Fo-Shizzle

So, my brother and I have been trying to teach my mom how to say "Fo-shizzle." For some reason shizzle always ended up sounding like "rizzle." But the last time we hung out she almost had it down--someone has been practicing! Sometimes that southern twang does not mix with street talk. Check it out...

Untitled from Taylor Logan on Vimeo.

And then Grandma had to give it a go of course!

Untitled from Taylor Logan on Vimeo.

According to Urban Dictionary Fo-Shizzle means:

Slang for "for sure". Though most people attribute it to Snoop Dogg, fo shizzle can be traced back originally to E-40 from Vallejo, California. Bay Area like what.

While originating out of hip-hop culture, this phrase has been overused to the point of triteness. Its most famous usage is "Fo shizzle, my nizzle."

Luke's (almost) Perfect Birthday

Yesterday we celebrated Luke's birthday a little early with all our friends here in Harrisonburg. It was almost the perfect birthday...

The day started out well. Luke has intentionally mentioned several times how much he loves pies and how many awesome pie recipes we have, and finally I got the hint and decided to take on this endeavor for his special day! I looked up a lot recipes, and finally found a Key Lime Pie recipe I thought I could handle.

I went to great measures to make sure that he did not find out what kind of pie I was going to make. I went to the store, took all the ingredients upstairs and borrowed our upstairs roommates' kitchen while Luke was hanging out downstairs. Everything was ready, apron on...I was ready to go. I even used fresh squeezed lime juice instead of the bottled stuff!

After a couple hours of making the pie, the sweetend whip cream, and decorating it beautifully (haha), I was able to leave the kitchen with great confidence in my pie! Before heading to dinner, Luke and I enjoyed a glass of wine and opened his presents!


Rumor has it, Luke's mom lost his diploma when he was living in the Dominican Republic, so I ordered his degree from ASU and got him a frame for it! He also got a robe (so he can stop using mine...haha) and some new work-out clothes!

Then we headed out to eat at an Ethiopian Restaurant downtown, Blue Nile with friends!

Kate and Charlie

upstairs girls, Jess and Lauren

Meg and Katie

Paul and Nichole

Steve and Debbie

The food is so good and unique!

OK so the dinner was lovely and we were in great company. I invited everyone to come over for wine and pie (haha Evan) afterward. And this is why the birthday was ALMOST perfect...but not quite.

I show the pie to Luke, and despite it not having his MERINGUE that he loved (which looked way too complicated to make) he seemed thrilled to have a home-made with love Key Lime Pie!

So after cutting the pie and dishing it out to our friends I walk into the room to try a bite myself. I do not really care for pies, so I took a bite thinking, "well, I guess this is OK, but I don't really understand why people love Key Lime pie so much." Turns out, mine just was not good.

After taking a bite I ask, "So, how is it guys?" And boldly, without hesitation, Charlie piped up and said "It's pretty bad." After realizing that he was not joking, I looked around and everyone's faces read the same thing. And then we busted out laughing. Apparently, Katie got her piece her first and felt compelled to eat a lot of it before she knew everyone else was thinking what she was. Jess flat out could not take a 2nd bite. Luke commented, "Yeah, I'm sorry, it is not great. But its the effort that counts."

Turns out evaporated milk, is not the same as condensed milk (oops!). And apparently, I had been trying to figure out how to make MERENGUE all day (the word for the Latin dance, not to be confused with the MERINGUE that goes on pies) but Meg was did not want to correct me because she said I was just really excited about my pie--she did not want to kill the mood. Then, sweet Lauren, said, "Taylor, the crust is really good though." To bad I bought the crust pre-made at the store.

So, Jess saved the day and served us her lovely Trader Joe's lemon bars that were quite delicious as we continued to laugh and have fun. So, the pie was not perfect...but we had a great time and the Birthday Boy felt loved. Maybe I'll try again in a year...

Cartwheels and Sunsets

Cartwheels + Sunsets
Teaching Luke and Kenna to cartwheel while watching this beautiful sunset=
PURE BLISS.

Shells and Bells

February 26, 1961

Happy anniversary Grandpa John and Grandma Becky! This past weekend we went down to Ocean Isle Beach to celebrate the happy couple with our family. It was so much fun! My mom did an awesome job decorating the house and because she has to have a theme for everything (now you know where I get it from) she called it Shells and Bells.

Before the celebration began, the bride needed some beauty rest with her twin sister, Routh.

Grandpa and Grandma got married in the courthouse 50 years ago and never had the chance to have a "real" wedding with a cake all the fun festivities...but this past weekend they had their second chance! I love this vintage wedding cake, and yes it tasted as good as it looked!

Speaking of vintage, my mom found these classic and fun 50th anniversary glasses at the local thrift store--for 25 cents each! What a steal, and they looked great!

Shells and Bells? Here you go! Gotta love the gold and silver HUGE bells with all the beautiful shells surrounding them. Once Grandma saw the set up she kept on commenting on my mom's decorations saying "I taught her well!" It's true--mom and Grandma will always have the best table arrangements!

Aunt Dara and I though the party needed another pair of twins...

Aunt Routh and Grandma Becky are looking good as always (have I ever told you I really want twins?) Fun fact: Luke's grandma also is a twin!

It was so neat to spend the weekend hearing stories from Grandma and Grandpa's early years! We played a game and I found our their first date was at a drive-in movie! Also, the first thing Grandma noticed about Grandpa was his height, but Grandpa noticed Grandma's basketball skills (not only was she most popular her senior year, but also most athletic).

Mom insisted that her shoes got in a picture..opps I forgot to wear shoes myself!

The whole gang!

We had a wonderful meal, and also enjoyed the slideshow I made! Grandpa and Grandma, thanks for teaching me so much and loving me so well. You guys are the best!

Reunited: A Tribute to Childhood Stuffed Animals

For the full effect, please listen to this as you read this post...

I grew up attached to a blanket and carried it around with me till late elementary school. Not only did I carry it around everywhere, but I also sucked on it constantly--which led me to have terrible buck teeth and having to go through wearing braces TWICE. Anyway, when my parents thought it was time for me to "grow up" they told me the Easter Bunny wanted my blankie and I had to give it to him...a few years later, in 8th grade, I went to NYC with one of my friends and I found a stuffed animal to fill the hole that had been in my heart since I had to give my blankie away.

We both got stuffed elephants at the big toy store--the softest, cutest, and sweetest elephants you have ever seen. My friend named her's "Ellie" and mine was "Fonty," clever huh?! Anyway, I loved the crap out of this elephant. It was the perfect size for cuddling at night right in your arms. I took it with me to college and it traveled with me on the weekends. Until suddenly...it disappeared. One day I woke up and it was gone and I thought I would never see it again. So, for the past couple of years I have had a replacement elephant that did the job justice...but of course it is never the same as my first love. By the way, I tried to move it to our cellar when Luke and I moved into together and he "accidentally" forgot to pack Fonty in the car...I think he was nervous I would diss him for the elephant.

So, I spent this past weekend with my family at Ocean Isle Beach to celebrate my grandparents' wedding anniversary (more on that to come) and you will never believe who I saw! I was walking by Cobe (my cousin) and Luke's intense chess game when I noticed 2 interesting "spectators" that my other cousin, Kenna, had set out to watch the match. One was a monkey and the other was an ELEPHANT....


I immediately grabbed the elephant and exclaimed "Kenna, I used to have an elephant just like is!" and as I was saying itI realized...this was not her's but my very own FONTY--the original!!! He had the same little bleach spot on his trunk that I remembered!! After embracing Fonty and taking in all the emotion of my reunion--I quickly questioned Kenna on how she came across this stuffed animal.


We have a 2 different theories:

1. Kenna said she mysteriously found Fonty at grandma's house one day 8 years ago, although grandma claims she has never seen it in her house.
2. My mom believes that when Kenna was young and visiting the house she might have "accidentally" put it her bag to take home with her.

Well, whatever the case may be, I was just glad to have the chance to be reunited with my childhood friend. I am happy to know Fonty was in good hands all these years--not in a dumpster or in an unloving home. I even let Kenna keep it if she promised to continue to love him well--although my mom just called informing me that he had been left at the beach house and she had him back at the house with her. Maybe it was meant to come back to me...

As I was thinking about Fonty, I started to think about all of my friends and their childhood animals as well. So, I ask the question--have you reunited with your sweet childhood animal lately? Where is he or she?! Stacey, where is puff-a-lumps? Linds, have you pulled Milk (a polar bear) our of the closet lately (since her husband Nick made him go in there)? Lisa, have you appreciated little brown bear? Em, how is Humphrey doing?!



Anyway, here's to stuffed animals that went through so much with us growing up!! We are thankful for you all :)

Courtney + Matt

Courtney and Matt are engaged!!! It all went down this past weekend in Asheville, NC. HOORAYYYYY!!! I am so excited for these two to get married in the fall. One might ask, "Who are Courtney and Matt?" Well...

I met Courtney in 7th grade while cheering for Greensboro All-stars; however, it was pretty short season for Courtney. I distinctly remember being beside Courtney as our ex-army captain coach was forcing us to do push-ups...the next thing I know she stopped pushing and quit and I thought I would never see her again. Fast forward to my second semester sophomore year when I had just transferred to ASU and moved into the Sigma Kappa hall. And guess whose the first person to walk into my room? You guessed it, Courtney! Then she invited me to her birthday with her friends at Dos Amigos (I'm pretty sure she felt sorry for me) and that's how I became frieneds with my new sorority sisters!


Then Matt came along surely after I first became friends with Courtney. Our first interaction was pretty hilarious...Matt worked in the student union where the Sigma Kappa girls were practicing our dance for Greek Week's Lipsync. This particular year we were supposed to dance a little more risky that I was used to, so obviously the dance required a chair and high heels. So, being the cheerleader I am, I tried to make up a move for the dance which I thought would be a hit for sure. It was something like a backbend...but I didn't realize that I may have the "cheerleader" down but not quite the sexy part and ended up crashing on the floor and hitting my tailbone on the concrete. It was a mix of tears and laughs, but ultimately I could not get off the floor. So, Courtney called on her new crush, Matt, who was working! He came to my rescue with a bag of ice, Tylenol, and then helped carry me to the car...it has been a great friendship ever since then. HAHA!


So, here is to the future Mr. and Mrs. Payne! I love you both and am looking forward to what God has in store for ya'll :)

2011: more ACTIVIA please.

Anyone else a costco fan out there?!

On New Year's Eve Linds, Stace and I traveled to the one and only costco to get food and drinks for our dinner party that we had planned to ring in the new years! Not only is costco a great place with great deals, but it also serves as a great place to get a few free snacks! Usually, I go to costco eat the samples, and then go about my shopping without buying what I just sampled. BUT everything changed when Linds suggested a tried the sample of Activia Vanilla yogurt! IT WAS THE BEST YOGURT I have ever tasted!!

OK so I didn't buy some immediately at the store, but as the day progressed I could not get it out of my mind. So, the next day we headed back up to the burg and I went shopping. What was number one on my list? ACTIVIA. and granola of course. Since then, getting out of bed has been so much easier because I know what is awaiting me for breakfast. The only issue is, Luke is getting annoyed with me constantly saying "activia" throughout the day like they say in the commercials. And, the firs thing I say in the morning is not "good morning, babe" but "ACTIVIAAA!" I have only had the vanilla flavor so far, but I am looking forward to more activia in the coming year!

p.s. an added bonus is the yogurt is supposed to help you with digestive problems as well! how great!

So, here's to a great new year's with amazing friends and and more ACTIVIA please!!!