happy labor day

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Happy Labor Day!  Enjoy those linen dresses, seersucker suits, and white pants.   

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday.

xo,

 

long weekend and some links

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And not just happy weekend, but happy LONG weekend!  We are sneaking in a mini-reunion with friends from W&L, and we couldn't be more excited.  I am savoring every minute of "summer" this weekend, as Labor Day always seems to be summer's last hurrah.  (Never mind the fact that it will be in the 90s until October in Florida!)  

Just in case you discover some extra time on your hands this weekend, check out these two videos:

Butterfly Circus

"For Good" Duet

The first is a little longer (20 minutes), but I promise it is worth it.  My niece sent it to me, and while I don't usually have the patience for something so long online, it was one of the most inspiring and beautiful things I have seen in a long time.  

The second is much shorter, but also amazing.  It has sparked lots of conversation about would you "be ready" if given the chance to live your dream.  

Enjoy the last bits of summer and get excited for college football's debut this weekend!  

xo,

house updates

In the past few weeks, I have finished unpacking (most) of the boxes that have been lingering around our house, and I have started attempting small house projects.  We have decided to hold off a while longer on any major changes to the house, but in the meantime, I am working on little ways to make the space feel more lived in and personal, despite a few empty rooms here and there.  

nothing like fresh flowers, framed map prints, and a gold tray to give a little life to an entry

I can't claim to be a true DIY pro yet, but I am pretty proud of my work with a little black spray paint

We will add a little height when we actually fill out planters, but I was super excited to find these in the clearance section at target.  The before picture shows the old brass lanterns that flanked the door on the day our roof was redone (sorry for the poor quality photo- this was the only picture I had of the front of our house before)

Next up: new paint and maybe a few pieces of furniture for our living room.  

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into the new space.

xo,

PS: I'm not sure why the caption on the gallery wall photo is in all caps?  Please let me know if you see other format issues when you open in your browser or device.  Thanks!

wedding registry: julia knight

I'm so excited to be back with a new wedding registry post!  I'm sorry for the lack of posting in the world of registry items lately, but with so much transition I haven't had as much time to try out new lines and give you an opinion "from the trenches" so to speak.  Today I am thrilled to tell you about Julia Knight, one of my favorite lines for adding a little color to your home decor/entertaining arsenal.  

classic spreader knife

my classic spreader knives add the perfect amount of color to cheese plates

Some of you may know about Julia Knight products, or at the very least you may have seen them in some of your favorite stores.  I am here to tell you that if some of these gorgeous pieces aren't on your registry, they should be!  Saks (and select Bloomingdales) carries the line, and you can often find a few pieces in local jewelry stores.  (In Jacksonville, you can find Julia Knight at Underwoods, and in Chapel Hill, look for Julia Knight at Southern Season.)

lily bowl

cheese tray

In addition to very cool glass pieces, the collection has the most beautiful trays and serving pieces.   AND, be sure to check out the "home decor" section of the site for gorgeous vases and picture frames.

high ball glass

frame
LOVE this frame...what a great way to add a little sparkle to a room!

Don't forget to email me or leave a comment if you have a wedding registry question. 

I love hearing from you!

xo,

PS: I feel like I should mention that my wedding registry posts are not sponsored.  They are my reviews and opinions about the things I use and love that I want to share with all of you!

skillet roasted shrimp and okra

As I mentioned here, Josh and I recently signed up for home produce delivery.  We do get to pick the veggies that will be arriving at our doorstep each week, but we are trying to branch out and experimenting with new ways to prepare our favorites.  (I tend to stick with the good old olive oil and roasting method generally.)  This week, we got okra and it is Josh's favorite.  While I was a little nervous to mess with a good thing, I am SO glad I did!  This recipe is fantastic and super healthy.  Josh has been raving about it, and now is the perfect time to enjoy it before summer comes to an end.  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Skillet Roasted Shrimp and Okra

Recipe from Southern Living

Ingredients:

• 1 pound unpeeled, large raw shrimp (I had mine peeled and cleaned at the store to make cooking/eating a little easier.)
• 3 cups fresh okra, cut in half lengthwise
• 3 Tbs. olive oil, divided
• 1 pt. heirloom cherry tomatoes (I couldn't find these, so I just used regular grape tomatoes)
• 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced (I used my tried and true pre-chopped garlic)
• 1/2 tsp. dried crushed red pepper
• Garnish: thinly sliced okra blossoms 

Directions:

1. Peel shrimp; devein
2. Saute okra in 1Tbsp. hot oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat 4-5 minutes or until browned.  (I put the cut-side of the okra down in the pan and try not to touch it for at least 5 minutes to minimize the "slime" factor that always comes with okra.)  Transfer okra to a bowl.
3. Cook tomatoes in 1 Tbsp. hot oil in same skilled over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally 2-3 minutes until skins are charred.  (Remember to wash your tomatoes early and let them dry completely- water and hot oil do NOT mix well.)  Place in bowl with okra
4. Saute shrimp, garlic, and dried crushed red pepper in remaining 1 Tbsp. hot oil in skillet over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink.  Stir in okra and tomatoes.  Add salt/pepper to taste; cook 1-2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Garnish if desired.  

Enjoy!

xo,

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happy friday

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Happy Friday Loves!  Any grand plans for this weekend?  We are debating a last minute trip to Orlando and IKEA to go furniture shopping. I must admit, I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of an IKEA adventure.  It might be that I am just overwhelmed making decisions about furniture in general, and I am very aware of not making rushed choices that I won't like in the long run.  Decisions, decisions...

Anyone have any great suggestions for living room furniture sources?  

Hope your weekend is fabulous! 

xo,

musings: the exploring jacksonville list

As dear friends pointed out to me last week, my post on "50 new things to do in Jacksonville" should have us covered for the next 4 years (at the rate of one new adventure each month.)  Fear not friends, Josh and I have already checked a few things off the list, and made a few additions (see below.)  We are having so much fun I think we will be through this list in no time.  

Thanks to those who have submitted suggestions- keep em' coming!

Here are a few of our recent adventures:

I won't lie...I am SUPER excited about signing up for deliveries from Black Hog Farm.  We just got our first bundle of fresh veggies, peaches, and chicken breasts, and I am salivating thinking about what to make.  I'm not sure what it is about farm to door delivery, but in my mind everything just tastes so much better.  I'll definitely be making crispy kale this week, and I'm thinking of trying out this skillet roasted shrimp and okra  recipe, or I might just stick with classic okra and tomatoes.  Check back for recipes/reviews next week!

Jeff after a workout...Josh said, "no way" when I tried to take his picture post-workout

My brother-in-law Jeff is the owner of CrossFit West Jax, just a few miles down the street from our new house.  Josh has been through the beginner one-on-one sessions and is in his second week of regular classes now.  While I have yet to muster the strength (or courage) to try a class myself, I am very proud of Josh for giving it a try.  If you are in the area and want a tough workout with lots of people cheering you on, check out Jeff's website here.  It looks tough, but Jeff and his coaches will make you feel right at home.  

13 Gypsies is hands down the best tapas (and sangria) in Jacksonville.  The only problem we had was deciding which dishes to try, knowing we only had two people to eat everything.  Josh preferred the chorizo with pears and the citrus beef, but I LOVED the garlic shrimp, and the kale.  By an odd stroke of luck, we wound up with all three desserts on the menu, and despite our best efforts, we are still split over whether the tres leches or the bread pudding was best.  Make sure to call ahead for a reservation, and read the policy on their website about how long you have to enjoy your meal...they are serious but it's worth it!

xo,