5 on Friday: All Things Mom!

Happy Friday ya'll! I am SO SO SO (ok you get it) ready for the weekend. This week has been especially hectic at work and I am just plain exhausted- ugh students graduate already. (just kidding...sort of) I am not at all worried in the slightest about how cheesy I am about to get so here it goes: I adore my Mother! I adore everything about her! My Mama is my absolute best friend and I'm not sure what I would do without her. My college roomies and closest friends would make fun of me because I talked to my parents EVERY day and when it came to Mom- multiple times a day (not including texts) haha that is just how we roll!  We've been through everything together and literally the only reason I hope for a baby girl one day, is to hopefully have the relationship that we have! (oh man, despite the teenager stage- yikes!! hahaha)

She is the strongest woman I know (don't want to throw down the troubled past but just know she has been through it all) and she is a nurse on top of that! Yay to Mom's all over the world this weekend! Give yours the love she deserves and just say "Thanks Mom, for everything."

Linking up with Christina & Amanda

Happy Weekend!

Me, My sis & Mama waaaay back

Ha! Love this comparison of the winos that we are!

One of my favs!

Hair & Make-up trial day!

And my wedding day!

Wino Wednesday #1 (& #RedBalloonsForRyan)

Today I am so excited I could burst for the first Wino Wednesday link-up with Amanda from Kids & Cabernet Each week join in and link-up with your new (or old) favorite wine and maybe what you would pair it with! Simple right? Right! Thanks Amanda for starting a link-up that is clearrrrrly right up my alley! (hehe) 

Also, I read about a tragedy today that really touched me and I want you all to be aware as well. Jacqui over at Baby Boy Bakery lost her 3.5 year old son in a terrible accident on Friday. The online/blogging community is coming together to show their support and send prayers her way with the hashtag #RedBalloonsForRyan. you can read more about it and see his adorable picture here http://www.livinginyellow.com/2014/05/redballoonsforryan.html (and also find other ways of helping the family out by donating, etc.)

I don't even have kids yet but give yours extra hugs and kisses. I think of my niece and nephews and breakdown. Be thankful for your family and never take anything for granted. Please send your prayers to Jacqui and her family. Thank ya'll! I am not trying to be lighthearted by switching themes in this post but I am sending so many prayers to this family that is hard not to add them into my Wednesday post.

#RedBalloonsForRyan

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Ok so here it goes:  I haven't really been out shopping since our kitchen was just finished (which you can see in yesterday's post!) but I was gifted a really good bottle of wine last week by my co-workers so I thought it would be perfect for the first review! It was delicious and since it was a gift I am not sure of the price- however, when searching online it comes out to be under $20 most of the time!

"An approachable blend with aromas of rich, dark fruit and baking spices on the nose yielding to fresh plum, blackberry, violet, dried fig, vanilla bean and Chinese five-spice. The wine is juicy with plum and blackberry flavors, prominently layered with smoky and sappy maple oak, roasted almonds and hazelnuts. Our Josh Cellars Cabernet finishes long with fine, firm tannins."
 you can check out their other wines here: http://www.joshcellars.com/

I believe a good cab goes with anything so drink up and enjoy! (maybe next week I'll actually switch to a white wine!) But in the meantime, stay thirsty my friends! 

 

Weekend Recap (better late than never!)

So it's only Tuesday....just a day late on the weekend recap that's all... I wasn't feeling too well from Sunday until about now so I took a little break (I feel s disconnected now though ahhh) Anyway I do want to share with you all that we....drumroll please.... HAVE A KITCHEN! I am so excited to show ya'll the finished kitchen (well pause.. we still need to paint the walls a pretty pale gray from Valspar and then the floors need their final coating) but we are basically complete with the kitchen and half bath! I was also able to unpack a little in the dining room in regards to the built in hutch/china cabinet! (Which I have been so ready for!) We've had people over almost every evening and even prepared our first little dinner in the new space. To say we are loving it would be an understatement!

Also, on Friday I got some awesome news from the lovely Samantha with Playdates & Pearls that I was the winner of their "So fresh & So Spring" giveaway! Ya'll...this isn't your ordinary giveaway... they put together $150 cash, the March Popsugar box, a dozen flower cookies from PPGBakery and $50 gift card to TennesseeMeVNTG on Etsy. I almost cried! How fun is that??? What aperfect start to the weekend if you ask me! The other fabulous ladies hosting the giveaway are:

1. Samantha of Playdates & Pearls

2. Bethann of BethAnimalPrint

3. Katie of Pearls + Girls

4. Kaysha of That Comfort Girl

5. Biana of BLovedBoston 

6. Rene of My Simple Kitchen

 

 Your homework? Check them out immediately if you haven't already! I've never seen a better bunch of lovely gals! Thank ya'll so so much!

Exactly how I felt...no joke!

 Ok-just a refresher on the kitchen before:

Love these two!!

Before

Semi-After

Friday Five/Fav's

Happy Friday my favorites in this oh-so fabulous blogging community! (haha too much?) I hope everyone had a fabulous week and has a great weekend planned. Today, in honor of the sunny, warmer weather we have coming in, I want to do a porch theme with must-haves for every porch! 

If you follow me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook you've seen that Seth and I have enetered our new home in Southern Living's Porch Club- Porch Makeover sweepstakes. Yay for SL & yay for sweepstakes! Anyway, voting is painless and simple and we would love it if you hopped on over and gave us your vote! Our entry is titled "Jessica, Burkeville, VA" and has a collage of our poor porch (bless its heart) We've been dominating the inside so much that we haven't focused on the outside yet so this contest would be fabulous! (there's 100's of entries but it's still fun!) 

Thank ya'll and happy weekend!

Linking up with Christina, April & Amanda

Here is the link to the contest if you want to give us your vote! Thanks again! :)

http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/porch-makeover?iid=magazine-porch-makeover 

A must have for a Southern porch? Ya'll know I adore all things blue- so I'd have to say the blue porch floor/ceiling is my favorite accent to any porch! Porch ceilings/floor were painted blue to ward of evil spirits known as Haints that were not able to cross water. Southerners also said it resembled Heaven!

Another perfect porch accent? Rockers! You gotta have some sort of rocker to sit a spell and relax.

How about a nice porch swing somewhere? That is a must for me as well!

And lastly, you must have some beautiful plants and planters for added color!

See Ya April...

Geez...April? Was that you? Until next year.... 

Ya'll seriously I die every time I see this and then it's stuck in my head.... FOR DAYS!

I"m actually looking forward to May! Summer is officially on its way and we are movin' right along with the house. My friend Hill is having a house warming next weekend, my friend HK may be coming in from NY to go with me AND My bestie Heather is coming up from the beach as well. Can we say: GIRL time! We also have a fabulous mini vacay to Charleston at the end of the month (King Street here I come...sorry wallet and hubby) We are staying at the Francis Marion on King and I am so excited. I mean, just look st how cute this place is:

We all remember the notebook Charleston scene right??

I haven't been in a few years and I'm really looking forward to trying new restaurants around the area! Also, did anyone else indulge in Southern Charm on Bravo? Seriously, I have a problem with reality TV....I joke and say oh my gosh this will be terrible, how can they have this, etc. etc. then before you know it I'm canceling plans to run home to the couch and watch it live versus stocking up on DVR time. Ha! This was no different- I loved it! (Not going to lie) I loved watching their drama and seeing all the Charleston area places, etc. I'm hoping to run into them....by total accident...cough cough....or at least visit J.D's restaurant! (haha stalker)

The Hubby hasn't been and it is very RARE that I convince him to take a vacay whether it be short or long so this will be good for us (it may or may not be our last us time before discussing family planning..mmmhmm...) Afterwards, we are leaving Charleston and heading down to Amelia Island, Florida for one of my fellow Hollins gals' wedding! It will be so nice to see everyone and celebrate with the future Mrs. Gibbs! Then when are driving the long haul back to VA (but luckily I have that Monday off...whew)

SOPHOMORE YEAR! HA!

Overall I'm really looking forward to kicking off May and keeping you all posted on our house updates! It's hard to save the pictures until Monday's Recap because we seem to get something done almost every day! Thanks for sticking around and following along- Have a great day!

Ok Ok here's a quick preview of yesterday's finished project: No more old yucky yellow paste! New Backsplash up! (just needs grout)

Honey's phone gives off a weird yellow filter...and the stove isn't blue....just protective coating thingy! haha