Gray is my favorite color. (Bonus points: what song is that lyric from?)

Way back when, or in simpler terms about 6 months ago, Mr. P decided he was going to wear a gray suit on our big day.
I love him for this decision (among other reasons).

I think Tec definitely helped to influence this.


I mean how amazing does this wedding party look?!

Since Mr. P's decision I've seen gray suits popping up in weddings all over the blog world.

Some of my favorites:






*all courtesy of Once Wed.

We found a heck of a deal on the perfect "modern fit" gray suit last week.
Mr. P ordered 12!
8 groomsmen, 2 ushers, 1 groom and 1 brother (mine).
They arrive tomorrow.
Can't wait to see my handsome fiance in his duds.

The lowdown...

A few happenings: past, present and future...

I received the rough draft of our wedding invitations in my inbox this weekend.
I LOVE them.
I had high hopes for these invites, but the lovely Kate at Oh So Suite has already surpassed my highest of hopes.
I would kinda like to show them to you, but I'm not.
I'm going to keep it a surprise until they are complete and in the mail.

*I will tease you a bit by informing you that they involve kraft paper, twine, letterpress and a darling custom map.
Sounds exciting, right?

I baked a chocolate peanut butter cakes last night for my last round of Baby Cakes, for a grand total of 110.
*two shipments going out today.

Sistah and I are going to visit some family tonight.
Family = Perma-grin

Some of our best buddies from VA are coming in town on Thursday.
Can't wait for the holiday weekend.
It's shaping up to be a good one.

Weekend Update

Confession: I didn't take one single photo this weekend.
Not one.
Bad blogger, BAD!

Here, in the written word, is what went down:

Baked 70+ Baby Cakes.

Ran 6.4 miles in 1 hour 7 minutes.

Ate 3 eggs, 3 pancakes, 2 sausage links, 2 slices of bacon and 1 slice of ham immediately after said run.

Spent 4 hours at the pool with 4 awesome friends.

Saw lots of friends at a gathering for our newly engaged buds.

Slept 11 hours last night.

So that, in a nutshell, was my weekend.

Lots going on this week...soooo, if you'll still have me, I promise lots of photos.

Hope your weekend was a happy one and that your Monday is too.

Happy Weekend to You

Missing work on Monday really made this week fly by.
4 more hours in this wretched office and it will officially be the weekend.

I baked 3 cakes last night and made one big batch of Baby Cakes.
I tried a new flavor, blueberry lemon, and it's quite scrumptious.
Tonight I still have red velvet, vanilla and chocolate peanut butter to make.
When I'm done I'll have at least 100 Baby Cakes.

Tonight's plan:
BAKE FROM 6PM to 9:30PM
Asleep by 10PM

Tomorrow Mr. P and I will be waking up at 5:30am to drive to Greensboro, NC for the 10k Freedom Run.
I'm not going to lie...I kinda sorta dread it.
Or maybe it's fairer to say I'm nervous.
After the MacFest 10k I realized that I kinda despise running in temperatures upward of 70 degress.
Fortunately this course seems to be partially shaded and they have 2 spray stations.
Wish me luck dear friends.


*1/3 of "Team Awesome"

After the race we're going to have breakfast at Tex and Shirley's (one of Mr.P's favorites) and then head home to Charlotte where the plan is to lay by the pool all day with Carlz, Em Barzee and Abbie.
Thoughts of our post-race plans will probably be what actually gets me through the race.
"Come on baby girl(how I refer to myself when running), you can do it! In 20 minutes you'll be eating biscuits and gravy"!

Okay, I'm kind of kidding.
Deep down I'm happy about all these races.
I think it's safe to say we'll definitely be in good shape come October 18th.

114 days

Have a happy weekend.
My hope for both yours and mine is that it's filled with sunshine, laughter and good friends.
See you Monday.

Michael

When I was 11 years old I saw Michael Jackson perform 'Heal the World' at the Super Bowl.

I was smitten.
Thus began my 2 year obsession.

On one of my trips to the public library I checked out every book they had on Michael's life.
Here's the part where I admit to a crime:
I CUT OUT EVERY PICTURE that these books contained.
I found a big brown scrap book somewhere in our house and made it my mission to fill the book with his photos.

On August 29th (his birthday) of 1993 I had Michael a birthday party in my bedroom.
I hung his photos all around my walls.
I turned on his cd and I climbed up on a wooden toy chest.
I spent the afternoon dancing and singing his songs in celebration.

Do you look at me differently now?
I really hope not.

In the next year or so there was A LOT of negative tabloid stories about my hero.
When my mother would take me grocery shopping I'd turn every magazine over that wrote anything negative about my idol on their covers.

I will only remember Michael for the amazing artist he was.
RIP Michael Joseph Jackson.

yikes!

I bought this swimsuit today.


It's dreadful, isn't it?

I'm typically someone who hates to have a brand name or logo plastered across my clothing, but in this case I couldn't resist the $24.99 sale price.

Fiance and I are going to start swimming at our gym's pool.
I'm pretty excited.

I often get bored on the treadmill and the elliptical.
Reading a magazine or trying to watch tv at the same time gives me a headache.
I think this swimming endeavor will be a nice change of pace and hopefully a bit of a stress reliever.

Why might I be stressed you ask?
I have at least 6 dozen Baby Cakes in 5 different flavors to make in the next two days.
When I say days, I really mean between the hours of 6pm and 11pm (that's about as late as I function).
It's going to be a bit of a challenge, but I'm ready.
Bring it Baby Cakes, BRING IT!

House Tour

I wanted to share with you some photos I snapped around Mama San's & Gordon Bleu's home over the weekend.
Just in case you can't tell from the photos my mother loves birds, flowers and antiques.












A small portion of the fresh herbs my mother grows...look at that basil.

SUCCESS

My mother sold out of all her baked goods in under half an hour at last night's Farmer's Market.
Pretty incredible. Don't you think?

Here's a few photos from our baking extravaganza...


Don't you love her darling labels that I ordered for her off of Etsy.


Mama San let's her Honey Wheat Loaves rise for quite awhile in large bowls.


Finished Product


To die for blueberry muffins



My adorable step-father Gordon, who I often refer to as Gordon Bleu, makes these darling birdhouses.
He sold 5 last night.
I know the remaining ones won't last long.
Want one for yourself?
Let me know.

You Don't Know Me

Mr. P introduced me to this song yesterday.
I adore it.
I think you will too.



This isn't the actual video.
Embeded has been disabled on it, but you can check it out here if you'd like.
It's kinda funny.
Oh and I must mention that Regina Spektor's new album Far came out yesterday.
Have a listen.

Weekend Update

Hi friends.
My camera is dead which means I was unable to upload pictures.

I decided I'd keep this Weekend Update short and sweet, because that's exactly what my weekend was.

Between Saturday and Sunday I was able to watch my brother play 4 baseball games.
He's amazing.
So grown up now.
It freaks me out a little to be honest.

I stocked up on goodies from Michael's.
I expect to make over 100 Baby Cakes this week.
Wish me luck.

We saw The Proposal.
For those of you who saw it, how hilarious was the "chanting" scene in the woods?
Best part of the movie if you ask me!

We ate A LOT of food.

And of course yesterday we spent the day baking.
*pictures to come later

I'd give a lot to live closer to my mother so that we can spend many weekends doing the same thing.

The bond between my sister, mother and I is indescribable.
I don't really know how to explain in words how I feel when we are all together.
I get a knot in my throat just thinking of how to express it.
They are two people I feel completely myself around, completely at peace with.
I hope you know what I mean.
I hope that you feel this way with your families.
The older I get the more I realize how important family is.


*Mama, good luck on your first day at the Farmer's Market.
I'll be dumbfounded if you don't completely sell all of your goodies.

I'm baaack!

Hi dear friends!
Sorry for such a late post.
I just arrived home after a WONDERFUL, I'm talking picture perfect weekend, spent with my family.
My mother, sister and I baked all afternoon.

*How adorable is my mother's set up?


She's going to be the best vendor at tomorrow's Farmer's Market.
There is no doubt in my mind.
Oh, and I apologize for the grainy picture...it's from the camera phone, I'm just too lazy to upload any photos this evening.

I'll be back tomorrow morning with a Weekend Update.

Hope everyone had a very happy weekend and a lovely Father's Day.
I'm going to cuddle with Mr.P now.
I've missed him terribly.

Heavenly Day

In approximately 3 hours my Sistah and I will embark on the 4 hour trek home to Norton, VA.
I'm antsy.
Incredibly antsy to break up out of this joint referred to as "my office" (it's more like a closet).

On the Agenda for this long weekend:

Back to back days of a baseball tournament my awesome lil' bro is playing in.

Farmer's Market on Saturday morning.

Shopping for crafts and baked goods at Michael's.

Eating a big, yummy dinner of Tilapia, Corn Cakes, Green Beans and mama san's homemade honey wheat bread on Saturday evening (Father's Day Dinner).

Baking breads, muffins, and pound cakes that my lovely mother will be selling at our local Farmer's Market on Tuesday evening.

Wine and Jenga on the back porch.

Taking the pups to the mountains.

That's one perfect weekend if you ask me. :)

Although I am going to really miss my Mr. P!
*As I've said before, 3 nights is just too long to be away from you!

I did make my love a large roast and an apple crumble for dessert.
This way I know he's well fed while I'm gone.

I also baked these Father's Day golf themed cupcakes on a whim.


They turned out pretty cute.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Hug your daddy's.
xo
Allow me to leave you with a song my mother and I adore.

You're smiling now, aren't you?
Good!

Part Deux

When I woke up this morning I went straight to my computer to check the final results of Etsy Wedding's Geezees Custom Canvas Giveaway.

Etsy Wedding was one of the very first blogs I started reading after getting engaged.
You all know I have a slight addiction to Etsy and this blog always features really great finds.
I adore this blog and that's putting it mildly.

Last week I saw they were having a contest for an amazing canvas print from Geezees Custom Canvas Art.

Remember my tree photo idea?

Well these beautiful canvas photographs with word art are going to be just PERFECT.
I'm over the moon with joy and can't wait to display ours at the reception.



A BIG thank you to anyone who may have voted for me, to Etsy Wedding for holding this amazing contest, and to GeeZees for this wonderful prize.

1 of 2

I have double the amount of exciting news to share this morning.

Let's start off with the contest Wedding For Two is hosting.
They are in the midst of their bridal shower week and today is the start of their first giveaway.
I'm sure you're dying to know what the prize is! Right?

It's 3 dozen Baby Cakes in your choice of shape, flavor, colors and of course sprinkles.

If you don't have a Bridal Shower in the works don't fret, these lovelies are appropriate for a variety of events including weekend veg out sessions.

You have until midnight this Saturday to enter.
Check out all the details and enter here.
I'd also like to encourage you to check out the Wedding for Two blog...it's chock full of helpful information.
I should know, I've read every post. :)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Please allow me to interrupt my regularly scheduled posting for a bit of an announcement.

***If I promised you samples of my baby cakes, don't fret, they'll be on their way the first of next week.
I'm heading to the craft store this weekend to pick up lots of new baking items i.e. candy melts, sprinkles, candy molds.

Also, anyone who's interested in purchasing my baby cakes for an upcoming event please feel free to e-mail me at emiejanes@yahoo.com.
Keep in mind these can be made in any flavor, think red velvet, vanilla, carrot, chocolate and in any color your heart my desire.***
Yum, Yum!
I promise, they're muy delicioso!


See you tomorrow kind readers.

Give me S'more

Our reception venue has these great fire pits that we certainly want to utilize on the big day.


We could just use them as warmth, our wedding is in October and the evening could be a bit chilly.
OR we could use them to roast marshmallows.
Typing that sentence just made me really excited.
Who doesn't love S'mores?
If you said no I probably don't want to be your friend.

I'm absolutely kidding about that last comment, but I do think your crazy.

Anyways...
I saw these adorable little S'mores packets on Miss Pickles Press (she's a genius) site last night.


I know I said I wasn't going to take on another DIY project, but this one would be really easy and cheap.
Love that.

Soooo, my question to you dear friends is if this is a project I should take on or not?

Keep in mind in lieu of a cake we are opting for various flavors of cupcakes AND we are setting up a homemade cookie buffet for guests to fill up on as favors.

Would the S'mores bar be a sweets overload?

Please vote in my current poll.
Thank you kind darlings.

treasure

Today while visiting one of my favorite places, Style Me Pretty, I met Two Brunettes who introduced me to Eternity.


*Definitely purchasing this pretty little lady to wear in 123 days.

I also learned of a Simple Song that brought me Seven Spoons.


Oh and I certainly can't forget the Vanilla Sugar I inhaled this past hour.


So much beauty and inspiration in the blog world.
It often leaves me feeling a little overwhelmed, a lot inspired and VERY hungry.

Can't wait to bake this delicious little jewel...


It will look lovely in my new domed cake plate.


Want one of your own? Purchase here.

Where I'm From

I grew up in Norton, VA.
A town that was established in 1894 and in 1954 became a city.
With a population of 3,904 we are in fact the smallest city in Virginia by population.
We're a coal mining area.
In fact my father is a coal miner and he has been for as long as I can remember.



I'm going to be honest with you...
When I was 18 I could not wait to leave.
When I finally left, was I sad?
Absolutely!
But only because I missed my family.

For years I felt very negatively about my hometown.
The older I get the more I'm starting to appreciate where I came from.
I view the simplicity in a beautiful way instead of the mind-numbing way I once saw it as a teenager.
People are for the most part very friendly.
Southern food...well there's nothing like it.
And the mountains, they're breathtaking.



I'm going home this weekend with my sister and our beloved canines.
To say that I'm excited would be a severe understatement.
I can't wait to have my mother's homemade bread, I can't wait to watch my younger brother play baseball, I can't wait to walk through my mom's garden, I can't wait to go to the Farmer's Market in Tennessee, and most importantly, I can't wait to be with my family!
There is no greater feeling!

Weekend Update

Well we had another amazing weekend.
This comes as no surprise...
when you are in great company of course your going to have a great time!

Friday after work Mr. P and I headed straight to Birkdale Village for dinner and a movie with the Barzees.
2 things:
1. The Hangover really was as good as everyone said it was.
2. Don't ever eat a Philly steak sub the night before a 10k.

Okay, moving on...

Saturday morning we were all packed up and into one car by 6:45am.


At 9:00am we began the hardest 10k I've done to date.
1 hilly course + 80 degree + 80% humidity + no real shade + no breeze= 1 hour and 10 minute finish time for this little lady.
Looking forward to redeeming myself in 2 weeks at the Freedom Run.

After cooling down as much as possible we headed to Em's old stomping grounds of Elon University.
We got to have lunch at Sidetracks Grill, where Em waited tables at in College.



We stuffed our faces, checked into the hotel and the ladies spent the next 3 hours at the pool.

After a perfect afternoon we showered up and were ready for a night on the town in Chapel Hill.
Our evening began in the hotel bar where we were able to meet up with our great friends Matthew and Chandler for a drink.
*Can't wait to spend a whole weekend with you two next month.*

Then it was time for Teddy's birthday dinner at the Carolina Brewery.
Best black bean quesidillas ever btw.

Then we headed to Top of the Hill, a great rooftop restaurant/bar where Teddy and Chelsea will be having their Rehearsal Dinner.


From there it was off to Goodfellas, a cozy little basement bar.


and then Players so we could shake our bum bums.
We ladies love to dance!
So much so that once we arrived back to the hotel Mrs. Em Barzee got the clock radio dance party going.
Fun stuff my friends. Very fun stuff.



I spent much of yesterday stuffing my face.
Really, I did.
Sausage, egg & cheese biscuit for breakfast, bacon cheddar burger and fries for lunch, chicken burrito for dinner.
Ridiculous.

The sore tummy and fatigue I suffer from this morning are well worth the fun that was had.
Hope you lovelies had a wonderful weekend as well.
xo

important

I read a lot of blogs, the list is ever growing.
Some are wedding related, some are tails of motherhood, some are food blogs and some are simply life stories written by beautiful females.

I'm inspired on a daily basis...
to go home and try a new recipe, to take on a do it yourself project, to appreciate life good or bad, big or small, to love, to laugh, to care.

Today I was catching up on Conversations With A Cupcake (don't you love that name?) and I found myself reading about Abby and a group of young girls with big hearts.
Such a sweet story that's a reminder of all that's good in this world.

I hope someday I can teach our future daughter and/or son how important it is to care about others, to show compassion and to be empathetic.
I think my mother did a pretty great job with me.
Thank you for that mama san.

Okay, I'm signing off for real this time.
I just felt the need to share that.
XO

today, tonight and tomorrow

Today...
I'm bummed that I already finished my one diet coke can I have during the work day.


But HAPPY I get to have lunch with my aunt Tammy.
She's awesome and I don't get to see her near enough (even though she lives about 30 minutes from me).


Tonight...
I'm bummed that our son won't be sleeping with us (he's at overnight doggy camp).

I'm happy that I get to go see The Hangover with Mr. P and The Barzees.



Tomorrow...

I'm bummed that I'm not as well prepared for The Macfest 10k we are running.

I'm VERY happy that after it's over we get to spend the whole day and night in Chapel Hill, NC with the Cheds and the Barzees.

I'd say the good definitely outweighs the bad, huh?
Hope everyone has happy weekend plans.
See you on the flip.