Five on Friday

 It's been awhile since I've done a Five on Friday post so here we go!

1. Snowpocalypse - I'm sure this will be featured in many of the Southern girls' posts this week and all you Northern girls are probably laughing at us, but hey, we just aren't used to seeing the white stuff!  The storm hit Mobile Tuesday afternoon.  I was working across the bay in Montrose and decided to leave early since all our clients were panicking and canceling their appointments anyways.  It had already started sleeting, and I came out to find my car iced over.  It even took me a couple tries to open my car door.

not used to seeing this!

By the time I got home, our yard was already turning white.  Cameron and I bundled up on the sofa with a fire and holed up for the next 24 hours.  The entire city was shut down - yep, all for 1-2 inches of snow/ice!  The road we live off of was closed due to all the hills so there really was no where to go.  By Wednesday afternoon, we had cabin fever and so did our friends Steve and Leslie down the street so we went to hang out with them for a while.  Thursday morning, I headed back to work and had a brief episode with skidding across the ice on the interstate.  Thankfully, I was going slow since I had just passed an accident and managed to straighten out without running into anyone, but I've come to the decision that the North can keep their snow.  I have no interest in it!

2. Bark Box - I've been considering a Bark Box subscription for Lola & Lilly for a while so when it showed up on Groupon I jumped at the opportunity.  If you aren't familiar with Bark Box, it's a monthly subscription box for your dogs.  You choose the size of your pet, how many months you want to commit to, then each month a box arrives with toys and treats just for them.  The girls' first box arrived a couple weeks ago and it's safe to say they loved it!

Each box comes with a card describing each item included in the box.  This month we had an R2P Sprong football, Loving Pets Barksters treats, Think! Dog Alligator Jerky, Grandma Bowser's peanut butter treats, and a Barkworthies bully stick. We chose a 6 month subscription, but I have a feeling the Bark Box will probably be arriving at the Gill house for much longer!  If you're interested in a Bark Box for your pup, you can use my referral link here.

3. Kitten Bowl - Since we're on the topic of pets, have you heard of the Kitten Bowl on the Hallmark channel Sunday before the Super Bowl?  I've heard of the Puppy Bowl, but apparently this year there will also be a Kitten Bowl to promote cat adoptions.  It's the brainchild of Beth Stern (Howard Stern's wife - who knew??) and looks pretty freaking cute!

4. Cookie Dough Oreos - Has anyone had these???  I've been on the hunt for them.  Apparently, they aren't really released until after the Super Bowl, but a few select stores have them.  According to one of the local radio DJs, they are in fact in Mobile, but I have yet to find them.  I love Oreos and I've been known to eat cookie dough with a spoon so what's not to love?

5. Spider Veins - I'm sure you're wondering, Huh?  Why is that on your Friday Five?  Well, I have been plagued by these lovely purple lines for years.  They first started showing up in high school and have gotten progressively worse.  I'm sure they aren't that noticeable to anyone but me, but I still hated them.  This week during my visit to my derm friend to have some moles checked out, she hooked me up with a little laser treatment for my spider veins.  Yeah, she's a great friend!  Of course, right now, it looks like I have leprosy on my legs, but I can't wait to see what it looks like in a couple weeks.  Has anyone else ever had this done?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Family Photos

Cameron and I haven't had professional pictures taken since our engagement/wedding pictures almost 6 years ago. And since Lola and Lilly weren't in our lives then, they never have.  They do appear in our Christmas card each year, but those pictures were always taken by a friend. I really wanted to get good professional photos taken to document this phase in our life - before kids, when the four legged kids are our only kids. We hired local photographer Jaimie of Bubblewood Photography. We actually had these pictures taken back in November for our Christmas card, but I'm just getting around to sharing them!  She did a great job with two pups who were less than cooperative. We spent forever that morning at the dog park to wear them out, but all that was forgotten when we showed up at Bayfront Park. It was a new place with lots of things to explore and the girls wanted to look everywhere, but AT the photographer!  Lesson learned. Next time, show up early for the appointment and wear them out right before. Anyways, on to the photos...

And this was the one we chose for our Christmas card:

And since I'm sharing family photos, here's my family's Christmas photo:

Lazy Weekend

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  It was pretty lazy around here - at least for me.  Cameron left for a tuna fishing trip in the midst of the winter storm sweeping across the south. It was doomed from the start - and I thought they were crazy to want to go fishing when it was freezing cold.  The guys left on Friday for Grand Isle, LA, intending on fishing all day on Saturday but the charter captain decided the 6 ft seas were no bueno so they laid around watching football and headed out early Sunday. The plan was to fish most of the day and still make it back to mobile Sunday night.  Everything was going great until one of the motors went out when they were 47 miles offshore. Then they started the excruciatingly slow trip back.  Only one guy's phone was getting reception that far out so I got my updates through his wife and finally talked to Cameron just after midnight when they docked. He told me they were spending the night so I finally went to bed. Apparently plans changed because he walked in the door this morning before 6 and crawled into bed for a quick nap before he had to get ready for work. I told you the trip was doomed!  But at least they caught fish, just not tuna!

Cameron caught some kind of rare triggerfish

I on the other hand had a very lazy weekend.  It was sleeting on Friday, a fairly unusual occurrence in mobile so I came home from work, changed into sweatpants, crawled under a cozy blanket with a glass of wine and didn't move. Saturday night I did venture out for dinner with the girls.  Mary and Sara are both pregnant and due in April & may. It's so fun listening to them getting ready for the babies to arrive. Darla and I aren't quite sure what to think just yet!  Other than my night out, I spent my weekend doing things around the house and checking off a few things on my to do list. Nothing too exciting. 

Oh and this sweet boy celebrated his 5th birthday. Sadly we couldn't make the trip to Austin, but my brother did send me a picture of Elijah rocking his new yellow rain boots we sent.

We are gearing up for even colder weather for the next couple days - maybe even a little snow!  

Showering Baby Hunley

A couple weeks ago I took off to Charleston for a long weekend. Well, technically, Summerville, one of the suburbs and the town where I grew up.  This was an extra special trip because I was in town to help host a baby shower for one of my good friends, Caroline.  Her baby girl, Hunley, is due in February.

I hosted the party with our friend Amelia at her beautiful new house. It was crazy planning a shower from 2 states away, but I think the shower was a success!

the guestbook

Baby Shower Bingo

topping for the hot chocolate bar (I forgot to get a picture of the rest of the food!)

only part of the gifts

working on their bingo cards

since I haven't blessed my mother with a baby yet, she put her sewing skills to work for Caroline's!

Of course, Hunley needs an Auburn dress

and maybe some Gamecocks wear to make her daddy happy, too!

Caroline's not a fan of the bump pics, but I made her do it anyways

Caroline with her mother & mother-in-law

with Caroline & my mom

with Caroline & Amelia

Of course I couldn't go back to Charleston and not spend at least a little time downtown. We spent Sunday afternoon wandering the Market and King Street.  The shopping has improved quite a bit since I was there.  I wandered into the new C.Wonder store just in time for a great sale.  My mom came down for the shower too, so it was so great to spend some time with her as well.

And I even got some steamed oysters.  Personally, I prefer them raw, but when in Charleston...

 It was so good to be back even if it was a quick trip!  Cameron and I both plan to go back for a longer trip after Hunley is born, and I can't wait!