Birthday Presents

So Royals birthday is on September 11, but because he was in New York City we celebrated a week later. I'll be honest-- I try to be a totally awesome wife {heaven help  me} and so I surprised Royal with tickets to see Ben Folds Five on their reunion tour with {bonus} an overnight at the Ellis Hotel in downtown Atlanta.

{Kate Miller-Heidke @ The Tabernacle}

The opening act was Kate Miller-Heidke. During her first song I was like...

what
 the
 heck?

However, by the end of her 7 song set she had utterly won me over! The girl has an amazing set of pipes. Originally from Australia and classically trained she choose to go more of the alternative/rock path. Don't let that fool you though because she will through some of those classically trained notes into the mix. If you search for her on Pandora you will hear the likes of Florence and The Machine, The Cranberries, and Regina Spektor. All some of my favorites:)

Also, side note:: We are really big Dave Matthews fans here in this house. Which means we absolutely love his live recordings with Tim Reynolds. So if you love Tim Reynolds too you should hear this man play guitar with her. He will blow you away!!

 

{Ben Folds- 2nd Row}

We got to The Tabernacle about 45 minutes before the doors opened and after some body finagling once inside we ended up in the 2nd row of GA. Hello Benjamin!! Have you ever seen Ben Folds perform?? Is is supremely amazing! When he looked left he saw me. We had the best view!! Now if I'm being honest I wasn't all that familiar with their music. Royal was the fan out of the two of us, but I do love Ben Folds, and I knew that seeing him perform would be just amazing and let me tell you I wasn't disappointed.  The energy that that man brings to the stage is amazing and boy can he ever play the piano! No complaints from this red head.

{Ben Folds Five}

After a solid two hour performance and an on the spot new song were the band begged for forgiveness for canceling their last show here in Atlanta they wrapped things up. They left the stage and reappeared for a 3 song encore after a 10 minute nonstop whop and holler from the crowd. It really was a great show. Worth the wait and so very nice to get out with my husband and celebrate his life. The man really changed my life and continues to on a daily basis make me swoon. Happy Birthday baby!! I love you.

What has been your favorite concert you've ever been too? Tell me all about it in the comments below:)

xO- Etheline

And we're back....

Last week Royal was in Manhattan.

 The very same Manhattan where fashion week was taking place {sighs...lol}

I was suppose to go with him, but unfortunately things became to last minute and it was best for me to stay home.Which I'm not bitter about it at all....

anymore;)

All in due time will I get the chance to explore the big city-- spend an entire day wandering through The Met, traveling by Circle Line to Ellis Island, admiring the city skyline from the top of the Empire State building, see a broadway show, eat amazing food...oh my gosh the list goes on and on. As I said before all in due time.

I must admit since we have started school in our home I'm finding that my blogging has taken a back seat. It's not how I want things, but priorities are priorities and the important ones make it into the day.

That doesn't mean I can't share some snapshots of the fun things have been happening round here in the meantime-- cause even if I can't blog about it-- I'm still snapping photos:)

{country goodness}

{home grown}

{new fall booties:: xo}

{missing Royal}

{favorite new top :: New York and Company}

{belated birthday brownies for dad}

{home}

{reunited}

{momma and daughter at the county fair}

Stay tuned for more fair photos later this week. Now it's time for this mamma to get up to the school room:) Before you go tell me what fun adventures found you this past weekend? Have you gotten into the fall feeling yet? We haven't here, but come October we'll be lip syncing another tune.

xO- Etheline

boat and tote

A really good friend invited to go out on his boat over the weekend. My thought was-- it would be rude to decline such an invitation ;)  So early Saturday morning we loaded up and headed to the lake. I am more of a surfer/long boarder type, but after a day out on the boat I am beginning to see the allure of life on the water that way.  All 3 of the kids had a wonderful time, although Margot through a perfectly understandable tantrum when we put her life jacket/swimmie/bathing suit on. It was so stinkin adorable though. Go ahead take a look and see for yourself--

{left: Richie and JB :: right: Chaz and JB}

{growing feet}

{special moments}

{there is a bathing suit there- I lost the strap...promise!!}

{where we spent most of the afternoon :: Lake Allatoona}

{my baby girl -- who gets spoiled with her own collage}

The following day was filled with a cranky Margot and sunburns that ranged from nonexistent {Richie} to severe {Royal}. But oh what a day full of memories. Their the kind you don't exchange them to keep the peace. It's good to rememeber to get out there and play hard. Go ahead and tucker yourself out. It's all apart of living. Each experience becomes a part of you and something you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Tell me about your weekend. Do you do anything to blow your hair back?? 

xO-Etheline

Words To Live By: letter addition

I have always carried a love for the French language in my heart. It really is a romance language. So in lieu of anything else I will simply say--

 Dear Royal-

{via}

xo- Etheline

Share this with the one you love tonight<3<3

Dang- is that the date already??

{via}

 

I'm sitting on the sofa biting my nails because I know I've been a naughty blogger lately. Sorry!! You know-- it's not in my nature to be mysterious, but I can't talk about it {what's happening} and I can't talk about why.

Can anyone name that movie?? {Think men-- think classic-- think 11+1}

It's like when someone says don't tell....and all you wanna do is tell. So as previously stated I'm avidly hunting for other things to keep me more than preoccupied. Unfortunately my blogging has suffered from it, but I am still here!! I'm still loving comments you leave for me and also reading up on your lives as well. You guys always have the greatest bits of wisdom that some how fit so perfectly in my life at any given moment.

One thing I can divulge is that Royal has been otherwise preoccupied for over  3 weeks now. Ans as luck would have it that aforementioned preoccupation hasn't allowed for us all to be together. I miss him most fiercely. My heart aches for him and I long for the day when we are reunited. When I finally can feel his strong arms wrap around me and bask in the feeling of my bones melting and the invisible knots that have formed begin to loosen and then disappear. When all is right in the world again because we are together. It's amazing to me how much power his mere presence has over me. So because I am having a {massive} "I miss Royal moment" I'll leave you with this quote from a master storyteller.

{via}

So, now having heard my "tragedy" tell me-- what is your favorite Shakespear anything....quote, play, factoid?? Shout off below in the comments.  Ready-- Set-- Go---->

xO-Etheline

Weekend Wrap Up

As stated earlier in the week in went horseback riding. On a real horse- with horseshoes, a saddle, and reigns!! I'm not talking a pony here either. 100% bon-a-fide horse. That little girl in me was jumping for joy!!

{be advised} I have run out of mascara and refuse to fork over the amount of cash at the moment to replace my favorite make up item. So please excuse the extreme hot mess.

Salento

Royal and I

 All my life I have thought that if I tried enough things I would stumble upon something that I was an absolute savant at. When I was 17 I thought it was archery. Strange, right?? And in case you were wondering....it wasn't archery. When I got on to my horse it took a few moments to get my bearings but after that I was completely comfortable. I was even out in front of our guide. He complimented me through out the day which only made me blush, because when I was galloping through the countryside I felt like I was Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride {lol}

Pretend Pioneer Woman an MM

Cheese

Time of my life!

Beautiful right?

At the end of our ride:(

I was so surprised at how natural it felt for me to hold the reigns and ride. I absolutely loved it and told Royal so every 10 minutes. Time of my life kinda stuff. I have found my new hobby my friends. I would never get into competitions or anything, but I want to go out and ride all the time. Especially after my bottoms heals because man those saddles are HARD and we will leave it at that.

Have any of you ever been riding? "If you have the means....I highly recommend one." Anyone? {name that movie} Anyone??

Have a happy weekend my friends:)

xO-Etheline

be back soon

I am officially giving myself the day off today.  Why you ask?  This is a very big weekend for our family.

-Chaz, our oldest boy is turning 5
-Royal and I will be celebrating our 6th anniversary as husband and wife
-Mother's Day

We are about to let some serious good times roll around this place.

{via}

Don't worry- I'll be back monday soon. Have a fantastic weekend darlings!

xO-Etheline

In which I make a front page announcement

In my relationship with my husband this how things go when it comes to new things:

Royal: (totally stoked) Lets do this- it will be awesome!!

Me: (kicking and screaming, finger nails clawed in dirt as I'm being drug to see the light) No you can't make me!!

Not in a horrible way mind you, I just..well; I can be stubborn.

Then a few weeks pass and I'm totally on board. I come to see the light. He can be very persuasive. Have you met him?

More often than not though things come up that we are both on board right away. Like traveling, no need for theatrics there.. Another thing we agree on is the idea that we shouldn't have to wait until after we retire to explore and see the world.

So we decided to do something about it. Something that people constantly ask, "You're doing what? Why?" (or...we get; that's cool). We have decided to go against the normal idea of the norm and make our own blue print. As of right now we are makingtthe preparations to go to Prague in the beginning of April. For 3 months.

In true blog fashion I will document the journey and will start off with some follow up posts about why Prague and the preparations that we will be making in order to get going. Stay tuned. You won't wanna miss this.

xo- Etheline