Cheers!

Thirty is going to be the best birthday year ever because it's going to be what *I* (and my fabulous friends & family) make of it!! Woo!

(Shhh. Don't tell Leah I found out that she's making me this cake. I think she wants it to be a surprise.)

Go Read This Post Today

From fellow blogger Lauren. And pay special attention to #8. It's my fave!

http://mcgiboney.blogspot.com/2008/08/10-commandments-of-college-football.html

(Will fix link after work.)

Blast From the Past

Everybody needs to indulge in a few fair rides now and then. Don't be afraid of the carnies. And eat something served on a stick.

Spinning Wheels

Have lots going on so I'm going to take a little blogcation till next week. (Unpaid, of course.) Ciao!

Class Pet

Okay. A kindergarten teacher at my sister's school has some fish in her classroom. And also this rat.

I'm sorry, did you think that was a typo?

Again. Also this RAT.

The first time I saw it, it freaked me the heck out. It's gross. Oh, and her plan is to let the rat roam around the classroom during the day. Just run around, like any ordinary pet. Except this is no ordinary pet. This isn't a puppy or a kitten.

It's a RAT. I cannot wrap my head around this.

That's like something most teachers would want to avoid, having a rat running around. Besides being disgusting, isn't that also a little distracting? Aren't five-year-olds going to be, uh, a little aprehensive about this. This isn't Fievel. It's a sewer rat! And as my coworker pointed out, didn't rats cause, like, the bubonic plague? See below.

My Wish Today

Is that I was riding this hot pink beach cruiser along a boardwalk. Ahhhh.

Click on Over

To Natalie's Notables. I'm the guest blogger for the Project Runway recap. Very honored to be chosen!

Just Add Popcorn

What? You don't carry your own seat cover to the movie theater and duct tape it to stay put?

The Very Definition of Frumpy

Who let this old lady leave the house like this? My sister snapped her photo at the Miss Georgia pageant.

Love My Kenny

But I've never seen his legs, really, till now. He's always suited up in his painted-on jeans. Kenny has nice legs. Please, someone give me KC for my birthday. When we get married, I'll totally write you a big check. Out of his account.

I'd Break My Neck

But someone else needs to get these cool orange shoes. Yum. Brooke, I nominate you.

Whooo Wants Cool Stuff?

My friend has an awesome letterpress business, and today I was looking around his site and came across these cool cards. The business is Night Owl Paper Goods, and most of y'all know I totally spotted the owl trend last year. Now I'm obsessed with (cute) owl products. I mean, hello? Aren't these adorable? Go buy some for yourself.

Ummmm

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has issued a detailed list of inappropriate behaviors for priests, saying they should not kiss, tickle or wrestle children.

The newest version of the archdiocese's Decree on Child Protection also prohibits bear hugs, lap-sitting and piggyback rides.

But it says priests may still shake children's hands, pat them on the back and give high-fives.

Duh-huh.

This should probably go without saying. For anyone, really, unless you are that child's parent.

One Sweet Day...

We can only dream of the day that Mariah awakens and remembers that it's not 1992 anymore. What up with the wack outfits, Mimi?

Big "Deal"

It's pretty bad that filling up on $3.58 per gallon gas sets my heart aflutter these days, isn't it?

So Wrong

My friend Jamie sent me this photo today. I'm going to give Mark a break because he obviously made some soldier's day. ha ha.

Dear Birthday Fairy (Again)

If you aren't P, you don't have to read this.



My very favorite store, Cherry Pie, now has an online store. And I've found this. It's Tulle, which you know I love. Yum.

And this is lovely for fall, so long as UGA isn't playing Tennessee. Or Florida. Or Auburn.

Cracking Up

Not mentally, sick readers. No, no, I'm laughing. I linked from place to place today until I found this article. It didn't speak to me, really, except for this line, which gave me a tears-in-my-eyes laugh.

"Calling me fat isn't going to make me cry because, frankly, I have a mirror in my bedroom, honey, I know what my ass looks like and I've made my peace with that—and it gives me a great piece of insight into your body-consciousness."

Overheard

During the previews for Mamma Mia today, I heard the three old ladies sitting behind us have this conversation after a run of particularly horrid trailers.

#1: Is Hollywood going broke or something?

#2: I don't know what their problem is.

#3: They've lost their minds, I tell you what.

Surprisingly (to me) there were quite a few old folks at the movie. I know Mamma Mia is a musical, but the storyline is not exactly wholesome.

O.M.G.

Look at these. For your walls. Be still my heart. Available here.





















(photo courtesy http://mynottinghill.blogspot.com)

Something's Wrong

At Starbucks:
tall nonfat, sugar-free caramel latte: $3.41

At Chick-fil-A:
4-piece chicken nugget kid's meal with fries, small drink, and toy (which can be returned for free ice cream): $3.01

My Cool Souvenir

Even though last night was Zach's birthday, I scored big-time. My dad went to a private meet-and-greet with Mark Richt the other night. I really wanted something autographed—preferably a helmet—and my dad totally delivered. He paid out the nose for a mini helmet that Coach Richt personalized. Everyone else got a "Go Dawgs, Mark Richt," but mine says, "Steph, Go Dawgs, Mark Richt." Like we're buds. And the coolest part? My dad didn't try to make it a birthday gift, which he totally could have. Woo!

(Disclaimer: The photo stinks, sorry. The helmet is shiny, and I can't get good light!)

Birthday: Over

So Zach's turn ended last night. We got a lovely (and, okay, a teeny bit cheesy. But, look! Ladder 23. Get it? Because he's twenty-three?) cake that was career appropriate, and Zach didn't even get that agitated with all the hoopla. (Probably because he pocketed about a million dollars in gift cards.) We got a good five pictures out of him before he said, "That's enough." It's tough being in demand. I like this one of the two of us. I can't believe he got that close to me without twitching.

Anyway, enough about that. Now it's August, and we all know what that means: It's my birthday MONTH. Oh yeah. I've been buying myself treats for a while now because "I'm about to turn 30." Only 22 days left to do so!

Annoyance #998

When people have peeling stickers on their cars, especially those from colleges. People, it costs $1.49 to replace them. The economy isn't that bad. Can I get an amen?
(You probably can't tell here, but this sticker has some major peel going on. Taken in line at Starbucks in Montgomery last night.)

Risking My Life for the Blog

I almost ran over this truck trying to drive down I-65 and snap this photo. It's something that annoys me: whenever people remove the "OTA" from Toyota so that their trucks read "TOY." It's stupid. I hope you can see it when you click on the picture. Either way, I wanted you all to see what a dedicated blogger I am. I almost died.

I Ain't Skerred

I'm embracing 30! Look at my cool countdown clock.

Dear Birthday Fairy

I'm going to need the Kate Spade calendar again, version 2009.

(photo courtesy www.fredflare.com)

Tight Rolls Are a No-No

Please, please don't let this trend come back. Ever. Gah. The time it took to get the perfect tight roll on my jeans. And, hello, Katie, you didn't achieve it here! The rolls aren't tight! That's, like, a huge faux pas in the tight-rollin' world. Duh.

Go Away, Jessica

I'm so sick of Jessica Simpson. She's reinvented herself as a country music artist, fine, whatever. Gone is the glam Simpson of the past, now we just have sweet ol' I'm-just-like-you Texas Jess, and it seems she's traded D&G for every plaid flannel shirt and big belt buckle on the West coast. (Who knew there could be so many?) She's just...so fake. And, anyway, y'all know I'm Team Lachey all the way. So, boo, Jess. I don't like your stupid new single, and I'm not listening to you on country radio.

Side note: She says Tony Romo is the first person she "spiritually connects with." WHAT does this mean, and why do stars keep saying it? OH! And she sings a song about abuse. She "doesn't want to talk about it" but she's definitely experienced it. Huh? I am so annoyed with her today.

UPDATE: See? I told you. People are tired of it. Read Jolie's post: http://jolienadine.com/blog/.

Happy Birthday, Little Zach

Shhh. Don't tell my brother he's on the blog. It annoys him. But today he's 23.

Sweltering

I felt like Petal looks after our walk in the steamy heat the other night. Pooped. I wish it was October!

Baby, Baby, Suck Your Thumb

I can't stand Urban Meyer. The man's face always looks like he has a corn cob stuck up his butt. And he's still whining about Georgia's touchdown dance last year. See it here. The TD dance for which UGA was justly punished and for which Coach Mark Richt has apologized repeatedly, to Urban personally and in a letter to the SEC. And again during SEC Media Days in Birmingham. Sheesh, Urb, bitter much? Even Tim Tebow was classy about it, and you guys know (or maybe you don't) there's no love lost between me and Timmy. Boo. But I do think Coach Richt summed it up quite nicely with this:

"I don't think there's any doubt it's intensified the rivalry," Richt said of last season's controversy. "But what really intensified the rivalry is that we won—OK?"

Okay then.

I'm just gonna keep practicing my Superman dance for the fall.

And read my favorite column about the incident here. For once, someone at the AJC took UGA's side.

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Man, oh, man. Do I ever love this city. More even than NYC. And this post makes me want to have kids and move there really, really badly. Of course I'd also want a townhouse the size of the one on Full House.

Birthday Boy

If you haven't already, be sure to visit Luke's blog to see all the party pics. He's adorable!

Fore!

I think I may start playing golf just so I can get these club covers, the tee belt and/or change purse, and the shoe bag. Slap a monogram on everything, and, OMG!, I'm good to go. I would totally get hot pink shoes though.



(photo courtesy themerrymartini.com)

Let There Be Light—Now!

Thank goodness for Photo Booth. Now you can see how I spent Tuesday night: catching up on my SL reading with the flashlight I finally found. And, p.s. AL Power, don't say you expect power to be back on by 10:30 p.m. when you really mean 7:45 the next morning, k? I trusted you. Instead I slept in a pool of my own sweat.

A New Low

Um, okay. I ate one of these for dinner tonight. The cheesiness factor is good. The little meat pellets? Not so much. Anyone else?

PS: Add a single-serving container of Pringles, and you have a well-rounded dinner.

Hairy Situation

Why, why, why is it that every time I get my eyebrows waxed at a local nail spa, the little waxer lady says, "And your lip too?" No! Not my lip! Leave my fuzzy lip alone. It's not like it's this bad. You guys would tell me, right?

Take This Test

And let me know how you do. My friend Libby sent it to me. I'm actually a little surprised that I didn't do better (worse?). The "cot" and "caught" question messed me up, I think. I definitely don't pronounce them the same, but I do pronounce "caught" more like "cawght." Y'all know I love my dubyas, hence my pronunciation of "frawg." Ribbit.

http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/yankee_dixie_quiz.html

Post your scores in the comments.

Spiffy

So, what do we think? I figure this layout can run the course for summer, and I'll choose something more fallish when it's, well, fall. I liked this Cutest Blog on the Block site because I didn't lose all my widgets and extras as I did before.

My other layout came from Pyzam, and apparently they don't want to give up that little header at the top. Anyone know how to get rid of it?

Beach Singalong

Fortunately we chose last Thursday to eat dinner at Harry A's, home of the enormous menu: karaoke night.
(Apparently Harry is a bit of a smarty pants, and when a patron asked if the already-large menus could BE any bigger, Harry proved that, yes, indeed they could.)


Aren't my tan lines sexy? Good thing I don't have prom this weekend.

This dude here was really good. And cute. His name is Shane, and he could flat sing. So my fearless sister accosted him and by the end of the night, we were all great friends. I have video of Shane singing, but it won't load. Too darn bad for you. He actually made it through several rounds of auditions for Nashville Star.





By the end of the night we were just totally silly. Must've been all the sun.




Shane is getting a big hug because he indulged me and sang a Kenny Chesney song, even though his voice is much deeper than KC's. It's rather unfortunate that my arm is all mooshed out like that. I'm lifting weights while I type. And I blame the camera angle. Oh yes, I did.

Hillbilly Game Night

So, SGI (St. George Island, Florida, for the uninitiated) isn't known for it's hoppin' night life, so we created our own fun.

Start with a bucket o' margaritas.



When said bucket is not given time to freeze properly, empty contents into smaller plastic cups and freeze individually. Who has 24 hours to wait? We don't plan that far ahead.



Start a serious game of Uno Attack. Go buy this game immediately.


(Notice, on the island, no makeup or grooming is necessary.)

And, just to show you how silly we got, I present the following. Warning: It's nasty.



See, my mom loves these Dollar Store gumballs, but they lose flavor fast. Of course, we've been trained to chew two or three for a few minutes, spit out, and repeat. I mean, you get, like 90 for a buck. This was news to my aunt and cousins, but they quickly joined in. And then so did the guys. We whittled down a pretty full Ziploc during the game. And this is our colorful discard pile. Don't laugh at me, either. Three of us took pictures. Whatever. It was late.

Exhale

Don't you wish you drank coffee every morning with this view? Sigh.