Betty Dearest

My grandmother is now blessing some of my friends with her crazy behavior. She happens to to the Board President at the daycare Addison attends. This is definitely a plus for me - it's been her church for probably 50 years so she knows everyone, and she is always there visiting and poking around (I think she likes to keep everyone on their toes around there). She was there on Friday and since Addison's class was still napping, she decided to go into the infant room to visit. One of my friends happened to be in there feeding her baby and she is always highly entertained by Betty. On this particular day (much to my horror), Betty decided she was entitled to get up close and personal while my friend was nursing her baby. She used to do this to me while I was nursing and it drove me CRAZY! I am a pretty modest person and don't even think it's appropriate to blog about the details of breastfeeding but Betty thinks it's her right to get right up close if she wants to. Apparently she went over and looked directly at my friend's boob and said "wow, he's got a great latch," and stood there staring at the baby for a few minutes. I would die. (Actually, she did this to me often. Even when I was wearing a cover she would try to peek over and watch.) Luckily my friend just thought it was funny but I have no idea where my Southern Belle grandmother got the idea that it is okay to invade a nursing mother's personal space. I swear, the older she gets, the more she does exactly what he wants. Oh Betty!

Whirlwind

I have been so busy this past week! Junior League started back up and I had two meetings last week, work was busy, Addison started walking, seeing friends, cleaning my house like a fanatic, and lots of activity with my photography business = INSANITY! This week will likely be just as busy but we're going out of town this weekend so it's all going to be worth it. Since I don't have time for much of a post today, I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of Addison (courtesy of my friend "Mom of Twins") I seriously need to get my camera pointed at my own child again, I've been busy photographing so many others I haven't had time to take my typical zillion pictures per week ;)

Things That Make Life Better

I know I've blogged about this before but it's worth saying again. I've been surprised at people's reactions when I've said I'm living on a budget. People equate "budget" with "broke" when in my life, that's not the case at all. Budgeting for us means that we tell our money where to go so that it doesn't tell us where it went. We budget so that we have the money to do the things we want to do and have peace of mind about the future. It doesn't mean I can't do fun things or spend money, if I wanted to spend $1,000 a month on shoes, I could. I would just put it in my budget (and possibly not have electricity or food, lol). A huge benefit from budgeting (aside from extreme peace of mind) is that I tend to spend less because I am more conscious of where my money is going. I've found that I don't need the most expensive of everything and to spend more when it counts and save when it's not important. However, there are a few little things that in my opinion, make life better every day. They are not always expensive but they are sooo worth it.

1. Fresh Flowers - I love getting fresh flowers for my table. It brightens up the whole room and makes me happy. My mom bought my favorite (hydrangeas) for me last weekend at the Farmers Market (pardon the poor lighting in this photo).


2. Fluffy towels - I got new towels for Christmas and what a difference it makes! My fluffy towels make my life better every single day. The funny thing is that mine are not expensive "Oprah" style towels, they are from Target and they are fabulous, soft and make me feel fancy. (husband complains that they are too fluffy so therefore, he's not allowed to use them. Why waste my fluff on someone who won't appreciate it?)

3. Trish McEvoy Wild Blueberry Vanilla candles. I received one of these as a gift last year and loved it so much I wanted to buy more. When I first saw the price I balked, but after using this candle I am convinced that it is worth every penny. Put it in your budget, you won't be sorry.


4. Good sheets. This does not necessarily mean the highest thread count available because we got some of those and they got little pills on them and made me crazy. I just mean, good thread count, nice weight, quality sheets. Mine are Ralph Lauren (that I got at an outlet) and I love, love, love them.

What are things that make your life better everyday? I'd love to know ...

From mommy blogger to cooking blogger

This weekend I made more delicious food. Cooking is my new addiction! There's a thing going around the blogosphere called "12 New Things." I've seen it on a couple of other blogs I read and I briefly considered jumping on that bandwagon but then I realized that I have a lot going on and I'm trying plenty of new things without making an official list. Plus, we all know how much of a type A, "rule follower" I am. If I write it down, I feel compelled to follow through, and who needs an extra "to do" list? Not me ...

This weekend I made the most delicious dip on the planet. It might sound like I am exaggerating but if you doubt me, just try it. Amazing. My mom was in town this weekend so everyone was at my house on Saturday and it was gone in no time. Next time I make it, I'm keeping it all to myself (and will likely gain 10 lbs that weekend, lol) My cousin's cooking blog is filled with delicious recipes that make me want to quit my job and stay home all day wearing an apron and talking like Julia Child.


I also made these delicious Orange Chocolate Chip cookies. Although the cookies were a fun change from the norm, I don't know if they are something I would make very often. They are nothing like the Ginger cookies I made last weekend, and they don't hold a candle to Pioneer Woman's Oatmeal Crispies. Fun to try something new but sometimes the old favorites are best.

My Heart Feels Better

I've noticed that when I am most worried, I don't blog.

My sister went through Rush last week, I worried that she would find a place where she would be happy and loved. She did.

My little one started a new class at daycare today, all last week I worried that she would feel secure, loved and adjust well. She did.

My heart feels better so I think I'm back. I missed you all :)

Recipes, photos and crazy betty stories coming this week to a blog near you...

All Over Again

I haven't blogged all week. I have several half finished posts but it's been a very busy week. My sister is going through sorority rush and with how wrapped up in it and anxious I've been, you'd think I was the one going through it all over again. It's ridiculous but also exciting. Anyway, my mom is vising this weekend and that, combined with everything else going on, I haven't had time to put together anything of interest to say. I have been cooking again though! I'll post pics and recipe links tomorrow. Until then, I'm off to fret over sorority stuff.

You can call me Suzy

Suzy Homemaker that is... (Warning - If you have not eaten lately, this post is going to make you hungry)

Today was fabulous! Lots of cooking and family time, topped off with a movie with girlfriends. I decided to be ambitious today and bake a lot of new recipes - it was a success! First, I made a fruit tart. I saw this recipe on a blog last week and it looked just like one that a local bakery makes that I LOVE. I can't tell you how pleased I was with the way it turned out! Doesn't it look delicious?



Next I made ginger cookies. My neighbor makes these and they honestly have some addictive ingredient in them because they are sooo good. I never thought I liked ginger cookies until I tried these. I only baked a few and froze the rest of the cookie dough for a later date - the few that I baked did not last long at all!


I saved the best for last. I made The Pioneer Woman's Peach Crisp. When I tasted this I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The photo does not do it justice.


Ok, I lied. (when I said the peach crisp was the best part of my day) The best part was right playing with this little doll at bedtime...

Out of Sorts

I have been out of sorts this week. It's all related to photography. You guys were really sweet in your comments after my revelation on Tuesday that I am a little neurotic when it comes to getting feedback from clients. Thanks for your encouraging words.

Don't be mad at me ... I'm still being crazy about it. That client I mentioned? Still no word. My logical brain tells me she's waiting to see her whole gallery and that only 2 preview shots do not warrant a raving email. My (more dominant) crazy brain tells me to FREAK OUT. So I have spent the last two evenings looking at photography sites and message boards and critiquing my work. It's not fun but I can't seem to stop. My husband tells me I should not post about this on here because some of my readers are my clients and I need to project confidence. Guess what? I don't care. I'm an artist (ha!) and artists are supposed to be slightly neurotic :) The funniest part of all of this is that my photography business is suddenly en fuego (did you know that artists also speak bad spanish?) I have several shoots booked for the next couple of months and I'm getting inquiries about Holiday shoots already. It's a strange phenomenon, the more I doubt and beat myself up, the busier I get. Maybe God is trying to tell me to shut up and be thankful? Hmmm ... Maybe I'll start listening tomorrow, I need to go freak out a little bit more first ;)

Are you neurotic about anything? (come on, don't make me feel crazy and alone!)

Ten for Tuesday

1. Two weeks ago I was full of positive self-esteem. I booked a new photography client - someone who could afford to hire ANYONE (for real) and she picked me. Not just for one session, for 4 sessions over the course of her baby's first year. Woo hoo!

2. Today I am totally doubting myself again. Every time I send someone a preview or their gallery info, I freak out if I don't hear from them. I start thinking "What if they hate it? They must hate it. Still no email? They definitely hate the pictures." I know this is RIDICULOUS but I still do it every. single. time. I emailed this client last night and haven't heard back yet. I'm totally freaking out. (I also have this weird thing where I almost always think the photos are terrible immediately after the shoot but when I go back after a couple of days I like them again) Someone told me it was part of the creative process ... I'll go with that answer.

3. Several people who have hired me for photo shoots are reading this right now and wondering if I freaked out over their photos. Yes, I am a little crazy when it comes to my pictures. I want people to love them because for me, it's not work - I put my heart into taking photos that other people will cherish.

4. I have wonderful people in my life who always remind me that this is insane thinking. My mom wrote me an email today - "Repeat after me: I put my heart into my photos and the love shows in breathtakingly beautiful pictures of a moment in time." Isn't she the best?!?

5. On a completely different subject, I'm getting a new desk tomorrow. Who knew there was so much stuff in and around a desk?! It's amazing. I feel like I'm in the process of moving and it's going to be great when it's over because everything will be neat and organized.

6. The Internet has too much stuff on it. It's distracting and wonderful and frustrating all at once. Too many resources for photographers, too much to buy, too many great blogs to read, not enough hours in my evening to do all of that and watch The Bachelor Pad.

7. Are you watching the Bachelor Pad? It's junk ... that I love ;)

8. I thought of something else I make no apologies for. I love Red Bull. No, really. I LOVE it. Going without it for the past almost two years made me love it even more. I don't have them often, I save it for special occasions. Judge me if you must.

9. Some people have no motivation. It makes me insane. (no, I'm not talking about you silly!)

10. I'm loving Target these days. They have some super cute clothing and accessories. If put it together right, no one will ever know ;)

Awkward Conversations With Betty

Crazy Betty came over to babysit for us this weekend and gave me a story that will go into the Hall of Fame of Betty stories. I honestly can't believe I'm going to write about this because a) it's not ladylike and b) the Google searches this is going to pop up on ... oh my.

While I was getting ready, Uncommon Husband and Betty were in the living room watching golf. A commercial for an erectile disfunction medication came on tv and Betty said to my husband "I had a friend whose husband had a problem with that. He had a pump and all he had to to was push a button and up he'd go." Uncommon Husband told me she did a little fist pump to demonstrate her point.

My husband told me this story on the way to dinner and I almost died laughing. He said "It's not funny, there's nothing more awkward than having a conversation about boners with your grandmother." (and now he's going to kill me for blogging about it, lol!) I think that's the funniest thing about Southern (Old) Ladies - you never know what's going to happen. Sometimes I think she does things just for shock value. Oh Betty ...

Emily Post Would Hate Facebook

I'm convinced that Facebook is socially acceptable crack. Did you know that there are more than 500 million active users on Facebook and the average amount of time spent on the site is 45 minutes per day?!?! Woah. Although I think it's crack, it's crack that I like. I am just as addicted to all of the good, the bad, and the ugly as anyone else. And believe me, there's ugly. Emily Post would hate facebook. Although Em (I can call her Em, we're bff) is technically an etiquette expert, I consider her the queen of all things ladylike and polite. Let's just go over a few things that do not make Facebook grounds for ladylike behavior, the FB rules according to me. I'm not referring to anyone in particular intentionally, but if you get offended by this a) I'm sorry and b) please reconsider your FB behavior for the sake of the rest of us (hehe)

1. Using the word "puke" in your status update in reference to anything you, your children or your dog has done is heinous. Please don't.

2. In fact, let's not talk about any bodily functions in status updates (or in person). Those who know me will appreciate and understand this. This applies to bathroom/work stories and potty training - it's all TMI!

3. Even if your friends list is made up of only your closest friends (which applies to about 1% of FB users), screen your pictures very carefully. You have no idea how many people's boobs have been broadcast to the world through those new baby/hospital pics that are wonderful but can be quite revealing. This also applies to belly shots (are you offended yet?) - do you really want your boss's friend Ricardo (I totally made that name up) to see your belly at 9 months pregnant?

4. Anything you post on Facebook is fair game. In other words, you might be the talk of the town, you might be made fun of ... beware. I've watched a couple of people recently do a little crash & burn on Facebook and it's kind of sad.

5. If you are FB friends with your co-workers don't post negative things about work or your co-workers. Or anything else that could get you in trouble at work. You would think this is a no-brainer but sadly, it's not.

Do you have any rules to add? Come on, I know you've seen some crazy/funny/tacky stuff too!

No Apologies

I started to write that I don't have many pet peeves but that might be a lie. We all have them don't we? I don't like it when people hang their pictures too high on the wall, when they don't send thank you notes and I really don't like it when people act condescending towards others. There are plenty of things that are "not my taste," or that I don't agree with, but part of having manners is trying to make other people feel comfortable. That means sometimes you have to keep your opinions to yourself (or express them on your blog, hehe!). Recently I have noticed that a lot of people do not practice this rule, they just say what they think without regard to how it makes other people feel. There are things in my life that I do not make apologies for, yet people think they have the right to act like they are superior because they feel differently? Rude.

1. I like (love) reality TV. I make no apologies for this. I do not believe that what you watch on television is a measure of your intelligence - it's entertainment people! I like HGTV, I sometimes enjoy nerdy shows on Discovery channel, I also love The Bachelor, Survivor, and Big Brother. Trash? Maybe. I still love it - no apologies.

2. I eat dessert. Why are females expected to act like we love salad but we have to pretend that we don't want all of our dessert? I like ice cream, cupcakes and just about any other dessert. I believe in healthful living but I will always say yes to dessert - no apologies.

3. Motherhood. A magnet for judgement and guilt. Sometimes it feels like the decisions we make as mothers are judged and evaluated by anyone and everyone who has a voice. I really try to only give advice when asked AND to make positive and encouraging comments. Being a mother is a tough job and we need to be supporting each other in this, not tearing each other down for the decisions we make. I do what I think is best for my family - no apologies.

I realize this post has taken on the tone of a mini rant, I do apologize for that. I would love to hear some things you don't apologize for. Do you ever feel judged for something? I truly hope I'm not guilty of doing this to any of you! Sending out love and positivity to all of my peeps today!

What are your "No Apologies"?

Style Star

I mentioned a couple of months ago that Addison was going to be in a local magazine. It came out yesterday and I have to say it's fabulous! (would you expect me to say anything different?)

Several people who have seen it have asked "Is this real?" This question makes me laugh. Do you think I would pay to have a fake magazine cover created? No, that's not my style. A few other people have asked if it's because I entered her into a contest. When I said this to a friend of mine, she said "please, you wouldn't do that" which made me glad she knows me that well. (not that there's anything wrong with entering your child in a contest, again, it's just not my thing) This basically came about because this magazine was doing a feature on children's clothing and they were looking for children of different ages to model the clothing. My aunt (who's a photographer for this magazine) suggested Addison and after looking at some photos of her and hearing about what a happy smiley baby she is, she was in!If you are interested in seeing the online version go here. Here's a pic of the Star checking herself out ... :-)

Staycation

This weekend felt like a staycation. My best friend from college came for a visit and it was fabulous! They rented a condo on the beach and while the guys golfed all weekend, we camped out at the condo. We went to the beach, the pool, watched a movie, got pedis, and talked and talked. It was wonderful! I felt like I had a mini vacation because I was away form the house, no cooking, no email, just relaxing with friends! There's something special about friends you've had for years and years. I feel blessed to have shared lots of memories - college, sorority drama, laughs, secrets, an apartment, two weddings, two babies and many good times with this friend. She's one of those people I can tell anything and we are often going through similar things and having similar thoughts. She's my friend, my sister, and a very special person. Love!




This summer keeps getting better and better ...