Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a nice weekend! I didn't get much accomplished, but it was nice to have a break. My husband and I went to see Marley and Me on Sunday. It was a cute movie, but so, so sad. I am glad I wore waterproof eye makeup. I have a little dog named Chi Chi who is like my baby. She is a 9 year old chihuahua. My husband claims she is spoiled, I say she is simply well loved.

Before the movie we went to Coldstone. Their cake batter ice cream is my favorite. Now they have ice cream cupcakes made with cake batter ice cream. It is a chocolate bowl filled with red velvet cake and cake batter ice cream topped with icing. I wish I had never tried one because they are quite addictive. The cupcakes are $1.99 and I am not sure how long they will have them.

I hope you all have a nice rest of the week!

Happy Birthday!

eye candy from MarthaStewart.com

Today is my sister's 20th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sweet Sassy and Always Classy!!

I love you!

Help!

Good morning! I hope you all are having a nice week! My job is still going well. Everyone who works here is so nice and helpful. It has really been a blessing.

I am trying to find some sort of bag to carry my laptop and a few files in. Nothing huge, just something that I can use to transport my laptop, a few pens, a folder or two, etc. Do you all have any suggestions? What type of bag do you use for your computers?

Thanks for your help! I haven't had much luck and thought you all could help me.

Good morning!

I hope you all are having a great week! My new job is still going well and I am finally feeling settled. The first few weeks were a blur of paperwork and meeting new faces. Last week I was in Chicago for training. It was freezing!! I don't know how you all who live there survive the winters. Then again, I am sure you get used to it, but it was a big change from Charlotte's weather.

I am slowly learning how to find my work/life balance. There are several great meal prep places in my area that I buy food from. I still love to cook, but just not quite as much. I will share my experience at some of the different places later. I am also counting down the days until I hire someone to help clean!


If you like salads, you all have to try Kraft Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette. It is delicious and inexpensive and it has quickly become my favorite dressing. My favorite green to use with it is spinach.

I hope you all have a nice rest of the week! I am continuing to pray for Harper and am sneaking over to Kelly's blog as often as I can for updates. Isn't Harper such a precious miracle?!

Please Please PLEASE Pray for Harper!!

I have been in Chicago the past few days for work so I haven't gotten the update on Kelly's baby Harper. If you all have followed Kelly's blog like I have, you know that Harper is already a miracle. I was devastated to read that Harper was having trouble breathing after she was born and was put in critical condition. They flew her to Tulsa for treatment. Harper seems to be doing much better and I am anxiously awaiting an update. In the meantime, I ask for you all to please pray for Harper and her family.

Harper's mom Kelly is truly a beautiful person, inside and out. Although we have never met in person, I think of her as a friend and I ask you all to please keep Kelly, Harper, Scott, and their family in your prayers. It is amazing the friendships I have developed on blogger with people that I have never met in person. I am so blessed to have come into contact with so many wonderful people.

Thanks for your prayers and I hope you all have a nice weekend!

Top It Off Accessories

Hello! I hope you all are having a wonderful week! My first week at my new job is going so well! I love the office that I am working at and my coworkers are wonderful. My week has flown by. I started working on projects my second day and things have been busy ever since. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work at such a great office. Everyone has been so helpful and kind as I have gotten acclimated. I really can't say enough kind things about my new job. Hopefully I will still feel this way in the next few weeks!



I wanted to check in and pass along some information to you all. Top It Off Accessories has some of the cutest things and they are offering 50% off with the coupon code "Cheers." I ordered the headband pictured about and love it! With the discount it comes to $15! It fits well and isn't too tight. Be sure to order before January 31 to take advantage of the discount. They have hair accessories, flip flops, gifts, totes, and jewelry.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Chanel Eye Makeup

I was at Belk the other weekend and stopped by at the Chanel counter. I found a few things that I have really enjoyed and that have stayed on all day.

The Professional Eye Shadow Base goes on your eyelid underneath your eyeshadow and eyeliner. It helps your eye shadow stay on longer and it prevents creasing and fading. So far I have found this to be very helpful.

I decided to try Chanel's Precision Eye Definer. I really like this. It goes on smoothly and is a bit easier to apply than the Bobbi Brown gel eye liner that I usually use. Next time I want to try their Waterproof Long Lasting Eye Liner.

The Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow is my favorite product. It goes on easily and the color will build with a heavier application. It stays on all day and is iridescent without being too shimmery.

I recently tried the Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Makeup. It goes on the same as all the other mineral makeups and I can't tell much of a difference between it, the Clinique, and Bare Minerals. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Do you all have a favorite mineral foundation?

I hope you all have a nice week!

I am blogging from my iPhone, so please excuse any errors! I just read an article that Waterford/Wedgwood has filed for bankruptcy protection. I am so hopeful that they will find a buyer in order to continue operations. My formal crystal, formal china, and everyday china are all by this brand. I also read that Spode has filed for bankruptcy protection as well.

What a sad day.

On a lighter note, I am headed in for my first day of work! I am looking forward to starting my new job!

The Rest of My Q & A

I am sorry it has taken me so long to finish my Q&A. Thank you all for being patient with me. Here goes!

Mrs. Stilettos said "What is your favorite meal to make when you have guests over?? (make sure to give us the recipe!!)"

I love having guests over for dinner. Usually my friends end up being guinea pigs for whatever new recipe it is I want to try. I figure if it goes terribly wrong, we can always order pizza or Chinese. That has never happened though.

I usually make something from my two favorite cooks, Ina Garten and Martha Stewart. I try to stay away from things that require too much prep work right as people are coming over. The exception to that is the risotto recipe below. It is so delicious, but it requires you to be in the kitchen up until you serve it.

Here are some of my favorites:
Rosemary Roasted Chicken and Vegetables - this is easy and really good
Marinated Flank Steak - I love marinated flank steaks. This is a quick and easy marinade.
Low Country Boil - This is fun. I make everything in one pot and put it on a huge platter.
Endive, Pear, and Roquefort Salad - This is one of my favorite salad recipes. I love the flavor combination.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes - If your guests like garlic, these mashed potatoes are to die for.
Steak Tacos with Corn Relish - These are fun for a casual dinner.
Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto - I love risotto, but this requires a bit more prep work.
Bruschetta Chicken Skillet - This is quick and super easy.

Regardless of what I cook, I love to use all the china, crystal, and linens I received as wedding gifts. Why not?

Cari said "Hi! What is your favorite hair product(s)?"

I have several favorites depending on what is going on with my hair. When I want volume I like to use Paul Mitchell Shampoo No. 1. It smells like the beach and it makes my hair shiny and easy to style. I also like Paul Mitchell The Conditioner. Aveda Phomollient works well to add body and shine to my hair. I like it because it is weightless I don't feel like I have product in my hair.

During the winter, I need a shampoo and conditioner that is more moisturizing. Right now I am using Aveda Scalp Benefits Shampoo and Conditioner. My hair is dry at the ends and oily at the scalp, and somehow this keeps everything under control. I also like Pumpkin Re hydrating Shampoo and Enzyme Therapy Mist. This shampoo and conditioner both smell like pumpkin and they help moisturize my hair without weighing it down.

Landlocked Mermaid said "How did you and your sweetie meet? xo"
tickledpink said "Have you ever posted how you and your husband met? I bet it's a sweet story!"
Petunia said "I ditto the how-you-met-hubby story!"

I met my husband when I was in high school and he was in college. I was actually dating someone else and I went to a party at my now husband's house. The guy I was dating was not for me, so I broke up with him. My husband and I were friends for about a month or so when we started dating in June of 1999. I can't believe we have been together for almost 10 years now. Crazy! He came home every weekend when I was in high school. He was going to transfer wherever I went to college, but I ended up going to the same college he was at. It was nice when we didn't have to date long distance anymore. We dated throughout college and he was my biggest supporter, even when I had a lot going on in my life. I think when you go through hard times, you really know that your significant other loves you.

Europafox said "What are your favourite winter skin care products (I know you are good with advice like this!) :)"

I use the same things during the winter that I do during the summer. I know some people switch around, but my favorite things work year round, I just use more moisturizer in the winter than I do during the summer.

magnoliabelle said "OK, I have two questions for you...What's your favorite thing to do in the Queen City?What's the best placed you have lived and why?Have a super weekend!"

I am kind of boring, so I would say my favorite thing to do would be to go out to eat dinner and then go to a movie. I love to eat sushi at Nikko (I really liked the old Nikko, before they moved), or a nice steakhouse like The Palm (not that we got to go there that much when I was in grad school), or somewhere like Mac's Speed Shop.

I have lived in Greensboro and Charlotte. They both have their benefits, but there is so much more to do in Charlotte. Greensboro is certainly growing, but I love being in Charlotte.

Rachel Ann said "I love it when people do these!How did you and your husband meet? How did he propose? What were your favorite details from your wedding?"

My husband proposed at dinner about a week after my birthday. I knew he was going to propose, but I wasn't expecting it then. He was super nervous that entire night. I actually thought he wasn't feeling well. He later told me that he was afraid I would say no. I couldn't believe he thought that!!

My favorite detail from my wedding was probably my flowers. I used a combination of lilies and peonies. They are my two favorite flowers. There are a few pictures of my wedding flowers in this post.

Heather said "Where are you from originally? What is your favorite hobby? Heather/Grace303"

I am originally from Greensboro. I lived there until I came to college. My favorite hobby is probably shopping or reading. Gosh, that sounds so shallow! I love to find bargains and see what is new. I love to read books and magazines although I haven't had much time this past year. I also like to cook. I think it is fun to have friends over for dinner and try new recipes.

Pink Lemonade and Peonies said "I have a few questions, you may have already answered these in earlier blog posts.What kind of job are you looking for?? What is your degree in?Have you read any good books lately?"

I was looking for a job in a large public accounting firm and fortunately, I found one. Both my bachelor's and my master's were in accounting. As for books, I have been reading sTORI Telling, Martha Stewart's Cooking School, and Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics.

I hope you all have a nice week!

New Work Clothes

I am starting work Monday. The office I will be joining is primarily business casual. I have a few things from college that I can wear to work, but I needed right many new things too. I went shopping with my mom the day after Christmas and found some cute stuff to wear to the office.

I bought the Cole Haan Carma Air Almond shoes. They have Nike Air Technology in them, so hopefully they are very comfortable.


I have heard so many people talk about how much they love the fitted non-iron shirts from Brooks Brothers. I bought one to try and will let you all know what I think.

I found these wool pants at Talbots for next to nothing. They have buttons on the back that are really cute.

Please excuse these pictures. I couldn't find them online, so I toke them myself. This sweater is from Ann Taylor.

I found this cardigan at Talbot's, but I still need to find a brown shirt to wear underneath. I found a pair of brown pants there too, and need to find a pair of brown shoes.

This is my favorite sweater. It is cashmere and I found it at Banana Republic for next to nothing.

This is another sweater from Ann Taylor.

I love these turtlenecks from Banana Republic. I bought one in black, red, and brown.

I bought this skirt for almost nothing. It is from the fall Lilly line. I don't know if I can get away with wearing it to the office though. I am going to see what other people wear first. Even if I don't wear it to work, it will be cute this spring and summer.

I am still going to get more clothes to wear to work to add on to what I already have, but this should get my started. Where are your favorite places to look for work clothes? I had good luck at Talbot's, Ann Taylor, and Banana Republic.

Ham and Swiss Double Pinwheels

I made these ham and swiss double pinwheels for New Year's Eve. They turned out really well and were very, very easy. I think I might make these another time with pesto, sun dried tomatoes, and cheese.

Welcome My Sweet Sister to Blogger!

I am so excited! My sister Adelaide has started a blog! She a sweet, spunky, caring, and fun to be around. Check out her blog Sweet, Sassy, and Always Classy. Even though she is my younger sister, she has certainly taught me a lot. I hope you all enjoy reading her blog. Be sure to give her a warm welcome!