Month: July 2012

To Nashville and back and straight to my couch

Well.

All I can say is that y’all probably need to say a prayer of thanks that I didn’t blog over the last few days because it might have been full of a vast array of complaints starting with I CAN’T SLEEP and WHY ARE MY HORMONES SO CRAZY? and ending with I HAVE A COLD AND CAN’T BREATHE.

Just a ray of sunshine.

The week started off so well. I arrived in Nashville without any glitches and, though it was an hour I consider way too early for respectable society, I managed to put on my best game face and by the time I was drinking coffee with my friend Paige in a cute little Nashville coffee shop at 9:00 a.m. I was actually feeling pretty good about life.

I mean, after all, I’d packed, gotten dressed, driven to the airport, found a parking place, read all about the latest in the TomKat divorce and arrived in a whole different state before 8:45 a.m. I’d accomplished more by noon than I usually do in four days. And if you doubt the validity of that statement then clearly you haven’t been following the TomKat situation. It’s a lot of information to process.

The time in Nashville was great. Sophie and I spent most of Wednesday filming the intro video to the DotMom Conference and I think it’s going to be good. Not because of our acting skills or anything like that, but because the LifeWay Crew is brilliant and sets us up to look so much better than we are. Our director, Seth, even talks us through places in the script where he’s just written “Sophie and Melanie make funny jokes”.

Because do you know how much pressure that brings? Just retyping the phrase “Make funny jokes” is enough to make me curl up in the fetal position. Mainly because it brings me back to a time about four years ago when LifeWay asked Sophie and I to entertain the crowd with “witty banter” on the floor of the Alamodome while women were waiting to see Beth Moore and the best I could come up with for an opening line was “So. How did y’all sleep last night?”

You would have to drive a million miles out to the middle of nowhere to hear more quiet than we did in that arena. That’s why we always remind each other to “REMEMBER THE ALAMODOME”.

Anyway, after a day of filming we met some friends for dinner at a new trendy restaurant in Nashville called Urban Grub. The macaroni and cheese was delicious and I tried not to remember that I’d spent much of the filming talking about the benefits of the Paleo diet with one of the crew members. In case you’re wondering, macaroni and cheese is the polar opposite of the Paleo diet. Macaroni and cheese would have killed a caveman.

And then we went to Jeni’s ice cream shop where I ate the most perfect ice cream cone I’ve ever had. EVER. Sadly, they only have Jeni’s shops in Ohio and Tennessee which is kind of far from Texas. However, I did just search the google and discovered you can get it at a shop in Gruene which is only 45 minutes away and so I may drive there tomorrow.

Remember back in January when I was basically just eating kale?

I have fallen off the wagon.

On Thursday morning I flew back to San Antonio and that’s when I just fell apart. I hadn’t slept that great while I was away and we’d been on a non-stop schedule and I’d had allergies and I guess it all caught up to me because I collapsed in a heap on the couch and basically didn’t move again for days.

Caroline spent all last week going to day camp which kind of worked out since I was gone. I had been a little worried about missing it because she is a big fan of getting her face painted every morning to match the various themes, but fortunately P picked up the face-painting gauntlet and ran with it. In fact, he exceeded my skills.

That’s a wave. With a surfer. With a mohawk.

I would have just painted a flower and called it good.

And then he was naturally skilled at doing the camo face paint. I think her counselors actually might have lost her in the woods this day.

But I was home in time for the last day and so I pulled out my strongest face-painting game and went with the blue mask effect.

Friday night we drove up to camp for closing ceremonies and this picture totally sums up how Caroline felt.

She was wiped out. And had come down with a cold.

So Saturday we cancelled plans we’d made for dinner and spent all day on the couch watching movies in our pajamas. It might have been the best day I’ve had in forever.

Actually, scratch that. It was unequivocally the best day I’ve had in forever.

And now you’re all caught up.

Except I cut all my ailments and complaints in half.

Which I know makes you want to heave a big sigh of relief because, yes, there could have been more.
Fashion Friday: Edition I’m home from Nashville

So this is going to be quick because I’m a little tired from my trip. And all I did was fly to Nashville, spend two days and fly back. I didn’t even change time zones.

Can you imagine how worthless I’d be if I’d actually traveled somewhere where I had to change my watch?

Anyway, here are a few things I’ve found this week.

1. plumage cape

I think this is really pretty and it’s on sale and it’s gotten great reviews online.

2. lilac evening peep toe heels

Love a cork heel. And I think it’s false advertising to say these are lilac.

3. striped scarf

Such a cute scarf.

4. time after time ruffle dress

This falls into the category of something I’d never wear as a dress but would totally wear as a top with leggings and boots.

5. tortoise cocktail ring

I’m a big fan of anything tortoise right now.

6. pam breeze-ly tunic in green

This is one of those tops I’d wear a million times until it grew threadbare and my friends would beg me to wear something different.

7. passerine tank

Here’s another cute top on sale at Anthropologie. It comes in some really cute colors.

8. cutout cover up

Not that I need another cover up, but if I did I’d be tempted to get this one.

9. sleeveless ruffle front maxi dress

I haven’t been in Target in forever because I believe I’ve mentioned that our Target is too far away and over-shopped and all the good stuff sells out too quick.

But this has potential. I may brave the seven extra stoplights and head over there.

10. merona beach tote in kelly green

And while I’m there I’ll check out this tote bag because my current pool bag makes me have a sad.

Y’all have a good Friday.
A little hiatus

So when I got home on Saturday I kissed my driveway and vowed I wouldn’t leave again for a long, long time. And then I remembered that I’m flying to Nashville on Tuesday. Which is today if you’re reading this after midnight and you are because I’m auto-posting it to go up after midnight.

Not only am I flying to Nashville, I’m leaving on a 6:45 a.m. flight. For those of you doing the math at home that means I have to leave my house at 5:30.

Rumor has it that it’s still dark at 5:30.

I wouldn’t know because it’s an hour I try desperately to avoid.

In case you’re wondering, I’m going to Nashville to film a little intro video for the DotMom Conference that will be in Birmingham, Alabama on September 21-22. You can find out more about it if you click over to the DotMom page.

(I mean you can find out more about DotMom, not the intro video I’m filming because I have no idea what it’s going to involve. Other than bad acting.)

And I’ve learned in all my travels that it really helps to pack a bag full of clothes when you fly somewhere but that still hasn’t motivated me to get to the actual packing portion of my trip preparation. I keep hoping that a house elf will show up and pack my bags and my owl for me.

(Shout out to Harry Potter.)

Anyway, I’ve made the executive decision to not bring my computer with me. I don’t think I’ll really have time to use it and it just seems like one more thing I have to drag through security and I don’t want to mess with it.

What I’m saying is I’m not going to blog again until Friday.

So I’ll see you then. Unless you happen to be on my 6:45 a.m. flight to Nashville. But, let’s be honest, I’ll be functioning at about one quarter capacity at that hour. And possibly resting my head on a stranger’s shoulder while I sleep. That shouldn’t be awkward.

Y’all have a great week.
There and back again

I’m sitting here on the couch right now and trying to keep myself from eating an entire bag of Lifesavers Gummie Sours. They are my kryptonite.

Actually, they’re only my kryptonite on occasion. I can go months without eating them and then all of a sudden I’m hit with a massive craving and then I’ll eat them until I can’t feel my tongue. I think this particular craving started when I took Caroline into Dylan’s Candy Bar in The Galleria last week and she got some of those rainbow sour belts.

And then I ate them all.

It’s the sour. I love the sour. She also got all manner of gummy alligators and sharks and bears. And I couldn’t care less about those. But the rainbow belts got me. And now I’m about to eat myself into a sugar coma.

Anyway, we had a great time in Houston. We spent the last day at The Galleria looking around but left with nothing but a couple of drinks from Starbucks even though the Starbucks in the middle of The Galleria is the slowest Starbucks that has ever been created and I vow every time that I’ll never stop there again.

And then we went and looked around Kuhl-Linscomb which may be my favorite store ever. If you’re ever in Houston you should check it out. They have everything from books to makeup to bedding that will make you want to hide out until they close just so you can sleep there like those kids did in The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Except that was in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York but whatever.

(Now I’m also thinking about the book Where the Heart Is when the girl spends every night in Walmart but none of this is important and I could follow this rabbit trail all the live long day.)

On Thursday morning we drove from Houston to Bryan in the middle of a torrential rain storm. It was that kind of rain where you can barely see the tail lights of the car in front of you and I told Caroline I needed her to be quiet so I could concentrate on driving. It didn’t really comfort me when she took that moment to ask if I had ever written out a will. What on earth? Like she was worried if she was going to get the house?

Fortunately the rain cleared up around Hempstead and we made it to Honey’s house just in time for a late lunch. The kids were glad to see each other and I was just glad to be out of the car and not discussing my last will and testament with my child.

And when we arrived I immediately got to hear about Nena’s hair. Gulley’s cousin was getting married on Saturday so Honey had made Nena an appointment to get her hair cut and styled on Thursday and Nena was not happy about this. She exclaimed, “THURSDAY? Oh, my hair will look like hell on Saturday. And you know I hate to use that word but I know my hair.”

Friday was Gulley’s birthday and her husband surprised us with a trip to the spa for massages and facials. Truthfully, I already knew about it but I’d been keeping it a secret for over a week which felt like an eternity because when Gulley and I were both talking about how much we needed a break it killed me not to blurt out “WE’RE GETTING MASSAGES TOMORROW. WITHOUT THE KIDS.”

So that was heavenly. And then we followed it up with a super classy birthday lunch at Wings-N-More because everyone knows a place called Wings-N-More is pretty much the same as a fancy tea room. Meanwhile, Gulley’s husband took the kids to eat lunch at The Dixie Chicken which is an Aggieland landmark for those of y’all who might not be familiar.

I think it’s safe to say the kids were thrilled by the whole experience. Especially because there’s a real live rattlesnake in a glass cage there and really what goes better with cheese fries than a rattlesnake viewing? J told us the kids said, “This place is COOL. The Moms would never take us here.”

Yes. Mainly because The Moms might have forgotten that the Chicken isn’t just a place to drink beer.

Later that night we all went to eat at Christopher’s for Gulley’s birthday dinner and it was just a great night. We warned the kids on the way over that this wasn’t the type of place where it was acceptable to play the “Who Ate The Burp?” game or to see how many times they could visit the restroom in one meal and they listened to us. For once. In fact, I feel like they embraced their fine dining experience.

It was a great meal and just a great night. Lots of love all around the table and thankfulness for years of family and friends.

Saturday morning Caroline and I drove back to San Antonio and I’ve been doing laundry ever since. Except for the two hours when I went to the grocery store to buy food.

And Lifesaver Gummie Sours.
Fashion Friday: Edition my best friend is forty

So today is Gulley’s fortieth birthday. And while I normally refrain from all manner of big birthday shout-outs on the blog it feels like my best friend turning forty is a reason to forgo my policy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GULLEY!!!! I’m so glad you were born.

I love you more than my luggage for several reasons:

1. You’ve saved me hundreds of thousands of dollars in therapy.

2. You make me laugh every day. Sometimes multiple times a day.

3. No one does a better impression of Tony DiMera from Days of Our Lives.

4. You don’t question me when I make bold statements like “I HATE CHINESE FOOD”. You just go with it even if you saw me eating Chinese food last week.

5. I love that we both call each other to recap any event we’ve attended less than five minutes after we’ve left.

6. You’ve known me (good, bad, and ugly) for over twenty years and love me anyway.

7. You are kind to everyone and inspire me to be a better person.

8. You love Caroline like she’s your own.

9. Your ability to bring any conversation back to an episode of Friends and the fact that I totally know what you’re talking about.

10. That we both appreciate stupid things like the way Siri screws up a text, the man in the purple bandana at the pool, and spontaneously ordering Dillon Panthers QB-1 shirts on a Saturday night.

I hope forty is the best year yet. Like the card I saw yesterday said, “We’ll be friends until we’re old and senile. And then we’ll be new friends.”

Also, here’s a random fact. Gulley and I didn’t meet until her freshman year and my sophomore year in college. But we were delivered by the same doctor at the same hospital in Houston, Texas.

We like to think that means we were meant to be.

And now for some fashion since that’s probably why you’re here.

1. cut that out tunic

Love this. Love the navy.

2. meant to be striped dress

I don’t think I could actually wear this but I could if I were in my twenties. Of course Nena was just here and she told me short dresses are vulgar and no one should show their knees because they’re an unattractive body part.

So keep that in mind.

3. tiered peasant skirt

I saw these skirts at Gap the other day and really liked them. I have a version of this skirt from about five years ago and still wear it all the time in the summer. It’s the perfect thing to throw on.

4. lakehouse grass striped dress

This is a little Betty Draper and I like it.

5. poplin roll-ups

These were in Anthropologie. They’re the pant version of the Sanctuary shorts that I adore. And they’re also much cuter in person.

6. rainyday mac

Maybe it’s because it’s been raining here all week (GLORY HALLELUJAH) but I’ve been thinking about rain coats and I always love the ones from Boden. Especially when they’re on sale.

7. fishing net top

I think this is so pretty. I’m assuming you know you’d have to wear a cami under it. But I love this lightweight knit stuff.

8. tortoise monogram cuff bracelet

I’m so in love with these bracelets.

9. twisted necklace

I’m such a fan of Noonday Collection. I think this necklace is my favorite right now.

10. tooled western leather belt

Love these western tooled belts from the Junk Gypsies and really like the belt buckle.

And that’s it for today. I’m off to celebrate with Gulley and lots of cake.

Y’all have a great Friday.
Share me maybe

Maybe you’ve already seen this. And I’m not sure what it says about me that I think it’s so funny.

I’ve just always been a fan of Cookie Monster.