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!