History in the Making

Pending no unforeseen issues and weather that behaves, the first Boeing 787 airplane will take to the skies on Tuesday morning, December 15, 2009, at 10:00 PST. You can watch the historic first flight from www.newairplane.com with live coverage starting 24 hours prior to takeoff. For up-to-the minute information you can follow the following aviation nerds reporters as they report live from Paine field in Everett, Washington.

FlightBlogger

Future Of Flight

And if you want to see a great picture of the nose off the ground from Saturday's taxi tests, click here.

Stressed but Blessed

So lately I feel like I've been at my wits end. I've missed my family and friends more lately than any time since I moved away. It's weird to me that all of these feelings would hit 2 years later, but it's true. I know there is a reason I am here, but some days I just want to move home and live with mom and dad. I'm not sure what I'd do, but I'd figure something out. Except I know that's neither realistic nor what God has planned for me right now so here I am. So, what I try to do when I get discouraged and stressed is think on what I have that others don't. So, in an attempt to be optimistic (when I really just want to throw the biggest pity party for one on the East coast) here are some things I'm thankful for:

1. My salvation, because honestly that's all I need.
2. Socks that mostly don't have holes in them.
3. Verizon, email, and Facebook (even though sometimes Facebook annoys me.) All of these things keep me so very connected to those I love and helps with the loneliness.
4. A roof over my head and blankets on my bed. So many do not have these luxuries, even here in our own country.
5. Food in my pantry and refrigerator. Even though most of the time it's not what I'm craving, it is there and I can eat it to sustain myself.
6. People who love me. And who tolerate me calling them daily or ranting when I just feel down about life. Or who make fun of me for being terrified of shots, but being willing to do whatever it takes to help me through that. Who just plain love me for me and not for whom others expect me to be.
7. The ability to buy a plane ticket to fly half way around the world to see one of my dearest friends.
8. A job. Even though 9 days out of 10 I am so stressed out that I just want to walk away, I know I am blessed to have this opportunity and that I am learning more and growing more in my abilities daily. Even when I feel like I've lost every single brain cell that connects what little I do know to the other little I know.
9. Christmas china. I love that for 1 month out of the year I get to pull it out of storage and feel like I'm dining like a princess. Even if I'm dining on Easy Mac or Captain Crunch Christmas Crunch.

So there you go. Just a few little things I think about that I can focus on when I start pity-partying like it's 1999.

Anti-Twilight

I don't read the books. I don't watch the movies. And I refuse to be a part of this cult following. I also don't do Harry Potter. Don't ask me why, but anything that seemingly was geared toward a younger audience and has somehow captivated people of all ages just seems weird to me. You can leave me comments that say how great they both are, but you will not change my mind.

P.S. I feel the same way about Lord of the Rings. I saw the first two movies because I was dating someone who loved them. The highlight of that relationship ending (other than it wasn't meant to be) was that I was not forced to sit through the third movie. 6 hours of my life I will never get back. UGH.

The Last Song

Thanks to Thanksgiving (haha) I had a few days off last week which meant I got to read a little bit. This is not to be confused with reading a lot because I have a cute as pie niece who needs attention too. But I did get to read and I chose the book The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. This is his most recent book and was made into a movie before the book was released for purchase. And this is where my problem starts. You see, I know who plays the main character in the movie*. Knowing this, ruined the book for me. I loved the main character. I loved the story. In true Nicholas Sparks fashion I cried. The book was great. But I kept hearing the main character based on the person I know is playing her in the movie. Main character in book = 17 year old girl from NYC. Actress portraying her = not a NYC type of girl. At all. I wish I had not known this prior to reading the book. But alas, the book was good. The jury is still out on if I want to see the movie though.

* You can too. Just go to www.IMDB.com and search for the movie. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.

And It's a Great Day to Be Alive

When you get a Twitter update like this:

It's Time to Plan a Meet Up

Ok, readers, I know who is interested in venturing to Florida to watch a space shuttle launch. There are 5 launches left. So, which one are we aiming for? Come on...we need to get this planned!

A Survey

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while blogging?

I don't usually eat while blogging, but I did just finish a nice bowl of Cap'n Crunch Berries prior to starting this survey.

2. What is one thing you wouldn’t want to live without?

My cell phone which keeps me connected to my loved ones who aren't near me

3. Beach, mountains or farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?

I live at the beach so I'd definitely choose mountains or farm. Preferably a farm in East TN where I could see the mountains.

4. What’s your least favorite chore / household duty?

If you looked at my house, you'd say the whole thing. But honestly, I hate doing the dishes.

5. Who do people say you remind them of?

I look like my mother. I act like my father.

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying home with the family?

I love to be home. And I love to entertain small groups of people in my home. I do not like to go out to parties.

7. What’s your all time favorite movie?

The Wedding Date. Even though I would never take $5000 out of my 401k to hire a male escort as a wedding date. But I would take $5000 out to fly first class in the nice plane overseas.

8. Do you sleep in your make-up or remove it like a good little girl every night?

Unless I bathe at night, I sleep in it. It makes no difference in the status of my skin so I don't see the value in it.

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you’ve never had a chance to learn? What is it?

I would love to be able to cook gourmet meals.

10. What’s one strange thing that you’re really good at?

Making sausage gravy. Seriously. It's good.

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?

I'm sorry, what part of single in the header of this blog don't you get?

12. What is something you love to smell?

Cookies baking

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.

I have a really loud voice. I can't help it. My voice carries well. I need to work on this.

14. When you have extra money, what’s the first thing you think to do with it?

What is extra money? But if I did have some, it would go toward either the house/car or camper fund.

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?

I think I'm a normal laugher. Not silent, not snorting, not loud.

A good comedy can keep me laughing for days.

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?

The internet. Seriously. I am not a shopper and if I can find/buy online, I am happiest.

17. What’s one thing you’d do more often if you had more time?

Spend more time with my family

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?

A mix. I save adequately, but I will drop the money on something I want (normally electronics) if I can pay cash. I do not owe on anything except my house and vehicle (which I am going to pay off quickly!!!!)

19. Who is your favorite character of all time?

I have to pick two here. Noah and Allie from "The Notebook." I have read that book at least half a dozen times.

20. Would you want to be famous?

I generally do not like large groups of people, so I'm going with no.

Post #300 Brought to You by a Flight Delay in Atlanta

I would like to thank God for allowing it to snow in Denver and giving me an extra 2 hours aboard this wonderful airplane. I would also like to thank God for the 2 free seats next to me in which I was able to spread out and take a nap. Note: a nice gentleman just appeared who will be taking the aisle seat for the flight. Not a problem.
I would like to thank Krystal for putting in a kiosk restaurant near my gate so I could experience food that cannot be experienced in Charleston.

I would like to thank you, my 8 readers, who continue to come back for more ridculous posts on a semi-consistent basis.

I would like to thank the Delta flight attendants for being so nice through this whole delay, even giving me a flight update from their phone when I wondered if I had enough time to get off the plane for food.

- would like to thank Verizon and BlackBerry, without whom this blog post would have been impossible.

Thank you all. May the next 100 be as much fun as the last 300.

10 Positive Things

This past week was a pain in the behind for me, in more ways that one. I worked more hours than I have worked in a long time (meaning late nights AND early mornings.) I have a major decision to make surrounding one of my dogs. So, in an effort to try and cheer myself up for tomorrow, here are 10 things I am thankful for or were positives of my past week.

1) Jesus loves me this I know. Can I get an "Amen?"

2) I got to have dinner with a good friend on Monday night whom I used to see several times a week. She is now at a different job, so we have to plan dates. We ate at The Mustard Seed. I had the Pad Thai. Not the best Pad Thai I have ever eaten, but it was good. My friend had the sesame chicken and I would definitely get that in the future. I think many of their entrees look good though.

3) I only worked 8 hours on Wednesday.

4) I got to veg out at my house Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night with no plans. I may have been working on my couch, but I was still on my couch.

5) I saw the new Chris Rock documentary "Good Hair" on Saturday. Oh. My. Word. Let me just say. White women, if your husband complains about the amount of money you spend on your hair or on hair products, make him watch this and he'll be thankful. Black women, I commend you for being able to sit in a chair for that long to have a weave put in your hair. The part of the movie that really got to me were the women in India who sacrifice their hair to the gods in an effort to receive blessings. If they only knew that wasn't necessary, the Christ did the sacrificing for us and we only have to receive Him to be blessed.

6) Shopping. I'm headed out to a colder lands this week and my wardrobe for Charleston will not be effective where I am headed. More "D"etails on this later this week.

7) I was able to talk to my friend who just moved for a bit on Facebook. I am so thankful we have the technology we have so we can keep in touch with those who mean so much to us.

8) Sweet potato friends made from sweet potatoes I dug with my own hands. YUM!

9) My roommate offering to take me to the airport at 5 AM this week. And for skipping big church to stay home with me because I was having my 40th mental breakdown of the week. I repaid the favor by helping her with the 5 year olds. I now know a magic trick. True story.

10) The promises that tomorrow is a new day. Praise Jesus!

Thank you, Beth

I blogged a bit on Monday that I've been reflecting on some things in my life. I don't know when/if I'll share the details on here with you, but I know one thing for sure: I do not have a way with words. I will probably never be called to write a great speech or a novel. But Beth Moore is good at words. It's a gift of hers. And yesterday she posted this blog post:

Like Slaves in Search of Little Masters

I would encourage you to read the whole article, but here are the highlights that I know God intended for me to read.

We forget we’ve been set free. We keep returning back to that enslaved way of thinking and living and find ourselves in bondage to a host of little masters. Most of these things are not bad in themselves. Maybe they’re even good. They’ve just taken more authority and attention than they should. I’ve had one of those recently. That’s not true. I’ve had a lot more than one but there is one in particular I became most aware of. It wasn’t a bad thing. Not a sinful thing. It had just become too much of a thing. It had the makings of an addiction and, Lord, have mercy, I’m the last person who needs to open that door again. I had lost the ability to be moderate with it. People can say what they want about whether or not we can hear the inaudible voice of God in our spirits but, as I live and breathe, there I was doing that thing again and I felt Him say, “STOP IT.”

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Something may be permissible that has grown out of proportion until it has ceased to be beneficial. It has taken a place of mastery. Authority. We feel enslaved to it. Maybe some of us can actually go from addiction straight to moderation but most of us have to actually stop the thing for a while to give the power over us time to break. Then, if our flesh dies down about it and we can manage to rediscover that beautiful thing called moderation, we can reintroduce it. IF we will employ the strength of the Holy Spirit within us to command it to behave and keep its place. I’ve had a few other things in my life, things that offered no benefit whatsoever, that simply had to be cast out for good. And, after I could get over those first pangs of craving, I gladly said good riddance.

I think Beth stated it very well. What I've been reflecting on, and in some instances removing, is not sin as the world would see it. But it is something that took my attention away from things I should be focusing on. Thanks, Beth, for taking a break from your studies to post this yesterday. I know God had one very specific use for it.

I Should Have Known

When I put this on Twitter Monday morning, I should have known it was a sign that I needed to go back home and just call it a day. It's Thursday morning at 8:18 and I will have my 40 hours in by 11:00 AM. If we count the hours I worked on Sunday, then I'm already there. I only remember two other instances of payrolls that were this insane. Must. Get. Sleep. RandomCarrie requires more than she has received this week. I see weekend naps in my future.

Why Verizon is Still the Bomb

The arrow pointing to that pushpin? Yep, it's pointing to Anchorage, Alaska. Why, do I care, you ask? Because my favorite cousin D is moving there in 2 weeks. So, yeah. I need Verizon to service that area, and they do.

So, road trip anyone? It's only $500 in gas and 72 hours in a car. No biggie. We can definitely stop for bathroom breaks. There will be none of this in my car.

Jealous Kind

Lately I've been doing a lot of reflecting on my life. I will blog more about this soon, but one song I have been listening to a lot is "Jealous Kind" by Jars of Clay. Here are the lyrics.

i built another temple to a stranger
i gave away my heart to the rushing wind
i set my course to run right into danger
i sought the company of fools instead of friends

Chorus:
you know i've been unfaithful
with lovers in lines
while you're turning over tables
with the rage of a jealous kind
i chose the gallows to the aisle
thought that love would never find
hanging ropes will never keep you
and your love of a jealous kind
love of a jealous kind

tryin' to jump away from rock that keeps on spreading
solace in the shift of the sinking sand
i'd rather feel the pain all too familiar
than be broken by a lover i don't understand
'cause i don't understand

[CHORUS]

love of a jealous kind, yeah
love of a jealous kind
love of a jealous kind

one hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
if i should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
and love that shames the wise
betrays the hearts deceit and lies
and breaks the back of foolish pride

[CHORUS]

love of a jealous kind
love of a jealous kind
love of a jealous kind

The One Where I Turn In My Social Calendar

I love TV. I love dramas and comedies. I love TV so much that the fall premiere schedule is hanging on the wall in my office (only one show left to premiere!) However, I have been home for exactly 2 of the premieres. Seriously. They are all being watched on my DVR. I am sad. I love to watch the show as it comes on. Well, actually about 7 minutes in so I can fast forward through the commercials. So how is it that every episode of NCIS, How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl, etc. have been watched days later. Seriously. I don't need a social life in the Fall. I need TV. Yes, it's probably a sickness, but it's me. And the sad thing is, I watch less TV now than I used to.

I now present to you my schedule. If you'd like to hang out, please plan our outing around these times. I'm booked.

Sunday - Desperate Housewives (9:00 - 10:00)

Monday

• How I Met Your Mother (8:00 - 8:30)
• One Tree Hill (8:00 - 9:00)
• Gossip Girl (9:00 - 10:00)
• House may or may not be watched later online. I can only record two shows on my DVR at a time and so HIMYM and OTH trump this.

Tuesday

• NCIS (8:00 - 9:00)
• I have not watched the first episode of NCIS LA and I don't plan too. (Mrs. Newlywed said it wasn't good and she loves NCIS more than I do.)

Wednesday - I record Glee, but that's just to watch the musical numbers. The acting and storylines are horrible.

Thursday

• Grey's Anatomy (9:00 - 10:00)
• Private Practice (10:00 - 11:00)

Friday - Ugly Betty (starts next Friday so you still have a week of my time.)

Disclaimer #1: I know this seems like a lot of TV, but it could be more.

Disclaimer #2: I do not watch reality shows with the exception of So You Think You Can Dance and I'm not exactly sure I'm ready to invest in a new season of this yet, so I may skip this season.

Disclaimer #3: I will add Friday Night Lights and LOST to this list after Christmas when they premiere.

Disclaimer #4: I fully expect 2-4 of these shows to end after this season and I will not be replacing them with new shows in an attempt to cut back my TV viewing.

Murphy's Law Says...

If you schedule a service appointment from 8-12 and are ready for the person at 8 they will not arrive until 11:45. However, if you are drying your hair at 8 they will be there promptly at 8.

I Love Nerds

No, this is not a post a-la-Mrs. Newlywed's about loving human nerds. This is a post about my love of the tiny, crunchy little candies.

I am a member of the Regal Crown Club. I love being a member of things that give me rewards. On Monday's, members receive $1 candy. The selection is limited, but as soon as I saw Nerds on the list, I knew that would be my special reward. I love that they have a slightly tart taste, but then they have such a sweet center. Yum.... yes, I am 30 years old and I love nerds. I blame this love on my mother who would not let me eat them as a child. I also still buy sugar cereals for the same reason.

P.S. On Monday I saw Love Happens. B- (and that is being nice.) Today I saw Fame. Solid A. It had singing and dancing. What is there not to love?

P.P.S. I have a renewed love of matinees during the week. I have had the theater to myself two days in a row. $7 for a massive screen movie just for me = bargain.

P.P.P.S. No, I did not silence my cell phone. In fact I took calls and texted during the movies. After all if was a private screening just for me.

A Cool (and Rainy) Time in Hot-lanta

Last Thursday I ventured away from the comforts of home for a weekend getaway to Atlanta. My fabulous friend, the Ab-meister, had two tickets to a concert and she let me buy one of them from her as one of my favorite artists was the first opening act. Yes, I paid full price for a concert ticket to see the guy who played 30 minutes of a 3 1/2 hour show. Matt Nathanson. Check him out. He's good.

In an effort to not bore you with all the stores I went to, I will give you the breakdown of the fabulousness that is the food I ate while I was there. Because really, shopping is shopping but eating is required for living.

Friday lunch - Ikea. Don't laugh. If you have not eaten at Ikea you don't understand. Their Swedish meatballs, mac-n-cheese, and lingonberry sauce are amazing. Seriously. Ask anyone who has ever been there and they will confirm. In fact, my friend Anna who lives in Atlanta and loves food as much as I do, said the same thing when I told her I had hit up Ikea first on my way into town. One of these days I will make it there for breakfast.

Friday supper - Twist - A tapas style restaurant located inside Phipps mall was quite the little find. They serve bread with housemade hummus rather than butter. I had the Shrimp Dumplings with Thai Curry and a dynamite tuna sushi roll. We also did the dessert trio and had banana white chocolate cream pie, blueberry upside down cake, and a strawberry rhubarb cobbler. All very good.

Saturday breakfast - J. Christophers - Two words: Blueberry Crunchcakes. I am going to attempt these when I make breakfast one weekend. I loved the crunch the granola added to the savoriness of the blueberry pancakes. I'm even thinking of making Bakerella's pancake muffins and sprinkling granola on the top. YUM. Charleston Cafe, you know I love your pancakes. You need to try this. Love, Random Carrie.

Saturday lunch/supper - Pappadeaux - Now, normally Pappadeaux would not be my first choice for dining in Atlanta, but you have to understand 2 things: 1) it was raining like it "was it's job" (<-- Abby's new favorite quote) and 2) we had to get home to shower and change clothes so we could make it to the concert so I could see the first opening act. So we stopped here. I am actually a fan of Pappadeux because I do love me some Cajun food. So this works for me. I had the Pasta Mardi Gras which had a wonderful light tomato cream sauce (barely covered the noodles) and was served with grilled shrimp, crawfish, and andouille sausage. You really can't go wrong with that. I also had a cup of the crawfish bisque in an effort to warm my body because it was 64 degrees, raining, and the restaurant was trying to freeze the water in our glasses to save money on ice.

Sunday lunch - Chipotle - Seriously. I love you Chipotle. Why do you not want to move to Charleston? Please move to Charleston and put Q'Doba out of business. You know we all love you more than Q'Doba. Your rice is amazing, your burritos are perfect, and your chips have the little hint of lime which I love so much. In fact, if you had queso dip you'd be dern near perfect. But alas, you are not near me so I must savor you when I am traveling.

P.S. Salsarita's...I still love you. If you moved to Charleston I would love you equally as much as I would love Chipotle if he moved to Charleston. You have queso and your quesadillas are great.

I know Atlanta has many more fine restaurants to indulge in, but these are the ones I encountered while I was there for this trip. And yes, for anyone counting, this would be the first time in the history of my adult life that I remember being near a Cheesecake Factory and not indulging in the wonderfulness that is their desserts. I will be back in the Spring, at which time I will try some new places and maybe revisit some others.

0 Calories the Healthy Way

A few weeks ago BiLo had SoBe lifewater on sale. I don't normally buy bottled water or any type of flavored water, but I felt the need to try something new. And that's when I noticed they had some flavors that were zero calories. If you don't know me well, then you may not know that I do not use any artificial sweeteners (pink packet, blue packet, or yellow packet.) I do not drink diet drinks and you will not find me sipping on a Crystal Light. Not gonna happen. But these little jewels. They are sweetened with PureVia, a Stevia product which is a natural sweetener. So, if you are looking for something a little sweet to drink without adding any calories or unhealthy sweeteners to your day, then I suggest trying one of these. A few of them are even too sweet for me so I dilute them with water. My verdict: 2 Thumbs Up!

Dawn's Predule

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Dawn's Prelude
(Bethany House - October 2009)
by
Tracie Peterson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels. She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Ephesians 1:18 has become a cornerstone verse for a new non-fiction book she's been working on -- its also become a cornerstone in her life. The verse reads, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Tracie and her family live in Belgrade, Montana.






ABOUT THE BOOK

Newly widowed Lydia Sellers discovers that through an unforeseen fluke, she is the sole recipient of her husband's fortune. But instead of granting her security, it only causes strife as her adult stepchildren battle to regain the inheritance for themselves.

Lydia, longing to put the memories of her painful marriage behind her, determines to travel to Alaska to join her aunt. Lydia's arrival in Sitka, however, brings two things she didn't expect.

One is the acquaintance of Kjell Bjorklund, the handsome owner of the sawmill. Second is the discovery that she is pregnant with her dead husband's child. What will this mean for her budding relationship with Kjell? And what lengths will her stepchildren go to reclaim their father's fortune? Lydia soon finds her life--and that of her child's--on the line.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dawn's Prelude, go HERE

To purchase the book click here.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Pumpkin is back!

Seriously, the only orange I really love in this whole, wide world is pumpkin. I love pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cheescake, and pumpkin spiced lattes. And it's all in season now! It all started yesterday when a co-worker wanted to go to the Olive Garden for lunch. I agreed because seriously, who doesn't love some cheese covered pasta. When we walked in I saw it. The special chalkboard said "Pumpkin Cheesecake." At that point I was a goner. It doesn't matter that I didn't need the cheescake I had to have it. (Yes, I know this is glutony.) Thankfully I have a few friends on facebook who share my love of the pumpkin so my status updates have not been in vain. So, here's to the pumpkin and the wonderful season we call Fall.

Summer of 2009 - Soundtrack

So, last summer my really good friend (whom I don't name on the blog) and I sat down and created a Summer of 2008 mixed CD. Again, all music was legally purchased from iTunes or Amazong or Target. Well, this summer she is gone but I love that CD so much I wanted to create one for this Summer. However, there is just one problem. I have listened to very little new music this year. I am a creature of habit and fell in love with a couple of CDs last year plus our amazing Summer of 2008 mix and so I am stuck. This, folks, is what I have to contribute to a Summer's worth of listening:

1. Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus

2. Use Somebody - Kings of Leon

3. Battlefield - Jordin Sparks

4. Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas

5. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

6. I Do Not Hook Up - Kelly Clarkson

7. If It Kills Me - Jason Mraz

Seriously. Now if this were for just me, I'd probably throw in some Zac Brown Band or Sugarland, but I plan on this being what she and I would have made had she been here. And she was the one who listened to the music. So without her, I don't listen to new music. In all fairness, I drive 10 minutes to work (it would take only 5 but there are stinking red lights ever .2 miles) so I listen to talk to work (because they never play music.) Then when I am at work I listen to my trusty Pandora stations (and if you aren't using Pandora shame on you!) So, it will be a sad little soundtrack for this Summer. Maybe I'll try harder next year.

There's a Party in the USA

Ok, I'll admit, "The Climb" got on my last nerve. Her voice just did not work for me on that song. Plus I felt that song should have been given to the next winner of American Idol, not because I watch that show (because I don't for the most part) but last season's song was so horrile they need some redemption.

However, I love Miley's new song "Party in the USA." It is so cute and catchy. Love it. It is definitely going on my "Summer Soundtrack - 2009" mixed CD that I will be putting together hopefully tonight (with all music being purchased legally from iTunes or Amazon, of course.)

Blah Blah, Blah Blah, Blah Blah

Yeah, that's how I feel. Life has just been crazy. Work is insane, I have not had a vacation (more than 2 days off with NO work email or work phone in 15 months, and I am about to snap. Thankfully I do have some time off coming up. Praise the Lord!

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Julie & Julia --- if you have not seen this movie yet, shame on you. Seriously it is so good I considered seeing it twice at the theater. But I can't bring myself to part with another $9.50 of my hard earned money. However, the day it is available on DVD I will be buying it. I had heard the book used loads of foul language (the author even admits this in interviews) but the movie was delightful. Probably because it is a combination of two books (blog book and Julia Child's memoirs of living in Paris) rather than just the book based on the blog.

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Matt Nathanson --- currently the love of my musical life. I will be incorporating this love into my upcoming vacation. If I remember my camera, there will be pictures.

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I went camping Labor Day weekend. I took zero pictures. This is why I am not married nor have kids. I could not keep them properly documented. However, it was delightful to spend time with my family, both immediate and extended.

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I have a new obsession with homemade ice cream. I made some double chocolate last night that would rival any chocolate you could get at Marble Slab or Cold Stone. Delish. And oh-so-very rich. However, I still love Rita's Italian Ice. That is an obsession I shall not get over quickly.

The Blue Enchantress

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Blue Enchantress
Barbour Books (August 1, 2009)
by
M.L.Tyndall
ABOUT THE BOOK

Betrayed by the man she longed to marry, Hope Westcott is about to be auctioned off as a slave to the highest bidder on an island in the Caribbean . After enduring a difficult childhood in an unloving home, Hope?s search for love and self-worth have led her down a very dangerous path. All she ever wanted was to find true love and open an orphanage where she could raise children with all the love she never experienced as a child.? But how can a woman with a sordid past ever hope to run an orphanage, let alone attract the love of an honorable man?

Determined to overcome the shame of his mother?s past, Nathaniel Mason worked for many years to build his own fleet of merchant ships in an effort to finally acquire the respect of Charles Towne society. Ignoring the call of God on his life to become a preacher, he forges ahead with his plans for success at a distant port in the Caribbean , when he sees a young lady he knows from Charles Towne being sold as a slave. In an effort to save Hope, he is forced to sell one of his two ships, only to discover that her predicament was caused by her own bad behavior. Angry and determined to rid himself of her as soon as possible, Nathaniel embarks on a journey that will change the course of his life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Blue Enchantress, go HERE

If you would like to purchase the second book in the Charles Towne Belles series, please click here.

Monday, September 21

This date may mean nothing to you, but to me it signals the return of my favorite comedy: How I Met Your Mother. Maybe it is because they are my age. Maybe it is because they are searching for their dream job, mate, life. Maybe because I fell in love with Neil Patrick Harris when he was Doogie Howser and I have not gotten over that crush. Or maybe it is the classic one-lines, story lines, and general camaraderie of the 5 characters on this show. But I love it. I decided it was the series I would buy on DVD in its entirety. So far I have bought Season 3 and plan on adding seasons 1 and 2 hopefully by the end of the week. Which means if you plan on being near me this weekend, you better have comfy clothes and popcorn because I sense a marathon being shown on the big screen in my living room.

To Sum it All Up

The ever fabulous Amy Beth posted this on Facebook today:

"Distance is not for the fearful; it's for the bold. It's for those who are willing to spend a lot of timealone in exchange for a little time with the one they love. It's for knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don't see it nearly enough." | Oprah Winfrey

This so sums up my life lately. This quote was perfect for me to read today. I so cherish the time I have with my friends and family these days. My best friend from forever and her family are staying on a nearby island this week. Her brother-in-law could not understand why I would drive 45 minutes one way to see them. This is why. I love this friend so much and cherish the times I do get to see her. And I know the distance will return on Saturday. And it will be there for a while before our paths cross again. But last night and tonight. I will cherish those for what they are. Quality time with someone I care deeply for. And appreciating it while it is here.

The ABC's of Me

I totally stole this off the ever-so-fabulous Amy Beth's blog. If you don't read her blog I suggest you check it out. She just took a trip to Eg*pt and moved into a fabulous new house which has an uber-cool sink. Oh, and she has great hair.

A is for Age… 30 and flirty (or not)

B is for Bed… mine has clean sheets...love them!

C is for Chore… hate them, but I like folding towels, and vacuuming

D is for Dog… that should be plural: dogs. Murphy (spitz) and Trudie Faye (Schnauzer)

E is for Essential… Chick-Fil-A Chicken Biscuits

F is for Favorite… food...I love to eat. So food is my favorite (and food starts with F which makes it perfect for this line)

G is for Gold… please

H is for Height… 5'3" or so. Totally jealous ABB is 5'5" because that is my desired height.

I is for Instrument… the maintenance required light is lit on my car's instrument panel. Must get oil changed

J is for Job… I work a lot. But I'm employed. Thank you, Jesus!

K is for Kids… Doodlebug and I had some good quality time together this week

L is for Living… well, I'm not dead

M is for Mustard… yuck

N is for Nickname… no thank you. My mama named me Carrie for a reason.

O is for Overnight… I slept amazing considering there was a 6 year-old and two dogs in my bed with me

P is for Pasta… with cheese sauce please

Q is for Quote… "Bravery comes when you know the risks might happen, and you still go on with life." (*** Quote from "True Courage" by Dee Henderson)

R is for Right… handed

S is for Sibling… she just left after visiting for a week.

T is for Time… who cares because it is Saturday

U is for Under… wear...you should always wear clean underwear because your mama said so

V is for Vegetable… yes...especially right now because they are all fresh and delicious (except for lima beans)

W is for Watermelon… growing in my daddy's garden...can't wait until they are big enough to eat.

X is for X-Ray… I've had them. They are overrated.

Y is for Yummy… Good food shared with good friends or family. Always the best.

Z is for Zoo… There's a mini one at Charles Towne Landing. It's Doodlebug's favorite thing to do here.

Fave Friday Five - K'town Dining

If you read my blog ever you know that I am a HUGE fan of dining in Charleston. The cuisine is some of the finest in the South (in my oh-so-very-humble opinion.) You can get some great local cuisine served in such a style you think you're eating at a 5 star restaurant with 3 star prices (in most cases.) However, it has also come to my attention there are restaurants in Knoxville which I cannot eat at in Charleston. So, in no particular order, here are my five favorite (and most missed) Knoxville restaurants.

1. Trios Cafe - 2 words: Blueberry Balsamic. Also candied walnuts. Truly the world's best salad dressing and served only at Trio (that I have found.) Also, from a girl who would eat steak or sushi every night of my life the fact that I order a salad with not meat on it here says something. They put all the ingredients in a bowl and toss them with the dressing so every bite is perfect.

2. Krystal - Yes, I know this is a chain. Yes, I know they are gut bombs. Yes, I miss them. I traveled to Dallas in February and flew back into Charleston at 11:30 PM. Yes, that is 1.5 hours past my bedtime and I had been up for most of 40+ hours at this point. Anywho, after I deplaned, got my luggage, I was about to chew my leg off starving. And I wanted a Krystal burger (or two.) And this is when I realized that I live in a city of 5 star restaurants with 3 star prices that do not offer small, square burgers 24 hours a day. Depression set in and I seriously considered driving to Savannah, GA, or Myrtle Beach (yuck), SC, the following weekend just to eat a small, square burger. But alas, I am cheap (sometimes) and did not want to waste my Saturday nor my gas in search of a small, square burger.

3. Calhoun's - I do not like most bar-b-que. But I love Calhoun's. Steak Calhoun is a nice sized steak grilled with bar-b-que sauce and is simply divine. Throw in some spinach maria, some cinnamon apples, or steamed broccoli and you have one happy person. Or their char-grilled shrimp over rice pilaf. So good. Dear, S.S. Scotts, next time I am in town we may need to forgo our normal dining options and go here.

4. Chesapeake's - This was a favorite for a nice alternative at lunch. I must admit I never ate here past noon, but what I was served at lunch never failed me. I tried as many unique, fresh fish dining at Chesapeake's as I have had in Charleston. Their lobster bisque paired with a side Ceasar salad was also the perfect lunch during the cooler Winter days in downtown K-town.

5. Downtown Brewery - Man, oh, man. They have some of the best pork chops I have ever eaten at a restaruant. Paired with their mashed potatoes and cinnamon apples and it was divine. If you do not know how perfect pork is paired with cooked apples, then you need to remedy this quickly. Also, at lunch you could get a half order of chicken nachos and they would happily leave off the items you did not want and the cheese was perfectly melted across the top. You cannot go wrong with anything at this place. It's a definite winnter.

So, there you go. The 5 places I miss the most. Please note I did not include Litton's burgers because frankly I was not impressed. Nor did I include the Italian place in Alcoa that everyone loves (Little Italy maybe?) because again, not impressed. I could have easily made this a top 10 though and added in Wasabi's, Connor's, Puleo's, Copper Cellar (where you can get a good burger), and Silver Spoon (another chain, but again, not in Charleston.) Possibly next Friday will be these 5 and I'll call it Fave Friday Five - Outside the Lunch Routine Knoxville Dining.

I'm Pretty Sure It's Not Healthy if You Eat the Whole Bag

I did not eat a whole bag of Pirate's Botty Aged White Cheddar Puffs in 24 hours. No, I did not. I had help. But still the bag is now empty. Truly sad since I have to drive all the way to Whole Foods to buy more. And that is all the way on the other side of the bridge. It's kinda like having to drive past Papermill in Knoxville to buy something. Completely unacceptable.

My Bucket List

People often talk about the things they want to do before they die. Me, not so much. My list is probably very small because I honestly just like to be around the ones I love. However, it has come to my attention lately that there are two things I really want to do. I will do them even if I have to do them by myself. However, I hope I can find a friend kindred spririt to go along for the adventure.

1) Boston Pops 4th of July - This is the part of my blog where you learn I am nothing if not a big, huge dork. I have been known to skip other 4th of July firework events to stay home and watch this. The coverage was better before CBS took it over, but I still watch it. This year via DVR, but it was still watched. This should happen for many years so I have quite the window of opportunity to make it to Boston to see it.

2) Space Shuttle Launch - I'm not sure if it started in the 1st grade when we all watched the Challenger launch and subsequently explode or if it was in 3rd grade when my excellerated class studied space and I learned "My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickels" to keep the order of the planets in my mind or if it was the trips in both 3rd and 5th grade to Huntsville, AL, to the Space and Rocket Center that started my fascination with space. But the fascination is there. I even went to Kennedy Space Center by myself prior to a Disney vacation because I wasa in Florida and I love it. I missed the shuttle launch by mere days that trip. However, the shuttle program is in all probability coming to a close in 2010. So my timeline for getting to Kennedy (or at least near Kennedy) to see this happen is very short. So to my boss (wherever I may be working at that time) please keep my calendar open and be flexible because my goal is to be at one of the few shuttle launches left. It may mean I have to work remotely for a couple of weeks because the weather can change these things up a bit, but I really want to try and accomplish this goal.

So there you have it. My life list. Don't be jealous.

P.S. Yes, I know the powers that be now say that Pluto is not a planet but saying "My very eager mother just served us nine" is weird. So there.

Fave Friday Five - Chick Flicks

Today let's talk about the 5 chick flicks I could (and do) watch over and over and over. It's sad, actually, but I do love these movies. In no particular order here we go.

1. The Wedding Date - I believe I have seen this movie at least 150 times... ok, it's more than that because I can quote most of it. My favorite scene is when they get to the home they'll be staying at for her sister's wedding. They are shown their room, jump on the "big bed" and the following conversation takes place:

Kat Ellis: You know what pisses me off? I've been spilling my guts all weekend and I don't know a thing about you.
Nick Mercer: [pause] I'm allergic to fabric softener. I majored in comparative literature at Brown. I hate anchovies. And I think I'd miss you even if we never met.

That last line gets me every single time.

2. Sweet Home Alabama - Perhaps Reese Witherspoon's finest work outside of the Legally Blonde franchise. Throw in some Josh Lucas and Ethan Embry (who I fell in love with when he played opposite Reese in A Far Off Place) and you have the makings of a great movie. With classic lines such as "You have a baby. In a bar." and "What do you want to be married to me for anyhow?" "So I can kiss you anytime I want." it continually entertains me. Especially when Melanie's dad says "Praise the Lord! The South has risen again."

3. 27 Dresses - Perhaps I love this movie because I could have a closet like hers full of dresses. The only problem is that I could not fit in 97% of them anymore so I got rid of them. I have worn the Gone With the Wind style dress in a wedding. Thankfully the Beverly Hills Wedding and underwater weddings have never been an issue. Two weddings, one day, one couple, two states...yes, I could write the book on that. But I digress. I think the dynamic of Jane and how she is infatuated with her boss is a scenario I have seen played out with my friends over and over again. And yet there is the perfect guy waiting in the background just waiting for them to notice him. When Jane is registering Tess for items and finds out why Kevin has such a sour taste for weddings, I could totally see myself pulling the line "Wanna go find the ugliest stuff in the store and register Tess for it?" with a friend and not feeling guilty about it. I also love the scene where they dance to Bennie and the Jets because again, I could see it in my own life.

4. The Notebook - It's only fair this movie get a spot on my list as I have not only seen the movie a few dozen times, but I also read the book. Over and over and over again. I rememer my mom telling me if I were to read the book I needed to make sure I could finish it the day I started it. Once again, Mama knows best. I believe I read it while we walked to dinner (roommate guided me like a good roommate would) and into the night. I then read it outloud to her that weekend while she cooked our dinner and did all our laundry. The movie stayed fairly close to the book and did not disappoint.

Best monologue goes to Noah's character: I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've lead a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived. I've loved another with all my heart and soul and to me this has always been enough.

5. The Holiday - Iris's monologue to open this movie touches me in places I don't write about on this blog or talk about with my friends. But as she talks about her desire to be loved by another earthly being I can't help but think of my own life at different stages.

I've found almost everything ever written about love to be true. Shakespeare said "Journeys end in lovers meeting." What an extraordinary thought. Personally, I have not experienced anything remotely close to that, but I am more than willing to believe Shakespeare had. I suppose I think about love more than anyone really should. I am constantly amazed by its sheer power to alter and define our lives. It was Shakespeare who also said "love is blind". Now that is something I know to be true. For some quite inexplicably, love fades; for others love is simply lost. But then of course love can also be found, even if just for the night. And then, there's another kind of love: the cruelest kind. The one that almost kills its victims. Its called unrequited love. Of that I am an expert. Most love stories are about people who fall in love with each other. But what about the rest of us? What about our stories, those of us who fall in love alone? We are the victims of the one sided affair. We are the cursed of the loved ones. We are the unloved ones, the walking wounded. The handicapped without the advantage of a great parking space! Yes, you are looking at one such individual.

But then her adventure begins, my dislike for Jack Black is turned into like, I fall in love with Jude Law's charm as a single father, and want to walk away from it all like Cameron Diaz's character. The charm of the English countryside along with the relationship Iris strikes with Arthur are all so magically and draw me in each and every time.

So, there you go. A really long post but I have seen each of these movies more times than I care to admit. I own them all on DVD and will watch them on TV (including tolerating the commercials) just because I love them. And they take me away to another world where people say funny things, survive crazy life events, and fall in love with their own version of the boy next door. It's the modern day fairytale. Glass slipper excluded.

** All quotes and links provided by www.imdb.com ***

And Now We Discuss My Diverse Tastes

$3.88 makes me happy 2 - 3 mornings a week (yes, I know that is obsessive, but work with me here.)

$3.88 will buy me this: 1 Chicken Biscuit + 1 large Coke

I can also up the price to $4.42 and get a side of cheese grits. Yes, that's right, I can get cheese grits at my local Chick-Fil-A.

Then I come to work and I see this in my inbox:

Dear Restoration Hardware, why must you tempt me with chandeliers that are $2500 dollars. So not in my $3.88 budget. And it would look so perfect in my dream cabin in the mountains. But for $2500 I could put in that hot tub I would much rather have.

Note: There is no dream cabin yet. But there will be. You can count on that.

Because I Needed to Read this Today...

...and maybe you do too.

Oh, Yes, Jesus Loves Me

My Answer is Yes

This was the quick poll on CNN this afternoon. Based on my experience I am voting yes.

Wordless Wednesday - Mother of the Bride

(Arynda's mother and I at the rehearsal.)

Wordless Wednesday - And the Bridesmaid Wore the Veil

Wordy Wednesday - They Said "I Do"

On Friday night, June 19, shortly after 7:oo PM local time, my best guy friend married his best girl. He came into my life at a time when I had been burned by guy friends. I did not want much to do with him outside of group settings, but he persisted and has come to have a special place in my life. Shortly after I moved to the low country he met the girl he would make his bride. I have grown to love her more and more each time I speak to her. They now like to tease each other that she stole me from him, but truthfully, I love them both the same. To the Mrs., thank you for letting me spend your special day with you. I can't imagine anywhere I would have rather been than by your side all day. I am thankful to have you in my life. It has been a blessing to get to know you and you are perfect for my BGF. To the Mr., I look forward to many more text messages from you wanting to know when we get BGF time. I have more happy memories involving you from the last 2.5 years than I can recall. You have truly made even some of the most awkward moments enjoyable and memorable. And to the both of you, you will have an amazing future together. I can't wait to see where God takes your relationship and how He blesses you. It will not be all sunshine and roses, but I know that you have your focus on the One who will get you through it all. All my love to you both!

*** If you can't tell, this picture was taken shortly before midnight as I dropped them off on their way to their honeymoon. I also provided a short-notice limo service which Amy and I kept a secret all day. For more pictures, click here: MHM Photography Meredith and crew got some great shots all day!

Fave Friday Five - Home Interior Websites

Truly I need to be a much wealthier person to afford decorating the inside of my house upon reviewing this list. It also probably explains why my dining room contains two dog kennels and boxes full of my office supplies because my tastes far exceed my income and I would rather save for what I want them spend my money on something I don't want. Anywho, I digress. In no particular order here are 5 of my favorite websites to shop from drool over.

1. Restoration Hardware

I fell in love with Restoration Hardware when I was in college. At that time they sold my dream headboard. Flash forward to 2009 and they no longer carry that headboard but they do a have a presence in my current house. I love the seersucker shower curtain in my guest bath and am thankful they offered one when it was exactly what I was looking for.

2. Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn never lets me down when it comes to items I would love for my bedroom, dining room, or living room. Their style always matches mine and thanks to the outlet in Georgia I scored the roman shades I wanted: 2 for less than the prices of 1. I also am a big fan of their towels because they hold their shape and have a great texture.

3. Ballard Designs

Once I've spent a small fortune fake buying all the furniture from the above two companies, Ballard would be my go to for decorating. Their art work and space organizers are always the best. I did splurge on some fabric before Christmas which I hope to have made into a skirt for an endtable in my living room and some additional throw pillows. I like that you can get fabric samples from them and that they offer a wide range of furniture which can be upholstered.

4. Brookstone

I am a gadget girl. Another reason I have no furniture: I'd rather spend my money on gadgets. So, if I had the money my house would definitely have some of the nice gadges from this catalog. I do have a nice hammock (actually two..oops) from this company. After much research their hammock package could not be beat. However, I need to return that second hammock so I can get my hammock cover. Oh, and their customer service was exceptional. (Oh, and I know a hammock is not interior decorations, but it currently resides on my living room floor because I don't want to leave it outside to get wet.)

5. Frontgate

Frontgate has great furniture and home interior gadgets. I have bought a few pieces from their outlet. including a great cookie jar that looked like Frozen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 3. It came with the mix to make the frozen hot chocolate and was cheaper than me buying the hot chocolate mix from the Serendipity 3 website. I was able to give the cookie jar as the tackiest gift at a white elephant exchange at Christmas. Awesome. I also have a great mini-blender from there that is similar to the Magic Bullet but much better.

So there you go. 5 websites I could easily spend my whole paycheck at monthly for a year and still be drooling over more items. Now if only you could win the lottery without playing it I might be set. I guess I will just continue to drool and save.

Maybe Baby Isn't Going to Cut It

Dear Facebook,

I have a love/hate relationship with you. It's nice that you keep me in touch with my friends from near and far, young and old, but you always like to change. However, I don't want to dwell on that now. Today I'd like to focus on your "Event" feature. I created an event because some friends wanted to have a cookout monthly. The idea is that the meat would be provided (burgers and hot dogs) and then everyone else would bring sides, desserts, and drinks. So, the event was created. However, dear Facebook, you allow people to say "Maybe" when they RSVP. Well, it's going to be a rude awakening to those who said "maybe" when they show up at my par-tay and I "maybe" don't have enough food to feed them. Nothing like fair-weather party people who say "maybe" so they can figure out if a better offer will come their way. So, I'd like to recommend that Facebook make people either commit to a yes/no for RSVPing. If you're a maybe, commit to yes and write on the wall. Then change your RSVP when you know for sure. That way you will get fed. If not, then "maybe" you will be out of luck.

Your friend (maybe,)

RandomCarrie

Disclaimer

It has come to light in the last few months that a couple of blogs in this lovely blogosphere have been identified as fake. While I will not dwell on this as it is a tragedy, I can promise that everything you read here at RandomCarrie is truly how boring my life is. If I ever make something up I will put a disclaimer on the posting that I am truly one of the most sarcastic people you will ever come across (especially if you know me in real life) and you should not believe a word of what I am writing. I am also pretty truthful and "shoot from the hip" as some would say when it comes to discussing items. I do not sugar coat them nor do I feel the need to be anyone other than who I am. So, if you would like to continue to be entertained with random stories of my life (3 weddings and a camping trip starts next week!) then I suggest you continue to return. If not, then there is really no loss to you as my life is ordinarily boring.

Oh, and I also realize I am a slacker blogger and was supposed to be doing a Fab Friday post each week and forgot. Last Friday is just better left forgotten. Well, except for the amazing meal I had at the Old Village Post House in Mt. Pleasant. If someone will please tell me how to make the wonderful lemon-honey grits that my orange-ginger glazed salmon rested up, I may promise to love you forever and ever. Well, or at least until I need another recipe for something else. Then I'll have to love another. I'm fickle that way.

Work Week Redo

As someone who lives 15 minutes from 3 different beaches I would like to protest the Monday - Friday work week.

According to the clip above from the weather channel, it is going to rain Friday and Saturday. Yes, I work Friday, but Friday after work it is nice to go eat on the coast and sit OUTSIDE! That is not possible when it is raining. And Saturday: my yard needs help. My garage needs to be cleaned. Both of those require me being to be out in the open. (Stuff from the garage needs to sit outside of the garage while it is cleaned/organized.) And Sunday? After church it is beach time. Seriously. So I am proposing that I start working a Friday - Tuesday work week and taking Wednesday and Thursday off. Now I realize that in the above graphic there is an 80% chance of rain on Thursday. I'd like to clarify that it is a 100% chance because my straight hair is now curly. However, my job requires that I be at work on Tuesday in order for people to get paid. So, I'll take one pretty day (yesterday was GORGEOUS) and one rainy day to get errands done. So, in the next election I am voting for the president who either grans 4 day work weeks or grants the new and improved Friday - Tuesday work week.

And Update on my Obsession

Thank you, Vera Bradley Email Message, for reminding me I am obsessed with this pattern. And yes, I added the two items circled above to my collection (along with the laptop case, not pictured.) I must take a break for a few weeks though because my wallet has to spend money on the 3 weddings and a camping trip excursion coming up quickly on my social calendar. And those, my blog readers, are some posts you should be looking forward to. Just a hint: 3 weddings, only 2 couples. It's gonna be fun!

Fave Friday Five - TV Shows I'm Missing

If you stopped by the blog this week you saw me mention that I wanted to start something new this Friday. I'm not sure how long I can keep this up, but I thought it would be something do for a few weeks. On Fridays I'm goign to pick a category and give you 5 things that fit into it. No order necessarily, just five items on Friday. I'm going to start out this week with 5 TV shows I am missing now that EVERYTHING I watch is in summer hiatus.

1. Gossip Girl -- Let me tell you how happy this season made me. Well, at least the storyline with Blair and Chuck. The first episode of the season Blair tried to get Chuck to say "3 little words." All season we watched them battle back and forth and the season ended in the greatest way. I know this means that next sesaon will be all kinds of difficult, but I'm pulling for those two like I pulled for Joey and Pacey all those years ago.

2. NCIS -- My love for this show could be summed up in one word: Jethro. However, I'll give you more. The chemistry the actors on this show have with one another and the storylines keep me coming back week after week. From the quirkiness of Abby and Duckey to the underlying chemistry between Tony and Ziva this show is constantly putting more mystery in the storyline while keeping the interest level high.

3. Ugly Betty -- I love this show. I love that although they are making fun of the ugly duckling, that the character perseveres and does not let the rude comments get her down. Throw in the humor of Mark and Amanda, and the neverending adventures of Daniel and the scheming of Wilhelmina and it never gets dull.

4. How I Met Your Mother -- This show has some of the greatest one liners. Some of the funniest episodes of this show include the time Lily moved into Barney's apartment, the introduction of Robin Sparkles, and the episode where Ted tricked Barney and Marshall into thinking he had a crush on one of them. I look forward to when we find out exactly who the mother is, but in the interim it is fun to watch the group live and love in NYC.

5. LOST -- Only one season left. And honestly I think that is the only reason I miss it. I feel like I have invested too much of my life into this show to quit it, so I miss it because I want the next season to get here so it can be over. I know that sounds lame, but I'm team Sawyer and the time travel gets on my last nerve.

So, there you go. I can't promise the list will always be this long, but I'm going to try it for a few weeks. Have a great (and safe) weekend!

I <3 Fresh Veggies

One of the coolest things that I have had the opportunity to participate in since moving to my cool little community is a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) share with my neighbors. They actually signed up and were looking for someone to split the weekly vegetable box with them as it is a lot of food for 2 people. I was happy to have the opportunity. So for around $14 a week I get almost 1/2 a bushel of fresh, local vegetables. I'll admit some of the green, leafy vegetables are not my favorite but check out what I got this week:

I have already eaten each of these from earlier boxes and look forward to eating the newest delivery. I will pickle the beets, peel the carrots (yummy on their own or with hummus) and the squash will be grilled, fried, or sauteed. It is such a great feeling to be able to eat food that is good for me while supporting a local farm in their quest to provide fresh vegetables to the community. Especially since my dad's garden is 5 hours away and my sweet potatoes will not be ready for a couple of more months. (A big shoutout here to my dad who only planted the sweet potatoes because I like them. He loves me!) But until then, I am enjoying the early growing season the Charleston allows and the wonderfulness of the food I am eating.

Works for Me Wednesday

I have no idea where I'm supposed to put the link to this post. And unfortunately my internet is acting up (stupid local cable provider) so I cannot search for it. But I want to share with you one of the greatest time savers ever:

Seriously, if you are not using Magic Erasers to clean in your home, well, then shame. on. you. In my newest house I have a glass shower door and as someone who is anti-housework I did not know how I would ever keep it clean. But alas, I am smarter than the average not-so-smart person and came up with an idea. I keep a Magic Eraser in my shower. That way I can just wipe down the shower walls and the glass while I am in the shower and it keeps the soap scum at bay. Such a time saver to clean the shower while you are in it. Brilliant, I know.

Market Totes

One thing this blogosphere has provided to me is a friendship (if I may call it that) with Kerri of Living with a Labradoodle. I'm pretty sure the reason I read her blog the first time is because I wanted a Labradoodle, but I kept coming back because she reminded me so much of myself. It's almost eerie sometimes how similar we are, though I know we also have our differences. Recently I checked out Kerri's other website Designed by Kerri. I had been wanting a market basket and was excited when I found out she sold them as well as monogramming them! My roomie had a birthday and I needed an upcoming wedding gift. SOLD! I also ordered one for me. As soon as I get the energy to dig out the camera I'll take a picture for all 2 readers. I can't wait to use mine and know that it will come in so handy for so many different uses. And I can't wait to put the wedding gift together and show you what it is. The bride/groom don't read my blog (because that would increase the readers to 4) so I can show you the gift before I go home for the wedding in a few weeks.

Oh, and I have a new idea for Fridays so come back then for something I hope to try for the next several weeks.

Hope Garden

I have never been huge on name brands and material things.  However, I am willing to pay full price for an outfit in a name brand store because to me time is money and if I can buy the outfit and be done in 10 minutes it is more cost effective to me than spending 4 hours looking for that great dress that is 60-80% off on the sale rack.  With those 4 hours I could read a book, lay in my  hammock, read a book laying in my hammock, or go to the beach.  That said, I have a new addiction to something that costs money.  It's the new Hope Garden collection from Vera Bradley.  Up until 3 years ago I had never even owned a Vera Bradley purse because I didn't see the point in spending that much money on something I would rarely carry.  However, I splurged on a purse in this pattern before Shanle's wedding because I loved the pattern and it matched our bridesmaid dresses.  And matching just seemed like a good idea.  That was 3 years ago.  That bag and I have been through a lot together.  A couple of months ago I decided I needed a new purse and stumbled across this one:

And that leads me to my new obsession.  I want everything in this pattern.  Ok, not everything because I really don't need 14 different purses.  However, I would like to have some more pieces of this collection.  So, don't be surprised in the next few weeks if you see me sporting some additional items in the lovely Hope Garden pattern.  It's my new obsession. 

Today's Thoughts Brought to You By Leslie

Leslie said it so much more eloquently than I ever could.  Click here.

Not All Habits Are Bad Habits

The below email just went out to this friend:

And then tonight I went with my mother and niece to the grocery store.  As has become my obsession I went down the toothpaste aisle expecting to once again be disappointed as some stores do not even carry Kiss Me Mint in the old fashioned tubes.  I have this fear the flavor has become discontinued.  But I digress.  Back to the grocery store.  I went down the aisle and low and behold they had the flavor.  And they had the GOOD STAND UP BOTTLES!  Not one, not two, not three, but SIX.  So I said "[Doodlebug], get over here and hold these."  I handed her three.  I then grabbed the other three.  She said "Carrie, you're buying them all."  "Yes, [Doodlebug], I am."  So I proceeded to the self-checkout so as to preserve some of my dignity and not let the cashier think I had a dental problem or was serving toothpaste pie for dessert tonight.  So I can gradually mail them to you over the next two years or until they run out.  However, do not think I will be stopping  my toothpaste obsession just because I hit what I consider the motherload of Kiss Me Mint toothpaste.  I will keep fighting the good fight and buying it all up as I find it.