what i am thankful for ...

i - love - thanksgiving! the food is unreal, you're finally allowed to start thinking about christmas, and honestly it's a great excuse to think about all that you are truly thankful for.

it's not a strict tradition in my family but there have been years when we do the traditional round-the-table list of things we are thankful for. yes, sometimes it can be a bit cheesy but it really is important to take a minute and remind yourself of the many blessings you've been given. it puts life in perspective, which is a great way to start off the holiday season.

so in honor of thanksgiving, i will be compiling my own "what i am thankful for" list and i encourage you all to do the same.

first up:

• my job. lord knows i complain about work a lot and i sometimes wish i was doing something different and more challenging. but the truth is, i am so very thankful to have a job (period.) especially in these hard economic times when people are being layed off left and right. i have great health benefits, a great coworker and boss, fantastic basketball team, and i even get to see my husband and friends throughout the day. not a lot of people can say that. plus did i mention that i work at one of the most beautiful universities in america? duke university seriously takes my breath away. the gothic architecture, the stained glass, the gargoyles, and so many beautiful trees. i know that one day i will miss turning the corner and seeing that spectacular duke chapel in front of me demanding reverence and quiet contemplation.

(photo credit: paper tissue)

thankful for the weekend

can you believe next week is thanksgiving? and then soon after, christmas? wow. time is seriously flying by. not that i am complaining. i love the holidays and cannot wait to start playing frank sinatra christmas on pandora. my favorite.

as i am beginning to compile my list of all that i am thankful for this year, first thing is first, i am very thankful that it's friday and that this week is over. it's been a tough one for ben with lots of heavy school work which always has second hand affects on me. i miss him when he is mentally "not there" but mostly i feel for him because he has so much to do and the pressure is really on. in addition to that i had an annoying dentist appointment this week with promises of more to come. yikes.

so here's to fridays and the start of a lovely weekend. tonight, ben and i are getting drinks and apps before heading to a rockin 80's inspired birthday bash for our friend derek's 30th. more studying and paper writing for ben while i get a jump start on christmas shopping on saturday. and then on sunday, the lovely casey and i will be seeing the movie.

here are a few of my favorite posts from this week:
incorporating wood into your home decor
get in the christmas spirit with a fun, festive advent calendar
the votes are in ... THE most adorable family ever

happy weekend.

(photo credit: four 30)

muffin top bake shop

check out these deliciously cute baking accessories at the new muffin top bake shop on etsy. great christmas gifts for that special baker in your life. yum.

- m.

week = end

the weather is cold and rainy. the leaves are really starting to fall and there has been little if any sunlight this week. just grey grey grey skies. but not to worry, things are looking up. ben and i are going to see this movie tonight. tomorrow i have tons of little projects to keep me busy while ben's does some serious paper writing for school. plus the weather is supposed to make a turn and be beautiful.

here are a few posts that i think are note worthy. enjoy!

thankful for this encouraging word from nina
wouldn't these look great as holiday decorations
genius idea for the kitchen
where's my panties? easy to find in wary meyer's le french dresser
diy milk frother
i would do anything for a creative workspace like this
two dollar diy ornament for your christmas tree

- m.

(photo credit: paper tissue)

watch out for the tweed

oh man. if we lived in the washington d.c. area, ben and i would be all over this. this weekend, dandies and quaintrelle are hosting their first semi-annual tweed bike ride benefiting arts for the aging. i think the pictures are self explanatory. you basically wear your best tweed outfit (which by the way is the majority of ben's closet) and ride around the city. check out photos from the london tweed ride.

this is definitely going on the must do list.

(photo credit: dustinj via flickr)

headboard inspiration

ben and i have been wanting a new bed FOREVER. i think we've (meaning i've) finally come to terms with the fact that it's just not at the top of our financial priority list right now. BUT ... maybe what we need is not a new bed but rather a fancy headboard that can liven up the one we already have. check our these great diy headboard ideas.

1.) dresser/vanity mirror (do it yourself) 2.) fireplace mantle (apartment therapy) 3.) chalkboard (apartment therapy) 4.) diy fabric upholstered headboard (design sponge includes video tutorial)

jess l.c.

beautiful necklaces from chicago designer jess l.c.

(via daily candy)

my feet hurt

do you know what i think? hard wood floors are overrated. yeah, they're sleek and sexy but seriously, those folks who thought up the idea of carpet are truly genius. lately, i've been coveting a house with yummy fluffy carpet to ease my aching tired feet. maybe what i really need is more rugs. what do you think?

(photo credit: nicole st. john via flickr)

weekend recap

fashion show at solas in raleigh, won a game of darts at the green room, wine bar, late night snack at wendy's, waffles with friends, diy project, free movie showing of harry potter at duke, church, and snuggling with ben while watching whale rider (great movie!)

hope your weekend was a good one.

- m.
(photo credit: unknown)

herbs on wheels

wouldn't this rolling garden be great for planting herbs come spring? a bit pricey but possibly worth it.

(photo credit: gifts for gourmands via daily candy)

let the games begin

oh, that's right. it's college basketball season folks and we are BIG FANS! our team? the duke blue devils. i was never a basketball fan before coming to durham two and a half years ago but now ... oh my it's a serious love affair. i am sure this is not the last post we'll have about these guys.

- m.

HALLOWEEN

(mad men)

(don and betty draper)

(mr. don draper)

(two don drapers. lucky girl)

(mad men meets arrested development)

(the betty draper nail flick)

hope you all had a happy halloween!

- m.
(photos by the darling meredith koebley)

trick or treat ...

smell my feet, give me something good to eat!

believe it or not, i have never had trick or treaters. the home i grew up in was tucked back in the woods then i went off to college and lived in the dorms. the one time i lived in a actual neighborhood, it rained on halloween so i had NO trick or treaters. that being said, i have never experienced the excitement of hearing the door bell and opening it up to a bunch of adorable little ones screaming TRICK-OR-TREAT!

so you can imagine my excitement when the neighborhood announced their annual halloween costume parade and group trick or treating!

i ... can't ... wait

i bought TONS of candy and my halloween decorated candy bowl is ready and waiting. bring on the kiddos!

happy halloween everyone!

- m.

(photo unknown)

missing the kiedis'

friends daniel and katrina just posted some pictures on facebook today and this one just made me melt. ben and i have yet to meet their little boy asher and this just made me miss them all so much. don't you love how a picture can do that? we must visit them soon.

is there anyone you're particularly missing today?

- m.

(photo: facebook thievery)

dinner parties

in the next couple of months, ben and i will be hosting multiple dinner parties and although i am super excited about each of them i know that the stress factor will soon creep in. it's inevitable! so, to keep sane i've decided to start early and plan plan plan. i am doing homemade invitations, i will not wait until the last minute to buy a turkey this year, and i plan to delegate, delegate, delegate!

- m.
(photo credit: once wed)

happy place

this morning i was in serious need of a "happy place." you know that place you go when you need to escape reality for a while? a place to emotionally and physically regroup so you can get through the rest of the day without biting everyone's head off? that's the one. it doesn't have to be an actual place, it can be a state of mind, a blog that you love, a journal entry to vent your feelings, photo album of a perfect vacation, etc. this morning i needed two 1.) otis redding pandora radio (the man can sing people) and 2.) photos from my semester in london (oh to be young, independent, and free of responsibility).

what is your happy place?

(photo credit: paper tissue this cutie could make anyone happy)

target fast update

so i WAS doing great on my temporary breakup with target until i saw this little number on you are my fave. must - have - self - control! maybe it will still be there in february?

- m.

betty draper

have you decided on a halloween costume yet?

myself, i am going to be betty draper. ben, friend evan, friend meredith and i are all going as the cast of mad men. we had a fabulous shopping trip this weekend where i found THE PERFECT betty inspired housewife dress, tulle skirt, and a yellow apron. meredith found a joan-esque black form fitting dress, and evan walked away with a don draper fedora, tie clip, and skinny tie.

the problem: i am a proud brunette so i either need to find a grace kelly style blonde wig or stick with the brown and try a betty draper hair tutorial. what to do? what to do?

- m.

ready for the weekend?

we mcnutts sure are!

tonight we are making dinner with friends, carving pumpkins, and watching this scary movie. tomorrow, we are going to an oktoberfest party. yay. and on sunday we are heading out to rural north carolina to hear our friend tyler preach followed by our own church's family picnic. another yay for a day full of church folk!

what are you all up to this weekend? tell us, tell us!

oh, and check out our favorite posts from this week:
a fantastic journal (can you say christmas gifts?)
DIY skinny jeans. great idea!
another DIY project involving wine cork place card holders.
a chic felt window screen.
halloween invitations that will blow your mind.
some boys need all the help they can get.
so, i might want to be a peacock for halloween?

- m.

black mountain, nc

(pamela, andrea, stephanie, and annie)

this weekend, the ladies from our church traveled to black mountain, nc for an annual women's retreat. we had a great time of fellowship while we learned about the god who is with us and for us. our speaker was margot starbuck who recently published the book, the girl in the orange dress. it was the perfect ladies weekend. i love being a girl!

highlights from the weekend:

• upon our arrival, we were rushed inside our lodge because there was a bear outside. we later got a glimpse of the baby bear who was more cute and cuddly than ferocious. still, where there's a baby bear, the mama is not too far.

• we stayed at the blue ridge assembly which come to find out was where sandra bullock filmed, 28 days.

• during free time, a group of us did a short hike where we enjoyed the cool crisp air and the ah-mazing foliage.

• we also drove to downtown black mountain. we walked along the main street while sipping hot coco from the dripolator coffee shop. yum yum!
  

- m.