Author: Big Mama

A while back someone asked in the comments about the music I like to listen to while I write. And I thought that was a great question and was a perfect thing to write about and then I saw something shiny and forgot all about it.

But then I spent some time writing and listening to music last week and it reminded me that I’d never answered the question. That, combined with the fact that it would be next to impossible to write anything interesting about my day today, led me to decide this was a great time to share my musical selections with you in case you’re interested.

Now, I need to clarify a few things. This is only what I listen to when I’m doing serious, focused writing at Starbucks or somewhere other than sitting on my couch at night. At night I’m usually listening to the sound of a hunter whispering about a deer he just shot or a safety expert talking about the importance of a home defense system. Also, by serious, focused writing I mean writing an entire paragraph before I check Twitter or Facebook or play another round of Candy Crush.

My playlist tends to change a little depending on my mood, but I usually like something low-key with good lyrics. When I wrote Sparkly Green Earrings I listened to almost nothing but Andrew Peterson, Dave Barnes, Ben Rector, and Christy Nockels. And while I was writing The Antelope in the Living Room, I listened to a lot of The Civil Wars and Mumford and Sons.

Right now I’m working on a third book that’s supposed to come out in April 2015 assuming I actually get it written. This is what I’ve been listening to the most this time around:

1. Crowder – Neon Steeple

2. All Sons & Daughters – Live

3. Need to Breathe – Rivers in the Wasteland

4. Ellie Holcomb – With You Now

5. John Mayer – Born and Raised and Paradise Valley

6. The Oh Hellos – Through the Deep, Dark Valley

7. Andrew Peterson – Counting Stars

8. Ben Rector – The Walking in Between

9. Lady Antebellum – Golden

10. Ben Howard – Every Kingdom

Here’s another important component of this list. Some may call it a quirk. I have to listen to all my music on Shuffle. It completely throws me off if I can predict what song is coming next.

But I do love having certain music I listen to while writing a book. It’s like those songs become old friends by the time it’s all said and done and the lyrics inspire me as I try to put my own words down on paper.

In between playing Candy Crush.

And checking Instagram.

It has been quite the eventful week around here. In fact, I’ve spent the last ten minutes staring at a blinking cursor just trying to figure out where to begin. So I’ll start at the beginning which always makes sense.

I was born in 1971 in Houston, Texas.

That may be too far back.

Okay. So last Wednesday we drove to College Station to drop Caroline off at Aggie Soccer Camp. I wish I’d thought to take a picture of her suitcase after I finished packing it because I must confess to feeling an inordinate amount of pride over the sheer organization of it all.

P and I got her all settled in her dorm room and then we made the drive back to San Antonio and met some friends for Italian food later that night. It was like we were newlyweds again with our throw caution to the wind attitude about eating dinner after 8:00 at night.

And then the next day I tried to get some writing done while P began to demolish Caroline’s bathroom. You know what there’s a lot of in a bathroom? Tile. You know what’s not quiet and soothing? The sound of tile being shattered with a hammer.

This is what it looked like closer to the beginning of the process.

I need to have a moment of silence for that black and white toile wallpaper. I have always loved it so much, but Caroline has declared it looks “like a bunch of old ladies on a farm” and so it’s going. Along with the old plumbing that doesn’t really work anymore thanks to years of hard water building up in the pipes.

Along the way P discovered this layer of delightful wallpaper hidden underneath several decades of renovations and updates.

All of a sudden that toile isn’t looking so bad.

I’m assuming this decor decision is circa 1950’s because when else have people believed that nothing would quite add to the ambience of a bathroom like a sea life theme on a pink background?

By Friday morning I realized I wasn’t going to be able to get much writing done in the midst of all the noise and so I headed to Starbucks to write while P continued to strip the bathroom down to the bare bones. Later that evening all that remained were a few pipes, the wood walls, the sub-floor and a light fixture. P and I mapped out the room and figured out exactly where everything was going to go. We ultimately decided to keep the existing toilet instead of getting a new one which meant that P had to go pull it out of the trailer full of stuff he was taking to the dump. If I have one regret in life it’s that I didn’t get a picture of P hosing down the toilet in our backyard to clean it up.

Can you imagine what the people driving by must have thought? What havoc hath been wrought on a toilet that has to be taken out to the backyard and hosed down?

On Saturday we drove back to College Station since we had to be back at soccer camp on Sunday morning at 8:30 to watch Caroline play in a few scrimmages and for closing ceremonies. But it worked out because we got to go out for dinner with one of my dearest friends from college and her husband.

And then we spent the night at Honey and Big’s house which was so fun because Gulley and her boys were there too. They’d actually been there all week but I didn’t dare let Caroline know because camp was already not her favorite and that would have been the final blow.

We showed up bright and early on Sunday morning to get our girl and watch her play a little soccer.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Camp wasn’t a great experience. And I don’t think it really had anything to do with the camp. It was really her first time to be away from home and she wasn’t a fan. But sometimes that’s just how things go. I just want to be real about it because maybe there are some of you whose kids feel the same way and you might be like me and wonder why it seems like according to Facebook that everyone else’s kids love and adore camp and count down the days until they can go again next summer while your kid begs you to come pick them up early.

But hopefully we’ve learned a little something from the whole experience and we can mark it all down as growing pains and the important thing is she stuck it out and made it to the finish line. It’s just been bizarre that one of my hardest weeks as a mom has come during a week when my child wasn’t even with me.

And it’s shed new light on the old phrase “not a happy camper”.

I normally don’t feature things all from the same store, but the Nordstrom anniversary sale opens to the public today and there are so many great deals to be had that I feel compelled to let you see some of my favorites. It’s a great time to stock up on some fall and winter things that are marked way down from their original prices for a limited amount of time. And, just a word of caution, if you see something you love you better grab it fast because I’ve experienced the disappointment that is putting something in my shopping cart only to see they’ve removed it because they’re out of stock.

I find that ice cream helps me get over the disappointment I feel in myself when this happens. And also maybe continually hitting refresh on my browser hoping something I love gets restocked.

But, seriously, there are great deals on boots, jeans, coats, and all manner of accessories. Plus I love Nordstrom because it’s free returns and free shipping. It doesn’t get any easier than that.

Here are a few of my favorites:

1. blanket stripe hooded jacket

I nearly bought a coat like this two years ago and hesitated until it was sold out. It’s on sale for $41.90 and is normally $64. Which means you can totally justify it being a fun coat that you don’t necessarily wear everyday.

I can totally picture it with jeans and boots.

2. kate spade initial pendant necklace

These Kate Spade initial pendants are marked down to $37.90 and would make great Christmas gifts for your sister, niece, mom, grandmother and daughter.

3. kendra scott elle drop earrings

Speaking of good gifts, I am such a fan of Kendra Scott jewelry and adore these earrings. They come in several different colors and are on sale for $33.90.

If you happen to be an Aggie like me, you might be interested to know there is a maroon color they’re calling “grape”. But we all know it’s maroon.

4. marc jacobs polarized sunglasses

I realize I just featured a pair of $12 sunglasses last week, but some of you may be in the market for a nicer pair. These are $72.90 and are normally $110, plus they’re polarized. P feels that polarization is very important. I believe it’s important to the extent that the glasses are still cute.

I also love these kate spade nella aviators

They’re $89.90 marked down from $145.

5. tory burch reva ballerina flat

I don’t own a pair of Tory Burch flats. I don’t plan to ever own a pair because I really just don’t care for flats in general on myself. I see them on other people and think they look so cute, but they feel weird on my feet and I just can’t do it.

However, people love these and this is a great deal if you’re a fan of Tory Burch. They come in silver or gold and are normally $225 on sale for $149.90.

6. hue ultrawide waistband leggings

I bought two pairs of these last year and wore the heck out of them all last winter. I love the wide waistband because it kind of holds everything in. Plus, they don’t get all stretched out like other leggings and they don’t fade.

I plan to buy at least one more pair because they are currently on sale for $23.90 and are normally $36.00.

7. zella barely flare booty pants

Sometimes we all just need a pair of yoga pants. Feel free to use that saying on a t-shirt.

Zella makes really great yoga pants and I love these because they have a little bit of a flare at the bottom, but not too much. They’re on sale for $39.90 marked down from $62.00.

8. barefoot dreams cozy chic robe

When Caroline was a baby she had a Barefoot Dreams blanket that was the softest thing ever and I had to stop myself from taking it from my child. And then I found out they also make robes. How is life that kind? It’s basically like wrapping yourself in a cloud.

The robes are on sale for $64.90 but normally are $98. They come in three different colors but I really like the white because WRAPPED IN A CLOUD.

9. drape front duster cardigan

I’m a sucker for any sort of long sweater coat type thing. I love this because it’s super long and lightweight which is perfect for a Texas girl. It’s $49.90 regularly $78.

10. aztec knit long duster

Last year Nordstrom had a sweater coat very similar to this one but by the time I saw it they were sold out of my size. I love the aztec print on the back and I love even more that it’s on sale for $44.90 marked down from $68.

So there you have it.

Some of my personal anniversary sale favorites.

But you may want to head over to the Nordstrom site and check it out for yourself since you’re a better judge of what you might need in your closet this fall and winter. Just remember that the sale only lasts until August 4. I know it seems weird to buy a sweater in July, but think how happy you’ll be when you pull it out in November. Or, if you’re like me, January.

Have a great Friday.

1. My dear friend Kelly Minter has the best book called Wherever the River Runs that’s coming out on August 1. I read an early copy several months ago and I can’t even tell you how much of it has stayed with me.

The best part is her publisher is offering several free gifts to anyone who pre-orders the book, including a audio devotional featuring Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer and a Brazilian brownie recipe. You can find out more about the book and the gifts here.

2. Sophie and I are doing a couple of events together this fall and I’m so excited about it. I can’t guarantee that we’ll sing a medley or anything, but I can promise we’ll laugh a little.

One of the events is the Sweet Sisters Conference in Charlotte, NC on November 7-8 at First Baptist Charlotte. They are offering a discount for the entire month of July, so ladies that register by July 31st can do so for just $45. On August 1st the price goes up to $55 so you might want to sign up now if you know you can make it. For more information or to register, you can click here.

3. My friend Annie Downs released a new book yesterday called Let’s All Be Brave.

It’s funny, engaging and so honest about the struggles we all face when called to do hard things. It’s a great read.

4. Several weeks ago I mentioned that a reader named Heidi has a boutique called The Ikat Elephant on Facebook. She always posts new things for sale on Wednesday nights and so I like to check in to see what’s coming up. I was excited to see a skirt that looks like one I’ve been eyeing for a few weeks now.

And also this great bracelet.

Both of these things will go on sale here at 8:00 p.m. central time Wednesday night.

5. I have no five. Which seems like a great excuse for a gratuitous picture of my best girl with one of our best dogs.

This happens to be Piper because she’s a much better poser than Mabel who tends to get a little antsy when asked to hold still for the camera.

Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Sophie and I recorded this at the crack of 8:45 a.m. yesterday morning. I was barely awake. Consider this my apology.

Also, on a non-podcast related note, I’m on Focus on the Family again today. You can listen here. After the airdate passes, the program will be permanently found here AND here.

Anyway, to listen to the podcast and hear what I sound like when I’m barely coherent, you can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here.

Or, as always, you can subscribe on iTunes.

Summer, summer, summer. It’s like a merry go round.

See?

This is what happens in summer.

One minute you’re sitting on your couch trying to come up with something to write about and the next minute you’re remembering a song by The Cars that you loved in 1984.

And then you end up searching for the song lyrics and wind up on Wikipedia where you learn that the video for that song was shot in the pool at the Hilton’s house. As in Paris Hilton’s parents.

And then you wonder why you never hear anything about Paris Hilton anymore other than the fact that she was famous for absolutely nothing other than being a wealthy, blonde heiress.

And then you think about the Cars’ video for You Might Think I’m Crazy which was so bizarre and featured Paulina Porizkova who was actually married to Ric Ocasek.

And then you wonder if they’re still married and it takes all your willpower not to consult the Google right this very instant.

It’s like a forty-two year old woman’s version of If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.

(For the record, it appears that Ric and Paulina are still married and have two children. To which I say, well done you crazy kids.)

Anyway, that should serve as a clue that not much is going on here, yet at the same time I feel like we’ve been really busy. But the truth is I think we’ve been busy doing nothing.

Last week flew by because Caroline had soccer practice every evening from 5:30-8:00 which meant that our days kind of revolved around that. And then I accidentally made plans for just about every night in addition to soccer practice which meant I looked up on Friday and realized P and I had spent all of about five minutes together since last Monday. This is what happens to us in summer. I revert to my full-fledged night owl ways and he is going to bed and getting up earlier than ever because he’s so busy with work which means we are two ships passing in the kitchen as I settle in to watch a late movie and he’s heading to bed.

Then I drove up to a friend’s lake house on Friday with Gulley for a girls’ night with my birthday club friends. There isn’t much I love more in the summer than sitting on a dock looking out at a lake, especially with friends who make you laugh. So that was a good time. It also caused Gulley and I to get into a discussion about whether we’d rather have a beach house or a lake house. We never came to a definitive decision although my first impulse was to go with a lake house because it doesn’t seem like it would require as much upkeep and maintenance as a beach house.

I’m tempted to ask P right now which one he’d want but I think he’d just tell me he doesn’t feel like playing pretend and we won’t ever have either one so it’s a moot point. But if I had to guess I bet he’d say a beach house.

Feel free to share your opinion on this very pressing, non-existent, pretend matter in the comments.