when warranties are worth it...

I'm usually not a big fan of warranties you have to pay to purchase--they cost extra, and often haven't proved to be that beneficial to me.  However, one warranty that has been AMAZING for me is the Extended Service Plan from Jared's.  My parents gave me my pearls for my 18th birthday, and in the seven years since then, my pearls have broken 3 times (the latest being this week) and had to be restrung.

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This doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them--I just wear mine a whole lot!  However, with the Extended Service Plan, they get fixed for FREE instead of the $75+ it would usually cost to re-string them.  I must say, I'm a fan!

The biggest downside is that it is an estimated four weeks before I get them back... and as I typically wear mine, oh 5 to 7 times a week... I will miss them greatly while they are gone!

One year!

This past Saturday, the boyfriend and I celebrated our one year anniversary!  He made me an amazing DVD full of pictures and memories from the past year, and found a way to involve some of our friends, and some of the high school kids I work with, in it, which was really amazing.  I guess we think alike, because I similarly made him a scrapbook of the past year!  That night we went to our favorite restaurant, Top of the Hill, and we had an amazing dinner.  We LOVE their Blueberry Beer, so we had several of those, plus a wonderful appetizer, their delicious Shrimp & Grit Cakes, and some fabulous banana pudding for dessert.  

I can't believe it's been a whole year, but at the same time, it's kind of hard to remember what life was like before him.  Looking forward to many more years together! 

NCSU vs. South Alabama

Yesterday was the State vs. South Alabama game.  It was cold and rainy, and felt not at all like September in North Carolina, but we still had a great time!  I managed to take approximately one picture--with all the rain and gray drizzle, I just never felt like getting the camera out, but I did use my phone to take one during the game:

This week my cooking experiment was cake balls--I've seen other people post about them, but had yet to try them, so I gave them a shot.  They were pretty easy to make, and turned out well.  I want to try out some different flavor combinations--I think there are some potential dessert staples out there. 

I've discovered that home football games tend to take up the whole weekend--Friday night is grocery shopping, cooking, and getting everything ready.  Saturday is finishing up the cooking, loading the truck, picking up our friends, and getting to the game as early as possible--and staying as late as possible.  And then Sunday is unpacking, putting things away, doing the dishes, and getting everything back in order!  Lots of work, but totally worth it for all the fun we have!

Elon!

Over last weekend, the boyfriend and I went to the Elon football game.  It was definitely a different than the usual State games, but it was a whole lot of fun, and a nice change of pace.  Just the two of us, instead of the usual crowd, and we just picked up Smithfield's instead of the usual tailgating preparations.  After we ate, we went over to the campus bookstore--they just opened a new one, which i was excited to go and check out!  We stocked up on Elon items:

The game was great--Elon beat Concord, 42-10, and there was a 99 yard interception, so that was fun to see!  We wandered around the stadium quite a bit, ate some delicious Smitty's ice cream--which I loved in college, but had almost completely forgotten about since then, and took some pictures.

After the game, there was a great fireworks display:

We had a blast, Elon won, and the boyfriend enjoyed his first Elon football game--I'd say it was a success!  This weekend, it is back to NC State... GO PACK!

Animal Crackers

A few weeks ago, I bought an adorable new Lilly dress at Belk, and when I got home and opened the bag, I was so excited to find this:

I've always wanted to find some Lilly animal crackers, so I was thrilled about getting them--and such a fun surprise, since I didn't realize they were there until I got home!

I've eaten the crackers, but the box is so cute, I can't bring myself to throw it away.  Maybe I can figure out a use for it...

Operation Get Fit

I can't say I've ever been super healthy or super focused on working out, but in college I definitely was more active and a couple sizes smaller.  I never really worked out until I graduated, but once I became a member of "the real world", I started being more aware of exercise and eating habits.  And then I got a new job, with a crazy schedule, and all that went out the window.  

However, I'm determined to get back on track.  There is a wedding coming up in mid-October, and I realized that I have a whole lot of great dresses in my closet that don't quite fit.  So I went through them and tried them on to decide which was the most reasonable goal.

This is the one I decided on:

Once I decided which dress was my goal, I hung it up on my bedroom door to remind me every day of my goal.  I've started working out pretty regularly:  the elliptical and I have become good friends (as long as I have a book and my iPod), I took my first group fitness class in over a year yesterday (Box & Abs), and I'm working with a personal trainer on a semi-regular basis.  And even though I haven't been eating all that great--lots of leftover tailgate food I can't let go to waste--I am making progress!  

A few weeks ago, I couldn't even zip the dress past the lace part--the black was where it stopped.  But this morning, I tried the dress on and it zipped all the way!!!  I still have a little work to do--it is tighter than I'd like, but it was a great start to the day!  I need to keep working for sure, but it is very exciting to see progress!

Remember

10 years ago, I was a sophomore in high school.  When the bell rang to end my second period English class, I walked next door to my World Civ class and sat down at my desk, trying to finish some last minute homework.  My teacher rushed in, and told us to "sit down & shut up"--unusual since the bell wouldn't ring for at least three minutes.  He ran over to the t.v. and we watched as the second plane hit the World Trade Center.  We all sat in shock, not knowing what was going on, or what would happen next.  The whole class period, we sat glued to the television, only taking our eyes off to listen to our teacher, who was in the Reserves, theorize about what might happen next.  The bell rang to end class and still in shock, we headed down the halls to our next class.  The thing I remember most clearly is that as you walked down the hall, you could tell who knew and who didn't.  Whose life was still going on as normal, and whose world had been turned upside down.  In my 4th period french class, we continued to watch the coverage.  Chemistry, 5th period, didn't have a working television, so instead we talked.  Our teacher told us that our generation would remember this day like her generation remembers the day JFK was assassinated.  She could tell us what she was doing, what she was wearing--she clearly remembered the day in vivid detail.  I can't remember what I was wearing, but September 11 is my most vivid memory from high school.  My last class of the day was newspaper, and for weeks, we watched news coverage, and did "free writes" about our reactions to the attacks.  That night, there was a vigil at church, and my friends and I went to the children's chapel, and talked and cried and wondered what it all meant. 

Today, I read newspaper articles and watched commercials, and cried again, and I still wonder what it all means.  What I do know is that it's a day that will never be forgotten.

Busy Weekend!

This weekend is quite busy!  Between family obligations, work, and football it will be non-stop!  We are taking a break from the usual State games to head to Elon this afternoon for the first home football game.  I couldn't be more excited--I LOVE Elon and enjoy any chance to head to my alma mater, especially when I get to show it off to others!  I've taken the boyfriend a few times, but never for a football game, so we are both excited!

I also am trying to find time to squeeze in entering a photo in the State Fair this year, as well as possibly entering an essay contest held by Our State on North Carolina's Most Inspiring Teachers.  However, the due dates for both are pretty soon, so we'll have to see if I can get my act together and get entries in!

And now... it's time to run off to work!

Red Cowboy Boots

At the State game this weekend, I saw some red cowboy boots.  I have black cowboy boots and brown cowboy boots, but now I'm thinking I might need to invest in some red ones.  

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These Lucchese ones might be a bit out of my price range at $299, since I'll probably only wear them to games--other than gameday, I don't wear much red--but now I'm on the lookout for some red boots to add to my collection.  I LOVE cowboy boots--I think they are so comfortable, and can really make an outfit!  Hopefully some red ones will make an appearance in my closet soon...

Food Trucks!

After much debate, the city of Raleigh has decided to allow food trucks!  I'm quite excited--it's been an on-going conversation for quite some time by the powers that be.  I know they are popular in quite a few cities, and I always hear about how great they are in nearby Durham.  This summer, we had one at a work event, and it was a fun experience.  I think they'll make a great addition to our downtown, and I love the idea that you never know when you'll come across one.  They don't get to start 'til October, but I'm excited to see what we end up with... maybe a good cupcake truck!?!

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Chocolate Covered Football Strawberries!

I saw this on Pinterest a while back and decided that they were a must for the first tailgate of the season!

  

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The boyfriend and I gave them a shot, and while ours didn't turn out quite as perfect as the picture above, they were quite a hit at the game!  We used dark chocolate to dip the strawberries in and white chocolate for the decorations.  Next time I think we'll try and thin the chocolate out a little before dipping, and maybe try something other than a toothpick for decorating, but they were delicious & I was very happy with them for a first attempt!

Welcome!

After several years of reading blogs, I've decided to jump into the blogging world!  I'm a 20-something southern girl, who wears my pearls on a daily basis and loves tailgating at NC State.  In fact, I met my boyfriend of a year (almost) at the first game of the year last year.  I'm looking forward to giving blogging a try!