Averett University

Wellllll, the leek recipe turned out well!  I highly recommend yall try it!  We'll be making it again sometime soon! 

On Wednesday, I had to go up to southern Virginia to look at a few new sites we are possibly going to develop.  I was going through Danville and I thought it would be fun to stop and see where my Mom went to school - Averett College (this is what it was called when she was there, they've since changed it to Averett University!). 

It was so pretty and I was very excited to get to see where she ran around when she was in her 20's.  Dad told me about a spot where she used to go shopping and so of course I had to go by there too.  I imagine it being much different when she was there.

Mom also played tennis for Averett so I scoped out the tennis courts.  I can just see her out there running around being very competitive!

Where did you go to college and have you been back there recently? 

Leeks and Lilly - ha!

Well friends, tonight I plan on using leeks for the first time as I pretend to be like the Pioneer Woman and cook the recipe she put on her website today.  We shall see.  She always gives me the confidence I need to try new recipes...how does she do that?!  Maybe because she details it out step by step so someone that is not cooking savvy like me can understand?!!

And a couple Lilly's I love from the Fall line that just came out.  Hmmmmmmmm!!

I know, leeks and lilly - how random!

PS - I can't get the pictures to center...it says they are centered but then they aren't when I publish the post. 

Happy Anniversary!

To the best couple! 

Congrats to my brother, Clay and SIL Emily!  Four years, already!!!

Welcome and Triple Date

Welcome to my new followers!  So glad yall are here!

Last night, we had a triple date with some friends of ours.  You may remember we hung with them back in February.  I went through the story of how I know them in that post.  It is pretty cool and we all talked about it again last night.  And in February, Brooklyn still wasn't born but this time she joined us for dinner!  She was good as gold, of course! 

We went to Brixx Pizza which is a couple blocks from our house.  They had $2 domestic pints and they have a great beer selection.  The guys had a few beverages but we were good girls!  I think our next outting will be for sushi or at my house.  So fun!

Don't you just love random nights out in the middle of the week?  They seem to make the week go by faster, at least I hope so!

PS - what did yall think of "Guys Tell All" last night on the Bachelorette?  Kasey is so weird and I'm guessing Justin wasn't invited at all?!  He didn't deserve to be!

Sunset

On Friday night after work, some neighbors went down to the pool on the 10th floor of our building for apps and a couple drinks.  We enjoyed being low key for a Friday night.  The below picture is taken from the pool deck looking up towards the Bank of America headquarters (the building in the center right). 

This is the sunset (you can barely see the sun)...

And then it got all orange and beautiful....this is also the direction of where the airport is so it was neat having the planes fly by too.  Very cool.

What is the prettiest sunset you've ever seen?

VV Lazy Pants

Us ladies in our family love the Vineyard Vines lazy pants.  Mom gave Emily and I matching pairs for Christmas one year, then the next year she gave us each another pair.  Well then Miss Anna Kate was born.  She HAS to have a pair and look what my SIL Emily found this week....

...how cute are they?!!!

Oh friends, it's been one of those weeks.  Chaos at work...when I say chaos, I mean CHAOS! 

I'm looking forward to tonight - lounging with Kev and some other neighbors by the pool with a frozen drink, really cold beer or yum glass of white wine.

OH, let me tell yall what made my week....or maybe it made Kevin's more....we don't know! 

Evidently Anna Kate was singing along to music in the backseat of Emily's car this week...Belinda Carlisle - Heaven is a Place on Earth.  She was singing along...

"Ooh, baby, do you know what that's worth, Ooh heaven is a place on earth..."  Well yall - she said "Kevin" instead of "heaven."  Ahhhh, I melted when Emily told me about it!!! 

Mini Meatball Sandwiches and Tory Burch

Okay yall, The Pioneer Woman NEVER disappoints.  These lil guys are not the best for you but don't they always say, portion control, portion control?!!  I made them last week for a treat and Kevin loved them.  Go here for the super duper easy recipe.

Remember I told yall that Tory Burch was opening a store in Southpark?!  Welllll they opened last Friday and I was one of the first customers in.  Loved everything, bought nothing!  :)  I've been on my best behavior since the Lilly sale in June!

Have you bought anything from Tory lately?

Sugar Doll #2

Hey Friends!  The super sweet Ally, gave me the Sugar Doll award.  She is a doll herself and I've really enjoyed getting to know her lately.  She is in med school and has a really hectic life but she somehow finds a way to balance it all, find cute bargain finds and keep up with blogging too.  Jump over to her blog, check it out and become a follower!

I'm so lucky to have received this award twice in the past few weeks!  I really can't think of anything too exciting to share so I figured I woud link back to where I posted about it before and share that with my new followers!

If you have not received this award, please take this as your cue to head over to your blog and start listing fun things about yourself!  :) 

Nieces and Nephew

As always, I love to show off my nieces and nephews!  I get to see them all in a few weeks when we take a family vacation to New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  Can't wait!

My Anna Kate in her Lilly tunic I sent her.  This picture made me melt when I got it on my phone last weekend.  Not only did her Mama send me a picture, Anna Kate left me a voicemail thanking me for it....I have listened to the voicemail at least 10 times since then.  Yes, it is a tad big on her but she'll wear it as a cover up for at least this year then she'll grow into it being a tunic.  You can never have too much Lilly!  Anna Kate, go tell your Daddy that!

Amelia making the boys run after her, already!! 

Miss adorable Maeve and her little brother, Fin.

Aww, Fin, isn't he cute?!

Hope you enjoyed getting to see some updated photos of the fam!  You're bound to see many more in August!

I'm traveling for work the next few days so bare with me please! :)

Lana and Lake

Busy Saturday!  I went to Lana's baby shower on Saturday morning for a brunch to

celebrate the August 10th due date of their little "Gwen."  She is so cute and they will be great parents!  

She is one of my friends from KHA.  Sadly, they are moving back to Raleigh in the next month or so...we will miss them so much in Charlotte!

After the shower, we went out to Kimmy's parents house.  They live on Moss Lake about 40 minutes west of uptown Charlotte.  Very easy drive and gorgeous place.  Check out Tahoe, Kim and Jeff's pooch.  She jumps off the dock and after a stick.  Total water dog.

Kimmy's Dad getting the jetski wound up.

Jeff took me for a cruise...little did I know, I'd be taking a dip a few minutes later.  He threw me off the back of it when we got a bit too high on the wake from another boat.  Ha, so fun though!  He spotted my sunglasses before they sank...thank goodness!

Kev and I went for a ride... :)

We had so much fun!

The four of us.  You know what I mean when I say it is hard to find another couple where the guy likes hanging out with the other guy just as much as the two girls like each other.  Well Kimmy and Jeff are one of our best couple friends.  We just all like being together and having fun.  It is so refreshing to hang with them!

Aren't they presch?  Been married for over two years now - where does time go?

Then Kimmy's Mama brought out the big Jenga set.  How fun is that?!

They are so "tilly."  Hahahaha

Yeah, they aren't right either....

We ended up staying at their home that night for obvious reasons...we didn't want to drive...

We recovered yesterday - Kevin worked, I made a couple things for dinners this week and we got ready for being back at work.  Monday, Monday!  Bachelorette tonight!  What's going to happen?!

Cause it's ladies night...

Last night, two of my bestests from my old company (KHA) came over to have a lil girl's night.  We drank wine, caught up and chatted about all girly things. 

Fran is in the middle of the picture and I met her just before I left KHA.  I knew the second I met her that we would be friends.  You know that instant we-have-so-much-in-common feeling.  The only thing about her that we don't exactly have in common is that she went to Clemson...boooo.  We both love to shop (too much), love the beach, basically the same taste in clothes and love to talk.  Ladies, in case you have any cute boys that would love a classy, fun, driven girl send them Fran's way.  :)

Jen is in the long black dress.  She is fabulous and one of my oldest friends from college.  You see, Jen and I suffered through engineering classes together and we were the couple girls among all the boys.  After school, we both moved to Charlotte from Raleigh and worked at KHA for two years.  She has always been a great friend, you know the kind you pick back up with even if you haven't hung out in a few months.  Love that about her.  She is artistic, creative and smart. 

We missed Beverly.  She was supposed to come too but she was too busy playing in Asheville and planning her move to Florida for graduate school.  :)  Just kidding, so proud of you Bev.  See you tomorrow!

These girls are the best - there is something instantly bonding about us that we are a minority in a male dominated profession.  These girls are hard-working and hard-playing....something you don't always find in friends these days.  Anyway, thank you all for coming over last night - I had a blast hanging out with ladies!

Nordstrom Sale

Who is going to the sale tomorrow and what is the best purchase you've ever gotten from their anniversary sale?

Mine would be two large Philosophy Grace bottles - one of lotion and one of shower gel.  I got them both for about $50 total a couple years ago.  The woman told me when I purchased them that I would never regret it and I haven't!  You know typically the smaller bottles are about $16-$20 each, so this really was a bargain.  Still use them both to this day!

Winner!!!

Congratulations to Let The Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore!!!  

PS - yall should visit her blog, she is fab and has amazing taste!

Email me your address and I'll put them in the mail ASAP!

Summer Squash Casserole

Mom's Summer Squash Casserole

So yum, fresh and easy!

Grease a quart and 1/2 baking dish. ( I use sometimes larger ones and then I can make more layers). When cooked it all goes way down, so I start big!

Layer of sliced yellow squash (1-2 squash)

Layer of sliced onion (about 1 onion)

Layer of sliced green pepper (1 green pepper)

Season each layer with salt and pepper. Also sprinkle a layer of grated parmesan cheese (I use no fat cheese) after each layer of vegetable. Repeat having 2 layers (or more) of each vegetable.

Pour 1 can of tomato soup over all.

Bake at 375 degrees covered and 15 minutes before you remove from oven sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.

Cook 1-1 1/4 hours

Nikki and Jack!

Last May, we went to Nikki and Steve's wedding in Greensboro.  We had such a blast and this time I got to see Nik, she has baby Jack!  Isn't he precious?!  Nikki is one of my oldest friends and one of my first when I started at NC State.  She lived next door in Carroll Hall and boy did we have a good time! 

This time, I got to visit them in Bethlehem, PA where they live now.  Nikki is a nurse at a local hospital and her hubby is in his residency for being an ER Doc.  Oh how far we have all come since that day in August of 2000 when we met!  They have an adorable home in the historic area of Bethlehem and they are working on redoing it.

We had the best time catching up and chit chatting about old times and what has been going on recently.  Sometimes you just need a good chat with an old friend to make you have a great start to the week.  Thank you Nik for that!  So nice seeing you and meeting Jack!

Out in Matthews

We had a good time on Friday night.  It started uptown at Molly McPherson's celebrating with Emily who just took a new job!  Then we went back to Avenue and Kevin had some friends at his condo.  They all came up to my place and we enjoyed catching up. 

Then some of the group was going to watch a band in Matthews which is about 25 minutes south of Charlotte.  We never venture out that far so we said what the heck and went!  Ended up having a great time and loved the live band!  This is Lauren and I hanging out on the patio!

Good times LG, as always!  :)

Happy Monday!  I'm up in PA today for a quick work meeting (and hopefully getting to visit with an old friend!) then heading back this afternoon!

PS - don't forget to enter my first giveaway for some Lilly coasters!

My First Giveaway!!!

LILLY GIVEAWAY!!!

I've been wanting to do a giveaway for a long time but my one year anniversary on Tuesday is the perfect excuse!  :)  Thank you all for being amazing friends, in real life and through blogging.  This year has been so much great getting to know each of you!  To my blog girls - I know we'd be friends if we met in real life!  ;)

These are the Lilly Pulitzer Coasters in Cabanarama!  There are 8 in the box.  Wouldn't they be adorable with a fun drink, lemonade or iced tea on top of them....sitting on the beach, by the pool or on your back deck! 

One entry for being a follower! (mandatory)

Two additional entries if you tell me your most prized dress/outfit (can be Lilly...doesn't have to be!) and a quick story of what makes it so special.

Three additional entries for blogging about it!

Let me know how many entries (1, 3, 4 or 6) to give you in your comment on this post!

Entries close on Tuesday (13th) at 11:59pm and winner will be announced on Wednesday!

Jack Rogers

Has anyone had any trouble with their Jack Rogers?  Last weekend I noticed that in the front of one of my platinum sandals, it is splitting in half from the bottom of the shoe. 

I called Nordstrom yesterday and they said the shoes are only supposed to last one season (ladies, don't tell your boys this!  :)). 

I let her know that I had two other pairs that I've had much longer than my platinums and they are still perfect. 

She said to bring them in and show them to a manager to see if maybe these were defective.  So that's what I'll do today.

My friend Kelly also is having a problem with her black wedges, they are cracking on the bottom in the middle of the shoe.  Very weird.

Have yall had any trouble with your Jacks?

Happy Friday friends!

Baking Chaos - Cake Balls

I believe I've mentioned before that I cannot bake for the life of me.  The only sweet things I can make are REALLY basic.  Everyone keeps talking about cake balls so last night I gave them a try.  I wanted to bring them into work to share.  Wellllll, two hours later, I had a red hand and 10 cake balls that are a disaster looking and I would never take out in public. 

So maybe next time, I will try a chocolate shell instead of white, because then the chocolate will hide the mess.  I need to figure out the quickest way to dip them in the bark and keep the bark warm enough that it is still melted.  This time I microwaved the bark, next time I think I'll put it in a glass bowl over boiling water. These 10 took too long so then I just quit because I thought it was ridiculous and I needed to go to bed!  Ahh, let the baking saga continue! 

Chicken Parmigiana and Crabcakes

The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Parmigiana

Note:  If you have never made this, do it tonight.  You will not regret it and your husband/significant other will love you for life.  :)

Prep Time: 15 Minutes  Cook Time: 45 Minutes

Difficulty: Easy Servings: 6

Ingredients
4 whole (up To 6) Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Trimmed And Pounded Flat
½ cups All-purpose Flour
Salt And Pepper, to taste
½ cups Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Medium Onion, Chopped
4 cloves Garlic, Minced
¾ cups Wine (white Or Red Is Fine)
3 cans (14.5 Oz.) Crushed Tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Sugar
¼ cubes Chopped Fresh Parsley
1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 pound Thin Linguine (or I used bow tie)

Preparation Instructions
Mix flour, salt, and pepper together on a large plate.


Dredge flattened chicken breasts in flour mixture. Set aside.


At this time, you can start a pot of water for your pasta. Cook linguine until al dente.


Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium heat. When butter is melted and oil/butter mixture is hot, fry chicken breasts until nice and golden brown on each side, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.


Remove chicken breasts from the skillet and keep warm.


Without cleaning skillet, add onions and garlic and gently stir for 2 minutes. Pour in wine and scrape the bottom of the pan, getting all the flavorful bits off the bottom. Allow wine to cook down until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.


Pour in crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add sugar and more salt and pepper to taste. Allow to cook for 30 minutes. Toward the end of cooking time, add chopped parsley and give sauce a final stir.


Carefully lay chicken breasts on top of the sauce and completely cover them in grated Parmesan. Place lid on skillet and reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer until cheese is melted and chicken is thoroughly heated. Add more cheese to taste.


Place cooked noodles on a plate and cover with sauce. Place chicken breast on top and sprinkle with more parsley. Serve immediately.

AH-MAZING!!!!!!!!! 

On another note, I made crabcakes last night with that yum crabmeat that my parents brought me.  But I can't give that recipe out because I would be forbidden from my Mother's household.

Kevin is just so sweet that he only ate one last night and will take something else for lunch today so I have lunch for two days.  He said, "I know how much you love them."  Awwww.

July 4th Wrap Up

We had a wonderful weekend, as I hope you did too!  On Friday night, my parents and I went to the Fish Camp with Kevin's parents and brother.  Here we all are!

On Saturday, Mama and I shopped until we dropped.  We visited Southpark - Belk (Lilly), J. Crew and Ann Taylor.  We were successful and had so much fun.  I finally found some white pants that I've been searching for for months!  When Mom and I arrived home, Kevin and Dad had been sitting there chatting for awhile after they each worked.  Hey, someone had to work I guess if we were out spending money!!  They made fun of us because we kept talking about how everything was on major sale!

Saturday night we went to dinner at Vivace which is a new italian place in Metropolitan.  It has neat decorations and is pretty modern.  We went there last week for Lauren's birthday.  They have an upstairs which is where we sat.

Just before the sun set, we got some good pictures with uptown Charlotte in the background!

We celebrated Mom's 60th birthday which is in a few weeks!  She wasn't happy that we had told the restaurant, but it was all in good fun!

Here are Mom and Dad!  Of course I'm biased, but aren't they cute?  We're a lucky fam!

On Sunday we did a little cookout at the Avenue so my parents could see some of my college friends.  Flag cake!

Kevin's brother Joe and Brittany came.

Josh and Steph came over.  We all loved seeing them as well.  It had been years since my parents had seen them and they thought it was so special that they came over!!!  Thank yall for all the goodies you brought!  SO great seeing you guys!

Kevin was best man in Dan and Bricklend's wedding so it was fun having them over too!  Their little boys Tanner (5) and Ryder (3) were full of energy and extra cute!

And they LOVED Kevin.  :)  But who wouldn't?!!

Miguel came over too!  He is one of our Avenue neighbors and so sweet to have let my parents use his extra parking place.  Thanks again Miguel.

Benny and Jackie also visited for a little bit but they had another party that started at the same time so they had to jet.  They are adorable.  Next time, I need to get a picture of them!!!

We watched fireworks from the 10th floor pool deck.  You can see the firework between the new Bank of America building and the Hearst Tower.  It was weird being eye level with them but they were really good!

Of course we missed this crowd - my brother, SIL and Anna Kate.  Glad yall had a good weekend.  Wish we could have all been together!!!