April Recap: Is it seriously May?

I almost had a slight panic attack just now realizing that #1 it is 2014 and #2 May 1st is tomorrow. It has been an absolute wonderful year so far…including the entire month of APRIL! I had the opportunity this month to be a part of a beautiful baby shower for our friend Leslie Tatum as well as host a party at our home the next weekend for the soon-to-be Mrs. Gowland and THEN we celebrated the BIG 3-0 for our friend Wesley Hill! 

I would not change this last month for anything and I hope that times like these never go away...

Here are some photos of our friend Leslie's baby shower for Baby Bliss! Our friends Caroline and Will Starr have an absolutely beautiful renovated home here in Auburn and it was the perfect setting for all the girls to gather to celebrate Leslie & Bliss. Erin Norrell and Hollie Hill did EVERYTHING for decoration and  their tasteful style was absolutely stunning when all together in Caroline's home. I feel so lucky to have such talented friends. 

           

this child...

        

        

       

                  The Hostesses with the Momma-to-be!

          

We love Lez!

      

We also got to love on Baby Joseph while he was in town! Such a sweet sweet baby.

Here are some pics from the shower we had for our friends Lindsay & Stephen! We had so much fun and really enjoyed meeting Stephen's family & friends!

Kaley Wallace's Mom whipped up all the flower arrangements in about an hour. They were so beautiful. Super Mom Award goes to Denise Segars!

We ordered all of the food and cake from right here in Auburn at Gourmet Tiger! Never a disappointment.

           

    We love our Slinzcat!

         

Hollie Hill did such an AHMAZING job on her hubs surprise birthday party last weekend. We ate dinner and got drinks at Big Sky in downtown Buckhead and then hopped on a party bus for the next few hours listening to awesome music and dancing nonstop! (Master P and JT were involved.)

 Such a fun night! 

All the boys… HAPPY 30TH WESLEY!

Stay tuned next week for a for sure rockstar weekend to celebrate our friends Annie & Jake!!

Thx for reading.

-kaci

Birthday Celebrations!

This past weekend we had the opportunity to celebrate not 1, but 2 birthdays!! My sister and my good friend, Erin Norrell, share the same birthday on March 21st. 

Friday night we celebrated Erin's at Acre with a great group of friends. Acre has become a favorite restaurant for all of us living here in Auburn and I believe the majority of the table ordered the burger which is so delicious! After dinner a few of us went around the corner to Avondale Bar which has also become a favorite spot to grab a drink!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN!

Saturday we had a surprise Birthday Party for my sister's  (AKA Tator Tot). She was very surprised!! (NOT)

She pretty much knew the entire time we were planning something for her. Fail on my end! It was still a blast and we had so much fun hanging out at the lake celebrating the BIG 3-0 with her. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLIE!

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate!

-Kaci

Atlanta Trip

We spent this past weekend celebrating Andrew's brother, Hunter Letts, birthday in Atlanta. Friday night we went to a newer restaurant called GUNSHOW! We had to get reservations almost two months in advance and we could not have been happier with the choice that Nicole Letts made for all of us! When trying to decide how to describe the place, I figured I would just share the "who we are" section from their website and let you decide what you think! I love how the chef decided on the name.Perfect.

*Chef Kevin Gillespie’s restaurant, Gunshow, offers a bold, new take on the traditional dining experience. Inspired by Brazilian churrascaria-style dining and Chinese dim sum, Gillespie combined the two for a decidedly fun and delicious result. Dishes are presented on rolling carts and trays to diners at their tables

where they can then choose what to order. Pricing is a la carte.

 *Along with an innovative dining experience, the restaurant’s design is also unique. With few walls and a highly visible kitchen, Gillespie and the talented team at ai3, Inc. have created a sense of transparency throughout Gunshow.

 *The restaurant’s name is a tribute to his family. Growing up, Gillespie’s father worked seven days a week to provide a better life for his family. On the rare Sunday afternoon he had off, father and son would go to a gun show.

*Gunshow is located in the Glenwood Park neighborhood of Atlanta, where Gillespie currently resides.

On Saturday, I met up with my friend Lindsay, and recent bride-to-be, at Treehouse to discuss an upcoming party for the couple as well as the bachelorette party this summer. It was so good to see her and hear all the details she is planning for her wedding in August. Its going to be beautifully romantic in Watercolor and I am in love already with her amazing engagement photos! I cannot wait to share with you all of her events!

Went to Nordstrom after lunch and found these marked down to $16. I was dumb enough not to buy them.

Thank you Nicole & Hunter Letts for letting me be your 3rd roommate this week! Nicole also convinced me to also try my first Pure Barre class while I was there. Thank you!

And this is what I am doing until tomorrow - conference in Columbia, SC. If you live here and if you are cool please for heavens sake call me. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET HOME AND SEE MY FLUFFY PUPPY …and maybe someone else. ;)

Stay tuned for next week! Have a good weekend.

kaci

Rodan + Fields - Leave Aging to Wine & Cheese!

About two years ago is when it started. That feeling that I needed more and more when putting my face on in the morning and my usual powder with some blush and mascara was just not doing the trick. To be completely honest with you, I would give ANYTHING not to wear makeup. 

Like many, I have started to notice more wrinkles, lines, puffy eyes, and breakouts have been at an all time high! Thanks to my sister, Leslie Gaston, and her new business opportunity with Rodan + Fields  I have started to see progress with my complextion and feel more confident about my skin. 

This past week we had a small party at my house for anyone interested in trying out some of the recently famous Rodan + Fields products. The theme was "Leave Aging to Wine & Cheese!" We had a nice turnout and had a few people who were both interested in improving their skin as well as becoming a partner and selling Rodan + Fields to earn extra income. 

With their products, you can find everything from products for brown spots, aging skin, irritation, acne and post acne marks, sun damage, etc..

If you or anyone you know is interested in trying some the products please contact Leslie Gaston- see contact information below. 

Message her now and find out how to receive free shipping and 10% off. The first 10 to message her saying they saw the info here on raymerplace.blogspot.com will receive a free mini facial!

Here are some pics of the party.

   Mini facials that you don't want to miss!!                         Redefine AMP MD for firmer looking skin.

Here is my sister..she is cooler than a pair of polar bear's toenails.

Contact her here:

Leslie Gaston 

Independent Consultant

256.749.7647

lesliegaston.myrandf.com

lesliegaston.myrandf.biz

www.rodanandfields.com

Thank you,

Kaci

Work Trip + A Little Fun

About two months ago I FINALLY got a confirmed work meeting in Charleston, SC and I have been eager for the trip especially since my friend Kristen was going the same week for work (this may or may not have been planned)! So this week was finally time to get out of the house ( I work from home mostly) drive to Charleston and get some things done along with having a little fun. 

Right when we both got to Charleston, I could have easily laid down and took about a 3 hour snooze from my 6 hour drive, but figured I should make the best out of my time in SC. We spent one night in Charleston and the next night in Beaufort (place is amazing…have you been there?)

 We immediately put on our tennis shoes and hit the streets in Charleston popping in beautiful antique shops, art galleries, admiring restaurants and trying to choose which one we would eat at that night…the weather was 78 degrees, no humidity, AMAZING hair day and those days do not come very often.

Here is US!!

The first thing that made the trip immediately interesting was dropping by art gallery Galerie on Broad. If you have not checked out Kate Mullin's (http://www.galerieonbroad.com/#!kate-mullin/crfb) work then check out the website!! Kristen and I ended up talking to Kate who is an Auburn grad and now owner of the gallery! She is a wonderful artist with beautiful paintings and she has acquired other artists in her gallery like Dru Warmath (colorful coastal landscapes), James Richards, and Dee Beard Dean. Next time you are in Charleston, this would be a gallery you do not want to miss! Christmas wish lists!!!

Galerie on Broad 

http://www.galerieonbroad.com

Our next stop was a gift shop down by the water that had the cutest Lulie Wallace duffel bags. I am sad we did not make it over to Lulie's studio, but these bags made up for it…some. 

I wanted all of them and the price really wasn't that bad! Don't you love that cute fabric. This would be such a cute gift for my friends.

The price tags were even cute! 

A view of our walk..

For dinner we ate at Magnolias on East Bay Street. Everything on the menu looked good, but drinks first, right! We decided on MacMurray Pinot Noir  along with some fried green tomatoes, ahi tuna, and their famous chicken dish. Our service and food were great and I would definitely recommend this restaurant for a date night with your one and only! Thank you, Kristen, for being mine!

We spent the next night in Beaufort. I could take up an entire new post writing about my new love for the place. If you have been there, then you know. If you haven't…

View from Plum's Restaurant in downtown Beaufort.

And this is what you can expect to see EVERYWHERE.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kaci

Valentine's Day Dinner Party!

I love Valentine's Day. I love flowers. Yes, I love the classic red roses. I love a party. And I love a party even more with party-loving friends. So, a Valentine's Day Dinner Party with flowers and friends sounds just snazzy to me!

Back in January I decided we would have a dinner party on Thursday, February 13th so that if couples wanted to celebrate together on Valentine's Day they could. First, I sent out a paperless post invite just to see if everyone would be interested and I immediately got back responses that ALL 16 could attend. ! My friends are quick….no horsing around.

Here's a preview of the invite:

(apologize for the blur)

We decided that I would make the main dish, a chicken and spinach pasta bake  (http://www.joyouslydomestic.com/2013/04/chicken-and-spinach-pasta-bake.html) and that a few people would make appetizers, a few would bring desserts and one would bring sangria! Everything was so delicious! When I get the recipes from my friends I will post them in the comment section below. 

Here are some pictures from the party! We enjoyed listening to some old school music (Otis Redding radio station is our favorite) on Pandora along with some Boys II Men (recommended by Hollie Hill).          

We had a blast!

                                  I hope you have a wonderful and love filled Valentine's Day.

Publix Flowers. 3 for 12! Count me in!

And this is how he and his mom feel today…

Happy Valentines Day to my handsome Valentine.

XOXO

KACI