Anniversary

Mr. Bella went all out for our anniversary! We had such a wonderful night. It started when I arrived home yesterday afternoon and this was waiting for me on the table:

Aren't they beautiful? There are more than two dozen in there! They are so gorgeous and arranged all pretty in a gorgeous crystal vase. Isn't he fantastic?

And because I've always thought these pictures were beautiful I put my rings in there. But obviously my camera is not fancy enough to make it look pretty.

We went to dinner at a swanky, local owned bistro, Rutabega. It's an owner/chef place where the menu changes seasonally. We dined there several times when the same chef owned a restaurant named for him and it was fantastic. He changed the menu nearly nightly then. One of the fabulous things about the bistro is that he uses local and organic grown food and local free range meat whenever possible. He buys from farms rather than food services otherwise.

I want a job just so I can eat there twice per month rather than just special occassions.

Rutabega is a bring your own place so for a $5 cork fee we enjoyed a big boy bottle of wine. By we I mean I had a few and offered to drive home while Mr. Bella kept enjoying. Another great thing about this place is that you don't feel rushed as you do in more commercial places. We enjoyed several glasses of wine long after we'd finished dining.

On to the food:

We started with crispy home made potato chips and a wild muchroom fondue. Mmmm!

While we waited for our food the chef sent a little treat: cheddar biscuits with a strawberry rhubarb jam and jicama slaw.

Mmmm! Mmmm!

I had a roast leg of lamb with blue cheese potato hash and spring pesto. It was superb! One of my favorite dishes from Chef has always been the lamb and I don't really eat lamb all that often and it's a real treat!

Mr. Bella had an 18oz (!!!) bone in ribeye with a three cheese potato bed and asparagus.....which I helped him eat. I loooooooooooove asparagus. It too was superb.

My meager description don't do justice for how scrumptious the food was.

We were too full for dessert and thought we may go by one of our favorite cheesecake places and get an entire cheesecake to share with BB. However we were full and after drinking more wine it was late so we've decided we'll grab that and continue the celebration this weekend.

Mr. Bella also wrote me a very sweet note on his personalized stationary. Apparently he didn't plan ahead enough for a card. We actually usually make each others cards. I'd much rather have his personal and meaningful note than a card. I kinda cheated, I bought a card AND made a card.

Our evening was so nice. It was so laid back and relaxing and we were able to really enjoy each others company and talk. We talked about how we felt at our wedding, how far we've came, where we're going, and what kind of exciting things our future holds. My love language is quality time and he was definately speaking to me.

As for gifts we decided that his goodies from our recent PB trip (the charging station and watch box) would be his leather gifts and mine is a new bible. We've also decided to have an antique chair covered in leather. It may be a while to pick and choose all the particulars and have that done. I briefly considered that we may do it ourselves, but aye aye aye....I'm not sure.

Lastly...I think we've decided to go for sperry's too. I tried a pair and they felt like pure buttah! So by lumping them into the anniversary gift category....it somehow makes them ok.

But really, the real gift was the treat of spending the evening with Mr. Bella. And every evening for the rest of my life!

Three Years Ago

This time three years ago I was getting my hair and make-up done and then on to see my groom.

This time three years ago I had butterflies of seeing him for the first time and having him see me in my dress and veil.

This time three years ago I gave my heart and soul to my best friend.

This time three years ago I became a Mrs.

This time three years ago I knew I'd never walk alone again.

This time three years ago I was looking forward to forever.

I still am.

Weekend Trip

I went to visit my friend Holly this weekend. She's the gal who moved way too far away nearly a year ago with her adorable kids (Max, Lily, Macy, Eliza) that I love to bits. They live in the most fantastic neighborhood I've ever seen and I'd move in an instant to be there. We're talking planned shopping centers, markets, businesses, schools, and churches. There's also a stocked pont with peirs and docks and lots of geese, turtles, frogs, etc. to delight the children (errr, and me!). Furthmore there are two neighborhood pools, one with two slides and one with lazy river---BOTH with bars. Oh wait there's more: it also has coded biking and hiking trails and a handful of playgrounds.

Love it!

This fancy pants neighborhood had a neighborhood wide garage sale.

Yippieeeeeee! I love a good sale. You can read about my bargains soon at The Bargainista.

Holly and I got up early to hit the road for sales. Then returned to set up her sale. I sat out on foot with Max and Lily and then later by car to hit the other side of the 'hood. Then we went to the park, the pond, and sonic of course because it was a million degrees and we all had a hankerin' for cherry limeade.

I visited a few of the cute shops, played with the kids, went on walks, and drank wine. Quite a weekend!

I love my little getaways. I'm so thankful to have a husband that allows me jaunt about during my time of no kids and unemployment.

Protocol

So you know when you meet up with a friend and you're all "drinks on me" and they're all "no! drinks on me!" kinda thing?

So you pay for drinks and later you find a $20 shoved in your purse?

What do you do? Send it back? Say thanks? Do you ignore it happened?

What if the person knows you'll refuse cash and so they don't even offer they just hide it in your bag? Do you say thanks? Do you let them know you found it?

I'm not sure what to do with the extra cash in my purse that I'm sure Holly stuffed there this weekend.

What do y'all do?

Bright and Early

I popped out of bed this morning like I'd been shot out of a cannon. I made coffee, sausage, biscuits, waffles and then woke the boys for breakfast and packed breakfast for the road for BB's carpool buddies.

I also made a "snack" for BB. There is some sort of testing today and his lunch has been pushed back until 2:15. He asked if I'd make him a snack because apparently he'll be watching a movie in one class (the testing is for a different grade but everyone's schedule is changed). By snack I was thinking pretzels and strawberries. He was thinking two sandwiches, baked doritos, fruit salad, and a couple or five cookies. Wowza!

While we're on the subject of culinary delights I did a bit of grocery shopping for the boys yesterday as I've just learned I'll be skipping town for the weekend as of Thursday. I wanted to make sure they survived and picked up essentials like pizza, chicken nuggets, curly fries, oreos, pop tarts, and ice cream. I certainly hope they make it.

Now I'm off to do their laundry and make a list of reminders for the weeked such as brush your teeth, wash behind your ears, and let the dog out. Also a weekend schedule because they both have commitments and we know they'll sleep til noon and wonder what day it is if I don't keep them focused.

When did a weekend getaway for myself get to be so much work?

Explanation

Why are there Disney stars on the covers of both Cosmopolitan AND Glamour magazine this month? Seriously, those girls shouldn't even be reading these magazines and why would someone in the target audience of these magazines want to read about these little girls with whom they've nothing in common?

Over-sexualizing our kids much?

Southerness

This is for all you darlin's who were raised in the South, or wish they had been! If you're a Northern transplant, Bless your little heart, fake it.We know you got here as fast as you could. If you're still in the North, well shugah I'm just tryin to provide some insight for y'all! Enjoy!


SOUTHERN WOMEN
Southern women appreciate their natural assets:
Clean skin
A winning smile
That unforgettable Southern drawl
(I often hear comments about my accent and boy do we believe in skin care regimes down here!)

Southern women know their manners:
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yes, sir."
"Why, no, Billy!"
(If you're Reese you add a special word on that last one, now don't you Reese?)

Southern women have a distinct way with fond expressions :
"Y'all come back!"
"Well, bless your heart." (this is how we talk about people, we follow wtih "bless his/her heart" and it's ok!)
"Drop by when you can."
"How's your Momma?"

Southern women know their summer weather report:
Hot & Humid
Hot & Humid
Hot & Humid
(ain't that the truth!)

Southern women know their vacation spots:

The beach
The rivuh
The crick
The mount'uns

Southern women know the joys of June, July, and August:
Colorful high-heeled sandals
Strapless sun dresses
Iced sweet tea with mint
Monogrammed bags and big floppy hats

Southern women know everybody's first name:
Honey
Darlin'
Shugah
Sweethawt

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:
Baptist
Methodist
Presbyterian
Football

Southern women know their country breakfasts:
Red-eye gravy
Grits
Eggs
Country ham
Mouth-watering homemade biscuits with momma's homemade jelly
Mimosas

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern Charm:
Chawl'stn
S'vanah
Foat Wuth
N'awlins
Addlanna
Nazshville

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen:
Men in uniform
Men in tuxedos
Rhett Butler

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Country Club
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:
Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food

Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit , and that you don't "HAVE" them, you"PITCH" them.
(I try to pitch one of each daily....whether I need to or not!)

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, salad greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in: "Going to the market, be back directly."

Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not arequest for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They migh tnot use the term, but they know the concept well.

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad.

If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin!

Only Southerners know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.

Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' whitetrash. (Amen shugah! Amen!)

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.

A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, averb, or an adverb. (I don't use this one regularly but there are plenty who do).

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ....and when we're "in line," we talk to everybody! (Sho' do darlin'!)

Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.

In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin',"you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweetmilk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it-- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say ,"Bless her heart" ... and go your own way. (Unless your Reese. She does not discrimate in who she screams at!)

To those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff, ... bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!

And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could."

Illness

I've been battling the sinus funk for more than a week now. I take so many allergy medicines and shots that I often don't take too much sinus medicine because I think it all must cancel out somewhere. I also get an extended sinus/cold issue when the seasons change. And this time of year in MyTown the weather is a crapshoot so I stay sick for a few weeks. I usually have a shot or two of moonshine at bedtime to supress the cough and help me sleep. I'm not joking y'all. This is the South.

So the point is that I'm sick and I still cook dinner, clean the house, do laundry, walk the dog, play taxi, and run my business.

Mr. Bella comes down with something Saturday night. He's laid up in bed whining and crying for me to knock off some pharmacy because he doesn't give a damn if they're open or not on Easter just get him some drugs with sudafed and do it now because ohmygoshheisdying.

He gets meds, juice, sprite, and four hour naps followed by chicken soup with ample whining and then proceeds to bed.

Now you tell me who the weaker sex is.

The Update

Thursday

• Clean and prepare for bachlorette party at my house
• Fall off of porch and lose half of right shin. Am thankful I caught myself with hands in the mulch rather than face on sidewalk.
• Host party. Drink magaritas to forget the bad dream that is happening in my house. It was truly horrid.

Friday

• Had bad dream....oh wait that was the bachlorette party.
• Run errands
• Spend time with Mr. Bella who has day off of work
• Outlet shop--do major damage at Banana Replublic.
• Visit friends in town who have rented luxury cabin with whirlpool tubs and hottub. Bliss!

Saturday

• Wedding. Oh the wedding.
• Enjoy title as appointed wedding director when I show up. Tell people what to do and when. I am good at this. Bossy is my middle name.
• Freeze booty outside in the cold at wedding.
• Realize there are five Presbyterians at wedding as we all respond "Thanks be to God" after scripture is read.
• Lose count of times Pres minister says "Amen" because it's an "Amen kinda hillside." Am shocked at hearing a Pres shout so many "Amens". Rather enjoy it.
• Become official cake cutter of wedding. I think only half got cake. Oops.
• Plant flowers.
• Pedicure
• Facial

Sunday

• He is risen! He is risen indeed! Enjoy Easter service at church.
• Wear dress THAT I MADE! (wore is yesterday too. making most of the outfit).
• Dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Reese and her family because we are adopted in and visit them more than her (she DOES live six hours away but na na na na boo boo!)
• Mr. Bella catches sinus funk and slowly fades.
• Put him to bed with good drugs.
• Skip town to visit Mr. and Mrs. Bex and Pie and Tart for night.
• Oh the hot tub!
• Color hair

Monday

• Feel like ca-ca.
• Nasty headache
• List entire garage on craigslist....really the whole thing is yours. Make an offer.
• Laundry
• Whittle at mending pile, only three items left!
• Baked spaghetti and brownies.....yum!
• Sweet tea.....yum!
• Going to bed now........

I'm Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick

BB missed school today because he was "siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick". And that means that I was already up and out of the house and Mr. Bella was responsible for getting him to school and is a pushover.

Just sayin'.

He pulls that "I'm siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick" crap on me I tell him to suck it up and have meds!

People on the Oregon Trail only WISH they had such modern days medicine and maybe they wouldn't have been wiped out by dysentery.

Now Starring on HGTV

Yesterday I babysat two adorable little girls (ages four and eight months). I met them and their parents as I arrived at their house.

Ding Dong! "Hey there! I'm here to sit on your kids!".

Kinda like that.

They are friends of a friend and don't really have a sitter because they don't use one. However they needed me yesterday, ALL day. My reputation preceeds on when it comes to childcare so I'd never met the family before other than the father friending me on FB after I agreed to watch the kids. It's a new age we're living in I tell you!

So anyone I was watching the children as the parents filmed an HGTV show.

I KNOW!

About three hours in they staged me "arriving" to watch the children so it would be understandable who I am if I'm in several background shots.

So I get a call from Dave Ramsey, a news story offer, AND I get a (might be if it's not edited) cameo on HG if it's not edited, all in a matter of months.

Kinda cool and unrealistic huh? These things have just started happening to me.

I do fear that if I sing karaoke again anytime soon that someone will cart me off to try out for American Idol. (HA! I kid I kid!)

So follow-up on the news story: I decided not to do it. Truthfully the whole thing sounded a bit "hokey" to me. I was also concerned about how the story would be edited and the commentary that would accompany it. I was in communications and have dealt wiht my share of media. I KNOW what makes a good news story and it's not "girl loses job and enjoys staying at home likes to be crafty and has made it a bit profitable and is lucky shes is afforded this opportunity."

Nada! I feel there will be a poor pitiful soul spin on it and I also don't want my family to be exploited (i.e. the adoption of BB if it comes out that it makes my staying at home easier or my husbands current job, etc.). Also it seems that anyone they can find to be on the news in MyTown comes out of the woodwork. Mullets, missing teeth, nascar shirt, broken down car in the background, etc.

Besides that I'm totally vain and the camera adds 43.6 pounds and makes me sound like a hick with a frog in their throat!

Shorts

I don't particularly care for wearing shorts. I'm more of a skirt and dress gal because I find them to be cooler in the hot deep south heat, more comfortable, and far more attractive. I don't love my legs either. I used to wear shorts and I'm not sure what I was thinking.

That said some days you may be doing activities and don't want to show your hoochie coochie and company to the world. So hence you wear shorts because jeans are too warm.

Capris are an option, but I'm going somewhere with this.

I find shorts horrible unattractive on just about everyone. Athletic shorts with a fitted tee and sneakers can be cute, but shorts and an attractive top as a casual outfit are just horrible to me. I can mostly deal with long walking shorts but those are just a step from capris.

No matter your figure I find khaki, denim, etc shorts for casual day wear to be unattractive on women.

That said I wish I had legs nice enough to wear shorts.

Live on Your Station

(TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY! I KNOW! But read on.....)

Oh good grief!

I have an abundance of acquaintances through my Southern Belle Society. I come in contact with a variety of people all over the city. One such person is a local news field reporter.

She's a friend of a friend, she's been invited to fill-in at bunco and also joined the SBS this year (I think).

NewsGirl emaild me because she's doing a story on people who have lost their jobs and are pursuing their dreams (my shop) and friend of friend told her to contact me. Now she wants me to be the subject of the feature!

UGH! I'd like to pimp my business but being on camera in front of the whole world is YIKES! I left my belle of the ball days behind in college. I talk a big game but I'm camera shy. The thought of doing this terrifies me!

Maybe she should bring me a Blue Moon and meet me at karaoke.

Third Anniversary: Leather

Mr. Bella and I stick to "traditional" anniversary gifts. We're approaching our third anniversary and the gift is "leather."

I'd love a new leather sofa, but we're unwilling to give up our current sofas. You see out den sofas are a great khaki microfiber and we actually bought them new (I KNOW! But rest assured they were "new" in the clearance part of the already clearance warehouse. I don't mess around!).

Our living room sofas are red and I love them. They are from storehouse and I got them from a moving sale. They were barely used and were still on the showroom floor to the tune of $3,000 for the both. I paid only $50 for both and also had an extra set of slipcovers thrown in. I could sale them for more than I paid but no amount of money can beat the good deal. Furthermore in our next home they will be "playroom" sofas with the slipcovers on. Our kids (non conceived kids, don't get your undies in a wad) can wreack havoc, we'll take off the slipcovers, and it's like new sofas!

So a leather sofa is out (unfortunately). Another leather chair and ottoman? That could be nice for the den. But then of course the armoire will have to come to the living room and a flat screen for the den that hangs on the wall and.....well I don't have a job, remember?

We have a large, rectangular, leather ottoman in the den and I like our living room coffee table and don't want to give that up. I thought about trying to reuse it in a room and getting a leather bench ottoman with baskets beneath but nah....didn't work out. Besides I like versatility and two leather coffee table ottomans is a bit much methinks.

Oh I know! Leather cube side tables. The kind with the little tray. That would be cute for the den. The throws could be stored in there, but then we have to move the lamps to get the throws.....etc. Also Mr. Bellas is supposedly refinishing two side tables from his side of the family to put in there. Currently we have spare dining chairs serving as side tables. Classy....I know.

On our recent trip I bought Mr. Bella a leather charging station and watch box to match his valet. So I could get a new purse or wallet. But I'm so thrify on such items finding a clearance leather purse that I won't like in a couple of years is a let down for a big anniversary gift.

I've been looking at fancy schmancy leather jewelery boxes. I'm still pondering it, but the thing is I recently got rid of my large armoire in favor of a hanging jewelery organizer in the closet. I was downsizing bedroom furniture (part of my spring home re-do, more on that later) and also thought if our home ever was broken into, it would be a flashing light of things to take. I've been downsizing tops of furniture too so adding to the tops seems silly. If I had space on a shelf in my closet though....I'd be all over it.

(Oh, I'm also getting rid of a vintage leather jewelery box but it's not quite functional for my needs and I THINK the new one would be better. But I do love old things. See, I'm torn!).

So the last on the list are new his and hers Sperry topsiders. What a splurge! You know I don't pay that much for shoes. Even my current running shoes were cheaper (Nike Shox for $40. AND THEY'RE PINK! AND I GOT PINK POLKA DOT SHOESLACES! WOOT!). But I do liek the Sperry shoes. Hubs loves them. In fact he has a nearly worn out pair of "generic" topsider style shoes.

This would be fun spring/summer item for our wardrobes and they are very versatile. My concern is the trend has gotten so popular I may not love them the way I think I might. Also with the rising trend will they be super old news next year? I can't buy $80 shoes that I won't wear next year. UGH!

Have you ever met someone who likes to make mountains out of mole hills? Hi! I'm Bella!

Any leather suggestions for our third anniversary?

Also, for those playing along after this year the traditional gifts suck! Next year is fruit and flowers. I only want fruit and flowers if they are fresh from the tropical island where we are staying seven nights with a private bungalow overlooking the ocean and a daily schedule massage and morning mimosas (fresh no less).

Then there are things like coral and ivory. So are we supposed to knock off a protected reef and take a safari through Africa and hope for elephant remains? Oh and ten years....it's tin. Guess I'll get Mr. Bella and 24 pack of beer in a tin can. Har Har.

See, total suckage.

Back to dilemma....leather gifts?

Tell me your anniversary traditions.

Channelling my inner Sophia

Last night! On the TV! A Golden Girls Marathon!

Can you believe that?

I put away the laptop and got ready for bed. I aimlessly turned on the telly to the TV Guide channel. You read the correctly. I don't have fancy cable with it's own guide. Basic cable and the TV Guide channel. I really don't even feel I need basic cable. It would be nice if I could get channels a la carte. We'd subscribe to like ten of them. Anyway....

As I was watching the shows scroll up I saw it. By it I mean a contunious line saying "Golden Girls". It was on the Hallmark Channel. Did you know there was such thing as a Hallmark Channel? I thought they only made greeting cards. But alas, my Golden Girls marathon to lull me to a state of calm and sleepiness.

Maybe I'd have to subscribe to eleven channels if Hallmark keeps up the GG marathons.

Don't let me down, Golden Girls

Last night I went to a little girls night birthday dinner party for a friend. She recently took up sewing and now we have a lot in common. It was our usual group of bunco and southern league girls and was so much fun and so refreshing.

How cute are we:

Tonight I took BB on a date, just the two of us. First up was a bit of shopping for him (we found a Ralph Lauren polo shirt, Abercombie shorts, and a Nike Jordan shirt on fantastic deals. Check out The Bargainista soon for more)

Then we went to dinner and rented a movie from RedBox. I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and we got comfy in the den for the movie. I actually sat down and watched a movie. And didn't fall asleep. It was remarkable. At only a buck a pop maybe I'll watch more movies.

Now it's bedtime and night two of no Mr. Bella. Ugh! I'm not good at being alone. Being without him for a few nights makes me ansty of death in our old age. I know what a Debbie Downer moment and all but does anyone else ever think of that? Can you imagine being an empty nester and widow? Ugh! WHY AM I TALKING ABOUT THIS! Note to self: Control mind from wandering to strange places.

Oh if ever there was a time for a Golden Girls marathon on the tube, it's now!

There are guns, and I can probably point and shoot

Mr. Bella is gone through the weekend. He was at the airport this morning and his cruising the friendly skies on a corporate jet. He's in Louisiana "working". But I call bullshit because he took his golf clubs there are three tee times that I know of!

I hate it, HATE IT, when he's gone. I have to be the adult, the big girl, the responsible one. I mean otherwise I'm something else I guess. Most of all I feel vulnerable. As if there is a big flashing sign above my house that says "Hey Ya'll! Damsel in distress home alone with a dog and teenager but they'll be hiding in the closet."

And I don't sleep well. I like him in bed with me. Or knowing that he's coming to bed right behind me since I practically go to bed with the kindergarten set.

I'm off for a glass or three of wine and then some tylenol pm if that doesn't cut it.

Beatrice

I got a new monogramming machine.

IGOTANEWMONOGRAMMINGMACHINE! IGOTANEWMONOGRAMMINGMACHINE!

Oh my she's fancy, she's beautiful, she's lovely.

I've named her Beatrice and I'm thinking of sending engraved announcements.

I love Mr. Bella! He is fantastic for finding Beatrice....Trixie for short!