Blog Hopping

I love Sundays for so many reasons. It's my favorite day of the week, always has been. Sundays for us are days of worship and fellowship with our church family that we are so fortunate to know. It's a day of relaxing with my husband and our crazy Bailey dog. Sundays are also the day i catch up on my blog reading and bookmark tons of fabulous posts by some of my favorite bloggers. That's why i love this Sunday Blog Hopping series; i get to gush over & share with y'all some terrific writers and their spaces. Here's what captivated me this week:

1. I must've missed this tweet from Amy this week, so i'm glad i follow her blog Permission To Peruse. What an awesome topic of conversation! Here's the gist: you get a million dollars, no taxes deducted, but you can never use the internet again except for work-only purposes. Would you take it? Think long and hard about it. That means no more online shopping, no more easy concert ticket ordering, no more email, youtube, social media, or downloading of itunes. Could you do it? My answer: Hell to the yes, cut me a check pronto! I've always preferred sending notes on fancy stationery anyways. Check out Amy's blog! She's a fabulous chick, a wife & mother to 2 beautiful girls, and a strong woman of faith. I really love her space!

2. Seriously, how delicious does that look? I really envy all you Foodies out there with equally fantastic photography skills. And Karly of Buns In My Oven is no exception. I've been following her blog for a couple of years now and every single recipe i've tried has been scrumptious. She's not complicated and always delivers unpretentious recipes you'll very likely make for your families. Her latest, Chicken & Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers is on my menu this week!

3. I love Maurilio Amorim's blog for a variety of reasons. He's a former Pastor, a Business Exec in Media, a Husband & father, a Runner, and a Menswear Fashionista. He also is a creative blogger who always engages with his readers. Simply, he's a fly dude. This week he wrote a great post on a book i've got on my GoodReads "to read" list: Shawn Achor's book The Happiness Advantage. The theme of the book is something that all of us really know deep down - "Happiness is not a byproduct of success. The opposite is actually true: happy people become successful." Amen to that. Maurilio makes the most excellent point when reviewing the book

"I want to live and lead from a place of grace and enjoy life-long relationships that define who I am and the legacy I leave behind. Ultimately my happiness depends on how successful I am at doing that. The competing forces of power, money, and pleasure never deliver on their promises. They never have."

If there's nothing else in life i master before i die, i want to master this happiness principle: how to love bigger, love better, forgive immediately, and serve God by doing all 3. Maurilio & the author Shawn Achor are right - happiness breeds success and happiness comes from relationships. All the rest is just window dressing. Check out both the book & Maurilio's blog.

4. If you're a follower of my blog you know two things: I'm addicted to Pinterest and one of the sweetest commenters here is my girl Kim, otherwise known as The Lady Sportswriter. That hardly does her justice though. Yes, she knows her stuff when it comes to sports, especially Georgia sports, and is highly respected among the male dominated field of voices. But she's also a loving wife, an adoring Mom to 2 great kids, and author of another fabulous blog for Mom's. But this week it's her pinboards on Pinterest that really are sensational, in particular her Snapshots In History board. Scrolling through her collection of images is better than any history book i've ever read. So many pinboards, including my own, are rather superficial. Fun, but superficial none the less, involving inspiration for home decor, fashion, food, etc. Which is why Kim's idea for boards like these are so terrific. She's also created fantastic collages on iconic figures, great moments in sports, screen legends, musicians, etc. If you're on Pinterest, follow her. And check out her blogs as well, she's an outstanding writer and even better friend.

5. Last but not least is another drool-worthy recipe, this time from the immensely popular Annie's Eats. If you're a foodie, you're likely already following Annie's site, so forgive me if you've perused this delicious concoction by now. I just had to include it. We're roasting in 100 degree temps right now in Charlotte, with the hottest month still to come. Lord help us. So what's better than a Banana Split Ice Cream Torte to stay cool in the blazing hot summer of Dixie? Nada. Plus, what a heavenly presentation! I don't know about y'all, but i'll be drenching mine in some hot fudge sauce, or maybe homemade caramel, or maybe some strawberry sauce.... If only it were fat free. Le sigh.

I hope i've pointed y'all in the direction of some new Bloggers to add to your Readers. Please feel free to recommend Bloggers & posts in the comments sections as well! Have a wonderfully relaxed Sunday fun-day everybody and be sure to check back tomorrow for another Mangia Monday!

Southern Fried Football: Tailgate Fare & SEC Superfans

We're one week closer to kickoff football fans! Just 37 days and counting, And if you're like me, it's time to buckle down and get serious about tailgate plans. I'm nailing down menu options for all 12 weeks, both UGA & Bama games, beta testing recipes, making hotel arrangements, putting together tailgate playlists, and planning out GameDay outfits. But today were gonna start focusing on the food. Let's face it, the game may take centerstage for a few hours, but the rest of the day is all about the spread. So for the next few weeks i'm going to share some of my top tailgate fare, recipes included, starting with the Bites. I'm talking about the amuse bouche, finger foods you can devour in just one delicious nosh.

1. Goat Cheese & Sun Dried Tomato Profiteroles

2. Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps

3. Bacon Wrapped Meatballs

4. Buffalo Chicken Bites

5. Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles

6. Chicken Caesar Salad Bites

7. Spicy Chicken Tortilla Roll-ups

8. Hot Sausage Balls

So which ones are contenders for your tailgate & GameDay menus? Drop me a note in the comments if you'd recommend some other Bites to consider. Remember, this is just round 1. Next week, we'll talk about dips, sandwiches, and grilled goodies on the menu so be sure to check back & bring your ideas with you!

Everybody knows the SEC is a whole different animal of college football. We just go BIG in all that we do, whether it's the tailgate experience, our attire, the games, or our traditions. But no SEC GameDay is complete without the Superfans. And i'm not talking about your average fanatic, i'm talking about the fans who bring just a tad bit of carnival-crazy with them. Their intensity & devotion is unmatched by the rest of us. And personally, i L-O-V-E it! UGA has several Superfans, but the biggest & most well known, in all of college football actually, is Mike "Big Dawg" Woods. Mr. Woods was recently profiled in an awesome piece from Raycom Sports for their series Football Saturdays In The South

"yessiree and Go Dawgs!"

Love it! Now that's a Superfan. I told you we do it big in the SEC ;) If your team has a Superfan, let me know please - I'd love to profile him/her on the blog in the coming weeks. I hope this post helped to get y'all in the mood for some tailgating SEC style! 

Workin' For The Weekend OOTD: Whitewater River Jam

GNO - Whitewater Center River Jam by allyugadawg

Kookai flower top
£50 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Comportment Crops
$60 - anthropologie.com

Kenneth Cole Reaction t strap wedge
$50 - piperlime.gap.com

Mar Y Sol Isadora Clutch
$47 - endless.com

Rachel Roy Charm Bracelet
$44 - rachelroy.com

Manu Stone Cocktail Ring
$149 - maxandchloe.com

Crosshatched Gold Earrings
$46 - baublebar.com

China Glaze-First Mate $7
becah-findingjoyinthelittlethings.blogspot.com

Avon-Skin So Soft Bug Guard lotion $13
totalbeauty.com




If it's Wednesday, it's take a peek in Ally's closet day! Since Le Husband is out of town on business, i'm having a Girls Night Out tomorrow. Yay! We're gonna head over to The Whitewater Center for the Thursday River Jam concert series for some good food, great beer, and awesome music. The Whitewater Center is really one of my favorite spots in Charlotte. Jeff & i run the gorgeous trails there a lot after work, but we've really loved kayaking, climbing, and riding the canopy tour. There's no other place in the South like it, so we try to go as often as we can. And since this is my first concert there, i'm pretty excited to have a chill night out with the girls. Bonus: we get to bring our pups, so sweet Bailey dog gets a night out on the town too!


What i'm wearing... As a UGA grad, wearing orange and blue is an absolute no-no. Always. So we're just gonna say that i'm wearing azure & tangerine, mmkay? Since it's ten degrees hotter than the 5th circle of hell right now, i wanted something cool & breezy to wear for sure. I love this Kookai tank with the cutout back and my Anthropologie cropped pants are so comfy. Y'all know my love for Mar Y Sol clutches, so adding a touch of blue as an excuse to tote this little cutie was a no-brainer. Also, i've been dying to try out my China Glaze blue polish in a pedi. Fingers crossed no one will mistake me for a Flarduh Gator fan....


So what's on your agenda to kick off the weekend, y'all? If you're in Charlotte, come on out to River Jam and join us!

Currently...

One of my favorite people on the planet, the sweet & newly hitched, Lauren Reaves of Barbecued Peaches blog, penned a fabulously fun post last week about what's currently going on in her life. And then the very next day i saw a similar post over at Hello, Splendor. I do a lot of series posts on my blog ranging from recipes, to style, football and more, with a little of my life thrown in. So i thought the idea of sharing a bit more about myself & my life in a "currently" post would be a fun way for y'all to get to know me better. I'm hoping that some of my great readers will pick up the torch and do a post like this as well or at least share your "currently" list in the comments! So here we go....

Eating: I usually bake one sweet on Sundays, typically a new recipe i've bookmarked, for a dessert to munch on during the week. Yesterday my hubby Jeff requested Pioneer Woman's Knock You Naked Brownies. I'm devouring one right now as I type this post. These are gooooooood y'all.

Wishing: My husband wasn't leaving this morning for Indiana for 3 days. I know that sounds ridiculous. I'll be busy with work myself, and it's only 3 days, but i always miss him so much when he's gone. Our dog does too. You should see Bailey when Jeff's away; he just paces the door or whines in my lap. He's an even bigger baby than i am.

Wearing: Business suits as usual. I'm a Research Scientist in a large corporate environment, so my weekly wardrobe is fairly conservative, mostly suits, pants & blazers, and heels. But hey, I won't be in the lab tomorrow which means I can wear peep toes. Holla! 

Patiently Waiting For: Football season to start!!! Just 39 days. Oh and....... Jeff and I are trying to have a baby, so we're also patiently waiting on God to bless us. Didn't see that coming did 'ya? ;) 

Reading: I'm about a month behind on updating my GoodReads, which is bugging the crud out of me right now and on my to-do list by the way, so i'll just update y'all here. Currently I'm reading 3 different books, which is typical for me. On my bedside table is Lee Strobel's The Ambition, a psychological thriller/mystery and a first foray into this genre for the former Journalist turned Pastor, Lee Strobel. It's really fantastic thus far, y'all should check it out! I'm also reading Run Less Run Faster. I'm a notorious gym rat and considering running my first full marathon in November. We'll see. But in the meantime i'm working on getting faster and smarter with my workouts. I'll be honest though, this book is a big fat bore. Lastly, I just started reading Karen White's The Beach Trees a few days ago & it's pretty captivating i'll say. Definitely a fun summer read!

Annoyed By: How ill-informed so many people are about politics & current affairs. Twitter is the worst. One look at my timeline and i start to have a panic attack thinking of all these folks heading to voting booths next November. 

Nesting: As Mrs. Wasp would say "my wallet turns slutty" when my Ballard Design catalog arrives. It's just a fabulously chic spot for great accessories. And I've been doing some serious damage during their end of season sale!

On My Nails: On my fingers i'm wearing an OPI axxium gel mani in Bubble Bath and on my toes i'm rocking OPI's The Thrill Of Brazil.

Planting: Our veggie & herb garden is in full bloom, so i'm mostly weeding rather than planting at the moment. But i did just put out 2 new hanging baskets on either side of our garage to add a pop of color. When putting out hanging baskets or window boxes i always choose 3 types of flowers: a thriller, a filler & a spiller. So both new hanging baskets are brimming over with mature sweet potato vine (spiller), blue/purple scaveola (filler), and yellow zinnias (thriller).

Looking Forward To: Our next and last beach trip of the summer. My in-laws have a house in Destin, Florida and the big Garner family vacation begins Friday August 5th. I cannot wait to hang out with my 2 adorable nephews, lay out all day with my sister-in-law, and cook all night with my mother-in-law. So excited!!

So that's what's going on with me currently. What about y'all? Fill me in or do a list on your blog. Thanks to sweet Lauren again for inspiring the idea!

Mangia Mondays: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Finally, an authentic Italian recipe for a Mangia Mondays post! As most of y'all know my Mother-in-law's family is Italian, fromNaples Italy to be exact. So as you can imagine my hubby Jeff grew up surrounded by lots of loving family members & fantastic food. LOTS of fantastic food. All the time. During one of the first weekends I spent with Jeff's family when we started dating, his Mom & precious Mimi taught me how to make Jeff's favorite dish: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, which simply means Pasta with garlic and oil. It's a classic yet simple Italian dish that's still immensely popular throughout all regions of Italy. 

When we were on our honeymoon in Capri & the Amalfi Coast last year we ate Aglio e Olio nearly everyday. In the Mediterranean it's typically served with shellfish, like shrimp or clams, and sundried tomatoes. In northern Italy it's often served with sausage or pancetta. But it's most often made classically with just 5 ingredients: pasta, herbs, garlic, olive oil, & pepper. Since it's such a simple pasta, it's important to use high quality & fresh ingredients though. You want good pasta, homemade preferably, fresh garlic & herbs, and a top shelf extra virgin olive oil. 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb good brand spaghetti pasta - I use De Cecco
• 1/3 cup good quality EVOO
• 6 fresh garlic cloves, sliced thinly
• 1 small, dried, seeded red chili pepper, minced*
• 1/2 cup herbs: blend of fresh Italian parsley, oregano & basil, chopped
• 3 TB sea salt

Directions:

1. Bring a large pasta pot of water to boil. Add in the sea salt & a sprinkling of evoo, then gently slide in your spaghetti.
2. While your pasta is cooking, in a large saute pan heat the 1/3 cup evoo over med temp. As soon as the oil gets warm, add in your garlic slivers and saute until the garlic turns a golden color. Do not let the garlic get brown, so watch the temperature of your pan!
3. Add in the chili pepper to the garlic & oil, stirring together, then slowly add in 4-5 TB of the boiling pasta water to the pan.
4. Cook the pasta al dente, 6-7 minutes tops. Overcooked pasta will ruin the dish. Drain well, then immediately add the pasta to the hot garlic & oil sauce.
5. Toss the pasta until it's evenly coated in the sauce. Top it with fresh herbs & serve.

*Note: You can substitute 1 tsp dried chili or red pepper flakes for fresh. Also, typically Aglio e Olio is not served with cheese, but we often top it with about 1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano. 

This is such an easy, quick pasta meal that you will fall in love with, promise! I especially love it because it's so versatile as well. Once or twice a week i'll make Aglio e Olio as a side dish the classic way served with fish or pork chops. And other times i make it as a meal with pancetta, shrimp, or Italian sausage and sundried tomatoes. Seriously, it never disappoints and it always makes my hubby happy. Winning! :) I hope y'all decide to get a little Italian flavor in your menu and love it as much as we do! Let me know what you think and any other creative additions to the dish you fancy. Mangia Mangia y'all!!

Fab Finds Friday: 5 Things I'm Obsessing Over

You know the best part about doing this Fab Finds series every week is that it always falls on Fridays! I hope y'all are having a great one so far and making some fun plans for the weekend. Considering the southland is steaming in typical July weather, we have to find creative ways to entertain ourselves and beat the heat, right? Well this week's list is full of terrific air-condition friendly ideas: discover a new cookbook, treat yourself to a manicure, cool off with a cocktail, watch some dishy tv, or catch up on your correspondence. Whatever you choose, let these Fab Finds be your guide!

Some people collect stamps or antiques. I collect cookbooks. And i rarely pass up a one with Southern charm and flavor. Here are several of my go-to books for weekly menus and ones i always recommend for a great read & scrumptious dishes:

1. Dinner With Tennessee Williams: Such a spectacular read, full of recipes, menus & wonderful stories about my fave Playwright's love affair with the South. $13.96

2. Cooking In The South with Johnnie Gabriel: Traditional southern fare from famed Atlanta Restaurateur & Paula Deen's cousin $15.83

3. The Pat Conroy Cookbook: My fave author spin tales of his childhood & shares the best Lowcountry, seafood recipes. An excellent gift for any Southern cook. $20.15

4. Barbecue Nation: Husband approved, 350 awesome recipes for the grill. Jeff LOVES this book and i have loved every delicious dish he's grilled! $7.58

5. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: I'm addicted to Ree's book. The pictures, the recipes, the storys.... oh my. Filled with amazing, simple, comfort food classics. $16.98

6. The New Southern Garden Cookbook: An essential for every Southern gardener. Incredible recipes of traditional & contemporary southern fare using the best of seasonal fruits, veggies & herbs. $23.03

I'm always obsessed with the latest mani-pedi trends and products, but i don't always hit up my salon for a polish change. I like to maintain them myself. But I'm rough on my nails, so i'm forever filing, buffing, & touching up what i've damaged. Here are some of my essential, most fave, tried & true products:

1. Tweezerman Nail Block: The perfect multi-tool. It files, buffs, flattens nail ridges & shines. I keep one in my purse, gym bag, at the office, etc. $4

2. Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer: The best nail buffer i've ever owned. It acts as a top coat on your polish with terrific shine that lasts for days or makes your natural nails look fantastic! $5

3. L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream: Luxurious, thick, non-greasy daily hand & nail cream. THE best! $26 

4. Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat: The only top coat i'll ever use. It dries my nails in less than 5 minutes & prevents chips longer than any other top coat on the market. True story. $6

5. Nailtiques Formula 2: I have thin nails that peel easily.... *if* i neglect to use my Nailtiques. There's no other nail protein product like it. I always always use formula 2 as my base coat for healthy, strong nails. $15

6. Kiehl's Cuticle Treatment: A rich, thick balm with exfoliants for dry cuticles. Love. $18

Of course the best way to cool off & relax on the weekend is with a fabulous cocktail! These are sure to delight your tastebuds, impress your friends, and kick up your dinner parties a notch!

1. Salty Chihuahua: Even the name is fun. Just add tequila to your favorite lemonade, and viola!

2. Seductive Swan: A glorious blend of vodka, blueberries, & lemonade. Yum.

3. Cava Sangria: Isn't this gorgeous? A fun twist on the classic with strawberries & a hint of mint.

4. Death In The Afternoon: Aptly named for Hemingway, it's just absinthe, vermouth, champagne & a twist of lemon. Now that's one sexy cocktail.

5. The Collinzano: An Italian version of the classic Collins with the delicious Aperol liqueur.

6. Blood Orange Margarita: My personal fave. Fresh blood orange juice, triple sec & tequila. Come to Mama. 

Jeff was making fun of me the other night for loving reality tv. I thought he was nuts - i don't watch reality tv! And then he started rattling off all the shows i make him watch with me.... Gasp! So yeah, my summer has been filled with some suspect reality tv, but it's GOOOOOOOOD reality tv. Don't judge me.

1. Home By Novogratz: I love this family design firm. Downtown chic, funky art, & a fab Southern couple. Set your dvrs for Saturdays at 10pm on HGTV. 

2. Surprise Homecoming: What's not to love? It's all about surprise homecomings for military families. Grab some tissues & prepare to have your heart melted. Mondays at 10pm on TLC. 

3. Rachel Zoe Project: Okay so season 4 hasn't debuted yet, but it gets a mention because it's so freakin' delicious & i'm itching to watch a new season! September 6, 10pm on Bravo. I die. Shut it down. Bananas.

4. Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta: Oh my, i love this show. It's the best of the Say Yes series on TLC because, of course, it showcases Southern brides & their Mama drama. Plus Monty is my dream gay-husband. Check it out Fridays at 9pm. 

5. Flipping Out: It's like watching a train wreck but with fab design & a Guatemalan maid. How they're all not locked up in a padded cell, i'll never know. But it's my summer crack addiction, Tuesdays @ 9pm on Bravo.

6. Expedition Impossible: Jeff & i are determined to get on this show!! It's like Amazing Race (love!) but in extreme conditions that physically push you to your limits. I'm so hooked. Thursdays, 9pm on ABC. 

My Mom gave me my first set of stationery when i was 5 yrs old and i've been sending notes ever since. I get so giddy shopping for new letterhead & buying pretty stamps from the post office! More than anything, I love expressing gratitude or sending a word of encouragement to people who've blessed me. Southern Living Magazine and The Wall Street Journal both recently penned articles on the art of the Thank You note that's so apropos for our electronically addicted culture. But nothing gets you in the mood to pull out your fountain pens & address book like buying some crisp, pretty new notecards! Here are a few charmers i've stumbled upon lately:

1. iomoi: My fave online Paperie. Their designs are always so elegant & chic. And their chinoiserie & bold India-inspired patterns are darling! This Fisher Island Green has been my summer staple. $78

2. Peyton & Clark: I absolutely adore these boxed sets of summery beach themes! $48

3. Prim & Paper: This sweet notecard in a pretty green with embossed white dahlias is just lovely. $47

4. Polka Dot Design: Well of course i would gravitate towards a delightful grey & yellow chevron patterned notecard! Just take a good look at my blog design... 

5. Gadabout: What's not to love about a peacock feather? And it's monogrammed, of course. So chic! That's the perfect adjective to describe Gadabout's charming drawings. $48

6. The Stationery Studio: Love this Greek key design with a pop of fuschia. Classic & beautiful. $66

And there you have it y'all. Another Friday Fab List in the books! So stay inside this steamy weekend and peruse some of these peachy links. Drop a comment & tell me about some of your fave ways to escape the scorching temps. Or just add to my list by sharing a few of your fave cocktails, cookbooks, mani tools, best loved shows, and pretty stationery. Wishing y'all some arctic breezes this weekend ;)

Southern Fried Football

Well last week's response to my Southern Fried post got a ton of positive reactions. Thank y'all so much for the tweets, retweets, pins, comments & emails! Obviously it's a no brainer that i'm gonna keep the series alive through football season. Again, i'm thinking this will be a mix of Southern football humor, UGA & SEC posts, tailgate fare, and Gameday fashion. But be sure to keep me on my toes by letting me know what you think, what you like & don't like too. So lets get to it.

As most of y'all are surely aware SEC Media Days kicked into high gear yesterday. Seriously, my day at work was shot from 1pm onward. I even told my CEO that my agenda was wrecked because i was intermittently looking in on all the action. His reply: "What's the SEC?" I damn near fainted, then had to remind myself he's British. But yeah, we're totally indoctrinating him into the glory that is an SEC football game this season. You can't live in the South and not experience it at least once. Afterall, Prince Charles attended a UGA game and so should Henry (boss). Maybe this morning i should start the education process by letting him watch the delicious insanity that is Media Days. Or maybe i should just start from the beginning and let Andy Griffith explain the game of football...

Brilliant, right? I've probably heard that bit a thousand times and i still split my side from laughing so hard. I can't put my finger on just one thing about this game that has us all so obsessed, so to outsiders i know we look crazy. All i do know is that from the time i was born, next to God and my family, Georgia football in all it's storied history, tradition, and fanfare has captivated my attention and passion. Most fans of other SEC teams will tell you something similar. It's just a way of life down South and it's fabulous! 

Speaking of SEC fabulosity, i'll leave you with this last piece of football goodness. In case you missed it yesterday, ESPN's 30 for 30 series is creating 4 one-hour documentaries on the Southeastern Conference starting, of course, with the legendary athletic beast that is Herschel Walker. Mark your calenders, it airs September 7th, 8pm est on ESPNU. According to the article, which you should seriously read, this piece isn't just about Herschel's prowess on the gridiron and appeals to every fan of sports. Check out this clip:

"My body's the Army, my mind's the General." Herschel Walker

I don't care who you cheer for, that had to give you goosebumps right? 44 days y'all. Just 44 days 'til kickoff. As we inch closer let me know if you have some favorites you wanna see on the blog, share your fave tailgate recipes & traditions, or lets talk Gameday style. Have a great Thursday y'all & Go Dawgs!!

Workin' For The Weekend OOTD - Lake Soiree

Lake Soiree by allyugadawg 

Arden B paisley maxi dress
$78 - ardenb.com

Coach nautical jewelry
$78 - coach.com

Kenneth Jay Lane 18k gold jewelry
€69 - pret-a-beaute.com

Marc Jacobs cocktail ring
$173 - my-wardrobe.com

Yves Saint Laurent Paris Edp (75ml)
£71 - harrods.com

Urban Decay Naked Palette
£32 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Mystique gold rhinestone sandals
$145 - sandalworld.com

Mar Y Sol Guadeloupe Tote-Espresso $89.99
clutchbend.com

essie nail polish - lapis of luxury
essie.com






TGIW! Good grief this has been one tough week at work. It's been a tough week for both me & the hubby actually. In 48 hours my poor sweet man has traveled to Ohio, New York and back for endless meetings. My week has just been slammed packed with projects and deadlines. Needless to say we're coasting on fumes already and living for the weekend. And as fate would have it, our "Friday after work plans" are, you guessed it, work related.


Truthfully, this isn't a bad gig at all though. Jeff's boss & his wife own a gorgeous home on Lake Norman. They're hosting a mid-summer party for all of the Executives and their families at their home on the water. Sounds heinously boring, i know, but Jeff's really fortunate to work for and with some people who've become great friends to us. And they throw some spectacular parties! We never miss a good party ;)


Since it's a casual lake party with friends i figured it was the perfect time to break out this Arden B Maxi dress i bought in May and have yet to wear. I love the bold paisley print of this Maxi and i finally got the Urban Decay Naked palette to primp with! Pretty sure i'm the last girl on the planet to get on the Naked bandwagon, heh. As i mentioned in my last Fab 5 Friday post, i'm really digging metallics right now. So all of these golden embellishments & deep espressos with just a pop of lapis blue are definitely appealing to my color obsessed sensibilities.

What color palettes are y'all loving right now? And let me know all your big plans for the weekend! Have a fabulous hump day y'all.

Mangia Mondays: Squash & Zucchini Casserole

Boy howdy do i have a scrumptious dish to share with y'all today. I was channeling my sweet Nana when i typed that first line :) Today's recipe is in honor of what would've been her 91st Birthday. She was truly the most important woman in my life, next to my Mom, and i miss her dearly. She & my Papa, like most Southerners of their time, lived predominantly off what they grew. They had a lot of land, which meant cows, chickens, pigs and a massive vegetable and herb garden. One of my earliest memories is of being in the kitchen with her and my Mom watching them can vegetables to store for Fall & Winter. I grew up eating what is now known as "Farm to Table" before "Farm to Table" was chic. It was wonderful!

So it's no wonder that i love gardening too. I'd grown tomatoes & herbs for years on my own, but once Jeff & I got married and bought a house we had room for a real vegetable & herb garden. In typical Ally fashion, my vision was much bigger than our needs though. Consequently we've got enough tomatoes, pole beans, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, and basil to feed us 'til kingdom come. In the meantime, we're thanking the good Lord for our bounty & enjoying the harvest on our table every day. Which brings me to this week's recipe, Squash & Zucchini Casserole. This one is similar to my Nana's old recipe, just kicked up a notch with the added goodnesses of cheese, sour cream and butter. In a word: Divine!

Ingredients:

• 7 cups chopped yellow squash & zucchini
• 1 large vidalia onion, diced
• 4 TB butter
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar 
• 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
• salt & pepper to taste
• fresh parsley & oregano, chopped, to taste

Directions:

1. Saute your squash & zucchini in a little EVOO or veg oil over med heat until cooked, approx 15-20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Saute the onion in butter over med heat for approx 5-8 minutes until they appear almost translucent. 
3. In a large bowl stir together your sauteed onions, squash & zucchini. Then add the sour cream, cheddar, salt & pepper and herbs. Stir together until blended evenly.
4. Pour mixture into a buttered (i use Pam spray) casserole dish and top with the crumbled Ritz crackers.
5. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes until golden & bubbly.

*Note: you do not want to use spaghetti squash in this dish. Also, i divide this recipe into smaller casserole dishes so that i can serve one and freeze the other. If you choose to freeze half of the recipe, don't add the cracker crumb topping until completely thawed & ready to pop into the oven.

You don't have to grow your own veggies to enjoy this recipe. Just pick up some produce at the market and give it a try! You also don't have to use both squash & zucchini. Before my second crop of zucchini came in, i made this several times with only squash. Just use what you've got & what you like. It's still divine either way, trust me. If you're making dishes with your fresh veggies share 'em in the comments. I'm always looking for more ways to eat up our bumper crop haha. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do and Mangia Mangia y'all!!

Blog Hopping

Jeff & I are traveling back to Charlotte from seeing Miranda Lambert in SC as i type. iPads & wireless cards are amazaeball inventions, no? So is caffeine. As well as said Country Rock Chick i just mentioned above. Just dang, that girl can put on a show!! I have no voice, which will make delivering a super important presentation Monday morning a serious conundrum, but whatevs. It's totally worth it. We're slap exhausted after running a 5K, hitting up the Peach Festival, then a concert with friends. But before i put head to pillow tonight i wanted to deliver the weekly Blog Hopping roundup. Included this week are some marvelous writers, teachers, foodies, storytellers, and delightful people you all should get to know!

1. First up is the lovely (and blissfully preggers at the moment) Emily Malone of the Daily Garnish. Emily is a Chef, Writer, Runner, Soon-to-be-Mommy, Dog Lover, & Recipe Whiz. The dishess she blogs are mostly vegetarian, which i'm not, but are always so delicious, healthy & creative. I really love her space! This week she shared her recipe for Strawberry Basil Pesto Sauce & Pasta Salad and i immediately set out to include this in my next week's menu. I could eat pesto with anything. And we've got basil coming our of our ears & i've made 3 batches of pesto to put up for Fall so this was truly calling my name. I just love the blend of savory pesto with sweet, ripe strawberries. I mean, how scrumptious does that dish look?! Click the link to peruse her site, bookmark this recipe & drool over her foodie pics.

2. One of the first blogs i check every day is Without Wax from Pastor Pete Wilson. You probably know him as the Senior Pastor of Nashville's church Cross Point. You may know him as the author of the life changing (and i mean that) book Plan B. You probably saw him & his gorgeous family in Taylor Swift's video "Mine" last summer. Or you may even know him from his awesome tweets. But the best way to get to know him & his heart for Christ is through is blog and catching him teach via Cross Point's internet campus live every Sunday at 6pm. This week, Pete wrote a great post while on vacation with his family: Lessons I've Learned From Surfing. The gist of the post is about learning & understanding God's timing, like learning how to surf is about timing when to paddle & go. Here's my fave quote:

"I’m learning more and more that if I want God’s help in my life, I need to be ready for what he’s going to do. I have to be willing to wait for his signal. And when he says go, I’d better start paddling."

Bingo. I think most of us struggle so often with wanting complete control over our lives & in the process forget that we only truly succeed when we're learning, listening, waiting, & moving on God's timing, not our own. Click the link and dig into to Pete's blog. His site is fun, thought-provoking, open, and rich with community, missions, & Christ- focused teaching.

3. The Southern Blossoms. I can't tell you just how much i look forward to seeing a notice pop up in my Reader that Elizabeth has a new post up! In case you're not familiar yet, Southern Blossoms is the blog of Elizabeth Quon and her family, journaling their adventures while living abroad this last year in Japan. Before their time in Asia ended, Elizabeth & her family vacationed in China. Lucky for us she posted a series this week of their travels with an abundance of photos, history, & fantastic stories. The above pic is from their day at The Great Wall Of China. Click over to her site & scroll through her charming posts. Her images & details are captivating & a joy to read. The Quons are leaving Tokyo this weekend headed for California. I simply cannot wait to see what new adventures await them next! 

4. I first started following this blog because I loved the name: The Crepes Of Wrath. Ha! Brilliant, right? Well i keep following the blog because of the incredibly delightful recipes. This week's deliciousness that caught my eye was the recipe for Whiskey Peach and Plum Galette. I know, it looks and sounds fancy, possibly complicated, but as Sydney explains it's a simple pastry dough with fruit, bourbon & topped off with butter pecan ice cream. Divine. It makes a gorgeous presentation and no doubt a scrumptious summer dessert. You can bet i'll be trying my hand at her Galette this week! I may even make it to go along with Emily's strawberry pesto pasta salad. Hmmm....

Alright kids, those were some of my fave posts of the week. What were yours? Drop a comment and share some of your best-loved corners of the blogosphere. I'd love to hear about 'em! In the meantime, i hope y'all have a fun Sunday and check back tomorrow for a Mangia recipe of the week post.

Fab Finds Friday: 5 Things I'm Obsessing Over

"I don't care if Monday's blue. Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too. Thursday I don't care about you. It's Friday, I'm in love!"

If you don't know that song, it means i'm old and you're not. Which also means we can't be friends. Kidding. It's Friday I'm In Love by The Cure. It's also why Rebecca Black was doomed to a fate of failure. You can't top a classic kids.

Friday here on the blog means another installment of my fab finds obsessions list, all the pretty, fun things i'm in love with (in addition to The Cure, of course). Today's compilation is all over the place but hopefully that just means there's something for everybody. So without further adieu...

As y'all know, Jeff & I just celebrated our first anniversary (woot!) and with that came a barrage of presents from friends & family. Question: does this gift-giving happen every year? I hope so ;) Anyhoo, my amazing Mother & Father-in-law gave us a fabulous box full of neat, new Bakeware that I've had on my amazon wishlist. None of these are super expensive, but all are super cool!

1. Haeger square ovenstone: Jeff & I are on a homemade pizza kick & this stone makes crusts perfectly crisp. Plus i love the raised handles and it's dishwasher safe. Score.

2. Reston Lloyd 5 pc batter bowls: Everybody has mixing bowls, but if you cook & bake a lot like me, the pour spouts are invaluable. These are stackable & come in a variety of cute colors.

3. Sagaform Herb Pot: I have a pretty large herb garden, too large in fact. But i love having fresh herbs through the winter. These cuties let me grow basil & cilantro all year and will look adorbs in my kitchen.

4. Kuhn Rikon Cook & Serve Casserole: stainless steel casserole with neoprene sleeve lets you go from the stove to table quickly & stays warm. Perfect tool for my fave All-In-One Spaghetti Recipe. 

5. Le Creuset Covered Casserole: A gorgeous stoneware, family sized casserole dish-perfect for enchilada night at our house! The cover keeps everything warm & makes leftover storage easy-peasy.

6. The Spoon Sisters' Dash-Pinch-Smidgen measuring spoons: Too funny! But for Scientists like me, this suits my type-A need for precision to a T. 

Midway through the summer is my fave time to grab pieces i've been eyeing at a percentage of retail. And these lovelies are a few recent additions to my wardrobe for work & play.

1. Forever 21 Ruffled Cork Stilettos: How sexy are these? I wear them any chance i can. Cute with a party dress, jeans or a pair of shorts. Did i mention i snagged these for $25? In. Love.

2. Anthropologie Gleaming Vines Blouse: I've dressed this darling blouse up with a pencil skirt & blazer for work and dressed it down with some chic white shorts and even jeans for a night out. 

3. Express Belted Shorts: How cute are these short shorts? At only $42 you can grab a couple of diff colors too. I also love the J.Crew pair i found in dark navy. Easy to dress up or down, but always chic with a bow!

4. Mar Y Sol Oval Applique Clutch: Probably my fave bag of the summer. It comes in a variety of bright colors, but the multi goes with almost everything.

5. Marc Jacobs white sunglasses: I picked these up in Charleston a couple of weeks ago for almost half what they're selling for retail. With my brown hair, these really stand out. Love 'em!

6. ModCloth Wisteria Wind Dress: In a word: lovely. I wore this (with my Forever 21 stilettos) on a night out in Charleston on our vaca & didn't want to take it off. Darling dress at an amazing price: $60

Remember that cheesy show on Bravo years ago, Blow Out? Jonathan Antin's signature line was "It's all about the hair, man." That still makes me giggle. But looking at the ridiculous number of products i use on my hair, i'm thinking he was right. It's all about the hair, man. 

1. Pantene Split End Repair: I can't live without this stuff y'all. Since i'm back in Masters Swim, my hair takes a beating in chlorine, in addition to the damage caused by blow drying & curling/flat irons. I've truly noticed an improvement in the breakage after using it for a month. Bonus: Pantene doesn't break the bank at $6

2. Marilyn Ovali Pro round brush: I'm new to the Ovali party, but this is the best styling & straightening brush i've ever owned. $17

3. Moroccan Oil Gold Glimmer Shine Spray: There's a reason why everybody's using Moroccan Oil products right now. This gives my hair amazing shine & hold in this humid, frizz-inducing southern summer heat. $26

4. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray: I work out at least 4-5 days/week so i'm always going from work to the gym then oftentimes out with my hubby. Shampooing & styling again takes forever. And dry shampoos felt too powdery. Oribe is the golden ticket! It's a lightweight spray that gives big volume & feels clean. Perfect! $39

5. Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray; On our beach vaca i used this every day right outta the ocean or pool. Just spritzed it on & my hair dried naturally with beachy waves. Great for when you wanna take a day off from the blow dryer. Love it!

6. Kerastase Shampoo & Conditioner: My Hairstylist finally convinced me to try Kerastase this summer with a bribe of samples. Holy cow, this stuff is incredible. It instantly stripped chlorine & buildup in my hair and made it feel like silk. I'm converted. You only need a tiny amt of each, which justifies the price: $36 & $39

I've always been a girl who loves arts & crafts, scrapbooking, and all of that cheesy Sally Homemaker stuff. And with the dawn of Pinterest, i've stumbled on some really cool DIY projects lately.

1. The Melanie Bag: Adorable bag kit with a step-by-step tutorial, perfect for even beginner sewers. $7

2. Posh Vases: An easy project dressing up simple vases with just wrapping paper & ribbon. So cute!

3. Flirty Ruffle Scarf: Free crochet pattern perfect for beginner sewers. How gorgeous is this scarf? Darling.

4. Dry Erase Board: Brilliant idea using only a picture frame, scrapbook paper & vinyl letters. My fave. 

5.  Tiered Vanity: This really is a cute idea & so easy to make with just 2 plates & a candlestick.

I'm all about metallics this summer. Since i wear a lot of neutrals in my professional attire, metallics are a great way to pop some color & shimmer. But glittery golds, silvers & coppers also look fab with the yellows, whites, corals, turquoise & teals we're all wearing this season as well. I'm not talking about rocking an 80's fanny pack though. Go easy on the metal by sporting some fun accessories like these:

1. Metallic Headbands by Sephora: I love love love these! Super cute, just a touch of metal & only $15

2. B-Low The Belt skinny tassel belt: Funky and chic. I've worn something similar with a white dress. $105

3. Fossil Metallic Watch: Braided leather of gold, silver & bronze with white. $60

4. Gap's The City Flat: My absolute favorite ballet flat! Incredibly comfy, so darling & beautiful metallics $28

5. Cara Accessories Cutout Hinged Bracelet: Every time i wear these stacked together i get tons of compliments. They're stunning statement pieces that are heavy on the bling. Love 'em. $32/each

Wow, that is some list huh? It takes forever to do these Fab 5 Friday posts, but i love sharing new things on my radar and hearing about your finds in the comments. Hope y'all have a fabulous Friday and a great weekend! Jeff & I are running a charity 5K race Saturday morning then off to SC for the Miranda Lambert concert. If you're doing either one, let me know!

Southern Fried Funny

So y'all know how important football season is to me and my family. This is serious business folks. In Dixie, Sundays belong to God but Saturdays belong to the Gridiron. And not just any college football game. I'm talking about the ultimate, elite conference only: the SEC. Everybody else is just powder puff. The countdown to kickoff has begun and we're just a mere 51 days away from fabulous tailgates & fierce rivalries. To celebrate, every Thursday on the blog i'll be posting highlight videos, tailgate menu ideas, Gameday gear, or the best football funny from legendary Southern Humorists.

First up is a bit of stand-up from the late, great Lewis Grizzard. Lewis was known for his love of women, the South, and his beloved Georgia Bulldogs. Some of my first memories as a child were listening to Lewis Grizzard tapes in our red & black RV headed to Athens for Georgia football games. As his bio reads, he was known as the Mark Twain of our generation and one of America's favorite Humorist, newspaper columnist & author of 25 books. He was a Southern treasure that passed away too soon, but left a legacy of laughter and incredible stories. To give you a little taste, here's Lewis talking about SEC football, specifically taking a few digs at Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, & Georgia Tech fans. He's nothing if not an equal-opportunity hater haha!

"I'm Bulldog born and Bulldog bred and when I die I'll be by-God Bulldog dead!" Lewis Grizzard 1946-1994

Good stuff, right? Let me know if you too have a favorite Southern Humorist or Lewis Grizzard memory. I'll be posting more of his stand up in the weeks to come. In the meantime, be sure to honor Lewis' memory by making fun of any Goergia Tech fans you know ;) Go Dawgs!!

Workin' For The Weekend OOTD: Miranda Lambert Concert!

Miranda Lambert Concert by allyugadawg 

ModCloth striped dress
$78 - modcloth.com

Kenneth Cole Reaction Sandals
$72 - shoemall.com

Forever21 bangle bracelet
$5.80 - forever21.com

Teal cocktail ring
$28 - fantasyjewelrybox.com

Black Diamond Earrings
$20 - overstock.com

NARS Trio Eyeshadow Cap Ferrat
$45 - sephora.com

MoroccanOil Gold Glimmer Shine
$26 - beautycollection.com

Alfani Red Clutch
prettyandpoor.com

essie nail polish - fifth avenue
essie.com

If you follow me on pinterest you know i've been obsessed with peacock palettes lately. I'm absolutely in love with all the coppers, teals, eggplants, greens & sapphires. So it's no surprise the color combo has found it's way into my wardrobe. I found this cute one shoulder dress from ModCloth last month and had to have it! Now i finally have an excuse to wear it... I'm gonna see Miranda Lambert in concert Saturday night!!!

Jeff & i are headed just a little south to upstate South Carolina Saturday to meet up with my 3 best friends and their husbands for the Miranda Lambert concert. One of said best friends, Christina, will be turning 32 Sunday, so this night is for her. All of my besties and i are big fans of the new Mrs. Blake Shelton, but Christina has a girl crush on Miranda somethin' fierce. This is her 5th time seeing Miranda in concert. It's approaching stalker status at this point (kidding).

I'm counting the minutes until Saturday not only to hang with my fave girls & their sweet hubbys but also to finally see a fun summer concert. Jeff & I had tix to see Adele for our anniversary last month but she canceled her US tour 2 weeks before our concert. I literally cried haha. I'm a HUGE Adele fan. Fingers crossed she makes up those missed US tour dates, but in the meantime i'm beyond thrilled to shake my tail feathers while belting out Gunpowder & Lead and  Only Prettier with my girls :)

Happy Birthday Christina. Love you chica!