Man Fest

Man Fest.

What's Man Fest you might ask? Good question!

My husband moved first from Atlanta to our college town for me. Then he got a job in my tiny hometown teaching and so he moved to a town of less than 300 people. So, from Atlanta to a town as rural as you can get in less than a year was a pretty drastic change. He's embraced the small town life and loves it (dare I say) even more than me on most days. The one thing we both miss the most is having our closest friends around.

Solution? Man Fest: A weekend in the woods with his best "man friends" from multiple states at my family's large farm (and when I say farm I mean tons of acres with a tiny cabin, pond, and the hope of deer and turkey).
No women are allowed (not even our female puppy, Dixie).
No cell phones (except for his mandatory check in text message once a day so I can pass the word to the other wives and girlfriends that they're all still alive).
Just men, guns, alcohol, and the great outdoors for a weekend.

Now these men are not hunters by any means, but they will pretend this weekend. Benjamin even got a complete camo outfit for his weekend of pretend hunting! It always provides

This is the second Man Fest. The first was held in March on a weekend filled with freezing rain and mud up to their knees. For an entire weekend with five "healthy" boys they only took one crockpot of BBQ, chex mix, and beer. No water. Nothing else. Needless to say when they returned home on Sunday morning they were freezing and starving. I fixed a breakfast with over five pounds of meat and two dozen eggs, which was quickly devoured.

This time they're doing more planning. Well, for these men. At least they plan to bring water this time . . . .

What does the man in your life do to connect with his guy friends?

Pumpkin Time!

I swear I have two stomachs: one for "real food" and one just for dessert. I always have room and make time for dessert.

So it comes as no surprise that I also love to bake! I'm a newlywed who struggles with cooking, but can totally handle baking. It relaxes me and feeds my sweet tooth.

Since it's that time of the year, I've been obsessed with pumpkin recipes lately. This week's favorite: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Creme Cheese icing from my homegirl, Martha. (I've already had three people in my office ask me for the recipe).


Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing
The Cake:

•2 C all-purpose flour
•1 tsp baking soda
•1 tsp coarse salt
•1 tsp ground cinnamon
•1 tsp ground ginger
•1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
•1/4 tsp ground allspice
•1 C packed light brown sugar
•1 C granulated sugar
•1 C (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
•4 eggs, slightly beaten
•1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with paper or silicone liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice; set aside.
2.In large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and eggs. Add dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.
3.Divide among baking cups evenly, filling each about halfway. Cook 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Transfer to wire rack and cool.

The Icing:

•1 8 oz package cream cheese, room temperature
•1/2 C (1 stick) butter, room temperature
•3 C confectioner's sugar
•1 tsp vanilla extract
1.Beat butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and sugar.
2.Spread evenly or pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

What's your favorite fall dessert?

Election Day

Happy Election Day!!

I fully admit I'm a political junkie. I'm passionate about my politics.

Immediately after graduation from college, I began working on a statewide campaign. That was a year and a half ago. Today, the ultimate poll is cast in that campaign.

I'm incredibly proud to spend most of the day volunteering for a dear friend of mine who is running for local political office. Although I don't live in his voting area, I will proudly encourage others to cast their votes for a man I know wholeheartedly will work hard for his county with integrity.

Although I've yet to define what this blog will be, I suppose that I'll spare you my passionate, partisan thoughts on the candidates and simply encourage you to vote.

And for extra fun on this election day, check out The Ritzy Bee Blog's election day themed birthday party! How adorable and great to encourage citizenship at such an early age!

Happy voting!

Peer Pressure

I'm here because of peer pressure.

First, I love blogs. As a newlywed, I was (and might still be) obsessed with wedding blogs and the wealth of information they provided. I even started a wedding blog of my own with my friend Ashley months before I was engaged. We updated our blog faithfully. . . . until we both became newlyweds and became "wedding blogger failures."

My Google Reader is filled to the brim with all kinds of exciting blogs from weddings to politics to food to Southern Belles to news. I consider myself a casual observer. I rarely comment and use blogs as a way to pass the time as I fill the hours in my work day.

Why am I here? Why make a blog of my own? Peer pressure. Meet Julie and Ashley: two of my best friends from Emory & Henry College, who also happen to make up my family in our small school sorority.

So here I am. To tell my story . . .

I suppose this is the best kind of peer pressure. Why do you blog? Are you just a casual observer?