Song I'm Digging This Week

"From Western Woods to Beaversdam" - "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" soundtrack

This song makes me want to read the books and watch the movies again. They're both magical.

Focus on the mouth!

Ok, let's be real. Is there really anything funnier than Animal?

Not much, I'd say.

Song I'm Digging This Week

"Do You Sleep?" by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

This was the very first CD I ever got - my dad bought it for me for Christmas in 1994. I knew every word to every song. And I still do.

And I'd still kill for a pair of those glasses. So brainy cute.

...And then the bottom fell out.

On Saturday, Holly Jo and I decided to engage in our yearly summer ritual: The Yard Sale.

Holly Jo's friend Allison had arranged for us to set up on the main stretch of road about 20 minutes from Holly Jo's house, and so we arrived at about 6:30 AM and got to work.

And it was hot. Really, really, hot. Sauna hot. Miserably hot.

And then, at about 12, a cloud rolled in. Just a small one. We all looked at each other, and Holly Jo said "I'm sure it will just pass by." After all, the weather report didn't predict rain. So we just waited.

Then it started to drizzle. Holly Jo and I covered up our books, but left everything else sitting out. We were laughing, and I even snapped the picture above. If you look carefully, you can see a few drips of water coming off the shade tent we were under.

And then suddenly, all of heaven opened up and a tsunami dropped down on us. Seriously. I have never been outside in rain like that.

For a while, we scrambled around, trying to save things - grabbing armfuls of clothing, picture frames, and slip-sliding to our cars. And then the wind picked up and started knocking things over - clothes racks, tables, etc.

At that point, Allison, Holly Jo, and I all looked at each other - water dripping off our faces, our hands shielding our eyes, our tshirts suctioned to our bodies - and we started to laugh. If so many people hadn't been passing by us (no doubt thinking "what idiotic girls"), I think we would have just played in the rain for a while. I did, however, reenact a few inspirational photo poses - you know, arms outstretched, face towards the sky, eyes closed. If someone had snapped a picture, I think I could have made it onto a Lifeway poster...

Needless to say, the yard sale was over, and the drive back home was a little squishy.

But I'd do it again.

Don't need those bra straps?

That's right. Put those unwanted bra straps to good use and use them to make your own Croc slingbacks.

(I snapped this picture all incognito with my phone while I was in the concession stand line at the movies this weekend.)

Born Yesterday

Well, ok. Let's get technical here - actually born two days (since I meant to post this yesterday)

...and 30 years ago.

Yikes. I keep saying it out loud when I'm by myself. "I am 30 years old. I am...30...years old." And no matter how I slice it, it feels weird.

However, according to my friend Lea Anne, if 40 is the new 30, then 30 is the new 20. Or maybe even 15. So I'm actually underage again. Which is cool.

I did have a fantastic birthday week, though.

I kicked it off by going to see my very favorite in the whole wide world singer, Imogen Heap (who is in her early thirties, single, and fabulous, thank you very much) with Ashleigh in Nashville. So much fun.

My sweet coworkers took me to lunch on Thursday, and even sang an almost (unintentionally) sacred hymn type setting of "Happy Birthday to You!" to me.

Lea Anne and I spent an entire day at the outdoor mall and browsed through my home-away-from-home, Anthropologie, until we'd seen every item. Then we met up with some more girls from work for dessert at The Melting Pot. (Melted chocolate? Yes, please.)

I spent Saturday, the day before my birthday, doing exactly what I wanted to do, which included a movie (by myself, with whatever candy I wanted), a couple of hours browsing Barnes and Noble, a couple of hours reading, repainting my closet doors a buttery yellow, and watching my favorite movie, "The Holiday," while eating ice cream.

On Sunday, I got asked out - not by my current crush, Cute Church Guy, but still. As Sue Sylvester would say "Not really my type, but I like that attitude."

I drove to my sister's house to hang out for a while, and then my parents came over and we went to her church, where my entire family sang some good old Southern gospel. On the way to my sister's church, Cute Church Guy called me to wish me happy birthday. Day made, thank you.

After church, my family took me out to dinner and brought out a chocolate cake (see picture above).

Along with the abundance of Facebook happy birthday wishes, I feel like a very loved girl.

And I'm ready to dive into this decade. Who knows what's in store? It's kind of exciting.

And on that note, here's my theme song for this year (and probably many to come). I first heard this song on the finale of "Felicity" (dear departed, wonderful gem of a show), and I immediately ordered the CD.

Best line (well, verse):

"I've spent a long time as myself, or the self I used to be. He was one in a long line of people imitating me...So just forget the things I used to say - chances are good that I don't feel that way anymore. It's hard to keep track, but there's no going back, since I was born yesterday..."

"Born Yesterday" by Mike Schmid

Maybe the sweetest thing ever.

Oh, this made me cry happy tears.

Soooooomeday (sing that)...

spotted on Ruffled

So I probably should stop looking at bridal posts since I'm nowhere near a wedding myself, but if, as my grandmother would say, I had my 'druthers, THIS is the exact wedding dress and look I'd go for.

And while I'm dreaming, I'd also like this bride's complexion, hair, eye color, and figure.

But seriously. Beautiful. And check out those gorgeous vintage teal shoes!

Mm-hm.

"Murray Chilton died. That makes one less person I'm not speaking to."

-Parker Posey in "You've Got Mail"

I completely identify with that line today. It's been one of those weeks.

Song I'm Digging This Week

"Suicide Blonde" by The Weepies

Time Machine "Glee"

I didn't hate high school - in fact, I thoroughly enjoyed most of it. I had good friends, a super-duper crush on an unavailable and much-more-popular-than-me guy, and semi-good hair (except for one disastrous haircut in 11th grade, referenced below). But there are a few moments I wish I'd handled with some more flair.

Which brings me to "Glee." I really, really love this show, along with about 99% of America. I think it's because a huge part of me wishes there was a time machine that would catapult me back to high school and enable me to re-live pivotal moments. And when I did re-live those moments, I would approach them with either Sue Sylvester or Rachel Berry in mind.

Cases in point:

Super-duper crush (or SDC) isn't as into me as I'm into him.

Real Amanda circa 1998: Pines from afar. Never reveals true feelings to SDC, but writes lots of Fiona Apple-esque songs and terrible poetry equating her love for him to a dagger tattoo. Yep. A dagger. Tattoo.

Time Machine Amanda as Rachel Berry: Would sing an elaborately staged version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" at SDC. Seriously at him. As in, standing right in front of him, looking ticked off and longing, all at the same time.

Mean Girl of the Century (you know who you are) makes fun of me in front of entire class.

Real Amanda circa 1994: Loses all ability to fire back a really good comeback. Just stands open-mouthed, fists clenched, and lets MGotC continue to behave like Paris Hilton.

Time Machine Amanda as Sye Sylvester: Would get close enough to MGotC to hug her, and then whisper in her ear "I am about to vomit down your back."


I really like to sing - really love it - but am embarrassed to sing anything other than Point of Grace-type songs (in church, with sister and mother) for fear of mockery.

Real Amanda circa 1996: Finally works up courage to sing a Jewel song for contemporary music class, despite having just received an awful Celine Dion mullet haircut. Looks uncomfortable for entire song, although does manage to glance a little bit too much at SDC while singing "you were meant for me...and I was meant for yoooooou..."

Time Machine Amanda as Rachel Berry and Sue Sylvester: Would walk up to SDC and say "You sunk my battleship, _________. You sunk it hard." Would then grab SDC's hand and force him to duet with me on "Don't Stop Believing." Magical band would materialize behind us, along with professional dancers. Also, I would have gorgeous flowing locks reaching my butt, which I would swish sexily and confidently while I belted out "living just to FIND EMOTION!"

Yeah. A time machine. It could happen. We have the iPad now, after all. Time travel can't be that far away. And when it happens - I'm so, so prepared.

If I were King of the Forest...

I really love it when I get out of the shower and realize that I left all of my hair styling products at my parents' house over Memorial Day weekend.

[Insert sarcasm here.]

I now resemble a scary mash-up of The Cowardly Lion and Richard Simmons.

Song I'm Digging This Week

"Everybody Learns from Disaster" by Dashboard Confessional

"We stayed in the sun too long...suffered a terrible burn..."

Seems appropriate for the weather here lately.