Goodbye to an Old Friend

It's time today, to remember a very special part of my life. A part of your life you never get to do over, you can never have that experience twice. It's the day you buy your first car. Now I drove another car before her, but she was a hand me down, this car I picked out and was purchased just for me. We've had our ups and downs, and there are days I wondered if someone would steal her if I left her unlocked on the bad side of town so I could collect the insurance, but we were good friends.

I got this car when I was 19 years old, a freshman in college, when I thought I knew everything there was to know about the world. I drove her downtown to sneak into bars that I clearly wasn't old enough to be in. I drove her to sorority parties so I could bond with my sisters. I drove her to my first day at Auburn, where I met one of my best friends and later my husband. I drove her home the day after I graduated, the first day of my first real job. I drove her to Boston so I could follow the boy I loved. I even drove her to our wedding day, and then to the airport so we could go on our honeymoon. She was adorned with Phi Mu and Auburn stickers, an Auburn license plate, and an Auburn Alumni plate. She, too, loved the school I love so much.

I will never forget the day my dad took me to the dealership and asked me if I wanted to sit inside. The second I sat down on her leather seats and slid my legs inside, I knew she was the car for me. It was a perfect fit. There were only two blue cars left in the state of Georgia, and I knew I had to have one. Now, this was long before my love or even interest in Auburn. I don't know why I had to have blue, but I did. Maybe I just knew I would look good and blue, and she would look good adorned in orange. Either way, I had to have blue. Dad called around, and on Easter weekend, that car was sitting in the garage when I got home. I can't really describe the feeling, but like I said, there isn't another time in your life when you get behind the wheel of your first car.

I will miss this car in so many ways. I won't miss taking it to get serviced and seeing the bill every time I take it in. It's always something, and always something expensive at that. But she drove so well. She gripped curves like no other car I have ever been in. The amazing brakes saved my life at least twice. She was great in so many ways. But, it's time to say goodbye to this dear friend. She was getting to the point that we just couldn't afford her expensive parts and accessories. We knew we could actually get some money for her with the miles and wear that she had, knowing if we waited another ten thousand miles that wouldn't be the case. I had to list her on Auto Trader, and eventually watch as someone else drive her away.

All will work out though. We were able to pay off my new car, and put the remaining money on our American Express bill that has seemed to be growing. Between buying all new appliances for our house, and the last couple of bills for the car, it will be nice to have a huge chunk of that gone. You just never think it will end like that. When did I become an adult and start thinking of things like our financial future, and the value of a dollar over my selfishness of loving an object. God puts things in your life for a reason, I know that, but I just never thought that would be the reason I would have to sell her. I guess that is what faith is all about!

Happy Birthday Big Gus

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is my dad's birthday! Since it's on a Tuesday, and we didn't think we would be able to see him this weekend, we celebrated his birthday last night. We went up to the lake, had dinner, watched a little football, it was great. I had to share his birthday present with yall, because I was pretty pumped about how it turned out.

Normally I try to do pretty simple crafts that look like they took forever. Well, this one looks pretty simple but took forever. The concept was simple, but execution was tedious and took a while. Either way, I love it. I think the letters bled blue into the white just enough to make it look distressed. We are going to hang this up at the lake house with some burlap ribbon, which will help the distressed feel. It's the perfect color and feel for their house. The lake is warm and cozy, but has that worn in feel that you just can't create. I love it!

Happy Birthday Big Gus!!! I love you and hope you had a great day!!

PS...I am thinking about making a couple more of these. If you have any ideas leave them in the comment box, or if you would like one just let me know!

A Toast to Tory

I know this is somewhat foolish, but you all know how I truly love and appreciate a new pair of shoes. There is nothing better than going out in public in your new shoes for the first time. You prance around in them and just hope someone will notice the adorable pair you have on. And then, when someone actually does, it lights up your day. You are officially brighter than a kid on Christmas morning. You sit at your desk, and just want to throw your feet up on top like a big shot in a movie, in hopes that everyone can catch a glance at your beautiful new flats. Today, I am having one of those days. My mother and father in law are amazing. They got me a Nordstrom gift card for Christmas this year. I am convinced God put this store into existence so little girls wouldn't be sad when they grew out of FAO Schwartz and American Girl. Of course, I love this store more than I loved any of those toy stores, but that's not the point.

There are three Nordstrom stores that are all within 30 minutes of my house. The closest is my absolute favorite, and it's only 4 exits down the highway...score! I knew exactly what I was on the hunt for as soon as I opened that adorable little, perfectly wrapped and bowed gift card. I have been trying on Tory Burch flats for almost a year now. Just hoping that one day they will show up in my closet on accident. I wanted black with the gold button. Now, I know what you're thinking. You have been ranting for 5 minutes now to lead up to a pair of black flats? These aren't just any black flats. They're Tory! They match perfectly with my tan and gold Tory handbag that Jay bought me for my birthday. They're chic, they're trendy, and I have been dying for them. Now, my mother-in-law has great taste, and we have both been wanting these forever. She got her pair last year. The suspense has been killing me. Then, when I saw that little 2" by 4" card, that had Nordstrom written in silver, I knew at last the wait was over! No one has noticed, but this is expected at my office. I work with all men in the construction industry. But, they will probably notice the pep in my step. Who wouldn't be bopping around all day in these? I guess it doesn't matter if anyone notices, I finally have on the pair I have been waiting for. A weight has been lifted and I can finally enjoy my new shoes.

Ode to the Christmas Snuggie

I just felt like I really needed to have a blog post dedicated to this very special part of Christmas. It was a day we will always remember, even if we want to try to forget. It was the day that Aunt Betsy opened the Christmas Stocking Snuggie. Now, you have to know Betsy, she goes all out for Christmas. She already has her Christmas presents planned for next year and the year after. To say she is a planner is, quite frankly, and understatement. She always knows what everyone wants, and where she is going to find it. She loves Christmas more than most! So, we were pretty ecstatic when she opened this....

That's right ladies and gentlemen, the Christmas Snuggie. Shaped as a stocking, but very useful around the house. And, it's perfectly sized for Betsy. Actually, it may be an inch taller, but who's counting? This was shipped north from Atlanta (and know it wasn't from us...dangit!) from Uncle Mark, aka Uncle Buck! I have no idea where he found it, but it's hysterical!

There is hole in the bottom, or the top in this picture. We couldn't figure out if you put your feet down there and can put them in the hole if you need to walk around, but I don't think it's supposed to be worn this way! Betsy has her new favorite Christmas outfit picked out for next year. I bet she didn't see this coming in the Christmas plan!!

A Very Duxbury Christmas

This year Jay and I were fortunate enough to spend Christmas with his family in Duxbury. Like I said before, I was excited to see how they did Christmas. Alot of Jay's extended family comes up for Christmas, which is different than we have ever done. His Aunt Betsy, Uncle Jim and his girlfriend Barbara, and Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Pauly were there too. It was so great to be surrounded by so much family. We went to a couple of cocktail parties and get-togethers, ate a ton of great food, and really just hung out for the weekend. On Christmas day, we all slept in, had coffee (or Sugar Free Red Bull if you're me!), and then sat around the fire to start opening Christmas gifts. Everyone sits in a big circle, which is exactly how my family does it, and goes one at a time. It was nice to have a little piece of similarity there. After a couple of rounds, we all got up and had mimosas and an amazing breakfast casserole that Beth made. When we went back to the living room, we were there until about 2:30 in the afternoon. So cool! It really is a day long event, and we didn't have to get out of our PJ's all day. I had to share a couple of pictures from the weekend.

Getting ready for Lobster Casserole night! A favorite in the Williams household!

The ladies hanging around the bar for Dr. Death! 

Uncle Mark to Josh! Hey...it says it's for Breast Cancer Awareness!

The Vancheri ladies with the Williams clan at their annual Christmas Eve Cocktail Party!

Me and my brothers!

Wickers with Beth and Gary!

Uncle Jim loves all of the new technology that comes out every year, two people got him the Steve Jobs book, because it just made since. We thought he looked an awful lot like Steve Jobs!

I'm so sad that we weren't able to spend more time with him family. I feel like, since I don't have any vacation days yet, that we make such short trips up to see them. I am hoping we can spend a long weekend with them at some point in the future. However, I would say we had a very successful Christmas holiday with everyone, and can't wait to do it again!