Who's that coming down the track...

I finally switched my closet over to its winter season and I can't wait for coats and boots and Christmas parties to begin. The past week I worked too much, made some big decesions about where I want to take my life, had TWO offers for places to live (rent free?!) and began decorating for our (soon to be) annual Halloween cocktail party.

 We had the boys start a fire outside and played games and enjoyed Halloween cocktails and treats outside before hearing to Netherworld for the the real spooks.

Getting spooked in Netherworld with J and trying to convince her to move home from Kansas City

I made Witch Hat Cookies and Spiked Pumpkin Spice Lattes. For the cookies you will need:

Hersey's Kisses - unwrapped                                                       1/2 C shortening

3/4 C peanut butter - creamy                                                       1/3 C sugar

1/3 C brown sugar - packed                                                         1 egg

2 T milk                                                                                        1 t vanilla extract

1 1/2 C flour - all purpose                                                            1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt                                                                                       

Blend shortening and peanut butter. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla - beat well. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt and gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

Roll into 1 - inch balls, roll in sugar, and placed on ungreased sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 375°F.

When removed from oven, place on towel or wire rack and top with Hershey kiss

Warning. These are addictive. I also make these in the Spring and call them Peanut Blossoms - call them anything you like to make them as OFTEN as possible.

It is also the best time of year to go North, when I want to hike and spend my days in the mountains at our cabin. We made our annual trek to Burt's Farm for pumpkins and as we usually do picked the most unique pumpkins.

Unfortunately I didn't make the trek across the Florida/Georgia line for JAX this year but it must have been lucky because GEORGIA BEAT FLORIDA -- GO DAWGS!!!!!!!

MARWIGE IS WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER TODAY.

This weekend I was off to Houston, Texas to celebrate another wedding for a baby cousin. One of the triplets and one of the most fun girls that I know - it was bound to be a perfect weekend.

An uncle, aunt, two cousins, my parents and I left Atlanta early and enjoyed Bloody Marys on the plane to Houston. My uncle brought this hat for me - trying to convince me to wear it for the reception. I don't believe it will match my dress though...

We had a welcome dinner and spent the next day busy with Bridal Showers in which the great couple made their debut on tasty Newleywed cookies

Primping and polishing  for the big day

and the Wedding Rehearsal followed by a large dinner in downtown Houston.

And finally the BIG DAY. My aunts looked beautiful.

And the day was prefect. Plus I am in LOVE with my cousins dress.

We danced the night away and finally the HOMEWRECKER hat came out to play.

Celebrating with the two beautiful brides of the year!



Wherever there is sun and warmth, a simple, flavorful, eclectic ambiance, where there is a direct possibility to feel free and unattached.

I don't want what you want. I don't know why. I don't want a house, a car payment, a 9-5 job everyday. I don't know if I can ever see myself wanting that, needing that. Sometimes I think, maybe I should just give up. Find someone, just live in Georgia, just forget about it all and join all my friends in this life. Maybe one day it won't feel like giving up, maybe one day I will want to get married and have my parents over for dinner and not imagine myself crying in the bathroom in dispair. Maybe.. Until then, I can't apoligize for not wanting to go on dates, for not wanting to get married, for not wanting to stay settled. How do you go forward when everything you want is the complete opposite of everything you're SUPPOSED to want?

Well. What do I want then? I want a stable job but one that I can do anywhere. I don't want to work everyday and while I want to be able to afford a nice life style, I would choose to live in the jungle or Africa, in huts saving the world, helping the planet, being part of something REAL.

I need to FOCUS on what I really want. Lying to myself, forcing myself to do a job I dislike, go to school for a pharmacy career that I don't see myself in, for schooling that will put me in debt. Is that worth it? Will that make me happy? Will that set me free? Why do I feel I need to go through all of the schooling and anxiety and stressed just to quit and vagabond after I am through? I will not be able to with that debt but I need a stable career. But why do I feel I need a stable path in life? I am torn in every emotion, day to day and each day I only end up disappointed, anxious, and confused. So if this plan isn't going well then I need to stand up to myself for WHO I REALLY AM. WHAT I REALLY WANT. Take a deep breath, make a plan, and set myself free. I am just scared to death of being half happy and being OK with that. I want to be all the way, sky is the limit, I have experienced and done and enjoyed everything because I only have one life kind of happy.

I believe that what you project to the universe is what you are going to get back. But what am I doing wrong then? I KNOW. I KNOW! I am not doing what I WANT, what makes me HAPPY, what makes me THRIVE. That is why I am getting nothing back from the universe. The universe is literly screaming in my FACE. It is not suppossed to be this hard, this energy draining, this unhealthy. I am getting back what I should be getting back. A bit of pain and struggle will teach me another important lesson. And if I fail, so what? I have no time to be afraid of failure as that would stop my personal growth. I want to be STRONG, CONFIDENT, EXPERIENCED, STABLE, GENUINE, INDEPENDENT. I want to never compromise my core values even if they are not the same as yours. They are MINE. My life is my life, my beliefs my beliefs, even if I don't have them all straight yet. But NO ONE can change them except for me. Sometimes i think when i dated when i was young I was so impressionable and I never want to subject myself to that again. But I also have to test my own ability to stay true to myself. I want to know myself completely and learn what I really want. I have begun to know myself so well lately and I don't think I ever could have done that being with someone.

In my life I have learned a thousand ways how not to do something, i have learned what I DO NOT like, what I DO NOT want to do. But that is growth and I 100% know that those choices are not for me. Being broke right now is a learning experience that I will grow from. I will succeed from this. I have enjoyed and indulged in what ever possible as long as I will learn from it. I will always travel when given the possibility because it gives me SO MUCH. I want to see and know the world. I want to understand others views and find my own in the process. I always am striving to learn something new. I see my journeys around the world as an opportunity to grab the best of what I find so that I could construct my own life where I truthfully felt in peace, happiness and harmony. It probably comes from being a lost little girl without a guidence in the world. Guilable from the beginning, unsure of love and trust, and not a bad thought in my brain. Where does that get me now? It makes me work for being a strong, confident, established, stable woman. I know if I had wanted to just find a husband, have a job, stay settled I would not be going though as much I as have in my life. I would have been that same happy go llucky girl. But that is not who I am or what I want out of life.

These struggles have taught me SO. MUCH. These dreams have made me strive, work for goals, get up and see the world. And through it all. Through the giving up, through the questioning, through the misery - I still hope and pray and work for the day that it will all make sense. The day that I will get from the world what I have put in it. My heart, my body, my soul are not ready, then I am not ready. But I work everyday to be that woman. Sometimes it takes the dark to see the light. I must remember that I want to strive for more. For better. To get to my highest potential for happiness and personal growth. I WANT THIS. I am the master of my life and I will not change to fit your ideals.

#THATSH*TCRAY

I snuck out of work early on Friday because I have bigger and more more presing events on my mind like - THE JERSEY SHORE. I am excited for New Jersey - it is my first time and I haven't had the chance to do much Northeastern exploring so I can cross it off the list. Is it embarrassing that going to the Jersey Shore is on my bucket list?

Probably.

But, it is also one of the best weekends because it is J's BACHELORETTE Weekend:) It is not everyday your best friend will get married (when did I get this old?!) and the Jersey Shore seems the best place to celebrate it. Obvi.

J and I flew into Philly and an elderly woman kept buying her drinks because she was on her way to get married (I need to remeber that one) and then we took the train to Atlantic City. We checked into our room at the Trump Plaza, overlooking the ocean and A, AB, Hil, and K were there pregaming away awaiting our arrival and decorating perfectly!

The night began right away and we played the slots, lost too much money gambling (as always for me), and went to Liquid Bar at the Trump and then the Borgada to the nightclub Dusk and danced the night away.

The next day we nursed out hangovers with Bloody Marys, played in the casinos, walked the boardwalk, and had amazing shirts made to commorate the event (Destin Spring Break anyone?)

After a quick nap and rally sess we went out to a fancy dinner and over to Harrah's for Pool After Dark. It is a night club surrounding a pool and we met Rob Kardashian, Brody Jenner, and even Jerry Springer!

Jerry! Jerry!

The night was a bit debacherous (as it should be) and ended on the New Jersey Beach with new friends.

And a bulldozer in the background...so New Jersey.

Foooo, Bruches, Poker Games, and lack of sleep

I have just become accustomed to the fact that I am not able to stay up later than 9:30 PM on a Friday (I know). Other than my body shutting down - again - on a Friday night, the weekend was quite wonderful. On Friday afternoon I randomly was given a three day weekend! Best. surprise. ever. Which come next Friday (yes, I will be sleeping through that one as well) I am going to be regretting after four OR days in a row. So I am going to try and be an adult this week and not go out (as much).

On Thursday I attended a impromptu poker game and my friend T's and decided to work the bar and made $100. This could be a new job for me. Or I could work on my poker skills.

Music Midtown was all weekend in Piedmont Park in Atlanta. I was stubborn about not attending this year but given a super cheap ticket last minute, I decided to make an appearance. The set up was horrible for the stages but a music fest is a music fest and no matter the music you will find me there raging. And you can't beat this scenery for a show.

I snuck in vodka, wore my new skinnies, and ran into lots of old friends. Especially old friends of a certain old boyfriend. On the bad side, I lost my sunnies (my sixth pair this summer), we ended up a Clairmont Lounge - a strip club in Atlanta that features only (extra) large and older women. It is a dive but also a staple of the Atlanta scene. It is always a great time but one that requires a few extra drinks if you are planning on checking it out.

On Sunday we hit up Ormsby's. It was our favorites until it caught on to the rest of Atlanta but has a great feel and many of our good friends work there. Ormsby's is in the basement under Room+Board, it has amazing food (please, try the steak salad), an awesome beer selection, and two full Bocce courts - along with the usual darts and pool.

Check it out - we love it here!

Football, Camping, and Wellies

It hurts my heart a bit to say this but as I have gotten older, I love Fall more and more. I am ready for leaf jumping, Oktoberfest going, boot stomping, rosy cheeked adventures.

We camped this weekend for a Fall kickoff and to celebrate Natalee's birthday and it was a perfect start to a great (and ridiculously busy) Fall season. We stayed at Sweet Mill Creek again and hiked to Panther Creek Falls. We lunched at Tallulah Gorge Grill and cheered on the Dawgs from the rocking chairs on the patio.

The water was released from the dam this weekend and it was a busy time at the campsite. The hike was seven miles but swimming in the waterfall afterwards was truly rewarding.

 

I also received some amazing, happy, looong awaited, and beautiful news.  CARRIE AND HEATH ARE PREGNANT. Pregnant! Baby Miller is on the way and I cannot wait to spoil that little one. What a great start to Fall and what great news to hear! Now prepare for costumes, pumpkin anything, wellies, and my next escape...

 

MAINEly catch

We spent the past weekend in Maine for another great wedding. I had never been to Maine (when I can remember anyway) and I feel in L-O-V-E. I know, I say that alot. It is true this time. I know, I say that alot as well.

While I was living on a boat one summer I had ventured up the Intercoastal Waterway to the Northeast but never had a legit trip to Maine. A great friend of mine is from the state and why I was making the trip to celebrate her and her fiances wedding weekend.

It made me crave Dawsons Creek reruns - good thing I have been reliving my Pacey/Joey obsession on Netflix lately.

We stayed in Camden - it was rated one of the best places to retire. Of course, I loved it. How perfect is this town? I will live on a boat again someday and travel the waters of the world.

Maybe I should add learning how to sail to my bucket list.

Every lunch and dinner was lobster tails, lobster soup, lobster rolls, and all variations there of.

We had dinner with the wedding crew at Young's. You grab your own lobsters out of the tanks. Or get this young gentleman to help like I did..

Can you blame me? Look at those claws!

The resturant takes care of the lobsters, clams, crabs, or shrimp but it is BYOB so remember to bring your own wine, salads, or any other snackies you prefer. They also do not provide cups so we had to run back to the hotel for are disposable ones!

But with views like this how could you not fall deeply in love?

Having an amazing weekend in Maine the wedding was the best part - M + J were married on a hilltop venue overlooking the bay and the ocean below.

A perfect weekend for love and adventures in new places.

Mountain Standard Time

I am newly in from London and back on the plane, headed straight for my HOME - Missoula Montana. I am a summertime girl - I am in my element and happy and giddy everyday. However, it is also everday in the summer that I miss my home on Champagne Alley.

It is when the snow begins to melt, the fish begin to bite, and my father takes to his place behind the drums, that I miss the Big Sky Country with every fiber of my body. It is the feeling of being homesick intensified with the pull of Montana.

A feeling you only know when you have grown up under the Mission Mountains, spent your days on Polson Lake, floating the Bitterroot, hiking every weekend through sprawling meadows until the road meets the sky.

I have been across the globe and love many places, but no where can make me feel like Montana does and can break my heart the way Montana does when I am not there. It was a blessing to grow up in such a beautiful place and I wish I had appreciated it more when I lived there, but it makes me love my trips there that much more. I love the South and the Southern hospitality and way of life but my heart lies on Flathead, in Glacier, with the mountains of the West.

My parents spend most of their summer in Montana, playing shows, enjoying the slow pace of life, and when I arrive we load up the RV and hit the road.  I will always rather be in my RV..

We spent our days jet skiing, floating the lake, having cocktails, and swimming, and seeing great old friends.

 We spent every Happy Hour in the shallow end of the lake - grilling out and playing volleyball.

I woke every morning and kayaked the river. A solo early morning kayak is one of the most peaceful moments you can have, one that holds the answers to any of your questions. To understand the importance in life when the animals come to the banks to drink and you drift by watching the day begin.

My kayak - that I wish I could fit in my carry on to Atlanta

Riding horses, playing in the lake and rivers, roaming the woods, watching Mission Mountain Wood Band shows - it is then that I felt my soul BREATHE again.

Thank God for Montana

Because this is my country, this is my HOME, SWEET, HOME.