Have a great weekend!

I ordered this color blocked sunhat for when I go to the beach in a couple weeks. Can't wait for some time with my girls! (:

(photo via)

Hope you all have a lazy summer weekend. (:

Birthday Cake

How have not jumped on the Smitten Kitchen bandwagon yet? Oh my goodness! I'm in love. With the photos, the recipes, the food I never thought I'd eat. And since my birthday is less than 3 weeks away, I think I will bake myself a little cake. Deb says her family has 3 cakes they all bake: Heavenly chocolate cake roll, a sour cream cinnamon chocolate chip coffee cake and her mother's apple cake. What do we think? Which one should I make?

Or do you have your own recipe to suggest?

(Apple Cake  /  Coffee Cake  /  Chocolate Cake Roll)

Birthday List

Several people in my family have been bugging me for my "birthday list". For the first time in years, there's nothing that I'm really wanting or just dying to have. There are a few books on my list, but I can just hear my grandmother now, "You want a book? No. That's boring, I'm not getting you that." Every year. 

So now I am scrounging the internet, looking for fun quirky things that I would love, really just trying to appease people. (Cause I have no ideas!)

I think I would really love a backyard dinner party with all my pals. A beautiful night full of laughter, cake and lights strung in the air. Too bad I don't have a backyard! 

(1  /  2  /  3  /  4) 

PS. More beautiful party images.

PPS. Is there anything on your want list?

Happy Monday!

Unexpectedly, I spent all day on Saturday with my sweet momma. She had a somewhat crappy cell phone that frustrated her every other day, (Needless to say, it was my old phone. Whoops!) so we hopped on over to the AT&T store. She is now updated with the rest of world. Hello iPhone! Once we got back, I spent most of the evening setting up the phone while she cooked dinner, cleaned up after dinner, cleaned my kitchen and vacuumed. Yay for moms! (:

Carry Me Through

I have been working late every night this week, hence the lack of blog posts. However these pretty pictures have been getting me through the long days...

(1 / 2 / 3 / 4 )

Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream

I love ice cream. A lot. (That might even be an understatement) And for years, I've seen jeni's spendid ice cream all over the web. Every time I read about one of her seasonal flavors or the black coffee flavor, my mouth just fills with saliva. I'm dying down here in GA! (It doesn't hurt that it's been an average of 95 degrees the past few weeks.) When I heard Jeni opened a location in Nashville, I'm now itching for an excuse to trek up there and get myself some of her splendid ice cream. Anyone want to join me?

Plus, it doesn't hurt that her branding is so colorful and quirky. 

(photos 1-3 via, photo 4 via)

Anyone every tried it? Have a flavor recommendation?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MAN-BOY!

I can't ever decide, is he a man or a boy? I guess "guy" is kind of in the middle. But since he's turning 26 today, maybe he's crossing over to the man side of his life. (: Either way, happy birthday to my love!

(He might kill me for showing some of these photos, so fingers crossed he doesn't. I just couldn't resist.)

Wandering Kind

This music mix I found on 8tracks has gotten me through the last week or so and thought I'd share. Enjoy. (:

Bossypants

Road trips are always better when you have something to do. So to entertain my mom and I, I purchased Bossypants by Tina Fey on audiobook. 

Very possibly one of the best purchases I've ever made. At least for a road trip. I think I would actually recommend this over the book because Tina Fey narrates and you get to hear the book how she meant it. 

My mom and I almost had to pull over when we were in Chattanooga because we were laughing so hard. (:

Happy Monday!

I loved my little 3-day workweek last week. This week might be a little more tough. Ha! Plus, yesterday my eyelid was swollen and I think I have a stye under my eyelid. Ouch! On the bright side, Thursday is the boy's birthday! YAYY!! I might be more excited than he is. Happy Monday!

(image via)

My kind of town, Chicago is... [Part 2]

The 2nd half of Day 2 included the best part, THE CUBS GAME!! I am a big baseball fan. I'm not into all the stats and crazy info like that, but I love going to the games. The cheering, the ambiance, everyone coming together to enjoy America's favorite pastime. It's a beautiful thing. (Fun fact about me: I attended my first baseball game and mere age of 2 weeks old.)

My mom grew up in Chicago, so I have adopted her love for Wrigley Field and the Cubbies. Seriously, one of the best fields ever. I think because of all the history. (Can you tell I'm in love?)

Top down, cruising through Wrigleyville. What a great day.

Me and my momma hanging out in her hometown. Their "downtown" is just the coolest little "strip".

Gotta love some Cubs themed cornhole! (I won, by the way)

Loved this little cooler!

She's making me a little July 4th cocktail. 

My gma and her crazy old friends. Old people are funny when they're drunk. (:

On our round trip we passed a wind farm. A wind farm?! Coolest thing ever. These wind turbines ran for 33 miles, and as far back as the eye could see. My mom and I were super impressed. 

(all photos were taken with my iphone and ran through the crossprocess app.)

Hope everyone had a fabulous July 4th. And already the weekend is here again! Loving these short weeks. (:

My kind of town, Chicago is... [Part 1]

For July 4th weekend, my mom and I road tripped it up to Chicago! One of my favorite cities. [If you follow me on twitter, you would have seen some of my updates, hilariously good times...] Here's the first 2 1/2 days of the glorious trip.

Our first view of downtown! I was jumping up and down in the car.

Our first stop in Chicago, pizza! (Surprisingly, it was my mom's idea! L to R: My gma, mom, aunt amy and me)

Headed to the Cubs game!!!

Before the game we ate lunch at this swanky little restaurant/pub right out side Wrigley. Loved sitting outside right in the middle of the city.

(all photos taken with my iPhone. App used: cross process)

The game & how we spent the 4th will be coming up tomorrow! Keep an eye out!

Hope everyone had a GREAT holiday weekend!