J. Crew Shorts

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with J. Crew's 4" shorts.  The 3" are too short for this 30+ year old and the 4" ones seem perfect.  

Throw them on with a plain tee, add a fun necklace and a dressy pair of sandals and you have a cute summer outfit!  I tend to wear a long sleeve shirt with shorts in the Spring to transition!

I wear my white shorts constantly.  Well, I did until they got put in a beach bag with Kevin's wet Rainbow sandals.  Even bleach didn't do anything for them.  But thankfully I was able to get a pair of Lilly scalloped ones to replace these.

Do you all even wear shorts?  I know some girls do and some don't.  I get too hot in the summer not to wear them!

Fit Popcorn

I love this stuff.  This is something else that my Dad got me addicted to!

He got theirs at Sams Club but I found it at Teeter on the normal chip aisle.  Here's to a healthy snack or part of your lunch!

Quantity versus Quality

I believe there are two types of people in this world:

 - one that has a lot of friends

and

 - one that doesn't have as many. 

And you know what?  Both are okay and normal in my opinion!

Maybe you are someone who has 2-3 people that you're really close with and they are really good, quality friends to you.  Maybe you are someone who has 100 people that you're friends with and of those you're closer with a few or maybe you aren't close with any of them but you just know a lot of people.

Whichever you are, more power to ya.  Gotta do what's right for you.

So what kinda gal are you?     

Five On Friday - Top 5 States

Today I thought it'd be fun and random to list my top five states and why!

1.  Hawaii - my favorite place.  We want to go back yesterday!  Our honeymoon was too perfect!  It is unreal that this is in the United States!

2.  Maryland - thankful I was able to grow up here.  I received a good education, grew up in a nice family town and close to the beach/river/bay!

3.  North Carolina - I really do love living here.  I don't know much different though, other than Maryland.  I've been in North Carolina for 14 years now and I was in Maryland for 17.  That is crazy that I've almost lived in NC as long as I was in MD.

4.  California - Kevin and I had a wonderful time when we went there a few years ago and my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins lived there so I visited when I was younger.  

5.  South Carolina - this is also a state that is near and dear to me.  My brother, SIL and nieces live in Pawleys Island, we've had some amazing times in Charleston and got engaged in Hilton Head.  

Tell me your favorite states and why!  I may have to add them to our places to visit!

Amazon Prime

Who has Amazon Prime?

My Dad got me addicted to it and now I can't stop.  You cannot beat 2 day free shipping on pretty much anything you can imagine.  And Amazon always has the best prices anyway!

I'm sure any of you who have it recently found out that the one time annual fee is going up to $99 from $79.  Still a steal, right?!

Nora Fleming

I don't think I've ever written about Nora Fleming but ever since we received one of these platters for our wedding, I cannot stop using it.  It's convenient that it's white and matches any serving pieces you may have and the best part - you can add a different charm in the hole that you see in the platter below.  I've shown some of the charms below that are perfect for any occasion.  I use the champagne and crab the most.  

I take this platter to bunko every month and always get a compliment on it!

Mom stuck this charm in my stocking I think or actually maybe she got it for me when we were at a shop together.  Either way, I think they're perfect for Easter baskets or stockings or just a lil pick-me-up gift.

Evidently the BlackLion on Park Road carries them in Charlotte but I haven't been there yet.

The Nora Fleming website is always offering a sale so never buy it full price.

The folks that gave us this gift for our wedding gave us the platter, 5 charms and this box to keep them in.  So convenient!

Here is my collection:

I love mine!  Do any of you have one of these pieces?!

Pictures of Uptown and Southpark

My Charlotte people are probably the only ones that are going to think these are somewhat cool.  

Got a few aerial photos a couple weeks ago.  Try to spot places you go.  Uptown...

Southpark.  My office building is on the top of this picture near the construction site.

Quail Hollow.

Very cool!  Yes, I'm a dork!

Easter Weekend

Oh how I love seeing all of the Easter pictures on Facebook, Instagram and blogs.

We had a big Easter weekend.  My office closes Friday and Monday for the holiday...we are churchy.

Friday Mills and I hung out in the midst of doing 1,000 things.

My friend Sarah came over to meet Mills then we went to Dean and Deluca for lunch!

When I got home, my Mom had struck again.  Easter goodies!  Tie frame for Kevin and bunny hand towel and pink/yellow necklace for me.

Friday night we went out with Benjy and Sarah.  He's also an agent and they were on the trip last year with us.  They got engaged at the Eiffel tower..remember?!  We are looking forward to traveling with them again soon!

Now, for the kiddo pictures!  Brooks...isn't he adorable?!

Here is our child on Easter Eve.  He watched some of his Golden friends on TV.  Please ignore the wires...they will be hidden as soon as we can decide on a paint color for our room (they drive me crazy!). 

Easter morning waiting patiently as my brother and I once did.

Of course the EB visited Mills.  He's been a very good boy this year!

"Oh Mama and Daddy - those eggs smell like they have goodies in them!"

We went to Kevin's parent's church and their club with them.

Little Kendall was cute as can be!

My brother and his family down in Pawleys Island.

Sarah and Anna Kate...my brother's girls.

Sarah didn't mind the EB, Anna Kate on the other hand has never been a fan.

Hope you all enjoyed the time with your families!  I missed being with my parents for the second year in a row but I'm thankful to have Kevin's parents in town who treat me just like their own daughter!  

Five on Friday - Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Happy Five on Friday!  A couple girls asked me for my ideas on gifts for Mother's Day so here are some things I've given in the past!

1.  Any kitchen towel from Pamela Cassidy Designs!  She has a design to suit anyone!  These are special towels that are perfect to spiffy up any kitchen!

2.  My Mom's top request...a Talbots gift card.  I usually try to pair a gift card with something a bit more personable!

3.  A manicure/pedicure at your Mom's favorite place.  Take the time to call her hometown spa and have them send you a certificate.  Or maybe you could make a homemade card that says the next one is on you and you can coordinate it with the spa so your Mama just gets to enjoy herself!

4.  A magazine subscription - not all of our Mom's read on their tablets.  What about Southern Living, Martha Stewart or Coastal Living?  They are pretty for the coffee table too!  Magazine subscription - the gift that keeps on giving!

5.  Maybe you're lucky enough to live in the same town as your Mama.  They all like fresh flowers and one that they can even plant in their yard one day?  Sounds perfect to me!  Or if they live out of town, maybe the local florist could have one delivered to her the Saturday before Mothers Day!  Orchids are another gorgeous option!

6.  Even thought it's Five on Friday, I'll keep going...

This is one of my very favorite gifts to give and receive!  And especially this scent!

7.  My Mom would more than likely tell me that her favorite gift would be a simple card or a phone call.  

8.  A new spring wreath!

9.  A clutch for her to use when she goes out to dinner or brunches with friends!  PS - South Moon Under is my go-to for clutches.

10.  Anything monogrammed - a new robe, shower wrap, tray, pitcher, pillow for outdoor furniture, doormat.

Most of all, just be thankful you're a Mom, you have a Mom, Mom-In-Law, Step-Mom, Grandmother etc still here today!

Random Thursday

1.  Thank you for all of your comments on yesterday's post.  I like that we are all doing what's best for us.

2.  I thought I was going to get to see my parents on Saturday but now we aren't.  Sad!  Instead, they're home having trouble with a bat in their house.  It's crazy!

3.  My Father In Law is coming to my office today and we're going to lunch.  I'm looking forward to that!  Fortunate to have family in town.

4.  I have the urge to do more to our house these days!  I want it all to be done and perfect!

5.  I think I'm pretty well set on gifts for the next couple of months.  I try to plan ahead and be sure I put thought into gifts.  My Dad, bestest and brother all had April birthdays.  Mothers Day is in May and my SIL has a May birthday.  Lots of important people!

That's all I've got this week.  Been crazy busy lately and I'm lucky to be alive and have clothes on each day.  Ahh!

Late Bloomers

Some people get married right out of school.  Some wait until their later 20's.  Some wait until their early 30's.  And some wait until they're almost 40!  Maybe some folks in their 40's, 50's and 60's finally find their spouse.  Goodness, sometimes even grandma gets remarried!

Kevin was 38 when we got married,  I was 30.  We are 7.5 years apart.  

Waiting til we were a bit older was the right decision for us.  We met when I was 25 and he was 32.  That's kinda funny to think about.  We were young bucks!  

We wanted to get both of our careers established.  We both owned homes already when we met but we still wanted to get our feet even more grounded.  Kevin had just started at the Bank and I had just moved to my current company.  We had a lot to learn and a lot to live.  We both got to date lots of people and go out and have a big time with friends.  We've traveled, boy have we traveled.  We've lived the life!  

And we still do!  But there will come a time when we settle on down.  Maybe in the next few years our family will change and that will be an exciting time.  I know there's no perfect time to have a child but we are getting there.  Who knows! 

When the time is right, it will be right! 

Weekend - Fish Camp, Yard Work and Uptown

We had a big weekend.  First things first - The Fish Camp on Friday night with Kevin's parents.

Saturday I did a barre class with Tara then Kevin and I went to his parents to get his car and Lowes to get mulch.  I spread the mulch while Kevin pulled up roots in the yard.

We cleaned up and went uptown to meet up with friends at Connollys.  Kimmy and Jeff's lil boy Jack was Kevin's best buddy!

Then Kevin and I headed over to cocktail hour at Capital Grille.  The criterium bike race was going on too.

We loved having the outdoor table so we ended up staying for dinner.  The salad and soup came out with the rest of our meal so it looks like we ate a lot.  Well, we did but not in courses.

Then Kevin and I hung on the patio at Prohibition. 

Before we started home, Tara texted and said they were done at the baseball game so we met them for a beverage at Aria, our ole trusty!

Sunday was spent recovering and getting things done at the house.  I did get to sneak out for a long overdue lunch with my friend Kimmy at Dean and Deluca.  We had planned it a month ago so it was good to finally catch up.

TCBY was last on our Sunday agenda and Mills loved his vanilla yogurt and the ride up there!  It's the little things!

Have a good week!