'Merica

Make good Choices y'all!! Remember, Adult Beverages and Fireworks don't always end well!! 

Stones and Paula Deen

I am angry. I am outraged. I am offended. If you don't wanna read what I have to say, just click that cute little "X" right now. The word Sassy isn't in this title for nothing! ;)
Have you ever said something you wished you could take back? Have you ever called someone a name? A really offensive name? Have you ever said something in anger that you really wished you could take back?
Oh you have? So have I. Which brings me to the subject of my outrage today.  Paula Deen. She's a nearly 70 year old woman born and raised in The South. She admitted to saying something, a long time ago and maybe a few times since then. She was honest, and now she's being torn apart by the media for being honest and admitting her mistake. When my dear MawMaw was still alive she used the same racial slur, frequently. Not saying it's right, I'm saying it was a way of life back then.  It may have been offensive but more often than not it was just a word. 
I understand that Paula Deen is not going to go broke. Girl is set for life. However, I am ashamed of big business for breaking up with her.  So I'm breaking up with them.
Food Network: It's not me, It's You. Goodbye Smithfield Hams! Y'all are no longer welcome at my Christmas dinner. Matt Lauer: You're a jerk and I don't care where in the world you go.  
Any other business who severs ties with her, I'll be severing ties with them as well.  Because at the end of the day, we've all done things that we're not proud of.  Said things that we wish we could take back.  Hopefully you were treated with compassion and understanding.  Why can't we do the same for this Goddess of Southern Hospitality and Cooking?
John 8:7 "But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' "
So. There.

Summer Reading...

The one thing I've been so stinking excited about with school being over, was actually getting to read.  Not because my professor told me to read chapters 3-6. Not because I needed to look over a student's IEP before a conference, but just reading for pure enjoyment.  Here's a list of books that have been patiently waiting for my 68 days (or so..) of summer bliss.   

    Revenge Wears Prada Whistling Dixie in a Nor'Easter Yankee Doodle Dixie  Magnolia Wednesdays Anything by Mary Kay Andrews Gone Girl Deep Down True I also tend to re-read Gone with the Wind in the summer, or over Christmas, so that could happen as well. What are y'all reading this summer? Is anyone else interested in doing a book swap/exchange? Or even a blog book club?  

H54F!!

I don't even want to count and see how long it's been since I last H54F, but I know it's been a while.

1. It's the First Official day of Summer!! 2. Being the first official day of summer, it's also, Wear your Lilly Day!! 3. Pink fingers and toes (OPI Charged up Cherry is my favorite color for summer, at least so far!!) 4. Tan lines. I'm a total weirdo, but I love tanning and getting tan lines. I even like getting a little sunburn occasionally.. just not the drastic sunburn that resulted in a trip to the ER three years ago. 5. Zac Brown Band tonight!!!!!!!!!!

Linking up with Lauren!!

School's out for Summer!!

Hello again BlogWorld!! I didn't mean to take a hiatus from blogging when I started my new job back in January, but that is exactly what happened! Forgive me please?!   Since it's Summer (well I'm actually writing this from work as I have like an hour and a half left in my last teacher work day and I've finished everything on the to-do list), I'm going to get back into blogging.  My precious kiddo's had a half day last friday, and I am really starting to miss them. Thankfully I'm not in a traditional classroom and I'll more than likely have most of the same kid's come August plus a few new ones.   I've missed blogging and all my lovely followers so I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and hopefully making a few people smile!  

Things I hate about Dating. Part 1.

I've been working on this post for what feels like forever, and if we're being honest.. I could probably publish several volumes (and I probably will)
Things I hate about dating: So much effort. "There's no such thing as natural beauty"-Truvy (Steel Magnolias)  When a guy I'm seeing texts me at 7:30 and is all like "Hey! Let's hang out" and I look down at what I'm wearing (pajamas) and I look in the mirror. My hair hasn't been washed in two days, smeared makeup from "reading" (napping) earlier. I have a serious decision to make.  Do I put my reclusive nature aside, shower, put makeup on, and pick out an outfit, and go watch a movie with a very handsome young man?  Or do I say "I'm really busy tonight, maybe tomorrow?"   The Games... Seriously y'all. The only games I'm interested in playing are board games and the apps on my phone. Don’t call, don’t act too interested. Do call, but be aloof. When to play it cool, when to show you care. It’s all so confusing. If I like a person, I just want to be able to tell them.  If I like someone, I'm going to tell them.  If I want to call someone, I'm going to call them. I'm not going to wait exactly 7 minutes before responding to his text. I don't think I should have to "play games" in order to get a boyfriend. If I have to play games to get one, do I have to play games to keep him? Cause y'all.. that gets exhausting.
"Where do we stand?" That weird grey area where you're not exactly sure where you stand.  Are we exclusive? Can I see other people?  Are you seeing other people? This conversation is by far the worst.  It's like laying all your cards on the table and hope that y'all are on the same page.   Getting stood up/cancelled on Worse yet, when you get bailed on at the last minute.  You spend an hour or so getting ready, you've been excited all day, and then at the last minute you get one of these:  And I'm immediately like "Should I cry? should I make other plans? should I just start drinking? All three at once?! Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!" (Also, let's talk about how this guy forgot his friend's birthday.. he sounds like someone who's incredibly thoughtful and definitely worth my time.. except not)
Being a Third Wheel We all have those well meaning friends, those couples that invite us out. “Come along, it’ll be fun, you won’t feel like a third wheel at all!” Yeah right. Sorry, but no matter how hard friends try, if you’re single, its obvious, and a part of you is always going to feel awkward in a room full of couples. Save yourself the embarrassment, politely decline.
The awkward conversations. I have been keeping a list of questions I've been asked on dates.  These are real and mostly from first dates: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How many kids do you want? Why did your last relationship end? You really like wine huh? You work with special needs kids, so is that because you couldn't get a job with "normal kids"? My responses are usually something like this:              The Feelings...

You meet a guy. You think he's a great guy.  You think "Wow! I can really see this going somewhere" and then when it inevitably all goes down the crapper, You're sad, and hurt, and confused, and frustrated and if you're anything like me, left with a strong urge to:  

(or tequila, or wine, or vodka, or whatever you prefer, Sugar)

    First Kisses.. Apparently kisses can make or break relationships. Seriously! I just read an article all about how you can be totally into someone, and then kiss them and if there's not any fireworks, that person is not genetically compatible with you.. No worries for me, because I'm a FABULOUS kisser. Or at least, I've never had any complaints... yet.. I'm still single..       The Emotional Roller coaster...   You're nervous and excited about the first date, hopeful for a second date, nervous for a first kiss, hurt when you.. idk.. find out that he not only used to date your coworker but that they maybe weren't quite as broken up as he led you to believe and that your first date was the night before he actually broke up with her.. (oddly specific huh? yeah.. that happened).  The nervous butterflies that you get when you've sworn up and down you'll never text him again, and then.. he texts you.  The bubble bursting sadness when he doesn't text you, or worse yet, texts you to say "I don't think this is going to work out".  It's enough to make anyone just say "Enough!"

 

Waiting..
Waiting for him to call. Waiting for a second date invitation. Waiting for a first kiss. Waiting for him to call me his girlfriend.  Waiting for him to pull his head out of his butt.  Whoever said "Patience is a virtue" was probably a man, and he was probably single.

Yet, we submit ourselves to this horrible, stressful, sometimes magical, and wonderful torture. We put ourselves through the ups and the downs, the laughs, the embarrassment, the waiting, the games, the grey area.  We put up with all of this because somewhere out in the world there is a person who is looking for someone like us.  We do all of this because we know that someday, it will all be worth it..

Lilly Pulitzer..

If you haven't heard yet Lilly Pulitzer passed away yesterday. I know I am in mourning. We lost one of the most important designers in the US as well as a style icon.

Lilly Pulitzer brought color, sunshine and whimsy into the lives of all those she touched personally as well as the countless men, women and children she influenced with her designs. She will be missed dearly.

Rest in Peace Lilly, your life was a party that taught us all how to dress.

Get Cookin, Good Lookin!!

Hi there all my Good Lookin followers!!

I hope everyone has had a good week!! I am enjoying my first official day of Spring Break!! Woohoo!!!

Here's some of the deliciousness I cooked up this week:

Monday Night:
Chicken and Shrimp Stir-Fry
http://melindabesinaiz.blogspot.com/2013/02/clean-eating-chicken-and-shrimp-stir-fry.html

 (Served with Near East Whole Wheat couscous)


Tuesday:
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip cookies
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/03/brown-butter-oatmeal-chunk-cookies/

Wednesday:
Skinny Chicken Cordon Bleu
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/03/chicken-cordon-bleu.html

(I used Gina's pictures because my rollups didn't come out quite as pretty as hers! Still Yummy!!!)

Garlic Smashed Broccoli
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/03/roasted-broccoli-with-smashed-garlic.html

Chicken Stew
http://www.framedcooks.com/2012/12/creamy-chicken-stew.html

 (I added more celery and carrots than the recipe called for, and mine was a bit runnier, but still equally delicious! I also made this the same night as the Chicken Cordon Bleu but this was my Lunch for Thursday... So yum!!)

Thursday:
Beef & Broccoli
http://rainydaygal.com/2011/02/03/beef-with-broccoli/

(I served mine over brown rice because I hate white rice)

Check out all the Yummies that Katelyn made this week here

Next week I'll try to remember to take more of my own pictures, but y'all this food was so yummy that I couldn't stop myself from digging right in!!

Happy Friday Y'all!!

I'm Back (Again.. Hopefully for good!) with a new LinkUp!!

I am coming out of the wood work (again) to launch a fun new weekly linkup with my Bestie, Katelyn (A Wife's Life).

What's been going on? What has everybody been up to? Me? Still loving my job!! School is really killing my social life! ;) I was seeing someone fantastic, but as they usually do, he turned out to be more "Yankee Bad Boy Skeezball", than "Romantic Southern Transplant of my dreams".  Out with him, in with the pint of Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate.  I've been drowning my sorrows over him for more time than I'm proud of.. but we're moving on!

Katelyn and Sammie <3

Speaking of ze Bestie, Last week we finally got to meet face to face and spent the best day ever shopping, getting mani's, laughing and stuffing our faces.  What can I say? She gets me!

Anyway, Kate and I came up with the idea for this new linkup because we both are totally guilty of pinning dozens (probably more like hundreds) of recipes, but then when it comes down to it, we just go out to eat or get take out.  Thus the "Get Cookin Good Lookin" weekly link party/challenge has been born.

Here's how it works:

-Grab our button and link up with us every Friday

-Credit the original source and share the recipe in your post. I will be adapting mine some from the original source but still want to give them credit.

-Post pictures of your food.

-Share any helpful tips you can think of!

We are so excited to see what everyone comes up with and make some of your recipes. The first link up starts Friday!

Winner!!!!

471 entries later we have a winner for the Etsy, Birchbox and Target gift card along with a super sweet ad!

AND THE WINNER IS....

 

Ashley at Embracing The Everyday!

 

From all of the wonderful ladies who hosted this giveaway we say

 

To all of our new bloggy followers, we hope you stick around to create fabulous friendships!

I am alive!!

Hello Lovelies!!
I hope y'all are doing well and just know that I am alive and well and LOVING my new job!! My students are a huge blessing in my life and I've really realized that this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. 
I'm off work tomorrow and I'll be writing a bunch of posts.
Love and Miss y'all!!

Congratulations!!!!

So sorry y'all!! I got caught up in a case of the Monday's!!

Congratulations to the lucky winner of our giveaway!!! Jessica from http://wonderwhatsnextblog.blogspot.com/

Ill be mailing your gift basket out first thing tomorrow!!!

Thanks so much to all who entered!!

Happy Monday Lovelies!!

It's OK Thursday.

  Happy Thursday Lovelies!!
It's Ok...
That I shamelessly flirt with the sweet guy in my biology class even though he is wayyyy to young for me...(I'd let him be my DD though!)... That I locked myself in the bathroom and cried for 10 minutes yesterday after one of my students was a holy terror..   That picking out outfits for school is exhausting.. and I sometimes lay awake way later that I should because I'm all like "did I do laundry? is my black skirt clean? do I want to wear a skirt? skirt and what... dress? what time is it? OMG!!!"   That I'm a shopaholic and I'm frighteningly close to being broke...     That I had wine for dinner last night..   That sometimes I'm all like "I'm going to save so much money" and then be like "Buttt.... Shoes!!"..   That I laugh uncontrollably alone in my room at #myfriendsaremarried...   That I still don't really understand what I'm supposed to claim on my W4's...   That I'm kicking myself for not getting the new middle school teacher I met at my enrollment's number.. or last name.  Who doesn't need more friends? Specifically friends who are male, that just moved here from a different state and that dress well.... On second thought.. he seems too good to be true. That I am the master procrastinator.. (I actually got my laptop out to work on homework, 6 hours, 2 blog posts. a nap and a weird pseudo date later... No homework got done.) That when I tell stories of how awful dating is and people are like "You're so funny! You should totally create a blog" I'm all like:    because then they would read the things I write about them... But you know what's not okay? Not entering our Giveaway!! Sooooo not okay! So go do that.. ASAP.

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Sunday Social

Happy Sunday Y'all!!


I'm linking up today with Neely and Ashley for:

What is your ideal way to relax?
With a glass of wine! Wine makes everything Fine.

Where is your favorite place to be?
Charleston SC.  It's my happy place.  Or in my bed.. because lets face it.. being in bed is awesome.

Who do you consider your biggest role model?
 In terms of real people that I know: My friend Cate. She has seen me through some really tough times, and she always gives me the best advice.  Even when it's just "You're being ridiculous" I love her blunt honesty and her constant support. Also, Scarlett O'Hara.  She's the best. She's fearless and tenacious.

What does your life look like in 3 years?
 Ideally, I'll have finished school and be an EC teacher, be in a normal healthy stable happy relationship that's headed down the aisle, and I'll still be just as Sassy.

If you could go back and change one decision what would it be?
I would have high tailed it in the opposite direction after the first big fight with my now ex-husband.   Although, I probably wouldn't be the same person I am now.  I know it was a mistake I had to make, but I could have saved myself and others from a whole lot of hurt and sadness.

What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far?
Getting myself out of my abusive marriage.   Don't forget to enter our Giveaway!!
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Man Repellent

Apparently, I am Man Repellent.  
It has recently been brought to my attention that I send out this weird "Commit to me" vibe. I have narrowed it down to several factors that seem to make guys think that I want more than I do, even when I say that I'm fine with something more casual!.   The Reasons why guys think that I want a more serious relationship &/or why I am Man Repellent: 1. I'm happy and perky. 2. I put time and effort into my appearance. 3. I use a lot of emoticons in my texts (that probably comes off as flirty.. Right?). 4. I use terms of endearment for everyone. 5. I cook and bake, and enjoy it. 6. I'm incredibly thoughtful. 7. I try very hard to make people feel at ease (also comes off as flirty) 8. I know that I am in fact a kick ass girlfriend. 9. I seem way too good to be true (come on.. I drink beer annnndddd love football?!) 10. I'm a Southern Belle, and thus bred to be an excellent girlfriend, fiance and wife. 11. I'm obsessed with my cat (but seriously.. he's adorable) 12. I really like wine, but I can shoot whiskey like a man. 13. Let's face it, I can drink anything like a man. 14. I like to give cards, and will not ever give someone so much as a muffin without a card (probably my personalized postcards). 15. I'm a nurturer.   16. I'm incredibly focused and won't let a guy get in my way. 17. I have some serious emotional baggage. 18. I may have the Tiffany Ring finder app on my phone... Shut up! I like shiny!! 19. For all my southern charm, I can be incredibly blunt 20. I do eventually want to settle down, but I unsettled myself barely a year ago so I'm not looking to resettle quite yet!
(Disclaimer: take all of this with a grain of salt.. I'm just drinking wine and being funny.) Don't forget to enter our giveaway!!

Official Launch!! H54F!!!

Yay!! Today is the day!! We are officially launching the giveaway!! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Y'all!!! We had another Snow Day, but it's more of an Ice Day.  I was TERRIFIED while driving home.

I have a tiny two seater car that does not drive well in the snow.  I also live on a "mountain" so lots of curves and hills.  It took me 34 minutes to get home today. It takes me less than 10 minutes to get to work so.. yeah.  I was super stressed out about it.

But now on to the fun!!

1. We officially launched our giveaway today!!! Yayyyyyyyy!!!! Hurry!! Run!! Go Enter!!
2. I had a much needed W(h)ine evening with one of my girlfriend's here in town. We dished and gossiped and down two bottles of wine in less than an hour.  I Loved it.
3. We originally had an early dismissal scheduled for 10:30 am, well it actually started snowing/sleeting at 9:15, so at 9:30 they bumped it up to 10, which was a huge clusterfudge.  Buses were late because the weather started, my students freaked out.  It was chaos.  Then leaving the school my car was not pleased about the ice on the road, and I swerved like three times.  It was terrifying.
4. I finished my first (rather short) week of school with my new job.  I am one tired girl, but y'all I love my job, and my students so much.  It is just ridiculous.  They are so sweet and I find it so rewarding to work with them. Because I only have one student that's verbal, so my weekend will be filled with learning basic signs like "Please", "Thank you", "More", "Help" all the things my students need to say, but can't.  I'm being really disciplined, and using my signs while I'm talking.  New favorite hobby.. I think yes!
5. One of my sweet classmates (yes, I am still in school!) gave me four of his landscapes last night during our class.  He is super talented and I Love them! The one in my collage is my favorite though, it's so gorgeous it almost looks fake!! My favorite part was that he signed the back of them with quotes and sweet sayings. What a doll!!

(Linking up with Lauren for H54F!!)

I hope Y'all are having a fabulous Friday!! Don't forget to enter our giveaway!!!

100th Blog Post & A Giveaway!!

First of all... It's

Yay!!!!!!

So to celebrate my 100th Blog post, I am co-hosting a giveaway with two of my very favorite bloggers and dear friends Katelyn & Chelsee!

Up for grabs is an adorable gift basket full of some our favorite goodies just in time for Valentine's Day!!

The giveaway will officially launch tomorrow and run for 1 week with a lucky winner!!

Seriously?!

I'm not normally very conceited, and I realize that this will come off that way.. But I look way to good tonight to have been stood up.


Jerks.


Ill just hang out with my real boyfriend:
Jack

H54F: Snow Day edition!!

Linking up with Lauren for H54F!!   So I was supposed to start my new job today, but here in the South, we're having a snow day y'all!!
Never mind the fact that we got like 3 inches of snow last night and it's gone now, but we had a snow day none the less.

1. My New Job.  I have a feeling that this will top my list for the next month. 2. Snow Day. I've showered, napped (twice), and mostly watched 3. Classic Movie Marathon. Chelsee knows that I frequently have my own personal movie marathons, 90's movies, Chick Flicks, last night I started with the 1948 version of "Anna Karenina" it has been classic movie perfection all day. 4. My New makeup.  After my second interview earlier this week I was feeling fairly confident but still really nervous so shopping seemed like the logical stress reliever.  I also decided that my makeup routine could use some sprucing up.  I decided that I needed to suck it up and start wearing big girl makeup.  That meant foundation.  I hate foundation. HATE it.  I'll post more about that tomorrow. 5. Kitty BooBoo.  My sweet precious baby loves when we have Mommy and Me Movie Days.  He has very sophisticated taste in cinema.
Katelyn, Chelsee & I will launch our fabulous giveaway next Friday!! Happy Weekend!!

Things I don't Love Thursday

Linking up with Melissa from Lulu & Sweet Pea for some things I don't love Thursday!!

I'm currently loving, but also not really loving the fact that I have to basically get an entirely new wardrobe.. like today.   I went from a job where I wore sweat pants every day, to a job where I have to look nice!  I'm really excited about this, but my bank account is not.  Yay for Loft loving Teachers and giving an extra 15% off discount!!!
The panic about some snow has begun. I have been at work for a little over an hour and I have already had no less than 12 conversations about the snow. Kids are bummed out because they are calling for snow on a day that they don't have school anyway.  People have stocked up on enough milk and bread to survive Snowpacolypse 2013.  I could in all honesty care less.     The fact that Snowpacolypse 2013 could possibly interrupt my date plans and dating in general.  I feel like dating now a days is like playing high stakes monopoly.  Going to jail is a very real possibility because lets be honest girls be crazy, You have to get dressed up, leave the house, be interesting and charming when sometimes all you want to do is stay home with your cat (but then you'll be "that" person..), we all want to be the shoe, but sometimes you end up being the top hat (take from that whatever you'd like, it can even be a little bit dirty)    My Flirty Faces.

Here I thought I was being subtle... Apparently not.  
So now I'm off to go practice flirty faces in the mirror, perhaps I'll try a more smoldering temptress look?
Happy Thursday!