Just a Suggestion: Check out the Asheville Drum Circle

If you are every in Downtown Asheville on a Friday night you have got to do yourself a favor and head down to the Drum Circle. This is a tradition on Friday nights spanning back 9 years and is one of the coolest, free things you can do to really experience all that makes Asheville the amazing place that it is. Things start up pretty early, like maybe 6pm or so in Pritchard Park.

Here are things getting started...

Anyone with a percussion instrument is allowed to join in the fun. I have to tell you, one of the coolest things about the circle is seeing people of all ages and walks of life joining in the fun. If drummings not your thing, not to worry, there is plenty of room for a spectator, dancer or hula-hooper. It's also a great spot for a good game of hackey sack.

So check it out when you are here, you won't regret it!

Here's the drum circle once things really got going!

Just a Suggestion: Giving in to reading "The Hunger Games"

Source

So after hearing about it on blog after blog and from friend after friend, I finally gave in and decided to read "The Hunger Games". I'm only a couple chapters in but I already know that it is going to be the hit of my summer reading list.

I definitely suggest checking it out. I've heard that I'll love some parts and hate others but so far, so good. In all honesty, I had to read it. Afterall they are filming it right up the road from us in Shelby.

Anyway, just a suggestion but I think you should check it out!

Weekend fun

Hey guys,

It's beautiful in GA today and Beau and I are headed outside with the puppies for some fun in the sun. But just in case you aren't blessed with the same weather here are some fun ideas for the weekend.

1) Make Polymer clay buttons with the help of this tutorial via Craft Stylish.

2) Crochet your own coffee sleeve. I used this tutorial this morning and it was super quick and easy. I'll post pics of my coffee sleeve soon.

Combine the two to make something like this! (picture source)

I plan on adding buttons to mine later.

3) Go see Shutter Island. Beau and I did last night and it was amazing! We are still talking about it. A lot of people have said they thought it would be scary but it really wasn't. It was more of a psychological thriller.

If you're still on the market...

...you should totally check out this website when you are thinking about taking yourself off the market.

Disclaimer: This is not a dig for people that went the diamond engagement ring route, it's just celebrating the alternatives!

So as many of you know, I am not a traditional engagement ring kind of girl. Not that there is anything wrong with them, after all diamonds are a girl's best friend. But when it came right down to it after years of thinking that I wanted a traditional diamond solitaire for my engagement ring I found that they just came up a bit flat (for me). I tried on several different styles of diamond rings while I was supposed to be helping a friend pick out her engagement ring, but continually found myself drawn to the sapphire case.

Luckily Beau embraced my need for a bit of individuality and chose accordingly when he made his mind up to pop the question. He actually sent the ring back 3 times after trying diamonds in the setting that he knew I loved but decided that it fell short and thankfully went with the sapphire!!! (sorry the pics of my ring aren't better but my camera battery is charging so I had to go with something saved in the computer instead of taking a better picture...plus I sliced my finger while cutting firewood when we were camping this weekend so my hand is a little too mangled for a close-up right now)




I have gotten hundreds of compliments on my ring as a result and I'm so happy that Beau didn't go the "what an engagement ring should look like" route, it just wouldn't have been me, it wouldn't have been us!

So anyway, the point of this rambling post is when you do decide to allow yourself to be taken off the market don't be a afraid to think outside the box. Find a ring that is as unique as you and your future spouse are as a couple. Let it set the tone for your life together. Go to an antique store with your future hubby and find an heirloom piece that can become a wonderful story to share with your kids, check out different stones in a traditional setting, or find a cool shop like Turtle Love Committee. This shop has beautiful, non-traditional rings that are gorgeous and affordable.

***Thanks to the shout out from the Turtle Love Committee in their blog! Also check it out to read more on diamond engagement ring alternatives.