weekend trip, a genius idea and more randomness for you...

So, I just noticed that this is my 220th blog post. 220? Wow. I've been quite a busy blogger since I joined the blogging world last December. I sure would be interested to know how many regular blog readers I have. Feel free to leave me a little shout out if you're reading. :)

I spent the weekend with James' family in the good 'ol Mississippi Delta (are you proud, MSKS?). We spent the day on Saturday helping his parents move into a new house in Greenwood before heading to Glen Allen (James' 'true home') to spend the night with his adorable grandparents. For those of you who are unfamiliar with G.A. (as I was before I was introduced to it by JR), it's a small town 30 miles from Greenville. James' parents moved to Greenwood after he graduated high school, but his grandparents remained in Glen Allen. I was glad to finally see Glen Allen after hearing him talk about it so much. It's one of those cozy little towns where everybody knows everybody and it's surrounded by the beautiful Lake Washington (see pictures below), so it really is a pretty place. I felt right at home. Oh, and the weekend recap wouldn't be complete if I didn't give a little recognition to my bulldogs for their sweet victory over #14 (or should I say used to be #14?!) Kentucky.

I'm also still feeling really sorry for the poor rebels...PSYCHE! hahaha.

I don't know how many of you read Real Simple magazine. If you don't, you should. I always get great recipes, decorating ideas, and organizational tips from this magazine. Those of you who know me know I LOVE being organized. I also love gift wrapping supplies. I always say that when I'm rich (haha), I'm going to have a "craft room" with a gift wrapping station, much like the expensive ones you see in Pottery Barn. I was pretty excited when I saw this idea in the magazine. Why didn't I, "Miss Organization", think of this? Take a look...it's genius.

It may be a little difficult to read since it's a scanned magazine article, but I'm sure you can look at the picture and see what's been done here. Different coat/pant hangers used for hanging gift bags, ribbon, and tissue paper; a shoe organizer used for gift tags, scissors, tape, etc.; and a laundry hamper used for gift wrapping. Is that brilliant or what? I'm definitely planning on converting the closet in my spare bedroom into a gift wrapping station....just in time for Christmas. Can't wait.

I'll leave you with a quick story. Last week I went to the dentist. I'm not a fan of going to the dentist. At all. I've never had a cavity (although I LOVE candy), and I was hoping that I would receive another good dentist report. As my hygienist was cleaning my teeth, she was bragging on how nice and clean my teeth looked and how I still had no cavities. Great news. Although, as I mentioned, I am a candy lover, I also love brushing my teeth...maybe obsessively. I thought brushing your teeth was always a good thing, so I've never second guessed my brushing habits. Well, she informed me otherwise. She told me that she's never really had to tell a patient to brush less, but basically that was the problem she was seeing with me. Excuse me? Did my dentist just tell me that I need to brush less? Weird. I don't think the problem is necessarily the number of times I brush daily, but apparently, I brush too hard. My gums are starting to see the effects of hard brushing. Oops. I think I need one of those expensive electric brushes, so I won't have too much control over the pressure. My question: have any of you ever been instructed to brush your teeth less?? I just don't get this one.