we gobbled til we wobbled

phew! we had a very fun, very busy thanksgiving weekend!!! i had to work on Wednesday ... sold a debutant gown. went home to pack, waited on matt to finish working, and finally left for Highlands around 8:00 pm. After taking the dogs to Cindy's for the night, stopping at chicfila, and weaving up the mtn in the dark fog, we arrived to the mtn house around 10 and had a few beers with the family. It was a crazy dog party this year. Dad and Susie have two, Mimi and Grandy have one, Tyler has one, Aunt Twila and Uncle Sammy have one ... so that was 5 dogs .. if we'd have brought Cooper and Annie we'd have had SEVEN. It was really entertaining though.

Thursday: Matt and I slept until 11:15. missed the parade, but oh well. Had an amazing breakfast with everyone. Cleaned up, watched some home videos with the whole family, played cards, then went back to sleep (only because Mimi wouldn't let me touch anything in the kitchen) so we slept again from about 3 to 5 and then woke up to have a big ol dinner about 5:45. I had to work Friday, so after some long conversation and predictions on the upcoming Carolina vs. Clemson football game, Matt and I got back on the road and headed down the mountain. We made it to Greenville around 9:30 and went over to Cindy's to have a few drinks with her, Kelleigh, and Don. Took the dogs back home around 11:30. saw an INSANE line outside of toys-r-us. decided at this point we were starving again, so we made a new tradition and went to Waffle House. It was so fun. We've been with everyone, tons of people, every holiday since we've been married, and this December we'll go to six christmases in 7 days. So having a holiday night alone, with my sweet husband, at the dirty ol Waffle House, was SO goooooood! :)


















Friday: Got up and went to work. Sold this pretty Debutant dress.


















then rushed out of there around 5. Went to Bilo to pick up ping pong balls and solo cups for the Aurea Aquila Keg Party 2010. (for those of you who don't know, Aurea Aquila was Eastside High School's yearbook name, and thanksgiving is always a reunion so we decided to have it at my house this year). We had SO much fun catching up with everyone ! playing beer pong, gathering around the fire pit, watching football. I even got to see Emily... my long lost best friend from high school/college. she moved to seattle and i havent seen her since thanksgiving three years ago!!!!


















matt and i did a little of this ..


















it was too much of a good time for me and i ended up like this ...



















Which brings us to Saturday: I woke up feeling awwwwwwwwwfulllllllllll! We had originally planned on going to Clemson as soon as Matt finished getting his haircut at 12. Screw that plan, I was in bed, still spinning. Took a shower... and laid back in bed again. Luckily, Matt brought me some Zaxby's on his way home and that was the next best thing to a cure that there was. I popped a few advil and we headed the the homeland. Tailgaited with some fun people. Got to sit in the warm trustee box with mimi and grandy, had some good food, and lost the game. it was all good though, we had a great weekend! how cute is my husband and his new haircut?



















So TODAY we slept in. ate some thanksgiving leftovers. and i ventured out to target and got some fun new christmas decorations then went on my weekly trip to bilo. came and picked matt up and we went and picked out our christmas tree. done with the tree!! still have some more decorating outside to do, we had a great time tonight! i have the best life. i am so happy!! hopefully my doctor's appointment next week with the cardiologist will go as planned and i can get off all my meds for good and then everything will seriously be perfect! happy holidays everyone!! i love you all :) :)

-B

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Congratulations are in order to Megan and Scott!!! You may have been keeping up with them on by blog roll ... "Paging Dr. Witt." Anyway, they had the baby this morning and the gender has been a surprise this whole time. IT'S A BOY!! Waker Hebreth Witt was born this morning at 6:45am, 6lbs 4oz! Hooooray! Welcome to the world, baby Waker, future karate star!

Top 5 Perfumes on my 2010 Christmas List .. :)

You know I collect them. You know I love them. Whether it's for their scent, their bottle/packaging, or their uniqueness (is that a word?), perfumes are always at the top of my wish lists. Here are the front runners this year in no particular order:


Coach "Poppy"

Coach Poppy opens with bright cucumber, juicy mandarin and freesia buds notes. Heart is filled with aroma of jasmine, pink water lily, Southern gardenia, red candied rose petals and crème brûlée accord. Base note is a mixture of cedar wood, sandalwood, vanilla and marshmallow.

Why I love it: scent!! This one smells so good. I kept walking past it at belk last week and smelling it every time. Finally, I had to spray it all over me, and was sad when I had to take a shower that night. Love it!

Guerlain Elixir Charne


















In addition to stunning nuances provided by rose, this edition is rich with aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa and spices, such as hot pepper, and alcohol drops of rum and soft vanilla. This fragrant story is tinted with warm colors and spices that keep you warm, rejoiced, melting on the skin. The fragrance may be the perfect choice for lovers of gourmands that are not sticky sweet or aggressive, unpretentious but luxurious and erotic.

Why I love it: it's unique!!! Haven't smelled it, but it's not in every department store... and who doesn't love roses and chocolate?? Think I'd wear this one on Valentine's Day :)

Kate Spade "Twirl"


















Twirl notes include pink watermelon, blackberry and red currant. A heart includes orange blossom, star jasmine, tiare flower and magnolia, resting on a base created of glittering musk and French cookies (Macaroon).

Why I love it: bottle!! I would love this sitting with the others in my collection. And it smells pretty good too! A little sweet for my style, but Matt like's the sweet ones (like "Viva La Juicy" by Juice Couture and Benefit's "So Hooked on Carmella") they're both a little too gourmand for me, but Matt likes them best!

"Flowerbomb Christmas 2010 Edition" by Viktor & Rolf


















An ode to sensuality and dreams, Flowerbomb opens with notes of bergamot and tea before the explosion of glittering heart takes its place, composed of Sambac jasmine, orchid, freesia and Centifolia rose. Final notes of patchouli delicately highlight the nobility of this intoxicating bouquet.

Why I love it: OMG! This is the most adorable bottle I've ever seen. I MUST have it!! annnnd florals are my fave!! Haven't smelled this one, but ...i die.

Kenzo "Once Upon A Time"


















Kenzo Pour Femme Once Upon A Time is an explosion of floral notes of magnolia, rose, peony and freesia, laid on the earthy base of amber, sandalwood and musk. The fragrance is packed in a colorful printed bottle of bright pink and light blue.

Why I love it: I have Flower by Kenzo and I LOVEEEE it!!! A lot of people think it smells like play dough. But I don't care. I love it :) And this is the newest Kenzo that came out. I think it'll smell amazing and I love the bottle. I'll go to ulta this week and confirm my suspicions.

fun night

we had a great time at kelsey's wedding tonight! and it was also a major bonus that tsunami catered the hor'dourve & cocktail hour :) yumm. more pics on facebook, just wanted to write a quick something. have a good weekend everybody!!

a trip in the making...

If all things go as planned this Christmas, i will be ON MY WAY down under to visit my best friend ever, in her new home country. cross your fingers!!!!! April 16-30, 2011. i can't wait!! Here I come Lou!

just whip it..

is anyone kidding me?! i discovered Willow Smith a few weeks ago, but since then, my affection for her has grown ten fold. i mean, the first time i saw her "Whip My Hair" video i was just ..BEYOND myself. She is freakin 9 YEARS OLD (well, 10 now, but 9 when the video was shot). The talent she posesses is out of this freakin' world...granted, her parents are Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, and brother Jayden is a movie star now. She is like, better than Rhianna. yes, i went there. Her video is beautiful with all the paint colors and amazing styling, but what sent me over the edge was her performance on ellen last week. her first time, ever performing in front of a live audience, she sang the whole thing (which not even top artist do nowadays) and she was brilliant. i love her i love her i love her. i cant express it enough.... so im leaving you with her video annnnnnd her ellen performance!!! happy monday :)

dang it... i cant get the video to upload to my blog.. here are the links:

"Whip My Hair" video

Performance on Ellen

Happy Veterans Day!!!!!

Can never find the right words to say how much I appreciate our veterans and active duty citizens! Thank you for giving us peace of mind and a safe place to call home!!















...did i mention how much i love fireworks?

hey santa (clothing addition...scent addition coming soon)

here are some bright and beautiful things i wouldn't mind having this year :)

this bebe dress..



















this DVF purse... Wells arent you proud?? :)



















these way too expensive boots... i would settle for something similar :)


















this free people dress.


















and i must have THESE bcbg pumps. are you kidding me?!



















LOVE this marc by marc jacobs sweater..

















speaking of sweaters....



















i probably couldn't pull this off, but i like to dream.. bcbg..


















love these marc jacobs studs

















and this bcbg gem


















almost all of the items can be found on shopbop.com. and i could go on all day. but i am already working on my next "dear santa" post, containing all the new perfumes on my wish list this season :) *you know i collect them* happy wednesday!!

-B

im working on my christmas list...

hopefully tomorrow i will have a post with some bright and beautiful things i want from santa :)

until then.. here is something to make your eyes twinkle ..

new title, new direction

ok so i didn't get any responses yet from you guys on what my blog should be titled, but i thought of this on my own, and decided it is perfect for me.

"All Things Bright & Beautiful"

It's not just the name of my favorite hymn, it's also everything that i love. anything that sparkles, glitters, enchants. anything full of wonderment. anything seen and admired as beautiful with a child-like spirit. i love.

i have a quote on my facebook, and now under the title of my blog, that i like for people (including myself) to keep in mind...

"Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."

it reminds me to not take life super seriously and remember to see the beauty in everything. i think that's why i like Christmas so much. Everything is so magical. and sparkly :)

Beyond this, the words to "All Things Bright & Beautiful" are words to remember..

1. All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

2. Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

All things bright ...

3. The rich man in his castle,

The poor man at his gate,

God made them high and lowly,

And ordered their estate.

All things bright ...

4. The purple headed mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning,

That brightens up the sky;−

All things bright ...

5. The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,−

He made them every one:

All things bright ...

6. The tall trees in the greenwood,

The meadows where we play,

The rushes by the water,

We gather every day;−

All things bright ...

7. He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell,

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

All things bright ...

(Amen)

I'm going to make a conscious effort to post "bright & beautful" things more often. and i hope you all enjoy it :)

-B

title

i dont want to be "The Bolt's" anymore. that's boring. someone help me think of a clever blog title!!! you know like ... holly jones' "keeping up with the joneses" BRILLIANT :) and everyone else has really cute ones!!! i dont really care whether it incorporates "bolt" or not. but i just want it to be "me" ..... any ideas, all you creative minds out there?? helppp

-B

*achoo*

dont you hate it when you just KNOW you're about to get sick. i started sneezing earlier and thought "ehh, no biggie. dust." then i was snuggled up on the couch and all i could think about was wanting to just so sit in a hot shower and let the water hit my head. NOW i just got in bed and it hurts pretty bad on the right side of my throat when i swallow and i am coughing and it sounds like a rattle. booooooooo!!!!!!! i always forget how bad it sucks to have a cold, until i have one. theraflu tonight and hoping that "falling back" with the extra hour of sleep tonight will help. i LOVE this cold weather, but it's no good for someone who's sweating their butt off putting wedding dresses on people all day then go immediately out into the cold.

ps- im not AS sleepy as i was. i had a good morning today, woke right up then didn't get tired at work. maybe bc i knew i was taking my left over Corona's with me for lunch *for those of you who dont know, Corona's is a local mexican restaurant, not beer*

i didn't get to watch or listen to one second of the Clemson game today which is SO unusual for my life. i got the update from some bridesmaids keeping track on their phones. didn't sell a dress today but had fun meeting the girls that i helped. thats one of my favorite things about my job. meeting the brides, hearing about their engagement stories, their fiances, their jobs, their lives :) it's so fun! and so me, i think, anyway.

alright. down the hatch we go....

sooooo sleepy

i think i have narcolepsy. not as severe as when people just fall asleep standing up, but i mean, i am sleepy, ALL THE TIME. maybe it's just the rainy, cold weather this week. but literally. two nights ago, i slept until 1 pm .... did things like errands, then took a 3 hour nap... then went to bed like 2 hours later. that is just strange. i get home from work and come straight to bed. at work, i cant stop yawning and feel like i cant hold my eyes open! it's not like im tired, like physically, i am just sleeeepy! phew. anyway.

i am SO excited for the holidays coming up!! yesterday i switched out my "autumn leaves" plug-in to "cracking fire & winter spice," put the candy corn in a bag, and put Christmas M&M's in their place, and took down all the pumpkins off the front porch. I know i'm basically skipping thanksgiving, but no one comes to our house for thanksgiving, so I am going to enjoy Christmas for the next two months here at home :) i was really tempted to start stringing up some lights today but i decided, let's not go overboard..until next week anyway. :) i will post some pictures soon. this weekend ... im babysitting for sweetest little Brayden tonight and then tomorrow I have to work instead of going to the Clemson vs. NC State game. but THEN i have the FUN part of the weekend... attending Megan Ewolden's baby shower for little Adelyn. I am so excited to see her and to spend time with my best pal Wells :) happy weekend!

-B