One of my favorite blogs, Walking in Grace & Beauty

I struggle with getting older.  Yes, I realize that sounds "very mature," but I do. No where is that struggle greater than with clothes. At some point, it seems, designers and store buyers are at a loss as to what to buy for those of us who are too old for the trendy teenager influenced set but not ready (by a far shot) for the grandama fashions.  This is particularly true if you are petite.  Trust me when I say, apparently if you are petite you want to dress like you are 90 years old...at least that is what it appears to me when I visit the mall.  Hello!  There are more than a few of us not ready for polyester down here!!!!

Recently, I found an adorable blog that hits this struggle right on target.  Cyndy Spivey at Walking in Grace and Beauty is a fashion and beauty blogger with a twist, "For years I thought mixing Jesus with Fashion was an oxymoron until I realized that God created beauty in the very beginning when He created the world and He created me to enjoy beauty too! As a forty something wife, mother and grandmother, I think forty’s really are fabulous!"

Walking in Grace & Beauty

 I LOVE it! Cyndi presents all kinds of wonderful, budget conscience, and modest but fashionable clothing, along with makeup and lifestyle tips to help you feel better about the way you look without forgetting that the most important element is  your heart!  I hope you will pop over and check out Cyndi's presentation of  the latest trends in fashion and make-up and how you can incorporate them into your busy lifestyle.  Please tell her I sent you!

Giveaway Spot light: Life Through Preppy Glasses!

Life Through Preppy Glasses

My sweet blog friend, Wes over at Life Through Preppy Glasses, is having a great giveaway sponsored by Smathers & Branson (who are the purveyors of wonderful, vintage inspired needlepoint belts, collegiate products, cummerbunds, dog collars, and key fobs.)  Wes is giving one lucky entrant their choice of 1 in stock needlepoint key fob!    Wes is one of my favorite young bloggers and I always enjoy his insights and photos sharing his time at school in NYC.   He is also always so encouraging and has a positive spirit.   Please check out his blog and giveaway.

Just in case you are wondering, if I win, this is the one I will chose:

Smathers & Branson

Because you can never have too many friends...



Source: theberry.com via Caitlin on Pinterest

If you would be so kind as to click on the left to join this site and become a bloggy friend I would appreciate it so much!  Because, truly, you can never have too many friends!





Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway for a chance to win your very own digital scrapbooking software from My Memories!  ENTER HERE

Into My Heart...

Source: travel.nationalgeographic.com via Natalie on Pinterest

I love reading all different kinds of blogs, some light and funny, some showcase great talent & craftiness, and some that share a journey and then there are those others that defy category (you know who you are!)  Southern Somedays probably fits more into the light and non-serious category and that has been Ok for the most part, but now I am feeling a tug on my heart telling me I should share more of my heart, more of my journey...also known as "be more transparent."  That is a hard one... especially when people you know IRL read your blog.  I actually debated starting another anonymous blog for sharing but then felt really compelled to just share more of my heart, my struggles, here on Southern Somedays.  I know I may lose a few readers and, of course risk some cutting commentary, but I really feel I need to open up more here about who I am and not just the pretty parts of life. Though, don't worry, I don't plan on becoming all doom and gloom (although I may have my moments)  Trust me when I say...this is going to be hard.

I hope you will stick with me and share your hearts as well. 

Back to School Meal Planning...What do you do to make life easier?

My sweet blog friend, Leigh @ Hines-Sight Blog is having a fun link up today that is so timely for those of us getting ready to get on the "Back to School" train (a train, by the way, that flies at the speed of light it seems).  Leigh is hosting a Meal Planning Made Easy linky party to help us get motivated with new ideas and recipes for the busy school year! 

Knowing this linking party was coming up and seeing as how I am desperate to start this school year being ultra organized (yep...a bit obsessive...but that is the way I roll) I couldn't resist picking up this little recipe booklet from the Taste of Home folks. It is filled with some yummy, healthy and most importantly... quick and easy recipes.  I particularly appreciate how many of the recipes give instructions on how to make ahead and how to use them from frozen!  There are offerings for breakfast, lunch, dinner, healthy snacks along with some slow cooker recipes. I can't wait to try many of the recipes because so many sound like they will be big hits with my boys. 

The 1st recipe I am going to try is:

Good-Morning Granola (submitted by to TOH by Mary Bilyeu from Ann Arbor, Michigan who says, "This is ridiculously easy to make and has lots of healthy ingredients. It's a great way to start your day and keep you going. With pretty packaging, this tasty granola makes a nice gift or bake sale item."

4 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup dried cranberries

Step 1  In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients; set aside. In a small saucepan, combine the orange juice, honey and oil. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and mix well.

Step 2 Transfer to a 15 in. x 10 in. x 1 in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown, stirring every 10 minutes.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 3 Stir in dried fruits. Store in an airtight container.  Serve with yogurt if desired.

As far as back to school prep., I have already managed to do all our back to school shopping, clothes and supplies included so I am feeling so ahead of the game, especially since school doesn't start until August 16th! 

Y'all pop over to Leigh's and link up your Meal Planning ideas!

Guest Post: Girls Without Friends by Suburban Princess

Do you ever read a blog post or article somewhere an it just speaks to your heart? This morning The Life of Suburban Princess wrote about friendship, in particular women friends, and it is something I think we {women} all should read and think about.  It is one of those great posts that cross every age and demographic and I just had to email her and ask to share it here on my blog as well.  So, please read, think it over and share your thoughts and make sure to pop over to The Life of a Suburban Princess and share with her as well!

Suburban Princess

Recently I have met a lot of new people. We moved to this town 5 years ago, didn't know anyone and have built a life here out of nothing. I am one of those people who talks to anyone and everyone so it should come as no surprise I know many, many people here. We can easily fill our home when we host our annual Christmas party and I can find someone to go to dinner, drinks, movies with almost any time I want - if I make it happen.

At the Little Prince's birthday party I was standing with a group of women discussing popularity. I fessed up and admitted I was decidely unpopular in school. I never really had any friends. Five women stared at me in silence.

Hermes Scarf Friend: Seriously?
Suburban Princess: Yeah...it was awful!
Hermes Scarf Friend: I so don't believe that!
Suburban Princess: Why do you think I am so popular now!?

What I am finding out about so many of the women I know is that they dont really have any other friends. They know lots of people and get invited to things...but they dont have any friends. Nor have they ever had any friends.

We all know you must be a good friend to have a good friends but why do so many woman never reach out and be a good friend? Or ever just try to have a social life? Why don't they make the first move and text/email/call someone to go out for drinks or a movie or just to hang out? I know a number of women who would spend entire weekends sitting home alone before they would think/want to make plans with anyone. Is being lonely and alone more attractive than simply sending a 'Hey, let's get together' email?

The Suburban Prince suggests it is because women are not able to distinguish between their dating life and their friendships.

Interesting. Is it because women are so trained to not make the first move? Should we hold other women to the same standard we hold men to? I think women often make the mistake of thinking men are like our girlfriends and function the same way so it might be correct to think women make the mistake of thinking women are like our boyfriends and husbands and should be handled the same way.

One woman told me she is so afraid of rejection that she never reaches out to anyone. WOW! This woman gets invited to every event...girls nights, parties, movies, dinners...yet is so afraid of being rejected by another woman that she would never suggest getting together. Why is there such a disconnect? When did we start worrying so much about being rejected? Have women started being cruel to each other - if I dont want to spend time with someone I simply make up an excuse that wont hurt anyone's feelings. Are women actually telling each other 'No, I dont want to hang out with you' ?

Another woman I have been friendly with sent me a text asking me if she has done something to offend me. She said I havn't been communicating and she wants to know what she has done. I simply hadn't contacted her for over a week because I have been busy with my own life. First of all, this is not a conversation to be had over text messaging and second...it isn't like she has been contacting me and I have been ignoring her. I think she is getting a taste of what it is like when I am not doing all of the work. She is taking it personally when she could've easily called or email or texted. This is confusing to me. She is bothered enough that I am not making this friendship happen but isn't bothered enough to make it happen herself! She wants to be persued. Instead of suggesting we go for drinks or dinner she attacked me. During a recent daytrip I found out this woman feels too guilty to just sit in the car waiting while I load everything and get the Little Prince strapped in, get the tailgate open, pack up the stroller....but doesn't feel guilty enough to help in any way! Does she feel as a woman it isn't her job to be a part of the team?

Many women ignore female friendships for so long that when something happens in their life they find they have no one to turn to. No support system. No comforting hugs. No one arriving at their doorstep with casseroles and baby gifts. No one holding their hand at funerals. No one to relate to. Prairie voles, a monogamous rodent, have an interesting response to stress. When a male vole is put in a stressful situation, he runs to his female partner. Female voles, when stressed, immediately run to the females they were raised with.

A number of years ago I attended the funeral of a friend's mother. She told me afterwards that you really find out who your true friends are when someone dies. Aparantly I was the only person who wasn't family who went to the funeral. But then it's always me. I am always the one who goes to the games, funerals, pageants, interventions and anything else friends are supposed to attend. The ironic thing is this friend is the same person who later ended our relationship by screaming at me, 'I am busy you know! I dont have time for your silly little dinner parties!'. Looking back at that I don't take it personally. She was so unhappy with her own life and I was easy to lash out at. This may explain why no one was there for her when her mother died.

Why are women so cavalier when it comes to their friendships? Do we think female friends are as disposable and replaceable as some of the men in our lives?

One woman told me she would LOVE to have a best friend...someone to tell everything and do everything with but then this same women rarely puts any effort into her friendships. Making friends when we are kids is easy. Making friends when we are adults is not so easy. In fact it is almost impossible from what I have heard from so many women. I think there is a social stigma attached to being friendless. Is there really something wrong with someone who doesn't have any friends? Maybe there is! Is it laziness? I have to say yes when I think of a few women I know. Is it lack of time? Perhaps - but I know lots of women who have lots of time to facebook, twitter, watch tv and other time wasting activities but then they say they dont have time to cultivate their relationships outside of their nuclear family - I have never had any problem finding the time to have lunch or drinks or dinner with a friend and I have a husband, child and house to take care of too. Is it lack of interest? Maybe, but lots of these women tell me they are craving friendships!

A girl I know told me she doesn't call or 'bother' anyone because she feels she would be interfering with their happiness. Another told me she doesnt reach out because she doesn't feel she would be very good company. I find it amazing this has happened to women. This lack of self confidence has not been seen in previous generations of wives and moms and has left so many of us lonely.

My neighbour has a little girl 4 months younger than the Little Prince so one would think we would be together quite often so the kids can play together...but this mom actually told me she doesn't care one bit about a social life. She actually built an entire playground in their backyard so she would never have to take her kids to the playground where she might have to interact with other people. I can see what they watch on tv from my house but she isn't willing to suck it up for a couple of hours a week so her own child learns to socialize.

There have been times when I am lonely. It is hard being the one who makes all of the plans and arranges all of the get togethers. My friends almost always show up but they never reciprocate and sometimes I just get tired of being the glue. If I dont do all of the work I can find myself going weeks on end without any social interaction. It would be nice if someone invited me to something for a change instead of waiting for me to make all the plans. Katiesperk commented that she is a reciprocator - I wish more people would be like that! I have no problem making the first move but then we never get invited in return. So we never invite people again.

So tell me...are you in the same boat? Do you have to do all the inviting or wind up sitting home alone all the time? Or are you the person who doesnt reach out until you are invited to something?


Have a fabulous day!

Thank YOU, Suburban Princess for sharing your heart and giving us all something to think about!

Awards Day! Doncha love 'em?

Ta DA!  Heather over at The Other White House made my day today!  She awarded me this wonderful blog award.  Heather is one of those do-it-all Moms that shares her inspiration and I am blessed to know her IRL (she actually took our Christmas card photos see Christmas Card Pictures).   Thank you, sweet friend!





So the rules for keeping the Stylish Blogger love going are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

My 7 "things":
1. I really struggle with my age, because I just don't feel THAT old!
2. I love my husband so much more now than I did when we began this adventure.
3. I struggle between loving life in "town" and being wistful about living out in the country.
4. I love being a Mom more than I could have ever imagined ~ especially since we weren't planning on children when we got married.
5. I like cars, yep, yep...I do.
6. I want a puppy, preferrably a Shiba Inu.
7. I love where we live.

So, because I am a rule follower (yea, I am!) I am passing it along to:

Tarleton West (Oh, yeah...it is nepotism)
The Love Affair (I swear she is my blogging soul sister!)
Mrs. Preppy
Reasonably Swanky
I've got couple of dents in my Fender, Got a Couple Rips in My Jeans
Tales of a G.R.I.T.S
CastleBlake
Home of a Magnolia
Empty Nest
Southern Inspiration
Living Life in the Low Country
All Things Cherish
Cathy's Out Junkin' Again
Cresent City Ramblings
Grace & Favor - A Life Worth Living

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, dear friends! 

I am so grateful for the fun and friendship you bring to my life.   

Friday Fives!

Visit Suzanne at Southern Inspiration

I have a dear, dear friend named Suzanne.  Although, we live 1000s of miles away from each other she is just one of those special friends that you know truly loves you, prays for you and is always there in spirit. She is someone who is gifted with reading between the lines and taking action when some one needs support, encouragement or just some love.   The saddest thing about our friendship is that we only get to see each once a year, or so.  But, Suzanne also blogs (regularly!!!) so I get to see what is going on in her world. She is truly Southern Inspiration and on Fridays she often does a post called Friday Fives.  So today, I am playing along since I again looked to her for inspiration (for my blog post!).  Y'all pop over and say hi and play along as well!

1. If you had the money to do plastic surgery, would you do it??? I would make a bee-line for the best tummy tucker around!

2. What is one character trait about yourself that you like?  I am loyal.

3. What's your next project in your house?  After the kitchen (which is currently a disaster zone), moving on to the foyer painting!

4. What's in refrigerator to drink? Lemonade, Diet Coke, Milk & Water

5. Big plans for the holiday weekend? Yes, tonight my DH and I are having some long over-due alone time together and he is surprising me so I don't know details, then on Sunday we celebrate my youngest DS's 9th Birthday...also, my DD is home from college!

Happy Mail Day!

It was a super mail day here today! 

When I opened the mailbox I found a wonderful package waiting for me from Sarah @ Sweet Carolina Girl. 

She hosted a Lilly giveaway a couple of weeks ago and I won!!! 

WhoooHOOOO, for great blog giveaways!!!! 

Thanks, Sarah!  I am going to love using the super cute Lilly Pulitzer tumblers and can't wait to have some cocoa in that gorgeous Lilly mug

Junkin' for Projects at The Thieves Market!

Last Saturday, Piper Ellice (known here on this blog as DD - dear daughter!) and I, went here, to the Thieves Market to do some "junkin'" as my dear friend,Cathy @ Cathy's Out Junkin' Again, would call it.  By the way, Cathy is like a magician with all her junkin' finds.  Check her out to be inspired!

There were all kinds of jewels waiting to be polished! 

We spent a good deal of time looking over the many thousands of square feet of treasures.  There are times when I really think I should drive a truck, because our little cars are limited on the haul they can safely (and legally) retrieve.

But...we hit pay dirt in an old bathtub (no, not the bathtub!) with some vintage, tin tiles complete with Fleur de Lis pressed into each one.  They are delightfully rusty and have the remnants of their previous paint job, which is exactly the blue that DD has wanted for her new room (in this house, not her dorm room!).  These little prizes set us back $1 a piece!  Yep, we are fancy!!!

So, we grabbed a box of tiles.  The sweet proprietors assured us that there were many more hundreds in a box somewhere if we needed. 

We have rolled around several ideas on how to use these beauties, but I would love to know how you would use them.

Awards Day!

I was treated to The Honest Scrap Award yesterday by Kate at Southern-Belle-Simple.  I love her blog title - Kate, I wish I had thought of that one!!!  Anyway, you of the cute blog title, thank you so much for honoring me with a blog award.  Maybe it is silly, but I get excited when I get these as I see them on so many great blogs.  It is nice to know folks are reading! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As part of the award, I am supposed to list 10 things about myself so here goes:

1. Green is my favorite color.
2. The car I drive is 17 years old, and 17 years ago - I drove the same kind of car.
3. I studied Interior Design in college but worked very little in the field.
4. I now live 1/2 mile from where my 1st job in design was located.
5. I returned to college about 6 years ago and got a Business degree.
6. I like extra dark chocolate.
7. I am re-learning to cook after not doing it for quite a while.
8. I love magazines.
9. I love to read.
10. I love the pool.

So now I want to pass along a bit of fun with The Honest Scrap Award to:

Piper (my sweet daughter!) at Tarleton West 

Holly at So Chic Decor

Sarah at Sweet Carolina Girl

Tara at Juleps & Jon Jons

Ruth at This G.R.I.T.S. Tale

Check out these fantastic blogs, you won't be disappointed!

Follow Friday!

I love finding new blogs to read.  So I decided to join in the Follow Friday Blog Hop!  What is a blog hop, you may ask?

"Blog readers will see the same list on all of the blogs and will be able to "hop" from blog to blog. What a fun way to find new friends! If you have not joined previous weeks, be sure to add your blog to the list today. Even if you've already added your blog on another blog hop, add your name to the list today since every week is a new list." 

So why not "hop" on?

Please "Like" me.............

Y'all come over and click the "Like" button for Southern Somedays....pretty please...

Like Southern Somedays on Facebook

Thanks from the bottom of my heart!

Death of a Router...

I haven't been a very good blog friend lately (not updating here or visiting at all the other wonderful blogs, either).  The reason is that my wireless router has bitten the dust.  Yep, dead as a door-nail.  So, when I have used the computer recently, I have been tethered to the wall, and since we have had such gorgeous weather and tons of things to do, I haven't been using it near as much as usual!  Normally, I like to curl up with a blanket and read blogs on the sofa or in bed or outside on the front porch, but now  that I am back working at the desk, I am not reading as much. We are going to wait until our move to get a new router so as to have the right thing for the new home (or at least that is what I have been told!). So, blog friends, I promise I haven't forgotten about you and hope you don't forget about me! 

Serenbe with friends...

Last weekend I had a FABU time! I say FABU because I like to, and it makes my children's eyes spontaneously roll up into their heads. 

Last weekend I was blessed with some quality time with some of my dearest friends for a "girls weekend".  After meeting up with Eve and Nancy ~ at Nancy's house, we headed out to pick up Suzanne who was visiting from TX (you may know her from her blog Southern Inspiration http://www.southernlivingatitsbest.blogspot.com/ .)

Then we four girls headed to Serenbe for the day http://www.serenbe.com/ . I had read about Serenbe several times but never visited and it was a wonderful treat to be sure.  It is a unique and tranquil place and I can see why someone would want to live and work in this community.  It is described as:

"Serenbe is a 1,000 acre community located under 30 minutes from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. It is a national model for the future of balanced development in the U.S.—focusing on land preservation, agriculture, energy efficiency, green building, walkability, high density building, arts and culture, and community living for multiple generations."

We had a great lunch at the Blue Eyed Daisy in downtown Serenbe and then enjoyed a sunny walk to see some of the residential area.

Of course, no "girls weekend" is complete without a bit of retail therapy so we spent some time in the shops at Serenbe. My favorite was Repurpose. It is a really cool shop showcasing new life for "found objects" with some lovely fresh flowers thrown in for delight! Everything had so much character and was unique

 as only a "repurposed" item could be!

I love this photo of Nancy,  She is apparently like the Pied Piper, but with the cats of Serenbe!   

So, after our jaunt around Serenbe, we headed back to Atlanta and a stop at Ballard Designs http://www.ballarddesigns.com/ to see what might be lurking in their outlet.  Then back to Nancy's where she treated us all to a delicous dinner.  We finished off the night in the wee hours after much laughter, sharing, liberal servings of Eve's Homemade toffee and, of course, a Chick Flick!  It was sad to go our separate ways on Sunday morning....but I went away happy and content and knowing the God has truly given me some very special friends in my life.  I can't wait to do it again!

Chic...moi?

Well, even if I am not all that Chic, I still was tickled pink and green to get this cute, cute and soooo Chic Award! Sweet and very stylish Cherish at http://www.cherishanna.blogspot.com/ awarded me this today and just made my day! Y'all head over and check out her wonderful blog and her drop-dead gorgeous header photo...

I also want to pass along this Chic Blogger Award to a few of my other Chic-O-licious bloggy friends:

Julie @ http://www.browneyedbellejulie.blogspot.com/

Preppy 101 @ http://www.southernandpreppy.blogspot.com/

Amanda @ http://www.serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/

PrincessFreckles @ http://www.princessfreckles.blogspot.com/

Give Away Fun at Julie's!

Look at this cute, cute, cute give away package. Julie (Brown Eyed Belle) over at http://browneyedbellejulie.blogspot.com/ is sponsoring this give away. Y'all check it out!!!!