In My Mind I'm Goin' to Carolina...

Yesterday was Peach Day and I enjoyed mine for breakfast, sitting on the back deck at my house.

I call this: "Albino Nature Meal"

This was a mini-extension of our WAY too short girlfriends weekend in North Carolina. KC was an excellent host (as usual) and we got to do lots of things during the short time we had together. We spent a few hours lounging by the pool, went out to hibachi for dinner, chatted on KC’s big COMFY bed for a few hours (enjoying drinks that her husband whipped up for us!), visited a farmer’s market and had delicious fruit and apps for lunch before driving home. Always too short of a stay but I’m glad we got to see each other. It’s tough to get all of us together anymore since we’re spread across FOUR different states, but I always feel refreshed after seeing these girls so it’s well worth the drive.

Enjoy the following photos from our NC visit. (Still crossing fingers for a new camera!!!)

Husb Drinks

BUTTONS!!!!! For sale at the Farmer's Market

It's my hot sauce!!!!



No, this is not from a magazine. Karissa is just the best hostess EVER!



I. Am. Nell.

Did you enjoy the photos? If you scroll up I believe you'll see that I DISTINCTLY told you to enjoy them.
~M
*Post Title from "Carolina In My Mind" by James Taylor

You're a peach!

Here it is. My first peach of the season.

Ever since LC mentioned fruit cobbler at Saturday lunch, I've had a hankering for it. So I enjoyed some of North Carolina's finest produce and afterward gobbled up delicious granola. Then I did a little dance to mix the two during the digestive process and I think my stomach recognized it as a cobbler dessert.

Silly little stomach. Not the smartest but still satisfied.

xoxo,

Kate

Peachy Keen

Pure J.O.Y.! Just as sweet as our time in North Carolina! 

Hugs to our followers,
LC

Peaches for you, peaches for me

Why did I post a picture of a partially eaten peach at my desk? Because this is a North Carolina grown peach and all four of the girlfriends are currently eating one today.  And let me tell you, it was delicious. I hope everyone else enjoyed their afternoon snack as much as I did!

And yes, I have the song Peaches by the Presidents of the United States stuck in my head.  Excellent high school flashback.

Now I need to go wash my hands and clean my desk of the juicy peach mess I made.
~Kc

Who's Gonna Get It?

pheww. Made it. Finally Friday and tomorrow Girlfriends will reunite!

AND let this serve as a sneak peak that one lucky lady will soon be in possession of the GIRLFRIENDS BALL!

So what's this girlfriends ball? you're probably asking.

Years ago, LC was inspired by Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 

::I'm lying. She came up with this alll on her own:: 

and decided to start a tradition. We pass around the girlfriends ball and gift to each other little nick knacks, unnecessary splurges, and cute finds. Each of us is only allowed to keep it for one month before mailing it to a new girlfriend.

And let me tell you...when that box arrives, I go nuts. My heart beats faster and I run around in circles clapping my hands like a show monkey. And after I reveal my delights, I start plotting the gift for the next girl.

When the package was delivered two weeks ago from KC, I cried a little from pure happiness. It had been a difficult day and low and behold, that sneaky little reminder of love was waiting for me. I think I smiled for the first time all day. That's the magic of the girlfriends ball.

So, who's gonna get it this weekend? :)

xoxo,

Kate

Grown-up jello shots

When I first saw these I was instantly taken back to college. I remember first being introduced to jello shots and I'm so excited to bring them back in adult form.  If you haven't heard about this yet, the Jelly Shot Test Kitchen is an amazing idea of making jello shots tasty, chic, and perfect for entertaining.  I have to get my hands on this cookbook soon!

Here are some that intrigue me.

Mimosa with Orange Flower Water

Courtesy of Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

Santa's Hat Cocktail (how perfect would that be for a Christmas party?)

Courtesy of Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

Blow Pop Martini

Courtesy of Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

Cosmopolitan

Courtesy of Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

Yum, yum, and yum.  When is my next party going to be?

~Kc

Is it Saturday yet?

I loved Kate's earlier post about working for the weekend. That is exactly what I'm doing.  I can't wait for the girls to come visit me this weekend.

Living in North Carolina has some good perks...warm weather in the fall/spring before the north has even thought about thawing out.  We're in basketball heaven. Just a short drive from both beach and mountains. Home to sweet iced tea (although I still think it's gross) and all sorts of fried goodness.  But, the biggest drawback is how far it puts me from my friends and family.  I am so excited to have them come see me!

I imagine there will be lots of talking, eating, talking, and maybe some eating.  And maybe we'll start planning our 30th birthday celebration next year.

A trip down memory lane...

Aruba. I want to go back. Now. Tomorrow. Next week. I miss it.

Aruba 2008

 While I hate my hair in this picture (bangs, bad idea for me!) I wish I had that body back. Sheesh. Time to go to the gym.

North Carolina Girlfriends Weekend December of 2006?

 Laura's beautiful wedding! Isn't she stunning? And don't we look so young?

Laura's Wedding.

Laura's Rehearsal Dinner

My wedding

Maybe we'll have some more pictures this weekend. Here's to good memories and even better friends.

~Kc

Guess who's bizack?

I am the worst. I have not been writing on this blog for a bit and, in doing so, have been breaking the hearts of all my fans (by fans I mean my mom- Hey Mom!- and the person in India who keeps checking this blog- Hey India!). My apologies to those fans for your empty lives during my absence. Let’s get back to it…

Last Thursday I took my 11 year old nephew down to DC to visit a few of the Smithsonian Museums. I am proud to say that this was not my idea. It was his because he is a third/fourth/whatever generation nerd in our family and that makes him awesome, just like me. We checked out the Natural History Museum, American History Museum, Air & Space Museum and then we returned to Natural History again later in the day because WE COULDN’T GET ENOUGH!!!! Now I fancy myself an educated woman (part 1) but my nephew Ryan is bordering on super genius. He should be charging for tours at those museums. I can’t wait until he’s winning some uber-science award someday and I will give a toast saying “Remember when Aunt Mindy took you to those museums during the summer and it changed your life???” and he will say “Have that woman removed and for God’s sake make her put some clothes on!” (I’m a nudist in the future). That will be good family times J

Here are a bunch of terrible photos I took with my awful digital camera. Side note: my birthday is just around the corner and what I REALLY want for my birthday is a new digital camera, so let’s see what we can do about that, blog-fans (This means you, mom. I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle! Or a digital camera).

On the way home in the car we rocked out to David Bowie and The Flaming Lips. Ryan is going to have the best music taste of any 6th grader in middle school next year.
~M
*Post title from Jay-Z's "Guess Who's Back"

Gluten Free

Rarely are Mondays enjoyable. Yesterday was a nice exception.

My good friend hosted me for a delicious dinner where we talked about baked pumpkins, books, shampoo, grandpas and life. It was delightful and insightful.

I tried gluten free pasta for the first time. It tastes just as good as the "normal" stuff. Lucky for us, wine doesn't have any gluten in it. So we enjoy several glasses and thinking back on it, I should have toasted my wonderful friends...just for being them.

Kate

Countdown

It's only Monday morning and already I know I'm WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND. Girlfriends time-summer edition- is only a few days away and I'm geeking with excitement. Hoping for days to whiz by so the margaritas and girl talk can start as soon as possible.

xoxo,
Kate

Let's make whoopie...

Whoopie pies, silly!

I am a baker. I love everything about it. Cakes, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, truffles....they are all wonderful.  Yet, I have never made a whoopie pie.  They are clearly the "it" thing in the baking world right now. This is ironic because my family has lived near Amish country for nearly 20 years now and it's claimed that the Amish women created whoopie pies from leftover cake batter.  And, my brother and his family live in Maine where the whoopie pie is the official state treat (and South Portland, ME made the largest pie at over 1000 pounds earlier this year).

Anyway, I am seeing a lot of fun recipes out there for whoopie pies. I may have to give it a shot one of these days to see if they are worth it.

Courtesy of Brown Eyed Baker



Courtesy of Epicurius

Anyone have experience with these? Any good recipes I should try?
~Kc

Surprise!

via

The first two weeks of my 29th year sure have been full of surprises. Some have been really awesome and others resulted in deep breaths and counting backward slowly from 10.

I always say that I'm not a fan of surprises. And I'm not. But occationally, a surprise that leaves you smiling for days is just what the doctor ordered.

xoxo,

Kate

Make a wish and blow out the candles

As LC mentioned earlier, it was my birthday this past week. While I am still in shock that I am officially 29 (didn't we JUST graduate from high school?), I still absolutely love birthdays. Who doesn't love a reason to eat birthday cake?

My friends, family, and my husband made this week especially wonderful. I was truly spoiled and loved every minute of it.  As I blew out my last (of many) candles this week, I had one wish. I hope it comes true.

What will my 29th year bring?
~Kc

I wish...

I could be the Duchess of Cambridge.  More realistically, I wish I could look like Princess Kate in a bandage dress. 

Photo found here

 My post-baby goal is to not only fit into this Express bandage dress, but to rock it as well as this model does. 

Photo found here

To do this, I'll need a personal trainer, gastric bypass surgery and a new lower half.  All completely attainable ::in my dreams::. 

Hugs to our followers,

LC

Thursday Morning Stargirl

via

I was recently reminded how much I love Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. This young adult book is a quick read about a spunky girl with an infectious upbeat spirit. When I need a little pick-me-up or some refreshing words, I pick up my beloved copy and usually turn to my favorite passage:

"We walked. We talked. We rode bikes. Though I had my driver's license, I bought a cheap second hand bicycle so I could ride with her. Sometimes she led the way, sometimes I did. Whenever we could, we rode side by side.

She was bendable light: she shone around every corner of my day.

She taught me to revel. She taught me to wonder. She taught me to laugh. My sense of humor had always measured up to everyone else's; but timid, introverted me, I showed it sparingly: I was a smiler. In her presence I threw back my head and laughed out loud for the first time in my life."

I hope everyone has a Stargirl in their life.

xoxo,

Kate

KC's Final Fling Before the Three-O!

KC's final fling before the ring

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of the most fun-loving, up-for-anything, happy girlfriends that I know!  May your first 29th birthday be everything that you want and more!  Wish I could be there to take you out for a celebratory drink tonight!

Big hug to Karissa (and all of our followers)!

LC