Low Key Weekend...

This weekend I stayed in Valdosta.  I try not to go home unless I have something to do (which is quite often). 
Friday, I had 2 of my ADPi sisters over for dinner.  I love entertaining at my new house.  I made fajitas with rice and we had Halloween cupcakes for dessert.  The batch made 24 so I had tons left over.

Funfetti cupcakes!

I thought they turned out so cute! The best batch I've ever made!

Saturday was another lazy day. That night, I babysat my sweet baby boys I have been keeping off and on for the past year.  They are 6, 4, and 2 and are precious!  Saturday is their movie night.  They get to stay up late and eat popcorn.  I brought over cupcakes so popcorn was out this week.  We played outside and then watched It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  Once the movie was over, we put jammies on.  While I was helping the youngest get changed, the 4 year old comes running in the room with his pj's on and asked, "Do I look cute Ms. Katie?" Precious!

Today, I spent the day with my friend's Kari and Dewayne.  Kari and I went to the Gap outlet to do a little fall shopping.  I have so many hoodies and thick sweaters and feel like I have nothing in between (at least not in my Valdosta closet).  I can always count on Gap to have great sales but today was almost as good as their Black Friday sales.  Tons of stuff was 70% off.  I bought a pea coat, 1 skirt, 2 cardigans, a layered tank, a long sleeve shirt, a dress, and a scarf for $95 saving a total of $197 with their discounts and my 20% off coupon.  AWESOME!

Excuse the un-made bed and the mess in the back ground. Still trying to get  my room in order.
Love these new fall colors I added to my wardrobe today!

Home Sweet Home!

Last month, I moved into my first house in Valdosta. My previous years were spent in apartments so this was a big change for me.  I had been staying with some friends for the first part of this semester until this awesome opportunity fell in my lap (God is good).  I have never been more excited about something in my life! I absolutely love my new place! It is beautiful and I'm so proud of it!  God even blessed me with a roommate which is a huge help with the rent and is also great company!
Since I have been slack at my blogging lately, here are a few pictures of my house before I moved in.

My house it actually a duplex. Our half starts at the garage on the right.

Our huge living room and my awesome realtor!

View of the bar and kitchen from the living room.

This doorway leads to my room on the right, closet, and bathroom.

My room is an awesome size. This picture doesn't show that very well.

Half of my closet.  Couldn't get it all in there.

My shower.  I LOVE it! My tub is awesome and I love the white.

This is my favorite part of the house...the dining room. It's simply beautiful!

Foyer and front door.

Kitchen, laundry room, and door leading to the garage.

Meet Molly

My mama's birthday was August 27th and my brother and I suprised her with a puppy.  She is a yorkie and her name (after 3 days of contemplation) is Molly. 
Since our precious Maggie died (my toy poodle I was given for high school graduation) in August of 2008, we haven't felt ready to get attached again just yet.  For the past few months though, we had been talking about what breed of dog we wanted next, what color, size, etc.  I saw her birthday as the perfect time to take the "puppy plunge"!  I looked for weeks to find the perfect dog.  We initally said we wanted a mixed breed.  Mama has severe asthma and can only have non-shedding, short haired dogs.  I searched every where for any mixed breed.  I finally found a black shitzu/yorkie in Abbeville (not too far from where we live).  I went to check her out and she was precious! I thought for sure I would be back to get her but when I left, I was covered in dog hair.  Not only would this not work with mama's asthma but it also wouldn't work with my OCD. So, the search resumed.  On my way back to Valdosta, 2 weeks before mama's birthday, I remembered a lady I use to waited on when I worked at the bank that always came through the drive through with her yorkie.  She bought her from a relative in Eastman (even closer to our house).  I contacted the woman and she gave me her great aunt's number who was the breeder.  She just happend to have one girl and one boy.  Yorkies have always been a favorite breed of ours but they are usually VERY expensive.  This kind woman offered me a price I just could turn down.  I sent my brother over to check out the pup the very next day.  He sent me a picture of her and I instantly fell in love.  I explained to the breeder I wouldn't be home from school until Mama's birthday and she graciously kept her another 2 weeks for me.
It was a LONG 2 weeks knowing we were about to have a new "baby".  As silly as it sounds, I would find myself looking at the picture my brother sent me of her.  I was just so excited! 
The day finally came for me to go pick up our new family member.  After picking her up in Eastman, I took her to mama's house in Perry.  Mama luckily wasn't home when I arrived so I had time to figure out exactly how I was going to give her to her.  Cody and his girlfriend Taylor came over before mama got home.  I tied a big pink bow on our little baby and decided to put her in a decorative box we have in our house.  Once mama got home, we told her to sit down so we could give her her gift.  I ran back to my room and brought her the box with Molly inside of it.  I told mama her present was too big to wrap to give an explanation as to why I was bringing her a box she already owned.  She opened it up, saw Molly, and closed the lid back! She was in shock....and so happy.  She loved on Molly and even cried she was so happy.
I am so glad I decided to get mama a new baby.  She has really enjoyed having someone to come home to in the afternoons after work.  Molly is so sweet, calm, and playful.  She is still so tiny and loves to be held. 
Here are a few pictures of Molly from the night we gave her to mama....

Waiting to meet her mommy!

She loves her bubba!

Meeting Aunt Taylor!

Mama opening her favorite bday present ever!

She loved her!

Getting some sugar!

Molly Grace

Precious!

A Very Special Weekend

So...I'm never sure if people read my blog post which is why I don't typically write that many.  I do, however, think that some things are worth documenting for yourself to go back and read at a later time even if no one reads it but you.
This is one of "those" post.
In August, my dad and I went to St. Simons.  Just the 2 of us.  We don't usually do things just the two of us, and when we do I don't really look at it as particularly special.  I guess I have, in the past, taken those times for granted. This weekend was defiantly special.
Four days before we left for our trip, my dad told my brother and I that he has prostate cancer. We were both very shocked and upset. It was the worst news I have ever had to accept.
 He is to have 3 months of chemo followed by surgery at Emory to remove his prostate and bladder.  This was particularly hard because I don't want to see my daddy sick. He is never sick and I know that he will have a year full of sickness from chemo and then will have to adjust to these parts being taken from his body.  He will be in the hospital for 10 days, out of work for 2 months, and it will be around 6 months before he feels like himself again.   
My dad loves St. Simons. It is a place that means a lot to our family and we have built many memories there. He loves to go fishing and wanted to make one more trip before he begins chemo and doesn't feel well.
We left around lunch time on Friday. We arrived at Sea Gate Inn late in the afternoon.  The condo was so beautiful!  It was right on the water so daddy wouldn't have far to go to fish.  Later that evening, we went to our favorite restaurant on the island, The Crab Trap.  We both had fried shrimp and crab stew. Very delicious! We then went over to Brunswick to visit with my older half brother and his family. 
Saturday morning daddy went fishing while I slept late. :)  We walked around the village and ate at The Sandcastle for lunch.  It is a favorite for the locals (I'm ready to be a "local").  I took daddy back to the condo so he could get his usual nap and I went back to the village to finish up my shopping.  I took a nap once I got back.  It rained later in the day so no pool for us! :(  We ate dinner at Catch 228 for the first time and it was great.  One thing we do when we go to the beach is eat well (if you couldn't tell)! :)  We then went to the village to have ice cream for dessert at St. Simons Sweets.
Sunday morning we had to check out bright and early at 10am (yes, this is early for me on the weekends). We had brunch The 4th of May (another favorite of ours). 
Basically on this trip we ate and ate.  We did have a lot of visiting time which was great. I kept telling myself all weekend to remember every second of it.  This trip with my "diddy" was so special to me and I will treasure it always.
I didn't take many pictures this particular weekend but here are the few I did take...

Going to the Crab Trap.

The beautiful sunset on our way to Brunswick.

Wonderful dinner at Catch 228.

Us at Catch 228.



Our BEAUTIFUL condo.  I loved the colors, furniture, layout, everything!