Hot Corn Dip

One of the most requested appetizers by my friends at every get together is McKinsey's Hot Corn Dip! It is warm, cheesy, addicting and is always the first empty dish at the appetizer table. So I decided to steal her recipe and make it last weekend for a day of football watching.

Hot Corn Dip Ingredients {1} 8 oz. block of cream cheese, at room temperature {1} 11 oz. can of white shoepeg corn, drained {1} 10 oz. can of Rotel, or diced tomatoes, undrained {1 cup} Mexican cheese blend Diced tomatoes and green onion {optional} Directions Over medium heat, mix cream cheese, corn and Rotel in a large pot until well blended. Pour mixture into dish and top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Top with tomatoes, green onion and serve with chips!

Five on Friday

Boy am I glad it's FRIDAY! I spent every night in a hotel this week {traveling for work} and I am so ready to get home tonight and relax! I can't really complain too much though since I got to spend the last few days at a work conference in Charleston.    On the agenda this weekend - get caught up on my DVR, run errands, purchase and decorate lots of pumpkins, spend time with Charlie and the hubby and enjoy a 90 minute massage!  It should be a lovely, relaxing weekend!

- ONE - Did you notice anything different around here today?! Laura, my good friend from Laura Wyatt Design, spruced up a few things around the ole blog and I am smitten with my new "about me" feature and social media buttons in my post footer! I swear that girl is the most talented designer I know!

- TWO - I am officially addicted to candy corn right now. And not just any candy corn, it has to be the PUMPKIN candy corn. Oh, and I've gotten over my PSL crave and have already moved on to Caramel Apple Spice - my absolute favorite fall/winter Starbucks treat.

- THREE - I am on to my next book - Commencement, by J. Courtney Sullivan. I have to say, although I am only a few pages in, I am really enjoying it so far! Such an easy and fun read! Thanks to all of you who recommended it!

- FOUR - I am so excited to celebrate our first Halloween in our new neighborhood. Our street is full of kids and I can't wait to see all the fun costumes, pass out candy on our porch and watch all the excitement. We took Charlie to PetSmart last weekend to let him pick out his Halloween costume and he was not happy about any of them. So I've decided to make him a ghost after I was inspired by this cute pup below. I give it about 30 seconds before he tears this sheet off of him and shreds it. I'm just hoping for one picture, that's it!

- FIVE - Last night's meal in Charleston at Sermets...{scallops & Charleston cheesecake}!

 

Wanna join  Darci, April, Natasha and I on the Friday fun? You can link-up on any of our four blogs every Friday! All you have to do is... 1.)  Write  your post about five things you're lovin' this week (or any five things you want to share!). 2.)  Share the logo above on your blog and link back. 3.)  Link-up at the bottom of the post so some new readers can check out your five things and say hello!

Surprise Birthday Trip to Florida

Well, Matt and mom successfully pulled off one of the best surprises of my life - a birthday trip home to be with my whole family. For weeks I thought I had it all figured out - Charleston or Asheville. I couldn't have been more wrong.

 After we dropped Charlie off at Pet Paradise Resort we headed to the airport. When we printed the boarding passes I was so dang confused. Orlando? Home? What??

 That is when Matt told me that my whole family was waiting at home for my arrival, including Grandpa and Uncle Nick! But the best part...my DAD came home! For the past year or so he's been working in Austin, TX and doesn't get to come home much, instead mom flies out there to see him. So almost a year had gone by since our family cruise when we were all together last, and finally ALL of us were reunited for 3 whole days. I cried when my parents picked us up from the airport - so happy and overwhelmed with thankfulness!

And as if the weekend couldn't have been any more perfect, I even had time to sneak away and see my bestie, May, for a delicious BBQ lunch. We caught up as much as we possibly could in 2 hours. It was so wonderful.

Of course we spent most of Saturday watching football. Since Matt is constantly trying to recruit new Ohio State fans, he brought shirts for everyone to wear. I chose to rock my Gator colors though.

{Mom's Game Day Spread}

GRANDPA!

The Buckeyes and the Gators won their games. 
The weekend couldn't have been more perfect!