Planners

For my birthday this year, I have requested a day planner from my mom.  

I haven't owned one since Grad School, and honestly, I miss it.  It was an easy way to keep up with birthdays and events, keep track of bills, and planning for the months ahead.  I realize I have a calendar on my iPhone, but it just isn't quite the same.  I want something that I can physically flip the pages, color coordinate the events, and draw cute little descriptions all over!

So, what is your favorite planner?  Do you always use one in particular?  

What do you like most about it?  Include links if you can :)

One Year Blogiversary

This past Saturday, June 23rd this little ole blog turned a year old.  228 posts and 135 

followers later, I am happy to have found so much joy in documenting my life experiences.  

I have made so many friends along the way, tried countless new recipes, and crafted 

more than I ever thought I would.  You truly inspire me and make me smile everyday.  

Thank you for making blogging worth while.  I am grateful for each and every one of you!

Happy Birthday Little Mrs. Can't Be Wrong.  Here's to many more!

My First Layered Cake

Yesterday was one of my best friend's 24th birthday, so I decided to bake her a cake!  Tuesday evening, I gathered all the supplies and got to work.  Since this was my first attempt at a layered cake, I turned to Christina for some advice.  Let me tell you....this girl knows her baking!  She was so kind and answered all of my silly questions as a first timer.

First, I made the box cake according to it's instructions.  I chose Strawberry, only because the store was out of Funfetti.

Then, I prepared the pans by placing a piece of wax paper in the bottom of each, sprayed a non-stick spray, and sifted flour around the entire pan.  This was a great tip that I found in Christina's post here.  It worked like a charm and I did not have any trouble removing them once they were finished baking.

While the cakes cooled in the fridge wrapped in saran wrap, I started on the icing.  I followed Christina's cream cheese icing recipe and added in her secret ingredient.  This strawberry lemonade icing was delicious!

Once the cakes cooled, I added the middle filling and the first crumb layer of icing.  Then, after thirty minutes in the fridge I placed another layer on to complete the cake.  Topped it with sprinkles and a homemade bunting, and it was the prettiest birthday cake I've ever seen!

Happy Birthday Maureen!

Stay tuned tomorrow for instructions on how to make a mini bunting, along with a FREE printable!

Birthday Surprise!

So I left you guys hanging a little last week with the plans I made for my hubby's birthday.  It's not because I don't trust you, I just really, really, really wanted to surprise him.  And I did.  It took a few white lies, but I think I got him good! So let me set the scene for you:

• Saturday morning we woke up, and I cooked breakfast.  Then, I told the hubby we needed to leave the house by 12 PM.  I proceeded to pick out his clothing, and secretly pack an overnight bag.
• On our way out of town, we stopped to eat lunch and then headed up the interstate towards Columbia.  I asked him if he knew where we were going, and this was his reply, "We are headed to Columbia on a Saturday afternoon and the only thing to do is go to a Carolina baseball game."
• Although this was exactly what I had planned for his birthday surprise, I didn't want him to know that easy.  So, I made up a little white lie and told him we were actually going to Columbia to meet his mom and step dad for dinner.
• To say he was upset with me is an understatement.  Don't get me wrong, he loves his mom and all, but he was missing coaching a double header on Saturday for this "surprise".  Now, here is where the tricky part comes in play.  I had invited our friends Kevin and Caroline to go with us to t he game and I somehow had to add them into the mix without being obvious.
• So when he asked why we were going to Columbia so early in the day when we weren't meeting his mom until dinner, I found the perfect opportunity.  I told him that I knew he would be upset, so I was going to take him by to see Kevin and Caroline and maybe even invite them for dinner with us.  This seemed to ease the tension a little!
• When we got to Kevin and Caroline's, Bradley also decided he wanted to go buy a new phone at Verizon on our way to meeting his mom for dinner.  Score!  I knew Kevin had to give me directions to the field, so we played along and Bradley thought Kevin was directed me to a "quick" Verizon store in West Columbia.
• When we pulled up to the new baseball field, his eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning!  Little did he know that the tickets we were about to pick up from will call were courtesy of the Back to Back National Championship coach himself, Ray Tanner. 

Kevin and Bradley with the 4 tickets!

The infamous trophy display.

Proud to be a South Carolinian, American, and most importantly a Carolina Gamecock fan!

Surprise!

Our awesome "reserved" seats

Go Gamecocks!

Kevin & Caroline

Best friends!

Gamecocks win!

It was a great day! I was able to surprise him, Gamecocks won, and I had one happy hubby!

Happy Birthday to My Love

Twenty-nine years ago today, a precious baby boy was brought into this world.

This baby grew into a toddler...

...and then a young boy...

...and then into a teenager.

Baseball was his favorite sport, and he was a pretty darn good pitcher!

After high school...

...he went to college and met a girl.

He graduated and decided to move to Charleston....

...and the day after his girl graduated, she moved too!

A year later, he proposed...

...and a year later they were married.

Today he is celebrating his first birthday as a married man.

Happy Birthday to my husband, my best friend, 

and the only man to give me a happy ever after!

I can't wait to spend many more birthdays by your side.

xoxoxoxoxo

Happy Birthday

Dr. Seuss

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who 

mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." 

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” 

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any 

direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. 

And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. 

There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” 

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. 

The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” 

“You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so... get on your way!”

What I'm Loving Wednesday...Birthday Edition

Today is a very special day.  I won't tell you how many years, but on this day a "few" years ago, my grandmother gave birth to the most important person in the world...my mom!

My grandmother was a mere 41 when she gave birth to this bundle of joy.  A few years prior, she received news from her doctor that she could have no more children after complications from a tube pregnancy.  Boy am I glad the doctors were wrong!

This woman is more than just my mom.  She is my inspiration, my role model, and my best friend.  She has always been there for me, and I know that will never change.  She has always put my sister and I first in her life, and we are grateful and blessed to have been raised by the greatest mom ever!  No one is perfect, but in my eyes she is pretty darn close.

Today is her day {even though I may have forgotten the first 5 minutes of our phone call this morning}.  I pray that this day will be as special for her as she has made my entire life. 

I love you, Mama.  Happy Birthday!

Pumped Up Kicks and Birthday Wishes

After Friday's failure of a run due to my shins screaming at me the minute I climbed on the treadmill, I bit the bullet and decided which new pair of shoes I was going to order.  I am expected these babies to land on my front door step this afternoon:

{mizuno wave rider 14}

I decided to go with the same exact running shoe as I already have, just in a different color.  I know that these shoes work for me, and with only a month left to train for the half, I needed a quick fix.  I think a large part of my shin splints are because of the shoe.  Another pair of shoes to put in rotation should help to eliminate some of the strain on my shins. 

I have never felt pain in my right shin like I did on Friday.  It actually scared me to think that only 2 minutes on the treadmill could cause that much pain.  I feel like I have been stretching consistently and being extra careful.  I knew I needed to get in cardio some how, so I opted for the elliptical and it was just the right fix!  I was able to go about 5 miles and didn't feel any pain whatsoever.  I stretched and used a tennis ball to rub up and down my shins to release some of the pressure over the weekend, without any strenuous running.  This morning I was able to go for my normal 3 mile jog and I only slightly felt the pain.  It was bearable, and I will be sure to ice my shins down this evening!  Have you ever felt pain in your shins that bad to where you couldn't run?

Now, on to the most important news of the day.  You remember this special lady?

My grandmother.  My Nanny.  My sunshine.

She turns 90 years old today.  Yup...NINETY...and still going strong.  She has overcome the battle she faced earlier this year and is doing better than ever.  I felt so blessed to be able to call her this morning and wish her a happy birthday.  She was being treated to breakfast in bed {just like every morning at the home she is in :)}, a morning singing from my mom, a hair cut and style from my sister, and fresh yellow roses.  Bradley and I will visit with her this weekend and I will be able to give her the special card I am making for her {pictures to come soon}.

Happy Birthday Nanny.  I love you Sunshine :)!

Birthday Weekend Recap

Whew...what a weekend.  Happy Labor Day!  Isn't it funny how it's called "Labor Day", yet most of us have the day off work and use it as a day of rest from the holiday weekend?!

I HAD THE BEST BIRTHDAY WEEKEND YET!  It was filled with lots of surprises and fun.  On Thursday at work, I received a special delivery from my sweet friend Maureen.  When I got home, I had several cards and boxes in the mail from my mom, dad, sister, grandmothers, in-laws, and my cousin Cori Ann!!

Friday morning, I woke up to breakfast in bed made by my sweet husband before he headed to work for a half day.  I also received a box of chocolates and the perfect card.  He definitely knows the way to my heart :).

{turkey bacon and chocolate chip pancakes}

After breakfast, I laid in bed and relaxed until Bradley got home at noon with more surprises!  We got ready and headed to Mt. Pleasant where he treated me to lunch at Hatchell's American Tapas Tavern.  We shared a bowl of shrimp bisque, and then I chose the beef quesadillas and Bradley got the hotayki fried chicken sliders with fries!  YUM!

Then, my next surprise was to go shopping in Towne Center, specifically to find a dress for my next surprise that evening!  Sadly, we walked in and out of about 10 stores and I didn't purchase one thing :(.  Everything I found that I liked, wasn't in my size.  And everything that I tried on that did fit, I didn't like.  Go figure?!

Sooo...we headed back home to get ready for the next surprise he had planned!  It took me awhile to figure this one out.  We pulled into where you park for the Fort Sumter tours in Mt. Pleasant at Patriot's Point.  I was keeping my fingers crossed that my birthday present wasn't a history tour!

But....it wasn't.  This was my surprise!  He bought me a boat!  JK....JK.  He reserved a table for two aboard a dinner cruise!  This was so much fun.  We went on a cruise last spring, so this was a great mini reminder of the fun we had.  The 4 course meal was excellent, as well as the view!

After the cruise, I still had one surprise left.  We headed downtown and went into Social, where my favorite people surprised me by coming out to celebrate my birthday.

{maureen and her boyfriend, ed}

{mo and her boyfriend, ryan}

{mo and I}

{maureen and I with my bottle of water}

{diana and I}

I am so thankful and blessed to have an amazing family and group of friends.  My husband definitely "out did" himself, and I am lucky to have him.  It was a great 24th birthday and I wouldn't change anything about it!

Check in tomorrow for a full recap of our first get together for the season opener of Gamecock Football!  Enjoy what's left of your Labor Day.

Birthday Blessings and Remembering a Dear Friend

My cup runneth over.  It is only 8 AM and I have already had breakfast in bed, 2 phone calls, 3 texts, and over 40 people write on my Facebook wall to tell me happy birthday.  I am blessed to have an amazing family and great group of friends!  It's funny how notifications on Facebook to let you know that someone has written on your wall can make you feel all "giddy" inside!  I am looking forward to what the rest of the day may hold.  My hubby has A LOT to live up to :).

Today is not only my birthday, but it is also a day of remembrance of a dear friend of mine.  Four years ago today, Kariana Smith was tragically taken from our lives, without warning and without closure.  Kari was my role model in middle and high school.  She was 3 years older, but treated me and my cousin Cori Ann like we were the little sisters she never had.  Kari would pick us up from school and take us to softball practice.  She would have sleepovers with us at her house where we would sleep in her parent's camper out back.  And she would sit with us in the back of the bus to and from softball games, playing cards and singing at the top of our lungs.  Our softball coach even nicknamed us Alvin and the chipmunks.  Kari {Alvin} drove the little white Nissan, Cori Ann {Simon} had the smarts, and I {Theodore} always showed up to practice with food in hand.  I have so many great memories with Kari, and I am thankful that I was able to be a part of her life.

{Kari, myself, and Cori Ann at church camp in NC}

Kari's story is a reminder that life is precious and we are never promised tomorrow.  We must live each day as if it were our last.  I know that Kari lived her life to the fullest.  She will always remain a role model to me, even in Heaven.

It's Here...

Happy Monday my friends! 

After surviving the tease of Hurricane Irene and aftershock of the earthquake in Virginia last week, this week can only be better...for a few reasons.

1. It's my birthday week!  And first one as a married woman for that matter :).
2. It's gonna be a short week this week...and next.  I have a personal day arranged for Friday since it is my birthday, and Monday is a national holiday.  YAH!
3. My husband has a surprise plan for all day on Friday, and I am just giddy with excitement.  I LOVE SURPRISES!
4. I We My husband drafted players for my NFL Fantasy Football team last night.  We have a league at work, and I am pumped that we he arranged some pretty awesome picks for me this season.

Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!

Thoughtless Thursday

My brain is a little blank today, but I do have an excuse.  All I can think about is SAVANNAH...and how it is only a mere 3 hours before I bust out of this joint called work and head south!  I spent a few hours last night packing and making some delicious treats for all the girls in preparation for this fun-filled Bachelorette weekend.

{Pinterest}

Jealous much? You should be!  I will think about all of you as I spend my Friday roaming the streets of Savannah while everyone else is at work.  I'm really NOT trying to rub it in :).

In light of the weekend ahead, I thought I would share some pictures from my Bachelorette weekend back in February.  My college roommate threw my Bachelorette party in Charlotte, NC!  Eight of my closest family/friends came to stay at the Aloft Hotel in the EpiCentre to celebrate this special event and PARTY!  Keeping it PG Rated:

{Opening gifts :)}

{Loved all my fun, new outfits}

{My sister (Ashley), cousin (Cori Ann), ME, and College Roomie (Carly)}

{Keri, me, and Morgan (ZTA sisters and friends)}

{Group photo- Night 1}

{My sister and I- Night 2}

{Group photo- Night 2}

{Having too much fun :)}

{SASSY}

In other news, my cousin Mason turns one year old today.  He is the first great grandchild on the Shealy side of the family.  How precious is he?!

Shealy grandchildren, Mee Mee, & Mason

 

Mason- Christmas 2010

 Happy Birthday Mason!

I am going to try and be productive at work this afternoon...TRY being the keyword here!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!