Merry Christmas!

                   

Merry Christmas to Me...

Lands End on sale! $35 with monogram and shipping! Woohoo!



Too Much To Do Today But Just Had to Share...

College son finished his first semester with a 3.6 GPA! 

This is the same boy who hated school, almost got kicked out his sophomore year for behavior, and has taken years off my life! I think he has turned the corner!

We couldn't be prouder!

Powder Room

 Before

After:

We had those horrid cultured marble vanity tops before. I went to the granite company and picked out a piece from the remnants they had in the back lot and saved $$! 

I like the way it turned out!

The Tree is Up, We Made it Through One Family Gathering and I Get New Countertops Today!

I got the tree put up on Friday afternoon! And yes, I see that the angel is a little crooked, I'll work on that! 

I finished Christmas shopping for husband's family and actually wrapped the night before we were to go visit! 

We were almost out the door to come home when I realized that I had not taken a group photo. Husband's family are not big picture takers and I knew that if I put a stop on our leaving to get a photo it would be met with lots of groans, so I just said 'what the heck, maybe next year."

I did take the food I said I would, though instead of the Red velvet Brownies, I ended up just cutting up a chocolate cake that I had already made and put it on a platter. Would you believe everyone wanted to know what I did to the green beans, they were so good!? Ha!  And an interesting thing about SIL telling me we need to cook and assigning me food to bring. When I walked in with all my food, MIL kept exclaiming "oh my, you brought all this food!" She had prepared soooo much to go with the ham! And, SIL didn't make ONE THING! I was the only one that brought something and I looked pretty stupid for doing so! I was really mad then, but kept my mouth shut, but I think next time she gives me an assignment, I am going to tell her I can't do it. 
We stayed only about 4 hours and then made the 2 hour trip back home. 

Yesterday afternoon  was the pokeno christmas party. The hostess had the most beautiful christmas decorations in her home. I meant to take my camera and take some photos, but I totally forgot! We had wonderful food and then had a little ornament exchange. The ornament was supposed to be in the $8-$10 range. I found a really pretty Waterford ornament at tj maxx to take. I was a little disappointed in the ornament that I received. It is a cute little bear, but when I looked closer at it I noticed that it has a date on the bottom on his foot which says 2005! I am kind of thinking this was recycled? Everyone else got some really cute ornaments, oh well, I still put him on our tree when I got home. 

Right now the granite people are here installing the new bathroom counters! I can't wait to see them all finished! I took before photos and I'll have to take some afters to post so you can see them too!

Still No Tree

Maybe if I stayed off the computer reading your blog posts I would get my tree up and decorated! Ha, there ya go, I will place the blame on you! 

We go to Myrtle Beach tomorrow to celebrate christmas with husband's family. MIL has been talking about serving a Honey Baked Ham for weeks now. I get a text from SIL last friday tellling me that we need to cook on Saturday and what do I want to bring? I tell her 'whatever" and then get a text back saying to bring "a good salad and a vegetable that my family likes and a dessert. Okay, first of all what is a 'good' salad? Second, I live 2 hours away! If I have to make half of the meal I would just as soon have everyone come to my house and cook the whole thing! I have worked myself into a tizzy over this! Husband says it's typical of his family and not to let it bother me. So, this is what I have decided to do: I bought a large bag of mixed green lettuces and plan to dump in some goat cheese crumbles and dried cranberries and toss it with my homemade white balsamic vinaigrette. That's a good salad to me! I Then, since college son and husband love green beans, I am taking big CANS of them and I will throw them in a pot and heat them up when I get there! I started to get a dessert from the bakery down the street, but since I do think I have a few spare minutes and I like to bake, I am making Red Velvet Brownies and those will be dessert! I think I am going to have to take my flask to get through the day! ;)

Sunday is my pokeno group's christmas get together. It is in the afternoon and should be pretty fun!

Oh, and the best story that I almost forgot..... ten days ago the owner of the company where husband works announced that there would be a christmas party this year and it is on Friday the 13th (tonight). Who decides to have a party in December and puts out the invite ten days before? We have had something on almost everyday of the december calendar for over a month! So, we have a conflict and can't go. Well, I really don't know that I would go anyway... it's outside in the back pasture behind the owners house. So it will be cold and dark, and there will be a fire but then you will have to stand around and get all smokey smelling. He will not allow anyone to go inside his house, so he has a porta-potty outside by the barn for us to use! Then, they are serving BBQ, I don't eat pork, so there would be no food for me. Then everyone was instructed to bring a dessert. What is it with everyone having to provide their own desserts? Now we live an hour away, so I would have to balance said dessert on my lap the whole way! The kicker is that husband and I are the only ones not attending! Husband is VP of Sales for company. Owner has not given out awards for Employee of the Year or Salesman of the Year since 2006, it seems the $30 plaques were just too much for the multi-million dollar company to swing! ;) But, all of a sudden since it was learned that husband is not attending they are giving out awards! And Christmas bonuses will also be given out at this time, of which husband doesn't get because the owner told him "he makes enough money"! Can you tell I am a little bitter? To top it all off husband was asked why he couldn't just not go to our previous commitment and come to the office party? Really?! Well, enough about that!

Have a great weekend!

Uh Oh...

Yes, it is December 11th, I think, and I still don't have my tree up!

The End.

Thanksgiving recap...

We had a nice, small Thanksgiving with just the three of us and husband's parents. The inlaws live in Myrtle Beach, so it is just a two hour drive for them. And even though I asked them to stay the night, they just came for the day. I didn't really go over board, just the basics: Turkey, dressing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. I bought cheap wine which is all MIL likes,. and she didn't even drink it! 
Teen daughter was texting me all morning since her french host family had asked if she would prepare a Traditional Thanksgiving dinner for them! She doesn't really cook very much and I was a little worried when I got the first text the day before asking how to roast a turkey! I sent her the link to Butterball Turkey and it turned out perfectly! She prepared turkey,dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean bundles, pumpkin pie and pecan pie! 

I thought she did a pretty good job! And when we skyped with her on Sunday the family gave the dinner a thumbs up while rubbing their tummies!
Sunday I had to take college son and his roommate back up to Clemson. What is normally a 3 1/2 hour drive took us almost 6! I have never seen so many cars on the road. After I dropped them off I headed over to the cabin. I wasn't real happy about getting there after dark, since I was alone and would be driving up to a totally dark house! Plus I would have to feel around in the dark to turn on the water (we turn the main water thingy off when we leave so that if there is ever a break in a pipe the house won't be destroyed while we are gone!)
When I drove up I could see through the woods that the house behind us had a bunch of lights on, so I figured they must be there and if I met up with trouble I could always run to them for help. So I got the water on and was a big girl and spent the whole night by myself, though I did sleep with the radio on for the noise!
I did a little decorating while I was there:

I got up and drove home on Monday with NO traffic! 

Tuesday I had committed to help decorate for christmas at Middleton Place. I helped make the outside decorations:

If you are local and can make it out during the holidays, you should, it looks so pretty! And, of course let me know if you want to come out, maybe I can meet you!
While I was there helping on Tuesday one of the house staff had to go home sick and asked if I would work for her on Wednesday. So I did, and then had to fill in for her on Thursday as she still was not 100%! So now I am 2 days behind in getting my decorations up at the house! 
College son has his last exam today and will be home tonight for the next month and a week! Hard to believe he has finished his first semester of college already! 
Have you started decorating yet?

Being Thankful

What am I Thankful for this Thanksgiving?

*a home that keeps me warm and dry. There is a homeless man that I talk to occasionally, he hangs out at the library, and on cold, wet days like this I worry about him. I had some extra sleeping bags that I was going to get rid of and decided to throw them in the back of my car and see if he could use them. I haven't seen him in the last few days and I hope he is okay.

*more food than I could ever want. Just came home from one last, I hope, trip to the grocery and my pantry and refrigerator are full! 

*college son will be home in about two hours for the holiday. He is almost finished with his first semester of college and is doing well.

*teen daughter is making Thanksgiving for her french host family tomorrow! Even though we miss her being here, she is having the most wonderful experience and I am so thankful for that!

*husband called and he is leaving work early today. He is such a good man and takes such good care of us! But, he does work too much! ;)

*for the friends I have made through the blogging world! I haven't met too many in person, but feel like I know you all so well!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! 

Our Weekend

We had a great weekend! 

I found a new television for the cabin at a great price at our local Kmart. So I ran over to buy it, unfortunately it was an online price only, so I had to go back home order it online and pick it up at the store. An hour later I was back at the store to pick up the same tv I had just looked at but paid $180 less! Yea for me! Unfortunately, we couldn't fit it in the truck we were taking so we had to leave it behind!

We delivered the new moped to college son. Just one more thing to worry about!

Saturday we headed to the game. A really nice man GAVE us two tickets on the 50 yard line 35 rows up, NICE! And of course Clemson destroyed the Citadel. 

 Since it had been an early game, husband and I went to see the new hunger games movie that night. I did not read the books, nor did I see the first movie, but I really enjoyed it! I'm thinking I need to go back and read the books before the next movie comes out.

We came home late afternoon yesterday. And this morning woke up to a very cold lowcountry! I think it was about 29 degrees outside! 

Can you tell our little kitty was cold?

 You can't see it but she is laying on top of the heat vent!

College son is coming home on Wednesday and I have lots to do to get ready for Thanksgiving!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thoughts On Thursday

• Spent the night at the lakehouse last night. Did a little Christmas decorating while I was there since we won't be back up for a few weeks.
• Husband's parents are coming for Thanksgiving Dinner. I think I have all my grocery shopping done!
• I got some wrapping of Christmas gifts done today, still have more to do, but love knowing that about a third is wrapped!
• Heading to the cabin tomorrow. Clemson's last home game is this weekend. 
• I brought home the artificial tree from the lake house and will take it to the cabin to decorate for Christmas, since we will be up there the days leading up to Christmas Eve.
• Soup is simmering on the stove for dinner tonight!
• Found out that college son can ride home with next door neighbor's son from school next week, so I don't have to make the drive again after being there this weekend! I thought about driving separate from husband and just staying, but the cabin is still too scary by yourself!

Have a great weekend!

Someone's Got a New Set of Wheels!

We bit the bullet and bought college son a moped to scoot around and get to campus to eat or to class if he misses the shuttle! We ended up buying it here near us and have to take it to him this weekend when we go up for the Clemson/Citadel game. Of course husband had to take it for a run last night in the neighborhood! I couldn't stop laughing at the sight of him on it! I can't be the only one who laughs when they see someone riding a moped/scooter?

A Quick Change

This wall used to have two pictures on it. 

I grew bored with it and decided to gather all the old and some not so old family photos and make a photo wall. It may or may not be done.

 

The First of the Season

When I ran into Target to look for a couple things, i got my first Skinny Peppermint Mocha. It was so good! 

I was looking for the book, A Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty, and they had it but it was in hardcover and I don't want to spend that much on it! I need it for book club next month and I am on the wait list at the library, I think I am request #124 for 45 copies! Don't think I am going to get it in time! Does anyone have a copy I could borrow?
No big plans for the weekend, a quick work tomorrow late afternoon and then working Sunday afternoon. 
Happy Weekend!

Here's a Recipe

I made this Pumpkin Crunch Cake the other day and it is really good! So, I thought I would share the recipe:

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

1 can pumpkin

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

4 eggs

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

1/4 t. ginger

pinch of cloves

1 t. salt

3/4 box of yellow cake mix

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment and spray with cooking spray.

Beat pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and spices. Pour into prepared dish.

Sprinkle top with dry cake mix. Sprinkle on nuts. Pour melted butter over the nuts and cake mix. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until golden brown on top and pumpkin is set.

Store in fridge.

Husband has been eating this with a little dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top.

Two years ago we replaced all the flooring in our bathrooms. We didn't do the counter tops at that time, but oh lordy are the ones we have looking pretty crappy! So, I went to the granite place on Tuesday picked out some remnants (we are talking saving around 15-20 a sq.ft) and have set the date to have them replaced. I will have to post before and afters. I think they will look amazing when they are done. And this is coming from someone who doesn't like granite! :)

Now, if I can just get husband to bite the bullet and get my built in bookcases done!

I Need a Smart Phone

It's pretty sad that we went to the cabin for the weekend and the only photo I took was of the inside of the fridge! (I did this so I could remember what was in there for next time).
I had my big camera, but it is so big and bulky, that I end up not carrying it with me unless I am specifically going somewhere to take photos. I think if I had a smart phone I would be more likely to whip it out and take a photo of what is happening.
We went to the Clemson soccer game on Friday night. We met my sister and her husband there. It was so cold that sister and I ended up leaving before it was over and heading across the street to Mellow Mushroom. It was so much warmer inside! And, no, I took no photos! 
Saturday husband was on a mission to find college son a moped/scooter. It would be convenient for him to ride to campus to eat and ride over to class if he should miss the shuttle.  He found some, but son wasn't impressed. So I guess the search goes on.
Saturday afternoon we headed to my parent's house to gather before the whole family met to celebrate my mom's 71st birthday. We ate at a place called Bleu Voodoo. It was pretty good. And again, no photos!
Sunday husband and son went to play golf and I stayed behind to clean and pack up. After, we stopped in Clemson to eat lunch before dropping off son and heading back to the lowcountry.
It was a fun, though undocumented, weekend! ;)
Today I am catching up on laundry and have a pumpkin crunch baking in the oven which is making the house smell divine! It's the first time I've tried this recipe, if it's good I'll share!

A Dangerous Purchase! ;)

Someone needs to come to my house and take these away! Like, immediately! I was so mad because I could never find the pumpkin spice ones at Halloween, found these today and they are DANGEROUS! Do Not Buy Them! I repeat, Do Not Buy Them! :)

Weekend Wrap-Up

Saturday I worked in the afternoon. It was a gorgeous day, after raining throughout the night on Friday. 

As has become our 'thing', we went out for dinner after I got home from work. We went downtown and ate at Sermet's Downtown.

 It was delicious! I had the eggplant and husband had the scallops. I had one glass of wine and it was a really good Merlot. I am going to have to see if I can find out the name because I would like to get some for at home. After we finished eating husband suggested we go somewhere else for dessert. He loves to eat dinner at one restaurant and go somewhere else for dessert. We have even gone for drinks and an appetizer at one place, left for another for dinner and then finished off the night with dessert at a third place! We decided to walk over to Charleston Place and go to The Charleston Grill for dessert.

We sat in the bar area and had to-die-for desserts! I ordered the pineapple upside down cake and husband had a ginger honey cake. I wanted to lick the plate when I was done, it was that good!

 As we were walking into Charleston Place there was a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk and he asked if we could help him out. Well, I am a sucker for the homeless, so I reached in my wallet and I knew I had only a five dollar bill so I grabbed it, without looking,  and gave it to him. As I walked away I looked a little better into my wallet and there I saw a five dollar bill! I could have sworn I had only one, but I remembered that I had a hundred dollar bill that I had been carrying around for a while, and for about 2 minutes, while I scrambled through that wallet, I thought I had handed the homeless man $100! In my panic I looked at husband and said "I think I just gave that guy $100". If you could have seen the look on husband's face! And then I found the $100 and saw that I had actually had two 5 dollar bills. I figured that would be the excitement for the night. But oh no! As I go to get out my debit card to pay for dessert, I realize that I don't have it! While I am panicking about that, husband figures I must have left it at Sermet's! So, I find the receipt from there and step outside to call them and sure enough after asking around the hostess finds it! So we make a detour back to pick it up before heading to the car. Husband says it's those things that should tell me I shouldn't drink! I told him that I could handle a glass of wine but that he had been distracting me when I was signing the bill. His response? "In a good way or a bad way?" 

Compared to our Saturday night, Sunday was pretty uneventful!

How was your weekend?

The Day After

The party on the cul-de-sac was fun. The cheesy onion dip I made was a hit! 

I bought only a family size bag of candy to hand out and it was gone by the end of the night. And I think it was gone not because of the number of trick-or-treaters  we had, but because all of us at the get together just put our bowls of candy out on a table at the end of the driveway for the kids to help themselves! I bet we didn't have 25 kids total come down the street! I enjoyed catching up with the neighbors and was home by 8:30! I came in the house, kept all the lights off and sat in the dark reading blogs on the laptop!

I saw some photos from daughter's Halloween in France:

I thought they looked amazing!

 

Can't believe it's the first of November! I am ready to start planning my Thanksgiving menu and need to finalize the guest list. 

Have a great weekend!

 

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is one of my least favorite holidays! And this is my sad attempt at carving a pumpkin. Since it is so warm here in the south, it now has some little fruit fly things flying around it! I think he is ready for the trash!

I will go to the Halloween gathering on the cul-de-sac one street over and at least have some company as the candy is handed out! I have a cheesy onion spread ready to go in the oven and my cooler is packed! Oh, and I have my candy to give out.

There was a gorgeous sunrise at the lake this morning. Not the best photos, but I was still in my pajamas and didn't want to go running outside and through my neighbor's yard to get a better shot. Maybe next time!

 

Our Weekend

Another weekend, come and gone!

Husband thought it would be fun to do a spur of the moment trip to the North Carolina mountains, so he sends me an email on Friday morning and says try to find a hotel. Grove Park and Biltmore Inn are booked solid. I really couldn't find any place I wanted to stay, so we decided to just stay home.

We watched the Clemson game at home on Saturday. A win, Yes!

Saturday night my Pokeno group was getting together and instead of playing we carved pumpkins. I have ever told you how much I hate carving pumpkins? I think I did it maybe twice with the kids when they were little. I just couldn't stand the mess and the sharp knives! So. even though I had had a headache all day, I grabbed a pumpkin and headed to the event! Everything I tried was a total fail, so I told everyone I decided to go retro and I carved the old time jack-o-lantern! I'll have to take a photo to show you, he's pretty pitiful! 

It was an early night, so when I got home I watched the end of the South Carolina game with husband. 

Sunday we skyped with teen daughter! It was the first time we had spoken with her since she left, almost two months ago! She actually has a strange accent! She is one to quickly start mimicking the accent of those around her, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but it sounded so weird! And then we were just blown away listening to her speak to her french family in french! When she left she could only say a few basic things, the stuff she learned in French I at school. She is having a great time and doing so well. She said she understands about 80% of what everyone around her is saying. It helps that the french parents don't speak English and they really make her speak in french. 

Got a few things accomplished this morning: took a load of magazines to be recycled and dropped off a load of things at Goodwill. 

Tomorrow I have to work all day at Middleton Place, wonder how busy we will be?

You Must Try This!

I found this recipe (somewhere and jotted it down) for a Pumpkin Smoothie. I made one this morning and it is Oh, so good!

 

Pumpkin Smoothie

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (I used non-fat)

1/4 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 frozen banana

1/4 t. vanilla

1/4 t. pumpkin pie spice (I didn't have, so just put in some cinnamon)

1 T. brown sugar

4-6 ice cubes

Put all in blender and blend!

Enjoy! 

Almost 2 Months til Christmas!

I don't really have anything to say about that, other than I just realized it this morning!

College son came home on Friday. It was nice, for about 30 minutes, to have him home.

We went to see Gravity on Saturday afternoon. I liked it! It was very intense! 

I had to work on Monday and man, were we ever busy! I guess it is true that Charleston is the #1 tourist destination in the U.S.!

Tuesday I had to drive college son and one of his roommates (the one that lives in our neighborhood) back to school. I hate that drive, but at least I had my XM radio to listen to! The guys watched movies the whole way. I was a little to scared to stay at our cabin by myself! So I went to my parent's house and stayed the night with them. 

I left my parent's at around 11:00 and headed straight to our lake house. Husband and I decided to go spend the night there on Wednesdays since that is the one night he doesn't have tennis or TKD. It was quiet as usual! We grilled our dinner and then watched a couple of our favorite Wednesday night tv shows. When we got up this morning it was 39º! I think fall has arrived!

 I washed my car before I left because it was dirty and we pay a set amount per month for water no matter how much we use, and at our main home we pay for the amount we use. 

I got home this afternoon and made a trip to the grocery store and caught up on laundry. I lead such a boring life!

Staying home this weekend. Any big plans?

Cleaning Like a Woman Possessed!

Once I got to the lake house yesterday, I started cleaning college son's room like a crazy woman! I sorted and threw away stuff, then vacuumed from the ceiling to the floor, mopped, and cleaned the bathroom really well! I think I did three loads of laundry just from his room and bathroom!

Since I was at it, I ended up cleaning pretty much the whole house after his room. 

After husband arrived and we ate dinner, we walked around outside for a bit, it was such a great, quiet evening! 

I am back home now getting ready for college son to come home tomorrow for Fall break. I think he will be looking for homemade cookies!

 

The Weekend Went By Too Fast!

Our weekend was great. Since I had to work on Friday we didn't get to leave town until around 4:00, which put us going through Columbia right at rush hour! UGH! We stopped to eat at Outback just off the interstate about 40 minutes from the cabin. It was pretty late when we got in, but it was fine. 

Saturday we headed to the game, We were lucky that husband's sister's boyfriend let us park in one of his spaces, so we were able to just drive right in and park! The game was UGLY! But, thankfully Clemson pulled off a win!

 (Bought a little flag to display at the cabin!)

 

Sunday morning, college son and husband went and played a little golf. Then we went out for lunch and took the son back to his condo.

Heading up to the lake house today. We haven't been there since the 4th of July, and I want to do a good cleaning and change somethings around. 

Happy Hump Day! 

 

Almost the Weekend, and Heading Out of Town again!

I am so tired! Worked from 9:30-5:30 at Middleton Place today, and man, where we ever busy! Lots of visitors in town during this wonderful weather! I actually ended up getting a migraine, but nothing too bad that a few advil couldn't help!

Gotta, work again tomorrow, but just until 3:00 and then rush home, pack up the car and get ready to head up to the cabin again! Clemson plays Boston College on Saturday and of course we will be there to cheer the Tigers on! 

Our neighbor that normally feeds our cat is going to be gone this weekend and she was gone the last weekend that we left town too! So, I got one of the neighbor kids to do it and since our cat stays outside, with just a way to get in and out of the garage, I just told him the code to get in the garage and where the food was. I didn't think about the fact that maybe I needed to describe our cat to him. After we got back when I paid him he asked what our cat looked like. When I told him he said that he kept seeing a different cat hanging around our house, and though he didn't say it, I am afraid that he may have been inviting that one in to eat! Oh well, ours didn't seem too hungry when we got home, so she must have gotten some of the food. But, at least now he knows not to feed our neighbor's cat!

Have a great weekend!

Our Weekend

We woke up to a soggy Monday morning! But, it hasn't rained in a while so I guess we needed it. But it is hot again, and I am ready for the cooler weather to come back, which I think it is in the next day or two! Yay!

We had such a great weekend. Saturday I worked in the afternoon and we were so busy! Lots of tourists still coming to town. I made it home to catch the last bit of the Clemson game on TV. Another win for us! Go Tigers!

Husband suggested we just go out to eat and so we headed downtown and ate at Five Loaves Cafe. How is it that we are just now experiencing this place? Well, actually I know the answer to that: every time we are downtown and decide to get something to eat I think of Five Loaves but could never remember what street it was on and instead of asking, we just went somewhere else. Oh. MY. Word. This place is awesome! We had the best food and even splurged for dessert, even though we had to get a box to take it home, we were so full! 

Sunday we went to Mass and had a visiting priest that came to talk about sponsoring a child through the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. We ended up choosing two children, both from India. I have always wanted to do something like this but just couldn't find the right organization!

Then, last night husband and I started watching the new Showtime series "Masters of Sex". So good! And sheds such an interesting perspective on sexual attitudes not that long ago! 

Since it was so yucky out this morning I did not go back to see about those tables at TJ Maxx. I guess I'll go tomorrow and see if they are still there.

Happy Monday!

Not Much Planned

Ran a few errands this morning. Found two little tables at TJ Maxx that would work for bedside tables at the cabin, but didn't get them. If they are still there on Monday maybe I'll get them.Went to Target looking for Pumpkin Spice M&Ms. They still don't have them! UGH!

Glad to stick around the homefront this weekend. 

Gotta work tomorrow. 

Finally heard from daughter. Don't know what the whole "I'm not using my ipad for three weeks was about", but got a text from her and apparently she is trying to make an apple pie. At least we know she hasn't been abducted! ;)

Have a great weekend!

It Was a Perfect Weekend!

We had such a great weekend! 

I headed up to our cabin on Thursday, making stops along the way for a vacuum and a radio/cd player that was much needed.

When I got there I needed to turn on the water. Husband makes us turn it off at the outside thingy so that if a pipe should break we won't be faced with a flood. I went around to the side of the house to open the lid and turn the know and when I moved the lid something stung the crap out of my finger! I couldn't see anything but it just continued to feel like something was still stinging me! I was flinging my hand all around and trying to "brush" it off but still saw nothing! So then I start thinking all kinds of weird thoughts, like what if I start having some reaction and I need help. I am in the middle of nowhere with little to no cell phone reception and husband isn't supposed to be there for a few hours! So, I saw that when I pulled into the driveway there was still a faint signal on my phone so I left it in the car on the seat. I quickly went and sent son a text, who is about 25 miles away and told him that if I died it was because something bit me! I think he was a little concerned by the text and started asking all sorts of questions! Needless to say, I was fine! Some friends thought it could have been a scorpion sting, maybe because we are always finding dead ones in the cabin.

I went into Clemson to meet husband for a late dinner and we ate at my favorite place, Brioso.

Friday, while husband was out visiting clients, I met up with an old high school friend for lunch. We had a great time catching up! Then I went and took college son for a haircut and to the grocery store for a little food for his condo. That night husband and I ate at the clubhouse and then headed back into Clemson and tried to find some friends that we knew where in town. We were unsuccessful, but we did walk around and look at the homecoming displays. I remember fondly working on the floats for homecoming when I was in college, we always had a blast!

Saturday I made a few things for tailgating and then we headed to meet up with some friends. The game was a blow-out! We left at the beginning of the 4th quarter and headed to a bar downtown to watch the end of the GA/LSU game. So glad GA won! 

I had to work Sunday afternoon at Middleton Place so I got up early and made the 4 hour drive back to the lowcountry! UGH! I was so tired Sunday night!

Haven't heard from teen daughter, she said she wasn't going to use her ipad for three weeks and that we'd skype then. I don't like not hearing from her. Husband is worried that she could be Taken and we would never know! I feel sure she is fine!

Packed and Ready to Go

I am packed and ready to head to the cabin tomorrow.

I found someone to come feed our cat since my friend that normally does it is going to a wedding in VA.

I need to make a quick stop at TJ Maxx before I leave town.

I am not happy that I have to drive husbands car, he says it gets much better gas mileage than mine does. But, it is so small and uncomfortable and NO satellite radio, boo!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Weekend Wrap Up

Hope you had a great weekend. Ours was good. We are still getting used to it just being the two of us!

Friday night was SO exciting! We ordered a pizza and watched the season premiere of one of our favorite sitcoms. And then husband went to sleep around 9:30. See, I told you it was exciting! ;)

Saturday we headed up to Myrtle Beach so we could take FIL out for a birthday lunch and he and husband could play a round of golf. We tried a newer place in Murrell's Inlet called Graham's Landing. It had some pretty good reviews and supposedly had some really good fish tacos. We got there right before noon and picked a table inside but near the view of the inlet. Mistake #1. Since we were seated by the door that lead out to the deck we were inundated with flies! Very annoying! I guess we should have just moved but we didn't. My MIL ordered a bowl of She crab soup and although she said it had a great flavor it was kind of luke warm, which was surprising to me unless it was left over from the day before and the pot had not heated through yet! Then I had ordered the fish tacos. I guess that was mistake #2. It took FOREVER to get my order and husband's order, which was just a cuban sandwich, not a complicated order! My fish tacos were not very good! I have had so much better and to me, they are not that hard to make and make good! Oh well, I guess we'll know not to eat there again!

MIL and I were able to spend the afternoon together which we haven't really done in awhile! She took me to a few fun shops and then we headed back to their house to talk and have a glass of wine. 

Normally husband is in a big hurry to get home but this time we actually stayed and ate dinner with them and had some birthday cake before we headed out.

Sunday we went to Mass and then came home for a quick lunch before husband had to head out to do some volunteering with the Knights of Columbus. I spent the afternoon looking through a stack of British decorating magazines that MIL gave me on Saturday.

I was up bright and early this morning and there was a great little chill in the air! I am so ready for fall! I headed downtown to take son's phone to the phone MD on King street. I love getting downtown, especially on upper King, early on a Monday morning, I never have trouble finding parking!

Then I headed over to Mt. Pleasant to check out the new Southern Season store that had recently opened. Oh my word, y'all... it was a foodie's paradise! I bought stuff I didn't even need! If you're local and you haven't been, you need to check it out! 

I made a quick stop at Goodwill to check out the book section. I scored a couple for husband a couple for me! Not bad for $5!

Then of course, no trip to Mt. P would be complete without a stop at Trader Joe's. I had to stock up on pumpkin yogurt, pumpkin butter, horseradish hummus, olive oil and dried mangoes!

On the way home I made a detour through the drive-through at Starbucks, that little chill put me in the mood for a Pumpkin Spice Latte!

So much to do this week since we are leaving on Thursday to head to the cabin. This weekend is Clemson's homecoming (really early this year, no?) and we have a lot planned! 

How was your weekend?

We have always been a fairly quiet family. There's never been yelling, the kids were never allowed to run around screaming and hollering. But man, this house is really quiet with both of the teens gone! It's quiet and it feels so big! I keep joking that I am going to take in boarders to fill the upstairs bedrooms. 

I am also finding that I don't have enough to do to fill my days! I work part time at Middleton Place, but that is maybe 4 days a month. I don't really want to tie myself down with a full time job, maybe I should start more volunteering? I don't think I am going to rush into anything since I do have a few home improvement projects that I need to complete first. 

Well at least today is Wednesday, two more days until the weekend. It's my FIL's birthday on Saturday so we are going to Myrtle Beach to take him to brunch or lunch and then husband and he will play golf while I get to visit with my MIL. 

Happy 17th Birthday!

Teen daughter turned 17 today! But, this year she is celebrating with her french family.... that makes me a little sad. But, from the photos it looks like they treated her as one of their own! :) I am so thankful that she was matched up with this great family, I couldn't have picked them better myself!

 

Snap Shots of Life

I have a lot to say, but instead of boring you to tears here are some photos of the last week or so:

Labor Day weekend we headed to the cabin and to the first Clemson game of the season. Daughter is a big football fan and this would be the only game she would be home to attend. Clemson won, which made it all the better!

 

 Tuesday morning daughter and I headed to NYC. This was the view from our hotel room.

 

Another priceline deal for us! The room was really big by NYC standards! I'd stay there again.

 

We had to make a stop at Macy's! And an afternoon Starbucks treat was welcomed.

 

Daughter had never been to the top of the Empire State Building, so I took her there on Tuesday night.

 

I took this right before I had to say good-bye. That was one of the hardest things to do!

 

I went back into Manhattan and walked around a bit before I went to get something to eat at a diner. I ate at Scotty's diner on Lexington near 39th street. It was the stereotypical NYC diner and I loved it!

My flight home was EARLY on Thursday morning. I was up before 4:00am and caught a cab at 5 to take me to JFK. 

I was home a little after 9:00 am and husband was there to pick me up at the airport.

Thursday was also husband's 50th birthday! Wow, I can't believe I am married to a 50 year old!

I made him a Banana Pudding instead of a cake!

As I unpacked and did laundry I was repacking to head to the cabin and another Clemson game for the weekend!

 

Son with two of his three roommates tailgating before the game.

 

Husband and I drove to Long Creek SC and hiked near the Chattooga river before we headed to my parent's house for a birthday dinner for son, who turned 19 on Sunday.

 

Daughter arrived safely in Paris on Friday.

And, she made the train trip to meet up with her host family with no problems on Sunday!

Even though we miss her a bunch, we are so proud of her for going on this great adventure! It's the experience of a lifetime and we can't wait until she gets back and can tell us all about it. Plus, it doesn't hurt that she can text me on her ipad, so I know everything is going well!