Weekend, where did you go?

Does anyone else also feel that our weekends 

should consist of 3 days rather than 2?
All in for a 4-day work week say AYYYEEE?! 

I was planning on a Friday post but I may or may not have had

a mini melt down session due to streeessssss OOPSS.

But anyway welcome back Monday 

anddddd a quick Weekend Update recap with Sami!

Thursday (because I'm still at the point

in my life where the weekend technically starts on Thursday)

we went to the 1st pre-season Magic game.

I am less than thrilled for this season.

I blame you, Dwight Howard.

I am also a little annoyed that I paid $90 for your pink jersey

that was fun for all of ONE season. 

Friday night consisted of cleaning and a well-overdue

night in watching movies. Going out was not an option after the Friday that I had :/

Saturday! Tailgating! Surprised??

I'm running out of game day outfits so I literally bought a little black
UCF dress last minute. I plan on recreating it.

I think yes. 

Sunday was another boat day. Probably the last for a while. 
I curse Florida for lacking an actual FALL or WINTER- but I must say
I don't hate still being able to jump in the water in mid-October :)

And of course we brought Jake.

He was well-behaved until Morgan & the boys started catchin fish.
Then it was back to him attempting to launch himself overboard. 
This is when we took advantage of the fact that he has handles. 

Little Bubbbyyyy! :) 
He looks a little sad, yess?? 

Before you go! I had to share these awesome little cookies
from Bridget over at Bake at 350!

Bride of Frankenstein how cuuuuttteeee are theseeee??!
She is extremely talented and has an amazing skill set for cookie details. 

On another fun October note, my Bunco Fundraiser is this Thursday!
That means I only have 3 days to figure out how to actually play.
hashtag callgrandma.

Wednesday October 24th I'll be starting an obnoxious
"Countdown to Halloween" baking session. 
There are just way too many things on Pinterest that I neeeeed to try!

Friday Letters

Hiiiiii YAYYYY FRIDAY EEEEEEEEEE!

Particularly excited about this weekend

(and my first Friday Letters link up with Ashley...)

and I maayy or may not have had 2 SF Red Bulls today WOOPS =/
Not even going to lie- I was draggin butt this morning after 
a  Thursday 5:30 tailgate session 
(I feel like all I blog about is tailgating..
I swear I do other things in life.)

and a late night game watchin my boys whoop up on East Carolina.

But back to the letters! Ok let's do thissssss..

Dear Friday, Hello  friend. We meet again. Smooch. 

Dear Cop at the Front of my Neighborhood, after seeing End of Watch,
 I must say you are NOT a bad ass. You should be ashamed of

yourself for sitting at a perfectly friendly (and gated) community waiting

for residents to go 1 mph over the posted speed limit of 25.

Go fight crime you moron.

Dear Jason Aldean, Perhaps I am several days behind but 
I AM STILL SPEECHLESS. 
Hearing about one of your fave country singers cheating on 
his HS sweetheart is a tad depressing...
and just un-American quite frankly. It appears that you were ready
to ride more than just that Chevy, eh? 

Dear Online Shopping, you are ruining my lifffeeeee. 
And productivity.
I am talking to you, Groop Dealz.

Dear PrankDial.com, thank you for making my Thursday evening

amusing. Even though Mom didn't appreciate it. I did. :)

Dear Bank Account, I know if you had a face- you would be making

and unhappy one at the moment. I apologize for

the abuse and the recent unnecessary purchases. 

It will be over soon.

via Annie-Eats.com

Dear Pumpkin Spice Cupcake ingredients, I know you are just

sitting in my pantry waiting patiently. Don't worry- I will make you soon.

I shhweaaarrr.
Dear Boyfriend, thank you for taking me shopping and out to a fabulous
dinner this past Wednesday, despite the fact that it was National Boyfriend Day. 
You, my dear, are self-less. And for that I love you. =)

Don't forget to link up!

See you bright & early Monday!

More Tailgating & a BEAUTIFUL Lake Baby Shower!

Hello Sugars! =)

Hope everyone else's weekend was FAB- miiiine waaass.

I'm in Ocala for meetings today and although it's a cram packed day-
it's still good to be home. 
I still had time to stop at Starbucks and by 8AM this morning, I had seen it all.
Let me elaborate...
First I witnessed a normal looking man
(and when I say normal I actually mean not homeless)
be woken up by a police officer and then given a trespass warning
BECAUSE HE FELL ASLEEP.
Next! I eavesdropped overheard the person to my left
calling in regards to an apartment listed for rent to check on the animal policy.
They had 8 cats. Gross.
Thennnnnn (I'm not done yet...) I'm quite positive
the couple to my right has a "daily affirmation" routine.
They were both in their 40's and must have just gotten married.
For about 20 minutes I had to listen to
"I love you because...." Okay we get it.

So lemme me just throw a few pictures out there to wrap the weekend up:

1. 7:30 AM: Bryan, being a team player per usual.

2. 8:00 AM: Tailgate set up and I'm ready for some breakfast, please and thank you.

3. 8:30 AM: It appears that the boys are also ready for breakfast.

4. 8:45 AM: Couple Mimosas in & keeping it classy :):)

Also, did I mention I hate noon games?
It was hotter than ALL HELL and the boys were forced to
double fist while walking into the game:

We played Missouri (newly an SEC team) and it was a little

embarassing how empty the game was.

Perhaps the heat index and 110 degree weather had something to do with that?

Despite the ridiculous temperate- Love Love LOVE this Man! ;)

Note to self: Refrain from wearing bib necklaces
while sitting in the sun. Sincerely, your Tan-Lined Chest

Sunday I headed back to Ocala for April's Baby Shower!

And... You know you're in Ocala when you pass this:

(April has done my hair since I was in high school and my Mom

still gets her hair done at her salon)

Mom & I bought a play mat and I made this little beaut, which I anticipate being hung

on baby Sayde Grace's door:

Oh and then I got a little carried away with the wrapping. :)

So April's shower was hosted at Sandy's house, a family friend,

who lives on beautiful Lake Weir.

Are you ready to be blown away by pink cuteness?

Oookkaayy then!

1. ADORABLE garden flag and you all know how much I love tissue balls.

2. Cannolis!!!! I need to learn how to make these stat before I disappointing my

nationality :/

3. Loved this little dessert setup.

4. The "Betty Cake" Cake :) Most delicious cakes in the World

but Mom refuses to go back after ordering my UCF cake for graduation- which

came out Brown and Orange rather than Black and Gold.

Ohhhhh yes that happened.

1. It's not a party unless you have mason jars and Etsy straws. No, really.

2. Cutest favor idea! Bath & Body Works Mini Handy Sanis

3. Outside table setup on the beautiful back porch.

4. Diaper cakes are always a hit at a Baby Shower... but

there's just something about GIRL diaper cakes. :) Adorable..

Wrapped up the shower with our toes in the sand...

Then I spent the rest of the afternoon with my favorite Baby :)
My sweet, little niece Claire

Read Claire's story Here

Before we left my brother and sister-in-law's house,
Ashley had Claire model her Halloween costume on for us.
I won't share a pic of her full costume yet, but here's a sneak
peek of the little peanut:

Enjoy y'all's week! 

Fall Nostalgia :)) & My Best Friend the Seminole

Another throwwww backkk!

Recall me saying I was going to be posting about old events, etc
 to clean up my "Hostess" page ?

Well here's another. Last week marked the official start

of Fall- despite what Starbucks will tell you about the debut of Pumpkin Spice

being the official start. So I'm feeling a little nostalgic! 

Last year, my mom and I had the brilliant idea to host a massive,

rustic Thanksgiving dinner. 

Around mid-August to early September, random Fall decor

started to accrue in my parents' spare bedroom.

We had invited about 45 friends/family members over for Thanksgiving

so it's safe to say that, yes, Mom and I went a little over board. 

My mom wanted to have dinner outside (such a fab time of year) so she had

4 picnic tables made and we squeezed them all together in their 3-acre backyard.

I had a vision.

Burnt oranges, dark red, deep browns, decorative leaves, mason jars...

The end product?

I'd say we delivered on that.

Here is another side shot in case the first

does not it justice:

It was the sweetest thing- I literally felt like a pilgrim, even with my bottled bud light.

There's nothing like sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner

and being able to look left, look right and be able to

see the people that mean the most to you. 
hashtag happy :) 

Two of my girlfriends even drove back

home from Orlando with me (their families were out of state).

They obviously brought the necessities. 

Also note Haley bonding with Grandma

over her obnoxious Green Bay sweater... Wisconsin...

The girls stayed the weekend and we drove up

to Gainesville that Sat for the

Florida/Florida State game. 

(REALLY MISSING MY BLONDE HAIR IN THIS PIC WAAAAHHH)

If you haven't picked up on the fact that Bryan and I are Gator
fans, you're either a little on the blind side or you must have just joined us,
in which case welcome new friends. I am a Gator fan.
PRE-GAME PICTURE:

MID-GAME PICTURE:

What the hell, Florida?
Throw another pick why don't you.
The Gators lost last year but we still had a blast. 

ANNYWAAYYY- let me bring you back to present date!
Bry & I are getting ready to purchase our Florida/Florida State
tickets for this year's upcoming game.
We're making the trip to Tally that weekend and staying with
(Aly if you didn't know that, you do now) 
my best friend, right:

We've been trying to get up there for A WHILE NOW
but something keeps popping up every.stupid.weekend. 
LOVE YOU AL!  Kind of over September at this point... come onnn October & November! :):)

Where is my Bubble Bib necklace that I ordered
forever and a day ago? 

No, but seriously.

I was forced to purchase another statement necklace
from Francesca's to wear this Saturday for the UCF game!

College Football Prep!

I love the Summer months and all, but this has been my first

"working Summer"

since I took a sales position at an environmental consulting firm-

as well as everything that has been taking off within the

entertainment industry for Bryan. 

My summer has been slim to nonexistent. 

So Summer? Not so exciting anymore.

But, Fall? :) Yes. Ma'am.

I love September through December.

Fall Highlights include:

Cooler Weather

Scarves

Leggings

Pumpkin Spiced Lattes

Pumpkin Spiced Cupcakes

Pumpkin Spiced anything, really..
My FAVORITE heeled boots

Pumpkin Carving

Haunted Houses

7 Year Anniversary (yay!)

Browns/Tans/Other Neutral Tones

Low-Lights

Uggs

And My. Favorite.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 

My week is typically schemed out according to

who is playing and where we are watching the game. 

Almost every Saturday is spent tailgating at a UCF

game or rooting on the Gators. Sometimes doing both at once!

Like good Alumni- We LOVE & SUPPORT UCF

but we are Gator fans at heart. 

In preparation for this 2012 Football Season,

here are a few things you will need to get your tailgate on:

A Natalie Kim Game Day Dress

Available in several different team colors, including UF & UCF!

Purchase yourself a NKG Dress HERE

I am particularly excited to rock this
Black & Gold chevron dress from TJ Maxx-

Portable Football Grill 

Grills are such a pain in the butt to haul around-

get something festive and portable!

Tailgate Treats

Football Cake Pops

Team Cookies from

adozeneggs.com

Team Cupcakes from 
familybites.blogspot.com

Girly Cooler

..Why don't I already own one of these ??
Saw these at Dick's Sporting Goods a few weeks
ago and already made my mind up that I will be the one
rolling the cooler around for tailgates this season ;) 

No matter who you root for-
coughanyonebutohiostatecough
[UCF plays Ohio State on Sept. 8th..which should be interesting]
-Happy Tailgating!