Blog Friends

About a month ago, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my favorite bloggers, Michele from Imperfectly Wonderful World!  She is a beautiful wife and mother from Texas.  When T and I were headed to Austin for a wedding, I emailed Michele to ask her if she knew any fun places to eat while we were there.  She sent me back such a detailed list - I was floored!  It was so nice of her to go out of her way for a total stranger!  

(Our trip was awesome - if you get the chance to go to Austin, GO!  You can read about our trip HERE)

Since Michele was one of my first blog friends, I was so excited about the opportunity to meet her in person!

Michele sent me an email letting me know her family would be in Georgia during their vacation.  It was perfect timing, since I was home visiting my parents.  

We decided to meet up for lunch in Athens, GA.  We went to one of my favorite restaurants - The Last Resort.

It is delicious and a fun atmosphere - During college (when I still had my parents' credit card, I wore this place out...those were the days...)

It is strange to have never met someone, and yet feel like they are one of your best friends!  Isn't blog world great?  Michele and I really hit it off, and it was so fun to meet her awesome husband, in-laws, and sweet, sweet children.  Lunch was so good and the conversation was even better.  After lunch, we decided to walk around Athens to see the sights.  Of course, Athens is one of my favorite places, so I was excited to show Michele and her family around!  I showed them where I went to class, the SLC/library, the bookstore and the stadium!

Don't we look like we're ready for a UGA game?!?  All we need is a red pom pom...

We had such a wonderful time, and I left that day wishing Michele lived closer!  Blogland is sometimes a hard place to navigate - Sometimes I feel like I share too much, then too little.  And sometimes you wonder ... should I keep doing this?  I think the answer lies in meeting people like Michele.  I am so thankful for some of the friendships I've formed and all the lovely ladies I've "met" through this blog.  There are so many fun, thoughtful, and talented women out in blogland - and I'm happy to "know" so many of them! 

xx.

PS.  Check out Michele's post about our afternoon HERE

Summer Reading List

It is soooo hot here.  I'm reeeally looking forward to getting our power bill.  That should be fun.  Anyway, wanted to share with y'all my summer reads.  Please share what you've been reading! 

1.  The Paris Wife by Paula McLain - Terribly depressing.  Has anyone read this?  What did you think?

2.  The Help by Kathryn Stockett - Can't wait to start this one!

3.  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Am I the only person who hasn't read this?  I never read it in school, but I feel like it is a classic, so I should.  

4.  The Valley of the Light by Terry Kay - I think Terry Kay can do no wrong!  Love everything he writes!

5.  The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards - This was on the "new" shelf at the library.  

6.  Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling - I've read the first two.  I love HP, but I've decided not to check out any more HP books from the library.  Lets just say they were, um, "well used" - Live and Learn!

These are also a few on my list:

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

In other news, I love this kitchen - Can't remember where I found this image (maybe off Tessa's blog @ Nine & Sixteen - she has the best inspiration photos!), but kudos to whoever designed this masterpiece.  Simply Perfection!

And in other, other news, you know you live in a small town when you stop at a railroad crossing and this is in front of you....

Happy Tuesday!
Stay cool!

Not Fancy, Just Famous 4th!

 Hey friends!

We went to the beach, went to the lake, went to Savannah, moved, and came back to the lake...

We headed to Destin for the 4th with four of our best friends!!!  It was wonderful!!!

Our 4th of July beach trip began with lunch here

Dobbs BBQ

is a must if you're riding through Dothan!

The coleslaw is too die for - and its served with a sliced pickle on top - yum

And if you're lucky, Mr. Dobbs will come by and show you a magic trick!

 We headed to the grocery store upon arrival

We stocked the fridge with plenty of fluids!

Grocery shopping is haaard work!

Really hard!

For dinner we headed Elmo's - a place that serves all you can eat crab legs

My brother and his girlfriend were in Destin, too - so glad they got to come to dinner with us!

Aren't they cute?

My brother ate 4 buckets of crab legs - and he has 0% body fat

figures...

our friends enjoying the live entertainment

btw, what in the world is the dougie?

I'm old

Is this not the most fantastic sign?!?

Not fancy, Just famous

Love it!

The next night we headed out to the Red Bar in Grayton Beach, which is seriously one of my favorite restaurants!  Sadly, I forgot my camera, which may have been a good thing since it was more of a party than a dinner!

After dinner we headed to Bud & Alleys - I seriously want to live in Seaside!

The night of the 4th we decided to grill out

We sent the boys to the grocery store again for supplies - do you like our style (putting the men to work?!?)  They came back with hamburgers, chicken, french fries, potato salad, regular salad, corn on the cob, apple pie and ice cream - obviously, we didn't go hungry!

It was so nice to sit outside and watch the sunset!

T was relaxed :)

Our very festive chef!!!

I enjoyed some reading time before we started to grill out.

Nothing beats Harry Potter and a Blue Moon!!!

Such a fun time!

The corn on the cob was delicious!!!

Yum!

We enjoyed such a fun and relaxing time with some wonderful friends - we could not have asked for a better 4th! 

We got back Tuesday and left for Savannah Wednesday to move!

I was so thankful my parents came down to help us because it was a JOB!

We are also thankful that our house sold, especially in the market!  We will miss our little house though! It was a great first home!

Our Uhaul packed and ready to head to Americus!

Our stuff barely fit - How do we have so much?!?

Anyway, hope everyone had a great 4th!!!

xx.

I'm Loving

 Hey!

Did everyone have a wonderful 4th? 

We did - More to come on that later!

Here is what I'm loving today...

This is my favorite (cheap) candle...

Lemongrass & Coriander

Publix has them for $10 usually!

And I save the glass for to put flowers in!

I'm also loving my favorite antique store, Madison Markets.

If you live near Madison, GA stop by - you won't regret it!

It - is - huge!

and this is my latest find

She was pricey, but I think she is beautiful!

I'm loving my Grandmother's mini-garden

It makes my very happy to see her squash and tomatoes grow!

And finally, I love that WE ARE MOVING TOMORROW!

Officially, on Friday, we will no longer be Savannah residents!!

Happy Late 4th!

xx.

Perfection

So, you see that cover of this month's Veranda magazine?!?

Well, that home is located right here in teeny tiny Americus, GA!

Maybe I'm biased because I live here now, but I think this place is simply perfection.

I want this guy to design my new house.

Soooooo bad...

His foyer is amazing.

T used to sell pine straw to this guy in high school.

I wonder if he can introduce me?  

You don't see too many marble statues in Americus

Look at those painted floors!

I'm dying, right now!

And this living room?
Again, love!
The gray walls, the antiques, the use of blue and white!

The funny part is the owner/designer of this house is 90 years old!

Apparently, true style never ages!

This place is so fresh to me!

This guy lives right behind T's parents -

And he owns a bunch of peacocks, who roam the neighborhood - Btw, did you know peacocks sound like cats?  We are housesitting for my in-laws this week and I kept hearing these cats meowing.  No, they are peacocks.  Weird, but true.

This should have been my senior quote...

And here is the house!

Would you not love for this to be your driveway?

I now have a new inspiration file - 

Dream Driveways

If you get a chance, check out the article in Veranda!

Hope you peacocks had a wonderful Monday!

xx.