Weekend Recap: More Birthday Fun

Hello lovelies! I hope you all had a great weekend! I had yet another wonderful one, though it was not long enough, as usual. I like to make my birthday last all month, so this weekend we did a little more birthday celebrating.

On Friday night we went out to dinner and then I came home and got to work on 2 cakes for the birthday dinner we were having the next night. I didn't NEED to make 2 cakes, but I wanted to make 2 cakes. So I did.

I baked a lemon cake and a chocolate cake. For the lemon cake I made a blueberry filling:

And the chocolate cake had peanut butter filling and chocolate buttercream. So basically a Reeses' Cup in cake form. 

Om nom nom

On Saturday morning I got up and worked on straightening the house, finishing the cakes, and went for a run, which was kind of a bad idea because it was about 100 degrees. Yikes, that was rough.

My pace kind of sucked but I'm blaming it on the heat. 

I also watched Gilmore Girls (We finally got Netflix and I am IN LOVE!) which was awesome. 

Saturday night it was time to party! We met our friends at Brio for a yummy Italian dinner and lots of fun! 

I had some fun with my new nail polish and bracelets I found at Nordstrom Rack! 

And we had to get the shot of me and Adam all dressed up and adorable: 

We had such a great time and it was so great to see everyone! 

Sunday morning we slept really late and then had brunch at a new spot. I had lemon crepes with berries and ricotta and they were SO good! 

Plus an iced latte that was awesomely strong and delicious. 

It was such a wonderful weekend, seeing our friends and spending time together! I am one blessed lady. 

How was your weekend? Did you eat all the food like I did? 

Weekend Recap

Well hello lovelies! Happy Monday! It was absolutely beautiful here this weekend, which prompted me to break out the shorts and sandals yesterday afternoon:

Of course it was short-lived because it cooled down in the evening, but it was nice while it lasted! 

Friday night we tried to eat at a place called Al's Pizza at the beach for dinner, but we got down there and it was INSANE busy, so we opted for the old standby, Chili's. Then we spent the evening at home, watching our latest show and chillin'.

Saturday morning I worked on a cupcake order for one of our former wedding cake clients who is expecting! She wanted to do some cupcakes for a gender reveal party with their family.

It's A Boy! 

Then it was pampering time! I went for coffee and pedicure with my friend, and I may have picked up a certain coffee mug that I could no longer resist: 

It's hard to see the color in these pictures, but I chose OPI's Wooden Shoe Like to Know, and I lurve it! It's like a brownish, grayish, and it certain light it almost looks purplish. 

Sunday afternoon we had a birthday lunch for four of our friends who have birthdays in January and February, so I baked a birthday cake! This one was a Caramel Latte Cake, a favorite among our group: 

We met them for lunch at Lulu's, a local seafood spot. 

Sunday evening we went through the room o' stuff and worked on paring it down to a reasonable amount. We still have a ways to go, but it's getting closer to being able to be used as a guest bedroom again! 

Then it was time for dinner and a movie, and relaxing before the week starts all over again. 

Once again I neglected to get any blog posts written this weekend or any tax stuff done like I intended. But I had fun, and that's all that matters, right??

Linking up with B Loved Boston, A Cute Angle, and Bella and the City! 

Thankful

I have so many things to be thankful for. Here are just a few: 

I'm thankful for the love and grace of God in my life. This means everything to me, and I wouldn't be where I am today without His love. 

I'm thankful for my husband. He is my best friend and I couldn't imagine doing this life without him. 

 

I'm thankful for family. I've learned never to take it for granted and to cherish time with the ones you love.

I'm thankful for my friends. I've never been one to have a ton of friends, but the ones I do have are the kind I can always count on. 

I'm thankful for my dogs! I know that may sound silly, but they really are like family to us, and they bring us so much joy! 

I'm thankful for our home. It's not huge and fancy, sometimes it's messy and cluttered, but it's ours and we love it.

 

I'm thankful for provision- food to eat, clean water to drink, clothes to wear, and a roof over our heads. So many people don't have these basic necessities, and we are so very blessed to have all of these in abundance. I never want to lose sight of that in the constant push we feel for more.

 

I'm thankful for my job. I don't always feel like getting up in the morning to go, but it's a great job, I work with great people, and it helps to pay the bills!

 

I'm thankful for all of you, my readers! It's still kind of crazy to me that there are people who show up to this space to read my words. But I am so thankful for it, and for the amazing community of bloggers I have met.

 

I'm thankful for the legacy my parents left me of their trust in God, their kindness, and their integrity. I am so thankful to have such wonderful examples.

 

There is so much more I could say, but suffice it to say, I am truly blessed.

 

I'm going to take a little break from blogging for the next few days to unplug and really soak in my time with Adam and friends. I will be back on Monday to recap all of the Thanksgiving awesomeness! 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Things I'm loving lately

* Running into a friend at Target on my lunch break

*Hazelnut iced coffee

*The crisp coolness of the air in the mornings and evenings

*Shopping my closet and falling in love with an old sweater that I had forgotten about all over again

*Watching football with friends

*Binge-watching "Friends" episodes with Adam and laughing just as hard as the first time I watched it

*Being Southern

*Leftover Halloween candy

*Going through piles of stuff (yes, there's even joy to be found in this) and finding old notes, cards, and keepsakes.

*Chili nights

*Puppy cuddles (Ok, when do I not love this??)

*Knowing I'm loved unconditionally by my Savior

*This here bloggity-blog and the beautiful ladies I have met since I started it

*Fall traditions

*Saved by the Bell reruns on TV

*Throwing away piles of stuff we don't need. So liberating!

*Pumpkins. Always pumpkins.

Dear High School Julie,

If I could travel back in time and have a little chat with my high school self it would be kinda weird this is what I would say...

• I know you feel super awkward and unsure of yourself sometimes, but guess what? Everyone else does too! Some are just better at hiding it than others. 

• YOU ARE NOT FAT so stop it already with the negative self-talk. One day you will look at these pictures and think "Why in the heck did I think I was fat??"

• Don't worry about not being part of the "popular" crowd. Just enjoy the amazing friends you have and realize that being "popular" isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

• Being an introvert is not a bad thing, though it may seem like it right now. It's who you are and that's ok because that's how God made you. As such, you are a great listener and extremely sensitive to other's feelings. 

• These are great times, but they're not the best times of your life. It's not all downhill from here. You have many, many more exciting, joyful, and surprising times ahead. 

• Stop investing so much emotional energy into boys who don't reciprocate your feelings. God's going to bring an AMAZING man into your life in just a few years, and you will be so very glad that you didn't waste your time and emotions on anyone who isn't enthralled with you the way he will be. 

• Though I know you already do, appreciate and treasure the time you have with your daddy. He won't be here on this earth for as long as you think he will (though he will be there to walk you down the aisle at your wedding!) 

• Keep being true to yourself and your beliefs. It will be 100% worth it, promise. 

Linking up with Home of Malones and East Coast Chic for Thoughts for Thursday!