childhood.

i recently had the pleasure of taking some photos of a childhood friend of mine and her budding family. several of the shots we took were around where i grew up as a child and spent many, many, many hours outside playing - until my mama called me home to take a bath and go to bed. this particular shot here of my friend's daughter below just flooded my mind with what it was like as a child growing up around there. rural nc, surrounded by tractors, tobacco farms. where you could actually hear the crickets and see the stars - maybe the occasional buzz of a dirt bike or a four wheeler.

it's funny how different it seemed. even though i've only been gone from this place for about 10 years, it all seemed so ... i don't know what. funny that i didn't revert back to high school memories, but instead, i found myself remembering bike rides and countless walks down that long dirt road when i was in elementary school. when home meant meals, homework, bath time, and sleep. otherwise, it seems to me now at least, that i was always outside.

one year for christmas, i got a bike that i would give anything to still have now. it was burgundy, and it didn't have anything but pedals. no gears, changing speeds or hand breaks. Just stop and go pedals like when you learn to ride a bike when you're five. tragically, she got run over when i left her behind somebody's car while selling stupid wrapping paper for some fund raiser at school. it was like losing a best friend.

evenings on the long dirt road, and the dead end road that it ran into smelled like grass, and tobacco, and there was nothing sweeter than starting at the top of the hill, flying down on your bike, no hands, with the irrigation from the tobacco fields spraying you as you rode by. tan skin, chipped toe nail polish, flip flops. hair in a ponytail or any manner to keep it out of your face, and who ever even heard of make up? i could be gone for hours on end, and my mama never worried. all of the neighbors on that road knew who i was and who to call if something happened. the night we were taking the pictures, i smiled when i remembered that my friend's mom had a bell outside, that you rung with a rope. it was her "it's time to come hooome" bell for her kids. my mama would just yell, "laura beeeeeeeeeth". or, maybe she had to go up town to run an errand for my granddaddy's business, and she would just track my brother and me down on her car and tell us to hop in, just leaving our bikes wherever they were, we could come back later to get em.

crazy to imagine a time when i worried, but not over anything that mattered. not over bills, and diabetes, and grown up yuckies. but then again, i will probably look back twenty years from now and think this was the time when i was worryin over things that don't matter, and that weren't a big deal after all.

a late night thought on marriage.

it's 11:23 at night, and grandma that i am, i am normally in bed and fast asleep by now. but, tonight, i couldn't sleep. ever have those nights when you can't turn your brain off? usually mine is from worrying (workin on that) ... but, tonight, i was just thinkin. about life. how it changes from childhood to when you're a teenager. to when you go to college and/or leave home/town and are on your own for the first time. and how the people closest to you changes too.

when you are a child, your family is your everything. they teach and model for you what is normal. what love is. what is and isn't okay. then, you get older, and your friends become your world. you just know that y'all will be inseparable forever.

but then, college is over, or you get your dream job, or you meet the man of your dreams. life gets busier. you make time for phone dates or trips to starbucks or target. and if you are lucky, you marry a wonderful man who loves and embraces your friends like you do.

on nights like this when i'm thinking too much, i lay there and watch anj sleep, and think how very very precious he is to me. how i simply cannot believe that God had it in His plans to pick this man out just for me. if it's pms time, it really makes me want to cry.

anj is so good - too good - to me. he takes care of me, emotionally and physically. those of you who really know me know that i am a worrier, and i am much, much more sensitive than i appear to be. i can work myself into a tizzy over nothing. i'm learning that life's too short for that mess though. but, anj, he is so perfect for me. i cannot name one single time in our whole eight years when i freaked out about something and he didn't act like it wasn't a big deal. not one single time.

even the time when i literally cut the end of my thumb off, all the meat past the fingernail - bled hard and fast for 3 hours ... blood runnin down to my elbows - did anj freak out? no ma'am. he just brought me a plate of food (that i couldn't eat because one hand was bleeding and the other one was holding pressure on it) and drove off to cvs to buy all kindsa shit to make a bandage. cool as a cucumber, friends. i - on the other hand, was cryin like a baby and rockin back and forth like i had absolutely no sense whatsoever.

it used to make me mad that he was so calm all the time. but now, i see what a blessing it is. the last thing i need is somebody to egg me on. there was a time in my life when i dated such a guy. he was high strung like me, and easy to get all rowled up. not a good combination.

we are friends with couples now who are just like that. one is cool as a cucumber, and the other not so much. as long as you are with your balance, all is good in the hood. a lot of my friends and family and people that i've known over the years have marriages that would never in eight million years be kosher with me. that is not to say that their way is wrong, just wrong for us.

anyhoo, this is what comes out when i write late at night after thinking what a magical snuggle pie anj is. sometimes it feels like, wow! how could we have really been knowing each other for eight years?!? and other times, it feels like every single day when he walks through the door, it's the first time i've ever laid eyes on him. and this is really only the beginning. i have no idea why God chose to bless me the way He did with this man, but I certainly am thankful.

now, back to sleep it is {hopefully}

deuces ;)

the bloggin slump

i'm in mine.

i swear, some days, i have so much to write about, i can crank out three days' worth in one sitting.

then there's days or weeks really, like the last few i've had.

but, i'm not one to force it. i refuse to let the bloggy become a chore. i also don't want to start manufacturing fake shiz to say for the sake of an audience. sorry. i love y'all, but i don't want the blog to get derailed into a hot fake mess.

i will resume my photo editing with the door open so i can feel the beyond magical fall breeze. thank the sweet Lord for this gorgeous weather we've been having, among a zillion other things.

tailgated this weekend with some friends, had a fabulous acupuncture appointment, shot some maternity pics, celebrated mom's, brother's, and bobo's birthdays.

cannot complain, my shugs.

maybe the blogging fairy will visit soon and i'll have something super mentally stimulating to say.

i have started reading the hunger games. (i know) ... i'll let you know if i can stick it out or not. wish me luck.

peace out shugapies!

xo

could gluten be the culprit?

Well Shugs,

I was thinkin.
About gluten.
I try not to get all TMI with my personal health info on here, because who cares, and I'm not a doctor - make no mistake.

However - since going gluten free, it has made such a positive change in my life, that I started to share my experience with friends. And I know for a fact that gluten intolerance is a) misunderstood, and b) much more common than people realize. Several friends who have had various health struggles have cut it out as sort of an experiment, and they were quite pleased with the results. Also, many parents of children with autism have found that eliminating it has greatly helped their children. I'm sure there is tons of research and evidence out there that I haven't even read yet. My own life was proof enough for me to continue being gluten free without any further testing done by my doctor.

 Here are some of the yuck things gluten was unknowingly causing for either myself or other gluten free friends I know:
* irregular periods
* thyroid hormone imbalances
* hair loss
* bloating
* various pains (knee, back) due to inflammation
* acne

The list goes on and on, but these are just the ones that I know of personally through my own experiences or those of friends.

Gluten intolerance is not the same as having Celiac's disease, but both mean that the body is attacking gluten in your system because it is not compatible.

The hardest part, I think, is feeling like if you give it up, that you won't have anything left to eat. And - time. Who has time to analyze this mess and prepare "special" meals?

Well, first of all, if it makes a dramatically positive change in your health, it is more than worth it. Secondly, I personally don't eat "special" meals, it's more about avoiding certain things and choosing something else instead.

So, again, I AM NOT A DOCTOR. You can do your own research if you are more interested, but here are the basics for me:

** You have to COMPLETELY eliminate gluten for a month to truly see results. Cutting back won't get it. If you are checking to see if it will regulate your periods, you will obviously need to give it a couple cycles. If you want "medical evidence", you can get a blood test which checks your system for the antibodies your body will make if you are gluten intolerant. However, the results will come back negative if you get tested after you've already eliminated the gluten.

Anyhoo, if you want to give it a try:

DON'T eat these unless you find a variety that is clearly marked "gluten free" of course:
(wheat, barley, rye, spelt)
bread
noodles
things fried in flour
most cereals
most packaged foods (nabs, granola bars, etc.)
beer
noodles/pasta
croutons
gravy
casseroles with crackers, bready toppings
meatballs (bread crumbs)
some soups (if they look gravy-like, thickened with flour possibly)
cookies/pastries
pizza (although Mellow Mushroom has yummy GF pizza & GF beer!)


DO eat: (some of these may have trace amounts, but again, I am intolerant, I don't have Celiac's)
* order a sandwich, but don't eat the bun
* fries/potatoes
* rice (but careful in restaurants where they have added flavorings)
* veggies
* salads
* fruit
* most salad dressings are fine
* meat (as long as its not battered in flour)
* Chex cereals
* gluten free pastas, breads, corn meal, etc.
* gluten free beers (my favorite is Red Bridge - you can find it at Harris Teeter and specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods and Earth Fare)
* wines
* liquors


So, really, I don't feel deprived. I eat lots of meat, cheese, nuts, veggies, fruits. If I want something sweet, I buy ice cream, frozen yogurt, or there is a good assortment of gluten free stuff in Harris Teeter, as well as selections in Bi-Lo, Walmart, and Target including AWESOME chocolate chip cookies. I order fries/potatoes or rice as a side if I want something "carby".

I don't know if this is helpful or not. But, I cannot stress how much this has helped me. Thought I would share in case it helped someone else. Please feel free to comment or email me if you have further questions. Again, this is just a starting place, and this is not a comprehensive list for those who have serious reactions to gluten.

Happy Monday!

baked potato salad {with protein!}

there is a little store down the road from us that sells the best baked potato salad ever.

but, y'all know i have to be careful with the carb intake, and i try to eat a lot of protein everyday as well to help my blood sugars stay nice and flat.

so, i decided to mix up my own concoction using greek yogurt (for the protein @ 18g/cup) instead of sour cream, and it turned out pretty good!

 
{this yielded enough for me and Anj to have a nice size "serving" for supper and then lunch the next day}
  ____________________________________________________

here's what you need:

1 cup plain 10% fat greek yogurt (you can choose the 1% fat, or the 10%. i chose the 10% because let's face it, fat is important to the taste of good potato salad)

1/2 c. mayonnaise (i used duke's light, just because we always do)

2 tbsp. ranch dressing

5 small potatoes or equivalent

3 strips bacon fried extra crisp

1/4 c. red onion diced supa fine

about 1/5 stick of butter melted

salt & pepper

here's what you do:

peel and boil potatoes

(i cut mine down to about the size of an orange slice first)

strain them, and put in fridge to cool down before mixing in any ingredients

meanwhile ... 

go ahead and mix yogurt, mayo, ranch, and melted butter

fry bacon and cut into small bits

dice your onion

once potatoes have cooled down ...

mix the yogurt, mayo, ranch, butter in with the potatoes

add salt and pepper

taste.

adjust.

now add bacon and onions

taste again.

adjust, adding more salt/pepper if needed

____________________________________________________

the end.

in my humble opinion, it tastes best the next day after sittin in the fridge overnight.

mmmmmm

enjoy.

food & people who look alike.

1 // I'm tryin to lose weight. Because I cannot button half my shit. And when I see pictures, it looks like my face and arms are made of play-doh. Problem is, I love food more than I care about being fat. Another problem is I can't afford to buy all new clothes. So, somethin's gotta give. I would be fine if the following foods/bevies were calorie free:

 * bacon

 * beer

 * bacon

 * cheese

 * veggie straws/sticks/whatever

 * bacon 

Maybe this is the solution?

Also, I've really been wanting some "fall" cupcakes lately with pumpkin or cinnamon involved, and nice fluffy whipped frosting:

                                                                                                 

2 // I love that Anj & Big Silas end phone convos with "We'll see ya." #mayberry

3 // Speakin of Mayberry, I am still sad about ole Andy. So weird they made up a fake NC town and then filmed that shiz in Hollywood. Anyhoo, Andy Griffith has ALWAYS reminded me SO MUCH of my granddaddy and my granddaddy's cousin, Buster {Happy Birthdayyy!!!}. Specifically his character on The Andy Griffith Show. Act the same. Talk the same. Same mannerisms. I just realized the other day that Barney calls Andy "Anj" sometimes on there. :)

4 // Kinda like Rob Dyrdek reminds me of my brother. Both of them are hyper completely spazztastic, and hilarious. About the same size. They both do shit I call dangerous. Rob - skateboards. Mack - dirt bikes.

5 // Or how bout these three?

 

Have a happy Tuesday, and remember those who died at the hands of those cowardly assholes 11 years ago.

stop blaming politicians for your shit

i know i already posted today. about peace and quiet.
but, to follow up, here's my two cents about the world today and people treating politicians like magicians who can swoop in and fix lazy people, know it alls, and kids who need their asses whooped. 

as i've said before, election year is one of my least favorite things on earth.
and, the main reason i hate it is ignorant voters. i don't mean that as an insult. i mean it literally - people who vote with no knowledge of who/what they're voting for.

and, i rarely get into the "party" thing. i am registered unaffiliated. but i do tend to lean more one way than the other. i try to vote based on the main issues and the candidate, and not by party. because to vote by party alone is simply stupid. period.

but, here's the bigger problem, friends: this may come as a shock to some of you, but it's not the current president, or any of the past ones. it's the world today, and the way we raise our kids, and teach our students. what we teach them to expect, and what we expect of them.

we live in a world where we shelter children from reality, and break our necks and rearrange our whole lives to cater to their schedules, and i mean, sports, clubs, parties, shit they don't even want to do half the time, and protecting their psyche. we give stickers for showing up. everyone makes the team. teachers aren't "allowed" to give anything lower than a 60 - even when 75% of the students in 8th grade cannot do 4th grade math. why are they in 8th grade in the first place, you might ask? good question. no accountability. no consequences. then, when they don't graduate high school, we will use tax money to fund their lives. and feed their babies. but don't worry, they will still have smartphones and ipads and whatever is the latest.

i don't disagree with "government programs". i disagree with a government who creates these programs and then does not monitor them, so that the vast majority of people on the programs are in fact, lazy.
some people are truly in need. but they get lost in the mix. and how can some judge in a social security disability hearing know the difference? people abuse the system because the government has allowed them to.

when kids get money for just breathing, what does that teach? when they get straight As because their mother did their homework all through high school, what does that teach? what do they learn when their mother drives hours and hours from home to come clean their college apartment for them?

do you know that there are teams that children play on where they don't keep score? wtf? i forgot. everyone is a winner.

does self esteem come from lying to a child? or from letting them fail, so that when they do succeed, they can take pride in that success? what does a child learn when there is never a consequence for any of their actions? they learn that somebody (the government?) will always pick up the pieces and bail them out of whatever it is.

just sayin.
and, nope, i don't have kids. but i have taught in rural middle class areas, in suburban upper class areas, and in high needs areas. and i know that teaching is not the same. handing kids grades, and rewards for bad choices does not help children in need either. it handicaps them. they are not grateful for your sympathy, nor do they respond to it. they deserve to be able to be self sufficient like anyone else. these are human beings, not needy animals.  i am sure teaching is nowhere near as challenging as parenting. duh. maybe i'll eat my words one day. if the Lord blesses us with children, i feel confident they will be like those hell raisers on talladega nights. but guess what? they gone get their ass tore up. yep. true story. and they won't ever be confused about who's the grown up and who's the kid.

i'm just sick to death of people blaming politicians for all their problems. get the fuck over yourself. the government is shysty as hell, no doubt - regardless of who is in office.  if this is news to you, bless your heart, shug.

democrats trip me out. not all - but a lot of them are all about "helping the underdog" while they would not be caught dead in a million years associating with such "underdogs". it's just cool to chit chat about how they are being all humanitarian and shit while they are boozing it up and pretending they are still in their sorority or fraternity while their kids are at home with the nanny.

and some republicans are tore up with some craziness too. the world coming to an end? the government coming to beat our doors down to take back our weapons?

maybe so. when that shit happens, you can find me havin a cold red bridge on my back deck. because in the end, the good Lord above is the only one who has any idea what any of us need.

do the country a favor. whoop your kid's ass. stop counting to 25. follow through on your threats. ground your kid for bad grades. stop blaming their teacher. all you are doing is making it really hard for her to not hate your kid because his mama or daddy is a total ass wipe.

fixing the world starts at home. not in the white house.

once again, someecards totally brought it. thanks.

shh.

A lot of times when I'm here by myself, I go the whole day with no noise, except maybe the washer or dryer, and the birds. No music, no TV.

Y'all know I love some music, and don't know what I'd do without it.

And, I also love me some conversation.

But, you can't put a price on quiet.

We went to the beach this weekend, and my favorite parts were when Andrew and I, and sometimes Big Silas, my FIL, were just sitting under the tent, reading our books or just watching the waves.

Over, and over, and over. 

Total peace and calm.

I also really enjoy moments when it's just me at the pool. I especially enjoy it at night, when I don't have to worry about sunscreen.

I love the way sunscreen smells, but I HATE applying it. 

Especially REapplying.

There is something so refreshing and relaxing about cool pool water.

Dunking your head under, and you can't hear anything but your own splashes.

And maybe the sound of some leaves rustling in the breeze.

Time to clear your head.

To talk to God.

To listen.

Now that summer's coming to a close, I will turn to evening rides of back roads with the windows down as my alternative.

hahahahaha

hello snuggle pies.

hope y'all are havin a lovely labor day weekend.

i'm at the beach, but i wanted to leave y'all with these things that crack. me. up. 

thanks to ma pinterest. {shuginboots}

don't judge me.

let's get started.

below is clearly a painting of me {beef} gettin ready to tailgate at an nc stizzle game.

 

next,
 clearly dogs are awesome:

innappropriate but i still laugh every time i see it:

 

y'all know i love me some bacon strips, crumbles, all that:

you just can't be worryin about shit:

holla:

peace out, shugs.

greetings from brody.