Dear RSV, I hate you.......

I am so sorry I have been MIA this week....and completely SLACK in posting the winner for my giveaway!!!!!
Last week the Georgia belle had been fighting what we thought was a bad cold....and we thought we were on the mend until it went to her chest. For all you mamas out there, you know the heartbreaking sound of your child not being able to breathe. So we took her in, and sure enough, it was RSV. I immediately broke down because as a mom all of the what if's entered my head....should I have brought her in sooner? Would that have made a difference? I feel like I did the best I knew how to do at that moment in that it started out as just a cold. And Raymond and I have determined NOT to be the parent that runs to the doctor every time. I just can't live my life holding my breath every time she sneezes. We have been so fortunate that she has only had one cold and she's almost 8 months, so it was bound for something like this, I guess!
So we've been doing the breathing treatments- which by the way- are PURE torture for a child. Thank you Dr. Delaney, my baby hates me now! I have had to go online and refresh my memory on every lullaby and nursery rhyme known to man and while Raymond retrains her and gives her the breathing treatment, I sing and dance and kiss her forehead and wipe away the tears. We have finally got her back sleeping through the night, so Step 1 in the right direction! Except, with much warning from the doctors, Raymond and I have come down with some of the same symptoms....ahhhhh!!!! We need a coffee break from life right now.
So- that's my sob story of the day. Wish us much healing and strength as we get Georgia back to 100%!!!

We're off to Rock Hill this weekend for Raymond's brother's wedding so we will have many pictures and I will post my winner of my giveaway this weekend!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!
Love,
Charlotte

What is she thinking?!?!?!

So as much as I can't STAND Heidi and Spencer....I have always thought Heidi was attractive- she has a great body and I love her style (most of the time) but look at her now!!!!!!!!!! She had 10 procedures done in one day including getting her breasts even LARGER than her recent augmentation, a mini brow lift, chin reduction, liposuction, her ears pinned....what is she thinking??? I just feel so bad for her that she has gone to such extreme lengths....I think that she has a void in her life that she is trying to fill....and it's probably because she has a loser for a husband.

On a brighter side, I can't wait to get my people and read all the other trash in there.....man I live for these things!

Love,
Charlotte

Woodland Debauchery

Sorry I am so late to post....it has been a whirlwind. We have so many things going on that I don't know which end is up half the time! The Bug has been so sick the past few days so it has been pretty miserable around our house. On the upside, we had the absolute most amazing time for our Lodge Weekend. Despite the FRICKING FREEZING weather we had, all in all it was a successful trip. I wouldn't have changed one thing. We have been doing it for years and this by far was the best year yet. So many good memories were sealed and it just makes me that much more excited to back next year!

Here are just a few of my favorites...if I have time I will get some more up.......... My amazing husband and yours truly
The ladies

Out by the fire....my hair still smells

Jenny!!!

Those are some purdy women!

We did more than just take pictures the whole weekend, I promise.

The gang's all here!

We were missing a few of our lovies this weekend, so next year we will absolutely make sure everyone is present and accounted for!

Hope you all were warmer than we were this weekend!

Only a few more days left of my giveaway!!!!!! Tell all your pearl-loving friends!!!!!

Love,

Charlotte

2010 Annual Lodge Weekend

Well....they have been calling for snow all week and SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!! NOOO SNOOOOWW!!!! No shocker, really, it's cold, for sure, but not cold enough for snow to say the least. So this weekend we are headed to Chesta (that's the local drawl I'm inputting), SC for our Annual Lodge Weekend. The hub's family has a couple hundred acres of hunting land that has been in the family for years and years and years....I would verge on the term generations.....they built a lodge on it and for about 5 years we have been going with a group of friends for a weekend full of woodland debauchery....I can't wait! Baby free, four wheelers, big fire, skeet shooting, fresh country air, great friends and lots of good memories to be made....I will most DEFINITELY have some pictures for you!! (the g-rated ones at least)

Hope you all have a wonderfully warm weekend!!!

Love,
Charlotte

Award Time!!!!!

Thank you so much to Dreaming in Pink and Green for giving me this award! I love her blog and she is such a faithful follower of mine! So the rules of this award are:
1) List 10 things that make you happy
2) Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day
3) If you are one of the 10 bloggers awarded, link back to my blog and continue brightening people's day!

10 things that make me happy.......
1) The look on my beautiful daughter's face when I wake her up in the morning
2) Looking at my wedding pictures and realizing my fairytale life has come true
3) Being surrounded by all my wonderful girlfriends....it's times like those that empower me as a daughter, mom, and friend and give me such strength
4) Journaling....I read back on all of my entries and I realize later, what I have learned from my journey
5) A quiet night at home with my family, a glass of wine, a fire, and watching tv
6) Station 9 on Sullivan's Island....something about the salt air.....it's cleansing for the soul.....and it's where Raymond proposed and of course it's where I took my bridal portrait...that beautiful view hangs in my bedroom and I look at it daily
7) Shopping....for all things in general
8) Doing a project from start to finish....I love that feeling when I can say I have completed a project and I oversaw every step- it's refreshing!
9) Throwing a party....dinner, or grand party, doesn't matter...I love having my hands in all aspects of planning a fiesta
10) Worshiping. Our church has an amazing Contemporary Service and it brings Raymond and I so close together- it is so important for us to attend Church as a family and for God to be the center of our marriage.

Now....to my 10 bloggettes that make me happy......
1) Kathryn at Est 3.31.07
2) Pinot After Playdates
3) Margaret at Some Like It Southern
4) Lyndsau at All Things Fluffy, Fabulous & Famous!
5) GMC at The Cobia Family
6) Beth at Just Ask Beth
7) Jessica at The Dents Deal
8) Jessica at Love from Texas
9) Kelsey at The Seattle Smiths
10) Wandering Thoughts of a Scientific Housewife

I love all of your blogs and I enjoy reading them so much! Thanks for inspiring me in some way!



Now....to my other award (it's like Christmas!) from GMC over at The Cobia Family She absolutely has the cutest blog and I love all of her monograms! She has found places to monogram that I never even thought of! Her house is too cute!

So I am passing this onto 10 Chic Blogs whom I love and adore.....

Weathering the Storms

The Drama Mama

The Perks

The Preppy Pearl

The Pink Clutch

Tootie's Place

While We're Waiting

Chapters of Our Life

A Colorado Cupcake

Katie's Journey

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Love, C

Blog Survey for 2009

So I saw so many people do these surveys to sum up their year...and I kept trying to work on mine...so now that the CRAZINESS of ringing in 2010, I was able to wrap up my 2009
This survey came from Love from Texas....her blog is just so adorable....

1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?

Well I will start this off and this will be my one and only baby comment...but I had a baby, and THAT was a first!

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I'm trying! I vowed to #1 Wife and Mama for the year

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, I know a few people! It was nice to share that experience with them!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank goodness

5. What places have you visited?

Asheville, NC...St. Augustine, FL...and then of course, Sullivans Island, SC

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

The wisdom to know who my true friends are

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched in your memory and why?

June 1,2009 when my Georgiabelle was born! No other date really will top that

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?

Going back to work- (you thought I was going to mention the baby again)- it was harder in some ways than I thought and yet it was easier in some ways than I thought. I have an amazing job and such supportive co-workers

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

YES! I had several kidney stones!!

10. What was the best thing you bought?

hmm... it would have to be the Golf Caddy for my husband- I have never seen his face light up so much as to when he opened that gift up

11. Where did most of your money go?

I have a daughter...need I say anymore?!?!?

12. What song will always remind you of 2009?

It Won't Be Like This For Long~Darius Rucker

13. What do you wish you would have done more of?

Spent more time with my friends

14. What do you wish you would have done less of?

Worry

15. What was your favorite TV program?

KUWTK, The Office, Brothers and Sisters, Tori and Dean, Mad Men, I can keep going...Modern Family takes the cake for Newcomer of the Year

16. What was the best book you read this year?

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Giffin

17. What was your favorite film of the year?

The Proposal...I have to say I didn't see too many NEW movies...but that one was great

18. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

25!!!! Ahh!!! And I celebrated with a big group of some of the most amazing friends....we went out and caused lots of trouble ; )

19. What political issue stirred you the most?

Health Care "Reform"

enough said

20. Who was the best new person you met?

My DJJ Girl Scouts...they have taught me so much- more than I could ever teach them- I am so grateful that they came into my life at just the right time- they are amazing!

I have a romance with Seda France

So my new favorite website OneKingsLane.com has Seda France candles on sale!!! They're only $16 for the normally $32 candles. I love Seda France candles and I got turned on to them when this store in Columbia (posh) used to carry them...they've since gone out of business (sad) so I've resorted to ordering them online- I have tried several scents through trial and error but none have disappointed. I have learned that with expensive candles, you only need one or two and it will fill up your entire home.....which my husband is thankful for These are the boxed candles that are on sale over at OKL
My new favorite Raspberry Pomegranate (I also love the Crimson Amaryllis)

But when I stumbled across THESE in Non(e) Such here in town....I was IN LOVE........

elizabethW makes some of the most fantastic smelling goodies including sweet tea, magnolia, lavender, and citrus vervain...


My last favorite candle is the Tyler candle in Mediterranean Fig....OMG this is the best candle!

My favorite stationary store here also carries the Paddywax candles as well and we got the Freesia scent for an engagement gift and we saved it and took it on our honeymoon and used it to bring a little bit of the South to Jamaica.....

What's your favorite Candle/Scent?????


xoxo, C

Hello?!?!?! When did Winter get here???

It's FREEEEEEEEEEZIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG here!!!!!!!! And by freezing, I mean it's a bitter 30something outside. Its feels like it looks like this outside................
Alas.....I may be exaggerating a tad.....but it really is fricking freezing outside.....I have a heater at my desk to keep my tootsies toasty.....

So to protect the Bug's precious little ears I ordered this from The Children's Place...............

I think it will look UberCute on my little one's chubby little face.................

And yes, I know it's really not that bad......and I love the cold weather I do- but it was literally almost 60 degrees on Christmas...they're calling for snow on Friday so we're all hoping for a glorified SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, a Southern Girl can hope can't she?!?!?

Love,

Charlotte

Happy New Year and Happy 7 Months Birthday Georgia!!!

I just cannot believe that 7 months has flown by....in the midst of all the craziness of the past few days I was doing good to get these pictures of the Bug today on her "birthday".....it is so hard for me to believe that my baby girl is now over halfway through her first year. It's been such an amazing journey so far and she has developed the most precious little personality.....
Here are some other things that Georgia is up to these days............

As you can tell by all of her pictures, she is a DROOLING machine....hence, we are teething, but at her 6 month checkup it didn't look like her teethies were about to breakthrough so I think we have a ways to go
We are sitting up for extended periods of time- she will occasionally fall backwards but is so good at keeping herself upright

She is sleeping about 11 hours a night- which is so nice for us- it allows us to really get a good nights sleep!

We are eating 6 oz about 5 times a day and eating 3 meals a day....our favorites are squash, sweet potatoes, and pears...as you can see, she really doesn't turn much away! She is such a good eater and is such a doll with her spoon!

We are grabbing anything and EVERYTHING in sight! And immediately put it in our mouth!!!

We are wearing 9-12 month clothing in most brands but in our favorite brand Kissy Kissy we are wearing 12-18 months.....yikes!!!!!

We are a busy busy bee! She is just moving around like crazy and loves watching her Baby Einstein movies and dancing to music- she loves kicking her legs and making all kinds of crazy noises!!!!

As you can see, we are having so much fun with our Georgiabelle- she is such a joy to our life and I just cannot get enough of this chunk of lovin'

Hope you all had a safe and Happy Happy New Year's Eve and I wish you all the very very best in 2010!!!!

Love, C