Cloud 9

We went to Alpine Lake again this weekend with the Iskows and our cousin Jenn. Beth and Mason were supposed to join us but weren't able to make it at the last minute :( We missed them very much but had a great time. It was nice to get away for a few days and at a perfect time with the leaves changing!

Joe's Uncle Gary and Aunt Debbie's house in progress.

OC circa 1985

This is me, my mom, and my cousin Drew in Ocean City probably when I was 5 and he was 4. Our grandparents had a condo on the beach so we spent a lot of our childhood on family trips to OC. This picture cracks me up and it made me start thinking about my approaching 30th birthday and what things I have learned in the last 25 years since this picture was taken and what I would tell 5 year old Jamie if I had the chance.

1. How carefree and comfortable you are in your cute red and white striped bathing suit will only last a few more years. Then you will forever dread the coming of summer because it means bathing suit shopping is upon you. And you tried to rock the one piece bathing suit a few years ago because 50's fashion was back for a hot second, but 2 pieces will be the way to go. You also will buy a house with a pool so you are going to be have to be in shape every single summer for the entire time you live at that house.

2. Your pigtail braids while awesome and perfect for the beach will not be cool much longer. However, bring them down by about 4 inches and rock them in your 20's and you are "casual bohemian cute" and super cool.

3. Bangs. Don't let your Mother touch them again. And for that matter, don't let her touch your hair ever in any way. Because you don't realize it yet, but you have several in-home perms in your near future.

4. At 5 you think your Mom is awesome and she makes the best cookies. But from 16-20 you are going to be so frustrated with her and think everything she does is stupid and everything she says is wrong. You will scream at her and she will scream back. But, this time will pass and eventually you will look back and realize how cool this lady is. Just look at her.. posing like a supermodel, tipping the corner of her Jackie O sunglasses just so, holding onto to her daughter while showing off her bling and oh wait.....oh no... she has her bangs on the outside of her sun visor. Well crap. Nevermind.:)

5. Your cousin pulled it off wayyyy before Bieber did.

Tag Time

Erin is a friend from work and she has the cutest baby boy named Tag. She always sends me cute pics and videos which I wanted to share. I think this should become a regular blog feature called Tag Time!

Deep Creek Wedding: Day Four (Wedding Day!)

The night before, Steph, Me, Mike and Emily headed home from the party at our friends house to head to bed somewhat early. We all went to our rooms and within 10 seconds, the fire alarm went off. I was in the bathroom and quickly came running out to the hallway to see what was going on... Steph did the same thing in her bra and pants, Mike came running from upstairs in his underwear and Emily quickly behind him. We were running around like lunatics trying to figure out where the fire was. Next thing I know, Mike has a fire extinguisher and is running around his red underwear, which was hilarious. Turns out there was no fire, we had turned on the heat for the first time and I guess it sent the alarm off!

Steph and I slept horribly that night. I was more nervous than the night before my own wedding! I kept thinking about giving my speech that had yet to be written, so I tossed and turned all night. Steph and I went to get our hair done, while everyone else started getting things ready for the night.

Steph did Emily's hair and I did her makeup. We were ready on time and had some drinks beforehand to settle our nerves. Everything went perfectly, the weather, the ceremony, the dancing, the afterparty. It was a great night and here are some pics!

Early morning fog over the lake.

This is the house where we stayed.

Getting hair done at Nola's Salon.


Pretty upscale for downtown West Virginia!

Getting the Bride ready.

View from Mike and Emily's balcony.

Giving our Maid of Honor speeches and song:) For those of you wondering what the lyrics are, you don't have to wait any longer....

What do Mike and Emily dream of

after they walk down the wedding aisle?

Do they dream of werewolves and vampires

or Emily Blunt eating a chocolate cake?

Well, don't you worry you newly wedded selves,

you're going to be in Spain and Greece in 2 weeks time,

and that's our only rhyme.

And then you'll come home as husband and wife

and then we're gonna give you a best friend hug.

Chemans, chemans, chemans, chemmy chemmy chemans

And if you get knocked up on your honeymoon night,

well, then you're sh*t out of luck!

Table centerpieces with names of all the houses Mike and Emily have stayed in at the lake.

First Dance.

Cutting the Cupcake!

Jillian and Molly can't wait to get their hands on a cupcake!

Joe, Kevin, Steph and I went to Alpine Lake the next day to unwind and watch football. I took some shots of the Iskows house, which they have done an amazing job decorating.

Kelly and Steve's Wedding

This past weekend, Joe and I drove to Charlottesville, VA for my friend Kelly's wedding. Kelly is originally from MD and went to Old Mill HS and then her family moved to Nashville the same year she started school at Belmont with me. She then went to Law school at UVA and now lives and works in DC with her new husband, Steve who she met at UVA.

The ceremony and reception was at Ash-Lawn Highlands, the gardens and lawn at James Monroe's former home. Gorgeous landscaping and a perfect place for a fall outdoor wedding. We stayed at on campus hotel and took a complimentary shuttle to the wedding. So here's the cool story...

We got on the shuttle with 60+ other people and went a couple blocks when the bus stopped to let off a few people who realized they were on the wrong shuttle to the wrong wedding. This morning, I was listening to the radio and tuned into one of the stations I frequently listen to because I love talk radio... 106.5 with Jojo and Regan. Regan was telling essentially the same story I just told you about a wedding he attended in Charlottesville this weekend where people realized they were on the wrong bus and got off. I thought... what??! there is no way this is a coincidence. I would have called the station 1. had I known the number and 2. if it was 3 days ago and I didn't have to fear the cops pulling me over for talking on my hands only cell phone. So when I got to work I googled Regan to see what he looked to like and low and behold..... he was sitting directly across from me at dinner!! Weird that I tuned in at exactly the right time to hear him say that! So now I need to find out how the heck Kelly knows Regan!

Kelly was always the most creative of my friends in college. No offense to my other Belmont lovelies but you know you agree! So I was super excited to see what her wedding would entail and I was not dissapointed.....

Gift bags waiting for us at the hotel that matched the wedding invitations. Gifts included candy, gum, snacks, local homemade apple butter.

Riding the shuttle out to Ash-Lawn Highlands.

Flowers hanging off the end of the rows in cute mason jars with matching ribbons. I was most impressed with the heaping piles of yellow, pink, and purple flower petals lining the aisle.

Kelly and Steve exchanging vows. Look at her hip, "Sex and the City" hair accessory. C/o of Etsy as well as the bridesmaids jewelry.

View of the Huppah.

Placecard table.

Erin, Me, Amanda, and Kara.

Me and He.

Kelly had a digital photo album of her and Steve's childhood, teenage and college years and guests could sign next to the photos. This is a shot of our Belmont graduation day.

We hugged and cried for at least an hour after this photo. And then all of our parents started crying.

Reception pavilion. Kelly and Steve choreographed their first dance to "Good Day Sunshine". It was unbelievably cute and Kelly kept pausing in these perfect photo opt moments. Whether it was a dip or a flirty little shoulder shrug with a funny face.

Wedding cake... yum!

Centerpieces with real plums and leaves instead of flowers. Matching placecards with the programs that matched the invitations!

Amanda, Me, and Katie.

Having fun with my new camera! I love the colors!!