Toodle-oo March

And just like that our magnificent March has come to an end and we're steaming full speed ahead into April. We rounded out the month by meeting up and spending a great day in Lexington, KY with some of our favorites. Our new little miss, Brighton Marie, her big sisters, beautiful momma, MaKenzie, and Aunt Toby!


I've mentioned before, the new house will be Farmhouse decor, and my Aunt has a niece on the other side of her family that has very similar taste. Erin has a BEAUTIFUL home in Nicholasville, KY ... just outside of Lexington and it is what dreams are made of. Guys, her hardwood floors are made of legit barnwood. Like the entire home is floored in an old barn. Swoon. So, when we were talking about our new house one day, Aunt Toby wanted me to walk through the house before I got too far into selecting my finishes, in case I found some great ideas. Plus, we never pass on an opportunity to play together!

I love how she re purposed an old antique to become a vanity! So cool.

More barnwood use! Love. I'm doing this in our master bedroom and our hall bath on the first floor and seeing it in action made me 100% certain I've made the right choice!

It was a quick trip, but I loved seeing all these pretty ladies and the home was awesome! Since we were in Lexington ~ aka ~ horse country, we thought it would be a great time to head over to Keeneland and see my momma's racehorse. My dad bought stake in a racehorse for my mom for their anniversary this year and perfectly enough he was being trained that morning at the track. Spring meet begins next week, so all of the horses are working out at Keeneland. Spring meet brings back so many college memories ... but taking my babies to the track was certainly different than I remember from college, HA!

We gave them donuts to give them a little sugar boost, to ensure they'd last long enough to walk through the stables and hang with Honor Mission, our horsey!

 Horseys and littles. Kentucky can be pretty perfect.

 We woke Honor Mission up from his nap ... ain't he pretty!?

 And momma was reunited with mister.

And Lainey perfected her horse sounds.

 And then we all gave him a little lovin'

It was a perfect day <3

And then we cruised into our low key weekend getting ready for our big Spring Break trip this week - DISNEY!!! Of course we forgot to pack the kiddos travel stuff when we moved back from Nash, so we had to rebuy all of their headphones, etc. (moving/packing fail). But Bennett was pretty amazed by Best Buy and Lainey liked the new way to ride in the cart ... so we'll count it as a win.

We packed, we prepped, we hung out, we kicked off spring break with ice cream for dinner with a visit to my childhood ice cream joint, Berry Twist, and we even made it to Tee-Ball! It was the perfect cruise into our magical week and I absolutely cannot wait!

So toodle-oo March ... we're heading to the most magical place on earth and kicking off April in the best possibly way! Oooooooohhhhh toodles!!!! M-I-C-K-E-Y!!!!!!!!!!

CATSville Baby!

Ya'll it's moving weekend and things are not panning out the way we hoped. I'll update you on that later, but simply put ... it's been a cluster.

More importantly though ... my favorite team and big blue nation are taking over my new city and it's making the hardwood floor headache seem a little better. It's March Madness baby and my Cats just beat Florida for the THIRD time this season. WHOOOOP. Clinching the first round of the SEC tournament.

In case you were wondering. That means we're 32-0. Awwwwwwwe C-A-T-S!  Love them boys. 

Have a great weekend ya'll. And tune in tomorrow at 1:00 CT for the second round of the tourney. What's your favorite color baby?!?!?! BLUE AND WHITE!

My Old Chi Omega Home

This past weekend I took a fun-filled walk down memory lane ...

456 Rose Street at the University of Kentucky. The steamboat, the wedding cake, the chee, the home that holds amazing memories … The Chi Omega House.

Le Sigh.

So much happy in such a simple photo.

The Lambda Alpha Chapter of Chi Omega was chartered in 1914 and has now turned 100 years old! This past weekend was the Centennial Celebration and sisters from years past and present all came together to celebrate. SO COOL. There is so much history and so many memories for so many amazing ladies that are all centered around this same location, it seriously makes me so happy.

When I joined a sorority my freshman year, I was completely overwhelmed and had no idea what to expect. At first, it seemed a little superficial, a little forced, a lotta foreign, and incredibly overwhelming, but it quickly became apparent that it was also inspiring, challenging, bettering, comforting and ALOTTA fun. It also taught me some really great things about myself and life.

College itself is a great time...classmates, old friends, new friends, the entire "growing up" on your own and coming of age experience is second to none, but if I'm being 100% honest my sorority had a HELLUVA-lot to do with why I loved my college days so dearly. And side note: bigggg shout out to my parents for making all of aspirations and dreams of college and frat life a reality, without ever once batting an eye and trusting in my decisions, even though they were sometimes a little questionable ;)  My sorority sisters were by my side for all of it …

Additionally, I just started a list where I was naming everything they were to me so you could get the full effect... I got to 25 and deleted it, because I realized it's a little overkill. You get it. We were close. We were besties. A lot of us still are. And although I may have met them on my own, I credit Chi O for all of it and I'm not ashamed to say so.

Our Symphony was something I used to hear weekly. And, as cheesy as it may sound … It was neat to hear it again this weekend. The Symphony's notes are played across 173 campuses in America. Sisterhoods are strengthened on a daily basis; handshakes are being exchanged, songs are being sung, and oaths are being vowed. We are part of a tradition that has lasted over a century; women have been playing the Symphony long before we ever heard it. But the tune still rings louder than ever just as I and so many have promised to be a "symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note."

And BIGGG news … that steamboat that you see pictured above is getting a MUCH NEEDED makeover! HOLLLLLAAAAA. Check her out … I can't wait to see her when she's finished!

Anywhoodles, it was a great weekend. I also managed to throw in a little Keeneland, 75 degree weather, grown up time with Hubby and some of my favorite college foods. So, I'm certainly chalking this one up as a win.

Couch Focus

sIt's Monday ... again ... wommmp.  It's one of those mornings where I swear if I wasn't preggo I would fill the sink up with coffee, stick my head in and drink the whole thing down.  And it doesn't help that hubs is out of town, so the entire morning routine was completed by lonely lil' me .... ohh how I loathe morning responsibility.  I better learn soon though, right?! Nothing like motherhood to bring morning responsibility to a head.  Nevertheless, according to some people in my city, it's not your average Monday.  There is a special event happening this evening that has my husband, and other crazy Cards fans even more wound up than normal ~ The NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game!

So here's the deal, I am a University of Kentucky fan through and through.  I was born and raised into a family that bleeds blue and Kentucky Basketball keeps the blood pumping.  Unfortunately (and to put it as nicely as possible) we had an off year this year, so my Cats never got a chance at the Big Dance ~ THIS YEAR.  Last year however, and actually until the game is over tonight, let me remind everyone, The University of Kentucky Wildcats hold the 2012 National Championship Title.  And you better believe I was court side in New Orleans to relish in the glory.  Throwback to one of the best extended weekends of all times:

Comments these photos can't do without:

1. Top Left: Hubs did participate and wore a UK shirt to the final game once his team lost - team player right there
2. Top Right: Yes, we had a chance get a picture with Dick Vitale.  After Laura's Husband took the picture he said, and I quote "OMG it's so good!" -- we walked away, looked at the picture and what you are looking at is the final result my friends.  That is not a bad crop job by me.  He did indeed chop Laura's head off. Cool Chris.
3. Bottom Left: Laura and I have been to NOLA 3 times in the last 2 years, always together.  We've acquired new masks every time and we're the best partners in crime on Bourbon Street. 
4. Bottom Right: Hubs is the best travel buddy :0)

Anyways, the first round of the Final Four took place on Saturday, and whew buddy was hubs ever "IN THE ZONE".  We spent a good portion of Saturday day running errands and random hoopla, simply to get him out of the house so he didn't go crazy with nerves. While we were out and about we discussed the "big question" where would we watch the game?! OH THE HORROR!

The big parking lot party at Tin Roof was an option, but that would probably be super crowded and we'd have to bring our own chairs to find a seat.  There was a 30th birthday party at a local bar, but hubs was convinced it was mostly UK fans and he needed to be surrounded by positive UL mojo.  All other invites didn't tickle his fancy enough and he was convinced he needed his #CouchFocus.  Uhmmm ... what?

 Yes, that's right, Shane has coined a phrase that is unique only to twitter and UL games: #CouchFocus.  #CouchFocus comes into play every UL game that hubs is unable to attend. He describes it as "an intense stabilization of reality and fantasy, channeled through specific brain waves cultivated from the weight of the moment that lay on his shoulders, all for the betterment of the team and the university".  Yes, this is indeed a direct quote and he is serious ... we're talking a big time UL fan here folks.

Alas, once all options were surveyed, he settled on coming home and watching the game in the comfort of our own basement. So he could hear the commentators, yell as loud as he pleased, and channel as much #CouchFocus as possible to ensure they pulled out the "W".  Maggie and I agreed we'd keep him company and "try" to cheer as much as we could for that ugly red team.  But, really we just giggled together and snapped photos of his intense reactions to the game ... for the sole benefit of sharing with our bloggy friends. 

You'll notice her reactions: (left) "What is he DOING? Does he realize how ridiculous he looks right now?!" (right) "OMG mom, I can't watch. Thank goodness my friends aren't here to witness this."  Nevertheless, in hopes some of our readers out there can relate to this intensity we are required to endure, we wanted to share :0)

Here are some of our favorite #CouchFocus and other focus shots (#CarpetFocus, #PoleFocus, #HunchedFocus ... you get the idea) from Saturday night.  I promise, all of these are 100% candid and the pictures don't even do his intensity justice.

Hubs caught a plane to Atlanta yesterday to bring #CouchFocus directly to the Final Four, so he could be with his boys and celebrate the victory with the Cards  in person.  So Mags and I will be giggling at home tonight imagining his intensity in the Georgia Dome.  God help whomever has the ticket next to him ;0).