27 in Apalach... oh so nice

well, 27 has arrived.... it seems so much more permanent then 26. It always ends up that we go to St. George... even though we don't plan it, we seem to find our way down there. This trip was especially happy... probably because we somewhat planned. Usually, in true "Paschal" style, we would of driven down with nothing but a hotel reservation... but this time I decided to make actual plans. We stayed at the Water Street Hotel and Marina, which was just a short (2 bridge) drive from St. George. We've tried to stay on the island, but usually it is out(way) of our price range and the St. George In is affordable, yet no kitchen/fridge. The Water Street Hotel had everything we needed and then we could choose when to drive to the island... most places to eat were already in Apalach.

Here are a few photos of the weekend... unfortunately none of Paschal and I... batteries never got purchased... typical.

our room... I got this picture from google because I didn't get my own. Such an amazing suite!
Paschal was OBSESSED with this place (Owl Cafe). First day he had fried soft shell crab over cheese (the most gourmet cheese grits I've seen) grits, covered with sauteed vegetables. I had jalapeno chicken salad with fruit and a side of gazpacho. Day 2... I had an omelet and Paschal again had crab with grits covered with tomatoes, onions and feta. We also had a cocktail... Orange Julius... more to come on this amazing tottie on Tuesday... it might have been one of the best parts of the weekend.

we eat here Fri night... i had some baked oysters with cheese, bacon and I'm sure some other good cheeses.... both Paschal and I wanted somewhere "non-touristy" and this was perfect! I highly recommend it.

Thank you sweet husband for a great weekend... I can't believe 7 years ago this weekend we were celebrating my birthday at Owen's lake trailer... oh the birthdays Paschal and I have shared!

bustin' out da closet

I have wanted for YEARS to have a closet converted into an office/workstation. Of course I have no clue where I got these pictures.... copyright, right. The first picture is my dream "sewing" closet/ craft closet (Martha Stewart would be proud). I have a plan (I know.. I amaze myself)... that when I adopt my daughter from Korea, or just breakdown and have a kiddo... I will have to move the double mattress/bedroom stuff to the office, which means the desk will have to go to a closet. Do you like how I'm talking about this as though its going to happen in the next 6-12 months? It's going to take me a year to get the paper work/approval for an international adoption, and its going to take a year to get pregnant/have a baby... so this could be 12 months off.... and I just scared myself... because that sounds really soon...so lets change the subject....

Those organizational/folder boxes make me really happy... and as a hoarder I know that I will fill up A LOT of those boxes with unnessecary stuff.

Do you think they keep a pirate behind that door?

Charlie: Do you think they keep a pirate behind that door? Dennis: Charlie.. that says private... your ilitieracy is killing us. Just a nice little shout out to "Always Sunny in Philadelphia"... such a funny show, except for the language... but the point is the word "private".... I'm worried about my blog being too public... and not private enough. So from this point on... you can only view my blog if I have enter your e-mail address. (insert sad face)... I wanted to become Two Ellie or Blueprint Bliss... or The Nester... but no, not right now.... I need to finish this upcoming school year out... I just can't juggle blogging, blog surfing and well... the rest of my life. But please stay tuned... I will be back :) This upcoming year is going to be a good one... I'm going to turn into a "with it" teacher and the idea of breaking down and finally having a baby might occur (Hello 3 years of marriage and turning 27 this month).

Off to finish some HOC2... i know you're all jealous!

Oh, Do I Need A Vacation!

I've been on blogging hiatus.... first... my computer is on the fritz. You unplug the power cord and the computer will immediately die... not to mention that I've decided to go back to my job for yet another year... hello 6 years... only 24 years till state retirement. I do garanuntee this... next year, I'm going into the classroom as a LION! No more Mrs. Nice Paschal!

Back to the point... I need to get my house together... do some laundry (the whole laundry issue is worth another blog post... lets just say that Paschal and I have attempted to see how long we can go without laundry.... apparently we own WAY too much clothing... i'm not admitting its cute clothing, but its decent because we have gone almost 2 weeks... again... that whole topic is worth another blogpost)... and finish some porjects I've started and have yet to finish... oh the beloved summer todo list :)

Lets talk next year... luckly I've been given a new class schedule and will be leaving my favorte U.S. History teachers textbook for a World History one. I'm not the biggest fan of this course... but lets see the upside... I will be leaving mainly sophmores for freshman. Some would hate that, but freshmen are a lot easier to deal with then sophmores who already know how to skip class and have figured out the system. Last, there is no exit exam for world history! YEAH! For the last 4 out of 5 years I have been doing nothing but "teaching a test"... the EOCT (End of Course Test) for US History has been an exhausting endevour, and I am happy to say goodbye!

Weight Watchers update... I'm now down 10 lbs.. just 100 more to go (seirously). Do you know what is the most depressing about dieting... you lose 10, 15 lbs and you convince yourself that you can go down a size... so you find those jeans, tops, whatever and you brace yourself for the "lets try them on".... and guess what? IT DOESN'T FIT! Why?? becuase it takes 25 lbs to go down a size... how miss leading and depresssing! All 10lbs can do is make your close actually fit... so I guess I'm another 15 away from those "jeans".

Is this post long enough??

So If you need me anytime over the next 30 days.... I will be by the pool, getting nice and tan before the Paschal family vacation to Alaska... where I assume sun bathing will not be on our vacation list :)

Mr. and Mrs. Owen James Clark / Tuesday Totties

Oh Owen.... I've had the privileged of knowing Owen Clark as long (if not a few months longer) as I have known Paschal. He worked as a bartender at Generals in Athens...the same classy venue where I met the Mr. Owen's just a nice guy.... Paschal and I hung out with him on our first date and then he and Paschal lived together towards the end of college (Not to mention that they also grew up with each other). Anywho... when I think of Athens, I think of old General Beauregard's and Owen is always apart of those memories. Owen's wife Brandi is just as much fun... I've only gotten to hang out with her a few times, but every time I have enjoyed it. She is such a nice person. There wedding was SO MUCH FUN! We got to see so many old friends and we pretended to be 21 again... and have felt the aftermath FOR DAYS! As soon as I get pictures from the wedding I will post!
When I think of Athens... i think first of Jacob and where we met.... and then the smell of bourbon. You can't deny it... UGA reeks of bourbon on game day. Its like when you smell a perfume and it brings back a memory... This may be a bit of a TMI moment, but when I smell bourbon on Paschal's breath... it brings back good memories of college and fun times... who would think bourbon could make me so sentimental!
So this drink is for Owen and Paschal and all those boys from Athens.... my favorite bourbon drink is a Manhattan. Just bourbon, sweet vermouth, bitters and a cherry. I might just whip one up for my Mr tonight.

House Hunting

Hello Avenues! Are you ready to hear the price on this 4 bedroom 3 bath house? 2823 square feet... $110,000. Why? Probably because its on 4th Ave. Am I going to nag Paschal to death about going and seeing it?... absolutely!! Forget that last house post... this is now top of the list... again with the character thing... this house has tons! Fireplace in the master bedroom, original floors, built in 1940 (I kind of wish it was older then that). I've already done 2 drive bys. The pictures show the house vacant, but I didn't want to make the news so I just stared from the street... and the ally. Again... its $110,000!!!! I mentioned it this weekend to our real estate agent... who shot me down immediately... but he's a tad bit like Paschal... blow his e-mail up about the same house long enough, he will eventually start taking you to see it.

I can hear Paschal now... "We need another house like we need a punch in the face".... would you take a one punch in the face for a new house to decorate? think about... it took me a few minutes to decide.

house hunting...this is a good one

Please bare with me through this, because I might be crazy... but.... if you know me, you know I love houses.... I have always loved houses (i should of earned a degree in architecture/interior design... not history). We all know I stalk MLS (and not just Albanys'... Birminghams, Atlanta, etc). I have a special draw towards older homes... I love the character they have... Don't get me wrong, I am proud and blessed by the home we have now. Paschal and I have put a lot of time and energy into making the new house our home.... but it doesn't have character. The Pineknoll house had an exposed brick wall, a story about all the families that had lived there... a cute neighborhood... the new house is a nice generic 1980's ranch. Anywho~I have always wanted to live either in the Woodlands or Rawson Circle neighborhoods... (Paschal has always been strongly against this). I drive through these neighborhoods a good bit looking for forsale signs (I can dream right?) and I have seen this particiular house several times. No one lives there... if you look at the window to the left... its as though you can see straight through to the other side as though the back wall is gone. If you're watching the news tonight and you see a report on how a woman was looking around a house and trying to get inside it and was arrested for trespassing... it will most likely be me... becausue I plan on stopping by and taking a peek. its $199,900. Of course WAY above our price range and because they have no pictures listed except the one below... I assume it will need more TLC then Paschal is willing to dish out.

In honor of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge / Tuesday Totties

In case you missed it... Wills is no longer the Prince of Wales, but the Duke of Cambridge (and some other stuff I can't remember). So in honor of the new Duke and my repressed anger that It wasn't me he married (Sorry Paschal)... Here is one of the most British drinks around and If you've been reading my blog since the beginning you will know that next to tequila, I love PIMM'S! Pimm's No.1 Cup. It just sounds British.

Pimm's Cups is the dirnk to order at polo matches... they are traditionally made iwth lemonade, lemon soda, ginger ale or ginger beer and garnished with cucumber, mint leaves and fruit... I've even seen where people throw in a little orange liqueur. Just like you can't wear white in winter... you can only drink a Pimm's No. 1 in the summer. Oh so good :)

So drink up ladies.. because lets not forget... Harry is still single and probably drinking a Pimm's as we speak at a polo match!

If you aren't already sick of people with British accents...

Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez Hilton:

If you aren't already sick of people with British accents... here is a little more. So apparently Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York ) was NOT invited to the royal wedding.. but she is getting a reality show!! If you know me... then you know I LOVE REALITY TV! Step over Kim Zolciak, the Duchess is about to take your spot!

I love Perez' drawing of Eugene's (or Eugenea, Eugenia, hell.. i don't know how you spell it) hat... did anyone else see it at the wedding? And her sisters? The butterflies? Really? It looked to me like they were trying to out do the bride... so sad.

"Guess it isn't boring anymore!
On June 12th, Finding Sarah will finally premiere and the world will get an in-depth look at the life of Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York. The last few years have been nothing short of a struggle for the Duchess and within this 6 episode series, viewers are going to see much more of Sarah than they've ever before. Read the rest of this entry » Read the rest of this entry » Read the rest of this entry »
[Image via WENN.]
Toted as a 'journey to rebuild her life,' we've learned that in the pilot episode, Sarah reveals she is ready for a total mind/body makeover, and employs some of Oprah Winfrey's best aides to help her do that. First up, Dr. Phil, who reportedly will help her face the fact that she is 'emotionally bankrupt' and the traumas of her childhood.
So, you know, a really light start to the episode.
Later, Sarah will travel back to England, where she will meet up with financial-guru Suze Orman, who offers some 'tough-love' advice on getting her money issues in order.
Some of the other highlights of the season include her first meeting with a Shaman, a 26-mile trek through Canada's Arctic and some quality time with horse whisperer.
Sounds…busy.
Think U'll tune in for the premiere?"

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Andrew Pate

This past weekend has been a very special one for Paschal and I... we saw our best friends get married. Meghan and Andy have been (Andy and Jacob have been friends since birth) and become (Meghan and I met when she started dating Andy) our closest and dearest friends... we can honestly say that we don't know what we would do if we didn't have them in our lives... its like we are group of 4, not 2 groups of 2.

The Paschal's and the Pate's go back generations. Paschal and Andy's grandmothers and parents are close friends and now here we are... generation number 3... best friends. Kind of puts some pressure on us to have children that are friends.... but I have no doubt that they will be!

I can't think of a memory from the last 2 years that has not included them. Meghan has become more then a friend... she has become my sister. When i think of who I will call for good news or bad, it will be her. She's straight forward... I feel as though we balance each other out. Paschal and I are so thankful to have them in our lives and we can't wait to spend the rest of our lives with them!

Here are a few photos from the weekend... i have so much more on FB and if my camera batteries hadn't failed (AGAIN!) then I would of posted even more.

This has to be the cutest flower girl I have ever seen. She did such a good job Saturday and her outfit was adorable! Her sweet name is Mila... I think that name might make an appearance when I finally have a baby... I love it.

The best ideas are never original

Have you ever had an idea... then someone else mentions that idea to you and then you see a blog post about it... i think its "idea deja vu" The last picture on this post was from the Southern Living magazine, Feb 2011 edition. I tore this photo out and have been holding on to it for the last 2 months... I try really hard to stay away from expensive items... Hello... i sew my own pillows, drapes, etc. So when I saw this velvet couch, I knew it would be WAY out of my price range.

But.... do you see whats above my couch (its the first photo below)... 6 deer and several ducks/birds and some other randoms... its every southern boys fantasy... and MY NIGHTMARE! Some of y'all have seen it... and my favorite reaction is when people say "Please don't let Jacob show my husband this room or we're going to have this happen to our House"... Its like I took one for the team for allowing this in my home... Don't worry girls... I know you are stronger women then me.

So... how do I balance out the redneck safari in my living room? By adding a velvet couch!! The fabric on the couch below is some I have already bought from PJ's and I just now need to sew the pillows. I can't get the idea of a teal/greenish blue color out of my mind. Most of these pictures i stole from www.blueprintbliss.blogspot.com.

I can hear it now "Paschal... I need some money to buy 20 yards of velvet fabric for a couch we don't use" Thanks! Start praying for me now!