on care.

This will seem incredibly cryptic and, for that, I am sorry. Just believe me when I say that, this weekend, I am exceedingly grateful for:

- friends (seems not nearly significant enough a word as it just sits here. still...)
- family.
- mid 60 degree weather (as if a necessary foreshadow of Spring!)
- The Social Network (and all movies, really.)
- iced strawberry pop tarts
- tulips
- a timely catch up phone call
- a great book.

AND CAFFEINE.

I am a uncomfortable care-receiver. These friends have refused that and met my need head on. I am, simply, grateful.

xo,
k

* I will expound later, lovelies. I assure you.

creature comforts from my sunday.

 ok- in fairness, this was from Thursday night dinner. Katie and Beth made me the most delicious feast and this was part of it. Grapefruit, lime and avocado salad. Hallelujah and amen.

 Trader Joes hooked a girl up with some grapefruits. They make me happy in that blue bowl .

 Tell me how I can wake up in a bad mood if there's a tiny yellow rose bush bidding me good morning.

Seemingly out-of-season hydrangeas, good books and a telephone that connects me to my sister. CHECK!

Alright, week. Do your best. I'm rested and ready for you. 

xo,

k

**my apologies for the horrendous lighting. I need to figure out a way for the "no flash" to be flooded with a little more light. Gonna play with the Lumix tonight and figure it out. **

Guest blogger

So, last night I sat on my couch. I was surrounded by some fun(ny) friends and said, "what should I blog about?" One friend decided he would blog for me. There is no explanation. I just have to let you read it. It is unedited and here you have it. Ladies and gentlemen... Adam Duncan:

Ok, peeps.  I totally preesh having a guest blog on my blog.  For the first time ever, I have invited a dear friend to blog on my behalf.  He has a list of things that people shouldn't like, and he is going to blog that list with us.  His name is Adam Duncan...he is totally into guest blogging because he doesn't have a blog of his own...and the square root of 69 is 8 something. 

Please, don't like these things:

1.) Chewing with your mouth open.  Its kinna gross and makes funny noises.

2.) Introducing yourself to someone...for the fifth time.  Please, just fake it.

3.) Timid drivers...especially the ones that come to a complete stop on the entrance ramp to the interstate.

4.) Abbrevs.

Ok, I'm changing this list up a bit.  Its going to be finished with things a depressed doctor may say to himself while trying to fall asleep at night.

5.) "Does my occupation fulfill me?"

6.) "Do I really help people?"

7.) "If I died tonight, would anybody notice?" (answer: yes, tons of people would notice)

Sorry...I need to make another change of direction with this thing.  The list will (seriously) be finished up with "Phrases that tickle the eardrum".

8.) The eel eerily trickled down the slithery slide to fulfill his destiny of laying waste to the Far East.

9.) Thirty Helens agree: Jiggle it a little it'll open.

10.) Skin falls and babies crawl or felines eat the cheese.

Thank you for your time.  Preesh.

Kelley and Adam

Thirty Helens, huh? Love it. :)

Guest blogger-ship may be the way to go. Now, I just have to get Jackie to write the next one. 

Have a great Thursday, y'all!

a small veer.

I kind of miss just telling you things. However strange and disjointed. I love telling stories but, let's face it, sometimes I want to tell you the regular stuff.

Like:

• That I had really delicious sushi from Harris Teeter last night. Like, notably good.
• That I went back on my principles and WATCHED AN HOUR OF THE BACHELOR*
• That I have some really great friends that feel like family.
• That I got to teach my co-workers a seminar on de-cluttering and it was incredibly fun!
• That I have been reading, y'all! (1.5 books down... so, not quite the 1 a week I hoped for but a LOT better than before.)
• That I am going on two legit vacations this year! (any moms out there have full clearance to roll your eyes at the notion of a vacation from work only... but hey, I'm pumped! For the first year in a WHILE, I am taking trips instead of just doing wedding tours of the USA.)
• That I have the sweetest sister the world has ever known. Trust me.
• That good things happening to my family members can get me through a long winter.
• That school-aged Nashville children had yet to go to school this year, basically, until today. Mothers everywhere spewed non fat/ sugar free chai lattes in every Starbucks in Davidson County BECAUSE THEY COULD. No more snow to keep those kiddos at home for another minute.

 I will bring a story to you soon. Cooking up a few.

kisses,
Kelley

*I didn't set out to do it. It was more like "I'm at my friends' house and its on and I'm totally interested because I remember this dill weed the first time around. PLUS THERE ARE FANGS involved. I didn't watch the whole thing but I have a feeling I will next week. GREAT. I have only one thought... is Seal's appearance on last night's episode the musical equivalent of the "Hawaii Trip" for sitcoms that are fading?

On temperance.

I did it.

I dared myself to go the year of 2010 without alcohol and I did it.

Seriously, when I am totally honest, I want to be known as someone who does what she says she'll do. That really may be what this was all about. I can't remember a time I stuck to a New Years Resolution before. But seriously, 2009's goal was to "kiss more", so I think I went for "more challenge" and "less fun"... worth it. 

Let's recap by visiting some of the "Frequently Asked Questions" of my adventure:

1. Why did you do that?
I spent a lot of time in the car at Christmas time of 2009 with a broken ipod. I started thinking about things I could dare myself to do- the harder the better. It was down to a few tough ones and it won.

2. Was it terrible?
Hardly. January and December were the longest but it was not hard. I don't know if I just became possessed with wanting it or what. Seriously, I stopped thinking about it and it was no biggie. Sure, I missed a lot of social events but I can't think of them now. The year flew by like a breath.

3. But, didn't you go to, like, a bajillion weddings?
I did. Last year was only rivaled by 2007. I love weddings and I love celebrating dear ones. Here's the thing... I'm just as much of a spaz with or without alcohol, y'all.

4. Are you going to drink now?
Yes. I had a drink with Anna and Jordan at Patterson House to celebrate. It is a great speakeasy that opened over a year ago- I just never bothered to go. Obviously. So, it was fun to go enjoy the ambiance and congratulate myself for a year of discipline.

5. What were the health benefits?
Well, none that I can tell. There likely were some. Still, I don't know what they are. I didn't lose weight- I actually gained. Turns out, if you eat while people drink, it will catch up with you. Weird.

6. Did you save tons of money?
I am sure I did. I don't know exactly how much but I know I did. I ended up having to treat myself to some medical stuffs, so I don't have a total. Just trust me. It rules.

7. What's next?
No Soda in 2011. I predict this will be harder. But I will say... I am three days in and haven't been tempted yet, so maybe it will be easier than I think. Fingers crossed.

So, I basically learned that I am a beast when I set my mind to something. I feel quite sure it was a training season for me. I sense that I will be drawing on that accomplishment/dedication in the future. Here's to another year of stretching myself... be it blind dates or skydiving, organic eating or learning to samba. I am up to it. Just watch me.

What are you going to try?

xo,
Kelley