Where can I park my Prius?

I own this car and it rocks. I don't care that it's ugly. I LOVE everything about it. drive it once, and you'll fall in love too.

And gold rims? areyouforrealdawg... that just sounds tacky.

Seat me next to the quiet starer, please

I can just put on the sunglasses to hide my eyes and listen to the ipod and zone out i.e. ignore the starer. Also, I'm not nice enough to deal with an irritating voice all day long. I'd get bitchy within an hour.

'A girl named Zippy' will make you LOL

Go buy it now. Seriously.

If you grew up in a small town this book is genius in it's "spot-on-ness". You will recognize each of the characters and laugh out loud with each funny story Haven tells. Absolutely my most recommended book.

My song about Dollywood, TN

Dolly Parton. The classiest lady in the whole USA. A place of glitz, glamour and magnificent amusement park rides.

Why hasn't a song been written already? Seriously. I'm waiting John Mayer.

rehashing Chrismas loot

Woot... it's your once a month Amy post...

my favorite gifts:

pink slippers
Keurig coffee maker
fun woven tank shirt
an advent calendar thingy
Paris Market gift card

and my favorites-
time with my husband.
time with my daughter.

T&A conversation: politics

T: you know Paige (our Jack Russell) is a little like President Bush (the dubs)

A: uh huh?

T: Yeah. She tries and tries to protect us from the evil birds who are obviously trying to attack us (from their perch on the house next door)

A:?

T: but she just ends up looking like a dumb-ass in the process.

A: hold on... I need to remember to blog this.

raindrops on roses and cotton candy

things I love and make me happy:

1. cotton candy
2. peanut butter on ice cream
3. red shoes
4. pink scarves
5. flannel sheets
6. canvas tote bags
7. candles
8. triple strand necklaces
9. knee high gap socks
10. Jack Daniels
11. well organized binders

I'm always last

Am I the last person on the earth who hasn't tried a Milk Bone?

and I wear flats to work too....

I love when something I responsibly did (without much of forethought) actually comes in handy. 2 examples from this week alone:

1. I completely forgot that we (trev and I) registered to vote when we registered our cars in South Carolina. I had been super bummed that I wouldn't be able to fulfill my civic duty, and what then appears on our kitchen counter?... my voter registration card. Awesome.

2. So I hit a deer in the Prius this week. Actually, the deer hit me, but since he (or she) can't defend himself I'll shoulder the blame this time. The actually not sucky part of this whole crappy event is that (wooo hooo) months ago I added rental car coverage to our insurance policy BECAUSE of the outrageous deer population in our community. So yes it sucks that I hurt our car AND an animal... BUT at least I will still be able to get to my meeting in Charleston this week and Trev can get Kalli to school without having to borrow a car.

Sometimes being completely responsible rocks.

Karaoke

a few thoughts to be a great success at Karaoke:

1. reading (i.e. knowing) your crowd is everything. With such a delicate art, it is of the utmost importance to choose a song that is sure to get your fans involved.

2. Neil Diamond songs are ALWAYS appropriate.

3. Don't ever perform Somewhere over the rainbow. OR Candle in the wind... these songs make you ultimately look like a dork. They just scream " I think I am an awesome singer and want to be rocketed into fame and since one of these people could be an Arista rep, I'm gonna show the world just how awesome I am"... or something like that.

4. If you are male, you can sing Rainbow Connection with a 90% chance of success. Do not try it if you have lady parts though.

5. Your voice will sound better after 1 or 2 vodka concoctions. Trust me.

6. No one likes a party pooper, so perform if you ever have the chance. It's a rare opportunity to make an ass out of yourself, feel like a minor league rock star, and feel a natural high, all wrapped up in one spunky package.

instead of a reunion...

So instead of attending my 10 year high school reunion, I will be spending the evening drinking Jack and Coke with Trev and some friends at Harold's Country Club.

Somehow I think it'll feel a little like Union City Indiana here in South Carolina...

I'm a blog deserter

Apparently, I forgot I had my own little spot of the internet.

So, what's new?

I'm working my tail off in my new Gymboree store.
I've developed a mild addiction to those petite vanilla scones that Starbucks no longer carries.
We now have Rice Paddy and Jersey Cream walls and a Rembrandt Ruby ceiling.
Kalli has a new imaginary friend/brother. His name is Dave.

A and K conversation: Family, imaginary style

K: and then Dave said, "that's funny"...

A: wait. Dave? Who's Dave?

K: he's my brother

A: your brother? Really?... um so tell me about Dave.

K: well he is littler than me and I used to live with him, but now I live in South Carolina.

A: Oh... you used to live with him?

K: yeah. Me and my other mom and Dave...

A: your other mom?

K: you know. Dave's mom- Nail polish girl.

A: Dave's moms name is Nail polish girl?

K: (deep sigh) Mom, you know my brother Dave and Nail polish girl. I used to live with them in a different house, but now I live in South Carolina.

A: ok... sure.

K: but Dave died, so...

A: uhm.. Dave died?

K: you know he died (said a little too cheerfully)

A: ok?

K: can I have a brownie?

not quite pictures

so here's the deal-

we have moved into our new house and although I would love to take photos or make cookies, I just can't find the camera (or the hand mixer). Good news is that I finally got around to buying a coffee pot. So, I'm officially less bitchy and without a headache now.

Apparently I'm starting a new job next week. WoooHooo!

I've done enough laundry in the past 4 days to provide clean clothing, towels, sheets, etc to pretty much all of you.

I may not have a hand mixer, but gosh darnit I have a stocked bar. Priorities. Priorities.

Somehow I am also now a Southern Living at Home Consultant. (thank you Laurie Ford for volunteering me)... Let me know if you want to have a party, in South Carolina...

So, when are you coming to visit me?

a roadtrip ending in sunshine

So I have arrived safely in South Carolina. In fact, I leave for work in less than an hour. CRAZY..
Some thoughts from my solo roadtrip/arrival:

I hate driving.
I love Cracker Barrel breakfasts
Russel Stover candy has an outlet store and it's AWESOME
The Prius gets really really great gas mileage
John Mayer makes for a lovely driving companion
Muse does not
Staying at a ghetto hotel is much scarier when you are alone
I have a lot of clothes and shoes
People in NC are much nicer than people in KY
I need to program more "chatty" friends into my cell contacts
There are more country music radio stations in IN than there are in TN
I miss my husband
I miss my daughter

The end.

So my last week as an Indiana resident is/has gone like this:

Last Friday: Dinner with Chris and Rodney. No tears and lots of laughs. I do really love them.

Saturday: work

Sunday: It's announced that I'm leaving shortly and I'm embarassed. Then I get some hugs and Rodney makes me cry. Spend the evening with Trevor's parents and sister.

Monday: work

Tuesday (today): watch my last Netflix movie (it sucked) and taking Kalli to the park to play, then ice cream, then the grocery store

Wednesday: Pack the rest of my belongings in tubs and then off to drinks/dinner with some girl friends.

Thursday: work, then meet up with Kara to say goodbye

Friday: work, hang out with my husband and daughter

Saturday: drive to South Carolina

Sunday: get groceries, unpack, get settled

Monday: 9:30 AM start work at new store.

T & A Conversation: movie edition

T: So, what did you think of the movie? (after watching No Country for Old Men)

A: Pretty sure I'm going to have some nightmares.

T: What? Why?

A: Well, it could be because of the crazy killer dude and his jacked up gun/killing machine thingy

A: Actually, I take that back. The nightmares will probably be caused by the vision of Javier Bardem's hair. Wow... not a good look.

improv everywhere

This group is absolutely genius...

What's more genius is that if you happen to be cool and funny, you too can be a part of something as funny as this...

I joined.. Let me know if you do too and then we can be friends..

wreckless behavior: driving edition

So, I bought Trevor a 2008 Toyota Prius tonight.

I somehow got talked into driving it. Then I got talked into "talking" to our friend Chuck, the salesman. Then I got talked into "talking" to the financial guy at the dealership.

Then I bought a car.

AND it's a totally sweet car. A totally flippin sweet car. I toally flippin sweet HYBRID car.

the end.

Grrrrr.

2 things:

1. our house inspection is today. I'm worried sick. Like ulcer, worried sick.

2. My friend Erin is officially over-due pregnancy wise. Been there and I understand how much that really really sucks.

If you are the praying type, can you throw some words up for my friend and me? Thanks!

How I know Jesus loves me

We got an offer on our house today.

Actually, we accepted an offer on our house today.

Big weight lifted off our hearts. Thank you Jesus for answering our worried prayers.


In case you were wondering... here's what our current house looks like.

Now we just have to pass an inspection...

T & A conversation: romance

T: ... and then you came onto me like a fly onto potato salad.

A: Wait. Did you just compare me to a fly on potato salad?

T: I think so... Why?

A: ......

Why being married to Trevor is awesome

1. He gets me awesome last minute tickets to see Ben Folds. And by awesome I mean floor level, center section, 15 rows back, four hours before the show.

2. He indulges me in Monday morning breakfast dates. Seriously, my favorite kind of dates are breakfast ones.

3. He let me paint our bathroom pink.

News: southern style

So lets cut to the chase. "Get down to the brass tacks" if you will.

Trev, Kalliopi, and I are moving to South Carolina in a few months.

It's been debated, fought over, cried about, pro'ed, con'ed, and most importantly prayed over.

So, the only question now is- Who wants to buy my house?

Quote: Belated Valentines day

Mac MacGuff: Look, in my opinion the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what-have-you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with.
-- Juno

My sister.

Ladies and Gentleman.... If you would like a tiny peek into what Christmas was like with my sister, please go to her blog now. AND for the record, this wasn't a decision "we" made, it was ALL HER.

BUT it was damn funny (as you can see from the picture of me rolling around on the couch). Feel free to comment on my husband's creamy white thighs as well.

Kisses!

grocery shopping with Amy

I'm realizing that as much as I generally distain going to the grocery store there are a few things that can make the experience much more pleasant. A short list:

1. If you are feeling extra pissy, loading up your iPod with "Chess Hotel" from the Elms and keeping your organized list handy can really make the experience more lovely. I have likened iPod shopping to "eh" sex. It's not life changing but can make your day a little nicer just the same.

2. avoid Walmart. Target shopping is just far superior of an experience.

3. Bring a cute kid who is in a good mood. The temperment of the child is key. When the kid is happy, the world is a much more fun place. Especially when said child starts singing "B-L-U-E spells blue" in the aisle filled with grandmas. The oooohing and aaaaahing will make you feel proud and the temporary stardom your child has skyrocketed you both will do wonders for the remainer of the trip.

Random thoughts from an absent blogger

Random Wednesday thoughts:

I think that it must be really interesting to be a "check out" person at Target. The really nosy part of me would LOVE to see if the things that people buy are what I would expect them to based on looks alone. BTW I asked my checkout guy yesterday about this and about my purchases and he said that my cart looks exactly how he thought it would: organic milk and yogurt, whole wheat pasta and putanesca sauce, cheerios, fashion magazine, blueberry smoothie jug, apples, spinach, bananas, polka dot shirt.... (holy cow we look like healthy eaters).. I should have thrown a bottle of Jack Daniels in there to throw him for a loop.

I have short hair now. Apparently I had forgotten how to do anything with it other than a ponytail, so it's now short and funky. AND looks an awful lot like Suzanne Price's hair (unintentional hair copying, but the girl DOES have great taste). So when you see me, you can refer to the style as the "Suzanne" in case you were wondering.

My husband has gained 40 lbs. on his new diet and I'm pretty sure his butt is better than your husband's butt now. I'm just sayin....

Tonight we somehow ended up inviting the Kirby vacuum cleaner salesman for dinner and coffee. In the grand theme of WWJD... I'm pretty sure Jesus would have done the same thing. We didn't buy the sweeper, but we had some good conversations and Trev showed off his Guitar Hero skills. I screw up on the "imitating Christ" plan more than I'd like to admit, but tonight... well tonight, I'm glad I let Jesus lead.

Rum balls are my favorite of all the christmas sweets out there. Seriously. They rock.

So, my husband is looking mighty hot today in his brand new jeans... and I'm oohing and ahhing (positive reinforcement) over his fashion choices. In short, the man looked quite stellar today, not to say he doesn't usually look stellar, but he was looking quite above average today... until he sat down on the couch and I noticed that he had decided to pair white athletic ankle socks with brown dressy shoes. Awesomely bad combination.

So, I didn't totally hate the movie "Once"... yes it was slower than I would have preferred and yes it didn't tie the story up in a bright pretty bow as I would have preferred... BUT the music is freaking rad. I just keep listening to the soundtrack and wow, it's really really rad.

Did I mention that I found a super foxy Diane Von Furstenberg dress at Saks for (drum roll please)....... $35.00 Yes, my friends that is my fashion find of the year.

Sad

It's a sad morning.

I just plucked my first gray hair from my right temple area.

Actually. It was 2 gray hairs.

Damn it. I'm officially old.

Rice and words

You want to know what's more addictive than cocaine?

Freerice.com

Seriously fun AND doing good at the same time.

Show and tell time

So, I've been keeping a secret blog find from all of you. This site is HILARIOUS and snarky and truly fun time well spent on your computer chair. I found it well over a year ago and have been reading it religiously since.

In the great tradition of show and tell, I'm sharing with you the link today.

If you love (hell, even like) the show Project Runway, let me introduce to you the really lovely men that are Project RunGay. Trust me. They are blogging exactly what you are thinking when you see that hideous dress sashaying down the runway.

AND they adore Laura Bennett, so that gets them cookies AND milk...