Friday Happies!

Throwback. Savannah, 2008. I simply cannot believe that was seven years ago. Seriously!

Hello friends! How was your week? Mine went by in an utter blur! This weekend is the BIG yard sale. I am so excited to get rid of all the stuff I've gone through during my KonMari adventure. I have a sneaking feeling I will be getting rid of much more afterward. Anyway, here's this week's list of happies, funs, interestings and what-nots to get you stoked for your weekend adventures!

*An anonymous man donated his wife's wedding dress after she passed. He pinned the sweetest note to it and now it's gained worldwide attention.

*Fascinating. A woman vowed to wear the same outfit every day for the month of May as an experiment with "Decision Fatigue". Here is what she had to say!

*Where you lead... GILMORE GIRLS REUNION!

*This mom owned the dance floor at her son's wedding.

*I (and everyone else on the planet) love this little girl's sassy dance recital! Work it girl!

*Heh. Harry Potter and grownups.

*These guys described what they'd like to see their girlfriend's makeup look like to a makeup artist. The results were...mixed.

*I have been drawn to these simple linen aprons lately.

*I tried this scarf trick yesterday at work and we are all obsessed now.

*I'm going to make these for the hubs for his morning nosh this week.

*Coffee ground soap...I'm super intrigued.

*Every time I find this on the interwebs, I get so dang tickled my eyes water. Mischief managed!

*You know I love these "100 years of" videos! The '05 outfit was straight up Lorelai Gilmore!

*The kitchen registry items we still use today (and the ones we wished we had and hadn't registered for).

*"I tried living like every Instagram fashion girl".

Have a great weekend y'all!!

Friday Happies!

I'm in a philodendron kinda mood.

Hey y'all! What a long week. I'm working all weekend, but I'm keeping a smile on my face. Here's this week's list of funs, happies, pretties, interestings and what-not's to help keep a smile on your face too! Here we go!

*I weirdly love this bathing suit. One pieces aren't really my style, but I may need to reconsider that because...well, mid-thirties. I like this one too...

*Wanna know what goings-on are happening in the deep ole dirty South this Spring? Check it out!

*Would LOVE this for the new house...but $600...not quite ready for that!

*You know I love those "100 years of" posts! Here's 100 years of fitness. So great!

*And Jane Fonda of course!

*Super Troopers is crowd-funding a sequel fourteen years after the first! Sweet!

*I've never seen an eclipse of any kind. Last week a solar eclipse could be seen (it seems like) everywhere but where I was. So, I found this list!

*Robert Plant and Jack White covered "The Lemon Song". Wild.

*I'd flaunt it too. Good for her.

*I LOVE CAPYBARAS. Let's just get that straight. But look! They all took a hot tubby together! The cuteness...it hurts.

*Dude. The first grade preparedness checklist from 1979 shows a whole lot of change has happened in a short amount of time. I can't say I'm the hugest fan of how helpless people seem to be making them these days.

*Netflix show, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, shows the irrelevance of major networks like NBC. Wowsers.

*This woman followed the 90's dating rule book "The Rules" for three months and hilarity ensues.

*Cool. This artist created world maps from food. I love stuff like that. Remember these guys?

*I seem to have a beacon inside me that lures former flight attendants into my life. It makes for great stories and friendships. Did you know they have their own language?

*This lady inspired me this week. She lost 200 pounds and did a 10K! When she started having difficulty toward the end, her son and a police officer helped her finish. Even though she finished last, she's the winner to me!

Have a great weekend, guys!!

Friday Happies!

Pretty towels (see below).

Hey y'all! Sorry this is getting out a bit late, but it's still chock-full of pretties, happies and fun things to help you kick off your weekend right! Hang on and enjoy the ride!

*Groovy Harry Potter books! Rather chic, I'd say!

*I really dig the Akola Project, what they do and provide as well as all the pretty things they sell.

*We did the 12 grapes thing this new year. Have you ever done it? It was fun and harder than I thought to get twelve grapes down my gullet in less than a minute.

*This monkey saved his friend when he was electrocuted and fell unconscious! Its sweet and a little heartbreaking watching him panic, but in the end he's a little monkey hero! Aw!!

*I kinda love these.

*How to stop hitting the snooze button. I need this! I've been a regular snooze-hound for weeks now and it just makes me feel sleepier!

*This made me smile because it's totally me every day!

*I'm in the market for a new watering can. My last one was my grandmother's and finally kicked the bucket (no pun intended). This one is beautiful!

*I don't usually wear a lot of blue, but I think this hat is so pretty!!

*Interesting read about how 2014 was a thriving year for female choreographers! Cool!

*Twelve monthly wellness challenges to try this year! I like #2 and #12 in particular!

*Lonny online magazine's 2015 resolutions! I could get lost on that website. It's such decorative inspiration!

*These Meyer Lemon Eclairs sound positively incredible.

*I have zero need for this in any way but it's so darn cute!!!

*One of the things I'd like to do this year is slowly replace my towels with nice white fluffy luxurious spa-y towels. I love these "woodgrain" towels. So pretty (and reasonable for organic too!).

Friday Halloweenies!!!

Great costumes for little ones!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL!!!! Boy, do I love Halloween. I love the raised hairs on the back of my neck, chill on the air, the magical time of year that it is! I love costumes and silliness and fun. I love the ancient traditions and the goofier modern traditions. Hocus Pocus, The Great Pumpkin, peeled grapes (eyeballs) and spaghetti (brains!!)! I love the music (my first vinyl record was The Monster Mash), and the suspension of disbelief that allows everyone to basically take a mental night off and just exist freely.

Well, I'm fortunate enough to have the weekend off and I hope y'all do too; and even if you don't, here are some funs, happies, pretties and maybe a few spookies to usher you into a fun-filled weekend!!

*I love that this young gal photoshopped herself into old photos of her mother's childhood and young adult years! It's so fun, and makes you think about (something I've thought about many times) what it would have been like if you could hang out with your folks when they were young. Would they have liked you? Would you have been the good influence or bad?

*OOOOwoooo! Haunted houses (for sale) tour!!!

*AHMAGAH! Madonna Chihuahua!

*Beautiful "lace" pumpkins!

*Great "before and after" wedding photos! 

*Make this cute and quirky garland for trick-or-treaters in just enough time to have it hung before the doorbell rings!

*Pups + Leaves = Total Happiness!!!!!

*I have no idea what costume I could make with this gorgeous silk skirt, but boy is it cute!!! Maybe I don't need a reason!

*Meanwhile...In Scotland.

*Yummy things to do with seasonal squash, or squarshes as has been known to be said 'round these parts.

*Awesome teachers you wish you'd had!

*I laughed so hard at this and have watched it waaaaay too many times since. However, I must share it with you. If you haven't seen Sia's Chandelier video, then here ya go. It's helpful.

*And then there's this incredible version from Dancing with the Stars with the original little gal from the Chandelier video, Maddie Ziegler. She's something else, that kid. Wow.

*On a serious note, Brittany Maynard, the young woman who had chosen to end her life (lived with inoperable brain cancer) with dignity on November 1st,  has decided life is feeling too good to end now. There is no "end date" now, and I think that is so damn cool and ballsy. Go on, girl! Enjoy every damn second!

I hope y'all have a fantastic Halloween weekend! Y'all be safe now!

Friday Happies!

Hey y'all! I can't believe it's rolling up on the weekend again! This week has just flown by. Well, you know the drill around here on Fridays, it's all about funs, happies, pretties and the like so you are ushered in to a great weekend with a smile on your face (even if you have to work all weekend like me!). Here we go!

*I was really inspired by this post. Why You Should Hang Out With + Date People You Admire.

*Black cat Halloween pumpkins?! Soo cool!!!

*Yum times a thousand.

*I'm not that into "shabby chic" but I dig this idea of making your crappy fridge look more rustic and less well- crappy!

*Um, yes please. 

*Well that is certainly something. I love it and its so odd!

*Watercolor mirrors. What a cool idea! I think I want to try to make some for gifts (and one for me...ahem). Would you try something like that? It reminds me of a beautiful watercolor tattoo I saw a few years ago.

*This made me and the hubs laugh so much for so long!

*Holy cow!! That. is. awesome!!!

*Akinator, the Web Genius will guess any fictional character you think of by asking you 20 questions. It guessed my obscure one. The hubs stumped it by picking a real person. Either way, it's eerily good! Fun!

*Well, that puppy is the cutest puppy I've seen today. Little feller!!

*A comedic gymnastics routine? Yep, and it made me chortle. There is definitely an homage to Mr. Bean or Monty Python in there somewhere.

Have a great weekend y'all!!

Give a little bit!

Hey y'all! It's Wednesday, and around here on Wednesdays I give a list of organizations, people, animals etc. you can donate to (even just $5 helps!). No act of kindness, no matter how small ever goes unnoticed!

*This is cool! DonorsChoose.org, teachers ask for what the need for their students, your donations get them what they need!

*Help little Diesel get his tests and treatment. Look at that face!!!

*Kiva is an organization that helps give loans to people all over the world to start their own businesses! How neat is that?!

*I've linked to Best Friends before, but it's been a while and I like them. So here it is again!

*Help Mom get to France!

*Give this soap maker a helping hand to get her wares out to her community. They look so nice!

*Help lay to rest a family (one mother and four children) who were killed in a fire. So sad.

*This little guy fell 150 feet down cliff and survived with major injuries. The Oregon Humane Society's Technical Animal Rescue Team hiked for hours to get him safely to surgery (he's doing great- what a tough and brave little guy!). Anything over the costs needed for his surgeries and medicines (already covered) goes to those brave and loving animal lovers that saved his life. Let's help them out!

*Let's give this dance troupe the public dance event they are working toward!

*Direct Relief International provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life to those affected by poverty, illness, catastrophe and war. A frequent high-ranking organization for its quality work.

Give what you can y'all! Every little bit helps!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

No act of kindness, no matter how small...

Proverb.

It's Wednesday y'all. Lord, have I had the longest week already! Yesterday all kinds of crazy found me. I'm sure part of it is my fault for letting it find me (or paying the piper, so to speak). But man! I was a ball of stress/grumpiness/exhaustion/frustration. I wanted to vent and be a piss-ant. I wanted to drink a bottle of wine and eat peanut butter for dinner (sometimes being a grown up is awesome). I wanted to run away from everything that was pissing me off. You know, like healthy people do, right? Geesh.

I sat down at my computer to work on today's post, and laughed out loud (well, kind of snort-chuckled). I was sitting down to compile a list of people, organizations, animals etc. that could use whatever help they can get, and I've been bitching and whining and being a butt about little things that are so super controllable. I embarrassed myself, frankly. Remember when I said this blog is just as much for me as it is for everyone who reads it? Yeah, that's the big time truth.

So, I took a little extra time to find more folks to help. It made my heart feel better and maybe it can help theirs too. Here we go!

*Remember the Semolina Superhero fundraiser (the smallest American pasta company) from a few weeks ago? Well, thanks to everyone that contributed, they made their goal!! Yaaaay!! While we're at it, let's help Clark Theriot publish a Cajun-Vegan cookbook! Sounds fantastic!

*An 11 year old developed an IV pediatric backpack for kids with cancer. They're almost to their goal (only $4000 to go!!). Check out the video here!

*Help fund Thor's (the cat) surgery!! They're almost to their goal (only $40 away)!

*Spread hope through dance for Rwandan street children!

*Wow! Check this out! American Sanctuary Association has tons of great accredited American animal sanctuaries to choose from! The Forest Animal Rescue has my attention (the post about Blizzard had my waterworks a-going).

Any organizations or charities you like to give to? I'd love to know! Remember, even just $5 can make a huge difference for so many. And as for me and my mood and perspective...changed for the better.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day.

Friday Happies!

Enormous sunflower at Mom's.

What's up, y'all? Is it just me or have the days and weeks just been flying by? It feels like I just put together a Friday list like two days ago! Wowsers. Well, it's time to get some happy juju flowing to gear up for the weekend.

Got any plans? I've got a few, but they mostly involve...well, I'll guess you'll find out on Monday! Now heeeeere's the list!


*I love this hat for Fall & Winter. I want to wear it and pretend I'm Carmen SanDiego, or some other woman of mystery and intrigue.

*I really enjoyed this young lady's article about Hermione and the need for strong, intelligent female characters in literature (and TV and movies etc. etc.). Well done, you!

*This thought has crossed my mind too.

*I love a tassel. I have a feeling if I owned these, I'd just rub my face on it all the time. Also, nerd-alert...love the name (Potterheads, am I right?).

*I'm fairly certain that this is what I sound like talking about any subject I'm interested in, and all my friends and family are my Bill Cosbys...Cosbies? I'm going with Cosbies.

*Some ABC's for happiness!

*Just makes me smile every time I see it. Shake it!

*I was late to the game to find Kid President, but I just adore him and the message. This one made me  laugh and tear up and feel so inspired and joyous. That means its time to do something!!! What will be your Space Jam?! Just love it. Play ball. 

*Well, this may have been me this week! It may have been, but I've still gotten in nearly seven miles so far!

*How I missed this the first and second time around, I know not. But I literally donkey laughed while washing dishes the other night when it came on. Dickies, yo!

*A great Carol Burnett  show with Betty White (looking damn foxy if I say so), Steve Martin and of course Vicki Lawrence (Thelma Harper woot woot!!).

I hope y'all laugh and smile and have a wonderful weekend, and if you have to work- you can make it through. Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations and it'll be a damn good day (or two in this case).

Later, y'all!

La Musica!

Little me, cutting a rug way back when. Looks the same now, by the way.

One of the things I've realized over the years, during what I have caught myself referring to as the "dark ages" i.e. many years of a depression that varied in depth, is that music fell away from my world a lot.

Music always was something that made me happy. It was a part of my childhood, and an enormous part of my teenage and adult years. It was only recently that music began creeping in more into my life again after years of a personal music-desert (sort of). I laughed today when I realized there were months I wouldn't listen to music at all! Before I dipped into the pit, so to speak, music was on all day, every day. Nonstop. I went to concerts regularly; incredible, perspective & life-altering concerts. I sang. I dreamed actively of getting over my paralyzing fear of singing in front of people to realize a bucket list-type dream of performing. Ugh.

Throughout the "dark ages", music would slip in every now and then, particularly when there was something so good I couldn't resist it (and right when I got married there were several months of memory-making happy music), but honestly there has been or was a void inside. Lately I've realized that that void has started to fill back up with music again. The hubs and I have been listening to a lot of records on the ole turntable and playing Spotify through our television from the laptop. As I write this, in fact, Miss Lucinda Williams is crooning to me with her lovely raspy and lilting voice.

There is a magic that happens in the pit of my chest when I'm listening to the right music at the right moment. This magnificent resonance and a happy trance-like situation overcomes me and I cannot help but move my body and/or sing. I can feel my brain and spirit catching fire like sage brush during a lightning storm. It feels incredible to touch that again. To see it sitting across the room making eyes at me.

So, in honor of something so big returning to my world, here is some music that makes me happy or moves me. Share some of your favorites with me because I'd love to know!

Lucinda Williams.

Sally! (Salvatore Geloso, always takes me somewhere good & makes me miss New Orleans).

Jimmy Fallon with Meghan Trainor, saw this last week and a friend reminded me of it this week. Just makes me smile.

A few years old, but I still love it.

Another oldie, but it makes me laugh every time I watch the video and I always have the song stuck in my head afterward. 

This video just makes me happy and reminds me of great house parties back in the day.

And the perennial classic. You've heard it a million times, but listen- really listen. It's the happiest damn song!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day! Take some time to play some music that makes you happy. It can change your entire day.

Every little thing...

Image courtesy of Ocala Style

How is your week going, friends? Need a pick-me-up? Perhaps you are looking for a way to manifest some good in your life? As I mentioned last week, sometimes the best way to do that is by bringing good into someone else's world. Take some time to peruse these organizations and charities. You may find something that speaks to you, or perhaps it will spring something to mind in your own neighborhood that you can help. Remember, even just $5 can make a difference in someone's day and life or the life of an animal. Isn't that wonderful? I think so. I know several of these got my dollars this week!

*Animal Abuse Defense Registry. A way to make sure adopted animals are going to a safe home. I love that idea.

*Help rebuild Broadway Lights Dance Center in Gulf Breeze, Florida. It was nearly destroyed by heavy storms. How can you resist those little ballerina tutus?!

*A way to help "decision-makers" chart recovery in the Gulf of Mexico. I'm a Gulf Coast girl, and the ecosystems here are stunning, however they have suffered so much. This would be a cool way to give back.

*On that note, save our manatees! I love manatees. I want to hug them and if I ever get to be an eccentric billionaire, I will create a huge manatee sanctuary and bob around in the water with them for hours trying to steal hugs from these sweet creatures. I know one is not supposed to harass the wildlife, but they're just so lovely and an important part of their ecosystem. I physically have to hold back the hugs!!

*Help make sure no child goes to bed hungry. A big feat, but a noble one! Feed the children.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Love Yo'self!

Image courtesy of Wellness 360.

Well, how did you do last week? Did you try any of the DIY care recipes? I'm going to start using the baking soda face polish for sure. Everyone I've talked to about it seems to have tried it and loved it. Thursdays on PP&PS are all about self-care, and without further ado, more ideas on how we can care for our bodies and skin and spirits a little bit better this week. Anything you do that's a surefire self-love fix? I'd love to hear!

*Turmeric milk for colds, flu, & depression. I have to say, I'm intrigued. Especially because I spent the first part of the week in bed with a case of the "trying not to pukes" something that is going around my office. Ew.

*Fight human trafficking in your jammies. I love the Punjammies company. You can get a beautiful pair of pajama pants handmade by women who have been removed from forced prostitution and are taught a trade to make a living wage. Cosy and beautiful gift for you or your friends, and it helps a lot of women and their children. I want the Ratna full-length. Beautiful all the way around!

*I am definitely giving this a try this week. It sounds relaxing.

*Ginger Sugar Scrub for face and body. Oh that sounds so invigorating! Now if it came with a strong-handed massage therapist to apply it it would be even better!

*Because shimmying to sexy music is a great way to care for your body and have fun too!

*Meditation to help with depression. Nice to have in your back pocket for a rough patch.

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!