Life & Its Little Disasters

Needless to say, I made it thru September to one of my favorite months in the year - October. Appropriately, it has been a completely glorious fall weekend. 

I made a point to order a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. I consumed 1/2 a bag of candied corn. I ate a Pumpkin Spice donut from Krispey Kreme. I ordered a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard from Dairy Queen. I've even consumed a bowl of chili. (not all in one weekend, mind you!)

Now.. I have to be honest. The weather is in the mid 80s, with super sunny skies... yeah.. I know.. It's the thought that counts. 

While I am steadily packing on the poundage with nutmeg laced calories, I have been trying to regroup a little - both personally and professionally. I hit a lull, and let's be honest, got thrown a curve ball for the 5 bazillionth time, but I'm calm, I'm focused, and honestly, I had a pretty good week. Besides my museum job coming to a close, and the chipping of a temporary crown, September wasn't entirely bad. I've been holding out on the highlights... 

Here they are:

So I took a pottery class for the entire month of September. This is Meg Campbell. She is well known for her incredible clay work & pottery. I guess if you FINALLY get a chance to scratch off one of your bucket list items, you should make sure you learn from the best! Want to learn more about her? Just click here: http://meghogancampbell.com/index.html

I spent a delightful lunch time at Ocmulgee Traders in Downtown Macon. In typical Macon form, I went to have lunch alone and ended up sitting with the owner, two friends, and two new acquaintances. THIS is what it is like to work and live in or near downtown. You always bump into someone you know!

This weekend was the One City Art Festival in Macon. I actually went alone, and of course, in each venue I ran into people I know and adore. Here is one of the gallery/studio spaces at the Contemporary Arts Exchange.

Wine Club - aka weekly therapy - is going well! If it weren't for Brent and I becoming "friends" - our little group would have never formed. Here is a shot from one of our evenings!

One of my favorite people in Macon got married last weekend. About two weeks before her wedding, we threw a little shower for her at our friend Molly's home. Here is Molly's setting the table!

So I had a creme brulee at Lemongrass one day. I sure did. I had to share the photo.

Here are four of my friends from Stephanie's wedding. Jonathon, Stacey, Molly, and Derek.

One of the delicious items served at Stephanie's shower.

Wine Club at our friend Brent's house. Here is Molly hanging out, as Brent drinks wine and strums the guitar for us.

One of the best little lunch places in Macon has "reinvented" itself and is now called - Grow. Appropriate, because every thing is farm to table and locally sourced. I got a little snack spread with some friends.

I got the chance to witness one of the Macon Pops concerts at the Macon City Auditorium. I am so excited, my article in Macon Magazine should be on the stands tomorrow about the next concert!

Sometimes a girl just needs a good drink. The mixologist at Dovetail introduced me to the "Eye Opener." How cool is this restaurant? Well.. Southern Living made a point to feature it! See the article here:  http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2013/10/23/where-to-drink-now-dovetail-in-macon/

One of the fantastic pop up galleries during the One City Art Festival. Here you see my friend Eric O'Dell's work. He is being interviewed in the window of the gallery. Yes - these are paintings.. not photos.. want to see more? Click HERE: http://ericodell.net/home.html

It's football season and yes, I live in the part of the world where college football (SEC) is king. Got invited to my friend, Bill & Scott's home for a UGA game party.

Was so glad to see my friend Lisa (from down on the coast,) make it back home for a visit. We met up for lunch.

Another shot of the bridal shower at my friend Molly's home.

This is the Hay House - where the wedding took place. It's a beautiful historic home here in Macon,

More goodies at the bridal shower

Need I say more?

Our friend Shane from high school recently opened a pizza shop in downtown Macon. Good stuff!

I have tried many a brunch spot in downtown Macon - NOTHING beats Lemongrass's bottomless mimosas and the Charleston Nasty. This is a piece of fried chicken on a buttermilk biscuit with Kerry Gold White Cheddar and smothered in sausage gravy. Word.

Me & Stephanie at her bridal shower at Molly's home.

Thai Spring Rolls at Lemongrass. Lord. Have. Mercy.

My friend Bill & I at his GEORGIA BULLDAWG party

Lynn & Bill

One of my master pieces. lol

Hanging out late at night at Doughboy Pizza in downtown with Derek and Molly

Brunch at Lemongrass with Stacey, Jeff, and Angel

The beautiful bride at her shower

Stacie, Angel & I at the reception at Stephanie's wedding

Bulldawg time

Me before the wedding - all dolled up!

Molly's home for the shower

I sure do miss living in Birmingham sometimes....

We call it a power lunch. lol Hanging out at Grow with one of the best attorney's in town - Dallas, and PR Darling Molly.

Wine club - Lynn, Me, and Brent. We refer to him as Brenty

Wedding reception at the Hay House. Me, Stacey & Molly

INCREDIBLE concert

Go Dawgs! - And Football food.

 Needless to say - life could be worse. ;-) I'm hanging in there, I feel good, and I think October is going to bring really GOOD things in my life. I feel it. Just like the leaves are changing, and the sun is setting just a little earlier... it's time to transition into another adventure!

Once Upon A Time..

Most little girls dream of one day finding their very own Prince Charming. The handsome man that will whisk them off their feet, and carrying them into a magnificent castle. In my dream, I always envisioned a dark haired man, with brown eyes, and of course, would have a foreign accent.

I think we know how that turned out! ;-)

However, there is one more detail that far outweighs the shining  Prince - it's the ceremony in which this love is legally and spiritually bonded! I don't care how tough most girls are, they want a wedding, of some sort. Say what you want, but if money was not an issue, or time, or any other crazy details - come on, admit it, you want a wedding.

When I was 25 I met this really nice, southern boy. About two years later we got married. I created the wedding of my dreams (at that time.) It's the wedding I had planned my entire life. The big cathedral wedding with over 400 people invited. Big puffy, cinderella wedding gown, lots of pearls, white roses - WHITE WHITE WHITE, while my bride maids wore these "Audrey Hepburn" inspired block gowns. My best friend's daughter was the flower girl, while my God son was the ring bearer. The groomsmen wore block tuxedo suits, with a tie and matted silver vest. Ave Maria was sung in Latin, there was a full Catholic Wedding Mass - followed by a fantastic reception with DJ, champagne on each table, full buffet, and even a keg of beer off to the side. LOL.

That marriage lasted six years.

Then when I was 34, I met THE man of my dreams. He was Mediterranean, he was intelligent, he spoke numerous languages, he recited poetry.... and we decided to get married. The problem was - the government. Once he arrived in the states, we had exactly 90 days to get married, or he would be deported. Also, we were told 3 days before he arrived that he was coming, with an expiration on his Visa in four days. No real time to prepare.

We ended up having a quick private wedding contract ceremony at the mosque, followed by a reception party at the gallery in my home town. It was an "Arabian Nights" theme complete with belly dancer!

But the truth is - I had two other ideas. I even have a different wedding dress. That's right. In my closet hangs a Victorian lace wedding dress. One idea was to rent the Sidney Lanier Cottage in Macon, and have a more traditional "southern" wedding reception complete with ceremony. The cottage is quite the southern belle home, and would have been nice. But the costs, with the space, and so many limitations on what you can do there. Not to mention, my bridal shower to my first husband took place there, and that would just be weird.

Then my PERFECT idea was to rent the old Estella McGee Lodge out at Camp Martha Johnston. I spent every summer as a kid out at this camp, and then worked there every summer as a college student. If anything represented my life and love - this place would be it. Not to mention, my husband is obsessed with the "American Outdoors." Idea of horses, and ranches, and what not. This beautiful lodge over looked a flowing creek, complete with a waterfall. But of course, the lady who is in charge of rentals absolutely hates me and was causing me all sorts of headaches over insurance (commercial) to rent the property, as well as dates available. Since my plans were so up in the air, I just gave up that idea.

As I was running through my "boards" on Pinterest, I came across my "Event idea board." I keep all types of pics there - for parties, even weddings. You never know when a friend might need an idea. What I have found, I have saved pics of what I wanted my wedding to look like, to the man I love. Yep.

So, to purge that dream once and for all. I am going to share some of those pics here for you today. Maybe you are planning a wedding, or maybe you know someone who is. Here is what I would have done.. if I could have...

Let's talk dress. This is very similar to what I have hanging in my closet. I love the lace. It's so romantic.

These flowers are such a good idea. Can you imagine this in an old lodge/barn/outdoor?

What a need game for a bridal shower.

Now, if you go a more traditional bouquet route, wrapping it in the lace from your mother's wedding gown is such a beautiful idea.

I fell in love with these shoes.

How about this for an entrance??

Or if you had a more open area, I thought this was a really cute idea.

I even love the story book roses idea. Might make for a great bouquet to toss!

I love doves and the idea of love birds. (Really birds of any kind.) Wouldn't this make a great groom's cake?

I like this idea to sit at various tables for people to fill out. "What should we do on date nights?" What a great keepsake.

A cigar grotto would have been great. In our case, maybe a sheesha grotto! lol

The morning after bride's maid mug shots. Too cute of a gift for the couple.

I love the idea of lots and lots of twinkle lights.

This is excellent.

Love the positive twist.

I added this - because it is full of gardenias. How wonderful this would smell.

I am in love with this cake. I know the egyptian would be too. It is the complete poem of e.e. cummings, "I carry your heart."

How about the wedding party signing the bottom of the shoes??

Or making it easy for the guests with carry out boxes for their pieces of cake?

The type of wedding I was thinking of would have been adorable with centerpieces like this.

I love this idea - especially for a keep sake. How simple this would be?

I like the idea of sparklers, and here is the sparkler and match book all in one.

This is absolutely perfect...

Maybe a different flower.. but sooo cute for chairs..

This would honestly look like the inside of that lodge I was talking about.

How cute is this?? Love it for an outdoor, or daytime wedding.

I love this save the date.

I love the mason jar idea, and how about chalk paint on each, and you can write your own name!Great keepsake also!

Of course, since my idea was at my old camp - a S'more bar would be fabulous!

I thought this was too cute, champagne Popsicles

LOL - Great for a country wedding.

What a beautiful detail.

I could see this on the back porch of this place over looking the creek.

I am obsessed with doors. I love this.

How cute, instead of a guest book - write on a rock and keep in a jar forever.

Finally - how cute? Wrapped in twine.

Of course I had to add this - rock candy with champagne. LOL

Of course, these are ideas I want you guys to use! If you would like to see a clearer picture and get more details on each idea - click HERE

ps.. THERE IS ALWAYS RENEWAL OF VOWS... RIGHT? hahahaha..

Happy Mardi Gras!