Mo-mo-mo-mo-mo-tivation

Do y'all know that cheer? We've got the mo-mo-mo-mo-mo-tivation; got the giddy-up, giddy-up determination. We've got it- together.
Yeah, I was a cheerleader in high school so I am full of corny cheers (and if I had a picture from my time as a cheerleader I'd show you so we could all get a good laugh).

Unfortunately, though, I am NOT full of any motivation or inspiration for blogging posts! You can probably tell from my lack of posts lately! I don't know what is wrong with me. I feel like I have bored the heck out of y'all with my posts about all of my upcoming events, but beyond that, there's not much else on my mind these days! I need some inspiration!!

Maybe I will be struck with a fabulous idea here soon, but if you think of anything in the meantime please let me know.

Tag, I'm it!

Katie at A Thrifty Girl's Guide to the Kitchen tagged me as a fellow Queen of All Things Awe-summm.

The rules are that I am supposed to list seven things that make me awe-summm and then pass the award on to seven other people who you think are fabulously awesummm.

So here it goes -
(1) I am the organizational Nazi- seriously- you need it planned, I'm your girl.
(2) I have a knowledge of sports that surpasses most of the population of women and many men- just don't ask me to play the sport, thank you very much.
(3) I'm from South Carolina...duh.
(4) I never get lost and my friends frequently call me for directions (hence the nicknames I am sometimes called- Garmette or EmEm)
(5) I am caring and, in most cases, put other's needs before my own
(6) I pull for the USC Gamecocks and not that other team from our state ;-)
(7) I know all the counties in SC and can sing them to the tune of Yankee Doodle- plus I can label them on a map...thank you to my 7th grade SC History teacher.

And I'm too lazy to tag. Deal with it.

And, Katie also tagged me for another little game with these rules:

1. Mention the person who nominated you (above).
2. List six unimportant things that make you happy
3. Tag six blogs, state the rules & notify them with a teeny comment on their blog.So here it goes!

(1) Lunches with WEG
(2) Getting to watch Dancing with the Stars uninterrupted.
(3) Getting off right at 5:00 and not a minute later
(4) folding the last load of laundry and knowing I'm done for a few days
(5) weekends with no set plans
(6) actually completing a recipe correctly- this is big for me!

And again, I'm lazy and not tagging. :-)

Running on Fumes

Before I start my post for today- I wanted to thank everyone for your suggestions for bachelorette items- I am going to look at all of those websites and report back on what I find and buy! Y'all are the best!!

I am definitely running on fumes this morning- I didn't get but about 2 hours sleep last night- just could not fall asleep! I have a donor meeting today, too, and my eyes are looking the part of my sleepless night- yikes! I just hope I make it through the day til 4:00 without falling asleep at my desk then it's home to Elloree for Mother's Day! I definitely just need a weekend to relax and hang out with my parents and go see my childhood best friend and her family- she has the cutest little boy and I'm his Aunt Em.

I'm also reallllly looking forward to eating some good ol' barbecue tonight from Orangeburg. You haven't lived until you'd have bbq with the "orange sauce"- not mustard, not vinegar, not ketchup, but a blend...mmm, it has spoiled me for all other bbq for the rest of my life, I think!!

I hope that everyone has a great Mother's Day and is able to celebrate with their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, or children. To those of you who are mothers, I tip my hat- I know it's often times a thankless job, but one day your children will appreciate all you have sacrificed for them.

Here's a picture of me with my mom on Easter 2 years ago (Man how my hair has grown!):

Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels...Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle. Her sons rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: Many women are capable, but you surpass them all! Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. ~Proverbs 31:10, 25-30

Have a wonderful weekend, ladies!

Final Fling Before the Ring

Hey girls! I need to solicit your help (once again!)

I am planning a bachelorette party for my friend's wedding (I'm the maid of honor). My theme thus far has been "Last Fling Before the Ring." I am trying to find some cute cocktail napkins and plates to use that go along with the theme.
Here's the kicker- the bride-to-be dislikes pink! Have any of you tried to buy non-pink bachelorette items? Yeah, it's difficult because they assume all girls like hot pink, I think. I'd love some paper supplies that have a ring on them or something like that....no phallic symbols. Or, if I can't find anything ring-themed, then her colors are deep teal and brown.

Where are some good internet sites to find cute party supplies?? Google only finds the party superstores so I'm at a loss!!

It may not sound like much...

I have a new favorite song and everytime it comes on the radio it takes me back down roads lined with cotton to the only place I'll ever refer to as "back home" No matter how long I live in the "city," it will never be the small town of my youth that I know like the back of my hand. Elloree is like so many other small towns in the South and I'm sure the words of Jason Michael Carroll's "Where I'm From" could pull at a number of heartstrings, taking you back to a place where life is simpler- where your neighbor knows you by name.

Do these lyrics evoke any memories for you?

Where I'm From- Jason Michael Carroll

On a three hour flight from Memphis to LA

I was silently celebrating my first class upgrade

Laughing at my jeans and my boots

Beside those high dollar shoes and Armani suits

When the gentleman next to me said the drinks up here are free

So if you'd like, the first one can be on me

He said i'm headin back from business in New York and Rome

Tell me son, Where do you call home

I said I'm from the front pew of a wooden white church

A courthouse clock that still dont work

Where a man's word means everything

Where moms and dads were high school flings

Gave their children grandmother's maiden name Yes it may not sound like much
But its where I'm from

So we drank that round and then another

There wasn't a topic in this world we did not cover

He said I headed out west when I was barely 19

Just a kid chasing my dreams

I said I'm flying out here to pick up my big brother

He's been fighting the cancer they discovered

But he called last night and said I think this is the end

So come take me home to my family and my friends

Where the quarterback dates the homecoming queen

The truck's a Ford and the tractor's green

And Amazing Grace is what we sing

Well there's a county fair every fall

And your friends are there no matter when you call

Yeah It may not sound like much but it's where I'm from

And as we stood to claim the bags we checked

He said I'll pray for your brother and did I mention that

Italian suits haven't always been my style

See I was quarterback of my high school team

We took state back in '63

And my wife, she's still my homecoming queen

Cause I'm from the front pew of a wooden white church

A courthouse clock that still don't work

Where a man's word means everything

Where moms and dads were high school flings

Gave their children grandmother's maiden name

Yes it may not sound like much

I said it may not sound like much

but it's where I'm from

it's where I'm from

it's where I'm from

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound......

Crossing the line

**Warning: This is a religious rant and may offend some people. I apologize in advance if it offends you, but I feel I must get some feedback.

Is there such a thing as taking your religion too far? Perhaps shoving it down someone's throat is a bit too much? Don't get me wrong, I believe in witnessing to people and spreading God's word, but I think there is an imaginary line that can be crossed when you say too much, do too much, and get to the point where you are forcing your beliefs on someone.

Saturday night some friends and I went to dinner at a restaurant in an area of town called Five Points. Five Points is the college area, complete with bars that are mostly frequented by college kids. Although the bars are mostly the college-aged crowd, there are quite a few good restaurants, one of which we dined at, and we decided after dinner we'd walk across the street to one of the bars. Well, outside on the corner were a group of people I generally refer to as "bible beaters" (Urban Dictionary says a bible beater is one who takes his religion to radical extremes and usually knocks on your door or stands on a corner trying to get people to convert to xyz religion) The man below resembles one of the men from Saturday night (just so you get the idea of what I am talking about):

They yell at people walking by, hold up signs that say things like, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is life eternal." Now, don't get me wrong, I fully agree with this verse. However, I do not think that their style of witnessing is effective. They're generally yelling at drunk college kids walking from bar to bar. Often times, people retaliate and yell some not-so-nice things. I usually try to ignore them. I am a Christian and I feel like if I am enjoying a few drinks in moderation, I am not committing a mortal sin. My parents always told me that if I was of legal age and partook in a few alcoholic beverages in moderation that was okay (and we're Southern Baptist, too- which some may disagree and say no alcohol at all, but this was how I was raised). I'm not saying that my beliefs are the right ones or the wrong ones, but I don't need someone standing on the corner shoving a Bible in my face and basically implying that I am going to Hell for even being in a bar.

The worst part of it all, though, and the part that really made me irate was the fact that at 10:00 on a Saturday night in an area filled with bars and people drinking, there was a child holding up one of their signs. If I had to guess the little boy was about 8 or 9. Now, if these people are so moral and righteous, then one would think they would have more parenting skills than to use their child in this way...at 10:00 at night when he should have been in bed resting for church the next morning. There is no way I would ever take a child and submit him to the kinds of things I know people yell at them. I am sure there were things that a child should not hear, and to have a kid out on the corner in an area filled with bars seems negligent to me. I know they were trying to use the child to make people listen, but I find this to be just as bad, if not worse, than people partaking in a few alcoholic beverages.

I was outraged, to say the least. I, of course, did not say anything, but it has really been under my skin since Saturday night.

What are your thoughts about this? Do you feel that these people crossed a line?

In the Merry Month of May

I can't believe May has arrived- April seemed to fly and I suspect May will, as well! In the month of May I am so busy! I have:

• a hooding ceremony for my good friend, Carolyn, who has completed Pharmacy School- YAY CAROLYN!!
• quick visit to see my friend, Joy, and her little boy, Sawyer when they are at home for Mother's Day
• Mother's Day with my mom in Elloree
• an appointment to have a girl play with my hair to try out different hairstyles for the weddings I am in
• Alumni Reunion at work
• USC v. UGA baseball game
• Memorial Day
• Bachelorette Party in Charleston for Julie!

Whew, busy, busy!! Before we all know it, it will be June and summer will be in full swing- time to get my tan on so I'm not pasty for all of these upcoming events!!

And hopefully this time next year I will be anticipating a trip to Costa Rica.... Holly, let's start making that a reality ;-)