I'm Back!

Okay.  I think I'm back in the groove of things.  Kinda.  :)

My holiday was pretty amazing and it came at the perfect time.  I was definitely in need of a break from work and the real world.  My grandfather passed away five days before Thanksgiving.  He had been very sick for a really long time and it is good to know that he is no longer suffering.

I threw myself into planning the perfect menu {Paula Dean helped}.

Caleb made the turkey.  This has become tradition and it is always delicious.  Knowing that he is going to make the turkey allows me to put extra effort into the other dishes which I think really makes our meal special.  I'm thankful.

I decided to go with the simple centerpiece of wheat and pumpkins at each place setting.  I loved the way it turned out!

Yum!

We were lucky to have Caleb's sister and her boyfriend join us for the holiday.  You'll notice there aren't any pictures of people... Caleb hates having his picture taken so I didn't do my usual begging for pictures since I know he doesn't like it.  I could barely stand it, but I think it was the thoughtful thing to do.  :)  No promises for Christmas though! 

I've really had an amazing Fall.  I'm excited to start this new season full of hot cocoa, lights, and time relaxing with a cozy blanket and family.  

Birthday Weekend Recap.

Over the weekend I celebrated my 27th birthday!  I'm always telling Caleb that I don't really feel like an adult, but this birthday it really hit me that I am all grown up {well mostly!}.  I've been married and out of school for several years now, we own a house, and our friends are starting to have babies.

Even though I'm a grown-up, I don't think you are ever too old to celebrate!  After all, celebration is what makes life fun!

For my birthday weekend my sister and mother-in-law came down to Chattanooga to help celebrate and we took a mini road trip to Chickamauga to try out a new little cafe that I heard about called Chocolate Therapy Cafe.

We dined on chicken salad, pimento cheese, and fruit before moving on to the main course.  Dessert.

Just looking at these pictures makes me drool a little bit.  We chose to get a platter with a little bit of everything.  Creatively, the platter is called "Family Therapy."  So cute.

The chocolate cobbler was my favorite.  It was like the best molten lava chocolate explosion experience that you could possibly imagine.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!

On the way back we listened to some good tunes, enjoyed the sunny day, and stopped at a roadside farm stand.  

They had pumpkins!!!

Then on Sunday {my actual birthday} Caleb and I went to Cloudland Canyon.  It was beautiful.  More on that later!

What did you do this weekend?

I'm linking up again with Sami's Shenanigans for Weekend Update!

Fall Is Here!

Its official!  The Fall decorations are out!  

Enjoying a birthday weekend of cooler temperatures, family, and wine.  What are you up to this weekend?

Sometimes the simple things are the best things.

In Between the Busy.

I'm sitting outside right now.  And I'm a little bit cold.

After the summer that we have had this is a pretty profound statement.  Along with the rest of the South, I was excited to look at the weather report and welcome cooler temperatures for the weekend.  Speaking of weekends... its become this crazy habit that Caleb and I squeeze in every little bit activity possible between Friday evening and Sunday evening.  This is one of the first times that I have sat down with nothing to do but relax.

Friday we had our very first dinner guests {aside from family when they helped us move in}.  Caleb grilled his famous chicken on the grill and I took the opportunity it make some recipes I found on Pinterest that I had been dying to try.  I made:

Hasselback Potatoes
Recipe and picture via Seasaltwithfood

They were delish, but I kinda skimped on the butter.  Lesson learned.

Roasted Okra

Recipe via All Recipes

And this recipe is double yum.  When I told my friend that I was going to roast the okra she was worried that it would turn out slimy, but if you roast it long enough its perfect.  It has a little bit of a crisp and is perfectly salty.  Definitely is keeper.

         

Snickers Salad.  So good!

Recipe via One Good Thing.

Since I was using the oven for both of my sides and I needed something relatively quick, this was perfection.  It was a hit and I'll definitely be making it again.  The best part is that you only need a few ingredients.

Image from Indulgy.com

Saturday I was invited to brunch with some ladies that are married to Caleb's co-workers, we went on a bus trip to Jacksonville State for the UTC football game {lets not even talk about that... UGH!}, and then concluded our weekend activities by meeting up to watch the Colts/Bears game this afternoon and buying a new sofa and love seat.  Phew!  Busy Busy!

In between all that craziness, Caleb and I found time to enjoy the pretty weather out on our deck.  There aren't many things better than Sunday brunch and relaxing with a good book.

What did you do this weekend?

P.S.  If you haven't already, check out Operation Beautiful over at Shane's blog Whispering Sweet Nothings!  Its all about learning to appreciate the simple things about yourself.  She will be featuring each woman who enters.  Love it!

I also linked up with Sami's Shenanigans Weekend Update!

Happy Birthday Surprise Celebration!

Saturday we celebrated my Grandpa's 80th birthday with a surprise party.  If anyone deserves a great surprise party its my Grandpa!  My grandma, cousin Lindsey, and I have been scheming for months to make the day special.

I think we definitely pulled it off.  My Grandma, Aunt, and Uncle told him that they were taking him out to eat for his birthday.  When they drive close enough to see the crowd my Grandpa said, "Someone's having a big party down there!"  It took him a minute to realize that all of the people were his family and friends who had all come out to celebrate!

He got out of the car and was all smiles when we yelled "SURPRISE!"

We enjoyed a lunch of pulled pork, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, and green beans.  Mmmm!  And the weather was absolutely perfect.  

The celebration was complete with a cake with 80 candles.  

I love my family.  If there is one thing that we know how to do its celebrate.  And love each other.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!!!  You're one of the most amazing men I know!

The One Where I Saw Rock City... And Some Other Stuff.

 See Rock City.  It's written everywhere.  On birdhouses, the side of barns, and billboards on I-65 starting way back in Nashville.  "How could you live in Chattanooga and not see Rock City," I thought?  So last week when Micah, my SIL was visiting we decided to check out the more touristy side of Chattanooga.  We went to Rock City.

We walked through Fat Man's Squeeze... which would indeed be quite the feat for a fat man.

We saw the magnificent waterfall which I am pretty sure is man made.

And we saw the gnomes.  Odd.

Now at least we can say we saw Rock City I suppose.  As hokey as it was I'm glad that we went.  It was a beautiful drive up the mountain.

My Mama, her fiance Tom, and Caleb's parents also joined us for the weekend and Saturday we made the trip up to Point Park which is located on the same mountain as Rock City.  Unlike Rock City, there is nothing man made about this park... except the cannon's that the soldiers drug up the side of the mountain and are now on display in the park.  So beautiful.

Its not all been fun and games around here though.  We've been working in the yard to tame our shrubs and de-jungle the backyard and I am still trying to get everything set up just how I like it.  I also started my new job this week.

And I shouldn't forget to mention that we adopted this little baby.  Don't let the cute face fool you.  She is a little devil.  Splinter is gradually adjusting.

Several people have asked to see pictures of the inside of our house.  Here is a little peek pre-furniture.  Sorry for the horrible lighting... the wall color is grey.  I plan on showing some before and after room reveals this weekend!