Baby Shower Bonanza!

So many of the precious women in my life have had or will have babies in the next 6 months so bring on the baby showers! I can't wait to share pics from the baby shower I was privileged to host this weekend for my sweet friend Kate. Until then, here is a little teaser!

More to come!

A visit from MC and Dr. W!

Dr. W and MC

My sister, MC, and her hubby, Dr. W, came to Birmingham this week! They came in town for MC to get her hair cut. Yes, you read correctly - they drove an hour and forty-five minutes for a haircut. For those of you who are similarly afflicted with hair worship like my sister and me, you will totally understand this concept. For those of you who are not you will think we are crazy. That's ok. I am willing to deal with that perception all in the name of fabulous hair. Hey, a girl's gotta properly maintain one of her most valuable assets, right?

Anyhoo, we were able to grab some lunch during my work day and hit some of our favorite spots that evening before they headed back. Lucy even got a special visit from her cousin, Bailey. I am so glad they came to visit and can't wait for them to return!

Bailey and Lucy "playing". Um, I think this is more like Bailey is trying to ignore the pesky little one. Do you see that he is showing his teeth to her? He is so not into the licking Lucy likes so much.

Ah, Sephora. What more is there to say?

We made sure to eat at one of Dr. W's favorite spots, Jim n' Nicks BBQ. They have the BEST cheese biscuits imaginable. I managed to scarf down 2 and 1/2 biscuits before we ordered our meal! Needless to say I chose a salad for dinner. :)

Coco and me clowning around at the table - he was NOT into the picture snapping. I am going to have to work on him.

That oh so irresistible gooey yumminess.

The last stop was Doodles, this fantastic sorbet and ice place in Cahaba Heights. MC and Dr. W never make a trip to Birmingham without at least one stop at Doodles. My favorite flavor? Too many to pick just one - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, Birthday Cake, and Raspberry just to name a few. Oh and Dr. W always chooses grape. :) I promise I don't eat this everyday!

A Tease of Fall...

The weather in Birmingham was absolutely fab-u-lous this past weekend! It almost felt like fall...almost. I really don't like the last few weeks of summer - they just drag on holding off the best time of year. In celebration and anticpation of my favorite season, I decided to make my favorite fall recipe. Check it out below...you can even make your own tortilla chips to go with it (super yummy yet not so waistline friendly - maybe after I get back into my exercise routine. Wait, what routine?).

Taco Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb. of ground beef or ground turkey
½ a chopped onion
1 can of mild rotel
1 can of corn
1 or 2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 packet of dry ranch mix
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 can of black beans
1 can of kidney beans

Brown the hamburger meat and onion in a large pot. Drain. Return to pot. Add ranch and taco packets to meet. Stir together. Pour in remaining ingredients. Do not drain the cans. Add 1 or 2 cans of water depending on how soupy you want to make it. Cover and let simmer for 30 – 45 minutes. You can keep it on low for as long as you want, but it needs to cook for at least 30-45 minutes! Enjoy!

So my picture looks to be more cheese than soup, but you get the idea...it is just plain yummy and in my opinion you can never have enough cheese. What's your favorite fall recipe?

Before...

Coco found this great schoolhouse stool. I love the cool blue color but it was a little rough around the edges and doesn't quite go with the decor in our home. So I decided to use my trusty friend, Rustoleum Spray Paint in Satin Black, to update this little gem. Check out the before (okay, so I am new at this and didn't remember the before picture until after I had started the prep work - live and learn) and after.

Before

After

Whatcha think? I am not exactly sure where it will find its permanent home but for now it is resting comfortably in the kitchen. I am considering picking up another one...two is always better than one.

Addiction

I have one...a BIG one.

The Super 44 on my desk today once held 44 ounces of sweet nectar...diet coke. I know that I am killing the planet one styrofoam cup at a time but I just can't resist styrofoam's ability to keep my favorite beverage cold for hours on end (I mean it does take me hours to consume one of these). I do try to justify my DC intake with the same amount of water. The cup in the picture above is actually filled with good for your body agua, only after I have drained the entire cup of wonderfulness. Anyone else have an addiction they can't resist???

Talented

Do you have people in your life who you are so impressed with because they are talented in all the ways you aren't? I absolutely do. I mentioned I am an accountant which pretty much means I got stiffed in the creativity department. Don't get me wrong - I make a valiant effort in this area, but many times I fall short. My sweet sister, MC, on the other hand oozes creativity, it seeps from her pores. I have to give her all of the credit for my blog design. A quick phone call and 30 minutes later - viola! She makes it seem so easy! Her creativity doesn't stop, she is a successful entrepreneur and has an incredible online business. She is the proud owner and creator of MonogramChick, an online monogrammed gift boutique that has dozens and dozens of fun personalized items for everyone you know (including yourself)! Take a minute to peruse her site and you will see what I am talking about. She is talented. Also check out her blog, she blogs about new products, giveaways and everything else going on in the MonogramChick studio. Oh, and grab one of her cute little buttons from her blog like mine!

MC and Kiki

Thank you seester for sharing your talented and creative side! I love you!

Getting to know Kiki

Since this is my official entrance into the blog world I figure I should tell you a little bit about myself. My blog description (a slightly neurotic, definitely type-a female with an irrevocable voice of blonde wisdom) pretty much says it all but I will break it down for you in some more detail.

I am a CPA, this should explain both the neurotic and the type-a personality traits. And no, I have no idea how to do your taxes (or my own for that matter). CPA does not equal tax accountant - I don't know how many times I have to answer that question, so I thought I would save you the trouble. I married my best friend (aka Coco) who is also a saint (he has to be to put up with me) almost 6 years ago. We have a 6 1/2 year old Boston Terrier named Lucy that is precious and acts just like her mom (hence the precious comment). Yes, she is neurotic. I mean she is very routined, puts herself to bed every night, prefers not to be dirty and loves a back scratch (who doesn't?). We live in Birmingham in a tiny little house that we have a love-hate relationship with depending upon the day and who has to use the bathroom (we are a one bathroom household which can create quite a bit of excitement from time to time).

Kiki and Coco

Lucy

I have a wonderful family that I live too far away from and wish we could be closer. My sweet parents live in Florida and my wonderful sister lives just outside of Atlanta. Those of you who are US geography buffs can figure out that my sister and I are only about an hour and forty-five minutes apart but there are days it seems like much longer. We have a lot of fun when we are all together but it just doesn't happen often enough.

Coco and I love life here in Birmingham, we have great friends, a wonderful church and enjoy our careers. We are infinitely blessed and thankful for God's grace every day. I have a passion for cooking (and eating for that matter), love design and fashion and have totally embraced Coco's love of sports...any sports (does it involve a ball, a wheel or any amount of stupidity?). If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?

That's pretty much the quick and dirty. If you are wondering if "Kiki" and "Coco" are emblazoned on our birth certificates - the answer is no. Just some nicknames we have picked up along the way. :)

Welcome...to myself.

Okay. I did it. I created a blog (with the help of my much more intelligent sister, aka Monogram Chick or MC).

Now what?

MC has been telling me for years to start a blog and I have finally given in. In an attempt to add some spice to my life and hopefully some humor to yours I now embark on documenting all of the nitty gritty details of my life. Coco (aka my adoring husband) is thrilled. Not. So stay tuned for my "pearls" of blonde wisdom. More to come...I hope.