House

Everyone keeps asking if I've been busy decorating the new house...the answer to that is a big fat NO! I have been absolutely swamped with school, speech, and sewing (the three "S's" of my life! ha!) and don't much feel like going out shopping after those three are completed for the day. However, I have spent my fair share of time googling and blogging for inspiration for what my "vision" is for the house. (and hoping Josh shares my vision!) :)

I found this interior designer in Southern Living and I am mildly obsessed with this room and really want to piece our master bedroom to look like this...who would've thought that blue and red would look this great together? I sure wish I had an ounce of knowledge with decorating...Anyway, I am now spending time googling specifically how to re-create this room on a budget!

the fabric is my favorite part...I found it on-line for $150/yard! SERIOUSLY? People really pay that much for fabric? My retired mom is deligently scoping out an alternative with the same look! and how adorable are those chairs? just love, love, love them!

Clemson VS Texas Christian

This pretty much just sums up the whole day......

Seriously? 4 games in a row? Pouring rain? Must be some sort of JOKE! (except, it definitely wans't!) Didn't really take too many pictures due to not wanting to ruin my camera getting wet. I wish I could at least say that we sat through the monsoon to see a victory for the Tigers, but no such luck. Oh well...we're still proud to be tigers!

we look like loners...but we really did tailgate with people! They just were at the TigerWalk when we decided to whip out the camera!

Go-To Dessert Recipes

I love cooking--but I especially love baking and all things deserts. If we have a family get-together, I'm usually in charge of making the desert. (I think the underlying reason of me liking to make deserts is being able to lick the bowl, spatula, whatever...it really is true...I love everything "raw"...) Anyway.......here are my two favorite EASY desert recipes that I seem to make over and over and over again---but do it because they're always a hit! I have about ten million other recipes that I want to make, yet these are always the ones that end up being made!

Chocolate Eclair Desert:

I think I could eat this entire 13x9 dish solo. Seriously. It's that good!

Ingredients:

box of graham crackers

2 (3.5 oz) vanilla instant pudding

4 cups milk

16 oz container of cool whip

1 can of chocolate frosting

Mix pudding mix and milk together until it's pudding...fold the cool whip in. Layer graham crackers, pudding mix, graham cracker, pudding mix, and ending with graham crackers. Microwave the can of frosting until it's easy to pour. Pour the can over the top layer of the graham crackers and spread it evenly across. Let sit overnight so that the graham crackers will be soft. Pure delicousness!

Dessert number 2:

Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

3 boxes instant vanilla pudding (small boxes)

5 cups milk

8 oz container of sour cream

12 oz cool whip

box of Nilla Wafers

5 bananas

Whisk together pudding mix and milk. Fold in sour cream and cool whip. Layer Nillas, bananas, and pudding mixture three times--ending in the Nillas. This is best when it can be refrigerated over night as well!

Hope you enjoy :)

Tigers VS Boston College

No blogging in two weeks??? This is what happens when life decides to fill your days with work, work, and a little more work! Regardless...we're here, doing well, trudging on along!
We went to Clemson yesterday to watch the Tigers beat up on the Eagles! The weather left a lot to be desired and let's just say the game wasn't quite as exciting as last year's game in Boston...but it was a "W" for us, and we'll take it!
Banks has a pretty sweet parking spot so we parked and headed onto Lot 1 for a couple of hours of tailgating. After three years of asking for the tailgating grill...we finally bought it for ourselves and it was awesome! Money well spent...we'll be able to use it for many more games to come! (We had a gift card to Academy, too!) :)our little spread...we didn't have too much food due to the fact that we were eating at 11 o'clock and the game started at noon!the new toy! Josh grilled delicous hamburgers and hot dogs!a picture thanks to the self-timerbefore the monsoon started. Good thing we were prepared and had our "heavy duty" ponchos! Definitely should have taken a picture to capture that memory!
We wrapped up the weekend with a matinee trip to see "Love Happens". Very cute...and Josh liked it too! Can't go wrong with Jennifer Aniston!





How is the weekend already over? Didn't it just begin? Here goes another week!

Skytop and Apple Festival

We began our annual Labor Day with Chick-fil-A! We wore our orange and received a free sandwich! We LOVE Chick-Fil-A...nothing better!Josh was thrilled to take this picture :)We LOVE the chickfila cows! How cute are they?

Following lunch, we kept on trucking up to SkyTop for our annual apple picking! There were tons of people there and it was a beautiful day! We chose Galas and Golden Delicious this year--they were out of HoneyCrisp last week. Pretty bummed about that. While venturing a little further than we usually do...I saw a HUGE black snake. Definitely gave me the heebie jeebies the rest of our visit there! the annual SkyTop pic!picking a delicous Golden!my turn :)Josh about to dive into his baked apple pie at the apple festival--and holding my apples and caramel dip! Honestly we go here to eat...then head straight back home! YUMMY!!!

Clemson vs. Middle Tennessee

We had a wonderful Saturday in Clemson--the weather was not too bad, considering that it is September. We were able to see family and friends. We made it to the Tiger Walk! and last but not least, we won the game!!

Our first Tiger sighting of the 09 football season!Mr. Spiller himself!we have the same seats as last year--except 3 rows down! If you squint, Dabo is sprinting down the hill at a rapid pace!

A picture following a full day of tailgating, walking, and sitting in the rain! Little rough--but smiles anyway, thanks to the win!

Taylor Swift

Mom and I had ordered tickets months ago (in May!) for this concert! She came up after school on Friday and we all (Josh included) headed to Red Robin for dinner than mom and I headed to the concert. Taylor sang all of her songs that we all know...which I always appreciate...and the show was very good. She's got a great entertainer quality that isn't seen in many adults--much less a 19 year old. She surprised the audience and sang one song in the very back of the auditorium and spent a long time hugging all the girls on the way down. One downside...many, many squealing little girls! My ears were ringing by the time we left! I'm pretty sure mom and I raised the average age of people in attendance!


Note to self: Now that I've got a great camera, I now need a great zoom lens :)

A Typical Night

How cute is her face?

Gracie snuggling up with me on the couch :)

KelliBellie Bows!

Between Jessica--my stationery extraordinare, Kelli--the burp cloth and bib and onesie queen, Stephanie--the cake making superstar, Mary Catherine--the maker of the sweetest baby dolls ever........I have many multi-talented friends! We really should combine our efforts and open up a boutique!
Anyway...a friend of mine from high school began her old bow making business and they are adorable! Not just ANY bows---bows in the shape of pumpkins and turkeys, with streamers and college team ribbons, bows that match specific outfits from Gymboree...They are precious! I don't think Gracie the dog would appreciate me purchasing one for her---but if we never have a girl...I will consider :) Check Kelli out on her Etsy site!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7785390

Weekend!

How is it Wednesday and I am just getting around to blogging about the weekend? Crazy crazy week...I woke up this morning, excited that it was Thursday--then realized it was Wednesday, and become not nearly as excited. Oh well...over half way through it.

Last weekend I headed to Lexington (for a hair appointment I had on Saturday) and mom and I headed out for a delicious meal at my favorite "Mediterranean Cafe" and a movie. We went to see Julie and Julia. I really went back and forth with this...but in the long run, I figured I could get Josh to see The Time Traveler's Wife...and I had NO chance to getting him to this. I've read both books...both are great...and the movie didnt' disappoint! Meryl Streep is hilarious and plays the absolute perfect Julia Childs!

I woke up early Saturday for my hair appointment--a highlight and a cut--and then met Mom for a little bit of shopping and lunch at DiPratos. My 2nd favorite place in Columbia! We hit up "Cupcake"--a new cupcake place in Columbia--wasn't quite as good as "Bliss" (which, by the way, has CLOSED, much to my dismay!)--but delicious anyway! Here's there site: http://www.freshcupcakes.com/ I got the mint chocolate chip, Mom got the Red Velvet! Following lunch, we picked up a new comforter set for our bed--and then I headed on back to Greenville!

Josh and I topped off a wonderful weekend by enjoying Soby's Brunch on Sunday morning. Soby's is our favorite "treat"--and we loved brunch. Josh had won a putting contest on Saturday in a golf tournament--racking up $200--so we splurged with a delicous brunch! Well worth every penney of the tab!