The Junior League.

Instead of making excuses about my lack of blogging, I'm just going to carry on as if I have been blogging every day, which one day I hope to do again. My blog is truly one of my favorite things.

Last weekend, I was so proud of the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas as we welcomed a new group of provisional members during our annual new member retreat. This year, I'm co-chair of the New Member Training Committee. While it's a lot of work, I'm very excited about getting to know these amazing women.

Me with the committee chair, Adrienne, and one of the trainers, Diane.

Taylor, a new member, me and Mitzi, this year's JLNWA president.

Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders creating demonstrable community impact.

Saturday, we got to visit Children's House.
These are a few of the books that were part of my new member class' legacy project.

I’m so proud to be a member of the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas. Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is comprised of more than 155,000 women in 292 Junior Leagues throughout Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, they constitute one of the largest, most effective volunteer organizations in the world.

I can’t wait to see what this League year brings!

Happy birthday, Kitchen Queens!

One year ago, a wonderful group of girls got together to eat and chat. We didn’t all know each other, but that didn’t matter.

Kitchen Queens started when a few of us Junior League gals wanted to stay in touch after our provisional year. This is my cousin (fourth, but it still counts) Katie. She's getting married in exactly six months!

The lovely Britani hosted this month's dinner. Her house is gorgeous, and so is she!

One year later, we’re still meeting! I had dinner with a junior league VP a couple weeks ago, and she said she still has a monthly dinner with a group of girls that started meeting 13 years ago! I hope that’s us!

Lunch

I opted for a quick and easy lunch today—a Lean Cuisine. I turned it over to read the directions. I was shocked when it said to microwave for eight minutes! If you're curious, it was the chicken enchilad suiza. That can't be good for me.

So, how did I spend my time waiting? I bought a box of Krispy Kreme donuts at a company bake sale (funds go to tornado victims). I might have already eaten one.

You can't not eat one when this box is on your desk.

Mostly, I know how much the boy loves donuts, and this means he will love me even more when I come home with donuts!

We’re spending our evening getting ready for our neighborhood garage sale. How exciting! Happy Friday!

League love and good intentions.

Last night was our last Junior League of Northwest Arkansas general meeting for this league year.

And it was the best.

Our speaker, Sara Selber of the Junior League of Houston, was amazing.

I was vice chair of internal communication this year, and next year I'm vice chair of New Member Training. While I'm so excited to work with the provisional members, I'm a bit sad to leave this year's committee--these ladies were the best.

Rebecca, Gracie, me, and Michelle. The fab four!
We are communication queens.

Our chair, Gracie, gave each of us personalized stationery at the  meeting last night. She's so thoughtful. I haven't had personalized stationery since my teddy bear notepad that said "Allison." And this gift is one of the best I've ever received! I seriously love it.

 

She will be vice president of communications for the next league year, and we are so lucky to have her as a member. She's smart, dedicated and always gives 100 percent. She's one of those people you know you can count on.

And I will miss her and the rest of our committe so much!

Luckily, I get to go hear the Dalai Lama speak today, which will surely bring me out of my post-meeting blues. Yep, you read that right. He will be at the University of Arkansas today, and I have a ticket!

Random fact: He has a Twitter page! It says, "Welcome to the official twitter page of the Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama." Visit here.

Quote he posted earlier today:

"When our intentions are good, we are stronger and have greater self-confidence."

Five year college reunion and Mr. A's birthday.

This weekend, I had my five-year college reunion. What?

Not the best quality, but this is Megan and me.

Nikki and Katie, two of my bridesmaids.

Nikki and her wonderful husband, Paul. He also went to Hendrix, but he graduated before us.

Nikki and Alli.

I love this picture. Who knows what we were talking about.

You might be asking yourself what college has a five year reunion. Hendrix College! It’s a small liberal arts school in central Arkansas (affiliated with the Methodist Church—much like SMU in Texas).

Honestly, I really only saw the people I always see when I go “home.” But that’s OK because I love them!

Before the reunion, my Saturday started by working at the Northwest Arkansas Junior League's Touch a Truck fundraiser. Even though it was FREEZING at 7:30 a.m., it was fun to work with the girls on a fun event that supports such a great organization. I had to leave and immediately drive to Little Rock.

I shouldn't be dressed like this in mid-April!

The sun decided not to come out until after we finished setting up. At least it made an appearance!

When we got to Little Rock, we had a couple hours before the reunion, so I searched for an outfit to wear for this Saturday's engagement photo session. Unsuccessful. This is HARD! I bought this shirt, which is listed online as a cardigan (really?), but I don't think it is what I'm going for. And I don't know about a dress because I don't know if I want my legs to show. Also, it's supposed to rain Saturday. Great.

It looks completely different on me.

This weekend was also Adam’s 28th birthday! I didn’t do a special blog post for him because I’m 99 percent he doesn’t read my blog anymore. That’s OK. I love you, and I hope you had the best birthday ever!

The boy and I at the reunion Saturday night.

We had a great lunch with my family (so good to see them) at On the Border in Little Rock before we headed back to NWA. Then, it was time for Adam’s dinner choice—sushi! It’s pretty funny because before we dated, he thought he didn’t like sushi. Now he LOVES it. Dinner also included a huge cookie cake that I’ve successfully managed to make myself sick off eating way too much.

Since I’ve been eating so much cookie cake, I decided to really push myself during my lunch workout. We did our cardio/strength class outside, and I don’t know if it is because it’s the first time we’ve been outside this year or because I pushed a little too hard, but it killed me.

I was done after we did sets of stairs. And that was the first thing we did …

Happy Tuesday!

Weekending.

Two weekends ago
Last weekend (as in the one more than a week ago), two of my college friends came to visit--Katie and Nikki. Audrey also came. She's Katie's friend from nursing school, and she was a bridesmaid in Katie's wedding last June.

Girl weekends are so much fun. Something about having friends stay the whole weekend with you brings you back to the good old days of sleepovers--when your biggest worry was about the 9th grade boy you had a crush one.

One of our goals was to look at bridesmaid dresses, which we sort of did. By the time we got around to it Saturday, the dress store was closed. So, we did the next best thing and went to David's Bridal. There were a couple of dresses I liked, but they don't have the color I want, so it was pointless. But fun!

We also missed Body Attack Saturday morning. I think I'm to blame since I stayed up until 3 a.m. Thursday night cleaning (moving my junk into the garage).

Sarah joined us for dinner Saturday night at Wasabi.

I ran into Amanda, a friend and former co-worker, at 21st Amendment.

Nikki, Katie, Sarah, Allison, Audrey. Where's Colleen? She met us for dinner, too!

Scarlet and Katie met us at 21st Amendment. Beautiful girls!

Most recent weekend
This weekend was a different kind of fun. Mr. A's sister turned 30 Friday, so we went to the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa to celebrate. A northwest Arkansas band (Boom Kinetic) was playing at the Casino's "club," Friction. It was a great night. Too bad all my photos are 100 percent blurry. 

Why so blurry super fab camera?

After eating two buffets at two different casinos Saturday (I make it sound worse than it really was because I don't love buffets; therefore I don't much), the boy and I decided we needed to get some exercise. So, we spent Saturday night throwing a football and took a long walk around the 'hood.

Sunday, Mr. A had to leave for El Paso. It's his last week there! Then he will be home for a week before he heads to Iowa (or is it Ohio?) ... his job is pretty glamorous.

As my life seems to be, this week is insanely busy. My Junior League placement for next year is vice chair of New Member committee, and tonight is our meeting for prospective members. I'm so excited about next year.

Also, with two weeks until our engagement pictures, I'm kicking my booty into high (a higher) gear and trying to magically make myself look like a Victoria's Secret model by next Saturday. OK, that's not possible, but you know what I mean. Good thing we're not doing a swimsuit shoot.

Touring homes.

Sunday, the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas had its annual Winter Dreams Home Tour. Last year, I had to work at the event. This year, I signed up for a different event so I could go to this one.

The morning started off with breakfast at Common Grounds with friends. Then we spent the ENTIRE day driving around NWA touring homes.

A delicious peppermint mocha to start the day.

I hope you enjoy my festive additions. The only hat that was straight was the top hat. Too bad it's the ugliest.

I loved it.

But I knew I would. I’m one of those people who loves looking at open houses and floor plan books and design magazines.

We drove around one of the neighborhoods to look at the beautiful homes.

I'm sure they would let me move in. I'll take the left side, they can have the right.

Plus, it’s always interesting to get a sneak peek into other people’s lives…maybe that’s why I love gossip magazines.

More than anything, it definitely put in the holiday spirit. Ho, ho, ho!

POM-tastic.

Wednesday, Adam received a special package in the mail: a pomegranate. A few weeks ago, I signed up to send him a POM-a-gram.

Isn't this a great campaign?

Did you know pomegranates can last two months in the refrigerator? Why do I feel like (unless I do something with it) this beautiful piece a fruit will still be there when this time comes?

You even got to pick the -gram message to send!

They personalized the message, so he would know it came from me.

I personally cannot wait to eat his POM-a-gram.

Wednesday, I made a no-bake pumpkin cheesecake. I definitely added too much Cool Whip, but I want to make it again, for sure.

Recipe from Kraftrecipes.com:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)

Make It

BEAT cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gently stir in 2-1/2 cups of the whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate remaining whipped topping for later use.

SPOON cream cheese mixture into crust.

REFRIGERATE 3 hours or overnight. Serve topped with remaining whipped topping. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Too much WHIP, but still tasty.

I would recommend adding more cream cheese or using less Cool Whip.

Did you know Cool Whip is in the frozen section? I’m probably the only person in the whole world who didn’t know that. As I was wondering around the canned whipped cream, a lovely woman asked me if I was looking for Cool Whip, and she directed me to the right place. Thanks! I still don’t understand why it’s frozen…

The cheesecake was pretty tasty, as was everything at our November Kitchen Queens!

Katie made chocolate chip bread, which I had for breakfast today.

Liz made delicious holiday drinks.

Colleen made turkey cranbery pinwheels. Unique and very good!

I love this picture! Who knows what all the laughing is about.



Not the best picture of me, but I had to prove I was there!

Last night also involved our Junior League Fall Social at Blakeman’s Jewelry. Um…I want everything in the store. Especially the sparkly stuff. And the food at the event was amazing.

Action shot! Of me eating...

You can see why I couldn't pass up a small plate.

Thanks, Mr. Blakeman! I'll be back!

Happy Friday!

Birthdays, houses, cupcakes and boots.

I helped Sarah celebrate her birthday Friday. Fun.

Birthday at Buster's.

I'm squating big time in this picture so I'm not a giant.

I saw my sister’s new house Saturday. Jealous.


I love the house. Especially the orange paint choice.

I ate a delicious cupcake from Kupcakes at my Junior League committee meeting last night. Yum. 

The most delicious strawberry cupcake ever.
And I have new nail polish. Essie Chinchilly. I love it.



I think I want these boots. I'm liking the wedge this fall. Cute?

Do I belong in Allison's closet?