Nov3.

Today I'm 28. 28 big ones. I am amazed at the outpouring of positivity this year around the day of my birth. It's truly humbling. And I'm not just talking about Facebook posts -- my own Mom, Sister, Husband, boss, coworkers, etc., seem to be placing quite the emphasis on this particular turned page. I think it's because the last year has been a FABULOUS one (or because normally I plan all of my own bday events and this year I haven't had to do that! Kidding. Kind of.). That's got to be it, though. A truly rockin' year just passed. It's not a monumental age or anything like that. 21 is long gone. 25...bye bye. Not quite to the 30 mark. Just 28. Guess I am in my 'late twenties' all of the sudden. But, that doesn't help explain this overwhelming feeling of.....well ... love. I fully plan on paying it back and forward a million times over throughout this next year that I've been blessed with. 

Something else I've noticed about this year is that sense of settledness that I've written of in blogs of late. That could very well be contributing to my peaceful heart and pep-in-my-step today (and most days).

Wedding -- CHECK. 

House -- CHECK. 

Happy husband -- CHECK. 

Great, stable, not miserable job -- CHECK.

Many good times with many great friends -- CHECK.

Hobbies that complete me -- CHECK.

NOT PREGNANT -- CHECK. 

Healthy self -- CHECK. (UPDATE: almost 20 lbs down from June and steadily entering maintenance mode now!)

Over our grilled filets and Fall salad NOMS tonight I plan on remembering and talking through the many wonderful things that have occurred between Nov 3, 2010 and Nov 3, 2011. Take that time to recall the ups and downs and laughs and cries. The trips to new places and the quiet evenings at home. The new, little lives and special old souls still gracing us with their presence. The first Christmas at Carter and the first anniversary celebrations. Old friends I cherish deeply and new friends I've gained. Special moment with my family. Hurricanes, earthquakes and tornados. A bountiful garden (!!!). The now official piece of important history "The Owl Take-Over of Carter Avenue". Goku & Geta continue to survive and thrive. the list could go on .... 

So, thanks to all who have made this year so special for me -- you know exactly who you are. It's at this reflection point that I hope I have consistently done the same for you. 

XOXOXO TIME A MILLION BAJILLION!

-ERSM

P.S. And now a not-so-brief photo recap of randoms from 11/3/10 - 11/3/11, in no particular order and many left out I'm sure. No offense to anyone! :)

Miss Chuck & Crew at A Very White Trash Xmas '10

Happy 60th Bday, Daddy! April 2011.

Husbot Anniversary Fanciness.

Anniversary Din Din @ The Charleston-Fancy Pants.

Luc & Luke.

A nice little brunch time. E & J & Martini #1.

Fully Thriving Goku Martin.

Terrifying, Geta.

Casey-Kasey Fabulous Duo.

Dear friends <3

Changed my life. June 2011.

Many a Friday night spent at Summer Sounds.

Maine 2011.

Brunch @ Carter. Dear, old friends.

J and his buddy Chuck.

The Owl Take-Over of Carter Avenue. Exhibit 1 of 102 & counting.

Aaahhh mountains. 

Bestie MOH got skillz.

Miss Ella turned 1 & Lynnie was a proud, smiling Mama.

Garden Tastes.

Fave gals.

Walking, talking Chuck.

Luke Marley afternoons at the Pool.

Ding becomes future Bungding.

Happy Anniversary, J! <3

Anniversary Celebration #2 - Oktoberfest @ Manor Tavern w Nick Markakis sighting. Mmmm.

Paulaner yummies at Anniversary Oktoberfest.

Old friends. Old, beaten and battered friends.

A picture story.

 I used up my word quota for the day....er week probably (or life according to Jeremy). Hence, a picture story. And, Rooster, because it's a great song.

Adventures of Bender & Kitty-Bat (...plus some other recents and share-worthies.)

The expectation was high & the knives were sharp. 

Gutted and ready to create!

Guts. Yummy, toasted Bender & Kitty-Bat guts.

Kitty-Bats only fly at night.

Bender: Off the screen & in the (pumpkin) flesh.

Dynamic Duo.

Roasted Root. Send me on my way!

Spinach/Feta Sausage Homemade 'za.

Wine-ot?

Scary visitors. Scary Clementine art. Scary-delicious meal.

All tuckered out on Rach. 

Carter House morning special.

Buttons, buttons and more buttons! A Fabric Place on Falls is great for all curtain-making needs...or if you just need buttons....a whole crap load of buttons.

No caption necessary here.

Girls Night Gone Bad...or very, very good depending on which side you're on.

And....continued. 

WonderFALL. Finally. Bundle on up.

Uggs out, shruggs out!

Delayed Fall is the absolute worst thing I can imagine season-wise. Worse than delayed Summer, even. When the daylight is less and less with each passing sunrise and set, yet I'm still rocking flippy-floppies and a tank top, I get angry. The humidity this September was almost unbearable. Yes, I have forced my new Seychelles boots on a handful of times and my Uggs have made their seasonal debut as of yesterday, but it's been hot and humid and high 80's. It's well passed time to go for mums & pumpkins & spiced lattes, not go back into the attic and unpack our warm-weather wear like we're traveling to South Florida for a weekend jaunt.

That is all (for now), Mother Nature. You and your Indian Summer can pack up and take a hike already and leave the fall foliage and crisp air for us to enjoy a bit before Old Man Winter awakes...inevitably sooner than we'd appreciate.

XOXO
-ERSM

Make a little space and get out of your own way...

Kelle Hampton posted this song on her new FB page today. So fitting. Not sure how many of you reading this can relate to "nothing ever happens if you stay in your room" or "nothing ever happens if you leave the party too soon", but it's a constant debate in my own mind because I hate to miss out on...anything, really.

Which leads me to the point of this post - I tend to follow extreme habits mainly in my social life --- either play it too safe or do just the opposite and go pedal-to-the-metal on a social bender. Where's the middle ground exactly? I have no idea. Our calendar reflects this same existence - slammed busy with no time to breath, sleep, or eat a complete meal ... followed by purposeful lulls painted with downtime & quiet-time & kitty-time at the Carter House with my #1 & only piece of man-candy.

I'm not sure this is even a real issue that I'd like to fix...I just think it's our form of 'balance' if you can even call it that. I wish the ebbs and flows were a little more frequent and not so long-lived or distinct, maybe? That way we wouldn't get so burnt-out and then later on turn restless.

Just some blog-for-thought for ya on this Tuesday....

Have a fab day, ya'll!

XOXO
-ERSM



P.S. On a less internal, contemplative note --- "Rally Pretty Pink"! Ya dig???

A birthday week.

Well hello again, miss bloggy-blog! I've missed your (inter)face & I know I've been a bad mommy, so here I am. I'm back.

Beer Flights at the Leinenkugel Beer Garden

This past week were Jeremy's bday celebrations....34 big ones this year! Can't believe it. Life sure does have a way of flying past us without much of a warning...I guess the 'warning' is the birthday. Kind of depressing. Perhaps that's why we celebrate -- to lift the mood that you are in fact a year older....a year wiser, but still a year older. We celebrated with beverages for this exact reason. Makes it a little more palatable. At least temporarily.

Perfect Pour

Homemade Butterfinger Ice Cream c/o Woodberry Kitchen

9-24-11 WBK Menu

Other moments were glittered with yummy foods....per the usual. Homemade corn & roasted chicken soup, crispy brussel sprouts, Carolyn's chili, crab pots at Woodberry Kitchen. (Holy delicious, batman. Come to mama....)

WBK Crab Pot to Share

Homemade Tasties

Over various celebratory meals we contemplated and discussed the year passed. It was a great one for more than just these mentions... We jumped the broom in Jeremy's 34th year.  And then we got back on track to getting settled in our new Hamilton home doing various improvements and really just enjoying the calm after the engagement and wedding TYPHOON that had hit full force in 2010. Even travelled to some new spots including Bethany Beach, Cape May, Luray VA, & Charleston. Oh and of course Jeremy made the very important point that Goku was maimed... I mean "declawed"... in his 34th year (against my will in my 28th year). A detail none of us will ever forget...ever. I'm still recovering from the trauma myself, but he'll continue to 'celebrate' it on a yearly basis, I'm sure. I wonder if he'll want our baby declawed?

Ok back to it... on Saturday night, dear friends filled the Grand Cru and we toasted and laughed and enjoyed each other's company for Jeremy's day. We're pretty lucky peeps...prettyyyyyy lucky (or 'yucky' as I would say as a little 3 year old chick who couldn't pronounce her 'L's'.)

Thanks to all who came to cheers the old man and to anyone who missed it, well WE missed YOU! Catch ya next year for the big 3-5.

XOXO,

Love.

-ERSM