Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is Daddy D's Birthday....Happy Birthday, Dad!  I had an idea earlier in the week and called Sister to see if she wanted to help me with my plan.  I wanted to surprise Dad at lunch on Friday.  With me being officially done with school for the summer (Hallelujah!) I was up for a day-trip to A'ville.  Now, if you know my Dad at all, you would know that EVERY Friday he eats lunch with Mr. Rusty.  So when I was working out the details of the surprise, I knew I had to involve Mr. Rusty...he was our partner-in-crime! haha

Shockingly, we arrived at Santa Fe before the guys did...it was a close call with a certain red pick-up truck on 431, but we made it.  Mr. Rusty's kids, Brett and Lauren, happened to be in town, so they joined us as well.  Oh, and Mr. Tony did too!  Oh to have been a fly on the wall in the restaurant...I get really excited about surprising people...so, I was a little hyper/on-edge/loud.  Sister shot me about 10 'G.T.H.' looks throughout the whole thing.  We crouched behind a wall and when he walked up, we  I jumped up and yelled "Surprise!!!"  Sister totally left me high and dry and I was the only one to make an idiot of myself...and while getting so excited, I forgot to take pictures of his face when we jumped up...I was even holding my camera in my hand and still forgot.  He was VERY surprised! 

Sister peeking out the window waiting on Dad to arrive!



While waiting on the group, we killed time taking pictures.....

and eating a lot of these!

The Group

The Birthday Boy

The best cake in the whole world comes from the A'ville Home Bakery...YUM!

After lunch, Sister and I went to Dad's office and spent some more time with him.  We propped up our feet in his office and discussed our portfolios...NOT! 

(This pic was taken with my iPhone)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!  I hope today is your best birthday ever.  Also, I would like to wish my parents a Happy 35th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday!!  In this day and time I think that is one heck of an accomplishment.  Mom and Dad, thanks for setting such a wonderful example for Sister and me on how wonderful marriage can be.  Love y'all! 

Chocolate Cupcakes and Chuck Bass

In honor of the end of the school year, I baked some homemade chocolate cupcakes for some of my kid-os.  I have baked cupcakes before, but never homemade cupcakes...I always grab the box mix and throw in the eggs!  I have always loved baking and decided to kick things up a notch with these cupcakes.  The kids requested chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting...I much prefer vanilla, but these weren't for me...so chocolate it was!  I got both of my recipes from allrecipes.com.  The cupcakes were YUMMY and the frosting was super smooth and sweet. 

I have to admit I have a new-found respect for cupcake bakers...baking these chocolate goodies wasn't the easiest task I've ever conquered in my kitchen.  If I wouldn't have been talking on the phone while sifting together the ingredients, I wouldn't have had to make a 2nd run to Target!  (apparently I'm not as great as multi-tasking as I thought!)  My house still smells like a chocolate factory..if you're in the neighborhood and want a sweet-treat, please stop by...I have some extras!   :)

Batter for the cupcakes

Can you tell I'm not the 'neatest' baker?  I had chocolate EVERYWHERE!

Let them bake for 20 minutes...

Kind of look like muffins as opposed to cupcakes...

Time for frosting!!

Voile!  The kids LOVED them!

Right along with my love of cupcakes is my love of Chuck Bass....I heart Chuck Bass.  He is basically the sole reason I watch Gossip Girl...that, and of course to see the clothes!  I was always a Mr. Big fan on SATC, and I think Chuck reminds me of him...sexy, powerful, always in a suit, wealthy = total hotness.  After I finished scraping chocolate off the walls  cleaning up the kitchen, I sat down to watch the season finale of GG.  I have 5 words for y'all...Chuck. Bass. In. a. TUX.   If you missed the episode, watch it online...he melted me.  I'm a HUGE Chuck and Blair fan too and am hoping that when the show returns in the fall, they will somehow get back together...I've got my fingers crossed!!

If he looked at me like this, I think my knees would buckle.

Let the countdown begin until summer vacation....7 days to go! 

DB Deuce

Please read Doodle-Bug's shirt very carefully......

It's official!  My Doodle-Bug is going to be a big sister!!!!!  I have been dying to post this and shout it from the roof-tops, but I had to wait for the all clear from the Baby Momma.  Sister is due with Baby Crowe #2 December 11th (Sister's B'day is Dec. 7th so we're hoping for an early arrival of #2!)  I could not be more thrilled for them!

I am ECSTATIC and literally jumping for joy about becoming an aunt again.  Thanks, TT, for making my shirt.  I was SOOOO surprised when Sister gave it to me!  Sister won't find out what she's having until probably sometime in July....but, she did the 'gender test' this morning and it said BOY!!!  And the gender test she took is about 90% accurate!!  Regardless of the sex, we are just praying for a healthy baby. 

Here's a close-up of the shirt after I calmed down from the excitement...blue or pink?  Can't wait to find out!

This DB is going to be an AMAZING big sister!  

Since the name 'Doodle-Bug' has already been taken for Katherine, I'm trying to come up with the nickname for the new baby....I would LOVE any suggestions y'all have.  Please give me some ideas!
Sister, Blake, and Katherine-I'm so excited for your family...I promise to be the BEST aunt I can be.  Baby Crowe-you're already so loved and blessed and we can't wait to meet you!!

Mother's Day...a few days late!

I tried to do this post on Mother's Day, but when I arrived home from A'ville on Sunday my modem decided to call it quits.  So let me backtrack a few days....

I spent Mother's Day weekend at home with my mom, "Momma D".  I know everyone says they have the best mom...but I think I have the most wonderful mom.  How in the world she puts up with Sister and me and our shenanigans and drama...I'll never know.  Throughout the years, my mom has always put us first and been our biggest cheerleader.  The fact that she still speaks to me after how mean I was to her in middle and high school (I blame it on puberty!) is a testament to what a great mom she is.  As I become older, I find myself turning into her.  I literally hear her voice in my head all the time saying things like, "Virginia, attitude determines altitude!", "If wishes were horses we'd all be riding", etc. 

So Mom...here's to you!  Thank you for being the best mom in the whole world (what my homemade Mother's Day card said!).  Here are a few pictures of my mom and me throughout the years.  I tried to find pictures of just the two of us...but with Sister always around, those were few and far between!  And Mom and I are alike in the fact that neither one of us really like to have our picture taken.

Momma D and me back in the day

Mom is always so stylish...check out those cute yellow flip-flops!

My 5th birthday party at 'Mega Skate'

Our first trip to Hawaii...sometime in middle school.

Together at my high school graduation lunch

Sister and Blake's Rehearsal Dinner

Mom, thank you for always being there and loving me despite all my faults.  Sister and I are so blessed to be able to call you "Mom".  Love you!!

My Little Ballerina

After today, it's official...I'm a 'Stage Aunt'!  My DB had her very first dance recital this morning and I took the day off of work so I could see her in action.  Growing up, I took dance for 13 years...loved every minute of it.  So when Sister told me about DB's recital and the fact that she would be wearing a 'sparkly tutu', I knew I couldn't miss it.  The lights in the room where they performed were awful...so please forgive my pics..they're not the best!

Sister and her Ballerina

Please notice her lips...I put some lipstick on her before she performed...can you say 'Stage Aunt'?!

For the opening number, they all ran in with a wand!

'Ring Around the Rosey'

Her class has their very own piano player!

Blake and Sister gave DB flowers after the recital!

Her pretty flowers!

They had snacks for the dancers afterwards...so nice!

DB, I am so proud of you!  I apologize for being the only person in the room who cried during the recital...not sure what came over me.  I'm a proud aunt, what can I say?!  I hope you always enjoy dancing as much as I did and I hope I am able to see you dance for many years to come...I love you!  

 

May Recipe Club

Due to the recent storms and the fact that a lot of the group just regained power, this month's Recipe Club was super casual.  Thanks, Caron, for hosting us!  We were just excited to see everyone and know that everyone was safe.  Lauren chose 'Summertime Goodness' as our theme and all the recipes came from SouthernLiving.com.  We thought they were all yummy..but I have to admit, I think the winners were my 'Nutter Butter Banana Pudding Trifle' and my 'Potato Salad'.  Go check out our blog for these great summer recipes!

First step of the trifle...make the 'pudding'...a.k.a 'whisk constantly for 30 minutes'

Second step...set the pudding over ice and continue to whisk.

Third step...layer the pudding/bananas/Nutter Butters into the trifle dish

Fourth step...make homemade sweetened whip cream and beat it until it forms 'soft peaks'

Fifth step...crumble leftover Nutter Butters and sprinkle on top

Voile!  'Nutter Butter Banana Pudding Trifle'.  It's a great twist on your traditional 'Nana pudding recipe!

Caron's Spring Linguine with Basil

Liz' Marinated Green Beans

Melanie's Tomato-Chicken Salad

Sister's Jalapeno Pimento Cheese...it was super-spicy, but WONDERFUL!

My Roasted New Potato Salad...it has ranch and bacon in it...FANTASTIC!

Ashley's Creamy Grits with Corn

Meghan made us a fun cocktail!

The group!

I have to admit that I gashed my finger open last night while chopping the potatoes...I have a bandage on my 'bird finger' and look ridiculous.  If you see me driving down the road and you think I'm shooting you a bird, I promise I'm not!   :)