friday favs!

Heck Yes!

It is Friday!

Let's all do a little dance....

Man, this week has just been dragging on and on. I had to really push myself to stay motivated at work this week because my head is still in vaca mode, I think.

On a positive note, my tan still looks fierce and thank god, because I have big plans this weekend.
Make sure to insta along with me ... things might get a little craZzzzzzy!

Here are just a couple of the things that made my week shine,

{miranda lambert}

via

yup....I will be seeing her in concert this evening. Limo ride, champagne, yeti cooler full of beer and jello shots, cowboy boots and 3 other stellar women will make this evening a rip roaring good time!

{girls weekend}

via

This girls weekend sorta just fell into my lap.... 4 of us are going to spend the weekend in VA beach, see the above concert, layout on the beach, read, gossip, sleep, nurse hangovers, brunch, dance, get all dressed up, maybe throw up and have one heck of a good time!
I.cannot.wait!

{crossfire series}

via

It is smut, but the writing is pretty decent and with a name like Gideon Cross, who doesn't like that? I think I liked it better than Fifty Shades, but with two more books left to be released in this series, the jury is still out. Read it and thank me later.
xoxo

{lack of tv}

honestly....there is absolutely nothing on tv this time of year. AND I am happy to report that Reid and I have not once this week turned the tube on. We really got into reading while on our amazing vacation and have been sitting in silence each night with our noses in a book. I have no idea what is going on in the real world other than what pops up on my phone from my CNN app or briefly skimming The Skimm each morning. My mother tells me there is all sorts of trouble going on around the world and it sounds so super depressing. Next week I will try to be a better human and care about world events......

{return of the pumpkin spice latte}

via

it's happening.... Starbucks' pumpkin latte will be here on August 25th and thank god! This is such exciting news and made my week for sure!

{college football season 2014}

Yippee!!!
College football season starts basically next weekend - Praise Jesus! If you are looking for some fun tailgate inspiration - check out here, here, here, here and here!
(ps. the pimento cheese recipe is killer!)


I think that is all I can muster up today!

Got to shout out to the ladies who rock the Friday link ups:

Friday Favorites: Amanda

Oh hey FRIDAY: Amy & Karli

Have a safe and happy weekend loves!

xoxo,

CAD 

don't miss one minute of fun ~ follow along!

{gfc} :: {bloglovin} :: {instagram} :: {pinterest}

To Die for Dip

Happy Hump Day Loves! 

Today I am sharing one of my go to apps that is super quick, super yum and really a crowd favorite! 

My coworkers request this dip for every snack day and thankfully for me it could not be easier. I actually whipped up this little delish on Monday at work between appointments. Since many of them always ask me for the recipe, I decided to take pictures while I made it and do a little blog post. 

I must also admit that I def borrowed this dip from my friend Ashley, and she has graciously allowed me to share it! 

2 cups of of shredded Colby Jack cheese

8 ounces of softened cream cheese

1 cup of mayo (I normally don't add the whole cup)

2 packages of real bacon bits

1 1/2 sleeve of Ritz Crackers (we buy the fun pack size at our house!)

Here is what to do: 

preheat the oven to 350 degrees

mix the softened cream cheese, mayo and shredded cheese in a casserole dish. The dish should be no larger than 9"x9

sprinkle the two packets of real bacon bits on top of the mixture and bake for about 15 minutes.

sprinkle a crushed 1/2 sleeve of Ritz over top of the dip and bake for an additional 7-8 minutes.

Take out and devour! 

I normally serve with tortilla chips or whatever crackers I have laying around.

Helpful Trick!

I found this to be the easiest way to crush Ritz Crackers. Leave the crackers in the sleeve and hold in the palm of your hand. Press the ends together and the crackers crush instantly! Pretty neat huh?

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do and I promise, it will be a new "go to" one for sure!

later loves, 

CAD

game day and tailgate reveal: Clemson vs UGA

Did I already mention that we just had the best time at the game this past weekend? Being in Clemson is a home coming for my husband and seeing him there, happy and with his best buddies is one of my favorite things! Clemson is also a true southern university, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by lakes and cowfields this university is a must see!

outside Death Valley

 I don't know how to explain it, the energy in Death Valley on Saturday night was electric. Now, I must confess, I was sorta bored for the first half ....Clemson would score, Georgia would score, Clemson would give it a go and Georgia would return the favor and so on and so fourth.... Exhaustion was also setting in (we had been up since early in the am and I did not sit down all day!) so I was more than happy to trudge back through the massive crowd to our tailgate for half time. (YES Clemson does let you leave the stadium and re-enter during the game... they even stamp your hand. How very efficient????) I also must admit that the thought did cross my mind to not re-enter the game. Y'all, I.was.spent. and it was already passed 10:30pm BUT I put my big girl panties on and headed back in to watch the rest of the game. I am so glad I did!!! When Georgia missed that field goal during the 3rd quarter our Clemson Clan knew that we had a shot. The crowd began reacting to Clemson's every move and cheered our Tigers on to a glorious victory!! What a feeling to be a part of such joy and excitement!

As promised from yesterday's post, here is a snap shot of our day:

packed and ready to be loaded

boys were supposed to be packing the car! 

we drove past ESPN College Game Day on Bowman Field

it's all in the details!

custom Clemson logo for our Clan! Thank you Kate and Terri for the cookies and cups!

Pimento Cheese!

candid corn hole shots

just some random fun pics! Love that industrial fan we had! 

poor Georgia fans! 

Clemson Wins! 

Well folks, other than an interesting stop off at McDonalds at 1:15am, that about sums up our day! What did you think?? Phew, I am really tired just thinking about it but so thankful we made the trip! 

Later Loves!

CAD 

and we're back!

Well,  we are finally home and I am exhausted from a wonderful Labor Day weekend full of tailgating, friends and family, lots of time on highway 85 and a BIG win for Clemson! 

Clemson fans rushing the field after a victory over UGA

The football gods were defiantly in our favor as the Tigers beat the Dawgs but I can not say as much for the weather gods....it was a typical South Carolina day - hot, sticky, a little sunny, a little rainy and humid.  

But we did it! Thanks to Ashley and the other Clemson wives, we put on a fabulous tailgate, clad with silver trays, picture frames, burlap bunting, chalkboards, a custom banner and cups, and personalized tailgate cookies thanks to Kate! (see if you can spot Virginia Sweet on her blog!) 

This is just a sneak peek of tomorrow's post as I promise to reveal our Clemson inspired tablescape and unique touches that you will for sure want to steel! 

As for the rest of the weekend, Reid and I had such a great time visiting with our friends and his family in Greenville, Sc! We are so lucky to have our own room at Ashley and Andrew's house in Greenville when we visit and they are just the perfect southern hosts. And as a special treat, Reid's parents drove up from Columbia on Sunday to brunch and spend some time with us and the rest of the gang!  I must say that if you have never visited Greenville, South Carolina, check out this charming little southern town! 

So as we start this Tuesday back at work, or first day of school for all you VA people, I know I am thankful for many things: good college football, great friends, Labor Day sales at the Gaffney outlets and the return of the pumpkin spiced latte, which will, for sure, be getting me through the day! 

Check back in this week for my tailgate revel, adventures in Greenville, details on a much needed date night and a classic southern send-off! 

till then loves,

CAD

ps.... Virginia Sweet just hit a big number of page visits today! So if you are out there, leave some love or follow me! 

Southern Send-Off: Pimento Cheese

Well we did it, we made it to Friday folks! Tomorrow is the big day - the kick off to the 2013 college football season! AND I AM SO EXCITED! Go Clemson Tigers!

photo via

Now that I am finished with that pity party I threw myself yesterday, I am on to bigger and better things starting with my brother's recipe for pimento cheese. This recipe is a must have for any southern gal because it is quick, easy and oh so southernly delicious!

here is a list of what you will need:

1 lb of grated sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 lb of grated pepper jack

1 4oz can of diced pimentos

1/2 teaspoon of granulated garlic

1/2 teaspoon of granulated onion

1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated black pepper

pinch of cayenne

1/2 tablespoon of green pepper sauce

1 cup mayo

1 hot pepper optional

side note: I buy the big blocks of cheese and put them into a food processor because I don't like to eat the shredded stuff you buy in the grocery store - there is a reason why the prepackaged cheese doesn't stick together! Think about it... ok I am off my soap box now! 



here is the really hard recipe:

Put all ingredients into a big bowl and mix together well! Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and then enjoy!

We are taking this delicious snack with us to our Clemson Tailgate. It travels super well in a cold cooler and can defiantly be made a couple nights in advance. I plan on serving with carrots and celery sticks but pita or pretzel chips would be delish too! 

I also wanted to give you a sneak peek of the amazing cookies I had made for the tailgate this weekend. My new obsession Kate over at Kooking in Kate's Kitchen, is a cookie mastermind and also a BIG Penn State fan. Even with her love for Penn State she put a lot of love and attention in to these cuties! Thanks Kate and def check her out!

Needless to say, Reid and I are packed and ready to roll out when the clock hits 5:00 this afternoon. Wish us luck as we take on 95 South and a 6 hour car drive! I cannot wait to fill you in on all the tailgate details next week!

Good luck to all your teams out there! I hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

till later loves!

CAD 

tailgate with a touch of southern class!

Happy Wednesday Loves!

Today Virginia Sweet is linking up with Newlyweds:North for a Kick Off Week Celebration! Stephanie over at N:N is actually a member of our Clemson Family and we will be seeing each other in 3 short days along with the rest of our crazy bunch! She and her husband are on a big adventure up North but still share the same passion for all things Southern.

Ashley, another member of the Clemson Family, and I have been hard at work this summer planning, plotting and pinning ideas to make this year's first game the best tailgate yet. Just the other day we were tossing around ideas of how to add a touch of southern class to our tailgate. With her blessing, I thought I would share some of our favs here with you! 

not everything has to be Clemson...

Oh lord, all you Clemson fans don't kill me but not everything has to have a tiger paw on it - right? 

A little tiger paw goes a long way! You can pull in your school's colors in other ways. Like really fun fabric for your tailgating table or a monogrammed tablecloth! Simple touches and moderation will keep your table and tailgate looking classy and refined!

make your self at home

Since you really do spend more time at the tailgate than actually at the game it is important to add some touches of home. Any good southern host wants their guest to be comfy, don't they?

Throw some color coordinated pillows into your tailgating chairs - not only does it add a great pop of color but also makes a great little spot for an afternoon nap if you have had too much gin! Who me??? NEVER! But really - don't you think that looks inviting??

Add some fun frames to the table in your school's colors! These cuties are in my living room and I did not feel like changing out the pictures but wouldn't it be cute to put pics from previous tailgates in them??

be a little formal, it's ok, we're all adults here!

 Dust off some of those wedding presents that never get used and bring them along!

 

Adding little touches of silver will bring an instant feel of southern hospitality and class! I love the idea of using the bar tool set for drinks and the silver drink tub to house our never ending supply of champagne! After all, you are having about 20 of your closest friends over for bunch SO why not break out the good stuff?

I really do owe Ashley a big shout out as she has been my partner in crime all summer and I cannot wait for all of our hard work to pay off on Saturday! Thanks also to Andrew (her hubby) and Reid (mine) for putting up with the two of us this summer going crazy about tailgating!! 

this is from the a LONG time ago but a fav of mine!
Reid, Caroline, Ashley and Andrew

Go Tigers!!! 

Later Loves, 

CAD

ps... If you popped over from Newlyweds: North be sure to check out my other Tailgating posts! It's really great to have y'all here!

Game Day Dress - Clemson vs UGA!

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone's week is off to a great start! I am counting down the days till Friday when we take off to South Carolina for the big game day weekend to watch the Clemson Tigers play the Georgia Bulldogs!

I am so excited to share my game day outfit with y'all! Here's the breakdown of the goods:

dress:
I bought this little couture dress from the Mamie girls of ShopMamie.com. They had the cutest booth set up at the Richmond Bizarre Bazar in April and I could not resist! The second I saw this dress I knew it would be perfect for Clemson's first game. I love that it is an ivory color - so classic for Labor Day weekend and could I ask for anything better than little orange palm trees? Hello South Carolina!
You should def check out their website, they have some great pieces and all of their "hand picked" clothes are under $100.

monogramed sun hat:

up close and personal - are't those little palms cute?

What kind of southern gal would I be without something monogramed on at our tailgate? I received this sunhat as a belated present for my Monograms and Mimosa bridal shower and I just love it! It makes me feel so feminine and classy! It also keeps the sun off my shoulders while I am not under the tents!

sunscreen and shades:
So, if you know me, you know that I am not really much on wearing makeup (except on special occasions) but I am a firm believer in wearing sunscreen! I am a pretty pale girl and love to lather on 30 spf if I am out in the sun for more than 30 minutes. Shades also are.a.must! That sun can be brutal in the South!

jacks:
no explanation needed! Pretty sure that most have a pair (or two) laying around!

the little things:
Since it is still August, I wanted to keep my jewelry easy and light! I am going with a gold bracelet that I bought myself as a birthday present at C. Wonder in Atlanta and my pearls. Tip! Don't wear anything too constricting or heavy - it can get hot and sticky out there and the last thing you want is to be uncomfortable. On the flip side, we are going to be out at this tailgate/game from 10am till close to midnight (Clemson has the 8pm time slot this year - NOW you know why we are sooooooo excied!) and I get cold at the slightest little breeze. I rarely go anywhere without a Jackie Cardigan so I def have my Clemson orange one already packed!

Well, I think that about covers it other than my undergarment! I am looking forward to posting some fun pics from the game and tailgate to show off the ensemble!

Check back tomorrow - I am linking up with another one of my Clemson Clan on her blog to help celebrate this kick off week!

till tomorrow loves!

CAD

oh yea! I am not advertising for any of the above mentions - I just love them! Oh and if you are lovin this blog leave me a sweet note or follow me!!! 

Tailgating Tips from the Mrs

Happy Monday Loves! 

Do you know what this week marks? I am sure most of you do, but if not, it is the first week of college football! Now, if you would have asked me 5 years ago I would have said ummmm... the last week of summer?? I can thank my crazy tiger lovin hubby for all of my cra cra Clemson football passion. Hah! I did not even go to Clemson but love* it just the same! 

As you know, this week I will be blogging all about southern tailgating...Clemson style!!!...but I will not be offended if you change the color scheme to match your home team! So now I ask y'all, are you ready for some football?

me waiting for the parade of tigers, a made up name but def one of my fav traditions!

I have compiled 3 key tips to help you kickoff an awesome tailgate:

 tip 1: tailgate with your best buds

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful Clemson Family and have the best time when we are all together! Most of these boys have known each other since high school and this group of 7 have grown up along side each other into wonderful men! These 7 are all either married or engaged to great gals (thus my entry into the club) and if it weren't for these ladies I would never love Clemson as much as I do. Isn't there a southern saying that goes something like "behind every good man is a strong woman".... well we have to be to put up with these clowns when they all get together! 

all of the wives!

tip 2: whip your tailgate bucket into shape

Our tailgate bucket has grown over the last 4 years to include a L.L.Bean bag, big plastic tote and the original orange bucket. It seems the amount of items that we need grows just a little each year! 

Here are some of the esstential items that we keep in our collection:

tiger tail for the back of the car - clearly a must have

hand sanitizer as one can never have enough

paper towels, trash bags and toilet paper (for those nasty porta-potties) 

koozies and tervis tumblers to keep your drinks cold on those hot game days

orange duct tape, lets be honest, you never know when you will need it

serving trays for your awesome tailgating food 

miscellaneous items such as grilling essentials, lighter, tape, napkins, paper plates and scissors

tip 3: tailgate prep

How can you have a successful tailgate without a dedicated day of prep? We spent most of yesterday running errands and pulling out all of our tailgating gear. Man, I am so glad we did because I think I left a roadie mimosa in my Tervis Tumbler from the final game last year - oops! Nevertheless, take this opportunity to restock your tailgate bucket (if you already have one, if not invest in one), wash up your monogramed cups and dishes, make sure your gear is in working order and set it aside so it is ready to rock and roll when you need to pack the car.

Some of our Clemson family sent pictures as they were preforming their tailgate prep! 

Laura going through her tailgating bucket

Andrew dusting off those corn hole boards 

Check in tomorrow for more tailgating ideas from the Mrs! 

xoxo,

CAD 

*disclaimer - Don't worry Mom, Dad and Bro, I still have a big place in my heart for UVA!