What To Do Now....

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It’s been a really “weird” week. While I should be getting into total freak out mode because I get married in 11 days, I am rather calm. I have actually been thinking more about what-in-the-world I am going to do AFTER the wedding. I am constantly going over in my head to-do’s and schedules. What am I going to focus on when, in a single day, this year long hoop-la will be over?!

I considered signing up for some sort of race; rather it be a half marathon or full marathon but I really want to get involved in the Charlotte community and do something not for myself. I wish I was loaded and rich and could give tons of money to local charities but I feel the best I have to give right now is my TIME.

I want to find a solid and consistent volunteer opportunity here. In college, through my sorority, ADPi, I used to visit the Ronald McDonald house in Durham. We would make meals and do crafts with the kids and families that were staying at the home. The Ronald McDonald house here in Charlotte is awesome and I thought about checking out opportunities with them. I would love to establish myself somewhere in hopes of one day being on their board or committee groups and really making a difference.

I also thought about checking into Levine Children’s hospital because I have this draw to support kids that do NOT deserve to be battling cancer. (I guess that also kind of fits hand-in-hand with the Ronald McDonald House).

Overall I just wanted to throw it out there to see if anyone else had any other suggestions for wonderful opportunities to get involved in the Charlotte community! Let me know!

Also, wanted to share with you a little sneak peek of my card from my Valentine this year. He is just too cute. He even took the time to paste on an “addition” to make this card politically correct:

House Remodel

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No no, don't get too excited.  "Charleston" and I are NOT remodeling our house.  With our wedding in 19 days (holy moly!!!) we definitely do not have the time, spare cash or the appropriate stress level to accommodate the start of a remodel at this time!  We were just saying this morning how we can't wait to start saving again, starting with our tax refunds, so that we can do something fun to our house this year... but...for now, I will just live vicariously through these guys.....

I found this remodel through a design blog that I read regularly.  It has to be one of the cutest little houses I have seen go from zero to hero.
Check it out!!!!

Outside Before:

Outside After:

So stinking cute!

If you think that's good, check out the inside here:  Farmhouse Remodel

This little gem has so much character now!!!

He's A Keeper

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I was going through my file box the other day as I was getting my tax papers together and ran across my "personal" file.  Over the years I have dropped all kinds of cards, invitations etc that I just wanted to hold onto for a little longer.

I found this card that "Charleston" gave me on our one year anniversary.

I knew all along this man was a keeper.  Melt my heart. 

"One year ago today you came into my life and every moment since then has been filled with happiness and joy.  You are the most beautiful, amazing woman that I have ever met and these are not words to describe how much you mean to me.  I love you more and more everyday and I know that the number of our anniversaries will only be limited by the length of our lives." ~ "Charleston"

The Man Cooks

Saturday night we had a plan to meet some friends at Selwyn Pub for a couple drinks.  "Charleston" wanted to cook a quick dinner before going and I have learned, if the man wants to make dinner....don't turn down the offer.  Grab a glass of wine, sit back and just enjoy!

He started the meal by marinading two pork tenderloins all afternoon. 

He then butterflied them and stuffed each with sundried tomatoes, small cubes of goat cheese, basil spread, and fresh garlic.

Once stuffed, they were tied with string to keep the deliciousness inside. 

He then placed them on our charcoal grill, seared once on each side and then moved off the direct coal to slowly cook.

I decided to pitch in and make some veggie skewers to grill as our side dish.

Onion, Mushroom, Red Pepper and Green Pepper 

Successful little meal!  I prefer to eat dinner at home any night over going out!!!

LOVE THIS MAN!!!

"I Like The Way You Work It"

Meet my Aunt - 

Lori Higgins Rohs

No other word describe her but fabulous.  She is an amazing intelligent woman, incredible mother of three, and as you can see absolutely beautiful.

(Her ONLY downfall....she's a UNC Tarheel, but we forgive her)

I was so thankful that she came with us on my bachelorette weekend in Atlanta.  The experience would not have been the same without her!

We had an absolute blast!

Me, Aunt Lori, Sister Blair

(personal portraits in a dark cab with a flash never work out that well! ha ha)

Aunt Lori went to dinner with us Friday night at Ecco and then to Whiskey Park to sip cocktails and dance the night away!

and that's exactly what we did....

"Shorty get down, Good Lord

Baby got 'em open all over town" 

"Gettin paid is her forte

Each and every day true player way

I can't get her outta my mind

I think about the girl all the time" 

"East side to the west side

Push your fat rides it's no surprise

She got tricks in the stash

Stacking up the cash

Fast when it comes to the gas" 

"I like the way you work it (no diggity)

I got to bag it up"

"Hey yo hey yo hey yo hey yo

Hey yo hey yo hey yo" 

And that was just PART of night one! 

I love you Aunt Lori and thank you for being there and making my weekend so special!

(photo credit given to Ms. Sara Ted Boehm)

More pictures to come of the rest of the weekend with my fabulous G/F's!

Shop Attack For The House

I shop attacked again for our house.

This time it was for a rug to go in our middle floor living room.

I have been drooling over this little gem for quite some time and on Monday, Ballard Designs had a 15% off site wide coupon. I had to jump on it!

The only downfall:  This rug was considered a "special order" therefore it says it will not ship until April.  Bummer

But again.... sticking to my rule that "I am going to fill our house with stuff I LOVE and want to keep for years" so....if I have to wait a couple months to get it.  So be it!

Ballard Designs Sarafina Rug:

LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!!

I AM HEADED TO ATLANTA TODAY WITH THE MOST AMAZING CHICS FOR MY BACHELORETTE WEEKEND!!!!

I WANT TO SCREAM OUT LOUD RIGHT NOW I AM SO EXCITED!!!

I leave you with a little pretty for the day: 

And a glimpse at my Saturday evening outfit, ready to go!!!

HAPPY BACHELORETTE TO ME!

Children of the 80's!

Oh It Was A Fun Night....

One of my bestest threw an 80's party for her hubby who was turning 30!!!

She was ON POINT with decorations and props!  She rented out the upstairs of Tyber Creek and I am really upset with myself for not taking more pictures of her amazing craftyness.

But for now, I share with you some of the highlights and the friends that made the night AWESOME!

Katie and Leann enjoying a little Lite Brite action.  You were not a true kid of the 80's unless you had one of these puppies!

There was a splatter paint backdrop for us to pose against while a camera on a tripod snapped some fabulous shots!

L to R:  Candice, Katie, Leann, Me, Laura

 Everyone did a fabulous job of dressing up.  Some of the costumes were hilarious.

Crimped hair...YES please! 

The birthday boy HIGHLY enjoyed himself!

Jill and Ashley 

Marian and Cliff 

Tiffany and Jake 

Katie and Preston 

Wes and Jill 

Happy Birthday Ryan!

We all had THE BEST time!!!

Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken

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Experimented again in the kitchen last week with a new recipe.  It is SO darn simple to roll your favorite goodness up in a thin chicken breast and bake it.  You REALLY can't mess up or go wrong.  "Charleston" agreed that this would be a good one to have the next time we had friends over for a casual dinner; it's that good. 
Enjoy!

Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken
by:  SkinnyTaste.com

Ingredients:
2 slices center cut bacon, cooked and crumbled

3 jalapeños, chopped (remove seeds for milder)

3 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened

4 oz reduced fat shredded cheddar jack (Sargento)

2 tbsp chopped scallions

8 thin sliced skinless chicken breast cutlets, 3 oz each

1/2 cup Italian seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs

1 1/2 juicy limes, juice of

1 tbsp olive oil

salt and fresh pepper

olive oil non-stick spray


Directions:

Wash and dry chicken cutlets, season with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 450°. Lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Combine cream cheese, cheddar, scallions, jalapeño and bacon crumbles in a medium bowl.
Lay chicken cutlets on a working surface and spread 2 tbsp of cream cheese mixture on each cutlet. Loosely roll each one, secure the ends with toothpicks to prevent the cheese from oozing out.

Place breadcrumbs in a bowl; in a second bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper.
Dip chicken in lime-oil mixture, then in breadcrumbs and place seam side down on a baking dish. Repeat with the remaining chicken. When finished, lightly spray the top of the chicken with oil spray
Bake 22-25 minutes, serve immediately

Recipe Found Here:  Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken

A Lifesaver

If you have not had it...consider yourself lucky.

I am talking about the "crud" that's been going around.

I have been battling something for WEEKS now and I am just over it.

I would run a fever one day. Have sinus and head congestion the next.  An ear infection on top of a sinus infection.  And then all the symptoms of the flu (even though I still tell myself I never had the flu).

It has been miserable. 

The only thing that has been my saving grace (yes, even more then all the meds I have been on) is The Body Shop's Shea Body Butter.

I swear to you, this stuff is a miracle.

I have been blowing my nose 1,000 times a day with anything in reach; paper towels, napkins, terrible rough tissues at work.  Right now I SHOULD look like Rudolph but I don't.

It's incredible.

I lather on this body shea butter all around my nose (very sexy) and surrounding dry areas and by the next morning, BOOM.  Soft and soothed as a baby's butt. 

A Higgins Christmas 2012

Christmas this year was more then I could have ever asked for.

Good. Solid. Family Time.

I loved every second.

Mom and "Charleston" before Church on the Sunday before Christmas. 

My motha and fatha before Church

A year ago on Christmas Eve "Charleston" and I got engaged.  Time sure flies.

Dad and Olivia enjoying story time at my Grandmother's house.

My brother-in-law Sam and his little man.

Mom and Dad opening their gifts

Olivia playing with her remote control Umizoomi car from Mimi and Poppie.

Christmas is so much more fun when there are kids involved!

I couldn't get enough of this little guy.  He is such a snuggle-muffin!!!

Mimi and Olivia

Sister playing horsey.  The game you don't want to start because it will NEVER end.  "Do me, Do me, Do me" says Olivia.

We picked names this year to give gifts at my Grandfathers house and Dad got to buy for Shelbie.  He was so proud of the shirt he had picked out.

Mom, Blair and Aunt Lori

Grandaddy and Shelbie

Griffin, Sam, "Charleston"

Mom, Mattie and Grayson

Olivia on Christmas morning checking out  what Santa brought her

Can you tell I am a little obsessed with my niece and nephew?

This is Olivia's "Cheese" face when you tell her to smile for the camera!

And then....check out what "Charleston" gave me this year.  I AM IN LOVE! (yes with him too)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Friends!