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The 50 States Game

To my complete embarassment, I played this game and got more than one of these wrong. I do hearby solemnly swear to play this once a day until I get 100%. I don't think I should be allowed to to American things like watch baseball or eat apple pie until then. (Who am I kidding? I hate baseball and don't know the last time I was around any apple pie.) Anyhow, stay tuned...

And I dare you to try!

The 50 States Game

Wine Weekend Celebration

It was Rebekah's Bachlorette Weekend!! If you would have asked me 10 years ago what this weekend would have been like, it would have been a very different description of the party. However, in the now, it was the most wonderful way to send her off to married world! We chose the weekend, as it was the annual SanDestin Wine Festival celebration. And what could be more fun than a bunch of friends and a bunch of wine :)

Rebekah, Mikaela and I headed down after work on Thursday night and spend the whole next day at the pool. There aren't many things better than lying by the pool on a work day! Heidi and April joined us on Friday for a great dinner at the Marlin Grill in SanDestin Village. But, not before we had a little single girl celebration. While I've been known to have problems extending myself past a PG-13 rating, guess who made the inappropriate cookies!?

I think I went a bit light on the sunscreen, because I ended up not feeling well that night - or the next day. Which was a total bummer because Saturday was the wine festival. Who knew that my only shot of the weekend would have been of Pepto - as a rally effort. But to no avial. So, I ended up back at the condo, while the rest of the party continued in the SanDestin Village. I was, however able to be there for the sunset zip line rides and bottles of wine at Roberto's Pizzaria - where our waiter pronounced the "net" in cabernet. Awesome :)

We ended the weekend with breakfast at The Broken Egg with Mikaela's mom and headed back to reallity...

SeeJaneWork.com

For those of you who can appreciate organization inspired design, this website rocks. It's the place that I've found to have the best binder labels among many other things to help make your life more colorful! :)

SeeJaneWork.com

The Little Brother Turns 26

Paulie and I went to see Monsters vs. Aliens for his birthday on Tuesday night. It was a GREAT film :) It had the adult humor that Disney movies have come to be famous for. And a great message for the child in you as well. There were so many great quotes that I was trying my hardest to remember, but never can seem to do so...ugh.

Then we spent Wednesday with a Japanese steakhouse dinner at Hatchi Hatchi and Mom's favorite angel food cake. Paul picked chocolate-peanut butter icing. I love him.

...and the Wedding Party Begins!

This weekend is Rebekah's bachelorette party in Sandestin. We're heading down for the Wine Festival -- and a lot of sun and laid back hanging out. Only 4 more days!

Frankly My Dear, Gone With The Wind Rocks!

This year is the 70th anniversary of the movie Gone With the Wind.  Since Jessica is quite the Southern Belle, she's been waiting for the showing of the movie at The Fox Theater for quite a while.  As today was the big comeback, we were effortless in finding tickets - and succeeded.  One of the big perks of my media job.  The connections!  

We began with brunch at Osteria in the highlands.  We was Jessica, myself, Jessica's mom, Emily and Laura Howell.  Yummm.  Then off to the 4 hour movie event.  It was really special to remember every once in a while that I was sitting in the same theater as Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable when the movie premiered.  I so admire the independence and strength of Scarlet, but want to knock her in the face for being so horrible to Rhett.  As Mary and I discussed on the way back to the car, it's all about miscommunication.  Isn't that always the case!?  Thanks, Jessica, for coordinating the party.  I'm just that much more "legally" Southern ;)

My new favorite internet find is Pandora.com. Not that I don't love my iTunes. However, sometimes I get a bit bored with my music collection. Pandora lets you pick a music category and plays like music -- for free! For example, I have a Norah Jones channel for the mellow mornings (that also plays things like John Mayer and Jack Johnson), and a Flo Rida channel (featuring Lil Wayne and Kanye West) for Friday afternoon. Or days that I want to pretend that it's Friday. And even better, it lets you skip songs that you don't like. I'm continuously amazed at the artists that they have on the site. It's worth a try!

Princess Maddie

I had to post this picture, just because it's so fabulous.

Easter In the Mountains

This year we got to spend Easter in Pigeon Forge, TN. Why Pigeon Forge, you ask? Where else would I have learned that there are 1,001 ways to cook with Jello - and not just dessert, that my cousin is on her way to Laser Tag championship status, or that sometimes the hardest jellybeans to find are those right there in front of your face!?

Mom and Aunt Jon rented a cabin up in the Smokies - fully equiped with a hot tub and a pool table! We knew the Easter bunny wasn't skipping this house :) Aunt Jon brought Gram and Great-Grandma's recipes for some serious sorting and organization.

In between amazement at the number of Jello and Spam recipes, I learned a lot about my family. Stories that are priceless. It's intriguing to learn about the lineage from which you come.

Eater morning started with a run through the foothills, a breakfast

of pancake puffs (that make really great eyes and a nose for smiley faces) and an expert level jellybean hunt. Easter wouldn't be Easter without the jellybean hunt.

Then it was back to Atlanta to begin real life in the city all over again!

Kate Morrisey: Live

So, on Thursday I ended up going with my friend Natalie to see a friend of hers perform instead of Jazz Night. Her name is Kate Morrisey and she was playing at Karivna in Oakhurst. She was amazing! Her voice sounds just the same in person as it does on the link below. She did this cover of "Hallejulah" that I would LOVE to have a copy of. Anyhow, here's a link if you want to take a listen. Just click on the MySpace music player...

Kate Morrisey Music

It's April! That means it's time for Jazz Nights in Oakhurst again. We get free jazz performances on the lawn of the old Scottish Rite hospital. While I can't claim to be a big fan of Jazz, I am definitely Wine, cheese and fruit picnics. Mmmmm. Last year packing a picnic was a great excuse to hit up the Dekalb Farmer's Market each week :) It's supposed to be a bit cold this Thursday, so I'm hoping for a weather forecast turn around.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

This weekend was action packed with Mom's birthday activities. We started the celebration on Saturday with a visit to the BODIES exhibit at Atlantic Station. While I was a bit concerned about being able to handle it, it was actually really interesting. It was one of those things that I think I'll take away more from after the fact, as I keep going back to thinking about what things looks like as I'm working out different muscles at the gym. The things that they are able to display are pretty interesting.

Then it was off to Rosa Mexicana for dinner. Their homemade guacamole can't be beat! And after one of their just as amazing margaritas, I didn't much mind that the salmon I ordered looked like a muscle that I had just seen minutes before. (Ewwww.)

The next morning, the party continued, with a visit to the Palm Sunday service at Mt. Pisgah and Paul's BLT sandwiches for lunch.

Birthdays are so much fun! :)

I Believe...

On my way to work yesterday, NPR was featuring one of the essays from their "This I Believe" segment. This particular essay was written by Tarak McLain, just 6 years old. He wrote this piece as an assignment for his class, who were instructed to bring in "100 things". Some brought cans and other objects, but Tarak wrote a list of 100 "I Believe" statements. The list made me tear up. The innocence that children have to believe the beautful things that they belive is something of which I am so envious. Below is a link to the segment. SO worth a listen! Thanks NPR.

Thirty Things I Believe by Tarak McLain

For those without time to listen, here is a sneak peek. But i'd rather you listen!
I believe life is good.
I believe God is in everything.
I believe we're all equal.
I believe we can help people.
I believe everyone is weird in their own way.
I believe hate is a cause for love.
I believe that when I meditate I feel peaceful.
I believe we should be generous.
I believe brothers and sisters should be kind to each other.
I believe kids should respect their parents.
I believe I should not whine.
I believe people should wake up early.
I believe people should go outside more.
I believe in nature.
I believe people should use less trees.
I believe we should help the Arctic and rainforest animals.
I believe people shouldn't throw litter on the ground.
I believe people should not smoke.
I believe God is in good and bad.
I believe in magic.
I believe people should not give up.
I believe love is everywhere.
I believe that God helps us to have a good time.
I believe we live best in a community.
I believe we can protect people in danger.
I believe we should help the poor.
I believe it's OK to die but not to kill.
I believe war should not have started.
I believe war should stop.
I believe we can make peace.

Maddie & Tucker Turn 10!

We had a little birthday party to celebrate Maddie and Tucker's first decade last night. They LOVED their birthday hats! ;)