I Got A New Attitude!

If this song isn't in your head right now, then you weren't on my 2nd grade competitive choreographed jump roping team. (Picture the following with jump ropes, swapping out Chippendales for gangly seven-year-olds.)

I hope you can tell from looking around that Anne Says So has gotten a facelift, courtesy of Munchkin Land Designs. The clean new feel is just what I envisioned!

The past month has been a blur of doctors' appointments, work, paperwork (ahh, adulthood), lack of sleep,  home improvement projects (pics to come!) and absolute denial that summer has come to a close. There has also been more than our fair share of sleeping in, park visits, grandparent time, library story hour, stories told and songs composed by an almost-three-year-old, sibling sweetness, snuggles and planning for football season.

My boots have been pulled out of their slumber and my white, white legs are rejoicing at the thought of long pants.

There's so much to fill you in on, and I can't wait to celebrate the new blog look with my very first giveaway, something I just know you'll adore.

Be back tomorrow with all the details! xoxo

Things You Should Know: Part Five

Two years ago today I wrote my first official blog entry!! After a particularly feisty exchange of mass emails, my friend Sarah created this blog, and its fabulous domain name, for little ol' me. I'm so glad she did!

Take a look, if you're so inclined, and read about the Columbia controversy that kick-started Anne Says So. My blog was private for some time, but after getting to "know" so many others through their writing, I took it public.

If you're not from 'round here, or if you haven't known me for ages, you may not understand the initials/monogram joke referenced in the name Anne Says So.

Let's just say this: Anne begins with an A. My maiden name began with an S. My married name begins with an S. As a Southern gal who will monogram anything that sits still long enough, such a monogram didn't sit well with me.

So I kept my old monogram, IAS, and love the symmetry of a vowel on either side of my last initial. Plus I can use all of my old stationery and luggage! I officially have four names on my social security card - wouldn't drop my maiden name, couldn't have a bleep-able monogram. Such a conundrum!

It's especially funny knowing that I'd wanted to drop my first name, a family name, for most of my life. I wanted to be Anne S. McIntyre (Joey's wife, obviously) from the age of 8. But God had a better plan for me - and a funnier one. So I. Anne Smith I am.

Sarah, however, has a sense of humor about the Southern love for monograms and distaste for salty language. The whole situation was so darn funny that she created Anne Says So, after my initials, to commemorate the delightful dilemma.

And here we are today! Love to Sarah and thanks to all of y'all for swinging by!

New title?

We may have to put this to a vote, y'all. I was just told that I should change the name of my blog to "Anne Says So 'Cause Bradley Told Her To." I'll let you guess who shared that gem of an idea with me just now.

I'll give you a hint. You may have seen the necklace I nabbed on etsy that has my husband's initials stamped into it. Someone wondered if I should perhaps have "Property Of" stamped above those initials, just to clarify the purpose of wearing it. Way to turn something artsy and sweet into a dogtag, B. Oops. Did I just give it away?

(Can you tell I'm trying to distract myself from a dismal, ulcer-inducing letdown of a football game?)

Suggestions for new titles are welcome. Bradley, you've already filled your quota of genius ideas for the evening - perhaps your next quotable moment should wait until tomorrow.

Love to all of you - wishing you a fabulous Thursday evening and a lovely weekend.

In case you missed it...

The email chain that launched the blog. After (literally) 40 emails in response to my rant about a Columbia native who has made it to MTV to potentially ruin the name of all the lovely women in the Palmetto State, I have decided to copy and paste the chain here in case you missed it.

Anne S. STARTED IT ALL with: Good morning! I was very dismayed to see that a Columbia girl has made it onto the Gawker blog for something, um, not so admirable. This is Kimberly, a remarkable young lady who has made an audition tape for MTV's Real World.

SOMEONE has to know who she is - I'm dying to figure her out! Is this for real? Does she really consider herself a southern belle as she goes off about how she hates, well, you'll see... Can't wait to hear what you think.
http://gawker.com/380904/real-world-star-hates-fatties-and-whores-wants-you-to-love-her

Emily H. wrote: That was horrifying. I had no idea any one human could say "like" that much.

Sarah W. wrote: Funny you should bring this up my friend…. My best friend from college actually lived with Kim the summer after our Freshman Year… we referred to her as “Crazy Kim” (seriously).

Brooke F. wrote: Of course somebody knows her! This is South Carolina, my friends. I just watched the video and she seems really smart. I bet her mother is proud.

Brantley S. wrote: I am as dismayed as you Anne, but not surprised because I went to high school with "KIMMY" and the video pretty much sums everything up. I have many stories.....

Ginny J. wrote: I would just like to say that I'm pleasantly amused, but not surprised, that Anne was able to uncover some background info on this girl with just a quick email. A key illustration of being from the state where "everybody knows your name and your business," as said by Miss South Carolina earlier this year in the Miss America pageant.

Anne wrote: I think MTV would be bored to tears if any real Southern belle (read: madras, thank you notes, sweet tea, devotion to the fam, lots of smiling, hugs, tailgates and pretty shoes) got onto the Real World. She seriously knocked her front teeth out, y'all! We've got nothing on her... not even in our wildest moments. And with that, this southern belle is off to finish her Thursday night Diet Coke, fold some laundry, pet the dog and hit the hay.

Brooke F. wrote: Anne, I’m sure everyone would agree with this: You really need a blog. Your e-mails absolutely make my day! You should share your humor with the world. I hope the DC was tasty, the laundry got folded and the dog is happily patted.

Erin D. wrote: I couldn't agree more that Anne needs a blog- all of these emails are priceless... I see her name pop up in my inbox and think- oh good, something cute, sweet and almost always hilarious. Here's to a happy Friday and Anne starting her 'blog of a true southern belle.'

Ginny J. wrote: I second (or third, or whatever) the motion for an Anne blog! I'malways wondering what Anne would say about this or that.

Rowe C. wrote: I wholeheartedly concur!

Bess McC. wrote:
1. I will definitely be watching the real world b/c "kimmy" seems like a person that I'd love to hate.
2. Brantley, let's hear some stories!
3. I second the blog. I'd check it daily!

...and here we are, folks. If you made it to the bottom of this post, give yourself a cookie - you're all caught up. So Sarah has gotten me this fabulous domain name, and off we go.

Hopefully this will cut WAY down on the number of random and massive emails I send out. But you may be learning a lot more about what goes on in my crazy, illogical but thoroughly amusing brain than you ever cared to. You've been warned!