The Perfect Party

Take a front porch in historic St. Elmo. 

Cover it with a mismatch of tables and chairs. 

Add some candles and flowers.

Let the sun set and gather friends from the various pieces of your day to day.

Prepare a delicious meal complete with two desserts. 

Add in some wine. 

Top with laughter and good conversation.

And there you have it. You've created your own perfect party.

Happy Birthday, C!

This week.

Ohhhhhhh, this week.

Lordamercy, it's been a doozy. Not bad, really, but just weird. Busy, frazzled, funny, odd, ridiculous, and then some. But filled with some really good things. 

October twenty-first through the twenty-sixth has been brought to you by....

The 2 Bridges 5k with my girls, Peyton and Lindsey. We pretty much rocked it (Peyton's first race!) and I have big plans for making a little movie out of all the pictures and videos I took while we ran/walked.

Visiting Ketner's Mill for the first time and enjoying freshly made apple fritters. YES.

My most ambitious crafty endeavor yet and a time honored tradition in my personal Halloween costume history. Jason's request which just makes me all sorts of giddy and happy like a schoolgirl in love.

Breathtaking views from work that make up for what a pain in the keister it is to get up here some mornings.

A Thursday night filled with all sorts of my favorite people. 

One more Halloween sneak peek. I am only an overachiever when it comes to crafting.

I'm told that the weekend ahead holds good things. 

I believe it. 

Happy Friday, y'all!

Blessings, large and small

It's been a good week, folks. 

My Monday was actually a second Sunday, two quiet days at work since the kids were on fall break, lots of time with friends...I don't have one single complaint. 

 {Staff Retreat/In-Service. We were allowed to wear jeans to work and they had fresh Starbucks on hand. Definitely eased the blow of sitting in the same room for 3+ hours.}

 {Hooray! Reunited! Good as new!}

{October Photo a Day, 16 - Something I Wrote at our staff retreat. Notes from an amazing devotional and doodles from when the speakers lost me.  

 {October Photo a Day, 17 - The Fruit of my crafty labor on Wednesday}

{October Photo a Day, 18 - A living room full of friends Made Me Smile on Thursday. You're looking at an answer to prayer...}

And yet, Friday is just as welcome as always. The weekend is shaping up to pretty delightful, too. Babysitting some of our favorite kiddos, more college football, pumpkin pickin' and carving, and perhaps a country arts fair along the Sequatchie River. 

Fall, you are glorious. 

Saturdays Are My Favorite

After a deliciously lazy morning and during a lull in Jason's college football viewing, we headed downtown for Oktoberfest 2012.

{Pumpkin beer from Brooklyn? Don't mind if I do.} 

{photo credit: Jason}

{photo credit: Jason}

{The Bratwich was definitely the right choice. DELISH.}

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{Scored these two beauties at a random parking lot yard sale. 

They tied with the Bratwiches for best $10 deal of the day.}

{Game time prep is no joke, folks. 

There's an entire game riding on which shirt Jason wears, don't you know?}

{October Photo a Day, 13 - Today's serene landscape.}

 Tell me about your Saturday, please!

So these things happened today...

First, autocorrect on my phone decided it wanted to show off just how well it knows me. 

{Sidenote: Sometimes I don't know a student's name so I have to write down other characteristics that will help me identify their photo later. It's weird, but it works.} 

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In a moment of idiocy late Wednesday night, I decided to see what my engagement ring looked like on my right hand. Note to self: when the ring doesn't go on easily, YOU STOP TRYING TO GET THE RING ON YOUR FINGER. 

After trying almost every trick I could find via Google (except one that I just couldn't bring myself to do) and my finger swelling by the minute, the only option was left was to have an experienced jeweler cut it off. Props to my friend Ruth for a.) assisting me with all the various tricks I tried, b.) laughing at/with me as I cried over how sad and ridiculous was my predicament, and c.) pointing me to a reputable jeweler.

Absolutely breaks my heart still, but it will be back together and good as new by Tuesday. Very painful lesson to learn...

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After I got home from work, I was doing a little tidying up around the house when I heard Knox's nails scratch across the hardword floor and saw the storm door fly open. Turns out that a storm door  which doesn't quite latch on its own and stray cats wandering within Knox's line of sight is the perfect combo for him to practice his fifty yard dash. No lie, that dog was out the door, across the street, and up a tree in four seconds flat! 

I watched in amazement as he climbed the tree in our neighbor's yard trying to get to that cat. He perched there for a moment but when he realized just how high he was he jumped back down. The neighbors saw it too and came out howling with laughter. 

Once I got Knox back to our house, I went back over to chat and ended up coming home with two pounds of smoked barbecue, a bagful of fresh peppers from their back yard, a recipe for apple spice cake, and an invitation to come back over and learn some impressive cake decorating methods.

Retired neighbors are the best.

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We ended the night with a spontaneous double date with Jordan and Lindsay.

 {October Photo a Day, 12  - Outstanding menu on the table}

While I do have some suggestions for them in terms of ambiance (spring for real candles, guys, the battery powered tea lights are lame), I can heartily recommend the food and beer!

Delicious dinner, excellent company and two hilarious episodes of "Modern Family" was pretty much the perfect way to end this eventful day.

 To make the end of the day even sweeter, I'm looking at the start of a three day weekend. Hooray!

Let's take a walk

Today after work, I listened to that voice that says be kind to my body and get some sunshine. 

Best way to do that? 

Easy. We live in a city down by the river (please tell me you heard that in a Chris Farley voice) with a lovely Riverwalk along its banks. It was sunny, low 60's and absolutely gorgeous.

 Chattanooga riverfront from the Bluff View Arts District

 Is it just me, or does this house make you immediately think of John Hughes movies and Molly Ringwald, too?

 I spy the UT Mocs on the practice field...

 Do you see the birdies?

Listening to that voice was one of the best things I did all day.

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{October photo a day, 9 - I found red signs of autumn all around campus today.}

A few short notes

Dear Chattanooga Drivers,

A.) The left lane is for passing, not the right.
B.) Turn signals. USE THEM.
c.) That game of chicken you're playing where you try to force me out of my lane? I'll win every dang time and your insurance will pay. I'm looking at you, snotty lady in the Range Rover in St. Elmo.

Kisses,
Tawanda

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Dear Old Navy Pop-Color Rockstar Cords,

You are delightful. That is all.

xoxo,
Leslie

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Dear Seven Cans of Pumpkin in my Cupboard,

Don't get too comfy. Jason's thrown down the challenge and I've got all manner of plans for you. Cookies, bread, cupcakes, lattes...oh, it's on.

Polishing my Kitchen Aid,
Leslie Ruth

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Dear Readers,

Looking for a yummy Autumn meal that's ready when you get home from work? You should make this.

Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup

1 can of Rotel
1 can of Corn
1 can of Black Beans (drained and rinsed)
2 frozen Chicken Breasts
8 oz. block of Cream Cheese
1 packet dry Ranch dressing (I used taco seasoning packet & that worked well, too)
1 Tablespoon Cumin
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Chili Powder

Put all the ingredients in your crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. 
Take out the chicken and use two forks to gently shred it. Toss that back in, stir & enjoy!

*I doubled the recipe (but only used one seasoning packet) and it was enough for the both of us, with leftovers to freeze and some to eat later this week.*

It's creamy, spicy, and totally delicious. Now I'm wishing I'd tossed some fresh avocado on the top of mine. Next time, definitely.

Just looking out for your taste buds,
LRP

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Dear Jo-Ann's Fabrics,

Thanks to you, I'm having a lovely little love affair with the gorgeous autumn colored felt you sell.  My crafty genes offer a hearty, "Well done, you!"

{October Photo a Day, 8 - A forest of angles while I get my crafty on.}

Can't stop cutting out felt flowers,
Leslie Lu

Today Was a Very Good Day

I love my job. Like in a ridiculous, insanely grateful, makes me so happy when I think about it I could cry sort of way. I have more to say about that, but it probably needs to be another post.

{October Photo a Day, 2 - Looking up at lunchtime} 

{October Photo a Day, 3 - So this happened today. Inauguration prep began on the foggy chapel lawn.}

But let me just say that one of my favorite things about working where I do is that as a chapel office staff, we laugh a lot. We laugh loud and we're big fans of stuff that's funny enough to make us snort because we're laughing just that hard.

Also, we've yet to meet a random but hilarious YouTube video we didn't love.

This happened today and we laughed for a long long time. My boss, the chaplain, on male students only picking up one free ticket to the Inaugural concert featuring Fernando Ortega...

"I'm not about Marriage Mill on the Hill, but I am all about taking the initiative to take a girl on a FREE DATE! I mean, it's music about Jesus. That's harmless! It's not a marriage proposal, for crying out loud!" 

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After work, we got to go over and hang out with our buddy Jack so his parents could have a date night. He and his daddy built a fort earlier in the day and Jack invited Jason and Lulu to climb in, read some books and was a big fan of taking self-portraits on our phones.

Hands down, my favorite voices of the day.

Inspiration via Instagram

In an attempt to woo myself back into writing, I've been looking for inspiration wherever I can find it. I figured I'd start with that oh so popular app, Instagram. Every month, Chantelle posts a series of photo prompts for that entire month. Since my job is pretty slow right now, I knew that I could put some effort into being intentional about looking for the little things. Here's a little bit of my June thus far...

Day 1, Morning. 

Somehow getting Starbucks from the one next to the famous "See Rock City" feels even more special.

Day 2, Empty. 

Every single produce bag holder at Walmart. For over a week now. #1stworldproblems

Day 3, On my plate.

A zucchini brownie from the second batch I've made this week. #paleo

{Yes, I've been eating Paleo for the last couple of months. Blog post coming on that soon...}

Day 4, Close-up. 

Budding hydrangea outside my office.

Day 5, Sign. 

When you have middle & high school students on campus all summer, this is absolutely necessary.

{I didn't make this sign, but I giggle every time I walk by it!}

Day 6, Hat. 

I still long for this gorgeous chapeaux. 

I found it at Kress Emporium in downtown Asheville last spring and oh, how I wish I could have brought it home with me! #southerngirl

Day 7, Drink. 

Water. All the ding dang day.

Day 8, 6 p.m. 

Contemplating take-out from a restaurant that, turns out, we will never patronize ever again. Specifically, the location in Red Bank. Worst. Management. EVER.

Day 9, My View Today. 

Morning quiet

Oil change 

Sunset cookout with friends

Patio lights I've waited 6 years to hang. 

#bliss

Day 10, Best Bit of My Weekend. 

This, always. #mylove

Day 11, Door. 

And every day I'm happy to walk through it!

Which reminds me, I need to post pics of our new place now that we're all moved in. See? Inspiration found.