Winner!!

Whoops, sorry guys!! Didn't mean to keep you waiting an extra day!! But sister-in-law had her baby yesterday so my phone and email were off the charts!! Then we went out with the family to celebrate (except poor husband who worked till 8).  I'm so excited to have 4 beautiful nephews!! Although I don't think the 4 year old nephew will apprecite being called "beautiful". 

To be fair, I went to Random.Org.  I don't know how you other bloggers get the actual picture on here but this was my best shot:

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 5 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Lucky #5!!! Meredith over at And They're Off.  Congrats girl!! Send me the initials you want monogrammed and I'll put that order in for you and hopefully will be able to give it to you at our lil dinner party we are having!  

I'm a bit jealous of Meredith, I've never won anything from blogland =( 

Meredith had asked me on my Flea Market post if I knew if Lexington had any type of Flea Market like the one I went to in Nashville. 

Sadly I have never discovered one in Lexington like the one in Nashville.  That Flea Market was SUPER CRAZY.  But there are some alternatives in good ol' Lexvegas. 

An Antique Affair takes place the 2nd weekend of every month on Manchester Street.  Pro: They have lots of beautiful things Con: They are way pricey.  I think all antique dealers in Lexington are way over priced.  But you can always find a good deal on something there!! And don't forget to bargin with them...it's what junking is all about. 

Here are some things I saw the last time I went to the Antique Affair: (and note, the pictures will be upside down because I am on my work computer and it's older than dirt...well maybe not quite that old...)

I have been DROOLING WITH MY MOUTH WIDE OPEN for this chair (actually there are 2 of them) for over a year now.  Hubby has even commented that it's a great chair but we don't have any place for it.  I even love the oriental rug it's on too.

They have lots and lots of silver goods and old china.  Some are priced to the max and some are a steal! I can't get enough of silver goods! They NEVER go out of style...or if they have, I chosen to ignore that detail. 

Grrr, sorry it's upside down.  But there are like 4 things I love in this picture.  The black planter box on the top shelf, the picture to the left (I actually bought that), the horse head book ends, and the silver lamp. 

I really want these too, but they were $15 a piece =(  and I think hubby would kill me if I came home with any more wine glasses (after the wedding, we have a ton!!)

I want this canvas of Scarlet soooo bad!! But have no where to put it.  I think if I had a fancy smancy dressing room, it would be perfect there!!! As of last month, there were 2 of these canvases at the Antique Affair. 

I want it! I want it!!! They have lots of beautiful lamps for sale!!

And tons of really pricey furniture too.  It's pretty to look at, but I'm afraid that's all my wallet will allow me to do.  The wallet and hubby keep me on a tight leash.

Of course you'll find a lil bit of everything at the Antique Affair on Manchester Street.  I almost came home with this bad boy too:

Other ideas to find some thrifty goods are yard sales (they should be popping up pretty soon!!)
I know Greenbriar subdivision has a neighborhood yard sale one weekend in April.  Also lots of church's have rummage sales in the summer as well.  There is a new Peddlars Mall in Lexington off New Circle Road where I have had some success, but the only down fall is that you can't negotiate prices there.  Takes the fun out of it. 



Oh you might also try our "antique district" on Leestown Road.  Compared to other town's antique districts, our is a bit shabby.  Room Service, Scouts (or Scotts?) Antiques is also a good Saturday morning stroll. 

Alright, well everyone have a great Thursday! And congrats again to Meredith!

Happy Birthday To Me!! And My First Giveaway!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Ok, so it's technically not MY birthday (that's June 23rd if you want to go ahead and mark your calendars) but it's my BLOGS birthday. 

I started my blog for 2 reasons.  1) It was tax season (and still is tax season right now) so it gave me something to do while Brian worked long hours and 2) it was a really good way for my friend MC and I to keep up with each others house projects. 

Now 71 followers later, I'm meeting fellow bloggers, getting advice, feedback, compliments, and keeping up with new and old friends.  It makes me wonder why I still need to be on Facebook?!? (j/j, I still love FB...just not as much as I used to). 

Although I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get to 100th post in my first year...I do have to remind myself that I planned a wedding by myself (with the help of my friends & hubby), adopted another furry child, rented my house out for the World Equestrian Games, was a bridesmaid TWICE and the BRIDE, traveled to Europe, worked 40 hours a week...you get the idea. 

And since I looooooooovvvveeeee getting presents (it's sad how much I love presents), I'm going to give a lucky reader a present for my 1st year celebration. 

It's one of my favorite things...besides, Brian, the cats, the color green and Houndstooth....

A Julep Cup - and it's just in time for horse racing season!

And YES, I wouldn't give a Julep Cup away without getting it monogrammed with YOUR initials. 

I use Juelp cups all the time!! I use them for decoration

These are my Mississippi Julep Cups I got as wedding present - LOVE THEM.

Close up

I use them for flowers around the house

This is actually a pic of Julep Cups at my wedding that were on some of the tables (Revere Bowls were on the other tables, but that will be a separate post).

This is from MC's wedding

I have a Julep Cup in the bathroom...currently holding our toothbrushes and toothpaste (both items taken down for this picture)



I love them so much that hubby got me special Julep straws for Christmas

I even gave them as Bridesmaids presents.  Get the idea?? I really LOVE Julep Cups. 

So to win your VERY OWN MONOGRAMMED JULEP CUP you have to do 2 of my favorite things. 

1) Be a follower

And

2) Leave a comment.  If you wanted to leave a comment saying what your favorite project has been to read...I'd be down with that.  Or if you just want to say Happy Birthday, or a super nice compliment - anything that would make me smile =)

Last day to enter will be Tuesday, April 12th and I'll announce the winner on the 13th!!! Good luck and have a great weekend!!
-Joy D.

P.S.  Brian...since you are a follower, you can enter this too and win me another Julep Cup for my collection!!! Just a thought!

Spring Showers Brings...

Lots of summer babies and weddings!! My weekends have been JAM packed with showers galore and I'm so happy to be included in all the festivities!!

First up, a baby shower for Mrs. Shalanta Gullett who is expecting TWIN BOYS this May! Phew, I'm already exhausted for her!!

(I don't know why the scanner cut off half the invite, sorry Shalanta) 

She's absolutely beautiful!!!  I can NOT wait to meet Ashton and Grayer!!

Ya'll know I love ALL the details for parties so here are some pics for ya. 

I love presents, and watching people open them is my favorite part of the shower...besides the eating part.

The food was SO YUMMY!! I definitely went back for seconds!!

Of course no baby shower is complete without a diaper cake!!! 

I made one diaper cake 2 years ago for my BFF's baby shower and I'm just dyin to make another one!!

And would you look at this cake!!!!! 

The "ta ta's" were rice crispy treats.

I've been waiting for Shalanta to put this pic up on Facebook so I could steal it and put it on my blog.

Next up on the list was an engagement party for our friends Kevin and Emily.  Kevin and Brian have been friends since they were wee little ones.  We're so excited about their wedding but extremely sad that they will be moving to FLORIDA a month afterwards =(  Not only are they our favorite couple to hang out with but Emily is my only "cat friend" in town - meaning she loves cats just as much...if not more. And we talk about them A LOT.  It's OK to be a crazy cat lady around Emily. 
(Sorry guys, the scanner kept scanning the invite in like several pieces because of the stripes)

 They had a brunch at The Barrel House - we had never been there before so we were in for a real treat!  It was great food and great music!

 

Brian had to work (stupid tax season) but he got to stop by for a lil bit.

As you can see, I NEVER win the battle over Brian tucking his shirt in...one day...

Emily & Kev with their beautiful hostesses

I feel very privileged because Emily turns to me for wedding advice =)  Brian and I are hosting a party for them on April 30th and I'm soooo excited about it but a little nervous to be the host!!
And to conclude the March showers, my mother-in-law had a BEAUTIFUL bridal luncheon for the BEAUTIFUL Kristin Ford. 
Kristin explains our relationship here.  I've been VERY fortunate to marry into her family.  Even though we are technically only related through in-laws, Kristin and her family have treated me JUST LIKE their own family member.  They are too good to me and I couldn't have asked for a better extended family. 

My mother-in-law and Mrs. Henley (the other host) had WAY too much fun dressing Kristin up for her shower...

We were welcomed at the front door by Kristin and this beautiful punch display...oh and a pic of Kristin rub a dub dubbing in the bath...

All the tables were decked out in green table cloths, silver, crystal, and china...only the finest for the Future Mrs. Milam

Lil spring hand sanitizers from The Bath and Body Shop were the cute favors. 

 

 All the beautiful table settings made me want to go home and play with all my new entertaining stuff!! It also made me think that I didn't register for enough crystal (hubby is probably rolling his eyes right now).  I do need to be prepared for when I throw a beautiful luncheon...who knows...maybe a baby shower for Kristin is in my future...

And of course there was cake...delicious cake...

I was pretty pumped about my present for Kristin.  I've had it for months!!!! In my defense, she DID register for snuggies...

But I couldn't just give her a plain snuggie so of course I had to get it monogrammed!! Luckily, Kristin likes monograms as much as I do. 

And I didn't want her future hubby to feel left out...

Not sure if Robert likes monograms as much as Kristin and I do...oh well!!  Now there will be absolutely NO confusion whose snuggie is who's. 

I would have gotten a picture of me and the bride-to-be, but I had just had surgery, my tummy was super swollen and none of my cute dresses were fitting...in brief, it wasn't my finest moment.
Kristin got some BEAUTIFUL presents.  I'm hoping as soon as the wedding is over, Kristin and Robert will have some free time to have some fun with us.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Happy Birthday Husband!!! And Thanks to The Talented Jamie!!

Brian turned 28 this past Sunday.  Tear.  We're almost to our 30's. Poor Brian, we never get to do anything super fun for his birthday since it's right in the middle of tax season. Oh and he had to take care of me the entire weekend when he WASN'T working. Poor Brian. 

So I wanted to get Brian a SUPER AWESOME GIFT.  I don't know how, but I kept my mouth shut about his present for almost 3 months!!!! That's a record!!!! I tried to steer clear from anything "practical" (his Christmas request was that he didn't want any practical gifts since we had just gotten a ton of wedding presents...that were more to my fancy than to his).  So here was his present:

Aren't they amazing?? Now our in home rivalry can continue!!

What I was the MOST excited about for this birthday present was that I got to call on an old acquaintance to do the painting.  I've been dying to find something for Jamie Givens Schneider to paint. 

Jamie is hands down one of THE MOST TALENTED PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET.  NO JOKE.
She NEVER seizes to amaze me.

I had the privilege of having Jamie be my Jr. Pro cheerleading coach in elementary school.  We all loved her.  She was an amazing cheerleader and an even greater role model.  She'd even come over to babysit lil brother and I and I'd always ask her to do a hair wrap for me.  Do ya'll remember those?? Every time we'd go to her house for practice, her kitchen table would be COVERED with containers of beads and threads.  She was always making jewelry.  She was ALWAYS making something, picture collages, paintings, etc...  She has been one of my FAVORITE people to follow on Facebook.  She hands down has the funnest career to follow.  But my favorite thing about Jamie is that she is no joke the sweetest and most genuine person you'll ever meet. 

I could post A TON of pictures of things Jamie has done...but ya'll know it takes forever to upload pictures on here.  (Sorry Jamie, I stole these off your facebook page.)

World Equestrian Horses 

Offices

The Cradle Will Rock

Bedrooms

And the list goes on...

This is my favorite and I hope to have her do one for a lil girls room...sooner than later of course =)

Her website will ABSOLUTELY AMAZE YOU.  Check it out here.  It's SOOOO much fun to look at her pictures.   You can also find her on Facebook here.

Happy Birthday to my sweet and hard working husband!!! My gift was a HUGE hit but I think the Cats making it to the Final Four definitely made this his best birthday yet!!!

And thanks again Jamie, we absolutely LOVE them!!!! I can't wait to call you again!!