All Star Special. Scrambled, Extra Cheese, & Bacon

Ryan and I had an awesome Christmas. We are so lucky to have such awesome friends and families.

I have all kinds of things to share with y'all. I've even made a list of topics I need to post about, so as not to forget. From holiday parties where things got wild to family gatherings where hugs were in abundance-- I will be covering it all.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a recipe for a shot that you will probably want to test out this weekend. Let me bring you up to speed.

The company my brother works for gifted their employees with bottle of Crown Royal Maple (among other things) just before the holidays.

This was new to my brother and he didn't know what to mix it with or what kind of cocktail to make with this maple flavored liquor. So he did what any person living in 2012 would do (other than google it) he posted to his facebook requesting suggestions.

My sweet cousin, Robin, replied with an answer to Justin's Facebook plea.

This is sweet cousin, Robin. A true connoisseur of fun!

Then, to our surprise, she had the ingredients on hand for us to test her suggested concoction at our Toland Family Christmas gathering. (for the record-- Robin doesn't claim to have created this mix; she simply shared some of her vast knowledge)

Here's the recipe:

It seems like the most random combination but it is so much fun! It is similar to taking a tequila shot in that you have several steps. Instead of drink, lick the salt, bite the lime... this is drink, sip the OJ and crunch on the bacon.  I'm not sure what the name of this shot is but I think it should be called the All Star Breakfast because after the shot you feel like you've just eaten a Waffle House All Star Breakfast.

Go forth and give it a go this weekend. You won't regret it!

Heath Loves Maggie

Last week at my holiday tree viewing party Heath fell in love with our Dorkie, Maggie. (rolling around on our bed came in close second)

He would climb up on the bed and then say, "Mon Maggie" (Come on Maggie). Maggie would play for a little bit and then try to make a run for it (see middle picture below), but Heath would hop down, find her, and tell her to "Mon back, Maggie"

It was really funny and so sweet. I think the moral of this story is that his mama and daddy need to get him a puppy!

Family Fun for the Holidays

This week I have been hard core into the Christmas spirit!

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year... and family time only makes it even better! 

Tuesday night I went over to my grandmother's house to help my two cousin's, Kylee and Heath, create the most spectacular gingerbread house ever seen.

Look how perfect it turned out. Great attention to detail.

They were super proud of our little creation. We had to text pictures of it to their Gigi, Ryan and
Deidra.

Jump ahead a couple of days....

I wanted to show off my Christmas tree to my family so last night I invited my parents, grandparents and cousins (ten folks total) over for what I called the Holiday Christmas Tree Viewing & Dinner Party on McClellan Street.

Ahhhhhhhh!



Photo bomb by Maggie

We sipped wine and snacked on apps while also singing a few holiday songs (at Kylee's request).

Heath LOVED the appetizer portion. He snacked away on the Bacon cheddar dip I made.

Myself, my grandma, and my mom. Maggie is attempting to escape. Ha.

Maggie was bothered for roughly 10 minutes because I made her put on her Christmas sweater for our Holiday Party. 

After our rendition of Rodolph the Red Nose Reindeer it was time for dinner.

I provided dinner and my home, my grandmother brought homemade biscuits, and my mom brought dessert!

I love my family and any time we spend together is just perfect in my opinion! The only thing that could have made it any better would have been if all of our family lived in town and could have joined in on the fun.

Holiday Dinner Party with Friends

Ryan and I were invited to a holiday party that we gladly attended on Monday night.

Our friends Emily and Rob along with Lacey and John hosted the get-together. Rob happens to be a fancy chef so it was a given that the food would be amazing-- and it was!

Whoa. We drank wine and feasted like kings. We made small talk with old friends and got to know new ones.

Lacey enjoying a Brussel

Feasting!

A little red wine.

My free bird pal, Whitney! Love her.



Sweet Emily, the hostess for the mostest!

It was such a perfect evening, although I'm not too sure any of us had too much fun crawling out of bed  Tuesday morning. I can honestly say my husband was moving very slowly.

I love this time of year! Merry, Merry!!

Mrs. Collingsworth

My long time BFF, Alana, got married the first weekend in December to her love Clint. It was a beautiful wedding and an amazing day!

Alana and her husband are horse trainers in Ohio so we don't get to see them as much as we'd like. However, when she is in town we try to make the most of her time here.

Myself and Alana

The festivities began Friday at Lunch with the bridesmaids' luncheon. It was at a local restaurant and was the perfect lunch to celebrate the official start to the weekend.

Friday night after the rehearsal we went to Willow Point Country Club for the Rehearsal Dinner.

Rehearsing

Friday night the wedding party spent the night together at the lake. We all woke up bright and early to get ready for the day of fun. It was calming to wake up at the lake with the sun shining in through the windows. After quick showers we headed to Springhouse to have our hair and make up done.

The weather was amazing for December. It was literally in the seventies and sunny! Ridiculous.

Since Alana and Clint's lives are centered around their love for horses it was only fitting that they got married at Russell Crossroad Stables.

The girls all met and got ready at The Springhouse Restaurant which is located just above The Stables.

 

We had our hair done by Carly Neal, out of Auburn. We sipped sweet champagne and snacked on an assortment of goodies.

After pictures we headed down to The Stables to get ready for Alana's big walk down the aisle.

Everything was just lovely; no detail spared.

 

After enjoying cocktails and dancing the night away it was time to see the couple off. We tossed rose petals as the newlyweds made their way to the car waiting to whisk them away to their honeymoon.

Alana and Clint had a beautiful wedding. I was so thankful to be a part of it. It is always special to get to celebrate big life moments with friends you've had forever!

Welcome to the club, Mrs. Collingsworth!

I have not even told you about Thanksgiving and it's Almost Christmas

Time is slipping away from me. I have so much to share that it gets a bit overwhelming to try to keep up with it all.

We are busy, man. Like on the go nonstop. I'm so ready for a weekend with no plans, no agenda, and no where to be!

But to catch up... here's what we've been up to, which only covers the Thanksgiving holiday:

• We had a Class of 2003 Reunion Meeting. Great turn out. Lock that down for February 2013!

• Ran/walked the first ever Alex City Turkey Trot 5K!

• Bought toys for a Toys-for-Tots Drive that a local bar was hosting.

• Thanksgiving was a food rage, obviously. I threw down with Skillet Apple Pie. Yum.

• Ryan sister, my sister-in-law, got engaged to my high school classmate and long time pal, Jackson.

• Hosted friends for the 2012 Iron Bowl, in which our beloved Auburn Tigers got slaughtered-- War Eagle anyway!

Normal Photo

Crazy Face

Maggie loves football parties

After the crazy Thanksgiving weekend we got began gearing up for my friend, Alana's wedding day, which will be a post on it's own! (It was so pretty)

In the meantime, I will be wrapping presents and getting in to the Christmas spirit.

Before & After: My China Cabinet

You may recall this post regarding the great deal I got on a china cabinet and buffet. At the time I didn't know what route to take as far as refinishing and updating the two pieces of furniture.

I was torn-- I didn't know whether to paint them or to strip them and re-stain a deeper color.

The one thing I was certain about what that neither piece of furniture was going in my home without a little bit of updating.

My indecision caused me to seriously stall. I bought them in October of 2011, which was over a year ago.  They've been store in my parents' basement all this time.

Well, inspiration finally hit me. While in Senoia, GA to check out the Southern Living Dream Home, mom and I shopped around the little downtown area. One store had the prettiest furniture. I loved the table, the buffet, the desk, the china cabinet. Everything had great rustic chic finish that I loved.

Upon talking to the store owner we learned that she had done all of the furniture herself with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint & Wax.

***Please note: not to be confused with ChalkBOARD Paint, which is not the same thing***

I was sold!! I bought the color French Linen, which is a grey with brown undertones (I actually just made that up about the undertones but I think it's a fair description). I FINALLY HAD A PLAN FOR THE CHINA CABINET.

Let me refresh your memory....

BEFORE:

 

Not exactly the look I was going for.

Over the past weekend mom and I taped off the glass and went to town with the Chalk Paint.

Now, what is so great about this paint is that you don't have to sand or prime the furniture. You just have to start painting it. So easy.

I applied two coats of the French Linen. The paint dries really fast. 30 minutes fast. After the two coats of the paint I used the Annie Sloan wax brush to apply two coats of the clear wax. The wax essentially gives the matte finish of the of the chalk paint a little more glossy look and seals the paint.

I actually bought the dark wax as well but after testing it out on one of the cabinet fronts I decided not to got that route.


The left is with the clear wax only. The right shows how the dark wax distresses it more.

I allowed the clear wax to "cure" for 48 hours. At that point I had my dad and Ryan bring my new china cabinet home to mama.

Mom and I unpacked my china last night and filled the china cabinet up with pretties.

HERE IS THE AFTER:

(disclaimer- the pics are with my iPhone. My big camera was dead and I couldn't wait to share... so not the best quality)
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I absolutely LOVE it! Like LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I realize that I need a bigger statement piece on top. I just placed that platter on top to get a feel for it. Ryan was amazed that I had all this fancy china stashed around the house (and at my parents).

It's not big enough to display all of my china so I stored the rest in the cabinet space below.

Here's the few from the living room!

(The table you see pictured above is abuot to become part of another project which will make way for a new table. We're talking reclaimed wood and stuff.)

Love. Now, the buffet is just calling to be "chalked" and maybe even the coffee table too!