The Pursuit of Perfection

I'm a perfectionist.  There; I said it.  I crave order and balance and reason in my life, and I can't stand for things to be out of place.  I'm a compulsive stacker of papers, rearranger of the pantry and lover of all things symmetrical.  When I had roommates and shared a bathroom, I could tell when someone borrowed my shampoo because the bottle would be turned around a different way the next time I got in.  Okay, so maybe I have OCD.  I digress.

This { undeniably fruitless } pursuit of perfection affects not only my physical life, but my spiritual life as well.  It wasn't until I went on a women's retreat a few years ago that I realized that God loves me and wants to use me right where I am.  Not when I'm who I think I should be, not who I'm striving to be, not who I project to be... but the real me.  Right here.  Right now.

With the start of a new year just over the horizon, I find myself thinking of all the things I'll do better in 2011.  Spencer and I are going to read through the Bible together with one of those chronological "read the whole thing in 365 days" schedules. { See?  Structure. } I'm going to find a mentor, eat more vegetables, try my hand at running again, wear sunscreen every day.  And in the endless tasks of list-making and trying to find my bootstraps and will myself into this unattainable perfection... I came across a blog post that spoke straight to my soul.

Going back.
By John Acuff

Someday, I need to go to Africa.

My uncle Bill helped start a school in Kenya that I want to visit. More than 480 students attend the school where they get housing, three meals a day, clothing and an education. A large percentage of the children that attend are victims of the AIDS crisis that is ravaging Africa. One couple who are friends with my uncle adopted a young girl there who was born HIV positive. Typically, if there is going to be an adoption of this type, it happens when the child is still a baby. But this little girl had been passed over and spent the first 5 years of her life waiting to be adopted.

When the couple came to speak at my dad’s church, the father said something interesting about the little girl. He said “We kept hoping that she would be disobedient and break the rules.” As a young father, I have to confess this hope has never crossed my mind with my own children. Just this morning when I was leaving the house, my five-year-old was yelling at my seven-year-old for tricking her. My oldest daughter likes to wake up first and will usually Mission Impossible her way downstairs quietly before my youngest daughter wakes up. This morning, because they’re sharing a room with our family in town, L.E. had to take a different route and told McRae, “You should snuggle all your dolls.” Then while McRae enjoyed a sister inspired moment with her dolls, L.E. bolted for the stairs, leaving McRae in her dust.

In general, rule breaking is not something I wish for in our house. It seems like a strange thing for any father to hope for, but the father who adopted the orphan had a reason.
“When we first adopted her, she tried her hardest to be perfect. This little six year old girl was terrified that if she broke the rules she would be kicked out of our family and sent back to the orphanage. For her, breaking the rules would be a sign that she was comfortable and was no longer living in fear.”

I’ve talked about this idea before, but it felt right today because we are on the precipice of a new season of perfect. It’s December 29. In less than 72 hours, we’ll have a chance to make a fresh start in a fresh year. The calendar will declare a do over, a new day in a new month and a new decade to live better and be better and try harder.

I know I can’t be perfect. Past failures have made that crystal clear, but I still try sometimes. I still try to hold my breath and white knuckle my way back into the father’s arms. Creating lists, manically measuring my quiet times, doing the yo-yo diet version of faith. I don’t want to fail. I want to be perfect.

I want to free myself from the mess, clean my act up and string together a good solid month, of good solid living before I return to the God. But I’m not sure that is how God sees my life. In Psalm 103: 3-4, God is described as he “who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with compassion.”

The word I love in that passage is “from.” On the surface it’s a transition word, but the reality is that “from” represents the difference between man and God. In the world, when you fall into a pit, you’re expected to get back out. You dug it yourself, you climb out of it yourself. Get yourself together. Straighten up. Don’t bring me a problem, bring me a solution. In every job you’ve ever had and most of the relationships you’ve been in, this verse would read, “who redeems your life after the pit.”

But in God’s world, He comes to the pit. He redeems us from the pit. Not once we’ve managed to get out of it, but from the middle of it. From the deepest part of the pit. He gets down with us in the pit and rescues us from it. Not after it.

I’m sure that little girl in Kenya has failed at this point, that’s kind of one of the things we all do. But I’m sure that when she shared that failure with her father, he didn’t return her to the orphanage. Why?

Because rescue is a one way trip.

There will be no going back.

Whether she fails a 100 times or a million times, that decision was already made.

For you, for me, for all the imperfect people.

2010: The Year In Review

2010 has been quite a year.  I married my best friend, found { fought and will keep fighting! } skin cancer, had my fifteen minutes of reality TV "fame," took on quite a few new responsibilities at work { here's to hoping I don't screw any of it up in 2011 }... and then there were things that we all experienced together.  Like Antoine Dodson.  Learning what a vuvuzela is.  And the continued miracle of Google Search.

Wonder what the top things searched on Google for 2010 actually were?  It makes for quite an accurate review of the year.  Enjoy!

Grandude. The one and only.

Papa.  Grandpa.  These are normal names for a grandfather.  But my sister and I were fortunate enough to have had one just a little different: the one and only... Grandude.  { He and Grandmomma went to the beach with us once when we were little, he wore a cowboy hat, and the name stuck.  Grandude it was. }

{ We were seriously buds. }

Mom is an only child, thus Kates and I were his only two grandchildren.  And, of course, he spoiled us rotten.   I owe probably half my embarrassingly extensive childhood Barbie collection to this man.  And the Christmas I turned four and got the pink Power Wheels Barbie Corvette { complete with now-old-school-then-super-cool console cell phone, natch }?  I proceeded to back over his foot in the living room and he didn't bat an eye.

Grandude let me and Katie have Easter Egg Hunts in the yard all year long.  And we're still finding sun-faded plastic eggs now decades later.  He'd walk with me to take my pretend friend Sodey { Sodie? I don't know, I couldn't spell when I was four and I'm not so good at it now } to the "bus stop" aka the corner.  And once, when a man at the airport asked me how I'd know who was my grandaddy when he got off of the plane, I told the man it was because Grandude could take his teeth out.  { What?  That's an unusually identifiable characteristic when you're four! }

So you see, the man is a legend in his own right.  I always said I didn't know what I'd do without him.  He was invincible in my mind; even though he was famous for saying, "You know, I ain't gon' be around here always."  And he was right.

Four years ago today he went to be with Jesus.  And when I do the same one day, I can't help but think that our reunion will look something like this:

But I'm sure I'll know it's him without the removing of teeth. : )

It's A Wrap!

I loved working at Hallmark in high school.  So much so, that today when I go to the grocery store and pass through the section of greeting cards { Hallmark Expressions at Kroger is not quite the same thing as the real Hallmark, for the record }, I have a tendency to stop and straighten the cards.  I just can't help it.

{ And then there was that time a ten point buck jumped through our front window and chased sweet Ms. Virginia into the stockroom.  Jayne's Hallmark was always an adventure. }

But by far, the favorite remnant of my high school career is a love for gift wrap. { Plus, it's a lot less inconvenient than a subconscious need to straighten cards }.  I get such satisfaction out of a beautifully wrapped gift, and I honestly think that even the smallest gifts are made more valuable in the presentation.  If someone's first impression of the gift is that you took the care and time to present it well... first impressions are lasting!

Last Christmas, my team at the office asked for Gift Wrap 101.  They asked me for a few of the links again this year, so I thought I'd share them with y'all as well.  Here's to beautiful presents!

Gift Wrap 101

• Buy good paper.  Cheap wrapping paper will tear and make for more work and more waste than if you'd bought the better stuff to begin with.  A sure sign of good paper?  Look for grid lines on the back.  It'll help you cut straight, which also cuts down on waste.  And it doesn't have to be expensive.  Check the square footage of rolls when comparing prices.  A roll may be less expensive on its own, but a slightly more expensive one might wrap twice as much.
• I buy almost all of my wrapping paper at Hobby Lobby. { And earlier this month, Hallmark did a promotion where if you bought one roll, the second was $0.99.  Score! }

• Be gentle with the curling ribbon.  There's nothing worse than uneven ringlets or a store-bought curlicue that's lost its sticky.  The less pressure you put on the scissors when curling, the looser the curls will be.
• Overdo it?  No problem.  Just turn the ribbon over and gently run the scissors over the reverse and it should loosen the curls.  { Be careful not to bear down too hard, though, or you'll wear the ridges completely off and it will be stuck straight. }

• Tulle is for more than weddings and tutus.  I make tulle bows for everything!  Just trying a it like you tie your shoes makes for a fluffy bow that will even survive shipping across the country.  Want more loops?  Just have extra long ends and keep tying like you tie your shoes over and over until you run out of length.  Tulle bows work well with large or small presents, they stay up without having a wired edge, and they definitely don't break the bank!
• Michael's and Hobby Lobby carry spools of tulle in the wedding section, but their color selection isn't the greatest.  I order mine online from http://www.tullesource.com/.  I love the 6" width, and you get 25 yards for $1.99!  Order yourself a good assortment and you'll be set for months.
• This was the biggest part of the little Lunch & Learn we had at work.  I'll do a follow-up post with more specific step-by-step instructions and pictures if anyone is interested.  Just comment.

{ Just one little corner of our happy little tree. }

• Who needs gift tags!  Have multiple gifts for one person?  Tired of spending money on gift tags?  Or, as Spencer and I are facing this year, having trouble differentiating which gift is for whose Mom or whose Dad?  Here's a solution: just select a particular pattern of paper or a certain color ribbon to identify what goes with whom.  That way, when you leave for the in-laws, you can just grab all of the green ones and go!

• Select a signature paper for birthdays and other occasions.  I got tired of having half a roll of fourteen patterns of wrapping paper on hand and never actually having enough to wrap the one gift I needed to.  So, I bought a ton of black and white damask paper { at Hobby Lobby, of course } and now I use it for everything.  Hot pink and lime green tulle bows for birthdays, light blue for wedding gifts... even red and green for Christmas.  Buying in bulk also saves you from the last minute panic of an empty roll.  Whatever you choose, just look for something simple and versatile.

Now, if I can just convince my husband that I need one of these... happy wrapping!

{ Wrapping Cart by Ballard Designs }

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy big 6-0 to the man I've loved longer than any other - my dad.

He lulled me to sleep by singing "Little GTO" and the Boy Scouts' "Trail the Eagle" because he didn't know any lullabies.  Daddy's never been one to try and be something he's not.  He's the man who taught me important life skills, like riding a bike { sweet shorts, by the way }...

... and the proper use of firearms.  Not to mention making sure that I knew what he would do with a firearm should any unworthy male suitor make any sudden moves.  { Good thing Spencer passed the test. }

He's the one who gave me my sense of humor and the way that my cheeks stick out and my eyes close when I smile too big { although strangely I do not posses his ability to speak cat }.

And he taught be how to be Southern. { An important thing in this girl's life. }

And of course he showed me what to do when giant redwood trees are falling out of the sky.  { Stand there and scream like a damsel in distress while the boys try to hold it up, duh. }

A third generation Bulldog, my dad worked his way through college living in someone's basement in Athens.  He tells stories about living off of Dinty Moore Beef Stew and working all day just to come home and study all night.  { At least he says he studied all night. :) }  I was never more proud than to ask him to walk me onto the field for Homecoming...

 ... until the day he walked me down the aisle.

One year for Father's Day, when I was young and Katie was still just a baby, my mom snuck out of bed late at night to cross-stitch a surprise.  I didn't understand it then { I fixated on the little mallards flying all around the border }, but I'll never forget what it says:

Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy.

You're someone special for sure, Daddy.  Happy birthday!

PS - Thanks for not letting mom name me Merry Carol.  PTL for the paternal veto.  I love you!

Apparently, there's only one gator.

Unless you're a Gator fan, you will love this.  And if you happen to be from the Sunshine State, you'll wonder if this woman ever gave a speech in her quest for Congress.  I'm going with no.

{ PS - apparently, there's only one gator. }

Christmas is coming!

In my world, Christmas starts with the day after Thanksgiving.  Being a Christmas baby makes you a bit of a purist.  It's not special if it's here all the time!

So, since today is the first day I'll allow myself to start Christmas-ing { even if we're in Ft. Myers and it's 85* outside }, I thought I'd share a little something to get you in the Christmas spirit.  Elf Yourself is back!

It was a tough call, but of course we went for the hip hop one.  That's how we roll.  Besides, Spencer does the coffee grinder AND the worm!

Let the Christmas-ing begin...

Giving Thanks

As I sit here with my laptop, it's 83* outside.  I'm overlooking palm trees, a lake and a golf course, while my family is at Reagan National Airport flying back through the fog from DC.  Sort of reminds me of what it was like to grow up down here.  It's my first Thanksgiving with the in-laws in Florida, and the long drive was great time for reflection on all that I have to be grateful for.

I'm thankful to have been blessed with such fantastic parents.  Yes, they drive me absolutely bananas sometimes, but to be honest I love it.  I'm more like them each and every day. { There are even moments when Spencer and I are driving somewhere and I hear myself say, "Honey, why on earth did you turn HERE?!?" and I realize that I'm well on my way to becoming my mother. Heaven help us all. }

{ Aloha. }

I'm thankful for my sister.  Kates, Katiea, Maude... whatever you call her, she's the perfect complement to me.  We've been a tag team since the day she came home from the hospital in 1989 and I turned cartwheels all over the house.  { There may or may not be video of said occurrence. } And now she keeps me cool by introducing me to things like Google Video Chat and the cat { meow } flushing a toilet and the baby monkey riding backwards on a pig.

{ The team having coffee with Emily Giffin }

I'm thankful for my job.  In this economy, I realize that it's a serious blessing to have a job at all, much less one that you actually enjoy.  But I love my job, the people I work with, and the company that we work for.  Besides, my boss is so fabulous she arranged for us to have coffee with Emily Giffin earlier this year!

{ I'd like to go back to Hawaii.  Now sounds like a good time. }

I'm thankful that on May 8, I had the privilege of marrying my best friend.  And the thought that we get to spend the rest of our lives together... well that's about more than my little pea brain can handle.  Take it from someone who went to 9 schools before she was 18.  I've never had a friend for that long!  Here's to many, many happy years ahead.  {And sweetheart, if you want to know what I'll be like in 30 years... just go spend some time with Mom. }

{ This has nothing to do with health, but you don't want to see a picture of my leg. :) }

I'm thankful for my health.  Thankful that Dr. Benedict found the cancer before it could grow any bigger.  Thankful that they got it all.  Thankful that now we know what to look for and that if it comes back anywhere else, we know what to do.

And I'm thankful for you.  Thankful for your friendship.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth!  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God.  It is He who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  { Psalm 100 }

If Handel had a Flash Mob...

If Handel had a Flash Mob { wait, should that be capitalized or not? }, this would be it. And concidentally, if this happens to me while I'm out Christmas shopping it will seriously make my day.  I would most definitely join in singing.  Guess if I want to be part of spontaneous Christmas-caroling I should shop somewhere other than Costco and TJ Maxx...

Enjoy!

Buyer Beware.

I've always said I'd rather have one nice pair of shoes that I love and wear constantly than ten cheap pair that hurt my feet and fall apart.  That, and I have champagne taste on a beer budget.  So, I love online private sale sites like RueLala and One Kings Lane, not to mention local deal mongers like Groupon and Living Social.  I have a radar for outlet malls and once even got a fabulous pair of $125 JCrew jeans for $15!  {That was in college.  And they still fit. }

All that to say... finding great things and not paying full price for them is like a sport for me.  { Athleticism is not a gift I possess. }  So when my mom found toryburch-outlet.com, I was pretty pumped.  JCrew just recently opened an online outlet, so Tory Burch having one didn't seem too out of the ordinary.  I Googled "Tory Burch" and, at the time, it was the top non-sponsored result.  The prices were good { $99 for what would normally be $200 shoes }, but not so outlandishly low that I was alarmed.

Take a look for yourself.  See anything sketchy?  Nope?  Neither did I.  It even links back to toryburch.com and has hi-res zoom options where you can view the merchandise in detail.

But the moment I placed my order I knew something was up.  It dawned on me that while I'm usually a size 9.5, none of the shoes I wanted had half sizes available.  A little further digging on the site and I discovered that none of their shoes come in half sizes.  Hmm.

Then my confirmation email arrived, and it wasn't branded with Tory Burch.  And the "Contact Us" email?  A Gmail account.  Ouch.  So I did a little more Googling.  "Tory Burch Outlet Counterfeit." "Tory Burch Outlet Fake."  Nothing anywhere gave any indication that the website I had ordered from wasn't legit.  I even looked on toryburch.com for warnings about counterfeit merchandise and came up empty handed.

But somewhere in my gut I knew something wasn't right. { I spent half the night pacing the living room like wild woman I was so ticked.  Spencer had to convince me that we couldn't do anything about it at midnight and that maybe I should come upstairs and go to bed. }

The next day I checked our credit card statement online to see if it had gone through yet.  Sure enough it had, but so had an $8.95 International Transaction Fee.  INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION FEE?!?  { Mad pacing resumes. }

{ They may look real... but they aren't. }

Well, that was three weeks ago.  And today, this gray taped up package arrived.  With a shipping label IN CHINESE.  Now, I bought real Tory Burch Reva flats as my "last big purchase before we get married and I know my husband isn't going to appreciate my love for $200 shoes", so one look at the hot pink and bright yellow shoebox before me said it all.  They may be good fakes, but they're still fake.

These shoes smell like they've been dipped in a caustic combination of paint thinner and permanent markers.  The boxes are poorly printed, the tissue has pink T medallions { instead of white on white like the real deal }, and what is marked as a size 9 is probably more like a 7.  Closer inspection reveals that the size markings on the inside of the shoe are in the wrong place and that the T medallion on the toe is a hair too small.  Not to mention the fact that the metal probably contains lead or something else equally as scary.  The smell is so bad I won't even bring them into my house.  I left them in the garage.

Needless to say, yours truly is on a bit of a rampage.  This is the kind of thing you buy on Canal Street, or on eBay, but not from your living room sofa.  Tonight, I disputed the charges with our credit card company, called Tory Burch { apparently they already know but haven't put anything on their website to warn consumers }, and reported it to:

• The Internet Crime Complaint Center
• International Consumer Protection & Enforcement Network
• The Federal Trade Commission
• Google { because these people are using Gmail to commit what I'm pretty sure is a crime }

So take that, sketchy international-copyright-infringing, stinky-shoe-sending creeps!  Maybe this post will show up if someone else decides they might want to buy a pair of cute shoes and Googles "Tory Burch Outlet".  The real ones are worth it.  The fakes... not so much!

The Bucket List

The quiz post from Tuesday got me thinking... I have a Bucket List.  Why not post it?  They say that goals written down are exponentially more likely to come to fruition.  I can only imagine that sharing goals with friends gives them an even higher probability of actually happening!

Some of the things on this list are big.  Some are small.  { A few would may even be considered completely normal experiences for some people. }  And they're in no particular order, other than my feeble attempts to categorize.

Travel & Experiences

• See the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall { December 2002 }
• Be on the field at Sanford Stadium { October 2005 }
• Be in a parade (October 2005)
• See an active volcano { May 2010 }
• Climb the Eiffel Tower
• Eat gelato in Italy
• See the Pyramids
• Have tea at the Plaza Hotel
• Go on a Mediterranean cruise
• Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
• Go back to Hawaii for Honeymoon II
• Swim with dolphins
• Attend my high school reunion
• Learn to ski
• Go zip lining
• See Aurora Borealis
• Run a 10K { and if that goes well… maybe a Half Marathon }
• Ride in a hot air balloon
• Visit the Great Wall of China
• See a meteor shower
• Throw a surprise party
• Start a Supper Club { Want in? Let me know! }
• Be a Disney Imagineer for a day
• Go underground at Walt Disney World
• Attend a concert at Carnegie Hall
• Watch a game at Fenway Park
• See a movie in the theater by myself

{ Checking off the field at Sanford Stadium... October 2005 }

Milestones

• Get a dog { his name will probably be Barney }
• Be a mom
• Ge a grandmother
• Pay cash for a new { or at least new to me } car
• Learn to drive a stick shift
• Pay off the mortgage
• Find a mentor
• Be a mentor
• Celebrate our 50^th Wedding Anniversary 

Creativity and Faith

• Be on television { August 2010 }
• Start a blog { August 2010 }
• Read the whole Bible
• Voiceover a cartoon
• Be an extra in a movie
• Fast { as in, not eat for a predefined period of time }
• Write a children’s book
• Take piano lessons again
• Take a cake-decorating course
• Learn to paint
• Take a photography course
• Learn calligraphy
• Have a real garden with herbs, vegetables, etc. { sadly, the little pot on our balcony doesn’t count }

So if you're up for tea at the Plaza Hotel, if you have any idea how to get voiceover work, if you know any Imagineers, or if any of these overlap with your Bucket List... you know where to find me!

"I don't dream at night; I dream all day. I dream for a living!"

- Steven Spielberg

Tag... you're it!

I love fun surprises!  On Monday, Erin { a sweet friend and fabulous old roommate who's currently living the sunny life in California } tagged me in a quiz post she wrote.  As a relative newcomer to the blog world, I've never done one of these sorts of things.  And apparently rules apply.  { Emily Post, honey.  Get with it.  I need a guidebook to this Internet etiquette thing. }

So, without further ado { and no, it's not "adieu"... that's French for "goodbye" }, let the randomness commence!

If there was an extra hour in your day, what would you spend it doing?
OK.  I'm only on question number one and this is already hard.  I can't make up my mind, so we'll go with what I'd do today.  If I had an extra hour right this very moment, I'd probably use it to bake something.  I was on the road almost every week in October, so I haven't had time lately to play with all of the fun fall recipes I want to try!

What movie have you watched the most?

If I'm honest, this one is unbelievably strange and embarrassing to admit.  Growing up in our house, we watched Mrs. Doubtfire about a hundred thousand times.  No, seriously.  We wore out the VHS tape.  And we still quote it.  { "Virginia!  Get back in your cell.  Don't make me get the fire hose!" }  I guess it's kind of like the play count on my iPod.  I haven't seen the movie in forever, but I've watched it so much in the past it's still on top.

Which is worse? Being in a place that is too loud or too quiet?
If I had to choose, I'd rather have somewhere that's too quiet than somewhere that's too loud.  I'm like a kid with shiny objects when it comes to being easily distracted.  The more I try to block something out, the more I can't seem to stop thinking about it.

Are you generally an optimist, a pessimist or a realist?
If you know me, then you already know the answer to this question. : ) Optimist.  All the way.  Here's my train of thought: everything is going to be okay because, well, I don't like the alternative!

Who is your favorite celebrity crush?
Gleek alert.  Mr. Schuester, aka Matthew Morrison.  He's just so stinkin' cute!  { But not as cute as my husband, of course. } That, and I secretly wish my life spontaneously broke out into song.

What is the top thing to do on your bucket list?
I actually have a Bucket List I've been working on for a while now.  For here, I'll go with one of no particular stature in the list, other than that I think it might be kind of unique and I'm going to need some help making it happen.  I would love to be an Imagineer at Disney for a day or a week or really just like an hour.  And I'm dying to go underground at The Magic Kingdom.  I figure I can combine the two somehow.  Does anyone know an Imagineer that might be willing to let me tag along for a day?  I'll gladly return the favor if they like Chick-fil-A! : )

Would you rather be a great photographer, dancer or singer?
When I was four, I got the greatest Christmas present ever.  { Or maybe it was a birthday present.  It's hard to keep them straight when your birthday is actually on Christmas Day.  Anyway, I digress. }  Behold, the STAR STAGE.  We're talking a working microphone, voice synthesizer, and the all-important flashing stage lights.  I played with this thing until I'd Steven-Tylered it across my fireplace "stage" one too many times and the mic would no longer attach to the base.  The living room was my arena and I thought I was Gem with the Holograms singing backup.  Suffice it to say, I wish I could sing.  I mean really sing.  I did musical theater in high school, I sing in the ensemble at church now... but I've always sort of been the backup girl. : )

Now for the fun part.  To the five friends below, now it's your turn.  Let me know if you find Emily Post or her Internet Guide to Etiquette. : )

• Katie at Gamble's Rambles
• Ashley at Healthy, Happier Bear
• Amy at All is Wells
• Courtney at Daily Tales of Sugar & Spice
• Janelle at The Sweet & Interesting Moments

And here are your questions...

• What's the last book that you read?  Was it any good?
• If you could tell your sixteen-year-old self anything, what would it be?
• What is your biggest pet peeve?
• If you were a Muppet, who would you be?
• When you were young, what did you want to be when you "grew up"? { And of course we know we're not grown up yet, are we ladies? }

3... 2... 1... go!

For the love. Vote!

I love Seth Godin's blog.  He's short, to the point, and always makes me think.  { Instead of some blogs I read where they just make me want to buy new shoes.  Or throw big dinner parties.  Or redecorate my house to throw big dinner parties while wearing new shoes.  Seth, at least, doesn't end up costing me money. }

His post this morning was quite appropriate and much along the lines of one that I had started.  You see, I'm originally from Florida { the land of the hanging chads! }, so I know votes count.  And then sometimes they recount.

But, I'm abandoning my little post in favor of his.  Seth said exactly what I wanted to, only more eloqently.  Maybe that's why he's the one that's sold hundreds of thousands of books!

Voting, Misunderstood

This year, fewer than 40% of voting age Americans will actually vote.

A serious glitch in self-marketing, I think.

If you don't vote because you're trying to teach politicians a lesson, you're tragically misguided in your strategy. The very politicians you're trying to send a message to don't want you to vote. Since 1960, voting turnouts in mid-term elections are down significantly, and there's one reason: because of TV advertising.

Political TV advertising is designed to do only one thing: suppress the turnout of the opponent's supporters. If the TV ads can turn you off enough not to vote ("they're all bums") then their strategy has succeeded.

The astonishing thing is that voters haven't figured this out. As the scumminess and nastiness of campaigning and governing has escalated and the flakiness of candidates appears to have escalated as well, we've largely abdicated the high ground and permitted selfish partisans on both sides to hijack the system.

Voting is free. It's fairly fast. It doesn't make you responsible for the outcome, but it sure has an impact on what we have to live with going forward. The only thing that would make it better is free snacks.

Even if you're disgusted, vote. Vote for your least unfavorite choice. But go vote.

Here's to our "least unfavorite" candidates!

Dancing in the Minefields

Two years ago tomorrow, it was a Friday.  A quiet boy with a sweet smile in our IT department came up to my office to ask me on a date.  He asked for Saturday night, but I already had plans. Then he asked for Sunday, but I was busy then as well.  So he said, "How about tonight?" and we went out for parmesan chicken pizza on Halloween.

Then, a year ago today, he knelt to one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. I said yes, and we were married May.

Today, we're dancing in the minefields and I couldn't be happier.

Well, "I do" are the two most famous last words,

the beginning of the end.

But to lose your life for another I’ve heard

is a good place to begin.

'Cause the only way to find your life

is to lay your own life down.

And I believe it’s an easy price

for the life that we have found.

And we’re dancing in the minefields;

we’re sailing in the storm.

This is harder than we dreamed

but I believe that’s what the Promise is for.

So when I lose my way... find me.

When I lose love’s chains... bind me.

At the end of all my faith to the end of all my days,

when I forget my name... remind me.

'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man,

so there’s nothing left to fear.

I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands

'till the shadows disappear.

'Cause He promised not to leave us

and His promises are true.

So in the face of this chaos, baby,

I can dance with you.

Let’s go dancing in the minefields…

"Dancing in the Minefields" by Andrew Peterson

{ Fair warning.  Have Kleenex handy. }

There's a first time for everything.

Not gonna lie, I love me a cheeseburger.  Usually of the turkey variety, but occasionally beef. { Don't tell the Chick-fil-A cows. }

Earlier this month on my trip to the Pacific northwest, I had the opportunity to eat at Burgerville.   It's a pretty unique concept.  Their motto is simple { Fresh.  Local.  Sustainable. } and their menu is stellar.

With choices like their classic Tillamook Cheeseburger, the Echo Mountain Blue Burger, a Wild Smoked Salmon & Hazelnut Salad, and a Rosemary Chicken Sandwich... I had a hard time making up my mind.  Sweet Potato Fries were a no-brainer, but the entree selection was more difficult.  Beef?  Turkey?  Chicken?  Veggie?  { Wait.  I'm sorry.  Veggie?!? }

Now, I am not a veggie burger eater.  They look so processed and I've always thought it was something I wouldn't like.  Up there with things like sweetbread and escargot.  But then again I didn't think I'd like guacamole, and it rocked my world the day I tried it.

{ Yes, veggie! }

So... I went for it.  They have two bean options and I chose the  Yukon & White Bean Basil Burger with Tillamook cheddar cheese.  It was delicious!  As were the sweet potato fries and the fresh, hand-spun Pumpkin Milkshake I split with Amy.  Their seasonal menu changes unbelievably frequently, with some items only being available for a few short weeks while a key ingredient is at season's peak!



{ Click to enlarge }

One more surprise was in store, though.  Burgerville uses a system called Nutricate to print the nutrition information for the exact meal that you ordered on your receipt.  Granted, the bean burger and the sweet potato fries weren't as healthy as I had hoped, and it would've been nice to see the calorie count before placing my order, but the functionality is still pretty cool!

If you're ever the Oregon/Washington area, check out one of their nearly 40 locations.  And maybe give the Yukon & White Bean Basil Burger a try!

A decorating dilemma...

OK.  I need your help.

While home visiting my family this weekend, Mom and I found this beautiful framed piece at an exceptional price.  Originally $300 and we got it for 75% off!  I love how the frame is really intricate and the colors integrate perfectly with our living room.

If there had been two coordinating prints, it would be a no-brainer and I'd definitely put them above the fireplace.  But of course I have just the one.

{ What do you think? }

So, here's my dilemma: is it too tall and skinny for the space?  Do the finials balance it out okay or do I need to keep searching for something else to go alongside it?  Or, should I just hang it closer to the kitchen by my stairs where it fits proportionally without question?  And then there's the question of if we do keep it above the fireplace, should it be propped up like it is now, or should it be hung?

See?  Too many options.  Help!  What do you think?  Use your imagination and pretend you can't see the iron scrollwork peeking out from behind the print.  You see, it's heavy and I didn't think I could get it down by myself without scuffing up the wall. : )

{ And my apologies for the terrible Blackberry picture.  I snapped it on my way out of the house at 6:00 this morning.  You'd think we live in San Francisco for the fog! }

Give a Little, Save a Lot!

When a stellar opportunity for saving comes along, I feel the need to share it.  Especially when said opportunity benefits an awesome cause in the process.

Enter the Camp Twin Lakes Partners Card!

For $60 you can get 20% off at more than 500 Atlanta area restaurants and shops from October 22-31, all while benefitting the kids at Camp Twin Lakes.  CTL is a state-wide network of camps for children with serious illness, disabilities and challenges.  I went on a retreat at their facility near Athens, and it is clear that the work they do is very impactful for these children.

But back to the card.  Some of my personal favorite opportunities to save include:

• Anthropologie
• J. Crew
• Pottery Barn
• Williams-Sonoma
• Paper Affair
• Ginger Howard Selections
• Atlanta Fish Market
• Bisto Niko

... and the list goes on!  Hey, Christmas is coming.  You'd better believe that I'm going to be putting this bad boy to good use.

This may be just the push I need to finally put our Pottery Barn gift cards from the wedding towards the Garrett Glass Cabinet I've been drooling over for months.

Vera Wang china, don't you get comfortable in that linen closet.  Soon you may have a new home!

Smoky Mountain Weekend

Spencer and I just got back from a much needed weekend away.  We spent Friday through Monday here.  If you're ever looking for a place to rent in the Smoky Mountains, we highly recommend Blacklab Properties!

The place was immaculate and fully equipped. { There was even a salad spinner in the cupboard.  Which, of course, means I brought my own, but still! } Plus, the folks in the management office were wonderfully helpful when we locked ourselves out without a wallet, phone or car keys a mere 15 minutes after unloading the car. : )

The illustrious Maude { aka my sister } gave us a Flip video camera as a wedding gift.  We took in on our honeymoon, but neglected to charge it before we left so it didn't last long.  So, I took this trip as a chance to put it to good use.  Enjoy!

{ Music by Alabama, of course }

It's Awesome, Baby

{ Awesome. }

Sometimes, it's the little things in life that are the most awesome.  Small joys and simple pleasures like new shoes, Cheetos fingers, the smell of cookies, and when the Santa at the mall actually has a real beard.

If that's your kind of thing, then you really ought to check out the goodness over at 1000awesomethings.com.  Add it to your Google Reader { which in and of itself is awesome } and enjoy.

They're literally counting down a thousand things with 400 left to go.   And it's been turned into a book... not surprisingly titled "The Book of Awesome."

Some of my favorites include:

• #965 - Building a stack of pancakes that looks just like the front of the box
• #874 - The 5 Second Rule
• #840 - Popping Bubble Wrap
• #604 - Walking on grass with bare feet
• #606 - The Kid's Table
• #501 - Picking the fastest moving line at the grocery store checkout
• #409 - Kids who dress themselves

And now I've written the word "awesome" so many times I'm not even sure if I'm spelling it right anymore.  AWESOME!

Seattle In A Few Thousand Words

Long time no post!  It's been a crazy week, but it was a good one filled with new experiences.  My first visit to the Pacific Northwest was picture perfect.  Not a drop of rain in sight.

Eleven people in one really large white van.  I ate my first meatless burger at Burgerville { cool place; more on that later }, met with a few folks from Starbucks, explored Pikes Place Market, took a trip to the nation's largest single dedicated yard waste composting facility and a made a visit to the Cascade Recycling Center to see what happens to the stuff in your blue bin after it leaves the curb.

So here's the week in { 15,000 words }.  Well, at least the pretty parts.  I'll spare you the waste diversion photos.  Overall, though, not too shabby for a point-n-shoot if you ask me!


{ The SBUX HQ.  Every bit as cool as you think it would be.  But alas, no photos allowed inside. }

{ Pikes Place Market.  Can we please get one of these in Atlanta?  I could LIVE here. }

{ The first SBUX, at Pikes Place Market.  Pretty sure I drank more coffee this week than I have in my entire life combined. }

{ These people are not kidding about throwing fish.  Watch out! }

{ I was about to pick one of these up for a cute picture when the girl beside me did it, and the little booger pinched her hand.  I'll pass. }

{ Rows and rows of the most beautiful dahlias.  These bouquets were seriously only five bucks! }

{ Home of the "World's Best" Macaroni & Cheese.  They aren't kidding.  And it isn't even macaroni! It's penne.  Whatever.  I don't discriminate when cheese is involved. }

{ The white stuff?  Curds.  As in, "curds and whey."  Who knew? }

{ J. Ashley, this one's for you! I may have very well sampled every single one.  No shame. }

{ We ate lunch at a cute little cafe called The Pink Door. }

{ See?  Not a rain cloud in sight! }

{ "Black Sun" by Isamu Noguchi in Volunteer Park. }



{ I took about a zillion pictures of the Space Needle, but this one through the eye of "Black Sun" is one of my favorites. }



{ Another of the Space Needle. Also taken from Volunteer Park. }

{ Seattle seen from dinner at Salty's across the lake.  Or the sound.  Or whatever it's called. }

 Have a wonderful weekend!


The Instant Outfit

When I think of a onesie, I think of this.

A Christmas Story.  Greatest holiday movie marathon ever.  Source of endless family jokes and incessant quoting.  We even have a light-up Christmas ornament of the Leg Lamp in it's "frageelay" box...

I digress.  Back to the onesie.  The closest I get to one of those things these days is a dress.  It's like an instant outfit, and yours truly is definitely one for ease of getting ready in the morning.  With a dress, all I have to pull together are jewelry and shoes and then I'm out the door.

The folks over at Levi's, however, might take offense at the mental box I've placed the onesie into.  One apparently need not fear bunny ears and non-slip soles.  Observe: the Double Denim Onesie.

These are not your mama's flannel footie pajamas.  Nope, it's a chambray shirt, tucked in and sewn to a pair of straight cut jeans.  And surprisingly not too far off from my typical weekend wardrobe.  Since college, I've had a special place in my heart for Polo oxfords, well-worn jeans... and is she wearing Wallabees?

While I have my concerns { I'm sorry, but I see a Spanx-like conundrum here as it pertains to shall we say, restroom use }, you know, it's not all that bad.  The shirt certainly isn't going to come untucked, and that's a big plus.

The Double Denim Onesie is $194 and available from asos.com.  So tell me, would you wear one?