Charity Volleyball

Today our company is participating in a charity volleyball tournament here in Charlotte.  It's all of the commercial developers in town that come together to benefit a different organization each year.  This year it's a group that assists homeless children and provides meals and a mentor to them.  We are hopefully going to all be donating around $30,000 to them.  Some folks are also donating their time to go sit with these children at lunch and be a positive influence.  Others are making snack packs to deliver to the children. 

What a great organization right?  Would you believe there are over 4,000 homeless CHILDREN in Charlotte? 

I think it's neat that all of our companies get together for an afternoon of competitiveness and fun. 

Here's to a great day of raising money for a great organization and having a good time with our work competition while doing it!

Wedding Wednesday - Details

Mama is flying down to Charlotte today to do lots of fun wedding things all weekend.  I'm excited!

I've been working on details details details the past few weeks.  It is less than 11 months away and I want to get all the special things out of the way so I'm not up every night the week before folding things and tying ribbons.  I don't work well in that position. 

Soooo I've scoped out ribbon for the programs, I've found cardstock to get them printed on, I've made a sheet that has bars and restaurants on it for the welcome bags (actually Miss Crafty April made it and is kindly lending me hers, I just changed the places and monogram), I know what is going in the welcome bags, the actual bags arrived this week and I'm working on a must be taken photo list this week.  Oh, I designed the cocktail napkins and am finalizing koozies too.  And I bought flower girl and bridesmaid gifts last week...so fun!

My friend Jenn solved my tag issue that I was fretting over last week.  She has a Cricut and I went up to their condo the other day and she had already made like 4 or 5 different options (talk about a good friend!!).  It is going to be perfect.  Thanks Jenn!  :)

Some things Mama and I are doing this week and weekend:

 - finalizing (AKA getting her approval) on the tuxes and bridesmaid dresses and setting up the ordering information

 - looking for a dress for her that doesn't look too Mother of the Bride or like she's 80 years old

 - looking for shoes for both of us and taking mine to try on with my dress

 - figuring out the veil situation

 - doing all the wording on the stationery so when Crane has it's "sale" in the Fall, we'll just simply call and order

I'm excited to get this party started!  I've loveddddd all the planning so far and can't wait for more.  I've just had the best time putting it all together!

Recipe: Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken

I had seen this on Skinny Taste and then again on Dee's Adventures.  I knew I had to try it because it looked right up Kevin's alley.  And boy was I right.  "This is how I like chicken."  "I'd even eat this for leftovers."  "You can make this again any time."  were some of the quotes last night. 

Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 2 stuffed breasts • Old Points: 9 pt • Points+: 9 pts
Calories: 371 • Fat: 17.5 g • Protein: 42.7 g • Carb: 11 g • Fiber: 1.5 g • Sugar: 0.6 g
Sodium: 355.8 mg (without salt)

Ingredients:

 - 2 slices center cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
 - 3 jalapeños, chopped (remove seeds for milder) (I only used two small ones because I'm whimpy)
 - 3 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
 - 4 oz reduced fat shredded cheddar jack (Sargento)
 - 2 tbsp chopped scallions
 - 8 thin sliced skinless chicken breast cutlets, 3 oz each (I used 3 chicken breasts and flattened them so my recipe made 3)
 - 1/2 cup Italian seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
 - 1 1/2 juicy limes, juice of
 - 1 tbsp olive oil
 - salt and fresh pepper
 - olive oil non-stick spray

Directions:

Wash and dry chicken cutlets, season with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 450°. Lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Combine cream cheese, cheddar, scallions, jalapeño and bacon crumbles in a medium bowl.

Lay chicken cutlets on a working surface and spread 2 tbsp of cream cheese mixture on each cutlet. Loosely roll each one, secure the ends with toothpicks to prevent the cheese from oozing out.

Place breadcrumbs in a bowl; in a second bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper.

Dip chicken in lime-oil mixture, then in breadcrumbs and place seam side down on a baking dish. Repeat with the remaining chicken. When finished, lightly spray the top of the chicken with oil spray.

Bake 22-25 minutes, serve immediately.

Cinco de Mayo Weekend

Yes, I wish I was telling yall the truth that this is Keith Urban, but it isn't.  I tricked a few of you on Twitter Friday night.  Haha!  This is our neighbor Mike....doesn't he look so similar to Keith?  Mike's wife is also blonde like Nicole Kidman.

After an Avenue party at Stools, we headed to Dandelion.  Saw Mimi, one of my Chi O gals that I "advised!"  So fun!

Saturday morning I headed out to the Farmer's market and grocery store.  We looked at houses that afternoon then eventually ended up over in the Elizabeth area at Jacks and PStone with a bunch of Kevin's friends.  Chaos...

Kinda weird pic of Kevin and I.  Note to self: shirt is not flattering.

Kevin and all of his boys.  Some of his oldest friends!

Sunday morning I went to the free Pottery Barn decorating class with Lauren.  This is one of the set ups they did.  We didn't buy a thing but we did learn a lot.  I recommend going to one of these if you are near a Pottery Barn!

I through some of these on the grill last night for dinner along with some shrimp kabobs.  Pretty tasty Sunday night meal. 

Last night Bushy was in town for work today so we went to Yoforia for yogurt and talked for two hours, ha!  We could have sat there for another two!

Today it's back to the grind.  Busy week.  Kevin's off to Vegas for work and my Mama is coming to town Wednesday!  Atlanta this weekend.  Looking forward to it all!

Running and Crafting

1.  Check this article out on running...basically it says that it increases your longevity.  Thanks Dad for sending!

Speaking of running and my Dad, I started running when I was a little girl.  It was something for Dad and I to do together and we ran many races.  He always stayed back and ran with me.  I have fond memories of that.  Then in high school I ran to stay in shape for sports (lacrosse, field hockey, etc).  In college I started running more and I played lacrosse so running was essential.  After college I have basically run mainly as a stress reliever.  It doesn't hurt that it is good for you and keeps weight down.  Dad has had knee trouble since a run he and I did together in November 2010.  He had surgery on it and the pounding still isn't good.  He rides his bike while I run now.  Always fun to do when I'm in Maryland or he is here in NC.   

2.  My buddy David kicked my tail running this morning.  We kicked up some sprints on the greenway.  Nice to get in on a Friday morning.

3.  Crafting....this week I tried to figure out how to get a printed G onto a white circle to paste onto coral cardstock.  This is to tie onto our guest bags at the hotel.  Yall, I'm soooo not crafty.  I spent 30 minutes at Michael's bugging the people about how to do this.  Well I've tried to do it how they said and I just can't get the G's centered.  I know I could stamp them but I want the G to be in the same font as everything else for the wedding.  I'll keep working on this! ;)

4.  I'm really looking forward to this weekend.  I have a couple events tonight and I plan to lay by the pool tomorrow.  Cannot wait.

5.  TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Favorite Singers

Today I thought it'd be fun to share my favorite singers as of right now.  Blake Shelton ranks right up there because he is so hilariously funny on twitter.  You must follow him.  Cracks me up daily. 

I've always loved Rascal Flatts.  Just something about them.  And helps that one of them is married to a Chi Omega!

Helloooooooo Josh Turner.  Kevin will tell you that Josh is my boyfriend.  Too bad he's married with three children.  SO cute. 

And I just think Carrie can sing SO well and we loved her concert a couple years ago here in Charlotte.  I need her legs.

(all images from Google)

As you can tell, I'm a pretty big fan of country music.  It's about the only thing I listen to.  I will be attending a Coldplay concert with Kevin, David and Jenn in July so I need to learn some songs quickly.  :)

Tell me your favs!

Wedding Wednesday - Bridesmaid Gifts

Thanks again for all your sweet comments on the race!

Okay so I think yall can already tell I'm pretty OCD and like to get things done ahead of time.  I mean our wedding is still over 11 months away and I'm wayyyy too into details.  I've ordered the bags for the welcome bags, thought of a design for them, I definitely know what's in them. 

Anyway today I wanted to talk Bridesmaid's Gifts.  Now don't be silly, I'm not spilling the beans on la blog since lots of my girls read it but I thought these were some fun ideas in case you or someone you know is looking for something!  I bought my bridesmaid's gifts this week and had the best time doing so! ;)

Kate Spade "As Good As Gold" bracelet.  Comes beautifully wrapped and let's be honest, aren't our bridesmaid's as good as gold to us?!

via

Everyone loves the 16 oz. tumblers.  Especially personalized in fun colors. 

via

And what lady wouldn't love a fun clutch?!  Can't go wrong.

via

Of course you can always do the jewelry that they will wear the day of or treat them to a mani/pedi the weekend of.  I personally am choosing not to do that because everyone is just wearing pearl stud earrings and we all have those and we can all do our own nails ahead of time (I know I usually do this before I leave for the wedding). 

So those are a few ideas.  Email me if you'd like any more ideas for BM's or anyone else in the wedding party.  My brain has been racking these gifts (and all the other gifts we get to buy!) since the day I got engaged.  I loveeeee to give gifts!!!  Sometime I'll do a post on Groomsman gifts too!