Competition

Today was the 2nd dance team competition this month and boy is my butt tired! It's a very, very long day for not only the girls but the parents/fans as well. Last weekend the competition was at Samford University, today it was at Spain Park High School. The girls did absolutely amazing but didn't place well at all. I love their Smooth Criminal routine and think their Bollywood dance is phenomenal! Two of the seniors on the squad participated in the solo competition both days did so wonderful! Several girls that T knows from either the studio or rival high schools also did very well in the solo portion (her BFF Caroline placed 3rd and Sammi placed 2nd!).

Since lacrosse season is now in full swing and occupies 99.9% of Cosmo's time, KJ came with me to the competion last week and today. She is so fidgety and gets bored so easily. She was driving me crazy! She was hungry, she was thirsty, she was tired, she had to go to the bathroom, etc. In all honesty, it was very hot in the gym today, very cramped and the bleachers were very uncomfortable. At least at Samford we sat in theater seats with cushions.

First Official College Visit Under our Belt

“You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does...” -- Tom Petty

After a really rough day of traveling back to Bham, Cosmo & T finally made it home!
They took the 5:25 AM (Eastern time!) subway from the hotel to the Philly airport for their 8 AM flight only to find out the flight had been delayed. They boarded the plane, de-boarded the plane, re-boarded the plane, etc. and ended up missing their connection in Nashville. Fortunately, the airline was able to put them on the very next flight. Unfortunately, that too was delayed and they didn't leave Nashville until 6:15 PM. T ended up missing Bnettes practice and her ACT prep class last night but had her ACT stuff with her and did some studying/worksheets while sitting in the airport.

T was exhausted last night when they finally got home but I was able to talk to her for a few minutes about her campus tour. She really liked the school, very urban. Liked the lacrosse program, liked the coaches. Cosmo joked around that T is not a scrimmager, she's a gamer. I guess she didn't look so hot in warm-ups but killed it once they started playing a little 1 on 1, etc. In all honesty, who cares what you do pre-game. It's what you do on the field.

They had a busy trip to Philly. Sunday one of Cosmo's lax buddies and his little daughter met them at the airport and they all went to a sports bar to watch the Jets kick some butt (whoo! hoo!). Our nephew, Travis, also met them for drinks/dinner that night. Monday, my brother and sister-in-law had off for MLK day so they drove down to Philly to spend the day w/ Cosmo & T. So jealous! T got to spend some time w/ Witch Face (that's what I call my 4-year old neice and she LOVES it! She tells everyone, "My Aunt Valerie calls me Witch Face."). After my brother and his crew headed home, Cosmo & T walked to the Hard Rock for dinner and explored the city a little bit on their own. So, all in all T had a good visit, she likes the school but is still keeping her options open. In any event, we're super-duper proud of her. She's spreading her wings and wants to fly. I just hope she doesn't fly too far away.

"A college is a place where pebbles are polished and diamonds dimmed." -- Robert Ingersoll

Golden Globe Recap

I don't find this man even remotely attractive. Blech! He does absolutely nothing for me. Nothing.

Some of my favorite Red Carpet looks from this evening:

I like Michelle Williams gown; it's fresh, fun and youthful.

Love the mom from Modern Family. She's so cute and I like this color!

Not normally a big Claire Danes fan but I really did like this Calvin Klein dress. Very simple and classy.

Anne Hathaway can do no wrong in my book. I luv, luv, luv this glittery big-shouldered gown! She's always appropriate.

Amy Adams is another actress I admire. She doesn't do slutty and I like that. I hate when young actresses feel the need to be skanky.

I love having twitter during awards season! It's so much fun and everyone comments on the red carpet fashion. There was lots of pink, lots of people from the cast of Glee (don't watch so I had no idea who half of those folks were!), lots of emerald green (Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis, Catherine Zeta Jones). The only trainwreck was Helena Bonham Carter and her mis-matched shoes. Just plain weird.

Miss Alabama

Miss America pagent is tonight. I don't think Miss Alabama made it to the top 15 or top 10 but I think she's a lovely girl and a nice representative of the state.


http://blog.al.com/living-news/2011/01/miss_alabama_ashley_davis_wins.html#incart_hbx

Couture Dreams

“Fashion absolutely matters, but it doesn’t matter absolutely.” -- Claudia Shear

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I swear I was born in the wrong decade. I think I was meant to live in Paris in the 40's and 50's.

My Cottage Dreams

Be thankful for every heartbroken, every scar, every page turned, some bridges burned, for those were lessons learned.

(I realize this quote doesn't "go" w/ today's post but someone sent it to me so I'm going to run w/ it!)

Marriage is a compromise. I'm sure if it was up to my hubby, our house would be decorated in everything NY Jets....Jets couch, bath towels, kitchen bar stools, etc.

If it was up to me, the house would be decorated in some type of beachy / shabby chic / English countryside / Parisian fleamarket-find decor....lots of pale pink, lots of soft turquoise. Tons of pillows, soft faded fabrics, white slipcovers, chandeleirs in every room. Unfortunately, my big, burly hubster would look totally out of place in all of that girlishness. However, one can dream, can't they???

I love old, worn out things. Things that have history or a story to tell. I love old china teacups, a great book, a cozy blanket or quilt. Old pictures.

Auburn and Nailpolish

So unless you've been living under a rock the last couple of days, you know that Auburn beat the Oregon Ducks in the National Championship game Monday night. Congratulations Auburn! I know lots of my southern friends are very, very happy! Those that were able to get out of B'ham early and avoid the snow & ice sound like they had a great time in AZ. Unfortunately, I know of several folks unable to get out of town on Sunday and were extremely frustrated and disappointed.

So unless you've been living under a rock the last couple of months, you also know the controversy surrounding Mr. Cam Newton and his father, Cecil. When young Mr. Newton won the Heisman trophy a few weeks back, the sportscasters made several comments about the elder Mr. Newton not being in attendance at the New York ceremony.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/12/cecil-newton-will-not-attend-heisman-trophy-ceremony/1 During Monday nights game several similar comments were made about the Mr. Newton not being in attendance at the championship game.

Well, now several pictures have "allegedly" surfaced of the two Newtons embracing Monday night after Auburn's win. So, the million dollar question is: was Mr. Newton there Monday night and if so, why deny it? http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/01/was_cecil_newton_at_bcs_title.html

Wow. Sure does look like Mr. Newton's distictnive eyebrows/forehead, doesn't it?

Now on to more important news! Nail polish! My favorite, go-to color for my pedicures is OPI's "Cajun Shrimp." It looks great with my skin tone whether or not I'm tan and I've been wearing it year round for years and years. However, I will admit, a couple of times this year I have strayed and tried some of Essie's fall colors. I like Cheap College Chic's recent post about 2011 colors. Love the nudes and the grays, don't think I could wear the peach with my skin tone and I'm not crazy about blue on my toes (feels kind of Shrek-ish).
http://cheapcollegechic.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011s-hottest-nail-colors.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Cheapcollegechic+%28CheapCollegeChic%29