XO,
BG
1.25.2012
Am I seeing some spring colors??
Really diggin this outfit today....seriously can't wait for spring! Pleassse hurry, pretty please??
1.24.2012
Ughhhhh.....
I have no idea what's going on with me. I had an unwelcome visitor about 2 weeks ago that came in the form of a cold. He finally left after about five days, but apparently he missed me because he's back. Lovely.
Normally when I get sick, I get MORE motivated to get into the office because I detest sitting around my house when I'm sick. This time though, all I want to do is lay my head down on my desk, power down my mac, and throw my phone against the wall when it rings (which conveniently rang off the hook today). I actually wanted to be home on my couch watching Jersey Shore and Gossip Girl. No fever today, but it seriously sucks being sick. Especially when it's 61 degrees outside. I tried pep talking myself, forcing myself to just do what needed to be done, going to my dad for motivation, all to no avail. I gave up. So guess what I spent the rest of my day doing? Pinteresting. Seriously, it is a word. Just like "facebooking" and "friending". They have all moved from nouns to verbs (that's correct right? haha).
After perusing my 'good eats' board, I made this. I prepared everything last night and threw it in the crockpot to cook overnight. When I walked down the stairs this morning, I almost tossed my cookies. WORST SMELL EVER. Seriously, this recipe calls for wayyyyy to much garlic and I had halved it. And I love garlic. The soup turned out okay, not great. Probably wouldn't recommend this if you are looking to impress guests. So at the end of the day, this cold won't leave and I had a terrible dinner. Two days in a row of crappy meals and crappy health. The highlight? These awesome wedges that Sarah posted to my wall yesterday. All it takes is shoes to turn this girl's frown upside down!
XO,
BG
Normally when I get sick, I get MORE motivated to get into the office because I detest sitting around my house when I'm sick. This time though, all I want to do is lay my head down on my desk, power down my mac, and throw my phone against the wall when it rings (which conveniently rang off the hook today). I actually wanted to be home on my couch watching Jersey Shore and Gossip Girl. No fever today, but it seriously sucks being sick. Especially when it's 61 degrees outside. I tried pep talking myself, forcing myself to just do what needed to be done, going to my dad for motivation, all to no avail. I gave up. So guess what I spent the rest of my day doing? Pinteresting. Seriously, it is a word. Just like "facebooking" and "friending". They have all moved from nouns to verbs (that's correct right? haha).
After perusing my 'good eats' board, I made this. I prepared everything last night and threw it in the crockpot to cook overnight. When I walked down the stairs this morning, I almost tossed my cookies. WORST SMELL EVER. Seriously, this recipe calls for wayyyyy to much garlic and I had halved it. And I love garlic. The soup turned out okay, not great. Probably wouldn't recommend this if you are looking to impress guests. So at the end of the day, this cold won't leave and I had a terrible dinner. Two days in a row of crappy meals and crappy health. The highlight? These awesome wedges that Sarah posted to my wall yesterday. All it takes is shoes to turn this girl's frown upside down!
XO,
BG
1.19.2012
When the going gets tough....
Jim Irsay apparently likes to clean house. Forgive me, all whopping three of you that read this, but I'm getting on my Colt's soapbox for a few. I'm feeling the need to document my frustrations at recent news after the biggest losing season in my life time.
Let's be honest. When Colt's nation found out that Peyton had neck surgery, all hearts dropped. When he announced he would be sitting out the season and rehabbing, 911 calls in the 317 probably sky-rocketed. Not sure about the majority of Colts fans, but I can tell you that once I heard that news, I chalked this season up to be a losing one. Not because the team without Peyton is that bad (although they did their best to try to convince me otherwise), but because Peyton is the foundation of the team. Losing him is like the Egyptians losing Moses. If there is a crack in the foundation, things start to crumble and fall apart. They lost their rock. I choose to believe that while we are airing on the older side, we still are a team with talented guys who's world was turned upside down.
But at the end of the day, Bill Polian built a team around one person. As the famous saying goes, there is no I in team. Then he proceeds to bring in Kerri Collins. I mean, really?! The guy is 39 years old with his last decent season seeming to be in 2005. Who threw his name up on the radar screen as a possibility? Bill Polian's son? Oh, wait. Thank God, he's gone too. That then leaves us with Curtis Painter and Dan whatever-his-last-name-is. Curtis Painter doesn't have a leadership bone in his body and looks like he would fit in better on a surfboard in Hawaii...which maybe is where he's headed since it's unlikely he'll get picked up after this season (Judgemental, I know). Polian let the team age without bringing in some fresh young blood. Over the years, he has done a severe disservice to the team with his decisions. All that to say, kudos Jim Irsay on your firing of the Polian clan. I completely agree with this call (I do think you should have communicated it to Peyton as well, but whatever. You're the owner).
However, your firing of Jim Caldwell, while entirely not unexpected, burns me a little bit. You fired a guy that the players admire and respect. You fired a guy that brought integrity and character to your team. And most of all, you fired Tony Dungy's protege (Hey Tony, wanna come out of retirement? I don't think this analyst thing is working out for you:)). Granted, he had it easy given Peyton was his assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and star quarterback, but at the end of the day, Polian determined who played on that team. Did Caldwell bring in Kerry Collins? Curtis Painter? Dan whatever? I don't think so. He worked with what he had. The one thing I would rag Caldwell on is his seemingly lack of fire and leadership during this season. He doesn't strike me as this kind of guy, but maybe I'm wrong and he was a spitfire in the locker room. We needed to see some more from Caldwell, I agree. But your first losing season without the center of your team? That's a bit of an unfair judgement on the coach, in my opinion. He played what he had to work with. Polian gave him the options of what he had to work with.
In my ideal world, Peyton would be back next season. He would play for another 4-5 years or so, then move into a coaching role (stillllll with the Colts). During that time, Andrew Luck (who I pray that we draft...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE) could learn under one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Then he'll be ready to step in and take the reins. Or, if Peyton gets hurt again, WE HAVE A BACK-UP! Who'da thought! Either way, you might lose a fan if you get rid of Peyton (not sure if that's a threat or promise yet-and I'll bet you'll lose a lot more fans than just me). The likelihood of all this is minimal, but hey, a girl can dream right?
Anyways, I'm off my tangent. Irsay, thank you for booting the Polian clan. Boo on you for cutting Caldwell. I hope these decisions pay off for next year. Super Bowl XLVII, here we come!
XO,
BG
Let's be honest. When Colt's nation found out that Peyton had neck surgery, all hearts dropped. When he announced he would be sitting out the season and rehabbing, 911 calls in the 317 probably sky-rocketed. Not sure about the majority of Colts fans, but I can tell you that once I heard that news, I chalked this season up to be a losing one. Not because the team without Peyton is that bad (although they did their best to try to convince me otherwise), but because Peyton is the foundation of the team. Losing him is like the Egyptians losing Moses. If there is a crack in the foundation, things start to crumble and fall apart. They lost their rock. I choose to believe that while we are airing on the older side, we still are a team with talented guys who's world was turned upside down.
But at the end of the day, Bill Polian built a team around one person. As the famous saying goes, there is no I in team. Then he proceeds to bring in Kerri Collins. I mean, really?! The guy is 39 years old with his last decent season seeming to be in 2005. Who threw his name up on the radar screen as a possibility? Bill Polian's son? Oh, wait. Thank God, he's gone too. That then leaves us with Curtis Painter and Dan whatever-his-last-name-is. Curtis Painter doesn't have a leadership bone in his body and looks like he would fit in better on a surfboard in Hawaii...which maybe is where he's headed since it's unlikely he'll get picked up after this season (Judgemental, I know). Polian let the team age without bringing in some fresh young blood. Over the years, he has done a severe disservice to the team with his decisions. All that to say, kudos Jim Irsay on your firing of the Polian clan. I completely agree with this call (I do think you should have communicated it to Peyton as well, but whatever. You're the owner).
However, your firing of Jim Caldwell, while entirely not unexpected, burns me a little bit. You fired a guy that the players admire and respect. You fired a guy that brought integrity and character to your team. And most of all, you fired Tony Dungy's protege (Hey Tony, wanna come out of retirement? I don't think this analyst thing is working out for you:)). Granted, he had it easy given Peyton was his assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and star quarterback, but at the end of the day, Polian determined who played on that team. Did Caldwell bring in Kerry Collins? Curtis Painter? Dan whatever? I don't think so. He worked with what he had. The one thing I would rag Caldwell on is his seemingly lack of fire and leadership during this season. He doesn't strike me as this kind of guy, but maybe I'm wrong and he was a spitfire in the locker room. We needed to see some more from Caldwell, I agree. But your first losing season without the center of your team? That's a bit of an unfair judgement on the coach, in my opinion. He played what he had to work with. Polian gave him the options of what he had to work with.
In my ideal world, Peyton would be back next season. He would play for another 4-5 years or so, then move into a coaching role (stillllll with the Colts). During that time, Andrew Luck (who I pray that we draft...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE) could learn under one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Then he'll be ready to step in and take the reins. Or, if Peyton gets hurt again, WE HAVE A BACK-UP! Who'da thought! Either way, you might lose a fan if you get rid of Peyton (not sure if that's a threat or promise yet-and I'll bet you'll lose a lot more fans than just me). The likelihood of all this is minimal, but hey, a girl can dream right?
Anyways, I'm off my tangent. Irsay, thank you for booting the Polian clan. Boo on you for cutting Caldwell. I hope these decisions pay off for next year. Super Bowl XLVII, here we come!
XO,
BG
1.17.2012
Amen.
"Southern women know how to bake a funeral casserole and why you should. Southern women know how to make other women feel pretty. Southern women like men and allow them to stay men. Southern women are not afraid to dance. Southern women know you can’t outrun your past, that manners count, and that your mother deserves a phone call every Sunday. Southern women can say more with a cut of their eyes than a whole debate club’s worth of speeches. Southern women know the value of a stiff drink, among other things."
http://coalfieldstocornfields.wordpress.com/tag/southern-girl/
Virginia is a tricky state. Yes, we are below the Mason-Dixon line. Yes, I live in the capitol of the Confederacy. Yes, our men like to hunt, fish, and go to every sporting even known to mankind. Yes, football is like a religion around here (Come on though, Hokies....can't we get a bowl win next year?). However, less than one hour up 95 (every Virginian's personal hell), our Southern state seems completely transformed. Less ya'll's, less friendly conversations with complete strangers, less interest in the NASCAR races that visit our hometown twice a year, different languages, and at times, complete rudeness. It is almost as if there were an invisible line that runs somewhere right north of Ashland where people and cultures completely change. Don't get me wrong...I love DC and the surrounding areas. They are so full of culture, history, and I'm never prouder to be an American than when I'm wandering the streets checking out the monuments. And let's be honest, there is nothing better than hitting the streets of Georgetown for shopping, dining, and of course Georgetown Cupcakes (DC Cupcakes, duh).
The world above that invisible line though just doesn't fit me. I can appreciate it, but by the grace of God and my born-and-raised-in-the-deep-south mother, I was raised to fit the quote above. I appreciate the fact that manners are like a religion around here. I love the fact that I can depend on my friends and neighbors to come through in a time of need. I love the word y'all. I love that invisible line that keeps the snow up in DC and away from here. I love the respect that people show one another down here (most of the time). I love getting a smile from a complete stranger just because. I love the style and grace that comes with being a girl raised below the Mason-Dixon line. And Lord have mercy, we know how to dance.
And about the value of a stiff drink? We know that's the only way we can get our men to dance.
XO,
BG
XO,
BG
1.16.2012
New Beginnings...
I love the new year....it brings about a sense of renewed commitment, reflection, and excitement. Reflection is a big part of my life. My parents always taught me to reflect...whether it was a conversation, a momentus occasion, a part of history, etc. I like to reflect on them, learn, and move on. I try not to be a dweller. Key word TRY. As a part of my reflection from 2011, I decided I wanted to document these moments more than I have in the past. Therefore, I am starting this blog. It will be full of complete randomness. My thoughts, ideas, likes, dislikes, favorite things, friends, family, life, and my reflections. Here we go!
XO,
BG
XO,
BG
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)