Just for fun

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a gift guide!

Before I even begin with all the holiday cheer and what not, my Achilles and I want to thank you for all your recommendations. I’d also like to say that an ice pack on your foot is a tad chilly in the dead of winter. Or late fall. Since, technically, it’s not winter time until December 21.

I also wanted to state for the record that Gulley is pronounced like gully washer or the semi-famous movie from 1992, FernGully: The Last Rainforest. It’s actually her maiden name and what I called her all through college and still call her to this very day.

Lastly, I just want to let you all know that wrote most of this earlier in the day. And in the last hour I have managed to walk right into the claw foot of my iron bathtub. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any shoes on at the time. On the bright side, it’s the same foot as my Achilles problems so I can now consolidate all the icing of my injuries.

Then, since I’ve possibly broken three of my toes and P is gone hunting for the evening, Caroline makes me an ice pack and cooks her own dinner of Kraft mac and cheese. Bless her heart.

But then she decided she wanted more mac and cheese. So she put another thing of it in the microwave. I’m not sure what happened, but all of a sudden she yelled, “MAMA! THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE MICROWAVE!”

Sure enough, there was smoke coming out of the microwave. And this is what we found when we opened up the microwave door.

I think it was finished.

(Please tell me you see the smoke in the picture.)

And thus I spent the rest of the evening icing the front and back of my foot while airing out the house because the smell. MY WORD THE SMELL.

P came in from hunting and declared that our house smelled like a Spurs game. And I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean that as a good thing.

So. A gift guide. I can’t guarantee that you’re going to find anything useful on this list, but you might and I think that’s what really counts. I tried to find an assortment of ideas at various price points in the hopes there is something for all budgets.

1. Shout for Joy coffee mug

Gulley’s mama gave me this mug over the summer and I couldn’t wait until it cooled down so I could drink hot choffee out of it every morning. And that’s exactly what I’ve done ever since the weather has decided to cooperate.

I love the way it looks and that it’s big enough to provide enough room to properly mix my coffee with my hot chocolate. And I immediately handwash it after I use it each morning because I discovered I felt sad if it spent any time in the dishwasher.

2. Herald Angel candleholder

I realize this is a Christmas decoration and some people may not like to give Christmas decorations as Christmas gifts. But I am not one of those people. I am a fan of both the giving and receiving of Christmas decor for Christmas. Especially when it’s this pretty.

3. Hummingbird Lavender gift set

I put this on just about every list because I adore it and don’t know how I’d live without the lavender in my life. The lotion? LOVE. The shower gel? P gets cranky and itchy when we run out.

And this spa treatment? I added it to my bath yesterday and my skin actually yelled THANK YOU.

4. Clothbound Penguin Classics for Children

I want to get every single one of these for Caroline. They are so beautiful and will look great displayed on her bookshelves whenever we’re not actually reading them. One or two of these would make a perfect gift for any little girls you have in your life.

Seriously. Look at The Secret Garden.

Makes me so happy.

5. A live chicken

Or a goat. Or vaccinations. Or clean water. Or farming equipment.

There are so many different ways you can give a gift through Compassion and make a difference in someone’s life.

6. Florist measuring cups

These are almost too pretty to use every day, but I’d use them anyway.

7. Red Letter Words canvas

I am such a fan of Red Letter Words. There isn’t really a canvas that I wouldn’t love to have, but this is my current favorite.

8. Ugg Dakota slippers

Maybe it’s because I’ve spent a lot of time in the last two days with ice on my foot, but these just look plain old cozy. I’d even wear them to the HEB.

9. Roasted veggie scarf

The colors in this scarf are so pretty and would complement just about anyone’s wardrobe. And who doesn’t love a new scarf?

10. Flannel pajamas

Listen. I will never get tired of new pajamas. They are one of my favorite things. Which makes me wonder why I spend so much time in random flannel pajama bottoms and a Diamond Darlings Christmas Formal 1992 sweatshirt. It seems like maybe I should upgrade to something that matches.

11. From Head to Foot: All of you living all for Him

My friend, Annie Downs, wrote this book and it just released this week. First of all, I am so dang proud of her that I can hardly stand it.

Secondly, if you have a tween (isn’t that what they call them these days?) or a teen or a young twenty-something in your life, then you need to get them this book for Christmas. It’s about focusing on what God has given you and living for Him.

There is not a vampire to be found in the entire thing. Just wanted to make sure you knew that because I believe that makes it an exception among books that are currently on the market for teenagers.

12. Cavallini Daily Planner

This would be so much prettier and more fashionable than my current 2011 planner that consists of forty-two different post-it notes stuck all over my desk.

13. Meselu scarf

A scarf that helps women in Africa support their families? YES, PLEASE.

14. 2011 Desktop Calendar

I think the post-it notes are starting to get to me because I am drawn to the calendars like a teenage girl to Justin Beiber.

There are so many different ones to choose from depending on your calendar needs and what your people may prefer. Like this personalized version or this one with a different scripture for each month.

I know you’re thinking they aren’t as classy as a mass of post-it notes, but what is?

15. Coterie of Keys necklace

I’ve had my eye on various necklaces with skeleton keys. This one is exceptionally great.

16. Bodum coffee press

I don’t know how to make coffee. And, furthermore, I don’t want to know how to make coffee because then it would become one of my chores and why would I want to make coffee when P makes it every morning and leaves me just enough for my hot choffee?

The only time this has ever been a problem is when I have visitors over and they want coffee and I have to tell them TOO BAD.

Anyway, P has had an assortment of coffee makers over the years, but is go-to coffee apparatus is the French Press. He claims it makes a better cup of coffee for the coffee purist.

All I know is it tastes delicious when you mix it with some Ghiradelli Double Chocolate hot chocolate mix.

17. Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark

Speaking of being a purist, you might prefer to make homemade treats for your neighbors and co-workers and sanitation employees. And so do I. My kitchen cranks out enough toffee during Christmas time that I could give Willy Wonka a run for his money.

(That may be a slight exaggeration.)

But a few years ago, P found Williams-Sonoma peppermint bark on sale and ordered like six cases of it because P loves to order himself some items in bulk. I mocked him endlessly and was slightly annoyed that we’d spent a chunk of money on peppermint bark. And then I ate more than half of it all by myself because it is so incredibly delicious. It is the King Daddy of peppermint bark.

We also had a dear friend send us one of these Giant Caramel Apples last year and I wasn’t sure what I thought about a giant caramel apple. It intimidated me with its largeness and caramelness. And then I tried it and OH MY WORD it is so right and good.

18. Race Against Time watch

I love these watches. I love that they’re cheap. I love that they come in every color of the rainbow.

19. Gold Houndstooth coat

Boden has a ton of stuff marked down to 50% off right now, but this coat calls out to me. And it is majorly on sale.

Spellcheck is trying to tell me that “majorly” isn’t a word. To which I say, spellcheck hasn’t seen that coat.

20. Cuisinart 11-cup food processor

Gulley would tell me that I am a fool for wishing for something as practical as a Cuisinart 11-cup food processor. She’d say it’s a slippery slope that will lead to a Christmas where I receive power tools or a vacuum cleaner.

But I have long wanted a large food processor for all the chopping and shredding and grating and this one is way on sale at Macy’s right now. If this all ends with me getting a dremel tool for Christmas someday, then so be it.

21. Amazing Grace necklace from Rusted Chain

There are so many pretty necklaces and charms that it’s hard to choose. I’m partial to this Amazing Grace one because I am in need of much grace.

22. Old Gringo cowboy boots

You know those Zales commercials or whatever where they talk about how women just want jewels for Christmas? Those women have obviously not seen these cowboy boots. These are pure romance.

23. Sock monkey hat and mittens

Caroline is past the point of wearing a sock monkey hat and mittens, but I think these are so darling if you happen to have some little ankle biters in your life.

24. Fearfully and wonderfully made soldered pendant

Oh, the jewelry. What did we do before Etsy and the like? Love this.

25. Tori baguette ring

See? This is the way to go with jewelry. It’s sparkly and pretty and elegant. And inexpensive enough that maybe you could swing this and some cowboy boots.

26. Macbook Pro and a cute case

Okay, yes. EXTRAVAGANT. But sometimes you have to go big or go home. This would be on the top of my personal wish list this year. It doesn’t mean it will happen. In fact, it most likely won’t happen unless Steve Jobs decides he wants to send me a personal gift this year. Yet a girl likes to dream.

And that is all for this year. Unless I come up with something else.

Happy shopping.

I’ll just be here icing my foot and burning Kraft mac and cheese.

A top eleven list is so odd

Before I say anything else, I need to state for the record that I managed to pack everything I need to take to Birmingham in a carry-on bag. And I still managed to bring four different pairs of shoes. Which doesn’t seem excessive at all for a four day trip.

The game changer was my decision to use the White Noise app on my iPhone. And to decide that my hair will be able to achieve enough volume with just my travel-size set of hot rollers. It’s a risky decision, but I have long been known for my ability to live right on the edge.

And for those who asked, I’m going to Birmingham for the Deeper Still conference. If you’re going to be there, I’d love to meet you. I have no idea where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing, but I’m sure it shouldn’t be too hard to find me amongst the other 12,000 women who will be in attendance.

Yesterday I spent most of the day helping decorate our church sanctuary for Christmas. So when I left the church around 2:00 p.m., I was in the mood for some Christmas tunes and turned on the radio and, I KID YOU NOT, that Dwight Yoakam song was on. I caught it just in time to hear “He threw a present really hard that almost hit Mom’s new boyfriend Ray”.

That is a lyrical treasure.

Anyway, several years ago, (three to be exact) Gulley and I each made a list of our favorite Christmas songs. You can find those lists right here. But things change and new songs come along and I’m leaving for Birmingham and still need to make sure I have everything I need before I get all puffed up with pride over my insane packing abilities that allowed me to fit everything in one small bag and one very large purse.

(Too late on that last thing, by the way. I am totally puffed up with pride over my packing expertise.)

My point is I thought it would be fun to make a list of the Christmas songs that are on the top of my listening list this season. The whole thing makes me feel a little bit like Casey Kasem.

(Was I the last person to know that he was the voice of Shaggy on Scooby Doo?)

1. Christmas Tonight by Dave Barnes

I bought this album (downloaded it, whatever) a few weeks ago and have listened to it over and over again. If you haven’t seen the video for this song then your life may not be complete.

2. In the First Light by Travis Cottrell

The first time I heard this song I cried. It is absolute perfection.

3. O Holy Night by Glee Cast

Whatever your feelings about Glee, they make some good music. I love this version.

4. River by Sarah McLachlan

Okay. So kind of a downer song. But I love this entire album so much and there’s not much that makes me happier than a cold day, a warm fire, and listening to this song. It’s a nice kind of melancholy.

I doubt that makes sense to anyone but me.

5. Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Taylor

It’s James Taylor.

6. I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Harry Connick, Jr.

There is just so much right about this entire album and, honestly, my favorite song on it changes with my mood. Which means it changes pretty darn frequently. Kind of like a roller coaster.

7. Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant

Christmas isn’t Christmas to me without Amy Grant music.

8. Hallelujah (Light Has Come) by Barlow Girl

I just heard this for the first time a few days ago and fell in love with it. So beautiful.

9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Kelly Willis

There are so many good versions of this song, but I adore this one by Kelly Willis. It has a Christmas in Texas feel to it.

10. Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keen

This will be on any list of Christmas favorites that I ever compile. Amen.

11. Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC

I realize this doesn’t really fit with the rest of my choices, but I added it to my workout playlist the other day and it has made me so happy.

So, what about y’all? What are the Christmas songs you can’t live without right now?

And, remember, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

A Thanksgiving day in the life

Here is a brief rundown of how I spent Thanksgiving, complete with a timeline.

8:45 a.m. – Praise the Lord. Caroline just woke up and is happy to curl up next to me and watch some hideous movie about Barbie leaving for Paris after a break up with Ken and trying to save her Aunt Micheline’s fashion line.

At least that’s what my sub-conscious absorbed as I drifted back to sleep until I remembered I had to finish cooking some side dishes.

(On a sidenote: I cannot say the words “side dishes” without thinking about an old episode of South Park where one of the characters is served a plate of waffles and he says, “Am I to understand there will be no side dishes?”)

(I don’t know why I think that’s so funny.)

9:27 a.m. – Get out of bed. Put broccoli-rice casserole in the oven.

9:31 a.m. – Make whipped cream. Possibly lick both beaters clean and eat another enormous spoonful before I hide it from myself in the back of the refrigerator.

9:42 a.m. – Start thinking about the whipped cream again. Might have pulled it back out and eaten another spoonful.

9:51 a.m. – Roast butternut squash because Caroline has been obsessed with all the squash varieties and begged me to make some.

10:16 a.m. – Worry that maybe the whipped cream isn’t sweet enough. Take another taste just to make sure. It’s all about whipped cream quality.

10:20 a.m. – Realize I have made a strategic cheese error with the broccoli-rice casserole and it has more of a soup-like consistency. Cook more rice in an effort to compensate for the superfluous cheese.

10:32 a.m. – Look at all the Black Friday specials on the internet and realize that bargains aren’t important enough to get me out the door at 4 a.m.

10:57 a.m. – Cut up brussels sprouts to make Bobby Flay’s pomegranate brussels sprouts recipe.

11:06 a.m. – Begin to get the seeds out of the pomegranate.

11:08 a.m. – Man, these pomegranate seeds are juicy little suckers.

11:11 a.m. – Change my shirt so I could let my other shirt soak in stain remover in hopes of removing the pomegranate juice.

11:22 a.m. – Pull the brussels sprouts out of the oven. P walks in and asks if someone has left a dirty diaper in our kitchen.

Clearly he is not a fan of the sprout.

11:30 a.m. – Realize we needed to be at Mimi and Bops’ house in thirty minutes. Tell Caroline to go get dressed.

11:32 a.m. – Put on makeup, curl my hair even though it doesn’t stand a fighting chance against the 112 % humidity.

11:46 a.m. – Walk in Caroline’s room to find her walking back and forth through her beaded curtain. While wearing her pajamas.

11:47 a.m. – I think I blacked out.

11:48 a.m. – Yell, “WE NEED TO GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!”

11:52 a.m. – Walk back in the kitchen to finish the butternut squash puree. Caroline comes in to taste it and declares she is not a fan. It would have been nice to know that at 9:51 a.m.

12:16 p.m. – Arrive at Mimi and Bops’ house. Immediately regret that I wore a jacket and my tall boots. The 80 degree weather is not cooperating with my sartorial selections.

12:35 p.m. – My sister and I jump around like idiots trying to get our children to smile for a picture that Mimi and Bops can use for their Christmas card.

12:38 p.m. – Realize the smiles only get more fake and the eleven month old only gets more whiny as the minutes tick by.

12:39 p.m. – Decide that surely we had something that could pass as a Christmas card photo.

12:45 p.m. – Ate lunch until we were all sick.

1:00 p.m. – Decide we all had room for dessert.

1:30 p.m. – I think I blacked out.

4:45 p.m. – I rally as a cold front begins to blow through town. Hallelujah.

6:00 p.m. – Realize it is time to get my game face on.

6:10 p.m. – Shower, put on flannel pajama bottoms and lucky A&M shirt. Heat up leftovers in spite of all our earlier claims that we’d never eat again.

6:55 p.m. – Begin to hyperventilate and talk very loudly.

7:00 p.m. – GAMETIME.

7:10 p.m. – Watch the game and begin to text furiously with various friends in between throwing decorative pillows and trying not to say words that aren’t Sunday School friendly.

8:15 p.m. – Aggies finally score a touchdown. I’d like to think that the fact I punched my couch repeatedly as Cyrus Gray ran down the field helped tremendously.

8:16 p.m. – Sophie texts me and tells me she and Sister are cheering for the Aggies and even willing to get out the vacuum if needed, which always works when her Bulldogs play. I shed a tear at the display of devotion.

9:06 p.m. – CYRUS GRAY!!!! LOVE HIM!!!!!

9:20 p.m. – FUMBLE!!!! OH NO!!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!! Maybe it will help if I eat some chocolate pudding.

9:28 p.m. – These announcers are on my last nerve. They all are in the midst of a bromance with the t.u. quarterback and Mac Brown.

9:32 p.m. – VON MILLER!!!!! LOVE HIM!!!!! Gulley texts me and says if she ever has another son, she’s going to name him Von.

10:08 p.m. – I am now texting things like “I’m SICK. I FEEL SICK” and “TERRIBLE CALL! THAT WAS A TERRIBLE CALL!” Sophie texts me and says she has just walked into her kitchen. I know this is her solution when a situation looks dire.

10:14 p.m. – WE HAVE TO GET A THIRD DOWN. WE HAVE TO GET A THIRD DOWN. I FEEL SICK. MY HEART CAN’T TAKE ANYMORE.

10:17 p.m. – Tannenhill fumbles. I am dead. I die. WAIT! HE GOT IT BACK. HE FELL ON THE BALL! I WILL LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY.

10:25 p.m. – We punt the ball, the last five seconds tick off the clock and I begin to breathe normally for the first time in the last three and a half hours. GIG ‘EM AGGIES!

10:27 p.m. – Resist urge to write, “Dear Longhorns, Good luck in your bowl game. Oh, that’s right. You’re not going to a bowl game.” on my Facebook wall. Because I’m trying to be the bigger person.

10:32 p.m. – Decide to eat a celebratory helping of chocolate pudding with extra whipped cream.

10:40 p.m. – Bops calls me to confirm that the Aggies won the game before he watches it. He has learned that he can’t handle the stress or time commitment of watching his favorite teams play unless he knows for sure that they win. So he records them on the DVR and watches the game after he knows the outcome. Unless they lose. Then he deletes the game and saves himself the stress.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

10:45 p.m. – Going to bed. I have worn myself flat out.

10:56 p.m. – Say a prayer of gratitude for all my blessings. My family, my friends, cold weather, the Aggie win, and another year filled with so much more good than bad. And for y’all.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

GIG ‘EM AGGIES!!!!!

(I promise I won’t use this many exclamation points again. Until our bowl game.)

Football is good

Saturday afternoon was the last game of the season for the Cheetah Girls. I really hoped for a win because they’ve had such a great season and I wanted them to go out on a high note. And, sure enough, they ended up winning the game 6-4. I realize there isn’t an actual goalie or scoreboard but let’s not pretend that we don’t all know who wins and who loses.

I mean, they’re seven years old now. They get it. Personally I believe that not everyone is a winner and sometimes you’re the loser and being the loser isn’t necessarily a bad thing if it makes you want to try harder to be a winner.

And thus concludes the Monday morning soapbox portion of this post.

I think Hazel just showed up for a minute.

I’m also so glad that I went to the trouble of bringing my camera along so I could get this stellar unidentifiable shot of P and Caroline doing some pre-game stretches.

I am in desperate need of a new camera. Canon, can you hear me?

So the Cheetah Girls triumphed over the Neon Cobras (Not to be confused with the regular Cobras we played earlier in the season. These cobras were NEON and everyone knows the neon snakes are the toughest reptiles around.) and we went to one of the player’s homes for a little end of the season celebration. P handed out trophies, we celebrated our win and I thought to myself “Well, this has been a great day for sports.”

AND THEN THIS HAPPENED.

There is so much right about that scoreboard that it’s hard to keep track.

And this is where you may want to go read something else if you don’t care about football.

In the days leading up to the Aggies game against #8 OU, I wasn’t feeling that great about it. In fact, I felt like it might be ugly. But then, about an hour before game time, the spirit of football optimism washed over me and I even boldly twittered (tweeted?) that I thought we could win the game.

Then P, Caroline and I sat down with our bowls of leftover homemade tortilla soup and began to watch. And here’s what you need to know, I am the biggest football fan in our home. P would have just as soon been sitting in a deer blind. In fact, I still can’t believe he wasn’t in a deer blind. This weekend was the first full weekend in November that we’ve spent together since we met. It was like the Haley’s Comet of our relationship, we won’t see it again in our lifetime.

The first half of the game was so glorious. I cheered, I screamed, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. And I vowed that I wouldn’t forget my happiness even if it all fell apart in the second half. Until it looked like it was falling apart in the third quarter and there was some wailing and gnashing of teeth. And maybe a throwing of a couch cushion.

But then we came back and our defense was unbelievable. And we won. WE WON.

I realize that at least 85% of you could probably care less about any of this.

Gulley and I texted back and forth the entire game in shock and awe with things like “VON MILLER!!!” and “WRECKING CREW!!!” and “I AM SO STRESSED!!!” Then Sophie sent me a text about thirty minutes after the game to congratulate me on the Aggies win because if there is anyone who understands my football obsession, it’s Sophie. And I was so hyped up on adrenaline and victory that I immediately texted her back with this:

“I KNOW!!!! IT’S HUGE!!!! WE HELD THEM THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AT THE GOAL LINE!!! BETWEEN THIS GAME AND THE LONGHORNS LOSING AGAIN AND FIFTY HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITS IN ATTENDANCE AT KYLE FIELD TONIGHT, THIS COULD BE SO BIG FOR OUR FUTURE!!!! I AM SO WOUND UP THAT I MAY NOT SLEEP TONIGHT!!!”

I’m so glad I told her I was wound up because, otherwise, it might have been hard for her to figure it out, what with all the caps-lock and excessive punctuation.

And then, just like I called the outcome of the game on Twitter, I was totally right about my prediction that I wouldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned all night because I couldn’t wind myself down.

So much for the extra hour of sleep.

But I’ll just go ahead and say that it was totally worth it.

Gig’em Aggies. Beat the hell outta Baylor.

I promise I’ll be back tomorrow and will talk about something other than football.

Alphabet soup

Today is just going to be a mixed bag ‘o fun and information, leaning heavily on the information side, because it’s Thursday and I’ve already made a horse out of a pumpkin this week. Not to be confused with making a mountain out of a molehill.

How much can one woman be expected to accomplish in a seven day period of time?

Which is exactly the same question I asked P as we ate leftover meatloaf for the third time this week.

So here are just a few things in a non-numerical format because that seems so cliche’. Instead, I will use alphabetical letters. Because it’s so fresh and different.

A. I met Kate back in April when I was in New York. We shared some sushi at Nobu that forever changed my life. And then I came home and started reading her recipe blog because I am always looking for new recipes. (P would probably beg to differ right now since he’s eaten leftover meatloaf three times this week, but whatever.)

The point is that I have discovered many great recipes on Kate’s Framed Cooks blog and felt like I should share it with y’all.

B. I loved Jon’s post yesterday about Ignoring the Soundtrack.

C. And I cried when I read Sophie’s tribute to her Uncle Joe.

D. This week’s episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta is why I love television. If you happened to watch it, can we please discuss Phaedra?

E. There’s a new Kellogg’s post up on my giveaway page. Click over there for a chance to win $100 gift card.

F. It’s supposed to be 42 degrees here on Friday morning. Of course it’s supposed to warm up to 82 by the afternoon, but I’m ignoring that part. And I’m wearing a sweater all day long.

G. I went in Gap yesterday and tried on some black skinny pants just like the ones I owned from 1991-1995, but I couldn’t make myself like them. I guess it’s true what they say, you can’t go home again.

H. There isn’t an H. I just didn’t want to end with G. Oh wait! Halloween. Is anyone dressing up as anything for Halloween? I may wear my 80’s ensemble that I bought earlier this year since I never got to wear it and there aren’t many occasions that allow a grown woman to sport a Miley Cyrus brand dress from Walmart.

And rightfully so.

See y’all tomorrow for Fashion Friday. I’m going to discuss cowboy boots among other things.

So I took a little road trip

Dear Friends from the Internet,

I don’t know that I’ve ever loved y’all more than I did yesterday when y’all went above and beyond to tell me all about your preferred television shows. Although I have to say that many of you way underestimated me by assuming that I don’t watch Glee or Modern Family or Chuck. I merely mentioned the new shows I’m auditioning to become part of my regular rotation because who has the time to read all my various programming choices and the reasons why they are dear to my heart?

And I do become invested in my shows. Hence the reason I am already mourning the imminent end of Friday Night Lights. I don’t know what I’m going to do without Eric and Tami Taylor. The sky won’t be as blue.

Not to mention that I found out yesterday that Brad is leaving Rachel Zoe, Inc.

I DIE.

I AM DEAD.

Oh, and that Brad Womack is going to be the new bachelor. Which just goes to prove that there are a lot of single women out there who think they are going to be the one to make a handsome bar owner with commitment issues settle down and change his ways. Here’s a secret, play the lottery instead. The odds are better.

But enough about television. For now.

Yesterday was such a gorgeous day. In fact, the whole week here has been absolutely perfect. I’ve even worn sweaters for about three hours every morning before the temperatures get back up to the mid-80’s and I remember that October is too early to wear sweaters in Texas. I’ve only been a Texan my entire life so it’s understandable that I have to relearn this same principle every single fall.

Anyway, I went to our church in the morning to help register women for Bible study, even though I am completely paranoid about being in charge of any type of administrative duties. That is not one of my gifts. Mainly because it involves things like details. And numbers. And sometimes even basic math skills.

After I finished up, I decided on a total whim to drive out to Boerne (It’s a little town outside San Antonio and is pronounced like Bernie. As in Bernie Mac, but without the Mac.) I’d gone out with my friends from Birthday Club the night before and a few of them were talking about some great little boutiques in downtown Boerne. So I turned up a little Pat Green on the stay wag stereo and made the thirty minute drive out there intending to only stay for about an hour.

So, naturally, I found myself finally heading back home three hours later. I had the best time looking in all the antique stores and home goods stores and clothing boutiques. And I found some treasures that you can’t find just anywhere.

Like this vest.

No, I didn’t buy it. But GOD BLESS AMERICA that it exists.

And speaking of America, the land of opportunity, check this out.

Acorns. Twenty-five cents apiece.

Caroline totally cut me a deal on the acorns she sold me. I had no idea the acorn market was so lucrative.

Then I saw this framed Lonesome Dove Trail map and fell in love.

I’ve decided I want some type of vintage Texas map to frame and hang in my living room, but this one was more than my standard $15 price limit so I had to pass.

I also passed on these melamine plates that I debated buying to hang in the kitchen.

And now I think I regret that decision.

However, I did make one purchase.

I’m not even sure where I’m going to put it, but I loved it immediately. The picture really doesn’t do it justice. The store owner told me it was made by a local Austin artist, but she couldn’t remember her name. Which makes me sad because I’d love to see her other stuff. This was the last piece in the store.

Then I bought myself a veggie sandwich made on homemade wheat bread and drove back home to pick up Caroline from school.

When we got back home I showed P my new piece of art and he asked, “Is it supposed to look like that?”

I realize it’s no roll of toilet paper on top of a toaster oven, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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My friend, Travis, released his first book a few days ago. It’s called Surprised by Worship and I can’t recommend it enough.

It’s on sale on Amazon. Just click on over to order a copy. And no I’m not getting compensated or anything to mention it. It’s just a great book written by a dear friend.
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There’s a new Kellogg’s giveaway on my giveaway page. Click over here for a chance to win $100 gift card.