Small town, big hearts

Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone!


I had a nice 3 day long weekend luckily so I went home Thursday night for my aunt's birthday. When I was in high school my mom sadly passed away and ever since then my aunt has been like a mom to me. She has a favorite cake that a local bakery makes so I attempted to order her one but I was so sad to find they had closed. However, with a little help from Google I found the owner had opened a new bakery and sold the same cakes! I got her a wonderful Bailey's Irish Cream Crunch cake and she was thrilled! It was so beautiful, I wish I had of gotten a picture but it completely slipped my mind!


My hometown is a small Southern town and has so much pride in its history. Ever since I can remember there has been a monument of a Civil War soldier in the downtown area. Last spring a "sleeping" driver hit the monument and knocked the head off the soldier. Of course we all assumed the monument would be rebuilt but quite a few opposing people popped up saying the monument was offense to their ancestors who could have been slaves and created such a fuss. Because of this the city decided against rebuilding the monument. So many people have fought to bring the monument back, being that it itself is a part of the town's history - it has been standing for over a 100 years! A big history enthusiast has taken time out of his life to frequently stand in the traffic circle the monument used to stand in. Some may say this is rude to the people who opposed the monument being rebuilt, but I think it is a breathe of fresh air to see someone taking a real stand for what they believe it. He was out in the traffic circle while I was home and took a picture with my iPhone and edited it using the Instagram app and it turned out so well I just had to share it with you guys!

While I absolutely loved my trip home & getting to spend time with family (and all the food!), I was shocked with some horrible news Saturday morning. A family in the community's house was broken into injuring the daughter who too was home from college for the weekend and killing both the mother and father. I just honestly could not believe it was real. Things like that never happen in our little town. We are such a close community and these people are such well known and loved people. It saddens me to think that someone could be that cruel and heartless. It really makes you think how fragile life is and there really is no such thing as telling someone you love them too much. You never know what could happen in the future. Please keep the French family in your prayers, they really need it right now.


On a lighter subject -- I posted a few weeks ago about the seersucker monogrammed koozie I found on Etsy and I finally ordered mine and received it and I am in L-O-V-E. Lauren at LAS1020 did an amazing job!

Is it not fabulous?? If you haven't yet, I suggest make the investment! It is worth the 11 (including shipping -- definitely a steal!)


I'm off to make some fun dishes for Super bowl! I am really excited about the jalapeno popper dip I am trying. I will post and let you guys know how it goes!  I hope you all have a wonderful Super bowl and lots of yummy snacks!

Xoxo

You've Been Tagged!

Recently Allyson from Cupcakes & Candy Canes tagged me in this blog world game of tag so here goes!

Here we go!

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you’ve tagged them!

12 Fun Facts About Me!

1. I am graduating college a year late - but I saw once graduating in four years is like leaving the bar at 11:30 so I have decided to look at this as a positive!
2. I'm from a small town & there isn't anything better than visits home & get-togethers with old friends in my opinion
3. I am OBSESSED with Gossip Girl. Actually, obsessed might be an understatement!
4. I am a total perfectionist. It can be so annoying.
5. I absolutely cannot wait to be an event planner, it's my dream job and I'm so excited it's going to happen.
6. My weakness is real Southern fraternity boys - bow ties and pastels, can't beat it.
7. I am a huge history buff as nerdy as that sounds. And I like the weirdest things from history too.
8. I got a miniature pinscher for my 16th birthday and named her Bella like Heidi did on The Hills. (I'm so cool.)
9. I really really love Eastbound & Down and the main character Kenny Powers, even though he is so vulgar most of the time. It's just such a funny show.
10. "Text Lingo" annoys me so bad. How hard is it to just type the extra few letters??
11. I am a die hard Carolina Tarheels fan and went to most of the home games with my daddy growing up.
12. I am insanely ADHD and cannot sit still or concentrate on anything long.

Allyson's Questions

1. What is your favorite blog…or blogs? I've only recently started blogging, so I don't have a favorite yet! But all the blogs I've began to follow are wonderful!
2. What do you really look for in a friend? Someone who likes to just up and do something crazy from time to time. I love friends who you can count on to be up for an adventure!
3. What is your word of the year? Satisfaction. I really need to work on taking a moment to enjoy what I have and not constantly be on the go to achieve the next thing on my "to-do list" of life.
4. What is your favorite part of blogging? Getting my thoughts out! I love that one day I am going to be able to go back and read all all of this a few years from now.
5. What do you look for in a great blog? Good advice and I really like reading about people who lead a similar life to me! It's crazy how the same things I'm loving that week someone else in Kentucky or Florida is also loving.
6. Do you have a favorite quote or a life verse? "Have a little faith, and if that doesn't work - a lot of mimosas." - Blair Waldorf.
7. What is your favorite movie and why? SWEET HOME ALABAMA. I love how Melanie realizes that it may seem like it will be better in the long run to marry a successful, wealth politician but your heart always knows best.
8. Do you have a favorite or go-to outfit (casual, dressy, or otherwise)? When in doubt, I always go for a cute black top, jeans, my tortoise Michael Kors watch and fun earrings. That outfit will never fail you!
9. Who is your celebrity crush? Ahh definitely Ed Westwick (aka Chuck from Gossip Girl) -- can you tell I'm obsessed?
10. Who in your family inspires you and why? My daddy. He has been through so much in his life and he still manages to stay positive through it all and never lets me or my sisters see him down/upset. And in my 21 years I have never heard him use a swear word! He is such a good man.
11. What is your preferred pet? I love love love my mini pinscher. But I think my next dog, once I'm settled down, is going to be a lab or a retriever. I had a dog that size when I was younger (even though it was just a mutt) and she was the best dog growing up. I want my kids to have the same.
12. Are you a late-sleeper or an early-riser? I wish I was a late-sleeper but I'm definitely an early riser! I just can never sleep late!

My Questions

1. What is your favorite TV show?

2. Small town or big city?

3. Why did you start to blog?

4. What is your favorite memory from your childhood?

5. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?

6. Do you have a role model you look up to? and why?

7. What is your dream destination?

8. Favorite color?

9. Best experience in life so far?

10. What is your guilty pleasure?

11. Favorite food?

12. The one thing you hope to accomplish in your life?

My Lucky Tags

A Sweet Georgia Peach

My Sweet Shore Life

Sweet, Sassy, Southern and Classy

Sweet Southern Prep

..a sweet southern drawl..

Miss Southern Prep

Preppy Southern Princess

The Kentucky Priss

Brooke

A Sweet Southern Mess

Classy California Girl

Collegiate Belle

Now I'm excited to see what all these ladies come up with! Thanks again to Allyson for tagging me! I love your blog & can't wait to see what you post in the future!

Lilly State of Mind

Happy Sunday! I really cannot get over all this beautiful 50/60 degree weather I've been having - in North Carolina - in January! It is supposed to be 67 here Wednesday! I am not complaining though, I will take 60's over 30's any day!

A few posts back I blogged about my newfound love of Etsy and how I wanted to put some of my things up there, and I actually did! So far I've listed 2 of the gifts I've recently made for my little but I hope to upload some more pictures of previous things I've made soon! My 'shop' is MooreSdesigns so you all should take a look and let me know what you think!

So like most of you, I am a huge Lilly lover and yesterday the new spring line was released! Has anyone else had a chance to take a look at some of the new items/prints? I AM IN LOVE. She has really outdone herself - again. I really adore all the new floral prints this season. They are not as big and bold as signature Lilly and I feel that makes them a lot more practical and can be worn a lot more ways. My absolute favorite is the new print "Lilly State of Mind." This print is patchwork and has a different patch for each state! Sooo cute. I ordered the Tate skirt yesterday and I was so disappointed to see it will take a few weeks to be shipped out. But the anticipation of it arriving in the mail is better than looking at it in my closet and having to wait to wear it! Although with this weather I might be able to wear it sooner than I think! If you haven't been able to check out the spring line yet, I posting some pictures of my favorite pieces that will soon be additions to my closet!

The Tate I ordered in "Lilly State of Mind." Absolutely adorable!

This is a new style I've never seen before - Somerset dress in "Just Love" I really like the big flower print.

Allison top in "The Flowers and Trees." I'm really weird about my arms (I hate the "mom arm" fat) but this is such a flattering top, I may have to just risk it!

And there are a million more adorable pieces, but you'll just have to check for yourself! Can you tell I'm a shopaholic? Clothes are definitely my weakness.

I hope everyone has had a fabulous weekend and has a wonderful Sunday! I'm off to spend the afternoon with ADPi for a chapter retreat! I'm so sad it's inside on such a beautiful day but perhaps we all can convince everyone to move it outside! We will see!

Xoxo

New Clothes Fever

I hope everyone is enjoying absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather like I am enjoying today! I definitely do not mind 61 degrees and sunny in January! I hope it stays this way, I am itching to start wearing my spring clothes. 

And speaking of spring clothes, I stumbled across a fabulous boutique on Facebook a few days ago and I just had to share this great find! The Cousin Couture is North Carolina local (fast shipping for me!) and they have some of cutest clothes I have seen in a while, and did I mention how affordable the prices are? Although they might not be that affordable when purchases become frequent! Here are some of my favorite finds: 

I am in love with everything about this top! And only $35!

Love the fun colors in this dress - $59

I think this is my favorite find, some adorable! It can definitely be worn for a multitude of occasions! And you can't beat $75!

I am really loving all the sheer boyfriend fit tops being seen this season, and this one is especially fabulous. I love how it is two toned! $39.

I have quite a few weddings coming up, this would be the perfect dress! I love the color and the open back and for $34 it's beyond a steal!

They seem to update their website really frequently, but they add new items to their Facebook page everyday so you all should "like" them on Facebook if you are a fan of their clothes. I really like how they put up pictures of the items on models and not just hanging so you can get an idea of how they look on! 

I really think the beautiful weather has gotten me in a shopping craze! Has anyone else came across any great finds recently? 

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend, I know I definitely plan to stay outside as much as possible!!

Beginning of the End

Tonight is Anarchy Night, which is a tradition in my sorority that takes place the day of officer transitions, meaning we have no active officers in the chapter. So of course with no one to enforce the rules, it's always a night to remember! 

Making plans and preparing for tonight it hit me, this is really the beginning of the end. I have been in college for four years and it feels like it's been a few months. I really don't know how I feel about this! I know I'm so excited for the next stage of my life, but I also know I haven't really thought about how drastically my life will change .. and soon! Although I will be graduating a year late, going alum from my sorority is really going to change my day to day activities. What in the world am I going to do with the time I used to devote to chapter meetings, recruitment practices, date functions and mixers, etc? I may sound silly so forgive me, but my life really revolves around sorority activities! As many times as I wish to be alum and not have to attend all the required things no one really wants to go to, I am not sure I really am ready for it to end. I joined a sorority on a whim my freshman year and these four years have made me a more independent, outgoing, confident woman than I think I ever would have been without it! I don't know if any of you are Laguna Beach fans (watching the DVDs is still one of my guilty pleasures for rainy days) but how I'm feeling reminds me of Lauren and Lo discussing the "beginning of the end." I can't believe I've finally reached that place! It makes me want to rewind time and go back and do it all again. I know I have so many wonderful years ahead, but I've definitely made some of the best memories in these past few years.

This sad feeling of growing up has made me really stop and think about all I have been blessed with! I really need to take a moment more often to realize how lucky I am to have everything I have. I'm guilty of taking things for granted more than I should and I want to make a effort to really stop and appreciate the little things more often and the time spent with friends doing absolutely nothing that turns into some of the best memories. I hope my realization inspires some of you to do the same and really think about how amazing life can be!

Happy Saturday, everyone enjoy your weekend!

XOXO, Gossip Girl

I hope everyone had a wonderful (and hopefully long) weekend! I know I was glad to have the extra day for MLK day, but by Monday night it was really throwing me off! 


Monday night was the winter return of Gossip Girl, which I am really obsessed with. Does anyone else keep up with it? When I was younger I used to read the Gossip Girl books so of course I was SO excited when I found out they were coming out with a TV show! At first I wasn't that happy with it because it is so different from the books, but now I am so addicted!! I was not pleased at all with Monday's episode, which is disappointing since I have been looking forward to it returning for a month! I am a huge supporter of Chuck and Blair being together and there is always a new twist added that keeps them apart. My friends have decided I'm so invested in this fictional relationship because it reminds me so much of my actual love life, but I think we all have a TV show that we just get absorbed in! I watched Monday night's episode with my best friend and both of our moods just fell after the show was over. It really was so disappointing! Let's hope next week is better. 

I've recently started using the website etsy.com and it is just fabulous! Has anyone else used this site? They really have some super cute things for sale. I've been browsing the internet a lot lately looking for little gifts as initiation is coming up and I've been surprised to see things I make on a regular basis up for sale on etsy! If only I had the time I would love to put things up for sale on there! Maybe in the future, who knows! I have two super cute finds I'm really excited about: 

This is a little pocket mirror made with Lilly fabric! And my sorority mascot is a lion so it's just PERFECT!

I absolutely love anything monogrammed as well as searsucker, so what is better than a monogrammed searsucker koozie? I have a million koozies and I think this will make a perfect addition to my collection.

I'm really excited about my plans for today, craft supply shopping with my best friend after class, a dinner with my diamond family and then crafting & wine night with my best friend. She is making one of the airplane bottle flower pots that have become really popular for her boyfriend's birthday and I of course have a million things to craft for my little. I've been putting it off and I know I need to step up my game before I'm drowning in things to do at the last minute! 

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

Hurry Up Spring!!

I don't know about everyone else, but I am not a fan of the winter! I hate having to wear a coat everywhere and not being able to put all my colorful and fun clothes for warm weather to use! And now I have all my purchases from the Lilly 2 day sale hanging in my closet and I have to wait to put them to good use! Did anyone else take advantage of that amazing sale? There are always SO many great deals! If you missed out, be sure to keep your eye out for the next sale in August! Some of my favorite purchases were: 

The "In A Knot" bangle for only $34!

And this super cute wrap skirt for $24! Like I said, great deals!

I definitely have a weak spot for Lilly! It is amazing how much of my money goes towards purchasing her items and how many random Lilly things I have collected over time. I love all the festive colors and patterns she never fails to produce! This season her color is coral which I am absolutely in love with! You can never have too much coral in your closet! Or Lilly (; 

         

Last night was a big, fun night! I got my new little! She is absolutely perfect and I know she will be a great addition to the family! The only downside is how short of time I have left before I go alum, luckily I will still be around campus for another year! I will leave you guys with a few pictures from last night's excitement! You'll have to ignore how rough I'm looking, it was a long night!

I was SO excited!

New family picture with our addition 

My latest door decorations, I am rather proud of those letters!

I hope everyone has a fabulous Thursday and is just as excited about a new Grey's Anatomy as I am!

Little!

Happy Monday! Although it's a gloomy, rainy day here anndd the first day of classes, I am in high spirits! I found out Saturday evening I will be getting a new little in my sorority this week and I am absolutely ecstatic! Being a Southern sorority girl, one of the most cherished parts we all dream of is having the perfect little. I got my first little last fall but unfortunately she wasn't very involved or excited about being a member and eventually transferred schools. One of the best parts of being a big is all the fun crafts you get to make! I especially love to craft and put so much time and effort into all the things I make, so it was really disappointing when my last little didn't turn out as I had envisioned. However, I have high expectations for this time a round and I am so excited about this semester! Even though this is my last semester as an active member since I'm a senior, I am graduating late so I will still be around campus next year. 


For all you sorority girls out there, I know most schools do some kind of matching process to get big/little pairs. My chapter does things a little differently! On Bid Day the new girls pick some kind of object randomly (we have previously done items that go along with our bid day theme like baseballs, Spanish noise makers, dice, etc.) and on the bottom is a poem about the girl who will be their big and once the poem is read we of course run out and hug them! I know it's a little weird to do it randomly, but it always works out for the most part! My big and my twin have turned out to be some of my best friends! Here are some pictures of my wonderful sorority family.

This is my entire family, including my alum big, grand big, and great great grand big, at a 30th anniversary party for our chapter last year!

My big and twin at our Christmas Cocktail last year

Getting my first little last fall! Although things didn't work out with her, I still love this picture! 

My twin and her two littles at Bid Day this year.

My favorite favorite tradition bigs do in my chapter is decorating our littles dorm doors the night they get their bid! It's a fun way to show all the people in their dorm they've just joined a sorority and a fun way to end such a busy day! All the big sisters decorate paper letters to tape on the little's door which is really neat because it gives us a way to show a little part of ourselves and what we like to our new little! Plus, we all keep the letters for decoration because they always turn out so well! I still have the ones my big made me, as well as some that have been passed down to me over the years!

These are the letters I made last year 

They took absolutely forever! I hand drew one of Lilly Pulitzer's prints from the Spring 2010 collection and it was not an easy task! This year I'm once again doing a Lilly print, but one of the Lilly Pulitzer/Lee Jofa prints from their furniture collection. I will have to upload pictures once they are done! Ok I know I've went on and on about this, it just shows how excited I am! Does anyone have any fun stories or memories from sorority days? 

I am going to work a little more on my letters before I have to go to campus for recruitment meetings! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday!

Very First Post!

I have to say this is all new to me! I have been very impressed by some blogs I've stumbled across in the past & recently one of my close childhood friends was telling me about hers, so I decided to give it a shot! I guess I can start by telling you a little about myself! I'm a college senior at a university in North Carolina. I'm absolutely in love with my major, event planning(even though recent changes in the curriculum will add an extra year to my graduation date). I am from a small southern town and love everything about being Southern. I can't imagine living anywhere else!

Today is the last day of Christmas break and I must say I am unbelievably sad to see it end! There is nothing better than spending a few weeks with no major tasks to fulfill except enjoying time with friends and family! And all the good food is just an additional plus! Over holiday breaks, I know I gain at least 7 pounds! My grandmother is an amazing cook, she still cooks by the old fashioned Southern rule of frying everything. As bad as it is for you, I don't mind indulging every now and then for the holiday's! My favorite thing she makes is fried cabbage. Now I know that probably sounds pretty gross but let me tell you, it is out of this world! I keep telling myself I need to ask her how to make it but I just don't think it could taste the same outside her kitchen!

This break I got to spend a lot of time with my group of high school friends that have remained close throughout the years. I am so lucky to have such a large group of friends that I have stayed close with for all this time. One of our friends has a garage/shop we used to have our parties at in high school and this break we went over there several nights and it felt like time had stood still and we were back in high school again! There is nothing better than reminiscing about old memories with the people who have seen you at your worst and still love you just the same. Old friends truly are a gift!

I have to end this procrastination and get back to packing up all my things to head back to school! I have to say, I bring home more and more every break! I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday!