Tulips & Texas

Here are some things I love today. 

Tulips are a top 3 favorite flower. (Hydrangeas and peonies are the others). This is going to sound really corny, but I have a picture of some gorgeous tulips on campus that I look at when things are hard to remind myself that there is still beauty in the world. 

I'm in the Big D for sb oh 12. 

I'm going today! Be jealous. 

The Corleys have a gorgeous black lab named Lambeau. I miss Dex!

Jk. It's ruining my day. I'm trying to study, but...

How did I live without it?

Garden & Gun

In our digital age, magazines are a dying art. However, there is a young one that has managed to do quite well for itself, and I'm obsessed. Garden & Gun magazine is published in Charleston, SC, and it's Southern Living + sporting stories. It covers food, music, travel, gardening, sporting, arts, and more. Essentially, it's a must read for Southern women and men alike. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the magazine, photos that capture the essence of Garden & Gun, and the best parts of being a Southerner. 

There is a whole guide to oyster season, complete with a fabulous story by Rick Bragg. Mmm get me to Wintzell's stat. 

Alabama & LSU themed cocktails pre BCS National Championship in NOLA

T Bone Burnett

Oyster inspired belt. One of the many "made in the South" products featured.

Gorgeous yellow lab featured in the sporting section.

From a fishing story. How beautiful are those weathered hands? 

A letter from Harper Lee

Spanish moss in Mobile

Chic & cozy restaurant decor

Bham chef Chris Hastings

Profile of Dallas, a city near and dear to my heart

Spring has sprung

I've decided to take a different approach to this thing and treat it as an extension of my pinterest page, but with commentary. Nobody wants to read my diary haha.

Here's what's coming up in the next few weeks:

• 2 year anniversary with Trerry bear
• Spring break trip to Dallas, complete with my first Texas wedding
• Beach weekend in Seaside for Susan & Charles's coastal nuptials
• Law week festivities, if we actually get out of our jammies and show our faces

In the meantime, here are a few of my current obsessions

Terry and I have kicked off a weight loss/fitness challenge. I'm very out of shape, so the Couch to 5K running schedule is helping me build endurance. I'm also mixing in some light yoga & pilates for the days when I'm too sore to run. 

The new Essie spring colors. I love the pink, which has been a spring staple for the past couple of years, but I'm obsessed with the green and dying to try it. Might be a nice touch for the St. Patty's day wedding we are attending? 

My Girl Scout cookies finally came in, and it's been all I can do to avoid a Samoa/Thin Mint induced coma. It breaks my heart that TWO Samoas constitutes a serving. 

I am my mother's child. I grew up watching these sassy Southern belles, and since TV Guide Network has been airing reruns I have become obsessed. I can quote the speech Julia gives about Suzanne being "THE Miss Georgia" word for word. I recently watched "Julia Drives Over the First Amendment," claiming it was inspiration for my paper on obscenity and the First Amendment. Good lord. 

Pope camp house

      Truth time: I wanted to pin these pictures to pinterest, and you're not allowed to pin from facebook. But who knows, one of the 3 people who read this blog may also be interested to look at them. They are from my family's camp in Marengo County, Alabama. The house was my grandfather's barn in the days where keeping cattle was one of the family interests. Eventually he moved away from that, but the barn remained. It has survived a lot, from Hurricane Frederick to Hurricane Katrina, and yet still it stands. The property has been a central location for cook outs and campfires for as long as I can remember, but when my grandfather passed away in 2002 a different idea began to take shape. When Hurricane Ivan ripped through Alabama in 2004, it downed more than 20 trees on the property, and my family had the idea to use the downed trees to make wood. With that wood the barn was converted into a fully functioning house that serves as a home away from home for us. It has a special meaning for my family, and serves as a wonderful place to remember my grandfather. 

Stupid Cupid

I have always been one of those girls to say, "I hate Valentine's Day. It's so stupid. I don't need Hallmark and the florists to tell me when to love my man." In years past, even when I had a boyfriend I would say these things because it made me feel like a rebel. The kind of girl who thinks her own thoughts and does her own thing. It wasn't until yesterday that I realized that this line of thought is cliché after all. I saw more tweets and facebook posts about "single awareness day" and "I hate Valentine's" than I did about showing love. And honestly, I'm not the type of person to hate any holiday. I love any reason to bake, decorate, or be festive. I love virtually every other holiday. I'm the kind of girl who still dyes Easter eggs and makes her own Halloween costumes. So I caved and enjoyed Valentine's Day for once. What is wrong with one day a year dedicated to sharing the love and good will you feel for family, friends, and loved ones? You don't even have to spend a lot of money to do it. It doesn't have to be about romantic love either. Sure, I know it is annoying if you say, got a serious sushi craving last night, but realized that going to Chuck's fish alone would be a major bummer (and would involve a long wait), but that's really just a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things. I think that the people who spiral out of control with the "thanks for reminding me I'm all alone, St. Valentine," aren't happy with their relationship statuses every other day of the year either. Looking back, I have had many fun Valentine's Days spent with good girlfriends too. I think that the people who truly loathe Valentine's Day need a little perspective. Just because you're single doesn't mean you're unloved or incomplete.

I propose that next year (assuming the world makes it to 2013) we all get an attitude make over. If you're married or involved with somebody, enjoy the day in a way special to your relationship. If you're single, spend time with good friends or family. If you're bitter, keep it to yourself, get drunk alone and watch bad movies. People are way too whiney on social media these days. Honestly, nobody cares and we all know you're just craving attention. If you have a serious problem, tell your best friend or mother.

As for me, it felt so nice to finally give in and enjoy a nice night. While Terry and I did have a nice Valentine's Day last year, last night was more enjoyable, and I attribute that to finally letting go of all my Valentine's Day ill will. We cooked a great dinner (cream cheese and pepper jelly to start, chicken parmesan, and brownies for dessert), had some wine, listened to some good old music, and just enjoyed each other's company. There were no cards except for a leftover unused puppy Valentine from a box I bought for Halli Grace last year (sorry Hallmark!). There were no overpriced flowers. There was no Whitman's sampler. So, I got to stick to my guns and also just enjoy a good excuse to spend some real time with someone who is very important to me. And I shouldn't have to feel bad about that, whiney facebook status updaters.

Things I see when jogging around Ttown

1. Packs of girls in designer work out gear walking and gossiping. Perfect make up without a trace of sweat
2. Skinny Asian kids with backpacks bigger than they are.
3. Fat, sweaty guys who pass me. Twice. Or more.
4. English springer spaniels in perfectly manicured lawns who bark at me like I stepped on the azaleas or something. I somehow get my second wind in front of these houses.
5. MILFs in black spandex
6. At least one person wearing what I call the "monkey shoes" (aka those stupid looking running shoes with toes)
7. Stray cats
8. Super fratty looking dudes who I assume are coming from class, but never have bookbags
9. Someone I know driving by in a car with whom I fervently avoid making eye contact
10. People who look amused by me
11. People who look like they feel sorry for me
12.Visions of chips and dips dancing in my head

Other related thoughts:
1. I am very out of shape
2. Chuck and Susan, why did y'all have to get married at the beach? I'm staying in a house with 5 boys who, unlike Trerry, are not ready for this jelly, and who will need their eyesight in their legal careers so gouging their eyes out is not an option.
3. I really want some chips.

2011: My Year in Pictures

JANUARY

 This photo of Terry and me was taken at my sister Larremy's 20th birthday party on January 15. We had a 3 hour wait at the restaurant, in which time I drank about a bottle of wine. Terry refused to do glamour shots with me, so this happened.

FEBRUARY

This gem was taken by renowned  photographer Crawford Barnes on  February 12 during our Valentine's Day double date. We had dinner at Five, complete with a sampling of every specialty cocktail on the menu. We then traversed to the fabulous Houndstooth sports bar. Terry ended the evening with a beer cup as a party hat, just before this photo was snapped.

MARCH

This photo of Terry and me was taken at Sea N Suds, a deliciously quaint restaurant in Gulf Shores. We devoured some gumbo and oysters on the half shell during our spring break adventures. Our excruciating sunburns completed our looks that evening. 

APRIL

Obviously, I'm abandoning the ridiculous tone for this one. This photo was taken after the April 27 tornado ravaged Tuscaloosa. The days after the tornado brought everyone together in a way I've never seen. I'm thankful to still be here, and I'm thankful that I got a chance to help other people after the storm. 

 MAY

 Proof that life goes on after tragedy. This photo of my lovely, extremely photogenic family was taken at my brother's high school graduation on May 28.

JUNE

 Total. Bad asses. This hardcore group of crime fighters (aka skittish law clerks) nearly eliminated the drug cartel problems in Birmingham in a single day. Or, we hid in a bulletproof van while they confiscated weed. One of those.

JULY

 While there are many goings-on in the month of July (most importantly, my birthday, ahem), I have chosen this stunning shot of myself and Dr. Lou. It was taken by Terry on July 2 on my first visit to the Notre Dame campus. It's ok.

AUGUST

Obviously I was very busy and quite the social butterfly in the month of August, as the only person featured in any of my photography that month was my brother, and he was playing with the dog. As you can see, the lovely Dex is modeling a fabulous orange collar, and carries large sticks with ease. Best in Show for sure!

SEPTEMBER 

 Here I am with my sisters, Mallory and Larremy and our dear friend Traci Traughber at the Traughber tailgate on North Texas game day, September 17th. Photo brought to you by Ray Ban.

OCTOBER

 Here Terry and I look fashionably frigid in the Hancock Observatory in Chicago. We sampled delicious Chicago brewed beer as we enjoyed the sights of the city and Lake Michigan. Just kidding.  We chugged them and made a mad dash for the elevator because it was terrifying up there.

NOVEMEBER

 Stylist in the making, Halli Grace Jackson, selected Terry's accessories for Thanksgiving supper at Granny Pope's home in Wilcox County, Alabama. The miniature fashionista was very pleased with the overall look she created.

DECEMBER

This is an artist's depiction of myself, hard at work on exam preparation. Who says studying can't be sensual?