The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

My post-Christmas vacation funk has definitely set in! I'll try to be as upbeat as possible....fake it till you make it, right? I've also been a huge slacker posting Front Porch Fridays...consider this a make-up session! I didn't take as many pictures as I should have, but these will have to do.

I was so lucky to spend the entire week of Christmas at home. I was going non-stop and operating on little sleep. Last Saturday was the first time in several years that ALL the kids on my mom's side got to celebrate together. We had a family picture taken with the new additions- my sister got married this year and my brother is getting married in March.






My sister had a party on Christmas night (also her birthday!) and we had an impromptu reunion with some childhood friends! (I was testing out my new glasses.)


I swear, at every restaurant or store I went over the week, I ran in to people I knew! I loved seeing all the familiar and friendly faces.

There's another highlight of the week that I'm careful to share on here. But I did go on my first ever blind date and I'll just say that the one date turned into four!

If I were rating everything about my trip on the Sweet Tea Scale...it'd be a perfect 5! The absolute worst part was having to leave.

Waiting for Santa

I'm blogging at ya from my precious hometown in SC. It's been a whirlwind week of packing, traveling, shopping, seeing family, and of course some sweet tea drinking! I've spent some time catching up with old friends and even had time to make a new one. ;) I hope to have some pics to share from my holiday vacation!

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve and I'm so glad I went tonight. I love taking the time to reflect and focus on what really matters. I hope each of you have the opportunity to do the things you love that makes this time of year so special.

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

My First Tag

Stefanie tagged me so my answers are below. The directions were to complete the sentence with the first thing that came to mind.


*i am sooooo ready for Christmas vacation!
*i want peace.
*i have fabulous friends.
*i miss my family.
*i fear that I'll run out of things to blog about.
*i hear that inauguration week is going to be CRAZY in DC!!!
*i search for everything- google is my friend.
*i wonder if my fantasy team will win the Championship game this week!
*i regret loosing touch with high school friends.
*i love watching the Braves.
*i forgive and have a hard time forgetting!
*i ache after Body Pump class at the gym (when I actually go.)
*i always watch Food Network on Saturday mornings.
*i try to be thoughtful.
*i seem quiet when I first meet people.
*i know it's the little things that matter most.
*i feel like I would benefit from a massage.
*i dance sometimes.
*i dream about dancing like Beyonce.
*i give people the benefit of the doubt.
*i listen to all kinds of music.
*i sing when I'm by myself in the car.
*i laugh when I talk to my sister.
*i can't do crossword puzzles.
*i cry sometimes when I watch Extreme Home Makeover.
*i sleep hard.
*i am southern.
*i see a messy house.
*i need a pet!
*i should call my grandmother.

I tag Robin and anyone who wants to play! Just fill in the answer with the FIRST thing that comes to your mind.

Front Porch Friday

This group, Straight No Chaser, was a You Tube hit last holiday season and have reunited to produce a new CD. So fun!

No Pudge Brownies

My friend introduced me to these brownies over the weekend. Believe me- I was skeptical about the idea of tasty non-fat brownies. We've all tried things like this in hopes that it'll actually quench a craving without making us feel guilty. It usually ends up making us angry that we spend the time and money for a healthier version only to make us crave the real thing even more. Plus, S and I have experimented in the kitchen together and had a few flops. (I will never look at tofu the same again!) But she made a believer out of me with these brownies.

It's called No Pudge Brownie Mix and the trick is that all you add is nonfat vanilla yogurt. The batter is super thick when you're mixing it up. (I like to think this helped build some muscle.) Other than that, they're so easy to make. They look and smell like regular brownies and are tasty! I bought and made the regular fudge kind, but they also sale cappuccino, mint fudge, and raspberry fudge flavors. This is perfect for a sweet craving without the guilt and will be a staple in my cabinet from now on!

Weekend Ratings

I can't believe the weekend is already over! Ugh...another week. I crossed a few things off the list this past weekend:

Ray's Hell Burger- I finally got to try out this much talked about burger joint in Arlington. And it was YUMMY! I'm not a huge burger and fry person...especially out at restaurants (homemade is always better.) I was always that weird kid that preferred salads instead of burgers and chicken fingers. But when I do eat a burger, I expect a lot! The burger I had at Ray's was one of the best I've ever had. In a town of overpriced everything, the meal was surprisingly inexpensive. The burger gets a 5 on the Sweet Tea Scale. The restaurant is on the small side and it has no sign out front, which adds character to the experience. It makes you feel like you found a delicious little secret...until you see how packed it is!


Four Christmases- I was very much looking forward to this movie. I was ready to laugh. The title itself sums up my typical holiday experience...getting shuffled around to cover all the family gatherings on Christmas Eve and Day. That's what happens when your ENTIRE family lives in the same town. We have recently cut the total number of Christmas stops down to 3. Things are further challenging because my feisty little sister decided to make her fashionably late entrance into the world on Christmas Day. So after we do the Christmas thing, then we have her birthday celebration. All of this to say....I can relate to Four Christmases literally.

The movie is enjoyable, though somewhat typical, holiday romantic comedy. I'm trying to put my current bah-humbug attitude about happy endings aside and not take it out on this innocent movie. So, I'm ranking it a 4 on the Sweet Tea Scale.


Rachel Getting Married- It was a rare double movie weekend for me. To balance out the funny and light-hearted Four Christmases, I also saw Rachel Getting Married, starring Anne Hathaway. Ummmmm, I don't know what to say about this one except- Dysfunctional. Hathaway did give a good performance which explains the Oscar buzz, but the story is OUT THERE. It definitely doesn't exactly spread Christmas cheer. I'm glad I saw it, but will give it a 2 on the Sweet Tea Scale.


PS- My fantasy team, Pinkisthenewfootball survived the first week of playoffs!

Rain Drops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

First and foremost- I just HAVE to mention a highlight of last weekend when Clemson beat up on USC!!! I know several G&G readers and friends are USC fans...but you know how it goes. The Tigers may not have lived up to all the pre-season hype...They didn't win the ACC. They had some disappointing losses and dealt with a coaching shake up mid-season. That said, all that matters right now is they beat USC and are now bowl eligible!! They win the palmetto state football bragging rights for the next year!!!

I started reading this blog- Thrifty Decor Chic- a few months ago. I've been amazed at what this girl comes up with. I just LOVED her Halloween decorating ideas and can't wait to see what she comes up with for Christmas. It makes me want to have my own house and go to town decorating!

Thrifty Decor Chic is hosting a "Favorite Things" blogging event this week and I decided to participate. After all, Oprah isn't the only one that can share her favorite things!

Here are some of my favorite things of the moment:

Favorite Music:
Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band)
Single Ladies (Beyonce)
White Horse and Love Story (Taylor Swift)
James Taylor at Christmas
Josh Groban's Noel Christmas CD

Quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Book: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
I haven't had a chance to blog about this one yet, but it's a definite 5 on the Sweet Tea Scale. It's a simple but meaningful book that makes you think about life. It'd be a fabulous read for the holiday season and a great gift idea. I highly recommend everyone to watch or read this story.

Holiday Movies: I started the annual Christmas movie rotation last night by watching Love Actually. My all-time favorites are Miracle on 34th Street (the original version) and Little Women (the newer version.)

Holiday Cookie: I'll admit that I'm hesitant to share my favorite holiday treat. But if it brings you as much joy that it brings me...this will be worth it. There are these cookies that my grandmother always makes around the holidays that make me smile. They don't even really have a name...we call them White Cookies. They don't even need a name- they speak for themself! You take Ritz crackers and make little sandwiches with crunchy peanut butter. Then you dip the whole thing in white chocolate and let them harden. They're creamy, crunchy, and sweet. Pure sunshine in your mouth. I've taken these to work and people oooohhh and ahhhh and love them as much as I do.

Blog: I'm also LOVING my new, festive holiday background!

Giving Thanks

I caught a few minutes of The View yesterday and Whoopi Goldberg went off on a tangent about how we've skipped right over Thanksgiving in anticipation for Christmas. I'll admit that our house is already decorated and I did sneak and listened to some Christmas music this week. But I don't want to be guilty of skiping Thanksgiving...it's a great holiday and I have so many things to be thankful for.

As I reflect on the last year, I've been blessed with many things. First and foremost I am so very grateful for the wonderful family and friends in my life. I cherish them all more than they know. But I'll save that for around the Thanksgiving table.

On a lighter side for the blog, I'm listing a few things that I'm grateful for right now and in the past year.


I'm thankful....

for my new brother-in-law!

that Beyonce decided to write a few songs for me (Single Ladies to name one of them!)

that DC bars and restaurants are smoke-free!

that the election is over! (And my guy won!)

that my car's AC was fixed (thanks mama!) Have you ever had to ride south in a car in 100+ degree heat for 8 hours while sitting on leather seats???? I have. And NEVER wish to again.

the new job that I got this year.

for Gossip Girl and Brothers and Sisters.

that I rescued my pearl earring when I dropped it down the bathroom sink...all by myself! (It was disgusting...ever taken apart the bathroom sink drain before? Grossest. Thing. Ever.)

that the National League won the world series (even if it wasn't my beloved Braves!)

that my fantasy team didn't suck this year even after loosing Tom Brady.

that I have a parking space and can drive to work. I don't miss anything about the cold/hot walk to the metro, fighting the crowd to get a seat, and dealing with rude people in the "germ factory."

that I started this blog!

that you're reading my blog!



I'd love to know what you're thankful for...leave it in the comment section to keep the list going!
I wish each of you the warmest wishes for a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

XOXO


PS- Margaret and Helen's blog is hilarious today.

PPS- Don't miss Oprah's Favorite Things episode tomorrow. It's a little different this year as she's scaling back and sharing "affordable" gifts this time around.

Front Porch Friday

Here are two little cuties that I can't wait to see next week!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite meals. I'm not a big turkey fan, but the fixin's are the best! And I'm going to get plenty of opportunities to enjoy it this year:

1. I had a Thanksgiving lunch with the office this week which was typical "catered" food. The food was not the best- I had corn pudding for the first time. One word- Gross! But I filled up on a coworkers homemade mac and cheese which was delish.

2. We're having our 4th Annual "Practice Thanksgiving" with friends at our house tomorrow night. We're going to have more food than we know what to do with, but it's a fun get-together where we practice preparing our favorite Thanksgiving dishes and share it with each other.

3. On the actual day of Thanks, I'll be back home in SC having lunch with my mom's family and

4. Dinner with my dad's family. By this point I may have to fast for a few days to recover from the overload of food.

PS- I haven't blogged about my fantasy team in a while, but the regular season is coming to an end and I'm going to be in the playoffs! Much improved from last year!

A CLEAN Start to the Week

For once, I accomplished everything I wanted to over the weekend! First, I checked off all my errands. Then, I enjoyed the private yoga lesson. I'm a little sore today, but hopefully that's a good thing. And last was the big project- the cleaning of the room. I've barely touched my room at all during the last month and it was out of control. Let's just say my room definitely matched my emotions of the last 4 weeks- a big fat MESS. But that's a story for another day.

I thought about posting some before and after pics, but I think that would be too embarrassing. After lots of sorting, shredding, and organizing, my living quarters is in tip top shape. I even made up my bed this morning! It's amazing what a huge relief it is to simply have a clean room. I even had time to wind down in a relaxing bath last night...something we should all do on a more regular basis!


PS- Before you think I'm lame and had fun cleaning all weekend, my roomie did make me go out on Friday night where we heard a decent cover band. We also had an impromptu movie night on Saturday. We watched What Happens in Vegas, which was a little cheesy but kept us laughing.

Front Porch Friday

Whew...another week that I was lazy about posting! I promise to do better. Work is getting busier planning for the new Congress and Administration so we can solve all of the country's health policy problems!

The last few weekends have been crazy- last weekend my oldest friend from home visited. We had a lot of fun hanging out and catching up. The weekend before that, I was home in SC. So needless to say I'm behind with all of the cleaning and errand running that has to be done!

I'm also attempting to bring some balance and harmony to my life by trying out a yoga lesson on Sunday. A friend of a friend teaches private lessons in your own home,we've arranged for 6 of us to try it out on Sunday. I'm hoping to get some good basic training and one on one attention before attempting a big class at the gym. I'll let you know how it progresses.

My mind is ALL over the place right now, and I can't seem to focus on one image for this week's picture. I've had pet fever for several months now but can't bring myself to make the commitment. I've been VERY close to getting a kitty, but I REALLY want a dog....a golden retriever to be exact. I'll have to settle for a cute pic for now.

Enjoy your weekend!

Front Porch Friday

This is my sister's kindergarten class the day after the election.

Her caption:
11.5.08 My babies with Mr. Ovid. I am so excited that I can look each of my students in the eye and tell them with no doubt that no matter your race, background, or socioeconomic status, if you work hard YOU CAN be anything you want to be!

Election 2008 = History

What an Election this has been! I wish I had some sort of clever and profound words to say. I have literally been speechless since 11:00 pm last night when Obama was named the next President of the United States. I'm soaking it all in and enjoying every moment of it.

I vividly remember 4 years ago, driving back to DC after campaigning for my team and loosing. The outlook for the democratic party was extremely grim. Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed what has happened this week.

Congrats to a great campaign and effort from Sen. McCain. He is a true American hero in every sense of the word. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.

No matter what your political beliefs are, I hope that you appreciate and embrace the history that has been made. There is a lot of difficult work ahead to steer our country back on track. But today, it is a wonderful day to be an American.

Voting PS

This site is really cool! Let's see if the predictions are right.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

Happy Voting

Voting was super easy for me this morning. I was in and out in 5 minutes. I hope you're all exercising your most basic right and have fulfilled your civic duty. The excitement and anxiety is definitely in the air. We're in for an interesting night.

I'm sure you've all heard by now, but if you vote, you can receive a free cup of coffee from Starbucks, free doughnut from Krispy Kreme, and free ice cream from Ben and Jerry's. Nothing more American than getting free fatty food for voting!

Election Eve

We survived the endless primary season, the dramatic VP picks, conventions, debates, speeches, advertisements, interviews, attacks, endorsements, phone calls, and brochures. The ups and downs, twists and turns. OH and who can forget the rhetoric...Change, Maverick, Hope, Experience, Yes We Can, and Country First. The political lover in me can hardly wait...

The BIG day is finally upon us! It's been a long election year (or 2) with new energy and strategy on both sides. I hope you are all voting tomorrow. Make sure that you know where to vote, and the proper identification needed.

Saturday Night Live has had some hilarious election pieces. If you've missed any of it, they're doing a 2 hour election special tonight at 9. At this point, we all just need to laugh! I'll be juggling SNL with my usual Monday night TV line up of Gossip Girl and Dancing with the Stars.

In other news: Our office building had a pumpkin carving contest on Friday. My office makes the newest staff members put the pumpkin together each year. I'm proud to say that I did the carving for our team and we won "Silliest Pumpkin!" I was in SC over the weekend and didn't get a chance to post, so a belated Front Porch Friday of our winning pumpkin:

Um...it turned out pretty silly! It's a Sarah Palin pumpkin as her former beauty queen self. Playing the flute was her talent (May be the only thing the two of us have in common). And the patriotic moose represents one of her favorite pastimes.

Pink Ribbons

I had such grand plans for the blog for breast cancer awareness month and postings all through October. Sadly, life has gotten in the way. But I wanted to make sure you hear my mom's story. She is among so many women and yes, even some men, that have experienced breast cancer. I hope that you've seen the recent articles that I've linked to the Concert of Hope that my mom and step-dad have been involved with.

Any good southern girl knows to listen to her mamma....so listen up to the mamma of Grits and Gossip. Here is her story:

On December 8, 2000 I took a phone call that changed my life. I remember holding the receiver and hearing the word carcinoma. I picked up a pen and began writing every word the doctor said from that moment on. My husband walked in my office within a few minutes of that call and his world changed as well.

I had a routine mammogram, followed by a biopsy. The biopsy revealed that I had ductal carcinoma insitu. I chose to have a lumpectomy on December 20, 2000 and 3 days later the surgeon called to inform us they did not get clean margins and another lumpectomy was recommended. I had my second lumpectomy on January 3, 2001 and 2 days later (my 43rd birthday) the surgeon called to say higher grade cells were found and they still did not have clean margins. At that point I decided I wanted a mastectomy to insure the cancer was out of my body. So on January 24, 2001 I had my left breast removed. Finally 3 days later we received good news – the cancer was contained to the area and there was no lymph node involvement. I did not have to have radiation or chemo and I was able to begin the reconstruction process.

My initial reconstruction surgical procedures were not successful and I ultimately had to go to Atlanta where I finally got a wonderful result. All in all I had 11 surgeries in a 3 year span of time.

I started this by saying my life changed the day I received a cancer diagnosis. Prior to that day I didn’t understand those life and death issues. I should have – I am a nursing home administrator and deal with those very issues everyday. It is quite different when it is YOU! You receiving the care, You making healthcare
decisions, You lying on an operating table, You being sore after surgery, You
having to wait on someone to help you up out of the bed, You having to stop all
that is normal in your life. I became a better nursing home administrator
because I had experienced those helpless feelings my residents have each and
every day.

I learned to appreciate this very short life we are given. Each and every day is a blessing. A day may be full of challenges but at the end of the day it is so refreshing to realize you had the strength to endure. And no matter how bad I feel, I only have to look around and realize there are others in a worse state than I.

Those scary first days of my diagnosis have evolved into a wonderful journey that has brought so many people and opportunities into my life that never would have been there had it not been for cancer. I have often said that for me cancer has been the greatest gift I’ve ever been given, it just came in a very ugly package.

I know that many who read this blog are vibrant young people that think cancer could never come their way. I hope you are right. REMEMBER – Early detection is crucial. Know your body. Pay attention to changes. Have regular check ups. And should your life be touched by cancer – You will find a support system that will get you through those uncertain times.

We must find a cure for this disease. Each and every political election gives us an opportunity to support those candidates that know the importance of finding a cure. Buy those pink ribbon objects whose proceeds support research. Walk and Run in those races that fund these causes. Who knows, your life may one day depend on it.

~ Carla Heritage

Front Porch Friday

Here's the Obama pumpkin that I carved alst weekend! I got the template from Yes We Carve.

Some Blog Love

I thought I would share a few blogs that I'm loving right now.

Margaret and Helen- My mom sent this blog to me. Helen and Margaret are eighty-something bloggers. Their candor and humor makes this one a knee-slapper. (I'm in to 80 somethings these days....If you haven't watched Cloris Leachman on Dancing with the Stars, you're missing out!! Seriously go watch her online now!)

Yes We Can Hold Babies- This is obviously campaign influenced and posts pictures of Obama with kids or kids supporting Obama. The captions make this adorable, no matter what your political preference may be.

Living Oprah- If you know me, you know that I'm an Oprah fan. This is a blog that a woman started when she decided to live an entire year as Oprah tells us to. She has a blog about every show and tracks the assignments AND how much she spends. She was interviewed on the Today Show last week and you can view the segment here.

It's a crazy world right now, and these sites make me pause, laugh, and put things in perspective.

Feel free to share other suggestions in the comment section or email them to me!

Proud Daughter

In keeping with the month's breast cancer theme, the following is an article that profiles my step-father and what he's doing in my hometown. So proud!

If you're in or know anyone in the Anderson area, the Concert of Hope benefit is this coming Saturday night. Click here for more info.



From Anderson Independent

The Storyteller: Hope in music
Conducting Concert of Hope is man’s legacy

By Charmaine Smith-Miles (Contact)
Sunday, October 19, 2008

In the middle of talking, a strange beeping sound interrupts this man’s conversation. He pauses to determine where the sound is coming from and then in a minute he has pulled the contraption out of his pants pocket. But it’s not a mobile phone, as expected.

It’s a pitch pipe — a small device that musicians often use as a reference for what key they should sing.

“That way I am never without a pitch,” Bob Heritage says, holding the little device that serves also as a key ring. “If I am singing and I don’t pick the right pitch, it could be embarrassing.”

“See, that’s what I mean,” his wife, Carla, says, her point made moments earlier proven. “This man oozes music. It’s in his little toe.”

That’s why seven years ago, she knew exactly who she would pitch a music idea to. Today, with her huge, bright brown eyes, she glances over at him.



Click here for the full article: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2008/oct/19/storyteller-hope-music/

Twittering Grits

Another week has passed that I've neglected to blog! I'm trying to get back to normal after a crazy few weeks. Thanks for checking back and not giving up on Grits and Gossip!


I'm trying out Twitter. I'll admit, the first time I learned of this phenomenon I thought that it goes too far....a TMI (too much info) situation. After giving it more thought and checking it out further, I hope it will be a nice addition to my blog and a way to share quick bits of information. So check it out on the right side of the screen. The State has a great article on grits today that I just had to share as my first twitter update!

I definitely want to check out the book mentioned in the article, 101 Things To Do With Grits by Greenville native Harriss Cottingham. Who knew you could do so much with grits!!! I'm especially curious about the chocolate flavored grits recipe. Interesting. Very Interesting.

Smorgasbord Orgasbord Orgasbord

I'm finally getting back to normal....Life and work have taken over the last 2 weeks and blogging took a back seat. So this posting is a smorgasbord of updates. (The word smorgasbord reminds me of a song, A Veritable Smorgasbord in a favorite childhood movie, Charlotte's Web. You know, when Templeton eats too much at the fair and rolls back to the farm.) I warned you this is a random post...

Blog News: First up, Breast Cancer Awareness Month! I'm sure you've noticed the new pink background in recognition of it. Stay tuned in the coming week when my mom will share her breast cancer story and I'll share some facts and prevention tips.

Weekend Fun: I had a great weekend with my sister visiting. All of the wedding events were great, but it was nice to just hang out for the sake of hanging out. There's something so grounding and comforting when spending time with the people that know you best. We had a relaxing weekend of shopping and catching up.

Shout Out: Some other exciting news from my friend and loyal Grits and Gossip reader, Stefanie. She got engaged over the weekend!!! Congrats, Stefanie!

Movies: I've seen two movies lately that need to be rated. Burn After Reading gets a 4 on the Sweet Tea Scale. It was funny and lighthearted. Nights of Rodanthe gets a disappointing 2. I blame my sister for this one. I thought Nicholas Sparks stories were more uplifting! At least the beach scenery was pretty.

TV: So far, so good with the new TV season. I don't have any new favorites...
Grey's seems back on track;
The Office is still hilarious and Jim's proposal was the sweetest;
Brothers and Sisters is as dramatic as ever;
Desperate Housewives is as quirky as ever;
Warren and Rocco have lived to dance another day on Dancing With The Stars;
Gossip Girl keeps twisting and turning.


Happy Hump Day!

Front Porch Friday

It's been a looooong week for me! I'm a bit run down after working all last weekend and have caught a nasty cold. So I'm very ready for the weekend.

I didn't think you'd want to see the REAL pictures from my front porch this week consisting of kleenex and lots of cold medicine, so I thought I'd share this one of my mom, sister, and me last Thanksgiving. My wonderful mom is a breast cancer survivor so it's a good month to introduce her to you!

Front Porch Friday

If you missed last week's intro, click here for the scoop.

In honor of the beginning of fall this week, I'm sharing some pics that I took on a fall day trip excursion with a roommate a few years ago. It's amazing that 45 minutes outside the city, we found a beautiful orchard and scenic vineyards.

We went Apple pickin'....

Pumpkin Shopping...

and Wine Drinking!

Dancing Recap

Maybe it's the gloomy tone in Washington this week with the economic crisis and Congress finally realizing they need to get something done before adjourning tomorrow. Or maybe it's the nasty presidential political games. Or even more likely, maybe it's because there are only 3 games left in the Braves season, but I haven't been able to think of anything positive to blog about! Work has been busier than usual and to make it worse, I have to work this weekend.

But enough of my pity party.

I turn to the always faithful, TV. With the exception of Gossip Girl, I haven't been glued to the tube like I thought I would be this week. But one highlight for me was Dancing With The Stars. Thanks to TiVo, I watched 5 hours worth of this show's marathon 3 night premier week in only 2 hours last night. It made me laugh and forget about the worries of the world. And that's the goal of TV, right? I haven't watched every season of the show, but I was a fan the two seasons that Apolo Ohno and Emmit Smith won. If you're not tuning in and are looking for a light hearted, fun show to watch, I highly recommend it! If you're interested and missed the first week, click here for a recap.

CHEERS- My favs after week 1:
Cloris Leachman - 82 years old and still moving, also she's hilarious.
Chef Rocco DiSpirito- He has so much heart!
Brooke Burke- She's had 4 kids and looks like that?
Warren Sapp- Smooth moves.
Lance Bass- Surprisingly fun to watch.
Misty May-Treanor- You can tell she's a fierce competitor, even out of her element.

BOOOOO- Least favs:
Susan Lucci- She's way too skinny and her self proclaimed "perfectionist" personality was annoying to me.
Kim Kardashian- I still don't understand why she's famous and why we're supposed to care about her. She was not impressive.

Is anyone else watching? What did you think?

Happy Fall

The day has finally come! The official start of the new fall TV season!

The Emmy Award Show last night was the perfect pep rally for all the new TV starting this week. I did NOT enjoy the host format of the last night's show. They had 5 different hosts- the nominees for the first ever category of Best Reality Show Host. The "reveal" of the winner of this category was clever and funny though. They took a combination of the catch phrases from each of the reality shows and even made the hosts sweat it out over a commercial break before they announced the winner.

30 Rock and Mad Men were the big winners. I was glad to see John Adams (HBO) win Best Miniseries and Paul Giamatti, who played John Adams, win Best Actor in a Miniseries. John Adams is lengthy, but totally worth watching if you enjoy history or learning about the founding of our country!

I've wanted to watch Mad Men, but missed the first season so I'm adding it to my Netflix list.

Book Review

I finished The Late Bloomer's Revolution by Amy Cohen. I've noticed a trend in the type of books I've been reading, so the next one will be branching out! This book was quite similar to the last book I read, Girls in Trucks. It was another story about a girl finding her way in the world. The difference being, it mainly takes place in NYC and the book is a memoir, so the events actually happened. I wanted it to end about 50 pages sooner, but I did enjoy it. The book did have a lot of parallels with Sex in the City, in a darker, less glam way. AKA- REALITY.


This is why you won't be surprised there are reports that Sarah Jessica Parker is going to star in the movie version of this book. Should be interesting! The movie has potential.

This would be a good book if you're going through a break-up, or at some other crossroads in your life! On the Sweet Tea Scale- I give it a 3...Aight. It'd be a 4 if I related more to the character and what she was going through.

Speaking of SJP, Sex in the City is out on DVD TOMORROW! I can't wait to watch it again sometime soon.

From My Front Porch

Front Porch Fridays

I'm introducing a new weekly feature of the blog called Front Porch Fridays.

Quick background: The title is inspired by the men in my family who truly are "men of few words." I have distinct memories from my childhood of my grandfather sitting on his front porch enjoying his coffee and looking out at the lake- watching boats pass, fish jump, squirrels scurry, leaves fall, and seasons change. When we were all around on special occasions, we would enjoy his delicious homemade vanilla ice cream. From their front porch, I remember the porch swing, lighting bugs, and peaceful summer nights. (I did not grow up in Mayberry, but as I'm writing this, it sure does sound like it!)

So in honor of these fond memories, I'll share a photo of the week to reflect, provoke discussions, or just bring a smile at the end of the busy week. There will typically be few words, just quick captions or summaries of what you're seeing. So if you were sitting on my front porch, you'd see the weekly snapshots that I post.

Since there are only a few days left of summer, I decided to post several pictures reflecting my Summer. I took a day trip to Annapolis 4th of July weekend, went to the beach at the Isle of Palms, and of course- the big wedding!

Thai Kick

I've been on a Thai kick for the last month or so. There's this cute place near my house called Urban Thai that I've either eaten at or ordered from 5 times in the last month! They have this yummy Penang Chicken dish that I'm obsessed with right now. I know it's not healthy at all since it's a creamy peanut and curry sauce...I don't even want to know the nutritional value! So I was pleased that this week on Hungry Girl's site she featured an alternative Thai dish recipe that's pretty healthy. I have been a serious bum lately about the gym and eating right and have been searching and hoping for some divine inspiration on this matter. I'm hoping that by coming out with it on the blog will help me stay accountable and actually do what I know I need to do! Since I like to cook, and since cooking for yourself is more healthy (and cheaper) than ordering from Urban Thai every other day, I'm going to try the sesame noodle recipe this weekend. I'll let you know how it turns out!


I like Hungry Girl's sight because she's a regular gal that has struggled with her weight like most of us. She follows the Weight Watcher's point system, which has been the only thing to work for me when I get serious about loosing weight. I've had the link to HG's sight up on the blog, but wanted to highlight it today if you're looking for a new healthy recipe or want to hear the truth about some of your favorite foods! It's worth a look.

Last Week of Summer!

I've been couped up in a stuffy government conference room for a marathon 8 hour meeting, so this will be short!

Despite loosing Tom Brady last week, it looks like my fantasy team may have some hope after all. It's still really early, but the team pulled out a win thanks to my new QB Aaron Rodgers from Green Bay and a solid performance from the Redskin's Santana Moss. I don't want to toot my own horn since there's a lot of season left, but I moved from 9th to 5th place! Already so much better than last year (knock on wood.)

I can't believe that summer is already over! I've already blogged about how much I heart summer, but I'm actually looking forward to the calm of fall. One good thing about living slightly north is that we actually have 4 distinct seasons. The heat of the deep south sometimes lasts through November! They get the last laugh come March when the flowers are blooming and they're enjoying spring when I have a month left of winter. So this is the only time of year I get to gloat about our nice weather!

I'm off to give the new 90210 another shot...3rd weeks a charm, right?

Enjoy your last week of summertime bliss!

Somber Day

I've been debating whether or not to blog today, and if I do, what should I say?

It's a gray and cloudy afternoon in our nation's capitol. Perhaps a reflection of the mood that 9-11 brings. The anniversary of that infamous day brings so many different emotions. It was a day of fear, sadness, and disbelief. It changed the way Americans think. In some ways, we are still healing and rebuilding.

There is an endless amount of political debate about our country's response to the 9/11 attacks. But today is a day of remembrance and reflection.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families of the thousands that lost their lives 7 years ago. Also, my sincere appreciation to all of the brave men and women serving in the military. I am truly humbled by their sacrifice.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

I watch a lot of TV. It all started innocently enough with a daily dose of Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street on PBS. Then came The Cosby's, Must See TV and TGIF. In college, I may or may not have scheduled some classes around a few TV shows. TiVo soon followed and now-
I'm devoting an entire blog entry to TV shows.

As fellow TV lovers know, last year was tough with shortened seasons due to the writers strike. After the drought of the strike, we were led right in to the summer rerun season. Miserable.

No more suffering through America's Got Talent (because it really doesn't) and no more channel surfing. The new TV season is upon us! A few shows have already premiered, but most are getting underway in the next few weeks.

In case you're as excited as I am, here's a preview of my upcoming TV watching schedule:

Sundays:
Desperate Housewives on ABC (This show got a little kooky in the last 2 seasons, but started to redeem itself. This season will fast forward 5 years. Sure to be some changes. If nothing else, I want to see a slightly heavier Eva Longoria-Parker!)

Brothers and Sisters on ABC (This is one of my favorites. Just a good 'ole family drama!)

Mondays:
Gossip Girl on CW (Season premiered last week. It's getting good, can't wait to see what senior year has in store for these kids.)

Dancing With the Stars on ABC (I couldn't get in to this last season, but the new lineup looks promising. I'm rooting for the 80 year old, Cloris Leachman!)

Jon and Kate plus 8 on TLC (It never really has an off-season, but those kids are the cutest!)

Worst Week on CBS (I missed the boat on the other CBS sitcoms- they didn't live up to Everybody Loves Raymond. But I may give this one a shot. It's deemed as a Meet the Parents type comedy. We'll see.)

Tuesdays:
90210 on CW (This show has a lot to live up to. The premier was so-so. It made me want to watch the old B.H. 90210 reruns instead of the new show.)

Biggest Loser: Families on NBC (I'm a fair-weathered fan. But when I do tune in, it's inspiring and motivating.)

Law and Order SVU on NBC (An oldie, but goodie! Thanks to SVU marathons, I'm now hooked on this show.)

Wednesdays:
Private Practice on ABC (This started to loose me midway through last season. Maybe these writers really did need a break? I'll give it one more chance.)

Lipstick Jungle on NBC (I had a hard time keeping this one straight while watching Cashmere Mafia around the same time. Lipstick Jungle won out. It's good if you need a Sex in the City type fix.)

Thursdays:
Grey's Anatomy on ABC (To me, it's starting to get old. Hopefully the story line is revived. But I stuck it out through the endless Meredith/McDreamy drama, so I have to see them happy for a few episodes!)

The Office on NBC (Hilarious. It just makes me laugh!)

ER on NBC (Yes, it's still on. It's the last season though and Carter-aka the original Dr. McDreamy- is back.)

Fridays and Saturdays:
Are spent reviving my social life!


Whew. This should certainly scratch my TV itch for now.

Fantasy Frustration

It's official- I have the worst luck when it comes to sports! It all began 2 weeks ago when I couldn't get the fantasy draft application to work. So my team was choosen by automatic draft. I was lucky enough to get the #1 pick in our draft- the computer choose none other than Tom Brady as my first pick. He was injured in the first quarter of Sunday's game and will be out for the season. My team lost by less than 2 points in the season opener. I have some rebuilding to do...

Game On!

Wow. So much is going on. Work is crazy, and the political world has been turned upside down- I can't get enough! I'm definitely suffering from information overload!

I'm trying to stay true to the intent of this blog and not push any kind of political agenda on you. So instead of talking about the energetic and historical Democratic Convention last week, or the surprising and feisty Republican Convention this week, here I am blogging about fantasy football. (Although, for the record, the Game On phrase definitely applies to the presidential campaign as well!)

Now, I'm definitely not the biggest football fan or expert on earth. And after a certain orange-clad college football team lost miserably last weekend after much UNdeserved hype, I don't even have a decent team to root for! Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, saving me heartache and disappointment?) my college was without a football team...GO KOALAS! And I have been known to give a certain boyfriend much slack for his obsession with "coaching" his "imaginary" teams. So with such little experience, why would I decide to play fantasy football??!!!

Well if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? My fantasy league, "How to Beat a Guy in 10 Days," is entering it's 3rd season. It was an effort to see what the fantasy football hype was all about, and to have something to talk to the opposite sex about during the months of September-January! As I've come to learn, southern girls know and love their football more than you may think.

My team's name, Pinkisthenewfootball was inspired by a fun blog that I used to read regularly, pinkisthenewblog.com. The first year of fantasy play was a blur. I think I finished in the middle of the pack. Last year started off miserably as I was dead last in our draft. But I fought back hard from last place, and upset a few teams before the end of out season.

This year's draft started out on a better note. I was first in the draft this year and have a good looking team. It should be an interesting year as we try to knock the two-time winning team, QB wears Prada, off her high-horse. (And I mean that in the nicest possible way!)

The season starts tonight, so wish me luck! I have a tough match-up this weekend against New Kid On the Block.

Virginia is For Lovers

So, I've finally done it. I made the leap. As of this morning I'm officially a resident of VA. I'm a little sad...I'm a true Carolina Girl at heart and SC will always be my true home. BUT here I am- a Virginian. It doesn't quite have the same ring to it and is going to take some getting used to. Don't worry though, I purchased some palmetto tree bling for my car so I can still represent!

The one big "pro" that I AM excited about is that my vote may actually, finally count (if you haven't already guessed, I'm one of "those" political geeks!) It's a tough life for my particular political affiliation in SC...I've never voted for someone that won! So here's to hoping for better voting luck in my new (battleground) state.

I am trying my best not to make this blog about politics, or my political preference. But I do feel obligated to strongly urge you to vote! Voting is the most simple act of civic participation. It's my personal belief that not one complaint should come out of your mouth about taxes, gas prices, health care coverage and costs, war, and how folks in DC are spending YOUR money- unless you VOTE!!!!

There's still time to register to vote if you haven't already done so. Click here for info on registering. It's easy, so no excuses!

Obama Drama

It is not my intention to make this blog about politics. But I do live in DC and politics is one of my interests so from time to time, there may be a very lighthearted blog about the political world!

Maybe it's just me, but this election, particularly on the Democratic side has had enough drama for a Lifetime movie! From the beginning, the very fact that two historical candidates (a woman and an African American) both had a chance at winning the nomination, setting the party up for a historical campaign and presidential election. The primary came down to the wire with plenty of twists and turns. Then came the ironic "bringing the party together" rally in a town called Unity, NH. Maybe a little over the top- but they had a point to make, right?

Now we're just over 2 months from the election and we still don't know the running mate for either side! So the suspense continues and we're awaiting an exciting text message with our answer (because a regular 'ole press conference type announcement just wouldn't do!)

To up the drama factor Sen. Obama will officially accept the party's nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28th. Just perfect!

This could not have been written any better! What could the next two months hold?
This is much better than watching any Stories (Soap Operas)! I'll be sitting by my cell and on the edge of my seat, waiting for a fairytale ending!

UPDATE: So we obviously know who all the VP picks are now. Just wanted to add that McCain's choice in Gov. Palin definitely thickens the plot! Happy Campaign Season!

A Taste of Home

Cooking is something I really enjoy doing and typically do a lot of. It's been a busy summer and I haven't been doing it as much, I'm looking forward to doing more of it now that things have calmed down.

I had lots of tomatoes left from my trip home last week that I didn't want to waste. So, I thought I would try making a Tomato Pie. I've had it a few times at home, but this was my first try at making it. I'm pretty sure my roommates thought I was crazy...they had never heard of such a thing!

I also picked up some fresh okra during my trip to Eastern Market on Sunday and decided to fry it. I know, I know, this meal completely goes against my last post. What can I say? You can't expect a true southern girl to give up fried okra! It was a meatless meal, so it's a step in the right direction, right?

It turned out good and I have plenty of leftovers for tonight. I recommend trying the recipe if you like cheesy goodness with the fresh taste of 'maters!

Side note- In my diligent research for this post (wikipedia, so take it for what it's worth), I found that the earliest reference to tomatoes in North America was in 1710 in (you guessed it) South Carolina! Add this to the list of wonderful things from the Palmetto State!

Other Random Updates:

-I finally made it to the Crate and Barrel outlet store in Old Town over the weekend and will definitely be going back! I was apparently in a nesting mood because I ended up buying a few things over the weekend to spruce up our living room. A few new throw pillows, candles, and real potted plants have been added!

-Last, but most importantly, I've posted some info on the right side of the blog about an opportunity to help meet a fundraising goal for my sister's class. If you're in a charitable mood, check it out!

You Can Do It!

A few days ago, I picked up a book called Skinny Bitch on a whim. It was a quick and enjoyable read and I do recommend it. The book gave a very blunt and comical explanation of the bad food we eat and how to change the habits that make us fat. It definitely opened my eyes to some of the horrible treatment of the animals that we eat and how truly oblivious we are of this process, and is motivating me to pay more attention to ingredients in the food I eat.

The book basically spells out the reasons to become a vegan and thus you'll be healthier and skinny. We would all LOVE to be skinny, healthy, and eat strictly good-for-you food. But in reality, normal humans have cravings, limited time to prepare perfectly healthy meals, and limited resources to afford the "organic" life.

{stepping on soap box}

Working in the public health field, it is hard to ignore the statistics of Americans unhealthy lifestyle and the consequences this has on our health. So here's a challenge to us all to start small and change just one unhealthy habit at a time. We can all do something.

Get inspired by watching the Olympians fit bods! While the weather is nice, get outside and play! Go for a walk or swim. Skip dessert this weekend. Go to your local farmers market and buy some fresh local food. We all make time to do what's important to us, and your health should be one of THE most important things!

I'm going to take my own advice this weekend and take use the gym membership I'm paying for, as well as take a trip to Eastern Market to buy some fresh food while the good stuff is in season! What are you going to do?

Happy Weekend!

Sweet Tea Withdrawal

What a week! It's hard to believe that everything started a week ago when I drove down to SC and started to help with last minute wedding details. I won't go on and on about it (all we've been doing is talking and reflecting about the wedding since the moment it ended!) But basically everything was BEAUTIFUL and was so much fun. My mom truly outdid herself doing the flowers herself, making the flower girl dresses, etc. My sister was a gorgeous bride and seemed to have the time of her life. I cannot wait to see the pictures!

I'm already missing home though! I enjoyed seeing lots of family and old friends and enjoying everything else that I miss about home... cheaper gas, good food, and southern hospitality! I got to stop at the peach orchard I worked at during college and am enjoying some delicious SC peaches! My grandfather sent me home with an abundance of his home grown tomatoes. My mom packed up some other fresh veggies and all the fixins for some vegetable soup. I piled everything in a big 'ole pot and made more soup than I can possibly eat! But it hit the spot and was perfect comfort food.

I'm not really sure what to do with myself now that the wedding projects are finished and the boyfriend has left town! It definitely feels like the summer is winding down. I have lots of reading I want to catch up on and hope to enjoy the rest of the Olympics. I'm amazed at watching Michael Phelps!

Dum, Dum, De Dum

I'm finally getting a chance to blog this week! My weekend was fun, but flew by. It was the boyfriends last weekend in DC so we had a mini "farewell tour." We got some amazing tickets to National's game on Friday night and had a great time. The Nat's even pulled out a win (which is more than I can say for my wounded Braves lately!)

My sister's wedding is only 3 days away, so this week is all about weddings. My apologies to those of you that are all weddinged-out! Here are some fun facts...

By the numbers:
• An average of 44,230 weddings take place in the U.S. each weekend.
• A total of $72 billion is spent on weddings in the U.S.
• Weddings are a $50 billion per year industry
• People spend $19 billion buying presents off of gift registries.

What to Wear:
Maids: The tradition of bridesmaids dressing the same as each other and in similar style to the bride comes from ancient days when it was believed that evil spirits have a more difficult time distinguishing which one is the bride and putting a hex on her.

The Bride: Queen Victoria made white the bridal color of choice when she wore it to wed Prince Albert in 1840.

Garters: As early as the 13th century, most notably in Europe, it was considered good luck to have a piece of the bride's clothing. So wedding guests would chase after the bride and literally rip pieces of fabric from her dress and/or try to steal her garter. We've come a long way since then! It is now the groom's privilege, of course, to remove the bride's garter and toss it to the male wedding guests. The man who catches the garter is believed to receive good luck and be the next in line to get married.

Now you have something to talk about during those awkward conversations with random people that you haven't seen in years at the next wedding you attend!

Happy August!

Did you realize that August is the only month without a holiday! That's right, not a single one. I'm not sure how the greeting card and candy industry let an entire month slip by, but we're free from buying gifts, sending cards, wearing green, flying flags, and eating ungodly amounts of food at family gatherings!

But don't worry about getting bored! We couldn't have a month without a few significant happenings. The Olympics start next week, the Democratic Convention will take place at the end of the month, students will head back to school, and football season kicks off just to name a few.

Some significant events have taken place in Augusts past- ironically living up to the definition of the improper form of the word.

august: Inspiring awe or admiration: majestic

1498- Columbus lands in South America
1790- The first Census in the US (There were 4 million people)
1914 World War I begins in Europe
1941- The Jeep is born
1961- Six Flags over TX opens
1963- Martin Luther King delivers his historical "I have a Dream Speech"
1971-Sonny and Cher debuts
1981- MTV debuts

So take your holiday sweaters to the cleaners, finish your summer to-do lists, and enjoy a month free of holiday stress...there's plenty of that coming your way right around the corner!

Deja Vu...

I was driving to work a few days ago - listening to mindless entertainment news about Madonna and A-Rod (taking a break from the usual NPR, duh!) after which none other than a New Kids on the Block song came on the radio. I started thinking sarcastically..."Am I in the 1980's?" Suddenly, many comparison's about the 1980's vs. 2008 popped in my head.

Top Ten Reasons We May Be Stuck in the 80's!

1. Madonna making headlines
2. New Kids on the Block release new song
3. A President Bush in the White House
4. Conflict in the Middle East
5. New Batman Movie
6. Greg Norman almost wins a British Open
7. Kathie Lee Gifford on morning TV
8. Prominent politician gives major speech in Berlin
9. US Budget reaches all time high (hits trillion dollar mark in 1987)
10. Savings and Loan Scandal

I'd like to think our country is progressing forward, learning from past political mistakes, watching new movies and sports stars, and listening to new music. Scary to think we're regressing a bit! Oh well- I'm off to watch a rerun of the Golden Girls (at least it's on a new invention called TiVo!!!)

PS- To reminisce about some 1980's Fad's- click here.

Channeling my Inner Gossip Girl!

Hey, y'all! Welcome to my newly created blog, Grits and Gossip! I've created this as a way to keep in touch with friends and family and I hope you enjoy my tid bits of information. This is a new adventure for me so your suggestions and comments are welcome and appreciated.

Summer afternoon, Summer afternoon...the two most beautiful words in the English language.
~Henry James

Summer has always been my favorite season and this year is no different! What's not to love about summer??? Going to the beach/lake/pool, long days of sunlight, fresh fruits and veggies, baseball season...I could go on and on! The only con that summer has is really bad TV. Thank goodness for Jon and Kate Plus 8 and MTV's Legally Blonde reality show (the winner was a very talented fellow Andersonian, Bailey Hanks, who is now a Broadway star!) If it weren't for those two shows, I would be tempted to cancel the cable service!

The boyfriend has been in DC this summer which has been lots of fun. We've been catching up with friends, cooking out, and spending some much needed quality time together.

It is eventful summer in the world of some of my friends and family. My best friend from home had a baby girl just over a month ago and she's adorable! I can't wait to meet her next week when I'm back in SC.

The event of the year for the family is the upcoming wedding of my sister. Everyone has been busy planning and celebrating and I can't believe her big day is 11 days away!

That's it for now...thanks for reading!