Etiquettely Correct

If I have to work on my birthday . . .

2011-06-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

I might as well have a cute outfit, right? Here is my birthday outfit. I will be wearing the skirt and jacket. You can find it here. I have a BR non-iron pink shirt to wear with it. Being that pink is my signature color . . .

Perfect

2010-11-19T18:27:00.000-08:00

I love this. I might have to get it.

How did I not know . . .

2010-11-19T18:21:00.000-08:00

I love the Mad Men Barbie dolls . . . I'm not much of a doll collector, so I don't know if Santa will bring them - but I love them! Check out this article.

Egg Nog French Toast

2010-11-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

I was off work today, so I made myself french toast for breakfast. I had some egg nog creamer that I substituted for milk. It was yummy!

1/2 cup egg nog creamer
2 eggs
teaspoon of vanilla
I added some freshly ground nutmeg

Thank You Veterans

2010-11-11T12:46:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of the patriots who have served and thank you to all those who will serve. I feel so lucky to live in the greatest country in the world, where freedom is protected.

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-08T16:51:00.000-08:00

I know we haven't had Thanksgiving yet, but I am getting pretty freaking excited for Christmas. A friend had an open house at a gift shop last week and it really got me in the spirit. She had cute cocktail napkins and some great smelling candles - I have been burning the Christmas tree one.

We are having our annual Christmas party this year and I am already preparing. I need to get the invitations out. I didn't think people sent them out this early, but I have already gotten one from a friend for the same night. I looked on etsy and I found the cutest items from this seller. Check her out!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has a safe and happy one. Here is our little moosehead.

Fun for fall!

2010-10-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

I love my new pants . . . you can get yours here.

A Little Perspective

2010-10-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

I found this in the blogging world. I am sharing it here and on my facebook page. I hope any readers I may have, will take a second to read it. It's from Vicky Bell's blog and it's a letter she wrote to her daughter.

Sunday Graces & the Weekend of Nothing-ness

2010-10-17T17:12:00.001-07:00

Sorry for missing last week, we had company in town. This weekend the hubs and I both pinky-swore to each other that we would not make any plans. It was wonderful. It was the weekend of nothing. Friday night we ordered pizza and caught up on our shows or "programs," as my grandparents used to say. Saturday we hung out around the house and did some little projects. Today, I did the weekly grocery shopping and then cooked up a storm. I'm going to freeze the majority of the food, it makes it so much easier during the week. I think hubs got it right when he said "we have enough food for a month."

For this week's edition, I am going to share part of an article from House Beautiful. In their November issue they did "101 Party Do's & Don'ts." Well our scanner isn't hooked up and I don't have the patience to type all 101. So, I decided to pick ten items that I completely agree with and ten that I don't really agree with.

10 items I am down with:

1. Don't be afraid to throw a party because you think it will cost too much. You can have a good time for $10 with a bottle of wine and a bag of nuts. Thomas Jayne, Designer

2. Music should be just loud enough so that people have to talk above it slightly. Alexa Hampton, Designer

3. Don't serve only white liquors because you're afraid of spills. Richard Mishaan, Designer

4. Don't impose a dress code on people . . . leave them to their own devices and just see what turns up. Larry Laslo, Designer

5. Don't run low on the hooch! David Jimenez, Designer

6. The host's mood sets the tone. Emily Eerdmans

7. Always start with an empty dishwasher. Chesie Breen

8. People with big personalities are best in the center of the table. They can help carry the conversation from that place. Michael S. Smith, Designer

9. Not everyone drinks alcohol. Have fresh-squeezed juices and other delicious choices so you can mix a "mocktail" or two. Preston Bailey, Event Designer

10. Turn off cell phones! Joan Michaels Designer

10 tips that I don't necessarily agree with:

1. Always do favors. Amen Wardy (I don't think favors are necessary at every party, I feel like this has gotten a little out of hand lately.)

2. Put lamps on your buffet or server. Jan Showers (I just prefer candles. I am aware of the fire risk.)

3. Have beverages visible from the moment guests step in the door. Matt and Ted Lee (I think offering to get your guests a beverage is the better approach.)

4. Don't use assigned seating - allow guests to mingle and let the evening evolve organically. Deborah Lloyd. (Those of you that have been readers for a while know how I feel about this. If you are having a sit-down dinner, assigned seating is a must.)

5. As a host, don't sit at the head of the table - presumptuous and archaic. Darryl Carter (I believe that the host and hostess should sit at the heads of the table. The hostess sits at the head closest to the kitchen so that she can better accomodate her guests.)

I have to admit, when I was reading this article last night I thought there were a few more I disagreed with. I guess not! I agree with the other 96 items. This is a really great issue if you enjoy entertaining. Happy Sunday all!

Sunday Graces - The Gracious Guest

2010-10-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind full of entertaining. We're on a self-imposed hiatus until mid-November. I decided to compile, what I think are, the top ten ways to be a gracious guest. As a disclaimer, these are my personal opinions. I’m sure everyone has their own idea of what makes a gracious guest and I would love to hear from you . . . so comment away!

1. A gracious guest comes to the party on time and not a minute before, unless, you are a very, very good friend (read – bestie) or an immediate family member and you have come to help with last minute preparations. I know I am always grateful for family members who come early.

2. A gracious guest never comes empty-handed. Whether you bring flowers, wine, candy, or a baked good . . . you should bring something.

3. A gracious guest never brings their children to a party that they are not invited to. If children are invited, their parents should watch them.

4. A gracious guest does not over-indulge on either food or alcohol.

5. A gracious guest mingles with everyone at the party and does not pick and choose who they converse with.

6. A gracious guest always offers to help clean-up. However, a gracious hostess would never allow it.

7. A gracious guest does not dominate the conversation and allows everyone a chance to contribute. That being said, a gracious guest also contributes to the conversation and does not remain silent throughout the night and stand in a corner.

8. A gracious guest does not over-stay their welcome.

9. A gracious guest does not leave the hosting house intoxicated and then proceed to drive home.

10. A gracious guest always acknowledges the host and thanks the host for inviting them.

Sunday Graces

2010-09-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

This week's edition is going to be short and sweet. We had a cocktail party last night and I am recovering today. The party was wonderful and I think everyone had a great time.

I recently purchased this book and I love it! I have always been a huge fan of Junior League cookbooks. I found a used copy of Party Receipts from the Charleston Junior League. This is where this week's tip is coming from.

"The key to a sucessful party is planning and preparing ahead so that you can have as much fun as your guests." I couldn't agree more with this advice. The more I entertain, the better I get at preparing ahead of time but it's still a challenge for me. It really does make the party so much more enjoyable when I am not stressed beforehand.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and I hope that everyone has a great week coming up!

RIP Madras Flip-flops

2010-09-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

You gave me two great summers. We saw some beautiful places and did some fun stuff. However, you've seen better days and it's time to part ways. I'm hopeful that J. Crew will reincarnate you next summer. XOXO - EC

Sunday Graces

2010-09-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

Pictured above is the current state of my dining room. I am getting ready for our little cocktail party next weekend and I've been polishing my silver. Experience has taught me that it is much more fun and MUCH less stressful to be lighting candles instead of polishing silver right before your guests arrive. I've done both and although the smell of Tarn-X is unique (think sulfur), I prefer scented candles.

As I was polishing my tea service, I was inspired for this week's Sunday Graces. Many of you probably already know this, but I can never remember. Which pot is for tea and which is for coffee? I then thought of the old nursery rhyme, "I'm a little teapot short and stout," but I wanted to look it up just to be sure. Well, after looking through all of my etiquette books, none of them address which pot is for tea and which is for coffee. So I am going to assume that the nursery rhyme is correct and the pot that is "short and stout" is for the tea.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

The Fixer-Upper

2010-09-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading this book and it was a very cute story. I like books with happy endings. Without giving too much away, the story is about a single girl who loses her job and moves to a small town in Georgia. She’s moves there so that she can fix up an old family home and get it ready to sell.

One of the story lines throughout the book are the house projects she is completing. I have to say its motivated me to get some projects done around my house! I haven’t read any of this author’s other books, but I will be sure to check them out.

New Favorite Song?

2010-09-14T19:14:00.001-07:00

I can't decide if its Mad Men or this song that I really like. In any event, its been on repeat for a while. Check it out -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q98pbT-ok3s

P. S. it takes a few seconds for it to start or my computer is slow :)

Sunday Graces

2010-09-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I missed last week's Sunday Graces. Since tomorrow is my second anniversary, I decided to do this weeks post on traditional anniversary gifts.

1st - paper

2nd - cotton

3rd - leather

4th - linen or silk

5th - wood

6th - iron

7th - copper or wool

8th - electrical appliances or bronze

9th - pottery

10th - tin or aluminum

11th - steel

12th - silk or linen

13th - lace

14th - used to be ivory

15th - crystal

20th - china

25th - silver

30th - pearls

50th - gold

We Must Never Forget

2010-09-11T13:42:00.001-07:00

New Curtains!

2010-09-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

Guess who just saved $300.12 on curtains? This girl! Our second anniversary is coming up on the 13th. The "etiquettely correct" gift is cotton, so I decided that we would get some new linens for our bedroom.

We originally had white curtains and while pretty, they did a poor job of blocking out the light and I love my beauty sleep. I have had great luck finding curtains at J.C. Penney's - so that's where we headed tonight. I found curtains by American Living. I couldn't find a picture online, probably because they were on clearance, but they are a really pretty chocolate brown. They have a nice button detail at the top. They were marked down from $80 to $5!!!!

I am hoping to find a pretty white quilt for the bed and I think I am going to order this bed skirt. A white bedspread is so relaxing to me. Sorry I don't have any pretty pictures for this post, but hopefully I will have some when the bedroom is all put together.

Urban Prepster

2010-09-07T18:40:00.000-07:00

Maybe I've been away from the preppy/blogging world longer than I thought. How many people know about this website? I just found it and I am having to pry myself away . . .

A Sequel to The Preppy Handbook???!!!!

2010-09-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

I just ordered this on amazon. I am so excited! I love the original Preppy Handbook and I am anxious to hear what the same author has to say about these crazy times we live in.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

2010-09-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

While I am a bit sad that this weekend signals the end of summer, I am thrilled about our destination. We are headed to the Holy City! We're going to see my brother and his cute new wife. I'm sure the weekend will include lots of good food, some boating, pretty scenery and maybe a few cocktails. Hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!

Sunday Graces

2010-08-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

(Photo from Southern Living)

This week's edition of Sunday Graces is going to be short but sweet. I was flipping through my "newest" etiquette book. I use quotations because it's not actually new, but it's new to me. It's a Vogue Book of Etiquette from 1948.

Although I love many of the things I've read in this book, I especially love this little clip because I think it is so thoughtful. The heading is "table manners of the hostess." The paragraph says that the only way a hostess's table manners differ is "that she must never eat so quickly as to finish everything on her plate before every guest has finished." The thought behind this may be obvious to many of you, it's to keep any slow eaters company. How sweet!

This weekend was very fun and I finished it off with a long day at the beach today. Hope you all have a great week coming up!

Weekend Menu

2010-08-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

We are having some family come visit on Saturday. Whenever I am having company, I like to plan out my menu in advance. It makes things so much easier. Here is what we are having:

For dinner on Saturday night, I am going classic Americana; burgers and brats. I am going to make my mother-in-law’s famous cheesy potatoes and a classic pasta salad. As an appetizer, I am going to make homemade salsa and cheese dip. The cheese dip is another recipe I inherited from my mother-in-law, it's so easy. I use a small block of Velveeta, a can of Rotele, and a can of chopped green chili’s. I’m sure most people know about it, but just in case, I thought I would share. It's always a hit at bbq’s.

For desert, Coca-cola cake. This is one of my favorites. Here is the recipe I will be using, courtesy of Southern Living.

Then for breakfast on Sunday morning, I am planning to do a traditional breakfast casserole. Anyone have any suggestions? Please show me some comment love.

Shopping Finds

2010-08-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

On Saturday night I went to dinner and did some shopping. My friend and I were laughing because it felt a little like high school.

The Gap was having an amazing deal on jeans. Buy one, get one for $20. The bestie and I decided to both get a pair and split the deal.

I'm bringing the sexy back with these babies.

Banana Republic was also having a great sale . . . PLUS, all of their sale items included an additional 25% discount. I found a very cute plaid, button down with a ruffle. I think they must be sold out of it online because I can't find a picture. After the sale it was only about $12.

Sunday Graces

2010-08-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

(Emily Post ~ Emily Post Institute)

In keeping with the name of my blog, I decided to have a new feature. It’s going to be called Sunday Graces. This feature will be centered on etiquette and social graces. I collect etiquette books and this is a subject that interests me. I would also like to hear your thoughts on these or any of my posts.

My idea for this week is the handshake, particularly between men and women. I seem to have misplaced my most current etiquette book. After three hours of searching, I have found a lot of books that I’ve been missing, but not my etiquette book. I debated waiting until tomorrow to do this post, but a promise is a promise and I don’t want to disappoint what few readers I have. That being said, I have a few other books that I will be relying on.

My inspiration for this post was something my husband told me. He had been told that, when being introduced, a man should never extend their hand to a woman until she extends hers. I personally like this idea. Often times I am confronted with a “gentleman” whose hand I do not want to shake. However, I shake their hand so that I don’t appear to be rude. Always the lawyer, I decided to go on a search for some support for my position.

I began with a 1948 edition of Vogue’s Book of Etiquette. Under Introductions, the author states “the one who is being presented must not be the first to offer his hand.” They hold this to be true for all introductions, regardless of age or gender. Under the European Etiquette section, there is a line that I loved, “women offer their hands to men.”

I went next to more current etiquette books. Lizzie Post (How Do You Work this Life Thing) briefly mentions handshakes, saying only “shake hands when you introduce yourself. Use a firm grip and actually shake two or three times.” She makes no mention of who extends their hand first. Next I decided to consult her mother (Peggy Post, Excuse Me, But I Was Next). Well the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Peggy says much the same as Lizzie but adds a bit more detail under the dating section. She writes “used to be that a man was supposed to wait for a woman to offer her hand before he extended his . . . today, it doesn’t matter who puts out their hand first.”

In conclusion, it seems that this rule may be somewhat antiquated. No offense to Peggy Post, but I personally would like to know why it no longer matters who puts their hand out first. My grandmother used to say “a man will only treat you like a lady if you demand it.” I think there is something to be said for that. In my opinion it boils down to a certain degree of respect. I feel that in general, our society has become too casual. What do you think?

Goodnight lovelies and thanks for reading.

TGIF

2010-08-20T18:36:00.001-07:00

That's all I got! Check back on Sunday . . . I am starting a new feature for Etiquettely Correct. Its going to be called Sunday Graces. I'm excited!

Introducing Buddy

2010-08-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

Since I went on my blog-atical, I got a little four-legged friend. His name is Buddy. His mom is a chihuahua and his dad is a yorkie. He is feisty and a handful - but also very cute (most of the time).

PS when I say his mom and dad, I don't mean me and CH, I mean his dog parents :)

Blog-atical

2010-08-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

After reading Downtown Southern’s post where she mentions her vacation from blogging . . . I determined that I took a sabbatical from blogging.

Here is a snippet of my conversation that I had with my cute husband tonight:

Me: I’m going to call my break from blogging a sabbatical

CH: A sabbatical, eh?

Me: yes, that’s what it was, a sabbatical

CH: I think the correct term is actually blog-atical. Blog-atical, when life stops being nice and starts being real.

I love that he makes me laugh . . . and that he is the cutest.

Philadelphia Story

2010-08-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

I watched this movie for the first time tonight. I love old movies. I suppose I like this one in particular because it has two of the best actors ever, Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart. I love both of them and their chemistry in this movie is fabulous.

One of my favorite things about old movies is studying the way people used to live. It was so much more glamorous than it is now. People actually dressed for events as opposed to coming as they are.

What are some of your old favorites? I’d love to know.

Mama Loves a Cocktail Party!

2010-08-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

I love both going to cocktail parties and hosting them. You know what a cocktail party means . . . a new cocktail dress! In September, the man I live with (yes, that’s my husband) and I are having a cocktail party. We are having some of his work associates over.

Over the past few years I have learned that behind every great party is a great plan. Great planning has to start early. We decided to have hors d'oeuvres and obviously cocktails. I haven’t decided what kinds yet. Does anyone have any ideas? I also don’t know if I should go with a theme . . . thoughts on that?

As long as we’re on the subject of party planning, I bought this book recently. I love it! I often find that when I get a new party-planning book they recite basic etiquette, such as, you should always greet your guests at the door. Um, thanks for the tip, I never would have thought of that! This book has a lot of clever ideas and easy solutions. One idea they have is for a table protector under a tablecloth. They write about how normal table protectors are often bulky and uneven, I couldn’t agree more. They suggest using a thin fleece blanket. I plan on doing this – I just haven’t found the right blanket yet.

I want to be SHREDDED!

2010-08-16T17:51:00.001-07:00

I read about this workout from another blogger, E, Myself, & I , and I am so glad I did! I bought the dvd and the hand weights today at Target. Her dvd has three workouts, all different levels, and they are all 20 minutes long. It's perfect for people on the go. Her challenge is 30 days. You do the work-out for thirty days and eat well and you might lose 20 pounds. Well, I don't know that I will lose 20 pounds but healthy eating and working out never hurt anyone.

I think its perfect for days when I need a quick work-out and its too hot outside to run. I might have a new favorite quote. It goes something like this - "if you want results, you have to work them, they aren't free." Thanks Jillian!

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

2010-08-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

We watched this movie last night. It was really good, once you got used to the subtitles. Parts of it were violent, but they didn't dominate the plot. I enjoyed it because it had a surprisingly happy ending. I've found that to be kind of uncommon for a murder mystery.

I am looking forward to the American remake. Hopefully I will have read the book by then!

It's hard to believe its been over a year since my last post. I was almost afraid that I had forgotten how to navigate blogger!

hey there

2009-06-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry for being a bad blogger for the past few months. So, what have I been up to? Well, things have been a bit busy around here. I know that’s not much of an excuse – because we’re all busy! My biggest news is that we bought a house! It needs some work, but nothing we can’t handle. I have been busying myself with home decorating magazines, paint chips, dream kitchens and favorite fabrics. I love it, although the clutter is getting a little out of control.

This past weekend we went up to NYC for my birthday. The trip is deserving of it’s own post. I will try to do that this week.

On to the new house, we are going to clean the house first (it desperately needs it). Next step, we are painting. Then we’ll refinish the hardwood floors. We are going to re-do the kitchen. It needs new counter-tops and new floors. I am going to keep the cabinets and just paint them a fresh color. I love to cook and entertain, so the kitchen was an important room for me. I think I will take before and after pictures. The before pictures might be a little scary though! The former owners had a soft spot for beaches and seashells. I think the previous lady of the house went a little crazy with a hot glue gun and some shells.

I hope all of you are fabulous . . . I’m sure you are! I miss you all!

PS – I saw an old friend recently and she told me to stop posting about Silpada and start posting about myself – it was hilarious. So, if you are reading – announce yourself! We need a girls weekend and we can have it in my new house!

Silpada Jewelry

2009-03-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

I went to a jewelry party tonight. It was really nice because there wasn't a presentation that you had to sit through! I like these kinds of parties, but sometimes I just get bored. This was nice because the jewelry was all laid out when you got there so people could browse without feeling pressured to buy. I had a nice time and was able to enjoy friends, food, and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.

The jewelry was by Silpada. Unfortunately I can't find pictures of the jewelry, but they had some beautiful pieces.

Fun Quiz

2009-03-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

I found this when I was browsing for furniture. Its from Ethan Allen and you can find out your style. Mine was "Estate" . . . what's yours? Click here for the quiz.

The verdict is in—your style is Estate. Estate is an eternal American summer. Sporty. Charming. Breezy yet cultivated. A union of antique inspiration and geometric clarity. Civilization in peaceful coexistence with robust outdoor life. In the main house or the guest cottage, effortless elegance.

Ready for Spring

2009-03-05T15:21:00.000-08:00

I am so ready for spring. I have never been one for cold weather and this past week has been pretty brutal. It started warming up towards the end of the week and I got a little spring happy. I picked up a few things that made me really excited for Spring and I thought I would share.

I picked up these pretty cocktail napkins and matching guest towels. They are so bright and they make me happy.

I also found some cute Easter bunny cocktail napkins but I couldn't find a picture online. These shirts were on sale at the Gap. Hopefully I will be able to wear one this weekend!

And my favorite thing that I bought . . . Lilly Pulitzer Wink! If you haven't already tried it, you simply must. Its divine and when you have it on - it feels like spring everyday!

Catfish Beignets . . . yummy, yummy

2009-03-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

My brother and his girlfriend came home this past weekend, so saturday night we went over to my parents' house. My mom and I planned a Cajun-themed dinner. My mom made jambalaya and I did the gumbo. I found this awesome recipe in Southern Living for Catfish Beignets - they were a huge hit! They were also super easy :) (I posted the recipe at the end of the post).

After dinner, we played this game. Its really fun and a good way to get to know people!

Catfish Beignets

Prep: 20 min., Bake: 25 min., Cook: 10 min., Stand: 5 min., Rise: 30 min., Fry: 4 min. per batch. Beignets, time-tested New Orleans pastries, are usually sweet. We created a savory version that includes the diced onion, bell pepper, and celery that are considered the "holy trinity" in recipes with Louisiana roots.

Yield
Makes about 2 dozen

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds catfish fillets
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning, divided
3/4 cup frozen diced onion, red and green bell pepper, and celery
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1/3 cup beer (not dark)
3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 dashes hot sauce
3 egg whites
Vegetable oil
Zesty Tartar Sauce
Lemon wedges (optional)

Preparation

1. Sprinkle fillets evenly with salt and 1/4 tsp. Old Bay seasoning. Arrange fillets on a lightly greased rack in an aluminum foil-lined broiler pan.

2. Bake at 425° for 20 to 25 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork and is opaque throughout. Finely chop fish.

3. Cook diced onion, bell pepper, and celery in 1/2 Tbsp. hot oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes or until tender.

4. Cook beer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat 5 minutes or until a thermometer registers 105° to 115°. Remove from heat; add yeast, and let stand 5 minutes. Transfer yeast mixture to a large bowl; stir in vegetables, milk, flour, hot sauce, catfish, remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, and remaining 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning.

5. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 30 minutes.

6. Beat egg whites at medium speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold into catfish mixture.

7. Pour vegetable oil to a depth of 2 inches into a Dutch oven or electric deep-fat fryer; heat to 360°. Drop batter, by heaping tablespoonfuls, into hot oil; fry, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels. Serve with tartar sauce and, if desired, lemon wedges.

Note: Keep beignets warm in a 225° oven for up to 30 minutes.

Glass Dinner Plates

2009-02-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

A K-Mart near us is going out of business, it's sad, but they had some GREAT deals! I have wanted these glass dinner plates for a long time but I never bought them. Well as luck would have it, I was able to get them for $12 a set. I bought two sets. I think they will be perfect for a summer garden party.

I also got the lamp pictured below. It was only $20 but I need to find a lamp shade for it.

Happy Blog-versary to Me!

2009-02-01T09:24:00.001-08:00

Its hard to believe I've been posting for a year now! Many things have changed since I started this blog. I am now a married woman, I have a new job, and I live in a different place.

I love the many friends I have found through blogging. I think its so cool that we have connected with people all over the place. Thanks for reading and supporting me over the past year!

Much Better

2009-02-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

We watched Baby Mama after The Happening. It was much better! I was definitely laughing out loud through most of the movie. I recommend it if you are a Tina Fey or Amy Poehler fan or if you just want a fun movie.

Worst Movie Ever

2009-01-31T18:57:00.001-08:00

So the husband and I just watched it. I can officially say, its the worst movie I've ever seen. I'm sorry if I am spoiling it for anyone but in a nutshell - everyone in the movie kills themselves and its because "plants feel threatened by humans." Very deep, Mr. M. Night Shyamalan.

Clue me in

2009-01-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

Could someone please tell me when Skulls & Crossbones became preppy? I must have totally missed this, but I honestly don't get it. Please - clue me in!

Confessions of a Shopaholic

2009-01-27T18:34:00.001-08:00

Loved the book, can't wait for the movie! Here is a link to the official trailer. It comes out on Feb. 13, 2009 . . . maybe my sweetie will take me for Valentine's Day. Honey - feel free to respond :) (Since I am your favorite shopaholic).

Red Velvet Cupcakes!

2009-01-26T17:08:00.000-08:00

I think that I will make these for Valentine's Day . . . even if they are from a box ;-)

Philosophy at Target . . . who knew?

2009-01-13T19:12:00.001-08:00

I saw some on clearance today while I was browsing . . . you can find it online, right here.

Pretty Pink Towels

2009-01-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

My Mom and I went on a hunt for these this weekend. They haven't come in yet at Williams Sonoma, but I'll be checking back. They are perfect for my kitchen!

What I have been up to . . . .

2009-01-08T17:43:00.000-08:00

I am flying through book four . . . and I can't put it down!!! Have any of you read the series? Or seen the movie? I will hold my thoughts on the movie . . . don't want to spoil it for anyone. But I will say this, Edward Cullen is pretty dreamy ;)

Cookie Exchange

2008-12-16T17:26:00.000-08:00

I am going to a friend's cookie exchange tomorrow night. I made one of my favorites, thumbprint cookies.

Hi Friends

2008-12-16T17:15:00.000-08:00

Sorry for being out of touch! Things have been busy. I hosted Thanksgiving, we had a Christmas cocktail party, and we are getting ready for Christmas!! The Hubster is leaving for Missouri on friday and then I will meet him next week. I am excited for a vacation finally!

I did some shopping this weekend. If you live near a J. Crew outlet - you need to go!!! The whole store is on sale and they have extra 20% coupons. My camera battery died and I need to recharge it, once I find the charger - I will post lots of pictures! Miss you all :)

Busy Bee

2008-11-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

My mom and I went to the Lilly Warehouse sale!!!! I found some good deals. I will be back soon. I just have a lot going on and Thanksgiving is this week!!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2008-11-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

Well, my dad isn't 70, but this was the cutest birthday cake I found that involved golf! The hubster and I had my parents and baby-sis (+ her boyfriend) over for dinner. We had a great time! Our menu included chopped salad, pork loin with cinnamon apples, sweet potato casserole, green beans, and rolls. I tried a new dessert. Its called Pumpkin Ice Cream Torte. It was a big hit and the hubby said "you have to make this for Christmas."

"I bet you love the clothes"

2008-11-15T20:00:00.001-08:00

My cute hubby and I started watching Mad Men this weekend. We both like it and we are plowing through season 1. After about two episodes, he said "I bet you love the clothes." Well, he knows me well and I do love the clothes. So, I am posting some pics on my blog :) Does anyone else watch Mad Men?? Do you like it? Don't give away too much info . . . we are still on Season 1 . . .

Sorry if there are too many pictures of Betty . . . but she has the best clothes!!!

Thursday Night Parties

2008-11-13T19:11:00.000-08:00

So the boy and I have started one of our first traditions. We have thursday night parties. We don't invite anyone . . . just us, but its become my favorite night of the week! Our favorite tv shows come on, we have good food, and good drinks. We email each other during the day to remind the other of our thursday night . . . we are dorks, its okay. Here are our favorite shows (high dot low dot . . . let me know if you got that)

I didn't really like this show until I learned the premise of it, but now I love it.

The boy does not like this one (Kath & Kim) as much as I do, but he humors me.

We both love the Office.

Bunco

2008-11-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

I was a sub tonight in my Mom's bunco group. It was fun! Its the first time I have ever played. I ate too much . . . but I had a great time! I am curious how many bloggers play bunco . . . do you play?

Thank You Veterans

2008-11-11T13:45:00.001-08:00

Yummy Holiday Treat

2008-11-10T16:11:00.001-08:00

I kind of made up a holiday ice cream sandwich. I have been taking two holiday chessmen cookies and then putting peppermint ice cream in the middle. It makes for a yummy holiday snack!

For Mom

2008-10-29T16:05:00.001-07:00

Love this

2008-10-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Saw this on Abnormally Normal. I love this lady. She reminds me of my mom :)

A) Four places I go over and over: My parents house, My office, Target, Farm Fresh

B) Four people who e-mail me: My hubby, My mom, J. Crew, Crate and Barrel

C) Four of my favorite places to eat: Three Amigos, Kelly's, PF Chang's, My parent's house

D) Four places you'd rather be: Italy, Hawaii, Charleston, Paris

E) Four TV shows I could watch over and over: Lost, The Office, Designing Women (thank you DVR), Thirtysomething (when are they going to sell this as a series??????)

F) Four people I'm tagging: Mom, Mom, Mommy, Mommy - puhleaze??? post on your blog darling :)

The Perfect Christmas Dress

2008-10-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

You can find it here.

Busy Bee

2008-10-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready for a garage sale this weekend! Thanks Mom & Dad for letting us use your house! We're getting rid of a lot of duplicate houseware stuff that we have. We're also selling some random furniture and other stuff. I listed larger pieces of furniture on craigslist. I'm hoping to make a little chunk of change so I can do some things around the house! Any tips on garage sales?? I'm a first timer here . . .

Calling Harry Potter fans

2008-10-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

A new trailer was released for The Half-Blood Prince. You can watch it here. I am still mad this isn't being released until July . . . but I suppose I'll wait :) It looks scary . . . .

Catching Up

2008-10-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

Life has been so busy it feels like I haven't had a spare moment. Things in Etiquettely Correct-ville are wonderful! The hubby and I are settling into married life and we're having a great time. We finally got all of the wedding presents put away and now we are going to start doing more work on the house.

I have wanted to do a post on all of my wedding vendors. I think it will be helpful to some brides out there. My plan is to go through, chronologically, all of the wedding vendors and share my experience.

The two weeks building up the wedding were a complete whirlwind. My mom was a soldier! I could not have done it without her. We spent a lot of time together and we were constantly on the go, but we had a great time. We stayed up really late a couple nights trying to get everything done. I know everyone says how fast the wedding goes, I didn't realize just how fast it was! So, starting tomorrow, I will be doing my little series (with pictures). First up . . . the rehearsal dinner!

Love, love, love this

2008-10-05T17:56:00.001-07:00

Will someone who 1) loves me and 2) reads my blog please, please, please get me this for Christmas?

Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart

2008-10-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

So the boy and I made a little visit to Walmart. His sweet brothers gave us a grill for a wedding present and the good people at Walmart will put it together for us. While the boy was waiting for our drop off ticket . . . I was (true to form) browsing. I didn't know that Better Homes & Gardens has a line at Walmart. They have some really cute stuff . . . check it out!

I love this lamp.

New Blogs

2008-09-30T19:05:00.001-07:00

Its time to update my blog roll. I am pretty sure I have some new readers but with the wedding and craziness, I haven't had a chance to follow up. I love new blogs so . . . if you want to be added, let me know!

FINALLY

2008-09-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

How awesome was the Office? If you didn't see it . . . go to NBC.com right now! Click on the Office and watch the episode. Then we'll talk.

Teaser Pics

2008-09-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

My photographer said it would be about two weeks until the pictures were ready . . . in the meantime, she sent me these. Did I mention our photographer rocks????? I am going to do a post about her in a few days.

All photos are from Catie's Photography.

Here I am after my veil was firmly attached. There was pure chaos in my parents' dining room when this picture was taken, can you tell?

This one is my favorite, so far. I love, love, love this picture. The boy was spinning me around . . . no, I'm not 2 years old.

I just think this one is pretty. I love it, but I think it just says pretty.

Me making out with my new hubby :)

Just a peek

2008-09-22T12:51:00.001-07:00

We're back . . . Jamaica was awesome! We had a ball! Now, I have a couple days off before I start my new job. I am trying to get our house in order . . . it looks like a tornado came through here. You would never have known it was picked up and organized a week ago (Thanks to Mommy!).

It might be a little while before I am back to regular posting, but I am going to try for every other day. I am trying to get caught up with all of you too! And finally, while we wait for the professional pictures . . . here are a few lifted from facebook.

The boy and I sealing the deal!

My mom and I keep laughing about this picture because I look like I am asking her if I smell! I know this isn't the best picture . . . but its the only shot of my dress that I have so far!

faith

2008-09-14T19:32:00.001-07:00

One more thing . . . for future brides, while you can't always have faith in your vendors . . . have faith in your family and friends - they will make it happen!

Amazing

2008-09-14T19:28:00.001-07:00

The wedding is over - it was amazing. Our families & friends seriously rock. My parents went above and beyond and it was truly a fairy tale. I can't wait to show you pictures. The whole day was wonderful and I married my prince charming :)

PS - me and the hubster (not fiance anymore) are off to Jamaica!

Chance to breathe

2008-09-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

So I finally have a free moment - in case I still have readers!!! I thought I would share our menu:

Hors Devoures ( I can never spell this right):

Asparagus Straws - so yummy

Steamed Shrimp

Gourmet Cheeses

Our main course is going to be split up into stations:

1. Beef Tenderloin with creamy horseradish
Roasted Vegetables
My chopped salad
Sweet potato parkerhouse rolls & mini brioche rolls

2. pistachio encrusted salmon
sauteed spinach
mashed potatoes

3. shrimp & grits bar - yum, yum, yum

PS - sorry for my lack of posts - and sorry this post isn't very pretty!

Rain, Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day

2008-08-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

(http://www.jcrew.com/)

Its pouring rain where I live and my roof is leaking . . . lovely. My washing machine died this past Sunday . . . also lovely. The good news, I am moving this weekend! So if all of this had to happen, at least it happened during my last week. I usually love rainy days, just not when my roof is leaking!

From here until I get back from my Honeymoon, my posting might be somewhat sporadic. I will be pretty busy during the next few weeks, considering that I am getting married in 16 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please check back in if you have time, I might need some last minute advice on wedding decisions and who better to get it from than my fellow bloggers. Don't stop believin' . . .

"Gator-ade Gum"

2008-08-26T13:34:00.001-07:00

I found this gum when I was browsing for candy for the wedding. I used to love it when I was little. My brother and I always called it "Gator-ade Gum." You can find it here.

Cute Gift

2008-08-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't these be a great gift for a Lilly-lover? I would love a picture of Fiance drinking out of one of these . . .

Which Brady Are You?

2008-08-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

I saw this on One Fabulous Mom (she truly is fabulous) and I knew I had to post it. I love the Brady Bunch. When I was little, I would religiously watch this after school. It used to come on TBS at 4:35 and I had to watch it everyday. I used to know every episode and I once recorded all of them onto VHS tapes so that I could watch them, even when they weren't on. I was really cool ;)

Confident yet kind. Popular yet down to earth. You're a total dream girl.You've got the total package - no wonder everyone's a little jealous of you.

Here is the quiz . . . which one are you?

The Heartbreak Kid

2008-08-26T06:28:00.001-07:00

We watched the Heartbreak Kid this weekend. We both thought it was very funny. Ben Stiller was great in his classic role of "Mr. Nice Guy." Jerry Stiller was excellent as well (sometimes I think he is funnier than Ben).

In a nutshell, Ben Stiller's character marries a girl on the fly and then he is bombarded with surprises on the honeymoon. I think my favorite line was when he says "I guess we can afford it, we're a two income family now" and she replies "oh really, did ya get a second job?"

Tagged by Europafox

2008-08-25T06:31:00.001-07:00

I was tagged a while back by Europafox to list 5 words of my least favorite words. It took me awhile to come up with this. I tag anyone who wants to play!

X-mas – I just think it’s lazy to use this.

Subjugate – I hate it when people use this word because they always seem to use it incorrectly. They think they know what it means and that it makes them sound smart (because they are using a big word), but you don’t sound smart if you are using it improperly!

Rectory – I’m Catholic, but I hate this word. It sounds dirty.

Cheers – Unless you are British or you are actually toasting someone with a glass, I don’t like it when people use this as a closing. To my girls on the other side of the pond – does it annoy you when Americans use this?

The C-word and P-word – no further explanation necessary.

Things that have contributed to my Summer Fun!

2008-08-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things that I have either been told about this summer, I discovered this summer, or I re-discovered this summer.

Clorox Bleach Pen - I normally hate bleach, right Mom (she always remembers this)? It seems to have ruined a good majority of my favorite things, so in my house - there is a moratorium on bleach. That was until I got some lovely grass stains on my cute white mini skirt (favorite skirt of the summer BTW). The only thing that got the stains out was the Clorox bleach pen and in less than a minute! So, note to self: Don't sit on the side of flower bed in a white skirt, but if you do, use your bleach pen.

Beck’s Light – My friend L told me about this beer. ITS ONLY 63 CALORIES PER BEER! So you can now have two beers, as opposed to only one. Its actually pretty tasty and a nice change from other light beers.

Oil of Olay Original Active Hydrating Cream. I started using this around my eyes and it has made a huge difference. I put it on after I take a shower and before bed. Its alleviated a lot of the dark circles under my eyes and its fighting off wrinkles too!

Diet Dr. Pepper – This is one of Fiance's favorite sodas and I have gotten on a kick myself, sometimes you need to switch it up from the old standard, Diet Coke.

J. Crew Favorite Tanks - I have been wearing these for awhile, but I recently re-discovered how much I love them. I have them in lots of different colors and I wear them with jeans or my cute white mini skirt for going out. Fiance has recently informed me that he really likes it when I "rock the wife-beater look."

Southern Prep

2008-08-22T06:13:00.001-07:00

Where did you go? I miss your blog. If you have gone private, can I please have an invite? Hope all is well!

Guestbook

2008-08-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all of your advice about our guestbook! We decided to go with an engravable tray from I do engravables. Fiance, who grew up in a house full of boys, said that if we ended up with boys, the coffee table book would not last long . . . so lets get the tray. I am excited about it. It will have our monogram in the middle and the date underneath.

How times have changed . . .

2008-08-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

Click on Miss Lili NC for a "Marital Rating Scale." I don't know if Fiance will still want to marry me considering I scored a -1. Which equates to - "Very Poor (Failures)" I think my personal favorite one is "Lets husband sleep late on Sunday and holidays." Notsomuch.

Need to buy in bulk?

2008-08-19T11:40:00.001-07:00

For the reception, we are doing candelabras as centerpieces and then having small bud vases arranged around the candelabras. I have been looking and we found these on the Dollar Tree website. My mom ordered them and the best part is, you don't have to pay shipping! They ship them to the Dollar Tree closest to you and then you can go and pick them up.

Bicycle Built for Two

2008-08-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

I didn't know they actually sold these. I kind of want one.

Purple

2008-08-18T10:35:00.001-07:00

I usually hate the color purple, but I have to say, I think these bridesmaid dresses are some of the prettiest I've seen.

(David Schwartz Photography)

Not cool

2008-08-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

I hope this is a rumor because its seriously annoying.

For my friend T

2008-08-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

I was telling Miss T about how wonderful Snippet & Ink is! I love this blog - there are so many ideas for incorporating various colors into your special day. Its funny, this weekend, we talked about Tiffany Blue as an accent color and this was today's board.

Note to T - in the top left hand corner - you can do a search for a specific color and then see how its incorporated into the details :)

For my friend C

2008-08-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

A couple of the girls who were at the beach this weekend are getting married. Miss C said she had blue bridesmaid dresses and I think they are similar to this color. I found this inspiration board at Adventures in Wedding Planning.

Gone to the beach

2008-08-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am going here for my friend L's bachelorette party. Its going to be a fun weekend! I hope you all have fun and safe weekends. Its hard to believe summer is almost over :(

Cellophane Bags

2008-08-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

I can't remember how I came across Nashville Wraps. It might have been through another blog. However, if you are in the market for clear, cellophane baggies . . . they are cheap here! I just ordered some for our cookie/candy bar at the wedding.

I also ordered cellophane wrap for the out of town buckets. I think they might be piled high and I didn't want anything to fall out.

Food for thought

2008-08-13T07:33:00.001-07:00

Click here for an interesting read.

Pink Clutch's Halloween Swap

2008-08-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

I think this looks soooo fun. I can't think that far ahead right now, but if I could - I would totally be in on it. I love Halloween.

When Fiance and I did our pre-marriage class, we had to do this little survey of how well we knew each other. One of the things was to think of your partner's favorite holiday and who would be there "enjoying a meal with them." Here is what Fiance said "so baby, I was trying to think of who was sitting around the candy bowl with you."

***UPDATE*** - I couldn't resist a swap for my favorite holiday - so I am IN

The Human Dolphin

2008-08-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

I have to admit . . . I am not really into the Olympics. I am attributing it to the fact that there is so much other stuff going on in my life and I can't figure out the darn schedule. BUT, that was before I read this article. I am intrigued. This kid seriously rocks. I am going to look up the schedule so I can tune in tomorrow.

What has been your favorite thing to watch? Are you watching? Do you usually like sports?

Weekend Update with Etiquettely Correct

2008-08-11T08:57:00.001-07:00

I hope you all had fabulous weekends! We had a great weekend. The weather was amazing, particularly for August. On Friday, we met up with some friends for drinks. Saturday, my sweet Fiance made me breakfast in bed. I love him, tons. He also surprised me with a cute new outfit. That boy knows me well . . . clothes + yummy breakfast = one very happy girl. We did a little shopping and hanging out then had lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. After lunch we went to the pool. It was so nice outside – it wasn’t too hot and the sun was out, so pretty much perfect. We went to mass Saturday night and then saw The Dark Knight.

The movie was spectacular! It made me sad that Heath Ledger had died because he stole the show. He was simply amazing as the Joker. Fiance and I thought Christian Bale was good (and I thought very yummy to look at), but Heath Ledger was the best. The Joker was really funny in a dark humor kind of way. I don’t generally like these kinds of movies, however, I am excited to see what they come up with next. The costumes for the villains were so original and clever. Fiance taught me about all the other Batman villains afterwards. We topped the night off with Mexican food and a margarita for me. I almost needed a sweater outside! What did you do this weekend?

Random Question

2008-08-07T08:09:00.001-07:00

When did J. Crew start doing the elastic waistband? I was thinking how cute this skirt was and then I saw the elastic waistband . . . might be okay for cotton, but for silk taffeta? No thanks.

Bridesmaid Shoes

2008-08-07T06:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my bridesmaids' dress. We haven't finalized shoes yet, but I was thinking some strappy gold sandals would be perfect. What do you all think? Can you tell I have trouble making decisions????

I was thinking something like these . . . but without the J. Crew price tag. Any ideas on where we can find cute, inexpensive, shoes like these?

Answering Questions

2008-08-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

I have gotten a few questions in comments and I never know how to answer them, do I go back and comment or do I comment on the other person's blog . . . I never know.

So in answer to some of the questions:

Our big day is September 13, 2008 - I have a little over a month left but SO much to do! So I am setting little tasks for myself every day. I am also writing thank you notes like there is no tomorrow . . . I had to order more stationary!

Yes, my Daddy was nice enough to give me my Grandmommy's entire set of silver with her serving pieces as well. I can't believe it! I made Fiance hide it in his closet! I feel like my other grandmother, my Nana. She and my Poppy had stuff hidden all over their house!

Do you have any more questions that I might have neglected to answer? If so, I'm sorry, so ask in the comments and I will definitely answer!

For the Reception

2008-08-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

Its getting down to the wire friends, so I'm sorry if I am not stopping by your blogs as often as I usually do. Just know that I love you and I will try to catch up as much as I can. I ordered these for the cocktails at the wedding reception. I got them in ivory and had our new monogram put on them. What do you think? I love them.

Coffee drinkers . . .

2008-08-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Do you hit up Starbucks more than once a day? Check this out.

Our Silver Pattern

2008-08-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

Since I have posted about my china pattern, I decided I would go ahead and post about my silver pattern. At a shower a few weeks ago my Daddy also sent a gift. I opened it and it was my Grandmommy's (his mother's) sterling silver. The pattern is "Prelude." I love it because we always used to have really big family dinners and lunches at my grandparents house. Every time I use it, I will think of those times and how happy they were.