Friday, August 30, 2013

Five On Friday: Gameday At Home!

Yay for Friday!!
 It is time for my favorite link-up, Five On Friday with the girls! I know everybody is posting about college football but we just can't help it y'all! As GRITS (girls raised in the South) it is in our blood. And this girl is READY for some Georgia Football!

This weekend we are having a couple friends from Charlotte coming to stay with us so we will be watching the game from home. My Five today is going to be about how to accomplish all the tailgating fun in the comfort of your own home!

1. I think we all know the most important thing about watching a football game is the snacks! Since Saturday is a night game I plan on having a few light snacks for the pregame and maybe a taco bar for supper during the game. I don't know about y'all but after a summer full of BBQ's I am so sick of hot dogs & hamburgers. I think a taco bar is quick & easy enough but still a little change from the norm. I got this little triple dipper crock pot as a wedding gift and have yet to use it, it is perfect for this party. I will probably do buffalo chicken dip {recipe here}, spinach dip, & fiesta dip!
{I cannot get over the taco shell garland! via}

{how fun are these?! via}
{this has to happen, too cute via}
 
 
2. With all that cute food you need some cute stuff to put it in!
 
 
{1, 2, 3,4 ,5}
3. Now that you've got the food you need to decorate the house! Does everyone feel the need to decorate for EVERY occasion or is that just me? Now if only my wallet could keep up with my visions... Every football season I put my Georgia stuff on my mantle (I couldn't find a picture) but I have been dying to make a banner like this to go along with what I already have. I want to make one with chevron burlap that says ''sic em'', add that to the to do list. You can get this one {here}!
{you gotta have a festive wreath! red, black, burlap & monogram OH MY via}
 
{I have this in a large canvas that I put on my mantle via}
 
4. Halftime & Pregame Entertainment. One of the best parts of tailgating is the fun & games before the game starts or during halftime. Here are a few ideas to ensure your guests have a good time!
 
{Beer Pong via}
 
5. Last but not least, you need your outfits! Just because you are at home doesn't mean you can't show your team spirit!
{For you & your guy}
 
 Of course all my stuff is UGA the best team ever but I am sure you could find very similar items that correspond with the team of your choice! Y'all have a good weekend and GOOOOO DAWGS!!!
  

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Cara Box Reveal!!!

Happy Wednesday Y'all! Random fact: I HATE when people call say "Happy Hump Day", that phrase has always made me cringe.. I am so exhausted today, I was up until 3 a.m. editing pictures! I already had a Diet Dr. Pepper but it just wasn't enough, time for some coffee.
 
Moving on, I have a super exciting post today! It may not be too exciting for you but it definitely is for me. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I signed up for the Cara Box Exchange. This is an exchange set up by Kaitlyn over at Wifessionals and I am so thankful to her for coming up with this. Pretty much you enter and Kaitlyn gives a theme then matches you up with two partners, one to send a box to you and another for you to send a box to. You then get to know these women through email for a few weeks and then based on theme and what you found out about your partner you send them a box of goodies! The boxes have a minimum of $20 but you can spend however much you want and it is really up to you how you customize it. This was my first time participating and I was blessed with two great partners!
This months theme was "Seasons Of Life". Instead of sticking to one particular theme you were paired with bloggers who were in the same stage of life as you {single, married, mommy, etc.} and you put whatever you wanted in your box that fit where they are right now in life!
 
I sent to Tori in New York. I had SO much fun getting to know her! I like to think Tori has the life of my alter ego {haha} she lives in New York, is a designer for a major fashion house, is opening her own children's boutique & is a tattoo artist on the side! How awesome does she sound?? I really had a blast putting her box together. Head over to her blog in the next few days to see what I sent her!
 
I also got to know Ellie over at Choosing Peace, she was the one who sent to me! I really loved getting to know Ellie, we have so much in common. The box she sent me was SO thoughtful! Not only did she really take in to account what I told her in my emails but she went back and read my previous posts on the blog to get to know me even better! Now I will show y'all all of my goodies!
 
I definitely did something like this when the mailman brought this to my door!
 
The card she sent was SO sweet! This is definitely something I will keep forever!

^This happened when I opened the box!! {sorry I just love baby gifs!}
She attached little notes to every item explaining why she chose them! SO stinkin sweet!
It was so sweet of her to send baby Hank some tennis balls! He loved it so much he destroyed it in record time!
I am so obsessed with this little journal! It will be great for me to write down my ideas that float around in my head all the time!
An inspiration calendar & blank cards with Ferris wheels since I love carnivals!
Completely obsessed with the chevron picture frame! Thank you so so so much Ellie I loved every single thing in my box!
 I had so much fun with this I will definitely be participating again but my next partners better bring their "A" game if they want to top this experience!



Cara Box


 

 
 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Did you know that?? Now you know...

Hey y'all! I am trying so hard this week to catch up on my posts and this is one I was particularly excited about! My sweet blog friend Katelyn at Imperfect Perfection tagged me in the "6 things you should know about me" post and I will be honest one of the reasons I was excited was the adorable button haha. So let's see if I can answer some of Katelyn's questions and give y'all a better idea of who I am!
 
1. What is something you never thought you would do or accomplish but have? This one is easy. I never thought I would actually get the nerve to start my photography business. Although I am not really sure if creating a Facebook page is really considered starting a business but it worked for me! I am overwhelmed by the response I have had and I feel so incredibly blessed!
 
2. If you could only take one thing to an uninhabited environment what would you take (think Naked and Afraid)? I would take my camera! {y'all seeing a pattern here?} I know I should be smart and say a blanket, or Willy Wonka's 3 course meal gum but I just think that there would be so many amazing things to capture in an uninhabited environment! I would probably die after a few days but at least I would have some cool pictures for whoever eventually found my camera. Too morbid?

3. Who is the most influential person in your life? The answer to this question will forever be my Momma. Although she is no longer here with me she taught me so much in the 17 years I had her! I strive every single day to be at least half the woman that she was!

4. Tell us something we don't know about you. When I was little I was a total pageant girl! I never did the glitzy "Toddlers & Tiaras" pageants, we stuck with the natural and mainly local. My Momma made me quit when I wouldn't congratulate my friend after she placed above me for the second time in a row {brat}! I never won queen but I placed a few times & won prettiest hair, eyes & talent quite a bit! I was quite the diva singing Alan Jackson's "Little Bitty" with my seriously thick country accent!
{a little throwback for ya}
5. If you could open your own business what kind of good or service would you provide?  What would you business be like? I am cheating a little because I kind of already have my own business. But it is just starting out and I have huge plans for it! I hope to continue to expand my photography business, open a studio and one day do it full time. My goal is to provide affordable lifestyle photography because I believe it is extremely important to have quality pictures of yourself, your loved ones and the important moments in your lives!

 
6. If you had to be stuck in one season for the rest of your life what would it be? Fall Fall Fall! I could go on and on about why I feel this way but if you read my blog you are tired hearing about this heavenly time of year!

Thank you so much Katelyn for tagging me I really enjoyed doing this post!
 
I tag:
 
 **Major fail: I just realized I was supposed to come up with my own question for the girls to answer. So the 2 of you who already answered Katelyn's question just ignore this but I am going to put down some questions real quick for the other ladies who haven't seen this (if you prefer Katelyn's questions it won't offend me if you answer those instead of my lame last minute ones)! Sorry! And sorry Katelyn for unintentionally jacking your questions!**
 
 Ladies pick 6 of these questions to answer:

1. What is your dream job?

2. What are 3 blogs you are loving right now?

3. {Everyone uses this one} Tell me something I don't know about you?

4. What is the weirdest dream you have ever had?

5. What would you do if Miley Cyrus was your daughter after her stunt at the VMA's?

6. What do you want your legacy to be?

7. {Give yourself a compliment} What do you love most about yourself?

8. What is your favorite recipe that you make?

9. If you woke up one morning and you were 15 again, what (if anything) would you do differently?

10. What is your favorite quote? 
 

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Little Goes To College

Well a week ago today I dropped my little sister off at college! On one hand, I cannot believe she is a grown up going to college, makes me sad! On the other hand, I am so ridiculously proud of her for working her butt off to get to this point! I pretty much cried her entire senior year at every event; soccer games, banquets, proms and of course graduation. So naturally I thought I would be a wreck on move in day but I wasn't! She is finally getting away from a rocky home situation and gaining some independence. I just hope she gives it a chance and doesn't run home to see her boyfriend every time she gets 5 spare minutes!

I am just going to explain the day in pictures!
Headed in. In front of her hall. Checking her mailbox.
Her & her roommate in front of the fancy ice sculpture at reception.
Papa taking a break after moving in.
Bed & shutter headbord
Shelves over desk.
This was a drawer unit under the bed {she had to take out in order to use her risers} that we turned into a pantry.
Blake's corner.
Closet.
Back of room, sitting area, desks, pantry & sink.
Their chalkboard decals on their door.


We made her shutter headboard,the monogram frame above it & the canvases!
Her roommate Hayley.
"Bye Big!"