a photo blog

I haven't had the chance to share our beautiful, wonderful, stunning, perfect engagement photos yet!  Renee Sprink with Renee Sprink Photography took our pictures back in April and now they are spread all throughout our home and my office.  I catch myself staring at them constantly.  It's just so nice to have these beautiful photos, taken by such a professional, genuine person that truly cares about her clients and their relationships.  We are lucky to have her on our team and can't wait to share our wedding day with her!

it's crunch time

Hello all my lovely readers.  It's been a long time since I wrote a real blog - probably because it's hard to follow a post like the one I wrote about my bridesmaids.  It's been a busy summer and it is just flying by!  We've attended 2 of our 7 weddings for the year and a lovely wedding shower.  The Culp wedding on June 15th was a beautiful day with picture perfect weather and a ton of fun with college friends.  The Fischer wedding (Payton's sweet sister) was on June 29th.  We had a blast spending the whole day with family and celebrating such a wonderful couple.  The rain held off for us, the cake was to die for, and the dancing was top notch!  Both of these weddings featured the drink of NC - Cheerwine - so obviously, I was happy.

Last week was the first time we had some SUNSHINE in what seems like years.  For starters, it was a 3 day work week.  Always a good place to start.  We celebrated the 4th with a pool day and a cookout with some good friends.  "We" painted our bedroom and Payton finished making my ladder bookshelf!  He even let me go shopping and buy fun things to put on it (yes, that includes another owl figurine).  I also had my first wedding dress fitting on Saturday!  I haven't even laid eyes on it since December 20th, so it has been a loooong time coming!  Luckily, it fits like a glove!  I had a hard time decided between two dresses, but after seeing it even just on the hanger last weekend, I know without any doubt that I made the right choice.  It's simply perfect.  I'm so glad I got to share that experience with my mom and my Kiki!  We finished the day with a delicious lunch at Coquette and we even found the perfect MOB dress for my mama!  I think I have some competition on October 5th... :)

This weekend is our wedding shower hosted by my wonderful maid of honor and her family.  I already feel so loved and it hasn't even happened yet!  I can't wait to get all of our college friends together to celebrate.  And plus - my mom is bringing a Sweet Memories cake.  It isn't a party without a cake from my favorite bakery!  With less than 90 days left until the big day, it's crunch time!  I've been busy planning meetings and final consultations and trying to get Payton to remember all of the dates :)  I sent the invitations earlier this week, so I guess that means it's all actually real.  I still feel like I'm living the best dream I've ever had.  I can't wait to be Mrs. Craddock.

Culp wedding ceremony

Adam & Aimee's wedding shower

Fischer wedding reception

Culp wedding reception

"in my heart is the five of us"

Next to saying "yes," choosing my bridesmaids was the easiest decision I've made in regards to our wedding.  I know many wonderful people, but there are these four ladies that I just can't seem to get rid of, no matter how hard I try :)  They hold very special places in my heart and they each fulfill my life in different ways.  I feel blessed every day knowing that I get to call Pam, Kate, Alex and Libby my best friends.  Actually, I call them Pamn, Kiki, Eellee and Ribby, but they are the best friends I could ever dream of.  Two weekends ago we celebrated my bachelorette-ness with a trip to Shell Island Resort in Wrightsville Beach.  I had the time of my life and I was spoiled rotten by these maids of mine!  We laughed non-stop, sang loudly, cracked jokes, celebrated life changes - good and bad, ate delicious food, danced until our legs hurt, and just enjoyed the unbelievably perfect weather.  I think the bachelorette gods were looking out for us, because it has rained just about everyday except for the Friday-Sunday when we were in WB.  They each brought a fun gift for the whole group and Pam topped it off with a "bride to be" crown and sash for yours truly!  My mind has gone back there at least 700 times since we got home.  I can't thank them enough for being such loyal, fun, kind, supportive friends and for helping me celebrate my last few months of being a "single" lady.  I LOVE YOU FOUR so much more than I can express in words.  THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

Wanna know why they are so special?  Keep reading.

Pamela:  Pam, Pamn, Ham, Lady, Mama, Kitty, Kitten, Fluffy.  My trusty side kick and Maid of Honor.  We met in April 2009, not long after I started dating Payton.  Pam had just started dating Payton's roommate, Wesley, so we have literally been on this crazy ride together from the very beginning.  I know for a fact that I would not have made it through those college/fraternity years without Pam by my side.  Sometimes we forget that Payton and Wesley were friends first, because we feel like we've been friends forever.  We moved in together in June 2010 and that's really when this obsession for each other started.  We name everything.  Our figurines, paintings, plants, Christmas trees... everything has a name.  The original crew consisted of a porcelain unicorn named Leopold, a glass horse named Copernicus, a house plant named Eugene, a roach named Bartholomew (or "B" for short.  Always dressin so nice), and a sock monkey named Darby.  It was all downhill from there.  We have a strange really awesome sense of humor that not many others can relate to.  Although most of our conversations consist of calling each other kitty or talking about our blonde dogs, Pam is my go-to girl for any of my problems.  We have been there for each other through many highs and lows and I know I can count on her to pick me up, put me in my place, cry with me, laugh at me, or tell me I smell.  I can also count on her to trap cockroaches, put them in my room and name them Rupert, but that's another story.  It's hard for me to believe that we've only known each other for four years because we are sisters.  Payton and I have forever friends in Pam and Wesley and we are so beyond excited to experience this next year with them.  She and Wesley will stand beside us on October 5th and we will return the favor for them on June 14, 2014.  

Kitty, you are my little show pony. I don't need to tell you how much you mean to me because we can communicate with simply a look.  Even though we are going to be married old hags pretty soon, I would still like to get together every other Sunday for general horseplay.  I adore you, you have changed my life, and thank you for everything you do for me and our friendship.

Katherine:  Kate, Kaka Donnellia, Kaks, Chuchi, Kiki.  I really don't even know where to start with this one.  Kate and I have been best friends for FIFTEEN YEARS.  Our moms were friends through the PTA, our brothers were friends because they are the same age, and then we met in the one and only Gwen Graham's third grade class.  I think it was fate, because we have been stuck since day 1!  You see, we didn't care to have many other friends.  We were perfectly content with just each other.  In fact, we would get up and leave a lunch table if someone even tried to sit with us.  Bullies, I know.  We would stay after class to help Ms. Graham, which made the other students think we were "teacher's pets."  We were.  We wore matching outfits when we went on field trips (light blue Old Navy shirt, Umbro or Adidas shorts, blue hat).  We would go home together to one of our houses almost every day to do homework, eat donuts and drink Surge (just what we needed), have her little brother wait on us like we were in a hospital, draw on my brick wall, write in our secret journals, build a fort in the crawl space, make up Backstreet Boys or Spice Girls dance routines, write songs about Taco Bell, and many other "3P" things.  (Don't ask, because we're taking that shit to the grave).  We did swim team together in the summer time and had sleepovers as often as our moms would let us.  We even got put in the same fourth grade class!  Now, imagine how I felt that day in fourth grade when I found out she was moving to California... We got to drop them off at the airport before school that day, but by the time we got to school I was curled up in a ball in the way back of the van crying.  I refused to go in, so my mom had to excuse me for the day.  I managed to pull it together and got through the next four years without my Kaka.  Then, one lovely July day in 2004, right before our freshman year of high school, Kate and her mom showed up at our house!  They were moving back to our neighborhood!  It took less than 24 hours for us to get right back to where we were when she left 4 years before.  Like I said, I think our whole friendship was fate because there is no way I could have made it through high school without this girl.  I could spend 12 days telling stories about Kiki and me, but I'll just sum it up by saying we have the most special kind of friendship; one that survived distance, time, fights, boys, college, and so much more.  She is the dictionary definition of what a best friend should be.  I can honestly say that I have never once thought of my wedding without picturing Kate standing with me.  Not one time.

Kiki, you are the one, Chuchi.  I love you more than all the sweet tarts under your pillow.  You are the one person I can trust with absolutely anything and everything.  I can only hope that I have been half the friend to you that you have always been to me.  Thank you for coming back and thank you for sticking with me for these crazy, weird, fun, confusing 15 years.  We will always have 3P and we will always be HTDIC, no matter what.  Kaka & Jeina 4eva.  I think one of our notebooks actually says that...

Alexandria:  Alex, Ali, Alianaglan, Eel, Eellee, Babes.  We met in middle school - seventh grade, to be exact.  If I'm being totally honest, we didn't really hit it off right away!  It wasn't until the end of eighth grade that we decided that we actually liked each other.  By our freshman year of high school, we were inseparable!  Ali and I are a lot alike.  We're loud, dramatic, passionate... which is probably why we have always fought like sisters.  She's one of the few people in this world that I can be my true self with, because I know we will always bounce back from anything.  I even got over the fact that she nominated me for "Most Dramatic" for our senior superlatives.  I know, how rude.  :)  I know I can always count on her to be honest with me, and be right (even if I don't like it)!  We were actually supposed to be roommates at Meredith, but at the last minute Ali decided to go to ECU.  Thank GOD she did, because we probably wouldn't still be friends if we lived together.  We really are too much like sisters!  Our first "real" boyfriends were best friends, so we went through a lot of that teenage girl stuff together; crying and complaining over the little things, cheering them on at football or baseball games, making scrapbooks, planning for proms.  Those were important yet tough years, so I'm extremely thankful that I had a best friend like Ali to help me through them.  We have always been able to have the best conversations.  We can talk for hours and hours and never get bored (walking around the lake, sitting at Java Jive, cruisin').  We have this really unique connection that I just can't find with anyone else.  Another thing that's special about Ali is that I enjoy shopping with her.  The only other person I willingly go shopping with is my mom, so that's saying something!  I don't really know why that is, but we've always been the best shopping partners.  And when we do go shopping, we typically have it set in our minds that we want to eat at Crisp or somewhere else in the food court, but 90% of the time we walk in, smell the pizza, and have to change our minds.  We always agree, though!  I'm just so lucky to have a friend like Ali stick with me for the last 10 years - through the capri sun purse days, Latin class, "Moore sisters", student council, and so much more.  I wouldn't feel right getting married without my babes standing with me!


Eellee, I know you're lookin at me like you know me or somethin, like you go somethin to say to me.  And that's arit, because I got the SO LOVES for you.  You know all about the looks goods and you know all the facts.  Thank you for being patient with me and for never leaving me during the struggle years of high school.  Most of my all time favorite memories involve you, and I wouldn't want it any other way!  I'm so proud of you and I look up to you so much for always doing what YOU want to do.  There are so many things that I can only do with you, and would only ever want to do with you (connections, big purses, you know...)!  We have so many digi secs that no one else would understand, but that's why you're my best friend.  I love you, and thank you for agreeing to do this crazy wedding thing with me, jjjjjjeennnnnnniiiiii.
Oh, and one more thing... 
redyellowgreenredblueblueblueredpurplegreenyelloworangeredred
blendthemallandwhatdoyouget maroonchartreuseandaqua.

Lauren:  Libby, Lib, Ribby, Tits McGee (hahaha, sorry...).  Libby and I officially met on the first day of orientation at Meredith, but we had been Facebook creepin' for a while before school started.  We got put in the same orientation group, which was a God send, because we had some weirdos in our group!  We hit it off immediately.  We were just 3 doors down from each other in the dorm and had a bunch of classes together.  It was so refreshing to meet someone that I clicked with right away!  It didn't take us long to realize that we wanted to take our relationship to the next level (teehee) and be roommates our sophomore year!  Libby and I are very talented singers, and we spent many of our days making "music videos" with our two suite mates, or just singing to each other.  Preferably Celine Dion.  We also have this weird connection where we will break out into song (the same song, might I add) in the middle of a conversation.  One word can remind us of a song, and you better believe that we will sing it.  One of my absolute favorite things about Libby is what I like to call, "Libby's Awkward Joke of the Day."  It's always quiet, understated, and unexpected.  It's usually a witty comment - one that she probably should keep inside her head, but lets it out anyways - that follows a story or a statement from someone else.  Actually, she will also do it after her own stories or thoughts.  These AJD's always make me cry with laughter.  I hate that we live an hour away from each other, but we certainly make up for lost time when we're together!  We laugh constantly... which can be a bit overwhelming because we both snort when we laugh.  We also LOVE to make each other cry.  We take every opportunity to write each other really sappy cards.  It's become quite the competition!  (I'm still winning).  Libby is THE MOST amazing mother to her (almost) three-year-old daughter.  Ava has a very special place in her heart, just like her mommy does, for SO many reasons.  She is the first baby that I ever felt kick inside of a tummy.  When she was born I rushed to the hospital just to find out that visiting hours were over.  So, I turned around and went right back the next morning!  I've called her a baby genius since before she was born (even when I swore she was a boy), and every time I see her she proves that she is just as smart as she is beautiful!  Her big blue eyes, extra long eyelashes and sweet blonde bob make me melt, and I just feel so lucky that Libby has let me be a part of her life.  Libby and I have been through many huge life changes together, so I absolutely insisted that she (and Ava) be with me on my wedding day!  It wouldn't feel right without her!

Ribby, how da weder?  I couldn't have asked for a better roommate and friend.  You embraced everything from my singing to my shedding.  You didn't judge me for hand-raking the hair off of the black shag carpet.  I didn't judge you for ironing your tshirts or parting your hair with a number 2 pencil, either!  You are such a dear friend to me and I just know those angels brought us together!  You are so kind and caring, making the most wonderful mother and nurse!  You are a little ray of sunshine in my life and I'm thankful for you every single day.  I hope your terrible medical condition clears up sometime soon, too.  How unfortunate to have such glorious, long eye lashes!  I love you to pieces, and thank you for allowing me to be in yours and Ava's lives!

Longest. Post. Ever.  And it has taken me a week and a half to finish it.  But, that about sums it up!  I get to marry the man of my dreams with my four best friends by my side.  I truly feel like the luckiest girl alive! 

mom, grab your tissues!

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone when I say I LOVE my mom.  I mean, I really, really like her.  But then again, who doesn't?  I have never met anyone that has met my mom that doesn't rave about her every time I see them.  Especially those crazy horse people!  She seems to be a bit of a God at MacNair's, probably because she's totally obsessed with all horses.  She treats each of them like they're her own (ok, so they don't all get warm mushy hay cubes with carrots mixed in twice a day like Snowy does, but they understand he's number 1).  She's the best "Grammy" Scout and Parker could ever ask for.  In fact, when Scout won't listen to me, all I have to say is "Grammy's here!" and he comes-a-runnin'.  Is that mean?  Anyways, we have always had a really great relationship because we have a huge passion in common.  I can probably count on one hand how many times I have been to the barn by myself, without her.  She was the BEST "horse show mom" I have ever known.  I'm talking professional status.  She was (and still would be if we were still showing) the best grazer, boot cleaner, sweat brusher, nose wiper, crop runner, rat catcher ironer, stall picker, trailer cleaner, and SO much more.  All I had to do was get up at 5am to bathe my poop-stained horse in the mornings and dress myself, and she pretty much did everything else if I let her.  I was one of the lucky girls who had a mom that actually had a clue about horses before going into the crazy world they call horse showing.  Ok, so she knows a hell of a lot more than I do.  Whatever.  She can't braid or pull manes like I can!  But, she can out-wrap me any day.  And she can give shots.  I can't do that.
Don't get me wrong, spending that much time with your mom between the ages of 10 and 21 doesn't come without fights.  My favorite fights were the ones that included the phrase, "You're too much like your father."  Shout out to my daddio- we got her!
It's amazing what moving out does to a mother-daughter relationship.  Sure, I only moved 10 minutes down the road, but since then we have become best friends.  In fact, she's the one I usually want to hang out with on the weekends now.  I couldn't wait for a free weekend so I could hang out with my friends when I was a teenager, now I can't wait for a free weekend so I can hang out with my mom.  I used to get embarrassed by her loud bubbliness, but now I'm exactly like her.  They say that can happen...
I could go on and on about how incredible my mom is.  She is ALWAYS positive, no matter what is going on.  She has been the most amazing partner in this wedding planning process.  She has been supportive of every single thing I have chosen and has not once pushed anything on me.  She's HELPING me plan MY wedding.  I am so beyond thankful for that.  Weddings can make moms crazy, but that is so far from the truth in our case.  We are just having so much fun!
I really just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to the woman I strive to be like every single day.  Eric and I (and now Payton) are so unbelievably lucky to have a mom as wonderful as she is.  I hope I have and will continue to make her proud and I hope she always knows how much we love her!

What are the chances that she doesn't cry after reading this? :)


On another note...
Here are a few of the recipes we've made recently.  All of them are absolute repeats!

Buffalo Chicken with Grilled Romaine Salad

http://www.food.com/recipe/buffalo-chicken-sandwich-105888

We didn't feel like having sandwiches, so I just made the chicken breasts according to the recipe and we ate it with our favorite grilled romaine salad.  I'm telling you, if you've never had grilled romaine or grilled cabbage- try it!  It's easy and so, so good.  You'll need:

1 package romaine hearts

Sesame Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 onion

Cut each romaine heart in half.

Drizzle each half with sesame oil and balsamic vinegar.

Sprinkle each half with salt and pepper.

Quarter your onion.

Throw it all on the grill until edges of romaine begin to brown and onion is soft.

Chop the romaine and the onion and toss together.

We add grape tomatoes, parmesan cheese and a little bit of salad dressing (blue cheese or balsamic vinaigrette are great on the salad - a little goes a long way).  It's also great with avocado.

I also made these yummy cinnamon rolls for Payton because anything cinnamon is his favorite.

Pasta with Pancetta and Leeks

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/07/pasta-with-pancetta-and-leeks/

Baja Pork Tacos

3lb. pork roast

4 cans chopped green chilies

1 package taco seasoning

1 Tbsp. cumin

Cut pork roast in half and place in crock pot.  

Mix chilies with taco seasoning and cumin, pour over pork.  

Cook on low in crock pot for 8-10 hours.  

Serve on corn or flour tortillas with your favorite taco toppings, and enjoy!

1 year

Everyone looks forward to the last day of classes, but they don't tell you how bittersweet your LAST last day of classes will be!  I can't believe it's already been an entire year since my last last day.  Of course I was thrilled to be closing a chapter in my life and starting a new one, but it was so surreal.  I really never have to open a text book again?  I really never have to wake up at 4am to finish a paper again?  I really never have to go back-to-school shopping again? (bummer).  It's so hard to wrap your head around this concept until August arrives and you REALLY don't go back to school.  Since I have the privilege of working at a school now, I still get to feel the energy on campus- but it is in a completely different way.  It's been a year since I graduated from the greatest place on earth (I'm talking about Meredith College, not Disney World).  That place, just like Disney, is purely magical and I can't believe I ever questioned going there.  There is no other college like it in the world and I am one of the lucky few that got to EXPERIENCE IT (See what I did there, MCGs?).  One of my biggest dreams in life is to send my very own daughter there some day.  I know, that's a stretch, but that's how much Meredith means to me.  It makes me cry just thinking about it, but then I remember that I will never really leave Meredith.  It's in me forever and that is one of my biggest blessings in life.  

PS- It's hard enough to believe it's been a whole year since college graduation... but that also means that it has been 5 YEARS since high school graduation!  I still remember that like it was yesterday.  What an amazing high school experience I had!  The class of '08 had to have been the best class ADHS has ever seen :)  So, when's our first reunion?

June 2008 - ADHS graduation

May 2012 - Meredith College graduation

Class of 2008 Student Council

My 2012 MCGs

 Moving on... Things have been pretty boring in our house this week.  Payton planted a garden last weekend (peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers), so I can't wait until we get to have fresh veggies!  I did some spring cleaning (boooo), but I still have some more areas of the house to tackle before I can say I'm done.  There is nothing worse than cleaning baseboards and windows...
I have been completely updating my work wardrobe this week.  It's expensive, but necessary.  I guess you can say it's part of my spring cleaning routine since I'm getting rid of the old stuff and get nice new things?  Yeah, that sounds good.

We finished up our menu last week with the following:
I splurged and got burgundy wine steak tips and cheddar biscuits from The Meat House on Wednesday.  I could live in The Meat House.  We had steamed broccoli with it and it was the perfect meal!

Friday we had frozen pizza because we were feeling lazy, and Saturday we made burgers at our friends house.  Payton makes the best burgers!  We put roasted pablano peppers and bacon on them.  And now my mouth is watering...

Thursday:
Crunchy Black Bean Tacos
http://www.endlesssimmer.com/2012/04/04/cornerstone-cooking-crunchy-black-bean-tacos/

This is one of our favorite go-to's.  They are quick, easy and so good.  We like to have meat-free meals at least once a week, and this is the perfect option!

Sunday:

Crockpot Cashew Chicken

http://myfridgefood.com/viewrecipe.php?recipe=20547

Ok, this is a MUST.  Payton made it while I shopped so I don't have many tips, but we did double the sauce and served it over brown rice.  It might be harder to do this one on a work day since the timing is a little weird, but it is SO good!

So far this week we have had coney hots (coneys with texas pete cili) with salad, and a couscous and shrimp dish with grilled nappa cabbage.  The couscous and shrimp with nappa cabbage takes a total of about 10 minutes to make - score!  

1 cup plain couscous

1 lb. shrimp (I thawed raw frozen shrimp)

olive oil

lemon juice

salt & pepper

parmesan cheese

Cook the couscous according to the package and set it aside.  Sautee shrimp and garlic in olive oil.  Add S&P to taste.  Add 2 tsp. lemon juice.  Add couscous to shrimp along with additional olive oil (plain couscous can be a bit dry).  Add parmesan cheese, stir, and serve!  Couldn't be easier.  For the nappa cabbage, we quarter it, drizzle it with sesame oil and balsalmic vinegar and sprinkle S&P on each piece.  Grill until slightly brown on the edges but soft in the middle, chop, and enjoy!  My dad grills cabbage or romaine all the time and it has turned out to be one of our favorite sides.

Happy May!