an afternoon downtown; thankful for this amazing fall weather

Jas and I headed downtown Chattanooga after lunch on Saturday.  We heard there was a big rowing competition going on, so we decided to head to the walking bridge to check it out.  It was a gorgeous day to get out and enjoy our city; this year the fall season has really shown up and has been sticking around.  I am glad to have it for as long as it will stay....I feel pretty lucky since hearing about all the places getting snow already!

paddleboarding

A couple weekends ago, Jas, Ryan and I went paddleboarding with L2 Boards on the Tennessee River.  This was a first for all of us and we had a blast!  I was a little nervous because I really did not want to fall in the water and I am happy to report we all stayed dry.  It was a bit chilly that day and a swim in the cold river did not sound like a good idea.

Paddleboarding would be an awesome hobby to pick up.  It is a great workout and it is actually really relaxing as well.  I would love to spend afternoons out on the water on my very own paddleboard; but I think it would be much more fun in a place like Hawaii.

(this was another great activity made possible by groupon!)

After paddleboarding, we headed next door to Buffalo Wild Wings because we were starving.  The guys got wings (of course) and I got a yummy chicken pesto pita thingy.  It was a great way to end a fun afternoon/evening.  

date night; dinner and a walk

I'm telling you, LivingSocial and Groupon are genius when it comes to date nights!  I have our date nights planned and purchased for like the next two months, no joke.  This particular date night, we used a LivingSocial deal for dinner at Foodworks, one of our fave restaurants that we don't make it to very often.  The weather was amazing, so we enjoyed our meal on the patio and then decided to take a stroll in Renaissance Park afterward.

I just love these special times with my hubby!  Since he has started school, his free time has been very limited. We try to make sure we take time each week to reconnect and spend quality time together.  Married life is grand :)

chickamauga battlefield

Over the weekend we went to the Chickamauga Battlefield with some friends.  This was our first time visiting this historic spot; you can read about it's history and culture here.  It is filled with lots of wooded hiking trails and beautiful open fields.  There are also a lot of historic monuments and displays along the way.

We decided to make a stop at the Wilder Tower.  The tower looked beautiful next to the blue skies!  We climbed up the spiral staircase of the 85ft. tower and enjoyed the gorgeous view from the top.  

We had some strangers take our photo and that is usually always an interesting experience.  The sun was so bright that we asked him to count to three and then we would open our eyes for the photo.  We ended up with four to choose from and this was the best we got - my eyes half open and Kelly's still closed. ha!

Jack and Lucy enjoyed resting in the shade while we explored the tower.

Jason being his goofy self!

treasure hunting

On Sunday I ventured out of the house to do some errands.  Jason had a lot of studying to do, so I went out on my mission solo.  I had several stops to make and specific items I was looking for; nail polish, art supplies, and kitty litter to name a few.  So once I checked off all the items on my list, I decided to make one last stop.  

I had a LivingSocial deal for Southeastern Salvage that was about to expire the end of this month, which meant I needed to go check out their merchandise.  I found so many treasures while I was there!  I wish my decorating budget was quadruple what it is in reality. ha!

1. I just loved this sunburst mirror, perfect the wall above our headboard.  $169

2. These chairs were awesome, I wanted to pick up four for my home.  $79

3. Isn't this the cutest giraffe?! And only $22!

4. This is a Restoration Hardware chest for just $888.  That's more than $1,000 off of retail my friends.

5. This would make an awesome sink for a half bath or guest bathroom. $98

6. These side tables would be very versatile. $99

7. We need some side table lamps for our master bedroom, these could be easily spray painted to match! $29.98

8. They had a couple different mirror options.  This one was $149.

Which of these items would you take out of the store? And can you guess which item I took home?

market time with my mother in law

Sunday morning, my mother-in-law and I headed down to the Chattanooga Market.  It's been about a month or so since I have gone, so I was happy to take her.  We got there a little early this time, but I am so glad we did because we had a chance to beat the crowd.  

I scored a fabulous pair of earrings and a leather bracelet along with some of my favorite bread (jalapeño and cheese).  My MIL got some delicious peaches and other fresh produce.  

As usual, there were gorgeous flowers and other unique, locally made treasures.

We spent about an hour and a half there and by the time we left, the crowds had managed to get quite a bit thicker.  I have made a mental note to get there about 20 minutes before the official open time in the future.

a trip to the zoo

the end.

friday's five favorites: chatty crafty

I am always looking for new and interesting things to do in my town.  This weekend there will be an indie craft show here in Chattanooga called Chatty Crafty.  I am really excited to check it out and see what unique things I can find.  We have had threats of thunderstorms pretty much everyday, so I am hoping the weather will hold up for this event.  I checked out some of the vendors that are going to be there and I wanted to share with you five of my favorite things that I found.

 I just love this vintage brass owl.  I think it would fit perfectly in either our living room or office.

 A chalkboard pendant is such an awesome idea.  I would love personalizing it for each occasion.

This print is a great reminder of all the things I have in my life to be thankful for.

 Lately I have really been loving the look of leather bracelets.  This one would be perfect for everyday wear.

I love the look of this fabric wall art.  It would look so adorable in a girls nursery/bedroom.