Birth Order

I found this article today about birth order. Has birth order affected your career? Check out the following article and let us know what you think. I have always thought that this research is interesting. It definitely plays true in our families!! My brother would agree :)

The after picture. Check out the bags of apples we had.

This Weekend

Our Saturday consisted of football and tailgating. The group that we tailgate with prepared a delicious low country boil. Yum! We only managed to make it to the tailgating spot about 20 minutes before we had to head to the stadium. Traffic was terrible, but the game was great! The players were really pumped up and the crowd actually participated in the wave. I do think that Dabo will get the program headed in the right direction. See news conference. Oh, listen to this...the guy that was standing next to me was so tall that his belt was at my shoulder level. He was really nice. We had great seats, thanks to the Clemson Career Center. Just an FYI, I found a concession stand that takes Visa/MC. I'm not sure how long they have been doing that, but I wanted to share. Pretty neat and very convenient for someone like myself who NEVER carries cash.

Sunday was our trip to pick apples. The day had finally arrived to go to the orchard. I would highly suggest splurging and getting a apple cider slush and some apple cider donuts. Hard to imagine what an apple cider slush tastes like, doesn't it? And, the donuts were made when you ordered them. They were like a Krispy Kreme donut, except better! Any comments...agree or disagree? :) I have attached some pictures of the event. We traveled up to Hendersonville with some members of our small group from church. The first picture is a "before" but I don't have an "after." As soon as I get that from Jenn, I'll add that to the blog. Chris and I left with a huge bag of pink lady apples and it only cost us $10! What a bargain!! (Definition of Pink Lady Apple: a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Lady William. It's sweet and crisp, and good in salads and pies.)

Before the hunt for apples begins


Chris picking out some good ones

Make sure you get us the best ones!

We had to break some orchard rules to take this one

Some of our small group friends

Definitely not wedding related

Can't you just imagine me wearing these to a game? Perfect with a pair of trouser jeans and a purple sweater! Ummm...Christmas wish list? :)

Superstitions? Traditions?

Below are some superstitions that have become tradition in wedding. Read to see what they mean and how they started.

Something old: The bride is supposed to wear something old as a sign that even though the wedding symbolizes a new beginning, the couple is not forsaking their friends and family even as they step into a new life together.
Something new: The bridal attire must comprise something new to show a symbolic reference to new life that will bring health, happiness and success.
Something borrowed: The bride and her family reaffirm their love and affection for each other with this tradition. By borrowing from her family (or close friends), the bride shows she’s close to them, and by returning what she borrowed, she wishes them luck even though she’s no longer with them.
Something blue: Wearing something in blue is a throwback to ancient times when the color represented fidelity and constancy. The bride is symbolically reinforcing her commitment to the groom on this special day.
The bridal bouquet: The groom traditionally wears a flower from the bridal bouquet in his buttonhole to symbolize that his bride is his lady and as a declaration of his love. This custom is a throwback to the days when knights roamed England and wore their ladies’ colors to show their love for them.
Carrying the bride over the threshold: According to ancient customs, the bride must enter her new home through the main door and must not trip or fall while doing so. This led to the tradition of the groom carrying his new wife in as a way to prevent this form of bad luck from dogging them.
White wedding gowns: White is the color that represents purity to show that the bride is a virgin (although this is not so true these days). While other colors are also featured in wedding gowns, a bride is never supposed to wear green since that’s the color that shows “loose morals” – a woman who rolled around on the grass with her various beaus was supposed to have green stains on her dress, and that’s how this weird tradition was born.

Now you know!

Any suggestions?

The invitations have been ordered! Now, can anyone suggest a calligrapher? Please let us know if you know of someone that does a great job at this. I want to make sure to go ahead and get this scheduled since the invitations will need to be in the mail by the second week of December.

It was time for a change...

Oct. 13, 2008
Clemson, SC-
Clemson University and Head Football Coach Tommy Bowden parted ways on Monday. After two meetings on Monday morning between Bowden and Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips, it was agreed upon that Bowden would no longer be the Clemson Head Coach. He will be replaced by Assistant Head Coach Dabo Swinney (pronounced DA-boh SWEE-nee) on an interim basis.
"Terry Don Phillips approached me this morning and we agreed that this is the best solution for the direction of the program," said Bowden. "Clemson has been very good to me and my family. Both of our children are Clemson graduates.
"I appreciate the opportunity Clemson University gave me and the support of the administration while I was here. I also want to thank all the players and coaches who worked so hard for this program the last 10 years.
"I wish Clemson University nothing but the best in the future."

slideshow from the shower

courtesy of Kristie McDuffie

Such a blessing!

Mrs. Howell & Melanie

Chris and I are so blessed with the friends we have. Words cannot express the gratitude we have for the friends and family that have so graciously hosted and attended our wedding showers. This weekend, family friends hosted a kitchen shower in Greenville. My family became friends with the Howell's when my brother went to The Citadel. Colby Howell and Lawrence were roommates in college and we became friends with his family. Melanie is the older sibling and we have become friends through the years as well. She so graciously offered to host me and Marianne in Boston a few years ago when we took our annual trip.
The shower that Mrs. Debbie and Melanie hosted was at Justin's Steakhouse in Taylors. They had the tables decorated with fresh flowers and ceramic fall pumpkins. The friends that came even left with a little favor: kitchen towel and a chocolate bar. A carving station with beef and pork tenderloin was set up, greenbean casserole, corn, and Parmesan risotto were served out of bowls family style. Delicious! Oh yeah, the dessert was wonderful, Cinnamon Crumb Cheesecake! It tasted like cinnamon toast.
Thank you so much to Mrs. Debbie and Melanie for hosting the shower and to all the sweet girls that came on Saturday. You all mean so much to us and we are so thankful for your generosity. We love you!

Melanie, Me and Mrs. Debbie

My mom, me, and Mrs. Lack

Kristie McDuffie & me

Ann Bomar, me & Bonner Bloodworth

OK...Seriously. Has anyone else noticed that the countdown is less than 4 months to the wedding? I can't believe it is so close!! Mom and I picked out the invitations and should have a proof for next week. It's getting down to the nitty-gritty.

This week I got a cute little gift in the mail from a dear family friend. She actually used to baby-sit me when I was in diapers. She was like my big sister until we moved out of Old Friarsgate and closer to Nursery Road. I opened up the package and it was 2 black spiders holding hands. One the front of each spider was a word. The words were "newly" and "webs." haha! I knew you would get a good laugh!

One final thought...Sarah Palin is fabulous!!