Monday, December 31, 2012

Blogger's Ball

New Years Ball

1) What was your best part of 2012?
The best part of 2012 was definitely buying my childhood home. We were so blessed to get it at such a good deal in the area it's in. My parents are amazing and I am so glad they made this possible.

2) What was your favorite song/book/movie of 2012?
Favorite song (I am picking 2):

My Grandfather passed away January 30th 2010. He was my go to person, my best friend. This song just felt like it was for him. 




How can you not love Alex Clare? Definitely my most listened too station on Pandora.

Favorite book: 

Gone with the Wind. Shocking, I know. I re-read it this year and fell in love again. I am a little Scarlett-ish at times. I know she is the whiny one we love to hate, but I am a fellow hard headed bitch and I love her. 

Favorite movie:


I love Edgar Allan Poe and the movie was crazy. 

3) What was your biggest accomplishment of 2012?
We managed to change our lives financially. We got on the right track and bought a new house and a new car. Now we are moving towards getting out of credit card debt by June. We want the house paid off in 8 years instead of 30. Thank you Dave Ramsey program. 


4) What are you looking forward to the most in 2013?
I am looking forward to riding a lot more and getting out of debt. I am also looking forward to my best friends wedding in October. 

5) What are your new years resolutions?
- Get out of debt
- Lose weight and get healthy
- Ride more and fix all of my weaknesses
- Go to church more
- try one new recipe a week
- be a better blogger
- be a better southern belle. (class it up, entertain more, be kinder)

Friday, December 28, 2012

Ms. Tobacco Heiress goes to town

So a few months ago we met Ms. Tobacco heiress ( some how my post deleted itself) but she was the elderly southern bell that said her cows were bred better than some of her family. Seriously, this women is a card. The other day she was pulling out of her driveway and stopped to talk to mom. She mentioned she was headed to town and the roads were slick so mama told her to be careful. The 70 something year old looked at mama and said, " Darling, I have got my .38 pistol and my Bible tucked in my purse. I will be okay." That is why you don't mess with a southern belle. We are tough and feisty and we usually have God on our side. Ms. Tobacco heiress is my hero. I hope to be just like her one day.

 




Thursday, December 27, 2012

Big Things Poppin'

I am excited for January guys. Very excited. I have a giveaway planned and possibly a swap if I can get a co-host or two. So if you want in on this, email me. Let's work together.

I am also going into the year more organized. Be still my OCD heart. I am so excited. I have a planner for everyday life, one for bills and one for the blog. A more organized me means a more effective sponsor program. It also means that with the new bill planner, the hubs and I will be out of debt by June. That is amazing. We will just owe on the house and car, but no more credit cards.

I also have already started a diet. I decided why wait until the new year. My husband and my horses need me to be healthy now. Plus our riding uniforms are not figure friendly.


White spandex ya'll. Who decided that we would wear white? It gets dirty and we are working with animals and it makes anyone look huge. That is why we are dieting like cray cray. But not crazy enough to give up wine or Bacardi Hurricanes or sweet tea.

Big things are happening ya'll, big things. Join me!


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A Simple Christmas

This year the holiday was simple and cozy and perfect. We didn't do anything unusual just dinner and 24 hr Christmas story and quality family time.


My gorgeous sister. She is home again and things are better. I am glad, I missed her annoying ways.


The three of us. We are sisters, but we are all so different.


Me and the hubs! I love this picture, even if he is fake smiling. 


A new camera to film his new baby. 

And speaking of the bundle of joy!



Sweet baby K's first Christmas! 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! 


Monday, December 24, 2012

Working on Christmas Eve


That's right. I have some type of cold/bug type thing and I am working. Daddy said it could be a half day. Thank God. I am very pretty today. Tissue and TheraFlu adorn every corner of my desk. And because this is a sick/half day and I am counting on not having any customers I am dressed in yoga pants Whitney style. That girl is a genius. I am sure she wears it cuter but cut me some slack, I look/feel like death. And a customer just showed up. Gotta run! Merry Christmas Eve!!!



Friday, December 21, 2012

Friday Letters- A letter to Carter.

Photobucket


Dear Carter, Thank you. Thank you for being that horse that brings me back to me, even if you are just temporarily in my life. You have brought my confidence up. You have given me a purpose again. You have put me back on the path to my passion. I love you for this. I know you were an investment. One to sell, but little man I want you to know that working with you was an investment in my soul, not financially. I feel so alive on your back, like I can still do this. It's like I am at peace up there just teaching you how to balance physically as you teach me to balance mentally. How did you do this? The horse I thought I would like the least and you suck me in. You make me feel like an equestrian. You make me feel like a trainer. You make me feel alive. Dressage is riding as if two were one and I truly feel that on your back. You have been so brave this month. Coming down from New York to a new barn with a new rider and going straight to work. I am proud of you Carter. I will do my best to make sure the home you land in understands your talent and appreciates you and love you like I do. You are my blessing, even if only for a minute.


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

An extra Christmas gift (A Giveaway)

Update: We have a winner! Congrats! We will be emailing you shortly.
Today I have a treat for you. A few of the lovely ladies in this blogging community decided to get together and host a giveaway for you! This is the first giveaway ever at The Grace of Southern Charm and I am so very excited!

So here goes....


Betsy at Simply Southern is giving away three different hand creams, OPI nail polish, three nail flies, heel file, and toe separators. The perfect way to relax. 




Alyssa at Ten Feet off Beale is giving away a gorgeous custom embroidery hoop and two months ad space!
The embroidered hoops are gorgeous.



Sarah at Life in a Breakdown is giving away Soap and Glory Tricks of the Shade box. So after you pamper yourself and make your house pretty you can get pretty. Love it.








Monday, December 17, 2012

A Moment of Silence


Today we take a moment of silence to pray and to remember the victims. 
Children, mothers,brothers, sisters, wives. 
They were all taken senselessly. 
Today we remember them. 


Charlotte Bacon, 6
Rachel D'Avino, 29
Olivia Engel, 6
Dylan Hockley, 6
Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47
Jesse Lewis, 6
Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
Grace McDonnell, 7
Anne Marie Murphy, 52
Emilie Parker, 6
Noah Pozner, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Mary Sherlach, 56
Lauren Rousseau, 30
Victoria Soto, 27
Daniel Barden, 7
Josephine Gay, 7
Madeleine Hsu, 6
Catherine Hubbard, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
James Mattioli, 6
Jack Pinto, 6
Caroline Previdi, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6.


Friday, December 14, 2012

Pray for Newtown


Today I was going to actually post something after a brief break. I was going to explain where I have been and all the excitement hitting my life. Then something happened... something that made my life and everything in it right now seem so trivial. Our nation was rocked by another selfish killer. This time the killer attacked innocent children. Innocent children that were looking forward to the holidays. Children who were trying to learn and grow. Children who had big dreams. They are gone.

What goes through a monster's head? Why did he have to attack people? Why did the kids have to die?

I pray for the community, the families and friends. I pray for the faculty of Sandy Hook Elementary. I pray for the children who witnessed the horrific events that unfolded today. I pray for the children that lost their lives. I pray that the nation is praying.

I will see you guys Monday.


Monday, December 10, 2012

Deck the Halls...


That is exactly what we did this weekend. If you follow me on instagram (@lilmrsh) you have seen the evidence! If not your about too...




Gorgeous? I think so. 

Christmas is rough. I have been trying to keep myself busy. So far, so good. 

A customer was irritated today,and made it a little tough. I told him I would get the owner for him... he shouts, " you can't the owner is DEAD!" My stomach dropped and I felt sick.  I hate the word "dead". He is no longer with us. He isn't HERE anymore. I just informed the ass Dad was the owner now. Then I sobbed. Uncontrollably at work. In front of 18 guys who just don't know how to handle it when girls cry. 

I am better now. I am sitting here enjoying the Christmas decor and ignoring any negativity that may come my way. I don't need it. No one needs it. Push away the negativity folks and enjoy the season. That's what I plan to do. Remember the reason for the season. Hug your loved ones. Sorry this went from happy to Debbie downer. 


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Oh How Pinteresting


I love this link up. You get to see all the randomness that caught my A.D.D eye. There is no rhyme or reason to this one. That seems to be my thing this week.

Source: Tumblr via Angela B on Pinterest
Source: Gypsy Farm Girl via Keeley R

Source: Project Decor via Tracey C. on Pinterest

Source: Tumblr via Donna H
Source: The comfort of cooking via James N

             

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Happy Little accidents and lunch in the trees

It was on of those days at work. Remember those guys I work with? The ones that bicker, tattle, complain and whine... well one of those little joys decided to attack me over a mistake that I didn't even make. 

That's right, yelled at me over a mistake that I couldn't help because I didn't do. 

He caught me on a bad day. I told him what I thought. Then I felt like a mean phsyco afterwards. Next time I am just going to look at him and say..... 
Who can argue with happy little accidents? No one. That's who. 

Moving on before my blood pressure goes up again... 
My Bff has moved back to Georgia! Thank God! I have missed her. She is my person.

 We went to lunch Saturday at a local nursery/gift shop. They moved all the small Christmas trees into the cafe and decorated them. So we had lunch in a mini forest! We also drove around looking at different neighborhoods for her to buy a house. We rounded out the night with a cookout, SEC football, wine and a bonfire. It was an awesome girl's day. 

I just noticed this post has no rhyme or reason. Sorry. Just a mumble jumbled update. It's kind of awkward but then again so am I. 

By the way... we still haven't put up a tree. Is any one else slacking in the Christmas department?  







Monday, December 3, 2012

How to tell if your hubby REALLY loves you...

This weekend I would say I really tested Mr.'s love. I mean really tested it. The test...

Step 1
Ask him if he will help you with a "project" even though he is on call this weekend. It's just a small project. When he asks what the project vaguely point to the back yard.

Step 2
Once in the backyard wrangle him to the barn, which you haven't bother to straighten up since you moved in.  Hand him a shovel and ask him to help you level a stall. 6 wheel barrels full of dirt later ask if he would like to take a break.

Step 3
Just when he thinks he is off the hook, hand him a bottle of bleach and ask him to help you bleach all the buckets and mats in the place.

Step 4
Try to look as sexy as possible in sweatpants and a tshirt with hay and poop and shavings all over you while asking if he will now help you set up one more stall and your feed room (if he whistles or smacks your booty he is passing the test).

Step 5
Once you are done, talk about how exhausted and achy you are even though he did most of the work. If he pulls you close (mud, hay and all) and kisses your forehead, he passed.

Being an equestrian is glamorous I tell ya, and I don't know what I would do without the hubs. I would have spent 3 days working in the barn instead of just one! I will say I always feel like a new person after barn work days. There is something so relaxing about getting so gross and working until you hurt. It's like I work out all my issues right there in the barn with the horses and then I get to come inside and stand in the shower and wash it all away. As cheesy as it sounds I feel like a new person afterwards.



Thank God for horses... and my amazing hubs.