If You Don't Have a Party on Saturday

If you don't have a Kentucky Derby party to go to - you MUST MUST come to the Dixon Gallery at 4:30 on Saturday. You don't have to be a member of Young at Art to attend....but it's free if you are a member. Really this is a jewel of Memphis. The girls wear big hats. The boys wear seersucker. They have mint juleps, cigars, and you can bet on the horses. Oliver and I won the bet last year...it's one of those completely random-no skill involved bets....I think we won a total of $24.00 or something....anyway if you don't have plans we would love to see you there!

It's a Deck!

Amid the tornado weather on Saturday we were able to do some planning for our next big project....a deck. We are still in the process of deciding whether Oliver is going to build it or is he going to pay someone to do it.....time vs. money....we don't have much of either! But this is what I want:



And I LOVE this:

Sweetest Baby Girl & Best House Guest Ever

Usually Mondays are my least favorite day of the week. Not this week. We quite possibly had the best Monday night ever and its completely thanks to the newest member of our family....Beckett Mills McIlwain. How did I manage to snag this? Sadly, Baby Beckett had jaundice and had to spend Sunday night in the hospital. She was discharged on Monday around 6:30 p.m. but had to be back Tuesday morning....and because she lives two hours away...we got to have them at our house for the night! Even though her mama and daddy were so tired and ready to be home I was thrilled they had to stay (a little selfish I know but who knows when I will see the baby again...well truthfully I am trying to weasel a trip down on Thursday)!

So anyway here is a picture of the beautiful new family:


And our favorite house guest and her daddy relaxing...I don't know if you can see Beckett's arm but it is straight up in the air:

Favorite Restaurant in New Orleans

If you are going to New Orleans anytime soon, you have to check out Jacques-imos. It is off the beaten path of tourists and the French Quarter. Way down St. Charles on Oaks Street. We went for the first time about two years ago and again last night. The atmosphere is really laid back-- the decor reminds you a little bit of the Red Bar meets Bottletree Bakery....so you can imagine that I love it! Out front they have a pickup truck that actually has a table for two in the back of it --



Oliver and I in front of the truck..........



Also, Oliver and I are know the proud aunt and uncle of a new little girl - Beckett Mills McIlwain - born this afternoon at 3:40 p.m., 8 pounds, 20 inches. We will meet her on Sunday when we get back in town -- I absolutely cannot wait to meet her. Mama and baby are both doing fine....will share a picture on Sunday!

Road Trip: Old House Depot

On Saturday we went down to Jackson for a wedding. My sis took us to one of her favorite haunts.....if you are in to restoring an old house...or making a new house look old....this is the place to go!



They have columns (think Tara columns):



And Windows:


And hardware:


Does anyone know what this is? It is soon to be apart of my sis's 1920s kitchen!

SHUTTERS

Oliver finished hanging the shutters last night -- our house does not even look like the same house...do you agree?

Before we painted:




Now:



Oliver woke up at 5 a.m. on Friday morning and started hanging shutters before work. I am sure our neighbors appreciated waking up to the sound of a drill....we got some strange looks from early morning runners...one woman yelled, "Don't drill your hand."

Easter -- And Easter Eggs

Easter weekend was absolutely beautiful here. It was one of those weekends where you will do anything outside. I got off work early on Friday and absolutely enjoyed the long weekend!



My mom and aunt came up for lunch on Friday. Of course, I made them go to Panera.....it's my favorite and I don't think my sweet mother has had lunch anywhere else in Memphis for months. We actually have no idea who this old man is....I thought he was passing was hired by Panera but now I think he was just REALLY into the Easter spirit.



Friday afternoon and Saturday Oliver MADE shutters for our house. Our friend Camille came over Friday afternoon took one look at Oliver in the garage and said, "Oliver, I didn't know you were handy."



Saturday afternoon Rebbecca, May, and I dyed Easter eggs.....can you see all the Champagne glasses in the background????

On Sunday we went to the 2PC Sunrise Service at the Botanical Gardens....it is hard to get up at 5:30 on a Sunday but it is completely worth it....the service is out in the garden and you literally watch the sun rise as you sing Easter Hymns -- it is beautiful! If you have never been, you should put it on the calendar for next year. We had Easter Brunch with my grandmother (no pictures sadly).....and then went to Ole Miss for the baseball game (again...no pictures). Overall, a PERFECT Easter!