Addiction?

Admitting you have a problem is the first step in recovery, right? Well here is my admission......

I have a Pinterest problem.

 

There, I said it. Wow, I feel better now that I've gotten it off my chest. Seriously though, I'm scared to admit just how much time I waste spend pinning and re-pinning different images. I'm still just a bridesmaid in life but if you looked at my boards, you would think I'm getting married next week! You would also think I'm the kinda gal that can whip up crazy good things in the kitchen. I am here to tell you that while I can cook, and I do know my way around a kitchen, I will not attempted a 28395718346534975 layer cake with sparklers and mini circus adorning it. Sorry, I'm not that kinda gal. 

Maybe one day when someone else is paying my/our bills and I don't have a full-time job. Also I have a feeling I'm going to need a gourmet kitchen so I'm going to have to move first. 

Do you see all the problems that said cake has already caused?!?! Apparently, I few things to work on in the near future.

However, today Pinterest got something right. I stumbled across this...

I could not have said it better myself. I've been contemplating going to CO. I'm doing it. I needed that last push to pony-up the credit card and bit the bullet. Thank you Pinterest and might I add, well played. Lure me back in just as I was facing my problem head on.

Happy Friday!

Southern Gal

Remembering

My Grandma is on the left with one of her friends. They were on a road trip in their early twenties to visit their soldiers. This was pre-WWII because their road trip was to the military base where their men were training. My grandparents weren't married at this point and wouldn't get married for at least another four years while my grandfather was stationed in Europe. 

The point of this is that today marks two years since my Grandma passed away. I still miss her everyday and my Sunday nights are still weird without our weekly talks. Fortunately I remember every word of our last Sunday night talk because it was the day my nephew was born. I am so lucky that I got to spend 27 years with her but mostly I wish I could have one more talk or visit with her. 

I have lots of times where I'm jealous of my brother and cousins. I'm the only grandchild that didn't get to introduce their significant other to our Grandma (remember, I'm forever a bridesmaid ha). With that, I know that I will be able to cherish stories, family history, and moments that she shared with me that my brother and cousins didn't get. 

She held our family together and one day I would like to be able to step into her shoes. She was a smart lady and often I catch myself wondering what advice she would give me for a given situation. I also know she didn't like to miss a party so when our family is together, I know somewhere she is mad that she is missing the fun!

If you still have a grandparent, call, visit, hug, kiss them right now!

XOXO,

Southern Gal

The Seasons Have Changed

There is so much to celebrate today! I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll start with the most obvious! 

It's the most wonderful time of the year......college football season!! I am beyond excited! Of course I have my red and white on today. I can't wait to skip out of the office and into my local bar to cheer for some touchdowns today!

My next celebration is fall is almost here. FB is a frenzy of pumpkin lattes and football excitement. You know fall is on its way when Starbucks pulls out the pumpkin. So ready to kiss these 90 degree temps goodbye and say hello to a crisp fall day.

Finally, I hope the skies are clear tonight because there is a Blue Moon. There won't be another blue moon until 2015. I'd like to see it. I know I sound like a dweeb but it might be cool. Maybe I'll dance to Frank's Blue Moon under a real Blue Moon after drinking Blue Moon tonight. (Man, I'm good at this game!)

Happy Friday and Go Pack!

S.O.S.

Sickness

I've decided that summer sickness is the worst! Absolute. Worst. Ever.

I was out of work for three days this week. If you know me, I don't take sick days. Especially three in a row. I had every possible funk all rolled up into one. All I wanted was to pull out fleece pjs, stocks, hoodies, but it was way too hot for all that. Blah.

I watched way too much tv over the past few days. Since its still summer, there was only one new show on my DVR. Thank you Dance Moms (I can't give you a link bc Lifetime.com is blocked at work?) for giving me one hour of entertainment over the past 3 days. Theres a new dancer and mom in town and they are gonna be a handful! I wonder if she'll dance at Nationals. Do you think Maddie will have a solo at Nationals?? Drama, drama.

It got so bad, that last night I watched an hour special on Lizzie Borden AND an hour special on Jack the Ripper.  The show last night found James Kelly guilty of the Jack the Ripper killings. Apparently there were 10 total across London and the US. I also watched the series final of Teen Mom (tear). I'm gonna miss those silly girls! I really do hope Amber gets her life together.

Today is my Monday and tomorrow is Friday with a three day weekend. I've got all my days completely out of whack now. I have a feeling I'll be even more confused at some point next week.

Lesson the week- take your vitamins year round. 

I hope the germs stay far away!

S.O.S.

Clean Laundry

Everytime, without fail, a little grey furball burrows into my clean, fresh out of the dryer, laundry.

I guess her nose was cold! 

Happy Friday, Y'all,

SOS

PS- I promise those sheets, pillowcases, and pajamas are clean!

4 Month Reflection

Yesterday marked four months of being at my new job- uhh, how did that happen?! Sometimes I feel like I've been here forever and other days, I feel like its my first day.

I can say, without question, that changing jobs was the best thing. My stress levels appreciate it, my checkbook loves it, my family and friends see a huge change in me. Granted, while I LOVED my old job and coworkers, I was burnt out. The reality is, that happens. Its no one's fault. It was just the nature of that job. 

I have learned so much at my new job. Its amazing to see the differences between a state nonprofit and a national nonprofit. I have all the good corporate benefits (my insurance is out of this world!, and I have support everywhere I look) yet still have the "we roll up our sleeves and get the job done" mentality. Since I have never worked corporate America, I can't accurately compare- just my assumptions. But my blog so I can assume away!

I've also been surprised how much knowledge I've been able to apply from my old job. I'm no longer in the MH/DD field and I'm no longer doing design work so I wasn't sure how many skills would transfer.

I've made it through 3/4 of our events, all were in June. We have one major event left for the year and that will be a breeze compared to June.

I'm thrilled where life is taking me and I haven't looked back once!

Cheers,
Southern Gal

Summer Reading #2

Thank you for your summer reading suggestions that y'all emailed me.

I have read...

White Girl Problems

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This was hilarious! I could totally identify friends/myself throughout the book. It was a quick read and very entertaining. Her adventures had me laughing with every turn of the page. If you are looking for something serious, profound, etc, then I suggest you find another book.

The Secret Lives of Dresses

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This book was really sweet. It is sad in parts but I found myself cheering on the protagonist. I did cry but I would read it again. Its a quick read! I just found it at the book store and bought it on a whim. Two thumbs up.

Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy 

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I'm sure you have heard lots of opinions about these books. I liked them for what they are. They aren't meant to be the next great American novels or Shakespeare. They are fan-lit. There is more to the storyline than wild, insane sex. By book 3, I found myself wanting to get to the story!

Bitter is the New Black

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Jen Lancaster is hilarious. This was her first book she wrote and its based on her own life. She is raw, honest, funny, and real. Truthfully, I appreciated her snotty-ness.

Current Read...

Preppy in Plaid

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I'm only about 20 pages in so I don't have much of an impression at the moment. (Same author as Bitter is the New Black)

Next...

Gone Girl, Summer Rental, Spring Fever, and Bright Lights, Big Ass

These books are recommendations but I'm not sure what order I'll read them in. I'll probably read Gone Girl so I can return it to a friend. Its about a wife that goes missing. I LOVE borrowing books instead of paying for them! Bright Lights, Big Ass is another Jen Lancaster book. I saw Spring Fever on BitP blog and from that I found Summer Rental. I'll let yall know how they go.

Edit- I also have I Totally Meant to do That in my queue. A director from my old job talked nonstop about this book so maybe I'll have to squeeze this in very soon.

What else have you been reading this summer??

Happy Reading,

Southern Gal