Listen.
We just finished another homework marathon. This time involving geometry. Which, thankfully, Caroline knows how to do without any assistance from me. However, I don’t know if it’s better when she knows all the answers and spends thirty extra minutes doing all her little victory song and dances in her chair while saying “This is SO EASY!” like she’s one of the stars of the classic 1983 movie “Valley Girl” or when she can’t figure something out and rails against the entire educational system, the Texas government and the harsh realities of life in general.
It’s a toss up.
Either way, my brain is tired. And my lip is bleeding from biting it all the times I wanted to yell, “JUST FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK”.
The point is I’m not capable of composing any sort of essay about anything and will instead just throw out some random pieces of information.
1. Several of you have mentioned Tami Taylor’s new show, Nashville. Yes, I watched. And, YES, I loved it. I didn’t want the first episode to end because not only am I fascinated by Tami’s hair, but I enjoyed the general storyline and have found myself thinking about it several times since.
My only real issue is that she isn’t married to Coach Eric Taylor and living in Dillon, Texas.
But other than that? LOVE.
(I also realize her real name is Connie Britton. But she’ll always be Tami to me. Always.)
2. And while we’re on the subject of Tami Taylor, have y’all seen this?
3. Also, on the subject of hair, I have a new favorite hair product. It’s called Kenra Thermal Styling Spray.
I discovered it because my friend, Vanessa, has the most amazing hair. Like Tami Taylor’s, but maybe better if that’s possible. And so, because I’m so quick on my feet, it finally occurred to me that I should ask her what she uses on her hair. The answer was Kenra Thermal Styling Spray.
Not even kidding, I sprayed it on my hair while I curled it with the curling iron and still had good curl two days later. TWO DAYS.
4. I wrote a post over at Ree’s about three of my favorite movies that are based on the lives of authors. You can check it out here if you’re interested.
5. P texted me this picture a couple of weeks ago when he and Caroline went fishing. It’s now the wallpaper on my phone because I love it so much.
6. I mentioned that Holly Mathis came to visit a few weeks ago, but never really followed up. Mainly because there hasn’t been much progress on the house front largely due to the fact that we’re still waiting on the holes in the wall to get fixed. Apparently that’s happening next week at the latest and then hopefully everything else will happen really quickly after that because I’m ready for my house to be pretty again.
However, I’d asked Holly if she could help me with something for my dining room table and she found me this great dough bowl while she was at Round Top.
And then I filled it with pumpkins and gourds just like I’d always dreamed. Frankly, I’m almost giddy with the thought of filling it with Christmas ornaments when the time comes.
Imagine how good it will look when I don’t have holes in my walls.
(Also several of you asked about Holly. She does online consultations as well. You can visit her blog for more information.)
7. I’ve decided I’m going to embrace the crockpot this winter. I mean, not literally embrace it because THIRD DEGREE BURNS. But I like the idea of dinner percolating away all day while I do more meaningful things like figure out new ways to fix my hair.
And that’s it for today.
Happy Wednesday.
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Love, love, love Connir Btiyyon and her new show! Also miss her hubs from FNL! The new hubs may annoy! Please share the crockpot recipes if you come across any. I have tried 3X to embrace the crockpot! Nothing comes out tasting as yummy, tender or moist as the food that has braised all day in my Le Creuset pot in the oven! In the crockpot it all tastes dry and tasteless! I have got to be doing something WRONG!
Love, love, love Connie Britton and her new show! Also miss her hubs from FNL! The new hubs may annoy! Please share the crockpot recipes if you come across any. I have tried 3X to embrace the crockpot! Nothing comes out tasting as yummy, tender or moist as the food that has braised all day in my Le Creuset pot in the oven! In the crockpot it all tastes dry and tasteless! I have got to be doing something WRONG!
Two things: 1. my favorite twitter 6 days ago from NotKennyRogers read: So Coach Taylor left Dillion so his wife could try country music? and 2. Love you table gourd. I have a big assortment of pumpkins and gourds too, but they slowly have been disappearing as my lovely daughter has been taking them and making them into dinner. She has been roasting the seeds and then the various gourds. They are so yummy.
I think it’s time I watch all of the seasons of Friday Night Lights. Never watched it. The suspense is killing me.
You must. You must. I bought the nice little package with all of them because, well, I’m in Texas and they are about football. Coach Taylor told a kid, “You’re in Texas now. You do love football. You just don’t know it yet.”
I’ve been wanting use my crock pot more this winter too. I’ve found a ton of great sites and recipes on Pinterest…I think I’ve rePinned a few that you spotted too!
That video made me smile so big!!!!!!!! I heart Tami Taylor and Connie Britton!!!!!! I love the show Nashville. “You can kiss my decision as it’s walking out the door.” Ha! Love it
And I’m with you, I love Rayna, but she’ll always be Tami Taylor to me!! 
I read the whole first part and it never even occurred to me that you were calling her Tami Taylor instead of her actual name, because in my family we only call her Tami. We also follow that with a good “y’all”. Love her.
And also, I never commented but the Smash Williams reference on Monday made me laugh out loud.
I’d like to contribute this recipe to the crockpot cause. It is delicious. DELICIOUS. And super easy. And please pardon me while I covet your dough bowl and the ornament possibilities.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-slow-cooker-french-dip/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=easy%20french%20dip&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page
Be sure to share your crockpot yummies with us!!
I just got on the Kenra website and they don’t sell it in CO. Oh No!
I LOVE that bowl. I’ve been looking for a bowl just like that!!! L.O.V.E.
The slow cooker is my favorite friend….she does all the work, while I am at work. And who doesn’t love a friend like that!?
These are two recipes that use pretty regularly:
Ree’s Italian Drip Beef – just throw a roast, a sprinkle of salt, italian seasoning (1 Tbs) and about 8 oz of Pepperoncini’s and their juice in the cooker, and cook on low. I serve on ciabatta (or other roll) with a thin layer of mayo, and sliced pepperjack cheese to make sandwiches.
Split pea soup – Recipe here: http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotsoup/r/bl17c5.htm
Good luck with your slow cooker….and the math!
Don’t have a clue as to where your house is but I am coming to steal that dough bowl. I love them so much and that one is AWESOME!!!!
I also love my crockpot. It is a huge timesaver and meats come out so tender.
I watched the clip on “Y’all” and realized that’s exactly how I talk. I grew up in West Texas (near Odessa) and I think y’all is just something learned from the cradle. Then I moved to El Paso, where the Texas accent is found no where. My students just learned to understand me, accent and all. And they knew when I said, “Y’all!” rather sharply, it meant, “Get quiet!” Just sayin.
Just walked in from errands and YES!, I can smell the Italian Shredded Beef cooking away. Love my crockpot. It smells delicious, but even better is knowing that after a long day of running around, homework and soccer practice, dinner will be ready. Bliss.
Okay, when you put ALL of the y’alls in one clip, it sounds a bit strange, but ummm, during the show it all seems perfectly normal to me. I mean really. If I simply stated, “You are driving me crazy right about now,” my kids would ask me which one of them was driving me crazy. And then I would have to reply BOTH. It just cuts down on so much time if I just set the record straight up front. Y’ALL ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY. See? Doesn’t that make perfect sense? C’mon, y’all, give me a break here.
I LOVE this video!! I so miss Friday Night Lights, and you said it perfectly! Nashville is great but would be so much better if she were married to Coach Taylor and living in Dillon!! Love your blog Melanie, usually I’m just a stalker but had to Amen this one!!
Don’t forget the “Hey” before the “Y’all”! I am from NE but now live in OK. I once lived in NC and noticed right away that Southerners all say “Hey” instead of “Hi”. I learned this when I would walk into a party and people would say “Hey” so I walked up to them and said “Yes? What?” And they would would kinda shrug and say “Nuthin’…just Hey!”
I’ll have to try that thermal styling spray. I use Kenra’s number 9 hairspray for 2 years and love it (ever since the first day my hairstylist sprayed it on my hair and I went out and bought some at Ulta that day!) Best hairspray ever. I actually ended my 15 year affair with Shaper Plus over it. And Kenra 9? Smells like cotton candy. Are you kidding me? When your hairspray works great AND satisfies your sweet tooth? That’s a win.
Love Nashville! Watched it again on the dvr and picked up on even more. Going to be a great show.
Oh I loved Nashville too! But why couldn’t Tim Riggins just show up for a couple of scenes every week?
Ok…Kay Robertson has that bowl… She keeps onions in it. And avocados…
Tami forever! I about wore my husband out referring to Connie Britton as Tami Taylor all last week as I geared up for the show. And, while making him watch the show, I kept saying things like, “I had no idea Tami Taylor could sing!” He loved it!
I was really hoping this would fill the FNL void for me. The jury is still out…
Please, please, PLEASE tell me how I can get one of those bowls!! I’m coming to San Antonio in a few weeks, is Round Top a store there?
Haven’t watched Nashville yet, but did want to mention that I started watching FNL all because of hearing about it from you! I wasn’t sure I would like it, but HELLO new favorite show. I’m on season 3 already…and already sad to know that it will end.
I was so excited for it that I actually watched it on the computer the next day – it wasn’t on demand yet and I HAD to let Mike watch Ghosthunters – LOVED IT! Is that the key to good hair – i’m having a hair rut – it’s long enough for a pony tail but not so long that it’s prettier down.. boo!
I need some cute bloggie designer friends in Charleston..jealous!
Wow. You did like seven blog posts in one here. I bow down.
And yes, please share any great crock pot recipes you find, I’ll not embrace them too, I mean, 3rd degree burns are frightening. 
Oh, Melanie. I used to read your blog first thing every morning & then life got crazier so now I just try to make sure I read it at some point during the day. It’s 10:24pm here in WA and I’m tired. I just got into bed, about to turn off the light & realized I hadn’t checked in with you today. I grabbed my iPad, opened my favorites & there you are. Hilarity ensued & I almost woke my husband with my laughter. Never stop blogging. You’re my favorite and you’ve given me great fashion advice a number of times. Thanks for using all the words.
Darn! You reminded me! I forgot to put the chicken in the danged crock pot! Bummer!
Love the table (bowl & gourds)!
My favorite crock pot recipes, which will show you exactly how lazy I am about cooking. 1) buy a bag of meatballs at Costco (or wherever). Dump into crockpot so it is about 3/4 full. Open jar of favorite spaghetti sauce, pour over the meatballs. Fill the empty jar halfway with water, add some italian seasoning, and whatever else sounds good (garlic? tabasco?), replace lid, shake it up, and pour that over the meatballs, too. (may take more than one jar of spaghetti sauce depending on size of your crockpot). Turn the crockpot on low and let it simmer all day (if you’re home, put it on high for the first hour). Serve over pasta or on hoagie rolls. 2) overnight oatmeal. Rinse 1 C of steel cut oats, then dump in crockpot. Add 3 1/2 C liquid (I usually use 2 C milk and 1 1/2 C water), 1/2 t salt. Optional additions: 1/2 C raisins, 1 t vanilla, 2-4 T brown sugar. Stir, turn on low and leave overnight. This is the BEST. We all have different breakfast times at our house–the first person to scoop some out turns it off, but the ceramic liner keeps it warm for another couple of hours so everyone can just eat when they want.
Thank you for the crock pot reminder. I used mine once last winter. ONCE!
I love this. Every word. Thanks for keeping it real. This comment shows I’m a little late to the party but I still wanted to take the time to post. I was at the brunch on Saturday the 6th and you did not disappoint. Your anxiety completely paid off – so thanks for that and know that I owe you a roll of Tums for all of it. I came alone and felt you were talking just to me – -thanks for that, too! How often to I get a great word about airing on the side of love and improving the appearance of the junk in my trunk all in one morning? You’re even more adorable in person and I seriously needed to be reminded that David didn’t have to go looking for the throne and he did a good bit of waiting even after he got tapped for the best gig in town. Glad to be tending the sheep and tossing stones in the direction my own little lamb should go until I hear more from my own Shepherd. Oh, and shopping for some cute jeans all the while.
I think I am hooked on Nashville too- and her hair looks great on the show- I’m sure yours looks great too! Will try the Kenra next time I go to ULTA
!
Hmm use Kenra hairspray….will have to try the thermal spray
I love your bread bowl, and I love Round Top. I went last year and left with a trunk full of beautiful things. I would have come home with one of those bowls if I had seen it.
i love the crockpot! we use it at least once a week in the winter. be sure to grab some crockpot liners (usually near the ziplock baggies?) and it makes your cleanup even easier.