Surprise Birthday Party.

One of the things I have been up to lately is planning a surprise birthday party for my sisters 28th birthday. She has had an exciting year having her little girl, Delainey. But I'm sure as most of you know when you have kids things stop being about you and start becoming about the little girl. So I thought Jamie could deserve a night to be just about her. I just wanted her close girl friends to have a little dinner. I have to say a couple of her friends helped me out. First problem to arise was the invitations. I decided to do mini champagne bottles have personalized labels for them. I went to ship them and the guys said we can't ship alochol. I was like great. Everyone lives in town except for two. I got one of Jamie's friends to help deliver. 

I was kind of nervous Jamie was going to find out but I enlisted the help of her husband who did such a great job tricking her to think he was taking her out for her birthday and I would be babysitting Delainey. She said this was the first time she ever was really surprised in her life. I caught a pic or two.

I decided to go with a black and white theme because I have quite a bit of stuff left over from my wedding and what I've accumulated over the year. Here are some pictures of the table. I decided to just do all candles. 

We had a great time and I had Maggianos cater all the food. Jamie is a true italian and loves pasta! We ate yummy cupcakes from Gilmon's Bakery after dinner and just sat around the table and talked and played some games. 

The girls left with their favors which were little white lanterns filled with all the things needed to make some of their favorite drinks with straws, napkins, mini liquor bottles, limes etc. 

It was a great a great night and I was happy my sister got to spend it with her close friends! 

Ski Trip

There is no real excuse for my lack of posting. It has become a big problem. I have no excuse other than life being crazy! I will have to make some time to come and sit and recap about what we have been doing lately. I feel with all the holidays right around the corner I am not going to have very much time at all, but hopefully I will return to the blogging world sometime soon. We have lots of things coming up in the next couple of weeks, like my goddaughters baptism, FL/GA, Jamie's birthday, supper club, a wedding and much much more. 

But for now here is some exciting news for us. Today we booked a ski trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. We are going in February with my sister, parents, my cousins, and Uncle and Aunt.  I have never been to see a whole lot of snow just the little bit in North Carolina when I was up there visiting Wake. I have never been skiing so it could get interesting, but I am more excited about the little towns, hot tubs, and sitting by the fires. We are going to rent a house so we can all stay together and enjoy the four or five days we are out there. It should be lots of fun. My brother-in-law and sister are the pros at skiing so hopefully they can teach us a thing or two. Jeff and I may just be the two people sitting at the bar in the ski lodge acting like we are skiing, but really not.

Tallahassee

We headed out of town Friday to go to Tallahassee to visit our friends Lauren and Todd. It just so happened that Wake was playing FSU. We won't talk about the results of the game because FSU is extremely good and Wake is terrible! sad to say but I think the years of Wake going to the Orange Bowl, ACC champs and having a winning record are over.
Friday night we hung out at Lauren and Todds house and we cooked out and have delicious white sangria! Saturday we are up super early to tailgate and head to the game. It was scorching outside! Lauren and I were sweating like no other so when the score was already 28 to 0 with 9 minutes left in the second quarter we said we are out of here and walked to a restaurant near by to have some drinks and appetizers while the boys sweat it out! I know Jeff wanted to see all of his coaches from college so that was good.

We then went home and took some naps and got freshened up and went up to Thomasville, GA. My how things change the last place we wanted to go were the bars on the "strip" where we lived when we use to live in tallahassee for college. The town was so cute I want to go back when the shops are open. But we went to dinner at this place called Jonah's. The food was absolutely to die for. Everything we had was delicious. I had parmesan crusted grouper with grits and I couldn't even eat half of it I was so full but it was amazing!! We definitely will have to make a trip back there next time we are in town.

Since my birthday was a couple of weeks ago Lauren made me homemade oreo ice cream cake! I hate to admit it but I had two slices of that sucker. It was probably one of the best desserts I have ever made. I am going to have to try to make it.


We had to get up early on Sunday so I could drop Jeff off downtown at the Jaguar game and I came home to relax and get ready for the week to start. It was great seeing Lauren and Todd as always. We sure wish they lived closer so we could see them more frequently.

Pic Recap!

I have been neglecting my blog for quite some time. Here is what we have been up to in pictures..

Labor day weekend Al & B took me to the winery for my birthday in St. Augustine where we listened to good music, had delicious white sangria and hung out. We ended up on St. George St for some drinks then met Carlton and Ash at the Conch house for dinner. We always end up at someone's house until the wee hours of the night talking, drinking, and playing intense games of catch phrase.

 Jeff loving on Haigan.

This past weekend was Cam's 2nd birthday party. She is obsessed with Elmo so Al went with the theme and it turned out great. 

she loves her some baby dolls. 

and some Minnie Mouse

Yesterday we had some friends and their families over for the Jag game. I made come teal cake balls. 

We got our outdoor sectional delivered just in time and Jeff's friend came and hooked up the TV on the patio. Jeff is totally in heaven now that he can enjoy football season on the patio with his TV and kegerator. We were not to thrilled with the outcome of the game but it was a good time. We got food catered in from a local BBQ place and had tons of left overs so both of our families came over to dinner to finish it all up. I was exhausted last night and went to bed at 9:30 and still had a hard time getting up for work today. 

For other exciting news our backsplash got put in on Friday and they came to finish up the grout this morning. It is crazy how some tile changed our kitchen so much. The tile guy was trying to talk me out of doing the whole wall  and go over the cabinets because he said he hasn't ever done that before but I said I for sure want it and it turned out great. 

Here's a picture of the main wall but we did do some over on the side wall of cabinets too. We did a tumbled stone. I love subway tile so this was sort of way for me to get it but with a more distressed look. 

We have a busy week of work and then we are off to Tallahassee on Friday. We are going to stay with our friends, Lauren and Todd. Wake Forest plays FSU this weekend so with it being so close Jeff and I always try to make it over! My sister and her husband are coming too so it will be a fun weekend!  

Birthday Celebrations

Well we have been celebrating lots in our household this past weekend. Friday was my amazing moms birthday so we headed out to dinner and ate at this delicious mexican joint on the beach with a great view. Ate lots and had delicious margaritas. We then headed downstairs the bar area where my sisters friend was singing and some friends came to join. We stayed out till midnight just listening to music and hanging with good friends and family.

Mom we love you so much and couldn't appreciate all your do for our family! We are lucky to live right around the corner and be with you all the time!!

Saturday Jeff and I got up and enjoyed the beautiful day outside. I sat in the driveway and watched him do yardwork for a while. I was just snapping pictures while enjoying my land shark. I am so grateful he enjoys doing yard work because I do not think I dread anything more than yard work.
                                                
We headed over to Al & B's to hang for a few hours. I can not believe how quickly my little god daughter is growing. I see her often but still can't get over how much she changes everytime. And I got to sit around and laugh so hard I cried at Camdyn. She kills me and has such a personality now.

We headed off to Bonefish to have dinner with Al, B, Carlton and ashley. I had the most delicious fish I've had in quite some time and it was nice to just hang out with them. We ended up at our house to the wee hours of the morning just talking and hanging out. Due to staying up way past our bedtime Jeff and I overslept and missed church. Typically Jeff wakes up at 7 even on the weekends without an alarm he didn't move a muscle till 10 which is probably the 2nd time I've seen that in 10 years of being together. 

Sunday is my cleaning day so I got to work and then we headed over to my parents house for my birthday dinner. My birthday isn't really until tomorrow but Jeff works late shift on Tuesdays so we celebrated when we could all be there together. My mom made a delicious dinner of lobster, steak, chicken, ribs and topped it off with an ice cream cake. She even got candles that looked like stilettos and a purse! Nothing makes me happier than an ice cream cake. I wait anxiously for it every year. I got to open up some awesome presents from the family. I got some perfume, michael kors sunglasses, my parents bought us our backsplash for our kitchen which I am so thrilled about I cant wait for them to come install it. I will post pictures once it is up.  Jeff also surprised me with an outdoor sectional couch i've been wanting. It is a little smaller than the one in the picture to fit on our patio but I couldn't find the picture of the exact size. I will take pictures once it gets delivered!

All in all I am blessed with such a great family to celebrate my birthday with and an amazing husband. I wouldn't trade it for anything and look forward to what the next year has in store. I can not believe I am a quarter of a century. We have so many more exciting years to come!

Past two weeks

I apologize for my lack of posting but i blame it on having a job that is so time consuming most of the time and even more so at the beginning of the year. there is not enough time in the day to get everything done with these little kiddos until I get them trained to do things how I like.

What have I been up to other than school. We went to New Orleans for Tonys wedding. It was fun to see some of our old family friends. New Orleans is definitely an interesting place, other than all the delicious food we had we do not have much desire to head back there anytime soon. Jeff and I have both been twice and are happy to say we can check that off our list.

Our little Delainey had her dedication day at the church which is just my sister and brother-in-law stating they are going to raise her in the church as a christian, but definitely a reason to celebrate. 

We had a Richie sunday traditional dinner like my grandpa Bumpa used to do true italian style with meatballs, sausage, peppers, salad, bread and everything not healthy. My sister made cake pops and we put them in little strainers filled with pasta to go along with our lunch theme. We ate until we couldn't move and then just sat on the couch all afternoon. I dont really have many pictures, but I'm sure my sister will post the ones she got from her camera. 

We bought little Lainey a jewelry box my sister has been wanting for her. She just watched the little ballerina go round and round. 

It is birthday week in our household. Moms is Friday, Parents anniversary Saturday and mine next Tuesday! Woo Hoo. =)

Weekend Recap

Jamie and I decided to hit up the community pool last week with my cousin Kent and Delainey. You gotta just love my niece she just chills wherever we are. 

Friday we had our first supper club which was fun just to have a chance to catch up with our friends. Brandon cooked us a delicious italian dinner and we spent the night drinking wine and catching up on each others live. 

I made a quick little gift to bring over to Allie and Brandons for them having us all over. I saw it online somewhere and thought it was a cute idea. I got a lantern and stuffed it with all the things they would need to make some cocktails. I put jack daniels, limes, skinny margaritas, straws, cocktail napkins, coke, and drink stirrers. 

We played an intense game of catch phrase and I mean intense is an understatement. Our friend Ashley is crazy competitive so it is always a good time. The sweet babies Wyatt and Haigan didn't even wake up with all the screaming going on. We missed my sister and David this time because David had his annual work convention but we can't wait for next month at Courtney and George's house. 

It is wedding week in my house. My brother is getting married Saturday in New Orleans. Last one in the family I'm sure my parents are excited to have all their kids married off!  So we are hopping in the car on Wednesday and heading over for lots of wedding events. Quite a few family and friends are flying in from all over. New Orleans is always fun with bourbon street, delicious food and I'm sure Jeff would add Harrah's Casino. We will be back on Sunday. 

Hodge Podge

How about USA? I have been staying up way past my normal bed time watching the Olympics but I love it. I have to say swimming, volleyball and gymnastics are by far my favorite. I am ready for the track and field to come on too! I was so happy for our woman's gymnastics team last night! Go USA!

I have been up to my eye balls with stuff working in my classroom. My sister and Delainey came up to school yesterday to help my mom and I out and then today I just had to take a break and I went shopping with Jamie and D. Delainey is getting so big and makes so many noises now. She pretty much entertains me the whole time.

So Jeff and I take an annual New Years Eve trip ever year as I'm sure most of you know. We have been to Savannah the past two years but decided we were going to change it up this year. We were looking at the Jaguars football schedule and it just so happened that the Jags play the Titans the Sunday before NYE. So that solidified our decision. We will be going to Nashville for NYE and hitting up a Jaguar football game. It will be freezing cold, but I can't wait. Jeff's roommate from college lives up there so we will have a local to show us the hot spots and Allie and Brandon will be coming along with us! Allie and I are planners if you can't tell because its like 5 months away and we were looking at flights and they had direct flights for very reasonable so we were afraid to wait and the price go up so we just booked it!

So if anyone has any recommendations of places to see, shops, local bars, or restaurants please let us know! We have plenty of time to do some research, but any help would be appreciated!

If you remember on my 30 before 30 list one of the things was to get a supper club started with some of our friends. Well we have got a little group of 6 couples together and we have our first dinner Friday night at Allie and Brandons. I will try to take pictures, but it will be a fun night of friends, food, and drinks! We are going to rotate houses and try to get together once a month so it should be a good time! Now I have to learn how to cook. Yikes! So that is one thing off my list!

I can also cross out go on a road football trip for this year because we will be now we just gotta keep it up.

1. Buy a House (Accomplished and have been living In our house for 2 months now happy as ever).
 2. Get pregnant at some point
 3.Visit Napa Valley and go to all the vineyards (think this would be a great girls trip)
 4. Zip Lining in Costa Rica
 5. Get a nice camera/video camera and take more pictures
 6. Go to Ellen Show
 7. Visit Italy and parts of Europe (this will be a difficult one because Jeff has no desire to go)
 8. Run Disney Half Marathon (maybe walk some too)
 9. Give a family in need Christmas
 10. Start party planning on the side
 11. Spend Christmas in NYC (jeff has never been)
 12. Attend a bible study regularly
 13. become a better cook/take a cooking class
 14. work out 3-5 times a week
15. throw Jeff a big birthday party
 16. Host a formal dinner party at our house with a chef
 17. Learn how to play golf so I can play with jeff
18. Start a supper club with friends and family
 19. Become a better listener and less stubborn
20. Read more books
21. Go to a road football trip every year (obviously Jeff's input)
22. Loose 10-15 more pounds
 23. learn how to make homemade meatballs like my Bumpa and Jeff's Pop Pop
24. Still be teaching
25. Take salsa dancing class
 26. start up volleyball program at my school 
27. Finish Decorating our house
28. Have an annual girls weekend trip
 29. Build a pergola in my backyard
30. Have a big 30th birthday party!!