My favorite blog, Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers does a weekly update on life, and I love it. It's by far my favorite post of the week. I thought I would just straight up rip it off as a way to get you guys caught up on all kinds of things. Fingers crossed nobody gets mad :)
My iPhone is on its VERY last leg... as in I cannot take any photos at all. I have to get people to take photos for me and text them to me. I have to get a new one ASAP... Please forgive the borrowed/stolen photos.
#bloggeroftheyear #movingrightalong
Last Friday I got the photos back from the Lovie Session we did with Katie Oblinger. I cannot even tell you how talented she is. She makes everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera, and she always captures the best moments! (see photo above and below).
Photo by Katie Oblinger
Last week I was lucky enough to get a small break in my day to take my friend Ginny out to lunch for her birthday with our friend Megan. Later in the evening Ginny was doing an event at Pollen with Kyle Tibbs Jones of the Bitter Southerner.
Pollen Photo c/o @ginnybranch
Pollen has long been my FAVORITE florist in Atlanta. I love them because you can call and give general instructions like "white, green and modern," and what gets delivered is the most beautiful and creative arrangement you've ever seen.
Beautiful Chris Condon Sculpture available at Pollen
I was in need of flowers for Oliver's upcoming first birthday, so I went to the event. I was not aware that Pollen had a shop as well! It was beautiful! I got vases for my orchids as well as an arrangement and something that is similar to an orchid but mounted like deer antlers. Ginny picked it out, and I agreed I had to have it. I got one and it's now hanging on my porch. I also gave them general guidelines for a flower arrangement I wanted and got the perfect piece for the bar. If you ever need flowers, please visit Pollen. They are as nice as they can be and so talented.
Photo c/o @kyletibbsjones
Bonnie making an arrangement during the party. Photo c/o Kyle Tibbs Jones
A few months ago the wonderful people at FermobUSA sent me this awesome orange bistro table. We have loved eating dinner at it and using it for parties. Here it is showing my Pollen arrangement and the orchid/antler combo. This table and the chairs come in all different colors, which you can find here. I could not recommend it more.
On Friday my little sister (author of the famed blog Puppies and Brunch) graduated from UGA, and I am SO SO SO proud of her! She is a very talented lady, and I'm lucky to have her. Some of my family members got a sweet selfie (no selfie stick required) as she was walking to her seat, and we think it was the best one ever. Yes. Better than Ellen's.
In June I am taking her to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as a birthday/graduation gift, and if anyone has any tips for the best things to do there or good ways to be thrifty, I'm all ears. :) I'm so excited I can barely sleep.
Friday night some of our favorite friends came in town to stay with us and help set up for Oliver's birthday party the next day. We could NOT have done it without them. I mean... thank you is just not enough. When you send two men on an errand run for baby pools, beer and baloons and they come back with everything you need, it truly is a miracle. Thank you so much to Adam, Jill and Casey for helping us and coming to visit! I'm kicking myself for not having a photo.
Oliver did the whole cake smashing like a champ! I've never been more proud!
Jimmy post party. You can see the baby pools were well used and the cake was half gone. I give it two thumbs up! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us!
My first mothers day was lovely. We started the day with Waffle House, moved to a mid day pool sesh, and then finished it with an nap and screening of Hot Tub Time Machine (a mistake) before bed. All in all I got to spend it with my favorite people as well as dear friends and wouldn't have had it any other way.
Last month I showed you guys my African Keyhole Garden by Vita Gardens. While I was writing the post and doing research, I found out the garden could hold a lot more plants. I loaded it up with beans and squash, and they are on fire! The are growing about twice as fast as my plants in the ground. I'm really looking forward to seeing some actual veggies! (Note to self- stake that tomato plant tomorrow!)
I also owe a thank you to the people at Costa Farms for sending me these beautiful plants from their Desert Escape Collection for my container garden. They are hardy and lovely. Anyone can make these bad boys look good!
Aren't those pretty?
And finally... this afternoon in the most surprising and happy visit ever, our neighbors dropped by to introduce O to their new puppy. Happy happy times :)
I hope you all have a wonderful week! My baby is turning One on Wednesday, so expect a look back on my life as a mother. I'm sure I'll cry. He's getting so old!!
Blayne
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This past weekend Jimmy and I went to Chicago for the Fare Thee Well Grateful Dead Tour. I had a lot of apprehension leading up to the trip. Oliver has become super attached to me, and he calls out "mama" about a thousand times a day. The thought of leaving him induced a pretty severe dose of mom guilt. It's strange to think that just a few years ago my needs were my number one priority. Maybe that's selfish to say, but my main concern throughout the day was getting where I needed to be, doing what I needed to do, and making myself happy. In 4 short years, I met Jimmy, got married, and had a baby. Now it seems like my needs come third, and while I'm so happy where I am in life and wouldn't trade it for anything, I am still struck sometimes by what a major change it is. Being a good wife and mother are my biggest concerns now. Although they are equally important to me, Jimmy does not cry or demand my time, and so sometimes being a good mom takes priority over being a great wife.
Jimmy asked me to go to these shows as a favor to him. I really love music and shows and my friends, but I'm a mom and I'm tired, and getting up the energy for three nights of shows seemed almost impossible. Because I love my husband, and I agreed we could use some time together away from the baby, I packed my bag, dropped the baby off with my mom, and boarded the plane. Almost as soon as we were in the air I felt better. I knew Oliver was well cared for, and I was on my way for 3 days where my biggest priority was being a wife and having fun with my husband. I even started to get kind of excited.
Once we were in the air, Jimmy surprised me and told me that he got reservations at a Top Chef restaurant that night! As you know from this post, Top Chef is my favorite TV show, and I was very excited. It was nice to know he'd done something so thoughtful for me. It reminded me that I am a very loved woman, and my interests matter very much to him.
We met his parents that night for dinner, and it was fantastic! I very much recommend the Little Goat if you are in Chicago.
The next day we actually slept in until 10! It was unreal. Oliver did not wake us up at the crack of dawn! We did not have to go immediately into parent mode. We lounged around for a while and then leisurely decided to meet our friend Adam for brunch. We chatted and laughed and told college stories, and I began to feel more and more like myself.
After brunch we went to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. I felt so calm sitting at the stadium and watching the game. I absolutely adore baseball, and it was nice to be able to focus my full attention on something I love. I sat next to my father-in-law and watched the game and just soaked up the time.