happy birthday to me!

Reid brought this to me this morning! He can be soo sweet, sometimes!

 

Today I turn 29, that’s right folks the last year of my twenties and for some reason I am really excited about it! I have to say that I have had a magnificent twenties and fully expect this last year to go out with a very big bang! I am so excited about the life that Reid and I share with our two crazy pups and thrilled that I have Virginia Sweet to express all my crazy dreams and thoughts.

 

but wait y'all, I am turning 2-9!

 

 dammmnnnnn gina….. and now reality is knocking on my door.

 

yea, I am super excited about this next chapter in my life and all but I also have this little ache in the pit of my stomach. You know, the one that says stuff like “did you accomplish all that you wanted to?” “am I the person that I wanted to be now when I turned 20?” “why haven’t you started working out yet” “Weren’t you going to be better at this and that?”

 

 Good Lord!

 

So it hits me… I am well overdue for a coming to Jesus meeting with myself and stat! Don’t worry y’all, I will let you tag along for the ride…. be careful though, it could be a bumpy road!

 

Needless to say, I have big things in store this year…promises to myself that I am putting out there publically and vowing to hold myself accountable for, travel, finally get my house un-packed and closets organized, be a better friend and so many more that you will just have to check back!

 

so happy birthday you ol’girl, put your big girl panties on and get ready for a one heck of a year!

 

xoxo,

CAD

 

 

 

 

a clean house for my birthday!

picture via

Isn't that the truth? hah! 

So, for my birthday my amazing mother gave me the best present a girl that who works full time, attempts to write a blog, has two pooches and a hubby could ask for. She gave me a clean house! 

I have never really been a neat freak and am ok with things being out of order or not in their designated spot...who am I kidding, most things in my house really don't have a designated spot. This of course drives Reid up the wall! He does not understand why we now have a cleaning service and thinks that we should be able to keep our 1500 square foot house clean. This is the same guy who also thinks that dusting the living room is a semi-annual event. 

We had our first house cleaning last week and I really was that person who stayed up way too late to clean/pick up the house before the cleaners arrived. Reid again, was very confused as to why I was cleaning up for the cleaning lady. There are just some things that men will never understand and this will just have to be one of them!

But boy let me tell you what... I was so excited when I got home from work that day -  I was literally skipping through the house! All those annoying things that pile up with dust were clean, the bathrooms smelled like bleach, the range was shiny and everything was in it's place!  I think even Reid approved, although I am sure he will never admit it! 

Thanks Mom for a stellar birthday present! I can hardly wait till next Tuesday's cleaning! 

Love, CAD 

More Mac and Cheese Please!

oh hey y'all!

As promised from yesterday's post (found right here!) this is my recipe for awesome mac and cheese! 

Mac and cheese is a staple in my house. At any given time you can find in our pantry a costco size box of instant mac and cheese, we are not really brand snobs either - we truly appreciate those tiny elbow noodles in either a powdered cheese sauce or one that you squeeze right out of a silver package. 

Since this was a special occasion and I secretly have been craving this version of mac and cheese I whipped up this little ditty on Friday night, stuck it in the fridge and baked it on Saturday! It was a hit!  

I am giving y'all the regular recipe which makes enough for 8-10 servings. Now I doubled the recipe since we were feeding 8 people and when you eat something like this, lets just be honest....no one just eats one serving.

Here is what you will need: 

7 ounces of dry elbow macaroni

2 cups of cottage cheese (that's right folks!) 

1 cup of sour cream

1 egg, beaten slightly

salt and pepper to taste

8 ounces of sharp cheddar 

sprinkle of paprika 

Here's what to do:

Cook the noodles per box instructions, I normally leave them slightly al-dente since they have to bake. Drain, cool and put into a mixing bowl.

Combine the cottage cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and sour cream with the noodles - give it a good mix then add in the cheese. (it is just easier that way!) 

Spray your casserole dish with some non stick cooking spray and dump this bowl of happiness right on in!  Sprinkle a little paprika over the top and you are done! Either bake right away at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or cover and refrigerate. 

I normally sprinkle with paprika right before I bake!

Well, there you have it - super easy and super yum mac and cheese. Warning....if you choose to double the recipe, be prepared for left overs!

Enjoy!

CAD

Let's Celebrate the Besties!

It's my birthday week SO lets celebrate! 

I would like to raise a glass and celebrate my besties!

Cheers to good friends, yummy food, and the reality of turning 29....

Meet Kristen, Lorin and Danielle. These lovelies have been by my side since college and I could not ask for better role models. We have been together over 10 years now and have held each other's hands through college, heartbreaks, moves, marriages, and now babies! (no babies for me yet - don't get your hopes up!) I am proud and honored to call you my friends for so long! 

Danielle, Lorin, me and Kristen 

Since 3 out of the 4 of us have birthdays in August, we always try to do something special to celebrate. This year 4 girls, 4 husbands and two babies stuffed into 4 cars with way too much stuff for a one night sleep over at Lake Caroline. Danielle is turning the big 3-0 this year so we let her steal the spot light. 

I had so much fun documenting our trip this past weekend that I had to share the photos on Virginia Sweet. Take a peek into our birthday celebration at Lake Caroline! 

Lake Caroline - Lovely name for a lovely lake

Lorin and Ryan hanging out

Miss Lily and I waiting to go in the house! 

Someone had to turn the water on...guess I was the most qualified for the job

Reid was in love with Lily! 

my how things have changed ... used to be all beer and board games, now we added in baby supplies!

Lily's mom Kristen taking a little break

Birthday girl Danielle getting a little sugar from Lily

awesome food - don't worry I will post the mac and cheese recipe later this week! 

Happy 30th Birthday Danielle! Don't judge - all we could find in the house were these candles!  

oh hello old friend..... CLUB CRANIUM!!!! 

Needless to say...we were all exhausted after a fun weekend with our friends! 

So lets raise our glasses to these extraordinary women, the brave men that stand beside us, the new generation of besties, and many many more years of laughter and memories! 

I love y'all!

xoxo Care

Southern Send-Off: Mamaw's Sweet Tea

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Happy Friday Y'all! 

I am headed off to the Lake this weekend with some great friend so I thought I would send y'all off  with a little southern treat! My dear friend Cassie has graciously given me her Mamaw's sweet tea recipe. (Mamaw, for those of you that don't know, is an endearing southern term for Grandmother). Every time Cassie would break out the sweet tea I would imagine her as a little girl, standing on a stool next to her Mamaw mixing the sugar in. 

I have always thought that a woman's sweet tea recipe was meant to be a close kept secret.... you know, passed down from mother to daughter or in this case grandmother to granddaughter. Or a bunch of old ladies whispering at church about who makes the best and worst sweet tea. Families sitting down together for Sunday supper with a big pitcher of sweet tea on the table ok, lets be honest, I got that last one from Duck Dynasty!

Whether you grew up in the south or not you will love having this little treasure in your back pocket for a hot summer day! 

Mamaw's Sweet Tea

must have:

Lipton Tea Bags: Mamaw only uses Lipton Tea bags (family sized)

Water

Sugar

(pretty easy thus far huh?)

what to do:

boil about 4 cups of water on the stove with 4 family sized Lipton Tea bags

put two cups of sugar in the bottom of a BIG pitcher 

pour the hot water (tea bags and all) in the said pitcher and let it just sit on the counter for a bit

fish out the tea bags and just fill with water - no need to add ice now, this will just make it taste funny

Mamaw does not put the tea in the fridge - she just leaves it out for all to enjoy!

(side note: if you are using a cute glass pitcher cut the above recipe in half)

and that is it folks..... you now have Mamaw's sweet tea recipe. May it serve you well! 

Thanks Cassie for giving me this little piece of you! 

xoxo, 

CAD