Mixin' it up w/ my new mixer!

This was my fancy b-day gift from my in-laws, Michael , and Kate! I had always wanted a mixer (They look cute on the counter, you know!), but I never imagined one like this! It is quite fancy. I've only been able to look at it for over two weeks b/c I didn't have time to give it a test run. I finally found some time this afternoon . . .

Okay, not too attractive, but yummy!

. . . and this is what I made. It is a pumpkin bread roll. (Sorry the above picture is blurry - didn't realize it until we'd eaten the bread. :)) Time to get to work on my baking and cooking skills. Thanks, guys! It was a huge surprise that I will enjoy for years!

Oh, Happy Night!

After a long trip to Nashville and back today, I came home to a new bed, cupcakes for a belated birthday dessert, and a calm house. After a year of searching for the perfect bed and trying not to buy the generic Pottery Barn bed, we caved in and bought it. I love it. So it is a bit large for our fairly small master bedroom, but I'm so excited to have a bed frame again. (Wouldn't normally post a picture of a bed, but I've been talking about searching for the perfect bed for a year and thought those who have had to endure the discussions would be glad to see the result of their patience.) With the chaos of going home twice in the past month, D and I never really celebrated my B-day w/ cake. He bought us four cupcakes for dessert tonight. How sweet and perfect. I heart cupcakes and we don't need a whole cake sitting around our two-person house. Happy Friday! I get to go climb in my big girl bed!

Who would have thought?

Courtney, Mike, M and D
Courtney and M

After being in Memphis for three years (I know it is hard to believe!), we have definitely concluded that there are very few Dawg fans here. However, I have uncovered one! She is my dear collegue and friend, Courtney. Now her husband could take or leave the Dawgs (I think mostly leave.), but she loves them. And I was so excited to find out she was going home (Commerce) for the game. In the mass chaos of a UGA football game, we managed to find them. They came to sit w/ us for a while. We had a blast!

Prior to the game, Mom and I went to Scott's on Friday and had a wonderful time! I could have spent a fortune but opted for a small pillow cover. D enjoyed a game of golf w/ the guys while I shopped w/ Mom. D and I took a day trip to Athens on Thursday. We had dinner at Last Resort, and I was quite excited to hear the owner telling another table that he is trying to go more organic, including growing a lot of their food supply on his land in Oconee County. We had a great surprise on Sunday morning. David's father was able to join us for brunch. It was great to see him, as we haven't seen him since April. It was a wonderful weekend!

So grateful!

D and I when he met up w/ us for drinks.
Elizabeth and I after dinner. Elizabeth is one of the most inspiring women I've ever met!

I (M) have always struggled to be grateful for what I have. I am so guilty of wishing for more. Let me say first that by no means have I been "cured" of not being grateful, but I'm really trying to frequently count my blessings, and on no day this year has this been easier than on my birthday last week. I was absolutely amazed by the phone calls, cards, and gifts I received from so many of you! Several weeks ago, after reviewing the football games we'd planned to go home for, I knew my b-day would be sandwiched in between traveling weekends and D would be working late on my b-day. Of course, I was a bummed but also reminded myself that it isn't D's job to be my entertainment. So . . . I enlisted my dear Memphis friend Elizabeth to hang out with me. We had a wonderful meal at my favorite Memphis Italian joint. They had taken lobster ravioli off the menu (How could they??), but it was still wonderful. David met up w/ us after work for a couple of drinks. It was just wonderful. Thank you all, though many of you are hundreds of miles away, for a wonderful b-day!