Lazy Blogger

o I must admit that I've been quite a lazy blogger. I've just been so excited with wedding planning and spring cleaning around the house and yard, that I have completely alienated my blogging duties. Not only that, my camera is dead... so I don't have anything to take pictures with right now. Until I get a new camera, I guess it's going to be recipe postings, daily inspirations and wedding planning adventures on here! That's okay though... I named the blog "Lanachele...ON OCCASION" for a reason. I knew I'd become a slacker at some point.

For today, here's a picture of something that is the inspiration for my wedding theme... and no worries... there won't be any fake stuffed birds...

Also, here are some great tunes to download that I am LOVING right now:

Ingrid Michaelson - Keep Breathing

Brandi Carlile - The Story

Crystal Bowersox (from American Idol) – Me & Bobby McGee

I'm engaged!

rew proposed over the weekend and I said YES! We couldn't be happier! The wedding date is set for December 4, 2010! I will tell the story next time... going to try on wedding dresses with my mom right now! David's Bridal is having their $99 bridal sale. Wish me luck!!

RIP Tulips

on't my tulips look lovely? Actually, I should say "didn't they look lovely?" These were the last photos I took of them before they wilted and the petals fell off. The leaves are still alive, but the beautiful flowers are gone. That's okay. At least they lasted inside for a month and I was able to get some stunning photos of them! Tulips are so pretty, especially when they open up. Once the greenery dies, I plan on putting more in this pot!

Happy Monday!

Gonna Get Crafty With It

ately, I have been very spontaneous and artsy. I go through these phases where I just want to paint, decorate and make things... redecorating the bathroom for example. I told Drew I thought I was nesting and he better hurry up and marry me. lol. Well, I left out that last part, but he knows I'm thinking it. Last night I painted the wall art in the picture above to match my new shower curtain. My stepmom gave it to me along with some salt and pepper shakers that I painted as well to match my kitchen. (She also gave me some great shoes, but that is for another story!) Before I painted this piece, it was bright pink polka dotted and the canvas part was turquoise blue with a fish painted on it. It was very caribbean, but not really my style for my home. So I spent about an hour and a half painting and watching Archer on Comedy Central. (a VERY funny yet VERY inappropriate cartoon Drew got me watching)

I should do stuff like this more often and sell it. That's what I keep telling myself anyways! But would anyone really want to buy this stuff? I guess I'll never know unless I try. One of these days, I WILL make an online store where I can sell my hand painted Adirondack chairs, homemade lamps (that I make out of dishes), and other knick knacks. You guys will be the first to know!

St. Patrick's Day Festivities in My Home

esterday was St. Patrick's Day, and for the first time in a while, Drew and I did not go to ANY festivities... we must be getting old. Savannah is known for our huge St. Patrick's Day celebration and usually we at least go to the parade. But since it fell on a Wednesday and Drew and I both had to return to class/work the next day, we decided not to go. The weather wasn't all that great either but the rain did hold up for the parade from what I heard. It was still cold and cloudy all morning and the rain finally started about 2. We ended up making the best of the day, though.

We woke up about 10ish... that's right, 10. We may be getting old but we can still sleep in like we're college students. I read some of my book (Reunion by Karen Kingsbury... this is a GREAT series) while Drew studied for his ER test that he was taking this morning.

We eventually started moving around, put on our green, put some green scarves on the dogs, and made the trek out to Tybee Island to visit Drew's Nana at their family restaurant, The Sugar Shack. I ordered the hamburger which is sooo good. It beats out Five Guy's hamburgers ANY day. Drew got the BBQ sandwich, and the dogs had some leftover bacon and fries.

After that, we took the dogs to the Tybee Island Dog Park to play. Since Achilles gets a little rowdy with other dogs, we usually can't take him. But yesterday was perfect. We had the whole park to ourselves. Most everyone was either at the parade downtown or cuddled up inside avoiding the cold and the rain. We played fetch with the dogs for a while until the rain finally starting coming down heavy. My car now smells like wet dog.

After we left Tybee, I ran some errands in town while Drew stayed home and studied. I found a beautiful new shower curtain at Home Goods and decided that I would spend the rest of the afternoon redecorating my guest bathroom. It has been so blah for a while and I needed some bright colors in there. I went to Home Depot, bought some paint, then headed home. I know Drew must've thought I was crazy. I definitely didn't wake up yesterday morning with ANY intention of painting the bathroom... but I did. Very spontaneous I must say which is out of the norm for me. In less than three hours I had painted two coats on the bathroom walls, trimmed the edges and put in the new linens. It's so beautiful... I love it. Sometimes I question whether or not I should be an interior decorator. It's so much fun to make something look completely new!

Overall, yesterday was a great day with the exception of one of my favorite gals getting the boot on American idol last night. When I went to bed I said to Drew, "Do you think when I die that God will let me decorate people's mansions in heaven? I enjoy it so much!" I hope he does... HINT HINT God :)

GUEST BATHROOM, PHASE 1

This is how the bathroom looked when I bought my house... uggh.

GUEST BATHROOM, PHASE 2

This is how the bathroom looked when I moved all of my stuff in. Nice, but blah.

GUEST BATHROOM, PHASE 3

After painting the walls a grayish pale blue and putting in some new linens, this is my new bathroom. I love it! It's so colorful, but not overbearing. An yes, that is a metal doggy door in the foreground. Hopefully Maybelle will stop peeing in the house soon and we won't have to keep her in there anymore!

My How Time Flies

know most people only say what I'm going to say today about their children. For now, my dogs are my children. Anyhow, I just can't believe how big Smoltz is these days. He won't be 2 until April, but I came across these pictures today and I just couldn't believe how small he used to be. He has really grown up so fast. It's hard to see him so independent too. I can still remember the days I'd leave for work and he'd hide under the bed so I wouldn't put him outside. Now he can't wait to go outside!

Sometimes I question whether or not I neglect Smoltz and Achilles too much and it makes me feel terrible. Maybelle, our puppy, is a lot younger and she needs a little more attention right now. Plus she is the only girl! I just wonder if my boys notice how much extra attention she's getting right now. Do dogs get jealous? I hope not. Smoltz and Achilles each have very special places in my heart.

Drew got Achilles maybe 2 months after we started dating, so he is as old as our relationship and I feel like we've been through a lot together. He is my "first-born" if you will. He's the first dog I've really ever helped raised, even though he technically is Drew's dog. He makes me feel safe and I really enjoy talking to him and getting the sense that he really does know what I'm saying... really.

Smoltz, the first dog I've ever raised on my own, came into my life during a time that I needed something to love and take care of. I was definitely going through a hard time mentally and emotionally about 2 years ago. Smoltz brought me out of that. I learned a lot about myself by raising him. I learned that I can take care of and be responsible for another life. And I loved it. He has brought so much joy into my life. He is always ready to love and give kisses too.

Maybelle has brought a lot of happiness too, along with a funny little personality. She is a different dog, different than the other two to the point that she serves a different purpose in my life. She's very calm and really does like to just chill with her mommy, while the boys are very hyper and love to play outside. I can let her walk outside with me or sit out in the front yard while I plant flowers. Rarely does she run off too far unlike the boys. She also is very good inside. She's just a dog that I need sometimes when I need a companion but am too tired to move around and play. She's a great girl dog.

Basically, all three of my dogs mean something different to me. They each fill a different part of my heart... a different need in my soul. Achilles offers me loyalty, companionship and protection. Smoltz gives soooo much unconditional love. He is always ready to love and be affection... a lot like his mommy. Maybelle gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. She is just too cute for words... and she also needs me too which makes me feel so motherly... a need I've been wanting to feel for a while! Hopefully, that'll happen sooner than later... but with a real baby!

I think tonight, I am going to go home and snuggle with all three of my dogs... but I am starting with Smoltzee first.

Cupcake Cuteness

am throwing my old roommate, Abbi, a baby shower in a few weeks, and I found the cutest cupcake liners that I am going to use! I want everything to look very pretty and feminine so I am also pulling out the spring china and flowers so this will be a frilly and fun day! Check out these other liners I found here on Etsy. Some of these shops on Etsy have the coolest cupcake toppers and decorating pieces. I also though that this website, Bake It Pretty, had some very neat stuff. Ever go to those specialty bakeries and wonder where they get all their cool decorations? Well Bake it Pretty is definitely one of those places! I especially love the section where they have edible sugar flowers and buttons that you can put on your cupcakes too. If I don't watch out... I might go crazy and start baking WAY too much! That won't be so good for my thighs...

Toodaloo!