Weekend Recap - New House, Red Chair Project

Our home is complete! We closed on our house on June 11th and officially moved in June 14th! Being first time home-buyers is very exciting and we are definitely learning a lot.

Now that we are somewhat moved in, the Weekend Projects have started and Chad is probably already wanting to kill me.  He is either going to regret telling me that he likes to build things or put me on restrictions from watching HGTV.

Project #1

I’m not sure this really counts as a project. All I did was paint the monogram I ordered, add some burlap ribbon and hang the monogram from our front door. Either way (project or not), I think it adds some character to our home.

Project #2

When we went to pick up the barn door we purchased back in April from Perfectly Imperfect, I noticed two old kitchen bar stools in the back storage room. The stools were black and missing some dowels. I had one of the workers call the owner to see if she was interested in selling them “as is”. We purchased the stools for $30 each and a can of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Emperor’s Silk (red).

We finished our new (to us) red kitchen stools for right at $100 and they look just as good as the Pottery Barn red stools that are over $200 a piece! Saving on some pieces make us feel so much better about splurging on others.

Before

 

After Picture

Project #3

I fell in LOVE with the West Elm large wood mirrors. Chad started on our West Elm inspired mirror this weekend and I’ll post pictures as soon as it is complete.

Weekend Recap - boots

My Week in Recap:

A co-worker of mine got his MBA and one of our managers threw a dinner party at his house. I could write an entire post on the décor in his house alone, but instead I’ll just post a picture of one of my favorite rooms in the house.

Remainder of the Weekend: Lunch with Morgan, the driving range at Ross Bridge, New Year’s Eve (the movie), and dinner at Wings to celebrate the start of Restaurant Week in Birmingham. Restaurant Week in Birmingham is a ten-day event featuring some of the city's top locally owned and operated restaurants. 

Picture from Ross Bridge in Hoover

What I am most excited about: The new boots I ordered!! Yes, I know it is August and that I live in Alabama. As soon as I saw these boots, I couldn’t resist. Besides time flies and it will be Fall soon (I can justify almost any clothing related purchase).

 

I hope everyone had a great weekend! 

 

 

Weekend Recap - Cookie Dough

Who doesn’t love cookie dough?

Source: family.go.com via Lauren on Pinterest

I saw the Pin above one night last week. The pin is linked to a recipe for Cookie Dough Bites with only five ingredients and no eggs. Finally it's safe to eat cookie dough!! Two days after finding the recipe I was still thinking about the Cookie Dough Bites and knew I had to make them. I added in some white chocolate chips. I didn't drizzle chocolate on mine this time but if I make them to take somewhere I will (just to dress them up).

My attempt:

Friday night a group of us went to Dreamland for Hart's Going Away Dinner and then headed to Good People Brewery. We will be sad to see Hart leave for Los Angelos, but can't wait to visit him!

 a little vintage decor at the brewery

ping pong at the brewery

Saturday was dress shopping with my roomie and Sunday was church with friends and the Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics. I think I cried  (happy tears) at least four times during the last two weeks watching the Olympics. The gymnastics competition gets me every time.

I hope you had a great weekend!!

Weekend Recap - Sips

"Celebrate we will. Because life is short 
but sweet for certain." - DMB

What an exciting, family and friend packed weekend we had! Some of Chad's family came in town and around twenty people met at Chad's mom's to help us continue celebrating our engagement! His mom made us a cake with our favorite candy. Reese's and Tootsie Roll pops are my favorites and the Skittles, Pixie Stix, and Gummy Watermelons are Chad's favorites. Mrs. Lisa did such a good job on the cake!! 

Leah made us a chocolate-iced yellow cake. We are definitely dessert people. Clearly, I need to learn how to cook and decorate cakes to fit in with Chad's creative family.

Chad's mom had the kitchen and den decorated with our pictures and she even had a bowl of chocolates with our pictures. 

Top Half: one of each of the chocolates with our pictures on them that Chad's mom made 

Bottom Half: Chad and I practicing our cake cutting skills.

Top Half: Leah (my future sister-in-law), Me, and Mrs. Lisa (my future mother-in-law)

Bottom Half: My Mom and Me

My parents came up and stayed with me Friday night and we woke up and did some shopping Saturday before they headed back to Troy.

Crystal came to visit us for a GIRLS' NIGHT on Saturday!!!! 

Allise and I both LOVE IT when Crystal comes to visit!! We went to Sips N Strokes and painted guitars. 

Sips N Strokes

At Sips N Strokes, you bring your beverage of choice and paint!! They provide the canvas, paint, brushes and all other supplies you need. At the end of the night, you take your painting with you. I have painted some disasters at Sips N Strokes in the past, but I think our guitars turned out pretty well!

Few things in life are better than getting to spend a weekend with both FRIENDS and FAMILY!

Weekend Recap - Liz's Wedding

Weekend Recap:

Groups of women sit together in Nepal while making these beautiful handmade bracelets. These are Nepal Mission Bracelets and purchasing one helps to empower women , sponsor poor children, and educate young minds in Nepal. Bella Salon and Pure Barre in Homewood are selling the bracelets and I could not help but purchase three to support the women and children in Nepal while also getting new arm candy. 

For additional information see the Fair Trade Fashion Design Site. I'm now dying for a turquoise and red bracelet. 

My watch is from Francesca's

Friday night was spent on the couch watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. Gymnastics and diving are my two favorite Summer Olympic Sports. Saturday Chad and I went to Trent and Elizabeth’s Wedding in Dadeville at Still Water Resort. The reception was at the Creekside Lodge on Lake Martin. Elizabeth and I graduated high school and college together. It was so great to see everyone at the wedding and reception.

Saturday after the reception and sparkler send off, Trent and Elizabeth left for their honeymoon in Jamaica. A group of us left for Alex City and stayed with Sushannah. We woke up Sunday and left for Lake Martin. Nine of us rented a pontoon boat from The Ridge at Lake Martin. We spent the day in the sun on the lake before heading back to Birmingham.

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Being Engaged

After one week of being engaged, here are five things I've learned so far:

1. I need serious work on my nails.

2. It takes longer to get used to this ring than I thought it would.

3. People expect you to have your wedding planned out the second you get engaged. Within the first week, I've already been asked: Where will you get married? Have you set a date? What colors are you going to use? How are you going to do your hair? Where are you going for your honeymoon? How many bridesmaids are you going to have?

4.  We know more people than I thought. 

5.  It feels so weird to refer to Chad as my fiance.

Last weekend when we went to Troy to celebrate with my family, my parents (probably all my mom) had written Chad and I the sweetest note. I want to share it:

"As you start this new chapter in your lives we wish you all the joy and blessings imaginable! We are so very happy for you and can't wait to share in your special moments. Always know that we are here for you through the good times and the bad. May God bless your marriage and give you happiness, good health, and wisdom as you embark on this exciting journey through the rest of your lives."

Love always,
Mom and Dad

Their note also included the following bible verses:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down his friend can help him up" - Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4: 6-7

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans toprosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

I am blessed to have such amazing parents!! Each day I wake up even more excited! I must be having an 'Engagement High' or something. 

Now we are leaving for Alex City to meet some friends and head to Elizabeth and Trent's Wedding at Lake Martin. We are staying with Sushannah tonight and a group of us will be renting a boat tomorrow! Looking forward to seeing lifelong friends, a wedding, and spending tomorrow on the lake! 

Happy Weekend!  

We are ENGAGED!

Weekend Update

My weekend recap can be summed up in three words:

We are engaged!!

After work on Friday we grilled. By ‘we’ I really mean Chad grilled. He had the entire meal organized and I had to beg him just to let me help with dessert. It all makes sense now that I know he was planning on proposing, but at the time I had no clue why he didn't want my help. 

He grilled salmon, squash, zucchini, and asparagus. For dessert we grilled/toasted bananas stuffed with white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and marshmallows. See Taste of Home for the recipe, because you need to try them!

After grilling Chad informed me we had one other place to go. Of course I began asking 500 questions. He took me to a spot that overlooks a large part of Birmingham, got down on one knee, and PROPOSED!! His roommate Chris came right after the proposal to take a picture for us. 

After calling everyone to tell them the news we met a few friends for drinks at Jackson’s in SOHO. 

Chad and I woke up early Saturday and I was dying to show my ring to my family and my best friend so we packed our things and headed to Troy! When we got to my parents' my mom had the sweetest note printed out for us. I will have to share it this week. Lacey brought over champagne and the celebrating continued!

My left hand feels really weird and I can’t STOP LOOKING AT MY RING! I feel very lucky and truly blessed to have found Chad. I am thankful for all the calls, texts, messages, and visits.

Let the wedding planning begin!! I'm gladly taking any wedding ideas/suggestions!

Weekend Recap - Otey's Fest

Last night Chad and I met up with Morgan, Mike, Allise, and Josh for the

4th Annual Otey's Fest

at Otey's Tavern in Crestline Village. This year Otey's Fest was held to benefit UAB's Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

The weather was a little cooler than it has been the past couple of weekends and there was a stage set up outside for live music featuring:

The Hurlers

 The Eliot Morris Duo

Secondhand Jive

Rollin' In The Hay

 Chad, me, Allise and Josh

 Even BIG AL was at Otey's Fest!! 

ROLL TIDE!!!!

There are three chic villages in Mountain Brook:

English Village
Mountain Brook Village

Crestline Village

Otey's Tavern is in Crestline Village and there are lots of neat restaurants in all three of the villages. We had heard great things about a little Mexican restaurant named Taco Mama. I'm so glad we listened to the recommendations because after having dinner there on Saturday, I've decided it is my new favorite Mexican Place in Birmingham!! Bright lights are hanging outside and two sliding garage type doors are raised to open up the restaurant when the weather is nice. Chad had the Alabama Redneck Tacos which are pork tacos and I had an order of build your own nachos. After dinner we headed back to Otey's for more live music.

 Today was a pretty lazy day!! Allise and I rented  

This Means War

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE MOVIE!!! I do love a good chick-flick and Chris Pine's looks alone can make any movie amazing. If you haven't seen This Means War and you like movies such as How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Sweet Home Alabama, and/or any other girlie movie then you have to rent it!!

I hate the weekend is coming to an end, but I am excited for

The Bachelorette

tomorrow night. I can't believe there are only two episodes left! Jef is still my favorite!

Eat Dessert First.

"Life is short. Eat dessert first."

I have to start my Weekend Recap off with DESSERT! What better way to start of the weekend than with dessert? I headed home from work to try a recipe I'd seen on Pinterest that looked insanely easy and it turned out SO GOOD!! I don't recommend many things, but this you HAVE TO TRY!! You only need 3 things: crescent rolls, peanut butter, and chocolate chips.

Just roll out the crescent rolls, spread peanut butter on top, and then add chocolate chips! I had milk chocolate and white chocolate chips so I added a little of both and put them in the oven for 11 minutes at 375. I thought they turned out perfect. Now I just need to come up with a really good name for them.

 Chad and I spent Saturday afternoon at the pool and I'm getting close to finishing Fifty Shades of Grey (I've yet to figure out the obsession).

"You had me at CINNAMON ROLL."

Saturday night was DATE NIGHT!! We had dinner at Micheal's Steak and Seafood Restaurant inside Aloft Hotel in downtown Homewood (also referred to as SOHO). It's one of my favorite areas here.

As soon as we ordered dinner, we were served bread. Not just any bread, but CINNAMON ROLLS (dessert first, please and thank you). I decided this place had my approval before we had even seen our entrees. I am a semi-seafood snob. I love good fish and Micheal's definitely has my approval!! I had grilled salmon and Chad had blackened grouper. I've added Michael's to my TOP 3 restaurants in Birmingham. 

While we  were at dinner, we ran into another couple from Troy that is now living in Birmingham and stayed for drinks with them to catch up on some Troy gossip.

GUITAR HERO

Confession... At 26 and 27 we definitely spent part of our weekend playing Guitar Hero. I've never played before and let me just say - I AM BEYOND TERRIBLE!! It's frustrating to be so bad at something (especially when you have the level set on EASY), but at the same time it was hilarious and I'll definitely play again!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!!