Sprinkling in Some Glam: Football Season

It's that time of the year, fall is quickly approaching and everyone in the south is excited about the new college football season! Matt and I as well as our families and many of our friends are very happy and excited to welcome the new season. And with the NFL season starting next week, I know that ours as well as many other's weekends will be devoted to football both days. I love college football and I am very interested in many games. I don't mind the NFL, but I do not get that involved in it...my husband does. With the next several weekends being football fulfilled I try to have as much fun with it as I can. I like to lightly decorate and have fun party food ready for the games. I have mentioned this before, but my team is Alabama and Matt's is Georgia Tech, so this post is a bit biased! Here are some ideas to spruce up your home and entertaining for college football season (many of them are available in your team of choice of course)!...

Fun wine charms so everyone knows which glass is theirs

I love this Alabama serving tray

Georgia Tech campus life tea towel

Super-cute University of Alabama burlap door hanger

This polka dot GA Tech magnetic notepad is great for the kitchen

Adorable paper party plates with some equally adorable napkins to go along...

Love this darling wooden Alabama wreath

I'm pretty sure Matt is going to want me to get this GA Tech welcome mat now

Pretty silver football dish which is great for any team, college of NFL

Charming little GA Tech cupcake toppers

Cornhole is always fun and entertaining for tailgating or football get togethers at home. We could use these Alabama boards along with these GA Tech bags to include both teams :)

Here are a couple of our personal GA Tech goods. We use those jersey salt+pepper shakers all season long and we get plenty of use out of the serving dish as well.

Matt is an alumnus of Georgia Tech and I am a big Alabama fan, but I am actually an alumnus of The University of South Alabama. South Alabama does have a football team now (which began in 2009) and they are in the Sun Belt Conference. I definitely root for my alma mater, but the football team is still new, so the product selection is not quite that broad yet. We were undefeated in 2009 and 2010 and we won our season opener last Thursday! Go Jags!

Happy football season!

oxox,
lauren

*Fun GA Tech wine charms, pretty Alabama serving tray, GA Tech tea towel, cute Alabama burlap door hanger, polka dot GA Tech notepad, adorable Alabama paper plates, GA Tech napkins, super-cute wooden wreath, GA Tech welcome mat, silver football dish, charming GA Tech cupcake toppers, Alabama cornhole board, GA Tech cornhole bags, South Alabama football t-shirt

South Florida trip

June was a busy month for me. After Matt and I went to NYC, my sister, Katie and I went to south Florida for a few days. Specifically Sarasota and Siesta Key. Both are gorgeous. I definitely plan on going back. We did a lot and we had a wonderful time. Here are some of the pictures that were taken during our trip...

I love Sarasota

Siesta Key is one of my favorite places. The beach is paradise and the sand is the texture of powdered sugar. No joke.

We had a great lunch at a really fun oyster bar called, Siesta Key Oyster Bar (SKOB). The oysters were really good.

So pretty.

I love this tree.

We walked and shopped all around downtown Sarasota, which is one of the cutest places ever. I loved this really cute store called Shore.

While we were downtown, we went into this adorable little French macaron shop called Le Macaron. I adore French macarons, they're so cute & colorful.

Later we had dinner in downtown Sarasota and I fell in love with all the pretty Bougainvillea growing everywhere.

There are Banyan trees everywhere as well, and I love them. I think they're really interesting.

We had such a great time!

oxox,
lauren

Oh, how I'll miss her

This post is sad, but I post about many things that have happened in my life, whether good or bad. Last Monday morning my grandmother passed away. We were out of town late last week for her memorial and it was beautiful. She was an amazing grandmother who we will all miss so much, but I know she is looking down on us and she is now at peace.

Here is an edited version of her obituary...

Joanne

February 18, 1936 - July 18, 2011

Locally renowned artist Joanne passed away early Monday morning after a long term illness.

Joanne was married for 56 years to the love of her life, Matthew. Together, they had seven children: Leslie, Mark, Keith, Nancy, Kelley and Shannon. Joanne leaves behind her sister, Nancy and her brother Kenneth. She had eleven grandchildren whom she cherished and to whom she will always remain their "GG". She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.

Joanne was pre-deceased by her parents, Camilo "Jack" and Thelma as well as her infant daughter Colleen and loving son-in-law Rick.

Joanne was an acclaimed watercolorist whose works are featured in many private collections, housed in the United States Senate, the Mississippi State Capital and other State and government buildings. Joanne's coveted Mississippi Coast painting graced the cover of the Coast phone directory and her themed pieces were sought after by many gulf coast civic and cultural organizations.

Joanne began her art career as a child and quickly established herself by winning judged art shows. She was passionate about her art and always made it a priority in her life. Joanne was a graduate of Newcomb College in New Orleans and studied under several nationally prominent artists. She was especially fond of teaching art classes to local children.

Joanne was the epitome of the true "Southern Lady". Always the gracious hostess, a gourmet chef, the Queen of Birthdays, a water lover and avid gardener. She enjoyed her life, her family and her many friends. Those who were fortunate to know Joanne were graced by her warmth, humor, love and especially, her smile.

oxox,
lauren

Fun for the 4th

I hope y'all had a Happy 4th of July! We sure did! We went down to Pensacola for four days and it was wonderful! :) We went snorkeling off of Ft. Pickens and we saw lots of hermit crabs and really pretty fish! Matt saw a blown up puffer fish and Katie and Matt both saw red snapper, but I was on the beach at the time and did not see any...maybe next time! Katie and I were laughing at Matt as he tried to body board in the small waves one day because he just kept getting tossed around in the surf but he would get right back up and do it again and again like a little boy! We had so much fun! We ate lots of great seafood, laughed a lot, thoroughly enjoyed the beach, stayed up too late, and had a ball. I can't wait to go back! I did not take many pictures while we were there, but below i posted a few of the little I did take.

This quote sums up how I felt while we were on our vacation...

:D

Matt and me at Jaco's in Pensacola for dinner

Meghan and me

Matt and me

Meghan, Katie and me

Yay for sisters being together :)

Katie's boyfriend, Bryan, and me

Matt & me on the 4th of July

Matt snapped this picture of Katie and me without us knowing and I think it's hilarious

This one we're prepared for! :D

I cannot believe the 4th has already come and gone! Summertime...slow down please!

oxox,
lauren

*image courtesy of Tumblr.

Hello Stud(ded)!

I think studs add great detail. Depending on my mood, i love to mix my more girly pieces with edgy studs to break down the girlyness of an outfit. I love how they come in all different shapes, sizes & colors. And let's face it, studs just look cool, especially if they're done right.

This dress is so fun! I love the color! Unfortunately it is no longer available, but i think it's still fun to look at.

Oh, those oversized studs!!! I want this bag...badly!

These studs look so dainty and pretty

I adore wrap-around watches, and i think this one is perfect

Studs can even look great on pillows

I think a great studded belt is an essential and i especially love how this one is braided + studded

Gotta love the studded detail on these gladiators

Hexagon shaped studs!

This adorable jewelry box from Anthropologie is no longer available, but i loooove it

Glamorous studded striped sweater

I have a pair of Minnetonka moccasins (my pair are not studded though) and they're the most comfortable pair of shoes i own, hands down!

Cute shoes!

Last week i went down to Florida to visit my family and had the. best. time.!!! I got to see my beloved beach, ate a lot of delicious seafood and talked Katie's ear off! We had a blast! :)

oxox,
lauren

*party dress, awesome Milly bag, strappy Manolo sandals, wrap watch, linen pillow, brown braided belt, canvas gladiators, hexagon wrap bracelet, cute jewelry box, striped sweater, Minnetonka moccasins, leather + canvas Tracy Reese sandals

Getting settled

Well, we're now residents of Nashville, TN! We moved in a little over a week ago and we are getting acclimated with Nashville and our new home. I have been busy unpacking boxes and trying to get re-organized! It's a lot of work! I so wish there was an easier way to unpack everything and put it in it's proper place!

Matt won two tickets to a Nashville Predators ice hockey game in a drawing at work, so we went to the game last night had a good time. It was a welcomed break from unpacking!

With all that has been going on in our lives, I have not had any time to get to any new posts, so I am going to post some overdue pictures from over the holidays when we were in Florida...

Me and Matt at McGuire's

Katie, Meghan, Me & Matt having lunch at McGuire's

Out shopping

Cool light fixture

Distressed from all the amazing furniture...I wanted all of it!

Love when we're all together!

I guess I better get back to the boxes and the organizing!

oxox,
lauren