Life Lately - May

May ... didn't the month of May just start? I feel like this month has sped by on wings and I also kind of imagined it would. The vacation smack in the middle of the month seemed to move things along at a rather break-neck speed and just like that, tomorrow is June!

Eating – May was filled to the brim with all thing’s foodie, oh my gosh! Let me begin with the delicious dinner my parents and I (and our friend Joyce) had at Woodstock Café in Woodstock! The dinner rolls were to die for and the pasta was amazing: tortellini with asparagus and green pea pesto! Don’t knock it until you try it! Another astounding local spot (for Ryan and I now) is Flour & Water, where we took my Mom for Mother’s Day! The tea, scones and tray filled with savory and sweet goodies was incredible… and we went back later in the month for pastries! We went to Mississippi in the middle of the month and the food at Ryan and I’s wedding shower was nothing short of divine! We had the perfect cupcakes and sugar cookies, sausage balls, fruit cups, chocolate dipped strawberries, shrimp & grits, cheese & crackers… and some kind of melt in your mouth delicious fondant bites! 

Combine that with coffee punch and a divine mandarin orange punch – it was all stellar! We had some great meals at Weidmann’s, the Fish Camp and Newk’s before heading to Tennessee – where we ate a calzone the size of a Thanksgiving turkey and had some pretty amazing breakfasts at Pancake Pantry and Ogle’s Country Kitchen (not pictured – the griddle cakes the size of my face). And lest I forget, we stopped at our relative’s restaurant in Ooltewah and had one of those massive milkshakes that included an entire brownie and slice of cheesecake as “part” of the topping! Round the month out with miniature Gigi’s Cupcakes and a stop into Flour & Water at the end of the month for pastries… I’m full just reading all this!

Watching – I feel like this month has been pretty movie heavy! I hadn’t been getting to the movies a whole lot in the last few months, but I made up for that this month! I went to see Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Downton Abbey: A New Era and Top Gun: Maverick. I’m also just now realizing that all three movies I saw this month have a : in the title, ha-ha! I would also like to note that my spellcheck just informed me that I’d misspelled ‘Grindelwald” – so apparently the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has infiltrated all areas of life. Each of the movies was excellent in it’s own way and I’m not sure I could pick a favorite from the three, because they were not at all similar! I just know I loved being back at the movies again, taking in the magic, romance, action and more on the big screen!

Wearing – A white dress! I know… I know… the big day is actually in November but as the bride-to-be at the shower in Mississippi, I believe it’s tradition to wear white! I usually avoid white dresses because they aren’t always the most flattering, but I stumbled across my shower dress at Target, and I’ve been in love ever since! I was in love when I tried it on, and I loved it even more when I got to wear it to my shower – although I maybe could have used taller shoes? My white dress for my shower truly made me feel beautiful and special – so it’s definitely one of my favorites from this month! 

 

I also wore my hiking boots for real (I’ve worn them before but not ever for long periods of time) and discovered maybe I should have broken them in better! Ryan and I hiked almost five miles of Lake Frederick on Memorial Day and while the hike was great for 95% of the time – the final 5% was rough, since my new(ish) boots formed a nice big blister on my left heel. Ouch!

Bought – Oh the shopping! And the shopping I’m talking about didn’t even take place while we were on vacation but right in Ryan and I’s new little hometown! A true gem that I’ve discovered in our new hometown is called The Buttercup; the cutest little boutique with affordable and adorable clothes! The Buttercup is located right next to Flour & Water and right across the street from Woodstock Café, so it’s in good company along Main Street! I purchased a couple little sundresses that will be perfect for the Summer and will also travel well when Ryan and I head to Jamaica for our honeymoon in November! And the best thing about the Buttercup? Did I mention that it’s affordable? And also – you’ll have a unique piece that not everyone else will be wearing! What a win!

Want – I want peace y’all. I’m sure that might sound rather vague and at this moment in time… it has to be rather vague. The irony is that the word that was laid on my heart at the start of this year was “peace” and I have found myself seeking it out in so many situations already this year. I’m sure that would make it seem like this year has been chaotic and unpeaceful and that’s not the case. I think; more than anything, I just always want to have a peace about decisions and circumstances in my life. I want the peace of knowing I am living my life within God’s will. So – I have peace but I will always take more peace, ha-ha!

Reading – I have been reading The Palace Papers by Tina Brown all month long! I don’t know if that’s something to be proud of or not – but I have been dutifully poring over the pages about the royal family for the entirety of the month! The book has certainly been interesting and offered some unique looks at the royal family that I hadn’t seen/known about before the reading of this book, even with my long interest (obsession seems like a mean word) in the family – or The Firm – as they call themselves. The book is fascinating, frank and shows no favoritism to any one member, Tina simply lays things out as she sees them and allows you to make up your own mind! I only have a chapter or two to go… and then I’ll be on to something else, something from my stack of books that’s gathering dust! 

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May - a good month. A busy month. A month filled with all kinds of memories and moments and just life well lived and love. I can't believe we're already putting the period on this month and moving to the next!

Mountain Things Day One - Vacation 2022

I'm back with more vacation things! I know you've all been waiting with baited breath, ha-ha! This trip felt a bit like a whirlwind and we packed up our whirlwind and headed North on Monday morning! All our luggage was in the family car and all the shower gifts were loaded into our car and away we went to Tennessee! 

The first stop we made was in Ooltewah, Tennessee - we have extended family that live in the area and they own a restaurant called Ooltewah Whistle Stop! It's located right beside the train tracks and is themed to invoke the original train depot of the small town. All the items on the menu are named for songs and the decorations are fabulous - it was quite the neat little spot to stop!

 

 

Multiple trains whizzed by while we were there eating - the first while we were checking out the third floor rooftop dining area. We had to snap pictures all over the cute little restaurant and of course, to end the meal we had to get one of their colossal milkshakes! My younger sister actually ordered the chocolate and cheesecake shake and we all sampled it - there was chocolate shake, a whole graham cracker, a slice of cheesecake and brownie on top! Whoa!   

After our lunch we were on our way again and soon enough we'd exited the interstate and we were making our way to the Parkway to ride along the bends and curves with mountain views spreading out before us! The Smokey Mountains of Tennessee will always hold such a special place in my heart and it brings me such joy to share a place I've always loved with Ryan - the man who now holds my heart and bring me such joy!

After checking in to our resort in Pigeon Forge, we headed out to Gatlinburg to take the Sky Lift up to the Sky Bridge - the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America! The bridge spans 700 feet and has glass panels in the center of the bridge (also the highest point the bridge crosses)... it's not for the faint of heart, but I dug deep and across we went! We even stopped to snap a picture on the glass panels as we crossed them. Eek!

 

 

 

The views were stunning and while my Mom and sister chose to cross back over, Ryan, myself and my Dad decided to walk the trail around the gorge the bridge stretches over and take in the views from the top of the Tulip Tower. Once we made it around the trail, there was another viewing platform that offered some of the same incredible views of Gatlinburg in the valley and the mountains stretching out behind the town!

 

 

We spent some time perusing the gift shop - Ryan and I couldn't resist getting mugs - and then we enjoyed some of the sunset from the rockers placed along the viewing platforms at the top of the ridge. As the sun descended behind the mountain peaks, we hopped back on the Sky Lift and rode back into Gatlinburg to look at some shops and grab a late dinner a Best Italian! 

And no - that's not a whole turkey on a plate - it's one calzone! The menu did note that they were the size of a football but I guess we didn't believe it? Suffice it to say, I'm glad Ryan and I ordered this one to split! It was a hearty end to a long but good day! 

Wedding Wednesday - Our First Wedding Shower

It's Wednesday! And guess what - last weekend (it's almost been two weekends now) when Ryan and I were in Mississippi, we were given our first wedding shower! Dear friends from First Baptist Church of Collinsville; the church I grew up in, gave us a shower while we were in town and we were overwhelmingly blessed! 

The shower was on Sunday, May 15th at 2:30 at the home of one of my Mom's dear friends - who also happens to be our wedding coordinator - Connie! So many of my Mom's friends helped pitch in to get everything ready and Ryan and I were absolutely in awe of everything!

The set up was beautiful! There was a lovely entry table with pictures of Ryan and I as we were growing up - my personal favorite is the center picture that is both Ryan and I when we were about 2.5! 

The food was amazing too! There were chicken salad sandwiches, sausage balls, cream cheese bites, fruit & cheese skewers, a cheese & cracker tray, personalized sugar cookies, cupcakes, chocolate dipped strawberries, shrimp & grits, fruit cups, pecans, pretzels, chips and salsa(s). Are you full yet? We also had a delicious mandarin orange punch and the best stuff ever - coffee punch! 

So many sweet friends came to the shower to celebrate us! My friend (and bridesmaid) Nickolee came all the way from North Mississippi with her girls; her youngest helped with handing out all the presents. My friend and college roommate Kristen and her husband came from Jackson and it was so nice to catch up with all of them. Family from North Mississippi and South Mississippi came and everything was just wonderful!

 

We snapped pictures with some of the organizers and lovely people who helped make the shower so special, including my Mom's friends Connie, Hope and Tina and Tina's daughter McKenna. My Aunt Beth and my cousin Jodi were also a part of putting everything together for us!

A Southern tradition (I think it's Southern - my Yankee had never heard of it) says that for each bow you break while unwrapping gifts, you'll have a child! Well Ryan decided that it would be his mission to break as many bows as possible and I think the final count was somewhere around 15! I got the biggest kick out of my friend's daughter leaning over and asking her "did you and Dad only break two bows at your showers?" Hilarious! 

 

One of the touches I really loved was that instead of a guest book that would likely gather dust, they used a devotional as the guest book and had everyone choose a page to sign or leave a little note! I loved this so much that I'm planning to take it to my other showers and ask guests to do the same! Such a wonderful and encouraging keepsake! 

 

We were absolutely blown away by the love and generosity we were shown at our shower and we were also in awe yet again at my Dad's incredible packing skills! We managed to (just barely) get all our gifts into the back of our car for the return home! What an incredible first shower - we are so very blessed!