Summer

Hello!  Hope you are staying cool wherever you are.  Here on the east coast we are experiencing a major heat wave this weekend.  I have a stack of books to read and ice cream in the freezer, so I'm ready for it!

We took a day trip north to a quaint, little town in the mountains last weekend where it was nice and fairly cool.  We spent the entire day outside walking, going to the park, shopping, we stopped for a yummy lunch at our favorite restaurant, and ended the day with ice cream.  It was a fun day!

I made a delicious Peach, Brie and Prosciutto flatbread pizza from this cookbook last night and it was the perfect summer dinner.  I highly recommend it.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Charleston Getaway

We took a trip to Charleston for a few days the first week of June.  It was a much needed getaway after all the busyness from the last month of school.  The weather was mostly overcast with a few showers one of the days, but I didn't mind at all, as it kept it from being blazing hot.  The south gets really hot and humid in the summer.  I love the longer days and beautiful flowers that come with summer, but not so much the heat.

Have you ever visited Charleston, SC?  It's such a beautiful, historical city and the coast is only a twenty minute drive from downtown Charleston.  I love to walk the cobblestone streets of Charleston and take in all of its beauty.  The food is also fabulous - lots of wonderful, local seafood on every corner.  It was definitely a nice, little getaway to one of my favorite cities!

Hello March

Hello friends!  I hope everyone is doing well. I haven't had a chance to post lately - life has been busy, and Charlotte has had a lot of homework over the past few weeks, it seems.  This week appears to be a bit lighter in that department, thank goodness!

Spring is just around the corner, and so is Charlotte's 10th birthday!  So hard to believe my baby girl is turning ten soon.  We are going to NYC for a long weekend to celebrate her birthday and we are so excited!  I know it's going to be a very fun time for her.  We have an afternoon tea planned, a visit to the American Girl Doll store, of course, and lots of touring around the city. So looking forward to it!

I recently ordered the new Oven to Table cookbook, and I am absolutely loving it.  I've made Fudgy Raspberry Brownies (twice), Oven-Baked Balsamic Beef and Vegetable Stew, and I just made the Faux Sourdough bread this morning, and it looks and smells amazing.  It will pair perfectly with spaghetti and meatballs tonight.  It's quickly becoming one of my favorite cookbooks - so many easy weeknight dinners here.  I hope you check it out soon!

Lately

Hello!  I am so far behind that I don't know where to begin, so for now I will just update you on the last few weeks.  

The weather has been pretty amazing lately, a bit warm for October, but still very nice.  We took a day trip to Blowing Rock last week, and the weather was perfect, and the leaves were gorgeous!  I believe this is my very favorite time of year.

  I've also enjoyed getting my groove back on in the kitchen.  I made pumpkin muffins last week and minestrone soup.  Ina's chicken pot pie is on the menu for tomorrow with homemade biscuits... Yum!  And I'm planning to make smitten kitchen's spiced applesauce cake this week.  

Charlotte had the day off from school yesterday, and my husband and I took her to the zoo in Columbia - she had a great time!

Lately...

My girl lost two teeth within the past two weeks!  She was so excited!

Photographing our house for our "for sale by owner" flyers.  We are planning to relocate to Charlotte, NC as soon as it sells for my husband's job transfer.  We are excited!

It snowed this past week, and Charlotte loved it!

I made a yummy homemade pizza for dinner on Friday night.  I love pizza night.

And I am planning our trip to Disney World for Charlotte's 5th birthday.  Charlotte is completely over the moon excited!  It's only about six weeks away.  We are all very excited for this upcoming trip to Florida!

This Moment

A moment from the week.

Joining in on Amanda's this moment project.

Afternoon Tea

My husband took his girls to Asheville for tea at The Village Tea Room on Saturday.  This was Charlotte's first afternoon tea.  I think she liked it!  

She had the sweetest conversation with little Miss Bee!  This is such a cute age!

Charlotte and daddy!  Daddy is not looking at the camera, but it's the only photo with Charlotte's eyes open.  Silly girl!

The Village Tea Room at Biltmore Village.

Charlotte making sure her napkin is placed on her lap.

Pretty view from our table.

We had the Afternoon Tea Plate.  The scones were so delicious!

Charlotte and mommy.  It was a fun afternoon!  

Fun Day in Charlotte...

We spent the day in Charlotte yesterday with my Mom.  We started with a nice lunch, a little shopping (of course a stop at Pottery Barn kids, Charlotte's favorite) and our last stop, Trader Joe's.  Don't you just love Trader Joe's?  I do!  They have such a wonderful selection of everything and great prices, too!  I always bring my cooler and stock up as we live an hour away.  

Posing by the lovely flowers after lunch.

Charlotte insisted I take her photo by the vacuum at PB Kids.

She loves it.  It's the first thing she goes for.  She had a major meltdown when we first arrived as another child was playing with it.  Good times!!

And with telephone as she (pretended) to call Daddy!  So cute!  

Snapshots from the weekend

Pretty flowers from the Farmer's Market.

The three of us in Blowing Rock...

Visiting Uncle John and Aunt Dana.

It was a fun weekend!