A Lemon Lime Wedding

Let's get this party started, shall we? I am here to get down while sharing a very special wedding with you folks. So warm up your chicken arms & electric slide because we are gonna boogie the night away....with a very lemony & limey celebration.




I was thrilled outta my face when I received an invitation that stated my long-time buddy Jack was takin the plunge and finally settling down. Jack is a good ole boy at heart (one time he made me a gift outta concrete...yeah...it was almost as awesome as the one he made with a chainsaw) but he is a true romantic too. So I knew that when we walked up to the outdoor ceremony complete with TONS of flowers - this was truly a reflection of the beautiful bride and my boy Jack.



And speaking of the bride, Callae looked absolutely radiant in her cream beaded gown and pearl necklace. Can you believe this girl doesn't have to wear makeup!?!? (enter choice words here). If it were possible to actually change my skin color outta pure jealousy - I would blend right in with her color scheme which was an amazing blend of yellows, greens, and whites. And the color of her bouquet really picked up those hues by highlighting the white & golden roses.



But Callae wasn't the only thing decked out with flowers - they were everywhere. It was like a florist shop exploded and all the perfectly arranged groups became magically fastened to each row of chairs, the lamps, the doors, the railings, and everywhere inbetween. Like the one pictured above - yeah, the one with hydrangeas, roses, and lilys - was attached to a stairway that lead us from the ceremony spot down to the adjoining reception facility.



The view from the party spot was unreal. In one direction, you are looking up the hill to see the small gazebo where Jack & Callae said "I do" with the chapel behind it. And the other way, you are overlooking farmlands to view Watts Bar Lake & the Tennessee mountains! Did I mention that this was the perfect spot to get married? Yeah...if weddings were karate - the Whitestone Country Inn would be Mister Miyagi....and he really knows how to kick it :)



Greeting us at the reception was a table loaded with vintage glassware and huge jars of lemonade and limeade. Dontcha just love the floaters? You knew it was coming...didn't you?! :)



And after we grabbed a glass of our favorite sweet & tart beverage we were ushered into the reception space. The first thing that grabbed my attention was the slew of food. And after I stopped hunching over the buffet like a vulture ready to pounce, I realized that waiters had trays with something on it that smelled like bacon. I was correct. Pineapple wrapped in bacon, shrimp cocktail served in mini shot glasses and chocolate covered strawberries were just enough to keep the hunger at bay...at least for a few minutes.



The crew of hungry men that live in my stomach didn't have to wait long because we were soon invited to the feast that I had earlier undressed with my eyes. This was my first plate. The second had chicken and the third had seven bacon appetizers. (oh and do you see the ceremony program in the back? Yeah - simple & cute - I was totally loving the green ribbon!)



I couldn't wait to share the small centerpiece (I didn't get a shot of the big ones!) that made it's home on our table. I love the lemon & lime slices like boys love their own parts. It's seriously that much. (and doesn't it kinda remind you of the baby shower I threw back in October - but with more fab goldenness?)




And love wouldn't be love without cake to celebrate, right? The wedding cake was a layered feast with pound cake with lemon filling and a white cake with strawberries mixed in to accent the strawberry cream cheese icing. It was heavenly. HEAVENLY! And even with it's angelic status, it didn't capture my heart like the groom's cake did. Ohhhh. Let me tell you a thing or two. I don't even like cake. I am more of an icecream with a brownie type of girl. But the chocolate thunder that was the groom's cake had me shakin in my heels. Literally. Two people asked if I was ok. And I heard one person whisper that I was having a seizure. It was that good.



Even though I was suffering from slight sugar shock, it didn't stop me from running around taking pictures of the creativity that I could incorporate at home. Just check out this simple vase filled with some citrus fruits and topped with some cream colored flowers. Stunning right? But imagine it now in the center of your buffet the next time you host a dinner party. Yes - your friends will think you are a decorating genius.




And if that wasn't enough - look at these small round fishbowls filled with some leaves and either a fruit or flower. Hello to a centerpiece that is easy to talk over and will increase your reputation!



If the running around, bootie dancing and jumping up and down was enough to burn off the 4000 calories I had consumed, the newlyweds were kind enough to make sure we could take a little something home with us. Isn't that sweet? (heehee!) This candy bar was consumed with the wedding colors - but not that I noticed. I was too busy pushing kids out of the way so that I could get the scoops first! I filled my little box - and one for my boyfriend - made a mental note to say how much I love the yellow ribbon stripes - and headed out to the car for the long drive home.



But don't you worry - we were smart enough to set the camera on a timer for the obligatory couples picture. Didn't my Jeremy look so dashing in his suit? Seriously - if I hadn't been in such a rush to get back to watch the shows on our DVR, I would probably wanted to renew our vows right then and there. Yeah, I am a thunderstealer.

So now that Jack & Callae are off traveling the globe (yes - their honeymoon was a monthlong trip around the world) - let's eat bacon outta jealousy talk about our favorite part of the wedding. Was it the amazing centerpieces? the location, location, location? the spritely color scheme? or are you a girl like me who votes with her tastebuds? Aren't buffets amazing?!

Inside This Young House

Don't worry. No breakin & enterin laws were broken with the writing of this post. And I didn't actually go inside casa de Petersik. In fact, all I did was obsessively observe when they came to visit. And then I opened the floor for a bit of nosiness to you. That's right. I was gonna give you the low down on John and Sherry...but apparently you don't have that many questions. BOO YOU. Either that or you don't read my posts...in which case, I don't blame ya.



Seriously, only Anon & Karin spoke up. So first I will answer their questions and then I will answer questions that you should have asked. That will be the fun part.


Karin - excellent inquiries. Let me be frank for a moment (you guys be Ron)...while they share some of the same qualities - they are definitely different people. I would say John is more easy going than Sherry. And Sherry is definitely more bubbly. And while they are both more stylish than me in their choices of home decor and clothing - I would say that they aren't the kind of people who obsess over the upcoming fads and trends. From seeing them IRL - how they dress, and talk about their home, they don't take ONLY style into account...but cost, usefulness, and longevity. Which I think is why they are so popular.

And as far as the blog goes - I saw it happen with my own two eyes. Sherry does reply to some answers (like questions about their paint colors & where to buy stuff) on her own...and gasp, use the 'we' instead of 'I'. BUUUUUT, I also saw Sherry & John work together to come up with answers...four eyes are better than two (that's what I always say!). And I saw John do a bunch of behind-the-scenes work to make sure that the comments, layout, production of posts, and some email questions were bloggerific. And no...Burger does not participate in answering questions.

Anon...this is actually more of a question for John & Sherry...but I think that the probably of me freaking them out is quite high. And yes, the thought of chaining them up in the basement and forcing them to create thousands of moodboards for my home did enter my mind...but then I reconsidered. After all, we have windows down there. If they escaped then how could they ever fall in love with me?!?


Ok - now onto the questions I was really hoping you would ask that weren't asked...

1. How often did they go to the bathroom? Sherry went into the bathroom twice the day she arrived, four times one day, three the other. But I only counted the times that she went downstairs...so probably increase that number by two for each day (once upon waking, once before bed). And I have no idea if she actually used the restroom...we don't have a camera in there...that would be weird.

2. Did you sense any tension in their relationship/was John gay? The only time I sensed tension was when John was checking out Jeremy. I have no idea if John is gay but I did find a Playgirl magazine in the guestroom. Whose was it? I guess we'll never know :)

3. Was Sherry a little tart? I didn't actually taste Sherry so I have no clue. I will tell ya this tidbit of fun - the girl can talk quicker than anyone I know. But then again I do live in the south...they can make the word 'fast' into four syllables.

and lastly....

4. Was Burger actually a stuffed Taco Bell dog doll? At first I thought he might be...but no. I checked the poop in the backyard and I have never seen a doll poo something so tasty. Just checkin to see if you were still reading :) Actually we loved Burger lots and lots...he loved to snuggle on the top of pillows...like a princess but with little boydoggie parts.


So there you have it...all the info you might ever need on the Petersiks. Stay tuned for a post on our fabulous new kitchen runner and how we did our duty to protect it from harm :)

May Goals

April Goals

1. Finish super duper secret project SUCCESS
2. Make a treat for firemen (still 'hotties' still hungry) POSTPONED
3. Go to the gym a total of six times FAILED
4. Finish copying all photos onto Snapfish and Photobucket PARTIAL SUCCESS PARTIAL FAILURE
5. Plant front yard garden bed with shrubs SUCCESS
6. Hire elusive Athenian to mud basement POSTPONED
7. Sew two pillows & four dishtowels SUCCESS
8. Read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen FAILED
9. Dance for at least one minute every day SUCCESS
10. Take birth control & vitamin every day FAILED
11. Finish dressing room POSTPONED
12. Finish master bedroom POSTPONED BUT NOT MY FAULT


May Goals

1. Girldate a Blogger
2. Make treats for firemen (still 'hotties' still very hungry)
3. Swim at gym three times
4. Finish copying all photos onto Snapfish and Photobucket
5. Write one encouraging note each week
6. Hire elusive Athenian to mud basement
7. Spray paint outdoor furniture
8. Buy, borrow, or rent Pride & Prejudice
9. Non-car dance for at least one minute every day
10. Upholster blue chair
11. Finish dressing room
12. Finish master bedroom

Please note that #1 is totally non-lezzy...I just wanna turn my internet connection into a real-life friend finder. We could all use more IRL friends right? So here is my ad...

MWF seeks F for non-experimental sisterhood-of-the-traveling-jeans-type-friendship. Interests include snoopbloggin, thriftiness, eating bacon, This Young House (go vote!), and Edward Cullen. Girl with girl action could include shopping at Goodwill, shopping at Pottery Barn outlet, eating bacon, reality TV watching and crafting crafty crafts. Location - metro Thuglanta. Must tolerate non-pc comments, celebrity & potty jokes, the constant smell of bacon, and penny pinching. Boyfriend-type-husband optional at events if bromance can be brewed.

Interested? Email me at allbowerpower@gmail.com

Not interested? (Hey Anon, I'm talkin to you...you know I love you) Email me at allbowerpower@gmail.com

Not so Gore-y Anymore-y

Jeepers-creepers! Maybe three of you were around when I first talked about our friends, the Gores, who bought a lake house chock full of potential. Now that there are like ten of you (holla 300% increase in readers!) I wanted to share the finished product.

and peeps, you wanna buckle your seat belt for this one. and wear a helmet. preferably a full faced one.

Before the room was a bedroom. With hunter green carpet. Let's just say that it was as so ugly that if you threw it on the beach, cats would try to bury it. That's my little Jeremy (with the red shirt) when we went up to build stuff and teach drywalling 101. Isn't he a cutie?

After the newly bedazzled kitchen is totally drool-worthy. All new stainless-steel appliances, new hardwood floors and a fancy new layout were just the start to a drop-dead gorgeous space.

In order to get the new wide entry into the kitchen, a wall had to bite the bullet.


And this was how Jeremy & I left it the last time we came to visit.



After four months, this baby is definitely an improved view. Not only does the punched-out doorway allow for more light to be shed into the kitchen and the great room, but the flow of the house has improved a trillion percent. Plus the view down to the lake from the kitchen is to DIE for. literally. you must die if you don't love it. I have all the Bower Power and if you don't like lakehouses, you must go away. just kidding. only sorta.



Back to non-rambling. The view from the kitchen into the great room before. Yes that is me. no...the other one...the one in the back.



And TA-DA! Fab, right? Dontcha just love kitchens where you can watch Girls Next Door the kids in the living room?



When the boys took down a closet, it opened up a bunch of space for a....

...wall of custom cabinetry! I am totally digging the antiqued and rich looking white cabinets that just scream "I AM A LAKE HOUSE!" and the dark cabinets with the same details that form the island. Hello beautiful, come to momma.

And the hidden hood is just icing on the cake at this point. Like none of that gross plastic icing but the good stuff...like homemade cream cheese icing or a lemon glaze with just enough tang or a sweet buttercream icing that could send you into a diabetic seizure....all which are going to be easy to make now that the Gore's have this GORE-geous space!

So 28 isn't so bad...

Since you guys couldn't come to my birthday celebration...I thought I would recap on all the amazing goodies that the birthday fairy brought me. For those of you who don't know...my birthday was last Thursday...and I have been the world's biggest blog slacker....so that is why you haven't heard how great it was.

I had some reservations about turning the ripe old age of 28 but fortunately there was no surprises on the morning of the 5th. No increases in weight or lack of teeth. But as you can see, my kin did look a little bit different at my family party.



My dad looks a little more bald. Besides that...we look pretty normal. for us anyway.




You all voted on a coat and Jeremy listened. Thanks baby! The swing style is just perfect for when a little Bower Power bambino comes. Yes - I had to test it. And the red "Audrey Hepburn" style coat (every other color was gone!) is just perfect for a Valentine's Day date! Give me a high ten on great outerwear!!! YAY! then give me a G! give me a R! give me an 8! What's that spell!?! Crazy cheerleading face!!!



My mom bought me some new music books - yes, I started back at piano. I took a 19 year hiatus from the instrument but thought since I will soon have such bad arthritis, I should start now. Jeremy gets to listen to me practice. Let's just say he would rather listen to Heidi Montag sing "Higher" over and over. Yeah...it's really that bad.




Jeremy's dad and stepmom, Vicki bought me this wishlist item. And I must say that I have big plans for this little woven beauty. It is so textural and fun - and being that it was a complete surprise made it even better. Thanks you guys!

My last apparel item was handpicked by my boyfriend. A sweet little sleep shirt a la Victoria's Secret. It could be because he was sick of my ratty t-shirt/cheer shorts combo that usually subs in as pajamas. Is he trying to say that I am too old to wear shorts with words on the bum? I sure hope not :)



I found these great Martha Stewart nesting bowls at my local Old Time Pottery. The next chance I got, I dragged Jeremy in to buy me the set of three -all for under $8! Pretty good considering one large mixing bowl goes for $36 at Macy's! The wait just about killed me because I swore I would "open" them on my birthday. Aren't they just the loveliest shade of blue?



The following night we had a really small get together. I really didn't want a party to celebrate my entrance into upper-twenties. I just wanted our normal get-together-on-a-friday-night-crowd to come over for burgers. I got exactly what I wanted (minus a few friendly faces due to the flu).



And the best gift was from a far away land. Jen from A Thousand Words sent me a really great birthday package all the way from England. It was so thoughtful of her! I spent a few hours poring over the UK magazines (do you think I could get a subscription, please?!?) and sipping on the South African tea...it was heavenly! And not only did she include a bunch of goodies for me to enjoy on my big day - she also thought of my lovely boyfriend! Believe me Jen, this bar of manly goodness is a sure-fire way to my guy's heart! Thank you a million times over.



And a big fat birthday smooch goes out to all you wonderful blooogers who wished me a very happy 28th. Your virtual friendship and internet well-wishes really made my day. You da bomb diggity! And maybe one day we can all celebrate together - like a giant combined birthday party...with Dippin' Dots and balloons and clowns and a pony. The only question is - Who gets the birthday spankings? And who dishes them out? (ooohhhh pick me!!! pick me!!)

Word Vomit and my Boss

Sometimes I open my mouth without control of what is coming out. It's kinda like throwing up but less chunky. It's word vomit.

Case in point - I word vomitted my boss. His name is Rick. He is a great boss. And I definitely love the almost four years I have worked for him. However on a personal level - he is a bit like Michael Scott. Ya know...OCD sometimes. Thinks of his employees as family. Excessively clean. Politically incorrect most of the time. It's great. And it makes for a very fun workplace.

Let's set the stage for the barf. Obviously, I work in the Atlanta area in the main office. He has a huge house here. But he lives in one of his two houses in Grand Cayman. And in the winter he goes to his house in Keystone, Colorado. Ridiculous right? So with his choice of beach or mountains, Atlanta usually doesn't win out - which is fine because with telecommuting, we can reach him day or night.

Last week Rick was here and he said something about eating sushi alone. That's when the projectile started...'why don't you come eat with Jeremy and I on Thursday?' It came out before I had a chance to swallow it back down. It's not that I don't want to spend time with the guy - it is just that my house is ridiculously messy and dusty, I am not the best cook, and I don't want him to get the impression that I am a poor hostess. I would just really like for him to believe that I can excel at anything...that's not weird, right? The desire to impress your boss? Sure this might not seem like a big deal to you. But just to put this in perspective - I am one of four ladies that work for him. We all are very tight. And he hasn't ever been to anyone's house. This is new territory.

Last night - I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. My boyfriend and I painted the piece of furniture that Rick gave us with another coat of primer (so that he can see we appreciate it and are eager to use it). And I did all the food prep I could so that tonight I can just go home and pop it in.

Also, I set the table. Here are some photos (I thought you would prefer to see our island inspired tablescape over the before and afters of the bathrooms - eww!)



I decided on the island theme because I thought it would make him feel at home. The flowery table runner was under $4 at Pier 1. I thought that it didn't look completely out of place in our more traditional dining room because of its neutral colors. What do you think?



The centerpiece was uber-easy and has a bit of sea-inspired decor with the woven textural balls. Four balls placed in a red bamboo bowl and wahLA! - instant centerpiece. Easy to do, easy to move come eating time. I flanked the bowls with two brown mercury glass votives to add a warm glow.



White dinner plates are a standard around these parts. Top them off with any decorative accent plate for a huge variety of different tablesettings. They are so versatile, everyone should have some. I layered plain red plates on my dinner plates for some drama. Add one napkin with a dark napkin ring and one red mini drink umbrella and I got me a tablescape that puts the WOW in luau. (I crack me up!)

Adding personalization is always a plus. My Southern Living Dress-me-up plate got a red ribbon to add some crimson flavor to the buffet and a message especially for Rick.


So what do you think? Does it look fit for a king...err...a boss? And I definitely wanna know if you have blown word chunks at your boss, or tossed some verbal cookies with a coworker, or hurled some random stranger! Spill it...err, spew it :)

08 Relived

Sweet memories of 2008:

January

• Hosting the Couples Halo Tournament

February

• Turning 27!!!
• Mountain biking

March

• Discovering the North Georgia outlets
• Hunting for Easter Eggs

April

• Helping with the Bluegrass Ho down & Bingo Night
• Throwing Austin a bridal shower

May

• Visiting New York
• Exploring Boston

June

• Trip to Eleuthera
• Rafting with my work folks
• Introducing Bower Power to the blogosphere

July

• Visiting a best friend in California
• Modeling in the Chattanooga Bridal Show
• Celebrating Cole's 4th Birthday

August

• Family vacation to Disney World
• Rafting with the youth group

September

• Taking a lake break

October

• Celebrating our 1st anniversary in Niagara Falls
• Dressing up for Halloween
• Pretending to be a photographer
• Throwing Brook a baby shower

November

• Friendsgiving

December

• Hosting our 2nd annual Christmas party
• Excursion to Grand Cayman
• Celebrating my boyfriend's 32nd birthday

ALL YEAR LONG

• Being a part of many weddings & graduations & birthday parties
• Getting to meet new members of society #1 #2 #3
• Finishing our kitchen
• Working on our dining room
• Improving our master bedroom
• Cleaning up the dressing room
• Finalizing the guest bathroom
• Making progress in the office
• Completing the living room
• Starting our basement
• Renovating the den
• Repainting the hall

Sucky moments of 2008:

• Visiting the fair
• Hurting my knee
• Killing a brave little squirrel
• Falling off my bike and intersecting with the tree & rocks
• My Mummum's knee replacement
• Gaining 20 lbs
• Getting 14 laser hair removal treatments (ouch!)
• Losing my dear Aunt Kay
• My mom's ACL surgery
• My sister's mouth surgery
• My seven visits to the dentist
• Not getting to visit my grandmother
• Discovering how much fat is in a Chickfila milkshake

Overall - it truly was a fantastic year. One for the record books. I even got to use my passport twice! There were low spots - like when I had one friend move far away...but high ones too, like getting closer (metaphorically speaking) to other friends - like you. You know who you are...my little internet-never-met-in-flesh-and-blood-buddies. So before I start dreaming about what is to come in oh-nine, I wanna make sure you know that all of you dear lovely friends helped make my oh-eight one of the best years yet. And I hope that you have a fun (like a fat kid in a chocolate factory amount of fun) and safe New Year's Eve!

See ya in 2009! Peace out 08!

The Boyfriend's Birthday Party

My husband, known to many (or all thirteen of you) as my boyfriend, celebrated his 32nd birthday this past weekend. We had a grand ole time!

Jeremy wanted "no party" "no cake" and "no big deal made" for his annual event. So I obliged...sortof. I invited three of our closest friend couples and my family. Afterwards, we scooted over to our house to open some pressies. Only one couple had to jet out early. Let's do some introductions to our small non-party guests:

Lori and Cole came....during the non-party, Cole and I had a discussion about babies. He said he wants one. I told him he must find a wife first. He took it rather well.

My dad and mom came. I like to call them Will.I.Am and Little Debbie. Those are their rapper names. If you ask them, they will confirm it.

That is Austin and her husband Luke. Austin likes awkward situations and Luke is prone to them...so Austin likes Luke.

There is Lilley! She is the throw-up princess. I had to change my shirt twice that night. But it was worth it because she is so darn cute.

Lilley's dad Kent. He's holding a pacifier...it's funny because he actually talks about baby gear now like he used to talk about electronics.

And of course Brook and me (in shirt #2).

So wanna know what I got him? I know you do. I like knowing things like that.

Well, I wrote him a little ditty. An ode if you will. And then I sang it to him in front of everyone. And if you know me in real life, you know that I am the only person in my family that CAN'T sing. It's ridiculous. Like the music fairy blessed everyone else with the gift of song...but somehow missed me.

So here is the song. It is to the tune of My Favorite Things (Sound of Music...yea!)

Orange & White fan and Cannondale rider
Pro football lover and Money provider
Washy blue eyes that twinkle and sing
William Jeremy is my favorite thing

Encouraging friend and remote control sharer
Lover and brother and protector from terror
Got down on one knee to give me this ring
William Jeremy is my favorite thing

Boy in white polo with blue jeans and sneakers
Can fix the TV and our thousands of speakers
Give him a drill – he’s the handyman king
William Jeremy is my favorite thing

When my cramps strike, when my mood swings
When I get a bug
I simply remember my favorite thing
His smile's an addictive drug

And then I got him the following:

• adidas socks
• nike socks
• boxer briefs
• nike fleece pants (think this is it)
• nike dryfit tee (kinda like this)
• polo
• Dark Knight Blue Ray Disc

When he opened that last one, he said "oh yea - this movie is great! Thanks hon. Too bad we don't have a blue ray player to play it on..."

And that is when I whipped out the finale present. The gift that tops them all.

Yup, the P-shizzle to the trifold. That is the Playstation 3 to all you non-rapper-folks. It was a thrill to see him open it and actually be excited. I mean, how exciting are socks, right? I love this picture. He was so happy. and apparently boys like gaming systems that have blue-ray players no matter what age. Cole immediately knew what it was and asked if he could race cars on it. I guess we might as well start him early...don't want him to be the reject in middle school because he isn't a pro at Call of Duty.

Oh and on a side note - this was a huge purchase for me to make. I have been saving for months. But it was worth every cent. Especially when Jeremy told me that his favorite gift was the song :) Happy Birthday Sweetie...you da bomb diggity.