Spring Fever

I think I'll decorate for Easter this weekend. What about you?

I wanna make this. I'm in love.

image from The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

Girl's Best Friend

Last night was one of the sweetest moments we have had with our black Labrador retriever, Cole.

He is such a sweet, loving, gentle dog (when he's inside).

When he is outside he is not a good leash walker, but we love him anyway.

It's ok. We blame ourselves. We didn't teach him that lesson properly.

Ok, back to his sweetness.

Cole is not usually allowed on the furniture. In fact, he is usually only allowed on his bed when he is inside.

We, however, made an exception last night. It was really cold outside. He was in the living room lying on his bed. The fire in the fireplace was roaring. Judd and I were snuggled up watching the Olympics together. I was getting sleepy and had my head resting in Judd's lap.

I think Cole wanted in on all of the snuggling because he stretched in the long and beautiful way that labs do and then tip-toed over to us. (He cracks us up when he does this. He thinks we won't notice him if we can't hear him. Never mind that he is a large 100 lb black animal who could be spotted from a mile away). Aww, bless his heart.

He quickly put his cold nose in my face which was at his eye level. I gave him a quick pat thinking his daddy was going to send him back to his bed at any moment.

Instead, much to my amazement, Judd motioned for him to join us on the sofa. He looked at me for confirmation. Then he looked at his daddy one more time to make sure it was ok. He swiftly climbed up to an empty spot in front of me on the sofa. You don't have to ask him twice.

Cole and I were kind of spooning I guess. He was sleepy and so was I. He put his big soft head down on Judd's leg right next to my face. We slept there on Judd with our faces touching whisker to nose and our bodies keeping each other warm for a little over an hour. We were both so comfortable. Judd's strong arm was draped over both of us. It was such a sweet moment.

I wish I had a picture to show you.

Having a pet who is so much a part of your family makes you sometimes forget that he is actually an animal at all. I told Judd after we had gotten up that was the closest I have ever slept to an animal before. He nudged up to me like I was his real doggy mother.

Gosh, I love that dog. He is such a loving creature. Labs are the best!

Wedding Bells

Here is what happens when both of your brothers get married in the same month.

Yes, I said that right.

My brother, Bryan, and his fiance, Laura, are getting married on May 7th. Judd and I are both attendants.

Below is the best picture of the four of us that I could find. I'll have to work on that. Judd and I are on the far left. Laura and Bryan are on the far right. Our precious cousins, Monica, Zack, and Eric are in the middle.

Judd's brother, Colby, and his fiance, Brenna, are getting married on May 22nd. Judd is the Best Man and I am the Matron-of-Honor for theirs.

Below is a picture of the Langham brothers. Colby and Brenna are on the left. We are on the right, although, I'm sure you had already figured that out.

Here is our upcoming calendar so far. 1 shower isn't even included yet because we are waiting on date confirmations. Eeek.

March 10th-Colby’s Birthday
March 27th-Brenna's Bridal Tea
April 2nd-Laura’s Lingerie Shower
April 4th-Easter
April 10th-Brenna and Colby’s Couples Shower
April 17th-Brenna's Church/Family Shower
April 22-25-Colby’s Bachelor Party
April 23-25-Brenna’s Lingerie Shower and Bachelorette Party
May 1st-Laura’s Bridesmaids’ Luncheon/Laura’s Bachelorette Party
May 6th-Bryan and Laura’s Rehearsal and Dinner
May 7th-Bryan and Laura’s Wedding
May 9th-Mother’s Day
May 14th-Our 5th Anniversary!!!
May 21st-Brenna’s Bridesmaids’ Luncheon/Brenna and Colby’s Rehearsal and Dinner
May 22nd-Brenna and Colby’s Wedding/Abby's Mom and Dad's Anniversary


Did I mention that Brenna and Colby live about 4 hours away from us in my husband's hometown?

Whew....It is going to be a fun and busy spring.

Somehow we'll have to find a way to balance all of the festivities as well as work and school.

It'll all be worth it to see our brother's beaming on their special days.

Happy Fat Tuesday!!!!!!

We hope you are all having a fantastic Fat Tuesday. We certainly are because of our sweet and thoughtful friend, Tripp.

Below is a picture of Tripp as First Knight on the 2005 Mardi Gras court with his beautiful and dear friend, the First Lady in Waiting.

We didn't go down to Mobile for the Mardi Gras festivities this year. We did, however, decorate our house for carnival. We were in the spirit of things I guess.

This is a picture of us last year before the Mystics of Time ball.

Tripp knew that we were celebrating our own mini Mardi Gras with just the two of us up here in Birmingham. I came home from work the other day to find Judd grinning from ear to ear.

Here is Judd and Tripp at the Crewe of Columbus parade last year.

He said we received a surprise in the mail. I had no idea what it could have been. We weren't expecting anything.

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Below is Tripp and me after the parade with our throws on.

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Well guess what...Tripp mailed us the most delicious king cake from Atlanta Bread Company in Mobile, AL. It is our favorite! Tripp's family introduced them to us a few years ago. We love their king cakes. If you haven't had one you need to. YUMMY!!!!



Tripp doesn't know this but I had almost ordered one a few weeks ago because I was craving king cake. He somehow must have known just what I needed. :)

Thanks Tripp!!!! You made our Mardi Gras fun and delicious! The only thing that would have made it better was sharing it with you.


Judd hid the baby Jesus for me twice. He found it the first time and had to re-hide it for me. Ha. What a sweetheart. :)


Happy Mardi Gras and Happy Fat Tuesday!!!!!!

It's great to have special friends isn't it?

You can watch a video about the Atlanta Bread Company's king cakes by clicking HERE. We prefer the cakes with cream cheese filling and no raisens.



To order a king cake online click HERE. I think that the Mobile branch is the only one that sells king cakes but they ship them all year long.

RH Garden

Just a little FYI that Restoration Hardware is now offering RH Garden.

It will be premiering February 25.

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You can go here to request your copy of the catalog.

Place your place card vote...

Southern women host great showers. It's just a part of our genetic make up to have this skill. Well...I mean...I hope it is a part of MY genetic make up because....

I am hosting the bridesmaids' luncheon for my sweet future sister-in-law, Brenna, in May. This will be the first shower/luncheon I have hosted by myself.

I am planning to have it on the front porch at the cabin over looking the pond or inside the cabin if the whether does not cooperate.

Brenna's wedding colors are truffle brown, cream, and green. I will incorporate those colors into the tablescapes. We have a few family-made quilts that could be used on the seating and tables.


Right now I am planning to use my cream colored Italian Countryside everyday china by Mikasa. I thought about using fine china but I only have 12 place settings of it and that would not be enough. I could do a mix and match of china patterns but I don't necessarily love that idea.

I have 24 place settings of my everyday. It is also in one of her wedding colors (cream). And I think because it is casual it's more appropriate for a farm luncheon. Am I wrong? What do y'all think?

I am thinking white table cloths with a burlap runner or burlap overlay would look nice.


The menu will feature chicken salad, fruit salad, croissants, cup cakes or one regular cake, mojito lemonade or pink lemonade (I think mojito lemonade would be cute because of her color scheme.), sweet tea, and water. Do you have any other food suggestions?

I am not sure about what to do for place cards. I have found a few images of ideas I like. Which do you prefer? Cast your vote in the comment section. There are nine choices.

1. a mix of spring flowers in a vase the girls could take home

2. a vase the girls could take home filled with a hydrangea

3. a terra cotta pot with name on a leaf

4. a simple bud vase place card holder

5. A mason jar filled with bath salts the girls could take home

6. a galvanized or terra cotta pot filled with herbs and a name tucked in

7. a simple pear or green apple with a name tied around the stem

8. fabric dressing the backs of chairs with the name as an embellishment

9. a bag of candy at each place setting with a name on the ribbon or bag itself

What is your favorite? I can't decide. Feel free to leave a comment with your vote.