From the monthly archives:

October 2009

it’s friday!

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 30, 2009

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What’s going on with us this week?

1. I think the highlight has to be our photo session with Tracy Turpen yesterday. Tracy and her husband drove in from Charleston yesterday and we had an amazing session. She was such a joy to work with, and because she and her husband have a baby boy, she knew what it was like to work with babies. We were completely relaxed and just had a great time. I usually end up pretty stressed out after hours of smiling and taking awesome photos, but this was a blast. Thanks to Tracy and Lance for such a great day!

Here’s a photo from a shoot she posted on her blog earlier this week. I cannot WAIT to see ours!

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2. We’re going to a Halloween party/Gamecock football watching party with a bunch of friends tomorrow night. Hudson will be the only baby there, but there will be other trick-or-treaters. The Gamecocks are playing Tennessee and we’re hoping for a strong victory! I’ll be bringing Emeril’s corn dip with me. It’s one of my football watching staples. I’m sharing the recipe with you because I know you’ll never bring it to a party that I’m attending!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 1/2 cups corn kernels (from 4 ears fresh white or yellow corn)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup finely chopped yellow onions
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped green onions (green and white parts)
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 to 1 cup mayonnaise
4 ounces monterey jack or cheddar, shredded
4 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
Tortilla chips or Fritos, for dipping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kernels turn deep golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook, stirring often, until the onions are wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the green onions, jalapeno, and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened. Transfer to the bowl with the corn. Add the mayonnaise, 1/2 of the monterey jack and half of the cheddar, and the cayenne and mix well. Pour into an 8-inch square baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve hot with the chips.

3. Can you look at this picture from Millie Holloman’s blog without crying? I saw it and literally burst into tears. What is wrong with me? Those father/daughter wedding photos get me every time!

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4. I’m on the hunt for a Sip ‘n See dress and a cocktail dress for the Holiday Market Preview Party. All suggestions are appreciated. Now remember that I’m a new mommy and need to cover and flatter certain areas– ahem, my arms and hips.

5. Hudson wore his smocked Halloween bubble for the last time today. Hopefully his future siblings will be able to wear it. Or his future brothers, it’s not really a girl’s bubble. Hmm… I wonder if we’ll have more boys. Check out my punkin head in his little bubble!

And the best self-portrait we could do. That Canon Rebel is hard to hold with one hand and manage to get a good picture!

6. I’ll be spending the down time in my weekend going for my first run. What? (Thanks, It is Everlasting!) I’ll also be curled up on the couch with the new Southern Living. It’s the Thanksgiving issue and it is loaded with great looking recipes!

{ 21 comments }

Old Navy Giveaway and Item of the Week

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 30, 2009

It’s a Halloween treat from Old Navy! You can look cute and be comfy with the Item of the Week: Women’s Tab Sleeve Henley. Starting Oct.30^th (yesterday) the shirts are $7 (reg. $14.50) and come in super fun colors.

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So when you’re done treating others with candy, get into one of these and look dandy!

As if that isn’t enough of an incentive to get to Old Navy, I’m giving away 10 coupons for $50 off $100 to 10 lucky Blue-Eyed Bride readers!

Offers are unique, one-time use coupons just for Blue-Eyed Bride readers.

So, to enter, let’s talk about candy! What is your favorite Halloween candy? Do you buy extra to eat and not give out to trick-or-treaters? I do. Reese’s Peanut Butter cups are my favorite and we’ve already gone through two bags at our house.

What do you do with your leftover Halloween candy? Do you take candy from your kids so that you can eat it instead?

Leave me a comment telling me about your favorite candy secrets!

The coupons expire on November 5, so the 10 winners will be announced on Sunday night! Hurry up and enter so you can get shopping!

{ 143 comments }

Jody Whitsell custom pet portraits

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 29, 2009

Every time I go into my frame shop (HOFP Art Gallery)I am stopped dead in my tracks by the beautiful pet portraits that hang in the gallery. I always ooohhh and ahhh over them and wish that we could have one of our own. Well, I guess, two of our own for each of our beloved canines.

The artist is Jody Whitsell and her website is called Big Dawgz Squared. She sells prints, but her forte is custom pet portraits. You send her a photo of your pet and let her know what your preferred background color is, and she creates a magnificent masterpiece of your furry friend. These canvases are huge and are so striking.

The custom portraits aren’t cheap by any means, but they are stunning. Someday, after I’ve won the lottery and move into my dream house, I will have a room where one of these will fit in perfectly. Maybe it will be our media room or the office, but these pet portraits are absolutely stunning. Here are some examples of my favorites from Jody’s website.

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I think these two guys deserve to have a painting of themselves on our wall!

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my fictional dream house: something’s gotta give

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 28, 2009

I posted a picture of “Erica Berry’s” closet from Something’s Gotta Give in yesterday’s post on dream closets and realized how much I love that whole house. Did y’all know it’s not really a house? It was just a set for the movie.

I found some of the set photos at Architectural Digest and will definitely be putting these in my dream house files.

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The kitchen and dining room are my favorite rooms from the movie. The industrial range and the endless amounts of counter space. I love that the bottom cabinets were built to look like pieces of furniture in the room instead of built-ins. It’s light and beachy, but not pristine. Her cookbooks are out, her cooking utensils are out. It looks like someone lives there and loves to cook.

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Todd and I have our hearts set on a round dining table when we live in a house that actually has a formal dining room. I want a giant round table that invites great conversation. Just like the one in the picture above. The interior French doors actually remind me of our current dining area.

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And the bedroom… it’s so white and clean. I love the woven shades with the draperies. I love the bay window area that serves as her workspace. There’s so much light and I’m pretty sure anyone would want to wake up in this room. Again, it’s clean, but it’s perfectly accessorized. Stunning.

My other movie dream home is the house from Father of the Bride. Love it. And that baby suite in Father of the Bride II is so drool-worthy.

What is your movie dream home? What do you love about it?

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home tour tuesday: that’s not my closet

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 27, 2009

You’ve already seen my entire house on the Home Tour Tuesday series, but now I’m going to start showing you pictures of houses that I wish were mine!

Todd and I have a decent sized closet for a 1930s home. I mentioned that our attic was transformed into the master suite, so we do have a walk-in closet. It just doesn’t use the space as well as it could and is really a walk-in closet for one. Not for two. But it’s okay. We share. I didn’t ask my sweet husband to put one item out of his closet in one of the downstairs closets.

I do often dream of closets that I wish held my clothes. I’m not even talking about the clothes in these dream closets. I’m just talking about the space. Holy tons of closet space, Batman. Can you even imagine how much better off our clothes would be if they could be stored in one of these closets/dressing rooms? Sweaters would be appropriately cared for and everything would have its place. Y’all know how I feel about everything having its place.

Let’s take a look at some dream closets.

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Mariah Carey’s closet. Miss M, Mimi, Butterfly, whatever she likes to be called. It doesn’t matter. Look at those shoes and how perfectly displayed they are!

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I’m sure I don’t even have to tell y’all that this is Carrie Bradshaw’s closet. I can’t say it’s the most organized, but how can you do a closet post and not include Carrie Bradshaw’s closet? At least the contents are fabulous!

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These two are both of Aerin Lauder’s dressing room/office/closet. I don’t think that beautiful puppy is spending much time on that perfect white carpet. The desk is amazing. I don’t necessarily need a desk in my closet, but I’m dying– DYING– over the hand-painted wallpaper.

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Truly a girly closet. Via decorpad.com.

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Is it bad that one of my goals in life is to have all wooden hangers like in the above picture? So perfectly organized! Also via decorpad.com

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The dressing room/closet from Something’s Gotta Give. I could do an entire post on the house from that movie, but this closet is just beautiful. The clothes are perfectly protected from dust, but they’re still well lit and easy to see. Love it. Also via decorpad.com.

What does your dream closet look like? Do you already have it? Or do you live in an old house like I do and are always coveting thy neighbor’s closet space?

{ 37 comments }

mom-style monday: the leggings bandwagon

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 26, 2009

I know leggings aren’t anything new, but they’re new for me. I was pregnant last fall and winter and wasn’t about to shove my big self into a pair of leggings. Now that I’ve had the baby, I’m still not thrilled about shoving my big self into a pair of leggings, but I’m doing it anyway.

That’s right. I’m on the leggings bandwagon. I ordered some J.Crew leggings a few weeks ago and they were on backorder, so while I was waiting for them to arrive, I decided to make a trip to Ann Taylor LOFT and try on their leggings that have gotten rave reviews from this source.

I tried them on and loved them. I also loved LOFT’s lounge section of the store. These items are perfect for a SAHM, wearing leggings, and trying to cover up her backside.

Yesterday, I trotted down to Starbucks wearing the following items and felt pretty good about it! My backside didn’t feel small, but I wasn’t self-conscious either. I’ll see if I can pull them off with boots.

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Ann Taylor LOFT V Neck Pullover Hoodie in Neutral Ground

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Ann Taylor LOFT Full Length Legging

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J.Crew Sally Pearlized Ballet Flats in Black

And it’s a little chilly here, today, so I’m wearing this other sweater that I got at Ann Taylor LOFT with the leggings. I just love that place right now!

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Ann Taylor LOFT Ribbed Draped Jacket

Are you on the leggings bandwagon? How do you pull it off?

p.s. Here’s a Halloween sneak peek for you! Look at my little Charlie Brown!

Charlie Brown shirt purchased from Dove’s Nest Designs on Etsy.

{ 41 comments }

round up

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 23, 2009

I’ve been a little M.I.A. this week, but just wanted to let you know what some of our weekly highlights were.

1. Hudson and I are feeling better. Yay. No ear infections. His congestion is nearly gone. Mine, on the other hand, is taking a while to completely disappear, but I feel fine.

2. Hudson is really enjoying food. This week we introduced squash and bananas. He’s still not so sure about the bananas, but is loving the squash. Next week we’ll start green beans. Oh boy!

3. I took a ton of clothes to our local upscale consignment shop yesterday and I’m hopeful that I’ll get some money back. I realized that there were quite a few classic items that I hadn’t worn in years and they weren’t doing me any good just sitting in my closet. Most of them don’t fit anymore– too big and too small (yes, I’ve fluctuated a lot over the past 7 years). So fingers crossed for some cash back!

4. I forgot to add a Garmin to my birthday wish list. I had been holding off on asking for one because we plan to get a new vehicle sometime soon and a GPS may be a feature that comes with the car. But it’s looking like the new vehicle won’t come for a few more months, so that Garmin may be a necessity sooner than later.

5. Have I told y’all about my awesome day planner? A couple of my favorite tweeters and I were discussing the MomAgenda this morning. I’m certainly not the first blogger to rave about this, but I just love it. There is seriously a place to write everything– and lots of space to do it in. Each day has its own page and there is even space to write your kids’ appointments and activities. If you’re not a mom, they have the MyAgenda which is equally awesome. I had a MyAgenda before I became a mom.

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6. I think this is pretty. Don’t you agree? This gorgeous pink and peach Greenwich wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty last week, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. The stir sticks and the big bowl of peaches are my favorite part. So simple and so gorgeous.

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7. It’s been a crazy week in the blogosphere and a lot of my favorite writers have had a rough time. I think the biggest thing to remember is that we all write our blogs for us. Not because of what someone wants us to write about and not to impress readers or haters. If blogging makes you happy and you were happy with the way you’ve always been doing it, then keep it up. For me, it’s a way to keep up with my family and track our lives, but also a place for me to vent frustrations, however significant or insignificant they may be. It is also a place that I visit every day with the guaranteed promise that I’m going to interact with some of my greatest friends. And if it’s weird or strange for your blog friends to become real life friends that’s fine. I’m okay with being weird if it means I get so many great new friends out of it.

I hope you all have a great weekend. We’re planning to drive up and look at some gorgeous scenery in North Carolina this weekend. Nope– no football. Should be a great weekend!

{ 23 comments }

come on, sandra…

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 22, 2009

I hate to return from my two day blogging hiatus with a critical post, but I just can’t help it. I’ve been holding back on writing this post for a couple of months now, but I just can’t hold back anymore.

Sandra Bullock used to be America’s sweetheart. She was likable and fun. She was beautiful in a girl-next-door kind of way that made it impossible for women to hate her. She took a two year break from the big screen, and returned this Spring, and then two other big movies followed. Let’s discuss.

First we had The Proposal with Sandra starring opposite the adorable Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds is 34. Sandra Bullock is 45. I don’t think it was part of the script’s intention for “Margaret” to be 10 years older than “Andrew.” Sure, she was supposed to be mean and hateful, successful. But the relationship was only supposed to be far-fetched because he was nice and she was mean. Not because she was a cougar! Age was never addressed in the movie, so I think they were supposed to be about the same age. She doesn’t look 35. Her skin is stretched so tight that it’s hard to even recognize her anymore. And, honestly, that age difference and poor chemistry kind of ruined the movie for me.

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Then she was in All About Steve. I didn’t see it, so I can’t say much except that, again, she’s 45. Bradley Cooper is 35. I know that her “people” wanted to get her back out there in movies again, but isn’t there a role somewhere better suited for her?

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So here comes the perfect role for Sandra Bullock. The Blind Side. Todd and I read the book by Michael Lewis and really enjoyed it. We loved the story of Michael Oher and we started watching for him during all of the Ole Miss games. Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Ann Tuohy, a mother, who notices this boy and his talent and removes him from his underprivileged life and makes him a part of her family. I’m hopeful that this will redeem Sandra Bullock for me. The movie looks amazing– and it looks like women and men will both enjoy it. Here’s my only criticism: the movie seems to be highly focused on her character and the book wasn’t written that way. But I guess since she’s the star, it’s going to have to focus on her character the most. Right?

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Thanks for letting me vent about such a useless topic. You can now return to your regularly scheduled Thursday activity.

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sicky mcsickersons

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 19, 2009

I am hoping that I can get my act together to write more than once this week, but I can’t make any promises.

I woke up last Thursday and my sinuses were killing me. You know that feeling when your face hurts (yeah, I know the joke “your face hurts me, too!”) and you can’t breathe? My throat was hurting and I was completely congested. We left for Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Friday afternoon and had a fantastic weekend watching the Gamecocks play.

I decided that the University of Alabama can be on Hudson’s short list of potential future colleges. It was quite cold and we lost, but I managed to do okay despite having a pretty bad cold.

My mom flew into Birmingham to hang out with one of her good friends and they kept Hudson while Todd and I went to the football game. We were also able to tailgate with my cousin and her in-laws. Two of Todd’s law school friends and their wives live in Birmingham, so we had a great time hanging out with them and catching up. It was a fantastic weekend.

I have started to feel a little bit better, but last night when we got home, Hudson was a little fussy. Then I’m pretty sure I was awake every hour last night rocking him back to sleep. He never needs to eat in the middle of the night anymore, but I gave him two bottles last night because he was starving and so distraught. Poor baby.

I was exhausted this morning and when Hudson finally woke up I noticed that his little eyes were all watery and he just looked pitiful. I called the doctor’s office and spoke to the nurse. She got us in to see his doctor. I was so worried that he had an ear infection– or worse!– but he just has a cold. And of course I’m thinking I gave it to him. Where else would he have gotten it? Here comes the guilt.

So we’re watching him for the next few days. If he has two more sleepless nights we have to go back to the doctor to recheck his ears. Hopefully this little cold will just vanish and he’ll be back to his happy self soon.

He did let out a giant giggle tonight while I was dressing him for bed. He’s trying to be happy despite not being able to breathe.

Look at the tired boy. And the sweet little hat I made him wear. His Daddy was NOT happy about the hat.

Oh– and doesn’t it look like a cat lives with us? His sharp little finger nails are getting him every night now that we’ve stopped swaddling. Gotta get better about making sure the edges aren’t sharp when I cut them.

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30 things to do before turning 30

by Blue-Eyed Bride on October 15, 2009

I’ll celebrate my 27th birthday next month. Not a big birthday. My next big birthday is my 30th, but I’m more excited for my 29th. You see, I’ll turn 29 on 11/11/11. I’ve kind of been looking forward to it for not particular reason other than the coolness of the date for a long time now.

I’m not really concerned about turning 30. But I don’t want 30 to come and go and for me to feel like I haven’t done anything since I turned 25. Which totally isn’t true because I got married and had a baby all after I turned 25.

I have this book: 30 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do Before Turning 30.

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So to hold myself to some standards, I’m making a list similar to this one, but not quite the same. If I’m still blogging in three years, I can let you know which of these things I have accomplished. NOTE: this is my list, so it will not include things that I want to teach Hudson or do with Hudson and Todd.

1. Visit all 50 states– or the ones I haven’t yet visited which include Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota (do I have to?), Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. So I only have 16 left. I don’t have to plan a vacation around all the states– maybe just a drive through. Which brings me to my next item.

2. Go on an RV trip out West with my Dad. My mom, Todd, Hudson, and my brother can come, too. But this is something my Dad has always wanted us all to do together.

3. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I’ve walked the Golden Gate before, but I think the Brooklyn needs a trip.

4. Plan someone else’s wedding and get paid for it. Not just day-of-coordinator, but start to finish. Plan that wedding.

5. Finish every unread or half-read book in this house.

6. Learn how to fold a fitted sheet well enough that I could teach someone else. Good grief.

7. Travel to Greece.

8. Go back to Spain with Todd.

9. Go back to Venice with Todd.

10. Start playing piano again and practice daily. I played piano for 11 years and was actually good at it. I quit in high school when I started focusing on musical theater. But I recently started listening to some of my old piano music and found the desire to pick it back up. Good thing the ability to read music never goes away.

11. Join a local choir and keep on singing. I sing, too, but haven’t kept that instrument working either. I could join the church choir and join a local classical choir.

12. Start running and complete a 1/2 marathon. This is one of those things on the list that I was afraid to put on here because I’m afraid to even get started. The most I’ve run is a 5k and I can’t say I loved it. But I need a healthy hobby (other than blogging, of course).

13. Learn to make a roux from scratch. And I mean a good roux. Good enough to invite a crap load of people over for gumbo on Super Bowl Sunday.

14. See U2 in concert. U2 obviously didn’t get the memo that I had a baby this summer and it wasn’t a great time for a tour!

15. Learn to use my Canon Rebel.

16. Going with number 15, get better at Photoshop.

17. Put together a weekly flower arrangement for my house. Not a big deal, but just something that I always find impressive.

18. Take a family camping trip. And rough it for two days.

19. Learn to sew. I want to make costumes for Halloween and school plays. I want to be able to mend the holes in my kids’ clothes. I am a disaster with a sewing machine. So I have a lot to correct.

20. Fix an entire Thanksgiving meal by myself. Including the turkey.

21. Watch every movie on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies list.

22. Decide on a signature drink and learn how to perfectly mix it. I can never decide what is my signature drink. Sometimes it’s Firefly and lemonade. Sometimes it’s a gin and tonic. I want to know the answer to this question and then I want to be able to mix that drink up.

23. Re-renovate our house. If we stay in this house I’d like to add a room onto the back and expand our kitchen. Hopefully that will happen before I turn 30.

24. Host a fun party at our house just for kicks. And not just a little get-together, but something big and fun that allows me to flex my creative muscle. And not Hudson’s 1st birthday party.

25. Clean out my email inbox. And then don’t let it get full again. I use folders, but I just can’t believe how I just forget to delete stuff. It’s such a disaster!

26. Organize amazing family photo albums. Starting with when Todd and I were dating. And I’ve decided that I definitely want to use prints of the photos rather than do a printed book. I can do that, too, but my kids will really appreciate having prints of all of their photos someday.

27. Establish a family tradition for just our little family– not extended family– that we do every year. Just us. It can be a trip. It can be an activity. It could be a weekly activity. But something that my kids will look back and remember that without fail, we did it.

28. Maintain Blue-Eyed Bride at least until I’m 30. Will there be another e-trend then? Do you think we’ll still be blogging in 2012?

29. Write a business plan and get to work. Dreams should only be a dream for so long.

30. Go visit my best friends from college that I rarely see– and that live in some of the most amazing cities in the United States. Why haven’t I done that yet?

There’s my list. What kinds of things would be on your list?

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