here we go...

With only 79 days left until our wedding Mr. P and I are taking our last weekend trip to our favorite town where we are holding our wedding, Charleston, SC.

This trip is our first family trip as we are bringing along our 4 legged son, Mr. Tucker.
He doesn't know it yet, but he has such a fun weekend in store for him.

Tonight we'll probably just pick up some bbq from Melvin's(em, chels, you remember this yummy place, right?), cuddle, and watch a movie in our pet friendly hotel room.

We found out that Tuck can frolic off of his leash between the hours of 5am-10am on Sullivan's Island beach so that's where we'll be early Saturday morning.
We are so excited to see him run into the ocean!

Mr.P and I are renting kayaks Saturday afternoon after our early morning beach trip.
Hopefully we'll spot a few dolphins, apparently it's very possible.
Then we plan to spend a few more hours on the beach before heading out to one of the dog friendly restaurant/bar patios in the area.

It's going to be a memorable weekend no doubt.
I'm going to take lots of photos and hopefully a few videos as well.

Happy weekend to you all.
I mean it! I truly hope you have a very happy weekend!
xo

Stir Crazy

A few hours ago our tv started acting screwy.
Most of the channels are skipping, including Food Network.
So what's a bored little gal to do?
I thought about trying to get back into soap opera's like I was in college, but that could potentially mean that I might enjoy being unemployed and we don't want/need that now do we?!

So first I flipped through a cookbook my mother gave me for Christmas 4 years ago.
I thought about baking a cake, but then realized how waistful (hehe, get it?) that would be considering we are leaving for Charleston tomorrow.

Then I spotted our four legged son laying at the top of the stairs staring at me.
For some reason he likes to lay up there and pout all day until Mr. P comes home.
I swear this dog is only truly happy when the whole family is together, which I can surely appreciate.

I knew if I wanted my pup's attention I'd have to join him on the floor and that's exactly what I did.

We spooned for awhile.
I laid there smelling my dogs tuna breath and looking at my desk piled high with wedding crafts I'd either never started or are only half finished.
The guilt got to me and I set to work for a third time trying to come up with a decent looking drink stirrer for our signature cocktails (the actual drink still to be determined).

Here's what I came up with....



Thoughts?
You know I like when you all are honest with me.
Thanks.

Trip Home, Part 2 of 2: Around the Garden

Trip Home, Part 2: Around the Garden

*this adorable sign is hung right above a little goldfish pond.

Trip Home, Part 1: The Cooking

Sister cutting up lots of strawberries...enough for 16 loaves of Strawberry Bread



Homemade Italian Bread
Best I've EVER had! So good you don't even want to put butter on it.


Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins


Yummy Honey Oat Bread

walking like a one man army

I've spent the last 3 hours trying to finalize our guest list.
My oh my is this a daunting task.
One I should have finalized weeks ago.

Anyhow, I took a break to browse some of my favorite wedding blogs and came across this beauty on Style Me Pretty.

I bet you shed a tear or two.
My favorite part is when the bride is walking to meet her groom for their "first look".
Enjoy, okay?

I'll have photos uploaded from my trip home shortly.
Until then...

Ashley & Jamie's Same Day Edit from Anguilla from Julie Hill on Vimeo.

I'm baaaack!

My sister and I arrived home last night sometime after 11pm.

Look what I saw when I walked in the house...



Not only did he pick the two different colored flowers out on his own, he feed them and displayed them beautifully.

I was already so happy to see my boys but seeing this may have added a 1/2 inch or so to my smile. :D

The last few days have been absolutely wonderful!
I took home the laptop with every intention of blogging during my visit, but I wasn't able to establish an internet connection.

Nevertheless, I took lots of photos I'll be sharing with you over the next day or so.

Stay tuned...

Soooo yeah....

I've been a horrible blogger lately.
I'm not sure what my problem is either.
Hopefully I'll figure it out soon.

Part of the reason is that I now spend most of my days at home watching food network and reading blog after blog after blog.
This leaves little time for picture taking, day dreaming, wedding planning, etc.

I promise next week to lay off the Paula Deen and make my best effort at being interesting.
You just bear me with me, mmmkay?

I laid by the pool all day with my sister today.
It was bliss!
We even got to watch some skank-a-lank photo shoot.
Very entertaining.
Don't you just love people watching?

Tomorrow after breakfast and a run with miss Em Barzee, I'm hoping Pepe and I will have round 2 of a pool side sunshine fest.

Then tomorrow evening we are finally going to see Harry Potter!
I cannot FREAKIN' wait!!!

Sunday morning sister and I are heading back home to V-A.
It's for lovers ya' know?

We get to stay through Tuesday which means we'll get to see our Mama San in action at the Farmer's Market.
Carly and I will be manning the panini machine.
I'll take lots o' photos.

Hope everyone has fun plans for the next few days.

I'll see you soon...don't worry, I'll be a much better blog version of myself.
xo

What do you think the reception was like?

OH MY

Have you seen this preview yet?



It's going to be ridiculously good.
I love any movie that takes you to a magical make believe place.

Don't you?

Weekend Update

This past weekend Mr.P's mother and sister hosted a wonderful "bbq" themed couple's shower.
It was absolutely amazing...the setting, the food and most importantly the wonderful family and friends in attendance.

Here's a few pictures from the party...

My grandmother and mother who traveled 8 hours in less than 24 hours to attend the party...


My lovely, soon to be, in-laws...



My handsome fiance and his nephew (our ring bearer) the ever adorable, Matthew...



James (aka future brother-in-law), Bryan (new daddy to be) & Jason


The beautiful Abby & Chad...


everyone's ready to watch some gift opening...


Okay it's time for gift opening...



Yep! I received the mixer of all mixer's (among many other wonderful gifts), the Kitchen Aid Stand mixer, thanks to the Barzees, The Ched's, The Teagues and The Braimee's.
This may have caused me to shed a tear or two...



*I'd been so very excited for this party because I knew it was going to be a blast, but it turned out to be even better than I had imagined.
A HUGE thanks to everyone who attended.

Hope everyone had a happy weekend (and a happy Monday since this is a day late)!
xo

Today

Today is almost over.
You should know that means I've had a VERY happy, fun-filled day today.
That's what it would take for me to neglect my beloved blog.

Sister came over early this morning.
I made us a plate of breakfast goodies.
Then our afternoon consisted of shopping, ice cream, a visit with Mr. P, Cookout, sunbathing, shopping, mani's & pedi's...good ol' qt time with my best friend.

The evening was capped off with a cookout at the Barzees.

I absolutely adore time spent with my favorite people.
I'm certain I'll never take these wonderful individuals in my life for granted.

Speaking of wonderful individuals....
8 years ago today Mr. P and I stood in his second Terrace View apartment at Virginia Tech.
I'd met him 7 months earlier.
I spent those 7 months trying to be the coolest college freshman I knew how to be.
On that July evening back in 2001 I was on my way out to an apartment party.
Man did I use to think those were cool.
Mr. P turns to me and says "you going to tell people you have a boyfriend if asked?"
"No, because I don't have a boyfriend" I coyly replied.
Then with one quick response, "would you like me to be your boyfriend?", began our 8 year history.
One of the best days of my life.
Needless to say, I really didn't want to go to that party anymore.

Tomorrow Mr. P and I have a couple's shower to attend.
I'm excited. I'm nervous.
But I'm really happy that it's the one year anniversary of the day my Mr. P proposed.



Happy Weekend friends.
xo

a formula

New Jenny Lewis tunes


+

A sunny day and a smiling dog


+

A good book and my antique quilt gifted to me by mama san


=

Good Morning

A good night's sleep sure does a body good.

Sister is on her way to our house.
The plan is for her to teach me to drive a clutch!
I'm nervous.
Let's hope she has more patience with me than she did back in high school. ;)

Then it's sandwiches in the sunshine.

I'm proud to say I've already sent in my resume to be considered for 3 different positions this morning.
Keep your fingers crossed for me please.
To thank you I'd like to leave you with this pretty little musical number.
Enjoy!

Weekend Update

After last week to say that I was excited for our weekend at the beach would be a severe understatement.
On Friday afternoon Mr. P and I headed to Figure Eight Island to meet up with our friends Chandler, Matthew and John.

SIDE NOTE:
Pepe met Matthew and John when he was about 8 years old and had first moved to the US from Mexico.
They are two of his first friends and definitely two of his very best friends.
I adore these guys! I'm thrilled they are a part of our lives as well as a part of the wedding.
*Chandler is Matthew's girlfriend of almost 3 years.
She's beautiful, smart, incredibly sweet and one of my best friends.
After this weekend it's official she's also a part of the wedding (even though in my mind she had been all along).

John's parents own a breathtakingly beautiful home right on the island.
Let me tell you this place is it's own little paradise.
Picture beautiful homes, a stunning marsh, a quite beach, soft sand, dog's running around with their owners...I loved everything about this place.

We rolled into town and met up with our friends at K38 Baja Grill.
This place was amazing.
Let me tell ya', this gal loves her some tex mex and this was tex mex at it's best.
The salsa was to die for.
Mr. P even contemplated bringing some home and trying to freeze it.
Instead I promised to try and recreate it this week.

We tucked ourselves into bed somewhat early, around midnight, because Saturday morning John, P, and I had a 5k race to run.

Side note:
This race coincidentally started at the hotel we'll be staying at for my bachelorette party next month.
After seeing it I'm even more excited to head back and explore downtown Wilmington with my favorite girls.

This was one of my favorite races to date.
The course was nice, the temperature was surprisingly perfect and since we opted out of the 10k and went with the 5k, it wasn't brutally hard like the last couple.

After the race we picked up breakfast for everyone at Whitey's Diner.
We filled our bellies, changed into our swimsuits, and spent 5 relaxing hours on the beach.

The rest of the evening was filled with good food, yummy drinks, great friends, and laughter.
Lots and lots of laughter.

We spent Sunday afternoon back on the beach before taking off for home late last night.

This was certainly the kind of weekend to make you forget all your worries.
I hope we make this trip a new tradition.

Here's a few photos from the weekend:










*Chandler owns an amazing boutique with her friend Gina.
Gina Chandler is located in Raleigh, NC so if you are ever in the area stop by!
You'll thank me later.

sooo...

last night Mr.P took us on a shopping spree of sorts.
Remember about a week ago when I told you we found a heck of a deal on suits for Pepe and his groomsmen?
Well we found this great deal at Kohl's.
Apparently Kohl's runs a special from time to time where you get "kohl bucks" for spending money with them online...
Basically we had free money to spend last night and it was AWESOME.
Do you remember that game show 'Shop Til' You Drop'?
At the end of this game show winning contestants got to run around the "mall" and choose the gifts they wanted.
Well this felt like what I always imagined it felt like to win that game.

Mr. P let me my favorite perfume, fluffy Laura Ashley bath towels and new Kitchen Aid utensils and mixing bowls.
In fact I just spent my afternoon using my new mixing bowls and the mini muffin pan my mother so graciously gave me on my last trip home to make mini cupcakes.


Aren't they adorable?

In addition to baking today I was able to spend the afternoon with my sister.
She picked me up, we ran a few errands, and she treated me to lunch at Panera.
Oh so yummy.

So yeah, yesterday started out as an extremely yucky day, but because I'm surrounded by such wonderful and supportive people I've almost forgotten that I'm unemployed. ;)

I also would like to share with you all a message my mother sent me this morning.
I thought it was so wonderful and well said that I asked her if I could share it with you all.
Here it goes:

"This morning I was walking the dogs and the sun had just come out and my thoughts were of you.
I thought about life and change and what a blessing it is.
Change allows us to rediscover ourselves, to connect with our true selves and to grow and expand.
With that thought I was reminded that our jobs don't define us, neither do the things we have, but rather who we are and how we live our lives.
Most importantly it is how well we love and I must tell you my sweet Emily,
you are love and all that love should be.
You should celebrate this opportunity that has been handed to you to embrace all that is open to you.
You have such a beautiful heart, share it with the world."

*Thank you mama san, I'll never forget these words!*

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO has called and e-mailed with well wishes.
I appreciate them more than I can accurately express.
xo

Oh boy

Welp, I've been let go at my job.
If you read my blog you probably know that I detested my job.
Am I bummed?
A little.
It's never fun to lose anything, especially your source of income.
Will I be okay?
Absolutely.

I have an extremely supportive fiance.
An amazing family.
A great group of friends.
and a 4 legged son to keep me company as I surf the web for a new job. (Is "surfing the web" so 80's?)

I feel like such a blah blogger lately.
Hopefully a little time at home (and a weekend at the beach) will inspire me and I'll be an even happier gal with a sunnier outlook in the next few days.

Thanks for bearing with me.
xo

Weekend Update- well, sorta

Dear blog friends,

I'm so very sorry I had no weekend update yesterday.
I spent my afternoon prepping my workplace for a bug bombing last night (fun stuff) and running errands with my sistah!
Who I must mention is ENGAGED! CONGRATS lil' sis!
*I'm so excited to have your wedding to help plan once mine is over and I'm going through withdrawal symptoms. ;)

Okay, back to what I was saying...
I saw such lovely Fourth of July recaps yesterday.
Didn't you?
Now it feels as if Fourth of July happened like a week ago.
Do you know what I mean?
So I'm going to spare you a lengthy recap.

So here, in a nutshell, was my weekend:

Good friends, karaoke to a jacked up version of Dixieland Delight, grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, good friends, Baskin Robbins, 5 mins. of the Grudge 3, lake party, hamburgers, hotdogs, fireworks, sparklers, GREAT friends!

Yep, that about sums it up.

Now, one more side note if you'll allow me:

I discovered This Young House yesterday through Style Me Pretty.
It's amazing!
It's full of DIY design tips and there are also pictures of one of the cutest backyard weddings I've ever seen!
Check it out, you'll be happy you did.

Happy Fourth of July

I'm stuck at work right now.
What's getting me through this day is thoughts of our cookout tonight, our lake day tomorrow morning followed by another huge cookout on Saturday evening all with great friends.

I hope you all have fun weekend plans that include hot dogs, hamburgers, fireworks and friends.

A huge THANK YOU to our armed forces here and overseas who devote their lives to keeping us safe and free.

I found a wonderful site this morning called Baking Gals.
I just joined my first group.
We work together to send baked goods to military overseas.
I'm incredibly excited to be a part of something so wonderful.
Want to join as well?
Go here.


Again, Happy Fourth of July.
See you on Monday my lovelies.

The red, the white, the blue + my menu for you!

This weekend we have friends coming in town from DC and it's of course Fourth of July...
two very good reasons to spend and hour or two in the kitchen.

On the Menu:

Grilled Corn-and-Red Potato Salad
I found this recipe in my Rachel Ray Magazine, my sis-in-law (only 3 more months until this title is official) got me a subscription for Christmas and it just may be my favorite present ever.


Honey-Chipotle Baked Beans courtesy of Cooking Light, one of my favorite recipe resources.


I think these are going to be the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Yum, yum, yum!

Ginger-soy-lime marinated shrimp, I've made this recipe before and they're incredible...but then again so is anything that Mr. Bobby Flay comes up with.


Grilled Vegetables with an herb balsamic vinaigrette, this recipe comes from one of my idols, Mrs. Giada De Laurentiss.


Last, but certainly not least, I'll be making VaNIENIElla Cupcakes.
I received this recipe from the lovely Brooke of Conversations with a Cupcake after donating to the Nie Recovery fund last week.


Friends, food and fireworks.
It's going to be a good one.

Are you ready?

For my next wedding related poll?

For those of you who haven't seen it or probably don't remember it, here's my wedding dress, the back looks like this.

Did you click on the link?

Okay good. Now I trust you to help me make this decision.

The sash on my dress is removable.
(YES, I realize Mr. P now knows there is a sash on my dress. Am I freaking out? NOPE!)
I adore this sash and I plan to wear it during the ceremony.

During the reception I'd like to switch things up a bit...you know, switch up the sash for something a little more fun.

Here's my top contenders:

This lovely piece by the incredibly talented Myra of Twigs and Honey.
*Stunning, right?



Then there is this pretty little lady designed by ban.do.
*I love the gray, especially since my fiance is going to be decked out in this lovely color.



Lastly, and probably the most simple, is this beauty designed by 5eizen.
*The bridesmaid dresses are this lovely shade of teal.




Please help me decide.
Should I choose one of these, should I wear the sash the dress comes with, or should I wear no sash at all?

If you'd be so kind as to leave your opinion here or scroll up a bit to the poll at the top right of this page.
Thanks in advance my dear blog readers.