Weekend Recap

I'm back from a world wind trip to Virginia to see family.  Sadly, Chris was unable to come but is feeling much better now!  I missed him dearly!

Our weekend involved a lot of driving, a lot of family time, and a lot of laughs!

Friday afternoon I drove up to Rocky Mount, NC and met up with my parents and sister to ride the rest of the way to Reedville, VA, to my grandparents house on the bay.

I was SO happy that there was still snow on the ground Saturday morning, even if it was not much.  It might be my only snow this year!

I got to meet my cousin's new baby boy, Ben, for the first time and he is just precious!!!

Nannie and Granddaddy got their Christmas present from Chris and I, since we did not see them over Christmas.  I did a little DIY wooden monogram on burlap canvas to match their house!

A bunch of us watched Pitch Perfect on Saturday and I was pleasantly surprised how funny it was!  Its a must rent!!!  The soundtrack is pretty darn good too, you can get it HERE.  I had no idea some of these girls could sing!

I got to spend a lot of quality time with my Granddaddy who has been recovering from pneumonia.  Great news is that he got a good report from the doctor today!  He will celebrate his 90th birthday in March!

   

ALL that were in attendance on Saturday night, we were still short 6 more of the Chamberlain clan but hopefully EVERYONE will be together soon.

My sister caught a beautiful sunset over the Rappahannock River on our way back to NC on Sunday night.  I can't explain how beautiful the area is, just as beautiful as Charleston, just in its own special way.

New Year, New Look

Well HEY!  After a good 6 month or so hiatus, I got the itch to blog again.  And what better way to start out the new year but with a new blog design?  Do y'all like it???  Loved working with Kate at 17th Avenue Design Shop for my new look.

So, where have I been?  That's another (lengthy) post for another day.  For now, I'm just going to concentrate on the past weekend and a look ahead into 2013.

Chris (yes, that's the mysterious Mr. R, he gets a name this year) and I had a lazy/productive weekend at our abode.  Friday night it was our favorite Mexican dinner and then a quick jaunt to Target for a heating pad for my shoulder and neck.  BEST.THING.EVER.  Then I obliged Chris by watching not one but TWO videos of Phish's New Years shows via his new sound bar for our TV that he got from Santa.  Not going to lie, they were pretty good, but the New Years countdown was a little crazy.  Midgets, golf carts and balloons!!

Saturday we ran some oh, so exciting errands (I have never seen Costco so packed) and got really lazy on the couch.  I caught up on about six episodes of Chicago Fire since my co-worker had been raving about it while my three boys did this:

Sunday we were up early finally taking down Christmas and then decided it was a great day to repaint our downstairs.  I have hated the original paint color since we put it up, it literally looks like white, and with an EXCITING baby shower I'm hosting at the end of the month, now seemed as good as time as ever and we are SO happy with the change.  Its still a work in progress so this coming weekend will be filled with more paint fumes.  Here's what we have so far.

left side is old grey--right side is new grey (Valspar Notre Dame from Lowes)

RIGHT at the very end, someone decided he wanted to help us and ended up looking like a raccoon.  Any ideas on how to get this out??

We capped of the evening with a yummy steak and potato dinner, red wine, and curled up to watch 'Its Complicated.'  I can't wait to watch Downton on DVR!!!

We were also blessed yesterday that my sweet Grandaddy came home from a stay in the hospital from pneumonia.  He will celebrate his 90th birthday in March.  I am so excited to see him in two weeks in Virginia!  My aunt snapped this picture after he got home yesterday, enjoying the Redskins-Seahawks game.  I love you Grandaddy!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!  I'M GLAD TO BE BACK, AND ROLL TIDE TONIGHT!

   

Pardon The Interruption

My family is in town, I am in vacay mode (while still working).  Say a little prayer this rain peaces out.  See you next week!

Cheers from the Seabrook Beach Club!

Weekend Recap

Yeah...its Tuesday, I'm a little behind.  We had an EXTREMELY busy weekend and Monday.  


Friday night Mr. R's brother and sister in law and our two nieces K & E came to spend the night.  We cooked out on the Egg in between thunderstorms.  I made THESE zucchini fries.  They were good but needed a little more Parmesan and maybe some more Italian seasoning.  

I was SO excited when I got a call from our neighbor around 7pm to ask us to go let their dog out...because their beautiful twin girls were born!!  Meet sweet A & B!  CONGRATS to the S family!
 


Saturday morning Mr. R got up bright and early to participate in the Palmetto Society's 1st Annual Redfish Tournament.  I went with my brother & sister-in-law and nieces down to the Farmers Market, it was beautiful Saturday morning.  With Spoleto happening, there was even more to see and do.

yummy cheese grits, breakfast sandwich and fresh coffee

sweet K & E

K on the bouncy slide

one of my favorite Piccolo Spoleto booths

E with my fresh flowers--loving in my office!

pony rides!

Saturday night we celebrated our good friend L's 29th birthday!  It was so fun to catch up with friends and enjoy a night out on their dock.  **I was going to make the avocado, corn & tomato salad but ran out of time.  Instead I made my salsa/cream cheese specialty.  Easiest thing in the world and addicting!

the cake from L's husband, haha

happy happy birthday!!!

Sunday we went out to Kiawah to hang out some more with Mr. R's brother and family.  We went to the beach in the morning and then the boys went to play golf and the girls went to the pool and a visit to the Kiawah Nature Center.  I got WAY too much sun.

our little starfish E

baby gators at the nature center

Our niece K just got back from a week at camp and we made Camp Greystone nachos on Sunday night!  What a fun idea for kids or a Mexican themed dinner!  Take individual bags of fritos, open them, dump beef, cheese, salsa, and whichever other toppings you may want, shake it up and serve!!  

Monday was a BIG day for birthdays.  It was my sister in law J's bday, my coworkers, our friend L from Saturday night AND my one of my bff's bdays.  We went to Pearlz in Avondale last night to celebrate L's big 29!!  We have been best friends since college and I absolutely LOVE spending time with she and her hubby J.  I wish her the best year ever!

surprise TCBY cake, her fave!

L&J, love them

Last but not least a HUGE shout out to our friends the Oakleys who will be welcoming their set of TWINS tomorrow morning!!  Cannot wait for those beautiful babies to be here and praying its a easy delivery for their momma J!

Thoughts

• I watched Part 1 and Part 2 of Hatfields & McCoys last night.  SO good.  If you have Comcast, its available On Demand through tomorrow.  However, I also that The History Channel is playing all 3 parts straight through on Saturday night.  DVR is set!!  I am excited to see Part 3, the finale.  Have you watched it?  What did you think?  How hot (for a dirty redneck) is Johnse?

• I am planning on making THIS recipe for Tomato, Avocado & Corn Salad for a birthday party tomorrow night.  Update on that next week!  Thanks Natalie @ designer bags & dirty diapers for the yummyness!

• The first movie trailer Les Miserables was released yesterday and oh my word, I am not sure I can wait until the Christmas release!  It looks amazing.  Props to Anne Hathaway as Fantine in this trailer.  WOW.

• I am so very excited to see two of our nieces tonight!!  K&E come for a week to Kiawah, woohoo!  (I'm excited to see my brother and sister in law too:)

• Can you believe its June 1?  Off course that means the beginning of hurricane season...and I'm trilled!!!  Sometimes I really do wish I had become a meteorologist!

• I am thinking of trying the Couch-to-5k Running Plan, has anyone tried it??  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

• I made a big change yesterday...5 inches of change!  A huge shot out to my girl Ashley Burg at Tabula Rasa Salon on Cannon Street for this amazingness.  I feel like a new person!  Seriously, Ashley might be the best in town!  She did all of my wedding hair and colors/styles a TON of my friends hair.  If you are looking for someone new, you will not be disappointed with Ashley!!!

Memorial Weekend Recap

Well hello!!  After a whirlwind trip this weekend, I am sad to be back to reality.  Mr. R and I left late Friday to head to Raleigh to my parents and then left Saturday morning for another 5 hours to my grandparents house on Whays Creek, a little creek off the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.  This is one of my absolute favorite places in the entire world and I was SO happy to spend the weekend with family in the sun and on the water!  
Saturday night my mom's brother and his wife came up for dinner.  Tina (uncle's wife) makes this amazing squash casserole.  More to come on that later.  Sunday we spent the majority of the day on the boat and were treated to homemade crab cakes from my grandmother.  We got a little more fishing in Monday morning and then packed it up and headed back to Raleigh for the night.  Tuesday morning we got up bright and early and came home to Charleston.  Last night we went to dinner at Wild Olive for one of our best friend's b-days!  I got the bolonganese and Mr. R got the penne.  So freaking good.  How about that rain last night?  Beryl sure made her presence known!!
Here are some lots of scene's from the weekend...hope you had a great time wherever you were and with whomever you were with!

view from the chamberlain compound

my grandfather built the house himself!

mr. r and my dad on my dad's boat 'my bonus'

heading out to the bay--we couldn't have asked for better weather

the shoreline is so different from SC but just as beautiful!

quintessential bay farm house--we used to explore this house and its grounds when we were little, CREEPY 

i caught the first fish!!

heather caught a baby crab

mr. r and i, looking out into the bay

momma osprey

momma and my cousin SE chillin in the creek

nannie made us fresh chesapeake bay blue crab cakes and OMG they were good!  recipe to come:)

daddy finally caught a fish monday morning

my #2

momma osprey on monday--she was NOT happy with us getting near her nest

mr. tucker comfortably riding his last of the 10 hours in the car..