A Southern Accent

Since my son was born, I've put a lot of thought into the annual Christmas card. I've obsessed over the paper choice, the colors, the addition of a bow, etc. and especially the photo! I remember the first Christmas I took about 50 pictures to get one I finally liked! Here are some outtakes... This year I'm trying to get the dog and my little guy in the picture - can you say impossible???? I'm going to try one last time this weekend to see if I can get one where they are both actually looking at the camera. On another note, a good friend and co-worked of mine did the right thing and hired a professional photographer to photo her kids. I designed her Christmas card this year, have a peak!

Inspired by an episode of Max and Ruby that was on Noggin last night, my little guy decided he wanted to make worm pie. Determined to find a worm and undeterred by rain, nor wind, nor cold , he grabbed his shovel and started digging. Upon discovery of the first worm, he decided to make them his new pets and actually found two more until I decided to be the mom and make him come inside . Of course, we couldn't leave our new friends outside. We had to invite them to join us for dinner . I called my mom last night and told her this story. She said we definitely are from the same mold. I used to do the same thing. But I never remember her letting me invite them for dinner ...

Wow - I am so proud to say that I have received two blog awards this week !!! How awesome is that? The wonderful Magnolia Belle presented me with the Kreativ Blogger award (one that I've been secretly wanting for a while now!!!) Thank you for thinking I'm creative!!!! I'd like to pass this award to my sweet friend Molly, at Happi Together . She truly is one of the most creative and amazing people I know! Check out her blog! ...and the Proximity award from Liza at Life with a Dive and a Princess . Thank you so very much for this special award! "This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!" I pass this award to: Erin at Blue-Eyed Bride (S...

They arrived last week and have been great additions to our family. Their names are wash (on the left) and dry (on the right). They are very similar, but I manage to tell the difference between the two. We've spent a lot of time together already and they are behaving very well. Their predecessors decided they didn't want to live with our family anymore, so we decided to upgrade to a newer design. They are quiet, require a lot less energy and tell me exactly how much time is left before they finish their thing. Mommie is in love.

NYC holiday windows: traditional to abstract By The Associated Press – 23 hours ago NEW YORK (AP) — Scenes ranging from the far-out and funky to those of Christmases past are taking shape in the windows of Manhattan's department stores as the holiday shopping season gets under way. One of the stores taking a less-traditional approach is Bergdorf Goodman, which in five windows surrounds mannequins wearing designer fashions with all-white depictions of the four seasons plus the holiday season. Nearby at Barneys New York, which is also known for its modern art twist on the season, the display plays tribute to the counterculture of the 1960s and includes a Volkswagen Beetle with a one-of-a-kind paint job featuring peace signs, flowers and other symbols of the decade. Over at Bloomingdale's, the windows are inspired by singer Tony Bennett's new holiday CD and are done in a kitschy, vintage style reminiscent of the 1950s and '60s. Those taking a more traditional approach in...

My little guy continues to amaze me each and every day with his funny comments and view of the world. Last night, on the way home from school, I told him we had to stop by the bank to get some money to leave for Mrs. Wanda today (our cleaning person). He said, " Mommie , you don't know how to clean the house?" I said, "Yes, but Mrs. Wanda is much better at it." While I was gone this week, my mom was watching him and they were leaving one morning to take him to my dad's house. He decided he didn't want to go and told my mother, "Nana, just turn the TV on and I'll stay here." I think he's going to be the class clown, he's constantly trying to make me laugh. He'll do something, then he'll say, "Was that funny mommie ?" He certainly keeps us in stitches . I hope we'll still be laughing when he's a teenager. I think this humor thing could go either way...

This season is going to have some great sales! Too bad we're all too broke to buy anything! Hee hee hee...here's one for Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft that I tested online today and it works! Just type in the promotional code as FRIENDS and you get free shipping and 30% off...ENJOY!

I'm finally home ! Yeah!!!! I was able to sleep in a tad at the hotel in Atlanta yesterday, did a little work in the morning and got a pedicure at the hotel spa before lunch. My little piggies need some extra attention after all the walking & standing I've been doing this week! Of course, I bought a new coat as well - you guys are bad for my wallet . I managed not to buy one in Atlanta, trying to be financially responsible and all. When I got in the car in Raleigh I called my mom and was telling her I forgot to bring a coat and she reminded me that I left my black dress coat in Florida last year and never found it. I totally forgot that, so first thing I did was hit the local Macy's with my coupon and looked everywhere for the coat I previously posted, but it was nowhere to be found. I tried on about 20 different coats and found one just as cute and it's hanging on my office door as we speak . Regular price $280, I paid $99. Gotta love a good sale. Another reason i...

My in-laws have lived at the beach full time for almost three years and were living in their beach condo. They've been wanting to find more space and bought an adorable house a block from the sound in the spring and they've been remodeling it ever since. I've just gotten the first pics of the house, and it's fabulous! Can't wait to head down there for Thanksgiving mamma!!! It looks so awesome!!!! (Click on the pic to see it larger)

As mentioned before, I'm in Atlanta. It's cold here. I didn't bring a coat. Or a scarf. Or gloves. It was in the 50s when I left Raleigh this weekend. Good old Jack Frost has come to visit and caught me off guard. I really thought about packing a coat, but I couldn't fit anything else in my luggage. I mean, a girl has to have at least three outfits for each day on the road. One dressy outfit, one middle-of-the-road kinda dressy outfit for those mornings you wake up and don't feel like dressing up but you still have to look like you made the effort, and the evening outfit (jeans, cool shirt, etc.). There was no room for a coat. So here's my dilemma . Do I suffer through the rest of the day and tomorrow in the freezing cold, or is it a great excuse to catch a cab to the nearest mall and buy a coat? You tell me. Oh, and I've got a Macy's coupon for 11% off one item. I could pick this cute little coat up for $129.00, regular price is $220.00...hummmm.....

Yep, I'm that tired. I'm in Atlanta, working a trade show for the company. I actually enjoy these things because I get to eat yummy food, hang out with new people and sleep in comfy Marriott beds, but standing up allllllllll friggin day wears me out. I'm telling you, no matter how expensive your shoes are, your feet are going to hurt after a day like today. I think I've probably walked about 5 miles today, in heels. I've been back a forth from the convention hall to the hotel 5 times and answered about 30 e-mails. At least we got to eat some great oysters on the half shell and grouper for dinner. Yummy. It's 9:00 now, I miss my little guy so much and I've got one more full day to go. This is a pic I took last week of him sleeping. He is a heavy, heavy sleeper like his mom! Nothing wakes him up! Too bad it's not a very long plane ride home, that's when I usually get some good sleep and recoup. Good nite all!

Ever feel like this on a Monday???? Billboard ad that Tylenol has running in Canada, pretty cool.

The winners of the two Blush and Bashful t-shirts are: Beaufort Belle & Preppy Nonsense ! Please send me your sizes girls and congratulations! I'm headed to Atlanta for a couple of days for work, but I'm going to order them and see if I can have them shipped to you, so please provide your address as well! If you didn't win and you want a shirt, you can still visit the Blush and Bashful Store to get lots of fun items with the Blush and Bashful design! Proceeds go to support my Avon Walk and the Pink Pacers Team!

...a pink and black reversible party coat from Target for only $89.99. How awesome is this? I'll admit it, I have a thing for coats, but this one is just too good to pass up. It's two for the price of one! Yeah, yeah, I know happiness is other stuff too of course, but I got all giddy inside when I saw this!!!!

Dr. Oz has a new book coming out You: Being Beautiful and he was promoting it on Oprah yesterday, all the while giving out some great beauty tips! I was up last night at midnight watching it (love my DVR!) and it had some great tips. I want to get this book too! Paula Begoun was on the show, and she was recommending affordable skin and beauty products. Her website has a section where she reviews all types of products and some great information. Here are some of the tips Dr Oz gave on the show yesterday: Install a charcoal filter in your shower – it cleans out the chlorine that drys out your hair After you shower, comb hair with a plastic wide-toothed comb and always use a brush with rubber tips. Your hair should be treated like a fine silk blouse. To help slow the signs of aging, use creams with vitamin C, A or licorice extract. Also, apply niacin cream on your skin and exfoliate Recommended Products from the Show Gentle Cleansers CeraVe hydrating cleanser price $12.00 Olay foaming ...

No matter how many video games, movies or toys a kid has, a big pile of leaves can trump them all. When we were little, my great grandmother had a large yard with huge, old maple and oak trees that would produce awesome amounts of leaves. All of the grandchildren used to get together in the fall to rake her yard and then we would jump in the piles and the adults would burn them all in the ditches when we were done. The smell of leaves burning still takes me back to those days. Little man and his cousin decided to make " the biggest leaf pile ever " and jump in them Sunday. They had a blast. I think we could have skipped going to see Madagascar 2 and had some good, old-fashion fun in the yard all afternoon! Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway! You have until this Friday to leave a comment here .

I've been working on a concept for a t-shirt that came to me in the middle of the night and I'm excited to say they are now available online for order here . I've mentioned before, that I've signed up to do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in DC this coming May , and proceeds from the sales of Blush & Bashful products will go to the The Pink Pacers team. Since 2006, the Pink Pacers team has raised more than $67,000 for breast cancer research and we're just getting started! To get started, I'm giving away 2 free long-sleeve t-shirts to my blog friends! To be entered once, leave a comment here. To be entered 3 times, link to this post on your blog. I'll announce the winners online next Friday, 14 November. Walk on Pink Pacers!

My little guy and I went to dinner last night at my husband's aunt's house (sounds confusing) and she is a great cook. On the way home from the grocery store tonight I said, "Didn't you like the food last night at Susu's house?" Little Man: "Yes." Me: "She's a good cook isn't she?" Little Man: "Yes, mommie are you a good cook?" Me: "I'm ok. Mamma, Nana and Susu are really good cooks though." Little Man: "When you get to be an old mommie will you be a good cook too?" Me: "Maybe so, maybe so."

How cool is this: a site that lets you design your own fabric and order whatever amount you want! Spoonflower lets you print fabric from designs you upload to your own account on their web site. There is no minimum fabric order and no set-up fee. You can order a swatch for $5, a fat quarter for $11, or multiple yards at $18 each. Registration is free. It's a great solution if you're looking for a fabric that you have in your head, but just can't find it! Or something to match that perfect shade of blue you painted your walls. Or how about a repeating monogram on fabric? You could do some fun things with that! Check out http://www.spoonflower.com/ and see some of the fun patterns people have designed!

I've always tried to be one of those mothers that stays laid back and chilled as much as possible, but some mornings can get the best of me. Today was one of those days. I let Lulu the puppy out and little man was walking around with a Pop-tart (don't judge, it was blueberry, which is a fruit) and the dog started jumping all over him and little man was screaming and crying and I was trying to get both of them to get back in the house and that wasn't happening. Finally the Pop-tart ended up on the ground in a million pieces and that's when little man's heart just broke and he threw himself down on the ground in a fit. All the while, I'm trying to get the dog back in the house. She then jumps up on me and leaves two wonderfully perfect muddy footprints on my freshly-pressed white shirt. Regroup, pick little man off the ground , persuade Lulu back in the house with a treat and to the laundry room for some Shout. Lulu is back in her crate, new Pop-tart for little ma...

If you're like me, you've got several uncarved pumpkins sitting around that may or may not last until Thanskgiving . The carved ones are pretty much done and I'm probably going to have to scrape them off the front porch (and dump them in the compost bin, of course!). Everyone's into recycling these days, so why not reuse your Halloween pumpkin? Here are two fun ideas I came across: Pumpkin Bird Feeder From Martha (Stewart, duh): For a seasonal supplement to your regular bird feeder, cut a 3- to 5-pound pumpkin in half; scoop out, leaving a 1/2-inch thick wall. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep groove in the rim for pumpkin seeds. For perches, poke holes and insert twigs. To hang, knot two lengths of twine together in center; tack knot to feeder bottom. Fill with birdseed. Turkey in a Box Build and decorate your perfect turkey. 9 piece set includes: pilgrim hat, turkey head, pilgrim collar, 4 trail feathers, 2 wings. Everything you need except the pumpkin!"

It's been a while since I posted an inspiration board, so when I saw that Angie Harmon's friends threw her a candy-inspired baby shower this weekend, I thought it would be fun to come up with some ideas of what it may have looked like! Yummy!

I just got back from a weekend trip to my hometown. It's a place I couldn't wait to leave growing up, but brings back so many memories when I visit. Things are different now and it's harder to go home because after 40 years of marriage, my parents are no longer living together and it really sucks. It's so strange to walk in the door of my "parents" house and no longer see my dad sitting in his chair, watching sports or piddling outside in the yard. I never wanted that country life growing up, but sometimes when I go back, as soon as I hit town, I roll down the windows and crank up the country music. I ride by my old high school and smell the fresh cut green grass we used to dance on during half time of the football games as part of the drill team and remember how simple life used to be. I dated the same guy during high school and I think about the good times we had, but regret missing hanging out with friends and being all wrapped up in a guy - the story of my...