Knot Sew!

My friend Rosemary makes these beautiful corded necklaces, and I wanted to share her talent with you all! If you're interested in them, email her at rosemaryheath86@gmail.com.

Baxter and Sandy

One year ago, we welcomed our little bundle of joy, Sandy. After getting home from work one day, David and I ventured out for dinner at the Sweetfire Grille. At the time, we were shopping for a new car. When we finished dinner we moseyed across the street to check out a car lot. We were oooing and ahhhing at several new cars when this sweet little cry came from the tiniest kitten I've ever seen. Naturally, I scooped the little nugget up. After searching the lot and behind the dealership for a mommy kitty and brothers and sisters to no avail, we decided that she was ours. Here she is eating her first bit of kitten food!
David and I wanted the tiny thing to have a name reminiscent of our favorite college town - Athens. Since we've got Baxter Griffin, we thought Sandy (after Sanford Stadium) really suited her. The first few weeks, we didn't even know if she was male or female - our vet told us that when we rescued her from the lot she was only 2-3 weeks old! We kept her separated from Baxter while she gained some weight and adjusted to life in our family. Gradually, we immersed them to spend all of their time together. I will admit, there were plenty of times when David and I asked "Did we do the right thing?" The picture above answers that question with a big "YES!" After Baxter got over initially wanting to eat her, he fell head over heels in love, or maybe just developed a real bond as her big brother. Sweet Baxter - He and David had it all figured out for over 3 years, then all the sudden not one, but two females move in to turn their bachelor lifestyle upside down!
Sandy has acclimated nicely with Amanda's Golden, sweet Ally girl too. Who would have ever guessed this when we were using a water bottle to train Baxter not to bark 2 inches from Sandy's face?
And now, their love story is just plain beautiful. She crawls all over him...
...cuddles with him...
...sleeps on his back...


...even pokes her feet in his face!
I couldn't resist the cuteness of her little paw prints running across our freshly made bed!


Baxter is so much like my David - protective, calm, loyal, observant. He's truly the best dog we could ever ask for.

I mean, look at them! She helps him stay clean! Is it soul mates or best friends? Either way, we are extremely proud parents!

Welcome home Smithsons!

When Colby and Jaime returned from their honey moon in Mexico, we had them to dinner to hear all about the trip, see their pictures - and have some of their delicious wedding cake! Here is our wedge of the white cake with raspberry filling.
The hydrangea bushes in my yard are laden with blooms, so I grabbed a few and pulled out the silver to celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs.!
Their pictures were wonderful and we were delighted to share in every highlight of their trip!

Meredith's last fling before the ring!

This past weekend was Meredith's bachelorette party in Santa Rosa. We had the best time celebrating with her! I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends, and we are all thrilled for Meredith's upcoming wedding! Love you, Mere!

The Windy City

On Sunday afternoon, after our annual Coody Family Mother's Day Picnic at my parent's house, David and I hopped in the car and busted it to get to the airport to catch our flight. We made it in plenty of time, enough time to not take the train (much to David's disdain); I like to walk to the terminals if we have time. We had a very nice flight thanks to Delta, and made it to Chi-town in plenty of time to check into our hotel and have dinner. We were staying at the Holiday Inn that's settled above the Chicago Sun Times and attached to the Chicago Merchandise Mart. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is also downstairs. We were on the 22 floor, and the view is beautiful - part river, part skyline!

After a dinner at our hotel's fabulous Italasia restaurant, we settled in the get some sleep. David is taking another continuing education class here this week, so that leaves the day for me to explore! I took a long run/walk yesterday morning to scope out the city...I happened on the NBC building, Northwestern University, the Magnificent Mile, Neiman Marcus, and about 40 impatient people waiting to get into the Apple store. We had lunch together while he was on a break and I got to go to the Art Institute of Chicago's museum. And wow! What a treat for me! There were some very important works there - Picasso, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Jeff Koons, Leger, Man Ray, Dali, etc. My absolute favorite where the miniatures in the lower level of the museum - The Thorne Miniature Rooms. And Matisse is one of my favorite artists, and there's a beautiful, thorough exhibition on his works and the transitions in his artistic life. After my blissful, cultural afternoon, I met David back at the hotel to head to the architectural boat tour. It was a little cool yesterday afternoon, but amazing to float down the river that snakes through this beautiful city! We were able to see many types of architecture - Modern, post-Modern, Art Deco, etc. Do you remember in My Best Friend's Wedding when Michael and Julianna are dancing on the boat as he sings to her? Well, that's during one of these tours. Afterward, we went to the Navy Pier to see the boats on Lake Michigan and to have dinner at Riva - delish! We had a nice time at the City Bar here at the hotel for an after dinner drink.
One of the rooms representing California architecture and interior design.
Eastern architecture and design

The famous American Gothic by Grant Wood painted in 1930
Georgia O'Keefe
Frank Lloyd Wright elevation drawings
Claude Monet
On the boat for the river tour
On Tuesday morning, I caught up on my computer - it was cold and rainy! I met David and one of his classmates at a little cafe' across the street for a delicious lunch. Afterwards, I headed to find a nail salon to prep my fingers and toesies for the beach trip with the girls this weekend! In exploring a different direction of the city, I was able to see a bunch of the buildings up close that we'd seen from the river previously. I also happened on the new Chicago French Market - so fun! I then finished my run back to the hotel to get dressed for dinner. David and I had an early meal at Trattoria 10 near the theater where Billy Elliot was being performed. After a dinner of truffle mushroom soup and butternut squash ravioli for me, and prosciutto with melon and lamb for David, we had a wonderful time cheering on little Billy at the incredible performance at the Ford Center.

In an attempt to be a good wife, I got up with David this morning to have breakfast before his class as this was the last time I will see him until I return from the beach on Sunday. The cafe' we chose for lunch yesterday also serves an amazing breakfast! He headed off to class, and I headed back to the hotel to pack.

We have both thoroughly enjoyed our time here in Chicago, despite the unseasonably cold temperatures this week! So to all you other travelers, if you're ever looking for a couple to keep you company on a trip to Chi-town, count us in!

Rainy Day Reading

My girlfriends and I have fantasized for years about starting a wedding planning business, and upon discovery of Nora Robert's Bride Quartet I was just too excited! I read Vision in White first then Bed of Roses, and now Savor the Moment has come out. Each book follows one of the 4 friends who began Vows, a wedding planning company in Greenwich. The first, Mackenzie - a photographer, then Emma the florist, now its Laurel their resident pastry chef; lastly, Parker, the coordinator, will come later.

I really want to read this before the new movie comes out!

And to all of you who have heard me go on and on about last summer's Fine Cooking special publication, this is the 2010 version on sale now. Its got a lot of last summer's recipes in it, but some new ones to enjoy too!

Colby and Jaime are now Mr. and Mrs.!

Their wedding weekend was a blast! These past 4 days began with dinner with the Smiths on Thursday night, incuded a late-night dance party with Brince and Becca back at our house on Saturday night (Or was it Sunday morning?), and ended with David and I joining Colby and Jaime at the St. Regis for the night before they left for Mexico today. It began on Thursday night when David and I had the treat of staying the night with her family at the cabin they rented for the weekend. It was in Dahlonega, about 45 minutes from our house. The cabin was built in Kentucky in the 1800's and moved to its present site in 1987. You can even see the numbers on the wooden beams that they used to put it back together correctly. The cabin was nestled in the trees and has a nice big back porch from which you can see the Chestatee river. It was so charming to hear the water running over the rocks! This first photo is of Colby, Jaime, and her two sisters, Ansley and Sydney at the cabin - they're so sweet!
Colby's mom Terry is an art teacher, and this was evident in the hand-printed booklets, paper treat bags, and guest bags that were given for the weekend.
Friday night was their rehearsal dinner at the beautiful Frogtown Vineyards in Dahlonega. It was a lovely evening, and I know Jaime's mom worked very hard in planning it for them. So many of their friends and family toasted the happy couple!

We were lazy on Saturday and celebrated David's birthday before getting ready to head to the wedding at Neverland Farms in Cleveland. The light mist falling during the outdoor ceremony and the fog hanging over the mountains only added to the charm of the wedding! We moved to the larger pavilion for dinner and dancing. The newlyweds left the reception amid a sea of sparklers, and headed to Atlanta. David and I drove down last night and joined them at Paces 88 inside the St.Regis hotel for a lovely, leisurely dinner where we could talk about their wedding while it was still fresh on everyone's minds. We were enjoying ourselves so much that David sneaked off from me and got us a room there for the night! The rooms there are just amazing, and I wish we could've gotten to hang around a little today and enjoy the hotel!

Here are a few shots of the details and such around the reception...


We LOVED the grooms' cake...the little fondant sign says "The hunt is over" - love it!

Her cake was gorgeous too - it was wheeled onto the dance floor so Colby and Jaime could cut it!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Smithson!

Happy Birthday to my David!

Today is David's 28th birthday, and we are enjoying a nice, relaxing morning in our pj's with Brince and Becca. Last night we attended Colby and Jaime's beautiful rehearsal dinner, and tonight their wedding is at The Neverland Farms. We are so glad to be celebrating David's birthday evening in conjunction with a wedding! The first photo is one of my favorites of David. I swiped it from Grandmother's house, hence the spotting on it. It was probably in that frame for 25 years! And the next picture was taken at the cabin the day of our wedding. He's so handsome and happy!

Happy Birthday to my love! I love you!

A clock and paper?

David planned for he and I to head to the Brasstown Valley Resort to kick off our anniversary celebration! It was the most breathtaking place - this is the view from our room!
On Friday morning, we took a two hour horseback trail ride. It was so peaceful and relaxing!
David's a natural on a horse! :)
The resort from the trail ride.

Tradition calls for paper to be given on the first anniversary, and clocks are apparently the modern gift. Who comes up with this stuff? So, I wrote a journal for David that detailed our ups, downs, events, and fun from the first year we were married and got him that sharp-looking bedside clock.
He surprised me with a beautiful album with photos from our first year's events!
I just read that Lauren got one of these this past weekend too, and my parents got me the baby grass and surf butter dish to add to my R. Wood pattern. I just love the colors!
My parents also surprised David and I with a fun oldies CD to jam out to, and this beautiful yellow and gold tole tray! I have never seen one like this before, and I am tickled to have it our home!
I took our cake topper out a few days before hand to thaw. We had friends for dinner the night we got home from Brasstown Valley, and they were able to share in the deliciousness too!

We used the cake to celebrate Wesley's birthday too! We were so excited that the Hills and the Wages came to spend the night with us - we loved celebrating Wesley's day and our anniversary too, if only Lauren the other birthday girl had been with us!
Captain David!
On Sunday, we had the pleasure of the Hices joining us! Little Luke is adorable and perfect, and we were so glad to spend some time with Glenn and Josh! As always, Colby and Jaime came to hang out too!
My sweet hubs of one year!
On Sunday night, we had a special dinner to cap off the great weekend we had, and to also kick off Colby and Jaime's wedding week. They are getting married tomorrow, and we wanted to have one last relaxing dinner with them.
The evening was just lovely, and we enjoyed filets, macaroni n' cheese, caprese salad, asparagus, and a green salad. As always, there was plenty of wine and laughing. For dessert, we had True Love's cupcakes - yum!

I wanted to share this recipe for mac n' cheese. I know we all don't really need to be eating this on a regular basis, but try to make it for a special occasion. We've been enjoying a little along all week - it makes enough for a great week of leftovers. I absolutely love mac n' cheese, its been my favorite food for like my whole life, and when you add truffles to it, its just decadent. However, Gainesville doesn't have this type of gourmet truffle oil, but the dish was wonderful without it.

California Truffled Macaroni and Cheese
makes 6 servings

4 tablespoons butter
1 lb. elbow macaroni
2 quarts milk
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 lb. sharp cheddar, grated
1/4 lb. mild cheddar, grated
2 oz. Gorgonzola cheese
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
1 teaspoon black truffle oil
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 cup panko (bread crumbs)
fresh chives

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9x13 baking dish. Cook pasta. In a large saucepan, heat the milk to hot. In another saucepan, melt butter, add flour, and cook about 3 minutes until straw colored. Raise heat and add milk. Make sure milk on bottom doesnt burn, and then remove from heat. Add garlic, chedder (mild and sharp) and Gorgonzola, Tobasco, truffle oil, salt, and pepper. Stir in the pasta. Pour into baking dish, sprinkling the panko and P-R over the mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes and garnish with chives!

Enjoy!