthy meal at least 4x a week- now, not so much. i have not cooked a meal for the hubs in way too long. i have been crazy busy with school the last few weeks. still, when i am not too busy to cook, ben is out of town for work. i have to drag myself into the kitchen after having class and make dinner for one- what!?

so, today i will go to the grocery store and make a wonderful dinner for the two of us. and of course, i know exactly what i want to make for dessert- rice krispie treats- i have been wanting to make these for a couple of weeks now. they are crazy easy, so delicious, and the hubs can take some to share on his hunting trip.

now, what's for dinner?

dear santa

2009-11-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

would it not be divine to find any one of these lovelies in your stocking Christmas morning

Benjmain je t'adore!

2009-11-21T14:28:00.000-08:00

Benjamin, je t'adore parce que vous êtes parfait pour moi.

give thanks...

2009-11-20T10:51:00.000-08:00

i give thanks for a daddy who makes lasagna with mushrooms, ground beef, and italian sausage, has the worst dance moves, listens to talk radio, wears a north pole university sweatshirt every christmas season, always has gum, looks so handsome in a shirt and tie, calls just to "check in", tells me he loves me, and eats ice cream from a coffee mug.

i am thankful for...

2009-11-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

i am thankful for a mother who makes the most delicious squash casserole, adores visiting small east coastal towns, values girl time, always knows the best meat and three restaurants, sees perfection in a set of lovely soft bed sheets, is so generous with her time, always gets me the best shampoos and nail polishes, tells me i am beautiful, tells me she is so proud of me, gives the best directions, complete with, "when you see target, you have gone too far" or "turn left after you pass the cute flower shop"- never ".5 miles on whatever street". i am thankful for a mother who models so many of the wonderful traits i hope to have one day as a mother.

happy birthday momma; i love you

this weekend

2009-10-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

this weekend the hubs and i ...

saw where the wild things are
slept in on Saturday- way in
made french toast with strawberries and homemade whipped cream
watched lots of SEC football
i took a nice long lavender bubble bath complete with candles and the be good tanyas
visited the farmers market- picked up honey crisp apples- yummy-and lovely pumpkins of varying sizes and colors
i worked on school assignments
the hubs packed for Houston
i wrote and hid love notes in the hub's suitcase for him to find
oh, and i packed him a few slices of banana nut bread- "surprise my love"

What did you do this weekend?

And, Laurel I am looking forward to reading some good posts about NYC

i'll eat you up, i love you so

2009-10-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

where the wild things are comes out today;
gotta go see it

image from starpulse.com

i went in for a cup of coffee and...

2009-10-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

yesterday morning as i was grabbing a cup of coffee (rather a non-fat, sugar-free, double shot vanilla latte- ha!) from Bongo Java, a tall guy brushed by hitting my arm. he turned to say "oh, excuse me. i'm sorry."
i looked up to respond, "you're fine."
and

what?! the bachelor! Dr. Travis Stork!

fall days

2009-10-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

i love rainy fall days. why do i love them so? let me count the ways:

nestling with the hubs on the couch, cuddling with our warm cable knit throw (thanks em)
smart wools on my feet
nice big bowl of homemade chili- so good
homemade cornbread muffins ( my first attempt- easy peasy and perfection)

i love early fall mornings. why do i love them so? let me count ways:

quiet house
the warm sun peering through the windows of our home
warm cornbread muffins with honey butter
big cup of hazelnut coffee

have a wonderful fall wednesday

my heart breaks...

2009-10-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

cottage living
domino magazine
and now...
gourmet and
cookie

my heart breaks

take a peak at abbey's feelings on gourmet's closing
and joanna's on both gourmet and cookie

they said the Gators would blow us out

2009-09-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Tennessee- 13
Florida- 23
I am proud.

Rocky Top you will always be Home Sweet Home to me
Good Ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee

Photos from ESPN's John Raoux

Pound Cake Love

2009-09-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

I do most anything to avoid schoolwork.
I thought that because I was now in graduate school, I would have a greater motivation. Ha! Not the Case- I spent Friday afternoon baking a pound cake ( I also did laundry, I did say most anything)- the article reviews and literacy assessments put off to later time.

The hubs kept lingering around the kitchen, repeatedly asking,
"Baby, when is it gonna be ready?" I usually bake cupcakes- I love cupcakes- which bake for 30 minutes or so. So, he wasn't prepared to wait an hour and a half.

Pound cake is soooo worth the wait. Friday night we went out for a nice pasta meal- Mafiaoza's
Our server asks whether or not we have room for dessert- We always have room for dessert. Still, the hubs replied, "she made an AWESOME pound cake. It is at home waiting for us." He turned down tiramisu for my pound cake- I feel appreciated.

What do you do to avoid work?
Oh, and try cream cheese in your pound cake. It makes all the difference. Yummy!

full tummies in charleston

2009-09-02T09:26:00.001-07:00

the hubs and i fell in love with Charleston while visiting last month
we especially enjoyed the food; our first night we ate at Garibaldi- great little Italian place. ben and i sat in the window- great table, amazing food and wine, good service. GO!

after dinner drinks on a roof top bar- lovely view of the marketplace

brunch at fleet's landing
table outside on the water, goooooood coffee, mimosas-yum, i ordered the crab and artichoke quiche- enough said

look at that! and served over grits- SHUT UP!

hamburgers and beer at Henry's

the hubs may have gotten breakfast at Planet Smoothie (on the left), i may or may not have gotten breakfast at Cupcake (on the right)

okay...i may have! orange vanilla cupcake for breakfast, just wonderful!

lunch on beautiful Sullivan's island- poe's tavern

i am sooooo ready to visit again- if you get there before we do, the above mentioned places are a sweet treat
Thanks Leslie and Dusty for the suggestions

bulls eye

2009-08-19T06:53:00.001-07:00

the hubs and i enjoyed a game of darts while in Charleston, South Carolina

Ben's strategy: aim for the numbers he needs

My strategy: aim for the bulls eye and hope for the best

this did not always work for me- i have terrible aim and on top of that i do not consistently throw the darts hard enough. consequently, i had a couple BOUNCE off the dart board and land in the floor- Pathetic.

Good thing Ben did not marry me based on my dart throwing skills

taking a break from packing...

2009-08-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

i am at a good breaking point- (we need more packing tape) and so i blog...
as an anniversary gift, i made a memory book for the hubs full of pictures, secrets, and love notes. i have kept over the years letters, postcards, clippings, pictures and had a wonderful time looking through them. This is one love note that made the cut into the "our first year" memory book

my love for you like an ocean
an entity so deep and wide
as boundless as the sky
without your ever enlightening beauty in my life
these emotions would go array
i study you closely, an apparition like trance
sitting back in the corner of the world,
i think the stars for this closure
-ben
9/7/02

SHUTUP- right!?
i love this man

love note

2009-08-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

dear husband,
i love how ridiculously ticklish you are on your side. your impersonations are hysterical. you are a great dance partner. i love how safe you make me feel. i love the way you look at me when i finally wake up and you have been awake awhile. i love that you are active and healthy. i will never forget how cute you are doing aerobics. you make excellent breakfast, especially eggs. i hate that you make a better-looking waffle than i do. i think the coffee tastes better when you make it. thank you for always taking the recycling out. thanks for accepting my love affair with floral linens. i do not mind that you steal the covers. i love wearing your t-shirts. i am thankful for the way you challenge me. i am sorry my hair is everywhere. i smile every time you say, "my wife." you have the best taste in music. i think you are brilliant. i think you are cutest when you talk engineering- stuff i know nothing about. i love when we grocery shop together. i would love it even more if you were pushing the buggy rather than sipping coffee and reading magazines. i love our dates. i love that you never comment when i order popcorn with extra butter and a large diet coke- after dinner AND dessert. you are my favorite travel buddy. thanks for always carrying my heavy suitcase. i enjoy baking and cooking for you. i especially love it when you make a happy plate- followed by seconds. i admire how hard you work. i love that even when i promise to wake up and prepare breakfast, you let me sleep. i cannot believe you want a king bed. i love sharing a full size. i am sorry i do not always keep my legs smooth. and you declare, "i don't mind."- even though i know you do. i love that you grab me whenever i walk by. i love the feeling i get when it is time for you to come home. i hate when you work late. i love brushing our teeth together. i think your left hands looks perfect with a ring on it. i am so glad you put a ring on mine. i am proud to be your wife. i love my life. and i love you.