Unexpected Kindness

Patrick and I recently celebrated our One Year Anniversary...Yay Marriage!! You can see the happy couple below:

Happy Birthday to our Marriage!

We celebrated at the lovely Historic Fairview Inn in Jackson, MS (thanks to Living Social Escapes) with a romantic weekend just far enough away from the business of life. I do hope to go back again. But then again, who wouldn't after feeling like a Queen for a weekend?!

On the way back from our celebration Patrick was driving and I was trying to get comfortable in the passenger seat, but it just wasn't working. Something was missing...and it just so happened that the missing piece was a pillow in the trunk of our car. So, Patrick, being the knight in shining armor that he is, pulled the car to the side of the road to get it for me. The road we had stopped on was one of those "Highway" roads that are two lanes with a 55 mph speed limit. Luckily it wasn't too busy...otherwise I don't think I would've let him get out...no matter how uncomfortable I was! Not 5 seconds after we stopped, another car pulled up behind us. Now, I'm not going to lie, my gut reaction was, "Oh no! What do they want!" I guess that's just the world we live in today...with all the bad news I hear on the radio. Quite the contrary, though! He was a Southern Gentleman, and he wanted to see if we needed any help! I was astonished! And then I felt really bad because A#1) I had jumped to the conclusion that he was somehow out to get us; and B#2) His stop was in vain, because we were simply a doting husband getting a pillow out of the trunk of our car for an "on the verge" cranky wife!

His unexpected kindness was a breath of fresh air, to say the least. Honestly, it made me wish I was a big, burly, man for a second, so that I could stop on the side of the road to see if a weary traveler needed help. Thanks, Richard, for stopping to help us!! And thanks for re-instating my confidence that there are indeed kindred spirits all around us.

Moral of the Story: Look for the best in those around you and you just might find that it's right there in front of your face...even when you least expect it!

Who EVER thought this could be fun?!

All right folks, get ready for the ride of your life! Get this:

I had to stop at Target today after work to pick up some ho hum items. Patrick and I even came up with a little acronym to help me remember...TTPC...toothpaste, tampons, pads and cards (of the greeting sort). Luckily Target is on my way home...so no biggie. Get in. Get out. Get home. 'nuff said.

HOWEVER...to my great and wonderful surprise, the middle two items on my list turned out to be so much more! Ta da!!

I don't know who thought of this, but they are brilliant! BRILLIANT I tell you! I never knew period supplies could be so much fun. Look at the colors! Look at the packaging! There is cool funkiness abound! Maybe it's because I'm a graphic designer. Maybe it's because I normally hate spending mulah on things like this that are normally just a means to a bitter end. Whatever it is... this new, fresh take on "feminine supplies" makes me very excited! But wait...there's more! Not only is the packaging fun and exciting, but there was a GWP (aka Gift with Purchase for those of you who haven't worked retail...thank you Bed, Bath & Beyond ;) Check out these little pretties...

For every two qualifying kotex "U" purchases your received one amazing little clutch (yes, I had a lot of schtuff to buy!). AND do you see the little goody peeking out of the pink and black clutch? That, my friends, is a little tin...and inside the tin are brightly colored little liners that you can use on the go. I'm totally going to keep the tin in my purse for those "oops, I forgot it's Wednesday of period week" moments!

Okay...sorry guys...didn't mean to dwell, but I had to share my excitement. Go kotex! Go fun surprises! And of course, Go Target! ;)

PS: I just told my hubby about this happenstance and along the same lines, he suggested to me to plan a Girls Night Out or other fun event of sorts during the week of my period every month (thanks to good old birth control...sorry if it's tmi...I can predict these sorts of things). No one else would have to know the event is due to Aunt Flo being in town. But wouldn't that be a fun little pick-me-up? Hmmm...the wheels are turning...any ideas, ladies??

Moral of the Story: Things that are seemingly dull and terrible can be somehow turned into good and wonderful with a new perspective or fun addition to the mix! Enjoy!

I Want Feathers in my Hair!

I read about something in a fashion article, and now I have just seen it in real life. I'm talking about feather hair extensions. I don't know how you get them, and I don't know how long it will be a trend, but I do know that I want some! Just a few...nothing crazy...but something to show a little exotic twist, you know? Like this:

I think they're so fun and whimsical. They actually remind me of when girls used to put friendship bracelet type things in their hair...remember that? Like this little sweetie:

And I love anything that brings back memories of my childhood. (That reminds me of the amazing light up shoes that Patrick got me for my birthday last year...I'll have to share that later!)

So what's your take on the feather hair extensions? Like or dislike? I say like! As long as we don't go overboard with it like the great Steven Tyler:

Is that a raccoon tail?!

Moral of the Story: It's okay to jump on the bandwagon and join a trend...as long as the only reason you're doing isn't just because everyone else is ;)

One Word.....Thursday?

So I totally tried to post this yesterday so it would be legit, but my computer wouldn't have it. Here it is, a day late and dollar short! (but it's worth it!)

Moral of the Story:
Lacking.

One Word Wednesday

Moral of the Story:

Rock.

Family will always be Family

I just had the most wonderful week/weekend! Reason being...my parents were in town Wednesday through Sunday. I picked them up from the airport and immediately knew that we would have an amazing time. First off, we had quite a few fun activities planned. Most of the time when they're here we kind of just hang out and relax together...watch movies...play games...you know, the usual. This time, however we had THIS to go by...

Off the cusp you might think it's a little, shall we say, over the top? (me? over the top? never!) However, it was so wonderful to know what was next, when we had to leave, who was going where to work when, etc. Don't be jealous. As you can see we had a whole host of activities to get to, so an itinerary only made sense! It included a tour of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, (which I would highly recommend), a tour of the Air Traffic Control Center where Patrick works (now they can picture where Patrick is when he does what he does!), a new tribe memphis meeting (where M&D got to meet so many of our wonderful friends here in Memphis), a visit from our good friend John Hill as he drove from MI to TX, a visit to Shara's Paperie (where I work now!), breakfast at Capriccio Grill inside The Peabody Hotel, shortly followed by a viewing of the world famous Peabody Duck March, and dinner with one of our amazing friends Ron. Phew! We even snuck a couple movies and games in there. I'm tellin' ya, the Amermans sure do know how to have fun :)

All of the activities and itineraries set aside, some of my favorite moments were when we were doing "ordinary" things around the house, like cooking a meal together, putting make up on side by side at the mirror or even doing the dishes. It is these moments that remind me, that we are and always will be "thick as thieves" - family forever! Like Mom said, "When we're sitting on this couch together it feels like we're only 20 miles away." That's what keeps my chin up when I start to miss them and that's what will continue to help me through this time of distance - knowing that when we're together it feels like we were never apart.

Here are some of my fav. photos from our time together:

Mom & Dad opening the 32nd Anniversary gift we made for them.
Patrick prepared and put together the wood and then I painted a sign on it for their cottage in MI.

They LOVED it, to say the least :)

The finished product

The manly men after completing a Father/Son impromptu project

After our breakfast at Capriccio Grill in The Peabody Hotel

The meal we made together on Sunday...thank you Rachel Ray!!

We love you, Mom & Dad!!

Moral of the Story: Distance is relative: No matter how far away you are physically, you can still be close at heart. Thank goodness!

One Word Wednesdays

I just came across a GREAT idea! And guess what? I get to share it with you!! In my blog I'm going to take on a tactic called "One Word Wednesdays" I saw it on my friend, Tina's blog and I love it! The point is this: when Wednesday comes around I post a picture and then my Moral of the Story will be ONE word that comes to my mind when I look at that picture. Doesn't that sound like fun?! I hope you're as excited as I am...cuz here goes...

Moral of the Story:

Rush!