victory.

today I outgeeked Trey.

booyah.

Momentous!

THIS is a big day for Annie. Her very first album just dropped (nbd...just industry talk).

See?

Go listen. and buy. and love.

love,
kelley

office decor.

in case you don't read backwards, there is now an area up here in the Emma penthouse deemed "the cougar den."

that just happened.

Happy Little Trees

There's a group of us getting together in honor of Bob Ross tonight. His birthday is October 29th and, had he not died in 1995, he would have been turning the big 66.

Which of us can remember a rainy Saturday, in a home without cable, that did not warmly change with the soothing voice of Bob Ross? None. that's who... or was it just the Kirkers?

Chris decided a group needed to gather to commemorate, of course, so we're headed to the Greenhouse for a drink or three. Bob is an onion of layers and, if Wikipedia has anything to say about it, we'll know each of them by night's end.

Here's to you, man who coined, "happy little trees" and taught us it wasn't nearly as nerdy to paint in head-to-toe denim as long as you rock a white man's fro. We've all learned something here today.

ick.

i mean... REALLY?

Obviously, I dodged such a bullet.

Obviously.

purposely poked.

on Saturday I entered a world my mother has long enjoyed... homeopathics.

I tried ACUPUNCTURE!

Now, in the words of my father, yes- I did get holes poked in to my body and payed for it. It wasn't even so much a response to a particular injury or ailment. It was mostly...no.. totally due to the fact that i purchased a "spa package" for insanely cheap and it included some acupuncture. Genius!

So, half an hour of lying on my tummy breathing thru a hole in the cushion with pins strategically placed about ma body left me feeling... drunk. Weird, right? I stood up and almost hit the floor. I felt like I'd either had too much wine or had been sleeping deeply for hours. It was bizarre! Especially because I'd not even dozed off once. Plainly the pins are magic. duh.

So the real test was, naturally, going to be found out the next day. I got some pins in my right ear for stress relief, so it was hard to tell, on a Sunday, if it worked. I'm never stressed on Sundays. So, the true test was *actually* yesterday.

And, y'all.... I think it worked.

I had just as much work to do in *less* time than usual and didn't get stressed! Well... Chelsea would beg to differ as I contemplated throwing our wireless router out the window last night, but still. In general, I did not get overwhelmed once! I even rocked a smile all day long. I think.

So, now my goal is to step it up and try acupuncture again for other reasons. Devoted reader Jackie says that it was the cure for her mother's smoking habit. WHAT if pins make me a svelte body builder? [side note: when we were little, Kristin called women body builders "lizard ladies" and I still think its the best description I've heard].

So, operation pin prick is ON, bizzles!

new best friend.

Last night at church this happened:

me: hey buddy!
clark (pastor's hilarious 8 year old kid): *after doing our secret wink* um... you've gotten taller.
me: no... just wearing elevator shoes. (read: tall boots)
clark: my bad.

later...

me: that was so funny when you asked me if i had gotten taller.
clark: why?
me: well, usually 30-year-olds don't just grow a few inches
clark: you're 30? I thought you were 11.

el fin de semana

THANKTHESWEETLORD it is nearly the weekend.

I just need to jam about 9 hours of work into roughly 5 and then this girl is home free.

In the theme of a pictoral review of a week, I leave you with this. Sure its a few years old, but I just need you to know... i just really miss this one right here:

In similar news, JUNE and CHIP are COMING TO TOWN TODAY!!!!

eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

xo
k

Carol... again.

Yesterday mom pet this.
Inside a house.
With her bare hands.

What a baller.

Today, this is me.

forks.

text messages from our respective rooms:

Chelsea: is that an owl?
me: yeah... weird, huh?
Chelsea: it's probably Edward.
me: duh. I can hear his accent.

A pictoral review of Laudy in the last 72 hours

It felt like this.

so much so that chelsea wore this.

Then the heater got fixed and it feels like this

and now this is how I'll sleep.

:)

Some pics from Vacay

All four and a half of us.
Why do I always insist on the arm out photo? I'm usually better than this.

This view was insane!

Didn't wanna leave.

Baby shower!

Ther are a lot more, naturally, but I just spent a while uploading them to facebook and... it made me tired. I know. Its a new low. I get it.

I'm back in the real world but missing my girls like whoa.

but at least...

...its "podcast monday".

phew!

*sigh*

Its not so much that the temperature went from "Sunny and 99 with no humidity" to "Sunny and 42 with a chance of freezing one's buns off".

Its not even that I went from having only to choose what movie to watch each day to being back in the grind.

No... its not even the lobster and fresh guacamole I was eating transitioning into... tea for breakfast.

Its that I MISS MY GIRLS!!!

It was SUCH a wonderful trip. and i miss them. and i wish we all lived in the same city. and I love them! thankyouverymuch.

VACAY!

I could get used to this.

98 degrees.
sun.
no clouds.
margaritas.
pool.
no humidity.
best friends.
joy.

yes... I could get used to this indeed.

*full deets to follow, naturally*

Boycott, Bros and Biggest Loser

I'm so fired up. I have some things I need to get off my chest.

Boycott.
Nashville, be warned. If you are in the mood for delicious sushi in a timely fashion without breaking the bank... do NOT go to Tenno on West End. Sure, the 87 score should have steered me away, but it was so darn convenient. I thought I'd hop in and grab a quick roll. What *actually* happened was that it took 35 minutes, they "accidentally" made an extra roll that I had to pay for (!) and it didn't even taste great. Disappointing at best. I am done with Tenno. Even if you call me and say that you just saw Andy Samberg pounding california rolls asking for me... STILL. I'm that stubborn. If only the owner and his dentures weren't so endearing... no. NO. I am determined. Successful restaurants are not based on doctored smiles. They are based on good service and that, my friends, wasn't.

I feel better. You?

Bros.
While packing (!!!), I turned on "The Hills". I'm not proud, OK? I just have one thought. How did Spencer befriend the only other man on this planet with a similarly flesh-colored beard? I have never seen anything like it, yet there they are. Shocking and... gross.

Biggest Loser.
Y'all. I'm obsessed. I find myself wanting to work out and getting SO involved (read: crying) every single episode! Chelsea and I perch on the couch every week just to see what happens. The producers are absolute geniuses! This season brings some extra vigor. My singular goal as I watch is to see Tracey bust it. She is a ridiculously hot mess! Like... seriously, how has she made it this far? Homegirl doesn't work out, doesn't care about being healthy and is only succeeding at making enemies with every person on the ranch. Its worse than that, though. Um...she's able to control breezes. Bottom line, I wouldn't trust that chick with my cheez-its OR my spot on an award winning reality television show. I will keep watching to see people filled with more and more motivation every week AND to see Tracey ugly cry and get kicked off. It will happen. Take that T-dog! Bam!

I am getting the last bit o' my things together to head westward after work tomorrow. I love my girls Katherine, Julie and Heidi and can't wait for this year's reunion! Ok, fine... we'll lie on the beach. That's cool.

xo

Camry... work with me, here.

I nearly passed out when the friendly guy from Best One Tire just called.

He quoted me an INSANE fee to replace stuff and make my car "driveable" and "safe for passengers". ugh.

adulthood.

Is there such thing as a really honest and inexpensive mechanic in Nashville? If not, this girl may be enrolling at the Auto and Diesel college... its where the money is AT, obvi.

technology... via dominos.

The small print says, "Ashlee began custom-making your order at 4:01"

OMG.

I'm watching my buffalo chicken sammy on a tracker like its writing me from camp!

New members of Laudy

May I present... the kids. That makes me laugh because people are always referring to their dogs as their kids. I have decided my "kids" are my cowboy boots. Sad? sure. Awesome? of course.

L to R: Kristin's new suede numbers, my new black with rainbow stitching and my old standby pair of cowboy boots that I've had 5 years and keep resoling. :)

You said you wanted a close up of the stitching?

Best part? Snagged these pups at an antique mall for 16 bucks! Thats a win in my book.

I started this day with brunch at Sky Bistro with the fabulous Laura Denning then went to peruse the booths at the Antique Mall and found the boots! Now it is time to pack for California (!!!) and enjoy this lazy Saturday until I go babysit. This is what 30 looks, folks.

Friday Installment

me: hey mom! what are you and dad doing?
mom: hey bunny- just putting kabobs on the grill
me: mom... its 5 o'clock
mom: Its like we're living at the Boca del Vista...



I wish you all early suppers, delicious cold beverages and magical oldies streaming in the airwaves.

Oh!

... i forgot to tell you!

I finally made the "people page!"

Official.

Nicknames

Why are nicknames SO endearing?? I grew up as "bunny" (rather *we* were "the bunnies") and it feels more normal to me than my given name most days. At least with mom and dad... don't go getting any ideas.

Daniel (who shares a desk with Kelly and me... yes... he deals with two kell(e)ys every day!) and his presh wife Loreal have an adorable daughter named Stella. The stories about her are legendary around here! We got talking about nicknames today and I just HAD to share the cutest nicknames that came pouring out of daniel's mouth!

1. Whisker

2. Tater
3. Jones

Y'all.... WHISKER. I love it! The best part is that she doesn't bat an eyelash when her name is spoken in love... even when its Jones.

So sweet.

Victory!

I said we'd win.

and we DID!

Click here to see some pics of the fun in our office yesterday.

you're welc.

xo

GREEN team, represent!

Today is our Emma (gives back to the) Block Party and Mallory and I were charged with coming up with a staff challenge. We then birthed the "Yard Sale Derby" wherein four teams must purchase items to make a vehicle that will travel around the race course! It promises to be hysterical!!

I'm green team.

We will win.

Duh.

worth mentioning...

Today both of these things happened:

1. Attached a rusty tricycle to my bike rack and drove back to work.

2. Got crapped on by a bird as I was walking in the house tonight.

yep.

Carol.

I may need to give you "isms" from my parents more often than I do. They crack ME up... they'll probably make you laugh too.

Today my mother said, "When people ask about you, I tell them you 'live out loud'... L.Y.L...wait..."

I mean, I beg of you... who is more (accidentally) hilarious than her?

As long as we're talking about parents (here's hoping they don't stop talking to me for fear of being quoted here too regularly), cam is pretty great too. Almost every day he sends me text messages (i know) saying how much he loves me.

WHO is that lucky? I've got it made.

Lunch Date!

Got to rock a lunch date with Coco and my favorite boyfriend James! What a treat.

In other news... the heavens are opening and it just got so dark that it feels like night time. Where's my helmet?

Champagne and Cornbread

What a weekend!! Champagne and Cornbread seems a good summation of the fun. It was a lovely celebration filled weekend but also some good comfy downtime. Plus- what a combo! :)

I'm going to have to separate this into three sections:

(a) Magical Wedding Celebraysh:
Saturday brought not only PERFECT fall weather but also the nuptials of one David and Summer (Decker) Branch! The ceremony was great- especially due to the lovely tune-age of Neal and Stevie. Afterward, we all walked to the Decker's amazing home! This was the backdrop for an, honestly, magical celebration. With a bunch of friends, we ate, drank and danced our hearts out- all under a huge moon and clear, cool weather. It was all that my new little dress hoped for. We rounded out the evening by hitting up Mel's 25th birthday party at the JAM house (for Julie, Annie and Melissa... they're fabulous, fyi). It was quite a night for fun! :) Here are some pics of this magical affair! (shout out to the one and only Jessica Allen for her general awesomeness and photographic prowise).

(b) Breakfast for Two Hundred
I had my first experience helping to serve breakfast at Downtown Presbyterian Church yesterday morning. It was both a giant wake- up call to the need in our city as well as heart-warming. Folks were wrapped around the building to get a meal.... a meal they can count on (rain or shine) without fail. Downtown Pres gets it. They invite forgotten people into their "home" and let them eat to their heart's content. I only wish there had been time to sit and talk with folks. It was a quick process. Still, I love the golden opportunities that allow me to step away from my comfort and see real life. I'm grateful.

(c) WHIP IT!
Ok. I'm not one for smooth transitions. If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you know this. Today's final installment will be no exception! I saw the cutest movie last night!! "Whip It" was strangely motivational and absolutely enjoyable! It made me want to grab some skates and come up with a "roller girl" name! Maybe I would be Bruiser Betty or something more awesome...? Nevertheless, the movie was great and one part jumped out in particular. There's this one scene where Juliette Lewis (whose hair i adore in this film!) says it took her until she was 31 to find the thing she loved and was really good at. I think I identify with the whole notion of giving myself permission to "find" the thing I do really well! Plus, it is just enticing to think of doing something so fun and daring. Maybe my roller derby will be salsa dancing? Who knows. But be warned... I am shopping hobbies.

Here's to Monday, "Fresh Prince" coming back on from 8-9a again (!!!!!), and Fall still sticking around!

I'M TIRED.

This weekend is going to be legit.