Family Matters Pt. 3

Remember this guy?!?!  Yeah, you do!

Missed one of this awesome series?  Catch up here:
Family Matters Pt. 1 - The Preparation
Family Matters Pt. 2 - The Food

Warning, picture-heavy post ahead!  But, this post is dedicated to the point of the family reunion - THE FAMILY (and the fun and fellowship that comes with family)!  It was awesome getting to spend time with some of the ones I love the most in the world.  They are my connection to my dad, and because of them, the memories of him will stay with me forever.  Plus, this was the first time Comanche met most of the family, including my paternal grandparents! It was an exciting day!

Is he Hollywood or what?!?!

Cousin MB is going for it!

Perfect cannonball form!

Big splash for a little girl!

And she emerges after her long trip to the bottom!

Cousin M helps a little friend around the pool!

My adorable paternal grandparents, Grandma M and PaPa G!

Momma Chicken Wing and her new husband Dubya - it was his first time meeting the family, as well!

Little Sister CW and her boyfriend, Seatbelt, with one of our Aunt J's in the background!  All of the Chicken Wing girls brought new men to the family reunion this year!

Cousin F and Aunt J, looking adorable!

Me and Great-aunt M!

My Uncle H and me!

Sibling Love!  I absolutely LOVE this picture!!!!

Our little branch of the family tree, missing Little Brother CW, Uncle R, Cousin C, Aunt N, Uncle B, and their kids/grandkids!  (Our branch really isn't that little, as it turns out).

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." -Anthony Brandt

Until next time,

Music And Bling

"Music and bling, music and bling, these are two of my favorite things..."  Now, that's a tune that should catch on quickly, and while an unlikely combination for some folks, I happen to love all things music and most things bling!

Let's start with the shiny stuff - I just have to give a shout-out to Nick Lachey, who recently wed his longtime girlfriend, Vanessa Minnillo.  And, by the looks of things, "he LOVED it so he put a ring on it."  I mean, put on your Ray Bans, folks because the new Mrs. Lachey's left hand is currently blinding innocent bystanders all across California (and his ring isn't too shabby either)!

Kiss my Asscher cut, Batman!

Okay, now that I've picked my jaw up off the floor, I'm now going to admit that there has been a song that has been permanently lodged in my brain since the first time I heard it and I am hoping that by sharing it with all of you, it will set me free of my constantly singing, "Craaaazy girl, don't you know that I love you?"  I mean, I'm starting to get strange looks from girls thinking I'm simultaneously calling them mentally unstable and professing my feelings for them.  This = not a good look for the workplace.

So, without further ado, enjoy "Crazy Girl" from the Eli Young Band.  (Sidenote:  I love it because Comanche often jokes with me and calls me silly woman.  He also says, "you're so crazy, babydoll" a lot.  Should I be getting a message here?)


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Enjoy folks, and sorry if it gets stuck in your heads, too!  (But not that sorry, because it's such a great song!)


Until next time,

Family Matters Pt. 2

There are certain necessary components when planning a family reunion.  The given is family - if you don't have family, you don't have anything!  The rest can be easily depicted in the fancy pie chart I've made for the sole purpose of teaching y'all about family reunions in an easy-to-understand format.

I'd like to affectionately call this the food post in the Family Matters series, as it centers primarily around some finger-lickin' good eats!  If you need a more scientific reference, we're going to be checking out the red section above.  Warning:  You may, in fact, drool all over yourselves.  Second Warning:  In the event that heavy drooling floods your computer keyboard and renders it useless, you have my most sincere apologies.  Third Warning:  Photo-heavy post ahead!

You know you're in for a good time when this is the appetizer table!

Desserts anyone?  Yes, please! {Check out those scrumptious brownies that may or may not have been made by Comanche and yours truly.}

Oh, Southern deliciousness.....come to Mama!

There are few foods I love more than country ham!

Strawberry confections were in abundance, and I'd have to say I like it that way!

This parfait thing absolutely rocks my socks off.  If I could jump off a diving board and into this dessert, I would absolutely do it.


And you may be wondering where all of these goodies were being kept?  Why, at our normal family reunion meeting place - Aunt B and Uncle D's house!  They have an awesome space to host our wonderful family and they so graciously offer their home to all of us - there aren't enough words to explain how wonderful they are and how much appreciation I have for them.

The party house!



So, we've covered all the warnings, and we've also covered the food portion of the family reunion pie chart.  Up next?  The fellowship and fun, of course!  Stay tuned, folks!

Until next time,

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Okay, so every now and again, a ray of sunshine breaks through what seems like a world of gray skies, thunderstorms, and minor flooding (if you're standing in the parking lot of the complex where I live).

Looming.

Coming.

Here.  (FYI I was not moving while taking these pics!)

Besides the fact that we literally had one of the worst storms ever on Tuesday, and my parking lot did flood pretty badly (photo evidence above), I got the most amazing rays of sunshine today!  It was a morning like any other morning, apart from two things - a special note and a special email.

The special note was left by my gift-delivering ninja, Comanche!  It contained words of encouragement and love and I was taken by a wave of appreciation for him and knowledge that somehow, I am blessed enough to have that man in my life.  God is so good, and He has been especially good to me.

The special email was from a lady that I don't personally know, but we will call her my fairy godmother/deliverer of amazing news!  What was this news?  I ACTUALLY WON A GIVEAWAY!  I have literally entered hundreds, I would have to say, in my lifetime.  This email marked the SECOND time I've won!  Haha!  Moral of the story:  If you want to win the lottery, your best bet does not live in me! :)

Now, the first giveaway I won earlier this year was special to me because of three reasons.  The first is that it was hosted by a woman that I have grown so very fond of, despite the fact that we've never met.  The second is that it was my first time winning a giveaway!  The third was that it came at the perfect time and helped me get my newest business started with my partner!

This giveaway is special to me for multiple reasons, too.  The number one reason was it was hosted by one of the most respectable wedding magazines on the planet, which provides inspiration and guidance to brides with Southern flair. 

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I mean honestly...how flipping adorable is their website header?  I die for the cuteness!  The second reason I was so incredibly excited is because this giveaway contained a prize that is "song-of-the-South, sweet-potato-pie-and-I-shut-my-mouth" adorable!!!!!  Don't believe me?  Check this out!

Yes, that is the Southern Weddings Magazine website.
Yes, that is my hand making that thumbs up.
Yes, I somehow by the grace of God won
that adorable clutch & bowtie!

If you'd like to read the official post by Southern Weddings Magazine, you can do so by clicking --> HERE.

I have to say a huge thank you to the ones who made my day today!  You will never understand how happy and grateful I am to have received these blessings, and I want each and every one of you to go check out Southern Weddings Magazine!  The photo shoots are gorgeous, the brides, editors, and writers are Southern belles, and preppy country goodness drips off the pages and melts your heart!

Until next time,

How Great Indeed

Hello, Peeps!  I hope each and every one of you had an amazing Easter weekend!  I know I did, and it was jam packed full of love and togetherness.  I got to see my incredible friends and my fantastic family, and all is right in my little world.

One thing I was quite upset about was missing a special on TV that honored several of country music's female phenomenons.  I would have TiVO'd it had I known it was set to air!  Boo sauce to that!  One of my favorite country artists, whom I've loved since her audition tape on American Idol, was honored during that special.  If you've ever heard Carrie Underwood sing, you know that the girl is beyond blessed.

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I was particularly impressed with the song she chose to sing, 'How Great Thou Art.'  To say she hit it out of the park would be a severe understatement.  Don't believe me?  See for yourself.


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Happy Easter, everyone!  Remember the reason - He is risen. He is risen indeed.

Until next time,

Good Advice For Free

If you haven't heard this amazing song by Lee Brice, most likely you haven't heard any country music recently.  But, every now and again, you hear a song that really resonates with you and drives home a message so important that you have to pass it on.

Love Like Crazy is one of those songs for me.  I had heard it a couple of times when it first started getting radio play, and I loved it then too! I continually hoped that I would hear it again, and it just wasn't working out for me, but here in the past week or so, I've heard it almost every day. I smile every time I do.  So, without further ado, here is a great message, great advice, great singer, and great song...Love Like Crazy.

Some very good advice.

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Until next time,