Front Porch Friday: Spring Edition

Here are a few things seen from my "Front Porch" lately. (Click here for the Front Porch inspiration!)

Seriously delicious bruchetta and eating outside on a beautiful Carolina spring evening....

One smart bird picked a pretty spot for its nest in a dogwood tree!

Happy Weekend!

Front Porch Friday

Told ya there would be lots of Ellie pictures! Here is what's going on from my "Front Porch" these days. These are scenes from New Year's Day. (I misplaced my camera chord for a few days....which is why I'm behind on my posting!) This pretty much sums up how we rung in 2011. A lazy morning....


Cooking, eating, magazine reading, snacking and napping!

Front Porch Friday

I know you're surprised that the pics from my "front porch" this week are from the Concert of Hope and Remembrance. But it was an amazing night.


Two of the amazing women and breast cancer survivors that made this concert a reality.....


My mom and niece, Sarah, sporting a dress my mom made....


Sarah with her Papaw.....


My mom with her besties, who are all cancer survivors....


Sarah and Me...



With my grandparents, who are both cancer survivors...

Front Porch Friday

Front Porch Friday is coming back! (Again.) Told ya I'm turning over a new leaf.

I think I've mentioned before that I want a puppy. I want one bad! Being a renter, moving, and roommates have kept that reality from happening over the last few years. I'm holding out hope that it'll happen soon, and I already have a Braves-inspired name picked out. But for now, I'm living out my puppy craving through my friend!

Meet Buddy, the puppy my friend Bryan adopted from Pets Inc.



How cute is he?!?!

Front Porch Friday

So it's that time of year....where I have multiple lists started to try and declutter my mind. I tell myself that I WILL get it all done. I'll find the perfect, most thoughtful gift for all 23 people on my Christmas gift list. I'll have everything organized for the 3 different places that I go over a 24 hour span of time during Christmas Eve/Day so I won't forget my grandmother's gift like I did last year. I'll have the above mentioned 22 perfect gifts wrapped all pretty with some sort of cutesy embellishment on the bow...you know, go the extra mile.

{Photo from MarthaStewart.com}

I'll bake some awesome Paula Deen recipe for the office, and two other holiday parties so they don't miss out on some sort of delicious southern holiday treat. I'll have some thoughtful and merry blog posts ready to go. I'll have neatly ironed clothes and outfits picked out for every day I'm gone. I'll make the perfect playlist for my long drive home. I'll have snacks and drinks packed to limit the stops.

I'll have the oil changed, car washed, bags packed, house clean, and plans made for the time I'll be home this year. Lunches with old friends, family dinners, a few good movies...everything evenly planned out. Maybe I'll have time to make this adorable wreath that I LOVE.

{Photo from Better Homes and Garden}

I'll do all of this while trying to spend every free second I have left with a dear friend before she leaves for a whole year.

Yeah, right. It never, ever happens. I usually end up leaving the few gifts I did buy in the bags they came in from the store- I can wrap when I get to my mom's. I'll have to finish shopping when I get there. I decide to wait and get the oil changed at home- it's cheaper anyway. And who needs a clean car? It's just going to look like a bug graveyard by the time I get to SC anyway.

I throw whatever clean clothes I have in a suitcase- everyone I stay with will have an iron. Or the more likely outcome....Ashley will dress me in her clothes anyway so just make sure you have the basics. There's no way I can fit my size 6 foot in her size 9 shoes, so shoes are essential.

I usually end up scrambling around, leaving the hair straighter at my dad's when I need it at my mom's. And I never end up having enough time for everyone. Any chance this year will be different?

I have the best of intentions to make the most of my time at home. This year WILL be a little different though. I have two whole weeks to see everyone. So this is the point you tell me to calm down and prioritize. And this is the point that I see this video on one of my regular blog reads, A Thorne Among Roses, and nothing I said above even matters anymore.




And now is when I rip up the list, donate some money instead of buying gifts, laugh off the awkwardness that an office holiday party brings this afternoon, and have a blast at Shira's going away party tonight.

Front Porch Friday

(If you're new to these parts, you can read the inspiration behind the title Front Porch Friday in this post from last year.)

Whew. I swear I'm still recovering from the 1,108 miles of driving last week! (Which took a total of about 21 hours) Thankfully, the car waited to have a dead battery while I was home so I didn't have to freak out on the side of I-85.

Anyway...I was back up and running in plenty of time to drive from SC to Asheville, NC to be in my college roomie's wedding. Here are a few snapshots from a fun weekend and beautiful wedding.

The bride's adorable nephew had some serious dance moves....

The happy newlyweds...

Happy December!

Front Porch Friday

I've wanted to bring Front Porch Friday back for a while. If you're new to these parts, you can read the story behind the title Front Porch Friday in this post from last year.

A couple of weekends ago, I planned a bachelorette party for my college roomie, Jennifer. We met in our college town and enjoyed lunching at Mellow Mushroom, relaxing with manicures and pedicures, celebrating with gifts and games, and dining at Blue. Then, with very little sleep, we headed to brunch at Motor Supply Co the next day.

We had a blast reminiscing and celebrating. I can't wait for the wedding festivities next weekend!

Front Porch Friday

A while back I blogged about wanting to explore my domestic goddess side. Well- I kinda did! In February, I took a the Wilton Cake Decorating Class at Michael's. I surprised myself with the outcome of my cake in the final class this past week! It's not the best picture b/c it's from my phone. And I know it's a little cluttered- as my mom so tactfully pointed out. But I was practicing all the different things we had learned- writing, shell border on the bottom, drop flowers on the sides, roses (which are HARD), sweet peas, stems and leaves.

(Not the best picture- it's from my phone.)

I'm planning to go ahead and start the second course in March. I lucked out because Michael's offered half off of the class price in February and March! Next stop: Ace of Cakes!!!

Front Porch Friday

Here are two little cuties that I can't wait to see next week!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite meals. I'm not a big turkey fan, but the fixin's are the best! And I'm going to get plenty of opportunities to enjoy it this year:

1. I had a Thanksgiving lunch with the office this week which was typical "catered" food. The food was not the best- I had corn pudding for the first time. One word- Gross! But I filled up on a coworkers homemade mac and cheese which was delish.

2. We're having our 4th Annual "Practice Thanksgiving" with friends at our house tomorrow night. We're going to have more food than we know what to do with, but it's a fun get-together where we practice preparing our favorite Thanksgiving dishes and share it with each other.

3. On the actual day of Thanks, I'll be back home in SC having lunch with my mom's family and

4. Dinner with my dad's family. By this point I may have to fast for a few days to recover from the overload of food.

PS- I haven't blogged about my fantasy team in a while, but the regular season is coming to an end and I'm going to be in the playoffs! Much improved from last year!

Front Porch Friday

Whew...another week that I was lazy about posting! I promise to do better. Work is getting busier planning for the new Congress and Administration so we can solve all of the country's health policy problems!

The last few weekends have been crazy- last weekend my oldest friend from home visited. We had a lot of fun hanging out and catching up. The weekend before that, I was home in SC. So needless to say I'm behind with all of the cleaning and errand running that has to be done!

I'm also attempting to bring some balance and harmony to my life by trying out a yoga lesson on Sunday. A friend of a friend teaches private lessons in your own home,we've arranged for 6 of us to try it out on Sunday. I'm hoping to get some good basic training and one on one attention before attempting a big class at the gym. I'll let you know how it progresses.

My mind is ALL over the place right now, and I can't seem to focus on one image for this week's picture. I've had pet fever for several months now but can't bring myself to make the commitment. I've been VERY close to getting a kitty, but I REALLY want a dog....a golden retriever to be exact. I'll have to settle for a cute pic for now.

Enjoy your weekend!

Front Porch Friday

This is my sister's kindergarten class the day after the election.

Her caption:
11.5.08 My babies with Mr. Ovid. I am so excited that I can look each of my students in the eye and tell them with no doubt that no matter your race, background, or socioeconomic status, if you work hard YOU CAN be anything you want to be!

Election Eve

We survived the endless primary season, the dramatic VP picks, conventions, debates, speeches, advertisements, interviews, attacks, endorsements, phone calls, and brochures. The ups and downs, twists and turns. OH and who can forget the rhetoric...Change, Maverick, Hope, Experience, Yes We Can, and Country First. The political lover in me can hardly wait...

The BIG day is finally upon us! It's been a long election year (or 2) with new energy and strategy on both sides. I hope you are all voting tomorrow. Make sure that you know where to vote, and the proper identification needed.

Saturday Night Live has had some hilarious election pieces. If you've missed any of it, they're doing a 2 hour election special tonight at 9. At this point, we all just need to laugh! I'll be juggling SNL with my usual Monday night TV line up of Gossip Girl and Dancing with the Stars.

In other news: Our office building had a pumpkin carving contest on Friday. My office makes the newest staff members put the pumpkin together each year. I'm proud to say that I did the carving for our team and we won "Silliest Pumpkin!" I was in SC over the weekend and didn't get a chance to post, so a belated Front Porch Friday of our winning pumpkin:

Um...it turned out pretty silly! It's a Sarah Palin pumpkin as her former beauty queen self. Playing the flute was her talent (May be the only thing the two of us have in common). And the patriotic moose represents one of her favorite pastimes.

Front Porch Friday

Here's the Obama pumpkin that I carved alst weekend! I got the template from Yes We Carve.

Front Porch Friday

It's been a looooong week for me! I'm a bit run down after working all last weekend and have caught a nasty cold. So I'm very ready for the weekend.

I didn't think you'd want to see the REAL pictures from my front porch this week consisting of kleenex and lots of cold medicine, so I thought I'd share this one of my mom, sister, and me last Thanksgiving. My wonderful mom is a breast cancer survivor so it's a good month to introduce her to you!

Front Porch Friday

If you missed last week's intro, click here for the scoop.

In honor of the beginning of fall this week, I'm sharing some pics that I took on a fall day trip excursion with a roommate a few years ago. It's amazing that 45 minutes outside the city, we found a beautiful orchard and scenic vineyards.

We went Apple pickin'....

Pumpkin Shopping...

and Wine Drinking!