Ringing in 2012!

New Year's Weekend couldn't have started off any better!  Jeffrey texted me Thursday night from a duck hunt he ditched me for and informed me he was kidnapping me.  I was to be at home Friday afternoon at 3pm with a dinner dress, playclothes, and toothbrush.  And just to suck up he said "and make up, like you need it."  Aint he sweet.  :)  

Now, I wasn't born yesterday.  And he's no planner.  So I knew this was something he cooked up on the fly to to make me smile since he got to go duck hunting at the last minute.  So, I quit pouting....and smiled. 

He picked me up on Friday and we darted up to Hot-lanta for a little dinner date, but he scored even more brownie points as we checked in the hotel behind my beloved Auburn Tigers!  Apparently, the Hilton is the official host of the Chick-fil-A bowl, so it was FLOODED in orange and blue!  And we were loving it!

We hung out in the lobby bar for a while, stalking the players and coaches, before getting ready for dinner then finally suited up and headed out. 

We ate at one of our favorites, Morton's, and we always overdress because we never get a chance to in Columbus and we like to feel all fancy!  Plus my guy is so handsome, isnt he? 

I drank yummy martini's and ate the most divine filet, and we ended the night at the Hilton bar where we were quite entertained by the football fans talking a little smack pre-bowl game.  After a little shopping on Saturday, it was back to reality and Columbus, where we had New Year's Eve plans to carry out!

After a quick wardrobe change (and 100 miles on the road, and talking Jeff's ear off) we met up with Haley and her friend Scott for dinner at Buckhead Grill back in town.

And more martini's, this one was peanut butter....different, but yummy!

After dinner, we headed out to Lake Harding to Rich and Chrissie's to ring in the new year, and our view from the sleu was beautiful with all the homes little up for a little party time!

And I couldn't be more excited to ring in the new year once again with this guy by my side.

And these three girls made it pretty special too!

We stayed by the bonfire roasting s'mores, and eating boiled peanuts, while the boys manned the ipod from the pontoon.

But come the strike of '12, we busted out the crystal fireside for a little toast, and when we realized Chrissie pulled out some twist top champagne (nothing but the best!), Rich insisted on making a "cork pop" for effect!

Then every house in the 'hood (or on the water) lit up the sky for thirty minutes!  It was awesome!  But then things got strange....

Mama Chrissie passed out glow stick bracelets to all her chil'un so we wouldn't get lost in the dark.

And the neighbor showed up in a robe straight out of his hottub....

And then Jeff felt compeled to twirl me (to the longest song ever) around the open flames.

Among other things!  But it was one heckuva night, and so much fun to ring in the new year with some of my best friends and the guy who stole my heart.  I cannot wait to see what this year holds for me, and all of you!  Happy New Year, friends!

A Year in Review

2011 was a blast in my world.  Here are some moments that completed it.

In January.....we had an icy/snow storm,  I became one with the heifers, and I celebrated my best friend's birthday on a warm Sunday afternoon and baked him my first cheesecake ever.
 
 

In February....we celebrated my birthday at BrettonWoods on the slopes of Mt. Washington in the most beautiful grand hotel I've ever laid eyes on, and had a much needed girls weekend in Birmingham.

In March....we made two wishes come true in the same day!  And I attended by beloved OOC Weekend yet again, and as always, it gets better every time!

In April, I helped sprinkle my sweet friend Ashley and baby girl Mallory, milked a cow, and spent Easter weekend with my love and his clowns, and you couldn't have slapped the happy off my face if you tried.  I wrapped up April shaken to my core in the wake of Alabama's deadly tornados.  I stood where a friend's home was hours before, and prayed prayers of thanks, for safety, and second chances, and mercy.

 
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In May, I went to my dear friends, The Warners, Crawfish Boil, celebrated our moms on Mother's Day, and spent many lazy days poolside.  Oh, and gave Sarah the playground of her dreams!

 

 

In June....we celebrated our dads on Father's Day, and celebrated Miss Abigail turning 5, Hello Kitty style of course!

 

In July, we laughed a lot, and celebrated my best friend Haley coming home with friends over for the 4th of July.  I also went to Orange Beach with the whole Simpson crew to celebrate Grandmother's 85th birthday, and attended the ever popular "Niece Reunion!"

 
 
 

In August, I made a road trip to Mobile to see the newest addition to the Allen household, baby Caroline, wish kid Jake drew the winning ticket for the Charlie Daniels fiddle, and PawPaw turned 81 years old!  We wrapped up August with a trip to Destin, much needed and well deserved!
 
 
 
In September, I sent Crystal off to Chicago to meet her favorite celebrity, and I went hunting with my love.


In October, I hosted an Evening of Wishes, tailgated on the Plains, and sent Brittany to Disney World to meet Mickey Mouse!

In November, I sprinkled Anna Kate and baby Libby, and spent some girl time with my sweet friends and new babies in Birmingham.

And finally in December, I hosted a Christmas Party for all my precious wish kids, went crazy shopping with Trevon and Rabbit, and wrapped up the year with the people I love most!

No doubt about it, it was a good year, with so many memories.  But 2012 is going to be even better.  I can just feel it!  Look out, friends!  Happy New Year!

Girls Night!

Oh, how I've been waiting on this day to come for so long!  My dear friend Haley came home from Korea for the holidays, and after spending Christmas with her family she came to stay with ME!!  There was lots of missing work (oops), shopping, manis and pedis, hair cuts, and lunches, and late nights, and one super fun dinner with our Columbus girlfriends!

Aren't they the cutest bunch you've ever seen!

We dined on some of my favorite Pioneer Woman dishes, like rosemary potatoes and whiskey glazed carrots.

And Haley got to catch us all up on her Korean adventure and her next year that will be spent in HAWAII!

I do love any excuse for a girls night, and this was the best reason of all of course!  No matter what our weeks are like, it's nothing a little vino and girl time can't cure!