Strength of Substance
Pinterest is one of my favorite places to spend "time". I can dream big - pinning crafts and home projects I hope to one day accomplish, find inspiration for parties to host for friends and even compile amazing recipes for meals that I want to one day create. This is especially true now with TRE being here...the day goes by so fast, simple things like taking a shower, making the bed, and doing dishes (or laundry for that matter) have all become major accomplishments!
A good friend offered to host a "care calendar" for us before TRE arrived and I jumped at the chance. I will admit that I was a little nervous about this idea though. You see, our house is typically only paleo foods (and while I didn't follow paleo while pregnant, I have been trying to get back to it...my downfalls were ice cream and macaroni and cheese). For those of you not familiar with paleo it is essentially all about meat and veggies (no grains and limited sugars). All this to say, I recognize that it can be a little daunting to think about making a dinner for someone who follows this plan if you aren't familiar with it or don't personally follow it.
Over the past few weeks we have been blessed by friends who have tried out new recipes and given paleo a try on our behalf. I am continually impressed by the creativity of the meals that are brought to us - from chili and soup to chicken and even taco casseroles!
One friend even made these fun food labels for us!
Nights when we have friends bring us dinner are easily the best nights of the week! Not only for the amazing food, but also for the conversations had as friends spend time loving on and holding TRE.
I look forward to the next few weeks and continuing to get to spend time with friends as they bless us with some tasty creations!
Thanksgiving Small Group
Shortly after moving to Atlanta, I joined a singles small group at Buckhead Church. These ladies quickly became some of my closest friends and walked with me through major life transitions. One of my most favorite traditions has been small group thanksgiving; over the past few years the night has grown to include significant others and this year marked the first with a little one.
Here's to many more years of holiday traditions with great friends!
Here's to many more years of holiday traditions with great friends!
(Small group ladies with TRE - we missed you Sara and Luci!)
Tea with Friends
I never thought to put "having tea" on my bucket list, but now that I have officially had afternoon tea...I cannot help but think of 100 more reasons to have tea!
For a dear friend's 30th birthday some girls met at the St. Regis for afternoon tea. First and foremost, I LOVED getting dressed up to go to tea. It was a wonderful afternoon with these ladies!
I wish I could go to tea every weekend. I am going to keep this in mind for future birthdays or maybe even a date for a girls outing when family is visiting.
Happy birthday Luci!
For a dear friend's 30th birthday some girls met at the St. Regis for afternoon tea. First and foremost, I LOVED getting dressed up to go to tea. It was a wonderful afternoon with these ladies!
There is just something about a delightful cup of tea, snacks, amazing desserts, and conversation with good friends that makes for a joyous occasion.
To toast the birthday girl and her life, we ordered sparkling wine (I passed mine along to the birthday girl!).
Instead of gifts, we presented pictures of our 'favorite memories' with the birthday girl to her. It was so nice to hear everyone's stories and think back on many wonderful times we've had together. Here is to many more years filled with happy memories!
Happy birthday Luci!
Sharing Time
July was a whirl-wind of activity for us! Essentially, it was all about sharing time with others. August officially marks the start of the school year for our household, so we focused on seeing friends and family for the last few weeks of "summer".
My sister visited for two weeks! It was nice to have her here and catch up (she lived abroad again last year so it was the first time we had been together since summer 2012). Here are the highlights of our two week adventure:
And then we continued the family & friend filled month with…
We brought a watermelon to the cook-out and C thought we should match:
To top off this activity filled month, I traveled to the northshore of Massachusetts to visit family for a long weekend. The night I flew in, my grandparents hosted a small shower/dinner party! I wish C could have been with me, it was such a joy-filled night.
Between that first night, a trip to the beach (by boat of course) and a shopping outing in Rockport - I was able to see all of my cousins and had great quality time with my grandparents.
Here are some of the group photos from our shopping trip. It was overcast and chilly (especially for July!), but that didn't stop us from making the most of time together!
I am so thankful to be able to have spent time with my my mom, sister, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins....even if only for a weekend!
It was a busy month, but I loved every minute of getting to share time with so many amazing people.
My sister visited for two weeks! It was nice to have her here and catch up (she lived abroad again last year so it was the first time we had been together since summer 2012). Here are the highlights of our two week adventure:
- Shopping at the outlets
- A day at the Lake Oconee
- A few dinner parties with small group friends, good family friends and even extended family
- Chamblee fireworks for the 4th of July
- Saw the movie Despicable Me 2...in theaters!
- Ventured to a new Indian restaurant for some quality time
- Dinner at the Dunwoody food-truck park
- A day in Gainesville with family friends from Fairfield, CT (love the YoungLife community!)
And then we continued the family & friend filled month with…
- A lunch date with two lovely ladies (who thankfully came to Emory Village to be closer to my work!)
- Dinner at Antico Pizza to celebrate friends who live in Bermuda and were recently engaged
- An after-work summer cook out!
We brought a watermelon to the cook-out and C thought we should match:
(sorry the picture is darker than might be ideal!)
To top off this activity filled month, I traveled to the northshore of Massachusetts to visit family for a long weekend. The night I flew in, my grandparents hosted a small shower/dinner party! I wish C could have been with me, it was such a joy-filled night.
Between that first night, a trip to the beach (by boat of course) and a shopping outing in Rockport - I was able to see all of my cousins and had great quality time with my grandparents.
Here are some of the group photos from our shopping trip. It was overcast and chilly (especially for July!), but that didn't stop us from making the most of time together!
(cousin love)
(a family shot)
I am so thankful to be able to have spent time with my my mom, sister, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins....even if only for a weekend!
It was a busy month, but I loved every minute of getting to share time with so many amazing people.
My Good Friend BOB
Of all the things one could possibly buy for a baby, the one that I have been most excited about is the BOB Stroller. I think my family may have picked up on this as well, as coincidentally it was the first item purchased off our registry! I was beyond happy!
My love of (the) BOB started back in 2007 when I first moved to Atlanta. I would often babysit for a family that lived near Chastain Park, so I would often walk both children in a BOB Duallie to the park where we would spend our afternoons together. Oh the memories!
Baby E's BOB arrived earlier this week and it did not take long for me to open the box (it was open within an hour of being home!).
So great!
There was more than just my excitement of actually owning a BOB that spurred the prompt assembly of this stroller. You see, one of our dogs, Maggie, is a bit quirky. I like to think that she has personality (we have been together since she was 8 weeks)....but it may just be a little more than that. For example, she will not walk across a cord on the floor and avoids bikes and rollerblades, among other unique habits. I love her for it, but it is certainly understandable that I was a little hesitant about walking her while having Baby E in the stroller. I am glad to be able to have the stroller to take the dogs and BOB on a little test-drive! So yes, I plan to take the stroller on a walk :)
Later....
I am happy to report that all went well on our first walk! We are looking forward to taking Baby E on his/her first walk in the months to come!
My love of (the) BOB started back in 2007 when I first moved to Atlanta. I would often babysit for a family that lived near Chastain Park, so I would often walk both children in a BOB Duallie to the park where we would spend our afternoons together. Oh the memories!
Baby E's BOB arrived earlier this week and it did not take long for me to open the box (it was open within an hour of being home!).
So great!
There was more than just my excitement of actually owning a BOB that spurred the prompt assembly of this stroller. You see, one of our dogs, Maggie, is a bit quirky. I like to think that she has personality (we have been together since she was 8 weeks)....but it may just be a little more than that. For example, she will not walk across a cord on the floor and avoids bikes and rollerblades, among other unique habits. I love her for it, but it is certainly understandable that I was a little hesitant about walking her while having Baby E in the stroller. I am glad to be able to have the stroller to take the dogs and BOB on a little test-drive! So yes, I plan to take the stroller on a walk :)
Later....
I am happy to report that all went well on our first walk! We are looking forward to taking Baby E on his/her first walk in the months to come!
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