My girlz...

There is cause for celebration... My two bests and I have enjoyed two exciting events this week!

First, was Moo's birthday! Well, her actual birthday was Sunday, but we celebrated girly-girl style on Monday!! We went to one of my favorite restaurants in town, Fuji, a Japanese Steakhouse. It was WONDERFUL and, as always, TONS of food!!! There is no way to "make a happy plate" at Fuji unless you are a professional eater... I know I like to eat, but I haven't reached professional status yet! :-) Anyway, here we are at Fuji having a big time...

Next we went to TJ Maxx at Moo's request. This is not a store I frequent, because I am not fond of digging for deals... I have a hard time with cluttered or unorganized places, I like one rack of all the same item. However, TJ Maxx took on a whole new look with my best girlz at my side! We talked, we laughed, we tried on - then we REALLY laughed... and in the end we all ended up with new cute stuff and big smiles!! Here we are trying on hats - we have vowed to one day go to the Kentucky Derby together, in hats!

Finally, we headed to Target to get some essentials (baby food, soap, etc.) but of course took a detour through clothing and handbags! I picked up this little number - a chocolate brown linen dress - super casual and fun for the summer! I predict this will be a summer of dresses for me, they are light, comfee, easy, and fun!

And after all the eating, and all the shopping, we did gifts in the Target parking lot like any ghetto-fabulous girlz would! It was a wonderful birthday celebration and I enjoyed every second spent with two of my most favorite women!!!

Now, the second cause for celebration... Drum roll please.... we are officially booked for our Girlz Trip 2008!!! As many of you know our First Annual Girlz Trip in 2007 was to Savannah and Tybee Island Georgia! This year's trip?... a sweet spa located in the Smoky Mountains near Bryson City, North Carolina! Here is a picture of the spa where we will spend one picturesque weekend... just looking at it makes me relax a little bit!

I am already down for a European Facial and an "All In One" massage that is a combination of a relaxation massage and a hot stone massage!!! Can you say, "pamper me?!?!" We also get all the yoga we want and breakfast and lunch at the spa! We plan on driving to Ashville for a little shopping and dining as well! I can't wait!!!!

Have you ever been on a special trip of just you and special friends? I would love to hear some good friend-trip destinations... there are lots of future girlz trips to plan after all!

Prayers needed...

Your prayers are needed and will be very appreciated by two very special men!

Above I am pictured with Chris and Rob Hooper... two of my nearest and dearest friends... these two are in my close circle of friends that I refer too so often... they are more like a family to me! Their father, Harris, was admitted to the hospital last night and through testing today a tumor on his brain was discovered. The doctors say that this is indicative of cancer somewhere else in his body as well! Mr. Hooper is scheduled for surgery in two weeks to remove the tumor and hopefully any other cancerous spots that can be identified. I haven't had the pleasure of personally knowing Mr. Hooper yet, but I have heard countless stories of childhood and adult memories alike. I have seen pictures. And, more importantly, I know his two sons very well and have met his two daughters! This is a very strong, healthy, family man and man of faith and he and his family need prayer throughout this ordeal. Please pray for healing for Harris and for him and his entire family to have peace, patience, strength, and comfort as they travel this new and unexpected road together.

I thank you for joining me in prayer for my dear friends and for their father and entire family. I know your prayers will be felt and will be appreciated!

"His strength is perfect when our strength is gone,

He'll carry us when we cant carry on."

-Steven Crutis Chapman

Food for thought...

I just wanted to share a couple of the yummy meals I have treated myself to this week. First, one of my favorites, was breakfast for dinner! I too often forget how easy it is to make breakfast - quick, always have the ingredients on hand, and sooooo good! So earlier this week when I was too pooped to go to the store and my tummy was grumbling for some good grub, I decided on breakfast for dinner! I didn't have the makings for pancakes, so I settled on french toast - YUMO! I had a very satisfying "dinner" of french toast, eggs, and bacon! It doesn't get much better than that!

Then tonight... Again, hungry and not really feeling a trip to Kroger, I headed to the cabinet for some inspiration! At first I thought about a BLT (one of my all time favorite sandwiches) but my bread was less than fresh. So with the makings of a BLT (bacon and fresh beautiful tomato), I figured I would get a little creative and shoot for "BLT" pasta! I had spinach Fettuccine in the pantry which I cooked up quick, threw on a couple spoon fulls of a jar of Alfredo sauce I had in the pantry as well and topped it off with some crumbled bacon, fresh diced tomato and Parmesan cheese! It was just the dinner for today and one I will make again, I am sure!

So I ask tonight for you to share... what are some of your old stand bys and some of your new creations when the grocery store seems less than inviting and the tummy is growling?

My Daddy...

...the best man I know.

Spending a little time on a post about my Mom and her garden made me run across a picture of her greenhouse. This is no ordinary greenhouse, but one very special greenhouse, designed and built by my incredibly talented dad out of antique windows!

I mean really... I know it's a greenhouse, but it is beautiful! My Daddy built their home (the one I grew up in - which was amazing) and my brother's home (which is also beautiful) and has had countless other building projects through the years. The funny thing is, that isn't what my dad does for living, that is just what he does for fun and for the people he loves!

There aren't many words that do my father justice, but a couple come to mind. My Daddy is patient and kind. He is also incredibly smart! He can fix anything! Basically... he's the stuff that hero's are made of!

He loves my Mama in a way that taught me what love is... not always smooth around the edges, but worth it. She has said many times that he is her hero and I know that he feels just as passionately about her!

He has a deep commitment to family and a love for his children (all three of us) that is visible and tangible and wonderful.

(My brother, Ken, and Daddy)

My Dad is an example and a hero and the best man I know.

Green Thumbs (Part 2)

Simply put, my mama has one!

If you read my previous post, you heard a little about my mom's passion and ability to garden! It is amazing! My mom, in general, is amazing! But today my focus is her gardening-amazingness!

Here is a picture of my mom so you'll know who I am talking about... actually it's a picture of my sister, Sarah, my mom, and myself at my Aunt's house:

And while I am at it, here is a picture of my Aunt (whose house we were at in the picture above):

Her name is Jenni... she and her husband Greg live near Jackson, Mississippi. She is fabulous and fun and who I credit for introducing me to my love of wine and many other things along the way!

So back to gardening... my mom is the best! She has everything from roses to raspberries and everything seems to flourish with her touch! In the summer (or any pretty day for that matter) you can find her somewhere gardening, whether it's her potted plants by the pool, the landscaping around the house, her actual garden, or fun random places around the barn and yard where she creates beautiful arrangements of plants and flowers!

Here is one of her many many many different varieties of roses! They are SO beautiful, some small and some huge - all wonderful!

Here is the entrance to her garden. I have countless memories of walking down to and through the garden throughout my childhood. It is where she could always be found when you couldn't find her anywhere else. Sometimes I sought her out to find out what was for dinner, sometimes to settle an argument between me and one of my siblings, but a lot of times, especially as I got older, just to walk through the garden and see what she had going on down there. Plucking raspberries or muscadines and watching little bunnies and birds make themselves at home in a little piece of paradise!

So Mama, thank you for your gardening. And although I might not have inherited your green thumb... I might just develop it one of these days. I cherish all my memories of you and your garden and plants. I appreciate your encouragement and many times help in my gardening attempts. And I credit you with my love for plants, gardening, and all things beautiful outside!

Green Thumbs...

Simply put, I don't have one! My grandmother and mother are both incredible gardeners. I didn't inherit that gene. My mama actually likes weeding her garden - that's right, you read correctly, my mom LIKES pulling weeds! It's all I can do to spray them - and that's on a good day!

However, despite my gardening experience that should tell me I am not a successful gardener for the fact that halfway through the summer it gets too hot to comfortably water plants and I don't like to sweat or pull weeds and doing those things together are pure torture (almost as bad as say a traffic jam or a faculty meeting), I sill get inspired every spring to plant! I have successfully gardened on occasion and for short periods of time... And every year I plant tomatoes, squash and zucchini, herbs, and a few flowers and hope for the best. In the past couple years I have not successfully made it all the way through the entire summer with my patio looking lovely (although I have produced some seriously good vegetables - even when the plants looked a little "wild"). My poor plants usually bite the dust or go "wild" because I stop diligently caring for them in the middle of the summer, but this year I have a goal! That's right people, watch out, I have spring-gardening fever (again)! So mark it down, this is my goal. The following are some pictures of my back patio area about 3 springs ago and what I am shooting for this year:

It can't be that hard, right? I am going to shoot for some herbs and a couple vegetables - going to make myself start small and manageable. My friend Gina and I are going to plant more vegetables at her house and take care of them together. Hopefully that way we can both enjoy the benefit of a "real" vegetable garden and only have to do half of the work each! I would say doing it yourself is too much work for one person, but my mama does it every year and makes it look easy!

So, wish me luck and next time you are at my house or in my back yard (for those of you who visit) encourage me and pitch in... if you see a weed, for goodness sake, pull it! :-)

The Little Princess (Bentlee part 2)

Okay, so I promised to dig through some more photos and share about Miss Bentlee Marie growing to her current age - 4! So here are just a few more of my favorite photos. I am somewhat limited, because I can only choose from the photos I have electronically stored on my computer, but here are some of my digital favorites!

First visit to Aunt Meagan's house outside of Mommy's tummy!

Okay, so this one is more "funny" than "cute" but seriously, the girl's even cute when she picks her nose... there is something to be said for that! I don't think many can pull off this look!

Many of you know, my parents own a resteraunt in Chattanooga called "Couch's Barbeque" that has been in business since 1946!! This is Bentlee in her very first Couch's shirt.

Bentlee has super straight hair just like her Mommy! This was her hairstyle of choice for quite some time... she called them "twisties!"

Thanksgiving year before last, mom got this great shot!

A princess?

(who prefers to use her "wand" as a "sword")

Or a peasant?

(Cute as a country button!)

Slip and Slide fun! She is a water bug!!!!

Bentlee loves the pool and the beach and all things water related!

Reading with Papaw (my daddy)! Bentlee LOVES to read! She will read book after book, has memorized some, will "read" to you and make up a story as she goes with the pictures - it's wonderful! Funny thing is, she doesn't like tv hardly at all! She would much rather play and read than sit in front of the tv! Bragging moment - she is SO smart! She will write anything that you spell for her, although she sometimes asks "is it as long as my name?" and she writes her name all by herself without you spelling it for her! She counts to 30, she LOVES activity books where you trace letter and number, count and write the number, match things, etc... I could go on and on!! She is one smart cookie - I am telling you!

And here is something else she does - the computer - all by herself! She is amazing! She can tell you what website to go to (like nickjr) and she takes it from there!

So there you have it. More than you ever wanted to know, or see, about my neice! She's a cutie pie and sure to be frequently features on my blog now that you have a brief account of her birthday and years from 0-4!