A packed week

The pace really picks up as the holidays approach, doesn't it?
I can feel it, and definitely see all that there is going on when I look at my calendar! Its so fun, and I love having things to do, places to go, and people to see.

A little while ago, my friend Meredith asked if us gals wanted to attend her mom's annual church event, the Christmas ladies' dinner at Smoke Rise in Lilburn - the same church where Meredith was married during the summer of 2010.
The dinner was a huge event with ~200 women all sitting around beautifully decorated tables. The guest speaker was Middle Georgia's own Gena Knox.

Meredith and her mom, Mrs. Kathy, did a beautiful job on our tablescape! It was so pretty! And we had a fantastic table. Lauren M, Mere, Lauren G, Mayer, Meghan, Hollie, and me!

After a dinner of pork loin, green beans, potatoes, salad, rolls, and cheesecake for dessert, Gena took the stage to give a talk on her philosophy of {Keep it fresh, Keep it simple}. She did a great job! Can you believe she is 8.5 months pregnant here??? She looks amazing!

Here's a photo of Gena visiting one of the many farmers she writes about in her second cookbook, Southern My Way

On Thursday night after work, I hopped in the car to head home for the weekend. Asa was playing football in the semi-finals, we were celebrating my and Amy's bdays belatedly, and my friend Shelley was having a baby shower. Surprisingly, Shelley and Mitch's baby girl came way early! So, little Ansley is an early Christmas gift, and her shower was cancelled. I got to see daddy Mitch, and all is well with mommy and baby too!

On Friday night, the fam gathered at Tattnall Square to cheer Asa and the Hornets in the semi-finals. Don't you love the sibling and Gman support in our green and gold?

Getting ready for the run through!!!

Can you spot Dad?
Sadly, we didn't win, and were put out of the GISA playoffs. Gladly, Asa is just a junior, so hopefully his senior year will be complete with a State Championship!!!

On Saturday, Mom, Abbye and I stopped by Mistletoe Market to see my aunt Jill who's store Kimberly's had a booth, my friend James Farmer who was signing books, and meet up with my friend Linsey and get some sugar from her baby girl Faegan!

If you missed it this year, be sure to come next year! Its great to visit lots of vendors and to see lots of familiar faces!

Since heading off to college back in 2002, Amy and I have made a point to celebrate our November birthdays closer to Thanksgiving when everyone is home for the holiday. We managed to get together this past Sunday. I love spending time with Amy, and am always thankful when we can get together. We met Becca for a little icecream cake and a quick visit before dinner.


On Sunday, I had a belated birthday dinner with my fellow bf Scorpio, Amy. While in high school, we spent many dinners at Applebee's in Perry, so in honor of our long friendship, we headed there and treated ourselves to our favorite dessert - a blond brownie!

 My Monday was busy with a client delivery and my attempts at getting my house Christmas-fied. Its getting there, slowly. :) But, on Tuesday after leaving my day of work at Heery's Too, I had to capture the trees lit for the holidays.

When leaving work last night, I was crossing Clayton Street and was struck by how lovely the night was. The sun was setting, and the lights are on all the trees. The yellow leaves of the Ginko tree are still hanging on and its so pretty!