Day 17: Running Tunes

After six full weeks of antibiotics, steroid shots and more oral steroids (I'm reaching Arnold Schwarzenegger status), I'm well and ready to hit the pavement again. October weather is perfect for outdoor exercise - cool enough that you don't melt but not so cold you want to stay under the covers.

I need serious beats and up-tempo music to keep me motivated while running. Anything that slows down makes me want to screech to a halt, not push through the pain to get a decent workout in.

To that end, I've downloaded a few new tunes and updated my running playlist. It's different from my "regular" workout playlist in that the music worms itself into my brain and drowns out the "stop, stop, stop, you can't do this, let's take a nap!" voice that follows me when I run.

Here's what I've got so far - I'd love your favorite new running song suggestions!

Disclosure: Don't judge. I buy "clean" iTunes versions so I'm not humming four-letter words to myself when reading Mac his evening Bible story.

I need LOTS of options so I can turn off anything that doesn't cut it at the moment. Also, I fancy myself something of a hip hop maven when wearing spandex, hence the old school Eminem and Jay Z tunes. Whatever gets my legs going and drowns out my to do list!

Cheers (Drink to That) - Rihanna
Whip My Hair - Willow
What the Hell - Avril Lavigne
Want U Back - Cher Lloyd**
Part of Me - Katy Perry
Gangnam Style - PSY
You've Got the Love - Florence + the Machine
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Lights - Ellie Goulding**
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift
Universal Mind Control - Common
Domino - Jessie J
Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida
Blow - Ke$haJ
Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne
Closer - NeYo
Hard - Rihanna and Jeezy
Magic - Robin Thicke
Pon de Replay - Rihanna
Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
Don't Stop the Music - Rihanna
Breakin' Dishes - Rihanna
Big Pimpin' - Jay Z
Dirt Off Your Shoulder - Jay Z**
I Just Wanna Love U - Jay Z
Run This Town - Jay Z and Rihanna
Izzo - Jay Z
Empire State of Mind - Jay Z and Alicia Keys
All I Do Is Win - DJ Khaled
I Know You Want Me - Pitbull
Look at Me Now - Karmin Cover
Clocks - Coldplay
So What - P!nk
Die Young - Ke$ha
Bad Girls - MIA**
Girls Gone Wild - Madonna
Paper Planes - MIA
No Church in the Wild (Clean) - Kanye and Jay Z**
Flesh and Bone - The Killers
Titanium - David Guetta and Sia
Pound the Alaram - Nicki Minaj
Wide Awake - Katy Perry (cool down/warm up)
**The absolute essential songs to make me move these days.

Don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's post to win a Beaufort bonnet or Beaufort bucket hat from The Beaufort Bonnet Company!

*This post is day 17 in my 31 Days of What Matters.

Held Another Year

It's my birthday. I'm not quite wearing my party hat; I was up 'til 2am, a knot in my stomach and a pile of nonsense in my mind.

Last weekend I had a preemptive meltdown about my golden birthday. Thirty-one on the 31st.

I'm not eaten up about turning 31 because it sounds old; I've accepted I'll never squeeze into bright orange skinny jeans and I now have to turn down caffeine after supper.

What breaks my heart is feeling I've lost so much time.

I want my life back. I want the missing months and memories and brain cells and tears back, desperately and with all my heart. If this were 5th grade recess, I'd stomp my foot and demand a do-over. But it isn't.

Thirty had its highlights: I found out we were expecting a girl, we celebrated Mac's second birthday, we welcomed his baby sister and had a golden few weeks before time stopped. Maybe now it's time to start it again.

I feel a hundred years older than I did in February. I want to shake it off, to start over. I can't get 30 back, but I'm adopting a blog friend's attitude and owning every inch and hour of 31.

Yes, I'm older. Hallelujah for that! It means more time with the people I love. (And perhaps a search for eye cream, but we'll discuss that later.)

A friend reminded me of this song today, and I wanted to share. Yes, it made me ugly cry, but it is just what I'm feeling. And while there's hurt behind it, most of all there is gratitude.

The back half of thirty was a rollercoaster I'd prefer never to ride again. But I was held. By you and by far bigger hands, too.

This is what it means to be held, how it feels when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive. 

This is what it is to be loved and to know that the promise was when everything fell, we'd be held.

So now there are mascara stains on a beautifully monogrammed burp cloth; I couldn't find more perfect words if I wrote for years.

The painful truth: my hope is and has been born of suffering. My Savior's and, to a far lesser degree, my family's and my own. It makes His hope and security so much more real.

I prayed over and over last night, "Remind me I'm not alone right now." And I wasn't. At no point in this journey have I been on my own.

Thank you for holding me this last year. I'd love to squeeze each of you and toast a Diet Coke (I could use an IV of it lately) to a healthy, happy, beautiful thirty-first year.

If you're reading this, you're part of the reason I lived to see 31. I've achieved full-on old lady status; may I be "old" for many, many years.

I don't know what the future holds, but looking back at the darkest moments in my recent past, I know I've been held. He has gone ahead of me; there is nothing to fear. And, just as sweet, He's given me each of you.

 

He's given me these tiny people, too. No need for candles or even a sunny, celebratory day. This birthday girl is going to wipe her tears, walk out into the monsoon and show 31 how it's done. Hallelujah and amen.

Ob-la-di

Life goes on.

Cupcake face - he gets it from his mama.

Two months after we brought Mary Brooks home (again), life is going on. Cupcakes and crying and collective fits of giggles are going on.

Some days moments I feel like I'm treading water, but for the most part I am soaking in what our new normal looks like: grateful, messy, mindful, sweet and a little crazy.

Date night at Zac Brown. Watch out, world!

And also covered in hair - mine, Blue's and Mary Brooks'. The dark hair just keeps on a-fallin'. Two of the three of us are practically balding at this point; the other is just shedding his winter coat. I think we're about to see Baby Bangs: Part Deux, so get excited for that little sequel.

Mac wraps up school this week, taking a much-needed three-month hiatus from the rigorous academic schedule that is preschool. He has learned so much and grown by leaps and bounds this year; it breaks my heart to look back at the "first day" pics from last fall.

Two-thirds eyeball, one-third cheek. Love her.

But time marches on even if my brain still thinks it's mid-February. (The temperatures are sweltering and Labor Day-like, which you'd imagine would remind me it's no longer winter, but alas...)

Mary Brooks is cooing and smiling so infectiously that I morph into an unrecognizable caricature of myself when she beams in my general direction. Bon Jovi must have been watching his newborn grin when he scribbled his "shot through the heart" line, because this little bean sure knows how to get to us.

This fool is plum crazy.

(Actually, I'm playing the rest of that song in my head and I'm quite confident he wrote it about someone decidedly NOT a newborn.)

In feeling a lot more like myself, my brain has returned to its usual deep pursuits: celebrity gossip, mindless internet browsing and avoiding chores like a pro. Case in point: I've watched this trailer for the upcoming Great Gatsby remake more than a few times. How will we wait 'til Christmas to see it on the big screen?

I am currently working on a proposal that has me like:



My ability to laugh at myself has emerged unscathed, and I've found middle school humor never goes out of style. B doesn't share my enthusiasm for the Tumblrs that share these images, but I could amuse myself for hours there. Hello, procrastination!

And Kate Middleton FTW is back en force, too, which makes me giddy.

In other news, we had a little celebration last Saturday to thank some of the friends who took such wonderful care of us, both near and from afar, when MB was in the hospital. We have a few more of these to throw, as the number of people who carried us through that time couldn't fit into our house and onto our patio at once, much less find room to eat barbecue.

And we really want time to thank every last friend, hug them and make non-hospital-based conversation. To truly, fully transition back into post-trauma life.

I was so 'busy' hosting last Saturday that I took no pictures. Not a SINGLE one. It's a crying shame! Thankfully our friend Erin took one and posted it on her blog today.

My best bloggers: Lyndsey, Megan and Erin

We're hosting our small group early next month (I believe the date I quoted in an email to everyone was the @th, further proof I've "done lost my mind") and I promise to take pictures then. I want to remember all of this, for our sake and for Mary Brooks'.



This is the first song we heard after returning to church with a healed MB a while back. Tell me that's a coincidence; it's my life mantra. I'm okay, but I'm not okay. More than anything, I am not the same.

I still can't sing it without choking up, but this version is on constant repeat nonetheless chez Smith.

I have so much to tell you and a lot of news to share in the coming week or two. Once I get into a summer groove, I hope to be posting regularly and reminding myself through these written words that I'm still me. Different, but still me. And although I'd take back what happened in a heartbeat, I wouldn't change how we've grown.

It hurt like all my thousands of words could never say. And it still hurts.

But we're here, breathing and happy. May I never stop singing His praises for it. We've been called to tell this story and to live out our lives in a way that puts this pain to good use. I can't wait to tell you what that looks like and ask you for help in doing it!

Thank you for being here, sweet friends. xoxo

A Monday Minute

This Monday has been a little manic, but two videos have made my rainy but beautiful day. Hope they do the same for you!

I don't listen to the radio much, as I prefer to pick my own tunes whenever possible (control issues much?), but I haven't been able to stop humming Moves Like Jagger since late August. When I heard Little Big Town's banjo-pickin' cover, it put a new spin on the tune running through my brain for the millionth time....



You know by now that I'm the pastiest girl who ever dreamed of having swagger, so I took great joy in watching Tigger, Eeyore and especially Pooh pull off the cat-daddy, Dougie, shuffle and other general tomfoolery at a theme park.

Not the moves they learned for everyday Hundred Acre Wood hang-outs, but it made me giggle nonetheless. (Especially what kicks off at 0:25 and 1:25.)

Although I just realized I've been out-danced by grown men wearing cartoon character costumes. Could this be a new low for my (lack of) dance skills?


Happy Monday!

A Bit of Peace

We sang Your Great Name in service this morning and, despite the anniversary of an unspeakable tragedy, I felt a tremendous sense of peace.



All the weak find their strength at the sound of Your great name.
Hungry souls receive grace at the sound of Your great name.
The fatherless, they find their rest at the sound of Your great name.
Sick are healed and the dead are raised at the sound of Your great name.

Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man.
You are high and lifted up that all the world will praise Your great name.

Redeemer, My Healer, Lord Almighty.
My savior, Defender, You are My King...

I'm sure you're not shocked that, today of all days, these words had me in tears.

My prayer today has been that all who are hurting would feel a peace that passes all understanding, that they would be healed and know His hope.

Perfection

I was going to try some awkward "Adele-icate performance" play on words, but realized it's best not to try too hard, as evidenced by Adele herself below.

I haven't watched the VMAs start to finish in at least five years. I'm well past the age of their target audience and don't get as giddy about the over-the-top performance gimmicks or movie tie-ins anymore.

That doesn't mean I don't love a captivating performance, though, and Adele's was perfection. I adore this song, and she seems to be even better live than on my iPod.

My goosebumps had goosebumps.

Give Adele a piano, a microphone and a classic black dress and she'll let it rip. Lady Gaga, I realize this isn't your schtick, but do take note.

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Adele

In other "wow" news, Beyonce, just moments after announcing her first pregnancy, belted one out and danced across the stage in heels. Wonder if the sparkly tuxedo is a part of her House of Dereon's inevitable maternity line?

Even if her "Love on Top" isn't your thing, be sure to skip to the last 30 seconds and watch the adorable post-performance belly rub as she unbuttons her sequined jacket to show off a bump. (And how proud does dad-to-be Jay Z look? Cute!)

Now I get to compare my pregnant self to hers for the next six months. If she continues to look this fab, I may have to stop checking...

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Beyoncé

Treadmill Tunes

My iPod is one-third Dave Matthews, one-third praise music and one-third country and pop. (Yes, I'm a stereotype.) There's one sizable exception: my treadmill tunes.

Heaven knows it's tough to get this nap addict motivated to break a sweat. More than the "walking to your car in August" variety, that is.

As you know, my relatively normal exterior belies a surprising selection of unabashed pop and rap trash, essentially. Whatever gets me through an hour at the Y.

I blogged about my workout playlist in 2009, but it's changed a bit. Some artists have been removed (I'm looking at you, Chris Brown, and am not happy to lose such a fab cardio track) and a new gems have been discovered.

I need a variety of beats for cardio, weights and abs. I can't stand counting to myself while competing with a different beat in my earbuds. I'm not that skilled. So you'll notice slower tunes for abs and angrier tunes (coincidence?) for the tougher parts of my workout.

Note well: I may listen to thugs, but I prefer the profanity-free versions. I have been known to email iTunes when I buy a "clean" version of a song that still contains something I wouldn't hear on the radio.

Some of these rappers are quite talented; I wish their moms, like mine, had told them that foul language is something people use when they're not intelligent enough to find more effective, creative alternatives. Preach it, Louise.

Ready to judge? Let's let it all hang out:
What the Hell - Avril Lavigne

Universal Mind Control - Common

All I Do Is Win - DJ Khaled
Club Can't Handle Me, Flo Rida
Take It Off - Ke$ha Blow We R Who We R
Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Rumors - Lindsay Lohan
Get It Shawty -Lloyd
Closer - Ne-Yo
So What - Pink
I Know You Want Me - Pitbull Fuego
Hard - Rihanna & Jeezy

Like a G6 - Far East Movement

Run This Town - Jay-Z & Rihanna

Le Belle et Le Bad Boy - MC Solaar
(French rap! Yes, from the final SATC episode.) Magic - Robin Thicke When I Get You Alone
Forget You - Cee Lo Green

Jesus Walks - Kanye West Blacklight - One Call Dancing in the Dark - Mat Kearney cover
Whip My Hair - Willow
Bottoms Up - Trey Songz
No Diggity - Blackstreet & Dr. Dre
What You Got - Colby O'Donis
Gotta Get Thru This - Daniel Bedingfield
Look At Me Now - Karmin cover
Ain't Nothin' Wrong With That - Robert Randolph & the Family Band DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher

Irony: I'm posting this to feel a bit more motivated to use these tunes for something other than cleaning day dance parties. The time I've spent at the Y lately has been in the pool...

Double irony: Me bobbing my head to "you think you're a gangster 'cause you did time..." when I get frustrated by people who run red lights.

Triple irony: My last workout playlist post was written two weeks before I found out I was expecting Mac. If only I knew how little I'd use my treadmill tunes that year!

Why are there so many angry love songs in my playlist? I've been known to cry while breaking a sweat, but do I need to see a therapist to delve into why only such music gets me moving? I'm thankful so many people have had tough break-ups, I suppose.

What am I missing? What gets you going, workout queens? Motivate me!

Extras

1. I found a piece on why getting "older" rules that smacked me in the face after our discussion earlier. Not to say that a 29-year-old has the world's fullest understanding of aging, but it was a positive perspective that made me smile. I'll take it, especially since I've fully signed on to the belief that being cool isn't all it was cracked up to be circa sophomore year.

2. After my less than fantabulous week, I heard this on the radio; the lyrics message washed over me at just the right moment. No matter what your story is, I hope it does the same for you.

(What does it say about me that hearing someone sing "sweeping up lost Cheerios that got away" made me cry? Guess I really needed someone to speak directly to me in a "I feel you, crumb-covered, can't-do-anything-right sister" kinda way.)



3. I heard about a trend called planking a week or two ago. I thought I knew exactly what that was and wondered why on Earth people would post pictures of themselves doing their ab routine.

Credit

Evidently I was wrong - and so far behind that planking has now been replaced with owling. I'm not making this up.

I wish I knew what to say about these "trends," but WHY WHY WHY is all that comes to mind. I am a bit more traditional with my pastimes.

Credit

For people who are looking to replace owling as an early adopter of an even newer trend, may I suggest napping? It's something new I'm starting, where I post pictures online of myself sleeping in a variety of odd places. I'm taking suggestions and practicing in my bed just as soon as I get a chance to lie down.

I'm Sorry!

I'm here.

I've been sweaty and frustrated and, for one glorious night, staying in a swanky hotel room. (A week without air conditioning in a heat wave? Misery.)

I've been celebrating the arrival of our dear friends' baby girl after months of prayers and pink-or-blue guessing.

I've been recovering from strep throat, then sharing it with Bradley and getting sick again.

I've been visiting with Mac's grandparents and trying, but not quite succeeding, to catch up on work.

I've been furnishing our new home. (This is really coming along!)

I've been planning and dreaming of a beach vacation.

I've been letting my hair air dry and praying good bangs make up for a headful of mess.

I've been waiting to become an aunt TOMORROW when my sister-in-law Laura is due to deliver our niece or nephew-to-be.

I've been reading the Daily Mail each morning and recovering from Royal Wedding withdrawal.

I've been "fat flushing" and eating clean - but also eating poorly. And skipping the gym.

I've been totally addicted to Karmin.

I've been hanging out with my super-cute, far-too-busy husband.

I've been kissing Mac like mad and having real, honest-to-goodness conversations with my son. Heavenly.

I've been wondering how we accumulate so much laundry.

I've been enjoying every moment with "Bac Smees" so far this summer. (See below.)



I, like my little monkey, have been trying to stay cool and hydrated. I don't usually applaud myself for it, though. Maybe I should?



I've been thinking about blogging and most of all about YOU.

A little peek at my life and more updates tomorrow? Forgive me?


xoxox,
A.

Can I Borrow Your Moves?

Would it be extra creepy for me to ask this Chinese preschooler for some hip-hop tutoring?

How sad is it that I envy the moves of a three-year-old?

Seriously - wow.

I can't decide if I want to give him a standing ovation or just a big hug. (I know, I know, that would probably be creepy, too.)



As much applause as Mac gets for walking across a room, standing, squatting and throwing a ball these days, we'd knock him over if he mimicked some of this choreography. Go, little guy, go!

Sunday Tunes

Two songs have been stuck in my head for the last week, so I thought I'd share my new favorites - and why I can't stop humming them.

Taylor Swift's "Mine"

Because my love for Taylor is well documented. Because, as Popwatch pointed out, Taylor love a romantic, narrative video. Because happy endings, weddings and reading books to babies can still make me cry.

Darius Rucker "Come Back Song"

Because Kristen had a point when she said this video is a love letter to Charleston. Because people who have negative things to say about our state must never have been here. Because I could listen to Darius sing the news.

(We sang this in church again today and it's on continuous play in my head as well. Glad my boys don't mind a few tunes on Sunday!)

If You'll Be My Bodyguard...

Do you remember Paul Simon's "Call Me Al" video? Maybe I'm dating myself, but I remember watching it with my dad as he explained who these two men were - and why the whole thing was funny.



Such an iconic video - I love it.

That is why it kills me that my dad and I didn't think of this genius idea three years ago!

I'm emotional enough as it is, so any slow and sentimental father/daughter dance songs were automatically out. We danced to "Isn't She Lovely," the perfect song for us, but there were no recorders, saxophones or lip syncing involved.

A Facebook friend posted video today of this brilliant father/daughter "dance" at a recent Charlotte wedding they attended. What a treat those guests got!

Think y'all could have pulled off something so silly on your wedding day?

Tears on a Treadmill: Take Two

All evidence to the contrary, I don't often cry at music videos - even sappy ones. And, while my complete inability to run long distances has brought me to tears in the past, I rarely ever boohoo at the gym, in full view of strangers.

Yet here I am, acknowledging my second bout of tears on a treadmill. Perhaps I should avoid CMT while I'm running* from now on?

(Side note: My ballet teacher told me in grad school that the only time a woman should run is if she is being chased by a bear. I stand behind this statement. My lower half, however, appreciates a little cardio now and then. If you're wondering why I took dance in grad school, ask my co-ballerina Kristen. Then ignore the other stories she tells you about me in tights.)

I'd heard that "The House That Built Me" was Miranda Lambert's best song yet, but hadn't seen the video until I was halfway through a workout last week.

I was plugging along quite nicely when Miranda crooned:

"And I bet you didn't know: Under that live oak, my favorite dog is buried in the yard."
(1:10 mark)

In an instant, that line had me misty-eyed. Then she followed up with this gem:

"Mama cut out pictures of houses for years from Better Homes and Garden magazine. Plans were drawn and concrete poured. Nail by nail and board by board, Daddy gave life to Mama's dream."
(2:00 mark)

Thank heavens the man next to me was engrossed in his baseball game! Home renovations must be a soft spot for me, because there was more than a little chin quivering going on...

What could possibly explain such a public lapse of any emotional control? No, I'm not sleep-deprived, underfed, pregnant or on drugs. (Odd that those things might have similar symptoms.)



Have you seen this video? Would you indulge me with a, "Yes, I find those lines a touch sentimental, too?"

*read: attempting to run, moving my feet, making a valiant effort to burn a few calories

Singin' on a Sunday

I heard a song this morning for the first time and haven't been able to stop singing it since! The lyrics are so powerful and I want to share them with you.



You thought of us before the world began to breathe
You knew our names before we came to be
You saw the very day we fall away from you
And how desperately we need to be redeemed

Lord Jesus
Come lead us
We're desperate for your touch

Oh great and mighty One
With one desire we come
That You would reign that You would reign in us
We're offering up our lives
A living sacrifice
That You would reign that You would reign in us

Spirit of the living God fall fresh again
Come search our hearts and purify our lives
We need Your perfect love; we need Your discipline
We're lost unless You guide us with your light

Lord Jesus
Come lead us
We're desperate for your touch

Oh great and mighty One
With one desire we come
That You would reign that You would reign in us
We're offering up our lives
A living sacrifice
That You would reign that You would reign in us

We cry out for Your life to revive us, cry out
For Your love to define us, cry out
For Your mercy to keep us
Blameless until You return

Oh great and mighty One
With one desire we come
That You would reign that You would reign in us
We're offering up our lives
A living sacrifice
That You would reign that You would reign in us

(Repeat)

So reign, please reign in us
Come purify our hearts
We need Your touch
Come cleanse us like a flood
And set us out
So the world may know You reign, You reign in us

Singing this song as a church this morning brought out the crybaby tender heart in me; it felt like a corporate prayer and a heartfelt request.

I hope you find it as meaningful as I did... And I really hope you're humming it as much as I am, if only so I know someone's joining me in my solo Sunday singin'.

Hope your Sunday's been wonderful!

Things You Should Know: Part Four

I cried at the gym today.

For some reason, exercise has always made me emotional. Just ask Kristen, at whom I snapped on a long run, "Could you please breathe a little more quietly?" Or something along those lines. Bless her heart for not tripping me right then.

So today I was going full steam ahead on a treadmill when Zac Brown's "Highway 20 Ride" video came on. Hearing those lyrics always puts a lump in my throat, but the combination of an accelerated heartbeat and watching a little boy "grow up" onscreen did me in.

There were tears, y'all. On a treadmill. I am mortified.

I've cried every Sunday in church since I found out I was pregnant 14 months ago. That I can blame on hormones, on gratitude, on thinking of our precious son in God's house and feeling overcome with emotion. (I know I'm not alone on this. Brooke, feel free to back me up!)

The people who sit near us each week must imagine I'm struggling with some intense issues. I had to warn our friends who were visiting Grace the other week that I probably wouldn't make it through tear-free, and not to be alarmed. Sure enough, in the last song before service ended, the saltwater started flowing. I was so close!

I have no idea what my treadmill neighbors thought, but I'll tell you one thing: next time I'm changing the channel!

Watch this video and see if you can make it through - then teach me your ways! This line, at the 3:00 mark, gets me every time:

"It was the pleasure of my life and I cherished every time. And my whole world, it begins and ends with you."

Thoughts

1. Is Ray LaMontagne in heavy rotation on your iPod? If not, do you believe, as this reviewer does, that he sounds like a cross between Michael McDonald and John Mayer? I can totally see his point but, unlike the blogger, actually think that'd be a less-than-horrible thing. Bad taste on my part? Whatever...Ray sounds like he's from a few decades ago - and looks that way too. Love him. Anyone else a fan? Check out his performance on last night's SNL here.


2. Moms in America - particularly in L.A. - take note: Prophylactics are never an appropriate Christmas gift. Unless they're the invisible, unspoken, don't ask/don't tell kind. Well no, not even then. Gross, Zac Efron. I suppose I could thank you for raising a difficult topic of discussion amongst your tween fans and their parents, but instead I'll remind you that they're tweens. You've tacitly admitted that you and your equally unable-to-legally-drink girlfriend are getting to know one another in ways these 12-year-olds shouldn't be. What do you think the readers of Tiger Beat will be discussing after gym class next week??


3. If you'd like to minimize the damage to your reputation that might come along with some embarrassing photos and, say, your boyfriend's mom putting something besides coal in his stocking - take note: Sometimes an extra inch will take you from a shirt to a dress. Alas, sweet Disney star, you've not made the cut here - no pun intended. Add some tights and an inch or two and I'll let it slide. Kudos, however, for your work on the Stairmaster. Nicely done. We'd still notice if you were wearing tights, though!

4. Pomegranate Italian Soda from Whole Foods is delightful. Like a cocktail without the bite or price tag. Recessionistas, enjoy!



5. If a man breaks up with you on national television for another woman he's also dated and broken up with in a remarkably public fashion, keep the ring. The network paid for it, silly girl - sell that thing on eBay and take yourself a nice, long Caribbean cruise. Or, if you still feel compelled to return the ring, don't hand it to him. Let's hope we don't see this bauble on new girl's hand. It wasn't that pretty to begin with, love, and neither was he. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you don't watch nearly enough TV.

Ultimate Workout Playlist

Music is the ultimate motivational tool for me at the gym. My workout playlist has different songs for warming up, lifting, running, walking, etc. If I'm not taking a class with a preset soundtrack, I usually put my workout playlist on shuffle and just skip around based on what I'm doing.
I've starred my very favorites in terms of motivation for me. Be warned - I always get the clean version and you may prefer to do the same. These songs do get me going, though!
I trained for my half marathon a few years ago using Ashlee Simpson's entire Autobiography album. I'm pretty tired of it by now, but it was great for me then so I'm including it below.
Take a look and let me know what your favorites are as well. I'd love to add some new music to my workout mix!
Autobiography - Ashlee Simpson
Pieces of Me
Lala
Little Miss Obsessive
Boyfriend

*Single Ladies - Beyonce
*Diva

Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
*Circus
*Gimme More
*Womanizer
Me Against the Music
Toxic

Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams

How I Could Just Kill A Man - Charlotte Sometimes

*Forever - Chris Brown
Kiss Kiss

Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera

*What You Got - Colby O'Donis

*Gotta Get Thru This - Daniel Bedingfield

Mercy - Duffy

American Boy - Estelle

Leavin' - Jesse McCartney

Irresistible - Jessica Simpson
I Think I'm In Love With You

Green Light - John Legend

After Tonight - Justin Nozuka

FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

Jesus Walks - Kanye West

Whine Up - Kat DeLuna

Over It - Katharine McPhee

*Hot N Cold - Katy Perry

Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

***Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf

*Mr. Brightside - The Killers

Red Blooded Woman - Kylie Minogue

**Just Dance - Lady GaGa

I Will Love Again - Lara Fabian

The Right Kind of Wrong - Leann Rimes

Lollipop - Lil Wayne
A Milli
Got Money

Get It Shawty - Lloyd

In My Pocket - Mandy Moore

Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5
Through With You

Come On Get Higher - Matt Nathanson

*Closer - Ne-Yo

**So What - Pink
Sober

New Shoes - Paolo Nutini

*Fuego - Pit Bull
*When I Grow Up - Pussycat Dolls

Don't Stop the Music - Rihanna
Breakin' Dishes
Pon de Replay

*Magic - Robin Thicke

**Live Your Life - T.I.
Whatever You Like

Lolli Lolli - Three 6 Mafia

Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings

Love in This Club - Usher

Nolita Fairytale - Vanessa Carlton

Take Me on the Floor - The Veronicas
This Love
*This is How It Feels
4ever
Untouched

Before you start another crazy week....

1. Tell me a few of your favorite gym songs. I am working on a fabulous new playlist and absolutely welcome your suggestions. I use it as a total excuse for all of the crap, um, pop music on my iPod. Britney, Three 6 Mafia, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Kevin Rudolf, Kanye, Christina, Mandy Moore - whaaat? I know, I know. I keep it to the clean versions, but a girl's got to keep it exciting if she wants to tempt herself onto the treadmill. So add a little to my playlist... I promise to take your advice!

2. Be in prayer for a Clemson graduate and Columbia native who could certainly use them! This adorable girl is engaged to be married this spring and has found out she has two brain tumors. She's set for surgery this Tuesday the 27th to see if they are benign or malignant. I'm praying for beningn!!

3. Join me in hoping that the groundhog predicts a quick and sunny spring next week!!

4. Take a moment to (finally) learn how to tie a stylish scarf. Also, enjoy a good Southern accent, some lovely lady chatter and a bit of good insight into Bachelor contestants' fashion faux pas. This will totally be me in ten years - if I'm lucky, that is!! It goes to show that sorority-style gal pals never go out of fashion!


Scarf Tying 101 from Big Mama on Vimeo.

Fortunately, I can wear stylishly chic jeans, heels and scarves to work. I think I wore one every day last week. Newly acquired are hot pink, lime green and charcoal from (yes, you're reading this correctly) Wal-Mart. I walked by to grab some eye cream and what do you know - they've got cute pashminas!

Add to that my gorgeous orange gift pashmina from K.Dub, the purple one my friend Jennifer just forced me to purchase, a red one that got broken in over the holidays and a mauve one from my summer in Paris well before they were in style - well, you can see how easy it is to throw one on over a t-shirt and call yourself a fashionista.

Have a fabulous, fabulous week, y'all!

Watch it now.

Say you didn't buy the perfume, stand in awe of the fabulous choreography, envy Debbie's bedazzled outfit, know the words whoo-for-whoo and attempt to replicate her every jazzy hand motion.

No, seriously. Please say that. Because that musk in the fabulous spiral bottle left a lot to be desired in the scent department, no matter how cute Miss Gibson was in the late 80s.

Take a peek at Electric Youth.

(Do the first few seconds have anyone else reminiscing for the days of pegged jeans, big hair, vests on both genders and Michael Jackson's original nose? No? Okay, you're right. Maybe just the first few iterations of MJ's nose. What a sight the King of Pop is today...)

A few of my favorite things: Holiday edition

The weather outside is (approaching the Palmetto State's version of) frightful, Bing Crosby is serenading me in Target and visions of vacation days are dancing in my head. That can only mean one thing: it's Christmastime!

So what does Christmas bring? Around here, usually not much snow. It does bring lots of quality family time, silly Christmas sweaters, reasons for impromptu gatherings with friends and time to remember what's really important.

A few of my favorite things each Christmas:

Amy Grant's original Christmas album. Grew up on it, still love it, not ashamed. Seriously, try to find something better than "A Tender Tennessee Christmas." No, I'm not joking.


If anything could possibly be better, it'd be James Taylor's Hallmark Christmas album. I'm a huge JT fan. I could listen to him sing about the latest stock market crash and feel comforted.

A favorite Christmas (-ish) movie from my childhood.

A recent addition to the holiday lineup. Happy endings are always a favorite.

I have probably seen this movie 10,714 times. By year's end I imagine we'll add at least a dozen.

As a thank you to Bradley for tolerating so many viewings of Love Actually, during which I tear up no less than six times despite knowing it word for word, I'll throw in a favorite of his.

Because I quote "Santa! I know him!!" all year round.

It's just not Christmas until you catch up with George Bailey and family.

A socially acceptable reason to eat more mashed potatoes than should ever be consumed.

The Nutcracker ballet, music and my favorite Clara ornament that's now almost 20 (!) years old.

Christmas cookies. Yes, please. Can we squeeze more icing and sprinkles on there? Goes right along with the elves' favorite food groups, as listed in Elf: "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup." Delish!

A fully decorated Christmas tree. Forget Martha Stewart's version - show me the preschool macaroni ornaments, mismatched creations from elementary school, old parental purchases and some multi-colored lights. The brighter, the more festive, the more personalized, the better.

What are you looking forward to this Christmas?