happy, happy, happy

yesterday was my pooh-pooh post.

so for today's post, i thought i'd share with y'all some stuff that gets me out of my funk.

rihanna // shine bright like a diamond

 

diet mountain dew. the colder the better

going for a walk. outside. i just don't get a 'gym high'

talking to one of a select few friends on the phone

writing in my planner - to feel accomplished about things that've already happened, and to look forward to things to come

pinterest - photography, home, beauty and fashion inspiration make me smile - oh, and my entire animal board in and of itself

new nail polish

peanut m&m's

duck dynasty {especially phil, he's my fave}

how i met your mother

happy

happy

happy

God made a farmer, y'all.

And He gave me an awesome FIL who lets {?} me come clean, organize and decorate his old general store.

I'm still alive.

And still busy.

The store and I have been spendin' a lot of time together.
It is in need of some love.
 Bonus, I get to hang out with fabulous shugpies like this while I'm there:

And then there's The Hardware Show.
There is somethin' magical about old men in tall ball caps talkin' about seed spreaders and mouse traps and cast iron cookware.

And I've had to help clean up some messes.

But, I still love y'all.

What can I say? My B.

Sometimes life happens.

PS - the best thing about The Super Bowl?

This commercial:

Way to have the nuts to mention God in a Super Bowl commercial.

And farmers.

Some people make fun of schools like State and Clemson {among others}.

I wanna know where the hell y'all think your food comes from.

Deuces for now.

looks like two pigs fightin' under a blanket

I couldn't pick a favorite, but it is definitely a tie between these two.

{Steel Magnolias}

I've seen this movie so many times I lost count.
I love all of the characters so much, especially Ouiser - then, Drum and Clairee.



Have y'all ever seen the trailer?
I hadn't until I was lookin' for stuff for this post.

I found a video of some of the funniest parts, too.
I might even love Ouiser's facial expressions maybe a frog hair more than her commentary.

I love this movie because in my experience, it actually embodies how southern women really interact with each other.

My other favorite:

{Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood}

I've seen this one close to ten times, I'm sure.

Similar theme, southern chicks, friendship through the rough stuff, and it's hilarious.

I love their Ya Ya scrapbook, too!

This is my favorite scene:

And then of course, there's this movie ... what was it called?

The storyline was lackin'. But, it had some good parts.

What's your favorite movie?

life, as told by a charm bracelet

I came across this post about charm bracelets on Garden & Gun's blog {so jealous she has her mother's and her grandmother's!!}, and was inspired to dig up my old charm bracelet:



I got a silver link bracelet from my aunt when I was about 13, I guess, and decided to turn it into a charm bracelet. I was all gung-ho about it for about a year, and then I sort of lost interest.  Then, when I was in college, I decided to switch all my charms over to an Italian silver bracelet, which was a little less dainty than the one I started with, and a little more substantial for holding charms that I'd received over the years. I decided to transfer several of the charms I'd collected over the years as gifts, or as part of a necklace to one location on my charm bracelet.



I have always adored all things old - old stories, old recipes, anything that tells a story of another time, especially if it involves someone you know.



I love that each charm has a story of its own, and that I can still remember where each one came from, and what it means, even if it is something as simple as being an object that I loved at the time {like the sun, moon, stars phase I went through in middle school, or the Eeyore phase I was in with my friends in high school}. I especially love receiving them as gifts, because I think it is sort of a little symbol of a connection you have with someone, or a little trinket that reminds them of you, and it always means a lot to me that someone took time to pick something with meaning.



To be perfectly honest, the constant jangle of the bracelet gets on my nerves a little.  But, I still enjoy collecting charms, telling their stories, and wearing my bracelet as a girlish {I know!} finish to an outfit.



I hope that one day, I will be able to pass my bracelet on to someone in my family who will appreciate the bracelet for what it is as well as the stories behind it.



Do you have a charm bracelet of your own, or one that belonged to someone you love? I'd love to hear about it, and see pictures!  Feel free to share a link to a photo in the comments ... I'd love to hear from you! Anyone can comment!!

Garden and Gun

Have you considered the gift of Garden and Gun?

I am in love with this magazine.

It has something for both the ladies and the gents.

It's not just cooking and decorating, it's guns, whiskey, good dogs, road trips, where to visit, music, the people, the south as a culture, everything.

Somebody you know needs this - young or old, guy or gal.

Plus, there's nothing like the gift that gives all year long!

All magazine covers via Garden and Gun's Pinterest.

Southern Sassery

Y'all.

1) My house is still a toe up hot mess.

2) This mornin when I was changin my pump site, it bled onto my damn shirt, annnnd 

3) I've gotta do somethin to camouflage this hair so I can go to Michael's to get shiz I need to complete my Christmas decor.

  If any of y'all have any advice about how to wake up and not have your crown showin full blast every friggin mornin, please, do tell!

You might be wonderin why I don't just shower first, thereby fixin hair. 

But, see, I know I'ma get dirty and be sweatin whilst tacklin this mess and decoratin/craftin, so the shower cannot happen until after.

I have to do things a certain way, k?

Anyhoo ...

Yesterday, I was readin over at my girls' {they're sisters!!} at Southern Sass and found this little tid bit.

It's pretty much truth.

I wonder the same things. Don't we all?

Annnd, I'm there too. It would be awesome if I had 57849 followers but I just can't say that I want them so much if I have to give them shit and use bribery for them to read my blog. 

Now don't get your panties in a bunch. If you wanna thank your readers with a lil prize, you go right ahead. But, some of y'all give out more shit than Santa. 

If you read my blog because you are reading my blog, thank you.

The whole post cracked me up and I must say, I can totally identify. And I think if we're being honest, most of us can. And, I do sometimes wonder if those of y'all who have "made it" in bloggin world get sick to death of pimpin out sponsors and tryin out their stuff and then havin to write about it.

Do Enjoy the post below - written by "S" - the other sister's name is "G" .... mysterious. I like it. I want to give them names in my head ... like Sabrina and Ginger ... :

{For the record, I don't even know these shugpies. I actually read the blog because I like it and I think they are hilarious. No free bubble necklaces or target gift cards were given in exchange for the pimpin out of their blog.}

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Friday is my second favorite F word...

It's finally Friday and while I could be writing a letter to Friday who probably won't even read it or become all confessional and confess my secrets and sins to readers, I think I will just for once write about my own topic.  Stuff I sometimes want to ask Bloggers but don't.  Wouldn't that be a long link-up name? It's not going to be don't worry.  

But really I know you all think it you just don't say it.  Here is a list of some of the things I wonder...

Who takes all the model like pictures of you?  

Do you spend the day getting ready for said picture and use a tripod or do you actually have a photog that follows you on your way twirling out of the picture perfect house on your way to work?

Do you actually want to read a post about people who sponsor you and why you should check out their blog too? (Not saying I don't want to I'm just asking.)

You give away so much stuff you must be really unselfish or have just a ton of new stuff lying around.  Where do you get it all?

Did these people really just get your address somehow and say I want to send you this cool shit and see if you like it, go on try it out. And how can I get them to find my address?

Do you really think that was a good deal on said item or are you just trying to be fancy huh?

Do readers really send you sooo many emails it is such a burden you have to start posting like a single picture with the caption something along the lines of my popularity is soo stressful need a break, enjoy this pic of peacocks....

Do you really get a ton of emails about what kind of toilet paper you use or foot cream or did you just want to write a post about it?  Either is fine...I think.

Is there really a secret blogging circle and why hasn't anyone taken me under their wing?

That should be all for now.  Please share with me stuff y'all wonder and want to ask Bloggers sometimes.

-S

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Seriously, go check em out.

whatchu want santa claus to brang ya, shug?

i'm so ready to decorate with lots of lights, listen to christmas music, make cookies, watch anj drink egg nog, regret eatin too much, hang mistletoe, hang stockins, put up my christmas wreath, wrap presents

but, until then, here is a blog post about what's ticklin my fancy this year
all from my pinterest

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Madewell chambray shirt with back longer than front SAY WORD!!

sweet, dainty little sideways cross necklace

Boots by Antonio Melani

AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G lens

 

Bean Boots
{can't decide which color combo}

____________________



whatchu wantin santa claus to bring YOU?

list of happies.

i woke up in a great mood today, despite the fever blister family reunion that is taking over my mouth right now. the good new is, today they are not causing teeth pain, swollen lymph nodes, neck pain and therefore, a bangin headache. little bastards.

anyway, my list of happies:

* the bomb old black ladies i saw on my walk this mornin. i admit, i am jealous i didn't have a prominent black lady figure in my childhood like willetta from divine secrets of the ya ya sisterhood, or like aibileen from the help. now don't get it twisted -  i am not a racist. i didn't say i wanted a black maid. i said i wanted a prominent black lady figure in my childhood. won't no maids or even once a month cleanin ladies in my house, frands.

* feeling super awesome after my walk - physically, mentally, and emotionally AWESOME.

* editing photos - for clients, of course, but also because i crack myself up doing shiz like this:

* super crisp red grapes alternated with mouthfuls of sunflower seeds

* blood sugars like this. BAM!

* getting paid to take surveys. whoop!

* caffeine free diet mt. dew. i LOVE crunk diet mt. dew, and for a lot of people, the whole point is the caffeine, duh, but with surgery recovery, it's important to stay hydrated, so even though CFDMD is not healthy by any stretch, i am so happy there is a CF version. holla!

* tootsie pops. how awesome, right? just enough chocolate. not bad on calories. fulfilling because you can't just chomp it down in one bite. {i mean, i guess you could, but why?}

* this shiz, which smells HEAVENLY {although i find its name irritating. wouldn't creamy baby oil make more sense?}:

 

and here's what's not so awesome:

* i've read a zillion places all the benefits of coconut oil. i've used it on my skin before - cuts, blemishes, dryness, etc. however, it's supposed to be all kinds of goodness for the inside of ya body too. but, somebody share, HOW DO YOU CONSUME THAT SHIZ WITHOUT GAGGIN LIKE A MAGGOT? can i get a RALPH up in heah? woof! it's solid at room temp, so it has to be melted, or it's like nibblin on cold, crusty butter. hurltasma, right? so, the best thing i've discovered is putting it on hot toast, and smotherin that sonofabitch in peanut butter. and that's just ONE TEASPOON. any suggestions? anyone? mmmk. well, if you think of somethin, do holla.

have a magical .... what is this? wednesday? 

ahh, just like yesterday :)

Today I was feeling well rested and ready to go for a walk at the park on this gorgeous sunshiny day. I am a very nostalgic person (or maybe everyone is?). Certain times of year, smells, songs, random things take me back to a different place and time just like that. Even though it's early fall, to me, today felt like the beginning of spring.

And as I was walking, I could just feel the breeze on NC State's campus. Hear cars riding by with music blaring - or music coming out of the windows of the dorms near mine while walking back from class. Girls in tiny ass Soffe shorts - rolled up one more time and none of their ass cheeks would have been covered at all. (How old do I sound right now?) And their top half thought it was winter - wearin an NC State hoodie and some flip flops. Weren't those the days? Little shug pies lookin haggard as hell to class, hair done in a very complicated "messy" bun, and just enough make up to not look like total shit, but not enough to look ridiculous because your clothes are clearly raggedy, but your face can't be. Ha.

On days like this, it was so easy to skip class, wasn't it? Gyaaaahhhhh. I sucked. One little dab of sunshine, and somebody on my hall not having class, and that was all it took. Well, not always, but I could have been better. Such a sucker for a ride to Cook Out, or Papa Lou's or somewhere in Cameron Village for some tea. Ooops.

This time of year also reminds me of meeting my Anj Pie ... we met in August, but things became more official in October ... one of our first dates was dinner at PF Chang's and a trip to the haunted house. :)))

Here's a playlist that takes me back (dirty words included). I don't even necessarily love all these songs, but it still makes me feel like I'm there. Goin for my walk, passin by Hillsborough Street. Ahh, those were the days, weren't they? :)

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.

are we there yet?

i can't hold it much longer.

seriously, fall.

where you at?

i know i ain't been long posted about such cravings, but ...

i'm ready.

and i'm way past ready for this

eager to watch our first game next weekend.

tailgating soon to follow!