I've got to say that I am loving this Bob Dylan cover from Miley Cyrus and Johnzo West. While I can definitely say that I've never really been a huge Miley fan, I CANNOT swear to you that I didn't line dance to her dad's, "Achey Breaky Heart" back in the day. Anyway, I love her voice and vibe on this song. There is some Dolly-ish, old school country in her voice that is powerful and totally natural. I really think that she should keep going in this direction. She looks like she's found herself and is in her element. Check it out....
2.14.2012
2.09.2012
2012 Goals.
It’s been a minute, huh? I hate that I haven’t been able to blog as much lately, but life just gets in the way sometimes. Ryan and I have both been really busy with work and I have spent all of my spare time obsessing over our bedroom makeover. If there is any excuse worthy of delaying a blog post about my 2012 goals, it would be actually accomplishing my 2012 goals.
I’ve developed a really nice little cocoon around myself over the last couple of months. I’ve been spending a ton of time at home alone with my husband and I haven’t really touched any type of social media either. It’s been a really nice change. I think if you’re always trying to keep up with everything and everyone, you sort of lose yourself. You don’t have time to think or really be present. I’ve purposefully taken a step back to help drown out some of that noise. I think that when there are so many ways to connect and so many areas of influence, it gets really easy to move with the crowd and before you know it, you’ve lost your originality and point of view.
So, back to the 2012 goals. I’m pretty excited about 2012. The even years have always been pretty good to me. I was born on an even year, started dating and married my husband on even years, bought my house on an even year, etc, etc. All of that IS really as insignificant as it sounds, because I truly believe that this year will be great because of the choices I make. I am finally at a place in my life where I am truly confident in myself. I have no weird hang-ups, no insecurities and no baggage. I’m not saying that I will conquer the world this year, but I know that I will be happy with the results of my efforts because I know that I will put my efforts in the right places and make the right choices.
So here they are:
1. Invest more time in our families. This one is extremely important to us. Ryan and I want to be connected and involved with our families. It’s easy to let those relationships lapse and get stale, especially when we live in different states and are all so busy. Luckily, I have two cousins getting married this year, so this will provide us with a great opportunity to spend time with everyone.
2. Improve the appearance of our deck. This goal really started out as “fix our deck,” but after getting an estimate to do so at the beginning of January, we are opting for the more budget friendly DIY “appearance package” option. Plus, I haven’t really decided exactly which direction I want to go in terms of the railings yet, so I think it’s best if we wait.
3. Read Consistently. I am aiming to read a book a month this year. I could easily do more, but the cost of buying books adds up after a while and I am not nearly trendy enough to have an e-reader of any kind.
4. Run a 5k in 26 minutes or less. I don’t have much interest in being a long distance runner, so instead of increasing my mileage, I’m going for speed.
5. Improve the curb appeal of our home. Doreen and I have already met to map out a plan for this. We are planning on extending our island in the front yard and doing some goat friendly landscaping-type improvements in the backyard.
6. Finish our bedroom project. We are so close to being done this goal already. The project consists of new furniture, new paint, a new style and pretty much new everything. My goal is do this all on the cheap, so I know it will take a little longer, but it will definitely be more rewarding.
7. Practice Moderation. This goal encompasses healthy eating, regular exercise and alcohol consumption. I don’t want to be extreme with any of these. The goal is to find a nice healthy balance among them. I don’t want to excessive, I don’t want to be obsessive, I don’t want to be deprived.
8. Find time to volunteer and make a difference in the lives of others. I want to support a cause that means something to me and that I am passionate about. I’d love to be a GOTR coach. GOTR hits close to home for me, because it’s a program that I could have really benefited from as a young girl. Self-esteem issues can make a huge difference in how a young girls’ life plays out and if I could stop someone from making the same mistakes that I did, then I think that area of my life would feel healed and balanced.
9. Spend more quality time with my husband. Obviously, I already spend every waking moment with my husband, but that’s the way it should be. We’re newly married and we should want to be together all the time. The problem is, when you’re BFFs and homebodies like we are, it gets really easy to talk each other into cuddling up in bed to watch TV every night and forget to go out and date.
10. Become as authentic and genuine as possible. This may sound like a weird goal, but it ties back to what I was talking about with social media. Inspiration is great, but too much inspiration=sheep. I started realizing this when the majority of photography blogs and facebook pages that I follow, started to look the same to me. Using photography as an example, I think it’s easy for a hobbyist like myself to look to some of the more hip, popular and socially visable pros for guidance on what photos should look like, and from there, get so caught up with what they are doing that you end up copy someone else’s style instead of developing your own. I think that this has happened to a lot of aspiring photographers all over the country and has contributed to the boom of the industry. The problem is that alot of the real, genuine talent gets hidden because they have no interest in social media and just want to focus on their art, so they end up getting lost in the crowd because society is telling the consumer that great photography is the summation of branding and marketing, more so than real skill. Marketing is great, but if there is nothing really authentic behind it, then it just adds to the problem and creates more of the same mediocrity. No matter what area of life, it’s important to me to find my own way and not rely on what other people are doing to develop who I am, what I do and where I want to go. What's inside will always be more important to me than the packaging. I’d rather be authentic and bonafide, than be a branded, boxed copy of someone else.
Wish me luck!
-liz
I’ve developed a really nice little cocoon around myself over the last couple of months. I’ve been spending a ton of time at home alone with my husband and I haven’t really touched any type of social media either. It’s been a really nice change. I think if you’re always trying to keep up with everything and everyone, you sort of lose yourself. You don’t have time to think or really be present. I’ve purposefully taken a step back to help drown out some of that noise. I think that when there are so many ways to connect and so many areas of influence, it gets really easy to move with the crowd and before you know it, you’ve lost your originality and point of view.
So, back to the 2012 goals. I’m pretty excited about 2012. The even years have always been pretty good to me. I was born on an even year, started dating and married my husband on even years, bought my house on an even year, etc, etc. All of that IS really as insignificant as it sounds, because I truly believe that this year will be great because of the choices I make. I am finally at a place in my life where I am truly confident in myself. I have no weird hang-ups, no insecurities and no baggage. I’m not saying that I will conquer the world this year, but I know that I will be happy with the results of my efforts because I know that I will put my efforts in the right places and make the right choices.
So here they are:
1. Invest more time in our families. This one is extremely important to us. Ryan and I want to be connected and involved with our families. It’s easy to let those relationships lapse and get stale, especially when we live in different states and are all so busy. Luckily, I have two cousins getting married this year, so this will provide us with a great opportunity to spend time with everyone.
2. Improve the appearance of our deck. This goal really started out as “fix our deck,” but after getting an estimate to do so at the beginning of January, we are opting for the more budget friendly DIY “appearance package” option. Plus, I haven’t really decided exactly which direction I want to go in terms of the railings yet, so I think it’s best if we wait.
3. Read Consistently. I am aiming to read a book a month this year. I could easily do more, but the cost of buying books adds up after a while and I am not nearly trendy enough to have an e-reader of any kind.
4. Run a 5k in 26 minutes or less. I don’t have much interest in being a long distance runner, so instead of increasing my mileage, I’m going for speed.
5. Improve the curb appeal of our home. Doreen and I have already met to map out a plan for this. We are planning on extending our island in the front yard and doing some goat friendly landscaping-type improvements in the backyard.
6. Finish our bedroom project. We are so close to being done this goal already. The project consists of new furniture, new paint, a new style and pretty much new everything. My goal is do this all on the cheap, so I know it will take a little longer, but it will definitely be more rewarding.
7. Practice Moderation. This goal encompasses healthy eating, regular exercise and alcohol consumption. I don’t want to be extreme with any of these. The goal is to find a nice healthy balance among them. I don’t want to excessive, I don’t want to be obsessive, I don’t want to be deprived.
8. Find time to volunteer and make a difference in the lives of others. I want to support a cause that means something to me and that I am passionate about. I’d love to be a GOTR coach. GOTR hits close to home for me, because it’s a program that I could have really benefited from as a young girl. Self-esteem issues can make a huge difference in how a young girls’ life plays out and if I could stop someone from making the same mistakes that I did, then I think that area of my life would feel healed and balanced.
9. Spend more quality time with my husband. Obviously, I already spend every waking moment with my husband, but that’s the way it should be. We’re newly married and we should want to be together all the time. The problem is, when you’re BFFs and homebodies like we are, it gets really easy to talk each other into cuddling up in bed to watch TV every night and forget to go out and date.
10. Become as authentic and genuine as possible. This may sound like a weird goal, but it ties back to what I was talking about with social media. Inspiration is great, but too much inspiration=sheep. I started realizing this when the majority of photography blogs and facebook pages that I follow, started to look the same to me. Using photography as an example, I think it’s easy for a hobbyist like myself to look to some of the more hip, popular and socially visable pros for guidance on what photos should look like, and from there, get so caught up with what they are doing that you end up copy someone else’s style instead of developing your own. I think that this has happened to a lot of aspiring photographers all over the country and has contributed to the boom of the industry. The problem is that alot of the real, genuine talent gets hidden because they have no interest in social media and just want to focus on their art, so they end up getting lost in the crowd because society is telling the consumer that great photography is the summation of branding and marketing, more so than real skill. Marketing is great, but if there is nothing really authentic behind it, then it just adds to the problem and creates more of the same mediocrity. No matter what area of life, it’s important to me to find my own way and not rely on what other people are doing to develop who I am, what I do and where I want to go. What's inside will always be more important to me than the packaging. I’d rather be authentic and bonafide, than be a branded, boxed copy of someone else.
Wish me luck!
-liz
1.14.2012
1.13.2012
1.08.2012
New Year, New limp.
Happy New Year, y’all!! I hope everyone had a great time ringing in the new year.
So far, 2012 has brought us two sick dogs. When we got home from Atlanta, the day after New Year’s, Ryan picked Ace up from the kennel and learned there had been an outbreak of Kennel Cough. Kennel Cough is basically the common cold in humans, but it can turn severe in some rare cases. We were told that there would be an incubation period, but that the cough would probably surface within a week, AND it did. Ace is now coughing like an old man through the night and will be visiting the vet this evening to get some antibiotics.
Not to be outdone, Chico has developed some sort of sickness that cannot be officially diagnosed at this point. He hasn’t been acting like himself since Friday night. He doesn’t want to eat, hasn’t been demanding attention and in addition to being just plain pitiful, he has developed a limp in his back, left leg. I like to call it his “crazy leg”. One minute, he is hobbling on three legs (the crazy leg is either tucked into his belly or sticking straight back, completely stretched) and the next minute, there is no sign of a leg injury and he is jumping and running normally. We were so worried that we actually took him to the Emergency Vet yesterday morning. Prognosis? Healthy as can be, thank goodness, but we are still watching him and his crazy leg pretty closely.
Despite all that, we were able to spend some time outside on Saturday. It was 70 degrees and just gorgeous. C’mon Spring!
So far, 2012 has brought us two sick dogs. When we got home from Atlanta, the day after New Year’s, Ryan picked Ace up from the kennel and learned there had been an outbreak of Kennel Cough. Kennel Cough is basically the common cold in humans, but it can turn severe in some rare cases. We were told that there would be an incubation period, but that the cough would probably surface within a week, AND it did. Ace is now coughing like an old man through the night and will be visiting the vet this evening to get some antibiotics.
Not to be outdone, Chico has developed some sort of sickness that cannot be officially diagnosed at this point. He hasn’t been acting like himself since Friday night. He doesn’t want to eat, hasn’t been demanding attention and in addition to being just plain pitiful, he has developed a limp in his back, left leg. I like to call it his “crazy leg”. One minute, he is hobbling on three legs (the crazy leg is either tucked into his belly or sticking straight back, completely stretched) and the next minute, there is no sign of a leg injury and he is jumping and running normally. We were so worried that we actually took him to the Emergency Vet yesterday morning. Prognosis? Healthy as can be, thank goodness, but we are still watching him and his crazy leg pretty closely.
Despite all that, we were able to spend some time outside on Saturday. It was 70 degrees and just gorgeous. C’mon Spring!
12.29.2011
2011 Goals-Reviewed.
I thought I would take the time to review my 2011 goals to see what kind of follow through I had this year. For the most part, I’m pretty happy with the results, but I do plan on trying to improve the quality and achievement of my goals in 2012.
Here are the 2011 Goals.
1. Resurrect our backyard deck that has been mutilated since the Daytona 500 in February 2010. Note-do not remedy a boring race with alcohol and home improvement projects.
• This definitely did not get done. We did manage to get nice grass growing in both the front and back yard though.
2. Plan NY & Bama trips. I need to see and spend time with my Nana and Grandpa and will possibly try to make that trip in the spring. (if it’s not still snowing-gasp.) We would also like to make a trip to Ryan’s dad’s lake house over the summer.
• Done & Done!! We went to NY in May and Alabama for the 4th of July.
3. Start referring to Hank as "Big Sexy". He is striking enough to call for such labeling.
• Unfortunately, this never really caught on fire like I thought it would.
4. Read more. I plan on backing off from the memoires, autobiographies, and published essays that I’ve been reading and getting back to reading more fiction. I’m planning on starting with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I didn’t choose this one based on the title alone, although it probably would have been enough for me.
• I did a lot of reading this year! I read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, Water For Elephants and You Had Me at Woof, just to name a few.
5. Write more. It’s therapeutic to communicate and I’m beginning to prefer blogging as my medium. Words in print are far more permanent and concrete than those that are spoken. I like to think about what I want to say and how I want to say it in order to accurately document my life at any given time. For instance, I can look back at this in a few years and wonder, why the hell did I ever want to call Hank, “Big Sexy??”
• I would say I accomplished this for the most part, but I’d like to take it a step further in 2012 and take a couple of writing classes.
6. Prepare for and run a 5k in the spring. This one’s for fluff. I’m capable of doing this now, but still need to find a race to participate in.
• I did two of these! The Waxhaw Town and Country Run in the spring and The GingerSnap 5k in December.
7. Plant a garden. I’m thinking small at first. Tomatoes, cukes, onions, lettuce, green beans, etc. Luckily Doreen is a Master Gardener (for real, she’s certified) and will be able to help me manage growing in red clay.
• I didn’t even come close to doing this. We had so many other needs in our yard, that it seemed a little crazy to spend the time and money on a veggie garden. I probably won’t even attempt it in 2012 because we have some landscaping issues to address that will take priority over the garden.
8. Save for a new camera. I’ll only be saving this year because I won’t allow myself to buy anything until I complete the next goal.
• Done! I did this a little backwards though. I’ll explain when reviewing the next goal.
9. Learn the ins and outs of my camera and expand my overall knowledge base of photography. I love photography and want to be better at it.
• I did this, but I bought the new camera (totally going against what I said) and then learned the ins and outs of it, instead of learning on my existing camera before buying a new one. Classic Liz move, but I got the job done.
I hope to post my 2012 goals sometime in the first week of January!
-liz
Here are the 2011 Goals.
1. Resurrect our backyard deck that has been mutilated since the Daytona 500 in February 2010. Note-do not remedy a boring race with alcohol and home improvement projects.
• This definitely did not get done. We did manage to get nice grass growing in both the front and back yard though.
• Done & Done!! We went to NY in May and Alabama for the 4th of July.
3. Start referring to Hank as "Big Sexy". He is striking enough to call for such labeling.
• Unfortunately, this never really caught on fire like I thought it would.
• I did a lot of reading this year! I read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, Water For Elephants and You Had Me at Woof, just to name a few.
• I would say I accomplished this for the most part, but I’d like to take it a step further in 2012 and take a couple of writing classes.
• I did two of these! The Waxhaw Town and Country Run in the spring and The GingerSnap 5k in December.
7. Plant a garden. I’m thinking small at first. Tomatoes, cukes, onions, lettuce, green beans, etc. Luckily Doreen is a Master Gardener (for real, she’s certified) and will be able to help me manage growing in red clay.
• I didn’t even come close to doing this. We had so many other needs in our yard, that it seemed a little crazy to spend the time and money on a veggie garden. I probably won’t even attempt it in 2012 because we have some landscaping issues to address that will take priority over the garden.
• Done! I did this a little backwards though. I’ll explain when reviewing the next goal.
• I did this, but I bought the new camera (totally going against what I said) and then learned the ins and outs of it, instead of learning on my existing camera before buying a new one. Classic Liz move, but I got the job done.
I hope to post my 2012 goals sometime in the first week of January!
-liz
12.21.2011
B.T.S.~Part II Questions 31-60
All right, so questions 30-60 are pretty boring. I mean, I am all for self-discovery, but I don’t want to be put to sleep while doing it.
31. What’s something new you recently learned about yourself?
That I’m getting old. I’ve been in denial for a while so this is a recent discovery for me.
32. What do you sometimes pretend to understand that you really do not?
Organized Religion, Politics, Smart Cars and 4 cylinder Mustangs.
33. In one sentence, what do you wish for your future self?
I wish that I will always feel content and at peace with myself.
34. What worries you most about the future?
How I will cope when something happens to Chico.
35. When you look into the past, what do you miss the most?
Being around my family and my horse.
36. What’s something from the past that you don’t miss at all?
Being young and stupid, the life I used to live.
37. What recently reminded you of how fast time flies?
Being in NY over mother’s day. Some things seemed smaller and older than I remembered and others seemed bigger and more beautiful. It’s funny how age and time can change your perspective.
38. What is the biggest challenge you face right now?
Finding the balance between doing what I want to do and what I have to do.
39. In one word, how would you describe your personality?
Warm.
40. What never fails to frustrate you?
Hypocricy and the reindeer antlers that people put on their cars at Christmastime.
41. What are you known for by your friends and family?
Being a lightweight and having a big mouth?
42. What’s something most people don’t know about you?
It bothers me when my living room is out of order when I go to bed at night. I straighten the pillows on the couch before I go to bed and if I don’t, I can’t sleep because I keep thinking about how it’s going to add to everything else I have to do in the morning. UNLESS, I have been drinking and it’s a Friday night, then I could care less. Cray cray.
43. What’s a common misconception people have about you?
I’m not really sure what people think of me so I don’t know how to answer this one.
44. What’s something a lot of people do that you disagree with?
Putting themselves before their children or having kids without thinking about it.
45. What’s a belief you hold with which many people disagree?
I don’t know. I’m a pretty neutral person so it’s hard to say. I believe in Gay marriage and I’m sure there are plenty of people out there that would disagree with that. Get over it though. Support love and don’t hate.
46. What’s something that’s harder for you than it is for most people?
Leaving my dog.
47. What are the top three qualities you look for in a friend?
Respect, similar interests and goals, fun.
48. If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?
For a good bit, I guess. Weird question.
49. When you think of “home,” what specifically do you think of?
North Carolina.
50. What’s the most valuable thing you own?
I would say my home even though I bought before the market tanked. Its value goes beyond the $ sign.
51. If you had to move 3000 miles away, what would you miss most?
The South and everything in it.
52. What would make you smile right now?
Chico and Ryan fighting for my attention, a McDonalds hot fudge sundae, a bottle of wine and being at home.
53. What do you do when nothing else seems to make you happy?
Curl up with Chico & Ryan.
54. What do you wish did not exist in your life?
Not sure. I’m pretty tolerant and I’ve gotten pretty good at either removing or dealing with things I don’t like in my life.
55. What should you avoid to improve your life?
The wrong people. I need to surround myself with people who lift me up and make me better.
56. What is something you would hate to go without for a day?
Chico, Ryan, my iphone.
57. What’s the biggest lie you once believed was true?
Santa Clause. I was on track to be a life-long believer before my mom and sister had to break the news out of embarrassment for me.
58. What’s something bad that happened to you that made you stronger?
Geez. Cue the Kanye. Life happened. And then you shake yourself off and get on with it.
59. What’s something nobody could ever steal from you?
My resilience.
60. What’s something you disliked when you were younger that you truly enjoy today?
Being isolated and spinach.
-liz
31. What’s something new you recently learned about yourself?
That I’m getting old. I’ve been in denial for a while so this is a recent discovery for me.
32. What do you sometimes pretend to understand that you really do not?
Organized Religion, Politics, Smart Cars and 4 cylinder Mustangs.
33. In one sentence, what do you wish for your future self?
I wish that I will always feel content and at peace with myself.
34. What worries you most about the future?
How I will cope when something happens to Chico.
35. When you look into the past, what do you miss the most?
Being around my family and my horse.
36. What’s something from the past that you don’t miss at all?
Being young and stupid, the life I used to live.
37. What recently reminded you of how fast time flies?
Being in NY over mother’s day. Some things seemed smaller and older than I remembered and others seemed bigger and more beautiful. It’s funny how age and time can change your perspective.
38. What is the biggest challenge you face right now?
Finding the balance between doing what I want to do and what I have to do.
39. In one word, how would you describe your personality?
Warm.
40. What never fails to frustrate you?
Hypocricy and the reindeer antlers that people put on their cars at Christmastime.
41. What are you known for by your friends and family?
Being a lightweight and having a big mouth?
42. What’s something most people don’t know about you?
It bothers me when my living room is out of order when I go to bed at night. I straighten the pillows on the couch before I go to bed and if I don’t, I can’t sleep because I keep thinking about how it’s going to add to everything else I have to do in the morning. UNLESS, I have been drinking and it’s a Friday night, then I could care less. Cray cray.
43. What’s a common misconception people have about you?
I’m not really sure what people think of me so I don’t know how to answer this one.
44. What’s something a lot of people do that you disagree with?
Putting themselves before their children or having kids without thinking about it.
45. What’s a belief you hold with which many people disagree?
I don’t know. I’m a pretty neutral person so it’s hard to say. I believe in Gay marriage and I’m sure there are plenty of people out there that would disagree with that. Get over it though. Support love and don’t hate.
46. What’s something that’s harder for you than it is for most people?
Leaving my dog.
47. What are the top three qualities you look for in a friend?
Respect, similar interests and goals, fun.
48. If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?
For a good bit, I guess. Weird question.
49. When you think of “home,” what specifically do you think of?
North Carolina.
50. What’s the most valuable thing you own?
I would say my home even though I bought before the market tanked. Its value goes beyond the $ sign.
51. If you had to move 3000 miles away, what would you miss most?
The South and everything in it.
52. What would make you smile right now?
Chico and Ryan fighting for my attention, a McDonalds hot fudge sundae, a bottle of wine and being at home.
53. What do you do when nothing else seems to make you happy?
Curl up with Chico & Ryan.
54. What do you wish did not exist in your life?
Not sure. I’m pretty tolerant and I’ve gotten pretty good at either removing or dealing with things I don’t like in my life.
55. What should you avoid to improve your life?
The wrong people. I need to surround myself with people who lift me up and make me better.
56. What is something you would hate to go without for a day?
Chico, Ryan, my iphone.
57. What’s the biggest lie you once believed was true?
Santa Clause. I was on track to be a life-long believer before my mom and sister had to break the news out of embarrassment for me.
58. What’s something bad that happened to you that made you stronger?
Geez. Cue the Kanye. Life happened. And then you shake yourself off and get on with it.
59. What’s something nobody could ever steal from you?
My resilience.
60. What’s something you disliked when you were younger that you truly enjoy today?
Being isolated and spinach.
-liz
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