Blue Ridge Mountains from Gideon Ridge (image via trip advisor)

I’m back…from a fantastic birthday weekend away in the Blue Ridge Mountains with my Hubs.  We stayed in Blowing Rock, NC (which is amazing, and I’ll write more about that later) and drove a little over an hour on Saturday to bicycle 34 miles along the Virginia Creeper trail in Damascus, Va.  It was such a great refreshing time away, but I’m glad to have my kiddos back now too!  I’ll tell you more soon about both Blowing Rock and the Virginia Creeper, but I have to start the week off with a colossal humiliation I had.  Don’t you know I stuck my foot in my mouth at some point?!  This one requires a back story which is also pretty embarrassing.

The back story:  Last week I was at the gym working out on some machine that sort of imitates skating I guess.  Anyways, it’s positioned at the top of the stairs so that you see everyone who comes up.  I was exercising away when a gentleman (I’d guess late 40’s early 50’s) walks up the stairs and I had one of those moments where you KNOW that you know the person, but can’t remember for the life of you how.  He was clearly having the same thought, but it was obvious that neither of us figured it out by the time he reached the top of the stairs, so then there was one of those awkward moments where you try to pretend that you weren’t just staring a hole in the person trying to place them afterall.  He walks on past and hops on a treadmill…meanwhile I’m still staring at him out the corner of my eye going nuts that I couldn’t remember how I knew him.  Then it hits me like a ton of bricks…and in my mind, this is the exact thought that I had: “OH…I know how I know him!!!  He’s seen my who-who!  Yes…that would be Dr M, who delivered my second child!”  And then I had a moment of mortification that’s stuck with me the entire week….wondering how in the world it completely slipped my mind to remember a person who totally saw me naked… and more than that, who delivered my baby!  Granted, the whole out of context thing threw me for a loop…but still.

So, now for the more recent story:

The Gideon Ridge Inn where we stayed this weekend is amazing.  It has a fabulous covered stone porch across the back of the house that overlooks the Blue Ridge mountains.  The main porch is sort of blocked off from a walkway that then passes onto a private terrace.  That private terrace is accessed from the room we were staying in, but isn’t completely inaccessible from the main porch (just clearly blocked off by giant stone deterrents.)  At one point I’d just hopped out of the tub and was in the process of getting dressed when I looked up and saw a man who had just wandered onto our private porch (I don’t think he even realized he was on a private porch…he was just staring off into the distance.)  I freaked out though and jumped behind the bed and was hiding…yelling at my Hubs who was taking a shower at the time because I didn’t know what to do.  I guess one of the inn staff saw him and called him off the porch because then he seemed startled too and walked away.  When we headed out to go to dinner, I mentioned to the manager that it might be a good idea to consider a rope or something with a sign indicating that area as a private terrace.  I wasn’t upset, but a little embarrassed and surprised more than anything.  We had a good laugh about it with the general manager though.

The next night we switched rooms because the first room hadn’t been available for 2 nights.  One of the female staff from the night before jokingly mentioned that hopefully we wouldn’t have anyone hopping onto the terrace again surprising me.  The night manager was there and overheard the comment and was mortified.  He thought another guest had literally hopped onto the uber-private terrace of our second room (unaware that we had switched rooms) and surprised me in the buff. Which would have been truly creepy if that was the case, but it wasn’t…and we all realized what he thought and started laughing about the misunderstanding of what was truly an inadvertent wandering in the first place.  Then he said “Well, I’m sorry regardless that someone you don’t know may have seen you.”  And then…remembering the incident last week with Dr. M, and thinking also in the back of my mind about how many people you don’t know who are there when you deliver a baby, I said…

“Oh…I’m SURE that’s not the only time someone I don’t know has seen me naked.”

WHAT?! Did I just say that?!

I realized what I’d said immediately AFTER it came out of my mouth and how awful it sounded, and then burst out in embarrassing laughter…saying “No…No…No….not that…not what I mean” but by then it was too late.  Everyone was laughing hysterically at me.

I explained the whole conversation to my hubs who then had a really hearty laugh at my expense and said,  “oh babe…that’s a bad one.  That made it sound like you were a stripper or something!”

Yes…I know.  So mortified.  I’m not a stripper.  I never have been.  And hopefully the night manager doesn’t think that I am/was now either!

One of these days I’m going to actually really think through things before I let them come out of my mouth.  Have mercy!

Also, the winner from the Gussy Sews giveaway from this past Monday is…Drumroll please…..

 entry #113 Crystelle Carrick!

Congratulations Crystelle! It looks like you will get to use that credit towards an iPad case!  You have 48 hours from timestamp of this post to send me an email at Logan dot Wolfram at gmail dot com with your contact information so that I can pass it along to Gussy!  Thanks to the lovely and talented Gussy Sews for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway!

And don’t forget, you still have til tomorrow morning at 6am to enter to win the giveaway from Red Letter Words.  The giveaways from Jennie Leigh Designs for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ends Wed,) KEEN Footwear (ends Thurs,) and the Life for Dessert prize pack from yours truly (ends Fri) are still open as well. Don’t miss out…and pass them along so your friends don’t miss out either!

So, today is Friday and I’m wrapping up this week of giveaways celebrating the launch of the new, improved, and dot com Life for Dessert.  If you came by this week just to win something, I sure hope you’ll stick whether you win or not.  I’ll have more giveaways in the future, and you never know what other random fun-ness just might happen around here either!  You still have time to enter all of the giveaways from this week, and next week I’ll start announcing winners.  Each giveaway will run for one week from the time stamp of the post.

I wanted to round out the week with a little mix of things that are straight from me.  As a way to say “thank you” to all of you friends old and new who come by and share a little piece of your day and life with me.  I’m really grateful to be a part of your lives and glad to call you friends.

I’ve created a gift grouping of things that I think are essentials (well maybe not entirely essential, but still fun) to enjoying life for dessert…at least for me.  I almost put a bag of my favorite coffee in the mix, but then I thought to myself…that’s just SO essential that it hardly seems exciting!

I’ve written about all of these things before, so if you’ve been around, then none of these will come as a surprise…if you’re new, then WELCOME and these are some of my favorite things!

1) Stop and Smell the Rosemary Cookbook by the Junior League of Houston (one of my all time favorites.  I don’t think there’s a bad recipe in the whole thing…and it’s a gorgeous book in general.)

2) Charleston Favorites Stone Ground Yellow Grits.  Grits are a southern thing, and around here, Shrimp and Grits are perhaps my most favorite recipe…both in my house and in my state (SC.)  I figured you all might just need to have a good grit and see what all the fuss is about in case you didn’t know already.

3) My very own take on my favorite Goody Goody Bon Bon slippers.  I made these slippers and they’ll fit a woman’s foot from about size 7-9.  They are cute and comfy and handmade, and I hope you’ll feel extra special shuffling around your house in them!

4) Two pairs of regular rise Hanky Panky undies. (they retail for $18-25 per pair!) If you don’t know about these, well, you’ve been missing out.  And now, for a more in-depth explanation, go HERE to catch up on why Hanky Panky are seriously the best underwear ever.  Besides…how cute are those?!

It has been a crazy week ya’ll!  I have had so much fun gathering together all of the amazing products and vendors to sponsor our givaways this week!  I’ve loved being able to share the newly renovated blog look and to be able to bring together some of my favorite things for you to have a chance to win.  Seriously…it has been SO MUCH FUN for me to do this. SO. Much. Fun.  Many thanks to Gussy Sews, Red Letter Words, Jennie Leigh Designs (stockist of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint), and KEEN Footwear for celebrating with me and bringing awesomeness to you guys reading…both in quality of products, and opportunities to win some of them as well!

Like I said, I’ll announce the first winner (of the Gussy Sews shop credit) on Monday of next week. You’ll have 48 hours to claim your prize or I’ll have to draw another winner if I don’t hear back in that timeframe.  And that would be a bummer for you.

In the meantime, I have a birthday coming up this weekend.  Yep…it’s true.  On Sunday I’ll be the big THREE THREE!  Or at least I think that’s what I’ll be….sometimes I forget….1978 though, year I was born.

I’m quickly reaching the age when I don’t care so much about my age….I’m still having enough fun to drive through the K5 carline on my bike (with the pickup tag proudly displayed on my handlebars) even though I look like a complete idiot and middle school boys yell things like “Awesome bike” and pump their triumphant fists in the air.  I’m reaching that age where I’m finding that I am pretty darn comfortable with who I am and my life…and if I think my kid might smile bigger because I roll up on my bike behind 2 minivans, a Honda Pilot and a Suburban in carline…well, then bring on 34!

See...told you I look like an idiot!

The Hubs and I are taking a weekend away without our munchkins to celebrate yours truly.  We’re going to bike a 34 mile trail on Saturday (here’s to hoping those spin classes pay off!), and the rest of the time I’m hoping to sleep some and I’ll probably also eat whatever the heck I want…which just might include cake at every meal and I’m hoping also perhaps at least one fried green tomato BLT.  So you won’t hear much from me til Monday…I’ll be doing my birthday thang.  Hope you’ve had as much fun this week as I have!  Have a great weekend!

To enter today’s Life for Dessert giveaway:

Mandatory entry: I want to know what is one thing you either do or have that helps you enjoy your life like dessert?!

For extra entries leave separate comments detailing each action:  You can earn 1 extra entry for each action taken for a total of 6 extra entries…1) Follow Life for Dessert on Google Friend Connect, 2) Like Life for Dessert on Facebook, 3) Subscribe to receive the Life For Dessert feed, 4) Post this link on your Facebook wall, 5) Follow LifeforDessert on Twitter 6)Tweet this link to all of your Twitter followers.

You all know I’m pretty opinionated when it comes to products, and there’s no way that I’m going to recommend a product to you that I don’t completely stand behind.  This company and these products though, I absolutely ADORE!

I’ve written about KEEN Footwear twice since I began Life for Dessert (if you want to re-read those posts, then check HERE and HERE,) and that was just because I think they deserve a standing ovation for making attractive, sturdy, and comfortable footwear for both kids and adults.  Honestly, their products speak for themselves, but it’s always nice to have a face and voice you trust speak on behalf of something too.

I’m all about getting out and enjoying life, and I love that KEEN Footwear feels the same way! Not only does KEEN sell amazing products, but they take the concept of footwear one step farther by encouraging consumers to make healthy lifestyle choices as well!  KEEN launched the “Recess is Back” campaign to encourage people to get out from behind a desk or a cooped up life, and break for at least 15 minutes each day to get outside, breathe in the good air, and enjoy your life!  I love that they make great products, but I really LOVE that KEEN wants you to enjoy your Life for Dessert too, and take back the freedom…take back the fun….take back moments of recess in your life!

I love the way they put it on their website:

Ever since KEEN agreed to host a giveaway on Life for Dessert, I have been tickled pink over it!  And it gets better…they’re not just giving away one, but TWO pairs of their unbelievable shoes for some lucky readers!  One winner will receive his or her choice of KEEN kids shoes, and one winner will receive his or her choice of adult shoes.  And since KEEN is super awesome, they said you can pick any pair you want! And believe me…you have a lot of great stuff to choose from! (This stuff below is just a taste of all the cool footwear they make!)

If you would like to enter to win either the adult pair or the kids’ pair, you MUST consider each item a separate entry and will be required to take separate actions for each. (ie. if you leave one comment stating 2 different product styles and a list of each action you did all together…I’m only counting it as one entry. You can enter to win each pair, but just list them as separate entries.)

So here’s how to enter:

• MANDATORY ENTRY: Go to KEEN Footwear and choose the style of shoe you like best (kids or adult.)  Come back here and leave a comment indicating your shoe style choice and size.  Make sure you indicate Men’s, Women’s, or Kids (ex. I am loving the Women’s Shelby High Boot in brown full grain, size 8.5)

For extra entries leave separate comments detailing each action:  You can earn 1 extra entry for each action taken for a total of 7 extra entries…1) Follow Life for Dessert on Google Friend Connect, 2) Like KEEN Footwear on Facebook, 3) Take the KEEN Recess Pledge  4) Like Life for Dessert on Facebook, 5) Subscribe to receive the Life For Dessert feed, 6) Post this link on your Facebook wall, 7)Tweet this link to all of your Twitter followers.

Ok friends.  Happy entering!  This giveaway will end exactly ONE WEEK from the time stamp of this entry post.  I’ll announce the winners next Thursday, September 1st!

About a week ago, I shared with you some of the fun things I’d gotten in the mail recently!  One item was the diaper/wipe wristlet I’d ordered from Gussy Sews (that giveaway from yesterday is still open by the way), and the other was this fabulous cafe print I’d ordered as an anniversary present for the Hubs from Red Letter Words.

Red Letter Words 12x12 Cafe Print

I first discovered Red Letter Words through another blog a few months back, and ever since, I have found myself revisiting the site and regularly drooling over all the gorgeous and inspiring print options that she offers.

If I could get another one (which I probably will in the not-so-distant-future,) it’ll likely be this one to hang in my kitchen….or foyer…or guestroom…or anywhere really.

Hebrews 13:2

Ahhh…. I LOVE that!

I’m a fan of scripture in my home anyway, and Dee from Red Letter Words makes it so lovely, and eye-catching, and tasteful looking.  As much as it does for my decor, it does more for my heart to walk by and be reminded of the truths and encouragements that God has for us in Scripture.  I know lots of people who have this next common verse displayed in their homes, but check out how cool it looks when Dee does it up right!

Joshua 24:15

Red Letter Words has loads of beautifully printed scriptures to choose from!  Seriously…lots!

Maybe you’re not into Scripture in your home, but love the look of this stuff….well, not to worry, Red Letter Words has so many things to choose from!

Let’s say you’re a Bostonian transplanted to Atlanta and love the idea of being reminded of home.  This print from the Travel Collection might just be the nostalgia you’re looking for on your den wall.

Perhaps you just need to be reminded at the office to hang onto your dreams, and that punching keys all day long isn’t your be-all, end-all…but still you can keep calm and carry on.

Whatever you’re looking for, there are plenty of beautiful things to choose from.  And if she doesn’t have what you want, not to worry, Dee does custom orders!

You know, sometimes you read about a person too, and just the way she describes herself and her motivation behind her business makes you want to buy the product.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE what Dee says about herself:

My house is a wreck today. No…seriously. Look at just my laundry room….

It looks SO bad!

I’m under no illusions. It’s a wreck! And yes… on the far wall, that would be some paint that I put up a couple of years ago to see how I felt about painting the laundry room that color. I never wanted to do it because the laundry room stresses me out and I have to spend enough time in there as it is.

I’m showing you my laundry room though to show you what a friend of ours saw today when he came to look at putting in some shelves and more cabinetry. Ok…so I’d tidied up at least the stuff on the floor that was making it hard to walk, but it was still bad.

This friend that came, J, has a really amazing wife who I think is truly great. She apparently thinks I am more well put together than I actually am. It’s such a flattering thought that I’m tempted to keep it, but then I’d just be living with a lie, and that’s way worse than being honest about who I am…deficiency load and all.

So in order to make sure she knows how very un-put together I am typically, I texted her this picture. And this is just the laundry room. I’m not saying I live with a mess because I really don’t all the time, but I have 2 small children who can wreak some serious havoc on a room in about 5 minutes and sometimes it stays that way for the rest of the day. Whatever though…it’s real life.

A few years ago when we first bought this house, we were painting the cabinets in the kitchen…they were ugly glossy wood and so we painted them cream. It was a horribly tedious process that we eventually gave up on and paid someone to finish, but we got most of the way done. All of the cabinet doors had been removed for priming and I decided that we needed to have a party for Memorial Day….sans kitchen cabinet doors and all.

I don’t know how your cabinets are when you open them, but I have a few that are disasters waiting to happen…the tupperware cabinet in particular. All that business was in plain sight…and we had a party with about 50 people. I’ll never forget how many people commented “I can’t believe you don’t care that you don’t have cabinet doors on…I could never let it go enough to have a party with my house in disrepair.” I’m pretty sure they all meant it as a compliment, because they’re my friends and if they’d judge me for that…well, we probably wouldn’t be friends long anyhow truth be told.

So yesterday was kind of a mess around here. And 3 different friends stopped by for various reasons. One had about 20 minutes to kill before we had to pick up our kids from school (and we live behind the school,) one came over for an impromptu lunch when I invited them in the carline, and one dropped by to borrow my coffee urn for a party she was having….and I didn’t stress about my imperfect house. Would I prefer it look nice when friends come…yes. Would I avoid letting people come by just because it’s not perfect….NEVER.

When I throw a big party or a dinner party, I definitely straighten things up….everyone does, but in daily living, some of my favorite moments happen when friends just drop in for a visit out of the blue. I love it. I love having “drop-in friends” who text you when they’re in your neighborhood, or who are out walking and will come in for a cup of coffee, or who need to kill time before having to be somewhere, or will come hang out because they care more about time with people than they do about what everything around them looks like right then. Those are my favorite kinds of people.

I heard someone once say…

So that’s my mantra for visitors….I love the time with you way more than the time I spend endeavoring to achieve cleaning perfection. I want to enjoy my life and the people in it, and not “sweat the small stuff.” Noone ever dies and people stand up and talk about his or her capacity to keep a perfect home as much as they remember the way they loved others….and I hope that’s more what people would remember about me once I’m not around anymore too!

How about you? Where do you fall in the cleanliness versus friendliness question?

DON’T forget that all next week I’ll be hosting AMAZING giveaways each day!  Each one will only be open for 24 hours, so don’t miss out!  Check back every day for your chance to win really awesome stuff!  And I can’t wait to hear what you all think about the new look that Life for Dessert will be revealing then too!!!  WOOHOO!