Y’all.  Frothy Monkey is my local coffee shop.  Come on!  Remember?  It was in a Nash-video.
Anyways, here’s the best thing about this time of year, or so I’m told.  All the dudes and Lady Antebellums that go out on tours for the other eleven or so months of the year are home.  So that means [...]

I am actually still alive.
Here’s the thing:
I have 106 emails in my inbox.
I have 10 voicemails on my phone.
I have 1000 words to write today.
I have not had near enough sleep.
I have a lunch meeting.
Then I’m headed to Frothy Monkey where, dear blog reader, I am all your’s.
So rest assured that I’m here, just catching [...]

One of my favorite parts of living in Nashville is the musicians that become friends. I have always had a deep love for all things singer/songwriter, and now these are my people.  I heart it.  Mucho.  And a few weeks ago, a friend of mine gave me a demo of a song he had written.  [...]

I started a little tradition last year by giving you a photo from each month to summarize the year.  Today you get pictures, tomorrow you get words.  And if you didn’t know me in 07, you can catch up real fast RIGHT HERE.
January- visited Nashville for the first time.  Knew in my heart that I [...]

This 1,000 words a day, that is.
If you’re new around here, since, oh, I don’t know, last Monday, then maybe you don’t know why I’m writing 1,000 words a day.  So just go here and catch yourself up.
And so far things are going swimmingly in the words department.  I CANNOT tell you how much I [...]

First of all, many of you are curious as to the reasons behind turning your router off at night/whether it should be in your bedroom.  Because I just do as I’m told by doctors, I didn’t really ask him any questions.  But I’m doing some research, so as soon as I know, you’ll know.
On to [...]

So I go to a homeopathic doctor.  Don’t judge me.  Cause I totally love it and you would too.  I’ve been going for about a year and since I started, my migraines have decreased by 95% and I no longer drink caffeine. AND I’M STILL A NICE PERSON.  Which is saying a lot.  And the [...]

I’m setting a goal. But I need your help.
I’ve been working on a book for a while, and a literary agent in California wants it as soon as it is done.
[That is exciting.]
The book is supposed to be around 50,000 words.
[That is a lot.]
I have 20,000 words written, edited, and saved in the DONE! file.  [...]

Thank you for your sweet comments yesterday.You are good to me. Thanks for speaking truth that I couldn’t find on my own.

There are some shows in Nashville that I have been hearing about since I moved up.  Some shows are epic, year after year, or whenever the particular band comes to town, and you have [...]

My friend Justin is from New York.  I am from Georgia.  And Justin says that a major difference between Northern and Southern parents is this- Southern parents make their daughters feel like they can do ANYTHING.  Never mind your skill set or ability, “baby, if you wanna do it, then darlin’ you can do it”.
I [...]

I’m going to direct you to Annie Parsons‘ blog post for today, because I think she explained our Wednesday night MUCH better than I can.
I’ll just say ALL THE SINGLE LADIES got together last night and had what some would call an eventful evening.
And let me just stop here and give big props to [...]

Mmmm…… chocolate covered pretzels.  And oh so fancy looking.  [The bizarro tint to this photo is because I took the picture while they were in the fridge.  Why I didn't just take them out for a moment is a question for the ages.]
This is my favorite Christmas treat to make. Well, that being said, I [...]

And in Annie world, “Christmas Tour of Homes” translates to “WOW.  Look at what Roomie has been doing while Annie watched episodes of Arrested Development on hulu.com.”
Because nothing fills me with Christmas spirit like television on the internet and Buster Bluth.  Agreed? Who’s with me?
[crickets.....]
And okay. On to the decorations.
On the door, a lovely star [...]

Have you ever found yourself avoiding?
Things?
People?
Responsibilities?
God?
Yeah, me too.
I have a pile of clean laundry that has been sitting in my laundry basket since last Friday.  [That will not be the sentence that gets me a marriage proposal anytime soon.] I haven’t been to the grocery store in a week or so, and to be honest, [...]

*We interrupt this regularly scheduled police blog talk (but keep the awesome stories coming!) to deal with a fashion heartbreak.*
Dear Overstock.com,
Last week, I was looking all over your website for a beautiful dress.  See, Overstock.com, I’m going to a semi-formal Christmas party on Saturday night.  I’m really excited about it.  Because I know we just [...]

I told you a few weeks ago about our little Study Buddy group. My friends Derek and Justin are both in seminary at Vanderbilt so they have to write these SERIOUSLY long and intense papers. [The brains at the table are unstoppable. I bring down the IQ significantly. But I bring the beauty factor up [...]

**Before we get into the post, let me give a shout out to the Genius at the Apple Store who lovingly took my computer out of my line of vision and beat it into submission. And now her bumps are gone and she works like a charm. Albeit a two year old charm that needs [...]

So I don’t know if I told you, but our heat went out about 2 weeks ago, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. And I don’t know if you have heard, but it is SERIOUSLY COLD in Nashville. As in, I can’t form complete sentences when I’m outside. I just shiver and say things like “ffrrozzen” and [...]

In recent times I have not put lyrics in my posts. [I don't know an exact date so I have no clue whether to say "weeks" or "months" here, so I take the less risky road and say "times". I'm guessing you don't care, but alas. It's already said.]
But EVERY.TIME. this song comes on my [...]

The first thirty seconds are Christmas crack to me.
Thanks, Dave.  Well played, as always.

My first year of teaching was 2003-2004.  Those kids, fifth graders at the time, are now half way through their sophomore year of high school. [Trust me, I know.  I'm friends with most of them on facebook.]
That year, my friend James recorded an EP, I think.  Or a demo.  Or a CD.  Or an 8 [...]

I saw it.  Seriously, between my house and here (Frothy Monkey), I saw Dolly’s compound receive a package from UPS.  OBVIOUSLY I waited around to see who answered to door- it seemed to be a serf.  Sadly.  Because tell me that wouldn’t be a dream come true to see Dolly sign for her own parcel.
Maybe [...]

Based on my hard-hitting journalistic style.
JJ Heller Interview Part 2
Enjoy.
And yes, at some point today I will actually write a blog post.  This I promise you.

Here’s my first excursion into other blogdoms.  [Don't worry, AnnieBlogs.com, you are still my first blog love.] But this is of the musical variety.
An Interview with JJ Heller
If you are a blogger, you should totally be joining the Bloggable Music Network.  All the cool kids are doing it.

Last night, Meredith and I helped Marisa put up her Christmas tree.  After a series of unfortunate events [which had there been a camera would be a blog post in itself], we finally had the tree in place, the star on top, and it was time to string the lights.
As we would finish a strand, [...]

Y’all. I’m really pumped about today. REALLY. QUITE. PUMPED.
Because if you’ll recall, last week I told you why I need Africa. And all these people told you, too.
And today, I want you to read what my friend Barrett, el capitan de Mocha Club, wrote about why he needs Africa. Yeah, he lives there. [...]

It’s more of a CELEBRATION!!
Because at 11:28pm CST, I finished the editing job that I have been working on for 2 months!
I emailed that puppy out and then interrupted my late night study buddies [props to Justin and Derek!], forced them to give me high fives, and then ran downstairs and bought us a round [...]

Because I am about to write an entire post about a dress.
Which is not very much like me. But sometimes, I find a dress or another piece of clothing that I totally ADORE and I can hardly contain myself. As is the case tonight.
Some other lady friends and I went for an impromptu shopping trip [...]

I was 18.  I had come home for my first holiday from the University of Georgia and honestly, was itching to get back to Athens.  You remember that feeling?  Like home is cool and all, but life is continuing without you somewhere else. I think all college kids feel that way.
I remember the only pressing [...]

For starters, a video. One day late.

I know.  I am one of a kind and the world is GRATEFUL, I tell ya. And you are all going to laugh when somebody marries this piece of work. I pity the fool.
Anyways.
HEAR THIS!
Joy Williams has given y’all ANOTHER FREE SONG at the Bloggable Music Network.  [...]

Annie and Annie.
Taking over Nashville one video at a time.

We’ve been over this before, but Nashville?  It’s been a good decision.  Not painless, not without loss, but good.
And probably one of the highlights has been the folks at Mocha Club letting me volunteer.  I had heard of Mocha Club at Barnes and Wertz shows before, so I kinda knew what was up.  But if [...]

I am a penny pincher.  I am a saver. I’m using the same furniture in my bedroom that I purchased in 1998.  I wear clothes from high school because, really, who cares if it says 1996?  [All of Nashville, most likely. Trendy-ville that it is.]  In fact, I would probably carry the same purse everyday [...]

I know some other bloggers have done this before, but I don’t think I have.  Maybe I have.  I don’t totally remember.  We just passed 500 posts here people, and 2 years worth of my brain puke, so it’s hard to recall.
Anyways….. this weekend, Sophie gave me some tips on finding blog stuff…. blah blah [...]

If you haven’t yet, all you crazy bloggers should join the Mocha Club campaign that is starting soon- a teaser- it’s called I Need Africa.  If you still want play along, just let me know.
I have some internet things to share.
[Apparently I feel very "to the point" right now.  Hmm.  Rare.]
First of all, have you [...]

If I could think of a stronger exclamation than BOOYAH, I would use it to describe my weekend.
But obviously.  There is no stronger language to be used.
Let me give you the highlights, in bullet points and randomly inserted photographs.
-Friday I drove to Birmingham, just a quick jaunt.  So please don’t be sad if you are [...]

Ok, y’all. This is gonna be so fun.
I’ve told you this before, but I volunteer with an amazing non-profit called MOCHA CLUB.
Mocha Club is launching a new campaign next week.  I can’t put a lot of details out there yet, BUT!  The coolest part is- Barrett, the director of MC, wants BLOGGERS to be the [...]

You Cankled-Out yet?  Last one.  I promise.
Last Wednesday afternoon, after I got home from the ER, I tried to find an orthopedic doctor in town.  I called my church to see if the secretary knew of any doctors in our congregation.  No luck.  So I put it on facebook and twitter- “somebody help me find [...]

Apparently I have an addiction.  To vegetable soups.
And it never fails that whenever I make soup, I say, “Oh man where is my camera because my bloggites are going to love this recipe.”
That’s sick, people.  Sick.
This recipe is from my friend and fellow blogger Kristin.  Big ups, Kristin.  This is some seriously delicious soup.
________________
TUSCAN VEGETABLE [...]

I was talking to a pregnant friend of mine on the phone yesterday.  Let’s call her.. uh… Shmolly.
And as we talked, Shmolly said, “Hang on, let me place this order.”
I said, “Ok.” because it is not uncommon for one of us to need to put the other on hold in order to take care of [...]

It was a fun weekend- full of out of town friends and Mexican food and crutches and hobbling. [Is "hobbling" a word?  As in, "to hobble"?  I think so, but not certain.  If it is, consider me wise.  If it isn't, consider me witty.]
I have never had an injury like this- that really retards the [...]

Well, I just got home from the doctor.
And my poor cankle has three torn ligaments- a Stage 3 sprain-
“A grade 3 injury is complete ligament rupture with marked swelling, hemorrhage, and tenderness. There is loss of function and marked abnormal joint motion and instability. Most commonly, this represents a complete disruption of both the anterior [...]

The drugs?  I do not prefer them.  They make me feel like I’m on a roller coaster ride, and not the exhilarating kind.  The puke-your-brains-out kind.
I’m bizarrely running a fever and have been fighting a migraine all day.  So to say “Hey this is great, Annie can get a lot of work done” is true [...]

You thought I was clumsy before? I mean wow. Let me recap my Wednesday for you. Not because I’m completely self-absorbed, but because I am in so much pain that I can not think of anything except myself.
Wait…. aren’t those…. uh…. nevermind.
So yesterday I’m packing to head to Kentucky, because I had a fun-filled 48 [...]

I took a break from writing yesterday to grab some lunch.
I try, usually, to eat lunch at home, but due to some circumstances that I couldn’t control, working ten or so hours has become the order of the day for the next few days.
So I went up to the counter, ordered a curry chicken salad [...]

Only because I am shameless, and sharing the joke always ranks higher to me than maintaining my pride, do I share this email.  I used Halloween shaped clip art to conveniently cover the information that is not important.
Welcome to the reason I don’t dress up for Halloween.  Dumb ladybug wings.

And it wasn’t just a spill.  [...]

I just have too much to do today to blog anything worth your time, so I will make a quick list-
– I had a meeting this morning with the youth dude at Midtown. Remember- I blogged about it HERE and then the dramatic conclusion is HERE.  [And I say "dramatic", because really, its just funnier [...]

I don’t want to talk about it.

Yes, I know I’ve posted this video before, but once a year, it deserves to be rebroadcast.  And today is that day.
Yes, Gator fans do wear jean shorts.
GO DAWGS!! SIC ‘EM!!

I have had one of those weeks.  Where I get hurt.  A lot.
#1- FACE INJURY.  So my bedroom door that leads to the bathroom opens into my room.  It swings towards the wall.  My hair dryer fell off my desk and landed on the floor, in the exact location that it would block the door [...]

1) My parents are in town until Sunday, so my usual “I’m at my computer all day and responding to comments is way awesomer than actually working” plan will not be in motion.  So forgive my slow responses this weekend.  Because I’m hanging with my peeps.
2) My friend Lysa came in town last week and [...]

I do love soup.  And I do love a crock pot.  And I do love Sophie.  Put those together and what have you got?  A LOT OF LETTERS ON A BUTTON!
Here at AnnieBlogs, you’re getting 2 soups for the price of one- I put that PITCHER O SOUP recipe up here a few weeks ago.  [...]

Oh yes.  Annie and Annie are back.  And WalMart will never fully recover from our antics.
And please.  Do not judge my hairdo.

Handy Graham is our friend who is also officially the best Handy Man in Nashville.  Literally. Voted on and victorious.  The very best in 08.
I was seriously thrilled when Annie found the picture of [...]

Joy Williams, whom I love mucho, is releasing a new 4-song EP soon, but for now you can download one of the songs for free.  Oh yeah, you heard me.  FREE.  Meaning NO MONEY IS NECESSARY TO OWN THIS AND YES YOU ARE WELCOME.
CLICK HERE to get the free song “Lose Myself”.  Let’s just say [...]

There was this one time that I had to answer this question-
Other than your parents, who has been the most influential person in your life and why?
My answer was this-
One of my best friends, Haley.  She is like an older sister to me- gives me great advice, laughs at my jokes :), listens to me, [...]

Not real mad.  Just that frustrating mad.
Yesterday at church the pastor talked about being risk-takers or risk-managers. I AM A MANAGER. I might possibly be the president of the Risk Management Society, though we would never actually meet because all traveling to the same place at the same time might be, well, risky.
I like to [...]

Yeah for the Canadian Pastor publishing his book Finding Home!!  I’m reading it today and I’ll let you know my thoughts this week.  Who knows?  You may need a copy of your own.
Also, my friend Aaron is talking about Christmas over here.  If you’re ready for that sort of thing [and I am], check it [...]

Hanging with my hometown bfry Katie B.  Working at the Frothy Monkey.  Her on wedding hoopla like registry and gowns.  Me on a manuscript.  Drinking Chai Cider.  Being normal.  It’s glorious.

But….. here’s a better representation of what we’ll be doing all weekend.  Some would say we are “actin’ a fool”.  And to them I would [...]

Andrew Peterson and his wife hold a special place in my heart, whether they know it or not.
See, a few weeks ago, I told them a major secret.  Standing in line at the Third Day show, I told them the deepest secret I was currently housing.  After discussing his AMAZING book and my slowly appearing [...]

There was a big bag of trash on our back porch.  Don’t really worry about the details…. it has something to do with “running late” and “Annie is lazy”, but whatev.
And I went out last night to see that the bag of trash had been turned over.  And it sounded like someone was jogging in [...]

Dear Middle Sister,
In lieu of actually getting you a present and shipping it to Hawaii, I asked Nashville to wish you a happy birthday.  And they did.  Which is worth far more than an actual present.  Sorta.

By the way, I figure now is a good a time as any to mention that I borrowed a [...]

I LOVE your comments, and I LOVE responding to them, and I will, but I have 70 pages of a manuscript I’m editing due tomorrow, so all emailing has ceased until that is done.
Sorry, but I gotta pay the rent.  And the internet bill.
UPDATE!!!  THIS ANNIE is having an awesome day- go check it out!!  [...]

Of course, you don’t HAVE to call them that.  In some places, such as my classroom, “Shut up” is considered a bad word and unusable.  But.  Seriously.  When I pulled these puppies out of the oven, it was the first thing that came out of my mouth.  After a quick application of a bit of [...]

I did a wee bit of an update over at my ABOUT page.
My friend Robin said, “Why exactly are you in Nashville?  I mean, I looked all over your blog and I couldn’t find it.”
And people are forever emailing and asking what in the world I do with my time and what I’m writing.
Whoopsie daisy.  [...]

I have my friend Drew Worsham to thank for last night. [That sounds WAY more scandalous than it is... keep reading... I'm embarrassed.....]
Because I got to see probably my favorite singer/songwriter in concert last night- Phil Wickham.  [Now, Dave and Matt have no reason to get all up in arms, I still love their writing [...]

See, here’s the thing.  Yesterday was not fun.  In fact, at one point, I said to my friend Hollie, “Today is officially crap-tastic”. Nothing particularly bad happened, and I wasn’t even sad about Nashville.  It was just a genuinely blah day.  I woke up late, on accident, had a billion unimportants to do, and I [...]

So on Friday I was talking on the phone with a friend, only a few years younger than myself, and she has made some decisions that break my heart.  Involving her boyfriend.  [I'm keeping it G rated, but you know what I mean.]  I love her, nothing changes that.  I’m just sad for her.  So [...]

I told myself, and anyone who would listen, that I was NOT doing student ministry (youth group) in Nashville.
Nope.  No way.  And I’ll go ahead and answer your questions-
No, I’m not burnt out.  No, I’m not too old. No, I’m not over it.
I’m scared.
Allow me to explain.
I’ve been doing student ministry for 9 1/2 years.  [...]

The first in what hopes to be at least a THRILLOGY of films, featuring two Annies- me and this Annie.  And Hunter.  Obviously.

Last night, as I was spending some time with the Lord, this verse (Psalm 107:7-9) was literally shoved in front of my eyes.  My friends who really know me will not be surprised about this, but I passed this verse three times before I realized that maybe, just MAYBE, the Lord was trying to show [...]

I’ve renamed it.  Catchy, eh?
Here ya go- let me know once you try it!!
————–
3 (14 oz) cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
[PLEASE use the leafy part- it is so good for you and it tastes fine- just chop it with the stalks and I promise you will [...]

In my former life [as a normal adult with a job in a city with friends and family], I was quite the happy homemaker.
I owned my own house.  If you are new around these parts, you may not know how much I absolutely loved my house.  I wrote about it HERE, but honestly.  I can’t [...]

I was eating lunch with a friend last week and explaining this weird phenomenon that has occurred here in Nashville.  Prepare yourself for this shocker: People aren’t dying to be friends with me.
I know that sounds weird, but stick with me.  I guess what I mean is that on the short list of skills that [...]

Aside from a long evening worrying about the future of our nation, Thursday was good.  Melanie and I shopped around the boutiques of Nashville. [And though I didn't buy anything, I definitely know what to look for at Target and TJ Maxx today.]  We ate lunch with some FUNNY people whom I’m going to love [...]

I’m not smart enough to risk making a statement that might make you mad. But I watched the VP debate tonight and have thoughts.
I do love that Biden mentioned Scranton.
[Everyone loves to give props to Scranton.  Myself included.]
And to be fair, Sarah Palin is cute as a button.
So.  One very wise Annie comment for each [...]

This week features one totally awesome picture.  And then some others.
This Saturday at a wedding, we asked our Pastor Tom to take a group picture for us.  Well done.  [The guy on my right, Jules, looks creepy/cool in this picture.  If you can't find me, I'm in a flowery dress standing very strange.]

Well done.  Then [...]

I was going to blog when I got back to Nashville yesterday.
But my fingertips were throbbing.  I couldn’t type or unbutton things or make toast.  Ok, actually.  I could make toast.  But it hurt.  But it was delicious.  I love toast.
My fingertips were throbbing because I chewed my nails to pieces on the three and [...]

#1. HUGGING. I don’t HATE hugging.  I just don’t choose it as my primary display of affection.  I have had more interesting conversations and emails this weekend regarding people feeling awkward about hugging me.  It’s been hilarious.  Let me clarify- it’s okay to hug me.  I will probably hug you.  It’s just not my FAVORITE [...]

Of all the love languages, how I give and receive love, I score lowest on physical touch.
Well, I take that back.  I think I probably score lower on acts of service because I’m lazy.  But I think I was feeling particularly giving the day I took the test, so physical touch came in last.
And rightfully [...]

Note from your blogista: today’s post is brought to you by my favorite 12 year old friend, Anne.  She takes beautiful pictures of delicious things.  And now I’m hungry.  Leave her a comment and let her know what you think of this recipe.  Much love, bloggites! -Annie

TWICE BAKED SWEET POTATOES
3 large sweet potatoes
2 oz cream cheese
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon brown [...]

Smile, Wednesday.
Cause I’m home.  With my people.

Tomorrow, special guest blogger with a recipe and pictures.  Ohh.  Fancy.  And it’s not Betsy- remember she’s the Giveaway Guru- she has no time for cooking!
I’m home for a few days, so blogging may be sporadic.  I always say that, it never is.  But none the less.  Consider yourself [...]

Thank you, Brooke, for making me do those extra calf raises this morning even though I was a wee bit whiny and teary.  [I'm sore from the ears down.]
Thank you, Annie P, for dreaming so big that you leave my mouth hanging open.  I am fully jealous of your skillz and when you are a [...]

One of the funniest things about living in Nashville is that everybody is somebody.
Present blog author excluded.
There are the obviously famous people- artists and musicians and the like.  And don’t think for one country music minute that I don’t love that.  The idea that Reba and I could pass each other on the cereal aisle [...]

My friend Mandy tagged me this week on her blog.  I’m supposed to list 6 things about myself that are considered “quirky”.  Now, I’m going to start with six, but I can’t promise you anything.  We could go all the way to 43.  Who knows.  I’m going to try to not repeat any of my [...]

I never fully expressed how much I enjoyed the Next Big Nashville shows that I went to on Saturday night.
We got there in time to hear the uber-talented Brooke Waggoner.  I’m not kidding- hearing Brooke live for the first time was awesome.  Listening to Brooke’s music is like hearing summer turn to fall.  Knowing that [...]

Have you ever seen a real building on fire?  I hadn’t, until yesterday.  Driving home from the sushi restaurant,  I saw the smoke and followed it.  There is something about seeing a building on fire- its devastating and frightening, even when you have no investment in it.  I was surprised when I realized what I [...]

For two reasons:
#1- My friend Sandra Byrd has a book releasing today- Bon Appetit.  I’ve had the pleasure of reading it and it is FANTASTIC.  The first novel in the series, Let Them Eat Cake, is one of my favorites.  A friend of mine is reading it and she immediately commented on how real the [...]

It was a close one.  Too close.  I think I lost 5 pounds of sweat and stress and gained 6 pounds because there were really good red velvet cupcakes.
I’m proud of the dawgs.  Ish.
We pulled out a win, but I’m still not sure how.
If this would have been LSU, bless our hearts.  South Carolina got [...]

This would be my favorite SNL character, Kaitlin.  The interesting thing is that I am also a very dynamic lead singer. So we have a lot in common.

So here are some visual highlights of the event yesterday.
Betsy.  She runs my giveaways.  Here she is working on my blog or something equally important.  She looks very small in this picture.  Trust me- it’s a big chair.  She is small, but not abnormally tiny.  Or abnormally sly, though her face would say otherwise.

All ready [...]

A blog post in which I use a list and do not trash talk.
1.  My friend Hillary is in a country group called Lady Antebellum.  I teared up this morning when they got  nominated not once, but TWICE for CMA Awards- New Artist of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year.  [You can watch [...]

Just another reason why it’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog.

Dear Vince Agnew,
I’m sorry that you will go down in history as the dude that Moreno vaulted over.  But congrats on being in every highlight video for the rest of UGA history.
Sincerely, Annie
Dear South Carolina,
There’s more where that came from.  See you Saturday.
Sincerely, Annie

I’m excited to announce that we have 2 winners!  [Let's be honest, all you bloggites are winners, but I only have 2 CDs to giveaway.  So 2 "official" winners.]
Congrats to Katy at B’ahava and Kelli!!  [One commenter whom I adore as a person left 2 comments (which is fine), so my friend Betsy only counted [...]

I thought I heard my roommate ripping up paper.
At 5:30am.
You know that feeling of waking up and knowing something weird is going on? Yeah, I had it.  My heart?  It was beating like a drum kit.  Because something was NOT RIGHT.
So I heard this paper ripping sound, over and over again.  I finally sat up.  [...]

Y’all.  How cute is Ayiesha?  I know.  You adore her already. And you haven’t even heard her voice!  Good gracious it is unbelievable.
Her second album, Love Like This, comes out on Tuesday and it is oh so wonderful.  She is not only the artist but she is also wrote many of the songs.  And [...]

Seriously, how cute is this new blog design?  I told y’all it was coming.  It just took a little time.  I wanna clap and giggle every time I see it.
Vanessa at ButterflySparks Designs made the header- she is so awesome, so if you are looking for an inexpensive redo for ye old blog, give her [...]

And it would be rude of me to not share.
So here was my dinner last night.  It was delicious and really pretty healthy.  So make this for dinner over the weekend, sit out on your porch, and enjoy the first hints of Fall.  You will be happy.  Or your blog money back.  [Yeah, I don't [...]

Hey friends.  Thank you for your patience with me this week as I attempted to focus.  Its going fairly well.  I have enjoyed my blog-break (all of three days), but I have missed it too.  I don’t have an update on Catherine yet except that she made it out of surgery, but keep checking her [...]

My friends Donnie and Katie had a baby girl about two weeks ago. There were many complications that they found out about during pregnancy- here is a quote from their blog (because I am not NEAR smart enough to explain this), written to their newborn daughter Catherine.
“on april 2, at 17 weeks and 6 [...]

I opened my iCal [I think I have a bit of a crush blooming there, too] today to add some very important events [my birthday, for example] and got to counting.
22 days.
22 work days. Not counting weekends, though something tells me I’ll be counting weekends as work days very quickly.   Saturdays, at least.  Not [...]

Remember how I warned you that some days I would be short on blog words? Yeah, that’s today. I’ve written somewhere in the 2,000s today. That’s right. TWO THOUSAND WORDS. Not much for a “real author”, but a bit much for a noob like me.
1. BOOK CLUB. Was [...]

I think I may make this a tradition. This whole “Smile, Wednesday” bit. Especially after the novella I wrote yesterday. You bloggites. You are committed if you read all the way through that thing.
I don’t know if I’ve ever expressed this to you, but I need to. I can’t keep [...]

My friend Jonathan doesn’t believe in luck. In fact, in college, when we led a cell group together, I remember wishing him luck for some reason. He responded with, “Not good luck. Good providence.” I quickly adopted the phrase, more in jest, or was it?
Providence. “The protective care of God”. [...]

The way I got to San Antonio is hilarious. Here’s how it happened. I went to the SheSpeaks Conference in Charlotte. While shopping there with Melanie and Sophie, I decided to go to Deeper Still in Atlanta. Then while sharing blogger brownies outside the Georgia Dome, I decided to go to [...]

I’ll use some fancy words (and maybe even paragraphs) tomorrow to describe the weekend.  Oh Psalm 16, you are so good.
Until then, here is your appetizer….

Made at wordle.net

It’s 7:07am, San Antonio time. I am sitting on the floor of my hotel room, all the lights off, while my roomie Amy Beth still snoozles. The sun is rising out our 16th story window and I can’t decide what to do- blog or watch, blog or watch. Ok, blotch.
I wanted to [...]

I need to go ahead and say that up front. Because at some point in this post you may say, “Annie sorta sounds like a … “, then you’ll pause, reread the title, and then say to yourself, “Well, actually, nope. She’s not a wimp. She told us that already.”
It’s called being on [...]

I borrowed something from a friend of mine that lives approximately two minutes from my house and I needed to take it back to her tonight.
I’m also watching the movie “Under The Tuscan Sun” on Lifetime. [Yes, on purpose.]
So I decided I would race to see if I could return the item and be [...]

So it went like this.
I decided that to go to San Antonio for the Siesta Fiesta, I should have a manicure. Words that come to mind when I think of the type of women that will attend a Beth Moore Conference in Texas- Hairspray. Nails. Capri pants. [And Bible. Obviously.]
Besides the Bible, I [...]

So today I will [barring some weird blog boycott] have my 100,000th reader. Which in the grand scheme of blogging, isn’t that many. But for someone who just started a blog to copy her sister, this has turned out rather nicely. And honestly, it’s not about my numbers compared to anyone else’s [...]

I have a few things.
First of all, if Jeff Lewis is reading this, we should be friends. [Just had to get that out of the way, you never know, people. We are on a mission.]
Secondly, as you see here on the top right, we have a memory verse. And by “we”, I [...]

Some days lately have been really good.  REALLY good.  And I am grateful.  REALLY grateful. But not everyday.
A few days ago was not so great.  I think, to some extent, this moving, this giving up of my life and my world and my people, its kind of like going through a grieving process.  Roller coaster-y.  [...]

I don’t often use my blog, and my blog readers, for my own personal gain. Except today. I will do it guilt-free today.

See this man? Jeff Lewis? The star of Flipping Out, possibly my very favorite show on cable television right now? I want to know him. I want [...]

Oh don’t you worry. I’m sure there will be a ridiculous amount a few more to come.
But this will always be my first crush in Nashville.
The Frothy Monkey. The coffee shop. I mean seriously. How cute is this place?

At no point in my Marietta life did I ever find a coffee [...]

A picture is worth… oh cliches make my stomach feel kinda funny. In an uncomfortable yucky way.
On to the purpose of this post…. what a Wednesday looks like in Nashville. Well, what THIS Wednesday looked like in Nashville.
Any Wednesday, heck, any good summer day, starts with Certain Dri. Wait…. you don’t know [...]

First of all, my roommate saw RON at Kroger today (you may remember him- I’m his baby). He was leaning on the glass in the meat department, flirting [gasp] with the butcher lady. Talking about his tattoo. In a sleeveless shirt. Obviously.
I am so very jealous that I didn’t see him. [...]

The weekend at home was good. Sitting at Macaroni Grille having a bellini and an apple crisp dessert and talking with your best friends for 2 1/2 hours about everything and nothing- that’s what living is supposed to feel like.
Things in Nashville are, well, good. Church yesterday was awesome, ate lunch with five [...]

Listen. Your sweet emails and comments after yesterday. You are too much. Your prayers were fully felt today. I got a couple of messages from Nashville friends saying nothing more than that they were glad I am there. Ate lunch with an awesome friend, saw two others after lunch just [...]

My friend Marie and I just got to iChat- talking for a while about everything and nothing. Seeing her face. Talking with the illusion that I’m not 300 miles farther away than the last time I saw her face. It was fresh water to a thirsty little heart.
I know it’s only been [...]

Ok, listen.
My mind is racing so fast to get this blog out because it is BLOGGY GOLD.
I went to a show tonight at a place called The Rutledge. Or so the huge black stamp on my hand says. My roomie has met a guy at the YMCA and he plays in a band… blah [...]

I guess watch this and then read the post below. Sorry- blame it on a new blog home- the fact I couldn’t put this with the correct post. I’m a dork. Duh.

This is one of those posts that will really be most enjoyable for my family. Because the common blog reader may not enjoy four minutes of me showing off my new room.
A few notes of interest:
#1- I really don’t have fleas.
#2- Don’t stress about the mail situation. I’m sure it will work out [...]

So… when I said I wasn’t really working on my blog, that was only half-true. I was working on THIS blog.
I figured if I was moving cities, I should go ahead and move blogs too, right? Why not be COMPLETELY uncomfortable and out of place in EVERY arena of life? Sounds good [...]

I have a love for the Bravo Network. Not all shows, mind you. Let me start by saying that I am NOT endorsing the beliefs of this channel or every show. There are a couple that I absolutely DO NOT watch and think they suck the good out of the room if [...]

It’s rare that I run out of things to say. I’ve been pondering a blog topic for about 24 minutes now and haven’t come up with anything life-changing, so I’ll just bring on ye old stream of consciousness, which usually ends up a wee bit weird.
I’m an hour away from eating lunch with some [...]

I don’t boss you too often. Mainly because I am not the boss of you.
But today. I will happily boss you twice over-
#1- Get this CD. Third Day’s Revelation. It’s new and rad and fun and deep and life-giving.
#2- Set your DVR or stay up late and watch Third Day on [...]

Carlos put this video on his blog yesterday and I thought, “I don’t want to watch 8 minutes of a guy singing”. I am a foolish child.
Because I did watch it and haven’t stopped listening to the song since. Literally. I fell asleep with my computer playing the song on repeat. It [...]

I know that’s not normal.
Let me tell you how this happened.
I began to peruse the website of the church I will be attending (at least for now) in Nashville. Because as you may know, I will be moving there next week.
Eeek.
Ok, so I wasn’t super panicked about that. In fact, I was [...]

We’ve all been waiting, myself included, to hear the summary of my trip to Scotland. After I returned last year, I did a pretty fine job of recapping the experience. So I’ve been sitting and waiting and starting and deleting and typing and coming up with not a one thing about the trip. [...]

About twenty minutes away, in a little cul-de-sac, three families get together to eat dinner on Thursday nights. Rotating around from house to house, each Thursday provides a different meal. Because there are kiddos involved, dinner is at 6pm, but it never ends before 8pm.
This is one of those traditions that just morphed [...]

Right?
I mean, I’ve heard it before and heaven knows there are people that I have had to choose to love before. Or at least pretend like I was loving them when in reality my mind was screaming things at them that my mouth would never allow to exit.
That being said. I’m choosing to [...]

Your patience with my completely lacking blogging has earned you this video.
My proudest moment? No.
But am I still willing to post this on my blog because my desire for hilarity is higher than my desire to look cool to anyone ever again? Yes.
Did I die at the end of this video? Only [...]

And I will blog as soon as my mind quits screaming for a break. And some sleep. In my own bed.
Let’s be honest, I’ll blog as soon as I get my pictures up.

Here’s the highlight video from our camp. Thanks for your prayers. I’m so exhausted I could say some really ridiculous things that fit in one of three categories:1) Make me cry2) Make me sound crazy3) Make you realize then when I get really tired, I get really mean and sarcastic. And that’s [...]

when God makes these?

I want to blog so bad right now it hurts. So much to say, and as many of y’all understand [blogmie shout out!], it feels real good to blog about something.
And Scotland is something. Whew.
But it’s really late at night here (almost 1am) and I have GOT to go to bed.
I did a [...]

You can watch our service in Scotland live right now. It’s 8:35pm here. The worship team just finished and some other team members just did a skit. Tom Fraley is speaking.
If you are getting here late, you can still watch the service on demand.
But if anyone gives me a hard time about [...]

They just are. Here’s our team, minus the last two who are coming tomorrow. (Booyah!)
This is also minus our pastor, Tom. He sadly had to go back to the States this morning. His son was injured in an accident and he has a fractured skull and is in intensive care in [...]

We’re here!
And y’all. ALL OF OUR LUGGAGE IS HERE. So that means that 21 checked bags and 21 tubs of supplies have arrived. Amazing, huh? It was really sweet of the Lord to handle that for us.
It has been awesome so far. I don’t even know if I’ve told you, [...]

Know that joke? “It’s my lot in life. It’s not a lot. But it’s my life.” I think it’s from a cartoon movie of some sort. Jokes always lose that special spark when they have to be explained. Too bad.
I’m having a serious blog-guilt complex. Like the clown [...]

I’m 28 today. As of this moment, I’m officially the oldest I’ve ever been. 28 feels weird. I’m not a huge fan of even numbers, they have never been my favorite. 26 was somewhat awful (the first half at least) and 27 was somewhat stellar.
But 28. It’s gonna be [...]

Sorry for the sudden departure and complete lack of warning. Honestly, I thought I’d be able to toss up a few posts while at Summer Camp, but it never happened. Sorry bout that. It’s just a little practice for Scotland next week, cause who even knows how much I’ll be able to [...]

I’m OVER HERE this week.
And having a blast.

Y’all.
Here’s the thing. I wasn’t planning on going to Deeper Still in Atlanta this weekend. In fact, Mom had asked us repeatedly to go, but for some crazy reason, none of the sisters wanted to go. Fast forward to the SheSpeaks Conference, where my friends Sophie and Melanie are talking Deeper Still [...]

Yes, you have come to the right place.
Things are kinda getting switched up around here at the ole blog, but don’t you worry about it.
Just cause the restaurant gets a fancy new menu doesn’t mean the food is any different.
And by “fancy”, I mean “a shorter name that doesn’t feel ridiculous to say outloud to [...]

I went to pick up a friend at the Atlanta Airport today. It always amazes me the mass amount of people that travel through this building in a day.
As I arrived a few minutes early, pear-scented air freshener hanging from my rear view mirror, I decided just to go on inside instead of [...]

I leave for Scotland in 12 days. I could not be more excited. Nervous. Ready. Unprepared.
I pray and believe that something happened in the spiritual realm on this day. This was at a Christian music festival held in Scotland last month. Was I pumped to see Christian musicians filling Scotland [...]

I am really excited to take part in the 40 Day Fast. Today is my day to fast, pray, and share with you about a ministry that is making a difference in the world. We want to see God’s Kingdom here on Earth. Let’s love, and live, like it. Also blogging [...]

Summer is rather revealing.
This morning I had a breakfast meeting to discuss some very important things [such as house remodels and costumes] and then another very important meeting at church [do we make the kids eat the whole can of beans or just hold them in their mouth?]. This entire time, my dear car [...]

Ahem.
This blog post is not exactly what you are thinking. Because if you think I would sit and write paragraph after paragraph about bodily function issues…. okay, you’re right. If it was funny enough, I totally would.
But this is a different kind of blockage.
Saturday, after KEYED UP 08 [the incident's official name now], [...]

Well. That was a better week. See for yourself. 1 pound. I’m so cool with that.

Next week-Exercise 4 times before SundayDo Weight Watchers Core Program Monday-Sunday. [Small goals, people. Small goals.]
Check on EVERYBODY ELSE! (We started at 70+, now down to the 30s? Tragic. Hang in [...]

Because at this point in my life I specialize in the recap and the mundane [see yesterday's post].
And for your own personal knowledge, I always say “ReeeeCaaaappp” like rappers say “ReeeMiiiixxxx”. Cause I do have a love for rap music. Fo shizzle.
Every writer’s conference is different and I think it is fair to [...]

After a long day at the office, I like to relax. With Jake and Melissa.
Except for the office part. I don’t work at an office. And let’s just be honest, after a long day of relaxing, I like to relax. That’s just how I roll.
So in order to wind the evening down [...]

In case you don’t know, I’m at a Writer’s Conference in North Carolina- it has been great but DEFINITELY not without it’s complications and struggles. I keep reminding myself- OUR BATTLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD.
In fact, sometime in the last hour, someone keyed my car fairly severely- the hotel does not have [...]

So I’m about ten minutes from departure. (I’m writing this before I leave, but not posting it until noon. Oh the magic of the internet. It’s like I’m pulling a delayed rabbit out of a hat.)
Sadly, there is an informal blogger luncheon at Chili’s in Charlotte at 11:30am… nope, that’s not going [...]

Add this to your “Annie Does Dumb Things” file. Because I’m guessing you probably have one of those by now.
So today, there was an open house party at my Dad’s office, located in this building. Where there just happens to be a few condos left for purchase, should you find yourself in need [...]

So I just google mapped myself to the SheSpeaks Conference and it is going to take me approximately FOUR AND ONE HALF HOURS to get there. That is, if my math is correct, ELEVENTY BILLION MINUTES.
Alone. In a car. I just did 3 1/2 hours to Nashville and almost went out of [...]

I have SO MUCH WRITING to do for the SheSpeaks Conference this weekend, that I literally do not have enough words in my mind to also write a high quality blog. So instead of putting up a post that wastes your time (I’m written two that were ridiculously horrible), I just apologize.