Natalie's First Birthday

Last weekend was Natalie's first birthday!  We all went out to supper at a Japanese hibachi restaurant (she's been before but this time was not a fan) and then had her party that evening.  

My sister went with a classic pink theme this year since we know Natalie will have her own preferences in the future!  I love these monogrammed cookies.

She enjoyed her own little smash cake...

and (after a little clean-up) lots of presents!

 (with a little help from some friends!)

I can't believe this sweet little girl is already a year old, but I can't wait to see what kind of spunky personality she develops! :)

Happy birthday, Natalie!  Your Aunt Ellen loves you!

Fourth of July Party!

We had a great day yesterday with friends and family.  The weather has been nice this week so we were able to stay outside most of the day.  I love any excuse to put together a table!  We kept all the food inside, so the outdoor table was for drinks and fireworks.

(I got this wreath idea from Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S.)

We ate, talked, played games....  

 (our favorite local hot dogs)

(strawberry pretzel salad)

(and I took advantage of the new dill in our herb garden and made this potato salad)

And it was Natalie's first Independence Day!

Then we enjoyed fireworks into the night.

Hope everyone had a great fourth of July!  How did you celebrate?

Happy Independence Day!

I've always been patriotic.  I feel a deeper, more personal connection to Independence Day than I do to any other holiday.  I grew up as an Army brat (my dad retired as a Colonel after 28 years) and I really miss hearing the National Anthem playing over loud speakers across an installation and seeing everyone get out of their cars to salute and cover their hearts.  
I remember that touching me, even as a kid. 

One of my very first memories is of singing Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American" while swinging on the playground at my preschool.  I would practice my high-swing and sing it over and over and over. 



As a kid, Dad made every effort for us to visit all 50 states in America.  (I've only been to 45 so far, but I know I'll make it to all of them one day.)  My mom is up for a trip anywhere and Dad wanted us to experience all we could, so we traveled A LOT.  Dad always got a photo of
us with every state sign.  A lot of them are in the middle of the night with the only illumination coming from the headlights of my parents' Suburban.  "Kids, wake up!  We're hitting another state!"  Nearly all of my memories of childhood center on the road.

I remember laying my head over the back seat of the car the summer I was thirteen, driving through the empty desert in Arizona, staring into the darkest, starriest sky I'd ever seen.  The thoughts I contemplated on that trip still affect me in my core.








I remember eating the spiciest gingerbread and huddling into a tiny--and warm!--blacksmith shop at Colonial Williamsburg the winter I was seven.  Every time I smell wood burning, I'm transported back to my first--and foggy, and drizzly, yet fantastic--trip to the historical triangle in Virginia (a trip that inspired a still very deep love of American history).







I remember the 20-something hour drive Dad made (in one stretch) from southern Georgia to South Dakota because he'd "always wanted to see Mount Rushmore."  We saw it...and a million prairie dogs, the Badlands, and sunflowers bigger than our heads.  

I remember Dad giving a man in Times Square a bite of his pretzel, just because he asked.  I remember being amazed by the height of the Statue of Liberty and by the mist from Niagara Falls on that same trip.

I remember not being able to take my eyes off of Chimney Rock as we approached from miles away.  I remember driving every back road in Wyoming trying to find wagon-wheel rutts that were supposedly still visible from the Oregon Trail (we never found them) and running around the Dalton Gang hideout with my brother and sister.

I remember peering into the Grand Canyon with my sister while my poor (deathly-afraid-of-heights) mom hollered for us to "get back!"




I remember riding on the back of a horse down the narrowest, steepest trails in Big Bend National Park and walking across the border to Juarez so I could say I'd visited Mexico.  

I remember drinking coffee and eating beignets at Cafe Du Monde...and a muffaletta and Zapps at Central Grocery...and countless other treats shared with my grandparents in New Orleans.

I remember the chills I got when I stepped off of the ferry and onto Fort Sumter during my first trip to Charleston (where Mom took me for my senior trip in high school).  

I remember taking frequent jaunts off of I-40 to ride on the fragments still left of the original Route 66...and sharing a HUGE strawberry shortcake at The Big Texan, a photo opportunity at the Cadillac Ranch, and a creepy night at the historic, haunted St. James Hotel in New Mexico.

The U.S. has such an amazing history and such an awesome span of natural wonders and cultures.  I could honestly write forever about my love for this country.  I feel truly blessed to have been born (although ironically, not in the country) a United States citizen.  Independence Day reminds me not to take that for granted.

Summer Wardrobe Wishlist

A new season always leaves me wishing to update my closet.   There are a lot of pieces that need replacing (every year when I unpack my seasonal clothes there are a few things that just don't suit me anymore) and a lot of pieces that have proven they deserve to be in my closet in more than one color or print.  This summer, I'm liking:

1.  J McLaughlin Gilchrist Dress.  I just bought one of these earlier this year and already can't wait to get another (or five).  Super comfortable and flattering and so easy to throw on for work (no ironing!) or a day out.  I love all of the bold prints.

2.  J. Crew Factory Winnie Pant.  I try on the Minnie pant at J. Crew every time I go in, but the Winnie just fits me better (maybe the inseam is slightly shorter? or the ankle is slightly wider?) so I keep going back to these.  Unfortunately, I have them in black, navy, and a pretty red-orange called flame...but they don't make these in enough shades!  I check in on the site frequently hoping for new ones.

















3.  Lilly Pulitzer Worth Shift.  Sadly, the Worth Shift isn't available anymore, so I spend way too much time every week scouring eBay pre-owned ones. :(  There are plenty of cute new styles this season, but nothing fits me like the Worth.



4.  While we're at it, let's throw in the Lilly Pulitzer Roslyn Skirt, too.  See above note.












5.  Jack Rogers Napa Valley Navajo.    I'm loving all of the cork around this year, and who doesn't need another pair of Jacks?  

6.  Vineyard Vines Seersucker Scallop Hem Margo Skirt.  
     Seersucker?  Scallops?  Sold!

7.  I love the J. Crew Perfect Shirt and want to make this precious pink suckered gingham my next one.  I went through a phase where nearly everything in my closet was pink, so I bought other colors for a long time...and now I have almost no pink!  I'm working on remedying that. :)

  










8.  Although I love wearing color, I tend to wear neutral shoes. My go-to black summer shoes are nearing the end of their time. I think these J. Crew Seville Wedge Espadrilles are great for work and still summery and fun enough that I'd want to wear them outside of work, too.

9.   I am usually a stud earring kind of girl and most of them are a bright, solid color.  I own several pairs of Kate Spade ones, but not any in hot pink!  A lot lately I've put together outfits that I think would look so much better with a little touch of pink...so these Kate Spade Small Square Studs are definitely on my wishlist.  

10.  I've been wanting a crossbody bag for a while, but I'm quite picky.  I want something simple and small to wear at antique stores, farmers markets, etc. but something that is still cute enough to take out at night if I don't want to deal with a clutch or regular purse.  This Tory Burch Stacked "T" Leather Small Crossbody is perfect.  I love the leather and the skinny adjustable strap.  The only problem is I want both the brown and the black!

Marlsgate Plantation Tour

You might remember that for my birthday several weeks ago, my mom and I visited Marlsgate Plantation in Scott, Arkansas.  At that time, we didn't even know the plantation gave tours.  But only a few days later, my aunt from Memphis called and said that she was going to be touring Marlsgate with her Sunday school class and asked if we would like to join them!  So I took a half day at work and met my aunt and her group, my Nana, great aunt, Mom, and sister at the plantation.  The owner, David, gave the tour himself which made it really fun.  He was a hoot, too!  I would definitely recommend taking the tour if you ever get the chance.  Lots of history and tons of great stories!


I loved the grand staircase right in the front entry.  David made a comment about re-using the drapes if things ever went south on the plantation...It's hard to tell, but they're a fabulous dark green velvet with gold fringe, a la Scarlett O'Hara. :)

Not a great photo here, but look at the fantastic ceilings!  Lots of Jacob Petit in every room.

 A view from inside the front doors.  I'm a sucker for beveled glass...and columns...and that gorgeous view of the river.

These swords were in the Jefferson Davis room.  David's great-grandfather wrote in his journal about Civil War skirmishes that occurred right outside the main home.  He also said there's a story that some Union soldiers roasted a pig in the fireplace!

 Side table in the master bedroom.  I loved all of the artwork in the home, especially this painting and all of the oil paintings of family members (those were difficult to photograph) that were in every room.  That is something I would really, really love to have.

After the home tour, we ate lunch.  The dining table was absolutely beautiful (look at that silver plateau!) and can you tell that David was previously a florist? 

All of the food was delicious, but of course I was particularly fond of the coconut cake.

 After lunch, we toured the gardens.  The side garden was designed by P. Allen Smith.

Biggest fern I've ever seen!

And a formal garden...

And precious greenhouse!

(Hello, Meredith!--That's my sister taking a look inside.)

This smaller home was behind the main house and is where David's mother lives.  I love that fountain.  David said that in the spring, they had over 1,000 red tulips surrounding it!

Marlsgate was incredibly beautiful, but David definitely made the tour what it was!  I'll leave you with one of my favorite comments from him that day:

"I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, but it's still a b---- to live in The South.  We can fly to the moon but we can't kill a mosquito!?"

:)

Recipe: Key Lime Pie

Lots of time spent in the kitchen this weekend!  Aside from the grilled chicken, rosemary roasted potatoes, Oreo mess, vinaigrette and croutons, etc... I tried a new key lime pie recipe from a coworker and James made kolaches (post to come).  Almost every week, James and I gather ideas for things we want to make over the weekend.  We both love to cook/bake and we just don't have the time during the week to enjoy it.

This key lime pie is super simple and super delicious!  Just a few ingredients and can (should!) be refrigerated overnight.  I love that--one less  thing to worry about at the last minute when you're having folks over.  Enjoy dinner with company and then just pull out of the fridge and serve!

I'm not a fan of graham cracker crusts at all, so I made a standard shortbread crust.  (I had honestly planned to make a crust with crushed up Pecan Sandies, but read in several places that it doesn't work out so well).  My coworker has made this recipe in a Marie Calendar's pastry crust and said it was delicious, too.  And of course, the graham cracker crust is classic.  If you like it.  :)

I made up this quick crust and baked it for fifteen minutes.  When it came out of the oven, I refrigerated it for about half an hour and mixed up the pie filling.  I bought the little key limes in a bag you see at the grocery store and zested and juiced all of them, after reserving a few for garnishing.  

There is also this if you need to supplement your tiny limes (and my coworker made her pie with only this).  

The filling is just sweetened condensed milk, zest, eggs, and key lime juice.  And no, I'm not

sure that key limes taste any different than regular limes, but I feel like they do!  Plus, I wanted those cute little guys to decorate the top of my pie.  So I whisked the filling and poured it into the chilled crust...

 and baked it at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. And this is what I got!  

I'm not really one to "enhance" food colors, but I think there is enough lime zest in it to be pretty and green.  I made some whipped cream and topped it with tiny slices of key limes.  I hope those make up for my ugly crust!

Key Lime Pie

9-inch pie crust

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 c. key lime juice

key lime zest (original recipe didn't specify, but I used a bunch!  probably 3 Tbs)

Whisk ingredients together and pour into partially-baked pie crust.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Refrigerate until chilled and serve with whipped cream.