Happy Birthday!!

Yesterday was my hubby's Birthday!

We had a great day starting by waking up to a feast at Chris's house. He made banana pancakes with peanut butter syrup, venison sausage scrambled eggs, and to top it off he served mimosa's. What a great brother!

We headed back to the house where Jeff watched football as I made him his Birthday dessert. He wanted something I had never made before so I searched through cookbooks and called mom for suggestions. The final vote was a Milk Chocolate Bar Cake. Yummm!

His parents, Chris, and Kristy came over for cocktails and for presents before we headed down to the Peabody. Then we went to one of my favorite places in Memphis for dinner -- Flight!! If you have not been then I suggest you go for your next night out! There are so many options and everything they cook is fantastic. Although we were all full and didn't need dessert we managed to find a little room for his birthday cake.

A quick shout out!

Jeff I love you soo much! You are the best husband and I am soo lucky to have you in my life!


Here are a few pics from his past!

Jeff with his older brother Chris

Loving his blond hair!

Milk Chocolate Bar Cake

1 (18.25 oz) package Swiss Chocolate cake mix
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup powered sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
10 (1.5 oz) milk chocolate candy bar with almonds, divided
1 (12 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Pour into 3 greased and floured 8-inch round cake pans. Bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool pans on wire rack fro 10 minutes. Beat cream cheese, powered sugar, and granulated sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until it is creamy. Chop 8 candy bars finely. Fold cream cheese mixture and chopped candy into whipped topping. Spread icing between layers and on top and sides of the cake. Chop remaining 2 candy bars over cake. Press remaining chopped candy along the edge of the cake. Yield: 1 (3 layer) cake.

Modifications: I made a few changes to the recipe. I only did a 2 layer cake simply because I did not have an extra cake pan. I poured 1/2 cup of Kahlua on the cakes after they came out of the oven to spice it up a bit. I probably could have added more but I was afraid it would get too soft and fall apart as I was icing it. I bought 5 (4.25 oz) candy bars instead of the size listed in the recipe.

Fun to be Home!!

We drove to Pensacola today and it's soo good being home!!
A gush of emotions came over me as I drove over the Mobile bay bridge looking
at the Gulf Coast - such a warm reunion!!

Jeff and I have been very busy with Christmas parties, a trip to Nashville, Christmas #1 at the Brooks', and finishing my Christmas shopping!
(More on all that later - they were all fun and deserve a proper post)

Coming home ("home" being Pensacola) for Christmas is always great. I mean who wouldn't want to come home to this:


Family


Venison Lolli-pops


A little Tottie
(courtesy of Uncle John)

And of course the Dogs!!

We have a busy week ahead of us, full of planning, partying, and celebrating
Christmas with Family and Friends.


Hope you all have a great Christmas Week!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays!!


We were lucky to have both families get together for Thanksgiving! Both Jeff's family and mine all met down at the Laughing Place to celebrate Thanksgiving and have a great time! It was the biggest gathering our family had every had for Thanksgiving, 13 in total for the big day. That's pretty big considering we grew up as a family of four. Having the extra company made the day even more special.
The overall weekend was great although, we did have a few people get sick and one major accident resulting in a broken bone :( Leave it to Jim-bo to start the weekend with a bang. No worries though, luckily he is a doctor and was able to schedule his own surgery. It's important to note that Anne and Jimmy were planning on leaving that next day to go to her 10 year reunion. Hmmm - I know Jimmy wasn't looking forward to it, but didn't think he would go to that big of an extreme just to get out of it. Don't blame him though :)
After a hour and half drive to Birmingham, a couple of screws placed in his wrist, short recovery time, and the drive back to the camp they joined us again as we watched football and ate leftovers.


Jeff and I were on top of things this year and set our tree up right when we got back. (Well to be honest its not hard to decorate our 5 foot tree and our town house) But still, I like to have ample time to enjoy everything before the season is over and therefore try to get everything decorated as soon as possible. I just love this time of year and sometimes wish the lights could stay up all year long.

Below are a few of my favorite ornaments

Above is a Pensacola Beach ornament mimicked off of our Beach sign.
Dad got us all one a few years ago and it is by far one of my favorites!

A Christopher Radko Peabody Duck!

I can't live in Memphis and not have a Peabody Duck ornament!

Maryland Blue Crab!
Reminds me of crabbing off the sea wall in Annapolis Maryland

(Sorry for the blurry pictures- maybe Santa will bring me a new camera one day!)

Wedding Attire

For those of you who have fall weddings to attend, here is one option.

ModCloth

Dillards

DSW


Dillards

I am off to a wedding this weekend.
I already had an outfit, otherwise I would have purchased this fun dress and accessories.
Happy Celebrations!

Love Love Love

I absolutely love this purse!! It is the Storm King Willa by Kate Spade. Leave it up to Kate Spade to make such a perfect purse. I just think she is soo talented and fabulous. Please somebody get this purse so I can be jealous of you!

Happy Friday!!
I hope you have a good weekend!!!

Hank

I can not believe I have made it this far into Football season without telling yall about Hank.

A few years ago, Jeff made a purchase that I swore would never make an appearance in my house. It is by far the scariest and ugliest thing I have every seen.

Every weekend in the fall this little creature comes out and makes an appearance.
It is loved by few and hated by many.

What is it you ask??

Meet "Hank"

A 3 foot tall, 60 lb, cast iron Hog

You might be wondering why somebody would buy this? That's a good question - Jeff brought it to represent the "Razerbacks" the University of Arkansas mascott where he went to school.

So far this massive iron Hog has not made the move over to our house. (Thank god!) It lives with Jeff's brother, Chris, but every time we go over there Jeff tries to take him back. He hasn't had any luck with trying to convense me that it goes with our decor - I don't think that will change.

Amazing

It is amazing what a little bit of creativity, light, and a camera can capture.

Via: Tim Nobel and Sue Webster , Russ and Reyn, Dylan Tracy
Lyubomir Bukov, and Tyra Banks,

I know this is a random post, but I am just so amazed by people's creativity.

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!!!

Here are a few pictures from the past- Enjoy!

Sister Anne

Me

Mom and Dad

Me, mom, and Anne - Anne and I went 'trick or treating' as Hobo's

Scary Hobo's I might add

Aunt Anne and Mom

Anne walking in the local Halloween parade

(She is in the blue/silver fairy costume)

Pumkin and Witch

Anne, Dad, and myself

I was attempting to be pretty, but i got a little carried away with the

face make-up, don't you think?

Megs and Me as Rainbow Bright

Lindsay, Me, Lauren, and Flem (They were M&M's)

Last year at our engagement party on Halloween

Anne, Mom, and myself

Getting into character

Burger King and Wendy's

Hope you all have a Wonderfull Halloween!!