birthday boy

Happy Birthday to my love. To a sweet, talented, humble, hilarious, hard-working, patient, and unrelentingly loving husband. I am so happy to have celebrated the last 7 of your birthdays with you, I can't wait to celebrate a year of marriage in April, and I feel honored to know I'll celebrate this day with you for all the rest of our years. I love you, mister! xo.

happy birthday dad!!

Happy Birthday to the guy who is the most grounded, secure, and comforting man I have ever met while still managing to also be the life of the party. You some how survived raising three daughters and a son and imparted your wisdom on us all along the way- but in your quiet approach of actions over words- which I appreciate more than I can ever say.

You have taught me the important things like the joys of hard work and the ways of finances, home-ownership, and keeping a bank account in the positive (after forgiving a few overdraft notices in the early years). And the fun things like how much cooler vinyl feels and sounds than a cd or ipod; that you will always play better in a yard game like bocce if you are balanced out by a beer in the other hand; that ipa's might just be better than pbr's; and that you're never too old to start the dance party. But most importantly the little things like sometimes it is okay to say no when you feel like you're running in a million different directions at once; and that sometimes its also okay to forgive and forget, even when you don't know how things will turn out.

Thank you for all of the lessons, spoken and unspoken, but most of all- thank you for loving us and our mom so. damn. much.

happy anniversary mom and dad!

Happy Anniversary to the two people who showed me how great a marriage can be, how special family is, and how fulfilling life can become with a supportive, loving, rock of a spouse. You two are each others perfect match, that puzzle piece, and you guys are the reason I was so excited, so confident, and so full of joy on my own wedding day! Thank you for showing me, through your own example, how it is supposed to work, I love you!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy birthday to the woman who gracefully manages to juggle the role of teacher, mother, principal, creator, and wife. You taught me how special it is to cook a meal for the ones you love, to celebrate birthdays for a week straight, to find the positive in the dreariest of days, and most importantly to always keep creating. You've been the rock for our family in hard times, the cheerleader and biggest fan to four children, and a perfect role model of what a strong woman really is.

I love you and am so thankful to call you my mother, happy birthday!

sand and surf

A quick, one-night girls getaway was a much welcomed event in this quickly fleeting summer. Hours on the beach followed by some time out at our favorite downtown spots was exactly what we needed. Needless to say there were tons of laughs, a few falls, and some very sleepy girls on the ride home. It is so nice to live in a state where the beach and mountains are all in a few hours reach.
Next week the mister and I will be spending the entire week on the coast with my family and I absolutely cannot wait. My sisters, mom, and I have some big crafting plans- along with the hours of relaxing, sunning, swimming, wine pouring, and beach walking that are already on the agenda. Oh summer, I forgot just how lovely you are!>>photos from my iphone<<

Summer, sisters, and surprises

A bit of a late start this Monday but I have lot's of love to share today! First of all, a happy fathers day to my dear, sweet, funny dad whom we had the pleasure of tubing down the Dan River with yesterday!
Today also happens to be my little sister's birthday! Happy Birthday Sarah, we love you!!! We had delicious key lime cheesecake yesterday to celebrate and will commence the birthday activities later today with her favorite past time- shopping! I hope your birthday is a blast and that this year brings you adventures, great memories, and lots of love!
I am also excited to share with you today a new project I am working on. I was honored to be asked to join the team over at the new site, PrettySouthern, where I will be sharing art, entertaining, craft, and decorating tips and inspiration each week. This is so exciting for me to be a part of and I hope it will become a part of your daily reads. Today I have a 4th of July inspiration board for throwing your own celebration in true southern style. I will keep you up to date as I share more posts. Enjoy!

Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday to my most wonderful father! I had a blast with you over the holidays and can't wait for more celebrations throughout 2011!

And yes, my dad even looks cool in front of a floral sheet.

from the ocean

Our week at the beach was simply wonderful and relaxing. We ate, slept, laid in the sun, played, drank, read, and ate some more. I took so many photos it is hard to pare them down, but here are a few of my favorite moments::
tie-dye party, finally!
seafood fest
view from the deck
and a sweet toast and kind moment with some delicious wine.

Thanks Mom and Dad for continuing one of my absolute favorite traditions!

a teeny beach update

Besides feasting like royalty, having guitar and banjo-driven sing-alongs and enjoying lazy mornings in the breeze- we have managed to fit in a little physical activity in here at the beach. Yesterday the mr, my brother, his girlfriend, and I drove up the island to the Currituck Lighthouse. We climbed it's 162 stairs to take in the view of the Outer Banks from the top. With shaky legs we stood in the fresh air and cool breeze and looked down the island nestled between the ocean and the sound.
Other than that there have been long hours of reading on the beach, many a bottle of wine, and some good laughs and thoughtful moments. I don't think I will ever be ready to leave.

handmade birthday pt. deux

For my little sister's birthday we went out to dinner and then had some delicious cupcakes (that the birthday girl made herself) and champagne here at our house. For this I made a large banner that I cut letters out of wood-grain contact paper and adorned it with cupcake stickers.
I also sewed a couple other garlands and made some cupcake toppers to match.
Taking my inspiration from here, I covered the house with fresh flowers in vases of various heights.

And of course when families get together, things can get a little silly.

sweet sarah

Happy 22nd birthday to the sweetest of littlest sisters! I miss you already and can't wait for you to come stay for a slumber party soon! I am so incredibly proud of who you are and what you have done in your 22 years. You inspire me to be a kinder, gentler person. I had sooooo much fun decorating and getting ready for your birthday and I would do it everyday for you! Love you sister!

happy dad day

...and thanks for two things::
1. Not realizing how creepy looking I was here and sending me back.
2. Not making me do sports that I was truly never good at- but letting my competitive side finally come out in our bocce tournaments- you are my worthiest opponent! I owe you a game when I return!

I love you dad, I hope today is wonderful! (Don't let mom make you cook again.)

to the best

Happy Mothers Day to the best mom ever ever. You are even cooler now than you were back then (I think the four of us have something to do with that).

homeowner

My sister bought a house! Well, is in the process of buying her very first home. So, in honor of her new place, this post is solely devoted to all of the things I would buy for her and decorate her home with. Everything is from Terrain. A home and garden store owned by the same group as Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, so you know I love it. So, Liz, here is what I would give to you if I could buy everything I wanted for you::

This maple cutting board.

These lovely nesting bowls.
As well as these.
This sweet linen apron.
This garden tools towel set.
These foldable rubber boots.
And lastly, this heirloom seed collection.

Congratulations sister! I can't wait to help you move, garden, paint, decorate, and cook your first meal in your new home! I am sure there will be more of these posts to come.

And check out my other sister's awesome project here. Exciting!

my brother

...the photographer. Every time I leave my camera laying around when I am with him, I find a nice little treasure like this on it. Thanks brother, I love it!

Have a great weekend everyone!

happy birthday dad!!

Happy Birthday!!

We celebrated my Dad's birthday over the weekend with a delicious sushi dinner and a decadent chocolate raspberry cheesecake. It was great fun and I hope he is still celebrating today.

I love you Dad!!!

liz's broccoli cheddar soup

So much for getting ready to go back to work. Spent the afternoon cooking with my sister and eating what we have cooked. Made some pizza dough that is currently cold-rising to be used tomorrow. Also made some croutons (my new favorite thing to make) while my sister, Liz made some absolutely delicious broccoli cheddar soup. We then sat around and listened to records and ate our soup and croutons! "a pretty nice little saturday". Guess tomorrow will be spent grading and lesson planning... oh well.

Here is the recipe for her soup::

Liz’s broccoli cheddar soup

3 tablespoons butter
1 onion chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups broccoli, chopped
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups vegetable stock (I don't like stocks made with tomato, I find them to be too sweet)
3 cups milk
8 oz cheddar
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter and saute the onion, garlic, and broccoli a few minutes, until onions are becoming translucent. Stir in flour, coating vegetables. Stir in stock and bring to just below a boil. Add milk, and reheat, but do not boil. Slowly stir in cheese until completely melted. This should take several minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Don't be afraid of the salt. Depending on your stock, it can handle a lot. Serve with homemade croutons.

enjoy!

weekend revisited

An amazing weekend with loved ones and great friends, complete with::

a sister's birthday...



fresh flowers from my parent's garden, in my mom's homemade vases (so sweet)...




evidence of the changing seasons...




fireside time in the backyard.

good stuff.

big sister

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER!! You are sweet, caring, and oh so dear to me. I hope your year is filled with love and laughter and many friends, travels, and joys!

PS sorry I couldn't make all of these beautiful decorations for you, but I found them here!