Johnny Football

And this is why the Heisman should go to a senior: http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/johnny-manziel-family-espn-interview-reveals-temper-and-struggle-for-fame-073013

Yes, his team beat Alabama but should the award be based on one game or a career of character and leadership? And while I also understand that he's only a freshman and is constantly in the media eye, plenty of other kids have been in the same position and have handled it with grace and class.  He can't have this both ways.  You can't be "just a regular college student" when you are the face of a major university and the current face of college football.  Telling everyone you're just an average 20-year old college kid does not give you a hall pass and allow you to act a fool in public. 

And what kind of spoiled brat lies to his mama and throws AJ McCarron under the bus and blames him for not waking him up at Manning camp?  http://deadspin.com/the-trouble-with-espns-big-johnny-football-story-968777922 He just comes across as another entitled, egotistical college athlete. 

Legend?  Yeah, I don't think so.  http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/69776/the-future-adventures-of-johnny-football This boy just needs to lay low for a while and focus on his game (but I do think the Jet's Tebow jersey was a nice touch!). 

Keep it in your Pants

I don't even know where to begin.
I am so utterly disgusted with Anthony Weiner. And his wife, too. I have not seen any of his infamous sexting photos but I do think the guy has a major set of balls.
He is so confident and so smug in some of his recent interviews and sadly, the guy is totally right. Look how many disgraced politicans have been given second chances -- Mark Sanford, who shamelessly used tax-payer money to court his girl friend – without asking his wife and children what they thought of the whole affair, is going to run for congress in South Carolina. Marion Barry, former Mayor of DC. Not only was he caught on camera doing drugs, he was charged with failure to file tax returns and pay taxes, has numerous traffic violations, stalking an ex-girlfriend, and has made racist remarks. And he was RE-ELECTED!!! And let's not forget the Mac-Daddy of them all, Mr. Bill Clinton, and Hillary's suspicions of a "vast right-wing conspiracy" that has been conspiring against her husband since the day he announced for president. While I'm all about forgiving, I'm not about forgetting and re-electing. http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/07/29/anthony-weiner-sex-scandal-staten-island/2595617/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/07/25/respect-huma-abedins-decision-tellusatoday/2588203/

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/07/26/anthony-weiner-huma-abedin-what-normal-about-this-relationship/

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/07/25/the_overrated_huma_abedin.html

What's App?

 

This www.AlabamaWomenBloggers.com link-up couldn't come at a better time!  As mentioned in a previous post I recently graded to a Samsung Optimus G (still love saying the word "Optimus!").  I've got the basics on my phone:  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, FourSquare, GetGlue, (I am a total sucker for those stickers!),  Pinterest, Etsy, Tumblr, IMDB (I'm always looking up movie quotes, who was the name of that guy who played so and so in that movie?), Wanelo (still not sure what this one is all about but KJ made me download it), etc.  I'm definitely going to check out some of the apps the other ladies have posted about!  

Too Early??

Is it too early to be excited about football season? 

This house does not discriminate.  We love it all . . . college, professional, peewee, high school.  Shoot.  I think Cosmo even watches Canadian football once in a while.  Hopefully we'll get to a bunch of games in the Grove this season and if

Saw this the other day on the Girl Meets Gameday blog (I think she posted it way back in May but I'm just now seeing it.  I need to catch up on some blog reading I guess!). 

I'm a total Martha.  Everything coordinates in a classy, elegant way . . . the outfit, the accessories, the tailgate menu, the tailgate décor. 
http://girlmeetsgameday.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/which-tailgater-are-you/

Throw Pillows are our Friends

Had a nice time today w/ the girls.  We ran a bunch of errands and bought a few things to freshen up the house.  I really needed a new set of towels, T needed a few back to school items and the girls needed new shower curtain liners (so random).  I also bought some new pillows for the couch. 

Here's the thing w/ the couch.  We desperately need a new couch.  Unfortunately, I'm an all or nothing kind of girl and we (as in Coach and I) both know that for me to go out and buy ONLY a couch is next to impossible.  We'll get the couch home and I'll realize the room needs to be painted.  And the end tables/coffee tables/TV hutch/whatever just don't seem to "go" anymore.  Oh and we'll need a new rug.  A new curtains.  And those curtain rods don't look right anymore.  Oh but hey!  You know what I'd really like to do?  It would  be really awesome if we could bust through that wall and build a screen porch off the kitchen and since we're doing some work in the kitchen, let's rip up that floor everyone hates and put down new flooring.  But if we good with hardwood, it will have to match the existing wood.  Which is going to be extremely difficult.  So, we should just re-finish ALL the hardwoods in the house so it's all cohesive.

And this is why I bought a couple of throw pillows instead of a whole new couch. 

 

Here's the Before:

 

And here's the After:

 

Signs

Totally looked liked the little girl from the M. Night Shyamalan movie "Signs" today at work.  I had three travel mugs sitting on my desk, my favorite monogrammed Tervis Tumber, a cup of ice and a cup of coke from lunch. 

 

Even though I've seen this movie dozens of times, I really love it.  I especially like the line "the nerds were right." 

 



Zodiac

My husband has threatened to throw away my beautiful new phone and my computer and wants me to stay off social media.  I have a tendency to get very upset at some of the injustices of the world (or what I, in my own little world, perceive to be unjust).  I'm not a black or white kind of girl.  I see things very gray.  And this I blame entirely on being a Libra.  I try to please everyone.  I try to see both sides of the story and I get very (very) vocal about certain topics that I feel passionate about (Paula Deen, Trayvon Martin, the latest cover of Rolling Stone magazine, Hoover City Schools cutting buses from the budget . . . I could go on and on). 

Here are some typical characteristics of Libras and my thoughts on said characteristics: 

Kind, gentle and lovers of beauty, harmony and peace, the Libra-born are attractive people. However, in their bid to please everyone, they can rarely say no to anyone, and as a result, end up stretching themselves.

Positive traits

Tactful
The Libra-born know how to get things done (or, as Tina Fey says, "Bitches get Stuff Done"), however, they cannot be called manipulative. They are too nice to take undue advantage of people’s emotions. 
Romantic
Ruled by Venus, the people born under the Zodiac Sign Libra are romantic to the core. Everything in their lives revolves around the magic word – Love.  (yeah, OK.  I admit it.  I do love loving gestures from my husband or daughters big or small)
Charming
The way they talk and the matters they talk about make people comfortable in their company. And their captivating smile is like a cherry on the cake!  (I don't know about the captivating smile part)
Just
The have a strong sense of justice and fair play. They may tactfully find their way out, but they will never resort to dubious means to get what they want.  (and here's where I start to get in trouble)
Diplomatic
The Libra-born are famous for their diplomatic skills and ability to listen to opposing viewpoints without losing patience. (I don't know about the patience part)
Balanced
Striking balance comes naturally to the Scales as they are graphically represented in the Zodiac calendar. They rarely go to extremes, be it regarding any matter. (like any modern woman, I do try to have it all and juggle a lot -- family, home, career, etc.  Just when I think I'm doing great, something blows up and it all comes crashing down)

Negative traits

Superficial
External beauty means a lot to them. So much so that the Libra-born tend to become superficial, ignoring the potential flaws underneath the beautiful exterior. (I don't think I'm superficial when it comes to physical beauty but buy me a gorgeous pair of shoes or a handbags and I'm yours for life!)
Detached
People born under the Zodiac Sign Libra are empathetic but they can also be detached and pretentious as they don’t wish to displease anyone. (I do have a habit of shutting down and removing myself from the situation rather than confront it head on)
Unreliable
A Libra gets easily influenced by others’ opinions and may change his/ her mind before one may realize it. You may never know if they will keep their word. (I am very guilty of this.  I cancel plans or commitments often because I am just overwhelmed trying to please everyone else and need to just take a step back.  Also see above comment regarding "Detached")
Laid-back
They are energetic but can be surprisingly laid-back as well. And it is not so much physical laziness as it is a desire to avoid tension and emotional challenges. (Um, yes)
Indecisive
Choosing one option out of two or more choices is probably the toughest task for the Libra. Their indecisiveness often becomes a hurdle in their path. (This is SO not me.  Once I make up my mind.  It's done.  We will not discuss it again.  All systems a go.  My mind is made up and that's that.  My husband says it's the stubborn Polish side of me)
Self-indulgent
Since they focus on being surrounded with all things beautiful, the Libra-born tend to self-indulgent and extravagant. (I am totally self-indulgent.  Again, it all goes back to trying to please everyone else.  I often find it quite necessary to take a step back, remove myself from the situation and just take care of me for a while.  Whether it's a pedicure, a bubble bath or reading a book because Damn it!  I'm worth it!  Also see Detached, Unreliable and Laid-Back.)

And here's what the Huff Post has to say about Libras:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/horoscopes/astrology/libra/about/

Famous Libras include:  Ganhdi, Sting, Will Smith, Barbara Walters, Kim Kardashian, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Zac Efron, Usher, Snoop Dog, John Lennon, Viggo Mortenson, Gwen Stefani, Eminem, Matt Damon, Ryan Reynolds, Margaret Thatcher, F. Scott Fitzgerald

So, what does your birth sign say about you???

Grateful

Grateful: 
grate·ful /ˈgrātfəl/
Adjective Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.
Synonyms thankful - appreciative - beholden

Things have been so crazy lately I had to take a little breather today and remember the things I'm grateful for.  Need to do that more often. 

Lots of Changes

Lots of changes going on around here and it's all good!  Change is good.  It's hard to adapt sometimes but in the end, it's usually for the best.  I've been in a rut lately and definitely needed some change in my life.  So, starting small, I got a new phone this weekend! 

“Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.” ― Maya Angelou

I've had my Blackberry forever and have resisted the urge to go to the dark side (i.e., iPhone).  I ended up getting a Samsung Optimus G and have been super happy so far (OK, it's only been one full day but I love the screen, the brightness, the sharpness, the weight, the size.  I love everything about my phone!  And the name.  Especially the name!!!).  It's got a great big screen and my myopic self loves it!

 

And I recently got a new boss.  I enjoyed working with the old boss but he was offered a wonderful opportunity.  It's not easy uprooting a family but they've been through this before and they'll do just fine. 

 

Cosmo was home this weekend and it was great having him home for a change!  Poor guy was busy though and had stuff on his "honey-do" list.  He painted our master bath, painted the ceiling in the Men Den and sealed the deck.  We had a great family night Friday and saw "Grown Ups 2" after dinner.  He had a crazy early morning flight Friday (and he's on Eastern time, too!) and this morning he stopped by the studio and got to see Colonel Midfield in action before heading out to the airport.  I don't know how he does it.   I love to travel but it throws me for a loop!

 





“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.” ― Eckhart Tolle

The Great Outdoors

I'm not the most outdoorsy person I know but I could be if I stayed in tents and cabins like these! Glamping is SO on my bucket list. And a yurt. I'd like to go Glamping in a luxury tent or spend the night in a yurt. Or a teepee.  Hey Cosmo! Make it happen for my birthday, OK???
http://www.remodelista.com/posts/camping-gets-glamorous-shelter-co-in-california

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I can totally see myself taking a big nap here:

 

 

Goodreads.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-before-they-hit-the-big-screen

I feel like I've been reading like crazy this summer but my Goodreads account says I'm really far behind my reading goal of 100 books in 2013.  Ugh!

I've read both Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth.  Eh.  There were a lot of characters to keep up with, a lot of "factions" and a bunch of stuff about simulations and serums.  I think I like Hunger Games better.  I'm getting a little tired of reading about dystopian societies.  While I love that this series, as well as the Hunger Games, have strong female leads, I'm just over the whole bleak, depressing, futuristic, Mad-Max theme.

I'm glad to see The Book Thief is being made into a movie.  It's one of my favorite books!  And I've got Monuments Men on my queue.  Should be a good movie (Clooney?  Matt Damon?  No problem!).  I really, really hope Reese Witherspoon does NOT play the lead in Gone Girl.   Amy is insane and I don't know if Reese can tackle that level of insanity.  IDK.  Maybe after her recent run-in with the law . . . maybe she can do crazy.  And I really, really hope Rob Pattinson does NOT play the lead in 50 Shades of Gray.  Ick.  Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper are teaming up again and I think I'm the only person on the planet that was not impressed with Silver Linings Playbook. 

This summer I've read Wife-22 which was pretty funny.  I'm about 125 pages in
The Wolf of Wall Street and it's pretty insane (see the trailer here:  http://youtu.be/iszwuX1AK6A). 
And I also read Bossypants by Tina Fey.  Hysterical.  I could totally be friends with Tina Fey.  And Amy Poehler. 

Happy 4th!

I love having a short work week!  Whoop!  Whoop!  We have no major plans which is good because the weather doesn't look like it's going to cooperate.  I've got some stuff I can do in the house if it rains and I've got some good books loaded up on my Nook. 

Have I mentioned how much I love having my T-bone home?  She ran stadiums today and then brought me some Zoe's for lunch.  I love the chicken roll-ups and their slaw.  And then T made a fabulous dinner.  We had grilled citrus salmon and she also drizzled some olive oil and lightly seasoned the grilled asparagus.  Tomorrow she's got steak and some kind of exploding, twice baked loaded potato planned for 4th of July. 

We had such an awesome weekend in New Orleans.  Just the two of us; it was a nice girls weekend get-away.  It was one of those totally last minute, on a whim kind of trips.  Friday morning I checked the Marriott discount for hotels in New Orleans and got a $59 rate at the Renaissance Arts which was very convenient to just about everything!  We took the cable car to the Garden District and had a great lunch at the Blind Pelican.  We walked around a bit, checked out one of the cemeteries  and went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.  We had 8:15 PM dinner reservations at the Red Fish Grill.  I am SO glad I went on line the night before to make the reservations.  Saturday night the wait was over two hours.  We walked in, they had our table ready for us and we were seated immediately.  We had some crab claws for appetizers, T had the fried catfish and crawfish and I had the citrus marinated amberjack on a bed of black beans topped with corn salsa.  Everything was delicious!!!

We walked down Bourbon street to meet my nephew Lou and his buddy Jeff but when we got to the bar, our friend Evan was waiting outside.  Lou and Even were standing right next to each other and had no idea who each other was.  We had such a fun night with the guys!  They took T under their wing and didn't let us pay for anything all night.  I also felt much safer walking around Bourbon Street with the guys.  It's so skanky and skeevy.  T was wearing a Happy Birthday sash and everyone on Bourbon Street fussed over her.  Everyone wished her a happy birthday, gave her beads, offered to buy her a drink, high-fived her or gave her a hug.  She even got her picture taken with 15 or so Marilyn Monroe look-alikes (a couple were Asian, a couple were black and I think there was one guy in the group too). 

Sunday morning we took the cable car down to the French market with the intentions of having beignets @ Café du Monde.  The line was over 200 people deep so we decided to have breakfast at a little place across the street.  We walked around Jackson Square, did some shopping, checked out some of the sidewalk art and headed back to hotel to check out.  It was just a nice relaxing quick weekend. 

Monday was T's 19th b-day and what better way to start your day than with a deep tissue massage at the Spa?  Yeah, that's how T-bone rolls.  It's tough to be T.  A bunch of friends came over that night and they grilled out down at the pool.  I would say T had a wonderful 19th Birthday! 

It's Time for a Change

I am in such desperate need of a haircut!  This is probably the longest I've ever had my hair and I'm ready to chop it all off. 

I really hate blowdrying and I'm not very good with a flat iron.  I need a hairstyle that will look good messy -- a choppy bob would probably be best for my hair texture.  It's just a matter of how short and how messy looking I want to go. 

I like this cut but wonder if it's a little too "edgy" for me. 

Her bangs look a little heavy and that would drive me insane. 

I think this is my favorite!  Love the color and the cut!

I dunno; maybe something like this???