Lauren's 30th

Friday night I literally went to bed and was asleep by 7:30pm.  Talk about much needed. 

Saturday I got up early (well after 13 hours of sleep) and went to the Farmers Market, Target and Trader Joes all before 10am.  Pool time was next until I got ready for Lauren's 30th birthday party at her parents home.  Lauren's in the middle with her sisters and parents! 

It was a backyard bbq and was an absolute blast. 

Lauren and I. 

All the ladies!

Lauren MIGHT have done a keg stand to celebrate her 30 years ha!  So funny!

Then of course we went out - Howl at the Moon, Phils and Connollys.  It was a late night/early morning.  Good times though!

After recovering on Sunday, we went to Kevin's parents for a Father's Day cookout.  I got to hold Kendall for the longest time.  Sweet girl!

Back to reality today! 

BLT Steak

Last night we went to BLT Steak which is attached to the Ritz for a special dinner celebrating a very long and hard deal we did at my work.  What a treat it was!  My friend Kim hooked us up with the private room for all 18 of us.  Good thing, because we were loud!  They treated us like royalty in there....it was amazing!  Highly recommend BLT!

We had cocktails, appetizers including tuna tartare, 4 large seafood trays, some bacon thing and then some other poof bread and something with duck liver.  Mariel has a much better description of the sophisticated stuff on her blog Champagne and Mason Jars!  Yall know I'm not good at knowing those things!

Kevin got the filet, I got the tuna.  We also got jalapeno mashed potatoes and of course creamed spinach. 

We finished off with dessert and I had a lil Baileys on the rocks.  Delish. 

The whole crew.  I'm so fortunate to work with such cool people. They are super fun and so are their spouses!  We were out way too late for a "school night!"

Kevin and I on our walk home.  Helloooooooo Kevin!!  ;)

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Travel with Kevin

Ever since Kevin and I finally started dating (1.5 years after knowing each other), we have traveled a ton.  Heck, three days after our first date, we booked a trip to Mexico for our mutual friend's wedding.  We figured even if we weren't dating a few months later, we'd still have a great time.  And we were still dating (obviously) and had so much fun.  We literally lived on planes back in 2009 and haven't really stopped.  Here are some places we've gone... most for fun.... some of my work trips.... some his work trips... and lots of weddings...

In no particular order!

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Josh and Wendy's wedding on the beach.

Cozumel, Mexico - where we called honeymooners (umm we had been dating 3 months ha!)

New York City, NY

Brodheadsville/Nazareth, PA

Memphis, TN for Cristin's wedding at the Peabody

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Austin, TX

Salisbury, MD

St. Michaels, MD

Ocean City, MD

Hilton Head Island, SC

 

Pawleys Island, SC

Jacksonville, FL

New Smyrna Beach, FL

Raleigh, NC

Myrtle Beach, SC

Columbia, SC

Charleston, SC

Asheville, NC

Winston-Salem, NC

Wrightsville Beach/Wilmington, NC

Richmond, VA

Williamsburg, VA

San Diego, CA

Beverly Hills, CA

Malibu, CA

Santa Monica, CA

Los Angeles, CA

Laguna Beach, CA

Greensboro, NC

Baltimore, MD

Annapolis, MD

Boston, MA

New Orleans, LA

Miami Beach, FL

Atlanta, GA

I encourage yall to keep a list of places you've been by yourself, with your significant other or family!  It's pretty fun to go back and check out where you've been!

Wedding Wednesday - Introducing Bridesmaids

Most of my girls already know each other or at least have heard about the others for so long, they feel like they do. 

Last night my Matron of Honor, Kelly, was coming into town from Raleigh for work so I asked my in-town bridesmaids if they were free and we had an impromptu ladies night out.

L to R - Lauren, Tara, Kim, Me, Kelly

I have pretty friends!  And clearly they are all taller than me ha!

We went back to Dandelion because we had the best time there last week with the $15 bottles of wine and tapas!

It was fabulous to have all of my fav ladies together to discuss things and have them put me in my place about wedding activities.  I just feel badly them throwing these events.  I know I've done it or will do it for them but I feel so guilty them doing it for me.  Ahh, I know I need to get over it and just enjoy. 

Then we started stalking some of the other bridesmaids on FB so all 8 of them can eventually become friends!  Won't that make the next 9 months so much more fun if they all already basically know each other?

I believe all of my girls facebooked my sis-in-law Emily at the same time and I called her.  It was funny at the time or at least the wine made it be that funny!  Ha!

  Cheers to my girls!!!  Love y'all!

New Summer Meals!

Don't know about yall but I totally go in ruts with meals.  Partly due to the time of year (comfort food in the winter versus healthy in the summer) and partly due to having no time to cook.  At least I'm being honest!  Kevin is a huge help during the week with meals but let's be honest, without very clear and concise instructions for him, it's just easier if I do it.  Tacos, spaghetti and pizza can only happen so often.  So....

Since I was going to be in town this week (ALL WEEK!!!!) for the first time in foreverrrrrr, I meal planned and got some good options together.  Plus since these health concerns of his, I'm on a mission for him to lose weight and I'd like to lose 10 more pounds too. 

   

Meal #1 from last Friday night:

 - Tilapia baked at 375 for 10 minutes.  I used fat free spray butter, lemon juice, a little dill weed and fresh garlic on it. 

 - I had some extra baby red potatoes from Memorial Day weekend so I made a little mixture of olive oil, more fresh garlic and brushed that on.  Baked them at 375 for 20 minutes.  For an entire potato, there are 110 calories.  We had 1.5 each. 

 - My salad in the fridge wasn't good any more so I used a Green Giant package of asparagus.  I heated it in the microwave then put in a oven safe dish.  Sprinkled balsamic vinegar and fresh pepper on it.  Added halved grape tomatoes and baked for 8 minutes on 375.  Everything has to bake at the same temperature in my house, ha.  I added a small teaspoon of goat cheese on top when it was served. 

 - Dinner done. 

Meal #2 - Sunday night:

 - Corn - the ole trusty.  Kevin loves it.  And so do I.  Mom, I know it's a starch but....

 - Zucchini Boats - from this blog.  My friend Tara had pinned them on Pinterest and I repinned.  SO good and super easy.  Kevin said they were mushy.  He's weird!  ;)

 - Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps - from Skinny Taste but I adapted.  I had three chicken breasts that I marinated starting in the morning.  Then I just baked and cut them in small pieces.  I also cut carrots and celery to use.  I put a little light ranch on mine.  Kevin used some feta dressing because he has something against Harris Teeter light ranch, ha.   

Please, for goodness sakes, do not use canned chicken.  Canned chicken is GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night we used leftover buffalo chicken and put it on top of salads (using leftover lettuce from the wraps above)!

Feel free to "pin" these!

If any other meals this week turn out, I'll be sure to post!  Oh, fresh strawberries or watermelon for dessert.  Nothing better!

Summer Weekend!

This weekend I was supposed to go to Maryland to visit with my parents and help out around the house.  But I knew Kevin still wasn't feeling right and I didn't want to leave him for three more days.  I had already been gone last Wednesday-Friday. 

It was SO good to be in town with not much to do.  I really needed to get my life back together and get little things done that had been hanging over my head for a long time.  Very productive weekend!

Friday we laid low and I fixed a yum summer meal which I'll be sharing tomorrow.  Saturday Tara and I got in a long run and then I went to the Farmer's Market before the pool party.

The Avenue had a band up on the 10th floor and it was a blast as usual.  Jimmy Johns catered and they had strawberry margaritas (that were serious business) and a couple kegs of miller lite.  Always a good time.

That evening Kevin took his parents and I to Beef and Bottle for a nice treat.  That place is so tasty.  If you live in Charlotte and you haven't been, go as soon as you can. 

On Sunday, we went for a long walk and then I got ready for my place to be shown again.  As you know, I'm in the business of showing my place with no decent offers.  Oh well, it'll happen when it's supposed to.  We didn't get the house that we put an offer in on and we didn't accept the other two offers from a couple of weeks ago.  It's nice that we aren't in a huge rush but I would like to get this show on the road!  Ha!

I made another decent dinner (if I do say so myself) last night and we got ready for the week. 

What did you all do this weekend?!

Lilly Favs

I've been up north this week - NY/PA on Wednesday and Thursday.  Flew back to Charlotte for the afternoon yesterday.  Then I flew out late last night to Norfolk for a meeting up here today.  Been a good week though!  Lots accomplished.

On to my favs from Lilly right now...

Kolby Dress

I need these scalloped shorts in my life ha!

Patti Shorts

Teeki Dress

We have a pool party to kick off the summer on the Avenue 10th Floor Pool Deck tomorrow.  Band & free food/booze.  It's also the blues, brews and bbq festival downtown so lots going on!

Happy Weekend friends!