He's Growing Up (too fast)!

This summer my little angel will be 2! I can't believe it. It seems like it was not too long ago that I had swollen ankles, couldn't wear my wedding rings and had our thermostat set on 68 degrees.

Above is a picture from his first day here. As I look at that picture, I remember what an amazing experience it was to be pregnant and have little A join our lives. He has been a blessing to our lives and he is what we live for now. I have never loved another person the way that I love my child.

Now it's been almost two years and to you friends who said time would fly by, you could not have been more truthful! This little man with all his personality (like his momma) and his gorgeous blue eyes (like his daddy) has his own little life just past main street.

OK, enough of the sappiness, it's almost birthday party time! I have been planning for months, designed the invitation myself and ordered the cake! Friends and family are coming to celebrate with us and we can't wait! Stay tuned for pictures!

Happy 4th of July!

While celebrating the 4th of July holiday with your family and friends, please remember that the holiday is not just another long weekend off of work. It's a time to celebrate the independence that we should value so greatly as Americans. There are so many countries and people who face daily horrors that we cannot even imagine. I am thankful for the founding father's who declared our freedom and the troops who continue to serve and protect for all of the amazing freedoms I and my family have.

I hope that you have a wonderful 4th and spend some much-needed and well-deserved time with your family and friends. Take a minute to honor those who gave us our independence and take another minute to teach your children as to why it's so important.

Blueberry (or Blackberry) Cobbler with Sugared Star Shortcakes

I prepared this delicious Southern Living Recipe for a work potluck and served it with homemade vanilla ice cream. It was pretty tasty if I do say so myself.


2 pt. fresh blueberries (I use blackberries instead)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. almond extract (I used vanilla extract)
2 (12-oz.) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 Tbsp. coarse sparkling sugar (I use regular sugar)
Sweetened whipped cream (I use homemade ice cream)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until bubbly and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.
2. Separate biscuits, and flatten each into a 3 1/2 inch circle. Cut with a 3-inch star-shaped cutter (or whatever your favorite shape is, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet; sprinkle with sugar, pressing to adhere. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. Place 1 biscuit on each serving plate. Spoon blueberry (or blackberry) mixture over half of biscuits; top with remaining biscuits. Serve with whipped cream (or homemade vanilla ice cream).
Southern Living recommends Pillsbury Grands! Jr. Golden Layers Buttermilk Biscuits and I agree!

30 x 30 Update

So here's my 30 x 30 update. . .

I went to Birmingham, AL to the .38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bret Michaels concert at Oak Mountain amphitheater. We had a meet and greet session with Bret and he is the nicest person! I showed him my 30 x 30 list which he thought was way cool, and he checked off my goal to meet Bret Michaels! He also autographed a bandanna and we took a picture together. He was so nice (and good looking) - it was a great 30 x 30 experience.



30 things to do by my 30th birthday

1. Go to Vegas. . . with the girls.
2. Get my gun carry permit.
3. Meet Bret Michaels. Done!
4. Be a bar tender for a night.
5. Drive a race car. On a track or on a drag strip. Either works for me.
6. Finish decorating the house.
7. Cook a gourmet meal for friends.
8. Take a photography class - or at least learn more about photography.
9. Start a vitamin regimin.
10. Learn how to swim better.
11. Have all my girlfriends to my house one weekend with no husbands, kids, boyfriends, work or any other distractions. Just fun!
12. Drive a Mercedes McLaren.
13. Get my eyes checked. Boring. I know.
14. Buy a really nice handbag. I mean really nice.
15. Bring a good volunteer project to my church.
16. Have Sunday brunch at the Peabody.
17. Do the Diabetes 5K for the 3rd year in a row! For my dad and grandad. Almost Done!
18. Have a romantic dinner on the patio of Jarrett’s.
19. Go paintballing.
20. Go to Key West to see the sunrise and sunset.
21. Have dinner at Itta Beena at BB Kings.
22. Start a blog and keep it updated. Done!
23. Cook more Sunday lunches for my family.
24. See the duck march at the Peabody (there are a lot of cool things in Memphis that I haven’t done).
25. Get dressed up and attend a show at the Orpheum.
26. Invite more friends to church.
27. Finish designing and planting the flower beds at the house.
28. Learn how to can vegetables and make jellies/preserves.
29. Go see the Velcro Pygmies one last time.
30. Learn to water ski.

30 x 30

30 things to do by my 30th birthday

1. Go to Vegas. . . with the girls.
2. Get my gun carry permit.
3. Meet Bret Michaels.
4. Be a bar tender for a night.
5. Drive a race car. On a track or on a drag strip. Either works for me.
6. Finish decorating the house.
7. Cook a gourmet meal for friends.
8. Take a photography class - or at least learn more about photography.
9. Start a vitamin regimin.
10. Learn how to swim better.
11. Have all my girlfriends to my house one weekend with no husbands, kids, boyfriends, work or any other distractions. Just fun!
12. Drive a Mercedes McLaren.
13. Get my eyes checked. Boring. I know.
14. Buy a really nice handbag. I mean really nice.
15. Bring a good volunteer project to my church.
16. Have Sunday brunch at the Peabody.
17. Do the Diabetes 5K for the 3rd year in a row! For my dad and grandad.
18. Have a romantic dinner on the patio of Jarrett’s.
19. Go paintballing.
20. Go to Key West to see the sunrise and sunset.
21. Have dinner at Itta Beena at BB Kings.
22. Start a blog and keep it updated.
23. Cook more Sunday lunches for my family.
24. See the duck march at the Peabody (there are a lot of cool things in Memphis that I haven’t done).
25. Get dressed up and attend a show at the Orpheum.
26. Invite more friends to church.
27. Finish designing and planting the flower beds at the house.
28. Learn how to can vegetables and make jellies/preserves.
29. Go see the Velcro Pygmies one last time.
30. Learn to water ski.

Welcome

Hi all,

I turn 30 this year and I decided to do a 30 x 30 list - 30 things to do before my 30th birthday. While some things are fun and a little out there, others are basic things I feel I should be doing in my day-to-day living.

One of the things on my list was to start a blog (and keep it up), so here it goes - my first blog! My hope is to post pictures, home improvements and share what is going on in our lives.

The reason the blog is called Just Past Main Street is that we do actually live near Main Street, but more so that we have always done things just a little outside of the norm. Jeremy and I have often been told we are a little unconventional, so I decided we literally and figuratively are Just Past Main Street.

I hope you enjoy following the blog and please be sure to check out other blogs that I follow - they are amazing!

M

A

Pictured is my son, having his first splash of the summer.