My Planner--A Review

I am extremely OCD when it comes to my personal calender/planner.  I usually update every 6 months in order to always have a full year's work of dates in the book.  This year, when the academic calendars came out I looked and looked and then BAM one morning received an email from Lilly Pulitzer about their NEW 18 month calendars...starting August 1, 2012!  Wouldn't you know I had a gift certificate from my birthday just waiting to purchase a new planner from Palm Avenue here in Charleston!!  The toughest decision was deciding on which pattern!  So far I am GREATLY pleased with my choice and highly recommend it.  Its extremely durable and has so many cute attributes.  Funny part is too, that three of us at work randomly bought the same one without even knowing it!  

I chose the 'Lillys Pink Dirty Shirley' Pattern

Side View

stickers for different occasions & file pockets for those important docs

individually decorated monthly views

large amounts of room for 'celebration' dates

important dates and multiple pages for addresses

monthly illustrations with quotes

lots of space for weekly to-dos (I told you I was OCD, I highlight based on my life categories, i.e: work, personal, holidays/celebrations)

Monogram Monday: Movin' On Up To The iphone

Well, I am getting an iphone.  I have been a HUGE blackberry fan but its just time (and the upgrade available on August 1 does not hurt either).  Now I have to decide on a cover, and of COURSE I want a monogrammed one!  I'm leaning towards one by HAYMARKET DESIGNS (I love everything they design) but still need to determine pattern, color, and monogram.  What's your favorite cell cover design or website?

rouge & co chinoiserie - 3D premium phone cover / rouge & co ikat - 3D premium phone cover / Haymarket Designs, Custom Phone Cases / Haymarket Designs, Custom Phone Cases/ three hip chicks boatman geller phone case




***DON'T FORGET ABOUT MY BABY FRAMES GIVEAWAY FROM FRIDAY---CLICK HERE!!!  ENDS AT 12 NOON ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 3.

**FIRST GIVEAWAY! ~ Baby Frames**

In honor of all of the littles ones that have been born of late I am excited to present my first giveaway!  These custom birth announcements fit best in an 11x14 frame, matted down to 8x10.  They can be done in any color combo and with almost any background pattern.  The announcement will be mailed as a high resolution jpeg image for your preference of printing mediums.  

TO ENTER:

1 Entry: Become a follower of my blog and comment about it on this post, telling me what babies you are excited about!

Additional Entries: Become a follower on Facebook and/or Twitter and then comment again on this post, telling me that you have followed either or both.
Entries will close at 12 Noon on Friday, August 3.

**WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT FRIDAY, AUGUST 3**

BEST OF LUCK!

   

**actual picture & frame**

Target Browsing

I went to Target this week (shocking I know) and decided to share some of the goodies they have on their shelves right now!

blue glass gourds

teal ikat pillow & teal metal tray

cerami koi fish

teal lamp & multi color chevron lamp

multi color and different sized cloth storage bins

green glass lamp base

lattice & multi color welcome mats

coral floor poof (on clearance!)

koi fish pillow

fun fall pillows

lattice window panels

thank you notes

Hump Day Inspiration: For Those Of You Who Have Pets

A friend of mine sent this to me yesterday and it is just too TRUE and too FUNNY to share.  Enjoy!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PETS, THIS IS A TRUE STORY.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, IT’S ALSO A TRUE STORY.

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes on the floor with the paw prints are

yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my

food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate does not mean that

is suddenly your food, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in

the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing

me to the top of the stairs is not the object. Tripping me doesn't

help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when

they sleep. It Is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that

sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the

other end to maximize space that you are taking up, is nothing but

sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by

some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is

not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your

paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through

the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for

years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the

other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message

on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here....you don't.

(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.  That's why they call it “fur”-niture.

(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

(1) eat less,

(2) don't ask for money all the time,

(3) are easier to train,

(4) normally come when called,

(5) never ask to drive the car,

(6) don't hang out with drug-using people;

(7) don't smoke or drink,

(8) don't want to wear your clothes,

(9) don't have to buy the latest fashions,

(10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and

(11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children.....

Wear This~Drink That

'LOVE ME TENDER' DRESS

via

JUNE BUG COCKTAIL

3 cups ginger ale

4 tablespoons grenadine

4 tablespoons orange juice

3 scoops orange sherbet

white rum

via

Weekend Recap

Another fun, yet whirlwind weekend has come and gone.  I cannot believe its going to be August next week!!!


This weekend we...


Cooked out with friends.  We made chicken and veggie kabobs, sauteed potatoes (one of my faves) and oven fried okra (SO good).  I will share the super easy okra recipe soon.  I borrowed it from Whitney over at THE PINK ELEPHANT.

 

We went fishing and crabbing on Johns Island with the MacCoys.  The girls dominated with 10 crabs.  The boys didn't catch a single fish and even managed to lose one fishing pole.  Mr. R even took a little fall into the Stono!

post fall and minus 1 rod--still having a blast!

Mrs. MacCoy bringing the fanny pack back instyle

our catch

Saturday night we celebrated the engagement of the future Mr. and Mrs. Barnes!  The shower was at the CUTEST house up in Park Circle.  Can't wait for their wedding in October!

amazing backyard!

Future Mr. and Mrs. Barnes!

Sunday nights Mr. R and usually have our routine of dinner and TV.  I made my grandmother's chicken & stuffing casserole and it did NOT disappoint.  She used to make this every year during the ACC tournament so it was dubbed "ACC Chicken."  Its very easy and seriously so good.  I whipped up some potatoes to go with.  During the normal year our Sunday show of choice is The Amazing Race but summer has turned into True Blood and The Newsroom (we are in love with the Newsroom).  HOWEVER, the Bachelorette finale was on and Mr. R actually gets a kick out of it.  We watched both the finale AND the After The Final Rose Special.  I must say I was not exactly Team Jef before last night but he won me over.  It was just so corny between the distraught audience members, the engagement montage set to the song from Karate Kid, and Chris Harrison in general.  Also, look out spring Charleston brides, sounds like Jefily might be tying the knot down here (shocker).  Hope no one gets bumped from their venue!

Baked Ziti

This is one of my and Mr. R's favorites.  It makes a TON, is super easy and is just plain yummy.  

PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES

READY IN: 50 MINUTES

YIELDS: 6-8 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

1lb ground beef (I use the highest grade available--less grease)

1 package (16oz) ziti

24 oz ricotta cheese

2 lbs mozzarella cheese

1 jar (32 oz) spaghetti sauce

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (I use 3 cheese Italian blend)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Bring large stock pot to boil and cook ziti 8 minutes.  While boiling pasta, brown ground beef (I usually mix in a little minced garlic and/or salt and pepper).  Drain water from ziti and place back in large stock pot.  Add beef.  Mix in ricotta cheese, 1 3/4lb mozzarella cheese, and 3/4 jar of spaghetti sauce.  Mix all together well.  Lightly grease 9x13 pan.  Fill pan with ziti mixture.  Spread remaining spaghetti sauce over top of mixture.  Spread remaining mozzarella on top of sauce.  Finish with Parmesan mix.  Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.  

Hump Day Inspiration: How To Pray For Your Husband

Saw this on FRIED GREEN PICKLES today and just had to share! Happy Wednesday loves!

Favorite Things: Etsy

I'm not sure how I bought 'fun' gifts before Etsy.  My favorite gifts to give are creative, different and very person specific.  Etsy also seems to have such awesome lower cost options for the home.  Here are some of my go-to shops!


1. JASON PAINTS
I just found this shop yesterday actually and am obsessed.  How great are these 8x10 watercolors and how great would they look in a gallery wall??  Of course I especially love the orange kitty who looks oh so much like Rals.  They even do custom dog and cat portraits!

2. ILY COUTURE
$49 version of the JCrew bubble necklace in all kinds of colors???  DUH.

3. KYOOZI
Awesome selection of throw pillows...one of the best I have seen.

4. PICKLE DOODLE DESIGNS
Adorable invitations and printables.

5. 1001 TREASURES
High quality art prints and TONS of designs, animals, and botanicals.

6. PARROTT DESIGN STUDIO
Beautiful letterpress stationary.

7. ROUGE & CO.

One stop shop for personalized goodies!