5 on Friday time...

Not sure how Friday crept up so quickly - although two days ago I was whining about how long it was taking to get here. I've got my vacation itch, and I just need time to fly by!

It's that time again...

one.

I am still compleeeeeetely bitter about my Once Upon a Time finale, as most of my friends know. Whyyyy must they make it so hard for my faves? And why must they make me want to punch Emma in the face on a regular basis?  Oh how the ending looked oh so happy for a brief shining moment...

I'll let my bitterness subside since two weeks from now, we meet those two (and of course by those two, I mean Lana and Sean)! Hooray for being a nerd, it means I love the shows that do all the good conventions! ;) 

two.

speaking of my shows, I was also totally gutted by Grey's Anatomy this week, but in a much better way. I couldn't have come up with a better send off to Cristina than that, and I ugly cried the entire last 20 minutes. Shonda Rhimes is such a genius. Cristina's "Don't let what he wants eclipse what you need. He's very dreamy but he's not the sun. You are." speech to Meredith was one of my favorite things she's ever said on the show. (And I burst into tears when they had to dance it out once last time!) I was a little sad she didn't have more of a goodbye with Owen, but....it was super fabulous to have an actual Farewell show without her dying! 

three.

the shopaholic in me isn't sure this is a great thing, but Middle TN is now about to have TWO H&M's! which will mean there's one 5 minutes from my house and one 5 minutes from my house. Is my paycheck prepared for this!? 

four.

a week from today we leave for the beach, so the book nerd in me started picking up a couple books I wanted to read while lounging on the beach...this year I really wanted something funny, so one of the books I picked up was "Dear Girls Above Me",  written from a guy's perspective when two ditzy girls moved into the apartment above him. 

five.

tomorrow is laundry day & crashing at my sisters for the night to hang out, which means tonight's my last weekend night at home trying to get stuff together. therefore...

Happy weekend! 

Finally Friday!

Happy Friday!

It looks like it might rain this morning, but hopefully that holds off! After breakfast this morning, we're all heading back out to the stables to do a little riding. Because what better way to spend a Friday, right? The office is actually open today, but I took the day off -- apparently sharing the same thought with a lot of people, I'm told!

Before heading out to the stables though.... a little 5 on Friday! I haven't done this link up in a little while....

one. Easter weekend has arrived! Which obviously means I'll be spending tomorrow night at my sisters with the kids & my mom. (My sister and I have actually planned on ditching everyone Saturday night for sister time and going out for dinner & margaritas, but shhhh.) Can't wait to wake up with the kiddos Easter morning! This year I'm torn between making baskets or putting money in eggs and making them hard to find -- oh the perks of the kids being older!

two. Holy hell did Scandal kick my ass last night.  We laughed, we cried, we gasped....this was a hell of an episode. And Fitz broke my heart having a nervous breakdown in the Oval Office & asking where Olivia was at the end. Sigh. Shonda Rhimes truly knows how to cause a tv-induced heart attack. Also, what the hell am I supposed to do on Thursdays now until the fall? Sigh. 

three. Record Store Day is Saturday! Goodness knows I love keeping our record stores busy in Nashville, and there is nothing I love more than going to the record store and walking out with actual records. I will certainly be in the line tomorrow morning before my first session! 

four. Since I'm on the subject of vinyl, I cannot explain my excitement for finding this record. The cover wasn't in the shape I wish it was, but the record is in such incredible condition, I freaked out in the record store. (And then my heart dropped a little bit when the kid next to me told me he had no idea who Jessi Colter was. Can I require people coming into Nashville to take a test?) 

five. I've become totally obsessed with researching Vancouver for our trip later in the year. my head is about to explode from finding all these incredible gems to visit, and all these places I want to photograph. I have no idea how I'm fitting everything in in the time frame we're going to be there!

Five on Friday

Happy Friday! Soooo glad the weekend is finally here - P is playing the Opry & I'm SO happy to see her!

It's that time again....some random 5 on Fridays!

one. I bought my sister & I tickets to see Wicked next week! And then I got the tickets to see Wizard of Oz at the symphony center in June -- SO excited to see both. A movie that we never ever tire of seeing!

two.  Goodness knows I love a good DIY project, and I found this on pinterest this week. I absolutely LOVE this idea to make the filing cabinet look so much cuter - and I love the color too. This is totally on my list of things to do.

three. We got our VIP passes for Spooky Empire! I'm so excited to meet all our peeps from OUAT, although I'd totally have settled for just meeting Lana Parrilla & Sean Maguire (swoon!). The VIP will help us get everyone we want, and that now includes Pat Carroll! This line up is amaaaazing. 

four.  I've been working on planning our Disney Trip this week-- and no it's not until November, but I fully intend on making this a "go big or go home" trip for my Paige. Aunt Nicole doesn't do anything half -assed.  (And wow, I do nothing but plan trips lately!) Anyway, Disney sent me stuff this week for the deadlines of everything, and they want me to sign up for our dining plans in May. Paige & I laid some stuff out, and she's excited to hit up the Be Our Guest restaurant.  It's really hard to make plans there without bursting into song....

five. Spotted this on pinterest this week & loved it. I keep seeing everyone complain about their job, but not doing anything about it. Nothing will fall in your lap, get off your ass and go make your dream job.

Step right up....come on in...

Happy Friday! I'm so happy to have a low-key weekend ahead....save for a session on Sunday morning, I have a nice weekend in. Considering I just bought a big stack of more vinyl, I fully intend on spending my Saturday with my record player.

It's Five on Friday time, and I'm totally theme-ing it this week. I had to pick out 5 songs for a friend this week to add to a playlist, and quite frankly: picking 5 of my favorite songs was a lot harder than I thought it would be! It should be no surprise to anyone that the 5 I picked were all "real" Country Music, and were mostly from artists I rave about daily. With that said....5 songs I can't live without, by 5 artists I can't live without:

one. The Grand Tour - George Jones 

Not only is this my fave Jones song, this is my all time favorite song by anyone.  This song is breathtaking. If this song doesn't hit you or bring tears to your eyes, I'm not sure you have a soul. "As you leave, you'll see the nursery, oh she left me without mercy..." I promise you no one but George Jones can deliver that line with that pain. Sigh. I'm so fortunate I had the chance to hear him do this live multiple times before his passing.


two. Till I Can Make it On My Own - Tammy WynetteI say it was hard to rank a top 5 songs, but it certainly isn't hard to rank my top 2. This vies sooo close to my #1 spot for favorite song. I love Tammy. I still cite getting the chance to see her live as one of the highlights of my life. I was eleven years old when she came to my hometown of Sebastian, Florida. My mother refused to buy me tickets, so thank goodness the DJ's at our local station took pity on the kid who so desperately wanted to go & handed me two tickets. Bless her heart, a rough life she led - she was pretty frail by the time I had the chance to see her. But boy was it magical - and I can still remember every single moment of that show. Hearing this live was one of the greatest moments of my life.
three. Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark - Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner
Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark has always been my favorite Dolly song....and goodness knows it's hard to pick one, because that girl knows how to write a good song. I could have thought of 100 songs off the top of my head that she wrote that I can't live without. Anyway, I love this one --- I miss the days of Country Music songs telling a story. I almost miss the days of a good duet!


four.  It's Only Make Believe - Conway TwittyOh how I love, love, love this man. Talk about a huge loss -- waaaay too soon for Country Music. I was 9 years old when Conway died....I still remember where & when I was when my Mom told me he was gone. I often think about what an even bigger impact he would have made on Country Music if he had lived a little longer. This song is incredible live..

five. My Old Friend the Blues - Patty LovelessYou didn't think I'd actually leave P out of this list, did you? Goodness knows my top fave songs are peppered with probably almost every song P has ever cut. This song absolutely slays me. (And even more so live) Multiple artists have cut this, and not a damn one of them has put an ounce of the emotion that P has in her version. 

5 on Friday...

This felt like the longest week ever. Maybe because I had 9 days away & this was my first week back at the office? I've been convinced Friday was never going to get here!

I haven't done the 5 on Friday randoms link up in awhile...

one. downton abbey 
I am such a freaking TV junkie -- the whole winter hiatus ABC has on Once Upon a Time & Scandal is driving me crazy!  Thank goodness the ever fabulous Downton Abbey is back! This show is seriously amazing - and Maggie Smith is absolutely brilliant! If you're not watching it - you should be.

two. books, books, books! 
I may have went slightly crazy & ordered a slew of new books on Amazon last week (how would I live without Amazon?) - so says my debit card & packages that keep arriving in my mailbox. I may be one the biggest tech nerds around, and I sure can't live without my iPhone & iPad--- but I can never ever give up my love for books!

In the ones I just ordered, I just finished yesterday reading Bless Your Heart Tramp: And Other Southern Endearments by Celia Rivenbark. The southern girl in me LOOOVED it. (And I love most of Celia's books!) And because I keep adding to my intensely large Vintage Country Music library, I finally picked up Vivian Cash's bio, I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny, which I'm currently reading -- and can't put down! (If you've watched "Walk the Line", you reeeeally need to read this book to truly have both sides of the story)

three. i miss who i was with you

You can go through Patty's catalogue and you'll find a song for every.single.moment in your life, I swear. Seriously no exaggeration. It's part of what makes her awesome, she doesn't cut BS songs.

This song has always been one of my faves of hers, but holy hell did it hit me like a ton of bricks this week --- I needed this song this week. Every single line of it. 

(Everyone should listen to it....and then purchase the record it's on, because it's better than anything you've heard on radio today. Before P released the Holy Grail that is Mountain Soul, this was my favorite record of hers!) 

four. hello dolly!Our Dolly Parton tickets came today! I'm excited to see her again - I haven't seen her since Chris & I went to Chicago to see her a few years ago (which was also the show we went backstage, my first time getting to meet Dolly!) This time the bestie is going & she's never seen a full Dolly show! 

five. vacations!

I already booked our Thanksgiving Disney World trip, so yesterday I sat down to start working on the rest of this years plans....besides hitting FL for Disney, it's also on the list earlier in the year so I can go home and visit family. Also on the list this year is Baltimore, Ohio, our girls weekend in Gulf Shores, and Canada in the fall. And that's just what's on the list thus far- and doesn't include our concert travel OR the fact that we're going to the Kentucky Derby this year! What would I do if I had to sit at home all the time??

 

Happy Friday y'all!

Lazy Sunday....

Happy Sunday!! It's so gross and cold out, I do believe today will be a day in watching movies until my show comes on - I swear I spend my weeks anxiously waiting for Once Upon a Time & Scandal -- how bored are my nights going to be in January & February?! ;) I would say I'm not leaving the house today, but.....everyone knows there's no way I could stand a day without Starbucks!

I don't know where the hell this year has gone -- how in the hell is it almost Christmas already??! However, I do know that in 11 days, I am reunited with my twin cousin! And not only reunited, hitting our Family Reunion together! We haven't done that in YEARS.

(And I sit here & watch "Beaches" without her, I miss her even more!) I am so so excited for the 19th to get here! We finished putting together the tattoo we're getting, and I may or may not have started packing....so if we could speed things up, that would be great! I know Ohio is anxious to witness us obnoxiously sing Dixie Chicks in the car together. This is the third time I've seen her this year, which is a fabulous streak for us! I do think the greatest part of our relationship is every time we're together, it's like no time has passed since we last saw each other. 

I haven't done Sunday Social in a while, so.....here goes!


1. What is the wallpaper on your cell phone?A pic of me standing at the Johnny Cash museum.  Awhile back I read Liz Lamoreux blog entry: Why Do I Take Pictures of Where I Stand? After reading the blog, I bought her book.....and it was a great inspiration for when I'm behind the camera (or my iPhone!) to start shooting for me again. I started shooting more portraits of where I was at moments. The vintage country music nerd in me completely geeked out at his boots, and this picture was one of my faves I've ever taken. 

2. What do you keep beside your bed?Glasses, usually the book I'm currently reading & my iPad
3. What is your least favorite chore? Cleaning the shower. I guess if I wore a mask and didn't inhale the chemicals, I wouldn't hate it as much.4. If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be?It takes me forever to get ready. Can I just have a magic wand that will fix my hair & makeup for me so I can eliminate all that time I spend on it & sleep longer?5. What do you do to vent anger?I was going to say I usually text my sis, bestie or cousin, but also-- I cry. Total frustration crying.

6. What is your favorite holiday of the year and why?Christmas, because the kids are so much fun. It's also the holiday I have never ever been away from my sister. 

Sunday Funday....

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon....this morning I got up a little early to head over to Watertown for a session. This couple is one of my favorites to work with - their past sessions couldn't have been any easier, and she was by far one of the best brides I've ever worked with! Today we shot at their property, and explored some of the land, which is absolutely gorgeous, rustic & out in the country. These times just remind me even more how much I love living in the south. Towards the end of their session, we brought the dogs out to be included - and then headed to the back to include the chickens. And as I cull the images and edit, the one with the chickens is just absolutely one of my favorites:

I love this place.

A little Sunday Social time....



1. What are 3 items you can't live without on a daily basis (water, food, shelter, and clothes don't count)?
iPhone, camera & eyeliner

2. What is your all time favorite book? Why?
The Great Gatsby. I was such a book nerd as a kid, I read all the time. I am so so glad this was on summer reading, because I fell in love with the story. And surprisingly, I loved the movie too!

3. What is something you'd like to accomplish before the end of 2013?
Put my degree to use. We'll see how this plays out.

4. If you could go back and relive any year of your life which year would it be?
This is kind of hard because the past year has been pretty awesome. I guess 1998, the year my niece was born. It was pretty magical becoming an aunt. Not to mention, we watched her, so I saw her every single day of the week, and usually on weekends since I was at my sisters when she wasn't here! And of course, 2002 would follow, when the nephew was born. Not only was it a great time for the entire family, being in the delivery room and watching my nephew take his first breath is definitely one of those moments you never forget.

5. What do you wish people knew about you without you having to tell them?
That I'm seriously allergic to onions, and no I don't just not like them and playing an "allergy card". It would be great to not have to dissect my food and make sure there's no onions on it before I eat :) 

Happy Sunday!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Yay for Wednesdays! A step closer to the weekend being here..although I did wake up and thought it was Thursday. I was horribly disappointed when I realized it wasn't!

And it's time for What I'm Loving Wednesday. But first, let me give a little what I'm NOT loving: Last night, my Comcast decided to go out. When, you ask? Right at the freaking beginning of Dance Moms! Whaaaaat?! While it would be faaaabulous if Comcast would just freaking work like it's supposed to (I'm totally confused: Why is my bill $200 a month when my cable & internet go down at least once a week now?),  apparently this won't ever happen and they need a copy of my television schedule.  Sunday-Wednesday nights are unacceptable time frames for my cable to go out.  Hooray for networks putting shows online now for impatient people like me who can't wait for it to re-air eventually!

Moving on..

This week I'm loving...

Victoria's Secret just put out this new shirt & I am in looooove! I've already ordered it :) 

                              

EVERYTHING else is all repeats tonight --- except the beloved Duck Dynasty -- so, clearly, we know what my priority is tonight! 

I am loving this crackle overcoat -- if you haven't tried it, go buy it! Pair blue & white and boom, got my Kentucky game day nails ready to roll! 

I found this on pinterest and tried it tonight! Apple pie bites, sliced apples with crescent rolls and cinnamon! Such a great idea, and they'll be a hit at the office. And, for the domestically challenged like me: they were ridiculous easy. 

I spotted this on pinterest and fell in love with this quote.  Think this needs to be hanging in the house....

Sunday Social!

Today I decided to tackle changing out the headlight bulb on the car, because it's been out forever. I've been a total jackass and used my high beams for a little while. I replaced the tail lights last year, and it was soooo easy. Headlight? Not so much. I guess it could be - the problem is it's my drivers side light, which is where the battery and battery casing is. So I can't seem to get my hand down and pull the bulb out because of the casing. I used the rain starting to fall as an excuse to stop & going to come up with something clever to get it out (tweezers? It's driving me nuts). I worked a total of 15 minutes on it and came in and loudly proclaimed I hate cars & they frustrate me, and how mad I was that it smudged my nail polish. Clearly, I was not cut out for any small mechanic work. It's Sunday! Which means... Sunday Social time!

1. What is your ideal way to relax? 
Not doing a damn thing. No really - I love when I can be a total lazy bum, stay in my pajamas, watch TV and not have to worry about anything. 

2. Where is your favorite place to be? 

I could be totally cliche and say home, and that's definitely one of my favorite places to be. But, really, anywhere I'm with my friends/family/etc. I love being home. I love going up to Kentucky. I love going home to Florida - I have a good time everywhere I go, as long as I have my friends with me. 

3. Who do you consider your biggest role model?

It's really easy for me to say PL, because goodness knows she sure helped me during my childhood/teenage years - and things I learned from her during those years is totally invaluable. But I'd be crazy not to include my Granny, the one who taught me I didn't need to worry about what anyone else thought, and I needed to do what made me happy. 

4. What does your life look like in 3 years?

Who knows....

5. If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?

I would have cut out some of the negative things/people weighing me down sooner than I did. 

6. What is your biggest accomplishment in life so far?

Going back to school & starting my own business. I may have changed majors (twice), and transferred schools (from local that was absolutely killing me...this work full time, run a business on the side, and go to classes at night was pure hell.... to online UK classes) -- and taken a semester or two off, but still, I'm glad I went back.  

facts of me...

Should I admit that I've been living in my pajamas for four days, minus two brief trips out on Sunday & today, in which I immediately came back home and put my pajamas back on? Back to reality tomorrow. 

I have tried not to doing a ton of link ups, but I loved this one and loved reading everyone else's ---So, Whitney's doing a great link up today with random facts! (And if you're blogging, head over to Whitney's and grab her link to chime in!)

• I totally used to think that airplanes in the sky at night were flying alligators thanks to my big sister. I spotted one at a young age, growing up in Florida and asked what it was and my sister told me it was a flying alligator. I believed it for awhile --- every time I'd see one, I'd excitedly turn around to my sister and shout "SAM! IT'S ANOTHER FLYING ALLIGATOR!" I was so pissed when I found out they were airplanes! 

Aren't you jealous of our side ponytails?!

• I cannot drive in snow. Regular ole snow, can't do it. I completely panic -- and I'll be in tears & have myself convinced that I'm going to die until I call my sister to calm me down so I can get home in one piece. I will not leave the house again until the snow is gone. See why I live in the South? 

• While I'm talking phobia's, I'm ridiculously petrified of tornadoes. My sister makes fun of me because I keep a safe area in my closet during Tennessee's most active tornado season. I say I'm just well prepared in the event of an emergency, and would rather be safe than sorry. (And I'm fully aware I sound like my mom here, sigh.) 

• My twin cousin & I cry about everything - and I do mean everything. (Which is kind of funny because I don't really know anyone else in our family on that side that cries so insanely easy) Now we usually have the random texts during the week proclaiming something stupid that made us cry. (Emily's best was "I just cried because of the woman on the radio that won today. I mean, she was so happy!")

• And speaking of, my cousin Emily & I refer to each other as twin cousins because we've been inseparable since we were super little. When we were little, everyone assumed we were sisters, and whatever one liked, the other liked, we were practically carbon copies of each other. 

• I silently correct people on some of their Grammar. When I see someone not using "you're/your" properly, I want to punch them in the face. 

• I'm super punctual -- and if you make plans with me at an exact time and are late, I'm not going to be happy. And yes, I will look at my phone 2 minutes after and whine about how someone is late.  Time is valuable. 

• The hospital closest to my house knows my name from frequent visits -- and they usually know when I come in that it's something my clumsy ass did myself and say, "What did you do this time?" Sigh.

• I have this weird thing about setting the alarm and have to set it for a random time -- if I want to get up around 5:30,  I will set it for 5:23, or 5:34 - but never 5:30 on the dot. This is one of the many weird things my nephew has gotten from me. 

• I've been to over 250 PL shows in 29 states (I think that's what it was at when I looked last!)

• And on the subject of PL,  her logo from "When Fallen Angels Fly" was my first tattoo when I turned 18. My aunt swore I'd regret it & probably not even like PL in a few years. 11 years later, I still love that damn tattoo. She's the only thing I'd ever "stuck with" from childhood to now. 

• And on that note, I have 6 tats - my PL logo, the chinese symbol for "Aunt" on my left wrist, a purple heart with angel wings for my Granny on my right wrist, a music note on my toe, and my sister and I have matching palm trees on our ankles as a nod to our hometown. Finally, my sister and I also got matching chinese sister symbols on our shoulders - I have little sister & she has big sister.

• I have the mouth of a sailor. My niece used to tell me I shouldn't "say those words" haha, and I totally tried not to. (That didn't work out so well!)