Friday, October 29, 2010

Funny Foto Friday - Halloween

I haven't done Funny Foto Friday in a while so I thought I would give you a double dose today.

We have no real Halloween plans even though we've been invited to a party tomorrow night. Hubby and I aren't into dressing up. Not sure why but as you can see in the below photos -- it really hasn't been my thing ever.

This is a picture of me and my best friend Rebekah when we were in junior high school. Love how I spelled Beatles wrong and had to correct my sign.

Check out the 80's TV in the background too. Hysterical.

In college I did the poodle skirt again but you can't see it in this picture. Yes, lame.. very lame indeed.

I wish I had a picture of some of my Halloween costumes from my VEGAS days. One year my friend Cathy(who you see in the bottom of this above picture)dressed up as Hooters girls. We figured we both have big ta-ta's so why not? Plus, it was easy.

Well, we met up at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay and some guy walked up to us and this is how the exchange went down:

Random Guy: Do you girls know Mary?

Cathy & I: Um...no? Are we suppose to?

Random Guy: Yeh, she works at Hooters here in town.

Cathy: We don't work there idiot! It's a F--ing Halloween costume!!!

I about died laughing. The craziest part of that costume(that I still have but wouldn't put my fat ass into now),is that when Cathy went and bought them for us -- the sizes were small, extra small and extra-extra small.

Shenanigans!

I do have a few Halloween treats for our niece and nephew so don't think I'm a total Scrooge on Halloween.

I'll leave you today with a new blog you must check out. Remember Matt and Mandy's Virginia wedding I blogged about in April? Check it out here..

Well, they moved to Bulgaria a few weeks ago and Mandy has now started a blog about their life there. VERY interesting to say the least. Check out her latest post here about being a movie star.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is a month away and Brad and I are hosting!

I hosted Turkey Day dinner several times when I was single but to be honest I just served the honey baked ham that my TV station would give to me as a "bonus". Then Mom and I would throw some sides together.

I would set a nice table but it was with my everyday dishes and it was boring.

Now that I'm married and have china it makes it fun! Brad and I are already planning our menu and I plan to test some recipes in the next few weeks just as a trial run. I want to make my Grandmother's dressing but geez louise..When I heard how involved it is I'm not so sure.

Soooo... saying that. Send me your dressing/stuffing recipes please!

Some of you know that I'm real into table settings from my Easter dinner. Check it out here.

As far as my Thanksgiving table decor. I'm still trying to decide.

I'm leaning towards these place cards. Simple and elegant if you ask me.

As far as centerpieces to go with the pear? I like this but it's not very fallish. Or do you think?

I like this too but aren't fresh flowers better?

I'm hoping crafty Ms. Allison will weigh in. You have to check out her blog. Her creativity is to die for.
So, what do you think? Any other Fall centerpiece or place card ideas that you suggest?
Happy Fall Ya'll!(yes, I know I said that in the last post too but this is my favorite season)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Hiking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Quick post with a lot of pictures.
As most of you know by now I love to hike and try and head to the NC/SC/VA/TN mountains as much as I can since they are so close to the Charlotte area.

Brad isn't really into hiking like I am but I have friends who are! This past weekend was me and my hiking bestie, Kelli's Fall hiking adventure.

Destination: Great Smoky Mountains National Park -- 3-hours from Charlotte but took us 4 1/2 due to a wildfire shutting down Highway 26 for an hour and half.

Here are some of the highlights.
Sorry for the blurry picture..

Cheesy tourist photo. It was my 4th time to the park but Kelli's first. Yes, I was dressed up for game day. We got off the trail just in time to see my LSU Tigers lose to Auburn. Boohoo.

We chose the 8-mile Charlie's Bunion hike along the Appalachian Trail in the park. Giving that it was a peak weekend to see leaves the trail was pretty crowded despite the fact it was labeled strenuous.
Panoramic Views of the Smoky Mountains on this trail!

Gorgeous!! Colorful!

On top of Charlie's Bunion!! Super High Up!

We had a picnic lunch up here and enjoyed the view!



Pretty tree in Bryson City, NC where we stayed. No we don't camp.

Instead we're day hikers.

The next day we headed down to another area of the park to see the Road to Nowhere. It seriously just ends and there's tons of hiking trails.
Me and my coffee.

People ride horses down these trails..

Fontana Lake! Beautiful!

Deep Creek Hike. Tom Branch Falls

More falls on this hike.

Overall 14 miles in 2 days. I feel awesome and am trying to keep up the exercise on a daily basis with at least 3 miles a day.
I'll leave you with some Fall sights from Bryson City.

Happy Fall Ya'll!!!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Happy 95th Maw Maw

Happy Monday! Well, my Grandma aka Maw Maw, is 95-years old!

She loves cookies. So, as I mentioned last week I made her some peanut butter ones.

I remember when Maw Maw used to come visit us in Baton Rouge. She would make us chocolate and vanilla pinwheel cookies. I always looked forward to them!

Maw Maw lives with my cousin here in Charlotte now and is still in decent shape for the most part. Her mind waivers here and there though.
She can't see to read or cross stitch anymore so Brad and I bought her clothes for her birthday.

Just think Maw Maw lived through the Depression, World War II, Korea and saw her son(my Dad) survive the Vietnam War.

She has been through a lot though including the loss of four children(my Dad is the only living child)and the loss of her spouse.

A little on the bright side but here's a picture of Brad and I with Maw Maw.

Happy 95-years young!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Random Fall Scoop

In a few short hours I'll be in enroute to this fantabulous place.

Aren't you jealous? It's Fall Ya'll here in the Carolinas and this weekend is suppose to be a peak weekend for seeing colorful leaves!

Kelli(hiking bestie)and I have turned this into our annual Fall hiking weekend. Last year we hiked around the Asheville area along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Read about it here.


This year we're doing an 8-mile hike in the National Park. It's about a 3-hour drive from Charlotte and Kelli has never been to the park! Can't wait! Brad is having a "Brad Weekend" as he likes to call it. Football, beer, Playstation and golf.

In other news...
I baked peanut butter cookies the other night for my grandmother who is turning 95 this week. Brad and I went and saw her last night but pictures and details of that will come this next week because I forgot to upload them.

Back to the cookies though.
Buddy is a routine type of doggy. EVERY.NIGHT he puts himself to bed around 8:30pm. No joke. He tells us to peace out and runs upstairs to his bed.
BUT..of course because I was baking the other night he didn't. Nope. Little guy stayed up until after 10!

In fact, last night he was up with us again until 11! Not sure what's going on with him but we like it!

Someone left a bunch of painted mini pumpkins in our break room at work with a note that said 'help yourself'.
Well, I did. It wasn't until Brad pointed it out that I even noticed that they were West Virginia University pumpkins.
LOL!
I seriously did not notice it!

My MIL is so freaking cute. Everytime she comes to Charlotte she brings Robyn and I seasonal stuff for the house.
This is just one of the Fall items she bought for us. She said they reminded her of Buddy. They heart Budster. Yes, he has even made the grandkid frames at their house.

That's all I have for this Friday! TGIF!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Hokie Tailgating vs Tiger Tailgating

Happy Humpday!
First things first on this post. Everyone knows I'm an LSU Tiger Fan!! Woot Woot! Love me some purple and gold!

I haven't been to a game in Tiger Stadium in a couple of years but I have managed to see them play at several away games.

But.. if you've been reading this blog for a while you also know that I married a Virginia Tech Hokie.

Yep, that means -- several times a year I get to dress up in orange and maroon and play Hokie fan.

Different but fun.

So, this last weekend was one of those weekends. I even went all out and bought a necklace from some random who was selling them at the tailgate.

This wasn't my first Hokie tailgate but it was one that had me comparing the difference between tailgating at LSU and then at VT.
#1. No gumbo or jambalaya is being cooked. Straight up hotdogs and chili.
#2. No ABITA beer. Just Bud Light and some of this.
Franklin County's Finest aka Moonshine. Yes, I had a taste. You don't see a lot of this in Baton Rouge.

#3. Maybe it was the area we were in but I didn't see a lot of RV's like they have decked out in Baton Rouge? Just tailgates which are fun and they have in BR too.
#4. Robot Mascots.
Really?
What are these?

Cool indeed but I know fo sho you wouldn't see this in BR because there wouldn't be anyone sober enough to actually walk on stilts. LOL! J/K

#5. Last but not least. The difference between LSU and VT Tailgating for me? I don't get to walk around and see people I hung out with in college. That's one of my favorite parts of tailgating at LSU.
What's your favorite part about tailgating?

Friday, October 15, 2010

Dawn and J's Ojai Wedding

In case you're new here -- I'm in the middle of the recap of my trip to Southern California for one of my besties -- Dawn's wedding.

After a couple of days of being tourists in Hollywood and Santa Barbara we headed into Ojai Valley for her and J's 10.10.10 wedding.

I was going to include pictures from the bridal shower and rehearsal dinner the day before but honestly I just have too many pictures.

So, here's my recap of the actual wedding day.

Wedding site: Hermitage Ranch - Ojai, California
(a private family estate that is a family friend of the bride's family. Remember Ojai is the bride's hometown)

GORGEOUS! 48 acres of orange trees.

This was the view from the ceremony, cocktail reception and reception.


Citrus water was served. Perfect fit considering we were in an orange orchard.

I got to see tons of old co-workers and friends at the wedding considering Dawn and I worked at a TV Station in Reno and Vegas together.
Nicole from San Diego.

Before the ceremony I got to sneak a peek of the bride and groom. It was then that I got the first glimpse of Dawn's dress that she actually handmade HERSELF!

No doubt. I was and still am impressed.

Here comes the bride!!! Beautiful! Her father Bill walked her down the aisle.

It was the first Jewish wedding ceremony Brad and I both had ever been too. All day long Brad chanted MAZEL TOV he couldn't wait to say it. When he finally did - he looked over at me and said "I've waited my whole life to say that." What a retard! LOL
Anyhoo..it was cool. They broke the glass and everything.
The cocktail reception was in the pool/hot tub area. The food was awesome as was the champagne station and company.

It was a bit warm so us girls decided to stick our feet in the pool. Dawn came down and decided to join us for a few pictures.

The view was gorgeous and everyone was trying to get good pictures together. A little bright but still not a bad one of me and hubs.

The centerpieces at the reception were so cool and cute. Oranges and figs, of course, then giving that both the bride and groom are on-air weathercasters in New Orleans -- the table names were presented on weather umbrellas.


Another cool touch? The New Orleans horn band Bonerama made it to California to play at their wedding!! One word: AWESOME!!

More former Reno co-workers. GREAT! to see Jeff and Laura..

The food was to die for! I don't generally even eat at weddings but this one I did!

They converted the old tennis courts on the property into the party area.


Me and the bride!

MOB -- she did most of the planning and leg work since the bride and groom live halfway across the country. Great job Mary Ann!

Cutting the cake..


And.. of course second line. Who doesn't do this at their wedding when there are Louisiana ties?

Such an awesome time with awesome people. Thanks Dawn and Jonathan for making Brad and I part of your special day!
BTW -- My pictures sucky long time compared to the professional photographer. Visit her blog to see the real deal on the setting and the couple. Just click here.