Clark Retirement Community

Watch This! I saw this on Entertainment Tonight and is it not the funniest thing ever?! It is so precious!!

7.17.25

Mamaw,
I remember spending every summer with you,
I remember watching The Price is Right with you every morning at 11 while eating the bowl of grits you made me and helping you check your blood sugar
I remember spending every 4th of July at The Sandcastle with you and swimming in the pool but you would never let me go past the rope because even though I could swim, you couldn't and you didn't want me going too deep,
I remember your favorite color was red; I remember your red car and how I would count to see how long it took you to remember to fasten your seat belt,
I remember your red beta fish that we named Big Red, and even though you almost killed him three times, he never died, but most of all, I remember your bright smile and loving heart. Me and mom talk about you almost every day, neither of us would be the person that we are today if it weren't for you! I hope you're having the best birthday cake with Jesus today. I love you and miss you more than anything.

this is what I did today

Today was a great day! It was the first that I had off of work, and had nothing to do, in quite some time! I was able to sleep in until 11am and then I lounged around the house for a few hours. I discovered pinterest today as well! I am still not quite sure how to work it but I think I sort of got the hang of it! Anyways after running errands with mom I decided that I would make Rainbow Cake in a mason jar, because I found this on the website and it was super cute!! I thought it would be cute to share with yall! We did not have any yellow cake batter from a box so I decided to make some from scratch for the first time ever! I used another one of my new favorite things: ehow.com! When I puled it up on my phone it let me cross out the ingredients that I had already gathered and I could eve cross off the steps that I had completed! So cool! After making the batter, I divided it into 5 smaller mixing bowls and added the food coloring.

After dividing the batter, I dropped 3-4 spoonfuls of each color on top of each other in to the mason jar to make a fun rainbow effect!


After all the mason jars are empty and the batter is out, you need to place them in a pan filled 1/2 way up with water so that the glass does not explode when you cook it!


Cook these for 35- 45 minutes on 350 degrees! They should come out looking like this...
*note: the picture above is not mine, I am still working on perfecting the presentation!

If you have any great recipes you've made lately, let me know! I love trying new things!
-mTa

A sale on sale!

If you know me at all, you know I love Kate Spade jewlery. Well when I found out that their sale items were an additional 25% off I was super excited to peruse their website... until reality set in and I decided I have plenty of stuff and I should really be saving my money instead of shopping! a penny saved is a penny earned, Mama always says! Well I was at work the other day and my manger came walking in wearing this darling necklace! So we started talking about it and she told me it was KS and she had gotten it on sale a month or so ago. When I got home from work that day I had to show my mom and of course we fell in love with it! My mom decided to buy it for me because it was such an unbeatable deal! I can't wait for it to come in the mail!! here it is, what do you think?!
And also, speaking of sale on sale... Vineyard Vines is having their Semi- Annual 'Whale of a Sale'! All sale items are an additional 40% off! You can check it out here! The store has been a mess this week! We have taken most of what is in the stockroom and put it on the floor for shoppers to quickly get and I mean, it is just madness in there! I really love my job, though! It is loads of fun!

4th of July

okay so since I have a lot of excitement in my life going on now, I will keep you up to date on that stuff and when I have a lull I will fill you in on what you missed out on in the Spring!

This past weekend was Fourth of July! I believe it was one of the best ones that I have ever had! Saturday was my family's reunion, or get together- whatever you may call it! It was held at dWp's house, as are most family events! We had a blast trying out the new Margaritaville machine, catching up with the family from out of town, and showing pictures of each other from the 80's (which included some real nice hairstyles)! We had a wonderful time. I even brought Ethan and introduced him to everyone! This was pretty nerve- wracking but I think that it went off pretty well! whew!

The whole gang!

Twins, also Vineyard Vines models :)

Ethan and I!

Then Saturday night, Ethan and I went to the Drive- in movies in Belmont! We had a lot of fun and saw Fast Five and Bridesmaids. I know I am a little late seeing this but I did not think it was as good as everyone made it out to be. It may have been just because everyone built it up to be so good that my expectations were too high.

I love editing pictures on my phone!

Sunday, we went to church, then Cracker Barrel with my parents for lunch. After lunch we met up with mBa and her boyfriend to go to the mall and get a bathing suit. Since most of 4th of July is typically spent in a pool/ lake or beach, I told Ethan to bring his but he forgot. So we went to pick one up, then came home and got ready for the Zac Brown Band Concert! The four of us went to the concert and had an absolute blast. It was pretty hot and humid outside but luckily, it was bearable! I really love ZBB but they were not "entertainers"... they did a lot of other artist's cover songs and a ton of solos which I thought they were trying to make the concert drag on. But we enjoyed just being together and dancing to the music! The concert ended around 10:15 and we headed to Emma Loo's house for late night swimming! This was also fun... until her dog attacked me! At that point, it was time to go home.

mBa & I

The group


I think this is such a cute candid picture!

Monday, we spent the day at the pool. The we came home and girlled Rachel Ray's 'firecracker burgers' and lots of veggies which were delicious. During dinner it started pouring and we were worried about the fireworks being cancelled but the show went on and at 9:30 we watched fireworks! Monday Ethan had to leave and I had to go to work. but, this was an awesome weekend and I am glad we did everything we did!

-mTa

long- awaited Formal

The weekend after everyone got back to school, my sorority had our long awaited, and much anticipated formal! Formal had been canceled from it's original date in January due to inclement weather. We all got ready together in our room before we all had to meet downstairs to get on the buses to go to Jackalope's where Formal was held. It was a great time and we all really enjoyed everything from the food to the music, and of course, to the company that we brought!

This is a few of the boys waiting in the hall while the girls were getting ready! Don't they all just look so handsome?!

We had to take a quick roomie- pic before leaving, of course! This is so typical :)
What a good lookin' couple :)
> ps. My hair was done by a friend, Graham Jordan. She is amazing at both hair and makeup! I think I am happier with this hair style than I ever was when I paid to have it done for prom! Check her our here. If you are in the area she would love to help you achieve your look! ps. She is new at starting up her business but definitely not new at her skills!

What I have been up to lately...

This is where I have been spending my days for the past week! My Summer job is working at the brand new Vineyard Vines store in SouthPark! I am so excited to be part of this, it is so neat to be with something from the beginning, plus I love the fun environment and everyone is always so happy to be working! This place really is great! On Monday mornings I am also watching a precious baby girl named Emerson! She is so sweet and I love playing with her!

When I get home I just need to have a little alone time to relax & if it's not having a margarita with mom, the best way for me to do that is watching Hulu. My latest obsession is Lipstick Jungle. I am in love! It is just like Sex & the City, and yall know know Classy from North to South and I loooove that!

So that is about it... My Summer days tend to be rather boring- and that's just how I like them :)

How are you keeping busy?

All about you, Daddy

I will always be Daddy's little girl, and I am proud of that! Being an only child, I am super close with both of my parents but I think that my dad and I have a relationship that not many people have. I am truly thankful for you because you sacrifice so much for me! You always put me & Mommy ahead of yourself, providing for us and making everything we could ever want or need, possible! I love you for always being there when I need you and being the model of a man that I will one day hope to marry, someone just like you! Thank you for reading me The Chronicles of Narnia before bed, singing me to sleep, and taking me to Burger King on Saturday morning on the back f your bike when I was little! Thank you for teaching me about cars, and money and how to paint my room and patience and humility! Most of all, thank you for being YOU!

Love, your little girl

and ending to my Spring Break

Well, a small tragedy occurred while on the beached of Ponte Vedra, Florida! I had my beloved BlackBerry in the pocket of my t-shirt. I went on a walk on the beach and when I leaned over to pick up a piece of sea glass, my phone decided to go swimming! So I went without contact to the world for 28 hours while my phone sat in rice to try to dry it out but then it would not turn on. So me and my mom made a trip to the local VZW store and to my surprise, found out I was eligible for an early upgrade! soooo... I emptied my bank account and purchased the iPhone 4. I am so happy I did and I love it!

Other than this tragedy, we had a great time looking around at the shops, trying new restuarants, going to the beach and exploring St. Augustine! I have a ton of GREAT Lilly and VV finds at FiFi's consignment shop in Ponte Vedra; I was so lucky! St. Augustine is one of my favorite spots in Florida. I love the authentic Spanish food, the beautiful historic sights and there are lots of cute boutiques in the area too! We had a lot of fun.

As I mentioned, I found a lot of sea glass on this trip! Sea glass, for those of you who don't know if glass bottles or other objects that have been tossed overboard off of a ship and landed in the ocean. The waves have tossed the glass and the shells and waves bump against it breaking the glass and smoothing the sharp edges and making it have a frosted look. I love collecting this glass because it is so rare and makes for a great display in clear glass jars around the house. Sea glass is pretty rare because most people use plastic now. The most common colors are green, brown and clear. Jade, amber, lime green and blue are some of the less common colors that are found. Here is a picture of the sea glass that Nana and I found on the beach.
I hope everyone else had a lovely Spring!

Where Have I been?

Well, as you may know I ave not posted in almost 3 months!!! What?! I know, I am so sorry, I feel like I let my followers down, but my life has just been chaotic with one thing after another going on! When I got home from Spring Break, I had 7 projects (yes, more projects than classes) to complete that required my full attention and school was almost over and I was looking for a job and moving home... it was just truly a world wind that I was caught up in! Buttt.... I have so much to tell you and so many things to catch up on! I am going to blog on what has been going on in my life! So try to keep up as I catch you up to speed :)

-mTa

What's in my Bag?

I feel like I'm the only one who hasn't done a "What's in my Bag" post yet.
So here it goes...

My bag is Kate Spade Wellesey Quinn. The one I have is pebbled leather, the one pictured is Patent leather. It was my early Easter gift.
of course I always have my Blackberry Tour, if it's not in my hand!
Next is my Lilly Pulitzer Agenda, I have all of my phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, passwords and of course all of my plans are included in here. I would be completely lost if this ever left my sight!
I always carry some Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion, it is the perfect size and works great to carry wherever I go because it is light and doesn't leave a thick film on my hands
I also carry a stick of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula. everyone teases me because they say it looks like a glue stick but it is my saving grace during the windy and frigid days of Winter.
Most days I carry my Sony Cyber- Shot Camera with me, I never know when I may need it!
I always try to keep my Sunglasses with me too, sometimes they stay on Croakies around my neck though, just because I am afraid they will get scratched or crushed in my Bottomless BAG!
5 Gum is my favorite! I always have at least one pack on hand because Mama is sure to send me about 4 packs in my care packages!
My Kappa Delta Original Lilly Pulitzer Wallet is the most useful wallet I have ever owned! It is the perfect size if I want to carry it as a clutch and it holds everything I may need.
Although I don't really believe in hand sanitizer, I usually have Bath and Body Works gel or foam on hand just for my own personal sanity! Island Nectar is my favorite scent.
lastly... people also joke about me always carrying a Brush and Pony Tail Holders. I am a fanatic about my hair!

All of these items are a must- have at all times! I also have duplicates of these in my backpack because I don't carry my purse to class with me.

Happy early Easter

Yesterday when I arrived home look what my Mama had waiting for me...Kate Spade Wellesley Quinn

I am so excited! This is my Easter present but she knew I would want to take it on Spring Break so she gave it to me a little early! I am so happy, I have been dying for this for years, it is such a classic staple! I think it is so classy and sophisticated looking! Thanks, Mama!
oh... and on a side note, we finally made it to Jacksonville this evening, a little before 5pm! It was a long ride but I'm sure it will be well worth it!

Check this out!

I saw this on Twitter yesterday. Isn't it the cutest thing ever? I would love to see this at a tailgate!

Vineyard Vines anything is just precious!

Love it!
-mTa

Thankful Thursday

Right now, at this very moment, I am SO thankful that I am in my LAST class before Spring Break. On Saturday I will be right here:

Jacksonville, Florida.

Wearing this:

My seersucker bathing suit.

I am taking a relaxing Spring Break trip with my mom, to stay with Nana in Jax. I am so excited, I really can't wait to get away. I just want to lay on the beach, tanning with my toes in the sand- and just forget about all the work I have going on at School. I have had 2 of the busiest weeks ever! I am trying to just keep my head above water with all of the work I have been swamped with, right around midterms! And although I am in my last class, I still have to stay on campus all day to get my work do that teachers assigned to be due Monday that we return to classes. Oh... and did I mention that you HAVE to be on campus to complete these assignments?! I am really frustrated but I will be going home early tomorrow morning.

No trip would be complete without shopping! Mom and I always make a trip to St. Augustine for all of the shopping there. They have several thrift stores and also outlets there. I love shopping out of town because I always am able to find unique items and vintage clothes!
So as I leave this class and finish my busy day, I could not be any more thankful, this Thursday!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

1. Greek- I have recently gotten hooked on this show and I am obsessed! I tried to get into Pretty Little Liars a few months ago when everyone was talking about but somehow got into Greek instead and I watch it all the time! Its a little corny but I really enjoy it! 2. Nude Nail Polish- I have long nails right now and have worked really hard to get them to grow out. I am not a fan of dark polish on long nails (esp. in the winter with my paler skin), I feel like it's too gothic, and I don't particularly like red either, I fell like it just doesn't fit me. So I have not had time to paint a french manicure this week, I have put on a few coats of nude nail polish for the time being and it just looks so clean and crisp. 3. Duck Boots- I recently purchased my first pair and have been really satisfied with them! Finally I found a pair of shoes that keep my feet warm and dry! They are a must- have in the mountains where I go to school! 4. Goody Spin Pins- If you haven't tried these yet, run to the closest WalMart or drug store and pick them up!! They are so convenient and easy to use! I love them, they are great for trying to do a fancy up- do, or throwing up a messy bun for the gym- they are that secure! 5. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion- I am currently on Accutane treatment, for the second time- yes I have stubborn skin! With that and the harsh winter winds, my skin is constantly dry. But this moisturizer is amazing and helps keep my skin under control!

Jessie's Girl

As I am sitting her in the library, listening to my 80s Mix online I stare out the window at the gigantic snow flakes dancing around in the 40mph winds... YES, I said 40!!! I attempt and fail to accomplish reading and reviewing an article for my math class as I sip on my deliciously warm drink. I realize that I probably have at least 3 chai tea lattes with a shot of pumpkin pie and a shot of espresso, a week! I originally started drinking this because I thought it was a healthier alternative to the fat laden frappuchinos and sugary sweet lattes. Now that I love them and have even got some friends hooked on them, I wonder if they are actually any healthier than the other options. I researched chai tea a bit and found that it was mainly made of 4 components: milk, tea, sweetener, herbs and spics. I think the sweetener could possibly be the worst part of this drink, it is about a tablespoon, per cup of tea. I think next time I go to The Wired Scholar, the coffee shop in the library, I will ask them to make mine skinny, and hopefully my drink will do the same for me, just in time for Spring Break!! Although I have no real plans yet, I am still hoping to lost 5lbs by then. So what is your favorite, low- cal drink to keep you warm on these snowy days in the library?

Circus!

I mentioned last weekend that I was going to the circus, sorry I did not update you sooner!! I was super excited and couldn't hardly stand waiting all day to go! Saturday finally arrived and I met Daddy at the TWC Arena to go to the circus! After he got his hot dog and I got my snow cone (yes, I only bought this because it was in a light- up elephant cup), we finally found our seats and settled in as the show was starting! The first thing I saw was of course the 7 elephants that they marched around the big circle. Overall, the circus was not as exciting as I had remembered from when I was a child but it was definitely worth it for the memories, time with Dad, andddd the ELEPHANTS!

This was by far my favorite part, and I am so happy I got such a great picture of them all lined up! There was one baby elephant but he literally ran out and then ran back, offstage so I was unable to snap a quick picture!


Me during intermission overlooking the whole arena! I wore my Lilly Norma Wrap because I thought it was festive and kind of looked like a circus tent right?!

State Pillows

Have yall seen these? I am in love with them! They are hand stitched, 19x 19. I have seen them around at small boutiques and specialty shops! My mom has been dying for one for years but the price tag of $150 has prevented her from buying one for herself.

















Here are my two favorites!! I was born in Florida and a bunch of my family still lives there so I have roots there but being raised and currently living in North Carolina, I love that one too! They are so neat because they are unique and you can relate to them in your own life!
Well Mom's birthday was a few weeks ago- so when her mom found out she had been wanting this she remembered that she had started a similar needlepoint in 1983!!! My grandma finished this pillow for my mom's birthday and this is how it turned out!
I think it is amazing! The detail is awesome, I had no idea my Nana was so talented!

Thank You!

I would like to say a BIG "THANK YOU" to Monogram Chick for my monogrammed tumbler! I absolutely love it, isn't it precious! I went home this past weekend and it was waiting for me in my room! It made me so cheerful when I opened it and saw my bright prize from their fabulous giveaway! Check out their other stuff on the website, love it!!

-Bows and Pearls Forever