two nights: two concerts.

last week my pals, my momma and i headed up to verizon to see backstreet boys! after stopping for dinner, we made it to the concert to hear the last of jesse mccartney. once bsb started, some nice dude that worked at verizon came up to us and asked if we would like to move from the lawn into actual seats, so we ended up getting awesome seats for no extra charge! it was a great night dancing around to music that was the end all be all at the age of 9. and i have to admit, backstreet boys have still got it!

 

{momma // k-roll}

 

{so full from dinner!}

{my babes}

{backstreet boys!}

 

the next afternoon i logged on facebook and saw my friend nicole had an extra ticket to see green river ordinance for that night! so of course i texted her and asked her to pick me. i brought derrick & chigger along, picked up nicole, and headed to the chop shop in noda for the show. i loved the venue - it was my first time there. green river ordinance was absolutely amazing - their music moves me. i am always so thankful for spontaneous plans - especially when it's a night with friends listening to one of your favorite bands.



{green river ordinance}

next up: john mayer on september 4th!

katt & brandon's engagement party!

this past saturday, britt, cait, & i threw katt & brandon an engagement party! kathleen & i have been friends since somewhere around age 6 or 7 (read here). we have been through a lot together over the last 19 years and i couldn't be happier that she found an awesome man to spend forever with.

 

the party was supposed to be held in my mom's beautiful backyard, but the rain had other plans. luckily, cait's mom manages this awesome venue in south end called magellan idea center. it is located in the atherton lofts & the space is funky & awesome. so we changed our game plan and moved the party indoors - it worked out perfectly!

 

so congrats katt & brandon - i am so glad we were able to kick off your wedding festivities with a bang! can't wait for more fun along the way leading up to may 10th, 2014. i love y'all!

 

 

{invites}

 

{before we got all the food set up - forgot to get a pic!}

{party hosts  + the bride!}

{bride & groom}

{k & b and their parents}

{usc girls}

 {chi omega girls}

{bridesmaids - missing a few!}

{bridesmaids}

a special thanks to our wonderful parents. as with most things in life, we couldn't have done it without you.

venue: magellan idea center

linens // tables // chairs: party reflections

meggy & walt got hitched! {trinity, nc}

last saturday, i headed to trinity, nc (outside of greensboro) to watch my college roomie tie the knot!

 

meagan and i met through an online service provided by the university to help you pick your roomie as a freshman. well i hit the jackpot with meggy, and we ended up living together 3 out of our 4 years in college. when i first met meagan on move in day, i had no idea how much fun we'd have our freshman year. you see, i didn't drink my freshman year, and well, meagan certainly did, so i got to experience a lot of very interesting things as the only sober person in our entire dorm. meagan taught me a lot about life that year - and a lot about drinking too. from losing her after our first home game, to peeing on my slippers, to writing herself notes from "drunk meagan" to "sober meagan," to crawling in bed with me when i got my heart broken, to pushing our twin beds together to make a king, we shared a lot that year. and there is no one else i can imagine going through the freshman pains with. we sure have come a long way!

 

 

 {sums up freshman year perfectly - sorry meggy - i had to}

 

meagan fell in love with the boy who lived across the street from us in college after being just friends for a few years, but none of us were surprised! minus the torrential downpour in the middle of their ceremony, the day was perfect! and hey, it will always be something we remember! i was so happy to be able to share this special day with meggy & walt!

 

{ceremony site}
 

{fan & program}



 {right before the rain came}



{inside the barn}

 

{reception}

 

{find your table!}

 

 

{obsessed with this farm table // head table}

 

{centerpieces - no two the same}



 

 

{loved this idea for the guest book!}

 

{roomies!}

 

shout out to adaumont farms for being absolutely gorgeous {even in the rain} and to leigh pearce weddings for the beautiful design & coordination! loved chatting with you!

pre & post birthday celebrations!

since i was out of town for my actual birthday - i got to strech the celebrations over a few weeks!

the wednesday before i left for aruba, my mom & brian took me to dinner at one of my favorite charlotte spots, 300 east! we had all my favorite things - hummus, onion soup, and the black bean & green chile tortilla that will change your life. we ended the night with trivia at angry ale's - no better way to celebrate! my parents got me bluetooth headphones that i've been wanting for months! 

friday before my birthday, i walked into my office to find my desk decorated with all sorts of fun! my boss & coworkers are too sweet to me. they also got me some awesome gifts including a owl coffee mug, an awesome cook book and these cute measuring cups from anthro that stack into a milk jug!

we got home from the trip on tuesday, and i had planned to have dinner with my two besties on thursday night. they picked me up around 7pm and we opened more awesome presents before heading to dinner at heist brewery. when we walked inside, about 15 of my friends were there yelling "SURPRISE!" katie & cheslea have surprised me two years in a row now - y'all are sneaky! i was so glad to see all my pals and thankful everyone could make it to celebrate. thanks k & c for getting everyone together!

it was a fun filled two weeks of celebrating my birthday! thank you to everyone who made it so special - i am lucky to be so loved!

birthday trip to aruba!

my dad & stepmom took court & i to aruba to celebrate my 25th birthday! i hadn't been to aruba in about 4 years and it was so good to get back!

we left charlotte on saturday morning around 7:30am and we were all checked into our hotel (marriott stellaris) by 1pm. we had lunch and hit the beach for a few hours before getting ready for dinner at texas de brazil.



 

{view from our room}

 

after a delicious dinner, we headed back to the hotel to play blackjack for a few hours before hitting the hay after being awake since 5am!

 

sunday was my actual birthday so we woke up early and ordered room service, of course! we got ready and headed out on our excursion for the day. we rode UTVs all over the island of aruba - it was amazing. i saw a lot of the island that i had never seen before and we rode all sorts of crazy places. the tour lasted about 4 hours and we had a great tour guide from de palm tours! i highly recommend doing this tour if you are ever in aruba!

 

 

after the tour we beached it for a few hours before dinner at our favorite spot on the island, la trattoria el faro blanco. the restaurant sits up on a hill and you can see the whole island from there - it's absolutely beautiful at sunset. after inhaling my favorite menu item, the gnocchi, and a few bottles of wine, we headed back to the hotel to play some more blackjack & get a good nights sleep. it was an amazing way to bring in year 25!

monday we spent the entire day vegging at the beach. monday evening we went out on the sunset cruise - something we always love to do when we're in aruba! it is a 2 hour catamaran ride around the island with drinks and hors d'oeuvres - it is so relaxing & always a good time. after the cruise, we walked up to ruinas del mar at the hyatt to have dinner. i had a delicious onion soup & a filet with a markers mark demi sauce - holy yum!

tuesday morning we hit the beach for a few hours before having lunch & heading to the airport. another great thing about aruba is that you go through US customs in the aruba airport, so once you get back to the states, you're home free.

it was such a wonderful few days in aruba and i am so thankful that my parents took us for a getaway! cheers to 25 - i have a good feeling about this one!

aruba, jamaica, oh i wanna take ya...

tomorrow morning i'm off to aruba to celebrate my 25th birthday!

my family loves to vacation in aruba because it's a direct 4 hour flight from charlotte. it has been about 4 years since i've been to aruba & i can't wait to get back!

{via}

 

we are staying at the beautiful marriott resort & stellaris casino. my birthday is on sunday, and we have all of our favorite aruba activities planned!

 {via}

 

so cheers to bringing in 25 with this view and a drink in my hand!