Fish Camp, Yard, Father's Day

I told everyone we had plans this weekend.  Because we did.  And that was to CHILL and do what Kevin and I wanted to do.  Very necessary.

Friday night we had plans with Dave and Jenn and Kevin's parents.  It was high time this happened.  We have been talking about going to the fish camp with Dave and Jenn for forever.  And on Friday night, we did.

The vertical pictures aren't working in this post today.  The pictures look smooshed.

Oh yeah, really quality haha!

Saturday morning we put together our modular bar from Pottery Barn.  We initially were going to put it on our porch but decided that since it isn't temperature controlled, it wouldn't be a good idea.  We actually like it better in our den.  This reminds me I've never done a house tour.  I'll get on that soon.  For now, ignore the tag on the right side of this...we have to take this piece back - it's darker and deeper than the other three and wobbles.  I want to get a mirror to hang above this.

Mills had a big morning out, we took him to the local Farmer's Market, to his grandparents and to the vet.  Anytime he goes to the vet, he gets a bath when he gets home.  I use the hose in the back yard to clean him these days!  He hates getting those initial squirts from the hose but when he realizes he's going to get attention for the next 10 minutes, he doesn't mind.

We did a ton of yard work on Saturday.  I RoundUp'd the whole yard, Kevin trimmed bushes and did other stuff.  Our yard still looks awful but if you saw how it looked when we moved in, you'd know we've done a ton of work.

We had supervision.

Along both sides of the fence, there was nasty old brush and rotten leaves.  Kevin got all of that up.  It looked awful but is SO much better.  We are working on a plan for our backyard.  We may have to cut some trees down to get grass to grow or we may leave some of it a natural area.  Before we plant grass we have to put in an irrigation system.  

We do know one thing - our yard is the worst in the neighborhood, BUT it looks much better than it did when we moved in.  We're working on it homeowner's association (aka the people that keep sending us letters to make it better!). 

Saturday night Kevin and I had a much deserved date night out.  Our boy Tony came and grabbed us and we went to Ilios Noche for dinner.  We had a drink at the bar beforehand then had dinner.  Ilios Noche is part of the same group of owners as Nolen Kitchen and Mavericks.  

Sunday morning I got up and walked Mills and painted the mailbox (you'll see in the last picture of this post) then we went to church and brunch at their club with Kevin's parents for Father's Day.

We took naps Sunday afternoon (Mills included!) and went over to Kevin's parents for homemade ice cream.  Black Cherry and Pina Colada.  Yum.  Kendall was there and we had fun with her.  I painted her toenails while she watched TV with Kevin.  It's fun being an Aunt and Uncle!

We came home and wrapped up things around the house and got ready for the week.  Again sorry for the smooshed picture.  You can see our shiny mailbox and our newly brasso-ed numbers!  It looks much better!

Hope you all have a great week!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the best one in the whole world (not that I'm biased or anything!).

Thanks for teaching me everything I know.  Oh Mom taught me some things too.  ;) (love ya mama!)  But you taught me how to THINK!  So thank you for that!  

And thanks for approving of Kevin and giving me away a couple of months ago.  I bet you were glad to get rid of me! ;)  Just kidding, you'll never really get rid of your daughter!!

Happy Father's Day and wish I could be with you!

Wedding Gift

Mom and Dad called us on Facetime on Monday night to give us our wedding gift that they've had for months now.  

OBSESSED is a small way to describe it.  It's a Craftique (now out of business) dresser for our room.  

Isn't it gorgeous?!

Eeeeee, now we just have to get it from Maryland to North Carolina.  I'm hoping they can find a dining room table and/or bed from the antique guy they go to as well.  Then Kevin and I can buy those and they can all come down on the same truck!

Now we can move my white wicker chest from college to the guest bedroom and eventually a little girls room....one day!  :)

My New Favorite Shirt

Let me tell yall about my new favorite shirt!  The Vintage Cotton Tee from J. Crew.

I ordered a couple for our honeymoon and that, my friends, is when I fell in love.  

They are dressy enough to tuck into a pencil skirt for your work days with some heels and pearls or they are comfortable enough to put on with black stretchy pants to travel in.  I also wear them with a simple pair of chino shorts.  

Best part is that certain colors are on sale right now - 30% off with the code SUMMERTIME.  Click here for the link!  And no I don't make any money when you click that link or buy the shirt! :)

I posssssibly ordered 4 more last night when I was on the website.  I NEED them for our upcoming Europe trip.  They are small to pack but will be very comfortable to sight see in.  Perhaps I'll add a fun scarf, random necklace or big neon earrings to make each one a different outfit!

I just had to share!

Wedding Pictures - Reception Part 1

I'm going to break the reception pictures into three posts even though there aren't a ton that I like enough to post.  But here they are!

Isn't Amelia adorable?  Such a carefree child!

My Mom and her brother dancing.  This is a special picture for a lot of reasons.  Mom has had a lot of health issues over the years and wasn't able to dance much at my brother's wedding (she was in a wheelchair at the time) and my Uncle beat a really advanced case of melanoma thanks to some amazing doctors in San Francisco.  They were both here and dancing together.  So cool.

Wish Mom was showing those teeth.  Maybe she already knew I was mad at the photographer.  Haha.

Oh someone asked about Mom's dress but I couldn't reply because their email address isn't linked.  A bridal shop in Charlotte called Hayden Olivia put this ensemble together for her (they were excellent to work with by the way).  The material is all from Coren Moore.  Mom had them remake the jacket, they ordered her extra fabric and the seamstress made the skirt and the top bodice was made by Modern Trousseau out of Charleston.  It's quite the custom outfit!  But she looked good and most importantly felt special in it and by golly your daughter only gets married once!!!!

Father daughter bond!

Do you all do any special sorority traditions?  We had a layer of red velvet in our wedding cake and then my girls sang Shades to me.  It was special!

Love them!

Then we always dance to We Are Family!

I'll be back with parts two and three soon!

Badgley Mischka's versus Nine West

Every gal sets out for a good ole trusty pair of strappy sandals.  Let's be honest, they're a wedding essential.

Since I've had my fair share of weddings over the years, I was due for a new pair of gold ones.  Plus I wanted some for our rehearsal dinner.

So, like I always do - I go to Nordstrom looking for some.  Yes, I'm obsessed with Nordstrom shoe department.  They have it all.

I settled on these $215 Badgley Mischka's.  Cute right?  Pretty expensive but it was a splurge for our wedding.

Well I think I've already told you how those worked out.  My feet were MISERABLE our entire wedding weekend and weeks afterwards because of these shoes.  They visited the Nordstrom shoe department again when I took them back.

I still was on the lookout because I knew I needed some so I finally found these on the Nine West website for $79!  If I can get free shipping, I order things just to see if I like them then take them back to the store if I don't.  I liked them when I tried them on but the true test was Lauren's rehearsal dinner on Friday night.  They were comfortable yall!  So comfortable that I wore them again to the wedding and for the entire reception too!

Now, we all know that money doesn't buy good shoes every time.  I was actually a stickler that it did (after a pair of Donald Pliners that I still love) but evidently it doesn't.  Gotta stick with what works on your foot!

Lauren's Wedding Weekend!

What a weekend!  Lauren is married!

There are a lot of pictures in this post but each one is worth looking at, I promise!

Friday the bridesmaids luncheon was held at Charlotte City Club!  It was wonderful as usual!  Everyone had whatever variation of regular or Caesar salad with salmon or chicken on top.  Lauren gave us a gold necklace with our initials on it, it's gorgeous and I'll be wearing it this week!

Rehearsal that evening was at Myers Park Presbyterian!

And the dinner was at The Duke Mansion.

Cocktail hour.

Shrimp and grits!

Lauren's family!

Her sisters giving their toast!

Lauren and Andrew!

Natalie and I - our dresses are so similar!  Hers is Lilly and mine is Laundry by Shelli Segal.

Saturday turned out to be a gorgeous day and the girls were so pretty!

STUNNING Bride!

This picture should be in a magazine!

The beautiful church!

Reception was at Myers Park Country Club.  The perfect venue!

This was at the entrance.  Putting wine and champagne out always helps alleviate the bottleneck at the bars when everyone first arrives.

I LOVE her cake.  Probably favorite one I've seen!  Very classy!

Kim and Marcus.

First dance.

Derek and Natalie - they are getting married in October!

Tara and I.

Kevin and Everette = double trouble!

The band was awesome.  It's called Fantasy.

Twin brothers breaking it down!

Parents of the bride!

I love this picture of the four of us!

Such a sweet couple!

She went to South Carolina, he went to Clemson.

And they were off!

Selwyn was such a good idea...not!  Haha!  It was fun though, I'm glad we went.

I just did not deserve to be there at that point.  

Good times!

Cheers to Lauren and Andrew!  Enjoy honeymooning in San Fran and the Napa Valley!