Weekend Rewind

Hey, hey y'all! We had the BEST weekend. After so much hoopla going on over the past month, it was so good to just spend some time at home. Friday night AJ had a meeting that ran pretty late, so Maddie Jane and I hung out outside soaking up the amazing weather. (Side note: she picked out this little ensemble.. clearly she has spent some time at Gigi and CC's lately..)

AJ's mom gave him a Home Depot card for his birthday and I was certain he would spend it on mulch or some new power tool... But much to my surprise, he came back from Home Depot with $200 worth of flowers, ha! 

They DO look really good! Fingers crossed we don't kill them. He also came home with my early Mother's Day present!! We have had a little leaf blower, that took me charging it three times just to get the driveway clean. Having a clean drive way is my JAM and I have been wanting one of these bad boys for forever!! #bestpresentever

Seriously y'all. This leaf blower is solid gold. I also pulled weeds all along the right side of the driveway and put out pine straw. 40 bales down... 10 to go! 

I have been on the hunt for something to go on the bottom of this little table. I ran into Home Goods during Maddie Jane's nap and this little guy caught my eye on the clearance aisle! Regular $30 and I got it for $7 because of a bulge in the tin. Bet you can't even tell, can you?? 

Saturday night Beverly and Ben came over to grill out. This little spit fire talked everyone into running around with her pink cape! And for some reason she calls Ben, "Pepe" ??? She had us all in stitches.

We grilled corn and chicken and Bev made a strawberry salad and some cheesey orzo. Then we topped the night off with key lime pie and several rounds of Table Topics. 

After such a busy Saturday, we took Sunday very slow.. Maddie Jane even napped with me that afternoon! I never get two hours of snuggles and I loved every minute of it! 

AJ has been binge watching Stranger Things and I have happily read my book (Little Fires Everywhere) while he does so. And shout out to a make up free Sunday.

Lastly, Kell and I topped off the weekend with rose and chit chat in the backyard. She's leaving me for Italy on Friday, so we had to get our girl time in! What a PERFECT weekend!! Ahh. I needed that.

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What's Up Wednesday

The last Wednesday of every month I link up with Mel, Shay and Sheaffer for What's Up Wednesday. These posts are always a doozy, but my favorite to go back and read! 

1. What we're eating...

x

Sunday: We had this guy above! AJ got super fancy at Buford Highway this week. We had this along with some mushroom soup he also whipped up!

Monday: AJ cooked a Moroccan style chicken in the InstaPot and we served it over rice.

Tuesday: Taco Lasagna.. AJ made like 15 pans of it a couple months ago, so I always cook this on Tuesdays when he has late meetings.

Wednesday: Peanut Chicken with Zucchini Noodles - Kell Bell shared this recipe with me. You can find it HERE.

Thursday: Korean Beef and Rice - you can find the recipe HERE, shared by North Carolina Charm.

Friday: Mexican Pizza.. all kinds of fun recipes this week!! You can find this one HERE.

Saturday: We are throwing shrimp and chicken on the grill and having those precious newlyweds, Bev and Ben, over. 

2. What I'm reminiscing about...

Six years ago today, AJ asked me to marry him! Knew that man was a smart one.. he obviously picked the perfect date to propose :) 

3. What I'm loving...
We spent ALL last Saturday outside! We started the day by getting all our pine-straw out around the flower beds. 

I get the cheesiest grin on my face every afternoon pulling into this little yard. 

Aunt Lexie gave Maddie Jane this giant bubble wand and she was BESIDE herself. 

AJ had a Fiji alumni dinner and "Keddy" came over to have dinner with us! Look at that little grin! She knows she has everyone wrapped around her finger! 

4. What we've been up to...

Celebrating AJ's birthday!! I have made this cake every year for seven years and well this year... it didn't quite turn out. 

We had AJ's dad, step mom, Alix and Nico over for steaks and shrimp.. 

And then Friday night we celebrated both of these birthday boys! 

We met up with several couples for Bar Taco. (SO good!)

Then grabbed a couple drinks afterwards with several other folks. 

5. What I'm dreading...

Not a thing! May is the best month :)

6. What I'm working on...

Mom and I have been working on all the showers! We have had so many this year and we LOVE doing them! This past weekend, we helped host a Sip and See for my sweet friend, Cassidy. 

Cassidy adopted this sweet baby girl, Kenzie Kate, and we all got to love on her! SO, so proud to call Cass my friend and how resilient she has been through this whole process. 

 7. What I'm excited about...

When I went to Sandersville on Sunday, Maddie Jane had a date with her Daddy! I asked her to pick out something to wear and she picked her UGA dress without any prompting from me! So excited my girl loves the right school :) 

Honey gave MJ a year membership to the Children's Museum and she absolutely LOVES it.

 8. What I'm watching/reading...
As always.. Grey's Anatomy! My forever love.

And I am digging the new spin off, Station 19 too!

And I am four episodes behind and haven't seen the Scandal finale. I really need to finish this series strong! 

9. What I'm listening to...
Because I was going to be in the car over four hours on Sunday, I downloaded a new book to listen too. I am almost done with Crazy Rich Asians and it is SO good! And I def didn't know they were making a movie of this book - looking forward to seeing it this summer! 

10. What I'm wearing...
Remembered to take pictures this month! The weather is so hit or miss.. random assortment over here.

11. What I'm doing this weekend...
Every single Saturday, AJ goes over to Roswell Road and picks me up poke from Poke Bar and grabs ramen for himself at Jinya. It's a tradition that I don't wanna stop anyyytime soon. It is by far my favorite meal. 

We also have yard work on the agenda.. and spending as much time outside because it's suppose to be 75! And having our favorite newly weds over to grill out. Speaking of.. just got this pic from their rehearsal dinner. (You can read about the whole dreamy weekend HERE.)

    12. What I'm looking forward to next month... 
Honey is FINALLY done with her four month vacation! We have missed her so stinkin much. She sent Maddie Jane this little outfit in the mail from India! 

And we have Mother's Day (I get to FINALLY celebrate with my mom after missing it the past four years!!), and then we are jetting off for a parents' only weekend in Chicago for our fifth wedding anniversary! 

And random picture of flowers in my kitchen, because it was just too pretty not to include. Hope y'all have a great rest of your week! 

Anna-Grace 

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Friday Favorites

Hey guys! Happy Friday! It has been a loooonggg week. Ready for some r&r this weekend! Today I am linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea for Friday favorites.

This smiley girl! She has definitely tested us this week. We have had knock down drag outs over clothes, bed time, snacks.. you name it, she has had a VERY strong opinion about it. Thankful when we see those sweet moments, we know our parenting is paying off..



Have I mentioned she's sassy? These Minnie Mouse heels are on pretty much anytime we are at home. And she needs all the accessories, and a purse or backpack too. She is definitely my child.. and totally paying my back for everything I put my mother through.



We started putting out the pine straw in our backyard. Now looking at this picture, I def think I need to extend it out another foot. MAN so much labor has gone into this yard.. I'm ready to enjoy it!



Our next HUGE project is this area.. We are thinking about extending the concrete slab, adding a roof/pergola over it with a fan, mounting a TV, doing a fire pit, new patio furniture.. We have a contractor coming out next week for a bid. I've been trying to talk AJ into doing it ourselves, and he is adamantly against it.. maybe the sticker shock of the bid will get him to change his mind :)



Auntie Paige sent Maddie Jane a couple new shirts in the mail! We got several Matilda Jane shorties off e-bay and we are excited to have some tops to match! Unfortunately this weather is being the worst and we had to wear jeans this morning...



Auntie Paige also spoiled Mama and sent me a Crate & Barrel gift card. Isn't she just the sweetest friend ever!?!



Lastly, I am excited to have date night tonight with this hunk! We are going out with a bunch of friends for his, and one of his fraternity brother's, birthdays. (And shout out to Bev's amazing rehearsal dinner photographer for snagging this pic!)

And that's a wrap! AJ has a FIJI alumni supper on Saturday night and I am headed down to Sandersville on Sunday for a baby shower for my precious friend, Cassidy. Hope you guys have a great weekend! 

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Beverly’s Wedding Weekend

This past weekend we had THE best time at Beverly and Ben's wedding weekend at Lake Oconee. I don't know if I have ever seen two people more perfect for each other.. and the love that SO many people have for the two of them is just mind blowing. All. the. feels. All. weekend.

We kicked the weekend off at Mr. Bev's lake house for a welcome party - BBQ, wine, and a breathtaking sunset. Sign me up. And then we checked into our villas and hung out at the little bar down the street.



I got to our villa to find our bridesmaid gift from Beverly - Lake Pajamas!! I have wanted some of these so badly and could not for the life of me remember the name. I texted Bev about them and she conveniently ignored me, haha. SUCH a thoughtful (and appropriate) gift for our wedding weekend at the lake.

The next morning I gloriously slept in as late as I wanted and then got ready for the bridesmaids' luncheon. The weekend was so well planned with everyone just being able to walk (like to the luncheon) or we had a shuttle to take us if it was further.

White wine, chicken salad, and our earrings for the big day.

Shout out to Kell Bell for letting me borrow this cutie dress.

Beverly has THE sweetest sorority sisters that I have totally taken as my own friends. Us girls (and our significant others) had SO much fun all weekend long.

We had about an hour in between the luncheon and our next event, so I hopped in bed to rest (this is such a novelty these days), wrote my speech for the rehearsal dinner (oops), then changed outfits for the booze cruise.



We went to the venue for the rehearsal, then hopped on this huge house boat for a booze cruise. The weather was absolutely perfect.. Bev and I texted almost daily about the weather leading up to this weekend. And I don't think she could have asked for anything more perfect. The size of the boat was so plentiful for all the friends and family to enjoy beer, wine, cheese and the lake.

Next up was the rehearsal dinner. These guys... trouble.



The rehearsal dinner food was AMAZING and the company was even better. I've been to a lot of weddings.. but the toasts given were just out of this world. So much love crammed in that little restaurant on the lake.



After the rehearsal dinner, we had an oyster roast for all the out of town guests, THEN we went back to the villa for an after party. This Mama has not stayed out past midnight (much less two nights in a row) in a looonggg time.

Needless to say, my make up appointment at 7:30 the next morning came EARLY. But all bridesmaids had hair and make up done, and completely dressed by 1pm for pictures.

And all good weddings end with Dairy Lane cheeseburgers...



LOVE this friend of mine. She had every single detail of the wedding weekend planned perfectly. Not only did it look JUST like she wanted it to, but she ensured every single member of the wedding party, spouses and wedding guests had the best time. This sweet girl is the most thoughtful and selfless person I know - lucky to call you mine Bevvie!!



And so thankful this guy had such a blast too. He fished, boated, hung out with new friends and took care of the best dog, Sand Man.



Meanwhile.. this sweet girl had a BLAST at Gigi's house. We met Mom right off i20 to pick her up and she immediately fell fast asleep. We missed her so, so much, but she was in such good hands and that parents weekend sure refreshed our souls.

We unpacked, washed clothes, bought groceries and got ready super fast for our favorite guy's birthday dinner! We had his dad, step mom, sister and her boyfriend over for steaks and the fixings. I also made my key lime cake that I make him every year and it miserably flopped this year... He was celebrated nonetheless!

Feeling so thankful. Thankful to be home close to friends and family. Thankful for my mom being the best Gigi ever and helping out with our girl. Thankful for some time away with my husband. Thankful for an incredibly special friend and thankful she found her absolute perfect match. Thankful for new friends made along the way. And lastly SO thankful I got to spend another birthday with the most thoughtful, kindhearted, loving man in the world.. my husband.

Alright, that was a lot of mush for one post. See you guys back here on Friday!! 

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