Quick Trip

As soon as Brad and I got home from vacation on Tuesday- Beka & I left to go to the beach on Saturday. I love the panhandle beaches! The water is sooo blue. We did the usual...shopping, eating, eating, eating....It was short and sweet, but it's worsened my longing for summer. Here is my favorite picture from the beach. See, I am making better use of my camera ;) (see earlier post about New Year's commitments)

I Heart Vacation!

Well hello all! I'm finally sitting down to blog about our recent vacation. Brad & I NEVER leave Florida. We go to the beach, Nascar races, the river, & Gator Football games, but we are always a hop, skip, & a jump away from Live Oak. This year, over Valentine's Day weekend, we decided to go to the mountains. We rented a cabin in Maggie Valley, North Carolina & embarked on our adventure as soon as we got off work. We drove to Madison, GA and stayed the night there. The next morning, after a healthy breakfast from McDonald's, we headed to our destination. We arrived in Maggie Valley around 1:00, but check-in wasn't until 2:00 so we decided to get some lunch. Brad immediately discovered a little sports bar & grill so of course that's where we went. Leave it to a man to scope out the only restaraunt in a 60 mile radius that has 200 hundred TV's, and not one of them is on E!....BOO! So after that display of rediculous-ness (don't think that's a word) we headed to our cute little cabin.

How incredibly quaint is this???

So we get in our cabin & I run through and check everything out while Brad is carrying luggage. It's perfect! Absolutely perfect! We get all settled in and decide to look through our travel book to find some good things to do. Suddenly there's a knock at the door. Now let me just say that we were told to expect the Chimney guy. He was supposed to come clean the everything so we could build a fire. Upon hearing a knock Brad yells "Come in". A skinnier, trucker hat wearing version of this guy steps into our cabin. Sunglasses included. This was NOT Chimney guy!

So as i'm thinking.."why did Brad just tell this guy to come on in???"..I'm also divising a plan as to how i'm gonna leap across the living room and grab my purse before long-haired hillbilly grabs it & takes off. So Hillbilly proceeds to tell us his many random thoughts (in an accent that can barely be deciphered...oh, and when people from Live Oak can't decipher an accent...trust me it's bad!) He tells us that he's friends with the owner of the cabin, and if we need fire wood just find his house....he's "got a rebel flag in the yard"...yes, really...and then Hillbilly offers to go get us McDonald's!! We were stunned into silence. I mean, I was so considering one of those perfect little cheeseburgers with the onions...omg sheer delight!, but then I remembered that if I ordered something then Hillbilly would be stopping back by to deliver it....ummm NO! So we decline his offer & he's on his way. Now here's the part where I start coming up with all these stories about him coming back to steal all of our stuff and kill us. I know it sound rediculous, but everything about the run-in was just strange.....way too strange for me. Brad was a little more sensible about things, and brought to my attention that he didn't think a mountain man serial killer would have offered us McDonald's. A hungry one might have! He was on his way to get food anyhow! GOSH! After I finally calmed down a bit we went out for dinner, watched some TV & crashed.

Saturday morning was the 14th..Valentine's Day of course! We had breakfast at Waffle House. It was pretty yummy. I had Strawberry Waffles...I wanted some color in there in honor of V-day. After breakfast we headed over the mountain & through the woods :) to Gatlinburg. The drive was beautiful. It was kinda misting rain & there was a little fog. I don't mind a bit when it's like that. It's like everything is asleep and quiet for the winter just waiting to burst with life in the spring. We went through Cherokee, and apparently the Indian that stands by the Teepee for pictures melts when it rains because he was nowhere to be found! I was so ready to get my picture with the chief!...didn't happen...Gatlinburg WAS INSANE! There were people everywhere, and I was kinda bummed because I had a few VERY specific things I wanted to do...like panning for gold...and get old timey pictures done...and the sky lift...but none of that happened because who wants to look for parking in madness like that? I think Brad was secretly happy. I don't think he wanted to dress up for pictures ;) We left Gatlinburg almost immediately upon arriving and went to Cades Cove. Very cool place...I'd been before, but it was Brad's first time. He's into that pioneer, no electricity, outhouse kinda stuff, so he enjoyed that as well. When we got back to Maggie Valley we went to J. Arthur's for Valentine dinner. I had been anticipating this dinner experience since we left Live Oak. IT WAS SOO GOOD. Brad & I both feasted on bread, salad, stuffed shrimp, & crab cakes...mm mmm mmm! The night only got better when the waitress told us that our Valentine meal had been paid for. Thanks momma & daddy!! Love you guys :)

Sunday was the laziest day i've ever had! We woke up, ate, went home, napped, watched TV, napped, went to dinner, came home, WATCHED IT SNOW!!...yes snow!! (I was assured there would be no snow on our vacation! nanny nanny boo boo! I know that was so obnoxious, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!) Then we went to bed :) It was fabulous! Really!...I mean, Hillbilly did come back by & we learned his name was "Smoky" (appropriate right? I mean we were in the Smoky Mountains..eye roll), but he mainly stood outside and talked Brad's head off so I was good with that. Brad?? Not so much - ha ha :)

Monday was AMAZING! We had plans to go to Biltmore. I had been there before when I was young, but the only good thing about adulthood, so far, is that you appreciate things SO much more. One of my BFF's Jennifer J. LOVES this place. I was always like "yeah yeah been there..whatever". So I had decided on this trip I would go back as a YOUNG adult, and see what all the fuss was about. I am ecstatic that I made that decision! The place is truly amazing! We got the little recorder things that take you on a tour through the house. They explain every little detail, and it's truly a great experience when you understand, in full, the history & reasoning behind all Biltmore holds. I am now a part of the Biltmore fanclub. Thanks for the inspiration BFF! After Biltmore we went to Cataloochee Valley to watch the Elk come in and feed. We didn't see as many as we expected. See, we were a little late for feeding time. Who knew it was like 25 miles into that place on a four wheeler trail...no seriously...and we were driving a trailblazer...it was a little risky! Need I say more?

Tuesday we were sadly homeward bound. It was a good trip and we had a blast! We didn't even get to fight about directions....I'm pretty good with a map thanks to my daddy ;) I was the official "Which-a-wayer" a time or two on our family roadtrips. So we're home and i'm ready for our next vacation ;)

Dear Summer,

I'm sad without you. Florida is no place for 19 degree temperatures! I hope to see you soon. Until then i'll be here waiting to thaw.

xoxo-

That's January on the left. She doesn't dig the sun like we do ;)

Finding my inner "Pioneer Woman"

"Pioneer Woman" & her adorable kids

Everyone has that "thing they do"....for Victoria Beckham, it's that she's fashionista extraordinaire...for Jennifer Anniston, it's consistently maintaining her rockin body...for Kristin Billerbeck, it's her style of writing that keeps you from putting down your book....I could go on and on, but i'll spare you. I've met a million people that have a talent or two, but never have I discovered someone that's as good at everything as Ree Drummond "Pioneer Woman".

I was introduced to her website by January, and sadly i'm now an addict. The woman does everything! She's beautiful, she cooks, she raises 4 kids, she takes care of her oh so handsome cowboy of a husband, she's a photographer, she writes, and yet she still has time to entertain me with her website :) Not only does she do all of this, but she does it on a gorgeous ranch in the middle of nowhere. Ladies, in my next life I want to BE her.....for now i'm settling for trying to BE LIKE her. So over the weekend (while Brad was losing a golf tournament-haha) I decided I was gonna channel my "inner Ree" ;) Beka and I went to the grocery store, two produce markets, & came home ready to destroy my kitchen. We diced, chopped, minced, scooped, and stirred for hours.....What was the outcome you ask.......well heaven of course!

I tried to take pictures, but my camera battery went dead. Here are some pictures from the "Pioneer Woman" website, and yes mine looked just as good as hers! The recipes are on her website as well, and let me encourage you to try them. They were a huge hit!

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Thingies

Black Eyed Pea Salsa

25 & a National Championship

Just wanted to take a minute to wish my Bradley a Happy Birthday. He's 25 today! I think his favorite thing about his birthday weekend was watching his boys win the National Championship! We went to Gainesville and watched the game with Brad's old roomate and several other friends. Friday we went and bought his official birthday present...he's been playing more golf lately, and decided he needed a new driver. I think he finally settled on a Taylor Made Berner. Tonight we had dinner with some friends at the crabshack, and tomorrow we'll conclude his birthday weekend cooking steaks with his family. He says it's been good and I say he's getting old ;) Happy Birthday Bradley! I LOVE you so so much!....and Go Gators!!

Live, Click, & Organize - This is what it all comes down to!

New Year's Resolution - a commitment that an individual makes to a project, or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change.

I absolutely love the idea of making a list of goals for the New Year. I don't however like to name that list "New Year's Resolutions". I mean of course thats what it is, but it's almost depressing that as i'm making my list, everyone in the United States is making the assumption that no one EVER keeps a New Year's Resolution. It's like giving up before you even try. So the top of my list simply states "Goals". I won't bore you with my WHOLE list, but here's the top 3. This way J & P can help keep me accountable ;)

1. Home is where the heart is - Brad & I want to have a home, or to have purchased land for our future home, by the end of the year. My small town-house has been great for us, but we are sooo ready to have a bigger place. We love to have people over, but when we all get together there's usually 10 or 12 of us, and....well let's just say I like my personal space. Mother & Mother-in-Law, read this very carefully....I am in NO way, shape, or form with child, BUT when we do decide to start a family (which may or may NOT be soon) we HAVE to be able to store our children somewhere. The moms get all giddy when we mention children so I had to clearly state that ;) So a homestead is definitely #1 on my list.

2. Take a picture it'll last longer! - I MUST make better use of my Kodak. I am the world's worst about taking pictures (which is a complete shock considering who my mother & sister are). I have a great camera, but I find myself without it constantly. For a while I carried it in my purse. That helped a little, but still i have so many memories etched into the wrinkles of my brain instead of on film. That drives me crazy! Our honeymoon- in the Islands, white sand, crystal blue water, tiki huts, bathing suits, sunshine, each other, and like 8 pictures!!! I'm getting sick right now thinking about it. I hope my mom doesn't read this...she'll be mad as fire ;) Maybe that'll be my first picture for the new year...don't worry i'll post it :)

3. I was born with an enormous need for fashion - I live and breathe fashion. I crave clothes, shoes, jewelry, & the perfect handbag....ok ok 15 perfect handbags....It's clearly not to the point of fashion rehab or anything, and no i'm not careless enough to endanger our bank account ...Therefore I did not see the need to make the goal to quit shopping. The "goal" is simply to organize my closet.....and keep it that way. Brad laughed out loud when I read this to him. I mean, I took over our spare bedroom to house my wardrobe (all accessories included)! He thought it was rediculous which is his typical thought for my brilliance. Girls....if you have a small closet and an empty spare bedroom....MAKE YOUR MOVE NOW!!! Preferably while your significant other is absent. It's the best thing I ever did....it's just a bit of a hot mess right now. It's gonna get better....Enter "New Year's Goal" #3.

So there....I've mapped out small part my journey for 2009. This should be a great adventure. I'm sure you'll get updates occasionally, and if you have any good tips on organization let me know.

Here's to 2009!

Let me give you a visual.....It's New Years Eve....Brad and I are at home waiting for our friends to come over. We decide while we're waiting we're gonna play Guitar Hero. I take my regular position on the drums while he straps on the guitar. We choose our song and break it down! After a concert or two Brad decides he wants to try singing and i'm gonna take a turn as soon as he's finished....no big deal right? WRONG....Brad sings his little tune and passes over the mic. I fail miserably (however take into consideration that he was playing the guitar so he could have been the one to CRASH my performance). He is so delighted with the fact that he out-sang me that he decides he's gonna brag A LOT! ;) So I get all worked up because he's not a very graceful winner & in return he claims that i'm a "sore loser"!! After a few sarcastic comments about Brad and his "golden microphone" I decide we better put the instruments down... I'm gonna get all practiced up while he's out playing golf, and we'll just see who the band leader is then ;) Shortly after our first "band fight" our friends arrived! We ate dinner and brought in the new year standing around a campfire. You all must realize that I know there's a pattern here with us and campfires, but that's just what you do in Live Oak. We were tired by 11:00, which is sad, but we managed to stick it out until 12:01 :) Seriously, I think we were at home and in bed by 12:30! Today we had dinner with Brad's family (where he continued to brag about his singing "skills"). The food was sooo yummy! We had the traditional stuff...Black eyed peas & greens, and in addition, rice and tomatoes & Jiffy cornbread. Later I went to mom and dad's and had some duck & mac n cheese. I finished the day playing the Wii while Bradley watched more football. It was a good day to start off our great year!! I'm currently working on my goals for 2009. I'll have to fill you in on those later....and yes we will try to keep the Guitar Hero drama to a minimum ;)

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!