sweet friendship

During her bridesmaid brunch, Taryn mentioned the wise advice that she received from her mom and dad years ago - to make a few real friends at every stage in your life, and carry them with you forever. These girls are my heart and soul, and I am so lucky to have met such amazing women in our brief two years during PA school. LOVE YOU!! 

cherry time

Josh took this beautiful picture of our budding cherry tree on Saturday morning. 

photo of the week

I was just so pleased with myself after debuting our freshly painted corn hole boards at our Oyster Roast last night for Josh's birthday. I love our wedding colors and used a stencil to get the "S" just right. Unfortunately, the 50 mile per hour winds hit our area and made tossing the bags very difficult, at least that is my excuse for a very poor performance! 

only a month away...

I get to marry my sweetheart in exactly one month!!! 

photo of the week

Since I posted my first GaryTalk last night, I thought I'd share one of my favorite photographs I've taken of my dad. This is from Christmas time last year, when we were all relaxing after a delicious meal. He's playing Harvest Moon on his guitar, and it was just such a beautiful moment. He has inspired me so much, and I plan on continuing to feature his parenting pillars, as I still need reminders from time to time my own self. 

a million thanks

Tonight, my mom's best friends put on a bridal shower that was fit for Downton Abbey. The evening began when Mom and I walked into her friend's kitchen and met our personal chef for the evening (Mary Katherine Wyeth out of Greenville, SC), who would teach us all how to make fresh ravioli stuffed with lemon ricotta filling, farro with swiss chard, chicken taquitos, and real pie crust for apple tart. The wine glasses were filled and we put on our aprons and had an absolute ball. I was handed the special white bride-to-be apron! 

Before dessert was ready, the girls showed me into the living room where I found this beautiful table fit for a Pottery Barn catalogue. The dinnerware is from the Pearl Collection at Sur La Table, and is absolutely stunning in real life. The flower centerpiece was gorgeous and full to the brim with lovely blossoms. There were wine glasses and candles and linens and napkin rings and my mom's framed artwork and homemade macaroons and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon. I am so very blessed to have such wonderful women in my life, who truly rolled out the red carpet for me tonight. I am going to sleep with a big smile on my face. 

The Pearl Collection from Sur La Table

photo of the week

I came home from work on Tuesday, and these flowers were sitting on the island with a sweet note. Just because. The light in the solarium today was perfect, and I wanted to remember how special it was to be treated to a beautiful bouquet of tulips on an ordinary day, for no special reason other than Just Because. Let us be grateful for the amazing people we have in our lives, and for the little things that bring so much joy. 

photo of the week

If you had known any of the three of us in college or PA school, you would have probably laughed at the idea of us running 13.1 miles for FUN. A 5K was exceptional. Especially if the reward did not involve Bojangles, sweet tea, or a bloody mary. 

Fast forward a few years, and we are all seasoned half-marathoners! I did not say fast. I am so proud that we have evolved into DISTANCE runners...AKA an excuse to get together on St Patty's Day weekend and run a race together. We had a BLAST. In case you are wondering, YES we are all wearing sparkly green sweaty bands, Lucky t-shirts with a clover, and temporary 13.1 mile theme tattoos! 

photo of the week

The beautiful tulips I found on the kitchen island on Valentine's Day this year! 

Boxer Love

Ellie 

I have that belief, which all dog lovers share, that my dogs are the sweetest, most beautiful dogs in the world. These girls bring us so much joy, words simply cannot tell. Josh and I photograph them like they are supermodels. In fact, they no longer even raise a brow to the click of the camera. Our Vogue cover girls. 

Heidi

photo of the week

My mom is in town this weekend helping with "wedding projects". This really means we are staying up late, drinking red wine, listening to Carole King, watching Downton Abbey, enjoying afternoon siestas, and eating delicious homemade meals. Not to worry, we have our priorities straight. In our defense, we have been very crafty girls, though I will not disclose any wedding surprises! 

photo of the week

I love my girlfriends. To sum up our recent adventure: five girls, five nights, five year anniversary cruise from our first cruise together five years ago. Our first cruise together was way back in 2008 when we were all young and poor PA students in our 1st year of the PA program at JCHS in Roanoke. Needless to say, we have all grown up a lot since then!  

Thanks to these girls, in 5 short days, I have been educated on birchbox, glam bag, insanity work-outs, nerdy medical websites, Teamine eye cream (wrinkle prevention!), new Trader Joe's kitchen staples, and Very Jane for fun affordable jewelry. I'd be totally lost without these girls!