Five Years

I have been an awful terrible blogger.  I barely wrote last week, and decided that starting Monday's post at 930pm was a good idea.  In addition to that, I barely commented on anyone's blog, and for that I am truly covered in blog girl shame.  In all fairness, we did have internet problems, and my computer is dumb.  

So had it not been for super awesome Casey from AT&T coming to fix our shizz, you would be left without my amazing words of wisdom for today.

Not that I have many, because, well it's 930 at night, and I want to go to bed.  

This past weekend hubs and I spent our five year anniversary in Charleston.  Our five years have been sprinkled with hard times -- really hard times -- and for some reason through everything, it has prevailed.  It's not perfect, nor will it ever be.

 

It was a great trip, and I'll indulge more details later.  I just had to clear my blogger conscience and post something. 

Life Advice

That's right everyone.  I am going to dispense some life advice on y'all.  You ready for this?

Here ya go:

One of my good friends sent this to me, and while I can see that it could be an advertisement for rapists, just hear me out.

When I was kind of tired Saturday night, and was ready to go home, I just went with it.  I loved getting to hang out into the wee hours with new friends.

When I thought that I was going to lose my cool at work, because some people don't have respect for other people, I just took a deep breath and went with it.

Sometimes, it is probably easier to just "go with it," than it is to fight about something.  In my line of work, I listen to people complain on the daily.  I'm pretty sure that is in my job description, but hey, when I think about it, I am their only advocate.  It is up to me to make sure that they are taken care, so I just have to go with it.

When someone asks you to meet them for a drink -- just go with it.  You never know what kind of shenanigans you'll get to see or friendships you'll forge.

Again, sometimes you'll just find yourself way too tired to fight back, and those things that you are trying to hang onto?  Sometimes not worth it and it'd be better to just "go with it."  I've said it many times before on here; people enter and leave your life for a reason.  If you put up a gigantic wall for fighting -- you'll never get to open yourself up for the things that could happen if you just went with it.

I'm not saying be complacent or an asshole when it comes to this -- just every once in a while, break through the barrier and just go with it.

100 Dishes In Alabama

I had contemplated for all of a day and half about taking a blogging hiatus.  That was just a fleeting thought, obviously, because I'm back.  I got way too into the soccer game on Sunday night; more than I thought I would, and then decided that watching Moonstruck for the millionth time was way more important than blogging.

Then, with my good intentions, I brought my laptop to work yesterday, but was so busy, I worked right through lunch, left the laptop at work, and just said, "well, eff this."

I am clearly a day behind on blogging about my weekend, so here goes.

Saturday morning, we got up earlier than normal and decided to go running.  I'm talking at 7 in the morning folks, and just so you know, it's still humid as hell and running still sucks.  After that, we decided to go to Pepper Place Market.  I was in search for another succulent wife for Antoine, but alas, they only thing my little stand had that day was some blackberries.  And even though they looked awesome, they didn't make a suitable wife for succulent Antoine, but we did get to visit the 100 Dishes in Alabama exhibit, which was awesome!

It was a really tiny exhibit, so it took about 20 minute to walk through the whole thing.

After that, I was about to eat my arm, so we grabbed some pork sliders and a cinnamon roll from the jim n nick's stand and also grabbed an iced coffee.  I also didn't know that Octane was a sister company of Jim N Nick's...so there's that too.

That night we got to meet up with Nadine and her hubs, Chris, for beers at World of Beer, then dinner at Jack Brown's followed by late night cocktails at Crestwood Tavern.  We were up till 2am.  2am.  Which made it completely acceptable for me to lay down and watch TV all day.

It was an awesome weekend and Nadine and Chris are super awesome people.  I really think everyone needs to have more weekends like that.

Week-Ending Happies

Praise Jesus, it's finally Friday.  This week seemed to drag on and on and on.  Do you ever get in that state where you haven't had a vacation day in months, and you're just working working, and you just sort of feel like you're going to snap??

Hello, that is where I'm at.  Luckily, I am off next Friday, so I'm hoping to keep the peace until then.  

There were a few bright spots in the week, and here they are!

** I got to meet Nadine!  It was my first real blogger meet-up.  She is so super sweet, and I had a great time!  Plus I got to try out the new Sidebar in Lakeview and that was fun too!!

** Britney and I had Toes and Tacos Thursday.  Pedicure followed by Mexican food.  On a Thursday -- she opted for a more muted adult color -- I've got neon orange on my toes.  

*** This little bit of honesty.

** Fried Oreo (found at Jack's Beer & Burger Joint in Lakeview...more on that later).  Yep, it tasted just as good as it looks.

** New contacts!  Sayonara glasses!!  I had worn those sons of bitches for three weeks straight trying to get an appointment.  And I love my glasses, I do, but sometimes, I really really get tired of having them on my face.

** My dad's dog, Rosie.  I keep getting adorable pictures of this thing.  Sweet puppy head.  I love her, and I've never even met her.

Oh!  And I got wine at my hair place.  Super score there.  No roots and a glass of wine to celebrate me not having roots.  

I sure hope that y'all have a great week and have an awesome weekend!!

Post Office Pies - Avondale

In case I've never mentioned it before, I love pizza.  

To me, there is nothing better on this earth.  Nothing.  It is better than rainbows; it is better than unicorns and puppies; it is better than cabins in the mountains or the beach.  It just is.

So when I had heard months before of another pizza place opening up in Birmingham, I knew that I had to try it out.  It's squeezed into the place between Avondale Brewery and Saw's Soul Kitchen, in an old post office.  Hence the name.  Also, if you didn't catch that, don't worry.  B had to tell me when I asked, "I wonder why they call it Post Office Pies?"

Duh.

Anyway, once you get in there, you order your pizza and beverages (I have heard they have some superb cocktails, and all the girls had some pinky/purple drink, but this girl loves pizza with beer) right at the front, grab a number and go to sit and wait on your amazingess to arrive at your table.

We ordered the Swine Pie -- full of piggy goodness.  They bring it out right on the server; no plates necessary and you've got a roll of paper towels.  Simple, right?  Simple and awesome.

Another awesome thing about this place?  Open late night y'all!  Go have yourself a couple of beers next door at Avondale and then pop right on into POPs and get yourself a pie!

When Are You Too Old For....

a two piece bathing suit?

I have been pondering this question this summer, as this is my first summer being a thirty-year old.  I usually like to buy a new bathing suit every summer, while of course getting rid of an old one that I will never wear again.

I love two pieces; I love them from Target and I love them from Vicky's Secret, but honestly, when is it time to just say to hell with it, I can't pull this off anymore!

I did buy two bikinis this season -- they are a little more cover-uppy than the ones from summer past, but then I saw this amazingness at TJMaxx (because, where else folks!).

That's right folks - a one piece.  A $92 Sperry one to be exact (that I got for $29.99, suck on that retail).  And I'm thinking that this might just be my suit for the remainder of the warm weather.  I mean, it's adorable, and I know you can't see the sparkles on the chest part, and anchors on the ties!  

I'm in love with thing!  It hides everything!  The hubs looked at me like I was crazy when I told him I had bought a one-piece, but seriously, until you've done nothing but eat and drink  the day before on the beach,and then try to squeeze into a bikini, don't talk to me.

So I ask of you folks...how old is too old for a bikini?  Does that age never come if you wanna rock it? (And I don't knock anyone who does!  I want to be one of ever-confident people!!)  Or is there a point in life when you just need to succumb to the one-piece?  Help!

Father Memories

Since I was my normal self and loafed around the house on Thursday instead of doing a blog post, I missed out on getting to do a Father's Day post.

Well, better late than never they always say right?

I won't get all sappy and junk on the blog, but I know my dad loves me and only wants what's best for me.  He's an awesome dad (even to his new puppy, Rosie), even though he did, in fact, spoil the crap out of me and my sister.

He's a great person and an awesome dad, so what better way to celebrate with some awesome old pictures?

I don't know why I do this sometimes; I know that he has way more embarrassing pictures of me than I have of him.

One day, I know he's just going to put them all on the internet.  I'm waiting for it.

Anyway, love you dad!  Hope you had a happy father's day!

#tbt: Halloween Costumes

I'm pretty sure there's absolutely nothing more adorable than kids in their Halloween costumes.  While I'm sure there were many more of my sister and I in Halloween costumes, these are the only ones I have. 

 Also, it was back in that innocent stage where you weren't trying to out-slut everyone at the bar.  Ahh, the good ole days...

Plus -- further proof that my sister is, in fact, the devil.  Just kidding Juney.  Love you!!

I was also the cookie monster folks.  I don't play around; he was the coolest.

Asheville Happenings

I am so terrible at keeping all of my trips in order.  I wrote about what I ate during this trip, but never actually talked out it, shared my pictures or anything.

Something cooler always happens, and I'm just like, eh..I'll get to it later.

But then I never do.  Or when I do, it's like four months later, and I can't fully remember the trip.  One of the main reasons for going to Asheville was just to get out of Birmingham.  Don't get me wrong, I love it here, but sometimes a girl needs to just get the hell out.  You know what I'm saying?

So we sort of split the trip in two, stopping for dinner in Atlanta, and then continuing the trip.  I would like to say I stayed awake the whole time, but no, no I didn't.  I always lose those bets saying that I will.  But it was night time, and I was tired.

So one of the main draws of Asheville are the breweries.  I think there are about fifteen in the area, but we were only able to fit four into one day.  The lucky thing about that is that most of them are within walking distance of each other (they even had a walking route to follow to the breweries), and well, walking is better than driving any day when all you're doing is drinking all day.  So here we go:

Up first was Asheville Brewery.  Don't remember much about the beer, but I know I had an IPA, and I didn't hate it.

Up next was Hi-Wire Brewery.  We had the flight there, and watched people play the giant Jenga.  The thing I remember most about this place was how easy it was to get to the bathroom there, and you didn't have to find a million people to get it.

Next up was Twin Leaf Brewery.  This was the prettiest one out of all the ones we went to.  The bartender was super fun, and they even had balloons.  Who hates balloons?  No one, that's who.

And the very last one we visited was Burial.  This one was my favorite out of all of them, simply because I liked the simple feeling of the place, and what they put their flights in.  And the names of their beers.  See, boys, girls are simple.  

Sorry for the super long post.  I do feel better that I got it all out.  Phew.  Now I can carry on with my life without the burden of knowing that I made this trip and told no one about it.