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!

My Newborn Niece, Nevie

ow that's a tongue twister. Say that three times fast. Newborn Niece Nevie, Newborn Niece Nevie! Newborn Niece Nevie! I can't even type it fast! Well, enough of that. Here's introducing the most precious little addition to my family...

Nevie Alane Smith

born February 19th at midnight

6lbs 3.8 oz & 19 inches long

daughter of Graham Dhu & Cynthia Raine Smith

Spring Is in the Air

ell, technically we have a few more weeks and it IS cold in Savannah. Usually this time of year it is starting to warm up and the azaleas are blooming. But not yet. The stores are selling spring flowers though and I did just get over sinusitis and bronchitis which usually doesn't happen too often to me. When is does, it's usually spring. So as far as I'm concerned, Spring has almost sprung!

Speaking of sprung, look at the beautiful Spring Tulips I bought at Home Depot yesterday. Aren't they lovely? Now, I know you're not supposed to transplant tulips once they've already bloomed, but it really is too late to force bulbs indoors, so I decided to take a risk and transplant them on my dining room table anyways. I just added some rocks for drainage at the bottom of this glass pot, and as best as I could, I tried to move the plant (after I cut off the plastic container) to the new pot without disturbing the dirt, bulbs and roots too much. So basically, the tulips are still in the same position and soil they were in before. I guess we'll see how long they last, or if they go into shock!

I really wouldn't recommend doing this, I just really needed to put a new plant there in that pot and I was desperate to get something there fast. Otherwise, I would've had some indoor appropriate bulbs ready once my amaryllis died. It's hard to find any in the store right now, but during Christmas, there are tons of Amaryllis and Paperwhites. Maybe next year I'll stock up!

Febuary 25, 2010

I love my newborn niece, Nevie Alane Smith! (pictures to come soon!)

A day late...

his is a day late, but I hope everyone had a Happy Valentines Day!! Savannah had snow this past weekend! Snow and Love. You can't get much better than that!

February 15, 2010

I love my boyfriend Drew so much!

Unique Valentines

emember when we were children, and the most exciting part of Valentine's Day was seeing how many cards you got from your schoolmates? That was always so much fun. I think everyone was pretty much guaranteed to get Valentines. The designs were always so cute. Even though I am no longer a child, I still LOVE to give out Valentines and to receive them. These days, the designs aren't as inspiring to me and the cards can get expensive, so if I'm going to buy some, I want to buy something unique that no one else will get. My other alternative is to make them myself. I think nothing is better than receiving a handmade card. It definitely shows that you were really thinking about the person and wanted to give them something special. It's better than receiving candy in my opinion!

So here's my quest for you... if you don't want to buy cards, make your own this year. Sit down with your children or friends and make an afternoon of it!

If you like the vintage, handmade look of the cards above and below, check out this Etsy store, Love You by ReverieCreations. She makes beautiful vintage cards from mixed media! You can use them for occasions other than Valentine's Day too. She does custom orders as well!

Another great blog with lots of inspiration for me is http://patinasoul.blogspot.com/. She has great ideas and I just love looking at all the photos she posts. You can get some great ideas on there. She's ALSO doing a $50 Vintage Jewelry Giveaway. How awesome huh? That could be a great Valentine gift for someone special right there!

I hope you enjoy these two sites. They are definitely on my lists of faves right now!

February 9, 2010

I love the creative mind. I love how another person's creativity can inspire you to be more creative too!

My new sister

ongratulations are in order for my brother Graham and his new wife Cyndi. They got married yesterday and I couldn't be more thrilled. I love Cyndi to pieces! She's by far the sweetest and most level-headed down to earth girl Graham has brought home. I couldn't have asked for a better sister in law. As an only daughter (well, I was for a while anyway before my little sister Michaela was born) I always worried about the girls who would end up being my sister in laws. I prayed that they'd be girls that I got along with naturally and would've hung out with in real life. Cyndi is definitely that. We have a lot in common I think, and I can't wait to share the things with her that sister in laws share together. I am especially looking forward to the end of this month, which is when Cyndi and Graham's daughter, Nevie is due! I get to be "Aunt Lana" again! Cyndi, if you read this, I hope you are as excited about being my sister as I am about being yours. I know I have a big mouth, talk kind of loud, say things without thinking, and can be a bit whiny sometimes... but it's really just the side effects of growing up with all boys. Now that you are in the family, I hope that will help! :)

Last night, after these two were wed, Drew & I, Cyndi & Graham, Jamie & Joe, Mom & Mike, and the children, Michaela & Gage, all went to Longhorns in Statesboro to celebrate. It was a LOT of fun. After that, we took a trip to Kay Jeweler's while Graham and Cyndi picked out their wedding bands. It was nice celebrating with a good portion of the family that were there! Good ole Statesboro, Georgia down-home fun

Congratulations you two! I love you and will always pray for your relationship!

February 5, 2010

I love the Blackberry Peach Margaritas at Longhorns. Talk about refreshing!!

(Savannah) Georgia On My Mind

ome days, like today, when I am really caught up at work, I will spend hours on Google Images searching for the most random things. Sometimes I'll actually look for files that I can use in my artwork, and other times I just get on there to find inspiration. Today I found the most wonderful old photos of my home, Savannah, Georgia, on Wikipedia Commons. The majority of the photos were taken in the mid 19th Century, some closer to the turn of the century. It is so incredible to look at all of these places where I've visited... stood!... and then see people who were born BEFORE the Civil War, standing in the same places. While America's history is fairly young, it still amazes me, because 200 years is still a long time.

Today is February 3, 2010 and I love this historical town, my home, Savannah.

Oh, and I love Chick-fil-A Icedreams too!

The History of the Apron

dear friend knows how much I love aprons and she sent me this little story about the history of the apron. Enjoy.

February 2, 2010

I love aprons or anything the my grandmama might have worn back in the 40's and 50's!

THE HISTORY OF THE APRON

"The principal use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress

underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons

than dresses and they used less material, but along with that,

it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children’s tears,

and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs,

fussy chicks and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in

the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal

hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,

bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were

brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetable

After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in

apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road,

it was surprising how much furniture that old apron

could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch,

waved her apron, and the men folks knew it was time to come in

from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that

will replace that ‘old-time apron’ that served so many purposes."

For a neat little apron shop on Etsy. click here.

To make your own apron using darling patterns, click here.