Hotty Toddy: a saturday in the grove

I think I took too much on blogwise.  I still have to finish my Contentment in Singleness series, start telling yall cheap date ideas (or cheap girls nights!!), stupid stuff people say to singles series, and finish up this month's series on stuff every "20something single gal should have"   Whew, thats a lot, are you still with me??  The good news is I won't run out of blog topics for a few weeks :)

But, first, let me finish telling you about this weekend.  I introduced my fav guy to one of my fav places.  Dave had been to Oxford before, but never tailgated in the grove.   So, I showed him the grove saturday.  Sadly, it was rainy and cold and we lost :( (the worst type of loss, the last few minutes of the game loss)  I hope to take him back on a different weekend, but it probably won't be until next season.  Despite the rain, we had fun.  I hope he got to see some of the reasons I like the grove and Ole Miss so much :)

Pictures from the tailgate.   You can tell that it started raining by my runny makeup and wet wavy hair :(  But we started out pretty cute :)  Despite the cold weather, I wore a dress (with tights and boots). 

SIDENOTE: For those of you who don't know, the grove is famous for "dressing up for gamedays"  Dresses, jewelry, etc.  It has gotten more relaxed since I was a child.  And now that jeans are less casual -- skinny jeans, fancy shirts, black jeans, boots, etc are allowed later in the season.  I'm not 21 and trying to impress anyone so although I'll never wear a tshirt to the game, I do wear black pants and jeans and I almost never wear heels (although this weekend I did!)  I love the dressing up, but I do like that the dresscode has relaxed some for those cold weather days. (and of course, there are those who dress down and don't get caught up in the traditions and they are always welcome in Oxford as well!! One of my good friends at Ole Miss was from a different state and never bought into dressing up and he fit right it)



My cute gameday date and me

My handsome brother (senior at Ole Miss)

My two favorite men - Jack and Dave

After we got rained on!

These are our neighbors and my "other family"

Last year, Jack met this dude (who dresses up as Col. Reb).  Of course Jack doesn't remember so we reintroduced them.  Jack wasn't so sure....



In Oxford, we have the walk of Champions (kindof like Tiger Walk at Auburn) where the players walk through the grove and you cheer for them and give them high fives and the band plays....  The very end of the Walk is called "Whiskey Ally"  Its technicaly not in the grove but is the walkway by buildings between the grove and the stadium.  Its a lot easier to get a place there because you can just show up a few minutes before the walk as opposed to 30+ minutes on the Walk.  Dad and took Dave to Whiskey Ally.



the grove

Col Reb (sadly, he is not our official mascot but he lives on!)

I had a couple other cute pics but they won't upload properly ;(  All in all, it was a fun, exhausting weekend.  Reunion, game, then a busy sunday catching up.  I kindof want to stay at home this weekend but I will be back in Oxford cheering for my very down Auburn Tigers.  Have to stick by them in tough times!!

What I am reading Wednesday

(1) This girl slipped off her purity ring and is no longer waiting for a husband. I like her viewpoint....

(2) Waiting patiently when the Story Goes Dark.  Oh, how I can relate.  I am sure you can relate too.  I love what the author says:

The point is, God often takes us through the darkness. He does this so that we might learn to trust him with all our hearts, and lean not on our own understanding. God wants us to know that he is our shepherd. He leads us beside still waters, and he leads us through the valley of death. He wants us to learn to trust him in both places. Often God lets our circumstances get so extreme that our only hope is God himself.
When our story gets dark we must look to the Author of our story. The story may seem bleak, but we can be absolutely sure that the Author is good.

(3) This article on my beloved grove, literally the BEST tailgating in the nation. I love that  articles (thank you notes from visiting schools) tend to be written often to my two alma maters...People for Ole Miss and Auburn show others a good time and tend to treat them well!

The Grove is 10 acres of nothing but trees and tents as far as the eye can see. It's zero-lot line tailgating and it's the close proximity that gives it a synergistic spirit of community unrivaled by any other. Imagine the parking lot at Texas with the most happening tailgating scene and magnify it by 10 or 20. That's The Grove.

And you'd think with all those people packed in there that there'd be a propensity for conflicts to arise, especially with several opposing fans practically stumbling over one another and copious amounts of booze at every turn. But everyone is free as can be to move about as they please, courtesy is an unbroken code, and the more that squeeze in, the merrier it seems to get. After a few hours, you can hardly tell where one tailgate ends and the next begins. The result is a homogeneous sea of endless cocktail parties and I don't think anyone ever met a stranger in The Grove. At least I know I didn't.

Lest we be remiss with getting too deep into the logistics and forget to mention the pageantry of it all, and that starts with the ladies of course. When they say the women are so good looking at Ole Miss that they can redshirt Miss America there, they're not wishful thinking. And it's not just that they're good looking, it's the effort and lengths they go to stick out in a cauldron of eye candy. Think social Darwinism, the All-Stars edition. Between the painted on dresses, high heels, and hair to match, just about every female mingling about is dressed like they're late for their best friend's wedding. Ensembles that would seem completely impractical and out of place at just about any other football venue in the country are basically their dress code. Their male counterparts don't go to quite those lengths, but it's definitely business casual for many and it's not uncommon to see a dapper dandy clad in a dinner jacket and a bow tie.

(4) True Love Does More than Just Wait.  So many of these articles recently. I am assuming people are realizing that the ways they were teaching abstinence were incorrect.

(5) Wait, God wants us to have fun sometimes?

(6) Another article on waiting......  this time discussing what we are really waiting for. I have talked before about how waiting gives you an eternal perspective and this article discusses that (in a much more eloquent way of course!) Thanks to Nikki for sharing it.
What about y'all? Any articles you have enjoyed recently?? Please share!!

I AM AUBURN

I love this essay about Auburn. I loved it the first time I read it and I love it again every time it circulates during the weeks before football season. I love Auburn and I shall possibly soon write a post about why I love Auburn so so much, why I feel so at home on the plains, but maybe not, because I can't write about Auburn as well as this fellow does. War eagle.  Welcome Football season!

I am Auburn

Written by: Robert L. Gillette
I am Auburn.

I am the 30-year old couple coming back to campus for the first time with both little ones in tow. One wears her first blue and orange cheerleader outfit; the other wears #34 even though he is too young to understand why.

I am the 50-year old man who hoped no one saw tears in his eyes when the eagle circled the field. I was too choked even to say 'War Eagle'. For a moment, I felt foolish and then I didn't care. God, I love this place.

I am the 60 year old woman meeting her freshman granddaughter who is now the 3rd generation of AU students in our family. Despite my age, I'd strap it on Saturday and hit someone if it weren't for my gender and this blasted arthritis.

I am Auburn and I have always believed I was different. You can see it when you look up into the stands. My orange is not the same as Tennessee’s and my blue is not that of Florida. But the differences go much deeper than my colors. Read my creed. What other school has one? I genuinely believe in these things. To be a real Auburn man or woman speaks of character, not of geography. All are welcome to walk though my gates, not just the wealthy or the elite.

So this Saturday, when the warm ups are over and the prayers and amen spoken, when you hear my thunder growing in the stands above you, when you stand in the tunnel and the smoke begins to form, listen for my voice when you run onto my field. Behind the frenzy of the shakers and deafening roar, I will tell you something in a whisper you may miss. I will be telling you that you are my sons and I am proud of you for the way you wear the burnt orange and navy blue. I am telling you that you are my sons and I love you.

Auburn is so much more than a city or a school or a team or a degree. It is something that, once you have experienced it, will live inside of you forever and become a part of what makes up who you are...

It is driving into town on a game day. You may have come from hundreds of miles away and as you get closer and closer to the city limits, you feel it rising inside of you. Other cars on the highway proudly display their orange and blue flags, magnets or car tags, and you honk and wave at them, because, for that one day, you are all on the same team.

It is the smell in the air and the ritualistic act of tailgating...catching up with old friends, making new ones, and invitations from perfect strangers to try their ribs or watch their satellite TV showing all of the day's important match-ups...of course, all being secondary to the one that will occur in the great cathedral of Jordan-Hare later that day.

It is the Tiger Walk...where you might just see 300 pound men overcome with emotion and weeping with pride because you have come there to cheer them on. As they walk by, you might exchange a glance with one or two of them and you can see it in their eyes...it is going to be their day.

It is the students...dressed in their best, because going to an Auburn game is like going to church for Auburn people....you show the same respect as you would if you were in God's house. Those students remind you of the days when you were walking in their shoes and Auburn was your home...but then you realize, in many ways, it is still and always will be HOME.

It is that lump that rises in your throat when the band plays the Alma Mater as the eagle is soaring over your head during pregame.

It is walking around on a "foreign" and sometimes hostile campus. You are easily identified (Auburn people always are) and the enemy jeers and shouts things at you to mask their feelings of intimidation. But just then, you happen upon a friend you have never met before. You know they are your friend by the colors they wear or the shaker in their hand. You exchange a "War Eagle" and a confident grin because he/she knows what you know.

It is when your heart leaps with every touchdown, field goal, sack, and interception...because those are our boys. And win or lose, they will always have our undying support. After all, it is those boys that you are really there for, and not a coach or a logo or a trustee or a president.

It is the complete and utter exhilaration of walking away victorious over a worthy opponent...that feeling of pride and accomplishment as if it were your own feet that had crossed the goal line scoring the last points yourself...that feeling of wanting to scream War Eagle" at the top of your lungs and hug complete strangers...and then there is the ultimate high of defeating your most hated foes from across the state.
No words can describe what this feels like, but you know because you have experienced it.

It is the sheer agony of defeat as the last minutes tick off the clock and you realize that all hope of a victory is gone. You feel like crying and maybe you do...then you hear the faint sounds of a cheer that grows louder and louder...."ITS GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER."

It is knowing that year after year, no matter how things change in our hectic lives, you can always come back to "the Loveliest Village on the Plains"...the place where you came from...your home. It will probably look a little different and there will be new names on the backs of the jerseys, but deep down, no matter what, it is still the same.You still love it as much as you always have because Auburn is as much a part of you as your arms, legs and the orange and blue blood that runs through your veins.

And, finally, it is the feeling you have right now as you read these lines....the anticipation inside of you because you know it's almost time....It's about to start all over again...but then it really never goes away, does it?

Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter Brownies and more

Several people in my life LOVE reeses pieces including my sister and my BF.  I have been recently researching recipes involving this candy. My latest recipe is reeses brownies!

Don't they look delicious?? My next goal is to learn to make them gluten free for my baby sis, Ansley.

Here is how you make them:

Ingredients:

• 1 box of your favorite brownie mix
• Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Peanut Butter Frosting:

• 16 oz container of vanilla frosting
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1-2 tsp milk
• 1 box Reese’s Pieces

Directions:

1.Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13 x 9″ baking pan with shortening or cooking spray.

2.Make brownie batter as directed on box. Spread batter in pan and with a knife, swirl peanut butter through batter.

3.Bake 25-28 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.

4.In a medium bowl, mix frosting ingredients and spread frosting over brownies. Place Reese’s Pieces in a plastic Ziploc bag and lightly crush with a rolling pin, breaking candies up into pieces. (NOTE: I just poured my reeses on the top in whole pieces.)

5.Sprinkle Reese’s Pieces over brownies and serve.




Second order of business today: I saw this on a friends facebook and want to start doing this every day.  I work out most days, even if its only 20-30 minutes during lunch, but usually for longer.  However, there are those occasional days when life is hectic and I don't go. This would be a perfect mini workout at home...I bet it is about 15 minutes total.

Also, I love this funny picture I saw on facebook.  SO true!! Right Ashley???

What I am reading Wednesday (May 2, 2012)

Here is what I am reading this week....

1. Silenty Single  -- love love love this blog post. My goal was to have a honest blog on singleness, and although some days I am honest, some days, I think I feel far to embaressed to share -- both the good and the bad.  Too embaressed to share the lonely days and too embaressed to talk about how excited I am over a date or a new outfit or an uplifting comment from someone (want to make a single girls' day?? make a reference about her future....one day, when you get married, you should have this band play..... one day, I bet your kids are super chubby because you love to bake....where do you think you'll send your kids to school? SOUNDS SO SILLY, but hearing the word when instead of if is so uplifting!!  in fact, its best to use the word WHEN not IF when you talk to someone looking for a job or waiting for a baby) Anyways, back on subject, this was honest about the thing singles feel the most: have we been forgotten? (the author discusses God not forgetting her, but truth is, I think singles fear other people forget them as well!)  I may have to do an entire blog post on this blog post)

2. Is there love after marriage?  and the follow up blog post: Marriage and a New Kind of Love 

3. For my like 3 male readers, here is a great article by Kevin DeYoung at the Gospel Coalition about ways to love his wife.  It's true, and funny. 

4. BTW, did anyone else catch that CBS has already listed bowl predictions for 2013?? it's coming...

5. Dentist pulls out her ex bf's teeth after they split.  a) we all have atleast one ex we would LOVE to do this to, although I hope we would all never do this! and b) he kindof deserved this (no, not really) -- how dumb can you be to go get your toothache checked out by the girl you just dumped? (especially when he already had a new gf as the article stated)  You have to know there are bad feelngs silly boy.

What I am reading Wednesday (er, Thursday...)

Here is a little bit of what I am reading lately....

Here is the downside of living together before marriage from the NY Times.  I know a lot of people will disagree with me for my views on living together before marriage, but I believe that it is wrong biblically, but even from a secular perspective, I think it puts you in a holding pattern.  IE, Joe and Sally are dating and have dated long enough to see some flaws but not all flaws. But they have seen enough to know that they want to get married and work through whatever conflict/flaws/disagreements they discover in marriage....so when they get married and she is moody or they disagree on how they want to raise their kids, etc, there is more commitment and more reason to get married.  If they do a "trial run", its like an unending tryout for marriage...they learn some of those flaws and disagreements early-- he's grumpy in the mornings, she's a slob....they keep waiting (because after all they are getting many of the financial, emotional and sexual benefits of marriage so no motivation to actually get married) until all disagreements are solved...the only catch is once issue is dealt with, another one comes up....so they never get married, or they do after years.

What have men you dated done right in relationships?  and wrong?

I hope next year is a good one for Auburn (on a side note, the Dyer stuff is upsetting me, shows how quickly all of us can go from the top to trouble by a few bad decisions.  Although he is no longer at Auburn, and thats a good decision by the coach, I do hope for his sake that he gets his life back together)

There is this blog I follow and the couple is adopting from ethiopia (not an adoption blog, but it discusses adoption a lot lately since they are in the process...) I have been touched by reading their story. I am happy to report they just picked up their daughter. I encourage you to check out her blog and pray for safe journeys for this family and a smooth transition.


Here is an article from the economist entitled The Waiting Game  - about chasity before marriage.

I thought this article on spouses not witholding affection was great.  I had never seen it this way.  Surely we have all heard about how they should not withold sex-- his body is hers, her body is his, but this author points to 1 Cor 7:3 which states each should render to the other the affection due.  Witholding affection via the silent treatment, refusing to touch and be kind, etc is wrong too.  Not that spouses are never mad at eachother, but I guess the proper way to deal with it is talk about it, not manipulatively punish them into realizing what he or she did wrong.

Wedding weekend

This weekend, my friend Ashley is getting married.  I am super excited for her and honored to be a part of her day.

Ashley and me at the AU UGA game in 2010, the year we won the NC!!

I met ashley in my sorority at Auburn. We didn't get close til Senior year which is one of my biggest regrets. We hit it off due to our love for college football, theology and the fact that she was a pharmacy student and I was writing my honors thesis....so we both had to study a lot and would take study breaks together.

 at a ballgame with another friend, senior year

Bid Day senior year

I love all my friends, but there are 3 girls who got me through the hardest time in my life during my engagement ending (well 3 plus my 2 sisters) -- and these 3 girls have a special spot it my heart.  Ashley is one of those girls..... I was heartbroken, and she was busy with pharmacy school yet took time to  talk to me and distract me with dinners out and movie nights (we both love pride and prejudice, emma, little women and narnia!) She didn't let me dwell but she also was one of those people that were wise enough to know I wouldn't be over everything in a month or two....I'm blessed she let me balance talking and forgetting/distracting.

 Some game in 2010 

a 2009 game with ashley and alexandria, one of the other 2 girls that have such a special place in my heart for helping me through that time....but I will tell you all about Alexandria another time!

I also had agreed to take my sister to her cheer competition in florida. This turned out to be about 3 weeks after the you know what hit the fan. I had just gone through the worst and was functioning, but making it through life as a robot, and Ashley volunteered to come with me to Florida. She even drove so I wouldn't have to.  She was my first football date the fall after my engagement fell apart, and I still remember that game as my favorite game ever (well except the NC). Auburn beat Florida in exciting fashion. I told her I felt like Auburn's win was a gift from God ( I had a hard time coming back that year and had begged God for a fun day and a victory!)-- it helped me start replacing my AU football memories from the past two years with new memories, ex-free. Ever since then, we have gone to games each season together. She became my new and improved football date!! (Dear Auburn Team of 2006, you are welcome for my prayers. I am sure thats part of why you won that game :) !!! )

Auburn Florida 2006

Since then, we have been there for all the downs...the breakups, stressful law school and pharm school days, lonely single days, family drama, figuring out our 20s, starting jobs and just surviving life and all it throws at us. 

Ashley, Laura Ann and me in 2010

But don't think we were always sad. We've had great times too! She has been my best football date, my travel buddy, and my late night catch up friend (Ashley has a 3 br house yet I always sleep in her bed when I visit -- I just realized the other day ha.  I guess we just like catching up!)  We've been friends during new jobs, an undefeated season, and her meeting her soon to be hubby. I was able to rejoice with her when she got engaged and she has celebrated my big moments as well.

 This year we traveled to SC for the AU SC game

AU Southern Miss game with Laura Ann and Ashley

Ashley is generally quieter and less outgoing than me, but I always forget that, because she and I can talk about life for a long time. Despite our personalities being way different, there are several things about us that are a lot alike and I think thats what brings us together. Also, despite being quieter, she is really intense about football....and she was kind enough to let me go to her bachelorette weekend with pink eye (that she couldve caught!)

 6 wins in a row over bama....the last in our streak. Such a fun game.

Rolling toomers: Alexandria, Ashley and me

All this to say, Ashley is pretty amazing. Her one big flaw is she will read your texts over your shoulder if you don't watch her :) Her husband lucked out.  But, Brian, I was and always will be her #1 football date. :) My only hope is that my future husband likes this couple a lot because I know we will be friends for a long time to come!


And here are a couple pics of the lovebirds...

Disclaimer: I became very aware in making this post that all but 3-4 of my pics with ashley are at football games. We are pathetically singleminded in our favorite pastime I guess.


Note to Ashley: We will remedy that football themed picture problem this weekend. How about we both wear long dresses and pose??? :)

What I am reading Wednesday

I was out of town this weekend and am trying hard to catch up on life, I have started a fun post my sister tagged me for: answering a bunch of questions but I am not done yet....but here is more of what I am reading this week.

I love Auburn and how it values people, not just winning. This is a great story about player, Shon Coleman's battle with cancer and Auburn's support.

how do you know if your ready to marry?

Why we need God to fence us in.

Making our goal the glory of God.

 Ok, so I don't have many more articles to post this week. I'll hopefully have some good ones next wednesday ;)

What I'm reading Wednesday

I've been a horrible blogger, I am sorry. Life has just been busy...good busy, but busy just the same. I have taken some time to read good articles though and wanted to share them with you.... enjoy :)


I needed to read this article. I always thing why didn't God stop bad things, but truth is He is stopping bad things and when I get hurt or others get hurt, I should think about all that He did PREVENT from happening.

I'm not a mom....yet, but when I am, this is how I want to raise my babies.

I always love what Jon Acuff has to say on serious Wednesday at Stuff Christians Like website.

Redefining Hope -- hope in, not hope for.

God works in different ways to bring people together...sometimes we forget that.

Should I stay or should I go? This article had to do with a dating relationship, but it made me think about all decisions in life-- how sometimes there is not a right or wrong answer, just the freedom to choose and make that choice best. (Wouldn't it be easier if every decision was right or wrong?)

National Signing Day.  Here's hoping for a good class. War Eagle.

Wordless Wednesday

Proposition 26 did not pass. I am torn on my feelings about that, but mostly, I am emotionally exhausted as are most people in our state, especially those who struggled with this for months. So, today, I thought I would just provide some recent happy pics.... ENJOY.

                                                              My Little Jack Attack!

                                                      Chris and Me @ Jordan Hare Stadium

                                            Jack and his women at his first trip to the grove

Mistletoe Preview Gala with sweet friends....we cleaned up nicely :)

Things I love Tuesday

Things I am loving right now....





1. Jackson Restaurant Week.... like every other major city, we now have a restaurant week where the restaurants have discounts and special menues and everyone partakes...Have we finally arrived? (the answer is no, but its a step in the right direction..)





So maybe a girls night or if I am lucky, a fun date?? Why not both? I have all week!



2. Spending my saturdays here... I LOVE Auburn, I would rather attend a game in Jordan Hare stadium than be almost anywhere else in the world...BUT I love tailgating in the grove even more than tailgating at Auburn. (Why cant I tailgate in Oxford and go to a game in Auburn??) Maybe because I literally have 2 decades of memories there and my family and friends are all there...but to me, it represents football season.

3. Skinny Girl Margarita...fun summer treat, less calories

4. My new Auburn skirt, making its debut this week at the Auburn Clemson party at my house...and making its Auburn debut at either the UF or OM game...

5. This quote stolen from a friend off facebook. I find it encouraging in my singleness but also in other areas of life where I might let others (mainly, Satan) make me feel not good enough...I am sure y'all can relate.

"What circumstances do you find yourself in today? Give thanks and pray without ceasing. For as we keep our eyes on him and praise Him in all circumstances, we silence the Accusor (the good, the happy, the hard, the confusing, the horrifying), the one who exists to blame God for not being good and blame us for not being good enough."

Jack says....War Eagle 2-0

This was jack in his orange and blue worrying on the last few plays of the game...don't worry, jack attack, auburn wins and is 2-0. He is the cutest little tiger I have ever seen!

Football Notes

This weekend I was at the beach (yay) and it rained all weekend (boo) but it was almost a blessing in disguise. I never take the weekend to just curl up on the couch and watch gameday, ballgames, and movies all weekend...and shop! It was so nice to have the downtime to do this before a busy season. I am almost tempted to take time off from a game wkd (later in the season) to have another day at home. I recently had "katy weekend" so two relaxing weekends after a crazy summer and before an even crazier fall was such a blessing...

My thoughts on Auburn...

It was a frustrating game but I am not that dissapointed. I expected it to be hard, maybe not this hard. However, I also expected we couldnt pull off the win in the last few minutes but we did.

Check out this post by Phillip Marshall This is about how I feel about Auburn this season.

Were they tough to watch at times this saturday? Of course. But they are young, maybe the youngest team in the SEC. And they follow big footsteps and have a horrible schedule. I fully accept a "breaking in" season... I am okay with that. It's all preparation for the future... but I like Phillip's point that Chizik knew that this season would be tough from the moment he took the job. 2009 recruits were thrown together so technically only his 2010 and 2011 recruiting classes are in place...and they are young.

I know some of this season will be painful...but I am still very excited. 4 years to see some of these boys grow into amazing players....if that means sitting through some losses now, I'll take it.

Thoughts on other teams...

• very impressed by LSU. wow.




• UGA, stop worrying about your uniforms, start worrying about your game




• MSU -- jury is still out. I am certainly fearful to play you this weekend. You are good, BUT you played memphis, so I am not sure how good you are.




• Ole Miss, breaks my heart -- horrible coaching.




• other teams - i did not watch you, so no thoughts on you yet.




• BAYLOR -- sic'em. what a game.

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back, College Football. Win or Lose, my weekends in Auburn and Oxford are some of my favorites. Of course, I prefer winning more!! Tonight I am hosting a party to celebrate the kickoff of football season. We are watching the MSU game which is the first SEC game of the season... Even the ole miss fans are coming over to watch it because we are so excited for football to start!

here are some fun memories in the grove and on the plains!

National Championship Jan. 10, 2011

Egg Bowl 2010

Auburn Ole Miss @Ole Miss, 2006

Egg Bowl 2010

AU Florida 2006

6 Wins...Ironbowl 2007

Winning the west AU UGA 2010

Auburn State Tailgate