I'm an ARTIST!!!

One thing I love is getting together with girlfriends to celebrate birthdays. Victoria's is the first of the year and she set the bar HIGH for us. She chose to go to Tag It Art where the owner, Jackie, walked us through painting a picture...on a blank canvas. No fill in the lines on this! It was sooooo much fun and according to Glenn my painting was "really good...much better than expected". Happy birthday, Victoria....and thank you for such a fun evening.

with Paula, Victoria and Peggy
Victoria and her mom

this is what I started with

Birthday Girl!

I look like an artist!

at the end of step 1

Paula and Peg hard at work

my tree is drawn!

and....VOILA! My finished product!

me and my girls with our paintings!

Black Tie and Tales Gala 2011

Our final stop was the top of the Nelson Mullins building for this year's Carolina Wildlife Care Gala. We decided due to time (and a "hey, it's derby day, why not??) to just wear our same outfit. We definitely stood out! Peggy and Paula came and as always it was way fun to hang with them.

Love these girls!
what a view behind the steel drum band

they both looked gorgeous

we took a little photo shoot on the emergency exit porch!

Sugarplum Preview Party

This year Palmetto Health Foundation brought back the annual Festival of Trees! I am so excited because this is a perfect way to start the holiday excitement. Paula had tickets and asked if I'd like to go to the Sugarplum Preview Party (for tree and wreath donors) on Thursday night. We had a great time meeting up with Peggy, eating Moe's food, cake balls and cupcakes and most of all admiring the beautiful trees!!

Cake, Cowgirls and the Cocks!!!

Some of my girlfriend planned a "last ride" night for me last weekend. We started at one of my future mother-in-law's home for a lingerie shower. It was a fabulously fun evening with some of the best girls I know. They had food from Zoe's, fabulous lingerie gifts and even the game on the TV (it was the night of the SEC East game between USC and Florida...Glenn was at the game). From the shower (now wearing a cowgirl hat "veil") we stopped to drop the leftover food off at my house and watch the end of the game. It was crazy when we won!! Fireworks were going off, people were screaming and I was booking a hotel room for the SEC Championship in Atlanta!! What a perfect win on my shower night!

Then we headed out for some good girl time and country dancing at this place called the Skyline. We had the best time dancing and being togther. While there Glenn texted that the stadium would be open at 2 am for a "welcome home" party for the team. So, to end our night, we were there!! What a night!!

Girl's Night Out!

We usually have a girls night every few weeks. The last few weeks my teaching partner, Jan, has been going with us. She and I have really hit it off this year and has made going to work much more exciting. We teach well together and we have fun outside of school, too. I'm so thankful that she was assigned to be my partner!!

Girl's Night

My teaching partner, Jan, and I have become good friends quickly this year. And, we decided it was high time I meet her friends and she meet some of mine. So on Tuesday night we did just that....she brought her friends Jan, Lisa and Kasey (who was celebrating her birthday) and I brought Belinda and later Peggy. We had the best time...so much fun we are already planning our next one! (unfortunately Belinda left before we took our picture!)

Getting Together With The Girls

Its been a while since just "the girls" got together with everyone getting last summer trips finished up. Tuesday night Belinda, Hilda, Peggy and I met up at Cellar on Greene for their delicious scallops and humus. They were busier than I have ever seen them and we ended up sitting on the couches as we ate, but that turned out to be really cozy and we made friends with a couple sitting on the other couch.

Then on Thursday night we met up again adding Lulu and Liz to celebrate Liz's birthday at (one of my personal favorites) MoMo's. I opted for their braised pork over Fontina mac and cheese....delicious!!! And, such a great time celebrating and spending time catching up!

Happy Birthday, Peggy!

A while back Glenn's step-mom Belinda started getting "the girls" get together for dinner a couple of times a month. If we have birthdays, that is when we celebrate. Peggy's birthday was while she was out of town and so we celebrated this past Wednesday night at MoMo's. Although they didn't have their succotash :(....it was a fabulous meal. I enjoyed the scallops with sauteed spinach this time. And, then they brought out great chocolate desserts for us to share!

Spring Break's First Days

I love spring break! It's so nice to set my own pace, relax and not have to get up too early in the morning. The first 3 and half days of break were spent over Easter weekend. Since then:

On Monday night Glenn and I met our friends, Peggy and Ruben, and his friend, Ryan, visiting from Charleston, at Backporch for pizza on the porch. Other than hordes of college studnets and nasty pollen, it was the perfect evening for an outdoor dinner.

Last night Peggy, Belinda, Hilda and I attended the USC Fashion Board's annual fashion show at 701 Whaley. We saw student designer's fashions, as well as local store's spring/summer lines. Afterwards we headed to Terra for a late dinner (yummalicious Pesto Tomato pizza).

Happy Birthday, Hilda!

Earlier this week, I joined Belinda, Peggy, Hilda and a new friend, Liz at Garabaldi's for a wonderful dinner celebration for Hilda's birthday! We had a terrific time and the food was incredible. ( I enjoyed salmon and shrimp in a cajun cream sauce with a side of spinach and jasmine rice...my mouth is watering just thinking about it.)

Never To Old For Dress Up

The saying is true that for girls, you are never too old to play dress up! And, last night we had a wonderful time doing just that. My friend Peggy and Glenn's stepmom have a mutual friend, Hilda, who does one of a kind jewelry and top designs. Last night, Peggy hosted a fashion party for Hilda to display and sell her designs. The evening included delicious French and Mediterranean foods, as well.

We spent time trying on top after top....searching for just the right one. I was narrowed down to two, but chose the darker one that you see in the picture. And, we tried on gorgeous necklaces, collars and chokers, and, my favorites, the cuffs and bracelets. (You can also the two of those I came home with in the pictures.) Hilda is quite talented and I will say that she knows exactly what suits you.

It was a very fun girl's night! (Picture 1: Me and Peggy with Hilda's tops; Picture 2: my new bracelets; Picture 3: the traditional Paula and me self portrait!)