all in a week's time

Following a beautiful 70 degree, blue-skied, amazing weather weekend came rain, wind and gloom. While that's usually not your ideal situation, I must say I did enjoy the harvest hues the wind carried and seemed to perfectly scatter around creating an ideal Autumn backdrop. The leaves were everywhere..and they looked beautiful.





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You know at some point, after days of rain, there will come the light at the end of the tunnel. A beautiful light...sunny skies and great weather. We spent the weekend with friends - dinner in Atlanta, as well as a party at a professor's beautiful home.





I made some of the most delicious burgers we've had. Thanks to Little Miss Momma and her 'best burger ever with secret sauce recipe' :) I also made Lauren Inspired's 'candy covered candy corn popcorn' and definitely recommend it!

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And now for the 'phone dump'...created using Instagram's app, I've seen it on multiple blogs and love it :) Everyone was probably inspired by Kelle Hampton's Friday phone dump! So here is my version.. 'Sunday Cell Dump!' All in a week's time...

red sky at night...

'Red sky at night, sailor's delight...'

This red sky at night turned out to be the beautiful start to a girl's night out. While our men were cooped up in the library, heads buried in books and deprived of fun the last few nights before a test - the girls decided it was time to make the short hike into Atlanta for some much needed food, drinks, fun and relaxation. Red sky at night, the girls reunite..


But my men were waiting on me at home. J fell asleep, but this little boy was trying his hardest to stay up for me..gosh, I love this face that greets me upon arrival.

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We had company this weekend -- and family time is always comforting. J didn't mind taking a few days off to spend with his parents - and I'd say we made the most of it. Dinners, drinking, celebrating, and even a fall party in the mix. Our days were spent decorating, baking, cooking, eating, drinking and creating memories in between. Who wouldn't love that?


Fall beer, anyone?!



Our tables were full of fall-inspired dishes, which later filled our stomachs. And while I can't speak for everyone, it filled mine beyond its capacity. Holy fullness! But isn't that what the holidays are all about?!

butterfinger candy corn pops recipe can be found at blog529.com

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Sunday was spent in our favorite kind of way. Atlanta, brunch, walking, drinks, delicious food, each other, and family. And the weather was just as wonderful.




Just as it never seems to fail us, there was a birthday to celebrate! Fall birthdays fall at just the right time, with so much to look forward to :) Cheers to that!


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And while the weather continues to change, pup and I spend more days outside, waiting on his daddy.

Blue skies during the day means Grizz and I will play!

just a walk in the park

Every time I meet someone new and they ask 'so what brings you to Georgia?' my response is always the same. 'Well, my husband is in med school, so we moved here from Florida last su...' and then, I'm pretty much always cut off. 'Med school? Wowww!...' in that I'm-jealous-you're-gonna-be-rich-really-soon tone. Most of the time, I just go with it. There are the occasional times I speak my piece on how I feel about that. The tens of thousands of dollars paid in tuition each year -- well, it sucks...and the fact that he doesn't make any money throughout the whole process -- well, that sucks, too. (Oh yeah, I've also been given the stink eye a few times when people hear that my husband doesn't work while in med school.) And, the fact that interest on these crazy beyond crazy loans racks up well before he will even begin to make money -- that sucks too. Once there is a little bit of money made, you think of the insurance that doctors have to pay for + the loans we'll begin to pay back, and we'll realize just how long it will take to get to that rich place people envy when they hear the words 'med school.'

It's a long journey ahead. Aside from the whole debt factor, there's that whole no-time-together thing. But, while all of that pops up in the back of my mind from time to time, I take each day as it comes. I know he's no where near thinking of all that stuff, because for now, he works his butt off studying as much as he can (stuff I won't ever understand) and that's enough to think about for him. I cherish each moment we have together now (because I know it's more than it will be in a few years!), and I take advantage of the time spent away from my husband by spending it with wives in the same situation as me (and love being with them!) And no, we don't have pity parties to dwell on the fact that we have very small budgets and our husbands are somewhat absent -- although, I'm not gonna lie, there was the one 'omg, none of these rotation sites sound appealing and we're all going to move away from each other' pity party -- but aside from that, we spend time laughing, talking, eating, drinking, crafting, and exchanging stories of the gross things we hear from our husbands. It's fun!

So while med school life is no walk in the park, we try to do all we can to make it seem the opposite. Like, for instance, taking walks in the park!




..and meeting the sun's rays with every turn we take -- which blared above the peaks of tree tops and snuck between the tall pine's branches -- while filling each other in on our daily news.

I know he's not always up for 'making the most of our time' because, well, sometimes we all just want to do nothing. And I'm fine with that.

It's just like our coasters say..


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Speaking of art, you know I've been up to something. Especially since it's the week before a test. I have time to fill!

Monogrammed pumpkin and other little porch goodies..

Look, it's the same 'B' from our wedding invitations :)

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I ended the evening peaking into the life of an adorable, curious, and mobile 10-month old who explored her way through a jungle-gym (well, jungle-gym to her -- office to most) via Skype.


..and I'll spend my weekend attempting to feed Snapper (my Venus Flytrap that my boss bought me who has yet to eat a fly, but beware -- he bites!), crafting with friends, squeezing in a moment or two with my love, playing with the pup and cuddling up on the couch to watch just what I've been waiting for -- The Lion King -- it's here!!




Happy weekend to you! Enjoy it :)

{tutorial coming soon for the monogrammed pumpkin}

welcoming October

Happy October, everyone!

In the past week leading up to October, there have been moments of happiness, creativity, laughter, love, and more. We had days of sunshine where I was running around outside in a tank-top with Grizz and his friends while yearning for water..and within 24 hours, J and I were complaining of being incredibly cold, needing coats and hot chocolate...but really, that's nothing to complain about!

October 1st brought just what we expected of fall - cold temperatures, fall beers (Sam Adams Oktoberfest is now available on tap!), colored leaves, and more. As I sit here writing into the wee hours of the morning with a fall scented candle flickering beside me, a cool breeze whipping through the house, my pup breathing heavily and the lights dimmed low, I can't help but notice the exciting feeling of fall. Coming from Florida, I can't say it's a feeling I've grown up knowing all about, but it's certainly what you'd expect fall to feel like and we don't mind welcoming October one bit. The leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping, and the holidays are sneaking up right around the corner....and well, I'm excited!

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My sister's birthday comes just in time to greet fall. It's a great time for me to sit in the house (windows open!) and create little gifts for her. While I gave her her own gift, I couldn't help but include goodies for the babies. After all, don't they say that when you age, holidays are all about your kids anyway..?! I made this little 'onesie cupcake' for my future niece, complete with a note that read 'since there are two of you, the little one deserved a birthday treat, too!' I rolled up a onesie and assembled it as a cupcake. Of course, I had to make a bunch of headbands for our precious Arianna (she loves her headbands, and she's so dang cute in them!!)

Oddly enough, the Johnson & Johnson commercial just came on... 'having a baby changes everything...' as I just stated when it comes to gifts!

Subway art inspired by Emily at Our Little Casita
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I've been baking lately like it's my job. I can certainly admit though, I am no good at it...but I have fun with it! Cookies, cakes, cookie-cakes, cake pops, and...dog treats! Grizz is the greatest little helper and he followed his nose that swore to him the next batch was all his. He was right. Peanut butter puppy treats...all for Grizz :)

White dust from flour and grease stains from butter have taken over my clothes the past couple days. An apron was necessary. How have I gone so long without one?! Leave it to Hobby Lobby to have some of the cutest aprons in stock! (Well, I thought cute, J thought french maid..)


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Oh yes, my fall decoration collection has yet to be completed! I've been keeping myself busy while J has been studying. I came across this blog with DIY Apothecary Jars...

and I decided to make my own..

I purchased the wooden bases for around .30 cents at Hobby Lobby and the glass candle holders for $1 at Dollar Tree, then used e6000 glue to attach the $1.50 glass jars from Hobby Lobby to the spray painted base. Easy peasy :)

I'm excited to use these for upcoming holidays as well!

I then made these accordion pin wheels using scrapbook paper and placed them in a vase - a much cheaper, longer-lasting alternative to real flowers!



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I saw a yellow scarf at Target last week that I really wanted, but if you know me, you know I don't just buy things to buy things. I mean, come on people, I have to justify my purchases! I went back today to get it after much thought, and it was gone :( So, I went to Hobby Lobby (surprise, surprise) and bought a yard of yellow fabric. I made a few cuts, knotted it up a little and attached a couple flowers for a quick and easy DIY scarf.


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Meeting for lunch on Fridays has become a weekly routine for us. And why not take advantage of this beautiful weather outside instead of remaining cooped up inside PCOM (where J spends hours upon hours every day anyway)...thanks for bringing the picnic tables back, PCOM!

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And after hours of me working, doing DIY projects, baking, and keeping myself and Grizz entertained, J gave us his undivided attention for a few amazing hours Friday and Saturday night (after studying his butt off from before sunrise til almost sunset each day this week)...and it was wonderful for all of us :)
PF Chang's one night, and frolicking in Atlanta another night!

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When J is upstairs, and I am downstairs, Grizz doesn't know what to do. He must keep his eyes on both of us, so he waits patiently at the top of the stairs to split his attention towards both of us. Aww, we love him :)

It's been a good week for us. Make sure you break out the fall scented candles, turn on some good tunes, and enjoy whatever it is that makes you happy right now. Unfortunately, I am missing the Taylor Swift concert that I so badly wanted to attend this weekend, but am lucky enough to enjoy time with my little family. It's clean sheet day (and seriously, who doesn't love that?!) and my pup is waiting on me. Goodnight!