4th Chair

Written by Annie on March 28th, 2012

So if you follow me on twitter or on instagram, you’ve probably heard me talk about 4th chair.

Or more specifically, #4thchair.

Today, I shall explain said #4thchair.

Almost every day, at some point, Lyndsay, Nichole, and I go to a local coffee shop. It’s a favorite of ours- it is where Nashville goes to work, not talk. It is as quiet as a library most of the time. No joke.

And their soy chai lattes are to be admired and revered.

Here is where we sit. Every day.

Our friend Raleigh is sitting there right now. He’s a great writer. [Also, he is currently the #4thchair, but I'm getting ahead of myself.]

So usually, it is the three of us gals. And this one day, we decided it would be fun to use social media to try to get a fourth person to come sit with us.

Sure. It was a risk. Who knows what kind of looney birds could show up? But we went for it. We all three took a picture of the empty #4thchair at our table and offered it to anyone who wanted to come sit with us.

Then we all screamed like school girls when our buddy Wes showed up and sat in the #4thchair. Nichole high-fived him immediately.

It had worked! This silly little idea had actually brought someone to fill that empty chair.

I was hooked.

The other girls? Not as much.

But we tried it a few more times…. and it just. kept. working. To the point that when people showed up, they would ask, “So do I get to be the #4thchair?”

Why yes ma’am you do.

Of course, Mr. Buzard, you are welcome in that #4thchair.

Oh, Jordan. You are so pretty in that #4thchair.

Sometimes, I tweet out the sweet #4thchair request, and it never gets filled. Which is fine. I don’t take it personally.

[The fellas really missed out on this one because Lyndsay was willing to keep her arm there.]

So that’s how #4thchair works. I have no idea why I love it so much- maybe it is the mystery of not knowing who will show up? Maybe it’s the risk factor? Maybe it is the idea that someone out there will be looking for a place to write or read or hang and they will feel welcome at our table?

No matter, #4thchair lives on. As long as the three of us sit together, we will attempt to randomly fill the empty chair at our table.

[Moral of this story: it does not take much to entertain me.]

 

Posted in Nash-livin' | 18 Responses »

I’ll be walking in Memphis.

Written by Annie on March 27th, 2012

Hey all you friends in a driving distance to Memphis!

I’ve got some good news.

I don’t know what you were planning on doing on Saturday, June 9th, but your plans just changed.

You need to come hang out with me at the Girls of Grace event.

OH YES.

I am so excited to be one of the speakers at this amazing event in June. I have loved the ladies of Point of Grace since they taught me that “there’s a bridge to cross the great divide AND there’s a cross to bridge the great divide” [classic switcharoo...love it].

Also. “Jesus will still be there, His love will never change, sure as the steady rain.”

What I’m saying is that POG has been my jam since 1993.

And they are still unbelievably talented and wonderful women and I get to share their stage in June.

[Pretty much, Teen Annie is peeing her pants. Adult Annie? She's pretty stoked too.]

The entire day long conference is insanely amazing – and has a killer lineup – you will have a blast before I speak, after I speak, and hopefully while I speak. One of my BFFs, Amber the stylist, is a speaker as well – so you get to meet my people too.

Overwhelming for your emotions? I know. Me too.

So. Grab the early bird tickets [before May 1]. Load up some teen girls and make your way to Memphis. We can laugh, chat, hug it out, etc.

June 9.

Meet me in Memphis.

Who’s coming?!?

 

Posted in AnnieSpeaks | 7 Responses »

Here’s the haircut. And some other things.

Written by Annie on March 22nd, 2012

So there you go. Before and after. I feel absolutely 100% ridiculous showing this photo, but I figure if I ask your opinion, you deserve to see the final product from yesterday.

I am going to be so surprised if my hair ever looks that totally awesome again because Annie Downs is not overly skilled in the area of using a curling iron. But I’m gonna practice. I really am.

Volume. My hairstylist says I need volume. So there’s that.

I’m also wearing my favorite shirt ever- my Jake Ousley Plays Music shirt. Because it is true- Jake Ousley does play music. And he does it well.

On to other things….

I hope you saw Emily Freeman’s blog post yesterday. Get comfy somewhere before you start it. It won’t take you long, but it is so beautifully written that you need to be calm and have some minutes to marinate in it. Sheesh. Also, her book for teen girls, Graceful, can be pre-ordered now. You should do that. For realz.

My good pal Jules is trying to win his dream job as a baseball reporter. ["I'll take jobs that I never want for $200, Alex."] If you’ve got about 90 seconds, could you go vote for him? You can vote 50 times… just click the button over and over until it makes you quit. Watch his video- it is truly excellent. He’s a great writer and is totally the man for this job.

I am having an ABSOLUTELY BLAST scheduling nights in the blue circle. If you are in the blue circle [or are in Atlanta] and you haven’t spoken up yet, email me, yo! All the details are in this post.

Here’s what’s true: I’m hearing lots of outcry from Texans about the lack of blue circling in that state …. so I’m thinking about doing a little Texas Tour in June. Will you Texans speak up if that would be something you’d be interested in? It would be the same deal – one meal with you, me talking a little bit, just pay my travel from one city to the next [I would drive], and I’ll come meet your friends and your youth group girls and whatever.

Texas- you interested? Comment or email me (annieblogs [at] gmail [dot] com) or send a carrier pigeon or something.

And finally, the best 8 minutes of your day. Seriously. Watch it. It tears me up every time.

 

Posted in AnnieSpeaks, I heart books. | 16 Responses »

The time has come.

Written by Annie on March 20th, 2012

For a haircut.

It started with this question [the red one] during the Q&A session at the retreat where I spoke last weekend….

I know. Hilarious. [Trust me. There were a lot of serious hard-hitting make-you-take-a-deep-breath kind of questions too. I didn't photograph those. I prayed over those.]

Here’s how I answered “Has your hair always been that long?”:

  1. No, my hair has not always been this long.
  2. Here’s how hair works: it grows, you cut it, it grows again. And repeat.
  3. I think I hear what you are actually trying to say- “Annie. You have too much hair.”

I told the girls from the retreat that I would get a haircut.

And then I got home and saw this picture on facebook.

I mean, whoa y’all. Sister has got a lot of hair. It’s long. I don’t usually see this view of my hair because, you know, it’s hanging down my back where I do not have eyes.

But I had a revelation seeing this picture yesterday.

That’s too much hair for me.

So.

I’m getting it cut tomorrow and I want you to help me decide what to do!

Rule #1: No bangs. The summer is coming and they will just be a grease collection zone.

Rule #2: I don’t color my hair.

. . . . .

Here’s one example of what I like: long layers. With summer around the bend, I want my hair to feel light. Right now it is like having a lion pelt on my head.

Here’s another thing I like: everything about this. The natural curl, the length, all of it. My hair does not curl pretty like that. It has a weak wave in it that kinda gets more weird and less pretty.

[I know. Congrats to me.]

But gracious I think this hair is gorgeous. If my hair would look like this every day, I would be in a continual state of crying with happy.

Do you have more ideas or pictures of awesome long hair cuts?

By the way. I’m not doing this. Not ever. No siree, bob. [Literally.]

. . . . .

Your thoughts?

 

Posted in AnnieSpeaks, Ze Bloggy Goodness | 21 Responses »

I am inviting myself over.

Written by Annie on March 19th, 2012

I have this bad habit [you can ask Nester or Emily] of deciding that when I want to see my friends, I just invite myself over.

So I have a crazy idea. Today, I’m going to invite myself over to your house. Because I want us to be friends and hang out and stuff.

Here’s what.

I wanna come to your house [or your local coffee shop or whatevs], meet your friends, hang out, talk about stuff, and laugh about everything.

See that blue circle? If you live in that blue circle, I am officially inviting myself over.

. . . . .

Here’s what you DON’T have to do:

- you don’t have to pay a speaker’s fee or anything [just pay for my gas from/back to Nashville]

- you don’t have to give me a place to stay [if you are in the circle, I'll just drive home that night!]

- you don’t have to be a teenager [I want to meet you and your friends- so I don't care what age y'all are!]

. . . . .

Here’s what you DO have to do:

- Have at least 15 gals there [you can have as many as you want, but 15 is the minimum]. Maybe you lead a small group of girls at your church? Or you have a book club? Or you work with a college ministry? Or you just have a group of girls who grab dinner together once a month? Invite those girls!

- Provide dinner for us [or lunch/brunch or whatever]

- Allow me to bring a friend and set up a table to sell books to folks who don’t already have them

- Let me know what you want us to chat about – teen stuff, college stuff, single stuff, writing stuff…. whatever!

- Find a day in April, May, or June when we can hang

. . . . .

I just think it would be a super fun way to spend a few nights this spring… hanging out with you guys, talking about life. I have a few fun ideas in my head- maybe we make a recipe together or talk about our favorite books or sit outside on your back patio and talk about God?

I dunno. We’ll figure out the details when we schedule. It just sounds like tons of fun. So get your friends together and plan a fun Saturday brunch or dinner party during the week and I’ll be there!

. . . . .

“But Annie, I live outside of the blue circle! Uncool.“

a. How far outside of the circle? We could work something out. The cost will just be a bit different and you may have to let me and my travel buddy snoozle at your place.

b. You can always plan a retreat and bring me in — here are those details.

c. Atlanta peeps, don’t panic. I know you aren’t “in” the circle, but since my parents live down there, you can pretend you are in the circle.

. . . . .

So if you live in the blue circle and think this would be a good time, just email me (annieblogs [at] gmail [dot] com) and tell me:

  • your name
  • where you live
  • 3-4 date options in April, May, or June for when you’d like to come come hang
  • who will be coming [youth girls, your book club, a bunch of single friends, etc.]

. . . . .

Sorry if you are offended over the whole “Annie invited herself to my house” thing. It’s very un-Southern ladylike of me.

Another [more polite] way to say it…. Let’s be real life friends. Cool?

 

Posted in AnnieSpeaks | 32 Responses »

I love cheese.

Written by Annie on March 17th, 2012

Cheese

Have I ever told you how much I like cheese?

A lot. Like, a lot. Mainly, I can’t resist Manchego.

So of course, when it was time for me to write for (in)courage for March, I needed to write about cheese.

You remember the old song “the Farmer in the Dell”? Do you remember what happens to the cheese?

It stands alone.

In my quest to talk openly and honestly about being single, I went to the list y’all made for me a few weeks ago and pulled a question:

What if I am the last single girl in the bunch?

And I answered it… using cheesy examples. Literally.

So check it out, tell your friends, and share your thoughts. And as always, if you have specific questions you’d like for me to answer about the life of a single gal, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments! I definitely want to be writing about the stuff that is important to YOU.

Happy weekend, y’all.

 

Posted in (in)courage | 4 Responses »

TOP 5 FRIDAY: A candy-coated situation.

Written by Annie on March 16th, 2012

TOP 5 FRIDAY is when we each list five of our favorite things, depending on the topic. Feel free to join in via the comments or by posting on your own blog and linking back here. Play along. It’s Friday.

. . . . .

You see, I find myself in a bit of a situation.

When my herd of a small group came over on Tuesday, we had soup and grilled cheese sandwiches and M&Ms for dessert. [By the way, I did the sammies in the oven and it was a massive success. 450 degrees. Flip after 6 minutes. Boom.]

I thought those girlies would eat all of the candy, like they did the grilled goodness.

They didn’t.

So that is my situation.

About thirty feet from my current location sits a bag of M&Ms that are practically screaming to be eaten. Because they are, in fact, my favorite candy. Hence the reason I do not keep candy in the house. Candy knows my name. And calls to me.

But I am the picture of self-control [yeah right], so I am going to resist [at least, I'm gonna try].

So if I cannot partake, I will write about. [Insert joke here regarding writing a post about sex? Nah. But it would have been a good laugh. You get it? If I can't partake, I'll write about it? And I'm single, so.... Forget it. I've over-explained. Joke ruined.]

On to today’s Top 5 Friday…..

Here, in no particular order, are my TOP 5 favorite candies!

 1. M&Ms

Well, that is one in particular order. M&Ms are my favorite. In fact, I’m speaking this weekend and the very first story I am going to share is about my love for M&Ms. It’s a very touching and moving story. [Not really, it is just funny.] And because I know the question is burning in your soul, no- I am not picky about what type of M&M. Original is my favorite, but I have never met one I didn’t like.

 

2. CADBURY CREME EGGS

We are all grateful that this sugar concoction is only available for a short time each year because heavens. to. betsy. I love those eggs. Some say, “they are just too sweet for me.” I say, “I wish they were too sweet for me.” They aren’t. I adore them. I have a limit on how many my system can handle. I just haven’t found that limit yet.

 

3. CHEWY SWEET TARTS

No kidding, these things make my mouth hurt. I think they are made of pure sugar and a plethora of chemicals and I am ALL IN. One of these days I’m gonna break a tooth eating a chewy sweet tart and you will say, “I saw that one coming in March of 2012 when she told us about them.” Mark my words. But they are tart and nice… words I also use to describe my sister.

 

4. TWISTED CANDY BARS

This is a homage to the Scottish half of my soul because Twisteds are not commonly carried in the USA. These are candy bars that are virtually five tiny cadbury creme eggs connected together. I won’t tell you how many I came home with in 2008 after a few weeks in Scotland. Nor will I tell you what happened to every. last. one. of. them.

Ahem.

 

5. SNO-CAPS

Caveat: this is a movie theater only candy for me. These feel like a special treat because I save them only for the big screen. I have, on more than one occasion, spilled an entire box on the floor of the theater. As you can imagine, it makes me real popular with my fellow patrons. Next time you pop in to catch a flick, try this candy. Then report back to me asap.

. . . . .

I hope you now see why it is a terrible decision for me to keep candy in my home. Yikes.

I will now walk farther away from the M&Ms and encourage my roommate to eat them while I’m gone this weekend.

. . . . .

YOUR TURN!

What are your favorite candies? Are you a chocolate kinda gal? Or a sour patch kid? Tell us which confections call to you. 

 

 

Posted in TOP 5 FRIDAY | 22 Responses »

They used to be friends.

Written by Annie on March 15th, 2012

At Cross Point Church, we are studying spiritual warfare. The Unseen Series is awesome [so far] – you should check it out.

Pete is teaching through Jesus’s time in the desert when He was tempted by the Devil and helping us to identify the ways that the enemy is trying to tempt us in our own lives. Good good stuff.

I’ve grown up a Christian and have read this story many times. But, just like the Bible seems to do, something different has been coming to mind this time as I read the story.

Before Satan became Satan, you know- back when he was an angel in Heaven, I bet he and Jesus used to be friends. I mean, they’ve known each other for a long.long.long. time.

So when he saunters up to Jesus in the desert, this isn’t some strange scary demon that Jesus is seeing. For us, it would be super freaky and scary. But for Jesus? It’s His old friend, turned evil and manipulative, but His old friend nonetheless.

And when Satan kept making offers to Jesus, to turn stones into bread, to be super powerful, or to be rescued if Jesus jumped off the temple, I have to wonder what was going through Jesus’s mind. Because He was human- temptations were real for Him. What must it have felt like for this guy, who at some point was on Jesus’s team, to be tempting Him and speaking to Him?

Obviously, we can only guess and discuss, but I would love to hear your thoughts. What must it have been like for Jesus? Do you think it was more painful because of who Satan used to be? Do you think it was easier to say no than if it had been a stranger? Do you think any part of Jesus was hurt or sad to see it come to this?

What do you think?

 

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 4 Responses »

Dave Barnes: Stories To Tell

Written by Annie on March 13th, 2012

You guys.

This album.

I can’t quit it. And it is brand new.

And I’ve got some serious dance moves going on when I listen to White Flag. It’s my favorite of the non make-me-cry variety on Stories To Tell.

If you’ve read From Head To Foot, you know that it was this yahoo who wrote the kindest preface an author could ever ask for. He’s a good dude.

BUT.

That’s not why I’m telling you about his music.

I’m telling you about this CD because it matches the weather and it is some of the best tunes that Dave has ever put out and I don’t know how he does it, but every single album is better than the one before. I think he uses magic. Seriously. The Potter kind.

[Kidding. He's just gifted. It's different than magic.]

This is literally the best way that you can use $10 today.

Also, Dave is about to tour it up for the next few weeks and you will be all shades of happy if you get to go. And he’ll give you a special high-five if you say, “I’m friends with AnnieBlogs” when you meet him after the show.

So.

Recap.

Buy the record.

Go to a show.

High-five.

Amen.

 

Posted in Sounds good to me. | 9 Responses »

Some things we should learn from Courtney.

Written by Annie on March 13th, 2012

I don’t really want to talk about The Bachelor… but I also do. It’s a hugely popular show and I think this season has many discussion points.

[If you're not down with The Bach, then I won't be offended if you leave us here. Have a great Tuesday!]

This whole Bachelor season has been a trainwreck and while it was hard to watch at times, the worst heartaches have been TOTALLY SELF INFLICTED and I think we have to look at that and inspect our own lives.

Y’all. The messes we can get ourselves into seem to be far more disastrous than the ones that are thrust upon us, don’t they?

There are some very valuable things we can glean from this season- namely from Courtney’s behavior. And I want to lay them out if for no other reason than to remind myself of what kind of woman I want to be.

[Caveat: I do not know these people. I only know what you know- what we see on TV. I am not making a judgement call on anyone as a person, just simply trying to observe documented behaviors and talk about them.]

[That was literally the most official sentence I've ever written. In a post about The Bachelor. Good gracious.]

1. Manipulation only gets you so far and honestly, in the end, it leaves you feeling insecure.

  • If you saw the “After The Final Rose” last night, you saw this one in action. Courtney manipulated all season long, Ben [AND AMERICA!] figured it out, and she is the one left sad and insecure.

2. Feeling regret means “I wish I would have done that differently BECAUSE the results of my bad behavior were so not in my favor.” Feeling repentant means “I wish I would have done that differently because I was wrong.” There is a big difference. Big.

  • Courtney had the chance to make things right with lots of people – Ben, the other girls, you, me, etc. – and when she apologized, she always said, “I had no idea it would go like this.” Dear Courtney, you can’t make behavioral decisions without thinking about the results. You can’t.

3. Consequences are real and sometimes they can be severely expensive.

  • Whether this relationship will make it or not, only time will tell. But this may be one of those times that the consequences of bad behavior were costly. Really costly.

4. Being unkind to one person can affect your relationships with other people. Just because you aren’t mean to ME doesn’t mean it won’t hurt our relationship.

  • Courtney was always sugar sweet to Ben. It was the girls she was awful to on a regular basis. But in the end, EVERY relationship suffered.
5. The way Ben treated Linzi and the way Ben treated Courtney were seriously different – a visible difference between when a woman pursues a man and when a man pursues a woman.
  • Linzi couldn’t quit telling Ben how much she loved him. Ben couldn’t quit telling Courtney great things about her. My friend Cassie is forever challenging me to live like this- let the man pursue because it makes all the difference. And sheesh, seeing it happen last night, I was like, “Oh, yeah Cassie. I see exactly what you mean.” Because whoa. It was different.

6. Something really whackadoodle has happened to our culture because we [meaning me as well] sit down and watch people build relationships and get genuinely hurt for our viewing pleasure. 

For anyone who doesn’t watch The Bachelor, this post has probably made you gag and say, “Annie Downs takes her TV way to serious and I think she may have lost her marbles.” I don’t. I didn’t. I promise.

I think it just interesting enough that we should discuss.

. . . . .

Your thoughts?

 

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 23 Responses »

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