post #59 - Life Lately

The past few weekends have been so much fun! 

Two weekends ago, I headed to Charlotte for one of my besties' surprise birthday party. Her boyfriend pulled it off flawlessly, and she was actually surprised!

{beautiful birthday girl + host}

{christmas photo, perhaps?}

{favorite friends celebrating meg's 25th}

{theme of the evening}

{loves}

{little mexicans!}

The next week/weekend, we went to Seabrook Island for Thanksgiving. It was great getting to spend some time with Jordan's family! We were also able to get a little puppy/beach time in, and we took our Christmas card pictures (stay tuned!).

{isn't he the best uncle?}

{beach playtime}

{my pup is the cutest.}

{chilly beach day}

After that, we headed to watch the Clemson/South Carolina game with friends. There was only one happy camper when the day was over...our Auburn graduate! I still can't believe that game!

When we came home on Sunday, we went to get our Christmas tree. See the tree behind me in this picture? It's now in our living room - so. huge. Maybe next year, a 10 ft. tree won't be necessary. Oops! (Let's be serious...we love it!)

{not sure if this choice is a great idea...}

So, that's what I've been up to lately! See y'all on Friday!

post #46 - F5: Breast Cancer Awareness, Healthy Food, Sangria, Clemson, & No-Reply Bloggers

Happy Friday!!! What 5 things are making you smile this week?

1. Breast Cancer Awareness

On Tuesday, I joined the main ladies in Jordan's life for a great event held here in Columbia - Women's Night Out. This event raises money and awareness for breast cancer. The night started with a silent auction and raffle. To make the raffle more exciting, everyone started with about 20 tickets (there were close to 30 different prizes, so you could distribute your tickets any way you wanted). Then, it was time for a delicious dinner. There was a fashion show with some beautiful cancer survivors and guest speakers - sisters who were separated at birth and later were brought together, and who both (along with their biological mother) suffered from breast cancer. I had such a fun night - although the figures are scary, it's so great to see so many strong women coming together for such a great cause. 

{i'm already looking forward to next year!}

2. Healthy Food

This dish has quickly become one of our very favorites - sauteed spinach, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice tossed with spaghetti squash. This week, we added a marinated portobello mushroom cap for some extra tastiness!

3. Fall Sangria

I'm thinking about making Sangria for the game this weekend. Is this a terrible idea for an 8:00 game? Someone talk me out of this. I am surely going to regret it and fall asleep before the game. (just kidding. that wouldn't happen). I found this recipe for Apple Cider Sangria (with hot sauce, I'm intrigued!)... I'm also considering this Pomegranate Sangria and Honeycrisp Apple Sangria. 

I definitely have my go-to recipes (is it a recipe if you combine by heart?) for the summer time, but do y'all have a fall sangria that is just to die for? I'd love to know, if so!

4. Date Night in Clemson

Tonight, we're hoping to head to Clemson a little early so that we can go out to eat and enjoy the Tigertown atmosphere. Weeknights are so tiring, so I'm really looking forward to a little down time! 

{florida state game, 2009. is it bad that neither one of these outfits has retired from our game day rotations?}

5. No Reply Comment Bloggers

This doesn't make me smile. This makes me frown, a lot!! Your comments make me so happy, and I try to respond to every single one! However, yesterday over half of my comments were from no-reply bloggers! I was so sad - I love email chatting with all of you! 

Are you a no-reply comment blogger? I found this tutorial - it's a quick fix, and you can finally start chatting with your bloggy friends!

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! Throw some prayers up for no rain, the perfect level of Sangria-induced-happiness to be great at cornhole, and a huge Tiger win!

Dying to stay up to date on my weekend shenanigans? Follow along on Instagram. Just want to see the recap next week? Stay posted on Bloglovin, GFC, or Facebook!

post #33: Weekend Review {Clemson v. Georgia}

Weekend Review: Tigers > Bulldogs

Happy Tuesday everyone! I don't know about y'all, but this was possibly the best long weekend ever! We started by heading to Clemson Friday after work. When we got there, we ate pizza with Jo's family and watched GameDay set up across the street.

We woke up Saturday morning excited and ready! We also got in some morning Elmo reading with the sweetest Tiger cheerleader.

We walked down to GameDay for a little while. Even though I'm no fan of the Bulldogs, we got to see the baby pup that Lee Corso pulled up during his picks. Talk about precious! I could do some serious snuggling with a baby bulldog.

We hung out at the condo, played cornhole, ate, drank, ate, drank, and ate some more.

{our niece is the cutest.}

Oh, and did I mention that we beat Georgia? And my phone died. So I have no more pictures after the afternoon. But the game was one of the most fun that I can remember, and it was a weekend we won't be forgetting any time soon. Now, no one (in South Carolina at least!) can wait to see how the Gamecocks handle the Bulldogs next weekend ;-)

We came home Sunday and watched Oz the Great and Powerful and Pitch Perfect. I thought Oz was so cute (I've always been a big Wizard of Oz fan!) and Pitch Perfect was just as funny the second time around.

Brace yourself for this - after taking Milly to the park and walking for a few hours Monday morning, Jordan and I went CAR SHOPPING! We haven't purchased anything yet, but we're getting close. Those who know me well know that I'm still *gasp* in my first car. My Toyota Rav 4 has done me well in our 10 years together, but it's time to move on to bigger and better things. I'll keep y'all posted! (P.S. - She's for sale! Is anyone looking for a 2000 baby SUV with 178,000 miles on it? ;-))

Tomorrow will be my Liebster Award post! Get ready!

Stay up to date on Makeshift Margaritas by following on Facebook, Bloglovin, & Instagram!

Xo - Morgan

post #32 - F5: Beer, Dips, Sundresses, Cornhole, & Friends!

Five on Friday, First Week of Football Edition!

Y'all. This has been such a busy week! I have blogged exactly 0 times since last Friday. I've been slammed at work (yup, week 2, but glad to be busy) and have been getting prepared for the fun weekend ahead! The Clemson Tigers have their first home game this weekend against the Georgia Bulldogs. ESPN GameDay will be in TigerTown and I'll be up bright and early, celebrating hard!

So. stinkin. excited. for:

1. Beer

I've been on a fall beer kick already. Last weekend, I tried Pumpking for the first time at the recommendation of one of my bffs. While it was expensive ($7 for a double bottle, holy yikes), it was extra delicious. I also picked up a few Fat Tire Pumpkicks at the recommendation of the beer guy at Publix. It's lighter than some seasonal beers, and has hints of cranberry and spices. Yumyumyum. Give it a try, I bet you'll love it. We'll start with a few "nice" beers, but quickly move to Bud Light. You win some, you lose some.

[photo credit here]

2. Buffalo Chicken Dip & Funfetti Dip

Yep, after all of the fun appetizers that I posted last week, I settled on two things I've made before. I decided this game was not a time for experiments (some serious, serious tailgating is expected to occur), so I went back to old faithful.

[photo credit & recipe here]

[photo credit & recipe here]

3. Sundresses

There is no better purchase than a wonderful orange gameday dress. Fact.

{lilly pulitzer callista dress} [buy it here]

I die. But really, I die. This dress. Gimme.

{milly gustavia cotton & silk halter dress} [buy it here]

{french connection maxi pleat dress} [buy it here]

4. Cornhole

Self explaining. Nothing like a little game before the game. Can anyone explain why this game is so addicting? This was Jordan's big Christmas gift last year and I know these boards will get lots of use this weekend.

5. Friends
Ready to SQUEEZE these people! We usually spend Saturdays tailgate hopping to see everyone. I'm also thankful for a night game so it will be a little easier to make our rounds.

...and of course, can't wait to play with the cutest Tiger tailgater...my niece!

We'll come home Sunday and take it easy on Monday. I think we'll need some Labor Day recovery. Hope you're as excited about your weekend plans as I am!

In other news, two sweet bloggers, Carolina Belle & From Mississippi With Love have nominated me for a Liebster Award! This is a fun blog post where you answer some random questions about yourself. It's a way for new bloggers who are just getting started to let others find out a little more about you and discover other new blogs! I'll be doing this post next week, so get ready for my silly answers! Hints - when I was little I wanted to be a singer (and actress and doctor and probably a princess). And is my favorite current song still allowed to be Blurred Lines after what Miley pulled? It's just so catchy...

This week I passed 100 followers on my Facebook page! Yay! Are you following Makeshift Margaritas yet? Follow on Bloglovin or Instagram, too!

Happy weekend!!
xo - morgan

post #19 - F5: Seabrook Island, Black Orchid Candle, Toothpick Jeans, Drinks, & Coffee!

Friday Favorites for July 5!

Happy July 5th everyone! I hope that you are all recovering from fun Independence Day celebrations and that this morning isn't too rough! I'll have to admit - this was my lamest 4th of July yet. After all, it's 7am and I'm up and at em. (WHAT.) But you can bet that I'll be celebrating double time next year! Favorites this week...

1. Seabrook Island, SC
Seabrook has a special place in my heart, as it's where Jo and I got engaged, over a year and a half ago. (wow!!) This weekend trip will be a little more low key than our engagement weekend, but I am super excited to go back and relive the memories. We'll be leaving when he gets off work today and I'll be taking some of Saturday off from studying (please keep your gasps to a minimum). This time, we get to celebrate his sister's birthday! To say I'm ready for sun, sand, and a drink in hand is an understatement!

(Milly's last trip to Seabrook!)

(Engagement! Can we do it again this year? When I can wear real, non-gym clothes?)

(Celebrations!)

2. Scentsational Black Orchid Natural Soy Candle
I picked one of these up at TJ Maxx last year, and it is my favorite candle EVER. I looked frequently and couldn't find another one anywhere. Not long ago, I was in Marshalls and the heavens opened - one was sitting on the shelf. This candle seriously smells divine and lasts forever! If you ever see this...buy it. I've been burning it nonstop this week and it's veryyyy yummy.

3. JCrew Toothpick Jeans
It's been a rainy summer. Lots of pants. Not so many shorts. Believe me when I say, over the years, I've tried a lot of jeans. Most of the designers you can think of. These jeans are probably my favorite pair that I have ever owned. They fit like a glove, and are soft and actually comfortable. These have been making appearances a little too often. Including once at least twice this week.

(dark wash. love. next i'll be hopefully getting a lighter wash, so I can actually wear them actuallyallthetime)

4. This drink of April's!

I saw this post on A. Liz Adventures and had to give it a try. My love for St. Germain has blossomed over the summer, and this drink hit the spot! I made a few small changes so I could work with what I had on hand, but this cocktail tasted like candy and put me right to sleep and was delicious!

1 part St. Germain

1.5 parts 99 Whipped Schnapps

2.5 parts club soda

Pinch of mint leaves

Lavender sprig

 5. COFFEE
I've been drinking a lot of coffee lately. Like, a lot. Jo is a big coffee drinker, too. I've never been so glad that we decided to make a coffee bar at our new rental house! We have a small kitchen, so this was the perfect solution to keep all of our coffee supplies. I got a lot of Pinterest inspiration, and am so happy with how ours turned out. I still plan to decorate this and fine tune it more, but it's working for now. I can't wait until we purchase a house and can actually paint the wall behind it, but love the utility of this set up!

(we keep this in the office...right where it belongs.)

I got inspiration from some of these...

(thevintagewren.blogspot.com)

(thevintagewren.blogspot.com)

(savvycityfarmer.blogspot.com)

I also have some super super super exciting news this week. For the next few weeks, I'll be spending too much time studying. I've decided to take a break from blogging because 1) I don't have time, and 2) I'm not doing anything interesting enough for you to want to read anyway. But, I have asked a few of my most stylish, creative, and awesome friends to fill in for me. I'll be having two guest posts a week, running from mid July until the beginning of August. I can't wait to see what these ladies have to say and get some advice on decorating, products, and more! Is there anything you'd like to see blogged about? Leave a comment!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, Bloglovin, Blogger, and Facebook!

Have a wonderful weekend!

MBC

Love Thai Food? Check out my post about Basil in Columbia, SC here!

Thanks for the link up A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness, and The Good Life Blog!

post #17: F5: Mom, Coat, 12 Bones, Contadino, & Starbucks Deals!

Goodbye June! Favorites to Wrap up the Month!

It's the weekend! Well, almost. Hope you all have fantastic weekend plans! Jo will be at a bachelor party this weekend, so I plan on getting LOTS of studying done.
On to my favorites this week...

1. My Mom

I almost had a mini meltdown this week. The screen on my MacBook Pro has been wobbly for about a year now, but after the weekend, it became extremely loose. As in, the screen is either at 90 degrees, or tilted all the way back. After talking to the tech people at school, my options are basically to 1) Send it to Apple (after some research, it is likely between a $700-$1200 fix), 2) Purchase a new computer, or 3) Continue using it, hoping the screen doesn't fall back & completely conk out in the middle of something important.

We've been casually looking at some computers and iPads, but since I'll be starting a new job soon, we haven't had any sense of urgency. Except for one minor detail - I'll be typing the bar exam on my computer in a month. URGENT. URGENT. URGENT. When I asked the tech guy about taking the bar on my computer as it is now, he made a face and said he definitely wouldn't risk it.  URGENT. URGENT. URGENT. URGENT. URGENT. 

Thankfully, my wonderful, kind, amazing mother has offered to let me use her MacBook Pro for the month, so that I can take the bar exam on the same kind of computer I use now. Crisis averted. Once again, Mom saves the day. So, without a doubt, she is my favorite thing this week. Moms are really the best, don't you agree?

Once again, Mom to the rescue!

2. New Coat

I love summer, but I'm so ready for winter to wear this bad boy. Last weekend's sale = success.

3. 12 Bones in Asheville, NC

I convinced my friend to have lunch here over the weekend - it is truly the most delicious BBQ ever. Their Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens, and Jalapeno Cheese Grits? Pretty much to die for. Oh, and their Cornbread and Blueberry Chipotle Sauce? Still drooling. (See the menu here). Do yourself a favor if you're around Asheville and go here. You can thank me later.

(cornbread, collard greens, chopped beef brisket, mac & cheese, + side of chipotle blueberry sauce)

4. Contadino Pinot Grigio Vivace

Bubbly. Pinot grigio. Do I have your attention? Labeled a pinot grigio, this wine tasted more like prosecco to me. But, I'm no connoisseur.  Coming in at only about $6/bottle from Trader Joe's, it's a great addition to your "every night" wine collection. ;-) Oh, and comes in a pretty bottle! Let's be serious, probably the reason I picked it up to begin with.

(photo credit here)

5. Fabulous Starbucks Deals

I love Starbucks. No beating around the bush on this one. I have already expressed my love for canned Starbucks Refreshers in a previous post (found here). Today and tomorrow (and yesterday, sorry for the delay in posting this!) from 3:00-5:00, Starbucks is offering half priced Refreshers! I've been needing a refresher most afternoons...to the tune of a can a day. Oops. I enjoyed/guzzled a trenta Very Berry Hibiscus yesterday, and suspect that today and tomorrow will be no different. Hope y'all enjoy this little pick me up as much as I did!

(my biggg drink set me back a whopping $2.23 yesterday. so. worth. it.)

I love reading your comments! Don't forget to follow Makeshift Margaritas on Facebook or Google Blogger (to the right!). You can also follow me on Instagram!

MBC

As always, thanks to these lovely ladies for hosting this link up!

A. Liz Adventures

Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness

The Good Life Blog

Are you a fashionista? I'd love to get your thoughts on these fun bags! Check out my last post here.