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just in case it’s not written down in your calendar/planner or etched in your memory forever: my birthday is exactly 1 month from tomorrow. september 25th. i'll wait while you record that... andrew asked me last night what i'd like for my birthday, and i'm at a loss? i haven’t reached the point in adulthood where you just say “oh i don’t really want anything, just a card”. (honestly, does anyone really ever want just a card?) so i need help! what’s on your wish list this year?
y’all, get ready for a real game-changer. yesterday, i downloaded a new app, and i just can’t hold my excitement in. i have to share the love! after reading this post from witty & pretty, i downloaded songza. yes, i realize i already have 4 apps for music on my phone, but thought i'd give it a go. songza is a “music concierge” which is a fancy way of saying it blows the pants off of pandora.
you simply choose your activity (everything from “working out” and “drinking at a dive bar” to “getting lucky”…yeah), and select from a few playlists that have that “vibe”. since downloading it for my phone yesterday afternoon, i now have it on my kindle fire and laptop as well. i tried out a few playlists and was really pleased with what i got. oh and i haven’t even gotten to the best part: it streams for FREE and has NO COMMERCIALS! see ya never, spotify and pandora! i'm a little hesitant to share my love with the world because i'm afraid once the wonderful word gets out, they’ll throw in some “catch”. we shall see?
in the meantime, i'll share a few of my favorite stations: buns of steel: ‘90s workout, headbands & legwarmers: ‘80s workout, cowgirl kiss-offs, and feelin’ good in the ‘90s…ok, so i love ‘90s music – we can’t be friends if you don’t too! sorry, i'm not sorry!
so yeah! there ya go! give it a download – it’s free, nothing to lose! and when you decide that you love it too, come back and let me know!
seriously, y’all! this whole “getting my ish back together after vacation” is no joke! i've been crazy busy at work this week and completely wiped out when i get home. needless to say, the blog has taken a lower number on the list of priorities! i DID put together some photos (2 days ago!) of an unforgettable experience on vacation, and i'd love to share!
my nana decided that she wanted to ride in a helicopter (to check it off her bucket list!!), and my mom and i were the lucky ones who got to ride with her! i got a front seat view of the beautiful emerald coast…and some underwater friends! note: don’t go swimming on that romantic secluded beach!
oh what? you don’t believe those are all really sharks? here’s a close-up for you skeptics:
oh hey, friends! like i said before, we flew down past all of the condos (after sandestin but before you get to santa rosa for those familiar with the area) and saw a TON of sea-life: mostly sharks, some stingrays, and a huuuge sea turtle (sorry, no pic. it really just looked like a huge black blob!).
we couldn’t stop talking about our wild ride all night. so the next morning, my brother, his gf, and my mom (round 2) went back up! i can’t say i'm not a tad jealous because apparently they saw a dolphin and her baby.
so, to sum it up: if you have the opportunity, i'd highly suggest the helicopter tour in destin. the water is SO clear, and it’s just a really fun experience! pandhandle helicopter was the company we used – kim and mike are wonderful and so hospitable!
i plan on sharing some more pics and experiences if time permits later in the week! come back and check ‘em out!
“the sun and the sand and a drink in my hand…with no bottom”
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yep! y’all, we’re heading to the beach! today at 2, family vacation officially begins! we’ll be getting on the road with my parents, bro, and his gf, and traveling just outside of atlanta (just for a pit stop) tonight. back on the road in the morning to head down to the emerald coast. we’ll swing through and pick up nana at the airport, and then hit the beach! we’ve been going to destin, florida since i was little. growing up in arkansas, florida was the default vacation spot, and upon moving to virginia, we just can’t seem to shake our love for the gulf! i love that soft, white sand!
so, i'll be signing off for the week, but i've got some great gals who are going to hold down the fort while i'm gone! y’all have a lovely week, and try not to get too jealous of my tan when i return!
if you know me in real life, chances are you’ve heard me brag about my family. i do it often. now, obviously my opinion is biased, but i really do believe i have the best of the best! not only was i born into an amazing family, but i married into one as well! i could go on and on…but this post is for one family member in particular: my mom. she deserves a post every day of the year for being so awesome, but today especially! why? it’s her birthdayyy!
her nickname around our house is “happy girl”. she always has a smile on her face – and not in the stepford kind of way. she genuinely is happy the majority of the time! she’s not high maintenance or hard to please – just what you want in a best gal pal. my mom and i are extremely close. a day that i don’t talk to her at least twice is a rare occurrence. i'm sure my phone calls will double when the day comes that we have kids (still far away). she’s definitely in the top 5 list of my favorite people - i'm sure most who meet her would say the same! she’s a great friend, mother, wife, sister, advisor, and margarita buddy! i love my mom. today, on her birthday, and every day.
maybe i'm late to the party on this one, but recently (?) lilly pulitzer announced that they would be releasing custom prints for every state! although i'm not a huge lilly girl, this is SUCH an adorable idea! i'll definitely be including something featuring my favorite states on my birthday list.
today they released the full preview of the north carolina print on facebook, but you have to solve the little puzzle to view it in its entirety. lucky for you, i've done all the hard work already:
i spy…the beach, the mountains, tar heels (boo! go duke!), dogwood blooms (our state flower), a cardinal (nc state bird), the wright brothers’ first flight, crowns (QUEEN CITY, represent!!), grapes for our many vineyards, and something that looks like donuts (anyone know what this is about?)
fun fact: virginia and north carolina share the same state flower and bird. crazy coincidence!
anyway! if you’re on the lookout for your state, be sure to follow lilly on facebook to get all the updates on the newest releases, or view the small state swatches here.
apparently lilly is a little biased towards georgia. at this point, they’re the only state being sold online, but i'm sure local lilly stores will have the murfee state scarves in shortly after they’re released.
nc girls, what you think? does it sum up our great state enough for you? and what about those donuts?
