Side Note

Did anybody happen to catch the Real Housewives of NJ last night??

Was anybody else slightly disturbed? 

All these reality shows are starting to make me somewhat embarrassed of my beloved Garden State. 

Come on NJ, you're classier than this! 

Forget all of the Snookie's and Situations and Jerseylicious crap you see on tv these days. 

Here are some fellow New Jersians to be proud of! 

"You don't move to Napa...you TAKE a Napa..."

(My SATC loving friends will get the title, I couldn't resist!)

Well it's official, I am beyond obsessed with Napa and as if it wasn't bad enough before...even more so with wine.  Sigh...I just can't get enough of that sweet sweet nectar, and Napa was this heavenly place where everybody was so happy and just drank wine all day!  Not to mention it was beyond gorgeous there.

Here's a little peak at our trip...

Each vineyard was unique in it's own way.  I loved seeing the different decorating styles and how it corresponded to the atmosphere of the vineyard.  I can't tell you how much joy it gave me when the hubs leaned over and wispered in my ear at one of my favorite places "kinda reminds me of our house hun"!!! 

It was like an angel just whistled a little tune in my ear.

I'm going to assume what he meant by that was he loves all my projects at the house and wishes I would do more!  Say no more hun...I already thought of something new on the plane ride home!

China!

No not the country...what you put on the table!

I was beyond indecisive when it came to picking our formal dinnerware when we registered for our wedding.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I registered and deleted multiple selections!  Finally I wised up and registered at a great store here in Raleigh called Quintessentials.  They let you change your mind even after people have already purchased something and just give you store credit.  Genius if you ask me!

Anywho, after MUCH deliberation I finally settled on a beautiful setting from Pickard. I couldn't be happier with it and wanted to share!

I went with the signature monogram collection but added the constellation salad plate.

I also love that it's made in the good ol US of A!

Happy Momma's Day!

Happy  Mothers Day to all the mothers out there!!

And a special Happy Mothers Day to my mom, who was always there to tie my bows as a little girl...

and as a big girl too

Project Completion!

I have finally finished my hallway closet project and I couldn't be happier!!

I had MANY people (who shall remain nameless) doubting this idea that's lived in my head for about the past year, but I think it was mostly because nobody could see my vision!

I think I explained most of my pain surrounding my hallway closets in a previous post here so I won't waste much time going into detail.  I'll just show the pictures since I know that's what you want to see anyway!!

Before

The Mess That Existed Inside

 

During

We raised the top of the closet



After

We also added new doors on the laundry closet

AND - We added a backsplash in the kitchen!!!!

Before

During

 After



Oh yea...I also got rid of the green paint I hated in the kitchen and went with gray.  Sany Hook by Benjamin Moore to be exact and I LOVE it!!!  It works so much better with the floor which was always an issue I had! 

So there ya have it!  Obviously I still have some finishing touches to add like knobs and door handles etc.  And of course I need to change the remaining ugly doors to be pretty doors which I'll get to...but first I have something MUCH more important on my mind.

I'm headed to the happiest place on earth!!! 

NO, not disney world!!!!

This will be me the next few days! 

Photo Courtesy of Jenn Pino

Holy Inappropriateness!!!

I was just sitting here, smiling about the fact that it's Friday, then sun is shining and I feel a very enjoyable weekend coming on!  Then I realized it's the perfect time of year to start enjoying some "summer in a glass"!

For those of you unfamiliar with the term "summer in a glass", my good friends and I here in Raleigh define it as any refreshing summer cocktail other than beer and wine.

We have had many different types of "summer in a glass" but it is only to be enjoyed during the warmer months of the year.  Since the weather for this weekend is predicted to be most enjoyable, I thought it would be a great weekend to enjoy a little summer in a glass! 

My mind began to drift to some of our past favorites...

The ever refreshing cranberry and vodka with lime...

 If we wanted to spice up the cranberry and vodka a bit, just add a splash of OJ and you've got yourself a madras!

This next one became a personal favorite of mine last summer...

= Deliciousness

 And finally the Rasberry Beer Cocktail...YUM!!!



So today I was trying to think of something new to try when my favorite reality star came to mind...I want a

SKINNY GIRL MARGARITA!!!

I quickly jumped on the website to see which local North Carolina ABC store stocks this future contender for summer in a glass and to my dismay...NOBODY DOES!

(for my NJ peeps, we don't have liquor stores here.  You buy beer and wine in the grocery store and liquor in an ABC store.  Crazy right!)

I'm horrified. 

My weekend plans already have a kink in them and it's not even noon on Friday yet.

What to do...should I attempt to make my own or just pick a different drink???  I am going to have to find a way to satisfy my palate this weekend until I can get some SGM (skinny girl margarita) shipped to me... 

Say hello to my little friend

Hunting has been a part of my family for generations and I happened to marry a guy who's family is even more fanatical about it than mine!

(Warning - this post deals with hunting...if you don't agree you may not enjoy this one)

This new friend joined our house and now lives over the bookself. 

It was actually my grandfathers but I think it fits well in our home! 

I like it because it lets hubs feel like he has some of his outdoorsy stuff as a part of the house but I don't have to stare at a full deer head all the time...or better yet an Elk head.

Did I ever tell you about the Elk head?  No? 

Well then, let me introduce you to Tank! 

Tank hails from the mountains of Idaho (I think). 

He is my husbands trophy and came to live with us back in 2008.  Unfotunately Tank is rather large and can't fit in our little ranch house right now.  He lives at my in-laws in the man cave for now, but I have the joy of knowing he will be ours one day to display in our own home.

(In case you can't tell, I'm using a sarcastic tone here)

What's that you say, how big is an Elk? 

What...you've never seen one?!?!

Let me give you little peek at the size we're talking about here

(Bryan is 6ft tall btw)

I'm going to need a VERY LARGE man room in my next home!!!