Travel.

We celebrated the holiday weekend in the mountains of North Carolina. During our three day stay we visited Waynesville, Asheville and then made a short stop to Highlands. We went with one of our favorite couples in the world and brought our dog, Buster, along.

We popped some bottles to celebrate being together.

Asheville was a delightful day trip. We ate lunch at the Tupelo Honey Cafe, which is a popular place, so put your name on the waiting list and shop around until your table is ready. I had an awesome black bean burger and Tony had their famous southern fried chicken BLT, both were delicious entrees.

Then we went to some antique stores: Antique Tobacco Barn and Screen Door.

It's hard to describe the treasures within these two places. Both stores were massive warehouses that had smaller vendor areas within the building. I preferred the Screen Door because it was smaller and more manageable to walk through.

The items that really caught my eye in this store would look better as display pieces in a store or a large barn. As much as I'd like to, I don't think that I can fit 12' console/utility tables into our home. I am ashamed to say I walked out with nothing. I can't believe it. I was so defeated, but I felt bad having our friends wait on me at the front of the store. They assured me they were not in a hurry but the husband, Nate, walked around this 25,000 sq ft building in three minutes and said to his wife, Meghan, "I've seen everything in here, there's nothing good."

That made me laugh so hard because I easily could have spent an afternoon in this store.

This was a real Louis Vuitton. There really is something for everyone in these stores, you just have to look.
At the end of our trip we stopped through Highlands to visit my grandmother-who-is-one-of-my-favorite-people-on-this-planet. She had the table set and lunch in the oven. She's such a wonderful hostess and she is also primarily responsible for my love of home decor (you too mom). Look at my photogenic husband.

Nanu had a forwarded email printed out and ready to share with us and I'm sure she'd want to share it with you...
Nanu also had her flowers blooming.

Here's the lovely woman I've been raving about.

A final look at the mountains
I can't believe a week has already passed. I wish you all a wonderful, family-and-friends filled weekend.

Rewind.

Let's pretend it's Monday morning and I had my stuff together.

Wow, what a great weekend! We celebrated a graduation from nursing school, a birthday, a bridal shower, the Kentucky derby, an engagement and NYC friends being in town.

(do you see why it's taken me 4 days to recover?)

Here are some photos from the Bridal Shower:

For the Urban Grace following, this fruit pizza might look familiar. I knew Erika would not lead us astray. I mentally bookmarked this pie last summer and we served it at the shower. OH MY, this is my new favorite dessert. It was dangerously delicious and I had to replenish our guests plates so I would not devour the entire pie. Thanks Erika for sharing your mom's recipe!

On to the newly engaged couple. These two were house guests for the weekend and it was hard to not smile awkwardly at Laura because I knew the engagement was coming...glad that bluff is over. Congrats you two. I hope a move to Tallahassee is in your future.

Anthro Inspiration and Talloween 2009.

I want to start this post off with one of the best images I've seen in a while. Anthropologie always manages to keep their design fresh, creative and inspiring. Image via AFB Now a little recap: I loved having a Halloween reunion with some of my best friends. There were very creative costumes and I must say this was the first year I saw more skin from males than females.

Tony and I went as Mexican party starters...{think senor frogs} I was looking for cheap Mexican blankets and could not find them, luckily my friend Tiff spotted the rugs at a dollar store and we created an outfit from them.

Hope you had a great weekend as well...I'm off to work.

A Wedding Weekend.

High School friendships are so unique. It's even more unique when two get married. This past weekend we celebrated Jordan and Nate, whom after being friends since the 8th grade decided it was time to get hitched. Here are some photo highlights of their big day.

During the prayer I started snapping a few photos and Tony leaned over and said "you know you are not the wedding photographer" I shot him a look and kept snapping.

oh hey friends.

Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Thomas

Atlanta Round 3: The People.

There's nothing quite like a good host. We were greeted with a glass of wine and a cheese platter...because Beth and Allison are just that thoughtful.

Thanks again girl, it was such a wonderful weekend.

Beth, I miss the 100,000 thread count bed.

this was the official song of the weekend {and this kid is the new youtube sensation}:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3be6D18ExPg

100cameras.

I'm taking a break from blogging the details of this renovation. I fell asleep thinking of cabinet measurements which led me to dream of them. I do not think I ever really slept- pictures just flashed through my head all night of possible layout scenarios. I like this renovation process for the outcome but the details are endless and A not only effects B and C, but F & G- ya know what I mean?

I digress. Here is what I am looking forward to 100cameras. Tallahassee.

Go ahead, mark your calendar for May 11th. 6pm-9pm at the Mint Lounge. (Good job Jovi!)

When I heard Nana, the founder of 100cameras- this girl, was going to be driving through Tallahassee, I thought...let's throw her a great party. Gather all the folks that love her and miss her and let's just celebrate her. Then I thought, let's not deprive the people from hearing about the exciting mission that she has successfully created through 100cameras. africa. Let's raise awareness and get people involved. The ball has been rolling through New York and now we will get it rolling in Tallahassee.
What is 100cameras? Glad you asked.

The mission of 100cameras is to place cameras into the hands of people living in adverse conditions, and utilize photography as an outlet for individuals who have been victims of social, economic and racial injustice. Our goal is to let the lens tell their story.

Last October 100cameras went to Africa to join efforts with St. Bartholomew’s orphanage in Kajo Keji, Sudan. The children were given cameras and asked them to document their everyday. They did. For one week, they used cameras to tell the details of their story- their hands and teeth and bicycles and feet. At the end of the week, cameras were collected and images were saved.
Now 100cameras has teamed up with Mint Lounge of Tallahassee. On May 11, 2009, the results from 100cameras.africa will be displayed. The event will be a night to honor the children and tell their stories. Their pictures will be exhibited and photographs sold. 100percent of proceeds from purchased prints will be given back to St. Bartholomew’s orphanage. Come see life from their photographed perspective.
100cameras will continue to serve communities by giving children the resources to share glimpses of their lives through pictures. From Africa to New York City to Tallahassee, these cameras will give children in various at-risk communities the opportunity to express the realities of their everyday through images. By utilizing the camera as a powerful tool for communication, it will allow the children’s stories to be carried across borders and across cities. 100cameras is committed to bringing their stories to you, through online print sales and exhibitions circling all proceeds back to these communities.

Here she is: dreamer and creator of 100cameras

So go ahead and plan on coming- bring a date, a coworker, meet up with some friends or make some new friends. We're excited to see you there.

My dear Susanna

Let me introduce you all to an incredible talent, Susanna Kohly. There are a lot of adjectives I can ramble off to describe her, so I'll mention a few of my favorites. One of her best attributes is her ability to capture life in the moment and capitalize on living it to the fullest. When you are around her you like your life more. She inspires you to be more. She's an artist, she's encouraging, a great listener, a healthy cook, an entrepreneur (click here, do it)

Nana, I wish we lived in the same city and cooked dinner together.

Thanks New Yorkers. You sure know how to show a girl a good time.