Stop Dwelling

I have to remind myself some days of how blessed I truly am.

Not just me, all of us.

If we look around and take stock of all of the good in our lives, then we should have very little time to dwell on what has been denied.

Yesterday was not an easy day for me. Not at all.
When I got off of work, I felt something stirring... something was off. As I pulled out of our driveway, I saw my church's steeple over the trees. It reminded me that it has been a while since I sat in the house of the Lord.

So I drove over there. I walked quickly from my car to the side door, already a little wet from all of the mist. As I walked in a group of Asian tourists and their American tour guide come in right behind me.

I debated leaving.

I just wanted one moment of peace, in my church, with God.

Instead, I walked over to the candles, and lit one and said a quick prayer for my family. It was the first thing that came to my mind.

My candle is the one in the center

As I was lighting my candle, I heard snap, click and witnessed a flash go off. I sort of sighed as that happened.

Then I went over to the first pew and lowered the kneeler.
I crossed myself and whispered, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," and I bowed my head.

Again... snap - click - flash.

I was getting frustrated. I was somehow the souvenir of the Asian tourist. My faith, my time of need, my meditation was now something for people to share with their friends back home.

All I could do was say to God,

"God.. this makes me uncomfortable. Please... let them leave soon. I need a minute with you. Just you. And I need to take that minute here."

I continued to feel odd about praying with them RIGHT BEHIND ME. So, I crossed myself again and just sat there staring at the crucifix. I took a few deep breaths, and as I was exhaling slowly, the tourists left.

Just like that.

And I was alone.

In the house of the Lord. With God. With my thoughts. Sitting in front of the tabernacle.. I prayed. I laid all of my worries there. Just handing it over.

I felt a sense of peace over come me. I smiled.. and I left.

I needed a moment, or two to just be alone. This is such an interesting time in my life, and I am preparing myself for the next chapter.

When stumbling blocks present themselves, I have to remember where to turn.

And to breathe.
And to trust.
And to let go.

Luckily, my SG and I had a wonderful conversation that afternoon. He helped soothe my worries about the future, and he reminded me that everything is as it should be. He really is a gift from God.

I am responsible for so much. I am required to do so much. There are high expectations.
I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so much so, that sometimes I block my own progress.

I must relax. Stop dwelling on what has been denied over the years, and focus on all of the good that God has provided for me.

It's Not a Bad Month.. It is a Life Changing Month

On the eve of typically my Worst Month Ever, I decided to do a little reflection on just how scary September is for me.

Then... something happened.

As I was driving down HWY 224 heading from Montezuma to Perry, it hit me. It wasn't that September was so terrible. I mean, think about it, I survived. Yes, it altered my course of existence...

But.. that's IT!

It simply altered my course. It was God's way of shaking me to my core and having me shift directions-alter my sails-take the road less traveled - etc. 
These fundamentally core shaking experiences were just basic plate tectonics doing their thing with my soul. 

As I sit and grasp the weird nuances that always seem to happen, I have to view it as life changing. Always for the better, in one way or another. Always. 

With that being said, I'm just living my life. I promised myself that 2015 was going to be a beautiful, soul-enriching year, and I have happily stayed the course. I spent another fantastic two weekends with my S.G. soaking up nature and feeling this incredible, to-the-bone, peace. Life is good, and I am continuously collecting beautiful moments. 

Last weekend, I got to meet S.G.'s granddaughter. I held this little baby girl in my arms and sort of marveled at how tiny she was. Knowing me, I am a little unsure of myself around babies, so in about 60 seconds flat, I handed her back to her father. 

I spent a little more time with SG's middle child (biologically oldest,) at the farm. We enjoyed chatting, watching Youtube videos and picking muscadines. 

SG took me on a golf-cart ride around Preston, his home town. I snapped this shot of his home church as we were rounding the bend. Just the perfect example of a small country church in the deep South.

I came back home and got a wild hair. I needed a change - in more ways than one. I chopped 5 inches off of my hair. 

Ta - Dah!!

This past weekend I headed back down to SG's and indulged in more delicious, juicy muscadines. 

Gypsy and I spent a little time together while my guy had to go into work for a little while. Coffee and a dog.. not a bad combo. 

I spent most of the weekend working on some of my freelance writing assignments for Macon Magazine. 

Finally, I got back into Macon this morning and read this. 

I think September needs to not be so much about me, but what I can give back. If I put enough good into the world, certainly I can escape this month fairly unscathed... right?

Until next time... 

Journey into Wellness

It's officially happening - I'm embarking on yet another journey. I think I finally have the tools I need to be successful, and God willing, all will be revealed along the way!

To begin with, I start the "Fall Journey to Wellness" tonight. Yoga lead by my friend, Frances, and nutrition accountability. I bought The Mediterranean Zone Diet book and it was delivered this morning. According to the website, here is what I'm getting:

Dr. Sears revolutionized nutrition with his 1995 bestseller, The Zone. In the two decades since its publication, his dietary principles for optimal hormonal balance to control inflammation have become the standard by which all diets are measured.

The Mediterranean Zone takes his principles of anti-inflammatory nutrition to a new level by explaining the key role that polyphenols play in the reduction of inflammatory responses as well as their activation of anti-aging mechanisms embedded in our genes.

This book will also help you understand not only why the American health-care system is rapidly unraveling, but also what you can do to protect yourself and your family from those consequences.

Sounds good, so far!

In addition, I'm going to dive into a 36 week program to motivate and inspire me to finally write a book. (Details to come!) So many of my friends are published authors, and I thought, what the hell am I waiting for? But first - this journey. I will be working on The Artist's Way. I purchased about three year ago, the complete 3-book journey by Julie Cameron. The first 12 weeks (which works perfectly with my 12 weeks of yoga,) will be based on her first book, The Artist's Way, (according to the website,) is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. An international bestseller, millions of readers have found it to be an invaluable guide to living the artist’s life. Still as vital today-or perhaps even more so-than it was when it was first published one decade ago, it is a powerfully provocative and inspiring work. In a new introduction to the book, Julia Cameron reflects upon the impact of The Artist’s Way and describes the work she has done during the last decade and the new insights into the creative process that she has gained. Updated and expanded, this anniversary edition reframes The Artist’s Way for a new century. This program will take 12 weeks to complete. 

Then I will head into Walking in this World. Another 12 week program. In this sequel to her international bestseller The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron presents the next step in her course of discovering and recovering the creative self. Part Two in an amazing journey toward discovering our human potential, this book shows readers how to inhabit the world with a sense of wonder. Full of valuable new strategies and techniques for breaking through difficult creative ground, this is a profoundly inspired work by the leading authority on the subject of creativity.

And finally, I will wrap it up with Finding Water, another 12 week program. This powerful new installment in Julia Cameron’s groundbreaking body of work on the creative process will guide readers to discover enduring inspiration that it will lead them to water.

Finding Water completes Julia Cameron’s bestselling trilogy on the creative process, beginning with The Artist’s Way and Walking in This World to offer guidance on weathering the periods in an artist’s life when inspiration appears to have run dry. This book offers advice and wisdom about tackling the most challenging issues an artist faces, such as:

– making the decision to begin a new project;
– persevering when a new approach to your art does not bear immediate fruit;
– staying focused when other parts of your life threaten to distract you from your art; and
– spotting possibilities for artistic inspiration in the most unlikely places.

This powerful new installment in Cameron’s groundbreaking body of work on the creative process will guide readers to discover enduring inspiration-it will lead them to water.

I would like to invite YOU to join me on this journey. If you are interested, I will leave a few of the ideas I have picked up and anything else that might be useful. You can purchase the books I mentioned from the respective websites or Amazon. If you are a Prime Member, you will get free shipping and two day delivery. 

Right now, I would recommend getting the books, and a notebook and pen. That's it. Start as simple as that. We can do this together! Last night, I read a quote in the Artist's Way that reminded me what I needed to do:

It's now or never. I'm not a stand on the sidelines kind of girl. All of the puzzle pieces have been accounted for, all that is left is me. 

One final thought - I was reading my daily devotional. It is from a book I have had since 1996 called Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie. Today's thought was "Learn to be Present." She says, "There is a better way to live. One where we keep our hearts open and know what we feel. We take the risk of being vulnerable enough to share who we really are and to allow others to do the same. We become fully present for each moment and each person on our path."

Man... this is an area I really need to work on. My mind wanders a mile a minute, and it is hard to just sit and be in the moment. My hope is tonight, through yoga, I will be able to reconnect with that more spiritual side of who I am. Something.. or rather, someone I lost a long time ago. 

Today as we move forward, Beattie recommends we

Give the gift of presence to yourself and to the world.

Showing a Little Mercy

I'm not having the best of weeks.

It is coming down to the wire, and the stress of life is building up. Luckily, it is temporary and there is an end in sight.

My move is happening in about 4 weeks. I have exactly that amount of time to get my stuff boxed up, throw out what I don't want, and put my things into storage for an undetermined amount of time.

Yep.

Good stuff? I secured the storage unit. I got in on a deal - first month 1/2 off, and then the price will be less than a $100 a month. Plus - I will have access to it as early as June 1st. This is good.

I ordered the internet and it was installed yesterday at my sister's home. Granted, they will enjoy a month of net with me not there, it is good to have this done and taken care of. Again - this is good.

I reserved and confirmed the Uhaul for the 13th. I got everything I needed for that, as well as, got another friend to help my SG and I load the truck. Again... this is good.

But then there is the stress that surrounds me. The house, currently, is an absolute wreck. Boxes everywhere. Stuff stacked high in little organized boxes. The chaos throws me for a loop. It seems the right thing for me to do is use this weekend to buckle down and finish the packing...

But nope. I'm going down to the cabin.
I have to.

I need a mental break - in general. Transitions are my specialty. But I know when enough is enough. I need to get away from the chaos and recharge my battery.

Between battling our land lord on what we will and will not replace, to coming up with the extra money to pay for all of the connections, rentals, etc - it starts to take a toll on you.

For instance, last night I stopped by Walmart to pick up 4 blinds that need to be replaced. I bought what I thought were the right size. I came home, tried to install them, and discovered quickly they were too big. This morning, as I was cursing and spitting under my breath, I walk into the big box chain store from hell and run into an old friend I worked with in television. She was all smiles and compliments. It was so refreshing to see an old familiar face, and it sort of calmed me a little. I headed over to customer service to do an exchange, only to find out the size I need is out of stock.

*sigh*

I drive from East Macon to Zebulan Rd (no quick way there,) and head to the other Walmart. At this point, I am about to blow a gasket. Any good of running into an old friend was completely shattered. As I walk into this store, one of my board members comes up behind me. She is always a delight to chat with and we commiserate about transitions and whatnot. I felt better, I laughed, I smiled. Then as I turned down the aisle... there in all of their generic glory were my blinds. I grabbed four and headed for the checkout.

I was shown a bit of mercy today. It all seems trivial and ridiculous, but as I was telling my SG, I try to stay 5 steps ahead of everyone else. I like to be prepared for life's little surprises, but for whatever reason, my patience is wearing thin.

I need to refocus. I need to recharge. I need to head to that cabin.

Tea Parties, Rappers, and Life's Little Surprises

This week was just full of surprises. 

I woke up Monday morning, finally feeling a sense of peace and calm. I actually got a good night's sleep, awake feeling energized and motivated, then I set out to embark on a new week.

Things have been going fantastically at the Cannonball House. We just got word that we are going to receive a grant from the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) to help restore one of our front columns. This is a very important, as well as, necessary task. (Not to mention, very expensive.) Today we are going through round two for the Watson Brown grant. The Junior Board is arriving for a site visit, and if we receive this, along with the DAR grant, we will have all the funds we need to complete the task! That would be a huge bee in our bonnet!

That Monday morning, I made it back to the gym (first time in weeks, if I am being honest with myself. I pushed myself harder than I have in a while, and it felt good. That bit of sweat and exertion just put me into a deeper state of relaxation. 

Then I got home.

I got the word that my roomie was moving on the greener pastures. (Aka moving on with her significant other,) and I would have to make other plans in late June. Alas, my life is flipped upside again. Luckily, my sister will be my port in the storm, until I figure out the next chapter in my life. I'll be moving back to Jones County this summer, living with her and my niece temporarily. Yes, my stuff will end up back in storage, and yes, I will be staying in my niece's room, but this too shall pass. I just don't have enough time to figure out my next move. Until then, I can help her out with Auttie Blossom and save a little money in the process. 

Though that surprise was slightly unwelcome, I did find a few small blessings along the way!

For one, very good friends have come along to offer me boxes, help with moving, and general good vibes. I am completely thankful for these people. Luckily, my friends Betsy & Gary got married last weekend, and with that came tons of boxes of gifts shipped to them. Now I have bubble wrap, scrunchy paper, and box after box. 

Just last night a series of good deeds came my way. My friend, Scott, called and asked me to dinner. His partner, Bill, was out of town, and my SG lives almost two hours away, so we went to eat Thai at a local restaurant called, "Lemongrass - A Thai Bistro," which is owned by my friend Gary. 

I opted for the Green Chicken Curry. YUUUUMMMM

After dinner, I popped by Roasted, and saw my friends, Floco Torres do a free concert for his latest release, #dreamboard with producer/DJ Shawty Slim. (Yes, THE Shawty Slim.)

Following the concert, my friend Molly from Southern Bon Vivant, invited me for a drink at Dovetail, a farm-to-table restaurant in Downtown Macon.

Our friend, Ryan, whipped us up a delicious glass of Sangria. 

Earlier that day, I got the opportunity to meet a ridiculously talented chef by the name of Michael Wright. He is the Corporate Chef for the HotPlates Restaurant Group. He has traveled and worked under some of the most talented Executive Chefs in the Southeast. I interviewed him for an article that I am writing for Macon Magazine. 

I also got the opportunity to interview tons of super talented coaches for this summer's Otis Music Camp for the 11th Hour. (Otis.. as in Otis Redding.) 

Lots of good writing ops ahead. 

Finally, my staff put on a fantastic tea party for mommies and their daughters. 
They ladies got to make tussy mussies, learn the "language of flowers," and go on an herbal scavenger hunt in our Victorian Garden.

Oh yeah.. one more thing.

What do you get when you mix Nutella + Bananas + Espresso?

THIS. 

Ocmulgee Trader's

Feeling The Love

Needless to say...

My luck has turned around in 2015.

Work? Love it.
Home life? Peaceful.
Love Life? Terrific.

Gosh... it feels good to be in a good place. It has been so long, and finally I can just enjoy the ride for a little while.

As you may be aware of, I just passed another milestone. Birthday #42. 
My birthday falls just two days after Valentine's Day, which makes for interesting dilemma for the guys in my life. ;-)

My guy rose to the occasion.


I drove down on Friday afternoon and stopped by the main house at the farm. I spent about an hour chatting it up with his mother. She is a such a hoot to talk to. Very dry sense of humor. If this gives you any insight, my S.G. has her contact pic as Grumpy Cat. lol

S.G. arrived after work and we transported all of my stuff down to the pond cabin. This adorable cabin is one he and his father built together. It is located deep within the woods of the farm. As soon as I walked inside I broke out into the biggest smile. This is what I saw:

He and his daughters decorated the main room. Streamers, cut out glitter hearts, and dark chocolates were all over the place. It was the sweetest thing I had ever seen.

I was just so excited, I insisted on giving him his "man basket" I made for him. I also gave him a beautiful card with some very heartfelt sentiments written in it. After he read the card he insisted on sharing his card and gift with me. 

Well... I had a beautiful letter written by him that was hands down the most touching letter I have ever received. Yes. He said those three little words. Little did you know, we have not been moving overly fast with the sentiments, but he finally said it. He grabbed my face and said, "Nicole... I. Love. You." 

It was wonderful.

Then he whips out a small box. What he does next cracks me up.
"Now, just so we are clear, this is not a ring."

I died laughing right there. 

However, I opened and found the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen. It had belonged to his grandmother. How wonderful was that?

We ended the night by watching a mini marathon of True Blood.

On Saturday morning, I awoke to him cooking a wonderful breakfast. This man made me a recipe I had pinned on Pinterest. Yes - he picked something I wanted to try. WOW.

Then he got in the car and headed to Providence Canyon - also known as the Little grand Canyon. We were going for a Valentine's Day hike. 

After the hike - we headed over to the river for a picnic. 

Following the picnic - we headed out to Plains, Georgia and I got some delicious hot boiled peanuts.

That night for dinner, he spent four hours cooking Duck a l'orange. Seriously. 

Valentine's Day... as you can tell... was delightful!

Then that Sunday, we headed into Albany and saw the movie 50 Shades of Grey. (BTW - meh.)

Then we shot on over to his ex's house (who btw, was very gracious and kind to me) to pick up his kids and then we scooted over to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. That night we basically all crashed at the cabin.

On my birthday morning, his oldest daughter and I went out and bought sausage biscuits for everyone and just relaxed and talked. Later, the girls and I did what I call - Birthday Yoga. Everything was birthday this or birthday that. 

That afternoon the girls and I got into a hard core UNO marathon, complete with Sangria. (Just for me, of course.)

Then the surprise birthday dinner: The dining room was decorated and all of my favorites were served. Grilled beef hotdogs, a special marinated salad, s&v chips, etc. Complete with a delightful raspberry cake.

As for presents? Holy moly - I struck the mother load! 

Then of course I had to come back to reality! 

Check out my two latest articles in Macon Magazine:

And of course we had a wonderful event at the Cannonball House. My dad even taught calligraphy for the kids!

Finally, don't forget about Beards, Bourbon, & Bacon happening here on April 11th. Here is the inspiration for the event (yes.. one of our volunteers decided to pose with the book.)

Finally, I want to say...

I am happy.

Seriously.

Just happy.


The. End. 

Here Comes 42.

I am creeping up on the year 42. On February 16th, it will be here, and I have to admit, I am not even the least bit freaked out or disappointed. It seems like this decade is one that is setting me on my path. Back in my 30s, I thought I had it all figured out and was on my way to be where I was supposed to be. I think I made some decisions in my early thirties that sort of took me off my path, taught me a few lessons, then politely dropped me on my ass. At 38, I had hit the bottom (as close to the bottom as I can be,) and I had to regroup.

Who knew when I turned 40, that my life was about to be flipped upside down one more time. I sort of view the series of events like something I saw in a video recently. I went to Plains, Georgia, and later researched how people grow and harvest peanuts (a crop they are known for.) Here is this plant that looks nice and lush on top, and has deep roots. You pull the plant out of the ground and under caked on dirt, you see the fruit of your effort - peanuts. The farmer shakes the dirt until the peanuts are free. I feel like my 40s is the shaking process. Everything is sorting out and there is an incredible sense of peace enveloping me. 

No doubt, the growth and adjustment can be overwhelming from time to time. Things keep shifting, but at the same time, once the peanut has been dusted off, I find that I am exactly where I am supposed to be, with the people I should have on this journey, doing what I am meant to do. 

As I head into 42, I have been looking back over my year. Then I looked back another year. This has been my favorite decade thus far. I like who I am, I like what I am doing, and the best part of all? By the time you hit 40ish - you are typically accomplished career wise, have a solid group of friends you have known 20+ years, and you just don't give a damn what other people think.

Bring on 42! I can't wait. 

Growing Pains

You ever just want to get to the next part?
You know, that place you are supposed to be, but because of commitments you find yourself trudging through life?

Learning to adjust to the path is never easy. I want to take off in a sprint to reach my destination, sort of like when I am traveling. It seems I start off a little fast, then some how I talk myself into trying to relax and enjoy the journey, only to realize I am finally closer to my destination where I begin to speed up - throwing caution to the wind.

I have been sort of feeling like that lately.

I'm ready for the next part. 

I have a plan, and I want to just make it happen.

But I can't. I have to be patient. I have to do my time. I have to stay the course, and in the end, every thing will go as planned.

I felt that way in high school. I wanted so badly to hurry up and go to college. Each year felt like an eternity. Then in college, I wanted to hurry up and get my first job in television news. Graduation seemed like some far away goal that I would never obtain. But it came, and everything went as planned. 

I read an excerpt this morning in my devotional that said:

"Cherish the winter. Cherish its quietness, the time of going within to rest and heal. Cherish this time of preparation that must come before new life. Cherish the hope that lies beneath the snow." 

It seems it spoke directly to my heart. It is exactly what I needed to hear. I need to treat this time as one of preparation for the next big move. There will be a new life. There is more to come.

There is always more to come, and the older I get, the more I treasure all of the twists and turns life has brought my way. My story has been a fascinating one for me. Nothing boring, that's for sure. I have lived as much as my courage, time, and finances have allowed. 

At least when it is all said and done, I can say I tried to make an interesting life. But for now, time to suffer through a few more growing pains. 

My Faith Was Bigger

"We looked in the budget, and unfortunately, we can't afford you. Your position is going to be part time."

I heard those words just a few short months ago. 
I didn't freak out. I reached out to my support system.
Three days later I landed a great contract for some freelance work.

Two months later I would hear, "We looked back in the budget, and unfortunately, this is not going to work." 
I was let go, through no fault of my own. 

I didn't freak out. Instead, I prayed. 
I also reached out to my support system - again. This time, my community, my home town, responded in the most positive way. The universe heard me.

And I stood strong.

That's the biggest difference this go around. I had been here before. Except this time, I did not have a safety net of a husband. It's just me. I have stood tall, and done quite well for myself. 

With that being said, I have some GREAT news. One of the jobs I interviewed for just came through today. I am now going to be the Executive Director for a local historical house museum! This is incredible news and I am thrilled beyond belief. 

Not only is it a wonderful challenge for me personally, but professionally, it is the most logical next step in my journey. I've made a commitment to sit in this role for 24 months. I know I can do this, and I am prepared to really take this specific place to the next level. (I'll share specifics later!)

It's funny how intuitively, I knew to just stay calm. Sure, I got a little discouraged from time to time. I would often joke with my roomie about having to pack up and move home in a few months.. but that is not going to happen. The best part? I plan to continue to grow my consulting and freelance writing business. I'll continue to work hard with other organizations, and help all of us grow - for as long as I can.

October. Oh sweet, precious October. You always bring me the good stuff. 

And as always, another door closed in my face, because something bigger and better was just around the corner waiting on me.

Wow. 
Life really is an amazing journey.

 

Life & Its Little Disasters

Needless to say, I made it thru September to one of my favorite months in the year - October. Appropriately, it has been a completely glorious fall weekend. 

I made a point to order a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. I consumed 1/2 a bag of candied corn. I ate a Pumpkin Spice donut from Krispey Kreme. I ordered a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard from Dairy Queen. I've even consumed a bowl of chili. (not all in one weekend, mind you!)

Now.. I have to be honest. The weather is in the mid 80s, with super sunny skies... yeah.. I know.. It's the thought that counts. 

While I am steadily packing on the poundage with nutmeg laced calories, I have been trying to regroup a little - both personally and professionally. I hit a lull, and let's be honest, got thrown a curve ball for the 5 bazillionth time, but I'm calm, I'm focused, and honestly, I had a pretty good week. Besides my museum job coming to a close, and the chipping of a temporary crown, September wasn't entirely bad. I've been holding out on the highlights... 

Here they are:

So I took a pottery class for the entire month of September. This is Meg Campbell. She is well known for her incredible clay work & pottery. I guess if you FINALLY get a chance to scratch off one of your bucket list items, you should make sure you learn from the best! Want to learn more about her? Just click here: http://meghogancampbell.com/index.html

I spent a delightful lunch time at Ocmulgee Traders in Downtown Macon. In typical Macon form, I went to have lunch alone and ended up sitting with the owner, two friends, and two new acquaintances. THIS is what it is like to work and live in or near downtown. You always bump into someone you know!

This weekend was the One City Art Festival in Macon. I actually went alone, and of course, in each venue I ran into people I know and adore. Here is one of the gallery/studio spaces at the Contemporary Arts Exchange.

Wine Club - aka weekly therapy - is going well! If it weren't for Brent and I becoming "friends" - our little group would have never formed. Here is a shot from one of our evenings!

One of my favorite people in Macon got married last weekend. About two weeks before her wedding, we threw a little shower for her at our friend Molly's home. Here is Molly's setting the table!

So I had a creme brulee at Lemongrass one day. I sure did. I had to share the photo.

Here are four of my friends from Stephanie's wedding. Jonathon, Stacey, Molly, and Derek.

One of the delicious items served at Stephanie's shower.

Wine Club at our friend Brent's house. Here is Molly hanging out, as Brent drinks wine and strums the guitar for us.

One of the best little lunch places in Macon has "reinvented" itself and is now called - Grow. Appropriate, because every thing is farm to table and locally sourced. I got a little snack spread with some friends.

I got the chance to witness one of the Macon Pops concerts at the Macon City Auditorium. I am so excited, my article in Macon Magazine should be on the stands tomorrow about the next concert!

Sometimes a girl just needs a good drink. The mixologist at Dovetail introduced me to the "Eye Opener." How cool is this restaurant? Well.. Southern Living made a point to feature it! See the article here:  http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2013/10/23/where-to-drink-now-dovetail-in-macon/

One of the fantastic pop up galleries during the One City Art Festival. Here you see my friend Eric O'Dell's work. He is being interviewed in the window of the gallery. Yes - these are paintings.. not photos.. want to see more? Click HERE: http://ericodell.net/home.html

It's football season and yes, I live in the part of the world where college football (SEC) is king. Got invited to my friend, Bill & Scott's home for a UGA game party.

Was so glad to see my friend Lisa (from down on the coast,) make it back home for a visit. We met up for lunch.

Another shot of the bridal shower at my friend Molly's home.

This is the Hay House - where the wedding took place. It's a beautiful historic home here in Macon,

More goodies at the bridal shower

Need I say more?

Our friend Shane from high school recently opened a pizza shop in downtown Macon. Good stuff!

I have tried many a brunch spot in downtown Macon - NOTHING beats Lemongrass's bottomless mimosas and the Charleston Nasty. This is a piece of fried chicken on a buttermilk biscuit with Kerry Gold White Cheddar and smothered in sausage gravy. Word.

Me & Stephanie at her bridal shower at Molly's home.

Thai Spring Rolls at Lemongrass. Lord. Have. Mercy.

My friend Bill & I at his GEORGIA BULLDAWG party

Lynn & Bill

One of my master pieces. lol

Hanging out late at night at Doughboy Pizza in downtown with Derek and Molly

Brunch at Lemongrass with Stacey, Jeff, and Angel

The beautiful bride at her shower

Stacie, Angel & I at the reception at Stephanie's wedding

Bulldawg time

Me before the wedding - all dolled up!

Molly's home for the shower

I sure do miss living in Birmingham sometimes....

We call it a power lunch. lol Hanging out at Grow with one of the best attorney's in town - Dallas, and PR Darling Molly.

Wine club - Lynn, Me, and Brent. We refer to him as Brenty

Wedding reception at the Hay House. Me, Stacey & Molly

INCREDIBLE concert

Go Dawgs! - And Football food.

 Needless to say - life could be worse. ;-) I'm hanging in there, I feel good, and I think October is going to bring really GOOD things in my life. I feel it. Just like the leaves are changing, and the sun is setting just a little earlier... it's time to transition into another adventure!