I LOVE Fall!

It was 48-degrees here in the Carolinas this morning! YAY! I can't wait to bust out the sweaters and boots!

Fall is by far my favorite season and for many reasons.

Here are just a few:
the gorgeous foliage! check out this shot of the Blue Ridge Parkway! Again, I'm just 2-hours from here. Love living in the Carolinas.

Pumpkins! I can't imagine what I'm going to be like when I have kids. One of my first photo sessions with them would be in a pumpkin patch. Love it!

I love cooking with pumpkins and squashes during the fall. My favorite is baking an acorn squash with butter, pecans and brown sugar and cinnamon. Good for you too!

Hiking! There is no better time to be in the mountains! This was from last year. Me and my hiking buddy Kelli are heading up to the BRP the weekend of October 24th(Brad's bachelor party weekend).

And last but not least! College football! This picture was from last year's SC vs. LSU game in early October.

What are your favorite things about Fall? Happy Humpday!

Doggy Update

Hello blogging friends! For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now know that a month or so ago I set out to get my beloved pooch, The Buddy, to start sleeping on his own bed instead of in the bed with me.

A lot of people think this is a result of Brad but actually IT IS NOT! It was totally my idea and I have to say...that after several weeks he's broken!

He sleeps on his own bed and doesn't even attempt to get in the bed anymore! woohoo!
Happy Tuesday!

RIDONKULOUS! seriously...

Absolutley..totally..completley ridiculous!

But.. for me.. it makes me laugh. Happy Sunday! and way to Geaux Tigers and Hokies!

I want to stay here!

How cool is this?! The Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho. You actually sleep in the dog and get to look our through his eyes! The best part?! It's a beagle!

USA Today did an fabulous story today about bizzare places to stay. This would be top on my list.

To learn more about the Inn - click on the picture. TGIF!

Funny Foto Friday

Ridiculous! can you say TOTALLY 80's! My Dad found this and sent it to me this week.
TGIF!

Brad is headed to Blacksburg for the VT vs. Miami game and I'm staying in town and starting to take over his house! HAHA!

I think I FINALLY found it..

My wedding song - the song that Brad and I will dance to. Uncle Kracker - Smile. I turned on VH1 this morning and saw the video and it just clicked. This is it!

Now I just have to get Brad to agree.

Bachelorette Party Details..

As I’ve mentioned before I’m an older bride(meaning not 25-years old) and after being in several weddings myself I have taken stock on what I want and what I do not want.

One of the things I have VERY strong feelings about is a bachelorette party. To be honest I knew when I was 25(now I’m 34) that I did not be one of those brides that had a veil strapped onto my head with a ‘suck a buck’ shirt on running around the French Quarter or any bar district for that matter. No offense to any of you ladies who have done that – it’s just not Dee’s thing.

Another thing I wanted to make sure of was that I wasn’t doing my bachelorette party the month prior to the wedding. The reason being is most of my friends live outside of Charlotte and I want them to come but not feel strapped for $$ because they’re flying here back to back months.

Keep in mind – I’m not doing a traditional bridal shower because I have always thought those were SO VERY BORING! Who wants to fly here and watch me open a place setting or towels. If people are going to spend $$ to come. Let’s have some FUN!

So – saying that. Here are the plans for my bachelorette bash.

On the weekend of November the 7th - several b/f/f's will arrive in town. They'll join me, my Charlotte area friends, and Brad's Mom and my Mom on a limo bus like this one.

You ask why not a limo? Because it looks like we have 14-ladies who join me on this adventure.
We'll pack into here with mimosas in hand around 10am Saturday morning.

Then we'll head up to here. Shelton Vineyard in Dobson, NC. Yes, it will be peak Fall so it might look like this the day we are there.

The group will have lunch and wine at the winery's awesome restaurant that overlooks the vineyards and we'll have a little lingerie shower. Afterwards a tasting.

Then -- we'll get back into our limo bus and head here. Stoney Knoll Winery - which is the same area. We'll do another tasting there. Then we'll head back to Charlotte(1 and half hours away).

I would like to fit another winery in but doesn't look like we'll have time.

Afterwards all the out-of-towners will stay at 'our' place so noone has to pay for a hotel. I'll have more food and drinks for anyone who's in town and wants to stay and party as well.

We'll watch college football, visit and have a good time.

Sounds like a perfect day to me!

Thanks to Rebekah and my cousin Alayna for helping with everything! MUAH! Can't wait to see all my ladies!

Moving to the Burbs.....

So much going on these days and I know it will be this way for quite some time now. The latest – I will be moving to the burbs in one-month when we start renting my place out.

That’s right, I’m leaving:
* my historic neighborhood lined with oak and magnolia trees(great for walking)
* walking to the bars and restaurants I’ve frequented for 7-years.
* my 1 and half-mile drive to work.
* the condo that I just love because it’s been all mine.

BUT…it’s all for the better. Because:
· I’m moving in with my honey and soon to be hubby, the love of my life and most important my b/f/f(seriously).
· His place is nearly 3x’s the size of mine. More room for my junk!
· I can still keep all my furniture.
· I get to redecorate a place that has a clean palette. The man has 3 floors and only 4 things on the wall in the entire place, there’s no paint, and the same builders lighting. That means a lot of fun for Dee!

We both know living together will be an adjustment especially for me! I haven’t had a roommate since 1998! Can you believe? Just The Buddy for 4-years.

In honor of my beloved condo. I thought I would share a few pictures of the place before I start dismantling it. These were taken for the Craigslist listing.

Happy Tuesday!

front porch..

kitchen...

view from the back door..Heyy..Buddy!!

View from the front door..

Taking you down the hallway. A co-worker of mine at Fox Charlotte painted that painting at the end of the hall.

Office..this is Buddy's spot. We're letting Robyn and Jeff(Brad's brother and wife)keep this sofa bed for us until we get a house with a basement(Brad's dream)..

another office view..

Guest bathroom..

Another view of the guest bathroom..

Bedroom...yes, you can tell I took the theme of gold and red throughout the house. I'm a bit traditional..

My bathroom..

My upgraded shower that I paid dearly for but totally enjoy. I squeegie it everyday!

Random Flashback

How many of us remember these? Geez…I was obsessed back in the 1980’s. Not sure what happened to mine but I remember how fun it was to get new charms.

Fun stuff for this Monday..Monday…

Weekend Recap

We had a great weekend full of friends, food, football and fun.

Here's a quick recap.

Friday - My co-worker threw us an informal dinner party with a few people from work. It was nice for everyone to finally meet Brad.

Yummy seafood lasagna and wine!

Her hubby is the baker in the family and made his mother's famous apple pie. Delish!

Their sweet, very big dog Eli wanted to join the party..!

and here are my 2 producer/work buddies. Karen and Cindy. Thanks again for having us over!

Then on to Saturday.

All football all the time. We started out with watching the Hokies with some of Brad's college friends who live here in town.

They cooked burgers and dogs and each couple has a little girl.

This is their first football season! Check them out in their Hokie gear! so cute!

BTW - the Hokies pulled it off at the last minute with a one point win over Nebraska! whew!

Then -- on to the LSU vs. ULL game. Here we are hanging with the LSU Alumni group here in town.

Gosh, the group has really grown in the past few years. We had 45 people come to watch what wasn't a conf. game for us. It was raining outside too!

And here's me and B....

Of course the Tigers won! GEAUX TIGERS! We take on Mississippi State this week!

Overall a GREAT weekend! Happy Monday?? maybe not...

Representing in Downtown Charlotte

Check out my fabulous umbrella! I can officially say I'm 'representing' when walking into work on rainy days.

Today was one of those days.... Perfect for a Friday before game day - right? GEAUX TIGERS!

Seriously, this is the best umbrella I've ever owned. My nephew and two nieces got it for me about 4-years ago after I mentioned that walking through downtown on a windy and rainy day would leave my umbrella inside out.

This is wind-shear umbrella so it withstands anything and it's big enough for 2 or maybe 3 people.

You can click on the picture to learn how you can buy your own. You won't be disappointed!
TGIF!

Veil or No Veil?

That is the question..............

I haven't posted too much about wedding stuff latley because honestly - most everything is nailed down. Really we're focusing on renting my place out and combining households. More on that in a later post.

As far as the veil...
I'm leaning towards 'no veil'.

#1. I tried some on when I went dress shopping and wasn't sold on the way I looked.

#2. Brad doesn't want me to wear one. He think it's old fashioned - but I'm not worried about what he thinks.

#3. $300 for a veil?? WTF?!

#4. Most people only wear them for the ceremony. So, what's the point?

Here's my friend Beth. She chose not to wear one. I saw the pictures of her with one on and it just is not her. Plus.. she's short and petite like me and it kinda consumed her.

I know one thing -- if I do choose to wear one it WON'T be on like this.. Way too much for lil' me!

And.. if I do choose one.. It would be more on the lines of this.

What do you gals/guys think?

"Clubbin It"

As in country club.

After a long weekend of shenanigans on Lake Erie we came back to Charlotte and rested for a few short days then ventured into a member guest weekend at FireThorne Country Club.

My future brother and sister-in-law are members and were nice enough to ask us. I quickly realized that this weekend was more about the guys playing golf than anything else.

So, here we go…..

The Stephens brothers golf picture.. The played 18 holes on Thursday, 27 on Friday and another 18 on Saturday. WHEW!

Friday night at the club - me and Robyn.

Friday night sunset at the club...

Friday night - me and Brad. He was so tired after 2-days of golf.

Saturday night 'before' the big gala event. The grandparents came and took care of the kids while we played...

Check me out. I actually wore my bridesmaid dress from this summer again! can you believe it? Can you tell it was a bridesmaid dress? I didn't think so! Also, my necklace was from another bridesmaid ensemble!

After several vodka and cranberries..

Robin after several glasses of wine and beer!

And... our 'after' picture.

Fun weekend! great food, great company. Thanks again Jeff and Robyn for inviting us!

Alot about Dee and a couple of peeps Tagged!

I was tagged by Sassafrass Jane and Life with My Brown Eyed Girls for this survey ...

Silly Things About MeStarted today at 5:19pm

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:45am

2. How do you like your steak? Well Done

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Proposal

4. What is your favorite TV show? Real Housewives of Anything.. haha

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? San Francisco

6. What did you have for breakfast? Kashi cereal and skim milk!

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Mexican - love me some queso

8. What foods do you dislike? collard greens and raw fish(sushi).

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Anywhere in NOLA..In Charlotte - Red Rocks

10. Favorite dressing? Ken's Raspberry Vinagrette

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Jeep Libery

12. What are your favorite clothes? tank top and jeans

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Tuscany and The Amalfi Coast

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Depends on the day

15. Where would you want to retire? Lake Tahoe, CA

16. Favorite time of day? cocktail time! 5o'clock somewhere

17. Where were you born? Indianapolis, IN

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? College Football

19. Bird watcher? I enjoy watching them on feeders, etc.. and yes, I'm a nerd -- like to take pix if I can.

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning

21. Do you have any pets? beagle named The Buddy

22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I'm getting married in 5 months!

23. What did you want to be when you were little? a lobbyist for developmentally disabled(I know.I'm a nerd)

24. What is your best childhood memory? Christmas time..

25. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog

26. Are you married? Will be in 5 months!

27. Always wear your seat belt? Yes

28. Been in a car accident? Yes - multiple..

29. Any pet peeves? people backing into parking spots, laziness and LATE people(drives me nutz!)

30. Favorite Pizza Topping? mushrooms!

31. Favorite Flower? roses

32. Favorite ice cream? chocolate mint

33. Favorite fast food restaurant? Wendys or Arbys

34. How many times did you fail your driver's test? once when I moved to Nevada and had to renew it.

35. From whom did you get your last email? someone at the PBS station in Raleigh

36. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Neiman Marcus

37. Do anything spontaneous lately? that's my style but not lately

38. Like your job? Yes - no drama, great co-workers and professionalism. Much more than I can say for my years in TV news!

39. Broccoli? With pepper

40. What was your favorite vacation? Germany

41. Last person you went out to dinner with? My friend Ashley last night before the Jr. League meeting

42. What are you listening to right now? Chicago on the 80's rock station

43. What is your favorite color? Pink

44. How many tattoos do you have? NONE!

45. Coffee Drinker? Yep, one splenda with skim milk!

What time did you finish this quiz? 5:28 pm

Now I am tagging:
Alexis
http://qc-cosmopolite.blogspot.com/

Another Online Mom
http://qc-cosmopolite.blogspot.com/

Good Times.. Busy Times.. and Fashion Night Out

This is the time of year that life gets BUSY for me!

The Junior League, my Delta Gamma Alumni Group, LSU Alumni Group(football watching) -- are all back in full force with the start of Fall and to add to that - it's event season in town and I like to try and hit as many as possible! LOL!

I literally have something to do each night of the week but that's okay - because I get to enjoy fun parties like this one last week.

Fashion Night Out at Neiman Marcus!
Check out these fabulous and fun designer dresses below!

Me and Dana - don't you just love her necklace?
Click on this picture to find out how you can buy it and other fun, fabulous jewelry.

This event had all sorts of giveaways, a fashion show, heavy hors d'œuvres and a bar that included fun martinis, champagne and wine! That's what I'm talking about!

Another fun picture of me and my buddy Dana..(thanks for inviting me!)

Then.. my favorite part of the event. A caricature artist who was doing fun illustrations!

Dana and I decided to get ours together. Seems gay I know.. But hey! it was fun!

He asked what Dana and I wanted to be doing together in the illustration and we said 'Well drinking wine of course!'

For all you locals you can learn more about the artist-Jerry Frazee-and his services by clicking on the picture below.

Such a fun night! Many more fun events to come!