So. I’ve spent the last few days painting the dining room, steam cleaning my carpets, and cleaning my house in preparation for my Nanny’s visit. She’s on her way here right now from Florida. Who’s driving her? My bio father. Vomit. He’s sleeping at my sister’s house. I’m hosting a dinner tomorrow night and lunch the next day. I got no sleep last night. I still have so much to do and all I want to do is drink a big fat margarita and take a long, 3 day nap. Gotta take my meds. If I survive this visit I shall blog about it. Til then my friends.
Bless Your Heart
Living out loud in the Carolinas
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Vacation Consultant 🛳️ Color Street Stylist 💅
Mom to 3 pups 🐾
Lover of all things sparkly🪩 Ally 🌈
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But why? I’m always very interested to find out why people live where they do. What made you decide to live there? So why do you live where you do?
As for me…I grew up in SC. When I was 16 my mom married Momo’s dad. He worked in Charlotte so we packed up and moved to Charlotte. I’ve been here ever since. I’ve never lived in a city by my own choice. Sure, CSP & I close to live in the various suburbs of Charlotte, and I’m so glad we moved to Charlotte or I would have never met CSP. Coincidentally, CSP moved here within 2 weeks of my family. His dad got a job here and they packed up and moved here the day after CSP graduated high school. Ah, fate. I think all this is why we’re so keen on moving to Knoxville one day. Because we choose to go there, circumstances aren’t taking us there.
Anyway, so why are you where you are?
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We bought a hibiscus from Sam’s club last week and it bloomed!
I love the color. Not quite orange, not quite red. Kind of mango on acid color. 
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Momo & I took Zoe to the nursing home to visit Gmommy. Zoe ran up to the door and got all excited. As we neared the door we saw why:
Of all the days I bring my tiny pug they have some huge dog there! He was eyeing Zoe like she was a snack. Luckily he was really sweet and after introductions they basically ignored each other.Gmommy LOVED Zoe. And Zoe loves everyone so that worked out well.
Zoe was on her best behavior. She really wanted to run around and explore, but in an Alzheimer’s unit I didn’t think that would be such a good idea so Momo held on to her. 
My sweet girl. 
I can’t wait to take her back. -
My parents have had these cacti by their pool for years.
All of the sudden this year they bloomed! So pretty! The petals look like paper. 
They all had bees gathering pollen. They also have these cool flowers that look like fireworks. 
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Now that we have an IKEA we seem to be there at least once a week. The other night Sara called and asked did I want to join them there for dinner. Jacob & Joey LOVE IKEA. She asked them where did they want to go and they both grabbed IKEA things to show her. When the big yellow & blue building came into view Jacob yelled “IKEA!!” from the backseat. My heart swelled.
We had dinner then dropped the boys off at Smaland while we shopped. Sara had some frames to pick up and CSP requested more salmon sauce from the Swede shoppe. Jacob & Joey LOVE Smaland.
They know the whole drill about removing their shoes and putting on their stickers. There’s so much for kids to do there. Coloring, climbing on things, a big ball pit, this cool elevated loft thing filled with bean bags for them to lounge on while watching movies. I’ve never seen kids beg to stay in a store that isn’t a toy store! -
I don’t drink coffee so when we go to Starbucks I usually get a frappucino. CSP gets to take his big reusable coffee travel mugs to Starbucks, but I didn’t have anything suitable for my cold drinks. So when Jenny blogged or tweeted or something about finding this fabulous reusable tumbler at Starbucks I was so psyched! Until I couldn’t find them. ANYWHERE. I called every Starbucks in my area, my mom’s town, the ones near CSP’s work, everywhere. I heard the same story “They sell out as soon as we get them.” These things are so hot they are even being sold for astronomical prices on eBay! Well I am not about to pay more than retail!
So today we spent the day with my in-laws. Breakfast and shopping at IKEA, picking up dinner fixins at Trader Joe’s, buying our new clothes washer at Sears, etc. FIL suggested we stop off at Starbucks after Sears for coffee. We walked in and there, in all their glory: the coveted double walled, insulated, reusable cold tumblers! The skies parted and the beverage gods smiled down upon me! There were only a few and only in the grande size. I scooped one up and they filled it up with green tea frappucino. Yum.
I feel so much more responsible now. LOVE this tumbler. No sweating since it’s double walled. Plus the drinks stay cold longer. I’ve never seen Starbucks offer anything like this. I bet this won’t be the last summer they sell this tumbler. Comes with a permanent straw too. So cute! I’ll be sure to keep it with my reusable shopping bags so every time I go out and about I’ll be prepared! -
I love when Molly lays like this.
She looks like a frog. Upon closer inspection you can see she was a little short changed in the tail department! 
I just love her little turkey legs! -
Lots of anniversaries this month: my parents, CSP’s parents, and Marc & Sara. Other big event: Nanny & my bio father, Divet Head, are coming to visit for 3 days. May need to up my meds. -
I’ve been running dangerously low on hair styling product lately and I’ve been wondering what product to buy to re-stock. My hair is fine and thin, like my wallet. Ha! Just when I thought I’d stumble through CVS or Target and buy whatever looked pretty I read this fabulous post on Not Martha. Megan (who is clearly a GENIUS) made her own version of Bumble & Bumble’s Surf Spray. At $22 for 4 ounces that’s gotta be some special sauce! I can sure see why she’d try her own DIY version instead of plunking down all that cash.
The recipe:
- 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt
- 4 ounces water
- 1 generous squirt of hair gel
My spray gel
was running low and came in a 5 ounce bottle so I just added the water to it. I was in the upstairs bathroom and didn’t feel like running down for measuring spoons so I kind of just eyeballed the epsom salt amount. Put the spray lid back on and gave it a good shake. The salt dissolves really quickly. I used it for the first time today and it’s FAB! Gave my fine hair volume and texture. I sprayed my hair after toweling dry, before blow drying. Just think of how much money I’ll save! One tube of gel will last for eons now and epsom salt is only like $2 for a huge carton of it. You must try this concoction!
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Bless Your Heart 