Aibilen

Glossy

     Excuse me ya'll, I've been on hiatus! So for all intents and purposes I started this blog as an outlet, way of expression, another form in which I can completely entertain myself with, myself. 

     So, right now, as I'm forcing my baby to take a nap, he is upstairs, choosing to cry it out, we are going on-  ok I wont even tell you how long because of what the hipsters might think of me-  I am living life on the edge, treating myself to 15 minutes in my lady room, and a cold bev. 

     That's right, my lady room.  Ever heard of a man room? Yes, me too-that's why I have a lady room.

Do you see that?  That's iced coffee in the middle of the afternoon!  Gah! Not morning, but afternoon! I'm going to be up way past my bedtime yall but I need something to calm these nerves-why on God's Green EARTH will this child not nap in the afternoon?!?  I WORK FROM HOME IN THE AFTERNOONS TAKE A NAP CHILD. Not just so I can work but so I can stay sane!  AND BLOG! ;o)

Ok here it is again, I'm about to take a sip, ready?

This afternoon break will involve catching up on some of my favorite glossies

Yes I do a little more than just light reading but if you know what I do for a living, you know it's nice to read about things that aren't really important, thus taking a break from things that are very important.  And that my friends, is called: balance.

Sometimes looking at the pictures of the pictures is more fun, and I'd be more than happy to show you some articles of note...

I have an appreciation for Ms. Allison Glock's (author) appreciations-perhaps you may feel the same?

Seems as though she's gone prodigal but has experienced renewing of heart and mind.  Come on back girl, we'd just love to have you!

I also have an appreciation for the Southern Living Idea House...

 And tufting.  And animal carcass. Antlers. Whatever.

And right now I'm in the process of decorating our outdoor space so I steal other people's ideas {oh you don't do that?}

I'm hoping to do a nice little covered porch re-do for a reasonable price so I've checked out my local thrift as well as craigslist in an effort to exude high cotton style-Oh you don't like good deals? Or thrift?  Or craigslist?  I'm afraid we may not have much in common.

PS I love Ballard, and Ballard's new partnership with SoLi {that's what I call it, much more sassy I think} and I even more so, I love that they are kind enough to their patronage to offer a coupon.  That I'll probably use. 

Labor Day Weekend

Good Morning!  This Labor Day Weekend we stayed in a cabin in the North Carolina mountains, just outside of West Jefferson.

I'm a beach girl myself, but I do love the mountains and I'm so thankful to live in a state where you can do both and decide for yourself ;o)

We made a few stops in Boone and Blowing Rock.  This is my redneck family in Blowing Rock, yes that is my child with no clothes on.  See.  What had happened was.  Is that. See.  We were in Boone first, it was hot, then it drizzled for a minute, then it was muggy, then the baby had a bottle.  And an explosion.  And I thought I packed extra clothes, so I took his dirty clothes off, to change him.  Of course.  I left the change of clothes {which I know you should always have, thanks perfect moms that have everything together, I know that already, stop telling me how to do things I already know} on the kitchen table.  So then it stopped raining and we decided to stop in Blowing Rock.  But had no clothes.  Ugh.  Why couldn't that happen in Boone where I saw multiple women waiting to eat lunch in restaurants that apparently don't require shoes?  That is a health hazard people.  And disgusting.  Unless you like hookworm.  They obviously wouldn't care about a baby wearing daddy, nekkid baby in tow.  Was that ugly?  It wasn't suppo'ed ta be.

Hey Whit, which do you like better, Boone or Blowing Rock?

Great finds in Boone-would you like to see?  Ok.

Melamine Platter

Blue Willow China

Just to name a few.

And then we went hiking.  I mean, you know not spelunking or whatever, just hiking trail for the non-avid mountaineer hiker but like the physical activity type people.

Ok one more, Whitten, look at the camera..

 
Great views. 
No there's not a baby in this carrier at the top of this rock. 

Pictures don't do justice-you should go see for ya'self!  Did you happen to take any travels?

All that Glitters Is Not Gold

I stole this 

    
     So ladies.  Would you mind offering me a minute of your time.  Not a question.   I have an issure I need to address.

     There is a social pandemic going around and it's time to take a stand.  Lately I have become increasingly aware of what I have come to label as, The Awesome Girl. 

"Did you have an awesome time? Did you drink awesome shooters, listen to awesome music, and then just sit around and soak up each others awesomeness..."

      I know you peeps know who I'm talking about.  I know. You know.  What I'm talking about. {She's awesome.} 

     Really, my beef with The Awesome Girl is that she never admits when she's not awesome and she behaves as though she knows more about awesome things than you do.  {You know awesome stuff too, by the way.}  And I just cant tolerate this kind of self centered oblivion any longer.
    
     If you don't know what I'm talking about, feel free to be on the look out, she's hard to miss.  She makes sure to surround herself with a bunch of people who she thinks, think she's great-benefit of the doubt-maybe they do-and maybe they spend their free time showering her in accolades-who can really tell?  I know we can't, because all too often, she pretends like she never gets mad or sad or lonely or insecure or insert ugly emotion we all have here,*so we'll never really know. 

*and then insert plastic smile here

My theory is very simple;  Probably, Hopefully, you will agree.  Are you ready?

She's lying.

Ok, didn't get it the first time?  Write it down, here it is again: She's a liar.
 

     I am here to clear the air.  Because it is the christian thing to do.  She does not do these things, live this offensive lifestyle, because she actually thinks she's perfect.  She lives like this, and forces the rest of us to endure this behavior as she parades it about via social media, because she honestly thinks she's supposed to {be perfect, that is-as opposed to parade about via social media-that's a whole separate topic that needs to be-and will be-addressed at a later date.}

   KNOW THIS.  My theory comes with a disclaimer** 

**Girl:  This is the first and last time I will ever stick up for you, are we clear.  Not a question.

     My Positive And Encouraging K-Love Christian Radio self will argue that this girl behaves so inappropriately, not because she is the most annoying female you have ever met in your life and you have considered blocking her on facebook because she is so over the top too much perfectly awesome that you cannot stand one more update in your feed of her great day/night out with her great friends having a great time looking great doing~insert whatever applies here that is great~but because she thinks we're all playing this game too.  We aren't. 

     Methinks this issue comes from a long line of issues in which said "Girl" compares herself to the illusion of a lifestyle that none of us ACTUALLY live.  What she needs, is an intervention.

So. Ode to The Girl Who Pretends Like Her Life Is Straight Out of a Seventeen Magazine {HA!}

     At this time we do not agree with your lifestyle. 

     Do me and the rest of your social network a favor, and stop pretending.   

     Girl: I know that facebook, and twitter and instagram and myspace {HA!} and pinterest and real housewives are all telling you one thing.   But I have to tell you this thing: Every thing you're comparing yourself to isn't real.  

     No one really likes working out three hours a day. You can stop pretending like you love it and stop pretending like you hate it if you can't.  No one really likes eating nothing but kashi cereal and flaxseed oil to stay skinny every day.  No one really has time to spray tan every week, bleach their teeth every week and get their brown hair highlighted with blond streaks every six weeks ***

***I don't care what anyone says, that is not classy, it is not fashionable, you look like you need to wash your hair, blond hair and brown roots will never be in style in my book, and whoever told you it is, just wants you to look bad so they can be the prettiest.  {I feel comfortable making the general brown hair blond streak comment because most ladies are not actually blonds, the ones who look blond (which is the point, isnt it?) pull it off very well-the ones who continue with this streaking business, which i would hardly call highlighting, need the truth.}

     No one really has the money to shop Neimans online every week {actually, some do, most don't, and I KNOW you don't-this is a down economy, sugar, don't play me}. 
     No one really wants to be friends with everyone, so don't worry, you don't have to be either.  {this has nothing to do with being nice to everyone and loving people with the love of Jesus. Yes you do have to do that.}
     No one really likes to go to every party, every event, every dinner, every get together, every game, etc, every weekend.  You know you don't really have to do that, right?  I mean, we're not.
     You don't have to put your make up and push up bra on before you go to bed so you can wake up sexy.  The rest of us don't.  You don't have to suck in your stomach every time someone gets a picture of you in your bathing suit, you look great anyway, because remember, you work out eight days a week.
     You don't have to pretend like things that are hard for everyone aren't hard for you,
     You don't have to pretend to like things you don't, you don't have to pretend that things you think everyone loves, you love too.  

   I don't know how you got yourself into this mess and shug, quite frankly I don't know how you're going to get out of it, but I can promise you this:  You can relax.  We'll {I'm talking for the rest of us, y'all don't mind, right?} still like you.  Probably, we'll like you more.  However, at this time, you have offended most of the hard working ladies around you by downplaying how hard we work to have a well rounded life by putting on this pitiful facade. 
     I speak in Truth and Love: You are sending the rest of us into terrible fits of angst and social anxiety.  So quit.
LuvyaGuurrrl! ;oP

Super Proud!

This past week my husband found out he passed the last of his five licensure exams-

super proud!

So now, Joshua is Registered after three years worth of tests and a couple thousand dollars worth of testing fees {I just have to mention that now he owes the American Association of Landscape Architects $50 for his official stamp. Seriously?} We are super fantastic excited.  Proud Wifey.

Of course we celebrated, at Sono

...sorry before I took the picture, I ate some*

* Forrest Gump

It was el delicious.  For those of you who dont habla espanol, el nino is spanish for: the nino

We try to celebrate Josh with steak at the Angus Barn but since we already did that this year {as opposed to every weekend, which i would not complain about if that was in fact, our reality ;o)} I was sure to order oscar style sushi, topped with rare certified angus beef. do not get it twisted. or overcook my cow.

Naow.  Did you know about this Oak City 7 ?!? Me EITHER.

How festive is this?! We were in the neighborhood. Obvs. So we did a little pickin' and grinnin' with our new favorite self proclaimed appalachian rock band, Big Daddy Love

 

 Lookaht that high kick...

I didn't do so well capturing the band's following as I would've liked.  A lot of self taught cloggers and tevas {ie no rhythm having white people}.  But it was fabbie fab with a lot of positive energy and good times, plus you ought know i cant resist some cute little hillbilly babies*** up past bedtime

***Obviously I'm joking.  Obviously this child is not a hillbilly.  He is wearing shoes.  Obviously.

ANYWHO.  they were too-la-git to quit because they had a great bassist, and even better banjo {even though someone ought to let them know: if you're going to play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band}

Plus Oak City 7 made sure to have plenty of Got to be NC vendors present,

via

which you know i love.

and you know i also love...

House of Swank

But if you don't know, now you know.

And then somehow to the nother this ended up coming home with me.

Mazel Tov!

Ain't Life Grand

East Carolina University School of Nursing Class of December 2006

I got together with some girlfriends from nursing school this weekend- so very awesome wonderful and great to catch up.  Boyfriends turned engagements, marraiges, babies, jobs, new jobs, more babies- a lot changes in five and a half years, people! 

"...aint life grand...?"

What were you doing five {almost 6} years ago, friends?  Did you know you'd be here doing this riahhchere riahhtnaow?  Me either.

Hey nursing girls, that song reminds me of the time in OB class when the hot granola male midwife teacher who's name escapes me* {you know, the one who wore turquoise necklaces and bracelets and rings to ward off...placental abruption...?} 

*Bob Green, maybe?

played Widespread Panic in his lecture**

**obviously for some nice soothing background music while the pregnant sim lab lady birthed a baby, with her plastic sim lab vagina facing directly towards towards the class

and that mouthy rude girl had the nerve to raise her hand ~insert eastern north carolina accent here~ {ps i mean that extremely endearingly as i love any and all things eastern north carolina} she was all, "ah meeen, ah lohve wiaahde spread pahhniic, ahhnd ah'd evin beehn to one uh thehheir cohnceerrrts, buhht naht whiahhle i'm trahhhyin tah learrhn cauhhse ah caihnt heeeuur whahhht yurr sahhyin"
I can say that right? I doubt she'll read it because she unfriended me on facebook. I think.

Either way. Today I am thankful for old friends who may have seen the worst of you but are still there to catch up over cheap pizza and even cheaper wine. 

For the record, I didn't remember that any of these pictures existed.

{but i'm glad they do}

ok just a few more

now if you'll excuse me from 2006, my child has log rolled himself across the room and is wrapped up in the  floor to ceiling curtains.

Around Here

Do you know what this is?  This, girls, is the beginnings of a Fantasy Football Draft List.  Very Important.

 This event took many hours to complete.

I think we're supposed to leave him alone.

He did make sure to let me know that he hates this mousepad.  I dont understand.

So while he did that I was busy addressing serious social/women's rights issues by using my knowledge acquired from pinterest

to clean the washing machine. 

Take note:  This did not really work that well.  What I wanted, was for the washing machine to fill with grimey black disease infested water that I single handedly erradicated from our life by measuring the perfect amount of bleach :to: hottest-water-setting-washing machine ratio .  But none of that happenend.  I mean ok yes the washing machine is clean, but you know I love the appropriate use of bleach if and when it is very obvious that a bleaching has taken place.  Why else would I waste my afternoon on a routine bleaching with no evident fruits of my labor?