Remembering Those Who Served

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
~General George S. Patton

My family has been very fortunate that those who have served in the military were able to come home from conflicts and service. Today we remember the sacrifice of our military and their families. Thank you for your service. 

Sunday Sweets

sweet musings

We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.  ~Author Unknown

sweet treats

sweet dreams

"Whatever it is you're seeking won't come in the form you're expecting." — Haruki Murakami

Freebie Friday: Amazing Giveaways from Around the Web

~Food & Housewares~

• Win a custom set of four Pilsner Glasses from PictureIt Creations. Just in time for Fathers Day! This awesome giveaway ends on May 31! 
• Mom's Focus on the Cyber World is giving away a nice prize pack from Michael Angelos frozen meals. This giveaway ends on June 4.
• Win a Boon Stash Organizer via Go Green Street. Many ways to enter. This giveaway ends on June 11.
• Young, Free and Frugal is giving away a SodaStream USA starter kit.  This is an amazing product for soda lovers like myself. I'm itching to try it. This giveaway ends on June 5.
• Win 2 Cases of Lindsay Olives (green and black) at The Mom Reviews. This amazing giveaway ends June 9 and there will be three winners!
• Win a Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms cookbook via Mom's Focus on the Cyber World.  This giveaway ends on May 28. Yup, that is today. Enter now!
• Jenni of She is Getting Married is giving away a beautiful notNeutral Ribbon Carafe from CSN Stores.  Many ways to enter. This giveaway ends on June 2.

~Clothing & Accessories~

• Thanks to the generosity of Ocean Pearl Beaded Jewelery. Indie Bride is able to offer one lucky bride to be a set of two beautiful baroque pearl bracelets in the bride's choice of colors. One bracelet for the bride and one for the Maid of Honor.  There are many ways to enter. The giveaway ends on June 11.
• Win a $75 gift certificate to Novia from An Optimistic Beauty. This awesome giveaway ends on June 7. 
• Mint Green with Envy is giving away an amazing handcrafted Morello Mini Truffle handbag in yellow. This giveaway ends on June 9.
• Another amazing giveaway from Manolo for the Brides.  Win a $50 gift certificate for Dejarnette New Orleans.  J'adore the love notes necklace. Giveaway ends May 30. 
• Just for Me and You is giving away a free pair of Sunglasses from Sunglass Warehouse. Contest ends on June 1.
• Amazing ivory clutch up for grabs on Bride on a Budget.  Giveaway ends on June 4 and several extra entries. 
• Win an awesome Hapari swimsuit from Two of a kind, working on a full house. Many ways to enter. Giveaway ends on May 31.

Thursday Things...Outdoor Parties

In honor of Memorial Day...behold my favorite things.

grilled meat

amazing patios

firepits

deviled eggs

i love gas grills

Sunday Sweets

sweet musings

A happy man marries the girl he loves: a happier man loves the girl he marries. ~unknown

sweet treats

sweet dreams

The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart. ~Helen Keller

Freebie Friday: Amazing Giveaways from Around the Web

~Wedding Related~

• Win 50 Thank You notes from The LV Studio care of Southern Weddings Magazines amazing blog. You have until May 24 to enter this contest. 
• In conjunction with Budget a Wedding launch they are giving away many amazing wedding products including hair pieces, bridal jewelry, free postcards, ipod shuffle, and Southern Living Gift Certificate. 
• Completely Unveiled is giving away a $10 e-gift certificate to Bake It Pretty. Giveaway ends today at noon!
• Classic Bride is giveaway an amazing wedding sash from Quatre Coeur. Giveaway ends May 24. 
• Win a pair of cuff links from Cuff Daddy care of Everything Up Close. Giveaway ends May 27. 
• Create a wedding registry for Williams-Sonoma or add 5 items to your already created registry for a chance to win a $250 gift certificate to Williams Sonoma from The Perfect Palette. This awesome giveaway ends on May 26.
• Your honeymoon will be so much better with a new suit. The B Keeps Us Honest is giving away an awesome two-piece suit from DownEast Basics. Giveaway ends on May 25

~Jewelry & Accessories ~

• The B Keeps Us Honest is giving away any item $35 or under from the Fantasy Jewelry Box. This giveaway ends on May 28. 
• Win a Paulina Carcach Handbag from the B Keeps Us Honest. This giveaway ends on May 25.
• Choose from 2,000 master artists from around the world as you spend your $75 gift certificate from Novica if you win this amazing giveaway from The B Keeps Us Honest.  

~Housewares~

• The Mom Reviews is giving away a Spring into Summer cleaning pack including a full size Swiffer Starter Set. The giveaway ends on May 24.
• The B Keeps Us Honest is giving away the SOS! The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue: Earth-Friendly, Kid-Pleasing Dinners for Busy Families Cookbook. This giveaway ends May 30. 

~For Fur Babies~

• Broken Teepee is giving away 6 prizes from EZLeash, including 2 EZ Leashes, 2 EZ Harnnesses, & 2 EZ Collars. Many ways to enter.  Giveaway ends on May 25. 

~Other Amazing Stuff~

• Win the Sports Bra of your choice from Breeze Comfort via The B Keeps Us Honest. Giveaway ends on May 22. 
• Enter to win one of  five Western Union $50 Visa gift cards at A Nut in a Nutshell. Giveaway ends May 28. 
• Win a pair of ZooShoo's Soda Moby Flats from The B Keeps Us Honest. This giveaway ends on May 28. 
• Enter to win a Grill Topper at A Nut in a Nutshell and show your team spirit at all this summers BBQs. Giveaway ends on May 25.
• Win a $100 Nautica.com Gift Certificate from Yacht Candy.

Thursday Things...Road Trips

In honor of our road trip to Virginia this coming weekend to see a great friend get married. Today's theme is road trips.

i love maps

i love to eat out at local restaurants ~ no chains please.

Welcome Center--full of maps, local information, and in GA they have free Coke

plug in, put on shuffle & drive

how can you not love a building in the shape of a basket or mermaids in florida. There is something unquie odd about all of them.

Saying Goodbye to a Furry Family Member

This was taken on the day we adopted Daphne.  

Her & Hermione were fast friends from the start

Today a member of my family passed away,  Hermione was my 7 year old Guinea Pig. I bought Hermione during graduate school and needed the companionship of a furry friend. My school and financial responsibilities prevented me from getting a dog, so naturally a guinea pig was the perfect fit.  My mom has severe allergies to most animals so we only had rodents growing up.  We had a guinea pig for 10 years (passed away my senior year of high school), so I felt like a new piggy would be the perfect fit. Hermione was a great companion and I already miss her reeping (thats what we call her noise) a lot.

Sunday Sweets

sweet musings

In the early light,
he offered me a cup of coffee
and a promise.

sweet treats

sweet dreams

Dreaming by Melissa Nucera of ThisYear's Girl 

A good traveler has no fixed plan,  and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu

Freebie Friday: Amazing Giveaways from Around the Web

~Wedding Related~

•  Everything Up Close is giving away two veils to two lucky brides from Simple Beauty. Many ways to get extra entries. Giveaway ends on May 20.
• Junebug Weddings blog is giving away a stunning Crystal and Silk Chiffon Skinny Headband from Jennifer Behr. Giveaway ends on May 17.
• Engaged and Inspired is giving away a $30 gift certificate to Be Something New to go towards an amazing hair piece. 
• Manolo for Brides is giving away a $75 gift certificate for the awesome Beau-Coup Wedding Favors. This giveaway ends on Sunday, so enter soon!
• Honeymoon will be better with a new suit.  Just for Me and You is giving away an awesome two-piece suit from DownEast. Giveaway last until May 17.  
• Everything Up Close is giving away a $100 gift certificate from Headpiece Heaven to choose pieces from either their Vintage Bridal Jewelry Shop or from Headpiece Heaven.  The lucky bride will be able to choose . Many ways to get extra entries. Giveaway ends on May 20.
• Just for You and Me is giving away a two-piece Hapari swimsuit. Giveaway will last until May 16. Many way to enter.
• Southern Wedding Magazine's blog is giving away an amazing Flip SlideHD video camera.  Just submit you favorite childhood picture. Contest will Monday, May 17 at midnight. 
• Create a wedding registry for Williams-Sonoma or add 5 items to your already created registry for a chance to win a $250 gift certificate to Williams-Sonoma from 100 Layer Cake. Giveaway ends May 22!
• Another Williams-Sonoma giveaway: Create a wedding registry for Williams-Sonoma or add 4 items to your already created registry for a chance to win a $250 gift certificate to Williams-Sonoma from Classic Bride. Giveaway ends May 22!

~Body & Beauty~

• Mint Green with Envy is giving away a complete set of CeraVe's skin care line. This eco and body friendly giveaway ends May 18.
• Wishing Penny is giving away an amazing Natural Ayurvedic Skin Care Facial Kit from Shankara.  This great giveaway has many ways to get extra entries and will end on May 15. 

~Jewelry and Accessories~

• Mercy New York is giving away a beautiful Kacey K Silver Block Print Monogram Mini. It is that lovely, and oh yes I do hope I win it!
• Win a Guy and Eva necklace from The B Keeps us Honest. Many methods of multiple entries. Giveaway ends May 19. 
• All Ruby Cakes is giving away a $25 gift certificate for Ruche. Giveaway ends on May 21.
• I Do Budget Weddings is giving away a $15 gift certificate for Dazzling Jewelry and Pearls. This is perfect for any bride to select her bridal jewelry. Many ways for multiple entries. Giveaway ends on May 27. 
• Enter to win a stylish Mad by Design handbag from Twisted Orchids at All Ruby Cakes. Giveaway ends on May 22. 
• Go Green Street is giving away an amazing handbag from URTHBags.  Lucky winner gets to choose from the Angelica or Stella bags...I'll take both! Ends Saturday.
• Win your choice of sunglasses from Sunglass Warehouse thanks to All Ruby Cakes. Giveaway ends May 18. 
• Natural Mommie is giving away and amazing necklace from Lennah Designs in color, length, and pendant. Many ways for multiple entries, giveaway ends May 15. 
• Adorable little birdie earrings giveaway made by Adorn Me Jewelry on I heart handmade blog.  This giveaway ends on May 15. 

~Home & Housewares~

• The Mom Review is giving away an Electrolux Bagless Upright Vacuum.  Oh, yes.  Dream come true. Lots of multiple entries.  Hurry up, this giveaway ends TODAY.
• Natural Mommie has an awesome giveaway, three winners will when a complete collection of Gloves Off, an eco-friendly, non toxic brand of cleaners from Planet People.  Giveaway ends on May 15.
• Completely Unveiled is giving away 5 Vera Wang's Floral Bouquet candles.  Drawing held on Friday at Noon enter now!
• Jabbering Jessi is giving away a Floormate SpinScrub from Hoover. This giveaway ends Saturday!
• Weddingbee is giving away Tassimo T65 coffee makers and an assortment of coffee discs to a lucky reader. Giveaway ends on 5/18.
  
  

~Other Amazing Stuff~

• Blydesign is giving away an amazing vintage Trojan Ceramic Horse, to win it you have to enter today as the giveaway ends Monday!
• Natural Mommie is giving away an amazing Ceramic 10 inch open skillet from Xtrema Cookware. Contest ends May 15.
• Southern Weddings Magazine's blog is giving away a Flip SlideHD Camera. To enter email your favorite childhood picture. Details on the blog, email soon as contest will end on Monday, May 17.
• Win a pink tool kit from Little Pink Tools from The B Keeps Us Honest. Many methods of multiple entries. Giveaway ends May 18. 
• I heart handmade is giving away to cute heart card from PaperCutHearts. This giveaway ends on May 19!
• Win a pair of FloJos Flip Flops from The B Keeps us Honest. Many methods of multiple entries. Giveaway ends May 19. 

Thursday Things... Cajun Queen

I maybe a North Carolinian, but my blood is rooted in Cajun things.  The wedding has caused me to think a lot about identity and family. My identity is Cajun. So thus, here you have it my Thursday Things: Cajun Queen!

everything is improved with Tabasco (not I will only use Tabasco)

a trip to New Orleans is not complete without Coffee and Beignets from Cafe du Monde. 

gumbo, seafood a must--homemade rux the best

King Cake, no one has ever heard of them in my southern hometown, but they are the best. 

Find the baby--you get a year of luck and must provide the king cake for the next year

Zydeco Music

Its a style contest, and I need your help

You may remember I've entered Dessy Group's inspiration board contest on Facebook.  The competition is now in the voting stage. You can read more about this contest on my April 17 blog post called Style Inspired.

my board: Vineyard Wedding

This contest is based on voting, please take the time to vote for my inspiration board.  You can do it daily. I will love you for sure! If you have entered, let me know I'll return the favor. You can vote at: http://apps.facebook.com/promotionshq/contests/31295/voteable_entries/3946840?order=votes

Be Well. ~leela

Sunday Sweets

sweet musings

God could not be everywhere and therefore He made mothers  ~Jewish Proverb

sweet treats

sweet dreams

{my beautiful mother}

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother 

~ Abraham Lincoln

Freebie Friday: Amazing Giveaways from Around the Web

~Wedding Related~

Win a handmade custom birdcage veil made by One Little Dove from Chic n' Cheap Living. Giveaway goes through May 13.

• From VistaPrint: You could win the perfect honeymoon to an all-inclusive Jamaican resort or one of thirty-one other fabulous prizes. Entering is easy. You can enter daily. Contest runs through May 10. 
• Giveaway of a great book full of Crafty Ideas for the Bride on a BUDGET from Everything Up Close
• Tiaras & Tantrums is giving away a 12x12 photobook from VistaPrint. Giveaway ends May 8.
• I Do Budget Weddings has teamed up with PictureIt Creations and they are giving away a pair of custom engraved 6 oz champagne toasting flutes to one lucky winner.
• Brides to be only giveaway from Ever Ours, win a stunning fascinator from Ink & Button. Contest ends on 5/9 at 5pm 
• Add items to your Williams-Sonoma registry and win 5 eco-friendly custom totes for the wedding party from Wedding Chicks.  They have an amazing blog and awesome giveaways, so you should follow them too.  
• Perfect for the Honeymoon: Jabbering Jessi is giving away $100 Gift Certificate for Swimsuits for All.  All ladies need new suits for the summer season. Many ways for multiple entries, giveaway ends 5/12 at 11:59pm EST
• More swimsuit love perfect for the Honeymoon: The Mom Reviews is giving away stunning suit from Gigi Swimsuits.  I would love to have this one for my honeymoon. Many ways for multiple entries, giveaway ends May 11. 
• A tie for the groom, Mint Green with Envy is giving away a $25 gift certificate for ABC Neckties. This great giveaway will end on May 8 at midnight. 
• Jabbering Jessi is giving away a $100 Gift Certificate to Men's Warehouse.  Giveaway ends Saturday!
• You can never have enough swim suits in the south.  Just for Me and You is giving away an awesome two-piece suit from DownEast. Giveaway last until May 17.  
• Take It from Me has also teamed up with DownEast. Giveaway last until May 11.  Trust me, enter both, because if you win you will thank me, because these suits are to die for cute!
• Just for You and Me is giving away a two-piece Hapari swimsuit. Giveaway will last until May 16. Many way to enter.

~Body & Beauty~

• Mint Green with Envy is giving a Tarte's lights, camera, lashes! mascara.  This giveaway ends TODAY so enter now!
• The Candid Review is having a giveaway for Juniper & Sage Bath Salts from The Dancing Grasshopper. Ends TODAY.
• The Mom Reviews is giving away a Hana Professional Flat Iron from Misikko.  This amazing giveaway has lots of multiple entries and will end on May 10.
• Mint Green with Envy is giving away a complete set of CeraVe's skin care line. This eco and body friendly giveaway ends May 18.
• The Mom Reviews is giving away a Cami/Panty set from Jockey Naturals!  This comfy giveaway has lots of multiple entries and will end on May 10.
• Mint Green with Envy is giving away a  Earth Apple Body Butter in Passion Pouch from Four Truffles to two lucky winners. Giveaway ends May 13. 
• Wishing Penny is giving away an amazing Natural Ayurvedic Skin Care Facial Kit from Shankara.  This great giveaway has many ways to get extra entries and will end on May 15. 
• Jabbering Jessi is giving away an amazing gift pack from The Body Shop.  Enter now because it ends May 13 

~Jewelry and Accessories~

• OMG, $100 Stella & Dot gift certificate from Swanky Tables.  This giveaway ends today at Midnight PST. 
• Etsy It Up is giving away a scrabble pendant and chain from Pieces of Me Pendants. Giveaway ends May 8!
• Go Green Street is giving away an amazing handbag from URTHBags.  Lucky winner gets to choose from the Angelica or Stella bags...I'll take both please! Ends May 15.
• Natural Mommie is giving away and amazing necklace from Lennah Designs in color, length, and pendant. Many ways for multiple entries, giveaway ends May 15. 

~Home & Housewares~

• Jabbering Jessi is giving away an Eureka Envirostemer.  It would be perfect to those of us who have all hardwoods.  Many multiple entries. Giveaway will end May 10 at 11:59 EST
• The Mom Review is giving away an Electrolux Bagless Upright Vacuum.  Oh, yes.  Dream come true. Lots of multiple entries.  Hurry up, this giveaway ends on May 14.
• Natural Mommie has an awesome giveaway, three winners will when a complete collection of Gloves Off, an eco-friendly, non toxic brand of cleaners from Planet People.  Giveaway ends on May 15.
• Stunning giveaway form Blydesign of Ikat and Batik pillows from Ginette1223's Ikat &Batik etsy store. Giveawaay ends Monday, May 10.
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  • Jabbering Jessi is giving away a Floormate SpinScrub from Hoover. This giveaway ends  May 15

~Other Amazing Stuff~

• Natural Mommie is giving away an amazing Ceramic 10 inch open skillet from Xtrema Cookware. Contest ends May 15.
• I heart handmade blog is giving away a beautiful hand crafted plate from from Two Potters. Its is just amazing.  Giveaway ends May 11.
• Etsy It Up is giving away the lamb, bunny, fox, deer, & mouse prince print set from this years girl.  Set includes 4 4x6 prints. Giveaway ends May 8! 
• Jabbering Jessi is giving away a Baby Star Rock the Tote. This super cute bag could be used as an everyday tote or diaper bag.  Many multiple entries. Giveaway will end May 10 at 11:59 EST
• The Mom Reviews is giving away a wonderfully cute wristlet, perfect for your iphone and cards. Great for days where you need little baggage. Many ways to enter, giveaway is over on May 12.

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