Stairwell Dress Up

We Hammond loves a good project.  And I of course love to help (ok observe and take pictures).  So I was very excited when Hammond decided to dress up our stairwell.  We basically wanted an extension of the same trim from the dining room going up the stairwell.  I think it turned out really great and it really helped dress up that area.  It went from not being noticed, to really being a pretty feature of the house.  You see the stairs first when you walk in, so I love how it pops first thing!

Here are some before pictures from when we first bought the house-prior to moving in.  (This was probably right before we signed the papers and I found an unlocked window and climbed in let myself in)

Here is during the project (I'm sure Hammond is going to be so excited I have more pics of him on the blog...)

And the final product.  I love it.  Thank you to my amazingly handy husband.  He does such good work.  XOXO  (Now can we paint the banister black??  Pretty please?)

 

Seriously Mom & Dad?

A few weeks back, we were trying to figure out a paint color for the hallway.  It was a fairly sunny day out, so I guess Savannah thought it should be spent outside, not inside.  As you can see from this selection of photos, she was not amused that we were trying to decide on paint instead of playing with her.

This first one I can imagine her thinking, "Huh?  Paint, what? But it is SUNNY outside"

"Come on guys, you have got to be kidding me.  No, I'm putting my paw down.  We are not doing this.  Mom-Let's go play!"

 

"This is really ridiculous you guys!  Look I.WANT.TO.PLAY!"



Crazy girl-I love you so much!

Strawberry Pickin'

Saturday, Hammond and I went strawberry picking.  I know-it is only the beginning of March, but I guess strawberries grow good and early in South Carolina.  I have the best and funniest memories of strawberry picking with my family at The Chesterfield Berry Farm from when I was a little girl.  Every year I say to Hammond, "We are going to go berry picking!" And every year comes and goes and we never do it.  SO this year, when I saw that the berries were ready, I said, "put your berry pickin boots on and lets go!"  Reluctantly he got in the truck and off we went to Ambrose Farms

 

 

We had a good time walking up and down the rows of berries and trying to out do each other's. 

 

 

 

That night I made the best strawberry shortcake ever.  Even one of our friends was surprised at how well it came out.  (Maybe because I looked a little confused when I was reading this super easy recipe-I think he had his doubts on how well it would come out!)  But seriously-log onto this girl's blog RIGHT NOW and download this.  Who would have thought that putting balsamic vinegar into your strawberries would be so good.?!  And yes, I did the entire recipe from scratch-minus the whipped cream.  I like whipped cream from the can.  Don't judge.  Best Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

I only needed one....

Like the title says I only NEEDED one....one pair of shoes, but I ended up with two....I went shopping a few months back with my pal Russo and got a gorgeous pair of black patent pumps.  Well those black pumps KILL my feet-as in-I can handle shoe pain, but this shoe pain is intense.

So back to the drawing board the Macy's website I went and found this cutie.  And trust me shoe 1 above is very different then shoe 2 below.  I'm talking above is a 3.5 inch heel.  They hurt...

I have another pair in a animal print and they are uber comfy-so I figured-why not get a pair of black.  And then I saw these....

Like aren't these super cute and a "must have!!"  I love love love the heel on these-let's hope they aren't excruciatingly painful. 

Macy's is having a great 15-20% off sale by using "TICKET" as the promo code. (Sale ends tonight) And 6% cash back if you use ebates!!

Links to shoes: 
Issac http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/isaac-mizrahi-new-york-shoes-loretta-pumps?ID=732470&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results
Nine West http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/nine-west-shoes-flax-pumps?ID=592840&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results

Bite me Martha

I had a couple of different titles for this post such as "bite me Martha" "semi Pinterest-made" "Pinterest makes me feel like a loser" and "eff off Pinterest"

Let me explain the hostility. Every year I think I'm cool and creative and can make shit look cute like it does on Pinterest. And every year Chad shakes his head but trudges with me to michaels or lowes etc and helps keep me from going postal in the store. And every year I get über frustrated bc let's just face it I'm better at pinning shit to Pinterest than actually making it.

But sure why not try,try again. So I of course found this cute thing on Pinterest and was determined to make it. After running around for a whole Afternoon i figured out it was gonna cost way too much, got annoyed and walked out with my "creative" (read slacker) version. The end result is my neighbors and mother in law thinking I was in a sorority. YEAH RIGHT-ME. (Rachel and Jen Chen don't fall over laughing)

Enjoy Charlestonhokie's version of a Valentine's door decor paying homage to her "chi omega" background! Ha!

Home for the holidays

Hammond and I headed North for the holidays to good ole Richmond, VA.  It was so wonderful to be home for Christmas, but I must say that the time went by so quickly that I wasn't able to see a lot of people that I wanted to see.

My parents were a little worried that Chad would be bored, so we had a few things planned out.  On Saturday we took a trip to The Science Museum of VA and we all had a ball walking around the exhibits.  (Even my mom had fun although she did say she was going to strangle me since there were so many little kids running around) 

Chad's "head" on platter

Chad loves oysters and I think they are gross.  This made me giggle!

Have you ever been to the IMAX in Richmond?  It is so cool.  In addition to being an IMAX theatre, it is shaped like a dome, so the movies are basically in front of you and above you. Makes for a super cool experience.  I honestly thought that was what all IMAX theatres were like and was super disappointed when I went to a "normal" one.   The movie we watched was The Rocky Mountain Express and it was excellent.  It traced the history of the 1st transcontinental railway and it amazed me at how difficult it was to build.  We are so spoiled these days with our roads and cars.  These men worked YEARS across mountains and some of the most difficult terrain to build these railways...Anyways, here's a picture of my Dad.  He LOVES popcorn and was like a little kid when we told him he could get some!  :)

Dad & his popcorn for the IMAX

 My third "grandma" is Virginia.  She's been a part of our lives for YEARS.  I'm talking 25+ years.  She was my Dad's secretary before she retired.  I love her like crazy and hope that if I live to be as young as she is, that I am just as sharp and spry as she.  I haven't seen her since my wedding and I surprised her before she flew out to Michigan to see her family.   Surprising her might have been the highlight of my weekend.  She almost cried she was so happy to see me!  And I was thrilled to see her.  xoxo Virginia!

My brother and sister in law came over early Christmas morning (thank you Michelle for leaving Blacksburg at the crack of dawn)  It was so wonderful to all be together for Christmas.  That was a present enough for me.  Just being together with all whom I treasure so dearly in my life. 

 

 

 

 

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe Christmas.  I can't believe it is almost 2013.  I told my girlfriend today that I'm making a bucket list for the new year.  Something I want to do each month.   The items don't have to be big ticket items, but just some things to make the year more interesting. 

What are your bucket list items for 2013?

Bucket List item-CHECK

Yes, I'm still around.  Just haven't felt like blogging.   I've had a lot go on too..maybe I'll "back blog" on it one day..but for now, I'm excited BEOTCHES..Like super excited.  I don't have much on the old "bucket list" but there is one item that I'll be CHECKING OFF on Thursday and that's a MADONNA CONCERT. 

I'm so excited I can barely stand it.  I've wanted to see Madonna in concert for uhmm, oh I don't know 33 years now?  And. I. Can't. Wait.  I talked 5 of my good friends into going with me to Charlotte.  As in I made them buy tickets in like March of this year.  Those are friends I tell you...

SO the question is...do I dress up for her concert as in a costume?  Or just go looking super cute??  (Well as cute as I can-we all know I don't always put together the best outfits)  And what does one wear to a Madge concert??