Friday Favorites

Cheers to the weekend! It couldn't have come annnyyy slower in my opinion. We have another wedding this weekend (but I'm just a guest not the planner!) but other than that I plan on sleeping..a lot...I've been so exhausted lately! Ya'll have anything planned? If so, have fun and have a great weekend!

Linking up again today with Amanda over at Meet @ the Barre and Karli with September Farm for today's Friday Fav's- join in!

1. Two words: Ham Base (powder) oh my gosh ya'll I love this stuff so much. I get it at our local Amish store for less than 5 bucks and it is like gold. You can put some in on regular canned veggies or green beans and its like cooking with a ham hock all day- but cheating. Love this stuff!

 2. Favorite recipe: I've been obsessed with fruits lately so when I saw this floating around I had to pin it to try for the weekend! Peanut butter fruit dip: Recipe here

3. Favorite funnies

 

yes please

4. Speaking of dogs, look at this cute printable I made for Miss Emma Jo- just needs a pretty frame!

5. Favorite fashion finds this week

 Click here for flats

Click here for top

I'm headed to the farm...

No no I'm just kidding but I do believe if I was a single gal I'd head on over to Iowa and meet our newest Bachelor....drumroll... Farmer Chris!! (I must say I called and it and I am overly excited for this one) I mean, there is nothing wrong with this sweet good-looking man...or is there? (dun dun duuunnn) Bring on January because I am ready for the farm ya'll!

 By the way...I totally accept this rose

Also, I was catching up on some reading yesterday and came across Southern Living's Top 100 Best Restaurants in the South. I was excited and surprised to see how many from good ole' Virginia made the list. If you're anywhere in the area or have tried any of these places let me know which ones you like! Hubs and I are pumped to start making new date nights!

Click here for the full list

Picks from VA:

1. The Shack in Staunton, VA

2. Heritage in Richmond, VA

3. Peter Chang China Cafe in Glen Allen, VA

4. Restaurant Eve in Alexandria, VA

5. The River & Rail in Roanoke, VA

6. The Roosevelt in Richmond, VA

Trending Tuesday: Red Carpet

Trending alert! Red carpet fashion alert!
Linking up with the lovely Zelle @ Southern Style for

I am a sucker for awards and awards seasons of any kind and adore seeing what people wear on the red carpet (I even host an Oscars party where people may or may not be required to dress up...) With that said, we've had the VMA's and the Emmys back to back this week and I'm going to highlight my hits and misses for the evening. Though I'm not a huge fan of the MTV ones, it makes for some fabulous no-no examples. Happy Tuesday everyone and I hope everyone had a great weekend since I was MIA yesterday recovering from a busy wedding weekend!

Sidenote: wedding went well and the bride and groom are relaxing on their honeymoon in Charleston while I wipe my brow and thank goodness I'm no longer running around like a crazy person haha just kidding just kidding! (also, the rain and clouds broke just in time for the ceremony! Whew!)

Ok now starting with what's NOT trending in my book for the VMAs on Sunday. The following people get fined... Amber Rose, Jesse J, Ariana Grande, Charli XCX and even T Swift ya'll. I believe in trend setting and standing out but come on now...

 Now that I'm moving on to the Emmys, I'll only make it about positive best dressed folks. No more no-nos. Ok, here we go, the best dressed nominees for the 2014 Emmys according to Jessi:

LOVE!

But my absolute favorite win and look of the night? My girl Jessica Lange! Nailed it! I mean just look at her!

Friday Fav's

This week has been one for the books! I've had a successful new International Student Orientation, earlier than usual mornings and later than normal nights helping my friend and bride for her wedding tomorrow. Today I am leaving early so I can conduct her rehearsal (hubby is in the wedding so we'll stay for that as well) and then a busy day of making sure everything is perfect for her tomorrow! With that said, I woke up in a unbelievably good mood so bring on the weekend! I'm linking up today with Amanda over at Meet @ the Barre and Karli with September Farm- you should too! Have a great weekend! xoxo

 

1. Favorite Fashion Finds: These Frye Booties for the win! (get them here)

why yes, yes I do..

 2. I've been craving good ole' mac & cheese lately and since I broke out my crock pot for the first time last week I figured this would be easy & oh-so delish! (Recipe here)

3. Favorite funnies

Please tell me ya'll have seen the new P Manning commercials! haha He really is my new favorite commercial king! I so badly want to do this next I'm in a gas station. Oh man... (click here for more)

4. Don't forget to enter the best back to school giveaway featuring a fabulous Tory Burch bag! The giveaway is going until 6pm so GOOD LUCK!!

Back to School + Tory Burch = Fab Giveaway!

Tory Burch could quite possibly make going back to school time seem more exciting am I right? Is there a better way to start off a normal Tuesday? Nope. Some fabulous lovely bloggers and myself have teamed up to bring you the ultimate fall/back to school giveaway. Drumroll: The Tory Burch Amanda Crossbody bag! Enter below for your chance to take this beauty home. This bag is so versatile and will accent any wardrobe!

Be sure to check out these other lovely blogs! The giveaway will run until this Friday at 6pm. Fingers crossed for ya! 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Weekending + House Update

Hey ya'll and happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! I have now entered another school year and summer seems officially over... International Student Orientation starts this week for us at work with all students back next week and Seth and I also have 2 back to back weddings, one of which I'm helping to plan and running the rehearsal on Friday. Whew, here we go!

I know I haven't done a house update in quite sometime but we have now officially finished the first floor and I am blown away with my husband. I'm tellin' ya'll- he could go into this full time for sure! So as we move on to the second floor (guest room and bath, future kids rooms and bath and office + sitting lounge landing) I'd like to share the first floor progress! Of course I still want to pick up little odds and ends but without further ado, here is a little update:

ps- ya'll remember my never-ending entry-way table search? (Biana, you will!) This table was the perfect height and length (because of the radiator it had to be shorter in width) and it was antique to match the time frame of the house, perfect wood color, good storage ANNND it was FREE as in found it in my parents' barn ya'll! It has been there since I was in high school I'm sure and when Tiff was down the other weekend we took it out, cleaned it up and brought it on home. SCORE! 

Linking up with the lovely Biana @ B Loved Boston for Weekending

New chandelier up! What do ya'll think?

Won't that bar cart look great under my portrait in this little wall nook? :)

I need a little black and white ottoman/foot stool in that vanity nook still!

Hey toilet...

 

So of course while I'm cleaning and trying to stage, Hubby is still scraping away on the front porch ya'll so we can get her back to her former glory! 

 And then Emma invited a random friend over for an hour or so and it was hilariously cute - no idea who her friend was but she was lovin' the interaction....