Yard Sale-ing!

On Friday, I took part in a great Southern summer tradition- a yard sale! But this yard sale was special as it was a wedding yard sale hosted by the ladies of Southern Weddings Magazine.  

They recently moved offices and were looking to downsize some of their wedding goodness stash, while supporting a couple of charities.

I coaxed a couple of girlfriends into going with me, and we had a good time finding a few wedding treasures in about 5,000 degree heat.  

I had long since proven that "Southern ladies don't sweat, they glisten" was a complete, total fallacy when we stumbled on the find of the day- shepherd's hooks!

Now that we're going to get the outdoor ceremony under the oak tree, this was one detail I really wanted to find.  At the yard sale I was able to pick up 18 of the hooks for a mere $15!  Saving money on beautiful things is pretty much my life's goal, so I was ecstatic! 

I also picked up a couple of white lanterns (in the second picture) that I will probably spray paint an oil rubbed bronze color.

I also got a few votive candle holders and a couple of bud vases that I will probably use just around the house and not at the wedding.  Finally, I got 12 silver chargers for some future fancy dinners.

All in all, we had a great morning of wedding bargain hunting.  We also got to meet the SW ladies and enjoy some Cheerwine and sweet tea.

Shout out to my dear friend Emily Hansel who designed my favorite green necklace.  And look we're famous! 

We celebrated our good finds (and air conditioning) by enjoying an ice cold local beer and a pimento cheese BLT at Tyler's.  Yum!

Dog Sitter Extraordinaires!

This past weekend we got to dog sit one of our favorite pups, Chelsea.  When her mama and daddy go out of town, it's kinda like this at the house...

Image via Skip to My Lou

There we are.  Well, maybe it's not that extreme, but we both enjoy getting our dog-fix and I think Chelsea enjoys it too.  This weekend we played tug-of-war with Mr. Fox.

 

Who is going to win this round?

I think Chelsea is pulling ahead...

Nope, there she goes!

And Chelsea also enjoyed crawling under the bed, which made a hilarious sound as she tried to scooch herself under there.  Eventually she did make it to the other side.

 

She also enjoyed barking at the TV while watching Harry Potter (of course!), getting the morning paper from the curb, and taking lots of naps.

The Beginning

In true twenty-first century fashion, John and I met at work.  We were both interns at the same organization between undergrad and graduate school. We finally met when I transferred divisions and moved to an office closer to his.  He worked with a friend, now groomsman, who grew up in Athens, so I soon found lots of reasons to stop by their office to talk about mutual friends from home.  After a few weeks of this and many (many!) gchats with my girlfriends about the cute intern, I learned two very important things.  

First, John was starting UNC Law in the fall, which happened to be next door to the School of Government, where I would be starting the master of public administration program.  I can still remember the exact moment he said he would be staying at Carolina after his internship, and even way back then, with fewer than 50 words exchanged between us, I thought there might be a chance.  

Second, I learned that the guys played tennis after work.  So, with the confidence of someone completely infatuated, I piped up that I, too, played tennis.  Now, my parents play tennis and I had been present at some family outings to the courts, but I did not play tennis.   I rushed down to the pro shop and picked me out a pretty blue racquet and raced home to put on my cutest believe-me-I'm-a-tennis-player outfit.  Well, I must have provided the boys with enough entertainment that first disastrous day because they let me come back.  

After a few weeks of after-work tennis matches, our co-worker/co-player went out of town {thanks, D!}, and I got the chance to ask John out.  That's right, I asked him out.  Well, I asked him to join me and a group of friends at a Durham Bulls baseball game.

We had a great time talking and laughing and pretty well ignoring the rest of the group, but I don't think I really sealed the deal until we were leaving the game.  

You see, I have this thing for mascots.  

 

Bulldogs, Mountaineers, Arthur the Aardvark, fire dogs, I don't discriminate.  

As we were leaving the game, we ran into I hunted down, Wool E. Bull, the newest animal mascot for my menagerie. Now, most people wouldn't want to reveal this level of obsession on what may or may not be a first date, and normally I wouldn't either, but I just couldn't contain my excitement, so we ended up with this little souvenir:

Just look at that excitement!  This past Saturday we went to another Bulls game, and I was bound and determined to get a picture of us with Wool E. Bull.  As we walked to the gates, there he was!  I nearly knocked some little cub scouts out of the way to park myself right next to him.  With visions of fun pictures for the wedding dancing in my head, I smiled big and this is the picture we got...

 

Guess Wool E. thought I made the wrong choice of who to go home with at that game three years ago.

C+B Wedding Party

A few weeks ago, John and I attended a wedding party at Crate and Barrel.  C+B opened their store early on a Sunday morning just for us- how sweet of them!  Well, us and about six other couples.

On my first visit to a Crate and Barrel back in the fall, I was not impressed. Shortly after that though, the store moved to a new, bigger space in Durham, so maybe there was something about that Raleigh store.  When my mom was visiting back in April, we stopped by the new store (with me slightly draggin' my heels) and I loved so many of their products!   It was a completely different experience from the Raleigh store, and I quickly signed us up for one of their registry parties that I had heard about in the blogosphere.

On the day of the party, we were greeted by a friendly staff and delicious coffee.

As a way to "help" clients register for gifts, C+B demonstrates most of their fun products, such as the waffle maker and bacon skillet, pod coffee makers, and cupcake stands, with sample stations.

We really enjoyed wandering around the store in a low pressure, but helpful environment.  While the delicious sampling might have led to a few extra items on the registry, we tried to keep it to just the things we know we'll use as we set off on this journey together.

And John really enjoyed the gun!

Giving the groom a gun- genius, Wedding Industrial Complex, genius!

If you're interested in registering at Crate and Barrel, I would definitely recommend going to one of the parties.  It's a great way to spend the morning with your sweetie and enjoy some treats.

Now, if retailers get really smart they will introduce the "I've Been Married For 29 Years And Hate my Stuff" registries that my mom has been dreaming about.

Image via Yen

Paint Chip Garland Variation

Check out this variation on the Easter Egg garland that's been springing {<-- haha!) up all over Pinterest.

Images via Grace and Light

While it's super cute and would be on-trend for engagement shoots or weddings, if I tried to stick a needle through card stock it would be a crumpled mess. I think Grace and Light started this fun project, so be sure to check it out.

Are any of you on Pinterest?  It's the site of the moment in the blogging world, where you can "pin" beautiful/aspirational/inspirational pictures.  I think the pictures are wonderful, but I haven't fallen down the rabbit hole like so many promised.  If you're interested and want to take a look, shoot me a message, and I'll send you an invite link.

My Favorite Quick and Healthy Summer Treat!

The unofficial start of summer on Monday brought with it the humidity in North Carolina.  The last few weeks have been hot, but that bearable dry heat that feels good when you walk out of an air conditioned building.  This week has been a different story though, so I'm using my favorite one ingredient dessert recipe to cool off when I get home.

Want to know how to make the easiest vanilla ice cream?  Blend a frozen banana- no joke!  I first saw this recipe on a blog last summer and I was sold.  I love yellow bananas, but when they got the first brown spot I was finished.  Until now!

Image via The Kitchn

Just pop over-ripe bananas (the ripeness you would use for banana nut bread) in the freezer.  Then when you're ready for a sweet treat, cut off the peel, cut the banana into chunks, and blend until smooth.  In no time you'll have a creamy, dreamy low-calorie recipe, unless you're like me and then proceed to top it with chocolate chips.

Image via Choosing Raw

You can add a splash of your favorite milk to help it blend quicker.  I also like to add a sprinkle of  cinnamon before blending.  Don't be alarmed when the frozen banana peel turns brown, the inside is still delicious.

I can't remember where I first saw this recipe, but here are a couple of links to it:

The Kitchn: How to Make Creamy Ice Cream With Just One Ingredient

Choosing Raw: This Post will Change Your Life 

Enjoy and stay cool!