Friday, July 31, 2015

Friday Favorites


Last workday of the week. Last day of the month. Last full month of summer. 

147 days until Christmas. 

Heyo! 

Today I'm linking up with Erika and April for some favorites! Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. You should be sensing a theme around here on Fridays :)




1. Emporium Pies



So y'all know how I have an obsession with pie, right? Hi, I'm Katy, I'm southern, I need all the pie. Well I've been DYING to go to Emporium Pies and people, it finally happened. I took a random Monday off work this week and drove up to McKinney to have lunch with my friend Emily. After lunch we just walked and talked around McKinney's Town Square and then I saw it. I saw the sign. And it opened up my eyes I saw the sign. 

So, being the best kind of friend there is, Emily said she'd treat me to my first piece! We got the "smooth operator"  - french silk chocolate pie with a pretzel crust. Sweet and salty. Sooo....heavenly. I need to try all the pies. Looking for volunteers to return with me. Anyone? Anyone?

Check out the goodness here.

2. Friends (the "I'll be there for you" kind)


I came across this buzzfeed article of "26 Friends Quotes Guaranteed to Make You Laugh Every Time." And guess what. I laughed. I watch this show every single night as I fall asleep and the episodes literally just don't get old. The jokes? Always funny. When she gets off the plane? I cry every time. So if you're a Friends fan, you have to read this. And if you're a HUGE Friends fan, you'll likely be able to hear them all say these. It's awesome. 

Read the article here.

3. Anthropologie Mini Cups

So I've tried a new weight loss program this week. 



I eat ice cream every night. 

Okay, but hear me out. My sweet friend Lisa over at Finding Fit bought me these mini-ice cream cups for my birthday. They hold 1/2 cup of ice cream perfectly. A half a cup of ice cream is 100 calories. I'm okay with that. There's nothing that I love more than ice cream (okay, maybe pie), and I've found that if I know I can have a mini-cup of ice cream at home, I won't eat the M&Ms after lunch, the Reeses as a mid-afternoon snack, etc. So we'll see how this little process treats me, but so far? We're doing good. Plus they're just really cute. Find the little nuggets here.

4. Canine Cookie Company


For those of you four-legged fur moms out there, I have a new treat for your baby. I found these little treats in a store in McKinney, and Charlie is obsessed. They're all natural, gluten-free, healthy dog treats that smell WONDERFUL. Not gonna lie, I was tempted to try one. Charlie always gets excited for treats, but his paws can't sit still when I get these out. I got the sampler pack full of Squirrels, Pup Tarts, and Nilla Woofers. Huge hit in this household. Check out their website here. 


5. My Dad


 Dads are just the greatest. I had a rough night one night this week, picked up the phone, called the pops, and he just made it all better. He always does. I don't quite understand how he does it either. But I'm just really lucky to have a dad who listens and talks through life with me. So thanks, dad - you're the bomb diggity. 

And there you have it! Have a wonderful last weekend of July everyone! I'll see you in August :)

Until next time,
Katy
Thursday, July 30, 2015

Still Owning Crazy


This is my third post attributed to owning my crazy. 

Sometimes it's just good to make fun of yourself. Don't take yourself...or life...so seriously. Be a complete nut job. You don't see boring people complaining of having too many friends :)


Word. No one tells it like it is better than a cat in a striped top hat. 

SO - I have ten more reasons supporting why I'm a bit off my rocker. Let's discuss. 

When I have to stop and put gas in my car - I become irate. There is really not much that annoys me more than having to stop for gas. And I know I need to get over it because - hello, 13 gallon tank - but I just haven't yet. It's beyond aggravating. I'm waiting for the future car that runs on solar power. Texas summers are all kinds of ready for that. 

About 5 years ago I legitimately thought I was going to marry Zac Efron. It was right after I kicked cancer in the hiney and I thought anything was possible. I fervently prayed to marry that boy. I dreamed about it. Y'all, we were SO cute together. But then it just didn't work out and I realize God knows a thing or two thousand more than me.

When I trip while walking, whether in front of a crowd or just in front of my dog, I yell something to the effect of "oh my gosh I just tripped!!!" really loudly. It's like I'm vocally supporting the fact that I just looked like a fool and want everyone (or lack thereof) to know that I am a-okay with it. So if you're walking in my neighborhood and hear someone notify you that they just tripped......hey. 

I HATE things that stick to me. Like in baby ballet I explicitly remember running past Miss Keely so I didn't have to have a sticker put on my hand after class. That category also includes.... oh sweet mercy I can't even say it. I'm shivering. I'll give you a hint. "I am stuck on ____-___ brands cause germs don't stick on me." EW. So gross. I can't stand those things. People just take them off and leave them places. As my dad would say, it makes me want to P&V...."puke and vomit." I mean if my kids scrape their knee I'm just going to wrap them up in paper towel and saran wrap because those things will NOT be in my household. (gagging)

My closet? Color coded. By attire type (dress, pants, tops, etc.) and within each attire type by category (tank top, short sleeve, blouses, sweaters, etc). If I find a blue tank in the red sweater section there's gonna be a throw down.

On that OCD note, I am obnoxiously organized when it comes to most things. My Erin Condren planner is like my third arm. BUT - can't believe I'm admitting this - I have 11 thousand unread emails in my gmail account. I KNOW. It's awful. I'm one of THOSE PEOPLE. But it's like one day the advertisements overwhelmed me and it's been a downhill slope ever since. Soooo if you need me....text me. 

Sometimes when I need a break at work, I just go sit on a toilet. Just sit there. And breathe. And not talk. And play on social media. People probably think I'm doing the poo but in reality, I'm just escaping. 

You know how I love to bake, right? Pies, cakes, brownies, etc - I love to bake it all. Well, my baking arch-nemesis is the slice and bake sugar cookie. I've tried SO many times to slice and bake and they end up burnt and brittle every time. The last time it put me over the edge and I literally went and had an ugly cry breakdown in Jeff's room. For 30 minutes. Over a sugar cookie. Poor sweet boy, he signed up for some crazy. 

When on a road trip, I'll sometimes drive Indian-style cross-legged (isn't that the PC way to say it now?). I know it's not really that safe but it's way more comfortable. 

And finally....

Last weekend I was talking to my dad, and somehow presidents came up and I legitimately asked my dad if we had ever had a black president. ((crickets)) Sometimes my mind seriously scares me. 

And those are my recent crazy realizations! See the other batches here and here

Peace, love, and Dr. Seuss. 

Until next time,
Katy
Wednesday, July 29, 2015

What's Up Wednesday


IT'S WEDNESDAY!!!!! 

Which means we're chatting about what's up. And I still can't believe another month has passed, but since I feel like I talk about that every single time I do this post...we'll just dive into the details :)

 

What I'm Eating this Week {Month}

Hah, my initial response to this was "not too well." But it's oh so true. I kicked July off with a beach vacation and have been shoving in ice cream ever since. Oh well. This is real life. We'll do better in August. BUT for those of you that are looking to indulge a little, see my Friday Favorites: Food Edition post here. Because sometimes you have to turn your unhealthy habits into a blog theme :)




What I'm Reminiscing About

July was a pretty fantastic month! Work picked up for a couple of weeks which left little room for too-much-social, but considering I started July in the Dominican Republic, went to Houston for a great weekend with friends, and just wrapped up a family reunion in Mississippi, I'd say it was still pretty successful!

What I'm Loving

My new faux fur vest from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! I bought a handful of items (see "what I'm wearing" below), but seeing as this little nugget is thick and cozy - there ain't no way I'm wearing this yet. But I'm still loving it. 


When I blogged about my anniversary finds last week, they only had one size left, but I just looked and they've restocked! The sale ends August 3rd - this is your week, people! Prepare for the winter! And prepare for lots of hugs. Because I mean hello - this vest says "hug me." 
(Also comes in black)

What I'm Dreading

Okay. So as I've mentioned before, my sweet friend Kristie paid it forward and bought my the Dave Ramsey "Total Money Makeover" book. I started reading it on the flight to MS last weekend and y'all, this makeover is gonna hurt. 

I will say I'm also secretly excited and my inner nerd is way pumped to bust out a spreadsheet, budget, and "trim my financial fat," but again. It's going to hurt. So I guess you can say I'm both dreading and looking forward to this. Real life, peeps. Real life.

What I'm Excited About

I.AM.SO.EXCITED.FOR.THE.FALL. 


This picture makes me giddy. And makes me want to go to Hobby Lobby. All whilst holding a pumpkin spice latte. I mean, you can call me the cliche human that talks about scarves and boots and vests (oh my!) - but I don't even care. I am itching for fall. Summer was great, but it loses its excitement when you still have to go to work. But fall? Fall is something I think everyone can enjoy. HURRY UP FALL.

What I'm Watching/Reading

I'm actually reading a lot this month, but I'm saving that for a post-book-club-blog so today we're going to focus on what I'm watching. You can see my regular summer shows here, but I recently just saw the tail end of an episode of "The Astronauts Wives Club" and y'all. Wade Kinsella is on that show. Remember my boy toy from Hart of Dixie? No? Okay this will help...


Yeah. Him. So I'm absolutely jumping on the Astronaut show wagon. Does anyone else watch it!? 

I also found out DCC: Making the Team premieres next Thursday (8/6) on CMT. So I will definitely be recording that as well. 


What I'm Listening To

Still country, but specifically....a lot of Garth Brooks. Why, you ask? Cause I'm going to his concert in Dallas in September!!! Heck to the yes, please. 

What I'm Wearing

Eeks! All my other Nordie's finds! See the post with links and descriptions here. How is this my first #NSale? Things I don't understand...


PS wore my Zella pants to hot yoga on Monday. While they're indeed awesome pants, they're certainly not miracle workers. Almost passed out.

What I'm Doing This Weekend

This weekend we're celebrating THIS little cutie who turns THREE! She's way excited about her Minnie Mouse birthday party. And I'm way excited to celebrate her. 


Also, Saturday night Dad and I are going to our annual Father's Day Ranger's game! This will be our fourth year in a row so we're pretty excited. And dad said he's buying a red shirt to spice up the pictures :)


What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month

I don't want to give too much away (I'll be talking about it with my monthly goals on Monday), but I'm excited to focus on me in August. Okay that sounded way conceited. Not how I meant it. I'm just going to focus on a lot of my dreams, my struggles, my goals, etc. I'm kind of giving myself a little mini-makeover, if you will. And I'm pretty pumped about it. But more to come on Monday!

And that's What's Up this Wednesday!!!

Have a wonderful hump day!

Until next time,
Katy

Monday, July 27, 2015

Camp Meeting 2015


This weekend has just been so near and dear to my heart. Jeff and I took Friday off from work and spent a long weekend in Mississippi for my family reunion (aka Camp Meeting). Camp Meeting is an annual 10-day revival where everyone on my dad's side of the family gets together and gathers at the campground. 


And by everyone...I really do mean everyone. Here's the thing: my grandmama and her three sisters have been coming to this campground since they were BORN. And over the past 95 (yes, ninety five) years, they have brought their children....and their children....and their children along with them. So yeah, we're talking four generations here. I'm not sure how many of you get to hang out with, or even know, your third cousins, but I'm pretty fond of mine :) 

This year (the 173rd annual camp meeting), those sweet little sisters got the honor of being interviewed for the Sunday paper. So not only are they 90 years old and running circles around their grandchildren, but they're also famous!


This is a picture of the paper yesterday morning. From left to right that's Aunt Julia Lee (95), Aunt Louise (93), my grandmama (91), and Aunt Ree (89). Do you see that headline? Haven't missed a summer at the campground. Do you see those ages? Eat your butterbeans, people. Southern cooking promotes a long life! Pie probably helps, too....

So needless to say, camp meeting is a pretty special occasion. And it's a heck of a lot of fun, too! This was also Jeff's first time to meet the extended family, so a pretty great weekend indeed!

Here's a little bit of what goes down at the campgroud:

First things first, I took Jeff to "the stand." The Stand is a little shack on the camp ground that holds a plethora of candies and, most importantly, ice cream. So needless to say, this was my favorite place as a kid. And my dad still takes me on dates here. It's tradition!


Listen, when the heat index is 106+ degrees, ice cream has no calories. Which is why we went about 4 times in 48 hours. It's a means of survival!

Saturdays are usually pretty big around the camp ground. Jeff and I woke up fairly early and went for a little tandem bike ride action. 


I may not be able to ride a bike (sadly that's a true statement for those of you that are new here), but I am a champion tandem biker. 

Fine, okay, I'm not even doing anything back there. I know. But at least I look cool! 

After a brief ride (and being attacked/chased by a small dog), we wheeled on over to my grandmama's cabin for some morning coffee. ....which brings me to....

We do an extreme amount of porch sitting/swinging at the camp ground. And y'all - this is probably my favorite. Don't get me wrong, I love drinking a cup of coffee curled up in bed, but there's just nothing like sipping coffee on a porch swing. 


Oh, and please note Jeff's "southern swoop." A lot of the teenage boys were rocking this style so Jeff thought he'd give it a try :)
 
 After cup three or four we went to wake up Brooklyn and take her to see the animals. Because when you're in Mississippi, farm animals are quite easily at your disposal...



And this year, so were 2 week old beagle/basset hound puppies. 



 
I mean, did your heart just melt?! If not then you must be a cat person. 

Alright, so after the animals we got washed up, had a bit more coffee on the porch swing, and then headed to my grandmama's house for a big southern family lunch. 

And by big, I mean big. And by southern, I mean southern.


My grandmama is the best cook in the world. And her fried okra is magical. 

Seriously...people fight over it. 


Post lunch pictures with these goofs. Please note that Jeff is holding five jars of homemade jelly and a hand written family tree that my cousin Haley made for him (four generations of four sisters...remember?) I think it's safe to say he got a good southern education. Especially since he thought a butter bean was a type of jelly bean...

After the big family lunch it was time for the annual shaving cream fight!! 

Are you confused? Let me walk you through this. It's literally just a fight with shaving cream. 


 Let the games begin!

 


Bottom right: my dad would like you to notice his placement of Jeff's Mohawk with the church steeple. Okay then. So what do you do when you're covered in shaving cream from head to toe? 

You jump in the creek! 

The creek is more or less a huge watering hole behind all the cabins where everyone keeps cool in the summer heat. My grandmama and her sisters even talked about how they played in the creek in the article above, so it's obviously a fool-proof method that's been around for over a century.


The creek also has a rope swing and zip line for kids (and adults) to play on. So naturally, my sweet family peer pressured Jeff to go off the rope swing. Like my cousin Jill said: "it's a rite of passage." 

Okay, fine, confession. I've never done it. And never plan to. That thing terrified me as a kid and again as a 27-year old. No thanks. But of course I was right there in the crowd telling Jeff it was a requirement :)

So off he went - impressing us with a back flip and landing in a position that made the spectating crowd all say "ooohhh." (See last picture below)

#bellyflop

After the creek, we dried off, went by the Stand, and got ready for church (complete in our matching family t-shirts. I'm telling you, we have that family reunion most people just hear about). 



I mentioned this was a 10-day revival, so church is pretty frequent. And hot. You see, church is in a tabernacle (aka a roof with a bunch of pews and a floor of sawdust). Brooklyn loves her some church, especially the song portion. My dad snapped this during the service Saturday night and it just makes me laugh :)

 
After the Saturday night service everyone runs to the tractors to get ready for the annual hayride! This is a hiiiighly anticipated event by all the kiddos, and it was Brooklyn's first year to ride! Well, I guess it was Jeff's, too, but I think it was a bigger deal for an almost 3-year old than an almost -year old :)


Originally just the four of us jumped in, but after some whining persuading, (grand)daddy jumped in too! The sky is the limit for things grandaddies will do for their granddaughters :)


We don't have any pictures on the hayride (too dark), but just for the record, Brooklyn LOVED it. Throwing hay was just beyond entertaining. And by the end of the ride I was completely covered in hay and itching like no other :)
 
The hayride is always followed by hotdogs, and by the time the hayride brings you back to the campground, the line is already forming. They ordered 550 hot dogs this year - it's a pretty big deal for a pretty big group of people. Aaaand you know I love hot dogs, so my mouth was watering in anticipation the whole hay ride :)

Paw and I and our hot dogs!
This little one skipped the hot dog and opted for ice cream from the Stand :)
 The rest of the evening consisted of ping pong, playgrounds, volleyball, nighttime bike rides, etc. All in all, a pretty jam-packed Saturday! 

Camp Meeting ends with church on "Big Sunday," where everyone gets dressed up to go to the tabernacle (to sweat buckets) before packing up and heading out. My dad/Amy started the pack-up process, but Brooklyn told me she "wanted to go sing to Jesus," so Jeff and I took her to do just that. When a 3-year old wants to praise Jesus....you go praise Jesus. 


 And that's a wrap! Good-byes are always pretty hard here. While it's such a cool thing that we have this opportunity to see extended-extended family, it only happens once a year, so your good-byes have to last a while. 

I texted my dad last night after I got back to Dallas just telling him how much I truly love his/our family. These people are hilarious and such a joy to be around, and will support you 365 days a year, even when we're all over the south region of the continent. I've experienced it first-hand. 

My grandmama's branch of the family - 2015
 I just love these people. And I'm already looking forward to the 174th Camp Meeting. 

__________

Until next time,
Katy