I Know Mom Deserves More Than Salt and Pepper

My mom deserves the world.

There will never be a Mother’s Day gift to justify what she means to me and what she stands for as a mother and woman.

Therefore, this year I chose to give her…drum roll please…..Salt and Pepper shakers.

Now these are not just just any salt and pepper shakers….these are Salt-and-Pepper-Shakers-A-La-Blain

I wanted to give mom something with a personal touch. I know they are not much, but...what do you give a woman that deserves EVERYTHING a mother should have and ever want.

If I had a million bucks I would give my momma a million bucks. If I had arms long enough to reach Kernersville, I would give her the biggest bear hug every day. But for this Mother’s Day, I guess she is going to have to accept my salt and pepper shakers and at least know that they were made and come with 100% love.

I made my salt and pepper shakers at Dish It Out. I thought they had the cutest shape and I think they turned out fantastic! I left the base of them white and painted on pink, brown and black flowers….what do ya think?

I think Mom liked them. The holes on the top were kind of large so if you have dinner at the parents house anytime soon, shake lightly!

(Click on any picture to view larger)

Salt-and-Pepper-Shakers-A-La-Blain

They were fun and easy to paint!

Two weekends ago I went with the girls to Savannah, GA for Jackie’s Bachelorette. We had the most amazing time and stayed in the perfect house for all 14 of us! Here is a sneak peak of two out of the 7 bedrooms in the house! It was perfect for our needs and it seriously looked like it was a showroom for West Elm and Pottery Barn! I highly recommend 7 Habersham, Savannah, GA for your vacation purposes!
…more on this trip to come later in the week.

Jackie's "Princess" Suite
Bathroom

The small upstairs bedroom

And Laura in the second kitchen doing a little cake baking :)

Free Time With My Hunny Hunny

It was a Sunday night and GORGEOUS outside. “Charleston” and I had gone to dinner and were not ready to return to the apartment and call it a night. What to do, What to do…..

So I kidnapped him.

I didn’t tell him a thing.

I got him in the car and I headed South on I-77 with a great idea in mind!

I LITERALLY drove him out to the middle of nowhere.

And we got to here:

Lake Wylie Dam

*click on any picture to view larger*

If you have never been to Lake Wylie, its beautiful. It is not overdeveloped and fairly scenic.

We were here to watch the sunset over the dam. Lets just say, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. It was amazing.

(We also were not the only ones hanging out at the dam that night. There were several people fishing which provided us with some fabulous people watching... if you know what I mean :) )

me and my hunny hunny

I could eat his face off!!!! ...Ok, so I guess I am a little in love :)
"Charleston" had this brilliant idea to have a rock throwing contest.
Rules: Throw a rock from the seated position.
The Winner: The one who threw the rock the furthest. (Very creative game baby.)
You take a guess who won.

Take a look at this form, perfect in my book! Just proves again... I am very much a girl.
Who is that stud posing at the end of the boat ramp? The next J Crew Model maybe??!

It was a good night.

"Its Got2b The Best Product Ever" said Sally

There are two things that I recently have fallen in love with. It might come as a surprise to some of you but one is a hair product and the other is a finger nail polish ;). In these two areas of interest, I am always trying something new, but, I think I have found two things that I will stick with for awhile.

I stumbled across Got2b Fat-Tastic Thickening Plumping Mousse when I was at CVS looking for a hair gel. I have very thin and limp hair; therefore, 99.9% of the time when I style my hair I use SOMETHING to give it a little umph. I have used MANY products and invested more money then I want to total up on all kinds of gels, mousses, sprays and creams. I have found that there IS a difference in ‘Volume’ and ‘Thickening’ when it comes to product labels. ‘Thickening’ products work better on my hair to give me the body that I want with my short bob. I have found that many gels are too sticky, especially with the North Carolina humidity. Sprays and root boosts have never been strong enough to tackle my frizz and creams are a lost cause. Mousse’s give me the “thick” hair I want without the stiffness. After using Got2b Fat-Tastic Thickening Plumping Mousse for the last two weeks, I won’t go back to any of my old products – EVER. It is also the best bang for your buck when you can find it at drug stores for less than $7.00.
I also love keeping my nails painted, especially in the summer! Last weekend Ashley Leadon got me hooked on Sally Hansen Nail Polish in Commander in Chic. This color is awesome! It’s not really a purple, but not so much a grey either…it’s the perfect mix of both. Its light enough for the spring but could definitely be pulled off in the fall! I already bought my own bottle and have it on right now! It perfectly matches my Ann Taylor Loft dress that I am wearing to work today - score!

Do You Have A Swagger Wagon?

Toyota scored a brownie point in my book with the release of their new commerical for The Sienna SE van! Check it out!

(If you can't see the entire video on your screen click here: Swagger Wagon Video)

Isn't it cute!

Welcome Whicker Boys!

My best friend Sarah had her twin boys early this morning! Welcome to the world Mr. Carter and Mr. Dalton! You two are a true gift from God and you have no idea how lucky you are to be born into the most amazing family.

Congratulations Sarah - you are already the most amazing mother. I am so proud of you for bringing these little things into the world to be loved more then they will ever know!

Congratulations Sarah, Adam, Carter and Dalton....and the entire Whicker and Lewis family!

(Sarah, don't hate me for posting this...it was my first picture of the three of you and as always, you look naturally beautiful!)

Italian Salad Pizza

I try to eat healthy but I can only shove so many salads and raw vegetables into my mouth. Every now and then, even in the summer, I need something a little more satisfying.

Last year I found a recipe in my Pampered Chef Cookbook called Italian Salad Pizza. I used to make it all the time last year, then somehow I forgot about it. Last Wednesday while “Charleston” was in town I wanted to make something a little on the healthier side without sitting him down to a bowl of rabbit food. Therefore, I pulled out my trusty Italian Salad Pizza recipe and it was a hit!

It’s cheap, VERY easy and delicious!

(check below the recipe for the “Blain” modifications!)

Italian Salad Pizza
Source: The Pampered Chef

Pizza Crust:
1 (10 ounce) package refrigerated pizza crust
2 garlic cloves 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
4 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (1 cup)
4 ounces fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded, divided (1 cup)

Salad Topping:
5 cups romaine lettuce, thinly sliced
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/4 cup pitted ripe olives, sliced
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup fat-free Italian salad dressing

Heat oven to 425 degrees F.

For crust, roll out dough to edge of 15-inch baking stone, pizza pan or cookie sheet. Press garlic cloves over crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle dough with herbs and 1/4 of the Parmesan cheese. Bake on bottom oven rack 12-14 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

While crust is baking, prepare toppings. Shred mozzarella cheese, grate Parmesan cheese, slice lettuce, chop tomato. Slice Olives. Thinly slice red onion. Place lettuce, tomato, olives, and red onion in mixing bowl. Add dressing; toss to coat.

Remove crust from oven to cooling rack. Immediately top with mozzarella cheese, ¼ Parmesan cheese and salad mixture. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Cut with pizza slicer; serve warm.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutrition facts per serving: 160 calories; 5 g fat, 250 mg sodium, 2 g fiber

Blain’s Italian Salad Pizza Modifications
- DON’T measure anything! If you want more Basil, add more Basil. If you want more Parm, add more Parm. If you hate chopping garlic, used minced garlic from the jar…if you like garlic, use the entire jar! (just don’t come close to me after your done eating!)

- I use MamaMary’s Thin and Crispy Pizza Crust. It’s easier then the refrigerated stuff. Just brush it with olive oil and then add the ingredients.

- I use Kens Steak House Northern Italian Lite salad dressing: YUM!

- NO olives for me…Olives only have a home in Martini’s and Bloody Marys!

- Several minutes before you pull the pizza dough out of the oven, throw on some cooked shredded chicken to add a little protein and pop it back in the oven for the remaining minutes to heat! I like to use Oscar Mayer Chicken Breast - Southwestern Seasoned Strips that you can find in the lunch meat section of the grocery store!

Lord Jesus Christ

I am not sure if it is the lack of sleep I have had this past weekend or the fact that my allergy medicine is kicking my butt right now and I am typing through closed eye lids but…I think I am a tad bit delirious.

I was just reading the paper when I came across this article:

Lord Jesus Christ (his real name) hit by Mass. Car
The Associated Press
Posted Friday May, 7 2010

Police say a Pittsfield woman has been cited for running down a man named Lord Jesus Christ as he crossed a street in Northampton on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old man is from Belchertown. Officers checked his ID and discovered that, indeed, his legal name is Lord Jesus Christ. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor facial injuries.

Police say 20-year-old Brittany Cantarella was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

It cracks me up. Who in the world changes his name to this??!!! Do we not have some rules in America that prevent someone from calling themselves Lord Jesus Christ??! Ha ha, I couldn't’t get over how funny this was.

Two Years Ago

It is crazy how fast time flies when you are having fun. I found some of these pictures from May 2008 on my Shutterfly account and it made me miss this fun time of finishing up my first year of Charlotte living! Yeah for Lake Norman, sunshine and fabulous friends!

click any picture to view larger

Tyler and Ryan sunbathing together...they look all too comfortable!

Ryan, Ashley and I about to go for a ride

Yes, I did go from a Blondie to a Brunette..then back to a Blondie...and then back to a Brunette...I couldn't make up my mind.

On the dock at Charles' house

We were also preparing to give away our little Sara Tedder to Mr. Brian Boehm. Here are some of the girls from Sara's bridal shower in Raleigh!

....Just Another Reason Why I Love Him....

And that’s why I love him….

It’s Wednesday.

Not Friday, Not Saturday..not a holiday weekend….but Wednesday….

..and he is coming to Charlotte for the night.

That’s why I love him.

“Charleston” is coming this afternoon to visit, only to wake up in the morning and drive back to Greensboro. These days are the best! Nights like these give us time together. Just the two of us away from our busy week and weekend schedules of work, bridal and baby showers, weddings, graduations and many other events. It lets us be a “normal” couple even though we don’t live in the same place. These kinds of nights give us a regular evening meal together, TV on the couch, and casual conversation. It really is the simple things in life that mean the most.

With all of “Charleston’s” effort in our relationship, I just hope I show him enough how much I appreciate what he does for “us.”

I pray every day for God to give me the ability to be more loving, more caring, more appreciative, more sympathetic and more observant so that I can try and be the best I can in our relationship. I want to strive everyday to make him the happiest man in the world. I just hope I can do as good of a job as he does in making me the happiest woman in the world.

Always the Bridesmaid? 5 Must-Do’s for Your Own “I Do”

I found this article some time last year and saved it.

I liked it.

I will be honest, I have been through the "why her, and not me?" question in my head at least once...what 26 year old single female hasn't? It's not the fact that I really want to walk down the isle immediately but itsn't it slightly reassuring if you are at least dating someone that has some potential?

Whatever your situation....

I found this article last year...and I liked it...so I saved it...and I just found it in My Documents today.

I thought it was good advice. Maybe it can be good advice for you too....

Always the Bridesmaid? 5 Must-Do's for Your Own "I Do"

by Josie Brown

What do you hate most about being a bridesmaid (besides ponying up for a dress you’ll never wear again)?

Let me guess: The dread that you’ll never be the one saying “I do.”

The movie 27 Dresses, which starred Katherine Heigl, is the story of many women’s lives:

They are so totally there for their gal pals who are walking down the aisle—yet, at the same time, they are just a wee bit pea green with envy at the bride’s grand luck to have found her Mr. Right.

“Why her, and not me?” they think. “Aren’t I just as pretty, just as smart, just as sexy as?”

The answer is probably a big YES–to all of the above.

But your own “happily ever after” takes more than a warm body in a tux.

So, what exactly are the steps you need to take for a marriage filled with love, commitment, and yes, happiness?

These 5 very important must-do’s:

1. DO open your mind toward men who you may not necessarily consider your type. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’e going to keep getting what you’re getting. The guys that you least expect may be the ones that have the qualities you appreciate most.

2. DO reconsider and reconnect. Maybe you lost touch with a great guy friend. Or maybe you’ve always regretted keeping mum when you could have opened your mouth (and your heart) but were too shy. It’s never too late to pick up the phone and reach out. (Just don’t drunk dial; the next morning, you’ll want to remember what you said…)

3. DO smile–a lot. Just like in committed relationships, in dating, attitude is everything. If you’re shy, or pensive, or unsure of yourself, IT SHOWS. So, relax! You’ve got inner grace. It’s time to let it come out.

4. DO be bold. You don’t need more regrets in your life, so don’t hold back. If you want to say “hi”to a stranger, go for it. Otherwise, you’re just like that Sinatra song you hear played at every wedding, Strangers in the Night: just two ships passing through the night. Instead, jump overboard. He’ll be there to catch you.

5. DO get out there. That old saying– “times up to bat”–is just as relative in love as it is in baseball. If you stay at home, never travel, or only have a few tried-and-true hangouts, you will never experience life to its fullest: which includes people you’ve never met.
Including your future spouse.

Now, get out there and find him.

At the next wedding, forget about catching the bouquet. Instead, try to catch his eye.

I Love Those With A Sense Of Humor

“Charleston” and I shop attacked yesterday at Friendly Center in Greensboro so that we could get ahead of the game for birthdays, mother’s day and graduations. We had lunch at Pita Delite and when we got back out to the parking lot we saw this parked a couple spaces down from us:

click on image to view larger

BAH HA HA HA.
I just love people with a sense of humor on life.

Comical.

(I don't want to offend anyone but if you don't know what WTF means check here: What does WTF stand for?)