Friday Fotos

I must be losing my mind. The days -- they just keep slipping away!

One thing that helps me with my sanity is my photo stream on my phone. It was important to me when I was phone shopping last that it have a great camera. It really lets me capture those little daily moments that otherwise just slip past, when I might not have my real camera on hand.

A few of the recent snapshots from my brain, aka my phone ...

The Starbucks up near my parents' house in Roswell sure has upgraded since the days we used to study there as teens! They have an "afternoon" menu that includes wine and food, and a whole new layout for chairs and tables. If I lived anywhere near there, I am pretty sure I'd be right there in that comfy leather chair in the corner all. the. time. 

How adorable is this groom's cake set-up! The bride, a fellow GT gal, and the groom, my husband's Auburn roommate, gave a nod to the fun college rivalry world they live in. I loved it! I totally clapped along for the War Eagle song, and then STOOD UP (yep ha!) to sing along with Ramblin' Wreck when they were both played at the wedding. A girl's gotta show her pride! Hooray both teams!

I really do love my coworkers. One of our teammates went down to the Caribbean for a family vacation, and was SO NICE to bring us back awesome bracelet souvenirs! A few of the ladies on our team each got a different color. So thoughtful. I have mine tacked up next to my computer. It's awesome working with awesome people :)

At the same wedding as up above, the bride and her florist created these amazing arrangements for all over the venue. I didn't get a shot of the amazing arrangements inside, but these ones by the entrance table and escort cards grabbed my eye. The lemons and big leaves look so cool on the bottom! This could be fun to create on a smaller scale at home.

Apparently we live in a highrise full of third graders. Look this monstrosity! The ENTIRE set of pool chairs were "reserved" by people's bags, towels and sunscreen on a recent early Saturday morning. And there was not a soul in site. Seriously. So, I did what every older fourth grader would do. I stole a chair and claimed it mine :) Ha! It felt awesome. Especially when all of the 50 year old neighbors leisurely strolled down an hour and a half later, thinking they were set, and had one less chair to sit on. First come, first serve, y'all. Can't save seats with this many people in the building! 

How cute is this?! I ordered my very first thing from One Kings Lane recently (I know, I know -- but I have been a big window shopper all of these years!) and look what they sent for free as a little "Thank you for becoming a customer" -- a multi-color, prim and proper notecard set. I love writing handwritten notes, so this is just perfect. How thoughtful. And great customer service!

What memories have you been catching on your phone (or real) camera recently?

Blurs

Seriously. Where does time go sometimes?

It's been a blur of a few past days. Wedding tastings (oh my oh my, so amazing). Unplugged date days (mini golf is an overlooked art). Last marriage prep session. Wedding checklists. Cleaning and organizing the condo mixed with lots of sleep and me-time, too. 

Seriously. I am pretty sure there was a weekend in there somewhere :)

Valentine's Day is only two days away, though, so some smiles are sure to come with all that it includes. Whether you are a single or a couple, we can all agree, hearts and chocolates make everything pretty great!

What are your plans for Valentine's Day? 

Source: letsdishrecipes.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Hello, and Happy Holidays, Friends!!

Today is my 29th birthday. Golly geez, when did I live 29 years?! It's hard to believe that it was 29 years ago last night that my awesome uncle was making this poster to display at his annual Christmas party:

 

And yes, believe it or not, this 5-foot-3 gal started out as a huge 10 lb. baby. Big babies run in our family, plus I was a week late ;) 

I can't pinpoint exactly when it happened, but over the past year or two, I finally (finally) have felt like an absolute grown-up, rather than a young adult. My friends are mostly all married, have (multiple) children, are doing well in great careers and own their own homes. I have finally found The One with whom I have lots of plans for the future (and a pair of season football tickets -- I feel like if that doesn't scream adulthood, I don't know what does!). I have lived in my home for over four years and love the neighborhood and our high-rise community.

The 20's Decade has been really, really good to me, and I feel like the 30's Decade is going to be even bigger. I couldn't be happier heading into it, which I take as a good sign of things to come :)

XOXO to all of my family, friends and readers that have helped make the twenties such a good decade. I can't wait to see what the end of it brings in the year ahead!

Over the next week, I am going to unplug a bit as we spend time with family here in Atlanta and up in New Jersey. I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday! See you in 2013, and hooray for good years ahead for all of you! :)

Source: mylusciouslife.com via mommyzblessingz on Pinterest

Holiday Check-In

As always, the holiday season is a blur. I thought I'd pop over and share some of the (many) things running through my head these days.

Source: froufroufashionista.tumblr.com via Domestically on Pinterest

* My wedding dress has come in. Talk about a wake-up call that things are getting close! Like any girl, I want to make sure I look good in that dress on the big day. I decided that while my workouts might need to scale back since I haven't quite figured out how to balance them with my new job/schedule, I could at least focus on the food/drink part for now. I started Weight Watchers again in full last Monday, and lost two pounds the first week. If I can keep this up for a few weeks, and add in some serious workouts once January hits (I'm just being realistic here!), I should be just fine in that dress ;)

* I really love holiday parties with my girlfriends :) Last night's cookie exchange was a huge success, as always. Thanks to all of my lovely friends who joined in the fun!

Source: yummymummykitchen.com via Katherine on Pinterest

* Holiday parties + Weight Watchers is a really hard balance. I am determined to pace myself and still enjoy the season. One splurge does not equal a fail. Lots of splurges do, though. I am holding tight and trying to keep any splurge days to one day/week, and stick strictly to WW the other days. This should help get me through the season without feeling deprived of those wonderful holiday cookies, foods and beverages.

* I am about to turn 29. What a lame number is that?! Ugh.

* Holiday shopping ... is almost done. I have a few presents left to pick out this weekend, but I have an idea for all of them, at least. How is your shopping coming along?

* It's so refreshing to be happy every day. Waking up with motivation is an awesome thing!

Source: stellaresque42.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

* Lots of wedding planning questions from friends recently. Here's a two sentence run-down: we just got the invitations in (!), we have ordered the guys' suits and have some favor prep underway. Next up: booking shuttles for the guests, finalizing rehearsal dinner details and selecting our menu. Hooray!

Even though this season is notoriously crazy, I remind myself every day to stop and look around. I love spending a few minutes each day gazing at our pretty tree, singing along with a holiday song on the radio and reading the holiday cards from our friends. That's what matters after all!

Enjoy your next 12 days of Christmas!! 

Liebster Award: Some Fun Facts

A few weeks ago, Elizabeth over at Southern Color nominated me for the Liebster Award. How fun! Elizabeth and her twin sister Julia write a super cute blog about their crafting, cooking and adventures around Atlanta. Even though they went to UGA (humph), I still like following along ;) I loved this tutorial for a flower arrangement that lives in a pumpkin. I just pinned it to remember for next year :)

Anyways, this award ...

The Liebster Award is given to new or up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. It's a great way to find new and noteworthy blogs.

 

There are a few rules to follow:

1) Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

 
2) Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

 
3) Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
 

4)  Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
 

5) No tag backs

 

Ok, here goes! I am going to try my best with this one :) Thanks, Elizabeth, for the nom!

Random Facts About Katherine

1. I am a shoe addict (after all, these are only supposed to be random facts, not unknown facts, ha!)

2. I have discovered that I am mildly intolerant to gluten ...

3. ... But even though I haven't given up pasta (yet!), I switched years ago to corn and rice (Chex/Crispix) for cereal and will never go back.

4. I have three piercings in my left ear and two in my right. The second holes in both are uneven with each other. 

5. I think mayonnaise on a ham sandwich is the grossest sandwich combination ever. 

6. As an adult, I have grown to love onions when sauteed, but still hate them when they are raw. 

7. I hate cake.

8. I could drink Diet Coke with every meal.

9. I got into and considered attending Notre Dame instead of Georgia Tech.

10. I "do" my hair in some fashion even if I am staying at home alone all day.

11.  I wiggle my toes when I am thinking or reading <wiggling right now>

Tagger Questions

1.  How long have you been blogging? Three and a half years

2.  Do you do it full-time? No.

3.  What is your favorite kind of ice cream? Chocolate Peanut Butter. But the ice cream has to be chocolate with the peanut butter swirled in, like Baskins-Robbins. The reverse just isn't the same. Other Choc-PB fans know what I mean!

4.  What is the first blog you started reading/following? I started reading Marriage Confessions (written by my friend's sister) way back before they even had kids - now they have two toddlers!

5.  Do you have a pet? A fish, St. Thomas.

6.  Where was your last vacation to? I went to Charleston over the summer for a bachelorette trip. Ever since then, we have been saving for the honeymoon!!

7.  What is your favorite work out? Spin class.

8.  What is the last book you read? Oh, I am so lame, probably The Hunger Games like EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

9.  What is your favorite meal from growing up? For years and years and years, I requested bean and cheese burritos as my birthday meal. Why? They are awesome, that's why. Thanksfully, my taste buds have evolved as my age has increased!

10.  Are your ears pierced? Multiple times, actually - see above.

11.  How are you celebrating did you celebrate Thanksgiving? We spent Thanksgiving Day and the weekend at home with my family in Roswell, and also got to celebrate with my fiance's family with a few visits, too. 

Questions for Nominees

1. Dog or cat?
2. Where do you live?
3. What do you love most about blogging?
4. What is your biggest challenge with blogging?
5. Camera phone or digital camera?
6. What is your hands-down favorite blog (big or small!)?
7. You just got a free round trip airplane ticket for anywhere in the U.S. Where would you go?
8. Where is your favorite vacation destination?
9. Your ideal night: Fancy night on the town or low-key at home?
10. Heels or flats?
11. What make-up item must be in your purse at all times?

My Nominees ... Oops, I only list seven instead of eleven. Deal with it ;)
1. Savvy Young Something
2. The Curtis Casa
3. Your Modern Couple
4. Our Life Down Unda
5. Life With a Lab
6. Ward Family Adventures
7. Floating Along

Positive Vibes (and a huge sale)

Hello, all!

I hope you had a marvelous week and Thanksgiving holiday! I was beyond ready for this break and have spent a few nights unplugged up in the big R with my family. We have laughed a lot, eaten a lot and slept a lot, too. We also may have done some worthy Black Friday shopping online! Keep reading for a sneak peek at what I picked up :)

As another Thanksgiving came and went, I realized there was a lot that I am thankful for. Big things and small things ... realizing and remembering these things makes every day life that much better :)

* Family members that are safe and sound and with power up north ... It was so hard to hear that their homes were pitch black and cold for days on end, but the most important thing is that everyone is alright after the hurricane whipped through earlier this month!

* Chilly, lazy weekend days spent outdoors ... As the last fall hues fall from the trees and the cold air moves in to stay, I have loved spending time outside, just looking UP at the clear, blue skies!

* New prospects on the horizon ... I am really excited!! I am starting a new job on Monday and am just so thrilled. I will be joining a full-service marketing agency, and it's pretty much the best early Christmas present EVER! Hit me up offline if you want to hear more :)

* Chais, cozy loungewear, manicures and pedicures ... These are pretty much on my "favorites" list all the time, what can I say? 

* Football games ending in things other than a L ... Thankfully, after a rough season, both Auburn and Georgia Tech have managed to pull a few more W's out of the hat. Here's hoping for at least not a depressing blow-out against both teams today for their in-state rivalry games (gah).

Image Source: summersnowart.com via Merideth on Pinterest

Now ... for some serious shopping!

I don't know if you are in need of an area rug for your home, but if you are, you MUST head to RugsUSA.com right now! They have been running a Black Friday sale all week long, with a majority of their rugs featured at 75% off regular price and free shipping. Amazingness. In the rug industry, free shipping is super clutch because that can really add up. I ordered this beauty off there earlier this week, and can't wait for it to come in.

I think it is going to look perfect in the living room, adding just the pop of color that I have been looking for. Let me know if you find anything that fits your decor needs!

I hope you have a wonderful end to your Thanksgiving holiday weekend!

 

Little Loves

You know how the days sometimes all blur together and all of a sudden, POOF, it's the end of the week? Yep, that's how I feel most weeks right about now. I am oh so glad to have done so much of our wedding planning over the summer, because sure enough, the fall is just about as busy as I expected it to be. Right now, I am just trying to soak up all the little moments while taking a second to look around and breathe. I know oh too well that the fall colors, crisp mornings and lazy football weekends will soon enough be gone, too, so I am making the most of it all while I can.

Right now, I am doing some serious loving on ...

ModCloth and their fabulous dresses. Have you ever purchased from ModCloth? I made a "wishlist" on their site of some favs like this cute one so that they can alert me to changes in prices and inventory. The prices range mostly around $50-100, and you can find dresses in every color and style.

Fall evenings with time to run before it gets dark. I did a quickie 3.5 miler yesterday around the park in Midtown, and am planning another one for tomorrow! Note to non-runners out there: the below image describes my workouts. It's a constant battle for me, too :)

Source: livingachangedlife.blogspot.com via Katherine on Pinterest

DaveFM 92.9 and their awesome songs even though 9/29 has long since passed and "The Game" sports talk radio is soon to take took the channel over today from the DJ-less (tear) channel. I miss you, Mara and Sully! I loved that auto-DJ served up some good oldie throwbacks in the channel's last days. Jimmy Eats World's The Middle? Amazingness.

Boots. Leggings. Cozy clothes. Enough said.

Source: pin4fun5885.blogspot.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Having time to breathe and catch up on things here and there. Right now: wedding vendor emails and hotel bookings, Twitter and fall magazine lusting.

Are you taking a minute here and there to just relax and make the most of things? What things are you loving on right now? 

Ahhh Relaxation

Over the last week or so, I let my mind slide into hibernation a bit to rejuvenate right along with the rest of me. A long holiday weekend and many nights of way more sleep than usual mean that (finally) today, I am feeling ready for the busy fall ahead. After all, we have weekends full of football, weddings and wedding planning things ahead, and that's not even including the crazy holiday season. This girl's gotta get ready!

Quiet evening appetizers to kick off the holiday :)

Whenever I let my mind quiet down and take a break, though, I often forget to give you all a heads up, too. I am so sorry that I disappeared, friends! The blog was never far from my mind, though, as I spent the last few days getting inspired left and right by other blogs out there. For example, have you ever read Enjoying the Small Things? This blogger and her gorgeous family and photography tug at my heart strings with every new post. Kelle has two daughters, one with Down Syndrome, and the stories she shares about their everyday lives are so uplifting. Plus, the shots of her daughters grinning for the cameras could make even the most gloomy person happy :) My tip: follow Kelle on Instagram for live action updates of their lives, and check out this post first on her site to get the full background on their family.

Now that we are back in action with our jobs and "real life," what has you most excited and inspired for the fall ahead?

If You Really Knew Me

A fashionista blogger that I love to follow shared her own list of "If You Really Knew Me" facts today, and it's inspired me to write up a list of my own! So you think you know me? Try these on for size!

If You Really Knew Me ...

You'd know that sunny days make me happy, but cloudy days make me even happier. Especially when I can lay around in cozy sweats and do nothing for that day.

You'd know that when other are sad, I feel really sad, and that when others are happy, I feel really happy. I soak up the energies and can't help it when they consume me.

You'd know that I love party dresses, stilettos, jewelry and any other super girly attire.

You'd know that family is the most important thing to me, followed by my friends and all of our happiness. Other things not in that group? Not important. Just things. I try and keep the focus on those top three.

If You Really Knew Me ...

You'd know that I am sucker for a good episode of Sex and the City, and can't turn it off if it's on, even when I know all the lines (which is all of the episodes).

You'd know that I never felt like I fit in with the "it" girls growing up, but once I got older, I realized that I could just find other girls and be "it" girls with them, instead. And you know what? We are pretty fabulous, if I do say so myself.

You'd know that I bleed gold and white but also have adopted and learned to love some navy and orange in recent years. 

You'd know that I classify myself as a planner, but more and more have been finding myself letting go and just going with the flow when I can.

If You Really Knew Me ...

You'd know that I've never had an ex-boyfriend, but have a few ex-gal pals, and I think that those are almost worse. Guys come and go, but it's the girls that really hurt when you can't call them friends anymore.

You'd know that I dream of someday having a family, of traveling and living abroad, of being a full-time blogger ... and that I am lucky enough to have found someone that wants those things for me and for us, too. 

You'd know that I don't need a lot to take me from sad to glad. A good hug, pretty flowers in a garden and my favorite song on the radio all can turn my entire day around.

If You Really Knew Me ...

You'd know that to really know me, you gotta be yourself around me, too. Only then will I really be me ;)

Sniffle

If days when I am busy before, during and after work fly by, the days when I am sick at work are an absolute blur.

Image Source

Thus my absence here on the little ol' blog.

While I have been feeling just okay enough to head into work and crank out some full days, each night I may or may not have come home, vegged out with some TiVo and the Olympics, and then Nyquil-ed myself to bed early. Workouts? Skipped. Social time? Skipped. Things like hot chai lattes, ice cream and comfort food have been getting me through the week. Oh, and that cough drop my kind coworker gave me today. After I had annoyed everyone around me with my hacking for one cough too long ;) A, you were a lifesaver!

So not to totally be all "I have an excuse for being so lame and not posting so I will post this sad story instead" on you, but really, I swear I just posted just the other day, and it was almost a week ago. Goodness. Fail.

I'll try again this weekend? By then I should be germ-free. One can hope. Who has a head cold like this in the summer?!

Happy Fifth :)

How was your Fourth of July, everyone?

Wow, that one day off was really just not enough, was it? Today, my body is sore (seriously, Katherine, train a bit more next year in advance of that run) and I am tired after staying up post-fireworks. But it was all worth it! The finale of the fireworks show at Lenox Square was the best we've seen in years, and now it's just two days until the weekend and relaxation are here!

We had a fabulous day with our friends and were so happy to play host and hostess :)

Lastly, a big oversight from me the other day on my pre-race post. I completely failed to share kudos to the ladies that actually make our tailgating party possible! A big shout to Michelle and my mom for staking out the corner spot each year, and hooray for Michelle for the post-race Bloodies! Can't have the after-party without those!! XOXO thanks for another great year :)

Show Some Spirit

Ha! I LOVE these new Barbie dolls!

My, how times have changed! When I was growing up, the coolest Barbie dolls were the ones where you could add "gel" to Ken's hair so that he would look slick in his green and pink neon shirt. Today's Barbie dolls are so much more thematic (and fashionable) :)

But seriously, Auburn love aside, where are the ACC dolls?! Big miss, Barbie, big miss.

The Reunion

It was bound to happen soon enough. Over this past weekend, I attended my ten-year high school reunion. Oh my, where has the time gone?

Earlier this spring, I caught the classic movie Romy and Michele on TV and watched it straight through for the first time since high school. It had me laughing out loud with the classic one-liners (Romy: I've been killing myself for eight days and I gained a pound. // Michele: That's impossible. Did you deduct sixteen pounds for your shoes?) but in the back of my head, a little thought started to grow about what my own reunion would be like. Something told me it would be nothing like that movie (oh so ridiculous) but I was still intrigued.

Image Source

What would it be like to see all of those people again?
Would I recognize people? I was never really that close with too many people there, and my best friends wouldn't be attending because of vacation or other conflicts.
How about the cliques? My high school was a typical one that had plenty of them. Would those still exist, and would people mingle across them? 
What would I wear?? (haha!) 
 
I signed us up to attend and in the meantime, chatted with friends and family about their own reunion experiences. One of my girlfriends, who attended her reunion in the local Atlanta area last summer, noticed that the people who attended hers were the individuals who actually wanted to be there -- everyone was interested in other people enough to show up and mingle for at least a few hours. I figured that a lot of people might just show up and talk within their own cliques. It was good to realize that anyone not cool enough as an adult (ha, how the tables have turned) to break beyond their usual crowds hopefully wouldn't even come! That would make things easier for the rest of us to catch up.

My dad, who attended an all-boys Catholic school up North, attended one of his own reunions many years ago and was able to catch up with a handful of guys he hadn't seen in a long time. While he had a great time, he said that his one reunion was enough -- a blast from the past and a good time for what it was, but nothing earth-shattering. I guessed that my own experience might be something similar to that.

Sure enough, in the end, my own reunion was a worthwhile few hours. It was close enough geographically for us to attend without having to make special arrangements, and I knew of at least a few friends attending, so we wouldn't be totally awkward and friendless upon arrival. I was surprised to see a few other acquaintances there that I hadn't expected, too, so we both had a fun time meeting and greeting and catching up on what's been keeping everyone busy all of these years. The organizers did a great job with marketing the event; around 100 of our graduating class of 500+ made it!

Much was to be expected -- most people were married or engaged, had become parents, had cool jobs or had ventured out on their own to start their own companies. We all gave our little "what are you doing now" speeches and then moved on to actual conversations about more entertaining topics. I felt odd running into people whom in high school had not even given me the time of day, only for them to introduce themselves at the reunion as if we were long-lost friends. I missed seeing the gals with whom I was closest, who all couldn't be there, but that's okay. We already see each other in the real world when we want/can, not on any set reunion schedule.

None of these ladies were able to make it, but I'd love to do a reunion with just them soon!

So would I attend another reunion down the road? Probably not. It was a cool experience, but my life is so much different now than it was then. My friends today have similar career paths and interests to me rather than having grown up in the same neighborhoods and zip codes. We don't have swim team or orchestra to tie us together, but instead have life goals and spouses/S.O.s that bring us all in. Over the next few years, I think I will try and plan a mini girls reunion with my high school gals on a date that works for all of us, and take things from there. I hope to keep up the other friendships IRL, and if not, there's always Facebook :)


Have you attended a reunion recently? What year was it, and how did it go? Was it all that you had hoped for?

Hiya!

Whoa, where did this past week go?! I know where ...

I hung out with this lady, my BFF and MATRON (ha!) of Honor who is finally back in the States after years abroad ...

Oh the self shot. I was never good at those ;)

I went "out-out" with this lady, an amazing gal pal who always knows how to have a good time ... too bad we ended up at a bar that was full of 21-year olds. Fail! Next bar, please!

Lookin' hott after some professional grooming pre-bar!

I had these amazing ribs from one very talented brother and hung out with family ...

And spent time with my Dad for some Yankees baseball! Woo woo and it was a sweep!

Back ASAP with some actual updates. Have a great week, y'all!!

Just A Thought

It's the weekend, y'all, AND it's a three-day one!



Enjoy it, everyone!

Lazy but Crazy Weekend

We've got a busy few weekends coming up, there's just no way around it. Days full of brew tours (buy a ticket today and help a great cause!), symphony nights (Love the orchestra? This one could be for you, too, not just for GT grads), weddings, showers and parties.

Totally fun, right? Yeah! But in the meantime, I made sure to spend this last weekend, the one weekend in the near future with absolutely ZERO plans on the agenda, however the heck I wanted :)

Besides lots of sunshine, TV-time and general sitting around (usually with a drink in hand, don't judge), the best part of the weekend is when I picked up this bad boy:

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That's right. After about five years of Blackberry Mc-lovin', my beloved Torch wasn't holding a battery charge anymore. Since I had already replaced the battery once, I decided I could use my upgrade eligibility and make the big jump. And I am so glad I did!

Now I am finally part of the world that includes Words with Friends, Instagram, the Pinterest app and fun custom covers. Speaking of covers, I ordered my own off my fav Erin Condren last night and can't wait for it to arrive. In the meantime, I am warming up my Instagram skills. LOVE this app! Why oh why didn't they figure this out for Blackberry earlier?!

I made meringue! Love that stand mixer.

Instagram and this new phone shows off the condo's paint job much better!!

Homemade pie and soup (and wine...) on a Sunday evening. We are so grown up ;)

So friends, add me to your world. Follow me on Instagram at @bheadbettyonabudget!