can.not.wait.

Besides being married, this is one thing I cannot wait for:


If you havent read the book, do so asap. If you havent seen the trailer, google it and watch now.

jp & biz

First of all, my apologies for being MIA. Ever since we got engaged, we’ve been traveling, Rachel and Drew wedding-ing, blog strolling, magazine tearing, church searching, you get the point. Consumed with travel and wedding planning. I’ve had every intention to make blog posts, but I did not feel it was appropriate to post until I was able to tell the full engagement story. So, here we go:

One of my favorite things to do is go on hikes and walks - anything that makes Cash tired and snuggly. JP – not so much. He does not enjoy anything that involves endless miles of walking and sweating – unless of course, it has to do with weight lifting. The weekend before, to my surprise, JP asked me if I wanted to go on a hike the next Saturday. Of course, I was delighted and could not wait.
I fly in from Washington on Friday. Saturday rolls around and I’m in a bad mood. I don’t want to do anything. I’m exhausted from my week in DC and travel. JP wants to go to lunch and Bread and Co. I want to go to Baja Burrito. JP gives in and we eat at Baja – which is rare.

The heat index is at 102. After eating all that salsa, the last thing I want to do is go on a hike in the heat. I begged him to go later in the day. He said no, he wanted to go now. I told him I was tired and in a really bad mood. He said I promised him to go on a hike. We finally agree to go on a walk. I want to walk around the neighborhood. He said (literally): “Cash is tired of seeing the same old things around the neighborhood. He wants to go to Cheekwood.” So I gave in 
We arrive at Percy Warner in the blistering heat. He said he needs to put his gun up in the glove box. I get out of the car and wait for him to walk around and put up his gun. He is taking forever. I watch him fiddle around in there – and he gets insulted and says, “Well, go on!” Haha… I knew something was coming 
We are walking around Cheekwood and see a little baby deer. JP has a massive square in his back pocket. I know what’s coming and so I get nervous. We keep walking and he doesn’t do anything. Finally I am getting really hot and nervous and I say, “Can we go now??” He said he wanted to see what was just a little further up, then we turned around and started back down the stairs.

As we were walking down the stairs, I saw the perfect little picnic: a quilt, picnic basket, fresh fruit, Fiji water and roses. It took me a second to realize. Then I turned around the JP and he was grinning ear to ear. We walked over to the picnic and he started crying. I cant even remember exactly what he said, it was all a blur, but then I said “YES!!”



Our dear friend Keith came crawling out of the woods a few moments after in head-to-toe camouflage. Keith had taken photos in the woods, then took some more of us before he left. We sat and ate fruit and talked. It was perfect.





JP later had dinner plans with my parents at our favorite restaurant, Café Nonna. He also planned for all of our friends to meet us at Greenhouse Bar where we celebrated with them.




It was perfect. Now the stress has kicked in…  I cannot wait to be married to him.

Widdy Wednesday

i know. i know. i know... i've been really bad at this blog thing for the past couples weeks. i've been traveling and comsumed in wedding-land.

i'll be back asap with a real update. until then, i hope Widdy Wednesday will appease you.



this is cash-baby right after j.p. and i got engaged. apparently he doesnt have any respect for louis vuitton's...

I'M ENGAGED!!!

More details to come once I get the photos uploaded... but here is a sneak fuzzy peek at my ring.

It's perfect and I am ecstatic :)

HOLY WHEAT GRASS!

Remember when I planted my wheat grass seeds one Sunday afternoon? Well, I let the jar of dirt sit in the middle of my kitchen table for approximately 6 days. When I came back in town, this is what my joyful heart found:

Widdy Wednesday

So if she can do it, I can too. I now pronouce to you: Widdy Wednesday's.


JP sent this photo to me one day when I was traveling. It made me melt.

remember when?

Remember, a few weeks ago, when I mentioned that I was starting to love calligraphy and I wanted to become a pro? Yea, well, I had forgotten about it... UNTIL I found THIS new starter kit. I need it. It will pay itself back when I am hired to do calligraphy - Its an investment :)

watermelon salad

One of my favorite things to do is go grocery shopping. Not running in the grocery and whisping around grabbing things on my list, but walking down every aisle looking for delicious foods and wishing I knew how to cook. Publix is one of the grocery stores at the top of my list (including Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Fresh Market - and yes - I considered Target a grocery store - it makes it easier to pay the bill) - I just wish it was closer to my house.

I always love trying their samples when you walk in the door. A few weeks ago, I tried the most delicious and unusual salad - and I have to share:

WATERMELON FETA SALAD:
ingredients:
4 oz feta cheese
2 lb watermelon slices (or quarters)
8 oz grape tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons white balsalmic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups arugula greens
1 cup sliced red onions
prep:
- cut feta and watermelon into small bite-size pieces.
- cut tomatoes in half.
steps:
1. whisk oil, vinegar and salt to blend; set aside. place arugula, onions, and tomatoes in salad bowl.
2. add vinaigerette; toss to coat. add cheese and melon; serve.

yummy! This looks easy enough for me to handle... I think I am going to have a dinner party this weekend JUST to make this salad!

Headed South

JP and I are heading to Atlanta this afternoon. One of our favorite things to do together is go on long car rides. We love to sing together, ride together and our best conversations are on car rides - even though I'm typically asleep most of the time. We are heading out of Nashville around noon today, giving us enough time to stop in Calhoun - He wants to go to the Nike outlet, while I'll get dropped off at J. Crew :)

I'm especially excited about this trip. Why, you may ask. See reasons below:
1. We are staying with my Grandmother.
2. We are going to the ACC tournament to see Andrew, my cousin, pitch.
3. We are stopping at the outlets on the way down.
4. We are going to Ikea.
5. I have a good shot at getting him to stop at Nordstom's as well.
6. My Mama and Daddy are meeting us down there.
7. It will be me, JP, Mama, Daddy and Grandmother all staying at Grandmother's house.
8. JP and I are going to read the book of Acts on the car ride.

The only bad part: We need to leave Cash in Nashville since we are going straight to the game today. Stew is keeping him, as well as Opie and Dooley. I wish I was a fly on the wall in the Out House this weekend. I know this is what he's going to looks like:

annoyed/ sad/ worn out/ missing his mama.



This is a photo of me, Grandmother, Andrew and JP after a game a month or two ago. Can't wait to see him pitch another shut-out!

Love Dogs

While browsing through etsy today, I came across this jewel. You can even pick out which dog to put on the top. (Too bad they don't have a minpin.) I need this. And I have a few friends who need it as well :)

I am going to have a harvest

... of wheat grass and romaine lettuce.

So, I got a lot done this weekend. I'm finally settled (somewhat) in the new house. One of the many things I did this weekend was make a successful trip to Flower Mart - one of my favorite places in Green Hills. The new owner ended up helping me and threw a lot of stuff in for free! Thanks, Flower Mart!

Below is the beginning stage of my wheat grass harvest. I planted it on Saturday afternoon. Right now it is in the middle of the kitchen table - which JP pointed out: No one wants to eat at the table with dirt. So, I may move it to another location in the house until my grass flourishes.


When I walked into Flower Mart on Saturday, I told the owner that I wanted something green, fun and full shade to go in the planter (another garage sale steal!) around my umbrella on the patio. We decided on romaine lettuce - and I love it!


Some more green:

Last year, my Mama gave me this little planter (which was yet another fabulous garage sale find!) full of green moss. Well, it croaked over the winter, so I have started over. Hopefully these guys will last in the window above the kitchen sink.


JP and I had dinner last night at Whole Foods grill - where we spotted Kelly Pickler and an unknown male suspect. (Note: not Kid Rock.) As we were leaving he grabbed these peonies for me (my FAVORITE flower, along with renunculus). When we visited MamaJean and DaddyDon on Sunday, MamaJean had some of Whole Foods peonies, and we fell in love. He's the sweetest.


Mama and Daddy came over on Monday to help spread mulch, transplant some plants and bring a pot of flowers. Its starting to look good outside... :)