the coolest dog on the block

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon and my baby boy, Conner, is hanging out with momma. I like to torture him by making him wear my sunglasses. It was too cute not to share!

Hugo the cat

I usually don't post lots of silly things like this, but you know how much the Buies just LOVE animals! I found this funny video of Hugo the cat. The cards that are used in this video are Moo cards, which I have used before as business cards. Very cute idea - WAY too much time on hand, however. Take a look!

Riverfest Review

After having lived in Little Rock since 2005, I thought it was about time that I attended Riverfest! If you are not familar with this event, check out their website!

Well, we gathered our raincoats, umbrellas, car keys and Riverfest tickets and headed to Riverfest last Saturday evening - I had no idea what to expect. You see, I am NOT a fan of crowds, carnivals, rides, and just in general any gathering that involves more than 30 or 40 people. We arrived right at 5 just in time to see one of my favorite bands, Benjy Davis Project. The got their start in Baton Rouge, LA so, of course, I'm a fan. While Benjy and his band played we relaxed, stretched out our legs and enjoyed casual conversation with our friends around us. Now, THIS was enjoyable. This was the kind of Riverfest I could enjoy year after year.

However, the HINDER crowd was a completely different story! As soon as Benjy Davis finished up his amazing singing, all the "crazies" starting trampeling over us to get to the front of the stage. Some were dressed in black with piercings all over and some, well... weren't dressed much at all! There was yelling and pushing and screaming and I just couldn't handle it anymore. After the first HINDER song (which was probably the one song I would recognize anyway) I said I've had enough. We fought through the crowd swimming upstream and getting shoved along the way. Finally we made it out! And right then and there I vowed I would never go back to Riverfest ever again!

I'm not sure if it was the aweful body odor, the rude people or just the amount of absolute madness, Riverfest was NOT at all what I had hoped for. I'm not sure I was so shocked because that's exactly what ALL of those type events are like, which is why I don't go. I guess I just forgot for a second.

Riverfest, however, was not all bad. They did have recycling bins set up all around the area which of course made me very happy! Way to go Little Rock for GOING GREEN! Now if you could just filter out the other "white trash" I might actually go back.

Here are some pictures of us enjoying the Benjy Davis show... BEFORE they opened the crazies floodgate...

Melissa pulled out her pink umbrella when it started to drizzle a little.

I'm so glad my hubby was able to meet us when he got off work!

me and Melissa enjoying the Benjy Davis Project band

House Party

This past weekend was Memorial Day weekend, so what better time to invite over our friends and fire up the grill! We had the best time hanging out with new friends and old. Even though I stressed that this was NOT a house WARMING but rather just a house PARTY, we still were lavished with gifts. I even specifically told them NOT to! Two of my best girls got us the gorgeous drink dispenser from Dillards! We also received a silk topiary that looks great on our coffee table. You can see it in the picture below. My college roommate gave us a wonderful smelling "Circle E" brand candle and at the perfect time, too. I burned my "Illume" candle down to the bottom this weekend. We have the greatest friends- and not just because they bring gifts. :)

Everyone showed up around 6 and we ate soon after. Buie grilled burgers, asparagus and corn. I took care of the waffle fries, drinks, baked beans, and dessert! All in all we were stuffed at the end of the night!

It has become sort of a tradition to take a girls picture to remember the occasion. This is probably because we like looking back and remembering what we wore and who all was there... and well, guys HATE being IN pictures for the most part...so we make them TAKE the pictures. :) So here is the better half of everyone who was at our first house party.

Here are a few more pictures from the night!

My friend Melissa and I - She's getting married in November! So excited for her and David.

Lucy was the entertainment, as always! She's too cute!

my college roommate, Becca, and her British boy! I could have listened to his accent all night!

me and Ethan! I can't believe he's FOUR years old now!

me and baby Olive

Mobile Upload

I am testing my first mobile upload! Hope it works. :)

Our first house guests!

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend. I have Friday AND Monday off and I'm super excited! I plan to relax, eat waaay too much and hang out with friends I haven't seen in a while. I am especially excited to see a couple of wonderful friends, one of whom I've known since elementary days. My friend Melissa and her fiance are coming to stay with us for the weekend and I'm super pumped about it! Melissa and I went to church together from a very young age and then starting around the 6 grade, I believe, we attended school together all throughout highschool. She has just finished up law school and is getting married this fall. I'm so excited to have her and David stay in our new house and spend some quality time together!

They are bringing Melissa's dog, Bailey, with them. He is a cockapoo! I can't wait to see how Conner and Bailey get along!

iPhone review

I'm stealing the iPhone review idea from a friend. Since I got the iPhone in March, I take lots more pictures than I normally would... like of my husband grilling...

Here are a few more I took around the house this past weekend...

This is what our kitchen looks like clean. Take a goood hard look because it will probably never look this good again.

The guest room is all ready for company and just in time! One of my best friends from highschool is coming in town!

And you know I couldn't post a blog without one of my baby boy! Here's Conner sitting in our new Target chair on the back porch.

Conner's back yard!!

We are so excited that our fence is finished! Ever since Conner, our America Cocker Spaniel/King Charles Cavalier mix little poochie, came into our lives we have wished for a fence for him to run and play. For over a year Conner lived in our condo that had no yard and not enough room for him to run and play. NOW, he has plenty of room! There is even talk of a brother or sister in the near future for Conner to play with. :) So not only does Conner have plenty of room to run but this also increases our property value big time! :)

This is Conner at our old place. His idea of going to play outside was sitting on a bench. :(

But not anymore!

Here are some pics of our new FENCED yard!

This is my favorite part of the fence... our trellis. Hopefully I can grow some honeysuckle or wisteria here!

I LOVE the top of the posts! They look so clean cut and sturdy!

This part is at the end of our driveway. It's a "drive through" gate in case we ever need to back our truck into our back yard. For instance if we are getting dirt hauled in. Next spring we already have plans to lay slate in a section of our backyard. This gate will definitely come in handy then!

New Purchases

With a new house comes new purchases. I absolutely LOVE buying things for our home, your home, ANYONE'S home...but ESPECIALLY our home. Check out a few of my recent purchases for our new home and a few still on our wish list.

White Bird Napkin Holders from Z Gallerie

Small White Birdcage Lantern from Z Gallerie

Pottery Barn pillows for the green guest room

Wish list:

Starburst Mirror from William Sonoma Home

Deeply Madly in LOVE print by madebygirl.com

Decanters (Set of 3) from Z Gallerie

Spring Family Pics

You may remember my lovely blog which is no longer in service. I decided to combine my blog and our blog, since I am the only one who writes on our blog. I was becoming weary writing for two blogs. So once in a while I will post pictures that I take from my photography business. Hope you enjoy. These were taken at my Grandparents home on Easter. I have known the mom and dad for years but this was my first encounter with their two year old girl - super cute!

A Mother's Review

If only there were a Hallmark card to describe my mom or to put into words how thankful I am for her. My mom is a rock for our family. She is a strong, decisive, take charge kind of woman. She knows what she wants out of life and she goes for it. I used to be embarrassed when she would be a little "bold" on phone calls to those not so bright customer service reps who may have charged her too much or sent her the wrong item. :) But the truth is, my mom has taught me to stand up for myself. To not take no for an answer, but also she's taught me how to say no when I'm just plum worn out.

My mom has been my nurse throughout my whole diagnosis period. There were times when I couldn't imagine getting out of bed just one more day in so much pain and my mom was always there saying, "You can do it!" Before I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I researched doctors to go to and without hesitation, my mom said No questions asked, she was going with me. In my doctor's appointments, when I was even too tired to keep my eyes open, she was there with a tape recorder and pencil and notebook in hand. She literally was my ears, my eyes, my right hand and even my heart.

By the description above, you'd think my mom is hard pressed and deliberate and perhaps even a bit demanding - but amazingly my mom can be as strong willed as she is yet she is also the most compasionate woman I have honestly ever met. Not only did she raise three children, one of whom was MORE than a handful to raise (I'll let you guess which one), she also took in her newphew after a family tragedy. She and dad raised my cousin Lindsey as their own. Mom selflessly retired after nearly 15 years of teaching to be the caregiver for three family members whose health issues were more than a bit difficult to handle...this is not including the care and time that went into my monthly doctor's visit in Dallas! She is truly amazing! My mom's heart for missions keeps her in many states and in many countries, giving her money and her time and also her heart so that others may know God's love. How do you thank someone like that? There is no gift, no words to say just how much I appreciate her.

She truly is the picture of a great mother, wife, and friend. I love you, mom. Happy Mother's Day!

Gluten Free cakes... at STARBUCKS?

I'm a big fan of Starbucks coffees, cappachinos, mochas, etc. My favorite thing to order is a grande low fat white chocolate mocha with sugar free hazelnut, hold the whip. Yes, I know it's a mouth full but it gets the job done. And on days when I feel like splurging a bit, I order a venti. The whole Starbucks experience is always wonderful. I just love the feeling of holding a warm yummy drink in my hand, especially when it's a little rainy and blah outside. It always lifts my mood. The thing I hate is when the barrista asks me if I would like a blueberry muffin or coffee cake to go with it. Well, OF COURSE I WOULD! I would love to taste the warm sugar and cinnamon flavor of the fluffy goodness, but unfortunately I haven't tasted bread in two and a half years now since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. And I am most certainly not going to find anything in STarbucks that is even remotely close to being gluten free... UNTIL NOW!

Yes, that's right, people. Starbucks listened to its customers and finally now has a gluten free Valencia cake. I have no idea what a Valencia cake is but just because it's made at Starbucks, it MUST be delicious...and I'm on my way to get one right now!

I got tagged!

I was tagged by my wonderful friend, Jessica Doose. She and I have the same birthday! We met long ago when we became pledge sisters in college nearly EIGHT years ago. After college we became even more close when we decided to live together. She is always so encouraging and up beat! She and her husband Scott were married last year too and have the cutest house in Little Rock! She is a blessing in my life.

Here are the instructions for "eight things":. mention the person that tagged you.

complete the list of eight things.

tag eight of your wonderful blogger friends.

go tell them you tagged them.

Eight things I look forward to:
1. Being completely unpacked from our recent move
2. This weekend. My parents are coming in town for Mother's Day!
3. Memorial Day weekend. We are having some friends over for a cookout.
4. losing weight and fitting into my skinny jeans again
5. Having children one day
6. having a fenced in backyard for Conner to run around in
7. Beach vacation in September!
8. getting things done.

Eight things i did yesterday:
1. Got stuck in a traffic jam and was an hour late for work
2. Drank two mugs of hot tea
3. Watched the Hills that I had saved in Tivo
4. Received my brand new waste recepticle from Waste Managment. I actually got excited about a trash can!
5. Played tug-o-war with Conner
6. Talked to my mom on the phone.
7. Forgot to mail a bill off
8. Kissed my hubby when he got home from work

Eight things I wish I could do:
1. Lose more weight!
2. Exercise daily!
3. Cook more
4. Stop buying gluten free things that I don't need, like cookies and brownies.
5. Work from home
6. Have two (or three) healthy and happy kids
7. Dress more "adult" and less "college-like"
8. Remember all of my friends's birthdays.

Eight shows i watch:
1. Two and a Half Men
2. The Hills
3. The City
4. Brothers and Sisters
5. Desperate Housewives
6. Ghost Hunters
7. Private Practice
8. Greys Anatomy

I now tag: Angie Lechner, Christen Byrd, Emily Blackwell, Sarah Holloway, Whitney Hall, Julee Bell, Dr. Lara and Hilary Hymer!