Alive and Well in Georgia!

Hi everyone!  I'm back from a totally unintended blogging break, which was the result of accidentally leaving my backpack (including my laptop) in San Francisco!  I had it all packed as my carry on--laptop, books, work, phone charger, etc . . . and left it in the car when I got out at the train station.  Thus, I've been sans internet for a while . . . can't wait to catch up on all your blogs!

As soon as I got home, my mama, sis, and I headed to Tybee Island for a little beach trip.  It was good, redneck fun. ;)  I'm really grateful to have had time to spend with them--we never get time just the three of us!  Plus, the overcast weather led to much Sons of Anarchy watchin.' :)

We drove back on Saturday for my cousin Stevie's wedding:

my beautiful cousin, Stevie, and her new husband, Josh

Mama, Kate, and me at the wedding

the bride with her two sisters (we're all girl cousins on my mama's side!)

sisters: Aunt KK, Aunt Pat, my mama

uncles ;)

Daddy and me 

The wedding was beautiful and fun, and the next day I got to hold this sweet baby (my cousin Jennifer's half-sister's brand new daughter):

Emma Kate: 6 lbs 12 oz of CUTENESS

Today, after accompanying Jason, one of my bffs, to his radiation treatment (he has testicular cancer; he's gonna be fine, and he has the most incredible attitude about it), we stopped for brunch at Social House, where I had the southernest of breakfasts:

fried green tomato crepes, cheese grits, sweet tea

And then I spent the afternoon with my 91 year old grandmother, who advised that instead of seeking romance and passion, I begin to look for a man who is "rather dull."  

Off for a ride on my dad's Harley . . . so grateful he's willing to feed the obsession!

Weekend Recap in Pictures!

What a perfect weekend . . . well, perfect except for the Saints and the Braves losing yesterday.  But that hardly got me down, cause I spent Friday through Sunday with some of my favorite people:

Rebecca, Sara, Anna (roomie), and me at Pizzaiolo Friday night

note the margherita pizza and vodka tonic!

Eric took care of Milo and Judebug while I was out of town . . . hello, CUUUUUTE!

I sang to them on the phone from Cambria

on the left: a print I found on etsy; the artist uses old dictionary pages!

on the right: the wrapped version :)

Cheryl, me, Gorman, and Sarah at the pre-wedding garden cocktail party

the night before the wedding: what's better than sitting around a fire with champagne and s'mores?

On Sunday morning, we drove here for the wedding

The vineyard is owned by Curtis's family . . . needless to say, it was lovely 

and they had special "Curtis" wine

(several of) my folks at the wedding, just before the ceremony

walking back down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs.

the sweet (and beautiful) bride and groom, Amanda and Curtis

me and Meagan at the reception . . .
we even managed to stay out of trouble!

You can imagine how hard it was to leave Cambria . . . 

Cambria coast

I am such a lucky girl to have such fun, smart, hilarious, sweet, and caring friends.  And as if I don't already love weddings enough (love, pretty dresses, champagne, and dancing?  these are definitely a few of my favorite things), they're even more special when they involve a weekend getaway with some of your best peeps.  Now who's getting hitched next?!

Happy Monday!

Friday I'm in Love!

Not only is it Friday, but it is a Friday before a long weekend!!!  Double the love (cause a week without a Monday is a blessed week).  

Summergirl

This Friday, I'm in love with . . .

1. Girls' Night

Tonight, my foursome and I have 7:15 reservations at my neighborhood favorite, Pizzaiolo.  (I've discussed this place before; it's home of delicious wood-fired pizzas made with locally grown ingredients, and even better, house made tonic to go in your end-of-the-week cocktails!).  Can't wait for some girly catch-up and a scrumptious margherita pizza.

images from

2. Friday surprise packages!
Guess what I found on my dining room table this morning?  A sweet little package from my dear friend Faiza!

It made me so happy this morning!  My favorite part was her long and thoughtful letter, closely followed by the plantable bookmark she gave me.  There is a little butterfly that you detach and plant--it has seeds in it.  And it says: "You can cut all the flowers but you cannot stop the spring from coming.  Pablo Neruda." This is particularly meaningful to me both as a poet and a person who seriously appreciates hopefulness & optimism.  And also because, lets face it, we all remember that quote from the first Sex and the City movie when Smith sends Samantha a grass plant from his far-away shoot. :)

Faiza also included other calming gifts, such as soothing face masks and tea.  How wonderful is she???

3. Love and Weddings
This weekend I'm headed down to Cambria, a beach town just a little bit north of San Luis Obispo, for a friend's wedding.  I'm so excited for her and can't wait to see her marry the man she loves--what a happy occasion.  It's going to be a fun weekend, filled with friends and cocktails and love stories . . . what a sweet little getaway, huh?

Cambria, CA

Happy weekend, Geaux Saints, and please keep my friend Summer in your thoughts.  She is constantly in mine.