BBQ Fest & other weekend fun

The month of May is one of my favorite times to live in Memphis.  It usually hasn't gotten TOO hot yet, we aren't being carried away with mosquitoes and the best part is the month-long festival of Memphis in May. It always marks the beginning of summer.

The third weekend is the World Champion BBQ Competition and is always so much fun.  Who doesn't love 3 days of sun, friends and smoked pork? And if you don't like BBQ, you can find plenty of other grilled foots to munch on.

We took 2 of the kids to the Friends and Family night.  I wasn't sure what to wear so naturally, I went to my favorite people who live in my phone.  Fun fact- the t shirt on the right  belonged to my dad and is Vintage and almost as old as I am. 

The option I went with was this one except I actually wore shoes

Jeans are Ann Taylor Loft, Shirt is NY&CO from years ago

While making her plate, I asked Cheeks if she wanted a sandwich or ribs.  She said sandwhich, which she ate along with potato salad and beans.  She played with the other kids for a bit and came back asking for ribs as if they were a dessert.  That's how you know this kid is from Memphis.  

I rarely get a good picture of the two of us.  Typically, if I look cute then I go with it.  

not a bad view 

While walking back to the car..  There isn't a better view of the world than the one you see from your Daddy's shoulders. 

Friday night's outfit:: pants are Old Navy's boyfriend fit khakis in coral paired wtih a Navy sleeveless shirt from 2 years ago. 

I love this picture of us.  I know he's not looking at the camera, but we look so happy. 

We can't talk BBQFest without at least one shot of the yummy food.  

Fun Fact:: This bridge is older than I am.  It's been a staple in the city skyline for many, many years but by most Memphians it is STILL referred to as "The New Bridge."  

We spent the rest of the weekend getting stuff done around the house.. And by stuff, I mean

laying out in the backyard enjoying a Strawbeerita

Playing sprinkler trampoline and working on our hand stands

Giving the boat bath for her first trip to the lake. 

How was your weekend?  

 

Linking up with MY STYLE MONDAY with LIndsey and Rachel 

Mortarboards and Tassels

An entire decade has passed since I wore a black gown & tossed my hat into the air with the other college graduates.

Ten.Whole.Years.  

Wow 

It seems like only a few years ago that I stood in the hallway waiting to hear the processional music start so we could walk into an auditorium filled with our friends and families.

These ten years have been some of the most amazing in my life.  I got married, had a daughter, made friends.. figured out WHO I was.

Many people assume because I don't work that I never went to college.  Why would someone who worked so hard to earn a degree not use it?   I just smile and ignore them because I do use it.  Every day.

That piece of paper reminds me that anything is possible with hard work and determination.  That even a girl who got pregnant at 16 only to be a divorced, single mom of two boys before the age of 20 can go to college.

Not everyone has the family support I had.  My diploma is also a reminder of just how lucky I am to have the people in my life who love me. I may have been the one who went to the classes, wrote the papers and walked across the stage, but that degree is just as much theirs as mine. I never could have done it without them.

Today's prompt is a favorite picture

Mother's Day

Sunday was a pretty low-key celebration.   We went to lunch with my family, spent half the day in our jammies and did a bunch of nothing.  It was LOVELY.  

I made this cake to take to lunch.  After looking at dozens of pictures on Pinterest and watching YouTube videos of ruffle tutorials, I was still skeptical if I could pull off the cake.  People?  It took less than 10 minutes to completely ice.  It was probably THE.EASIEST decorating job ever. 

my chocolate cake with cherry filling and vanilla butter cream . the topper is a quote from a book that I received on my very first mother's day and makes me cry just thinking about the sweet message. 

This was my 16th year to celebrate Mother's Day.. this is the kid who made me a member of the Mommy Club.  I couldn't be prouder of the young man he's turning into, but where have the years ago?

Do you know how difficult it is to take a selfie with a kid who's a foot taller than you?