Weekending and GSD

Sometimes, you need a weekend to GSD (get sh-t done). While this wasn't necessarily the most productive weekend I've ever had, I do feel that I crossed a lot of my "to-do but don't want to" list.

My Fridays are now all about errands. I try it do all of my essential errand-running for the week on Friday when the masses are at work. Yoga, meeting the pest control guy, groceries, pharmacy, post office - all that fun stuff. 

Friday night Alex and I had a date night in: he grilled steaks and asparagus, I made GF Mac and cheese, and we had some yummy wine while watching Mockingjay Part 1 (finally). I read the trilogy several years ago so I'm a little fuzzy on the details: was it similar to the book, or did it deviate? All I know is they are milking this Hunger Games franchise for all it's worth. I thought the movie was alright and I'm glad we waited to Redbox it instead of spending a small fortune by going to see it in the theatre. 

Saturday I got up and went to yoga in the morning while A packed up, readying himself for two back-to-back tournaments with the team. I swear I won't see him until April. Okay, not quite, but it feels like it. March is by far the busiest month of the year for collegiate golf which means I'm single-dog-momming it for awhile. 

After Alex left, I decided to work in the yard since the weather was absolutely gorgeous. What was going to be a quick rake turned into practically a backyard overhaul. I guess I was feeling motivated, because I ended up hauling about 15 wheelbarrow loads of leaves and such to the curb and before I knew it, I'd been at it for 3 hours. A warning, ladies: 90 minutes of hot yoga followed by 3 hours of intense yard work will leave you dehydrated. Fortunately we had some Gatorade so I avoided the worst (I know - that was really, really stupid not to drink enough water out there. Lesson learned). 

in case you needed to see my giant pile of  yard trash

After attacking the back yard, the girls and I watched THREE movies on Netflix. Three. In a row. I never, ever sit down and watch movies while doing nothing else and it was quite nice to relax with some wine.

maybe I should say that I watched movies - the girls napped. 

Penny is looking might dapper! Me notsomuch

Sunday was another errand and house stuff day. Like a fool, I'd made an appointment for Penny to be groomed Sunday morning at 9, not even thinking that it would be extra tough to get up because of the time change. So we - Penny and I - struggled to get out of bed and bust it up to PetSmart by 9. I thought I'd hang out near there until she was done because there are a lot of stores in that area. Another poor choice - nothing opens before 11 on Sunday. So instead I spent some quality time with my iPad in Panera.

In the P.M. I sweated my butt off at yoga and was energized after my class so I decided to handwash my car (added incentive: it was warm and sunny! A perfect day).

Sunday evening was spent updating all my clocks in my house - a task that takes 5 minutes but is such a pain, honestly. I was also preparing for the next two work weeks which will be pretty grueling by knocking out some personal to-do's (bills, ordering wedding gifts, etc) so I wouldn't be tempted to do that stuff at work. I love when I get to work on Monday feeling ahead of the game, don't you?

xo
KH

Thursday Thoughts

I'm thinking...

that today's my Friday and I LOVE my new work schedule.

that Bikram yoga at 105 degrees, 40% humidity and 90 minutes long is building up my heat tolerance for summer. 

that I'm ready to put away my winter wardrobe but know as soon as I do, it will snow. 

that my husband is such a hard worker: he will be working every. single. day this month. (But the golf team is ranked 3rd in the country so hopefully it will pay off!!)

that Penny needs a haircut like whoa but I hate paying more for her grooming than I pay for my haircuts. 

that this weather pattern is crazy - welcome to spring! 

that although it makes it tougher to get out of bed, I'm looking forward to the time change and having longer days! Bring on the sunshine! 

Happy Thursday! 

xo

KH

Five on Friday: all-new 4 day work week edition!

Hello, friends! Today is a very special Friday because it's the first Friday that I am off of work as part of my new 4-day work week schedule! I feel very blessed to have a boss that has accommodated this request and idea that I had. Here's how it happened: when I came back to work after a month off around the holidays (mainly due to this, as well as Christmas vacation), I realized that my current work load was lighter because of the seasonal nature of some of my projects. Since we bill all of our projects individually and most are on retainer, I would actually need to overservice my current projects (read: do work we're not getting paid for) AND bill more time than usual to nonbillable overhead just to log 40 hours a week - which is crazy, because I am ALWAYS at the office past 5:30! (Sometimes I wonder if I'm that bad at tracking my time, or if I just waste a lot of time at work - I digress). My doctors were also encouraging me to take as much down time as I could and not stress out - easier said than done, right? So I talked to my boss about scaling back my week to a 32-hour work week for all of these reasons and he went for it. I am so, so blessed to have a truly awesome boss man! While I am losing 20% of my salary - which is slightly scary - I am SO looking forward to having every Friday off to enjoy with the ones who matter most and to have time for the things I really enjoy.

So the question is: what have I done with myself on this frigid Friday?

ONE. I had a coffee date with a new friend this morning, and I have to say that it was nice not to fight for a table at Starbucks like you have to on Saturdays! And having the time to actually enjoy my creme brulee latte - as opposed to gulping it down in the car or in front of my computer - was nice, too.

TWO. I returned the blender that we got for a wedding gift (almost 4 years ago!) because it has never worked right and has always leaked. I took it back to Bed Bath & Beyond because I'd always heard they had the best return policy for damaged or malfunctioning goods and let me tell you, they do! They barely asked any questions and were able to look up on my old wedding registry to see how much the blender cost in 2011, then I got to pick out a new blender! I chose this Ninja - not one of the super-duper Ninjas but it happened to be the same cost as the blender I was exchanging, so it cost me nothing. And while I was there, I picked up a new toaster. Because I heart you, BBB. You da best.

THREE. I picked up an order from Handpicked that was my Valentine's Day gift from Alex (that I picked out and ordered myself - it's just easier that way, ladies). This had been done and sitting there for a few weeks but I'd yet to pick it up. Can't wait to snuggle in these Comfort Colors shirts!

FOUR. I went grocery shopping...with the 70+ crowd, which is apparently the clientele at Publix on Friday afternoon. Much different than the after-work weekday crowd I'm used to. While it was less crowded, my fellow shoppers were much less in a hurry than I'm accustomed to...

FIVE. To satisfy my gluten free sweet tooth, I made GF rice crispy treats! You would think that Rice Krispies would be GF, but nope - you have to get the ones that are marked "Gluten Free." So I was excited to see that they were on BOGO at Publix (I heart you too, Publix) so I picked up a box and some marshmallows and whipped these puppies up in 5 minutes.



I'm sure I'll find some other things to cross of my list today, too - I'm feeling so productive! Anything I can do to stay inside and away from the below-freezing temps is a good thing!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend and STAY WARM!

xo
KH

Linking up with

 April, Christina, Natasha and Darci! 

2015: make it count!

I'm not sure of the last time I've been so happy to bid farewell to a year! While 2014 certainly wasn't all bad, the last few months of it were tough and trying and full of lessons. Through it all, I know I have been blessed beyond measure in more ways to count. I also know that God has a very specific and perfect plan for my life, and that my plan doesn't always match God's (an ongoing struggle for me to remember and accept as a self-proclaimed control freak). 

It's not surprising that I am incredibly excited to see 2015 arrive! I always have high hopes for a new year and see every New Year's Day as a new beginning. While I have some very specific goals for this year, I ultimately know that what I want and plan for my life isn't entirely in my control. I do, however, want to make it count and enjoy the small things along the way that together add up to one amazing life. I also know that God promises that the best is yet to come - a very inspiring and uplifting thought for this New Year's Day. 

Happy 2015!

xo, 

KH

Merriest Christmas Wishes

From our home to yours...

Merry Christmas!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." - Luke 2:14

Enjoy your day with loved ones celebrating the birth of our Savior!

xo

KH

Merry monograms!

As a good Southern girl, I was raised to appreciate the perfectly-sweetened pitcher of tea, dainty smocked dresses on little girls, hunting on holidays (or at least tolerating it when the men hunt on holidays), and of course, monograms.

The best thing about a monogram? It's uniquely yours. Sure, someone else has it too, but you probably don't know anyone off the top of your head who has your exact monogram. The second best thing about monograms? There's no "season" for them - you can wear them year-round.

I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts...and naturally, monograms come to mind. Even if it's something small, giving a monogrammed gift means you really thought about it (because there's no ready-made monogram store that I'm aware of and because there are 17,576 combinations of 3-letter monograms. That's a lot.) And every lady - and some gents - in your life can appreciate a monogrammed gift.

One gift I'm considering gifting to my mom, MIL, step-mom and besties is this cashmere-feel scarf from Marley Lilly. Think about it: you don't have to guess the size, you can get everyone a different color, and it's sooooo soft. Like seriously luxurious-feeling. It's classy, comfy, $22.99 and one-size-fits-all: so in other words, it's perfect.

If you haven't heard of Marley Lilly, you have got to take a looksie around their site. If it can be monogrammed, I'm pretty sure they have it.

Some other gifts I'm eyeing:

• For my mother-in-law: monogrammed dish towel ($14.99)
• For my mom: monogrammed non-slip cutting board ($39.99)
• For the hubs: monogrammed golf shoe bag ($34.99)
• For my bestie's soon-to-arrive baby boy: monogrammed football bib ($17.99)
• For myself (wish list!): monogrammed printed herringbone vest ($79.99)

Now keep in mind: Marley Lilly has LOTS of sales and flash sales. I follow them on Instagram @marleylilly to stay on top of their sales and see their newest products. Sometimes they even offer free gifts with purchase (and there's nothing wrong with keeping the free gift for yourself...) I hope this helps you as you make your shopping list - and wish list - this year!

Love and monograms!

xo

KH

A huge thanks to Marley Lilly for sending me this scarf and accepting me into your Blogger Review Program!

Pieces of a short week

A few thoughts for this Tuesday Wednesday.

1. I love me a short work week, but I am so mixed up as a result of having Monday off. To make things worse, I worked from home yesterday, so today really feels like Monday or Tuesday, and definitely not Wednesday. But, no complaints here.

2. I worked from home yesterday because I'm the proud new owner of a snazzy new air conditioning unit. Last Wednesday, when the high was somewhere around 95, I came home to a warm house. Turns out my a/c unit shorted out and even though it could have been repaired, it just wasn't a wise decision to repait a 36-year-old unit. YES, 36. I'm not sure how much you know about a/c units, but 36 is like a person who is 120. It just doesn't happen. So we opted to replace it. It was exactly how I wanted to spend $4,000. Homeownership...ain't it fun?

3. Monday night, I was pulling double duty: I was watching Alex and the team on the Golf Channel at NCAAs, but they were still playing in a very close race for a spot in match play - kind of like the Elite 8 of the college golf world - when Bachelorette started. So I did the only logical thing I could think of and watched the tourney live on my iPad and had Bach on in the background. (Sidenote: the team didn't make match play, but they finished 9th - the second highest finish in school history! And I got to see and hear the hubs on TV, which was really needed since I haven't seen him in over 2 weeks.)

4. Because of my confusion of the days of the week and thinking that yesterday was Monday, I got excited around 7pm last night and thought: "Yay! Bach in a little bit! The only good thing about Mondays!" And then I remembered I watched it the night before (obviously, I was distracted while watching). Which made me sad for about .25 seconds and then I was all, "Yes! It's already Tuesday!"

5. My husband comes home from 16 days away TODAY! We have been apart for much longer than this before, but I just missed him so much this trip! I can't wait to see him and show him all the little projects I've done around the house since he's been gone. I get so much done when he's not around. Funny how that happens!

And I know the girls will be so happy to have him home! 

xo

KH

I feel like I just totally updated my wardrobe

Notice anything different? Young & Southern got a whole new look. It's simple, it's fresh, it's classic. I love it!

I've also added some social icons over there on the left, so if you'd like, follow along.

I'm still changing things around a little, but I'm liking what I'm seeing so far.

And besides the blog redesign, I really do feel like I have a whole new wardrobe: I scored two pairs of work pants, a blazer, and a blouse for a grand total of $32 today. Have I ever mentioned I'm a Maxxinista??

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
xo
K

Five on Friday!

Happy Friday! 

This week has absolutely flown by. I'm gearing up for a big event at work next week, so I've been going hard for the last few weeks. I'm down to just 3 business days before this big annual event, so I'm a mix of relieved/anxious/excited/exhausted. Let's just say that I'll be happy when Thursday rolls around and it's over!

Let's jump into these 5 things that are making me super happy!

ONE. Alex and I went to Hilton Head last weekend for a mini-trip. Actually, we went because he was going on a recruiting trip anyway, which meant our hotel, travel, and half our meals were covered. I just went along to enjoy to beautiful HHI scenery (below) and to hit up the Outlets.

Which brings me to my next point...

TWO. I am still on a shopper's high from this purchase. Yes, you're reading that correctly: I saved $461.01 and only spent $57.23 at Off 5th, which means I saved 90%. YES. I know. Amazing. And even better? For that $57.23, I got an adorable Yumi Kim blouse and TWO pairs of Jack Rogers sandals. Shopping success doesn't get much better than that, friends.

THREE. This might seem ridiculous, but I am extremely pumped that Richland County finally got their stuff together and gave all residents an Herbie Curbie for recyclables! Not only is it bigger than our trash container, they're picking up recycling more frequently AND it's all mixed load, meaning you can throw everything in there together and they sort it at the recycling facility. I work with a lot of recycling clients and have recently been made aware of the economical impact of recycling. It's amazing how many jobs recycling supports!

FOUR. My Gator boys are on FIRE right now. After the horrendous football season we had, I was very much looking forward to basketball season, and the Gators have delivered! Is it March yet??

FIVE. This has been my mantra lately! More about this soon! 

Have a fantastic weekend, y'all! 

Linking up with April, Christina, Natasha and Darci! 

I've got bread and milk: I'm all set!

It's supposed to snow here tomorrow. In "Famously Hot" Columbia, South Carolina.

And in the South when there is a chance of snow in the forecast, crazy things happen.

The schools shut down for 2 days. Local government closes. Don't even try to buy starter logs for the fire because, Lord knows, Publix, Walgreens, and everywhere else will be sold out. I know, because I tried.

I made the mistake of thinking "Oh, I'll pick up some bread and wood on my way home..."

Yeah, I should have thought that one over. Because I walked into the middle of a First World crisis. The only time I've seen similar is when I lived in Florida and a Category 3 or stronger Hurricane was headed directly toward my town (for the record: a chance of snow is much more fun than a chance of damaging winds, torrential rain, and the certainty of losing power for 3 days). People weren't just going in for the essentials. They were buying everything they could fit in, on and under their carts. Madness, I tell you.

It was a negative on the starter logs, but I did get my loaf of bread. Barely. The pickins were slim. I ended up with a low-calorie loaf that has an expiration date of Jan. 30.

Whatevs - I have the essentials. I'm ready to brace for Winter Storm Leon!

And just my Northern friends don't think we're completely overreacting: the South goes crazy because we have no means to prepare for snow or ice, or to deal with the aftermath. No plows, limited salting, and people (myself included) have no idea how to drive in it. But we also appreciate the snow a lot more because it is so rare. Bring on those Snow Days!

Downton dreamin'

I'm late to the party. The one at Downton Abbey that started a few years ago.

I finally just started watching the show from the very beginning and I cannot stop.

[No spoilers, please. This ladyship has not caught all the way up (actually, I'm in the middle of Season Two. At this rate, I'll be caught up in 2 days.)]

Watching makes me wonder what it would have been like to live in this time - as the other half lived, of course.

Let's talk about the dresses, or shall I say the frocks. Love. I want. So elegant. So glamorous. So undoubtedly uncomfortable. But so pretty.

And I'll take one of those lady-servant persons, please. I would love to never blow-dry my own hair ever again. Or choose my outfit every morning. Do you know how much time that would save?

I mean, I've been to the Biltmore. It's basically the same thing...

   =

Me, the hubs, and our homestead

I think this gives me an idea of what it would be like to live in a legitimate mansion of a castle. Gotta have comfy shoes to walk to halls. That, I can do.

I could get into tea time everyday. And the biscuits. I dig it. And maybe we could swap high tea for early cocktail hour every now and again.

I think I would be really good at keeping up my correspondence. Because pretty stationery is my weakness.

I also think I would shine in the area of finding things to fill the day, such as walking in the gardens, riding on the grounds, or reading in the library. Yes. I can do this. I could even get behind the war effort and read to the soldiers.

Don't you ever wish you could go back in time for just a day and see what it was like?

If you need me, I'll be in bed watching Downton.

Playing catch-up

I blinked and it's November. I swear.

Here's a quick run-down of what we've been up to lately:

Alex was in a wedding down in Florida a few weeks ago. I took Friday and Monday off of work, so we enjoyed a nice 4-day weekend in the sunshine. Even though I grew up in Florida, I don't recall ever having a beach weekend in late October. But it was glorious! The weather for the wedding (in Fort Myers) was absolutely perfect and the wedding itself was beautiful. I've never been to an outdoor wedding with weather that perfect. 

Sunday after the wedding, we went down to Marco Island for the "after party" which was the next night. We got to enjoy a full day on the beach and pool-side complete with pina coladas, tropical music, picturesque blue skies and 80 degree weather. Ahhhhhhhh.

My stress faded just looking at the Gulf waters!

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Halloween snuck up on me - I can't believe the first of the 2013 Holidays is over! Wowzers! The girls dressed in little Holstein cow costumes to pay tribute to my family's dairy farms (this was Alex's idea, by the way). They were presh. The trick-or-treaters loved to see the Penny and Ellie all dressed up! 

Nice expressions, pups!

My obedient Golden

If looks could kill...

With the crazy Summer that transitioned into a crazy Fall, I didn't put up many Fall decorations this year because I feel like I just unpacked my "normal" decorations for the house. Which I did, like a month ago. So we kept it simple with just a few outdoor decorations to put on a good face for the neighbors, ha! And it goes without saying that there are a few pumpkin-scented candles sprinkled around the house.

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Last weekend, Alex was at a tournament with the golf team, so I went up to my mom's cabin in NC. We hiked on Saturday down to the river to watch the annual Green Race, a professional kayak race on the Green River. The hike on the way down took about 45 minutes and was somewhat challenging: I didn't anticipate it being soooo steep (and, by the way, there was no trail. We blazed our own). But it was so worth it to see the gorgeous rapids and watch the very impressive kayakers! Those people were amazing. 

The hike back up the mountain, however, was a different story. An hour and a half of climbing literally on my hands and knees because it was too steep to stand wore me out!! I haven't been that "one with nature" in a long, long time. But it was A BLAST. I didn't care how dirty I got, or that I my legs were throbbing with emerging bruises from all the rocks I was "walking" on. It was straight up little-kid-playing-in-the-dirt FUN, y'all. It won't be something I'll do all the time, but I will certainly do that hike again. Plus, it was really fun to do it with family (shout out to my 54-year-old mom who killed it!). We felt really accomplished at the end of the day, and although I was pooped, it was the good kind of worn-slap-out. 

You can sorta tell how steep it was in this pic

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In addition to all this goodness, we've been playing house in our new (or not so new anymore - been there for 3 months!) home. I've been working on a couple of big projects: can't wait to share the finished products!