No Deal

We are home! We had such an AMAZING trip to Florida over the past couple of weeks. We've seen so many great friends, and gotten to spend time with family and each other - it's been amazing! I actually rested some (as best as I can) and took a little time off work which was great! Hoping to have more stuff to show you guys from last week soon!

So, when I was on my way to Florida, I was sitting in the Houston airport on my layover and got a phone call from my casting friend at Deal or No Deal. You may remember my experience there a few weeks ago. I was SO excited that she called me and said they wanted me to come up to LA for an official audition! WOW!


But the bad news was that the audition was in the middle of last week when we were still out of town, so I wasn't able to go. I begged and pleaded to be able to come any other time but she sounded like that was kind of my one shot. So I guess it's No Deal. We ended the conversation with her saying that I could email her when I got home but I kind of doubt that they'll give me a second chance - you know how it goes in the biz!!

Just wanted to give you guys an update - I'm still inspired to pursue gameshow contestantship. Which ones do you think I should try to audition for?

The Beach!

We are at the beach and it's awesome. We have wonderful wonderful friends who are letting us stay at their house (thank you!!!) all week until our second wedding of the trip this next weekend. We'll actually be working at that one, but until then, it's vacation! I've realized that Adam and I have never been on a vacation together except for our honeymoon, so it's nice to be out of our normal routine and with each other!

Adam's sister Melissa and her family have been here until this morning. We've had so much fun hanging out with our niece and Andy and Melissa. Syd loves the beach, pool, sand, ocean, etc., etc. so we've had fun playing with her. She's talking SO much more than last time so that's been really fun, too!

Hanging out at the beach with her "abba". And yes, he LOVES that she calls him that:


Sydney and I definitely share a love of many things including but not limited to: macaroni and cheese, cookies, and chocolate ice cream. Kindred spirits!


So far, we've hit up the Back Porch, Red Bar, and I also have a little treat coming for you if the words "Project 116" mean anything to you. Be sure to check back for that. It's been a great week, and we're looking forward to a couple more days of relaxation before we head back to life and reality!!

Mr. and Mrs. Shaub!

It's been such a great weekend celebrating Rachel and Jonathan's wedding. Here are the new Mr. and Mrs. Shaub:


Rachel is a good friend from college and I've so enjoyed getting to know her high school sweetheart Jonathan over the past couple of years. Their story is incredible. After dating on and off they finally got back together in 05 and last night was many years in the making! It was a beautiful wedding and such a celebration of them, their new life together, and victory over everything they've been through! In early '05, Jonathan was living in NYC and was hit by an oil tanker while walking on the street. We didn't know if he would even live at first much less walk again. Rachel's reaction in those first few days made it apparent that she loved him so deeply (even though they weren't together at the time) and last night it was incredible to see him dancing full-speed after two years of countless nights in the hospital, surgeries, therapy. God has truly worked a miracle in his life.

It was so fun to be back with so many of my college girlfriends who I rarely get to see!!



Rachel of course was a beautiful bride and the day was amazing:





What a great weekend and congrats to Rachel and Jonathan!!!

We made it!

Missy and I had a great drive down yesterday and can I just say . . . wow. It's good to be at the beach. I know, I know - we live at the beach and all but it's just not the same as the Gulf Coast aka "home beach".

This is our we have arrived photo just as we got to Watercolor:
Missy's roommate is letting us all stay in her incredible house here so we all just keep freaking out at how nice it is!! The best feature, by far, is the AMAZING porch swing just outside our bedroom. I seriously think I could live on it!


Almost everyone is here now and the festivities for Rachel's wedding have officially begun. Rachel is just glowing and I can't wait until the wedding tomorrow - it's going to be incredible and I'm sure quite the tear-jerker. It's so fun being here with friends! I feel like I'm in college again - good times!

Could you paint me a Birmingham?

Just kidding! You don't have to because I'm here to see it in person! Woohoo!

I left Alabama for California just a little over two years ago - I knew it was a decision that would change my life in many ways and it's wild to look back at all that has happened since then. I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything, though I miss Birmingham deeply and all of the people, memories, and places that shaped much of who I am now.

A big part of me feels like I'm home. I haven't been back since I left for CA so it's such a strange feeling to be somewhere so familiar and unfamiliar all at once.

Here are some things I've already been reminded of:
- The airport is small. Very small and I love that.
- 5:30 traffic on the interstate (oops - I mean freeway) actually moves.
- Birmingham is where Idols are born (I was greeted by the oversized poster of Reuben, Bo, and Taylor in the airport).
- Trees and grass and quaint neighborhoods are wonderful.

I'm only in town about 6 waking hours today so I only had time for my top 2 Birmingham priorities. 1) Anne and George and 2) Jim and Nick's cheese biscuits. It's been a great night of catching up and BBQ. What more does a girl need?


I'm heading to the beach tomorrow with Missy and catching up with the rest of the crew there for Rachel's wedding! YAY! It's going to be an awesome week.

I'm so glad to be here.

We love visitors!!

We had such a great visit last week with my mom and grandmother who came to play with us! It was so much fun and I love showing off our world. Mom's a CA pro by now but this was my grandmother's first trip out to see us!! Thanks for spending some time with us - it was awesome!!

Here's some highlights!!

The Reagan Library - they had a special display of Nancy's dresses from throughout the years - it was so fun to see all of her fashions! Me and Mither out front:


Air Force 1 on display - nice view!


Working it at the Grove:



Our UCLA visit - go Bruins! I love the second photo here. Sorry Vols - I think they've been converted!


The Huntington Gardens and Library - beautiful!


The Father of the Bride house in Pasadena!

It was such a great visit full of good shopping, good food, and the BEST company! Thanks for coming to visit!!

It's a realistic possibility....

.... that pigs can now fly. You will probably believe it after you see this:


That's right - those of you who know me well know what a HUGE deal it is that I finally picked out bedding for our room!!! Ah! It's been a never-ending search and I seriously just cannot find anything that I've liked! I know I'm a little picky but seriously - I don't think there are that many great options out there. Here has been my check-list:

1) Coordinating with our wall color (blue-ish green - see above) and neutrally carpet
2) Not white - I could never keep that clean
3) Not too shiny (think Lauren's bedding in the Wildforest apartment)
4) Not too unshiny
5) Not too thick - we live in CA, people!
6) Within budget (aka leftover $$ from returning wedding gifts)

Maybe not too unreasonable a list of expectations but then add in the fact that Adam strongly dislikes patterns of pretty much any kind (particularly "amoebas" aka paisley).

So needless to say, it's been quite the challenge. Luckily, while shopping at the amazing Camarillo outlets last week, I stumbled upon this and it met all of our qualifications, particularly since it was 50% off! It was at the Restoration Hardware outlet and was exactly what I had in mind.

This is a huge victory!

9 wonderful words . . .

So we're a little behind catching up on our tivo. Yesterday, though, I was so pleased to hear these 9 words . . . Adam dubbed it the best moment of our whole day:

"You're making yourself cry . . . thinking about what you've done."

Oh, Spencer, you never disappoint!

Continuing the theme . . .

Well, apparently the theme of the last couple of weeks has been national television and this post doesn't stray far from that! I am so excited for our friend Keisha whose national television appearance this week is much more to brag about than Price is Right or Deal or No Deal.

That's right - a friend and sorority sister (hooty hoo) of mine from college will be appearing tomorrow night on the one and only Miss USA 2008! Here she is winning Miss Alabama which is such an accomplishment - let me tell you - those Alabama girls don't mess around with their pageants.


Keisha is really an awesome girl and being amazingly beautiful just adds to that! It's on tomorrow night so be sure to tune in (or set your tivo!).

You can also go online and vote for her to be Miss Photogenic by clicking here. You have to vote for 3 contestants so I voted for her and the other 2 that I thought were . . . . ummm . . . not Most Photogenic.

GO KEISHA!!!! You're famous!!!

BTW, if you missed Price Is Right yesterday, you can watch it on CBS.com or you can come visit me in CA and watch it on my DVR - whichever you prefer :)

Good News, Bad News, Good News

1. Good News: Yes, this is your friendly reminder that our national television debut is in about 36 hours - it's this Wed. April 9. Woohoo. Check your local listings for the Price Is Right and watch for yours truly, Adam, and the rockstar Daniel. I think it comes on at 10am here in CA, & also probably comes on at 10 for you central-timed folks but don't take my word for it. We are sitting center, 3 rows back. But the first row is empty in the middle for the contestants to sit in so really there's only 1 row of people in front of us. Does that make sense? It could be hilarious . . . I can't wait!




2. Bad News: Keeping with the theme of national television, I went to go see a taping of Deal or No Deal today with my mom and grandmother who are in town! We were a little overwhelmed to hear that the whole taping could last for up to 5 hours. Whew - really? Is all of that necessary? How long does it take to open a couple of suitcases? But we decided to go for it anyway.

So we got there at 2:00 only to find out that it had gotten postponed to 3:30 because the contestant on the morning taping was taking a REALLY long time on her game. So we came back at 3:30 and waited another hour as she was still going and finally the producers came out to say that she had taken so long that they were canceling the rest of the tapings for the day. So, after all of that - no taping. Their consolation to all of us was that they would let us come back for the 9:00am taping tomorrow morning (boo) or . . .

3. Good news: . . . or there were some casting people on set if any of us were interested in auditioning to be a contestant on the show - jackpot! So I got a couple of minutes in front of a Deal or No Deal caster and we seemed to click. She got my phone number and asked me to email her some info and a couple of recent photos of myself AND said to call her if I didn't hear back from her in a couple of days. I'm sure it's still minimal odds but it's still fun to think about what if I got to be on the show! I'll let you know if I hear back from her!