one awesome husband + two fantastic friends =

AN INCREDIBLE BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!!

Friday afternoon, Kyle informed me that he had to meet with a classmate to do some research and drop off a book. I was a little annoyed because the only time his classmate could meet was 9:00 Friday night, but Kyle promised that we could go do something fun when he got home.

Kyle came home a little while later and shortly after he was back in the apartment, there was a pounding on our door. I had of course dead-bolted our door as soon as he got home and was not too excited to open our door to strangers at 10:00 at night. Much to my surprise, when Kyle opened the door, two of my very best friends (Sara and Meredith) were standing there to surprise me. In typical girly fashion, lots of screaming and hugging followed.

We had an amazingly fun weekend. Neither of them had ever been to Atlanta before and I was so thrilled to have the chance to show them around our new hometown. Here's a little rundown of our weekend in words and pictures...

The weather on Saturday was amazing so we took a stroll over to one of my favorite lunch spots and enjoyed a delicious meal on the patio.

After lunch, the ladies headed off to the Georgia Aquarium...

"Look! An anchor!" -MJM, the most dedicated Delta Gamma you'll ever meet

Peek-a-boo, it's Sara Lauren

While taking a picture outside of an exhibit, a volunteer asked us if we were interested in taking a tour. The tour usually costs $15 per person, but no one had signed up and he was bored, so he offered it to us completely free of charge! The highlight: getting to go into the room that houses the Ocean Voyager tank. It was amazing to get to see this from up above. The only thing between us and the whale sharks was a 3 foot wall. We were very happy girls...

This is one of the best exhibits at the aquarium. The room that houses the tank is enormous.

The biggest fans of the Georgia Aquarium

After the aquarium we headed to Rosa Mexicano for a delicious meal (thanks Mom and Dad!!)

With my amazing husband, the mastermind behind this wonderful weekend

I'm a pretty lucky girl

After dinner it was birthday cake time. We took advantage of the rooftop patio at our apartment complex and sang happy birthday while looking out over the city. It was amazing! I'm pretty sure this will become a birthday tradition for as long as we live here.

Traditional picture with the birthday cake

We finished off the weekend by indulging in some girl time at the nail salon before sending the girls back to Texas.

Many, many, many thanks to Kyle for setting up this wonderful surprise and to Sara and Meredith for making the big trip to Georgia!! It was definitely the perfect way to start of the birthday celebrating.

Now to enjoy a little more of that yummy birthday cake...

foodie friday.

Today is Bid Day back at Kappa Alpha Theta so this recipe is straight from the Theta Family Favorites cookbook. I spent 2 years living in the beautiful Theta house and if you ask any Theta what is one of the best things about living in that cute house, they will tell you about the delicious food cooked by three of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet. I got so spoiled by living in that house with all of that fabulous food. While it wasn't always so good for us, it was mighty tasty and the dinner table was never at a loss for conversation.

Here is one of my favorite breakfast recipes from my time in the Theta house. This is such a Theta favorite that girls who didn't even live in the house anymore would often show up for breakfast on the days when we had this casserole (or when we had breakfast tacos... yum). Kyle and I will be enjoying this for breakfast tomorrow morning and I am so excited. Of course, it won't be as delicious as when sweet Marilyn would make it for us, but I will do my very best.

Sausage Cream Cheese Casserole

8 oz. cream cheese

2 cans of crescent rolls

1 roll of Jimmy Dean sausage

Brown sausage and drain fat.

Spray casserole dish with nonstick spray

Spread 1 can of crescent roll dough in the bottom of dish

In a separate bowl, combine cooked sausage with cream cheese and mix well

Spread sausage mixture on top of crescent roll layer

Cover with second can of crescent roll dough

Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes until top is golden brown

optional: sing Think Theta while enjoying this tasty tasty treat

3 of the roomies at our last Bid Day

(even though I think you've both made appearances at recruitment this year :) )

Enough reminiscing.... time for some laundry on this rainy Georgia day

if you're looking for me tomorrow...

I will be at Target buying a frisbee and a picnic blanket. What's that? You're wondering what is prompting me to make these purchases tomorrow? Well, I'll let you in on the reason... the weather here is fabulous!

Today I woke up dredging the fact that I desperately needed to go to the grocery store. We were out of pretty much everything and I was just not in the mood. That is, I was not in the mood before I checked the weather. Every website I checked said the same thing but this Texas girl could not believe the temperatures that were showing up. Ladies and gentlemen, the computer was right and the weather was pure magic. When I ventured out to the grocery store today, in the middle of the day, at the end of August, the temperature outside was 75 degrees.

I feel like I should say that again for all of you... it was SEVENTY-FIVE DEGREES OUTSIDE. In August. At noon.

In celebration of this wonderful weather, Kyle and I took a little evening stroll and discovered an incredible park near our apartment. I have driven by it several times but never ventured inside and oh. my. goodness. I am in love. I already have two picnics lined up for us, one this weekend and one on my birthday (which is September 2, since I am assuming you now want to know) The park is huge and really beautiful. There are even ducks for me to feed. DUCKS! Saturday can't get here fast enough!

That's all I've got for all of you readers. An entire post dedicated to the amazing-ness that is Atlanta weather. I know, not the most exciting thing that has ever been written, but if you had been here today you would understand. And if you are familiar with what the weather is like in Texas right now, you would really understand.

ps-as if the weather wasn't good enough, my new copy of Vogue greeted me in the mailbox today. Not bad for a Monday.

unexpected vacation.

The last week and a half have been unexpected and exhausting for the new Kruegers! Without getting into too much detail and to cut a long story short, I was at home in Texas since for a week because of a health scare. After a few tests and some stressful days of sitting around waiting for results, all is well and I am perfectly healthy. Definitely an answered prayer. Although this has been a stressful time for my family and me, it has reminded me of how very blessed I am to be surrounded by such incredible family and friends.

We just got back to our apartment and are exhausted from a day of traveling and a long week for both of us. Due to my incredible sleepiness and the fact that I need to unpack and get ready for the week, my recap of the past week is coming to you in list form.

Last week.....

• Kyle started his second year of grad school
• I joined my mom and aunt on a trip to take my PaPa to the doctor
• Enjoyed lunch with Mom, Aunt Mary and my cousin, Kelsey
• Shopped and had lunch at Brookwood with my mom and Kim
• Caught up with two wonderful friends, Sara and Jessie, and enjoyed an evening of pizza, the hot tub and some good ol' girl talk (LOVED getting to see you both!!)
• Had dinner in Clear Lake with Meredith (thanks for leaving your island to spend time with me!)
• Celebrated good health by dining on a delicious meal with my parents and Kyle
• Indulged in a mani-pedi date with my momma
• Newlywed double date night with Troy & Ivy (fajitas, a tour of the new apartment, and a night of playing games)

My family and I are very thankful that the week ended so well. Kyle and I are excited to be back in Atlanta and don't have any travel plans on our agenda until October. We are looking forward to enjoying some time here in our new home!

Now I am off to unpack and start some laundry.... or maybe put on my sweatpants and enjoy that In Style magazine that is eyeing me from my coffee table....

happy birthday momma.

Today is my beautiful mom's birthday. I'm sad that I am far away in Georgia for this extra special day but will get to see her very soon for some belated birthday celebrating!

Happy birthday to a fabulous shopping partner, the person who gave me my extreme love for Mexican food, the lady with the prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen, a wonderful role model, incredible wedding planner and the very best mom I know. You have taught me so much about how to be a wife, sister, daughter and mother (although I'll hold off on using that skill for a while!) I love you so much Momma. Hope your special dinner was extra yummy and that you get to open some fantastic presents!

At her last parent's weekend (8 years in a row...)

Bridal luncheon

Graduation day

I love this one from our rehearsal dinner

Beautiful, wonderful Momma

happy engagement to...

MY BIG SISTER AND JASON!!

Jason and Jennifer got engaged tonight on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I just got off the phone with Jenn and am too excited to even know what to do with myself. Jason is a wonderful guy and I cannot wait to welcome him into the family.

Congratulations to two of my very favorite people. Love you both and I am beyond excited for the two of you!

I'm sure I will have more to say about it later, but for now just enjoy this picture of the beautiful couple. I'm just way to excited to even know what else to say!

YIPPEE!!!!

weekend wrap-up.

We are back in Atlanta and feeling a little under the weather. Kyle has been sick with a cold for about a week and I finally managed to catch it too. I'm spending the day on the couch but wanted to share some pictures from our amazing weekend celebrating Troy and Ivy.

We had a fantastic time and were so honored to be involved in their special day. It was wonderful to spend the weekend with their family and friends and watch them finally become husband and wife. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and Ivy was a stunning bride.

The happy couple is now honeymooning in Mexico and we are very much looking to hosting them here in Atlanta (seriously, come visit us!!)

Rehearsal dinner

With my handsome groomsman

Adorable ring bearer and sweet flower girl (cousins of the bride)

The Ruths!

The fellas

Beautiful cake (made by Ivy's cousin, Edet)

Yummy candy bar (the provider of our airplane snacks on Sunday)

Brash, Troy and Kyle

The Ruths + The Kruegers

(have I mentioned that we want you two to come visit?!)

Hope you all had wonderful weekends!